The Windy Road to Nowhere

Friday 7 Dec: 4.1 miles in 32:35

Slow, slow early morning run. As mentioned a couple of weeks back, I felt like too much of my running was hard pace, so took it right back for this.

Saturday and Sunday ridiculously busy with kids birthday parties, and driving halfway around the country both days so no running opportunities.

Monday 10th: 4.1 miles in 30:44 (7:30)

Early run, evening was busy so no longer run possible.

Tuesday: 4 miles in 29:30 (7:21)

Fitted in a short run dropping some things to friends down the road.

Wednesday 12: 6 miles in 40:13 (6:42)

At the track for club training, decided on tempo effort as opposed to session. Had good company for it , which was a nice way to ignore the strong wind and eventual rain. First mile easy, then 6:2x-6:3x range for the rest.

Wednesday 26th Dec: 7.5 miles in 56:55 (7:35)
I was on dinner duties on Christmas Day and was happy to have a day off running. Nice run on Stephen Day to run off some of the excesses.

Thursday 27th: 6 miles in 41:50 (6:59)

We had dinner guests again Stephens day and late into the night, so had a fair clean up morning on 27th. 12:15 by the time I got out for my morning run, but felt good, so motored on at a decent enough clip.

Friday 28th: 4.1 miles in 30:30
Nothing interesting.

Saturday and Sunday I didn’t run, as we’d a spare child to mind, and I’d a bit of a cold, so took a break.

Monday 31st: 10 miles in 69:30 (6:57)
Up in a Monaghan for couple of days, took to one of my favorite routes, Scotstown-Knockatallon loop. First five miles in uphill, then fast second half. Always feels good to get out near the mountains and bog, and the route sets you up for a PMP type effort. First 4 miles in 7:10-30 range, then 6:53, 6:53, 6:38, 6:38, 6:39, 6:43.
Suppose I’ll call that my first long PMP run preparing for Belfast.

Tuesday 1st Jan: 6 miles in 41:30 (6:55)
Felt fresh enough on Tuesday, suggesting that the ‘long run’ on Monday took very little out of me. Easy first mile, then 6:45, 6:29, 6:14, 6:47. Good start to the year.

Wednesday 2nd: 4.1 miles in 30:05 (7:20)
More sedate effort after two harder days

Friday 4th: 2 miles in 14:06 (7:03)
We decided to check out the trails in Galway Wind Park as it’s been recently opened to the public. Ran the first mile handy with the kids, then hammered the 2nd mile in 5:55.

Sunday 6th: 7.5 miles in 52:15 (6:58)

Felt very fresh after a couple of down days in Connemara, so pushed it on on this one. Warmup mile then 6:27, 6:29, 6:44, 6:54, 6:58.
Tough going on the last couple of fast ones there up the hill. Very happy with that.
Decent enough Christmas of running. Going in the right direction.

Friday 11th Jan: 4.1 miles in 32:45 (7:59(
Slow and easy run before school.

Saturday 12th: 17.5 miles in 2:13 (7:36)
On the roads well before sunrise, took the familiar route through Termonfeckin and Clogherhead. Got fairly breezy for a few miles on the way back, but seemed to ease off again for the last couple of miles. Legs were on the tired side, so I didn’t push pace at any stage. Great to have long run done by 9:30.

Friday 18th Jan: 4 miles in 30:40 (7:40)

Ran up and down the driveway and around the house 10 times. Needs must and all of that.

Sunday 20th: 15.6 miles in 1:51:30 (7:09)

Kids were running cross country up in Blackrock. Nice day for it. Both medaled in their races. Route home is the old N1. Very flat first 10 miles as far as Dunleer, then uphill until home. Really hadn’t intended on running this fast, but the conditions were perfect and road flat. Loads of times, I was consciously trying to slow so as not to be running much under 7:00 pace. Not a bad complaint.

Sat 26th: 4.67 miles in 37:40 (8:05)

We were away for a couple of days in the Derbyshire Dales/Peak District. This was a beautiful run on very hilly ground near Castleton and Hope. Unbelievable views, weather was fine.

Between travels, couple of the kids being sick and a bit chesty myself, this past week was a bit of a disaster. However legs were feeling a bit of strain and an enforced easy week probably was a good medicine.

Wednesday 30th Jan: 10k steady in 41:00 (6:36)
-3 at the track tonight but dry, no wind and really felt warmer. Some of the lads were doing all sorts of sessions, but decided to just run my own thing, didn’t want to put any stress on the lungs. Picked it up a small bit towards the end. Legs felt very good and fresh after the easy week.

Really rubbish last few weeks running. Got a bad chest infection and struggled to kick it into touch. Still not 100%, so just treading water.

Monday 11th Feb: 8.75 miles in 61:50 (7:04)
This run tipped me over the edge, should have rested and been patient.

Sat 23rd Feb: 4.1 miles in 33:10 (8:05)
Ran easy, but still fairly tired after even that!

Mon 25tg Feb: 8 miles in 60:59 (7:36)
Back on the loop around near Donore and Oldbridge, back to Drogheda along Boyne Ramparts. Felt ok.

Sun 2nd March: 4.1 miles in 31:10 (7:36)
Nice and easy, felt slightly off during the week still, didn’t want to get sick again.

Mon 3rd March: 8.25 miles in 62:25 (7:34)
Weather cooler again, and still being cautious.

I’m feeling fairly frustrated with how the last 6 weeks have gone, I felt like things were going well and weekly mileage was going in the right direction. Bohermeen half tomorrow was supposed to give me a good indication of where my fitness is, but I’ll just be nursing myself through it instead. Weather forecast is bad, which is not ideal either. Hope to get healthier and ease up the mileage and intensity over the next few weeks.

Itziger wrote: »

Patience is probably as difficult as it gets for us types. But, it'll come. We're only in March.......... Any mid term plans for an Autumn Half or marathon?

I’ve an entry for the Dublin R n R half in August, I’ll likely get more continuity with training over the summer. I might try and get an entry for DCM when they go on sale again, if not, then Monaghan again. I’m not going to write off Belfast just yet, eight weeks is a long time to get straightened out hopefully.

Monday 25th March: 8.5 miles in 62:25 (7:21)
Set off fairly easy on this one, legs a bit heavy after long run. Ran a longer than normal loop in Oldbridge on the grass in the middle, then picked the pace up on the way back into Drogheda. Good use of the hour.

Wednesday 27th: 7.6 miles including Yasso 800 session (<3:00)
As sub3 was the original target for Belfast, and still keeping it as a very slim possibility, I wanted to test myself with a session that is usually a good indicator for marathon target. This was my first time at the track in about two months I’d say, so stuck to my own (half-baked) plan as opposed to tagging onto any other group.
The 800s are meant to be :00 with the same jogging recovery, but I find that too long so cut the recovery to 1:45 (300m)
Splits were 2:57, 2:57, 2:56, 2:59, 2:57, 2:57, 2:58, 3:00, 3:00, 2:57

Working a bit for the last 2 or 3 reps, but that’s to be expected. Happy to have gotten through it, wasn’t sure I’d have the legs. Maybe just a short easy one tomorrow, and then a long run at the weekend. I’m desperately short on PMP long runs, not sure if I should just write off all hopes of sub3 and just get miles in the legs, or make a late run for the line with some faster long runs. April is potentially a very long month. We’ll see.

Itziger wrote: »

April this year has 43 days, so there is that. Ah, you'll know yourself whether to go for it or not. Try a Longie or two with some MP miles.........

Nice one, yeah. More so thinking of the two and a half weeks off school, chances of doubles, etc. see what happens

Monday 1st April: 8.5 miles in 58:40 (6:54)
Legs felt relatively fresh on Monday having had no long run over the weekend. Usual Monday route, taking in road, grass and trail. Definitely getting stronger, as I held a half decent pace for a while over rolling hills.
7:13, 6:46, 6:50, 6:44, 6:44, 6:44, 6:58

Wednesday 3rd: 5.75 miles in 37:40 (6:33)
Miserable, cold, wet, windy night at the track. I’d intended on 10k tempo, but the kids session was cut short about 10 minutes, so I (gratefully enough) packed it in early.

Thursday 4th and Friday 5th: 4.1 miles in 31:00 (7:34)
Near identical times on Thursday evening and Friday morning around the block. Cold, but dry.

Sunday 7th: 20 miles in 2:28 (7:25) with 8PMP
As suggested to me above, I was keen to get a 20 mile proper long run done, and see how I’d manage with sub3 pace for a portion of it. Mrs TPP suggested 9:30 this morning was the most suitable time to get it done, so it was on full empty. I don’t mind that really, so drank a glass of water, took a couple of just in case gels and headed on. Loose plan was to run to Dunleer, then Collon at 7:30 pace with the wind on my back, then drop to 6:50 and see what happened.
First 5 miles downhill horrendously easy, more or less freewheeling. Took a gel for no particular reason. Tough old drag on mile 9 heading for the N2 north of Collon, then ramped up the pace.
The first PMP mile was hard enough, over rolling hills. I was slightly annoyed that the head wind was stronger than I thought it would be, but felt fairly strong, so did enough to keep miles 10-15 about perfect. Onto Drogheda bypass, I’d 7 PMP miles done, decided to empty the tank for one last one before heading back up the hill. Very tough with strong wind. Jogged up the hills for the last 3 miles, taking my second gel.

PMP miles: 6:52, 6:50, 6:49, 6:50, 6:49, 6:44, 6:44, 6:50

42.5 miles for the week, about 20 of them at PMP or faster. Best week of running in a long time, and I’m feeling healthy. Maybe, just maybe...

Thursday 11th April: 4.1 miles in 30:43 (7:30)
Early morning run, still very cold for the time of year, but great to be out.

Friday 12th: 4.1 miles in 30:46 (7:31)
Had a 15 minutes lie-in Friday morning, which scuppered the morning, but nipped out at 7:30 in the evening instead.

Sunday 14th: 20 miles in 2:23:30 (7:11) including 12 at PMP

Howling wind wasn’t very encouraging this morning, and had a really good think about which of my long run routes I’d take, and how I’d manage to get a lot of PMP miles done. Decided to run downhill into the wind to Drogheda, then back through Termonfeckin and Sandpit.

On a whim, after just 2 warmup miles, I dropped down to 6:50. I was finding some pockets of shelter from the wind, but working a bit in the exposed sections. Added an extra little loop in town that had wind on my back for a few minutes, which was lovely. Heading out along the quays, and right out the Boyne estuary, it was very exposed, fairly tough going keeping the pace at times. Two river rescue crews were on the water today, hopefully just doing exercises.

Heading towards Baltray, I started veering north again, finally getting the wind on my back. It took me a couple of miles to get heart rate back down, but settled into a good rhythm. Feeling strong, with the wind on my back, I kept the pace for another couple of miles heading up out of Termonfeckin and sandpit. Cruising along nicely in 7:30 type pace until 18, before turning into the wind again, and climbing the steepest hills.
PMP miles as follows: 6:47, 6:49, 6:49, 6:51, 6:48, 6:45, 6:51, 6:48, 6:50, 6:46, 6:44, 6:48

Weekly mileage 53.4, which by my reckoning is the highest mileage I’ve hit since about spring 2016. Plan for next week is to hit 50-60 miles again, one more big PMP session next Sunday, possibly couple of double days, bit of a midweek session, and try to stay healthy. I’m making big gains the last few weeks, another 10-12 days before tapering.

Monday 22nd April: 4.1 miles in 31:35 (7:43)
Recovery easy run

Tuesday 23rd April: 3 miles in 22:40 (7:32)
Dropping off a car down the road and running home.

Wednesday 24th : 4 miles in 29:10 (7:17)

10 repeats of the driveway and around the house. One way to do hill repeats I suppose.

Thursday 25th: 7 miles in 48:23 (6:54)

Bit of a blowout at marathon pace up and over the Hill of Rath into drogheda to pick up a car. Hammer was tight after overdoing garden work so took a few days off.

Monday 29th: 8.25 miles in 57:55 (7:01)

1 easy, 6 at MP, 1 easy. Felt fine for most of this, hamstring complaining just a small bit after about 7 miles. Not concerned.

Saturday 4th May: 2 miles in 14:17 (7:08)

Nice handy short one, keeping with tradition.

Off at about 6:30 tomorrow morning. I’m feeling quietly confident of running a half decent race. Training hasn’t been perfect, but undoubtedly the best training block I’ve put together in at least 3-4 years. I’ve done a lot of miles at 6:50 pace, nearly all of them on empty or close to it. With taper, fueling, pacers, adrenaline, I’m prepared to give myself about a 50% chance of dipping under 3. I’ll be delighted if it happens, and will work hard for it. If it doesn’t work out, it’s no biggie. I’m enjoying my running immensely, it’s fitting in around other life commitments, my body has responded well to tough training. Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s already a success.

Belfast Marathon race report

Preparation
I started off the year fairly well, steadily increasing my mileage and long runs in January. Unfortunately, I lost a good few weeks of proper training then with a chest infection. Bohermeen Half marathon in 1:29 didn’t really offer huge encouragement, and it wasn’t until after St Patrick’s Day that I felt like I could really attack the training. The long PMP runs into April went very well, and against the odds, I was heading for Belfast with a realistic chance of running under 3 hours for the first time since 2014.

Pre-race
I don’t like arriving too early for races, and certainly thought I was giving myself plenty of time turning into the car park at Stormont Castle at 8:20. However, I then managed to get lost, before finding the car park. Three different volunteers couldn’t point me in the direction of bag drop, so decided to only put stuff in my bag I’d be prepared to lose before heading in the general direction of other runners. We were directed onto a shuttle bus that was to take us to the start. We then, however, sat on the bus until 8:50 before the driver decided the bus was sufficiently occupied to drive us the mile or so to the castle itself. Hundreds of people queuing here for the 6 portaloos, so instead I hydrated some nice trees along with dozens of other people. Time to look for the bag drop, down the hill, apparently. A quick glance around and I spotted a load of bags on the ground. The volunteer informed me that the vans had already left with bags, so just to leave the bag there. 8:57 now, loads of time to get to the start, stretch, etc. I jumped the fence just as the wheelchair competition got away and stretched for about 10 seconds. Time to go!!

Mile 1-4
Despite the relative chaos of the previous 30 minutes, I was quite relaxed and got into my stride very quickly, slotting in just behind a 3 hour pacer. Heart rate and breathing very relaxed, and pace felt fine. I did think though after 6:42 and 6:35 for the first two miles that it was odd that the two pacers were getting further and further up the road from me. Decided for 3 and 4 to ease back a small bit, lots of other little groups were forming, so plenty of company.
6:42, 6:35, 6:44, 6:49

Miles 5-8
This is when things started getting weird. Mile 4 marker was at 4.28 on my watch. At the time, I just assumed that the marker was at the wrong spot, so didn’t stress. However, 6, 7 and 8 similarly were all wrong, so I didn’t really know what to think. The pacers, meanwhile, had nearly disappeared out of sight. I ran a couple of miles with a Carrick Aces guy and had a good chat. He moved on, I suppose, to start bridging the significant gap to the pacers group. I had a gel and decided to just run my own race, still thinking the distance might correct itself.
6:39, 6:43, 6:45, 6:43

Mile 9-13
We were right in the city centre at this point at this point, and after not committing to the pacers group, nor staying back at a 6:50 pace group that had formed at 2 miles, I found myself in no mans land. It got a bit breezy and I started feeling my legs a little heavy. Gradually ran up alongside a lad from home, and settled into a good rhythm again. By halfway, a few other people had caught up with us and the group dynamic helped. Of course, at this stage, we were 0.4 miles behind time, and resigned to the fact that the course was going to be long.
6:42, 6:39, 6:52, 6:48, 6:46

14-17
I was in a good little group at this stage , and feeling ok. Got all my gels in as planned, and I was enjoying the atmosphere. The people of Belfast did themselves proud, great support and friendly runners. Ten miles still to run, I was thinking I could possibly make up the 0.4 miles if I worked hard. Dug in a bit, and moved on in a smaller group of 3 Newry AC runners. It started to get a bit tough around 17, a couple of uphill sections started the pain and fatigue.
6:48, 6:50, 6:41, 6:55

18-23

Mile 18 was pure torture, uphill into the wind and starting to rain. Being in a small group hadn’t worked out for me, and I dropped back a lot on 18. Downhill felt good after the climb, but I felt the first few complaints from my left quad and hamstring. Got the last gel at 21 and just kept on working, hoping for the best. A lot of discontent at this stage, every mile marker being 0.45 miles after the chorus of beeps from Garmins was like a punch in the face.
7:26, 6:55, 6:44, 6:39, 6:41, 6:44

The end
A very steep downhill onto the waterworks had my quads crying at me. Hamstring kept twinging away, and I was really feeling the effort. Tried to keep moving but I was finished by 25. Hit 26.2 on my watch in 3:00:20, feeling peeved off. Finally shuffled around to the finish in 3:03:50.

Post race
My fellow Monaghan man was just ahead of me, trying to convince himself and me that we’d ran sub3. He was gutted, everyone was annoyed. I drank a bottle of water and looked around to where the bananas or food should be. Nothing. Got a medal and a goody bag. No food. Finally found the baggage tent, stood in pain, cramping for 25 minutes. Not fun.

Reflection
When it emerged that we deviated from the route twice, I was awarded a 3:01 time. Sub3 was there for me, we got messed around. However, I was very pleased with my performance. I didn’t need to go under 3 hours. I know now that I am definitely back and getting better. It felt fantastic to be within a minute or so of good times again. I’ll go under 3 again sometime. Belfast was a return to form. In the words of 000s of people on the streets of Belfast, ‘Keep ‘er lit’!

Tuesday 14th May: 4.1 miles in 30:30 (7:26)
Early morning trot

Wednesday 15th: 6 miles including a 3k time trial in 10:37
Ran a bit on the track with school kids in the morning, back for club training in the evening. The group was doing a 3k time trial, and looking very serious and focused. I was neither but decided to jump in anyway. Didn’t really know what time I should run but hoped to hang in with the lads for as long as possible. One of the lads was a bit ahead of the rest so I just slotted in at the back for the first mile. 5:37 for the first mile, then I went to the front to do my bit to help out. More or less held the pace until the end, one or two of the lads passed me out with 50m to run. 5:40 pace for the second.85 mile. Happy with that.

Saturday 18th: 4.1 miles in 28:40 (7:00)
Busy weekend, so pushed on a bit on this loop.

Monday 20th: 8.5 miles in 56:30 (6:39)
Usual Oldbridge loop. Pushed on at a decent pace for the full hour, really enjoyed this.
6:55, 6:38, 6:39, 6:27, 6:16, 6:25, 6:25, 7:20, 6:40(pace)

Thursday 30th May: 3.1 miles in 22:43 (7:20)
Late in the evening trot around the block after a very busy evening.

Friday 31st: 20 miles in 2:39 (7:58)
I was in Clogherhead for the day with a few hours to kill. Decided on lots of small loops around the area. Turned out a tough morning of running. I’d done a blood donation Wednesday, wind was very strong, it was hot and a lot of hills. I should probably have called it a day after 16 miles, pace up to then had been 7:25-7:40. Last couple of miles were a proper death march, energy stores totally depleted. It’d been a long number of years since I was that wrecked on a long run, but no harm done. Still learning lessons after 15 years of running!

Sunday 2nd June: 3 miles in 23:14 (7:45)
I cut turf in Connemara for 6 hours on the Saturday, worked to a standstill. Seriously good workout, I’d strongly recommend it. Sunday evening, I came home with the two older ones and then did a few laps of the garden. Sore body.

Thursday 6th June: 4 miles in 29:34 (7:24)
Took a couple of days off with knackered hamstring, turf cutting always a danger. Legs were probably thankful for a bit of a rest I think.

Sat 8th: 4.1 miles in 30:55 (7:33)
Very early morning run before heading to Leinster championship with the young fella. Great day of athletics in Tullamore, and more success for the cub.

Sunday 9th: 8.25 miles in 58:25 (7:05)
The first mile of this one was slow laps of the garden after doing a lot of work around the house and fixing the wheel of a tractor. Mrs TPP then arrived home and I happily took to the roads. Motored along nicely at 6:30-50 pace for the most of it. Lovely evening for running.

Monday 10th: 9 miles in 61:25 (6:50)

Usual Monday run in Drogheda/Oldbridge. Added in an extra loop in Oldbridge. Beautiful weather. Pace was decent for the 7 middle miles.
6:44, 6:46, 6:33, 6:30, 6:35, 6:48, 6:49

Sunday 24th 7.5 miles in 50:43 (6:45)
Monday 25th: 4.1 miles in 28:47 (7:01)
Wednesday 27th: 7.5 miles in 54:35 (7:17)
Friday 29th: 4.1 miles in 30:37 (7:28)

Ticking over nicely towards the end of June, no sessions or anything, just running.