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Man! I feel like a runner

ReeReeG

I’ve been considering starting a log for some time now, having read quite a number of them on here regularly. (I’m a lurker coming out of hiding). It seems like a good way to keep track of progress, but more importantly for me, how each run feels. Regular stats on Strava don’t do that for me!
My background
I had tried running with friends in 2012 / 2013, and did a couple of 5km and 10km races, but never enjoyed them. I tried again in January 2015 and realised I enjoyed it this time around, especially after I went along to parkrun that February. I started signing up for a few 10k races (best at that stage was approx. 55 mins).
Continued running off and on in 2015 and 2016, but as I had slowed a lot by November 2016 (struggled to run 10k under an hour), I realised I needed to get a routine going if I wanted to improve. And I wanted to improve. I had joined a club in summer 2016 but never made it along to train with them until May this year due to personal circumstances. Since starting to run consistently (i.e. 4/5 times a week) last November, my times have dropped, my easy pace has quickened, my form has improved (I think) and my overall sense of well-being (and smugness) has grown! Club running has certainly helped, as well as introducing speedwork into my training.
My week is typically 4 easy runs (incl. 1 longer run) and 1 speed session / faster run (e.g. parkrun). Some weeks go to plan more than others ðŸ˜Š
My PBs to date
5k:    23:46 (Twilight Challenge, Sept 2017)
5 mile: 43:04 (Raheny 5 Mile, Jan 2017)
10k:     50:31 (Dunshaughlin, June 2017)
10 mile:   1:30:xx (Ballycotton, March 2017 [Goodbye my old friend])
Half-marathon:  2:01:xx (Donabate, Sept 2017)
My struggles
I still struggle mentally in longer runs, doubting if I can maintain pace or complete the distance. I know I need to slow up more in my longer runs, and I am still figuring out how to start a race at the right pace ðŸ˜Š I do use a Garmin but am terrible for checking my pace; I often run by feel but sometimes that goes all wrong.
My goals
1.   Aiming to go sub-50 in a 10k by the end of the year.
2.  Targeting a marathon in May next year. As part of this, I am going to try stay at 30 miles-ish) per week so I have a decent base heading into marathon training after Christmas.
3 Update this log weekly and hopefully receive and review advice given by the lovely boards runners!
And that’s enough for an intro post I think…

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Comments

eyrie

This sounds brilliant! I've been keen to try one of these for ages and you're definitely selling it. Are the legs sore today after all the downhills?

Younganne

Fun, running, mountains, sea views & free food - all for €7 - sounds like a win win. Well done, hope it helped with the emotions of the week that's in it.

ariana`

Sounds absolutely brilliant V and extremely therapeutic after what was i'm sure a difficult few days for you. Well done for embracing something new, that's not always easy, no doubt it will stand to you in loads of different ways.

coogy

ReeReeG wrote: »

Forgot to add yesterday that I had 112 miles for April. Happy enough with that.

IMRA Downshill race

I was between doing this or the 800m Graded Meet, but asked for a vote from the 2018 novices and the IMRA won out It was probably a good thing as a weekend of food and drink would hardly have helped any pace on a track last night. Plus, I finally got to use my trail shoes I bought last year.

Firstly, I was so impressed with the organisation and setup of this event. Volunteers advising where to park, quick number collection (as it was my first event) and registration, and then a very prompt start time!

I ended up running with a clubmate for the whole thing, and he had told me that very quickly we'd be walking anyway as it narrows and we got stuck behind people. In fairness, I walked a lot of the uphill although I did keep trying to jog up it, fairly gets the heart rate up though. The views were incredible!!!! At one point, I glanced to my right and saw mountains and sea and just thought how lucky I am to be alive and able to do this kind of thing

And as for the downhills!!! They were mostly through forest with no real path and I felt like a child tearing down it I did say to my clubmate that it felt like we were in a movie being chased by bad guys It was so much fun!!! Even if slightly terrifying at times as it was a bit dark in the forest and hard to see where your foot should land.
It was nice to run a race that didn't have me looking at my pace or thinking about PBs, and just getting on with it as best I could.

Back to the pub which they used as a base, and there was free food. What more could you want for 7 euro on a Wednesday night.
I hope I'll get to do another one, but I've stuff on the next few Wednesdays and then soon after will be back at tag. Fingers crossed I'll manage to get another one in.

Sounds like a fantastic event V!

A great reminder of just how much fun running can be!

gypsylee

The run last night sounds like it was a lot of fun V. It's good to shake things up and try something different. Glad you enjoyed it.

ReeReeG

Forgot to add yesterday that I had 112 miles for April. Happy enough with that.

IMRA Downshill race

I was between doing this or the 800m Graded Meet, but asked for a vote from the 2018 novices and the IMRA won out

It was probably a good thing as a weekend of food and drink would hardly have helped any pace on a track last night. Plus, I finally got to use my trail shoes I bought last year.

Firstly, I was so impressed with the organisation and setup of this event. Volunteers advising where to park, quick number collection (as it was my first event) and registration, and then a very prompt start time!

I ended up running with a clubmate for the whole thing, and he had told me that very quickly we'd be walking anyway as it narrows and we got stuck behind people. In fairness, I walked a lot of the uphill although I did keep trying to jog up it, fairly gets the heart rate up though. The views were incredible!!!! At one point, I glanced to my right and saw mountains and sea and just thought how lucky I am to be alive and able to do this kind of thing

And as for the downhills!!! They were mostly through forest with no real path and I felt like a child tearing down it

I did say to my clubmate that it felt like we were in a movie being chased by bad guys

It was so much fun!!! Even if slightly terrifying at times as it was a bit dark in the forest and hard to see where your foot should land.
It was nice to run a race that didn't have me looking at my pace or thinking about PBs, and just getting on with it as best I could.

Back to the pub which they used as a base, and there was free food. What more could you want for 7 euro on a Wednesday night.
I hope I'll get to do another one, but I've stuff on the next few Wednesdays and then soon after will be back at tag. Fingers crossed I'll manage to get another one in.

Dealerz2.0

Hope tonight goes well.... please don't get lost!!!!!!

Kellygirl

Best of luck tonight. I’m sure yesterday was hard.

aquinn

I hope you were ok yesterday with the Anniversary. Mind yourself.

Good for you for trying the IMRA, enjoy.

tbukela

ReeReeG wrote: »

I registered for IMRA last night and am going to try out my first race tonight. So listen out for reports of a woman lost in Wicklow (maybe I shouldn't joke about that)

Enjoy the trail run this evening, they're great run, tough but fun.

ReeReeG

My updates are all out of routine, just like my running

Weds 24th
Another easy 4 miles. Didn't really pay attention to the watch so it ended up as a bit of a progression run. Avg pace 10.25/m.

Thurs 25th
Was down in Offaly again and headed out around home for an hour or so. 6.2 miles @ 9.55/m avg. Did a faster last mile for the fun of it.

Fri 26th
Sneaked in one last run before fully getting into maid of honour duties for the weekend. Met a friend at the local parkrun course for the run and chats. She's joining the local athletics team and will 100% be quicker than me over 5k by the end of summer :rolleyes

Sat/Sun: no running but plenty of dancing

Mon 29th
Back up to Dublin and headed out for a run soon after. Wasn't sure if I'd manage a long run, but really enjoyed getting out for this even if I did miss the road I wanted to turn and got temporarily lost

8.5 miles@9.45/m avg. A tad fast, but in this no-plan phase I'm not being a stickler (without being totally reckless).

Tues 30th
No run. I had intended to but it was also G's anniversary and I found myself not wanting to head out. It's allowed.

I registered for IMRA last night and am going to try out my first race tonight. So listen out for reports of a woman lost in Wicklow

(maybe I shouldn't joke about that)

ReeReeG

Mon 15th Apr
Easy recovery miles after the National 10k the day before. 5k @ 10.56/m. All felt good.

Tues 16th
More easy running, 6 miles @ 10.18/m. Yoga at lunchtime.

Thurs 18th
And yet more, although quicker, 6 miles @ 10.05/m. Wasn't paying much attention to the watch, just keeping the effort down and that's the pace that happened.

Sat 20th
Couple of easy miles before parkrun, and then decided to give parkrun a good lash. Didn't work out at all! First mile 7.07 but I started to wheeze, which never happens. I did read the pollen count was high at the weekend so perhaps it was that. I do get a touch of hayfever in summer usually. Hung on as well as I could without letting the breathing get too loud (I was getting looks from the guy in front), and finished in 23.30 or so. They were handing out free Easter Eggs at the finish, what's not to like

No long run on Sunday, instead a trip to the sunny south east for my niece's christening and a really lovely family day

Total for the week: 20.3 (really taking this recovery thing seriously

)

Mon 22nd Apr
Headed out to do the Edenderry 10 mile route with my sister. She's signed up for the race in July, and it will be her first race beyond 10k. Scorcher of a morning and we had no water with us, but no harm done as we kept it good and easy. 10 miles @ 10.22/m.

Tues 23rd
Easy 4 miles, 10.26/m. Was going to do an hour, but my foot had been sore after yesterday's long run - the sole on the outside. Didn't want to push it today, but weirdly it seems cured since this morning's run!? Fingers crossed no more soreness on it.

ReeReeG

Younganne wrote: »

fantastic running and a great report too. Congrats on the PB.
What's next for you now?

Thanks! The plan is some (mostly) easy running for a couple weeks; I'm bridesmaid for my bestie next week so there are jobs to be done

Have signed up for 3 races between May and June bank hols, will play them by ear whether to have fun or race them. Still tempted to try a 800m at a Graded Meet too, even with the knowledge that I'll come last

And then into a HM plan for Tullamore in August, have plans for a few races in the lead-up to that too.

Younganne

fantastic running and a great report too. Congrats on the PB.
What's next for you now?

gypsylee

Well done V. A great race report to read. Your positive attitude and belief in yourself shines through the report. Delighted for you.

eyrie

Phenomenal!!!! I knew you'd go well, but just wow! Haven't been online for a few days so I'm very late catching up but I'm so, so impressed with this. You were strong throughout (on a day when that can't have been easy) and that last mile is unreal! Hope you celebrated well

ReeReeG

Rossi7 wrote: »

Well done V, I felt your pain on Acres myself. Great to see you again

Thanks R, and well done again to you! Your 10k time is going to tumble even more soon I reckon.

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Well done on the PB ReeReeG! Lots of good reports and performances from this race to read this morning but this is the one that makes me want to do a 10k! Great account of the mental ups and downs you go through trying to get the best of what you have. Kudos for the controlled start and fast finish too

Ah jeez that's very flattering!! thanks

you're putting in serious training yourself, can't wait to see how it goes for you!

ariana` wrote: »

Brilliant race, result & report! Great reading that. You raced so well, i just love that you didn't back off the pace/effort at all. Really well done, delighted for you.

Thanks E, believe me I wanted to back off plenty of times :pac:

aloooof wrote: »

Enjoyed that race report, well done and congrats on the PB!

Thanks D!

Dealerz2.0 wrote: »

Great race report and well done again on the PB- its great to see your hard work pay off!

Thanks F! Hope the taper madness isn't hitting you too much yet :pac:

aquinn wrote: »

Brilliant, massive congratulations. I haven't even seen your run so didn't know you were there. That's great going. Well done.

Thanks A! I was gonna say I'd have watched out for you if I'd known you were there but I'm not sure I'd recognise you! I always look like such a weirdo at races staring at people I think could be from on here / Strava

ReeReeG

OOnegative wrote: »

Fantastic stuff, great running!!! As I said on WW’s log any PB ran in the Phoenix Park is well earned. Get those PB beers into ya!!

Thank you, the beers were enjoyed

Kellygirl wrote: »

Brilliant V. Glad you did your report so quickly after seeing Strava. Fair play to you. That was a great race.

Thanks K! Haha yeah needed to get it down before the few thoughts I had disappeared. Don't know how some people register so much in a race, let alone remember it later.

skyblue46 wrote: »

That's a brilliant shiny new PB! That was a really well run race. Really really delighted for you.

Thanks S! It is indeed a shiny new PB, very happy with it

juke wrote: »

Well done V - especially on ignoring your laces :eek:

This has been a great training block for you.

Thank you J! I was terrified of losing momentum. The funny thing is as I was tying them beforehand I honestly had the thought "I hope I'm tying these tightly enough"... I've never had laces open in a race before?! The self-sabotage is real eh :P

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Class. That's great racing and a great report too. Well done again, much deserved!

Thank you A! There was a lot of relief at the finish line

Wottle wrote: »

Super stuff, hard work paying off.

Thanks D, I was feeling strong!

Murph_D wrote: »

Congrats, you were all over that one. Well done!

Thank you

there were moments where I wasn't but thankfully it all worked out

tbukela wrote: »

Congratulations on a great race. The last mile and a bit was very impressive. It's great to see all the hard training paying off.

Thanks! I still don't know where that last mile came from

Singer wrote: »

Great run, and great report. Really well done in the last mile, delighted for you. Yes, Acres was awful

Thanks, and well done you on your excellent PB!

Huzzah! wrote: »

Ah, V! Brilliant. Delighted all your hard work has paid off. You've demolished your 10k time. The report reads like you really backed yourself, which is also great to see. Congrats!

Thanks E. Yeah, I actually did back myself. The plan is really good in that respect, especially the CV sessions I think.

coogy wrote: »

Well done V! The pb's are coming in thick and fast!!

Thanks K! I'd say that might be the end of them for me for a while now

aquinn

Brilliant, massive congratulations. I haven't even seen your run so didn't know you were there. That's great going. Well done.

Dealerz2.0

Great race report and well done again on the PB- its great to see your hard work pay off!

aloooof

Enjoyed that race report, well done and congrats on the PB!

ariana`

Brilliant race, result & report! Great reading that. You raced so well, i just love that you didn't back off the pace/effort at all. Really well done, delighted for you.

shotgunmcos

Well done on the PB ReeReeG! Lots of good reports and performances from this race to read this morning but this is the one that makes me want to do a 10k! Great account of the mental ups and downs you go through trying to get the best of what you have. Kudos for the controlled start and fast finish too

Rossi7

Well done V, I felt your pain on Acres myself. Great to see you again

coogy

Well done V! The pb's are coming in thick and fast!!

Huzzah!

Ah, V! Brilliant. Delighted all your hard work has paid off. You've demolished your 10k time. The report reads like you really backed yourself, which is also great to see. Congrats!

Singer

Great run, and great report. Really well done in the last mile, delighted for you. Yes, Acres was awful

tbukela

Congratulations on a great race. The last mile and a bit was very impressive. It's great to see all the hard training paying off.

Murph_D

Congrats, you were all over that one. Well done!

Wottle

Super stuff, hard work paying off.