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DCM 2019 - Mentored Novices Thread
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Just thought I'd post a bit of a report on my 16th (I think) Women's Mini Marathon yesterday! As I've been sticking to training slowly by heart rate since February, this is the first time I had decided to throw caution to the wind a little bit, just to see what I could do if I pushed it and ran by feel rather then HR... I thought it might be useful for the experts here to analyse it all for me too!
Bear in mind I don't do races these days, nor parkrun.
My times are dropping week by week, it was taking me 13+ mins per mile on average for the first month, but that has dropped to around 11:45 per mile in the 3+ months since I started running by HR. I'm finding the progression to faster miles is quicker now that I'm getting a bit of fitness about me.
So, to give a bit of background, my fastest mini marathon was probably 10 years ago, which I did in just under 54 mins. In recent years, I have always finished in anywhere between 60 and 70 mins. See? I told you I'm not a fast runner!
On my way to the start area yesterday, I had a little disaster, which must surely have played its part... I bloody twisted by ankle when my foot went into a dip in the footpath
I went down in a heap, scraping my left knee and hurting my right ankle... this is something that happens to me fairly regularly, I think because I have flat feet since birth, and my physio tells me the ligaments down in the foot department are "floppy" 
(I wear custom-made orthotics and stability runners).
But, I'm a stubborn fecker, and I had traveled all the way to Dublin, and I hadn't missed one in 16 years, and as I walked it freed up a bit... so my stubborn self ran the distance like a big bloody eejit. Actually, it didn't feel that bad once I got going!
Here goes:
Mile 1: 10:11
Mile 2: 9:53
Mile 3: 10:08
Mile 4: 9:52
Mile 5: 10:05
Mile 6: 10:24 (getting tired, plus quite a punishing uphill 1km finish:o)
Average mins/mile: 10:05
Each time my watch buzzed at the end of each mile, I looked at it in surprise, because weirdly, I didn't feel I was going *that* much faster than I do on my easy training runs. Felt pretty comfortable most of the way, though the heat was an unexpected drag if the forecast was anything to go by.
For the record, my average HR was 172, my normal average is in the high 130s.
Has anyone any thoughts or observations on it all?
I'm in for the Clontarf HM on July 6th too, that'll be the longest I'll ever have run up to that point. My longest LSR to date is 16.5km, twice, on the 2 Saturdays prior to this weekend.
Thanks all
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Just thought I'd post a bit of a report on my 16th (I think) Women's Mini Marathon yesterday! As I've been sticking to training slowly by heart rate since February, this is the first time I had decided to throw caution to the wind a little bit, just to see what I could do if I pushed it and ran by feel rather then HR... I thought it might be useful for the experts here to analyse it all for me too!
Bear in mind I don't do races these days, nor parkrun.
My times are dropping week by week, it was taking me 13+ mins per mile on average for the first month, but that has dropped to around 11:45 per mile in the 3+ months since I started running by HR. I'm finding the progression to faster miles is quicker now that I'm getting a bit of fitness about me.
So, to give a bit of background, my fastest mini marathon was probably 10 years ago, which I did in just under 54 mins. In recent years, I have always finished in anywhere between 60 and 70 mins. See? I told you I'm not a fast runner!
On my way to the start area yesterday, I had a little disaster, which must surely have played its part... I bloody twisted by ankle when my foot went into a dip in the footpath I went down in a heap, scraping my left knee and hurting my right ankle... this is something that happens to me fairly regularly, I think because I have flat feet since birth, and my physio tells me the ligaments down in the foot department are "floppy" (I wear custom-made orthotics and stability runners).
But, I'm a stubborn fecker, and I had traveled all the way to Dublin, and I hadn't missed one in 16 years, and as I walked it freed up a bit... so my stubborn self ran the distance like a big bloody eejit. Actually, it didn't feel that bad once I got going!
Here goes:
Mile 1: 10:11
Mile 2: 9:53
Mile 3: 10:08
Mile 4: 9:52
Mile 5: 10:05
Mile 6: 10:24 (getting tired, plus quite a punishing uphill 1km finish:o)
Average mins/mile: 10:05
Each time my watch buzzed at the end of each mile, I looked at it in surprise, because weirdly, I didn't feel I was going *that* much faster than I do on my easy training runs. Felt pretty comfortable most of the way, though the heat was an unexpected drag if the forecast was anything to go by.
For the record, my average HR was 172, my normal average is in the high 130s.
Has anyone any thoughts or observations on it all?
I'm in for the Clontarf HM on July 6th too, that'll be the longest I'll ever have run up to that point. My longest LSR to date is 16.5km, twice, on the 2 Saturdays prior to this weekend.
Thanks all
How's the ankle today?
I'm glad you didn't pay too much attention to the HR monitor for the race - I don't think it's really recommended, particularly for shorter distances. I know myself my HR is always elevated before a race. Sounds like you paced it well - well done!
What's the plan to take you up to Clontarf?0 -
tI bloody twisted by ankle when my foot went into a dip in the footpath I went down in a heap, scraping my left knee and hurting my right ankle... this is something that happens to me fairly regularly, I think because I have flat feet since birth, and my physio tells me the ligaments down in the foot department are "floppy" (I wear custom-made orthotics and stability runners).
Well done on your 16th mini marathon, that's an amazing 'run streak' in itself.
I used to have that 'floppy ligaments in ankle' problem. It started when I badly twisted my ankle and didn't do anything about it. For over ten years that ankle used to just 'let go' without any warnings when walking on uneven surface, or decent pavement with a slope to that side. Chronic ankle instability is the right term for it, and it's because the tendons that gets stretched when your ankle is going beyond it's safe limit, are already too stretched / loose that they don't provide the vital feedback to the brain to warn as that you are above to roll the ankle. Without feedback or signal, you just go on and twist your ankle, and this repeats over and again. Went on for years.
Funnily enough, running is what fixed it for me. When I started C25k, that ankle would swell after each run for a day or two. Ran thru it, and never had an issue with that ankle since, I have had that 'nearly about to twist' feeling couple of times and were able to save myself from twisting it fully. Feels like it self repaired itself with the help of running.
Sorry this is probably of not much help to you as you are already running. Perhaps cycling might help. :pac:0 -
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Jayney positron... Snap! I've been twisting my ankles since I was a kid, which is quite a long time ago now
That's interesting about the stretched ligaments not giving feedback quickly enough, makes perfect sense... I seem to have developed a strategy that when I feel the ankle giving way, I let myself fall so as not to yoink it any further in my attempts to save myself
I wear really good quality hiking boots in my outdoorsy job, which have saved me many, many times... An ankle has buckled but the boots provide the support they need, and no damage done.
Who knows, maybe running is helping, and Sunday was an unfortunate blip? I'm doing a couple of S&C sessions a week too, and foot-strengthening exercises from the physio, all of which will hopefully help 0 -
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Mr. Guappa wrote: »The topic of fuelling came up during the week. We touched briefly on Hi-5 gels, which I myself used last year. Other popular products I am aware of are Maurten gels, cliff blocks and tailwind. I have minimal knowledge of those, but I know people who have had good results with each of them. There's no time like the present to start sampling any of the above, and see what agrees with you. If anybody reading can fill us in on a bit more on tailwind, cliff blocks, Maurten gels, or anything else that's out there, it would be much appreciated!
You read my mind! I've been thinking about fuelling a lot lately, wondering what the options are. I'll be reeeally interested to see what people have to say about the different products.
One thing I'm wary of is that my tummy needs little excuse to turn turk on me, so I'm a bit worried that gels are going to be a challenge. I suppose I'll just have to give them a shot, but if anyone has found one brand to be easier on the tummy, I'd be mad interested to know! 0 -
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Best of luck novices this i’m A graduate of the amazing Dubgals year and this thread was invaluable to me. Words of advice slow down those long runs and listen to the experts here they know what they are talking about enjoy the journey there will be tears there will be days you want to give up but there is no feeling like crossing that finish line good luck 0
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You read my mind! I've been thinking about fuelling a lot lately, wondering what the options are. I'll be reeeally interested to see what people have to say about the different products.
One thing I'm wary of is that my tummy needs little excuse to turn turk on me, so I'm a bit worried that gels are going to be a challenge. I suppose I'll just have to give them a shot, but if anyone has found one brand to be easier on the tummy, I'd be mad interested to know!
I agree that the High 5 Isogels - which I think might be called Aquagels now - are great. I had a few issues with others until I tried them. They are almost like a drink in a way and taste like melted Mr Freezes. However, check out the Maurten gels. I used them for DCM last year and in my last two halves. They are very different to other gels (and more expensive). Apparently they are absorbed differently and get to work faster. I’ve had no issues with them. They are a funny jelly like texture, sweet and the best part is they aren’t sticky at all if you spill some on your hands.0 -
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Hmmm... I like the idea either of gels that don't need water, or a fuel that dissolves in your water that I can sip on as I go along (Tailwind?)
The reason being that I'd assume (perhaps wrongly) that if you need to wash a gel down with water, you've got to take a fair old glug of water? That's a non-runner for me, guaranteed to give me tummy pains. I have to take regular, tiny sips, and swallow very gently. It has taken a long time for me to finally cop onto this 0 -
Hmmm... I like the idea either of gels that don't need water, or a fuel that dissolves in your water that I can sip on as I go along (Tailwind?)
The reason being that I'd assume (perhaps wrongly) that if you need to wash a gel down with water, you've got to take a fair old glug of water? That's a non-runner for me, guaranteed to give me tummy pains. I have to take regular, tiny sips, and swallow very gently. It has taken a long time for me to finally cop onto this
You don’t need water with either Isogels or Maurten except maybe to wash the sweet taste away but you don’t need a good glug for that.
Tailwind is supposed to be brilliant but I’ve stayed away from it as the thought of mixing it en route is a pain and I don’t want to run with a back pack. I know others carry it in a small bottle the whole way round the course and it’s really concentrated so they take a good glug at each water station washed down with water - prob not going to work for you that way. It may do if you were to wear a back pack though. I trained with one and found it great so you could get used to it.0 -
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Skyblue46 and Kellygirl, many thanks. Great feedback there.
What are opinions on caffeinated vs uncaffeinated?
Why was I under the impression that backpacks, aren't allowed in the marathon? Did I dream that?! I have one from my mountain biking days, not sure about hoiking it around on LSRs 0
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