I didn't get this far to get this far.

eyrie · 14-05-2019 12:22pm

Mind yourself!! As you say hopefully that gets it all out of the way and you've smooth sailing then!

Bluesquare · 15-05-2019 7:45am

I thought I’d give the planned session a whack yesterday - despite a scratchy throat and squeaky voice I felt okay .

Planned session : 3k w/u and c/d then 6*400m @ 5k pace with same time jog recovery

Actual session : 2k wArm up @6:30
Note 5k pace should be about 4:45-4:60

1st 400 - 4:49
2nd 400- 4:52
3rd 400- 4:32
4th 400- 4:34
5th 400-4:32

Couldn’t face anymore fast stuff, I was shattered -the last one would have been up a steep hill and my breathing wasn’t good . The last three were obviously too fast but in my defense there was a slight decline . The recovery intervals were slow 6:45-7:00. I stopped my watch at 5k had a little rest of about 30 secs and then sauntered home for 3k @6:15

I was happy enough with this despite not finishing as wasn’t the healthiest bunny to start .

I was a little naughty and got back on the treadmill for a slow 5k in the evening @6:20 . I needed the stress relieve . I couldn’t resist throwing in the missing 400 at the end !!

Bluesquare · 20-05-2019 7:41am

So - I went to the doctor thinking I had the makings of a chest infection to go with my laryngitis. He agreed I was a bit wheezy but put it down to badly managed asthma !! Anyways had to triple up on becotide for a few days and take antihistamines as he thought it maybe hayfever. I wasn’t impressed as I thought I had escaped the wrath of pollen so far .

Wednesday running: easy 5k @ 6:20

Friday running: easy 5 mile @ 6:15 - skipped the 6k race

I decided to try and feel easy for this and not look at heart rate or pace . Thinking I’m starting to get it . Was coughing a bit here but turns out that pollen allergy stuff wasn’t entirely true - I had been wearing a fluffy cardigan all week and was now coughing up fur balls ! Yuck I know .

Anyways it’s gone in the recycling bin.

Saturday Running - 16k easy @6:15

26.8 miles all in . The marathon plan I will be following starts at 28 mile so looking good.

Have had a weekend of rich food and drink so feeling shocking athletic this morning !!

Bluesquare · 02-06-2019 9:39pm

Tuesday 21/05

5*50sec hills@ 4:31,4;08,4:10,4:13,4:12
Warm up&cool down @6:15. Tenk all together

Chest was off for so no running until Saturday

Sat 25/05

16k@6:30 (hr 147/chatty)

Sun 26/05

8k@6:20 (hr 135/solo)

Only 34k for the week but couldn’t be helped

——————————————————————

Tuesday 28/05

Session: 3*2k 10k pace with 3 min jog breaks in between reps.

First rep: 4:56,4:59
Second rep: 4:52,4:58
Third rep: 4:55,4:55

Found the last rep difficult and breathing still not 100%. A lot harder then it should have been . 11.5 all in Included 5k@ 6:20 warm up and cool down (average Hr 154)

Calves really hurting next day so decided to do a 5k recovery run the next day@6:30 (hr 143)

Thurs 30/05

4 mile MP tempo - warm up and 5k @ alleged MP. This didn’t really work - the first 2k@ MP was into a driving wind and up a sneaky incline and a hill so really struggled to hit the pace , spilts were 5:40,5:37, the second two splits were on the way back with wind behind me , 5:23 and 5:18,the last one was still too fast @5:27 although windless and flat ! Good job I have 4 months to practice . Average HR was very high @164 but it felt hard.

Sat 1/06

This was more a test of character then a LSR . All my running buddies were AWOL so running ten miles byself was something I’d usually avoid. I knew I’d be running a bit more and longer by myself during marathon training so had to just get out that door .

I tried to keep my heart rate under 140. This was mostly ok apart from at the end where there is a 2k climb home ! Anyways I managed with an average heart rate of 139 and a pace of 6:27. Very hard to go slow byself - although obsessing with the heart rate kept me amused .

Sunday 2/06

This was supposed to be a recovery run -but I felt grand after yesterday . A friend called in and we did a chatty 6 mile - a little faster than my now “normal” slow pace @6:06 .( HR 144)

Total miles for the week : 30 miles

Happy with that

Bluesquare · 07-06-2019 7:38am

Monday 3/6
——————
7k (three hour) Hike with kids up Mt Foy ,in Carlingford probably not the best idea I ever had on tired achey legs. It used to be up hill that hurt but nope ankles and knees hating the downhill whilst the kids hopped from rock to rock like little goats . Sigh

Tues 4/6
——————-

Physio for sports massage. My legs (calves especially ) have felt very tight recently so thought it was about time for this . Surprisingly he told me my legs were in relatively good nick and only real knots where in the abductors and a little above the knee/top of quads . I thought it was weird as I had begun to get out of bed on toes as calves were constantly pinging and ankle(were sprained) was starting to hurt and swell after any long runs.

Maybe I have a low pain threshold . I think it’s probs thyroid related - causing the perception of aches to be greater then the actual problem . My recovery seems to be slower than most as a general rule .

Anyway it hurt - the massage .

Wed 5/6

Slow run - 6:30.

Legs really heavy after massage but relatively nice run listening to a podcast . However average heart rate was 160 with a high of 181. Weird in that a barely broke a sweat and wasn’t out of breath in anyway . Stupid watch

Thurs 6/6

5k LT Tempo -7k easy

Tempo paces ( 5:08,5:04,5:06,5;06,5:08)

Still using fantasy paces here but going with 5:10 as my LT pace . (Based on a tenk time of 50 mins)

Anyways this felt really good - pace came easy , so much easier than the 5:00 mink intervals last week . I was running comfortably hard and was managing the odd chat (3/4 sentences then a break) - well in the first 2k anyway. Only the last 500m felt tough - with nasty little wind. Bloody coast running -always possibility of wind .

Afterwards I felt strong and felt like jumping around high fiving . Instead I just muttered that was a good session lads ! You know cause we are a moany non touchy bunch as a general rule.

Heart rate though was very high for the tempo (average 168) with a max of 190 very high for me for instance my average heart rate for a half would be about 166/167. Heart rate over night was silly too - 58.

Anyways either the watch is playing up or its the effects of the massage , as I can’t have lost that much fitness in a week and that workout felt hard but not that tough !(Vo2 max dropped 4 points on the garmin !)

chickey2 · 07-06-2019 11:10am

Could the raised HR be part of the thyroid problems?

Bluesquare · 07-06-2019 5:19pm

chickey2 wrote: »

Could the raised HR be part of the thyroid problems?

Dunno - only got it checked along with iron levels about a month ago and everything was in order so I hope not . Hoping it’s just a watch blip or something.

I’ll be all over getting blood checks during marathon training - as it’s marathon training that got me into this thyroid mess to start off with !!!

skyblue46 · 07-06-2019 5:52pm

What thyroid issue have you? I have an underactive thyroid but thankfully medication keeps everything bang on.

Bluesquare · 07-06-2019 8:16pm

skyblue46 wrote: »

What thyroid issue have you? I have an underactive thyroid but thankfully medication keeps everything bang on.

I am hypothyroid also , and meds generally work grand but not always bang on - It depends where exactly the TSH is at . Since Christmas I’ve felt normal and was recovering easily after hard workouts but in last month or so recovery feels harder and I’m very sore and achey despite the fact there is no real reason for it according to the physio . I have also increased my mileage - not hugely or suddenly but who knows .

Last time I did a marathon I had a great start to training , then started to get real tired , and my legs felt so heavy , and I got slower and slower whilst everyone got faster and faster . Recovery runs were so slow not from choice but I couldn’t possibly move faster . I did Berlin in September , and needless to say it was very disappointing. I had signed up for Dublin as well and because I felt so crushed after Berlin I was determined to do well there . I was loosing weight - without trying - never happens for me , but put it down to something I had heard about the camel effect. I was still getting slower , and tireder. I was waking at night in hot sweats and with a pain in my jaw .

A week before Dublin my neck ached so much , and I had a bit of a cold thing going on. My husband said my neck looked grand , but a buddy in work who was infinitely more observant informed me I had a huge lump in it ! So I went to the doctor , I had a chest infection had really low iron ,plus was very hyperthyroid so had to go get an ultrasound ASAP. Anyways I had something called sub acute thyroiditis - a virus on your thyroid or your thyroid level effect to a virus. They don’t know. You go hyperthyroid , then normal then hypothyroid. The hypothyroid stage is the longest - can last up to year . Then you have a 5% chance of being stuck with it for ever . I got stuck . Oh yeah and doctor wouldn’t let me do Dublin something to do with a resting heart rate of 110.

Anyways - I’m slightly paranoid going into this training cycle . I’m going to be really anal and precious and get a mot when I get back from holidays and then bloods once a month until October . I know some guys with thyroid problems that vary their prescription based on doctors advice to enable recovery etc, They though do a lot more mileage me and are serious competitors.

It’s always hard to know if your normal tired or something else tired ! Although the worst tired ever was the the pre medicated hypothyroid stuff . That was something else .

skyblue46 · 07-06-2019 8:33pm

I must not have it bad at all. I take 125mg of Eltroxin a day. I don't remember ever having symptoms such as tiredness. I went for bloods on the suggestion of a dentist to have blood checked because I bled for an inordinate amount of time after an extraction. The doc suggested full bloods as I hadn't had any done in years. That was when the thyroid issue showed. I don't feel any different on the meds than I did before!! You're shaming me into getting the levels checked again. It's been a year since I had it last checked.

Bluesquare · 07-06-2019 8:37pm

skyblue46 wrote: »

I must not have it bad at all. I take 125mg of Eltroxin a day. I don't remember ever having symptoms such as tiredness. I went for bloods on the suggestion of a dentist to have blood checked because I bled for an inordinate amount of time after an extraction. The doc suggested full bloods as I hadn't had any done in years. That was when the thyroid issue showed. I don't feel any different on the meds than I did before!! You're shaming me into getting the levels checked again. It's been a year since I had it last checked.

I’d say if it’s not broken don’t try to fix it! If you feel good stay as is . The last thing you need is a doctor fiddling about with your dosage . Keep an eye on it though , if you feel off get checked or any weird symptoms . Took them ages to get my dose right - and hormones etc can have an effect on the thing .

There a very high dose your on as well - mad you never had symptoms

Bluesquare · 10-06-2019 7:21am

Sat 8/6

Long run ten miles @ 10:00 min mile This was a group run- so not as slow as I would have liked . Very comfortable mind and non stop chatter . Heart rate was 137 bmp which seems way to low - I’d expect it to be about 142/143 for this pace If talking.

Sun 9/6

3k recovery with kids @ 7:24 mink
7k recovery without kids@6:25 mink

Heart rate wouldn’t move from the 165-175 rate for these runs so i just turned it off - it was obviously incorrect and was annoying me.

I think the stupid watch is only correct about 50% of the time . I’ll reset to factory settings which seems to help for a bit. Maybe a new watch - and upgrade from the 235.

Weekly mileage 28:5 miles . I’ve been fairly consistent now for about 6 weeks . Going on holidays in two weeks for almost three weeks so hoping this base stands to me even if I slip back slightly . The marathon plan starts on the 8th of July and starts at 28 mile , so I won’t have to do a LSR of any more than ten mile when I’m away.

ariana` · 10-06-2019 12:39pm

Bluesquare wrote: »

Sat 8/6

Long run ten miles @ 10:00 min mile This was a group run- so not as slow as I would have liked . Very comfortable mind and non stop chatter . Heart rate was 137 bmp which seems way to low - I’d expect it to be about 142/143 for this pace If talking.

Sun 9/6

3k recovery with kids @ 7:24 mink
7k recovery without kids@6:25 mink

Heart rate wouldn’t move from the 165-175 rate for these runs so i just turned it off - it was obviously incorrect and was annoying me.

I think the stupid watch is only correct about 50% of the time . I’ll reset to factory settings which seems to help for a bit. Maybe a new watch - and upgrade from the 235.

Weekly mileage 28:5 miles . I’ve been fairly consistent now for about 6 weeks . Going on holidays in two weeks for almost three weeks so hoping this base stands to me even if I slip back slightly . The marathon plan starts on the 8th of July and starts at 28 mile , so I won’t have to do a LSR of any more than ten mile when I’m away.

I got an upgrade from the 235 and i don't think the HR is any better... It's fine a lot of the time to be honest but in the rain it seems to go completely wonky, either really high or really low, it's not even consistently wonky :rolleyes: But for most of my training runs (ie when it's not in the washing machine) i wear a chest strap compatible with my garmin watch (think it's a Garmin RUN chest strap) and this seems a lot more reliable.

Nice consistency there. What marathon plan are you intending to follow?

Bluesquare · 10-06-2019 5:24pm

ariana` wrote: »

I got an upgrade from the 235 and i don't think the HR is any better... It's fine a lot of the time to be honest but in the rain it seems to go completely wonky, either really high or really low, it's not even consistently wonky :rolleyes: But for most of my training runs (ie when it's not in the washing machine) i wear a chest strap compatible with my garmin watch (think it's a Garmin RUN chest strap) and this seems a lot more reliable.

Nice consistency there. What marathon plan are you intending to follow?

Thanks for that info on your garmin - I might have to invest in a chest strap so!

I couldn’t decide on a plan so put together a massive collection for analysis: You will be sorry you asked :

Hal’s intermediate two
——————————-

- Like the mileage and the amount of long long runs
- Like that it’s tried and tested
- didn’t like the lack of sessions - boring
- didn’t like the pace run before the long run because it ruined flexibility

A Gary O H plan I managed to procure for sub 4:
—————————————————————
- liked the mixture of sessions stopped stuff from getting dull
- mileage very heavy
- no real step back weeks
- very intense

Another random sub 4 plan from a different local source.
——————————————————————
- mileage ok
- sessions a bit intense
- no MP running
- good quantity of long runs

The boards plan
————————-

- liked the MP sessions
- like the quantity of long runs
- mileage a bit OTT for my lifestyle/recovery etc

Club Plan
—————-

- variety of interval sessions at LT pace and MP
- sessions not hardcore and should be easy to recover from
- selection of hardcore long runs with MP similar to boards
- low mileage (comparatively - peaking at 45 miles)
- no continuous MP session( all interval )
- based on 4 days running but guideline - opportunity to add extra easy runs
- long runs only go to 18 miles

So what to do !!!!!! Looks like I’ll go with club one as from a mental prospective I should be able do all the miles on the base . However I have added the odd 4 mile easy run to bring mileage up to match Hal’s . The debate now is whether to increase 1/2 of the 18s to 20s. I know the fact that some miles will be at Mp will do the same job but I think I need 1 twenty miles at least . The midweek sessions are handy enough so the core of the plan I think I’d is the long runs .

It’s an interesting plan for sure!

Bluesquare · 12-06-2019 7:14am

Just thought I’d thrown in last nights session as on the train and nothing better to do !

Planned session (Tues 13/06) : 10k pace pyramid intervals

400,800,1000,1200,1000,800,400

With slower jogging in between for half the distance of the fast bit .

I definitely struggled with this one (breathing too labored)

Warm up approx 17 mins @ 6:20-6:30. Very scientific

Fast bits:

4:51,4:54,4:55,4:56,4:59,4:55,4:47

These were done up and down a country road and pacing hard cause watch all over the place whatever why the signal was falling in and out - some black spots there all right . Also very close and pollen infested .

The inbewteen bits :

6:18,5:53,6:22,6:21,6:29,6:50

I was not driving the pace here - somebody was on a mission . Generally intervals would be slower - but I wasn’t in mood for a debate - but by the last one I was driving the pace because needed to catch my breathe - getting a bit wheezy .

Anyways it didn’t leave my very confident that I was anyway fit - last year I was pegging up the same road doing VO2 max 2k repeats without a bother .

Logically I know I’m fit for me - but damn these bad nights

Bluesquare · 15-06-2019 10:56pm

Decided to give trim 5k a blast . Thought doing a trail run with such a lovely back drop would be lovely - no Pb expected but a nice little effort .

There were lots of people , hills and , grass . It was not easy to run on the grass , with lots of people in the way . I was putting a lot of effort into going nowhere . There were lots of steep little hills - which were tough out and the asthmatic in me needs a little more time for recovery before the next hill . Didn’t help the hills were grass lol - hello pollen .

I pushed hard but I’ll be honest it wasn’t pretty , (4:54,5:04,4:46(on a gravel path),5:15,5:11,4:41(extra .14k on watch)

By the fourth km I was in trouble , my breathing was very ragged , but legs felt ok. By the 5th km I was in wheezing terrority but remembered I had an inhaler in my pocket and used to to get up the final nasty hill . Final time 25:45.

Chest still not right today and using inhaler .

I’m torn between reasoning out the bad result - not used to the terrain , hills so close together ,pollen , relative times of others In the club etc to just wanting to rant - about how running just sucks.

I’d give it up only I like the chats and I love to eat. I know I’m fitter than that result . I know I did a tempo last week faster and chatted for half of if .

Sigh. So if you were doing a tenk k next week what would you do?

ReeReeG · 15-06-2019 11:00pm

Hey, my sister did that race last night too and was a couple minutes off her PB (actually a similar enough time to yourself) so I wouldn't get too disheartened by it. It was a tough course by all accounts and you gave it a good effort.

Is it Dunshaughlin you're doing??

Bluesquare · 15-06-2019 11:08pm

Thinking about it anyway . There is a local 5k Friday night so tempted to just do that and sod it.

My training buddy was 40 secs a head - but she had lungs of steel and excels on hills .

Wubble Wubble · 15-06-2019 11:10pm

Even the hill at the start looked tough. Add that to running on wet grass. I'd expect to get closer to a cross country than a road time on that course.

ReeReeG · 15-06-2019 11:15pm

Bluesquare wrote:

Thinking about it anyway . There is a local 5k Friday night so tempted to just do that and sod it.

A raced 10k might give you a better indication of your current paces for marathon training ? That would be my thinking anyway.

Bluesquare · 15-06-2019 11:31pm

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Even the hill at the start looked tough. Add that to running on wet grass. I'd expect to get closer to a cross country than a road time on that course.

What would be the normal difference? That hill at the start was a monster - many more like it as well !

Bluesquare · 15-06-2019 11:34pm

ReeReeG wrote: »

A raced 10k might give you a better indication of your current paces for marathon training ? That would be my thinking anyway.

Thanks Logically - that makes sense . I have another tenk lined up though last week in July . Mind you that will be after 3/4 weeks of holidays !

ariana` · 16-06-2019 8:44am

Bluesquare wrote: »

Thanks Logically - that makes sense . I have another tenk lined up though last week in July . Mind you that will be after 3/4 weeks of holidays !

Well done on a tough 5k. It doesn't sound like a bad result at all for the course.

Maybe if you do the 10k next week then it'll give you a marker for the July 10k? That's how I'd look at it I think. 5ks are ten a penny especially with Park run and if your focus is DCM then the longer the better I'd say

Bluesquare · 16-06-2019 9:15am

Thanks - what to target though? I’m thinking maybe 51 might be realistic but maybe I should just sod it and go for 50 anyway ? Or just throw the stupid watch in the bin and run fast !

I’ll taper though this week and only do two easy runs before Saturday .

Haven’t even finished this weeks mileage yet mind . Long run today .

skyblue46 · 16-06-2019 11:54am

I'd say race Dunshaughlin. By all accounts Trim was a tough 5k. A 10k next week will tell you a hell of a lot more than bailing out and doing the local 5k.

Bluesquare · 17-06-2019 7:30am

skyblue46 wrote: »

I'd say race Dunshaughlin. By all accounts Trim was a tough 5k. A 10k next week will tell you a hell of a lot more than bailing out and doing the local 5k.

I suspect I won’t be allowed bail and will be dragged kicking and screaming ! Pity both races on same weekend .

Bluesquare · 17-06-2019 7:42am

I’m did a slow 4 mile @ 6:20 on Thursday , the 5k on Friday ,20 mins Pilates on Saturday and then slow run yesterday :

11 mile @ 6:19. Quite a hilly route , but it was a nice chatty run and I enjoyed it .

Trying to take this recovery lark seriously and had choc milk and some almonds after .

27 miles for the week.

My plan this week is to do a slow tenk on Tuesday and Wednesday and then test until Sat. I won’t be doing a long run because of of the 10k but will try and do one next Tuesday so that will cover me for next week as well as off on holidays and want to minimize the amount of long runs I need to do . I enjoy holiday running but ten mile is a pain .

I intend to drop back on mileage slightly (aiming for 24-25 miles ). The official plan starts the last week I’m away and it starts at 28 miles so I should be ok.

Bluesquare · 20-06-2019 7:26am

I went a little of plan - did 6 mile on Tuesday - panicked a little and did 3*400 @ alleged 10k race pace in the middle . Over all pace 6:10 .
Crap run before race box ticked anyway.

Then later in the evening I did miles with the kids @6:40

Yesterday the oldest lad pestered me to bring him with me - thought he would be much faster without this brother. So obviously 10k was a bit far - ended up doing a progressive 4K , 6:40,5:54,5:40,5:30. Got soaked in a rain shower , and after a quick change hopped on the treadmill to finish off . Couldn’t do more than 4K - so incredibly dull.

So on schedule to clock ok mileage without a long run. I may becoming a little obsessive which is a good thing- might get me motoring on holidays !

I’m lucky though - I always pack a running buddy !

Bluesquare · 22-06-2019 9:38pm

Finally the stars aligned . 49:36

Report to follow

Whoo whoo

Kellygirl · 22-06-2019 9:41pm

Bluesquare wrote: »

Finally the stars aligned . 49:36

Report to follow

Whoo whoo

Ah brilliant. Delighted for you. Looking forward to the report. Congrats.

chickey2 · 22-06-2019 9:44pm

Bluesquare wrote: »

Finally the stars aligned . 49:36

Report to follow

Whoo whoo

Yay! Delighted for you!

hillsiderunner · 22-06-2019 9:56pm

Hurray!

ReeReeG · 23-06-2019 9:27am

Oh fantastic!!! Well done! Looking forward to the report

Bluesquare · 23-06-2019 11:43am

Right here goes ....

I really didn’t know how this would go or how fit I actually was . I decided to pretend I was sub 50 fit anyway and start at that pace . I quite nervously positioned myself a bit behind the sub 50 pacers but I was close enough for them to guide me . I was lined up with my training buddies and planned to run with one of them in particular for a bit because she’s normally a smart pacer .

There was a lovely wide start so slipped into the pace quickly with no weaving . First km seemed like a nice little decline - the pacers seemed to be going a bit quicker then I’d expect but I assumed it was due to the course profile . (4:55). A little bit of panic - did I start too fast ??? This led to us pulling back slightly for the second km - the pacers got a little bit further ahead (5:00). The pace was feeling hard but manageable. I really didn’t want the pacers to slip out of sight so Started to reel them in a little in the third km - so pace went back to 4:55. It started to feel tough but I told myself 3k is always awful it gets better. The km markings were a bit away from where garmin beeped so that explained the seemingly aggressive pacer pacing . I lost my buddy at this stage - she fell back , I thought about slowing to keep with her but decided I just had to go with it - I knew she had a good finishing kick as well which I don’t . I settled into a good rhythm with kms 4,5 at 4:55 as well. Pacers remained same distance ahead .

At 5k I checked in with myself - how did I feel ? Breathing was good , Legs felt strong . Had I been possessed by an Alien . Right let’s get to 6k keeping under 5:00 mins - run the km your in !! Pacers seem to slip away again and I pushed to keep them in sight - 4:49. Panic again - I’m moving too fast , relax still 4k to go. Ok 7k and 8k were rumored to be tough - let’s do 7k and try to keep on target . A hill flip a hill !! Relax we got this - zoomed up it - no idea how , kept pushing , starting worrying again that was moving too fast . 7th km - clocked in at 4:54.

The 8th km is where things started to get real hard , there was a long incline and legs started to get heavy. Head started to feel a bit fuzzy - but negative nelly was not in the building . I recalled training sessions were it felt this hard so I knew once I pushed through it the fuzzy would go away . The 8th km clocked at 5:10 but I had run a 8km/5 Mile pb and a sub 40 so I was happy . I knew what ever happened now I was getting a pb anyway .

I allowed myself a smaller breather - slowed slightly then gave myself a good talking to. I have done 2k a million times in training - it’s felt awful but I hit the paces . I was working very hard now - to keep moving or so I thought but the 9th km clocked at 4:56. The pacers were getting closer and closer. They were now reeling me in now. Shouting back come on - you can do sub 50 pick it up pick it up ! Once I caught them they were were very encouraging,”keep pushing 4 mins and it will all be over”

My buddy then appeared from no where and was beside me she was pushing hard and I was matching her . She knew it was a big deal for me to go under 50 - I think she could have moved faster at this stage but stayed with me pushing and pushing . The pacer took our water and was like you have two mins to run 200 meters go for it . At this stage I was grunting like mad, loudly and embarrassingly , but I didn’t care. There was a good crowd now cheering. I went as fast as my legs could go - the clock read 49:53 as we turned the corner . One last push and it was done . Last km amazingly was 4:47 with the extra bit at the end for 16 secs 4:16. Now I can give up running happy . Clock time 49:58, Chip time 49:36

I felt strong throughout except the little blip at 8km. I was positive throughout - and didn’t let the usual negative stuff slip in . Was I positive cause I was strong or strong cause I was positive ?????

Anyways I’m delighted !!! Roll on Dcm

skyblue46 · 23-06-2019 12:20pm

Brilliant! I'm delighted for you. Great running and a great mental attitude. It's nearly a shame that the old log didn't get to be a part of this momentous PB! :pac:

Bluesquare · 23-06-2019 12:26pm

skyblue46 wrote: »

Brilliant! I'm delighted for you. Great running and a great mental attitude. It's nearly a shame that the old log didn't get to be a part of this momentous PB! :pac:

I might have to go back and update it. My buddies were like - you don’t look very happy , why aren’t you happy - jump around or something ! I was just relieved more than anything . I thought I would cry lol ( it is a big deal for me ) but nope held it together . I did crack open the good wine though - it’s been aging nicely waiting for this lol !

Kellygirl · 23-06-2019 12:26pm

skyblue46 wrote: »

Brilliant! I'm delighted for you. Great running and a great mental attitude. It's nearly a shame that the old log didn't get to be a part of this momentous PB! :pac:

Ha ha - I had the exact same thought about the old log! You should maybe copy and paste this report into the old log for the sake of it!

Well done again. Bluesquare and great report. I loved reading it and was sitting on the edge of my seat at the end. Delighted for you. No giving up running now happy or not - use this to spur you on.

Bluesquare · 23-06-2019 8:27pm

To close off the week - 6 miles recovery today @ 10:30min Mile brings this weeks mileage to 26.6 which is grand considering it contains a taper and a race.

Off to Spain on Wednesday for a bit and then on to Italy , so gone for three weeks - will be trying to do 25 miles a week whilst away to keep the momentum going . They will be slow miles .

ariana` · 25-06-2019 3:53pm

Bluesquare wrote: »

Finally the stars aligned . 49:36

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Whoo whoo

YESSSSSSSS! Whoop whoop! Delighted for you, congratulations!

Bluesquare wrote: »

Right here goes ....

I really didn’t know how this would go or how fit I actually was . I decided to pretend I was sub 50 fit anyway and start at that pace . I quite nervously positioned myself a bit behind the sub 50 pacers but I was close enough for them to guide me . I was lined up with my training buddies and planned to run with one of them in particular for a bit because she’s normally a smart pacer .

There was a lovely wide start so slipped into the pace quickly with no weaving . First km seemed like a nice little decline - the pacers seemed to be going a bit quicker then I’d expect but I assumed it was due to the course profile . (4:55). A little bit of panic - did I start too fast ??? This led to us pulling back slightly for the second km - the pacers got a little bit further ahead (5:00). The pace was feeling hard but manageable. I really didn’t want the pacers to slip out of sight so Started to reel them in a little in the third km - so pace went back to 4:55. It started to feel tough but I told myself 3k is always awful it gets better. The km markings were a bit away from where garmin beeped so that explained the seemingly aggressive pacer pacing . I lost my buddy at this stage - she fell back , I thought about slowing to keep with her but decided I just had to go with it - I knew she had a good finishing kick as well which I don’t . I settled into a good rhythm with kms 4,5 at 4:55 as well. Pacers remained same distance ahead .

At 5k I checked in with myself - how did I feel ? Breathing was good , Legs felt strong . Had I been possessed by an Alien . Right let’s get to 6k keeping under 5:00 mins - run the km your in !! Pacers seem to slip away again and I pushed to keep them in sight - 4:49. Panic again - I’m moving too fast , relax still 4k to go. Ok 7k and 8k were rumored to be tough - let’s do 7k and try to keep on target . A hill flip a hill !! Relax we got this - zoomed up it - no idea how , kept pushing , starting worrying again that was moving too fast . 7th km - clocked in at 4:54.

The 8th km is where things started to get real hard , there was a long incline and legs started to get heavy. Head started to feel a bit fuzzy - but negative nelly was not in the building . I recalled training sessions were it felt this hard so I knew once I pushed through it the fuzzy would go away . The 8th km clocked at 5:10 but I had run a 8km/5 Mile pb and a sub 40 so I was happy . I knew what ever happened now I was getting a pb anyway .

I allowed myself a smaller breather - slowed slightly then gave myself a good talking to. I have done 2k a million times in training - it’s felt awful but I hit the paces . I was working very hard now - to keep moving or so I thought but the 9th km clocked at 4:56. The pacers were getting closer and closer. They were now reeling me in now. Shouting back come on - you can do sub 50 pick it up pick it up ! Once I caught them they were were very encouraging,”keep pushing 4 mins and it will all be over”

My buddy then appeared from no where and was beside me she was pushing hard and I was matching her . She knew it was a big deal for me to go under 50 - I think she could have moved faster at this stage but stayed with me pushing and pushing . The pacer took our water and was like you have two mins to run 200 meters go for it . At this stage I was grunting like mad, loudly and embarrassingly , but I didn’t care. There was a good crowd now cheering. I went as fast as my legs could go - the clock read 49:53 as we turned the corner . One last push and it was done . Last km amazingly was 4:47 with the extra bit at the end for 16 secs 4:16. Now I can give up running happy . Clock time 49:58, Chip time 49:36

I felt strong throughout except the little blip at 8km. I was positive throughout - and didn’t let the usual negative stuff slip in . Was I positive cause I was strong or strong cause I was positive ?????

Anyways I’m delighted !!! Roll on Dcm

Great question! The chicken & egg scenario, very interesting but whatever the answer main thing is you were strong! What a super run, executed perfectly for sub 50. I'm so happy for you - really great running.

Bluesquare wrote: »

I might have to go back and update it. My buddies were like - you don’t look very happy , why aren’t you happy - jump around or something ! I was just relieved more than anything . I thought I would cry lol ( it is a big deal for me ) but nope held it together . I did crack open the good wine though - it’s been aging nicely waiting for this lol !

Nice one

Bluesquare wrote: »

To close off the week - 6 miles recovery today @ 10:30min Mile brings this weeks mileage to 26.6 which is grand considering it contains a taper and a race.

Off to Spain on Wednesday for a bit and then on to Italy , so gone for three weeks - will be trying to do 25 miles a week whilst away to keep the momentum going . They will be slow miles .

Enjoy the hols :cool:

Kellygirl · 25-06-2019 8:54pm

Bluesquare wrote: »

Off to Spain on Wednesday for a bit and then on to Italy , so gone for three weeks - will be trying to do 25 miles a week whilst away to keep the momentum going . They will be slow miles .

Where are you going in Spain? We’re off to Salou Thursday. Hoping the weather won’t be as hot as threatened now or running could go by the wayside fairly fast!

Bluesquare · 25-06-2019 9:43pm

Kellygirl wrote: »

Where are you going in Spain? We’re off to Salou Thursday. Hoping the weather won’t be as hot as threatened now or running could go by the wayside fairly fast!

We are going to a camp site near l’estarit. About 45 mins from Girona. It looks hot all right - the last time I was in the area was 2016 and I was training for Berlin - some fuzzy ten milers in 30 degrees !!! I’m not a hardcore runner I have to admit I won’t not have a couple of glasses of wine to get up at 6 or something.
I’m just back from ten miles now - and will do 5 tomorrow before I fly - so no need to worry about big miles for at least a week !!!

eyrie · 01-07-2019 10:59am

Congratulations Bluesquare!! Brilliant result in Dunshaughlin, I'm absolutely delighted to see this. Loved the report (and nice to see the happy ending over on your old log too

). Hope you're enjoying the hols now!

Bluesquare · 01-07-2019 1:04pm

Thanks All . Still contemplating getting a new hobby now !! I miss my sub 50 dream !! What will I have as a new tenk target - sub 49 just doesn’t seem as sexy !

I have another tenk coming up at the end of July but after a month of holidays I can’t see that being a race race .

It’s so hot here in Spain right now - glorious but not really running weather - even at 7 am it’s hot hot .

I had great plans to run on Wednesday before we flew - but I was just plain tired - the race took a larger toll then I had expected.

I skipped Thursday as well cause was trying to avoid looking too obsessive (and was still wrecked). On Friday I managed 6 mile at 6:20 pace with a 7:45 start , tough run acclimatizing to the weather . Saturday I was wide awake and got out at 7:30 for 5 mile - more sluggish (more wine) and certainly much hotter - 27 degrees when I finished (6:30 pace). This left me with 4 mile to do to reach a 25 mile target . On Sunday I dragged myself out of bed and crawled down the road , thinking just do 5k be grand .

I wandering down a random back road and found a fabulous cycle/walking track amongst of all things paddy fields . Who knew . It turned into beautiful run. There were hundreds of cobwebs glistening in the morning sun decorating the plants that lined the canal that fed the fields . Kept running to find out what was behind the next corner - ran 5 mile and was happy with life!

This brought my mileage to 26 miles for the week. This seems low compared to most peeps on here. I’m happy mind, it’s the most I’ve managed in a month in over a year. A good base for the marathon .

My monthly mileage read 199.9 on garmin so ran 100m on the beach to get a nice round number . I thought I’d left that runners ocd behind years ago !

I forgot to throw in my cross training to the log - hiked up to Castel Montgrí this morning - a steep little climb and a two hour round trip !! Fig cheesecake is divine- just saying!

Bluesquare · 08-07-2019 9:13am

Holiday Running cont ....

I decided this week was going to be a step back week before the marathon plan kicked off as I really didn’t want to hate running before I started!

I wasn’t following any plan this week - just throwing in miles when I could at whatever pace legs took me. Which was far from fast. Hot weather , Spanish wine and icecream was taking a toll on my pace - but there will be plenty of time for good nutritional behavior in the next four months. I’m only away once a year.

Monday - a 5k hike with the kids
Tuesday -rest , well deserved after three days running in a row , and a fourth day hiking
Wednesday - 8k@6:04 am, 6k@6:20
Thursday- 8k@6:12
Friday - 4 mile @ 6:07
Sat - flight to Italy
Sunday- 8k @ 6:06 .(1 mile LT in there at 5:10, met someone I knew and ran with them for a section- who knew I had it on me in the heat !)

Italy seems cooler for running so far although temperatures are higher - I think cause it’s by the lake .

So total mileage last week : 23 miles , if I include the hike 26 !

Resting today as full day of activities planned!!! Seem to be running all the time but not racking up miles . Husband thinks I’ve lost the plot

eyrie · 08-07-2019 12:32pm

From Spanish ice cream to Italian ice cream, mmmm.... Hope you're having a ball!

Huzzah! · 09-07-2019 1:44pm

Congrats on Dunshaughlin. Amazing!

Younganne · 10-07-2019 11:43am

just catching up, Congrats on the Sub 50 in Dunshaughlin. Delighted for you.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday.

Bluesquare · 15-07-2019 8:28am

Thanks all for the congratulations on my sub 50. I’m still delighted .

Bluesquare · 15-07-2019 9:00am

Back from holidays now and ready to rock ! About 4 pound heavier - and have a serious amount of water retention . July though is unrelenting and I have two more weekends away before the month is out , so it’s going to be a trial fitting in runs .

First week of marathon training :

Note : the plan I’m using has low enough mileage but this is minimum suggested mileage. I have purposely added miles to my plan to be inline with Hal’s intermediate 2 plan . I’m conscious that everyone on here seems to do more miles but I’m also aware that this maybe counterproductive for me. My plan is to figure it out as I go along - i want to enjoy this training block and get the best out of it that I can .

Tuesday :

Plan : 7 mile with 2*2 mile @ MP and strides
Actual : 13k with 2*2mile @ MP and strides

Still in Italy for this - it was quite a dull morning so the heat wasn’t 0TT. Took a while for the body to adjust to moving faster then an easy pace .

So one mile warm up @ 6:33
2 miles MP (3.2k@ 5:32,5:22,5:29,5:39)
1 mile easy @ 6:15
2 miles MP @ 5:27,5:33,5:30,5:30)
2 miles Cool down @ 6:20 with 4*30 secs strides

I found it difficult to find MP ( I’m going with sub 4 for the moment ) . Good job I have 3 months to practice. What pace to peeps usually use ? Is it the sub 4 pace minus a couple of secs to account for the extra distance on garmin at end of a marathon? (5:41-4 secs)

Thursday :

Plan: 6 mile easy
Actual: 6 mile easy @ 6:20

Friday :

Plan: 5 mile easy
Actual: 7 mile easy @ 6:20

Sunday:

Plan: LSR ten miles
Actual : LSR ten miles @ 6:20

First run back home and legs were very tired at the end - I’m guessing that was the flight and the 17 days of good living. I had a protein shake straight after but still very stiff today .

31.5 miles altogether which is the most I’ve done in an age ! (3.5 more than schedule )

Another busy week begins!

Kellygirl · 15-07-2019 7:25pm

Welcome back from the hols.

Should be doing planned marathon pace or the marathon pace your current fitness gives you? Maybe it’s the same? Did you check the calculators after your 10km race?

I didn't get this far to get this far.

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