Run for your life!!!!

Murph_D wrote: »

You know where you are. You can probably deduct 2 mins for the conditions. Good race, well done, K. “More to give”, as the age old saying says. I would take that performance.

I sure do D. Knowing where I am is more than half the battle. Finally getting the hang of setting myself realistic goals too!

Bluesquare wrote: »

Well done on the pb - and pushing until the end . It was a bit warm all right . I enjoyed those hills last year during the half . Yesterday they were mountains !! Ratoath will be nicer - a little bit sneakier but nicer !

Thanks for that! Are you doing Ratoath this year. It was one of my favourite races last year.

Huzzah! wrote: »

Maybe not quite the time you hoped for, but I think perhaps the knee trouble came at the wrong time for this race and the conditions yesterday made it tough for many. You're still chipping away and the improvements are there to be seen. Congrats on the PB.

Well put E. I figured as much about half way through the race on Saturday. Aside from the heat factor, I definitely felt there was something missing, as if it wasn't really me that was running.........if that makes any sense?

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Congrats again on the PB. The fact that you kept going, even when it would have been "easy" to chuck it in early on, has got to be a positive. Like I say, sometimes you've just got to revise your targets mid race, know what's realistic on the day, and also (more importantly in this case) what isn't. Couple of good weeks training, and you'll be all set for a PB attempt in Ratoath. Look forward to it!

Cheers J. Looking back, the fact that I felt such an urge to stop has me really scratching my head. Last time I felt like that was during the last mile of my first ever Parkrun!
As far as my training during 2019 goes, I've definitely had more "life getting in the way" moments to contend with compared to last year which at times has me wondering "am I doing enough??"
Anyway, I'm not going to tackle that particular Hornet's nest right now. :rolleyes:
Just keep following the plan and don't do anything silly, I guess......

Bluesquare wrote: »

Well I have signed up to ratoath anyway ! I hated it last year - just had an awful race but in terms of location and organization it was top class.

Look forward to meeting you there!!

Have been updating the log quite sporadically of late, which kind of reflects the nature of how the last few weeks have been going.



Monday 26th August. Rest day


Tuesday 27th August. 60 mins easy. 6.49 m @ 9.31
Took this one nice and handy, again with the phone in hand to record the run. Nothing to report about it really. Legs felt ok after Saturday, just a little on the sluggish side perhaps but that my have something to do with lack of sleep over the last couple of days. The late evening runs have not helped much either.


Wednesday 28th August. 2 mile w/u, 3 x 10 mins @threshold w/ 4 mins recovery jog. 6.82m @8:21
With little sleep happening (3 hours the previous night), I was pretty wrecked by the time I started this runmute after work. Started off with a 2 mile easy run from the main gates of the Phoenix Park and by the time I started the first of the three threshold runs, I was faced with a bugger of an incline and was really struggling to match the desired pace. Cursed myself for picking such a crazy route home which is mostly uphill......
When I started the first 4 min recovery jog (still out of breath after the climb), the pace on the phone (using Strava) wouldn't move beyond an 8 minute/mile pace which was really frustrating as I knew I was doing about 9:30/9:40. After the 4 minutes had elapsed, I started off on another 10 mins threshold pace and again, the pace being displayed was nowhere near matching my actual pace so I had no idea how fast I was running. For all I knew, I could have been doing 6:45/6:50 and it was only after about 4 or 5 minutes that the correct pace started to show. By then, I was completely p***ed off with the situation and was tempted just to scratch this one off completely before launching my phone into the bushes (over-react? ME??)
Wondered if this run came a little too soon following last weekend's efforts but despite the self-inflicted tiredness, I felt ready enough for it.
The rest of the run went ok, and kept the desired pace for the final 10 minutes. Finished up with a 1 mile cool down.

As soon as payday arrives, I'll be picking up a new watch straight away. I will actually be in Bristol on the 19th/20th September for a weekend away with the lads for a 50th birthday celebration (not mine) so may pick up something over there that'll work out slightly cheaper?

Anyway, another late run planned for tonight followed by plenty of shut-eye tonight and tomorrow before Saturday's session.


My son has just joined Lucan Harriers juvenile section and going by Tuesday night's introductory session, he's already really enjoying it. I think I will finally bite the bullet myself and join the club too. I think the time's about right.

Treviso wrote: »

You're probably better off purchasing the watch from Amazon.co.uk at the Sterling price rather than a high street shop in the UK. Euro to Sterling exchange is very favourable at the moment. The Garmin Forerunner 235 was on offer recently on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=garmin+forerunner+235&i=electronics&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

SportDirect.co.uk also have the occasional deal too, remember to choose the UK website - https://www.sportsdirect.com/Garmin/Garmin-Running-Watches

Wiggle.co.uk as well, again making sure to pick Sterling as currency
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin/run/

Thanks T, very helpful!!

Rossi7 wrote: »

Disclaimer - if you have to run a pyramid session with the club don't come crying to me. I still have the fear after last nights session

Ah yes, I've heard of those.........is it a case of 'bad in a good way' or 'good in a bad way'?

Rossi7 wrote: »

Both :D a lot easier to run it with a group or my case two other lads that I could chase/pace me around. Wouldn't fancy doing them on my own as the effort levels probably wouldn't be there. The 1600's back to back where heartbreaking, foolish of me to think it was just one 1600 and then back down

Thanks, you've really sold it to me now! :P

Tuesday 3rd September. 65 mins easy - 6.75m @ 9:36
Late run tonight but a nice easy one, took a different route than usual for a change. That's about it really. *shrug*


Wednesday 4th September w/u. 7 x 4 mins @CV (6:45-6:55) w/ 3 mins rec jog - 6.14m @ 7:30
Thought this would be a great opportunity to use the Trinity grass track as I've not really done any speed work on it before now. Started with a worm up mile down Pearse Street, up Westland Row and into College through the Lincoln Gate before hitting the track. Left the phone behind as I knew it wouldn't be up to the job so went back to using the watch for what would hopefully be the last time (new watch on the way!).
The track was quiet enough with just a handful of runners doing some easy laps.
Won't go into a blow-by-blow account but I enjoyed this immensely and was really happy with the paces with were pretty consistent for each of the splits.


Thursday 5th September. 60 mins easy - 6.5m @9:33
Back to the early starts and out the door at 6am to semi-darkness. Time to get the hi-vis gear out once again!
Changed the route around a bit, finish off in Griffeen Park.

Friday 6th September - 45 mins S&C


Saturday 7th September. 60mins moderate pace - 7.47m @ 8.04
Down to Griffeen again, somewhere I never really tire of and the 'go to' place in Lucan for so many runners. Like with last week's moderate pace run, this was about 10-15 seconds a minute quicker than what the plan prescribed but felt ok. Not 100% sure the pace on the Strava app is the most reliable in the world but I reckon it's close enough.....:roll eyes:

Sunday 8th September. 2 hrs 15 mins easy (actual: 2 hrs 22 mins). 14.84mm @9:31
Went to bed on Friday not really knowing where to go for this one. I couldn't decide between Phoenix Park or Catherine's Park but woke up none the wiser. By the time I finally got my a**e in gear, it was too late to head to PP so decided to do a loop of Lucan/Celbridge/Castletown/Leixlip/Catherine's Park/Lucan. Again, the hi-vis gear was a must, particularly along the path-less road to Celbridge....not the wisest idea but thankfully given the early hour, only passed one car along that stretch.
GPS acted up for a couple of miles along the road into Celbridge village and also for most of Castletown Estate (after climbing over the as-yet-unopened gates) due to the amount of tree coverage.
Wasn't too much in the way of fuelling unfortunately (just a banana before leaving the house and a gel during mile 9. Didn't feel any adverse effects though but experienced the usual second and third winds during the latter stages of the run.
Played the spectator for once at this morning's Lucan Harriers 5 mile race. Beautiful morning for it and it was no surprise to see Mick Clohisey cruise his way to another impressive win. Great event and really well organised. Will definitely do this next year.

Now officially half way though the plan and with DCM looming large, I am now consumed by all things marathon related on an almost daily basis.
I am having numerous mental images of me running certain stages of the race with varying outcomes. I really have to try and get on top of this as it's becoming a big distraction and am finding it hard to focus. One day I will be feeling all positive about it, the next, I will find myself imagining the worst possible scenarios. Being what seemed like seconds away from a DNF at Frank Duffy certainly hasn't helped.
The biggest mental challenge of them all is the question mark over whether or not I can make it through 26.2 miles at a consistent enough pace that will allow me to reach (or even come close to) my target time on the day.....whatever I decide it to be. I used to tell myself that I do have what it takes but I'm second guessing myself now and am wondering if the marathon distance is really for me. Oh the torment!!!

On the subject of stamina and staying power, I read an interesting article on Runners Connect a few days ago. It spoke of learning how to adopt certain 'tactics' when you reach that point in the race that things are starting to hurt and what you can do to keep pushing on even when the brain is urging you to stop. It listed four key tactics that can be employed when you feel like stopping is the only option:

Positive imagery and mental cues
“I am strong, I can do this” as opposed to “push through the pain, don’t give up” because the second mantra elicits negative connotations with the words “pain” and “give up”.

Surge to get back on pace
Being able to identify with your performance at specific times during previous races of the same length.
Once you’ve identified your slow spot, plan to throw in a surge at this exact moment when you’re developing your race plan.
The surge will get you back on pace and serve as a mental reminder to not let the pace slip. This doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to keep pushing the pace, but it does prevent the unintentional pace creep that often occurs.

Recommit
One way the mind tries to convince you to stop is by tricking you into thinking you’re hurting more than you actually are. Your thoughts begin to drift from race splits and good form to the searing of your lungs and the cement-like feeling in your legs.
The more you focus on these things, the more they seem to hurt and drag you down. Try to relax, calm your thoughts, and look deep inside yourself. Is there something more there? If so, recommit to your goals and return your focus to your pace.


Relax at the finish
Straining your face and flaying your arms to gain momentum wastes precious energy and distracts from the one goal – moving straight ahead as fast and efficiently as possible.
This tactic applies to any point in a race, not just the finish. Stay relaxed, focus on your form, and let your speed and power come naturally.


Most of you will probably know most of this already but it really struck a chord with me and the timing of reading it was good too. Hope I can put some of it to use at the end of October.

Really looking forward to Ratoath, hoping to put in a good performance to boost the ol' confidence!!

Miles for the week - 42.82
Miles for the year - 1132

Yes, some weeks in the plan will certainly leave you asking yourself all sorts of questions but I know enough now that sticking to it will see you right. It's sometimes the bits inbetween that leave me stumped.

As for FD, I'm reluctant to keep revisiting that particular event when I know there was every chance that it could have panned out better for me than it actually did. In some ways, it answered more questions for me than I'd have expected. Line officially drawn under that one.

As for this week, with the exception of Wednesday's threshold run, it's all easy miles but may have to cut something back after midweek.

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Nice week. Has the knee been behaving itself the last while?

Thankfully yes, it has A. It's all a distant memory now I'm happy to say.

Kellygirl wrote: »

I think we are all at high mileage now and tired and doubts creeping in. You seem nice and strong now so I think you’ll be just fine. Glad the knee is a distant memory.

Yeah you're probably right K. A lot of it comes from self-doubt, probably more than I actually realise. Unfortunately, it's something that seems to be in my genes! :rolleyes: