Just Do It

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Best of luck tomorrow D!

Thanks, hope recovery is coming on well for you.

*Spolier Alert* No mention of COVID19


Monday - 7.16miles @8.36 Easy 60 mins runmute

Tuesday - 6.89miles @8.29 easy 60 mins runmute

Wednesday 6.5miles @7.33 3x8mins at LT
Enjoyed this run around Marlay park in the calmest weather in weeks. It actually felt like summer as built up a sweat quick enough.

Thursday 3.57miles @9.00 Recovery Lap

Friday - Rest (usual couple of bike commutes)

Saturday - 3.14Miles@9.06 very easy run,
This was basically just a bit of a skip around Merrion Square. My legs felt really heavy and my GPS stopped working on my Garmin so wasnt the best prep. After a bit of googling, factory reset on the watch got the GPS back. Legs felt much better latter on after a 30 min cycle too.

Sunday About 16 miles in total with warmup and cool down

Bohermeen Half

Arrived up in plenty of time and parked up in the mud bath carpark.
Walked down then to community centre and did a couple of miles warmup on the track with E. I had a feeling then she would run a strong race so delighted all her training paid off and she was flying when I saw her run the last 100 Metres.

At the start, I got myself as far up as the 1.30 train. I managed to pass those balloons somewhere in first mile when it was starting to disperse a bit. Had it in my mind, I would run around a 6.45-6.50 first mile with crowds and was planning something similar for 2nd mile with terrain before I would try and progress. Anyway, first miles ticks in at 6.30 so needed a change of plan.

I decided then to try and run at this pace now as far as halfway and see what happens after that so next 5 miles were consistent,
6.31, 6.32,6.30,6.29, 6.27

Nice to see the crowds then at the halfway point. It gave me a bit of boost and the 7th mile ticked in at 6.24 and 8th at 6.20. I was feeling confident but now was starting to count down the miles and attempt the maths in my head.
I had spotted a guy, I'd say I haven't seen in bout 15 years at the start of race. I wasn't 100% sure if it was him but whoever it was he was a fantastic marker for me. He was never more then 100 yards ahead of me for 10 miles.

I cant remember exactly but somewhere in either my 9th or 10th mile, the hail shower blasted down from my right. I couldnt catch a full breath initially as it just seemed to come so quick. I preceded to run the next km or so with my head tucked into the left, taking an occasional glance in front. It was painful as I was isolated at this point. I broke my balls here to try and catch mini group ahead. As soon as i did, it stopped of course and suddenly felt like i was wearing a heavy winter coat now with the weight of my singlet.
Mile 9 - 6.22
Mile 10 - 6.27
Mile 11 - 6.29. Tougest mile on the track this for me as it seems to be such a long drag at late stage,
After getting through that mile, i pressed the gas to see if anything was there. Mile 12 clocked in at 6.18 and passed my target guy(turns out it was the guy I knew and nice to have a catch up after).
Legs were been good to me today and let me kick for the last mile, again crowds helped here. Clocked 6.10 for 13th mile and last 0.1 i did in 5.37 for a 8 and a half min PB of 1.24.04
I was delighted and took me a bit to take it in.

On to Cork Marathon next after Great Ireland run if it goes ahead of course. This has given me a bit of food for thought now on time targets. I strongly resent and dismiss the sandbagger comments. My plan for Cork now is sub 4

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Absolutely super stuff D, amazing pace all through and great strength in the latter miles.

Sky continues to be the limit for you!

Thanks a lot J.. Took a bit of inspiration from your clontarf half performance and report.

Very strange and eerie times we are living in.

I'm in week 3 of 14 week marathon plan for Cork. At the stage now, Ill prob just bump the specific marathon training and just revert more to a base stage again.
Personally, I don't see the benefit to doing a 2/3 hrs run when I would get more enjoyment of an hour run mixing paces and so on just to keep the head clear.

Lot more important challenges to deal with at the moment. One small instance as an example - I found it difficult explaining to my four year old that communication with his grandparents will be by video calls as opposed to in person for the next while, as one from each side fall into the high risk category. Trying to get my father to understand video calls now is a challenge itself :rolleyes:


Best of luck all

Suppose I'll keep this updated after reading a few other logs that were keeping me motivated.
Thinking ahead, might be interesting reading back in future recalling what I was doing/thinking during this bleak period.


Week 3 Cork Training



Mon 9th March - 3.42 miles @8.58 - Just a little recovery run around local block
Tues 10th March(60 mins easy) -6.79 miles @8.41 - Commute run home from work
Wed 11th - 60 mins moderate - 6.9 miles @7.52 - again commute. Turns out this could be my last one for some time
Thursday 12th - 8x3 mins at CV 6.7 miles @7.16 The day the schools closed. I knew at this stage, I wasnt going to kick on with the marathon plan now but decided to do the midweek session to let off some steam
Friday 13th - Didn't temp fate on the date and first day both of us working at home with 2 young kids-- OH Dear. If I didn't already have no hair, I would have pulled it out that day.
Saturday 14th - Easy enough 8 miles @8.20. Not too bothered on long runs at minute. I may do it when I feel like it but indifferent right now. I grouped this with dropping bike into repair shop and collecting on way back. I have 2 bikes that I rotate to commute but both needed a bit of a service and I reckon I will be using them a bit more now so wanted them in good condition.

Sunday March 15th - Another easy enough 8 miles around 2 local parks. Decided to go out again in evening for a recovery run.
8miles @8.25
3.10miles @9.01 recovery - 42 miles approx for week


Monday 16th - 6.01 Miles @7.11
A nice lunchtime run with some fartlek stuff. Got some nice paces here and there and recovery pace was approx 8mins.
Tuesday 17th Early morn run 7.44 @8.36. Strange paddys day morning where I didn't see a soul. A fox ran with me for about 50 yards or so which was a bit freaky. He was keeping the recommended 2 metres away however before he scaled a wall.
I found this whole day surreal. I decided to get out again that evening to hold myself off boozing too early. 3.25 Miles @8.43
Wednesday 18th - Starting to adjust with both of us working at home with kids. Its not easy at all but a bit of structure and planning is helping. I wasn't planning on getting out running till later that day but after a rather bleak work call involving the business and current climate, I needed to pound the pavements right then. 6.5 miles @7.42
Thursday 19th approx 10 miles @8.35.
Went out for a 7.5 mile early morning run. When I came home , realised all were still in bed so went out again for another 2.5 miles- sure why not.

Friday 20th 5.11 Miles @8.28 in the morn -might go out again later

Thank F**K for running. Its keeping me sane. Who knows how long we can run outside for but Ill enjoy it while I can. I have been thinking of doing a time trial in the last week, Probably will some morning but it will be a right then and there decision.

My back up is, I have a pretty basic exercise bike. Not the same as running of course, but I reckon I will be using it soon. The wait or how Leo put it, the calm before the storm/surge is frightening. I wish everyone was on the same page regarding social distancing. The happenings in Northern Italy is just horrific. If that cant get some people to understand, the only logical next step is a lockdown.
Stay safe

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Fair play getting on with it. We all need a bit of motivation when the events are off. A fox?! Mad.

I see the aul Urban foxes quiet regularly on my morning runs - very common my way. First time I had one as a running partner though.

I was going to update my last 8 days running individually there but looking back on Strava, I remember less then half of them and most are not very interesting.

Few pieces of interesting or not so interetsing things in those runs

• By complete fluke both my last 2 weeks have ended with 51.7 miles each week - as eerie as the times we live in.

• I have found a few nice routes now within 2km radius- Nothing really ideal for the 5k TT in April yet. I will need to improvise

• I ran past a lady this morn in her Bohermeen H/M running shirt and even though I smile or signal at fellow runners regularly, couldnt help but notice this lady was almost over smiling and laughing. I got conscious there was bogey or something hanging out of my nose until I realised I was also wearing the same top- ahhhh click
• I ran a 17.25ish 5k time Trial. I cheated though and wore the vapourflys and did it on which was also pointed out btw a handy short enough route. It was the full 5k though, so have to be happy considering I was delighted with my 18.31 in Jinglebells back in Dec
• Since the hour change, its been dark again when I'm going out in the morn so have seen a vast amount of Foxes but not many people. When I do see or cross people, every runner seems to be respecting social distance.

Other point of note
I'm trying to take the positives out of current situation where I can
My four year old learned to fully cycle in about 5 days last week from no starting point really. We just went out for 30 mins every day in a now deserted school yard until he got it fully. I'm not a big fan of stabilisers as believe its slows the learning progress so avoided them. To be able to go out for a few local miles cycle with him yesterday was simply brilliant and with the new independence his confidence has improved.Proud.

Treviso wrote: »

I think many people, myself included, would take a 17.25 5k time with vaporflys and short route - especially in a TT. Great running.

I must admit though that I'm happy to hear that you wore the vaporflys for this run. In a healthy competition way I'm trying to keep up with your improvements and that would've killed me off completely if you did that time without them :D

Dark horse for the 35-39 category in the boards TT - I will seek out a bookies for an each way bet

Cheers T.. FYI, Raheny 5, Bohermeen Half and 10K TT were all vapor assisted

Mon - 8 miles @8.11
At the min, I get up early, out the door, set the watch and just run. In these times, unless I Have a session planned I have no idea of which way I'm going to go. My legs seem to make the decision as my brain is still asleep. There seems to be a lot more options within the 2km radius then I would have thought.


Tuesday 7.25 mils @8.14
Similar run but slightly different route to Mondays


Wednesday 9.00 miles @7.13
I am not following any particular plan at the minute but taking a few sessions from the different Grad plans to vary things up a bit. This was a 3 x 10 mins at threshold effort in one of the local parks. Probably the best location to take on Time Trials, once its done early, as its a favourite spot for people to leave dogs off leads..


Thursday 6.32 Miles @8.39
Few vanilla miles as its seems to be known about here. Started to run around the back of Marlay park until I relaised it was too dark and area is unlit, so back tracked and just did a faimilar lap.


Friday 8.07 Miles :8.10
Testing out the north boundary of my radius. Still feels nuts even typing that really.


Saturday 7.3 miles @7.32
Was planning to do 5x3 mins for 5k here. Drank a little too much the night before so resigned to just doing 6x1 or 6x2. Changed my mind again once I got out and felt ok. Glad I did do the 5x3mins as felt great after this session in the end. Pace was a bit fast in some areas but my reps had a sneaky advantage in terrain compared to my off minutes.


Sunday 10.15 miles : 8.31
Just a grand easy enough run on the outskirts of the perimeter


56 Miles for week


Think I have now ran 24 days in a row, which is defo a first for me. Unless I injure myself again, I will probably just keep getting out every day for the mental health as much as the physical.

Saturday 8.01 Miles @7.23
Session planned here for 5x3.5 mins at 5k. I can still run early enough after a few drinks as I have always been a morning person but session not so much. I changed it to 5x2 mins instead and the reps had slowed after the first 3. My whole body was just giving out to me at this stage. I did the session part early enough in the run so was able to enjoy a further 4 miles a more moderate/comfortable pace.
Sunday 7.01 Miles @8.33
Had planned to do a lunchtime run today but when I woke up at 6am, I copped it was dry and YR weather had the rain coming for most of the day from 8.30 onwards. I got up and got out within a few mins then. My run was capped at the hour mark as needed to set up a Easter Egg hunt in the garden before the kids got wind of what I was at. It was just aswell I had capped it, as my legs were done in and wouldn't have been able for the extra 4 miles I may have done, had I ran later in day.


Approx 52 Miles for week and 30 day's on the trot now