Just Do It

Tuesday 8.05 miles @7.54 + 3 miles @8.42


Straight forward relaxed enough run in the morning. The opportunity was there to get out for another half hour in the evening so took it for a few recovery miles on grass.


Wednesday 6x 400, 3x200

Lunchtime run on grass up in Marlay Park. Lovely day although there was definitely a wind attacking me on some of these reps. Reps averaged 75 seconds for the 400 and 37 for the 200 which is what I was targeting. I was happy to hit them but recoveries went from a gentle jog to a crawl on the last rep. I don't mind that as could have been walking recoveries anyway but was hoping I didn't push the knee too much on this. The grass would have helped here though.


Thursday 7.79 Miles @7.54

No recollection but seemed a bit pacy after session for me

Friday 8.11 Miles @8.29

Slowed up the easy run here to more recovery pace to give the legs a bit of a break. Did the trick

Saturday 14 Miles @7.3


Up at the crack of dawn here and out the door just after half 5. I was back to get a lie down for 15 mins then before the kids were awake. I did 45 mins here of what I think would be my marathon pace if i was targeting sub 3(which I'm not of course ) Most of these miles were handy enough as elevation was kind on this section. A nice run but was tried enough for day. These early ones after a few cans the night before might be catching up on me a bit.


Sunday 6.22 Miles @8.14

This was planned for lunchtime but sure kids don't do plans. Out early and done for day and week now. Happy to hit 60 miles for week but will ease back closer to 50 next week followed by a step back week to coincide with 1mile TT. Thanks for reading.

Swashbuckler wrote: »

I obviously don't know the full history here but sub 17 5k runner, with a mile pace in or around 5 mins isn't targeting a sub 3? What am I missing?

Ah it's more a joke at myself. My predictions for some earlier races in the year on reflection were a bit sandbaggy. I put in a very aggressive prediction for 1 mile TT as a result. I will be targeting sub 3 at next attempt.

Laineyfrecks wrote: »

A bit :eek:

How very dare you?

Saturday 12.2 Miles @ 7.33
With the recent confirmation of DCM getting canned, I decided I would take in a few of the local miles on the route that are within my radius. Alternate MP miles with easy miles with the last 20 minutes all been easy. I had planned 45 mins of MP in a row but filled up on alcohol a bit much previous evening.

Sunday 5.7 Miles @ 8.27
few easy miles to wrap up the week - approx 55 Miles for week

Monday 7.4 Miles @ 7.54
Bot of a step back week this week. After getting lost trying a new route last week, I had another go to find this shortcut. If i had just ran straight rather then trying to be creative last week, I wouldn't have got covered in nettle stings. Anyway, this magic shortcut opens up a few more options for me now. Crossed 1,000 miles for year somewhere on this run.

Tuesday 6 Miles @7.21
4 x 400
75
75
75
74
2x200
36
35

Now if i could put those 400 metres together on saturday thats my 4.59 target - easy :eek:

Tuesday PM 3miles @8.31
Popped out again that evening as the kids were in bed a bit earlier after a busy day and wanted to give a trial run to the new Asica Novablast. Verdict - Comfy

Nothing spectacular then for the next few days. Wednesday and Thursday consisted of a couple of enjoyable 10km runs around Marlay Park. Nothing nicer then having that park to yourself early morning as the birds awake and squirrels scarper for the trees when they hear you coming. Friday was 5 easy miles with a few strides towards the end. It was hard work though as it was my birthday the day before and I may have filled up on cake and alcohol.

Saturday

No surprises I was up early here and out the door to attack this Time Trial. I was initially happy with my result(5.03,5.04) here then a little unhappy and my thoughts continued to flip flop on it as the day went on. I was working afterwards but wasn't getting much done thinking of that and FOMO of not been out in the great day.

I was happy with the time I achieved as my 4.59 prediction was a bit pie in sky I thought, although tinman had me in and around that after the 5k TT.
The frustration lay with the fact I left the sub 5 out there in Bushy Park. I simply went off a bit conservatively and didn't look at watch for maybe first minute. When I did it was reading 5.20 and i was hoping to see 5.10. I then thought I upped pace a little but clearly not as another minute later i was still averaging 5.20.
Half Way point, I pushed on and anytime I glanced at watch i was at approx 4.50 and was feeling good now. Don't get me wrong I wanted it to be over as much as the next person but I knew I would finish it at that pace.

As I was approaching probably 100 metres left, I looked at watch again and thought i was going to go sub 5. A man had come from nowhere(I'm sure he didnt, I just wasnt paying attention) and was slap bang in the middle of the path. I was too close to get past him on his right but as i went left i realised a tree was going to block me out trying to get back on path . I just decided here to do a hard left as only had bout 40 metres left. Unfort, I was now running on loose pebble stones and had to really concentrate on my footing . I was actually heading towards the bushes at the perimeter of the park and was just hoping that dam beep from my watch would tell me it was finally over. Eventually It did before I had to jump Beechers Brook. I probably leaked a second or 2 at the end due to this but I still may have been just outside 5 mins.

I think I can now go sub 5 and my stubbornness will dictate it will be the same venue the next time I try.

Sunday 10 Miles @6.47
Originally planned an easy few miles as it was due to be step back week. Instead I was awake early after been up a few times already due to the heat so just decided to get out the door at 6am. 60min tempo(ish job) which was exactly what was needed.

52 miles for week

Feeling more energetic and legs no where near as heavy as previous week. At this stage, I would like to have a race to use this fitness but sure it is what it is.


Monday 8th 5.33 Miles @8.18

Tuesday Double Runmute
AM 6.76 miles@8.09
PM 6.8 Miles@8.16
I will be making the trip now to the office once a week for time being. Few things just far easier to do from there than home. As long as I'm doing that, I decided I may as well run both ways. Previously when I was commuting, I would cycle in with my bag(clothes for 2 days) the first day and run home without it that evening. The following day I would run in and cycle home with the bag - rinse and repeat. Now, I will be carrying a bag both ways and increasing daily mileage so 'Ill travel as light as I can. The run in is pretty much all downhill so its hard to keep the pace in check sometimes. The way home is the opposite and is usually a drag.


Wednesday 6.39Miles @7.10
45 minute window here in the afternoon - did about 15 - 20 mins at tempo and only eased off the gas a bit before and after. Enjoyable run


Thursday 6.31 miles@8.12
Friday 7.13 miles@8.17

Saturday 12.01 miles @7.17
I took in a small bit of DCM route here from Rathgar up as far as UCD. I was going to go up Heartbreak Hill but that hill is a mere mound compared to Mount Anville Road which I would have had to take then to get back home. I Kept the pace consistently between 7.10-7.20 for entire run and felt very comfortable throughout. I was testing out the new pegasus37 for first long run which seem decent without blowing me over as such. This was a lunch time run and the humidity out was something else. I was wearing a new pair of shorts here too and nearly threw them in the bin after scraping them off.

Sunday 6.23 miles @8.19
Up and out early for a few easy miles. Did the lap around Marlay as opposed to inside it as it wasn't opened yet. I've no idea how I was up at 6.15am running as I had a fair few drinks the night before. I may not have been sober and napped when my youngest napped too around lunch time which probably proved it.

57 Miles for week and 93 days in a row


Monday 7miles@7.56
Early morning run before work-nothing to see here

Friday 5.10 Miles @8.15

Had planned to do about 8 miles here but knocked it on the head after 5 as was playing golf for first time in nearly a year shortly after. I shouldn't have bothered as I was spraying the ball everywhere but the fairway. Great to catch up with a couple of friends though.

Saturday 13.11 Miles @ 7.09

Did a warm up mile and was feeling very stiff- at this stage wasnt looking forward to what was ahead.
Once I sped it up , I felt looser. I did about 7 miles here starting off close to MP and getting closer to HMP by the 7th. I eased off then and did the last 5 miles at a moderate pace. Enjoyed that one.

Sunday 5miles @8.27

A recovery skip around marlay to notch up 100 consecutive days running. I think I will take a rest day now tomorrow.

This exact day last year, I got a pop up add on social media advertising the last chance entry for DCM on July 1st. I had never ran more then 2 days in a row or longer then 40 minutes for that matter(bar a couple of charity 10ks). I spent the next 10 days debating it.

The marathon site crashed on that July 1st date. After 30 extremely frustrating minutes, I gave up on an entry and was thinking, sure it was a nice idea anyway. I went off and made a coffee and I said for the craic, I will try one last time when I get back to my pc.
It only went and worked and I got my confirmation mail a few mins later.
I immediately panicked and was already looking for ways out of it
A few days and drinks later, I got myself a pair of runners and a garmin and started running like an eejit-way too fast with no plan. After a bit of googling and a gentle nudge, I fell upon the novice thread on here and it changed my whole approach after a few weeks.

A year on and I couldn't imagine my life without running now.

Tuesday
Enjoyed my rest from running on the Monday, although I spent hours gardening and lifting heavy loads between work meetings.
Straight back at it with 2 runmutes on Tuesday which combined to about 12.3 miles @8.17

Wednesday 8miles @6.48
4x8 mins at half marathon pace . I felt a bit tight around glutes and hamstring at the start so first rep was a bit sluggish. I got more in a rhythm as it went along and didn't feel any more tightness until after I stopped. Plenty of foam rolling afterwards.

Thursday 7miles @8.18
Couple of early mornin loops on the grass of Marlay to give the legs an easy time.

Friday 7.58 miles @7.58
Nothing really of note. I did a further 30mins @recovery pace in the late afternoon.

Saturday
I decided the previous day that I wanted to test where I was over 10km. I would have done this as part of the Boards TT next week, but I will be too tight for time, so opted for 10 mins on that day.
The 2nd run of 3.5 miles on Friday was to see where my legs were at. I had ran a 37.10 at start of lockdown in March, so I was hoping I might sneak under 37. I have done plenty of training since then which helps, but my diet hasn't been great in recent weeks. Few beers and choc bars has become the norm of late and got involved in both on Friday evening too.
Anyway, usual crack of the dawn stuff for me. Put on the vaporflys and ran towards Bushy Park where I did the mile TT recently. Its just under a mile loop so was going to do 7ish laps rather then think too much about routes. I speak in miles so I knew anywhere about 5.56 avg mile pace would get me the target.
Happy with how the first mile went but realised I may have miscalculated distance and may actually be 8 laps I needed to do.
First mile was 5.48. I noticed on the 2nd mile I had slowed a bit on the drag section of the lap. Was trying to keep it at 6.05 pace here but climbed closer to 6.15 pace. On the downhill part I was able to get closer to 5.40 so almost levelled it off - mile 2 clocked in at 5.56.
Even though this was bang on time with what I targeted, I felt like I had lost a bit of time so looked closely at time over 3rd mile.

This is where the mind starting playing games. The loops were starting to grind on me and had thoughts here of just now doing 5k. It turns out this was my fastest mile at 5.39 as I drove it on thinking of the possibility of an early finish. I got a 2nd wind when I saw time here and said sure 4 miles is a distance I never raced. Let's call this a 4 mile TT now.

Mile 4 was a solid 5.45 but I felt spent and if I continued doing loops the head was telling me 5 miles is your absolute limit. Half way through the 6th loop,I left the park for my sanity and took the DCM route from Terenure through Rathgar towards Milltown. ..Mile 5 was 5.48 which gave me a sub 29 mins for 5 miles. I wasn't prepared to jack it in now. I was finishing this by any possible means. My altered route had given me a new lease of life. Mile 6 was 5.48 and I just left everything out there for last part to post a 35.46 to my disbelief. The last couple of kms, I had a slight advantage with the gradiant but perhaps that levels out in a race situation- I duno..Either way I'm not bothered as I was chuffed and went home and made a full Irish and horsed it down.
Warm up and cool down had me hitting approx 12 miles in total for day.

Sunday 10 miles @8.14
Legs felt fine. I went through the motions here as I caught up on a couple of football podcasts.

60 miles from 6 days running

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

That’s a great run on your own.

Well done

TbL

Sweatlicker wrote: »

That's pretty spectacular

Laineyfrecks wrote: »

Super stuff D! Brilliant run & time

OOnegative wrote: »

That’s seriously impressive moving on your own D, fair play man.

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Wow thats some effort for a solo TT, well done! Fabulous time!!

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Awesome as always D!

Thanks all for the kind words. Much appreciated:)