"And why do we fall Bruce?"

August 24th- 5 miles at easy.
An out and back along the N5 after lunch. Timed it to coincide with collecting the kids from Cul Camp down at the local GAA pitch.
Average of 8:42/mile.

August 25th- 11 mile progression
Awful day out for this one, driving wind and rain. Was supposed to be a 15 mile run but only had a window to do 11 with dropping one of the kids to her friends house and my wife being on nights.
Tale of 2 halves with this run. First half into the wind and rain, tough enough going even at a relaxed pace. Practically jogging on the spot anytime a lorry rushed past me! Much easier second half with the elements at my back. Broke it into usual 3 phases- 3 @ 8:10, 4@ 7:50, and 4@ 7:30.
Absolutely soaked through when I got home. Uncomfortable shower moment after it due to mix of wet t shirt chaffing and nips
Average of 7:46/mile.

August 26th- 6 miles @ easy
Handy enough run in the bog road and back. Nothing too exciting about it. Amazing how different the weather was in just over 24 hours, lovely sunny afternoon out for this one.
Got home and took my runners off at the back door and walked into the kitchen, utility room, back into the kitchen, out to the hall and onto the stairs before something made me turn around and see a trail of bloody foot prints :eek: Ok, ok keep calm I might still get away with this as my wife is having her tea/breakfast before heading to work. Grab a wipe and get to work when my daughter comes down the stairs and asks what all that on the floor. She then goes to get her 2 brothers and loudly tells them to come on for a game of follow the treasure map trail! The gig was up, thanks blabber mouth!!
Average of 8:52/mile.

August 27th- 13 mile progression run
Parked up on the old main road on the way home from work. An out and back route for this one. The old main road is fairly boring as it goes through bog land so nothing of note to keep you distracted. Then into a back road that I haven't been on in an age.
A couple of minutes before getting to the halfway point I meet a couple of elderly women out walking. We exchange hellos and I move on. Do the turn around shortly after and few mins after there they are up ahead but they are going same way as me now. Its one of those back roads with grass growing up the middle of it and they are taking up the full width. It then starts raining so they put their hoods up so I'm now doubting whether they are going to hear me approach. I don't think a loud cough is appropriate in the present circumstances so resolve to loudly say Excuse me from about 15 metres behind them.
I come up to that mark and am about to say it when they have obviously reached their halfway point and do a U-turn. I absolutely lift them out of it with fright!! Make my apologies and continue on.
The run is again divided into the 3 pace groups from the 11 mile run. Only annoying thing is despite it being a quiet back road I have to pull in and stop 3 times to allow cars to pass me from behind.
Average of 7:44/mile.

August 28th- 7 miles GA with strides
Another day in the office so did this one on the way home from work again. Meant to do it at lunchtime but forgot to pack a towel, and even social distancing wouldn't save me there!
Ticked the miles off at GA pace. Took in an even quieter road than previous day for part of the run but yet again I had to stop and step into the grass bank to let cars pass on 3 occasions!
Only had to do 6 100 metre strides towards the end so handy enough day at the office.
Average of 7:44/mile.

August 29th- 18 miles with 13@ 6:50
The plan was for 16 miles with 12 at 6:50 pace but extended it out to partially make up for missed miles on Tuesday and said I'd keep going to half marathon distance at 6:50 pace if it felt ok.
Beautiful morning out to start, sun was absolutely beating down for the first half but it got progressively gloomier on the homeward bound section.
Started into the pacier miles after a 2 mile warm up. They went by reasonably comfortably tbh so pushed on into the 13th mile just to get a sub 1:30 HM time which is only the second time I've managed that. Almost 2 and a half minutes quicker than I did the Longford HM just over a year ago and felt I could have knocked a few more miles out at that pace (not another 13 mind or anywhere close!) so happy enough with that run.
Average of 7:05/mile.

Lambay island wrote: »

That going up on grass banks to let cars pass, must be very frustrating. Whats the story with the blood? Did you bring home some road kill for lunch?

Haha yeah I'm like a family pet here D bringing home the roadkill for praise!
The result of a crude job I did cutting my nails. A side career as a beautician doesn't await me!

The cars thing is annoying alright, like the road isn't even that narrow but they keep the car just ticking over behind me even when I slow down and skirt the extreme of the road until I stop to let them by. I'm obviously a double of a truck or tractor in their heads.
Even last year I remember it happening to me with a woman in a jeep who was coming up behind me and there was a clearing not far up ahead where I could have moved into to let nervous nelly pass me but no she starts beeping the horn for me to clear the road straight away!!

Murph_D wrote: »

In Donegal you get a lot of cars just whizzing past. Have experienced a few that were too close for comfort, so i usually step into the ditch now whenever I hear anything coming from behind. Have picked up a few ticks for my trouble! :eek:

They were on ya that quick, flip. Make sure and keep an eye on the bite marks if ya ever get one again, a work colleague had an awful time of it with Lymes Disease.

Sept 7th- 15 mile progression run

Work stuff and kids swimming lessons meant I didn't get out for this run until almost 8 pm. Headed of with the hi viz and carrying the head torch to stick on later in the run. Had no route in mind so went up and down a mish mash of local roads on a whim. Hit the 3 pace ranges handy enough.
Average of 7:48/mile.

Sept 8th- 6 miles @ easy

An up and down along the old main road. Nothing very exciting but absolutely lovely afternoon out for a run.
Average of 8:52/mile.

Sept 9th- 12 miles with 7 @ 6:30

Did this one around the bog loop on the way home from day in the office.
Legs felt heavy enough all day so was dreading this one and suffered a severe lack of motivation for even getting out of the car once parked up. Headed up the road away from the loop just to add on distance to ensure I wouldn't have to run past the car at the end to reach 12 miles.

Even in these warm up miles I was procrastinating like mad and asking myself what's the bloody point of this! Finished the 3 miles at GA warm up and talked myself into it. Played mind games with myself to keep me going with stuff like "get to 5k anyways for Strava, ok lets get to 30 mins at this pace etc. etc."! Passed a farmer trying to move cattle into a holding pen along the road around one corner. of course me motoring by gave them a fright so had to shout in an apology Got through it eventually with all 7 miles completed with splits of 6:31, 6:27, 6:23, 6:22, 6:22, 6:21, 6:23. So sub 40 for the 10k for a second fastest time for the distance according to Strava afterwards.
Average of 7:02/mile.

Sept 10th- 6 miles @ easy

A run over the border and into Leinster for this one. No major carry over from yesterdays session. Most difficult thing was doing it less than an hour after dinner! The youngest lad came home from school the previous day with a bit of a runny nose etc. so of course I picked it up too.
Average of 8:58/mile.

Sept 11th- 22 mile progression run

Supposed to be doing this run over the weekend but our eldest was making his communion on the Saturday and while my wife is very understanding and accommodating when it comes to my running I wasn't going to push it!

Out just after 7am on a horrible murky grey misty morning. First few miles were a bit uncomfortable as I was a bit chesty from the cold I picked up but this cleared about 20 mins in. Just a matter of ticking through the miles after that with every 2 miles bringing me another 9% of the distance completed (anything to keep my mind distracted!).
Took in the bog road route for this one. Had my water stashed 5 miles into the run and was able to incorporate a 5-6 mile mini loop to come back to it a few more times. Happy to get thru the 3 pace ranges for the run as planned although once I went thru 18 miles and each mile after I had that internal battle where I'm telling myself I have ran far enough now to justify stopping the watch and saving it while stopping to walk/break. Thankfully I ignore it to complete the full run!
Average of 7:47/mile.

Was supposed to get out on Sunday for a recovery run but my nose was like a tap so thought better of it and gave it a pass on this occasion.

The Longford Royal Canal Marathon which I was training towards got canned yesterday. Not unexpected but still disappointing. Will see out the remaining weeks of the plan and see where it takes me.
I put 26.2 miles into the Garmin Connect route planner when I heard just for the giggles. First route it gave me was up around Sliabh Ban and the wind turbines, second go at it and it was sending me thought the busiest streets in Longford town, eh no thanks!!

Sept 14th- 8 miles GA with strides

First lunch time run while in the office in a good while. Very quiet along the full route now that the schools are back. Handy 6 miles before getting into the strides. 10 x 20 second efforts with 40 seconds off in between. I probably do these too fast but nice to push the legs all the same.
Average of 7:40/mile.

Sept 15th- 15 mile progression run

Started this along the canal in Clondra. Took in a new gravel path I noticed a few week ago to see where it went, just out into the middle of a now disused Bord na Mona bog to one of the old railway lines so had to double back. Then took in the path along the canal for a few miles before looping back onto the public road and back into Clondra village. Felt comfortable going through the 3 pace zones but considering they are only in the "hopeful MP pace" + 10-20% that should be the case!
Average of 7:42/mile.

Sept 16th- 6 miles at easy.

Back in the office again today so just a handy shuffle during lunch break.
Average of 8:56/mile.

Sept 17th-9 miles with 5 x 600m intervals.

Trip around the bog loop. 3 miles at GA pace before starting into the intervals. Was looking to keep them around the 5:45 pace but started each and every one too fast meaning they came in at 5:41, 5:31, 5:27, 5:26, and 5:34. Thankfully the plan didn't have a 6th interval!!
Average of 7:30/mile.

Sept 18th- 18 mile progression run

With my wife working the weekend and one of my sons having a football match and my daughter starting back at stage school I brought this run forward to Friday as I knew I wouldn't get it in over the weekend.
Really warm out so stashed a bottle of water along the route before starting into it. Nothing too exciting about the run, just a matter of chugging through the miles.
Average of 7:44/mile.

As I write this I still have that head cold, feel fine apart from the need to never go anywhere without making sure I have some tissues with me. Its not affecting my running but my running probably isn't helping me get over it! Will keep trucking for now.

September 28th- 9 miles GA with 5 x 600 metre intervals.

WFH again today so fitted this one in before lunch and first of the school pick ups. Out around the bog loop again. Decided to push these intervals a bit more this week as there was only 5 and they were short. First one at 5:28, second one I had to ease well off in the middle of it to let a car safely by me before getting back up to speed again and got it at 5:29, next at 5:26 but really feeling it now. Hit that awkward hill again during the 4th for a 5:31 and was well bet for the 5th at 5:34. Obligatory stop at the end of this one to catch my breath before the shuffle home.

Sept 29th- 14 mile progression run

Legs felt lethargic even before setting off on this one. Chanced taking in the quiet road where I got caught having to pull onto grass bank last time but no problems this time. Met those couple of women that I inadvertently frightened the last time but met them head on both times today so no frights today! The lethargic feeling went after a few miles and hit the 3 pace blocks with no issues.

Sept 30th- 6 miles easy with strides

Legs defo felt tired today for this lunch time run from the office. Easy pace just under 9 minute miles with 6 20 second strides towards the end, was able to push these out but glad it was 6 and not 10 all the same.

Oct 1st- 4 miles at easy

Legs had that drained feeling again today so just a handy out and back during lunch time in the office again. Was actually in the plan for 5 but took a mile off because of that lethargy.

Oct 2nd- Tarmonbarry Virtual 5 mile race

Had been really looking forward to this one before Covid happened and cancelled everything just to get a feeling for racing something shorter.
Took it on as a virtual race just to see how I had progressed if anything in this marathon training block.
Initially had an aim of sub 30 mins for it but had that drained type feeling in the legs the last couple of days so wasn't at all confident about this one at all. Procrastination was the order of the morning before finally biting the bullet.
A 1 mile warm up in our lane and out with a few strides thrown in before I toed the start line. Profile wise the first mile is the easiest having a nice 400 metre downhill bit in it so planned to attack from the start and see how I felt. First mile came in at 5:49 and I was motoring nicely. Took a gamble and kept the pace up in a misguided belief I could bank the time so mile 2 came in at 5:49 again.
In off the main road now doing the back road loop and the pain train was definitely on the way. halfway in and I'm frigged. Negative thoughts are flooding my head and its begging me to call it a 5k TT and just jog the loop tomorrow instead as a "training run". Managed to tough it out but pace had dropped and this mile was in at 6:03. Hadn't done serious damage to my sub 30 min goal so kept plugging along. Managed to lift it for Mile 4 and got in at 5:57 to erase the loss in the previous mile.
Last mile and I'm well and truly in the red zone. First part of it is a uphill that is actually short enough but feels like Everest now and I can feel the pace fall and fall which my watch confirms. Eventually reach the peak and now I have the benefit of a downhill into the village. in my minds eye I had pictured this as the start of a glorious sprint to the line but that isn't happening but I'm able to lift the pace. Into the village and safely across the N5 and its another uphill towards the finish at the football pitch. I'm looking at my watch almost the whole time now and I now know the course is measuring short. Cross the finish line and my watch says 4.90 miles. Balls, would feel bad at not finishing the 5 mile so keep going and eventually hear the beep not far from the start line.
Exhausted and doubled over with that metallic bloody type taste at the back of my mouth, a sensation I haven't felt in a long time. Happy to record 29:45. Short cool down to finish it out.

Oct 4th- 16 mile progression run

Absolutely horrible morning for this one. My wife was working and I had to be back for my son's u10 GAA game more so because I'm one of the coaches so had to cut the distance back from the planned 20 miles.
Headed into and around Longford town for this one as I hadn't headed in this direction for what felt like a long time.
First block of miles were handy out with the driving wind and rain at my back. Was able to hit all the prescribed paces handy enough but Mile 14 was tough, heading right bang straight into the wind and rain. My light rain jacket felt like a full on parachute here, filling up and slowing me down. Still managed to hit the 7:30 pace so I'm hoping what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!!

Oct 5th- 6 miles @ easy

Did this one in and out of a cul de sac in Clondra. Nothing memorable at all about it looking back now a week later.

Oct 6th- 11 miles GA with 5 x 1200 metre intervals

Oh I remember this one alright! With the new restrictions coming in at midnight I said I'd head into the edge of Longford town and home again as I wouldn't be able to cross the Shannon on a training run for a while.
Blustery out but no rain thankfully. 3 mile around the 8 min/mile pace and then into the first of the intervals. Had aimed to do the 5 intervals at 5:45 pace. First 2 were fine as I had the wind at my back so these came in at 5:43 both times. Into the headwind for the next one and felt a bit tougher but not hugely so and got in at 5:44. Next interval also into this headwind and again came in at 5:44.
During the recovery after this interval I suddenly got that sinking feeling of rumbling deep in my gut and I'm still 4 miles from home
Start into the 5th interval and have to slow down and then speed up again a few times as the discomfort continues. Ultimately drop the pace towards the end or I'm risking 2 types of runs :eek: This interval comes in at 5:55!!
Uncomfortable shuffle home after this, such a relief to eventually see this one out!

Oct 7th- 10 mile progression run

Loop around the bog again. Another unremarkable run but hit all the paces as required to put it in the bank.

Oct 8th- 8 miles GA with strides

A loop around again after work. 10 x 20 second strides in the latter part of the run. Lovely day out to make it an enjoyable one.

Oct 10th- 17 mile progression run

Was supposed to get out for a 5 mile recovery run the previous day but work ran late and I then had the u10 GAA coaching to do so didn't have time to get it done.
Out just after 7am for this one. Pretty dark out but I knew it wouldn't take too long to brighten up so didn't bother with hi viz. Would only be along the main road for the first mile anyways before hitting the bog loop where it was highly unlikely to meet any traffic. Think it was into Mile 5 before I could read my watch properly without hitting the light. Pretty cold out but not an issue after the first 10 mins. Hit the 3 designated paces with no issues and didn't see a single other person out the whole way around!

New restrictions means the route I had in mind for solo marathon that was taking in the majority of the Longford Marathon course is now not a runner.
Have a new course sorted that takes in our local GAA club 3/4 marathon route with a few loops added in. It's not the most inspiring of routes with long stretches of the route taking in nothing but trees, scrub and bog but it is what it is I guess.

Oct 19th- 6 miles GA with 2 @ 6:50

Working outside today and even with wet gear on I got drowned so changing into the running gear and heading out in the rain was no big deal.
Up and down the old main road. Last 2 miles were done in 6:45 and 6:47 but nowhere near as comfortable as I was hoping they would be

Oct 20th- 4 miles @ easy

WFH today so headed out before lunch. Just in our lane and then a visit of the harbour and couple of housing estates in the village. Raining again so no problems maintaining a social distance!

Oct 21st- 4 miles @ easy

Just up and down the main road again, seen more cattle than people during the course of it. I was originally including this stretch in my length of the parish marathon route but maybe no harm ditching it as its a pretty boring route- dead straight and nothing but bog and scrub to look at.

Oct 22nd- 4 miles @ easy

In the office today so headed out at lunch time just running up and down a few of the roads beside the office. Eerie looking in at the Golf Course on a glorious afternoon and not a person in sight.

And that's that! 18 weeks of the plan done covering over 1000 miles.

I'll take 1 final look at the weather forecast later but its looks pretty similar for both tomorrow and Sunday so I'll probably head out tomorrow morning. Course is a mish mash of the local 8k route, my bog loop and a spin over the Shannon into Longford and a loop of the village harbour.
I'm apprehensive about the mental side of it as I really struggled not to throw in the towel in the local GAA clubs virtual race and that was only 5 miles!
I could probably rope a friend in to cycle the last 6 miles with me but think I might feel a bit self conscious of not chatting away to him so think I'll go solo.

And so after 18 weeks training and over 1000 miles covered in the plan it was all down to a Saturday morning in late October.
I wouldn't be sharing the streets of Dublin with 1000s of fellow competitors instead it was just me, my thoughts and the boreens of Co. Roscommon.

Sink or Swim, success or failure, sub 3 or not.

One of the advantages of a virtual race instead of the real thing was that I was able to sleep in my own bed, get ready in my own time and start when I wanted and not be under the same type nerves and pressure.
Got to bed early on the Friday night but had a broken nights sleep thanks to the monsoon conditions outside with driving wind and rain belting the window and filling me with dread for what lay ahead. Our youngest then decided to burrow his way into our bed at 4am and start his phantom kicking routine!
Got up at quarter past 6 and had my breakfast of porridge and banana with water and a salt tab. Took it easy for the rest of the morning trying to get my game face on by listening to Lose Yourself by Eminem and looking at my favourite Batman clips on YouTube!
Eventually the time for procrastination came to an end and I made my way out our lane and up to the main road with my wife and 3 kids in tow. Walked towards the village a bit before turning around to face my route, a quick blessing and off I went to rapturous applause from my support!

The first part of my trip was to do the 5 mile loop around Clonmore that made up the route for the recent St Barrys GAA virtual race that I had taken part in.
Ghost me from that race disappeared into the distance as I attempted to zone in and hold the magic 6:52 pace. Judging my pace and trying to zone in on it is far from a strength of mine so I had set my Garmin to show lap pace and I hoped adding (please no subtracting) the cumulative seconds would prove a distraction for the trip.
Pretty fresh morning out especially in my singlet but i didn't want to be stripping layers later. First couple of miles are full of self doubt as i try and acclimatise to the required pace and settle in. Have to tell myself that i managed 15 miles at this pace the previous month so just to relax and let things take care of myself. 2 miles in and i have a welcome tailwind on the first back road off the N5 and I'm finally getting used to things.
Absolutely nobody out until i meet a friend of mine heading in the opposite direction on his own morning run, quick thumbs up and before I know it 3 miles are ticked off. I also do a quick check to make sure my water bottle and gel for Mile 15 is still in place where I had left it the previous night and thankfully it is!
Pass my old national school (my kids current one) for the first of 3 times and now I'm back on the dead straight Ballytoohey road into my home village of Tarmonbarry. This section of road is also where i and many other of the local kids would have made our road running debuts. The GAA clubs annual road run always had a kids 1 mile race on this stretch. The kids race is a much more sanitised thing now of just a lap around the walking path behind the GAA pitch.

Back into the village and a potentially tricky junction with the main N5. The filling station is right on the junction with entrance and exits onto the main road. Thankfully I time it when there are no cars moving so I can continue unopposed without breaking stride. Going up the incline to the GAA pitch now and in the distance I can see my family waiting for me. As i get nearer i can see they have been busy with homemade posters :pac:
My youngest has my water bottle and gel secured to it with an elastic band and he does a good job of passing it over without me having to break stride. It will be another 15 miles before I'm passing this point again and I can't help wondering what kind of shape I will be in by that time.
I had been doing a good job of adding up my accumulated time under 6:52 but seeing the gang had distracted me and I missed my watch beeping for mile 5 so I would have to change the screen to accumulated time approaching mile 6 to calculate the accumulated seconds I had banked, a nice distraction if nothing else.
Anyway the first 5 miles passed with splits of 6:50, 6:45, 6:45, 6:45 and 6:46.

Back down the hard shoulder of the N5 again but this time i was heading into the bog loop i use quiet a bit. This is the longest individual loop with my 5k limit but it's so quiet and uninspiring that I've only incorporated 1 of this loop into the total route.
One thing this road does have (apart from the grass centre dividing it down the middle!) is lots of trees and scrub so I'm sheltered from the wind. Keep the pace pretty consistent past the bogs where I once soldiered during school summer holidays footing turf (slave labour!) and before i know it I'm passing the first house on the loop almost 2 miles in. Hard to believe but on the other side of the road is one of those old school houses, different times. Up and over the hill I use for hill sprint intervals and I'm heading for erra townland which has 7 houses and cattle sheds in close proximity before veering out into old Bord na Mona bog land again. If this was the American Wild West this place would now be one of those eerie ghost towns. It's when i pass these houses and my watch beeps for Mile 9 that I'm really feeling fully relaxed and at ease. Again this stretch has absolutely nobody out!
Before i know it I'm collecting my next water bottle and gel from the grass verge by the bord na mona railway crossing and its 10 miles done. These miles beep through at 6:40, 6:48, 6:47, 6:48 and 6:44.
It starts raining around here but light enough and it doesn't last long so it has a nice refreshing feel to it. Finally off the quiet road onto a connecting road thru another part of the bog but i have to do a small 1 mile mini loop back on myself before i can continue my journey. Just past the 12 mile mark and i finally encounter another living person! Another runner, this time i don't know who it is, a quick nod of respect and The watch beeps for mile 13 completed just before I re-join the N5 and head back into the Clonmore loop again.
My next focus is solely on reaching my bottle and gel at mile 15 and then it's into unknown territory at this pace. Confidence is building though and I'm still feeling good, relaxed and under no pressure. The marathon is an unforgiving mistress though so not a time to get too cocky.
These 5 miles beep through at 6:43, 6:50, 6:47, 6:42 and 6:44 and the accumulated time is still steadily building up.

A short skip and step to stoop for my water and caffeinated gel at the 15 mile mark and I'm heading back to my old school for a second time. Start to get that lovely effortless feeling now but I'm still taking nothing for granted and there's a lot of work to do. Back up the long ballytoohey stetch and back into the village for a second time.
This time I'm turning left at the junstion and heading for Longford. Over the bridge and into Leinster for the first time. around not whther its the palcebo effect of taking the caffeine my pace is naturally increasing and i just go with it. This is a lovely feeling that extends the full 2+ miles of the loop around Clondra village and back over the Shannon into Co. Roscommon. I'm determined to extend this feeling now and push on up the incline to the pitch and i can see my gang in the distance already waving and hollering. This time it's my daughters turn to make the pass over of water and gels and it goes just as smoothly as last time.
This was the junction of the run I was most nervous about since i now had 20 miles in the bag but was running within about 200 metres of my home and all it's comforts. i had dreaded tiredness winning me over as well as mentally being worn down by the reality of it not being a real race.
Thankfully the 18 weeks of the plan have done their thing and it feels like I'm sprinting past my family now to take on the last 10k. These miles clock in at 6:40, 6:43, 6:38, 6:31 and 6:26.

Back down the N5 for the third and last time and I'm no longer looking at the watch, I know I'm well inside the 6:52 pace and banking decent time with each mile. Back into Clonmore but to lengthen out the run I take a detour off this road and loop back on myself to take in the lower Clonmore road (Yes Clonmore is such a metropolis that it has both an upper and lower road!). These last 3 miles click in at 6:26, 6:24 and 6:35.

With my mental arithmetic I know i have just over 4 minutes now in my back pocket and if I keep this pace i can go sub 2:55. However around here I can feel the phantom pain off a calf cramp. i had actually woke a few times at night during the week with a bloody cramp in this calf so i think it might be best to ease back a bit and protect it rather than run the cramp gauntlet. 2:59:59 was always the goal today anyways.
Back past my school for the last time, many the time I had to walk the journey to and from school as a 5 year back in 1 car per household times so i just had to keep ticking over and the goal would be reality. Mile 24 comes in at 6:37. The dream is so so close now as i head up the Ballytoohey stretch, just need to keep the legs turning over but that phantom pain is steadily growing. Finally into the village and left at the junction again and the penultimate mile comes in at 6:40. Just starting into the 26th mile through the village and that cramp stabs deeply into my calf causing me to miss my step and almost fall and face plant. Bloody hell that would have been some DNF.
No choice but to adjust my stride and ease off the pace but keep going around the loop down and around the lock harbour in Tarmonbarry. I'm back glancing at the watch now and i can see the pace slipping. I have 1 last goal though and that's to finish with 26 individual sub 7 minute miles. So no choice but to push on again and back up the incline to the GAA pitch. This mile thankfully comes in at 6:52.
Things have gone so well that in the distance I can't see my family out as I've come back sooner than expected. I have to run past our lane to reach the virtual finish line and passing it i see the 4 of the making their way up and their shouts of surprise. Eventually i pass the finish line and delighted to have completed the run in an unexpected 2:55:25.

Another bonus of the virtual run is that I'm able to hug the gang shortly after completing it. It's also nice to be able to get into a shower just a few minutes later and be panned out on the couch shortly after that. Ok it doesn't compare to the buzz of the last 2 miles of Dublin last year but still!

It's still a bit surreal to have landed sub 3 even if it's unofficial. Never in a million miles did I think it was possible after my disaster in Dublin 2 years ago. Once again I have to thank the support of the community in here for keeping me motivated throughout the block when it looked more and more likely that a virtual was going to be the only show in town. Was great reading the logs of people like Lambay Island and Murph_D on here and Strava who were in the same boat. Also a shout out to Treviso who noticed i wasn't incorporating the progression element into the Long runs and let me know!
One of the most enjoyable parts of it was that I never felt under any major pressure or going into the red zone apart from the calf cramp issue late on. Looking forward to a month of nice easy runs and might look at some form of TT after that to cash in a bit more on the bank of training but no pressure.

Apologies for the length of this report!! As much for my memories safe keeping as anything else!

Oh yeah and now I've fully risen and earned redemption!