Just Do It

Thanks to all for the pre 'Race' good lucks etc. It wasn't something I was expecting for a TT.

I took it easy the few days leading into the TT following a plan that L had set up.
I struggled even to complete that, with the back issues from last week. I wasn't quite 100% going into this weekend but I kept telling myself and others otherwise.
I slept poor due to a combination of things and only had about 3-4 hours shut eye. It wasn't a big deal though as had slept well the previous 2 nights.
The route I picked was tough and this was pointed out to me a few times. I simply picked it as it allowed the family to see me at their convenience. It also meant I didn't have far to go to get into a warm shower afterwards.
The big plus though was the weather conditions were perfect. It was about 9 degrees and no wind or rain.
I was up at stupid o clock having a bit of breakfast with the TV on. I was actually watching the tail end of the Rugby between New Zealand and Australia as my prep. It seemed crazy but liberating to see a full crowd of 50 thousand at the match without a mask in sight - I long for that again.

26.2 TT

Miles 1-7
I had 4 loops of 6.2 miles and a mini loop of 1.4 miles to complete. I did the mini loop first to get it out of the way and then kicked into the main loop for the first time. The main takeaway I had from the first few miles is that, I just didn't get the feeling of fresh tapered legs. They felt a bit laboured so there was no danger of going off too fast. I brought my phone so my wife and 2 running buddies could track me on Garmin Live Track. Since I had the phone, I brought the ear buds and listened to the last couple episodes of 'Where is George Gibney'. I was an emotional wreck then so ditched the earphones at my drinks/gel station at start/finish line after first loop. Despite me starting at 06.50, my wife and kids were there to give me a cheer here to my pleasant surprise.
6,53, 6.42, 6.52, 6.46, 6.52. 6.46, 6.42,

Miles 8-14
I wasn't long into this loop when I got a bit of a left hamstring twitch on one of the climbs. It was immediately followed by a something similar in my back. I just pretended it wasn't there and hoped it would go away. They both did(thank god) when I eased the pace a tad. My bro in law met me half way through loop in his car and gave me some water. He was then spinning around back to start to get ready to join me for the 3rd Loop. I went through half way point somewhere between 1.28 - 1.29 which was on the button for what I had planned. The plan was simply sub 3 - Even enough splits, leaning towards slight negative split if body allows.
6.36, 6.41, 6.42, 6.40, 6.38, 6.51, 6.46

Miles 15-20
As I said above the bro in law joined me here for start of this loop. He had a gel open and bottle of water waiting to hand to me- Class. The plan here was him to do 3 or 4 miles with me and get ahead of me coming up to road crossings as more chance of traffic now then when I started. The family had moved and gave me another big cheers around here somewhere. Roll forward 4 miles , I was feeling good as I left him to his shout of encouragement as I approached Dundrum Town Centre for the third time. I was only running alone here now for approx 2 mins when my friend came to meet me. He was planning to do last 6.2 mile loop with me but joined me with just over 8 miles to go which was great for the company and pacing. For anyone who knows it, there is a hill that comes out of Dundrum village up Barton Road which is a fairly steep short hill but then a drag for another 200 metres. I eased myself up it every time but on the 3rd loop , I remember thinking I will really feel this next time. Its at the 4 mile marker of the route.
6.44, 6.47, 6.40. 6.35 , 6.43 , 6.47

21- to end
The family were there to cheer me on again at start of last 10k loop. I grabbed a bit more water and C asked me how was I feeling? I said "Good". With a wry smile, he goes you know this sub 3 is in the bag right? Do you think 2.55 is on? was his next question? mmmmmmm, I hesitated and said lets just sit between 6.40-6.50 for next ten mins then I will see how I am. The ups, downs, road crossings, road works avoidance etc was taking energy out of my legs. The plan was simply sub 3 today(no macho heroics D). He recently went sub 5min for a mile and sub 3 for a 1km so I was afraid he would gone half way down the road if I said yes . I shouldn't have worried he was absolutely brilliant in supporting me home. I was still feeling ok passing Balally luas approaching DTC for the last time but was very content in getting home now and not pushing the pace for last 3 miles. My first and only road crossing issue of day came here. Lights were against me and cars started to pull off as I approached. We took a sharp left to keep moving and searched for an opening. I misread C signals as my concentration levels were low. He got across and got my self caught in no mans land(Agh you eejit D). I eventually got across a second or 2 later and wasn't bothered about losing a couple of seconds. The issue was that I lost my rhythm. C eased us slowly back into marathon pace but 6.45 was now suddenly harder to get too. 6.50-55 was manageable still. I was very comfortable for 23 miles but I had a bit of a challenge on my hands all of a sudden. Approaching Barton road hill, I eased up for the final time. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be scaling the hill. The issue was now my pace was leaking downwards and trying to get back to 7 min mile pace for last 2 miles was proving difficult despite a flat section. I wasn't sore as such but my legs were beginning to say enough is enough. There was also a psychological element here. I knew the last mile was a climb. P my bro in law joined us again for the last mile. They knew I was tiring, well because I told them so They both got out in front to ensure there were no walkers, buggies, cars pulling out of driveways. This helped alot as it was one less thing to worry about.

In a weird way I was still feeling ok on the last KM , but I was slowing down all the time. As I approached the end I could hear the cheers from my wife, kids and some other inlaws. It was brilliant but funny at same time. Due to a distance miscalculation, we had to run another 100 metres up the road. I wanted to clock at least 26.26 Miles. I collapsed to my Knees once I hit that distance with time of 2.57.44. Strava had me at 2.57.22 for a PB Marathon. I was chuffed. The lads were a great help keeping me relaxed and secure in the latter stages.
6.38, 6.43, 6.43, 6.54, 6.55, 7.07, 1.58


Few cans were had then, including one while I lay in the bath

Today, I'm sore all over as expected.

This has given me food for thought now. With a fairer route in a race, (without wanting to sound arrogant)I would be fairly confident of been able to go sub 2.55 and getting closer to 2.50. I have decided, I wont take on marathon training again unless I can be sure there is a race at the end of it.

Not sure what I will do next. I think I want to revisit that sub 5 minute mile at some stage soon. I have changed my Virtual marathon entry next week for the 4 miler so Ill do that easy i'd imagine. It may be my next run.

Thanks for reading

Itziger wrote: »

Good stuff, lad. Very good report to mirror a fine strong run. Little doubt that you'll improve on that time in a real one and easier course and all (But right now I'm happy to say we have an almost identical marathon PB!!)

Cheers..You have the one up here:) Mine isn't an official PB

crisco10 wrote: »

Nicely done. Not sure of your exact route, but guessing it involved roughly loops between Marlay area and Dundrum which is a tricky course alright. Especially in loops.
I hadn't even thought of how useful pacers would be as a "traffic escort" !

Well done and enjoy the sub 3hr buzz!

Thanks
Bascially started in Ballinteer near Marlay. Then up towards m50 slip road south bound, down past beacon hotel in sandyford. Then down towards Goatstown direction. Left at Kilmacud Road Upper down past Luas and shopping centre, right down Ballinteer avenue and up Barton Road as far as nutgrove roundabout. Left back up towards Marlay. The 'traffic escort', I only thought of during the first two solo loops.

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Many congrats D. Great report but an even better race and performance.
You have made unbelievable progress this year made all the more impressive with the times we now live in.
Enjoy the Bulmers!!

Cheers J. Best of luck this wkend. What day are you running btw?

Swashbuckler wrote: »

Super stuff D. And in a TT no less. Makes it all the more impressive.

Cheers. I should have given you the live track link rather than you damaging your screen from refreshing strava

Murph_D wrote: »

Well done, sir! *applause

Thanks. Not sure if you are doing the virtual or TT but best of luck if you are.

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Way to crush a TT. Just catching up on your report. Great to have some support out on the run, a marathon TT is a long one! The fact that your "fight" kicked in 2.5 miles to go would indicate there is lots more to come. But the thing I hate most about this forum is the immediate calling out of what your next, often unreasonable, goal should be :rolleyes: Bask in the fact that you went sub3 out the gate, not many have achieved that

Then recover and plan.

Well done, well deserved result for the dedicated early morning consistency!

Thanks for the kind words M.


Just to be clear on this, I was absolutely delighted to go sub 3 and still am buzzing about it to be honest.


In terms of my next goals, I am not influenced by the forum here. I feel under no pressure whatsoever to post anything on that.


The reason I posted that was more for myself than anyone else. This is my personal running log that I happen to share with others. Whatever aspect of my life, as in work, personal or running - putting down targets on paper or in print will simply encourage me to achieve them.

Laineyfrecks wrote: »

I agree 100% D, everyone's log is a personal thing, what they include in it, their style of doing it etc...all personal. Like you said when I put a target on my log it's more so that I am held accountable to myself, great to achieve it but if I don't then see what or where it maybe went wrong!
Inputs from other people are greatly appreciated but wouldn't highly influence me either when it comes to targets.

Glad you're still enjoying the buzz

Yeh E, the input is great. Most on here are more experienced than me so I have learned lots from this in the last year or so.

Monday 2nd - 4.25 Miles@7.04
This was the mona fartlek session I previously did towards the end of the marathon block. I wasn't as sharp as I was back then(plenty of boozing in previous couple of weeks) but was nice to get a bit of speed. 20 Minute workout was perfect due to time constraints that morning.

Tuesday 3rd - 6.22 Miles @8.23 - easy miles around Marlay

Wednesday 5.04 Miles @6.57
Again, I was limited with time here. I had decided I wanted to have a tilt at a sub 3min 1k in the next 10 days so needed to work something towards it. The tester i did the previous week led me to think I should be able to get there. This was simply 4 x 400 , 2 x 200 at the desired pace to get the legs used to the pace. I kept the recoveries honest and kept the pace steady for the rest of the run.

Thursday 6 Miles @8.24 - easy miles around Marlay again

Friday 4 Miles @7.28
This was a bit of a bonus run due to a meeting finishing eerly. I had 30 mins before I needed to collect the young lad from school so did laps of the local pitches. I had already done 20km on indoor bike in the early morning as wasn't expecting to get out.

Saturday 14.3 miles @ 8.08
First time in 2 lockdowns, I ventured outside of my 5km. I needed some sort of real life social interaction so needs must and all. Met a friend and we ran the Bray to Greystones cliff run. It was early morning and hardly a cloud in the sky. The views were spectacular and one of the most enjoyable runs I have had in recent times.
He knew my plans re. 1km so he suggested we do a 1km TT first. I was tentative but there is a lovely loop in Shanganah park so I reluctantly said we will give it a bash so. We agreed that I would do first 400 up front and he would then do next 400. Beyond that, was just clatter home together hopefully. He recently ran sub 3 on this loop, so I was secretly banking on him getting me home after my 400. What actually happened was this : I went out like I was running away from a bomb about to explode. I ended up doing the first 400 in about 66 seconds. He was following my lead but he was a bit more disciplined so was a little gap between us. He shouted to me at 400 , go off yourself but the truth was I had completely done myself in and lasted another 100 metres before I had to pull up puffing. His pace dropped in the 2nd half but he still managed to get it done in 2.58 which was very impressive as I was the worst pacemaker ever for him. It was the bit of craic I needed and I enjoyed the morning.

Sunday about 4.5 miles with nearly 4 of them easy.

Despite my glutes and hamstrings a little tight after cliff run, I stubbornly decided I wanted to have another go at 1km.
I did a few easy miles fist and then go into position on a new route which had no loop. You need to climb a bit up to half way point then you get a downhill finish. I was tiring again here at half way but checked watch and was just outside on pace. I had to fight with myself not to stop(mental block in middle of all these) but despite a strong finish was 3.03. Silly to attempt today but on plus side, I learned what was needed from it.


Approx 44 miles for week

Monday - Off running - About 20km on Bike

Tuesday - A litter of runs that spammed Strava

This morning had been my target all along for the 1km attempt. I now knew what I had to do. Pick my lamp post at start , I knew where to accelerate now and what was needed to get home sub 3. It was all coming into place, or so I thought. I started off a little too fast but by half way, had it under control - glanced at watch and knew if kept current pace up it would be close to target. I was coming towards the end of the path and realised my workout on watch hadn't started beeping yet to say 5 seconds left. I couldn't figure out what was happening. I had the choice to run straight out on to a junction or take a sharp right onto an unlit and very tight path. I took the turn but took me out of rhythm and was all over place. I stopped watch as I thought , I must have been well over distance and just didn't hear the beeps. I looked at watch at it had stopped at 0.91Km with a time of 2.42. I grimaced and faked smiled at same time ,as I knew I would have got under by a second or 2. My avg Km pace was 2.58 to that point after slowing down to take corner. Oh yeh, It turns out I picked the wrong lamp post. The other was 90 metres further back. :rolleyes:

Wednesday - Take 1 millionth attempt at 1km

This was it. My last attempt as it was p***ing me off now.
All the same as yesterday, except started at the correct start point and finished with a time of 2.58 - Box finally ticked. I am very stubborn. I hope my 1 mile sub 5 target will be as fun