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This is my Redemption Arc

24

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Welcome to the dark side 😁

    Had to do a double take when I saw that username.

    Good to see you around this place another experienced poster contributing around here. Can only be a good thing and add to the place

    I know we have said about a catch up and hasn’t happened but definitely some time soon. Not a fear of me being close enough to scare you any time soon. Can’t even sabotage you to give me a chance to catch up these days 😂



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Haha. The dark side I will join (hopefully) in 4 weeks time 😁. But as for this part here, I’m all about learning. Good to see you back in action though. Give yourself 8 years to slowly build up and you will rock the M2 category! That’s something to aim for! 😎



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,236 ✭✭✭AuldManKing


    I'm amazed he hasn't mentioned Hoka anywhere ;)



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Pretty sure I know more about the Hoka shoes from him than from watching the NAZ Elite videos haha

    Mon - 4.2 mile recovery (9.29 min pace) + 10 min yoga

    Tues - 5.4 mile easy (8.25 min pace) including 6 x 15 sec strides (60 jog)

    Wed - 6 mile progression (8.25, 7.55, 7.35, 7.30, 7.11, 6.46)

    Thurs - 6.1 easy (8.18 min pace) including 7x15 sec strides (60 jog)

    A definite jump this week easy paces coming down at the same effort. The progression highlighting this however there is a bit of a caveat in that paces are fine as long as they are done on flat once any incline comes into play (or wind) then effort shoots up. A definite reminder that the watch won't tell the full story and still alot of work to do aerobically even when I do start seeing more familiar paces translating to effort.

    This week has been a very emotive time for a lot of people and a stark reminder to be sensible and cautious out running. It was only last week I was on a night run and took a chance to go down onto canal despite being dark. Looking back it was sheer stupidity but complacency does kick in. The narratives tend to bring out the worst in people on both sides of discussion unfortunately so despite usually being quite a vocal and opinionated person I I thought it best to keep well out of it. A young woman lost her life and family lost their daughter to senseless violence that shouldn't get lost in everything and deepest condolences to everyone whose life she touched.

    Violent criminals need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law (and that judicial process needs to be reviewed in regards to leniency of terms for many crimes in this country) no matter who the victim is. The aim should be about making all people safe (and yes that statistically means from men)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,236 ✭✭✭AuldManKing




  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Yes but mentioning hoka wouldn’t have contributed anything to this thread. 😉 but now that you mentioned it: can’t wait to use the x2 on Sunday on its maiden run (to get a feel for them for race day) 😁



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,582 ✭✭✭Swashbuckler


    That's how it starts....soon you'll be training in them every week 😆



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Stay slow like me and you will never have to worry about it :p

    Friday/Saturday/Sunday - Zilch

    Streak was broken following 2 days in Crumlin with the youngest. Nasty tonsil infection had him kept in under observation but thankfully they were happy with progress and discharged him. Between about 3 hours sleep and working from the hospital was completely wiped myself. Had great intentions of getting out for a long run session last night after work but fell asleep on the couch after dinner. Would have been nice to keep the streak going but in the grand scheme of things the main thing was making sure little lad was okay.


    We start the week anew and go again....



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  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    For a slow runner like you the Bondi x is a good option 😁. Extremely expensive without any real benefit.

    hope all is good now?! Nothing more important than health! Running can wait!


    @Swashbuckler you should know me by now. If I say I won’t, I won’t 😁. I don’t like the comfortable way. Even todays recovery run been done on a stiff, uncushioned flat (which I did regret 3k in 😂).



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,582 ✭✭✭Swashbuckler


    Hopefully the little one is feeling much better. Its a tough balancing act being a Dad isnt it!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli



    Little guy is having no luck between one thing or another he has not managed to have a full week since he started in creche almost 7 weeks ago


    Monday - 4.3 miles recovery

    Tuesday - OFF

    Wednesday - 7 miles progression (8.24, 7.56, 7.39, 7.21, 7.06, 6.54, 6.38)

    Thursday - 7 miles easy incl 6x15 sec strides

    Friday - 4.3 mile recovery

    Was thankful of the recovery paced effort to start off the week as I was still catching up on the weekend between one thing and another. The one thing I have found is the two recovery days in this early stage of training has worked well for me in terms of taking mental pressure off myself. I know it is probably a bit unnecessary from a physical standpoint given that the training is light at the moment but it is proving crucial in terms of keeping me mentally fresh with the lack of sleep. I will gradually phase out one for an easy run but in terms of establishing routines it is definitely working well

    Tuesday was foiled by the eldest taking a turn at waking in the evening after work and put spanner in the works in that regard. Need to carve out opportunity in the mornings to run if I am going to sustain consistency long term. Sleep patterns too erratic in evenings to rely on.

    Wednesday and the two lads back in creche freeing up the morning and I took full advantage of it. These progression runs have been a good gauge of fitness for me over recent weeks. I tend to like them in base phase for this reason as they are not overly hard sessions (even by the end the effort remains within) and I tend to know I am fit enough to do proper sessions when I hit a certain level of paces at the right effort. I think next month will add a single session and complement it with these. A good barometer for me with these is If I can have a 90 second pace range finishing close to 6 min pace I know I am in decent aerobic nick so the aim will be to hopefully be hitting 9 miles by end of Feb at this level. Trying to do training right this time to get back and not gonna rush it

    Friday was a bit of a weird one. Handy run and enjoyable however struck a bit of a cord as running along the canal seeing tributes to Aishling Murphy. This was followed up by coming across a plaque in tribute of one of my old training partners relations who was hit by a car as a kid. Had run by it a few times but seeing how long ago it was (she was a little younger than me but almost half my life ago)

    Was considering dropping in a PR tomorrow in place of a session but given the announcement on the change of restrictions coming this weekend I think I might just play safe and avoid the madness for the sake of a weekend. Starting to feel like I am a little crazy because I am not seeing this lifting as a good thing given the current state of play in the country. Perhaps I am overthinking it but the data around the virus and current variant doesn't fill me with confidence in fact I am still very much of the opinion to avoid it at all cost as I do think it is something that is going to haunt our health system for decades to come in terms of chronic health of the nation.



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,831 ✭✭✭Annie get your Run


    I've just had a conversation with a work colleague who was balking at the idea of restrictions lifting tomorrow so you are not alone. I have mixed feelings on it. I think from a mental health perspective it will help many who are suffering badly. Some serious illnesses that have gone untreated will start to rear their head unfortunately. I was a fan of keeping my distance long before covid so I'll be sad to see that go, can already see people not moving aside on paths etc, even the little throat clear that would send them diving isn't working any more 😀. Hopefully it all works out but I guess we will have to wait and see.

    Interesting comments on the progression run, will keep that in mind to incorporate in a few months when the fitness improves.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli



    I agree with the mental health aspect though I fear we are replacing short term for long term implications in that regard based on studies into the neurological implications of long covid etc. Not dismissing genuine mental anguish of many during all this just from my perspective environmental stressors are more controllable that physiological. I think fact that Long covid as well as the pressure health system is already under (nothing has changed there and this will only compound the issues)is just gonna lead to such a deterioration of relative health for many in society on a wide scale for a generation.

    In terms of the progression it's a type of session I always found to come easy (as if working into the run helps) but for me it ticks alot of boxes - discipline (holding back each mile so you can accelerate for the next, patience, focus (changing pace each mile) and unknowingly tend to get a decent amount of time at near tempo efforts



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Saturday - 1 easy 5 steady/tempo, 1 easy

    (7.16, 7.16, 7.16, 7.17, 7.11)

    Sunday OFF

    Monday - 4 miles recovery (9.34 min pace)

    Tuesday - OFF

    Wednesday - 7 miles progression (8.09, 7.41, 7.24, 7.09, 6.55, 6.43, 6.27)

    Thursday - 7 miles easy incl 6x15 sec strides

    Bit of a mixed week. Overall session wise showed good progress. but two missed days which should have been done. A few things at home Sunday so run fell off the priorities and Tuesday was just sheer exhaustion falling asleep on the couch after dinner. It's not quite where I want to be right now but it is still going in the right direction as mentioned before I am not trying for perfect I am just trying for better right now and this month has been better than anything since atleast Oct 2020.

    The Steady run was controlled. I was straining at the leash but remained as disciplined as possible and told myself I wouldn't go beyond 7.15s. Happy with how the effort felt and definitely shows strength is starting to come back. The litmus test however with these sort of runs isn't pace its how I hold up in the middle of a heavy training block

    Monday's recovery run was a weird one. Effort - fine, pace, fine but for some reason just felt like I was running faster than I should have been for that pace. Put it down to sluggishness and the day off

    Wednesday's progression was a windy one but I was raring to go. In truth probably pushed the boat a little on this one, tended to work into the wind to hit paces and when there was a let up I was cruising at faster paces than expected. Happy to see 6.27 for final mile, a sign of progress given my last 5k here was only 45 sec slower than an all out TT 5 weeks ago

    Thursday and both lads back in creche finally (have only managed both in for 3 days this month due to 1 sickness and 2 separate close contacts (thankfully both managed to avoid it themselves) Meant I could get out early after dropping them off. The little lad in the past two days has done a 180 on the sleep routine going from waking up at around 11/12 and not going back till 3/4 to sleeping through till 5 am so I am on early starts but truth be told suit me better as I am not a late night person anymore (have no problem training late but post work if I don't get out as soon as the dinner is digested the couch has me)

    Hoping from next week to slowly start introducing a bit more quality to the training



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  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Would you not just take a really, good long break from running/ training and make sure to be well rested so you can spend quality time with the family?


    no pressure on going out for runs but only going if suits like for a parkrun or so? Sure you may loose fitness completely and gain a bit in weight but quality of life may improve?! And at some point it will get easier and sure you might be late 30s then but will still have plenty of time to run fast.


    it’s probably the only advice I can offer to you when it comes to running which is enjoy those few precious years with the kids by being fully awake and fit and not falling on to the couch exhausted from life and still trying to fit in a run 🙂.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli



    I know myself I tend to be quite an obsessive person. I tend to throw myself into things full on be the good,bad or indifferent. Running is a positive outlet for me and to be honest over the last two years I think without having that outlet it impacting on quality of life more than trying to fit it in. Politics became more of an obsession in absence of running and I can tell you that is not somewhere you wanna thread for positivity :p

    Don't get me wrong family is always a priority, so much so that it tends to be the reason why running has been the first thing to fall off at any incidence I tend to run by in large after they are in bed or at creche etc. The tiredness usually comes from dealing with the nights with either waking up or being up first thing with them but meals, bedtimes etc I make sure I am there. Working from home has definitely increased that but again that in itself takes its toll (often times I have been managing work with the kids as well)

    I think the thing that has changed for me with this comeback has been the fact that I have taken all the pressure off with times. Realistically i know I am 18 months at minimum away from getting to that sort of shape so I am happy with progress for progress sake which is coming easy enough currently simply from the low base. I know I won't be busting out 70+ mile weeks any time soon and I am okay with that

    The other aspect of running is I want health and fitness to be very much part of the culture in the house. Don't wanna be a pushy parent but at the same time I want sport and exercise to not be an alien concept in the house if that makes sense.



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    🙂 looking forward to seeing your parkruns on strava then! And always…. Always avoid politics! It’s pointless!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Will definitely be racing as well just won't be holding out for PB's

    Ha its a Zero sum game no one wins.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,582 ✭✭✭Swashbuckler


    I get what you mean about running being a positive influence. In theory babacools advice makes sense. I just know if running was taken out of the equation id probably be a much worse dad and husband!

    Plus we can't underestimate the need for time alone. When you have work and family making demands on you all the time I think it's important to have something for just you. Don't get me wrong I love my job and my family but running is the only time where nobody demands anything from me except myself.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Just to make this clear, I didn’t suggest to fully stop but stop training. Still go out for a run but not with the intention of “I have to get a training run in”. It’s a different mindset. 🙂


    other than that, I agree. My wife is happier when I go for a run, just not sure if that’s a good or bad thing 🤔😁. Think we are all in the same boat here.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli



    My missus has slowly come around, used to get a few passive aggressive remarks around running being top priority long before kids, that changed to encouragement to get out and run over recent months. Too much of a good thing when I am around the house constantly :p



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,582 ✭✭✭Swashbuckler


    I got one of those comments once about running being priority til I pointed out that work never moves around, family stuff never moves around, the runs ALWAYS move around (early mornings, mid day, late at night). Priority things dont move....She agreed 😂



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Well, I got those comments until I got the stress fracture. After that it was like “go for a run. You are unbearable when not running!” 😁

    and since she now goes for runs too she understands the benefit of it. As long as family and especially the kids don’t suffer from it and see their dad. 😉



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Same as. God help them if we ever decided to take up team sports :D Mind you I am sure the attitude will change back as training progresses, such is life haha.

    Absenteeism is non existent so far after 3 years much to the detriment of my running (and my sleep haha)



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,191 ✭✭✭healy1835


    I often tell my wife, 'This is what you signed up for' as I head out the door on a LR. Knowing of course that we got together, bought a house, got married and were two kids in before I started running 😁 I wouldn't like to post some of her replies...



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    I see a separate thread coming: how to avoid an angry partner and still go for a run!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli



    TBF pretty sure I ended first date with my missus by stating "I gotta head off and get my run done" perhaps it's built up resentment since then 🤣



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,831 ✭✭✭Annie get your Run


    😱😱😱 that women deserves a medal!! I'd say to be fair she had no idea - you should have sent her a link to your log(s) to read before 2nd date 😂



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,236 ✭✭✭AuldManKing


    Many years back - I was training for marathons, doing an MBA, 2 young kids, working ungodly hours and posting a lot on Boards - my wife was ok with the 1st few things - but I swear to God - if she came upstairs, I reckon she'd rather I was looking at p0rn rather than surfing Boards!!



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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,877 ✭✭✭squinn2912


    Just been catching up on this thread and I must disagree with the first comment - lots of people will see this story as inspirational! If you don’t mind the question - a 20min 5k with little recent training suggests a quare runner when you were training and the fact you can easily work out your running type paces indicates a well informed person. So what are some of the PB times from your running days?

    I’m impressed by how soon you’ve got yourself into those progression runs and your last miles are at a good canter anyhow from where I’m standing. Looking forward to keeping an eye on this one and I hope Boards gives you some impetus to get you out running as part of a healthy you in 22!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Haha I think the fact we had met about 8 years previously on first go around (Must have made an impression in the Gaeltacht) bought me a lot of good grace 😂



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Those were the days pre social media when talking to strangers on the internet made you a weirdo we were just ahead of the curve (or looking back in hindsight with twitter and FB these days perhaps they were right all along 🤣



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Cheers S

    yes certainly been around the block as an athlete and a coach with 20+ years running in terms of PBs they are attached below though 2018 was last time I was near that shape


    in terms of the progressions they tend to be a session that comes to me fairly handy although with regards paces it’s important to point out that have only been running 30-40 miles a week and of them it’s only hard run of the week so Definitely running them fresh.

    I know from experience in training that once get into full sessions etc will see paces drop back 10-20 sec or so just as the legs are more fatigued despite fitness improvement so I am very much taking paces with a pinch of salt though for now act as good barometer week to week as sign of improving fitness



  • Registered Users Posts: 4,877 ✭✭✭squinn2912


    Beast of a runner then!! 2018 isn’t that long ago after 6 weeks training I reckon you;ll be starting to get right back to it. You know your job anyhow so I’m sure you’ll do it in a way that keeps you healthy! I think this log will turn into quite a comeback story!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli



    Cheers,


    6 weeks in at this stage and definitely set down better habits. Keeping healthy is generally not a problem. My training tends to be cautious enough in terms of paces etc so generally tend to be low injury risk. The problem in the past has been simple getting the runs done and motivation, burning the candle at both ends with sleep being minimal tended to leave me in a bad place for simply getting out and getting running but the slow build up seems to be helping correct that.

    Friday - 6.3 miles easy (8.13 min per mile)

    Saturday - 7.4 miles incl 5 miles hilly tempo

    Splits: 7.08, 7.06, 7.05, 7.00, 6.54

    Sunday - 9 easy (8.27 min per mile)

    Total Weekly Mileage 40.7

    Friday felt pretty good although probably a little faster than intended. Headed down to the Canal and was tipping along when noticed 2 bikes matching my pace just behind me, after a while realizing they weren't passing decided to peel off for a about a min to let them head on. They stopped further up with what looked like fixing a chain though I could tell when passed them again that there was a bit of devilment as they proceeded to follow me again which got a bit unnerving. In the end they were just winding me up intentionally but given recent events not the most comfortable situation to be in.

    Saturday and out on my lunch break from work as the kids were in the grandparents for the afternoon. Into Corkagh and decided to use a hilly loop just shy of 2k. Good rolling hills and a challenging one for a tempo. Effort was relatively high for this one bit a very good session all the same and happy with it. Last mile was downhill so the effort didn't change dramatically.

    Sunday and just a box ticking long run felt pretty good for this one and happy to come away with longest run (first 70+ min) in god knows how long

    Feb will see a small change to the training with adding a little bit of light turnover work to go with the tempos and hopefully build mileage consistently to 40-50 simply from a few less off days



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Wait what?! So you did sabotage my training to hold me back so I wouldn’t beat all of those times except the Marathon one 🤪



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Tried with the marathon to but you defied expectations there making me surplus to requirements having a coach who is slower than you 😂

    January Review

    January Targets

    Mileage: 150 miles in January - 138.9 miles total

    Days run: 27 - 24 days out of 31

    Consecutive days run: 21 - Best running streak 11

    All targets missed for January but not by a whole amount, take out the 2 days in hospital with the little lad and would have been pretty much on target so happy with how training has gone for now



    Feb Targets

    Mileage: 180 miles

    Days Run 25

    Consecutive streak 18

    As mentioned a few tweaks to the training going forward. Still very base building focused but aim to put a good bit of tempo work and light turnover

    General draft as per below (subject to change over the course of the block somewhat)





  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    30% increase in mileage if my math isn’t too off with fewer days available to run. Somewhat of a jump 🤔.


    And I like your 145sec hill reps 😂. Not 45, not 90 but 145! Massive hill that must be!


    3*(4-3-2-1) 😍 my fav… miss that one. Best of luck with all of it!



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Small gains consistently add up, actually came across a great view on this recently



    When you break it down down I ran 40 miles last week in order to hit that target I would simply need to average 45 so the equivalent of a mile a day (less even). Realistically though with a few less days off (hopefully) and the nature of the sessions creeping up a little I think this is actually a modest increase that doesn't actually require much in terms of a conscious increase.

    Ha definitely a typo was hmming and hawing between 1 min reps and 45 sec, went with the latter (for now haha)

    That Fartlek session is a great one and very versatile can be a good 10k session or in this case a good tempo workout just done with a bit of variation so that training not as monotonous and drawing like for like comparisons with sessions too often (wanting to validate improvement by "beating" a previous session



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,484 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Apologies if you've discussed this already but what's the thinking behind the consecutive days, as opposed to scheduled rest days? I've been taking fewer rest days myself recently, but not sure really whether it's a good thing or not!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Consecutive days as a target is more a personal mentality target for consistency. In an ideal world want to work towards getting out every day within reason. Not a huge fan of schedule rest days in training overall to be honest. I think a recovery run is more beneficial in forms of active recovery vs passive personally as long as you can put ego aside and run true recovery. At the moment I am running. From a personal standpoint I know that a day off can snowball into 2-3 quite easily so from that perspective its more beneficial to do a shakeout of 30-40 min about a min per mile slower than easy pace vs a complete day off



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    I definitely hear ya. I remember a few years back seeing you running 3 weeks in a row and asking “why would you do that” and you said something like “I usually only take rest days before a big race” and I was like “wow. Mental but wow” until you got me into starting that too and sure the first 8 days feel horrible but after 10 days I usually stop counting and 10 become 20 and 20 become 40 and so on. All of a sudden your fitness improves (if you take those runs slow), mentally you are stronger and you can eat more 😁.


    in short: I definitely take an easy 5-8k run over any rest day.



  • Registered Users Posts: 4,877 ✭✭✭squinn2912


    Hmm this is making me rethink a bit. Yesterday I took a rest day after feeling drained on Tuesday. I could well have run and was a bit grumpy I didn’t. Also the legs probably feel heavier than if I’d crawled out a 5 mile spin of the legs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Find what works for you.

    The one caveat I would probably put, my easy run paces tend to be quite conservative relative to many (when when I was running 75 min half easy pace was regularly outside 8 min pace. On top of this I tend to not pick up too many injuries. But as said find what works. I know for me the routine of running every day takes the motivation waning out of it a bit because I see it as part of daily routine like brushing the teeth/getting the kids to creche etc I tend to try to eliminate the question of will I run today because the question leads to the possibility of the lazy me saying no haha


    Monday - 4 mile recovery (9.33 min per mile)

    Tuesday - 5x1200m @ LT effort (90 sec) 4 min jog, 4x30 sec strides (60 sec)

    Splits

    5.04 (6.48 pace),

    5.07 (6.52 pace),

    5.03 (6.46 pace)

    5.04 (6.48 pace),

    4.58 (6.40 pace),

    Wednesday - 6 mile easy (8.14 min pace)

    Thursday - 7.4 mile including 8x15 sec strides (45 sec)

    Friday - 8 mile progression run - (7.54, 7.36, 7.26, 7.18, 7.11, 6.59, 6.47, 6.34)

    Looking back in hindsight the body was definitely appreciative of the recovery run on Monday, the Tempo definitely took a bit more out of me than I would have expected and perhaps the hilly nature put the effort a little bit higher than the fitness currently allowed for

    Tuesday's session and I knew what I wanted (i.e a tempo effort) from it but after the continuous tempo only 72 hours previously I didn't want a carbon copy so I mixed it up and after some deliberation settled on 1200's because at current paces its around 5 min efforts so perfect for what I wanted (easy effort but the right stimulus. The weather itself was muck, a wet and windy Tuesday night.

    Overall effort on these was fine but either the hills from weekend or the addition of 15 min yoga daily yoga routine had left the hamstrings and calves feeling a little heavy. The last rep wasn't really a change in effort just simply worked to do the loop in reverse and made me realise was working into the wind a bit more than I realized. Strides then just to get the legs moving at a decent clip without being too taxing. Its only a sprinkle at the end of sessions etc but coupled with 2 stride sessions after easy runs in a week and its more than enough speed to give good turnover down the line without the need to be sacrificing strength sessions hammering 200s/400s.

    Wednesday and Thursday were picturesque mornings as the sun was coming out as I hit the park/canal. Get so used to running late that kinda forget how nice it can be for the mood in general to get these earlier runs done.

    Friday's progression run was one I was dreading, had a delivery coming in the morning before work so I had resigned myself to a late night one after work made worse by the fact the youngest woke at 2 and refused to go back down till after 4 (a common theme as he is stubborn when it comes to being up and going constantly). Delivery arrived bang on the start of the delivery window giving me an hour before work. The last few progression runs the top end has come down significantly. Without wanting to race these figured better to start off a bit steadier and make improvements to bottom end rather than top. Middle miles were a bit labored I dunno if it was just the hillier miles or whether it was because it was holding back to steadier effort while legs were relatively tired but once I got into the last two miles I was feeling very smooth, last mile and I was holding back a bit as I was trying not to race it (something I probably did a bit last week given that pace could be hidden a bit with the wind.

    All in all a very solid session, last three miles were a shade slower than last week but average pace was the same despite an extra mile so a more controlled progression effort



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Saturday - 5.1 mile including 8x15 sec strides (45s jog)

    Sunday - Off

    Feeling a bit like Jack Bauer with the clock always running at the moment. Saturday had both kids fall asleep in car on way back from Grandparents for the morning, 45 min before the Rugby, wasn’t chasing miles this week either so snuck out when wasn’t missed, wind was cat but glad to get it out of the way and chilled with 2 Rugby matches, The Gaa and Masked singer. Been a long time since had a day like that.

    Sunday however all went down the swanny. Herself woke up feeling worse than usual ( sickness has been normal enough last while for different reasons) and after 2 years of avoiding like a game of dodgeball first covid case in the house, tests all around and The oddest combination as myself And eldest came back clear with the youngest coming back positive

    From a self isolation it’s nightmare scenario. Youngest too much of a live wire to quarantine with herself (especially with her being symptomatic) but eldest being clear meaning he wouldn’t be able to go up and watch movies with herself so currently living in an N95 mask waiting to inevitably come down with it.

    Had tried to get out and stay local (in the estate) with phone on hand for my run when kids went down to sleep but that was short lived as the youngest was having none of sleeping in cot and woke up before had the chance to get out.

    Next few days of running will be down to sheer luck and whether the youngest stays down for any length of time in evenings



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,582 ✭✭✭Swashbuckler


    Feck. Hope they're OK and hopefully you avoid it. Plenty of examples (my own house included) of not everyone in the house catching it.



  • Registered Users Posts: 102 ✭✭_gir


    Good luck OP! Same boat as me, unfit dad of 2 weins and maybe a third on the way, so have no idea when I’ll have time to devote. Still trying though!



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭Wottle


    Dad of 3, the eldest is now 18, one foot firmly in the freedom camp :-)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭E.coli


    Thanks P, like I said not the highest of hopes with the youngest being symptomatic and still so young that he is in my arms through the night when not sleeping but sure doing what I can to mitigate chances so all I can do, herself floored with it but seems to be on right trajectory day by day feeling a little better



    very similar boats so.. Think there comes a point when have to be a little selfish with time to yourself for your own mental sanity, I made mistake previously of dropping everything at slightest inconvenience to others and ultimately in long term was more detrimental in terms of energy levels etc for being there for kids and family


    Haha lucky you, our clock resets in July 😬



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