Getting Back To My Best

Brianderunner · 22-01-2011 12:00PM

Sat 22nd Jan, Been meaning to do this for a few weeks now so bit the bullet and got up early and ran the 2 mls (9'00 pace) up to the start in the park. Over 100 runners in it, good atmosphere. I said i would take it very easy, having done a full week including the track session yesterday and it would have been lunacy to race this. The field shot off at the start and i was near the back after 500m, makes a change. Cruised round thereafter and finished in just over 24 mins i think (7'40) for 53rd place. Good to see the setup and the course. I'll have a proper go of it in a few weeks before Barca, course is a little hilly for pb attempts i'd say. 2 mls back after at 9'00 pace. Fantastic setup, really well organised and stewarded for a free event, how difficult would it be to have something like this in Ireland you'd have to ask? All it takes is a group to organise it, boardsies are you listening? A bit weary now and not running again till Monday evening. 7 mls in total.

Weekly Review, 34 miles and 6 runs. Felt the effects of my Waterford half exertions all week but still a solid enough week. No LSR's or MP runs though. They'll have to be done at some stage, or do they?

It feels like a pb in Barca is a formality whether i do or not, we'll see.

Yearly Mileage, 105 miles, after 3 weeks that puts me at a 1800ml target for the year but early days.

Brianderunner · 24-01-2011 08:57PM

Turns out i did 23'31 last saturday, wooo! I have my own parkrun results page, pretty cool.

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/finsbury/Results/AthleteHistory.aspx?AthleteNumber=111058

Mon 24th Jan, 5 mls in 39'03 (7'49). Wrecked all day at work from watching the NFL last night but felt fine once i started, i always do after rest days and tonight felt really easy. Found a relatively traffic free route at last.

Plan for the week;

Tues - 4/5 mls easy
Weds - 9 mls with 5 at tempo (6'35-6'40) one of the drawbacks of running a 1'26 half is that my tempo pace has now got faster, making these runs tougher.
Thurs - 4 mls recovery.
Fri - 5/6 mls same as tonight at lunchtime before heading to Brum Fri evening.
Sat - Races at Cheltenham (rest day)

Sun - 18 mls, first 14 at 8'30 then last 4 at 7'30 which probably is pmp not sure, Pretty key run, i'd like to nail it without much issue. I have everything but the stamina at the mo.

Brianderunner · 25-01-2011 10:57PM

Tues 25th Feb, 5 mls easy in 42'33 (8'30) down to Kings cross/St pancras station and across to Euston station and back up through Camden. Felt better on the uphills than before, had to start late as i didnt get out of work till 7pm :mad:, Legs feel a bit stiff in places. Hopefully i'll be ok for the tempo tomorrow.

cwgatling · 26-01-2011 08:30AM

Those Parkruns are great. I did one last year in Southgate.
Best of luck today and Sun - 2 hard runs.

Brianderunner · 26-01-2011 10:19PM

Weds 26th Jan, 9 mls with 5 at tempo pace. 2 mls in around 8'50 then launched into the tempo miles on the usual triangle near me. Miles ticked by nicely in; 6'36, 6'39, 6'38, 6'38, 6'40. Delighted with that (33'11 for 5 mls), heart rate hovered nicely around the target rate of 180-182. Figured out tonight the triangle i do these tempo's on is 1 mile exactly to the metre, garmin bleeped at the same spot every mile. No harm i suppose. 2 ml warm down at 9'00 ish. Really good run, i've recovered from Waterford now and in flying form. Not quite at 2006/2007 levels but getting there slowly but surely. Its a pity i'm not giving Raheny a lash but it just doesn't suit, i've never raced it, i wonder if i ever will. Total 9 mls in 69'09 (7'40).

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/65267176

Brianderunner · 27-01-2011 08:19PM

3 mls recovery in just over 27 mins (9'05) or summit like that. freezing cold east wind out there and wasnt up for this run at all but ground it out. Legs a bit dead from last nights tempo.

fiddy3 · 28-01-2011 10:45PM

Summit? Summit? Unless you were attempting some Mount Ventouxesque adventure deep in the red zone ELIMINATE that word from your vocabulary pronto, you black and tan Cromwellian scum you. PS- do mods read training logs? ban in 3..2... (AC Slater)....1....

Brianderunner · 30-01-2011 10:20PM

Friday 28th Jan, 5 mls in 39'40 (7'56) Felt good, much better than thursday night.

Sun 30th Jan, 6 mls easy in 51'34 (8'36) in Hampstead Heath on the grass, my legs thanked me for it. Severely hungover but wasnt so bad once i started. 18 miler i was planning for today was more or less cancelled early yesterday evening when i got back from Cheltenham and i had my first pint :pac:

Weekly Total, 34 miles and 6 runs, great tempo run midweek but ordinary apart from that. I've more or less accepted that i won't be prepared properly for barca, but i'll still run ok i think. Honestly my time there isn't all that important to me.

Yearly Mileage, 139 miles. Pretty good start to the year.

Brianderunner · 31-01-2011 10:28PM

Mon 31st Jan, 8 mls in 63'42 (7'58). Up the Seven Sisters Road to Tottenham south and back. Didnt venture up to spurs this time, not much to see there anyway. Felt super the first 5 mls before a long uphill drag knocked the stuffing out of me, its just as well Barca is flat. Finished well after that. This hill business is puzzling me. I could do some hillwork, or i could do nothing. Majorly favouring the latter at the mo :pac:

Monthly review, Thats it for January. 147 miles in total. Its been a super month for me running wise after the early sickness. Waterford was quite a breakthrough performance and it gives me confidence that i can achieve the objective of this log.

Brianderunner · 01-02-2011 09:33PM

Tues 1st Feb, 5 miserable miles in 43 mins or thereabouts (8'36). Ran a route that included running past the emirates 10/15 mins into the arsenal everton match. A few chants of "Theo Theo", but it sounded dead enough. More overtime today :rolleyes:, its adding up if nothing else, but its leaving me drained during some of my runs. Busiest period of theyear for us in work with all the burst water mains over winter. Was never firing tonight and felt like stopping after 400m, quite unusual. I must make sure i'm not doing OT on Fri, gotta get to Heathrow.

Edit; Saha you legend, come on the toffees, bit of a closet fan, only been to Goodison 5 times

.

RacoonQueen · 01-02-2011 09:47PM

Arsenal fans not making much noise? I don't believe you? :eek:

Brianderunner · 01-02-2011 10:28PM

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Arsenal fans not making much noise? I don't believe you? :eek:

At the time no, seems to have exploded into life since. 8 yellow cards.

Brianderunner · 02-02-2011 11:01PM

Weds 2nd Feb, Finally headed down to Heathside AC for the group interval session. I've been meaning to head down for a while, just never a good time. My web research indicates they are the most suitable club for me in terms of setup and location. Jogged the 2 mls (9'00) down to the Royal Free Hospital where they meet. About 30 runners there, good atmosphere. From there they jogged about 1.5 mls to the edge of Hampstead Heath to the loop they use. Did 3 x 2km then. The coach was there for timing and instructions, first time i've ran with a coach in 3/4 years. Times were; 8'20 (6'26), 8'32 (6'35), 8'17 (6'24) http://connect.garmin.com/activity/66365009. Very tough course and it was quite windy. Then jogged back. I won't run down to the hospital next time, makes the whole run very long indeed and zonked afterwards. They head to the pub every week after this session. I wouldnt be into that type of thing at all

. Total 10.5 mls in 1'29 (8'25).

Brianderunner · 03-02-2011 09:55PM

Thurs 3rd Feb, 3.5mls recovery in 32 mins (9'08). Legs were wrecked from last nights club exertions, felt like i ran a race. Happy to finish it. 25 mins core after. Off to Dublin for the weekend tomorrow evening, exotic!

Garmin is sh*gged, its been flagging since the new year, but its totally gone now. No choice but to send it to the states for repair. Hopefully i'll have it back by Barca.

Aimman · 04-02-2011 12:13PM

Brianderunner wrote: »

Garmin is sh*gged, its been flagging since the new year, but its totally gone now. No choice but to send it to the states for repair. Hopefully i'll have it back by Barca.

I think you can get an exchange option on the watch, (someone elses broken one repaired). I'd imaging they'd have one ready to go and ship it to you as soon as they receive yours. I really should do it for mine, as the speaker is gone and dont get any lap alerts etc.

Brianderunner · 05-02-2011 07:31PM

Sat 5th Feb, 22mls group LSR today in the phoenix park. 3'07'04 in the end (8'30). Menoscemo, Oisin1178, Jackyback, Ral3 and RQ were in attendance. Started steady enough. but found myself at the front quite a lot pushing the pace. After a quick stop at the car at halfway we pushed on increasing the pace as we went. Myself and Oisin found ourselves pulling ahead on the chapelizod road and amazingly i was cruising along as if i had just started, remeniscint of the DCM last year. Finished strongly, could have done a few more but no need really. Arguably worth the 7 hr delayed trip back from London last night, one of the most enjoyable runs i have had, great company. I had planned this run last December would you believe when i booked my flights. Feel great about Barca now actually, i could run a pb there on one leg i feel, 3'10 would be nice. Pmp will be decided at mile 26 over there :pac:

49 miles for the week now, might run tomorrow, especially if Leopardstown is cancelled due to the rain, main reason i travelled home

. Highest mileage week since pre rotterdam last year. Feeling good.

menoscemo · 05-02-2011 07:40PM

Good running today. Amazing how one run can bring your confidence back.

Oisin11178 · 05-02-2011 09:21PM

yeah was a good run. Stuck a 7.07 in for the 26th as well.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi · 05-02-2011 10:47PM

Good run today Brian, that sub 3.10 in Barca should be easy!!

Brianderunner · 06-02-2011 01:20PM

Sun 6th Jan, 3 mls recovery on the clontarf seafront. 27'32 (9'11). Windy and waterlogged. Legs felt surprisingly good. Fckin leopardstown called off as i expected. I was due a bit of bad luck at some stage since i got so lucky with the road race cancellations and rescheduling. Weekly review 52 mls and 6 runs. Happy with lsr and club session midweek. 191 miles this year.

theboyblunder · 06-02-2011 04:30PM

good running there recently - looking good for barca! Good crowd of us going over, should be good craic.

Brianderunner · 07-02-2011 10:21PM

Mon 7th Feb, 5.5mls easy enough in 48'58 (8'53) down to primrose hill park (2 laps) and back. Meant to go faster but no garmin, you really dont know what you got till its gone! Only 2 days since the 22 miler so its probably just as well, but legs recovered quite quickly from it. This weekend commuting thing is killing me, more delays last night :rolleyes:. Thankfully i don't do it every weekend, Won't be back in Ireland for 7 weeks i'd say, Flying out fri evening and back sun evening just isn't worth it.

menoscemo · 07-02-2011 10:57PM

Brianderunner wrote: »

Flying out fri evening and back sun evening just isn't worth it.

I'd say it was worth it this time. You'd never have got those 22 miles done if not.

Brianderunner · 07-02-2011 11:15PM

menoscemo wrote: »

I'd say it was worth it this time. You'd never have got those 22 miles done if not.

Haha yeah, i'd have been lucky to get 10 mls ran if i hadnt done the group run. Thats 2 LSR's done now anyway, sure thats more than enough. I had 6 done before Cork last year (inc rotterdam training) and look how that ended up :pac:

Brianderunner · 08-02-2011 10:06PM

Tues 8th Feb, 4mls very easy tonight in 36 mins (9'00). Club training session tomorrow so didnt push it.

Head was a million miles away, dirty news in the post today, Barca is in doubt unfortunately, gotta surrender my passport for 3/4 weeks to get a prov. licence which is essential for work. Thought i'd found a way around giving up the passport but the form came back today saying that they need it

Cant wait till after really, i'd miss out on other trips then anyway. Gonna try and see if i can find a way around it tomorrow but its not looking good. Not gonna worry about it too much, que sera sera.

menoscemo · 08-02-2011 10:21PM

Brianderunner wrote: »

Tues 8th Feb, 4mls very easy tonight in 36 mins (9'00). Club training session tomorrow so didnt push it.

Head was a million miles away, dirty news in the post today, Barca is in doubt unfortunately, gotta surrender my passport for 3/4 weeks to get a prov. licence which is essential for work. Thought i'd found a way around giving up the passport but the form came back today saying that they need it Cant wait till after really, i'd miss out on other trips then anyway. Gonna try and see if i can find a way around it tomorrow but its not looking good. Not gonna worry about it too much, que sera sera.

Jesus. I'd say they are just putting 3-4 weeks down to cover their asses, when in reality they'd have the passport (and Prov License) back to you a hell of a lot quicker. I am sure if you explain you have a holiday booked they'd make sure to get it back to you on time.

Brianderunner · 08-02-2011 10:32PM

menoscemo wrote: »

Jesus. I'd say they are just putting 3-4 weeks down to cover their asses, when in reality they'd have the passport (and Prov License) back to you a hell of a lot quicker. I am sure if you explain you have a holiday booked they'd make sure to get it back to you on time.

Yeah thats the plan anyway for tomorrow, sob story etc. The office is in Swansea of all places :rolleyes:, if i have to travel there to get the passport back/speed up the process, so be it. I'll be honest though, i've already started to look at other marathons.

RacoonQueen · 08-02-2011 10:42PM

Brianderunner wrote: »

Tues 8th Feb, 4mls very easy tonight in 36 mins (9'00). Club training session tomorrow so didnt push it.

Head was a million miles away, dirty news in the post today, Barca is in doubt unfortunately, gotta surrender my passport for 3/4 weeks to get a prov. licence which is essential for work. Thought i'd found a way around giving up the passport but the form came back today saying that they need it Cant wait till after really, i'd miss out on other trips then anyway. Gonna try and see if i can find a way around it tomorrow but its not looking good. Not gonna worry about it too much, que sera sera.

Tell them that I have said this is not an option.

Brianderunner · 08-02-2011 10:53PM

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Tell them that I have said this is not an option.

Yeah that should do it, cheers RQ! (i vous voir à Anvers)

Meno is probably right, i'll have it back a week before and wonder what i was worrying about i'm sure.

Oisin11178 · 08-02-2011 11:55PM

Yeah those timeframes are worse case senario in most cases mate. I sent away for a passport in december and they said 2 weeks minimum even with passport express which meant i would miss a marathon. Got it 6 days later and the race was called off haha. Youll be grand.

Getting Back To My Best

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