Confessions of a Comrade Cailin

Woundedknee. · 15-02-2011 11:49PM

Just curious but what plan are you following?

hot to trot · 16-02-2011 10:32AM

er,:o I have studied so many of them that I wasnt sure which to go with. ( various comrades schedules, new zealand ultra runners 100k, hal higdon etc) UP to the end of February the goal is to finish a marathon so I am kind of winging it until the beginning of March when I see how various runs are working out .
So in the meantime ...One of the comrades coaches said that there were a few key runs which had to be done , and when they should be done so I put them into the calendar first. The 65k run was a couple of weeks after Connemara , so I just swopped them. I cant manage back to backs every weekend so I am doing a longer run on the one day as I need to practice some walking as welland as I can manage to run both long days I need to be forced a bit to walk. This isnt happening more than once or twice though.
Most of the schedules are pretty much the same. I am struggling to get any hill reps done in the dark nights so am trying to get my long runs as hilly as possible .
Still trying to do one tempo or speedier session in so that I dont end up getting too slow.
Medium run and other runs are done easy, allowing the heart rate to go up a bit on the hills
Going a lot by what body feels up to and what I can squeeze into a hectic life at the moment.
There is an "ask the coach" forum on the comrades site , and he has suggested some tweaks but has said it is fine

hot to trot · 19-02-2011 06:56PM

26 M on hillyish route. Had a bit of a break , due to poor geography- and relocation of starting point- after about 10 miles. But got it done anyway with a few short stops where I didnt stop timer.

Overall 26M 4:14 9:48mm ( 159).

Woundedknee. · 20-02-2011 12:03AM

Sounds to me like you do a lot and close to too much. I'd forget about the yassos and don't run too long too often. It's important to get the balance which includes rest and recovery. You can only do what you can do.

hot to trot · 20-02-2011 10:35AM

Thanks WW. Really appreciate your advice.
Will cut out interval stuff.
Any other specific guidelines? Keep long run on Saturdays and perhaps long walk Sundays instead? Its a bit easier for me to do the longer one on the Saturday rather than the Sundays even though they suggest the other way around to get used to going on tired legs.
Midweek , I usually only get out once or maybe twice beween Sunday and following weekend.
For the next two weekends I am only doing one long run each weekend .
So far I havent an ache in the muscles on the Mondays or following days.

hot to trot · 20-02-2011 06:45PM

Forgot to take garmin.
So did what I have been tempted to do for ages.... just find a road and follow it wherever it goes, all those small signposts I usually have to pass by , wondering where they lead to .
Had no watch or anything and just bimbled along.Got followed by black dog for a short while but I took him back to his house and opened the back door and put him in .Didnt want dog stress today !
Lovely scenery but windy on higher ground. Walked a bit and ate a bit and generally had a really lovely time.This running lark can be so pleasurable .:D Legs not a bother so it was a big surprise to check mapmyrun when I got back to see I had clocked 20. I didnt think that I had been out for more than about 90 minutes. Could have gone on for longer.
According to the clock on the car it was about 2:50 ish.
Must leave garmin at home more often .;)
Got this evenings lecture on gas laws practised and downt to a T. I hope they are not as boring as they can be. That must have kept the brain occupied for a good while.

20m 2;50ish

hot to trot · 21-02-2011 01:06AM

Found this ...

Check out the elevation.http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/20203234

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

hot to trot · 23-02-2011 09:41AM

Thought I might do a bit of a marathon pace run but during the first mile the legs felt heavy and I hadnt had that feeling for a long time so I reckoned they were tired although they felt fine. Did 6 easy instead. Will take it easy and rest up a bit this week as already planned.

6M :59 9:50mm I think.

Oisin11178 · 23-02-2011 10:28AM

That 26 mile run was done at a good old clip. How far are you going in training for comrades?

hot to trot · 23-02-2011 11:57AM

Don OLiver , one of the former official comrades coaches recommends 2 regular marathons and a 50k 56k and a 65K ( pretty much 31, 35 and 40 in old money ) in the last 11 weeks of training.

So inbetween that I am doing back to backs mostly. Occasional one long weekend run to get used to time on feet , and doing walking , which I dont normally bother with .
Hal Higdon and NZ ultrarunners 100k are very similar with back to backs working up to 3/4 hours saturday and 4/5 hours sunday but I cant see myself doing more than 26/20's on the doubles give or take a few miles. Im not chopping and changing the different schedules as there is logic to the structure of them individually but up to the end of February they are aimed at finishing a marathon and the ultra part doesnt start until the beginning of March.
I am finding the long runs very pleasurable and easy enough.'m quite slow generally but I dont really care as long as I dont get injured.
During the week is a bit more tricky and I havent got anythign near enough in hills done yet. WIll have to get the finger out after Barcelona for that.
Am following you with great admiration. You are flying along. Will enjoy that celebratory beer with you after your 3:0?

Oisin11178 · 23-02-2011 03:47PM

Thats some long runs. All the best with that. Would love 3.09 alright. I have sub 3.15 so im not interested in that. Got to nearly 20 miles at 3.09 pace in edinburgh last may and started to feel bad (27 degree heat). I could have Slowed 30 secs a mile and got 3.14 but went for 3.10 100% and got 3.18. I have the same tactics this time. 3.09 or 3.20, 3.40 its all good once i finish in one piece and know i gave 100%.

Aimman · 25-02-2011 07:12PM

hot to trot wrote: »

Hal Higdon and NZ ultrarunners 100k are very similar with back to backs working up to 3/4 hours saturday and 4/5 hours sunday

Cheers for the tip, I'll have to check out the NZ100k plan, I'll need it for Portumna.

kingQuez · 26-02-2011 06:14PM

hot to trot wrote: »

I asked the question as I was going out the door into the dark , horizontal rain and cold wind... remind me again why I am doing this?
A shout came from upstairs from my 13 year old-COS YOU DONT WANT TO DIE DOING COMRADES!

So, im 29 and dont have a 13 year old but I've totally stolen that motivation. Everytime I slowed during an (intentionally fast) bike ride today, legs were tiring and I was settling into a comfortable pace I sped up. Why? "Because you dont want to die doing [my next big adventure]". Same thing happened in the pool lastnight.

Hope you get your plan into action and destress life; sounds like you've been juggling too much and hoping it would all come right.

RacoonQueen · 26-02-2011 08:00PM

Well done today again. You did great. Some serious improvements from you this year aswell.

Check on those flights and let me know if you're on my ones, twould be great to have some company at the airport/on the plane/as I try to find my way around Barca at night when the only language that pops into my head to respond with when people talk to me is a strange mixture of Irish and French... :pac:

menoscemo · 26-02-2011 08:10PM

Nice to meet you today and well done on a great performance!!

ultraman1 · 26-02-2011 08:18PM

well done on a great win......

Aimman · 27-02-2011 01:07AM

ultraman1 wrote: »

well done on a great win......

+1
You gave me a run for my money when I spotted you on the last lap at the 3rd hill catching up. Great running.

hot to trot · 27-02-2011 01:03PM

Menoscemo. Who were you ? I am more confused than ever about people from boards. I really enjoyed meeting you all and all credit to Anto and his team. Great Jawb guys!:D
Will just have to go again and figure it out next time.;)

Couldnt believe that I was going to be doing this. I had planned a 50k this weekend but a run/walk to get time on the feet . The 5 hour cutoff had me very very worried I must admit. When I did Portumna last June it was 5:17 finish. I know Ultraman wouldnt drag me off the course but I didnt want everyone to be packed up and gone and some poor unfortunate to be left standing waiting for me .So I adjusted target for a sub 5 finish and hoped to God I wouldnt make a fool of myself or get in the way of everyone else who seemed to be pretty speedy. The "what am I doing here " thought came around many times.

I felt very nervous at the beginning and I had a worse than usual dose of verbal diarrhoea

. Was great to chat to Magnet and others who were really calm and steady. Wounded knee advised me on trying to keep a steady consistency watching lap times. Wasnt really sure how to go about this. I never know what time I have done until it is actually done so I wouldnt have the faintest notion that i need to adjust pace until it is too late.I can manage on mile laps with an occasional look at current pace. I guess I need to sort that out . I never know on a marathon either what my time will be until I cross the line. Doh!
Usually have garmin on mile laps so tried to adjust that for 3 mile laps. And off we went. Well off they went ....like balls out of a cannon and I trundled along at the back just trying to keep it steady. I got a bit confused trying to monitor the laptimes- which arent the exact same as 5km marks so decided to keep the heart rate steady instead and pace would look after itself. I am used to running alone so that didnt bother me and it was fab to see the faster runners running so well when they passed me .

Laps went kind of like
27:25
27:37
27:42
27:43
28:19 (loo)
29:28 ( stop at table to sort clothes pinned together and grab a bar!)
26:22

garmin died and went back to default time and date. Then it got a second wind after a few miles and it restarted although there was no display.I think I went through marathon distance while it was off but I didnt know where and when I was at it.

28:59
28:53
19:52

Christiaan kept me company for his last lap , my second last and we pushed on, keeping each other going and then the final lap I caught sight of someone ahead. I decided to try and catch up with him or at least close the gap but he seemed to get further away. I suspected he had spotted me and was doing sneaky little sprints when out of sight .;)I reeled him in a bit and there was just part of the length of the finishing straight at the end so I just pushed on for the last few metres. Happy days.:D

Last person but sub 5. Whoohoo. Time was 4:54 i think. 23minute PB
The first and only time I will be first woman ......Due 100% to a starting pack of - er - 3, and the other pair retiring early from the race .
Fair dues Magnet , you covered a great distance so soon after 24.

Oisin , RQ, Ultraman and the team at the table , you were very encouraging and I never felt from the start that my slower effort wasnt also valid. Thanks so much for that.

50K 4:54 (157) 75% HRR/WHR for what was recorded 9:20 pace?

Oisin11178 · 27-02-2011 01:07PM

hot to trot wrote: »

Menoscemo. Who were you ? I am more confused than ever about people from boards. I really enjoyed meeting you all and all credit to Anto and his team. Great Jawb guys!:D
Will just have to go again and figure it out next time.;)

Couldnt believe that I was going to be doing this. I had planned a 50k this weekend but a run/walk to get time on the feet . The 5 hour cutoff had me very very worried I must admit. When I did Portumna last June it was 5:17 finish. I know Ultraman wouldnt drag me off the course but I didnt want everyone to be packed up and gone and some poor unfortunate to be left standing waiting for me .So I adjusted target for a sub 5 finish and hoped to God I wouldnt make a fool of myself or get in the way of everyone else who seemed to be pretty speedy. The "what am I doing here " thought came around many times.

I felt very nervous at the beginning and I had a worse than usual dose of verbal diarrhoea . Was great to chat to Magnet and others who were really calm and steady. Wounded knee advised me on trying to keep a steady consistency watching lap times. Wasnt really sure how to go about this. I never know what time I have done until it is actually done so I wouldnt have the faintest notion that i need to adjust pace until it is too late.I can manage on mile laps with an occasional look at current pace. I guess I need to sort that out . I never know on a marathon either what my time will be until I cross the line. Doh!
Usually have garmin on mile laps so tried to adjust that for 3 mile laps. And off we went. Well off they went ....like balls out of a cannon and I trundled along at the back just trying to keep it steady. I got a bit confused trying to monitor the laptimes- which arent the exact same as 5km marks so decided to keep the heart rate steady instead and pace would look after itself. I am used to running alone so that didnt bother me and it was fab to see the faster runners running so well when they passed me .

Laps went kind of like
27:25
27:37
27:42
27:43
28:19 (loo)
29:28 ( stop at table to sort clothes pinned together and grab a bar!)
26:22

garmin died and went back to default time and date. Then it got a second wind after a few miles and it restarted although there was no display.I think I went through marathon distance while it was off but I didnt know where and when I was at it.

28:59
28:53
19:52

Christiaan kept me company for his last lap , my second last and we pushed on, keeping each other going and then the final lap I caught sight of someone ahead. I decided to try and catch up with him or at least close the gap but he seemed to get further away. I suspected he had spotted me and was doing sneaky little sprints when out of sight .;)I reeled him in a bit and there was just part of the length of the finishing straight at the end so I just pushed on for the last few metres. Happy days.:D

Last person but sub 5. Whoohoo. Time was 4:54 i think. 23minute PB
The first and only time I will be first woman ......Due 100% to a starting pack of - er - 3, and the other pair retiring early from the race .
Fair dues Magnet , you covered a great distance so soon after 24.

Oisin , RQ, Ultraman and the team at the table , you were very encouraging and I never felt from the start that my slower effort wasnt also valid. Thanks so much for that.

50K 4:54 (157) 75% HRR/WHR for what was recorded 9:20 pace?

Great running and last woman standing:D

Aimman · 27-02-2011 01:23PM

hot to trot wrote: »

and then the final lap I caught sight of someone ahead. I decided to try and catch up with him or at least close the gap but he seemed to get further away. I suspected he had spotted me and was doing sneaky little sprints when out of sight .;)I reeled him in a bit and there was just part of the length of the finishing straight at the end so I just pushed on for the last few metres. Happy days.:D

Yep, that was me. As soon as you were out of sight on the corners, I was putting everything into making a gap. Every time I came around the last corner, I was delighted to see the tent, was a shock to see it was already dismantled on the run to the finish line.

Well done on the run. Nice distance leading up to Connemara

hot to trot · 27-02-2011 02:23PM

Thanks Aiman, I was so glad to see that there were still people there, tent or no tent >LOL

menoscemo · 27-02-2011 02:24PM

hot to trot wrote: »

Menoscemo. Who were you ? I am more confused than ever about people from boards.

I was the guy with the boards vest, white hat and Glasses. I was chatting to you just before the race in the Gym. See you next week in Barcelona.

donothoponpop · 27-02-2011 02:33PM

Well done on getting well under five hours hot to trot, great run from you:)

hot to trot wrote: »

Last person but sub 5. Whoohoo. Time was 4:54 i think. 23minute PB

You weren't last in the race, usually people who DNF (I was one) are listed behind those who cross the finish line, you certainly finished the race before this starter.;)

hot to trot · 27-02-2011 02:39PM

Will have to stalk the photos to put names and faces together.
Donot , was that you who did the Kent ultra last week?

donothoponpop · 27-02-2011 03:13PM

hot to trot wrote: »

Will have to stalk the photos to put names and faces together.
Donot , was that you who did the Kent ultra last week?

far from it, never done an Ultra at all! In the photo's, I'm in a Boards vest, sunglasses and black beanie cap. Best of luck in Barca.:)

Woundedknee. · 27-02-2011 08:54PM

Well done you! It's not easy passing the finish line knowing others have finished and you still have a lap or 2 to go but they're the laps that count! Thats when the mind gets stronger.

Abhainn · 01-03-2011 11:13PM

Well done girl. Great going. Yoe were looking very relaxed and consistant throughout
I said hi a few times going round:)

hot to trot · 02-03-2011 11:06AM

Totally confused now. I thought Abhainn was a female.

Er, which one were you ? I can identify you all from the rear

.

Thank you ,it was nice to get encouragment on the way around as being lapped was the only time I saw other runners. Great running all around from the guys.

First run last night. was dying to get out Sunday as legs were fine.
did 6 miles with a few spurts in the middle. Heart rate was low throughout. I dont think I would have managed to get to 85% effort as my 10k pace still had me at 70% effort.

6M :53 ( 148)

Abhainn · 03-03-2011 09:38AM

hot to trot wrote: »

Totally confused now. I thought Abhainn was a female. Er, which one were you ? I can identify you all from the rear .

Thank you ,it was nice to get encouragment on the way around as being lapped was the only time I saw other runners. Great running all around from the guys.

[/B]

Ahh totally male me.

I was running in group of 4 with Woundedknee when we passed you. I was in white singlet had black shorts

hot to trot · 03-03-2011 10:16AM

Ah yes, I remember the shorts well

Confessions of a Comrade Cailin

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