DCM 2013: Mentored Novices Thread......Take 2

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Having a bit of a strange week this week. Have been taking it relatively easy and am doing Athlone tomorrow. But my general mindset is one of complete apathy. Usually on a easy week I get quite anxious about not running, this week however I couldnt care less.

The thoughts of not being able to run DCM isnt filling me with fear like it usually would, Is this just a lull one might get mid training or is it a bit of burnout or anyone else feel like this?

Athlone may have come just at the right time. The race buzz should give you that extra incentive to keep going. In just 3 weeks time the majority of the workload will be behind you and you can really start looking forward to Dublin.

Good luck to everyone running Athlone tomorrow. I'll be supporting my wife at it but after a review with the Physio last night I won't be running it myself. Next Physio trip (and hopefully the final one for now) is planned for 19th Sept - pretty concerned at this stage though as I pretty much haven't ran at all in Sept Everywhere I go I see people running and it drives you a bit crazy just wanting to be out there yourself. Postive thoughts: Hadn't missed a run before the end of August, and I've also managed to get one 20 mile under the belt.

Looking for a bit of advice, ran my longest LSR last weekend of 14 miles and was fine. Ran 20 this week 5 Tues, 10 Wed and 5 Thurs. Have LSR of 16 this weekend to do however on Wednesday I wore different socks than normal and now I have a few blisters along the inside of my right foot and a blood blister on my big toe. I used compeed blasters for my Thursday run however they fell off last night. Im wondering should I cover them again and just go run the 16 or leave it a few days. Just wondering what others have done int he past? Thanks.

shortstuff! wrote: »

Athlone 1/2 21013 Massive PB by nearly 15minutes:D 1:59:20:D Previous PB 2:14:09 in Bohermeen. Excellent race, well organized, even managed to arrange nice weather! Big thanks to the 2hr pacers!!

Way to go shortstuff! Well done

shortstuff! wrote: »

Athlone 1/2 21013 Massive PB by nearly 15minutes:D 1:59:20:D Previous PB 2:14:09 in Bohermeen. Excellent race, well organized, even managed to arrange nice weather! Big thanks to the 2hr pacers!!

Wow well done shortstuff, brill result!!!

shortstuff! wrote: »

Athlone 1/2 2013 Massive PB by nearly 15minutes:D 1:59:20:D Previous PB 2:14:09 in Bohermeen. Excellent race, well organized, even managed to arrange nice weather! Big thanks to the 2hr pacers!!

Great running shortstuff. Well done:)

3 weeks to go now till the tapering phase,i'm due to run the HM next weekend,14 miles the following weekend and then 20 miles.i've heard/read a lot of people saying you should try and get 2 x 20 milers in before the marathon,could i replace the 14 miler for 20 miles and would the 3 weeks taper be sufficient time to recover from 2 x 20 milers on the trot or should i just stick to the 1?

Well done Shortstuff, great running!

Had to do my long run yesterday as was out for a party last night. Got up early to get it out of the way and planned on trying to hit 20mile plus.

Was on my own for this which was tough and it was a bit of a mental battle throughout but I kept the legs going and tried to ignore my watch. Wanted to try and hit about 3 hours running today which I achieved and am delighted with now.

Felt strong throughout and running on my own was good practice for the mental aspects of DCM which I have struggled with in the past.

Looking forward to Saturday and Im happy that I have hit my longest run ever so all in all a good day!!

shortstuff! wrote: »

Athlone 1/2 2013 Massive PB by nearly 15minutes:D 1:59:20:D Previous PB 2:14:09 in Bohermeen. Excellent race, well organized, even managed to arrange nice weather! Big thanks to the 2hr pacers!!

Plugged new PB into McMillan calculator which suggests 4:11:08 :eek: I'm thinking 4:29:59, sound ok? Also it's giving me training paces of 10:47 LSR & 11:19 recovery 10:23 easy, I've been doing these at 12:00LSR & 13:00 recovery, 11:30 easy. Should I adjust my paces or stick to what I've been doing?

First 20 miler down. Very windy out (got a brier blown into my neck for good measure) there but could be the same on DCM day. Found the final 2-3 miles tough but my legs felt relatively good after. Now to tuck into an enormous Sunday dinner

career_move wrote: »

If I was you I would do a two week taper if you want to get two 20m runs in because I think doing two 20's one week after another would be exhausting. You should be able for a 20 miler the week after the HM. So schedule would be:

HM
20m
16m
20m
Taper - maybe 10 or 12 miles
DCM

thanks a lot cm,i might just do that..

career_move wrote: »

P.S Where is the race report? We're all waiting....

Ok have never done one of these before so bear with me!

The Prep
On the usual great advise from C_M, I tested 2miles at my quite optimistic half race pace on Tuesday to get a feel for the pace. It felt tough & I wouldn't have managed a third mile but convinced myself with my planned mini taper I might just pull it off. Got a rub down Tuesday evening, loosened out calves & IT band, ouch! & focused on stretching & foam rolling for the rest of the week... Mini taper madness brought the start of a dreaded cold so dossed myself in lemsip & vitamins -not looking forward to full blown taper madness, may cause vitamin overdose:pac:

Pre-race
Up at 7am to have porridge, had slept surprisingly well. Weather was perfect, no wind, dry... Clear sky's so thought it best to bring my water belt in case it got hot. Arrived in athlone at 10:15, parked & registered in 10mins flat! The usual long que for the loo though so only a brief warm up to the car & back to drop off my race top. Found the sign for the 2hr pacer, quick race brief & we were walked the back section of the start line. I was about 5 rows behind the pacers. Didn't realise it would take so long to get gps signal & left it late:( Oh well I still have my pacers... And we're off

Mile 1
By the time I crossed the start line I had somehow lost the pacers, and still no gps signal. It's ok though I thought I know what the pace feels like from my Tuesday tester session:) Eventually spotted the pacers about 100meters ahead, it was really congested so decided to just hold the gap & keep an eye on them. Garmin picked up signed about .6mile in- delighted to see I was right in pace! Lapped it when I saw the 1mile marker

Mile 2-4
Really congested on the narrow country roads, as runners slowed down ahead of me I tried overtake without exerting too much energy & staying as close to 9min miles as I could. I was comfortable, feeling strong, & slowly creeping up on the pacers. Reached them just before the first water station... Didn't need water here as I had my trusty water belt! Grabbed a gel at mile 4, hadn't intented on using it but everyonelse was so thought why not, had previously used them so wasn't worried. Pacers were great carrying extra gels, water for us pacees.

Mile 5-9
Miles were ticking away nicely. I couldnt get over how hot it was, actually got burnt a bit! Picked up a bottle at the second water station, poured a bit over my head & wrists to cool myself down.. Roads stayed narrow with a few turns a minor incline or two. Only part I didn't like was a section with a really bad camber, was terrified of going over my ankle, I didn't though! Still felt good at this stage & confident of holding the pace for the remaining miles. Pacers mentioned that we were ahead of pace, heading for 1:59.

Mile 10
On the main road for a mile, first time during the race that I felt I had proper space! The pace started to feel like work somewhere around here though, still right on the pacers tails though, just had to hang on! Nice bit of banter in the group at this stage which past the time but I was silently conserving energy. Felt a little sick here-probably too much water but it past, phew!

Mile 11-12
Back on narrow country roads, suddenly found myself drifting behind the pacers, tried not to stress as pace per watch was still ok... Ended up with a gap of 20meters & felt like I was running on my own. Just wanted to get back to them so quickened pace slightly catching them before the 13mile marker:D

The finish
Worked hard for the final mile to keep the pace up, the pacer was great here keeping us going. Was great to see the town again, right definitely going to make it under 2hrs. Passed a couple people coming back into the town. Pacer told us to sprint once we got around the corner so that's what I tried to do, past 3 people in the final stretch to the finish line! Clock said 2:00:20 as I finished so wasn't sure if I made it or not! Took an age to get my breath back, but was worth it to see 1:59:20 chip time:D 11seconds short of a 15min PB:D

Went to Lough Ennell afterwards, standing in the lake for 20mins, felt fine all of yesterday but regretting not doing a proper cool down, legs in bits today. Also have blisters for the first time:(

Thanks to the organisers, marshells, pacers- all did a superb job!