"Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them"

tang1 wrote: »

Best of luck in the morning RR, hopefully we'll be both finishing at the same time.

Best of luck to you too. Keep an eye out for me in the starting pen. I'm the long lad in my club t-shirt and luminous blue and yellow brooks Racers!

Friday 27th

Rested and stretched and rested and stretched some more.

Saturday 28th - Irish Runner 5 Mile

Had been flip flopping all week whether to do this one or not with the niggle still niggling away but decided to bite the bullet in the end and just go into it without any pressure of doing anything special.

Going into this race my PB was 35:42 (Raheny5 2014) and I had run this race on the same course (I think it was anyway) in 36:30 so anything in the high 35s low 36s I would have been satisfied with and above all to come through it unscathed so I can at least start my marathon plan on Monday not injured.

Met a few clubmates around the baggage area and went off for a few lengths of furze road as a warmup where I met Tang1, or rather he spotted me. Had a good chat and along came "The King" looking focused and all set. A sub 30 in the far recesses of his mind but which later seems to have surfaced and was boldly accomplished. Super stuff.

The Tang/RR smackdown was to be put on hold as I was not putting any pressure on myself today so felt fairly relaxed about the race . Headed up to the sub 40 min pen /Wave 1 and then had to exit stage left again for last minute pit stop behind a tree. Back in the pen and then Murph_D showed up too so a fair few of the boards gang were there. After a brief shower of rain before the race the conditions were now near perfect for the race, if a little warm but not too warm.

The race started soon after and we were off, great to be racing again. It wasn't long until Tang1 was streaking away and got separated by some slower runners fairly quickly. I lost him before we turned the first corner and wouldn't see him again until the finish.

Felt quite comfortable in the first mile trying not to get too carried away and just keep it in around 7min/mile pace. The glute/hamstring (which I will call the Glammy from here on)wasn't causing any issues except it was there lurking in the background, just a little tight. Would it hold for the race only time would tell. First mile completed in 6:49

For second mile it was just more of the same, trying to keep an even pace, whilst trying to take advantage of this been the faster part of the course. Lots of people passing me and I was passing lots of people at this stage. Usual stuff in the early part of these races. Mile 2 done in 6:54

I'm really happy at this point and feeling quite comfortable and surprising myself a little bit. Coming down the Khyber I was just conserving the energy and letting the hill do the work as I prepared for the uphill afterwards.The first hill required some effort but I wasn't wrecked at the top of it like other years so this was great. Just tried to keep the effort the same. Pace dropped to the 7:30s here but still all good. Mile 3 :7:07

At this stage was still feeling reasonably good and was beginning to allow myself thoughts of a possible PB but had to just concentrate on keeping the effort good up the drag of the last section of the course. Keeping the ship steady and really pleased with myself haven't struggled at all yet. THe glammy was behaving insofar as it wasn't giving me any pain. Was carrying it a bit and was probably affecting my stride but had no problem running with it. At around this stage I think I passed Pistol_75. Gave him a shout out so hope it was him! I was feeling good still the legs had no signs of jellyness yet. Mile 4 : 7:12

Hadn't actually run in the park since this race last year so wasn't fully remembering where the turn for home was. When the turn came for Furze road it caught me a bit by surprise as I thought there might be another hill. I was coasting a bit here and in hindsight could possibly and upped the pace a bit earlier than I eventually did. Coming into the home straight when I caught a glimpse of the Finishing arch I started to ramp it up a bit. Another runner just ahead of me saw me do this and then sprinted off like I was going to beat him up or something. I let him do his thing and just trued to gradually increase the pace know the glammy could start complaining but it didn't and when we got to about 200m from the end I glanced at the watch and saw it was it 34 something. I knew sub 35 wasn't on but thought I put a last burst in to try and get as close as possible because a pb was definitely on now. Found some reserves and finished extremely strong flying through the finish line and then walked over to the grass for a now customary wretch. It read 35:18 on the watch, a 24 second PB and over a minute faster than same race last year. Soooo happy with that!

Last mile (and a bit); 7:07, (4:11)

Official Chip Time 35:18 - New PB!

So ecstatic it is and delighted too that Tang1 got his sub 35.Definitely more to come from you Tang. "The King" didn't fcuk it up and delivered yet again. Met another possible Boardsie after the finish but not sure , one of the organisers of StAnnes ParkRun. Hope all the other Boards people ran good races and are as happy as I am today!

Marathon training starts Monday...bring it on!

Warmup : 1.16miles @9:46

Race : 5.03miles @7:01

WTD|25.57
MTD|121.63
YTD|939.57

Monday 30th June

Had been feeling crap all day. Had a migraine yesterday after my run and it still lingered today. Had thoughts of bailing on the planned run home from work but happy I did it even though I wasn't feeling the love during the run.

Feel awful now so hopefully it will work its way out of the system before tomorrow's run. Marathon training has officially started and I'm stocked up on the beetroot juice.

6.26miles @8:43

WTD|6.26
MTD|132.15
YTD|950.09

DOCO12 wrote: »

Hope your feeling better tomorrow RR. When do you take the beetroot juice? I've read some good stuff about it but it one food I cannot face eating unless it will make me faster of course

Thanks DOCO. It'll be grand, when I get them they usually pass within 24/48hrs.

I take a glass of it in the morning for breakfast. Just make sure you brush your teeth after though or everything will be pink!:)

I get the 1 litre carton from Holland&Barretts organic stuff that's got a little bit of apple juice in it. It's called "Beet it" I tried it out as an experiment during London marathon plan and I think it helped so now I try and use it in the build up to big races and top it off with a beet shot in the morning of the race. I've PB'd every time! I'm sure the training has something to do with too though.

I think AMK uses it too
It's an acquired taste but I like the pickled beetroot like you get in a jar and have with salad. You get used to it. And as you say, if it helps you to run faster, its worth a go.