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

So ahead of race tomorrow some thoughts on strategy. Will take it handy enough in the first couple of miles to let the hamstrings warm up and then will try gradually increasing the pace and take advantage of the trip down chesterfield and then try to maintain it as long as possible after that.

Will probably wear my St5s to see if the lighter shoe will make a difference too.
According to Mac Millan based on Fingal 10k result it predicts a time of 73:16. based on the Rock n Roll HM it predicts a time of 74:46 so I'm thinking that sub 74 should be my target for tomorrow. I don't think that is soft. It would mean an avg pace of 7:24.

My current PB from same race in 2012 is 88:27 so either way it'll be good to take a nice big chunk off that.

DNF :-(

yaboya1 wrote: »

Was wondering why I couldn't find you in the results.
Did the hamstring go?

Yep. Lasted 4 miles. Report later.

Saturday 23rd August - Frank Duffy 10 mile

DNF:mad::mad::(

My first ever DNF. I'm so disappointed, annoyed, pissed off, I can't really decide which. I genuinely thought I'd be ok for this race after the last couple of weeks work but alas it wasn't to be.

Prep was fine all week. Woke up this morning and was just raring to go. The legs felt fresh and all round felt pretty good. I was getting a lift from a friend so decided would cycle to her house in Raheny and drop the bike there.It'd be a good warmup for the legs and hamstrings I thought. 2.5 miles cycled and then we drove in parked up at cricket grounds and strolled up to start area.

Met loads of people I knew , a guy I used to play football with, some lads and lassies from the club. Did a little warmup with them and , pit stops behind a tree and few strides and felt fine. Off to start line and found a decent spot in wave 1. MisterDrak who is also a clubmate stood in beside me and HelenAnne too. Bumped into a work colleague too who is a Crusaders runner. Was feeling fine as the gun went and we were off. My garmin went off but managed to get it going again just before we crossed the mats. A little bit of dodging had to be done as we found our pace and I was feeling very comfortable gown doing Chesterfield. Knew I shouldn't get carried away though as there was a drag to follow and our course the hills at the end.

Went through the first mile in 7:04 feeling really good. It wasn't long after that as we ventured back along past the zoo and up North road that I felt a twinge in the hamstring. Oops , not good. Didn't like the way it felt and remarked to HelenAnne as she was alongside me that this was concerning me. Slowed down to see if that made any difference but it didn't. It was beginning to get worse not better. Not going to be a good day I thought to myself. Crap! After the first water station I decide to pull in and stretch the leg as that made a bit of a difference during the rock n roll HM. No joy. Got back on the road again but wasn't long before I needed to stop and stretch again. Was getting spasms and they weren't getting much better. Down to 8 min pace at this stage and as we hit the four mile mark near the round about on chesterfield I thought about calling it a day.

Miles 2 and 3 were done in 7:27 and 7:30. If I'd been able to continue to end this wouldn't have been an issue as I could easily make that back up on the faster stretches coming back down the avenue. But I was getting slower and the pain was increasing in the leg. Mile 4 was done in 7:56. Made the turn at the roundabout heading for the castleknock gate but things wer just getting worse. Passed by Murph_D at this stage who offered some encouraging words but at this stage I knew the game was up and pulled up out of the race.

Went down to finish line to cheer club mates and boardsies on the last stretch. Good to see Marthastew,Auldmanking, Murph_D, Eoinín,HelenAnne,DrQ(or whatever he's calling himself these days dukeraoul?),MisterDrak ,FBOT01 all finishing strong and with good times. Well done everyone!

I hated having to pull out but it would have been pointless trying to complete 6 painful miles and destroying my leg. I only hope I have managed to save myself any serious injury. Feels similar to the strain I got in the Rock n Roll. I've got all sorts of thoughts going through my head right now like maybe just forgetting about any races between now and DCM, maybe even forgetting DCM and try for a Spring marathon instead???

Was supposed to be doing the Grant Thornton with work team on Sep 2nd ,and having a go at sub 20 but that is out of the question now too.

Will let this settle for a few days and review my plans. Very disappointing. I had a good race in me today but it'll just have to wait till another time. Thems the breaks I guess. There was a guy who collapsed not far from the line today. He recovered but don't think he finished the race. I'd rather my scenario than his.

So ,looks like I'll be making another trip to the physio. Am thinking though I might try a different one to see if I can get another opinion on what is a persistent hamstring problem now at this stage.

0.66 miles warmup followed by 4.35miles @7:35avg


WTD|24.51
MTD|91.87
YTD|1222.92

Edit: missed FBOT01 in my boardsies list