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Timber!!

overpronator

As you may have guessed from the title this thread is going to be my training log!

Bad jokes out of the way I have found the training logs on here to be both extremely educational and motivational. Furthermore they brought home to me what required to properly improve and the work people put in to do that, I have great admiration for many posters on here and hopefully with chat and feedback through this thread I can improve bit by bit.

About me, I'm a 30 year old male with a pretty sedentary job. In the past I played GAA at a good, sometimes very good level but succumbed to injury and more accurately apathy and pints in my early to mid twenties. The most exercise I got over a 5 year period consisted of five a side a couple of times a week thinking that was keeping me fit, the usual nonsense.

I started running properly about 18 months ago when I "trained" for the Irish runner 5 miler in the park. That involved going up there once or twice a week for the 3 weeks before the race and tearing around the course as fast as I could:). That progressed to the remaining races in the race series where through the graduates 2012 thread I picked up some basics, got some long runs in and got myself around DCM12 just under the 4 hour mark at 3.54

Last year I got more structured and followed a Hal Higdon type plan for the Limerick marathon. I had a tough day finishing in 3.36 blowing up around 20 miles chasing 3.30. I did the race series again last summer and followed a Hybrid plan of P&D which I supplemented with Meno's midweek long MP sessions in place of VO2 max workouts for the last 5 weeks and got around in a comfortable 3.26.

My current PB's are

5k 19.48
10k 41.00
10 Mile 68.45
Half 1.34.03
Marathon 3.26.51

The goals for this year however ambitious, were (and still are) a sub 40 10k and a sub 1.30 half.
The little matter of the London Marathon 2014 has gotten in the way of specifically focusing on these goals. I hadn't intended on doing a Spring Marathon this year but myself and my GF got offered a spot so I couldn't turn it down really.
I'm currently following the 12 week P&D plan up to 55 miles and have been just doing slow base building for the month before the plan started. I will follow the structure of the plan quite closely but will add more mileage depending on how I feel but will again supplement some of the VO2 max workouts at the end with longer marathon specific efforts as I think it was these sessions from Meno's graduates plan last summer that made the difference for me in DCM 13.

From my PBs its clear that my endurance isn't really where it should be yet so hopefully another marathon cycle with more fast finish long runs, sessions Ive never really gotten to grips with will help with that.
Ill post again later with a summary of what ive been up to for the last 3 or so weeks, hopefully this log will keep me more active on here for feedback as im sporadic enough when it comes to posting but love to lurk!

Comments, feedback and general slagging welcome.

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DOCO12

Congrats savage time, enjoy your well deserved drinks

yaboya1

Well done on the pb.
Great running

Finnt

Super running, congrats!

Edit: just looking back there the 3x2 mile session was pretty much exact, just shows it's a great session.

Tom Joad

Great running today and a well deserved PB. Enjoy them beers

career move

Sweet

Well done

adrian522

Well done on the PB, sounds like a great race too.

wowzer

Congrats, great running.

Ososlo

Congrats! Great pb!

overpronator

*double post

overpronator

39.16 this morning in the lakes 10k, 35th place I think. Happy with that, feels like job done and a pb by about 40 seconds. Will do a report over the next couple of days but will enjoy a few pints later. Absolutely brilliant race, a great credit to Lakeshore striders.

wowzer

Best of luck in the morning

overpronator

Thanks a mil lads, I'll keep an eye out for ye at the start. Yaboya you're some man

tang1

Best of luck tomorrow OP.

yaboya1

Good luck tomorrow OP.
I'm expecting a sprint finish between yourself & OFAR as you both sail in under 39

Tom Joad

Best of luck tomorrow. Your training has been fantastic. Will catch up with you there

overpronator

yaboya1 wrote: »

I think you're being a bit pessimistic tbh. I know nothing about the course. but judging on the McMillan session you did in tough conditions last week I'd expect you to go sub 39. I know OFAR says it predicts 39:15, but in a race environment I think you'll go faster.
Good luck!

Cheers yaboya, always love your optimism, something I need more of I think when it comes to racing! Will give it all a serious lash, plenty of people from here to try and chase anyway!

yaboya1

overpronator wrote: »

At the moment I'm thinking that I'm going to try to hold something approaching 6.20 pace for the first two miles and see how I'm going from there. The goals in ascending order are to get under 40 again at a minimum, after that to break the PB (39.55) and if I have a good day to get under 39.30 if I can. I'm under no illusions though, sub 40 is tough so everything after that is a bonus!
What are your thoughts on the course, there is a bit of a hill at 7kish but otherwise ok? How are you feeling about it, you're hitting for sub 39 right? The speed is there anyway.

I think you're being a bit pessimistic tbh. I know nothing about the course. but judging on the McMillan session you did in tough conditions last week I'd expect you to go sub 39. I know OFAR says it predicts 39:15, but in a race environment I think you'll go faster.
Good luck!

outforarun

overpronator wrote: »

At the moment I'm thinking that I'm going to try to hold something approaching 6.20 pace for the first two miles and see how I'm going from there. The goals in ascending order are to get under 40 again at a minimum, after that to break the PB (39.55) and if I have a good day to get under 39.30 if I can. I'm under no illusions though, sub 40 is tough so everything after that is a bonus!
What are your thoughts on the course, there is a bit of a hill at 7kish but otherwise ok? How are you feeling about it, you're hitting for sub 39 right? The speed is there anyway.

Touch-wood and if all goes right on the day I'd say you'll definitely go under the 40:00 and I'd have my money on you getting a PB.

Here's my race report from last year's race and it carries a Garmin link.

A year has passed but I remember the first 6.5K as being either flat or slightly downhill. I remember the hill at 6.5K being very challenging. After the hill there's a gorgeous downhill which should allow you recover time lost on the hill. Then there's a little drag at 9 or 10K.

Overall I think it's a fair course.

Yeah I'm shooting for sub 39. If the stars align on the day I might just do it. But I'm not brimming with confidence.

< 39:00 = Gold
< 39:30 = Silver
< 39:41 = Bronze
< 40:00 = Consolation

overpronator

outforarun wrote: »

Well done on that last McMillan session. He promises that if you complete that session then you will hit that pace in the race. By my calculations based on that run you're due in in 39:15 at 3:55 min/km. (I managed that pace in Fingal but the racing line had me finishing in 39:41).

What's the strategy/target Saturday?

At the moment I'm thinking that I'm going to try to hold something approaching 6.20 pace for the first two miles and see how I'm going from there. The goals in ascending order are to get under 40 again at a minimum, after that to break the PB (39.55) and if I have a good day to get under 39.30 if I can. I'm under no illusions though, sub 40 is tough so everything after that is a bonus!
What are your thoughts on the course, there is a bit of a hill at 7kish but otherwise ok? How are you feeling about it, you're hitting for sub 39 right? The speed is there anyway.

outforarun

Well done on that last McMillan session. He promises that if you complete that session then you will hit that pace in the race. By my calculations based on that run you're due in in 39:15 at 3:55 min/km. (I managed that pace in Fingal but the racing line had me finishing in 39:41).

What's the strategy/target Saturday?

overpronator

Tuesday 8 easy 8.15 pace
I took Monday off and headed for the phoenix park last night. I was thinking about a small session ahead of the race Saturday but I decided against it, I've a small niggle in my hip these last few days, nothing too bad but I don't want to aggravate it so ill run easy and do some strides over the next 3 days. I stuck to the trails and grass for a nice 8 easy miles, felt lethargic at the start but shook it off as I went. It was the calmest evening I can remember up there in weeks and weeks, not a breath of wind and I enjoyed this one, the evenings are drawing in so there's not many of these runs left for the year.

overpronator

After The Frank Duffy I took the Sunday and Monday off, Sunday as I was wrecked and sore legs put paid to any running. Monday was an unplanned rest day as a last minute trip to Croker on Sunday resulted in too many pints and a ropey Monday overall.

Tuesday 10.6 miles easy 8.27 pace
I did alot of this on grass in the PP and had company for the first 7, I was feeling pretty good at the end so I tacked on another 3 for the 10.

Wednesday 7.1 miles easy 8.31 pace
Just an easy 60 minutes on a really drizzly night, nice run and felt good.

Thursday 3x2miles @10k pace 11.3 miles total
This was the famous final McMillan 10k session and despite dreading it all day at work it actually was fairly ok. 5 mins jog between reps. Splits were
Miles 1&2 12.39 (6.20 pace)
Miles 3&4 12.33 (6.17 pace)
Miles 5&6 12.42 (6.21 pace)
As usual I did these up on the acres lap in the phoenix park and the wind was especially cruel and swirling that night so I was really glad to hold pace. Rep 1 was grand but I was working into the wind over the last half mile. Rep 2 was the toughest by far as I had a full mile into the gale and I had to be on my toes to keep pace. The legs felt very heavy starting the last one but I just put the head down and managed to finish the session out strongly, definitely easier as I knew it was the last rep. A difficult session but strangely satisfying, particularly as I managed it with the tough race from last Saturday still in the legs.

Friday 4.3 miles 8.33 pace
I wanted to do this at 9 min miles+ as a recovery jog but the rain was so bad that I sped up to get home, a really horrible evening! The legs were really tired after the session but not too sore so I was happy enough

Sunday 16 miles LSR 8.48 pace
I jumped in with a couple of lads from Team Carrie in Dunleer again for this one. After taking Saturday off I was hoping the legs would be in ok shape but I was fairly tired all through the run so I was happy that the pace was really easy on a lovely sunny morning. The route was a solid uphill for the last 10k so I was glad when it was over but it was great doing a long run with company.

I'm happy with a solid week overall, just over 49 miles with a decent session and long run. Bleesington 10k this Saturday so it will be an easy week, I may do a mini session on Tuesday to keep me ticking over depending on how i feel but im 50/50 on it. Really looking forward to the race as I've heard great things.

yaboya1

overpronator wrote: »

Ha yeah you're right actually, It can't have been too bad and I should be delighted. I suppose I just wanted another 20 seconds or so! :pac::pac:

Next time......although it will be more than 20 seconds. Sub 65 is my guess.

overpronator

yaboya1 wrote: »

If you ran it badly and still pb'd, I'm looking forward to the next race you run well

Ha yeah you're right actually, It can't have been too bad and I should be delighted. I suppose I just wanted another 20 seconds or so! :pac::pac:

yaboya1

If you ran it badly and still pb'd, I'm looking forward to the next race you run well

overpronator

I haven't had a chance to do up a report until now but here is what I can remember!

Miles 1-4
I went into this one not too bothered with how I did but in saying that I knew id give it a good go in the days leading up. The plan was to run sub 66.30 and maybe 65 as a very long shot if things went well but it didn't quite turn out that way.
I lined up at the start in a decent enough position and once we set off I hit 6.40 pace fairly handily and all was good. I really should have pushed on a bit here to bank some time as it felt so easy but I probably overestimated the drag up the North road in my own mind and held back. As we turned onto the North road I felt great and was cruising, taking it far too easy up to Castleknock in retrospect.Splits 6.39,6.47,6.49,6.43
Miles 5-8
At this stage I actually copped on that I really had to claw some time back. I consciously pushed on helped by the downhill and by the time we came through mile 6 I said Id try and hold the effort I was at and try to get away without blowing up.Splits 6.35,6.27,6.28,6.26
Miles 9&10
As we left the park I knew I was in trouble. I struggled with the wind along the Chapelizod road and turning back into the park for the drag I just had nothing in the legs. I was passed by a bloke in a triathlon onesie just at the bottom of the hill so I made it my goal to take him. I managed to pass him just before we went under the Irish independent sign and my mile split here was 6.58:mad: #blowup. I knew that sub 67 was at risk here so I put the head down and by the time we hit the furze road I was moving a bit faster but my left leg had started to cramp up, in a 10 miler!, disaster. I managed to hold it off and mustered an all out effort for the length of the furze road to get in under 67.
That closing 2 mile stretch was extremely difficult not helped by stupid pacing and checking out my pictures online I look completely fooked!
Splits 6.58,6.39 Chip time 66.43

Mixed feeling really, glad to PB but ran it badly I felt. In saying that I don't think I was in 65 shape judging by how I felt so I probably ran what I was capable of, give or take a few seconds. It puts me at 1.28.5x for the half so I'm just gonna hedge my bets and run with the 1.30 pacers and hopefully get the job done with a more conservative approach.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/571605492

DOCO12

Savage time, well done

outforarun

Well done, that's a great time. I hate the last 2 mies of that course. You're really raising the bar at the moment. Looking forward to the report. Oh and that 2x2+1 10K session is definitely one I'd try, I can see how psychologically the last rep isn't so daunting and gives you scope to really push at the end.

RedRunner

Great result OP . Well done.

tang1

overpronator wrote: »

Cheers Yaboya, 66.4x, glad to get this much as I had a tough day, last 2 miles were a killer!

Great running OP, well done. Nice PB.