Run run run run run run run....

Quick catchup on the week, another tiring week working over in Holland (quickly becoming my 2nd home). I have it all ahead of me again next week but it's not such bad timing as I start to taper anyway. Not a great week in terms of running, achilles flared up on Wednesday so I took Thursday off and feeling back to normal today at the farm. I really felt the 10 miler in the legs early in the week, it took a lot out of me so a recovery week was exactly what I needed. All my focus is now on getting to the starting line in 2 weeks in good shape and feeling confident, if that means days off here or there then thats exactly what I'll do. I'm experienced enough now (well, I should be) to know that any days off here or there at this stage have little impact on the end result.

Monday 23/03 - 9 miles @ 7:54 min/mile

Tuesday 24/03 - 5.5 miles @ 8:10 min/mile

Wednesday 25/03 - 10 miles @ 7:44 min/mile

Thursday 26/03 - Rest (achilles injury)

Friday 27/03 - 5 miles @ 7:56 min/mile

Saturday 28/03 - 10 miles @ 7:33 min/mile

I opted to stay away from any sort of session today at the farm and just jogged it out on the grass for 10 miles. The achilles felt ok so taking Thursday off and a very light jog yesterday AM seems to have done the trick. See!! it's not impossible, you can learn sense.

One week to go! Another week over in Holland last week and the craziest in terms of working hours and stress means I didn't get to do all the running I had planned. Not a big setback by any means but that sort of carry on takes its toll on the body and mind so I'm just glad I have one week here to recuperate in time for the marathon on Sunday.

Monday 30/03 - 5 miles @ 7:35 min/mile
The 6 am flight from Cork meant todays run would be kept short having had so little sleep. Legs felt good!

Tuesday 31/03 - 10 miles @ 7:34 min/mile
So windy! Was battered with the most bizarre hailstorm after about 3 miles. It was swift, only about 4/5 minutes but absolutely hammered down, lightning and everything. I cowered, frozen under the shelter of a canopy of a pizzeria and assumed that was the run over but then just like that it was all over and on I went, glad to get this one done.

Wednesday 01/04 - 6 miles @ 7:01 min/mile
Plan was 10 miles but I didn't get out for this one until after 9:30pm, already knackered so picked up the pace and cut it short. I sneakily ordered room service just before I left as the cut off is 10pm. Had to swoop back to the hotel at 10pm, collect the dinner in my room and then went back to finish the run, worked out perfectly, a man's gotta eat! Good run, felt pretty fresh despite the tiredness.

Thursday 02/04 - 8.6 miles mixed

AM: 4 miles @ 7:56 min/mile
Partial guilt of not getting the 10 miles in last night but also the anticipation of a very tough day ahead and knowing I'd struggle to get a decent run in the evening. Nice 30 minute jog before breaky.

PM: 4.5 miles @ 7:36 min/mile
Indeed it was a late one today, got out for this after 10:30pm and 35 minutes was probably enough, probably should have even just knocked this one on the head. Got back to hotel, ate a salad and straight to bed for more fun tomorrow.

Friday - 03/04 - 5 miles @ 8:11 min/mile
Well I was supposed to fly home this evening so checked out and drove into work planning to leave around 4pm. I knew within an hour of getting to work I'd be going nowhere this evening, nightmare. Anyway at least I got out for this run early before breakfast and had some sort of peace and quiet before the storm. Home at 11:30pm, straight to bed.

Saturday 04/04 - Rest
Happy 32nd birthday to me! Plan was a 4 x 5 mins session on the farm but I was a long, long way from the farm. In work for 8am and the fun continued right up until 11pm that night. At one stage everything was going very smoothly and we thought we'd be out of there by 7/8pm. I thought I'd then be able to fit in some sort sort of a session but a mini crisis hit which kept us there until after 11pm, topping off what was probably my best birthday ever. Diet today: McDonalds and a kebab, ugh.

Sunday 05/04 - 12 miles @ 7:02 min/mile
Finally escaped! Up at 5:30am to drive to Amsterdam and catch a 9:20 flight back to Cork. So glad to touch down and couldn't wait to head down to the marina for a run. Got to the car park to find my back rear tyre was punctured ARGH! fixed the tyre and finally made it back home. Geared up, coffee fix and straight to the marina. Beautiful morning and somehow I felt so fresh, legs felt good and it was exactly the run I needed after that week, really settled the doubts that have crept in recently.

Weekly milage: 47

Not the worst return given the week that was in it, I'll take 47 miles and managed to run 6/7 days so I've gotta take the positives.

I've been essentially forced into a 3 week taper since Mallow accounting for a minor achilles setback and then work commitments, what can I do only roll with it. I'm concerned about the lack of sessions and dramatic drop in milage but I've got to trust in the training already done. Concerns are creeping in but I'd be lying if I said that hasn't happened for previous marathons, I think it's expected at this stage. I know I'm in good shape given the recent result at Mallow so I just need to keep reminding myself of the work done. This week I'll be doing a 3 mile MP session on the track Tuesday which will hopefully feel ok and then we wind down to Sunday. Bring it on!

NetwerkErrer wrote: »

Best of luck for the weekend man! I think we found your secret;)

http://m.runnersworld.com/injury-prevention-recovery/fast-food-may-help-you-recover-similar-to-sport-products?page=single

Haha I read that recently and even though I don't take those claims seriously, every time I eat McDonalds from now on, it's purely for recovery purposes

Thanks NE!

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Ah no such a waste of the best athlete in your family

HEY!! I heard that!

Wednesday 08/04 - 50 mins @ 7:40 min/mile
To the GAA pitches after work with clubmate. Feeling well rested, good to be back into my normal routine (and diet!)

Thursday 09/04 - 40 mins @ 7:41 min/mile
Down to the club for a light job with some of the marathon lads, few strides on the track afterwards.

Friday 10/04 - 35 mins @ 7:50 min/mile
Last one! Nice handy jog before work, beautiful morning and legs feeling good. Just as I got back to my house, and hearing the news last night that one of our crew got injured in the last week, I realised I'm pretty lucky to be making it to the start line of my 5th marathon, time to make it count.

That's it for now, I'll probably do a very short jog tomorrow back from the expo. Until then it's rest and eat, rest and eat, pace around a little, rest and eat, pace some more, rest, rest, eat, rest, rest...race!

The only slight concern now I have is the length of the taper again but if I look at the bigger picture I've been training for this marathon since early November. Looking back on my log I've got some solid work done with good consistent milage not to mention the gains from the last marathon block. Overall I'm confident and if everything goes my way on Sunday there's no reason I can't be coming back here with a healthy new PB. Once again I'm not going there to run an exact time, I'm going to have to be prepared to adapt to conditions on the day or whatever the race throws at me. The dream time is a sub 2:40 and I really believe it's there for the taking this time. Adios!