Mum on the Run

Sunday – Long Run

Woke up this morning pleasantly surprised to be in reasonable shape after Digby-gate. Just the one bruise and a sore shoulder but nothing wrong with my legs. Or my brain (Mr B would beg to differ here :rolleyes:).

Schedule said 95 minutes. I headed for the Howth Road with a loose plan of doing the Raheny 5 loop and back home again. I hadn’t consciously thought about doing another ‘anger management’ run but after the first split beeped at 8:32 and I felt comfortable, I decided to run the whole thing at faster than normal pace. Maybe I did get the sense knocked out of me yesterday along with the stuffing.

I broke all the rules today but it felt really good. Sometimes you just have to go out and run.

• 95:00 (11.4 miles @ 8:20 min/mile average)

TOTAL WEEKLY MILES: 38

TOTAL FOR MAY: 133 miles

Month 2015 2014 2013
January 101 86 0
February 109 75 0
March 124 109 0
April 129 101 24
May 133 95 81
June 86 72
July 2 101
August 31 37
September 83 43
October 93 64
November 107 69
December 119 94
596 987 585

Saturday

Wasn’t sure how I was going to fit any running in today, what with BG Jr’s activities, a kids birthday party, and a ‘surprise’ party for my sister’s 50th (she doesn’t like surprises so we had to tell her about it :rolleyes:). Did manage to get out late afternoon. Only peace and quiet I got all day.

• 4.3 miles easy incl. 6 x 80m strides

Sunday – Care to Run Newbridge 5K & 10K
22:06 Garmin splits (4:19,4:34, 4:26,4:30, 4:17)
4th F

After last week’s 5K was rudely interrupted by a tearaway mutt, I wanted to get back in the saddle and give the distance another shot this weekend. Having decided against a parkrun due to the forecasted 40Km/h wind on Saturday (I have had enough at this point), I found this race online and as it happened a friend who lives locally was doing the 10K so I though I’d combine the 5K with a catch-up. I was warned in advance that it wasn’t a flat course so my plan was just to go by feel, not push too hard or stress about time, and enjoy. There was a brilliant atmosphere in the town with loads of Newbridge AC’s Fit 4 Lifers taking part, some doing their first 5K, some their first 10K. The 10K runners were off first, followed by the 5K race about 15 minutes later. I’d no choice but to line up in the first couple of rows because the sub-25 pacer was close to the front. Off we went and straight away three women tore off, no doubt with the podium in sight. I settled into a comfortable pace and was promptly overtaken by another woman. I was trying to relax and focus on good posture and form. Because I wasn’t familiar with the course and didn’t know what was going to be around the next corner I was probably over cautious but no harm, I’ve done enough eyeballs out racing over the last while, today wasn’t the day for more of that. About 1K in I passed out the woman in 4th and from that point on I was running on my own. I could see 2nd and 3rd up ahead, maybe 100m away. My splits were all over the place but the effort was steady, the hills and a bit of a breeze were affecting the pace. Around 3K I realised I was closing the gap on the 2 girls ahead but again, not knowing what was ahead made me maintain the same effort rather than risk blowing up or bringing on a Flabs attack. The 4K point appeared in the middle of a steepish hill and I witnessed the 3rd placed runner make her move on 2nd here – very tactical running from what turned out to be quite a young runner – and leave her for dust. I knew 3rd was tiring now and although I’d left it way too late to catch her, I couldn’t help but try to narrow the gap. Got fairly close in the end (maybe 20m?) but ran out of road. It was a great feeling to finish strong and not in a heap. Even better to see my friend take a podium place with a PB in the 10K, which was a lot hillier.

I’m really happy with this even though I’ve gone through 5K faster in the last couple of 5 milers. I just enjoyed every minute and felt strong so I think with a bit of a rest after Dunshaughlin I might aim for a fast 5K the following weekend before hanging up the racing shoes until September. Not sure what I’ll be putting in my log for the interim…..it'll be tumbleweed city without the usual plethora of race reports.

• 5.1 miles total incl 5K race

TOTAL WEEKLY MILES: 36