From minutes to miles

career move wrote: »

Good job Laura

Thanks CM, I see Beast training is kicking off in earnest, can't wait to read more about it.

Runchick wrote: »

Well done Laura, I'm making a note of the 'avoid water stations' bit for future reference, good call Hopefully the niggle behaves and you can get a good training block in. That's some chunk of the PB too, super stuff

To be honest, it was fear of another stitch, wondering about the burping and having choked on it at the last station that put me off. I felt better off without! Thanks

spaceylou wrote: »

Well done Laura, good chunk off the last pb too!

Cheers! Enjoy that shiny new bike Be careful though, some around here will consider that contraband talk but you'll find a few like minded underground followers to support you :cool:

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Great report, Laura! You'll no doubt look very glamorous in the race photos after the trip to the hairdressers :pac::pac::pac:

Fantastic to get such a massive PB in spite of the interruptions to the last training block. Sub-25 5K next ???

I'm afraid to look at the photos :eek: Did you miss the part of the report where I talked about pouring water on my head, hayfever tears, sweat, mushed in fly??? Yes, definitely, that 5k time is next, I'm itching to give it another go.

spaceylou wrote: »

Oh its a 'pretty bike', complete with basket and all - that other forum that cannot be named would laugh me right off! Purely a faster form of transport than walking for commuting to allow more time for running

Doesn't matter to this crowd I hear you on the commuting front, so much easier way of getting around.

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Well done Laura. Love reading about PBs

Thanks - I love writing about them

chickey2 wrote: »

Well done, that's a great improvement!

Thanks chickey!!

Ah hello, much neglected log. Where were we?

Sunday 21st: Rest

Planned on a recovery run and got dressed at one point and everything but the post race niggles in the foot seemed like they'd benefit more from a day off. So I listened.

Monday 22nd: 4 miles @ 10:50, average HR 150bpm

A late evening, quite slow outing as a recovery. Can't remember anything about this at all

Tuesday 23rd: Squash

Wednesday 24th: Football

Left it late again, losing in the first half before we got it back and won it with a goal in the last minute. Making a habit of this, my poor heart :rolleyes:

Thursday 25th: 5 miles @ 10:18, average HR 155bpm

For the second time in a week I found myself getting changed in the ladies loos in a pub :cool: Post work leaving drinks this time. I even turned down a free pint to stay on the straight and narrow for the run home. I got some strange looks and slagging from the colleagues as I trundled off through the pub in my gear. Was the best option of the bunch available to get the run in at all.

Friday 26th: 5 miles @ 10:41, average HR 158bpm

A slow trip back into work the next morning. Very muggy already and it was only 7.45ish. Felt a bit sluggish.

Saturday 27th: Rest

Sunday 28th: Rest

Saturday was a self inflicted write off, all good plans out the window. Spent the day reading 5 mile reports instead. The foot niggle hadn't gone away 100% despite my maintenance at home so after taking an unplanned rest day on Saturday without the world falling apart, my legs still worked and I didn't automatically become the unfittest person ever I thought I'd take another on the Sunday to see if a couple of consecutive days off would nip it in the bud. Drove to Cork instead to visit friends without the pressure of squeezing in a run. A whopping 14 miles for the week

Monday 29th: 5 miles @ 9:47, average HR N/A

Back from Cork in the afternoon so out in the evening. I felt super refreshed, the couple of days off made all the difference for the legs. Foot feeling ok. Ran by feel and watched the breathing, great to see so many people out as well.

Tuesday 30th: Raheny Shamrocks Lord Mayor Series Round 3: 2 miles

I'd heard good things about these races hosted by Raheny but couldn't make the winter ones due to football on Wednesdays. After HelenAnne had told me the summer ones were a Tuesday I was determined to head down. 2 mile warm up jog to the clubhouse to register - despite the fact I'm from nearby and have spent much much time in Raheny in my life, I never knew where the clubhouse was. Did another 1 mile recce of the course, with some strides and met a couple of people. The OH had come along to watch so I saw him, met Mrs Mc from around here, a quick chat with her, lined up towards the back and we were off with no fuss. I felt myself haring off so slowed down and let one big group pull away. I settled in with a few around me, just on the shoulder of one girl. She seemed to be breathing heavier than me and I still felt I was going a bit too hot so let her move off, but I was hoping I'd see her again. I didn't know what to expect from this. I was hoping for 15:xx but my main aim was to have a stronger finish than I felt I had in recent races and not go out too fast. But I know in such a short distance you should be going at a good pelt from the off so I wanted to try get that balance and I had hoped the good warm up would have helped with that. About a half mile in I got a stitch again - I don't think these evening races agree with me :rolleyes: Not too bad though and I saw on the watch my pace had slowed to nearly 8 m/m. Myself, my shoulder friend and one man were close enough together for most of the first mile with me at the back. Going around the last turn before heading to the halfway mark I went past the two of them and went out in front. Neither of them came back but I wasn't sure if there biding their time. Got a shout out from the OH and the first mile beeped at 8:01. The lady calling the times called 7:57 as I went past her so I was in or around where I needed to be.

Starting the second lap I was quite isolated. Neither of my first lap crowd seemed alongside me and the only person anywhere near up ahead was a good bit away. I concentrated on myself (breathing, does anything hurt, ah sure less than a mile, it'll be over soon) and slowly but surely I noticed I was closing on her. The start of the mile is a long enough stretch so by the time it ended and we took the first turn to start the loop around I felt I had caught up enough to make overtaking a reasonable prospect. I tried not to burst up but trust that I was ticking slightly faster to be confident of a gradual movement. I could see a person shadow from the sun behind (no, not mine - another one ) so I knew someone was close behind me. I glanced once to see if it was either of my previous companions but I couldn't tell. I tried to pick it up a small bit to shake them off if it was someone working to overtake me. Coming near the last bend somewhere (a bit before, I think, it's a blur) I went past my target. I wanted to pick it up for the finish but I wasn't sure of how soon to go. Had pulled away a bit here and got some good shout outs here of encouragement from strangers and one person I knew. I was closing in on the finish when all of a sudden I hear a supporter on the sideline say "go on X, you can catch her" or something to that effect. There was a moment of brain freeze before I realised I was the target again and I was being closed on in the chase. I must have had a wild look of panic on my face as I glanced over my shoulder to see where she was (I heard the OH actually laugh as he saw and heard the penny drop quite loudly in my head). I tried to get the burners on as I encouraged myself with a "she's not catching me". In fact there may have been an expletive in there. All obviously directed completely at myself like a loon. Over the finish line, a moment to compose myself before making sure I turned to find my chaser and congratulate her on the race and share one or two words. Second mile was 7:50. Caught Mrs Mc crossing the line shortly after before doing another 1 mile cool down and up to the clubhouse for a quick cuppa and a chat before heading home to throw the dinner I'd already made (polishes halo) in the microwave. Great evening out for a a bargain of E7 and I can't wait to go again Garmin came in at 15:52 in the end, just waiting on the website to update before getting an official result but shouldn't be too far off that hopefully. 6 miles total for the day. Edit: official time, 15:51.

June 101.02 miles
Running 18/30
Squash/football 6/30
Rest 6/30

Month|Miles
January|98.82
February|108.20
March|107.44
April|96.98
May|87.43
June|101.02
July|
August|
September|
October|
November|
December|
Total|599.89

Cheers guys. On phone, so can't multi quote - definitely going to do a few more through the series, good way to hopefully track some progress. As helenAnne said before, there's a range of paces so someone to work off. Anna - it was on the residential roads that go parallel to the howth road, around by the side of st annes, around all saints and by that little park the 5 mile finishes. Drop me a text if you're thinking of going to one, I'm planning on a couple more anyway.