Running in the Real World

Saturday, Oct 3: 22 Mile LSR
35.5Km @ 6:21/Km; 22.1 mi @ 10:13/mi

This is the second 22 mile run in the plan, but the first I attempted. It's described in the plan as 22 miles with 'stuff' -- either run the whole thing 'steady' or 10 miles easy, followed by 10 @ MP and 2 cooldown. I should have set my watch to beep at me because I ended up doing some steady, some MP and most easy! In no particular order.

I had a bee in my bonnet all week about using this run to recce the DCM course from Chapelizod Gate on. I needed to banish the demons of DCM 14. So I set off this morning to deepest, darkest southside, armed with the DCM map and list of roads. Through the park to Chapelizod gate, passing hundreds of Simon Fun run participants going in the opposite direction -- the most relaxed bunch of 'runners' I've ever seen.

The short version: loved this run, felt good most of the way, although flagged from time to time, demons conquered!

Longer version (for my own record): Out the gate and through Chapelizod, up to Kilmainham, admiring the colours of the trees. Made a pitstop in the Kilmainham Hilton before heading towards Dolphin's Barn. My only wrong turn of the day brought me to the canal a bridge too soon, no problem, found the dreaded Crumlin Rd one bridge over. Passed the spot where my legs stopped working in DCM 2014, relieved to actually RUN up Crumlin Rd today. It's not a bad drag, a bit exposed and not very interesting but fine really.

Found my way to KCR... the road names are so small or non-existent that I had to stop a bit and wander around to be sure I had the right route, not having been here for a year!

Unknown to me, my brother and his wife passed me in the car on Kimmage rd, they sent me a text: 'we can't stop saying, that's mad'

Hit 10 miles somewhere around Walkinstown and attempted some MP Km... but stopping and starting to read street names and the map didn't help my rhythm. Stopped for a Lucozade Sport somewhere here too, was feeling the need of some sugar.

Down into Terenure, remembering the glory days of the Terenure 5 mile, then around through opulent Orwell Road and Park... definitely tiring now, but still feeling good.

Finally got to Roebuck road and the infamous hill... which is really not bad, a bit steep but short (although there is a drag up to it) and the reward at the top is a lovely downhill on Foster's avenue. Nice steady paced Km took me to the top.

Back into town through the wasteland of the Stillorgan dual carriageway, mercifully mostly downhill, down Nutley Lane (stopped at Tesco for a water refill), then the long straight to the finish at Merrion Square. Finished strong, imagining the crowds cheering

I realised around Roebuck that I had misjudged the 22 miles... thinking it would get me home. Hit 22 miles just after the finish line on Merrion Square, still a couple of miles from home... two buses flew past ignoring my 'please stop' signal (yes, I was at a bus stop) so I resorted to a taxi home. Extravagant, but what the hell, I earned it. The taxi driver was well impressed with my exploits. My understanding OH on the other hand said, would you not have run home from there... No, I just ran 22 miles (and couldn't run another 100m)!!!!

So my new mantra is 'Focus, Commit, Believe, Achieve' (borrowed from Jim McGuinness). Repeated endlessly, it's like some sort of moving meditation trance, worked well today

Really happy with this run, psychologically important to break the hoodoo of that course, from Crumlin rd to the end... Now I know I can do it, only question is at what pace...? but that's for another day.

No gels today, just the Lucozade sport and I had a zero tab in a glass of water before l left home. All good. My legs are sore now and I've wanted to lie down and nap ever since I got home.

Delighted again!!!



*except for the 16 miles next week.... feels like that hardly qualifies as an LSR now!

I think I'm losing it... am I becoming obsessed? I offered D a 'marathon' instead of a 'magnum' this evening.

Then was listening to the Aussie coach (yaay, go Australia) being interviewed and could have sworn he said "I'm so proud of my legs" (might have been 'lads').

Mrs Mc wrote: »

Was there alright but went via collins ave Griffith ave was prob at 6 miles by the time I hit Clontarf at 9.30. Went to sutton cross from there. All good ! 22 miles in the bag

Well done again, A, you nailed it! You've been so consistent, you will have a good day on the 26th!

Monday 5: Rest and back to work full time :eek:

Tuesday 6: 5 miles easy
Approx 5 miles @ 9:56; 8k @ 6:10

Lovely evening run to the wooden bridge and back. My watch died after about 3 miles but I didn't care one bit. Just enjoyed running after 2 days in an office!

Wednesday 7: Rest
The planned 14 miles was abandoned due to getting home from work later than planned and having to prioritise eating over running. How the hell do people find the time to work full-time, have kids... And run!!!? Ok whine over.

Thursday 8: 14 miles @ MP

Arranged to meet aquinn for this after work, knowing it would encourage me out the door. She very generously offered to do the whole 14 miles (she really is a star, really!). We did a big loop -- up to Finglas, Glasnevin ave to Collins Ave, killester, Raheny and back in the Coast. I was very happy to see the sea heading for home!

A was pacing us in miles, me in km. The planned pace was 5:55/km or 9:33/mi.

D had given me a "motivational" speech about this run--this a really key run in the plan, if you can do this at MP, you can do the marathon at MP. Take it seriously, plan for it, blah blah blah. No pressure so!

It was a lovely night for running and we did great all the way UP to Finglas, but damn that was only 3 miles. I really started to flag on the Howth rd, about 7 miles in, but A was having none of it. We did stop for a sports drink at a garage, and again for water in Clontarf. I nearly lost A there, she didn't hear me say I was stopping and kept going. I tried to slow down after 12 miles but again she wouldn't let me!

Running in the dark on uneven footpaths and crossing roads slowed us down. The smell of food wafting from restaurants along the sea front tortured us.

But we finished strong and walked the last Km home. I rewarded myself with wine and chocolate.

And oh yeah, the pace... garmin says 14 miles @ 9:34/mi or 22.5 km @ 5:56/km. A called the last mile at 9:20.

So... I'm happy with that, even if it's one second too slow .

Legs are sore now, and I have to go to work tomorrow again, groan.

Big thanks to aquinn, I owe you many pints in McGrattans!!!

And I just realised YTD MILES: 1,001.44!!!!

Which means I crossed the 1,000 barrier somewhere in that last two miles on the seafront... very appropriate location and timing