Running on empty.

Friday 09/10/15

7.29km

Messed up here. Somehow Endomondo did not stop properly and has been running the last hour or so, while I worked on my CV. First 6km were pretty consistent average 5:2X min/km, 7km was 5:56, or 5:58 per km and would put the last 300 meter at a similar pace. That as accurate as it gets today I'm afraid. Found it hot again today. Got put the laundry on now so, I have my better short my Sunday. Easy run tomorrow, followed by some strides, aiming to get out nice and early.

Race Day
Important stuff in bold

So had an emergency call last night so had to go to the other side of the city. Ended up staying with family. I still would have needed to take the same connecting bus. Nonetheless I missed the bus, I wanted to get, so I was already under pressure. Not to mentioned, tummy was feeling upset, and barely touched my porridge. I made sure to get lots of water in today. I didn't want to start feeling dehydrated like in clontarf.
Still getting over the sinus issues, manage to use the neilmed rinse, but completely forgot to use my spray before leaving.

I got my first bus in to the city and needed to get my connecting bus from Westmorland street, when I saw the Garda cordon. R.I.P to the deceased man, I had 10 minute till the next bus so I got 2 bananas in Centra for a euro and waited for my bus.

I got on the bus, and asked to go to Cunnin road without thinking. As we came onto the chapelizod road, I realised I had mistated my destination and suffering guilt pangs got off early. it was now about 9:25am.

I ended up doing a mixture of running, jogging, walking and cross country that saw me on the chapelizod road, Ordinance survey road and embaressingly the wrong end of furze road. It was only the sound system that got me there in the end.I ended up getting to the start line arrriving a few minutes after 10am. Thankfully the race hadn't started yet, I got registered and made my way to the start line with my draw string bag ensue. I ended running about 4-5km before the race even began.

Onto the race line. I was in no rush here so did not push too hard, but the legs were already pretty warmed up. The first km clocked in at 5:01, every km after that sub 5 minutes. I can’t comment too much on the course as it is so long since I have been in the phoenix park. I don’t know the road at all. The route did indeed cross over itself. There seemed to be far more walkers than runners at this, and there seemed to be far less 10k’er, I am guessing this is the norm at these things.

I was actually trying to catch my breath at the registration desk, and get my head together, instead of thinking about a warmup. Habit kicked in and I plugged in the headphones at the start line at turned on the radio. I didn’t see any sign of a start matt, so not sure how the chip timing will work.
Number were on the low side, the day was very family orientated lots of buggies and families out for the day. I would say somewhere around 200 participants. I heard mention of lady crossing the finish line with 4 kids in toe from the announcer.
Even with Endomondo starting late it clocked 5k before I had crossed the 5k line, went to the right of side of the clock and continued on for my 2nd lap. A left turn took us back to the starting point the 2nd lap had the 10k’er do this stretch on the path instead of the road. Not sure what that road was called we had started on.

Things had been pretty foggy ahead of the event even to the point that I was convinced that the organiser had said that users were to bring their own water. Despite drinking load before leaving in the morning all the extra running before the start meant I still started thirsty. I got about 6km out of my bottle before I grabbed one of the bottle of ballygown. Everything was very smooth until about the 8km till thirst start to set in, the twist cap bottle required me to slow to walk in order to drink it. In spite of all this and everything that came my way, I somehow managed to pull off a negative split. I crossed the finish line Clock time 49:XX. Endomondo Average pace. 4:44 min/km. I was expecting at best with the last month being what it was, that at best, I would be hitting
5 min/km. No idea on the exact time. Bibs were precision timing so no idea, if result will be on their website, with the news this week or if the volunteers were out with pen and paper for timing. I was pretty knackered after this race. Dumped my phone etc in my bag and dumped most of the remained water over my head. I lay on the grass a few minutes till I caught my breath. I collected my , help yourself goodie bag then, made my way down to the coffee stand and got myself a hot chocolate with a mound of marshmallows. I sat around there about half an hour till I heard the sound system again and noticed a crowd around the finish line. I made my way up there to see what was going on. I got there just as the last spot prize was being given out. Then they gave out medal for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, in the 5k and 10k. I heard some mention from the guy with the mike to the effect that “we will learn how to measure the course next year” so I gather other people had raised issued of accuracy.
They started packing up at this point, which seemed a little early, but I have no idea on number who had done the 10k. Would have though there still could have been a few runner, walkers, joggers, out there for the event.
Battery died on my phone at this point. My cool down ended up seeing me, take an unnessesarily long route, albeit easily paced walk, where I ended up coming out at the strawberry beds of all places( I was aiming to come out where near the Donore Harriers) and then had to walk through chapelizod village and onto the chapelizod road to get a bus back to the city.
What a day. Can't see myself doing a recovery run tommorow, I think that cooldown walk will cover it. Two knees were aching afterward, could be the increase in distance after the break or the cross country, where I actually had to change route when I realised I was all of 10 meters from a pair of deer. :o:o

Thursday 15/Oct

37:49 min/sec, Distance 6.71km, Avg Pace 5:38 min/km

Just two local loops here kept the pace reasonably easy. This week has been a struggle, with persistent niggles in the left knee keeping me from building up the mile.

Sunday 18/Oct

8.02km, 42:05 min/sec, Avg Pace 5:15 min/km

Held off some more before running again till today, as I was kept pretty busy, the last few day. Last of the niggles in the left knee feel like they might be just about gone. No longer feeling confident about, the half in November. I know I can do the distance, just not happy I can build up to it in such a short space of time. After bringing on a niggle after, the break in my running, I want to do my best to make sure it doesn't stick around Not registered yet, so I may look elsewhere, or just do the 5 mile, and see if I can improve on my performance under difficult conditions in July. If I go that route, I would aim to a half early in the new year. I have no idea if I can get one in the spring or not in the Dublin area.

WTD 14.73 km
MTD 53.73+ Km