Turning a mule into a race horse.

Firedance wrote: »

The very very best of luck on Monday P (getting in early = code for in case I forget). I hope you have a fantastic run & hit your A target, see you McG afterwards?

Thank you ! - Yep See you there

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Hope it all goes to plan, you've come a long long way P. Best of everything to you!

Many thanks Dubgal. It's been a good year !

tang1 wrote: »

Best of luck Monday P, great to see the progress you have made, all down to your own hard work. Dig in when it gets tough, it'll be worth it.

Cheers B - Have my mental spade ready !

Gavlor wrote: »

Run skinny boy run!

It just doesn't have the same ring to it!

Best of luck pat, if you are really struggling on Monday just remember that I won't hold back with the "I told you so's"

On the flip side I won't be holding back either

Chivito550 wrote: »

Best of luck Monday P. See you in the pub after for an important beer mile session. Lots of base building, easy mileage.

Beer mile - taking this damn serious next year !!

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

All the best horse (mule!)

Hope you hit your target

TbL

Thanks ! Me too

ultraman1 wrote: »

Gud luck pm...dfiu....

I won't mate !

dintbo wrote: »

Best of luck PM

Thanks a million

martyboy48 wrote: »

Have a good one PM

Cheers marty - Will have an excellent one

kit3 wrote: »

Best of luck PM - time for revenge on DCM

It really is :mad:

aquinn wrote: »

Have a great race. I'll be busy stalking progress online.

6579 for anyone who is interested

Chip time 4:11:02

Not quite the result I wanted from this but a significant PB. Gavlor though can get the I told you so's ready

I lined up behind the 4:00 pacers as planned but found it extremely congested in the first few miles (and indeed all the way round) I had fallen back a little bit knowing the first water station was upon us soon to avoid the scramble - except some twat decided that he needed to get to the very first water bottle whilst positioned in the middle of the pack, barged over and knocked me into the corner of the table. At that stage I decided to completely avoid the congestion and stay sitting back. I also figured the group ahead would act as a decent wind breaker as the weather wasn't great (but not as bad as I feared and I can't use that as an excuse) I did briefly catch up with them in the park where the road widened out, had a chat with Meno at the time and all was going very well and I was very comfortable. Down out of the park, back up through Chapleizod, down the SCR and then it was time to face the uphill drag to Walkinstown. Went through half way at the bottom of the Crumlin road bang on target.

Miles 1-13 Splits

9:10, 8:54, 9:17, 8:53, 9:15, 9:01, 9:10, 8:59, 9:15, 9:08, 9:10, 9:07

Got up to Walkinstown in one piece which was a novelty for me :pac: and turned left into the wind. Normally this stretch is a respite from the climb that you've just come up but the wind made this stretch was tough. At that point I was a little further back than I would have liked to be so had decided to reel them back in a bit with the intention being to be ready to start moving on a bit from mile 16. I sped up a bit but I wasn't catching the pacers at all. I assumed they were also banking some time for the Clonskeagh drag ahead so again wasn't too concerned at that point not to be catching them. First sign of trouble though as my knee was starting to pain me.

Miles 14-18 splits

9:10, 9:21, 8:47, 9:06, 8:53

At that point we were at Orwell road heading for Milltown and I was still about 200m back from the pacers and I needed to step it up to reel them in. I figured they would slow going up the Clonskeagh drag and I would be ready to move on. I began to wind it up a little more and the knee that was uncomortable turned quite painful quite quickly. I resolved to tough it out though and kept it going. But within a mile or so my hip had joined the knee and I was hurting badly. Tried to do positive thinking etc but just before the back entrance to UCD a jolt of pain went up me that forced me to stop immediately. As luck would have it that was the very moment Yaboya1 cycled by and roared at me to get running again which I did but it was a painful run from here. At that stage I said to myself to hang on as far as Roebuck hill and that I could still catch the sub 4 group afterwards. Just hang on and don't fall too far behind. But mile 22 came in at 10:56 and I knew sub 4 was gone at that stage. That said I didn't want to be too far off sub 4 and knew I wouldn't be too disappointed if I could land in a good bit under 4:15 which was last years missed target.

Miles 19-22 splits

9:18, 9:28, 9:50, 10:56

At that stage I was in serious trouble. Was in significant pain and my stomach was in knots. Drank some water before heartbreak hill and puked it back up at the top. I just wanted the race to be over at that point. I didn't care about times I just wanted to finish. Coming down onto the Stillorgan dual carriageway Hannibal Smith was there as it turned out surprised to see me as she thought I had gone through minutes earlier with the pacers. She shouted something at me but I hardly understood what was being said. Was just too sore. All the way down to Merrion Road and up to Ballsbridge was a total pain fest. I thought 2012 was bad. This was so much worse. I basically shuffled the last couple of miles in a daze. Had a couple of very brief stops mumbling to close friends and family who all told me to keep running which I kind of did but running would not be an accurate term. Got to the home straight and I was so glad to see the finish line approaching. I couldn't muster up any kind of a sprint finish but it was a bit faster than the previous few miles. Was too sore and too tired but I did remember to smile and look like I enjoyed it coming over the line (last year was carried off to the first aid tent !)


Miles 23-26.2 splits

10:43, 11:14, 11:12, 10:54, 10:05

The happy smiling persona for the finishing line camera was replaced the other side of the gantry with a physically and emotionally shattered one. Took me a long time to hobble around to baggage collection and try get changed. I've never been so destroyed. A few pints and a feed in McGrattans sorted that out though. Great craic and great to catch up with so many friends from here.

Conclusions

Second year in a row an injury flared up mid race. Obvious point to be made (has been and will be again ) that more mileage is required to build up my stamina in the legs. Will take that on the chin and move on.

Slightly disappointed with the time. I know I'm not the only one who missed target with the windy weather being a factor but I can't use that as an excuse. Really wanted sub 4 this year but it's still a 47 minute PB so I am happy with the progress it represents. 5:35, 4:58, 4:11 - it's going in the right direction !

Yesterday at 1:30 me and marathons were done. Today I'm off looking for a spring marathon to build towards from this current cycles base.