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To Connemara and Beyond ...
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hillsiderunner wrote: »Have a great day tomorrow! Hope you are getting some rest & carbs today.
Thank you hillside! Very easy couple of miles earlier, and pumpkin cutting with the kids for Halloween in Powerscourt later - but all nice and chilled. Bring it on!N, you are sooo ready. You've ticked all the boxes and you are going to have a fantastic day tomorrow. Enjoy every minute!
Thank you DG! - It's hard to not be ready and fully prepared with the awesome mentor I have!Nop, go out and rock it tomorrow, your training has been relentless and you've ticked every box, you deserve a brilliant and enjoyable race Hopefully I'll see you around the 4h pacers
Thanks Neady! The same right back at you - your training is an example to us all. I'll be wearing orange - and will be a bit behind the 4h balloon at the start!0 -
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CONGRATULATIONS marathon runner seriously well done.
If you felt anything like me, it was god dam bloody hard out there and you should be so proud of that medal
p.s. sorry I didn't make McGs after. My super kind brothers came from Clare at silly o clock this morning to cheer me on and drive me home and I was wet, soggy and smelly and only wanted to curl up in the heat of the car.0 -
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Well done Nop, I hope you enjoyed that. Horrible weather but a fantastic time.
Thank you A, I absolutely enjoyed it. I don't think the weather affected me too much, we were nicely sheltered in the 4h group for most of it. Sounds like you had a rollercoaster of a day too, glued to the tracker and keeping all updated! Nice to see you afterwards.Really delighted for you Nop! Great debut! Well done:)
Thank you Oso, nice to hear from you.Well done nop, a great debut, congratulations.
Thank you Ed - here's hoping there'll be many more. Let us know when you're in this part of the world and we'll go running with DG.CONGRATULATIONS marathon runner seriously well done.
If you felt anything like me, it was god dam bloody hard out there and you should be so proud of that medal
p.s. sorry I didn't make McGs after. My super kind brothers came from Clare at silly o clock this morning to cheer me on and drive me home and I was wet, soggy and smelly and only wanted to curl up in the heat of the car.
Thanks Neady - what an amazing run you had. I can't believe I didn't see you during as we must have been a few seconds apart for the first 3h30 or so. Did you wear an orange top? I checked out all orange t-shirts but don't think I saw you! Well done again, you're some athlete!+1 to all the above 'we' knew you would knock it out of the park! Fantastic result, sit back & enjoy
Thanks you A, the support from everyone is just fantastic and a little overwhelming. I really enjoyed it, pity I never saw you in Milltown. Next time you do Cabinteely, let me know!hillsiderunner wrote: »Congrats on the lovely consistent run, and hope you are having a day off?
How are the hamstrings?
Hey HSR, thanks so much, it was a great run indeed, I loved all of it (apart from a few lonely minutes writhing on Clonskeagh Road..). The hammies are fine, in fact, the legs aren't too bad apart from the quads.
I actually took the entire week off
It's mid-term and the kids are off school. I'll bring them to Holland tomorrow to visit a new cousin! The thought of folding myself into a Ryanair plane is something that holds me with fear... 0 -
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Report, what report? oh, found it on the novices thread...
sounds like you were having a great race, Nop, until that damn cramp!! and you play bridge too....
Well done again, good to see you afterwards and I do owe you a drink next time!!0 -
A bit cheeky but taking it on myself to link nop's RR here, it deserves a read.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=97519322&postcount=7626
It's a really honest account and I think your approach was absolutely spot on starting with your first comfortable 10k flying past.
It was really unfortunate that your hamstrings cramped, the marathon can be a beast like that. Looking forward to seeing what the next 6 months bring (after of course resting up!), that 10k time is going to crumble for starters
Well done on an excellent debut!0 -
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Nop, what an epic race, my heart was in my mouth reading your report.
I'm so sorry about your hamstrings, it was one of the uncontrollables. I must have been right on your tail at some point, I was keeping an eye out for you but I'd have been a snotty sweaty miserable mess and not good company anyway. You finished in some style and with a massive smile on your face I'm sure. Wow, epic training, disciplined running and a fantastic debut marathon. You're awesome
p.s. those dang red baloons, I've a feeling they'll be haunting both of us for a while 0 -
A super report and so honest. Well done. My heart went out to you reading it but a super performance.
Thank you A - I remembered your report and recommendations to just soak it up during the last few km's and that's what I did, despite the aching legs. Nice to see you afterwards, such good vibes and energy!tailgunner wrote: »Loved your race report. Well done.
Thank you tailgunner - next year for you?Well done nop. Great race report and great running.
Right back at you! Great time for you.Report, what report? oh, found it on the novices thread...
sounds like you were having a great race, Nop, until that damn cramp!! and you play bridge too....
Well done again, good to see you afterwards and I do owe you a drink next time!!
Yeah, meant to link to it Ah - yeah, what can you do. Loved it and learned so much from it, there's always another year / race.
Bridge indeed (not much in the last year on account on marathon running) but there are a few bridge goals to be ticked off next. Do you play too?A bit cheeky but taking it on myself to link nop's RR here, it deserves a read.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=97519322&postcount=7626
It's a really honest account and I think your approach was absolutely spot on starting with your first comfortable 10k flying past.
It was really unfortunate that your hamstrings cramped, the marathon can be a beast like that. Looking forward to seeing what the next 6 months bring (after of course resting up!), that 10k time is going to crumble for starters
Well done on an excellent debut!
Thank you DG - just in case it's not 100% obvious: I would not have done it without you!
I am sure we'll see at each other (at the start!) of the local parkrun in the future, and I'm looking forward to that!Nop, what an epic race, my heart was in my mouth reading your report.
I'm so sorry about your hamstrings, it was one of the uncontrollables. I must have been right on your tail at some point, I was keeping an eye out for you but I'd have been a snotty sweaty miserable mess and not good company anyway. You finished in some style and with a massive smile on your face I'm sure. Wow, epic training, disciplined running and a fantastic debut marathon. You're awesome
p.s. those dang red baloons, I've a feeling they'll be haunting both of us for a while
Thanks Neady, such kind words ... Yeah, I was in a similar state, we would have been quite the sight I did enjoy the last stretch a little more than you, I think, but I feel a twinge of jealousy at you having HTFU'd it out. As I said, I was closer than I thought, but that's just inexperience... Next year!
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Right, I am off to the Netherlands for a couple of days, it will probably help wean myself off boards and racepix and all the other marathon-related things (but I am bringing my medal to show them!). 0 -
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Bungy Girl wrote: »Just brilliant Nop, congratulations on a super debut. What a great report! Have to say red balloons have always freaked me out slightly since reading Stephen King's IT :eek:
je bent een marathonloper
Thank you BG, your Dutch is improving by the minute! It was nice seeing you in PP. I must admit I saw you in a flash and wasn't 100% sure. Roared out your name (thankfully not your b.ie name!) without even thinking about it! :pac:
Just back from a 30 minute stroll in a glorious afternoon in Shanganagh Park. Very very easy 3M. There are a couple of minor sore spots so I'll continue the week with a few easy runs and plenty of rest. My old Mizuno's have been thanked for their service and unceremoniously dumped in the bin.
Jingle Bells 5k in December and maybe some more parkruns until Christmas, and hopefully the Goal mile on Xmas day if it's on again. :cool:0 -
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Long overdue update. It's amazing how much a race planned (like CNM or DCM this year) sharpens the focus. Right now, I go out once every two days or so, and I enjoy it a lot but have quite an ambivalent attitude towards it. In hindsight, I really liked the shape of the DCM plan as it just focused the mind so well. I'll stick to some easy stuff until Christmas but then it's either committing to CNM again, or the half Wicklow Ultra.
Saturday: volunteered at Shanganagh parkrun with the kids.
Sunday Nov 8: First run over 10k since DCM, 10.6km @ 5:51 [6.6M @ 9:25]. I went out in the pouring rain wearing raincoat and hat. Lapped around in Shanganagh for a few km's, then out over the motorway towards Rathmichael. I loved the run, despite the abject weather. One of the main differences from pre-DCM that I no longer need several km's to like being out running. I just start much slower, small steps, etc, and it's enjoyable from the start. I would have liked to stay out (much) longer, but I had a hard stop at 10am.
The pictures of/from Carrickgologan will have to wait a little longer, as I could hardly see it through the rain.
Monday: nada
Tuesday Nov 10: Lunchtime run to Cabinteely Park with my DCM running buddy: 9.2km @ 5:35 [5.7 @ 8:59]. Lovely day, freakishly warm actually. Cab Park always provides a good workout.
Wednesday: nada
Thursday Nov 12: Short lunchtime loop: 6.5km @ 5:29 [4.0 @ 8:50].
Friday: nada
Plans for the weekend are the local parkrun (hopefully), no real target - but the aim is to get a sense for running a 5k race again. Anything around 23 minutes will do.
If weather and real life permits, I'm looking forward to a ~10M MLR on Sunday, hopefully in the hills. I also have plenty of boards homework to do 0 -
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Mind yourself and going out for 10 miles. While I'm at it is 23 mins 5 km not still a bit fast?
I would have done 10M last Sunday if I had the time, are you suggesting to still hold off? Hmm, maybe 9M so.
Ehm, I don't really know about proper 5k pace. I have only had 1 or 2 attempts at a 5k "in anger", and they were parkruns 22:2x and 22:3x. They were both not easy (Bere Island, which is hilly, and Marlay, which was very crowded). But I take your point, anything around 24 minutes it is. :cool:0 -
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Saturday, Nov 14: ~9km including Shanganagh Parkrun
Most enjoyable parkrun this morning. My intention was to return to the local parkrun in Shanganagh Park and "give it a good go". From the exchange with aquinn above, I'm not entirely sure what "a good go" over 5k means these days, so I was hoping to come in around 23 minutes. The last time I ran a 5k was Bere Island parkrun-tourism, still one of my favourite runs of all time, in 22:27.
It was miserable out, so I hung around my home as long as I could, eventually jogging up towards the park (only one km from my door) and doing the first 1k loop as warm-up. I said hello to some folks and spotted Dubgal, who told me not to go at full-tilt. I love the relaxed atmosphere at the start. The race-director calls everybody over, shouts, "I'll count to 3!" and we're off. Actually, said race director then eventually joins the race, overtakes me about half a mile in, and goes on to win the parkrun by some distance.
Despite the miserable weather, there was about 60+ folks. I had pushed myself up towards the front and found myself almost on DG's shoulder. That didn't seem to be right so I held off a little. About 8-10 folks overtook me in the first several 100 metres, and I was somewhat embarrassed being the guy who had started off too far up. But I did earmark a few of those overtaking me, thinking I'll see them again soon. Coming towards the 1k marker, it all settles. There's a large strung-out enough group just in front of me, including DG as I think the only (and thus leading) lady, and one guy on my shoulder, and a bit of distance to the next group further back.
The first km felt hard but controlled, I had actually eased off a little, so I was pleasantly surprised to see 4:17 as split. Next is a 2km loop that'll be repeated twice. I plan to consolidate this nice start and hopefully kick home in the second lap (km's 4 and 5). The field draws out somewhat further and I overtake one or two guys in the second km, which beeps in at 4:27. I latch on to two lads in the third km and hope to stick with them for a while, but one of them falters at the tiny but noticable little climb about halfway through the third km. A long, slow bend follows and I bide my time to run the perfect line following the other lad. He also seems to slow down as we come through the finish for the second time, so I have no choice but to overtake him. Third km in 4:28. Effort is hard, but I feel fine.
A very welcome side-effect of the marathon training is being able to keep the effort honest, and I had planned to give it loads at the final lap. I have 2 lads in view, a bit ahead and I am determined to get them both. I also do the math, and it seems I can get a parkrun PB without too much effort so, that's a nice bonus.
At the long straight stretch towards the 4km point, I overtake the next guy. At the same time, the guy in front of me looks over his shoulder and seems to accelerate when he sees us. I guess that's why you shouldn't look over your shoulder. I give chase and catch up at the 4km mark. The watch beeps but I don't feel like looking at it, sure, what difference does it make. All I'll do from here is go as hard as I can (it was 4:26 for the fourth km). The path twists and turns a little so I stay behind the guy to keep the proper line, but once it straightens out I overtake. He really gives it loads and we run side by side for a while. Don't you just love it when you know you have more in the tank? Eventually he gives up and fades away really quick.
The little incline is there again, I hold off a little but accelerate once it evens out. The last bend to the finish is a lovely slope down and I go as hard as I can. Thankfully, no women and children present. Eventually I fall over the line, almost crash into one of the volunteers. I forget to stop the watch but regain a sense of composure, get scanned, stop watch, etc. The last km was 4:11.
DG has finished about half an hour ahead of me and asks if I got a PB. I sheepishly admit to being around 22 minutes flat, which is indeed a PB. She suggests going for a short cool down with some of her club mates. I put on a brave face, swallow the lactic acid back down and run for (what turns out) a very enjoyable last loop before saying my goodbyes and continuing home for another bit of cool-down.
I am very pleasantly surprised when the 'official' time is 21:42, this is more than 40 seconds faster than my previous 5km, and, very importantly exactly 1 second faster than one of the other dads that I know from the local school. Schoolyard bragging rights restored.
Pretty deligthed with the effort. I had things under control from the start, I realized I was going a little too fast so held back a bit. Consolidated, picked off my targets, and have now come acustomed to having a nice finishing kick when some folks around seem to falter quicker. Dare I say it - I think there might be one more gear out there.
Shanganagh parkrun: 21:42 PB, 16th overall, 15th male, 4th in my age bracket.0
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