Mum on the Run

Saturday – Easy

Out and back along a mucky and windy promenade. Threw in some strides on the return leg into the wind, not making much forward progress :rolleyes:.

• 4.2 miles @ 9:04 incl. 6 x 20 sec strides

Sunday – Round 1 M&T Winter XC League (Swords) 2 miles

Was looking forward to this as it would be the first chance this season to wear the spikes, the earlier races having been dry underfoot. Warmed up with a lap of the course (flat, bit mucky but nothing spectacular) and did some strides and drills with clubmates. It was warm so decided to change at the last minute into just a singlet without the base layer. Hip had been a bit stiff this morning but it was fine at this point so all good. The whistle blew and we were off. Pace seemed very pedestrian, obviously no one wanted to take on the headwind by themselves, so I found myself, very briefly and accidentally I must say, at the front :eek:. Slowed down to make sure I wasn’t the patsy that would act as the windblocker for the race and settled in behind the leading group of 5. First lap was uneventful, I was just trying to maintain contact with the lead group and was surprised to be able to, but it was getting tougher and I drifted about 10m off. Usually there’s a lead group way out front belting around the course while the rest of us battle it out for the lower places but today there were about 10 reasonably close together up the front. The course is 2 and a bit laps around football (GAA?) pitches with a traily section through the trees by the river which gave some shelter from the wind. On the second lap a clubmate pulled up alongside me and we were working together to try to catch the runners ahead but even though we’d picked up the pace a little we didn’t make up a huge amount of ground until the last half mile or so we were just behind the top 5 again. Had to almost pinch myself here because I’m not used to being at the business end of races, but it was hurting by now and when my clubmate made a move to overtake the tail runner of the group ahead I wasn’t able to join her. I did witness her being elbowed by that runner and she couldn’t overtake as it was a narrow section. So we were both still just behind the lead group, both giving it everything, and another clubmate coming up in the mix now too. No one up front had made a break for it either so it was still anyone’s game. With less than a quarter mile to go we saw a leader emerge and go head for the finish. The rest is a bit of a blur. I tried my best to get into that top group but had nothing left at the end. Finished 6th (out of 81), with 2 clubmates right behind and I think 6 of us in the top 20 which should make for some really good team results. Yup, we were awesome. Happy out. Hip giving me a bit of grief now but I’ll foam roll later. Bit of a cool down then a most welcome cuppa and cake.

• 3.5 miles incl. 2 miles XC race (grass)

TOTAL WEEKLY MILES: 34.6

FBOT01 wrote: »

Nice one, G. Nothing like a blurry sprint for the line to confirm you that you emptied the tank. Well done.

Yeah, I just remember flashes, a bit like a horror movie :eek:. Tank definitely emptied!

Kennyg71 wrote: »

Great run well done.

Cheers. You going to do some XC yourself ??

hillsiderunner wrote: »

Are you sure???
Was there a special micro-climate in Swords this morning

6th is a great result, very well raced.

Thanks, Hilly. It really was weirdly warm. But windy as heck!

Firedance wrote: »

not just Swords, was warm in Dunboyne too, likewise I ran in shorts & singlet, alternatively BG and I are hot stuff, yeah, we'll go with that :cool:

:cool:

RedRunner wrote: »

Brill. Well done!

Thanks, RR. See you at a parkrun soon no doubt.

Monday – Recovery

Up to the Bull Wall and back in the company of aquinn. Great to be out in the fresh air (& in such superlative company ), but I was only able for a snail’s pace and have finally admitted to myself that I’m not totally over the lurgy and I need to take a break. Yesterday’s XC was brilliant, and I don’t regret doing it for a second, but it seems to have knocked the stuffing out of me. I was going to hang up the runners for a week after Jingle Bells anyway, so I’ll just take the time now and wait until I’m 100% and my RHR is back to normal before running again. I’ll dig out my pom poms and resume my cheerleading role for Jingle Bells. Can’t get an appointment with my GP until next week and my physio is on holidays so I’m taking all of this as a sign from the running gods to put my feet up.

• 5.5 miles recovery (path)

It’s the end of the month so voila the mileage table. Time for a rest now!

Month 2015 2014 2013
January 101 86 0
February 109 75 0
March 124 109 0
April 129 101 24
May 133 95 81
June 110 86 72
July 181 2 101
August 208 31 37
September 133 83 43
October 155 93 64
November 170 107 69
December 119 94
1553 987 585