My Running Chaos

Tuesday 08/12/2015 10 miles @ 8:32

Usual 10 mile route out to salthill while monitoring the body.
Still some discomfort but improving. Play it safe for rest of week I think..

Wednesday 09/12/2015 7 miles @ 8:51

Thursday 10/12/2015 10 miles @ 8:38

Did 7 easy on Wednesday. Did a few gentle strides at the end to see how "the niggle" would react. I was thinking that a gradual stretch out on on stride length might ease out the tightness. Gradual increase of pace for 5 seconds,hold for 10 seconds, and back to easy to pace over 5 seconds. Did 5-6 of these and felt good after it.
Felt so good in fact that I finally booked Rotterdam Bring it on

Went out today for an easy 10. Pace was slow starting of(first 3 miles around 8:50), then 4 miles at 8:20, and finished with 3 miles @ 8:50. Some discomfort/small bit of pain on this run at stages. Later on at home it got worse for a while resulting in a bit of a hobble around the place and felt very frustrated. Eased off again later tonight and can walk fine. I'm not going to run tomorrow and maybe saturday in an effort to let it rest completely. Maybe some light foam rolling and a walk. Legs (particularly the problem right) are very stiff/tight so that not helping either...
Still, I'm feeling positive and things are going to pick up..... Right????

Firedance wrote: »

Super

Would you get the niggle checked over Marty? Sorry if you'd already mentioned that somewhere

Ya, was going to get it looked at but the improvements made me a bit relaxed about it. It's not like muscular, it's more of a thing that just might need complete rest for a bit...

Over the last couple of years I'd have this as a last target race of the year, and generally, I'd be in decent enough shape for it.

This year however, although it was a target race all year, I wasn't feeling the love.
Between feeling a bit "bloated", and this being the first tester to see if the niggle would surface once again, I felt a bit meh.... I did however continue to try to get all positive about it, and try to get in the right frame of mind...
The aim was sub 40.. 3-4 months ago my mindset would have been I'd do a sub 40 without a doubt, but the last few months weren't great tbh...

So, to the race... (Let's get this over with quick)

Quick warm up, nothing to taxing, just a bit to keep warm.
I lined up near the front as I knew there was still a good few to come back and push us back.
Then, out of nowhere, the slinky athletic figure of snailsong appeared out of nowhere.... "Great I say to myself, the Mayoman is gonna make a show of me here ) , and sure enough he did
Had a quick chat (to remind him about rotterdam ) and soon enough we were off ....

The first couple of mile for me were all about getting on pace and relaxing into it. After the initial of and the buzz of that I felt fine. After a few hundred meters I wasn't so sure ... It was grand though, once I did settle in, I felt good and controlled. There was a 40 min pacer who I kept in sight and he seemed to be hitting K splits bang on. I was a few meters back and hitting them about 5 secs of but happy with that knowing pacer was hitting them about right. Back racing and happy out. Mile Splits 6:26, 6:23

Into the 3rd mile and there's a bit of a drag here. Put in a tad more effort but still feeling ok.. Couple of slight doubts came to my head but I quickly forgot about them. I say to myself towards the end of that mile "I'm nearly half way through and in no trouble, keep it going...." 3rd mile split 6:38...

Into mile 4.... Hit the half way clock at 20:07 but still feeling not to bad. A bit of reprieve and a slight downhill after the previous drag, and it is most welcome... Pacer seemed to be getting away slightly at times, and I had to concentrate a bit more to keep him in range. I think it was me just starting to fade slightly more than anything... Working a bit harder but still feel it's there... The Mayo man is getting away tho, It's like a sign that it's not Galways day Mile 4 6:27

Into mile 5 and I know I still have a lot of work to do, and I feel it getting so much harder. I'm trying to use others a lot more... Trying to stay with the strong looking runners around me... Somer of them are pulling away though, so have to hang with others at times... Just trying to get back a few seconds by going with the faster guys for a bit... "It's still possible" I tell myself...
Then my fookin lace opens.... Thought about chancing running with it open but the fear set in after being out of work for a few weeks at the start of the year with a running fall...
I quickly pulled to the side and dropped to tie the MoFo up... Back on it but feeling a bit ARRRRGGGHHH Mile 5 split 6:33(6:47 on GC)

Mile 6... A mile and a bit to go.... It wont come soon enough though
Runners fairly thinned out here. Still a few around to keep things going but I'm suffering now...Breathing heavy now, a bit out of control at times. At least I know it's a decent finish, as in, kinda downhill
Notice I'm make a kinda "woooof" sound as I exhale... A few odd looks be some runners but I'm passing one or two.... Hmmm , maybe they were letting me pass....
I kinda know I'm just not going to make target but I feel nothing about it... I just want to get this done... Nice bit of support on the run in and I manage a little bit of pace increase thanks to their efforts... Over the railway line and I pass a lad on his own in purple... For a split second I wonder will he stay behind me, and I just keep going... Huffing and puffing and woofing down into the town... Turn left in the town for the finishing straight and I'm nearly there... The lad in purple come by me. Gently cruising.... And what did martyboy do???? Nothing... Absolutely nothing.... I didn't even have the "will I/won't I" thought.... If it was any of my mates I would have gone instinctively, but the fight/hunger wasn't there.... Over the line with little feelings, bit of good, bit of bad, bit of whatever..Mile 6 split 6:21(5:43)

Met Snailsong at the finish to hear what a great run he had... He's doing great the fooker, PB'd in his homeland a few weeks ago, and now on my turf.... THem Mayolads love rubbing your nose in it GReat to meet you again P, I'll see you on the road again soon

So, results 40:16 (6 sec PB).... Baaaa...
Thoughts.... A 6 second pb over 12 months even with no specific training is disappointing to say the least.... Actually, it's sh1te tbh....
So, what now... THe 10k the was postponed a couple of weeks back is rescheduled for 24 Jan.... I will do sub 40 there... I will....
The last night I was checking if I booked the kinvara half(which I hadn't), so I book a few races there while I was at it.
Upcoming races....
1 Resolution run 5k 1st Jan(Where I fooked up my hand last year)
2 Tuam 8k 17th jan
3 Donadea 13 Feb
4 Kinvara half 5th March
5 Rotterdam 10 April

Donadea will probably be not a full run, and there may be others thrown in....
I'm feeling good for 2016, I just need to make some changes that I know/knew I need to make....

Happy Christmas everyone, hope ye are having a good one

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Ffs 16 seconds, you shouldn't have had that second helping of Xmas pud
Saw your result yesterday but couldn't see Snailsongs, what did he run?

39:22.... We'll need a sniper to take him out if he keeps up this craic

Sunday 27/12/2015 6 miles @ 8:01

Monday 28/12/2015 7 miles @ 7:50

Tuesday 29/12/2015 10 miles @ 8:29

Wednesday 30/12/2015 10 miles @ 7:42



Well that's it for 2015. 2407.64 miles in total and some good times along the way

It wasn't all rosy though, the 1st of Jan 2015 5k where I bust my hand keeping me out of work and running for a spell, the glute issue around the summer, and a couple of other niggles...

On the up side, was Conn ultra and all the training that went with it. Really enjoyed the galway 5k series around april/may time. Learning a lot from each race.
I was delighted to break the 1:30 barrier for the half in the Athlone Flatline, and the glorouis day when I met TbL for the half in Galway where I broke the 1:30 again. It was, and probably will be, the only time where either of us will start in "the elite" pen

Some misfortune/fortune lead my to an unexpected late entry into DCM. Always such an enjoyable experience and atmosphere, loved it


So, onwards to 2016. Lets hope it's a good one for everyone.
Here are my current pbs, and how I felt about them ....
5k 19:14 Club Vitae 5k 16/09/2015 - Happy
8k 32:04 Streets of Galway 8k 08/08/2015
10k 40:16 Fields of Athenry 10k 26/12/2015
Half 1:29:21 Athlone Flatline Half 12/09/2015
Full 3:18:41 DCM 26/10/2015

Obviously I want to make decent inroads into each of these for 2016. Hopefully I'll have a bit more focus and cop on in 2016

I'll throw up some goals for 2016 in the new year, but for now I'll wish ye all a happy new year.....
I wish ye all the best for 2016, lets hope it's a healthy, happy and successful one for for us all

tang1 wrote: »

Everything ok, your quiet lately, not like you?

Yep, all ok... Tipping away a small bit :-)
It'll be a 12 week plan for rotterdam but I'm feeling good.... No niggle anymore :-D
Will update log after this evenings run :-)

Saturday 09/01/2016 10 miles @ 7:49

Sunday 10/01/2016 20 miles @ 8:25

Saturdays run was a usual run out and back to Salthill. Just tried to keep it around the 8:00min/mile mark so happy enough.

Todays run took me out to TbL's stomping ground, Dangan.. There was a few seniors about, but no sign of the man himself

Weather was not bad at all starting out. Did about 3 miles getting up to it and got into it from there.

Bit of a recon mission to start as parts of the outer path was closed off due to the high water level. Once I sorted out the no-go areas I was sorted....

Tipped away grand up to 15 miles, then the light faded, real fast!!!! Miles 16-17 was pitch black but thankfully I was heading back to the car at that stage

As I left Dangan it started to rain a bit, then it rained some more, then it lashed down
The wind picked up and I got really cold, REALLY cold. The only positive was the knowledge that I was nearly there.

Started the car and put on some dry gear while it was warming up. Took me considerable longer to warm up mind, I was absolutely numb with the cold, bordering on painful

Glad to get it done though, first 20 in a while and a green light to kick off from here

Happy days...