Can I give more? The answer is usually yes

Sunday 7.2.16

Trim 10 mile-66min 41sec@6.40min/mile


I had been looking forward to this for over a month since the Tom Brennan 5k on New Years Day. This would give me a good indication where I was training wise and a little more insight into what I possibly should target come Rotterdam. Training had gone well and Luke had me in good shape heading into this, I wanted to try for a PB as I felt I was in that kind of shape.

Got to Trim at 11.10am and found parking handy enough, luxury of this being virtually a home race for me. The wind was blowing but as I said before that was something I couldn't control, I could control myself running 6.45m/m splits and that's all I cared about. Gave the cheerleading squad all a quick kiss and headed for my warm up, few hundred metres in I came across FBOT01, gave a thumbs up and said hello, he said he'd catch me later which by races end was glad he had said that. Finished my warm up seen mbarr and gave him a thumbs up then bumped into Firedance who had her game face on, another brief jog where we passed Racoonqueen, gave her a thumbs up and hello and we headed for the start. YoungAnne came and said hello with her Boards AC t-shirt on proud display, quick chat and we lined up. Left the ladies to find there respective starting spots and joined FBOT01, asked what he was targeting and he said 10 miles at MP, which he told me was 6.45m/m. Perfect I said to myself, I can TRY to hang onto M and see how I go.

The announcer had us started quick enough, chatted away to FBOT for the first mile which was nice and sheltered from the wind passing few runners as we made our way out of Trim towards Dunderry, mile 1 beeped at 6.43. Happy with that and eased into my running then, brief chat with FBOT as I'm not the best man for talking when I'm racing(sorry about that M). Mile 2 was most forgetful of the lot and came in at 6.47 still bang on pace and feeling good as I should. Passed by a few of the Na Fianna lads I had been training with last summer who were following the 70 min pacer, we thought he was a bit hot pace wise but I seen why as the course unfolded later. Moving along nicely still and the wind was mostly helping us here, mile 3 bleeped at 6.39.

We approached Dunderry here and looking ahead I recognized a runner ahead, as we pulled alongside I was proved right as we caught neilc. Into Dunderry village we turned left and the wind came into play more, I was checking over my shoulder to make sure Neil had come with us but he fell off the pace(sorry you didn't have a good race Neil, bad day nothing more I hope for you). Mile 4 came in at 6.39 bit of time in the bag now but I wasn't thinking that way. The next two miles, 5 and 6 were a gradual climb but I felt solid her still despite the climb and the ever increasing effects of the wind. Mile 5 was 6.43 and 6 bleeped at 6.37. Happy with those two miles as they involved mostly climbing.

Into mile 7 we turned left again for Trim and I was hoping a bit of respite from the wind and the drags, first 0.20 of the mile was fine but then the wind and drags came into play again. FBOT was playing a blinder dragging me along as he cruised along at MP. I was on the rivet from here though, M was slipping away with every stride. I was suffering big style now, why did I push so hard on the previous two miles!! M gave a glance over his shoulder every so often and I almost felt it was my business to be stuck to his shoulder when he looked. He was feck all use as shelter from the wind but was one heck of a pacer. I dug in and got through it, mile 7 beeped at 6.43.

I pulled along M and said that mile nearly finished me, settled back into it again and got a second wind. Was conscious not to push to hard again in case I wobbled again. Stuck to M like a limpet for mile 8 which clocked at 6.43, into the last two and time to see what was left. M upped the pace and I followed suit, I had seen a runner up the road who I wanted to catch as I had never beaten him in a race before. I was feeling good and the pace felt good, mile 9 came in at 6.33. Felt it took nothing out of me so M ramped it up another notch, stuck to him as best as I could. Caught my target with 0.70 left, slapped him on the back said keep going and pushed on, back onto the main road again and seen Oaktree Business Park to my right, the finishing location. I turned into the finishing straight and the legs went to jelly. I was running in treacle now, M shouted to dig in, I may have told him where to go I honestly can't remember I was pushing hard as I could. The only runner that passed me since the beginning passed me here. I mustered the best kick I could and flopped over the line mile 10 completed the pain in 6.25. Job done,:p:p

HUGE thank you to FBOT01, as I said without you it would have been a different story today. You looked strong today and well ready for those Boston Hills, thanks for dragging me around. Crawled across the line to see the 8th Wonder of World cool as a breeze standing at the finish, TbL after handing me my backside!! Had a chat with FBOT, TbL and neilc at the finish and had our photo taken!! Seen mbarr, YoungAnne and Firedance run to strong PB's. Good day at the office for the Boards Rotterdam crew.

First off thank you all very much for the kind comments since Trim, very much appreciated. Some catching up to be done.

Monday 8.2.16

Rest, body sore from exerts of day before, good sign that I gave my all. Would not have been up to much anyway seeing as I was up till 4am watching the Super Bowl.

Tuesday 9.2.16

6 miles Easy@9.04min/miles in 54min 21secs

Body bit stiff for first mile or so of this but loosened out after, no untoward pains or niggles anywhere from Sunday.

Wednesday 10.2.16

7.25 miles Steady@8.04min/miles in 58min 25secs

Again bit stiff starting off but loosened out quicker than the day before. Once I got into this I felt great, bounced along doing it and enjoyed it no end. Could have kept going but was sensible after Sunday.

Thursday 11.2.16

8 miles Easy@9.02min/mile in 72min 17secs

Tired doing this if I'm honest, one of my more least enjoyable runs this past while. It wasn't tiredness from lack of sleep just overall body tiredness. Sleeping best I have in 10 years I'd say this past while.

Friday 12.2.16

30 mins Recovery, just shade over 3 miles covered doing this. Body not as tired today and happy to keep the pace right down and take it handy.

Marshalling at the Donadea 50 tomorrow helping UM1 out, should bump into a few Boardsies there. 15 miles with 5 miles@ MP thrown in tomorrow, looking forward to it!!!