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From Couch 25k To Where Ever

The Muppet

I've been toying with the idea of starting a log here for quite some time now and today's the day. I hope it will help keep me motivated and help gauge progression. if anyone else starting to run can take anything from it that would be great too. We all run for different reasons some for competition some for fun and others for the health benefits.

About me. I'm 51 year old type 2 diabetic. About 2.5 years ago I was obese , had a zero level of fitness and without going into too many details my illness was out of control. I had two Grandchildren then and my desire to see them grow up inspired me to make changes.

In February 2013 I started the Couch 25k (c25k) program. I used to go out early in the morning so that no body would see me struggle to run. I used to look ahead to the schedule for the next week and just laugh and think there's no way I will be able to do that but I did successfully completed the program in april 2013 without missing a run . Eureka I could run slowly, 2.5 k in 30 minutes non stop .

From April to September 2013 I ran a few miles a couple of times a week but I really missed the structure of the plan, In October 2013 I stopped running, I didn't make a conscious decision to stop I just started putting it of until the next day , that became a week and then the next month. I was out for 4 months.

In Febuary 2014 I started to notice that the benefits I had gained from running were starting to reverse , I really didn't want to go back there so I started up again. I found I could only run for 10 minutes at a time so I started on week 4 of the program and completed it again.

When I finished the program I knew I needed a plan to continued to run so I set a target to run 10k by my 50th Birthday I ran 3 or 4 times a week and ran the 10k with a couple of weeks to spare.

I then started the Hal Higdon intermediate half marathon plan and successfully completed that distance in November 2015 in a time of 2 hours 22 mins.

I lost focus again then and ran very little until April 2015. I started back then I have been running every week since. I am running 5 days a week an average of 26 miles a week . One long Run (8 to 14 miles), One Hill sprint session, and a 4 or 5 mile run three times a week.

Up to this week all my runs were solo efforts, I did the paced mile the other night and I really enjoyed the event. So now I feel I am ready to go to the next level which will involve more events, park runs, 10,ks , Half Marathon and hopefully the full Marathon in 2016 , that's the plan and I know I need a plan so I will see how that goes. I will be using this log to track my progress.

Clearlier posted a plan here following the 2014 Dublin City Marathon , I intent to follow that plan over the next few months to see where that takes me and then next year all being well I will follow the Boards Marathon Training plan.

My PBs to date

1 mile 7:22 Chip Timing Aug 2015
5k 29.14
10 k 1:04:20
13.1 Miles 2:22:00

With the exception of the mile all these times are from solo training runs and timed on my Garmin watch.

My Weigh Loss to date is 4.5 stone

My Diabetes is under control

Apologies for the long winded introduction but its been a bit of a roller coaster to date. Constructive criticism and advice will always be taken on board and appreciated.

Oh Re The Username: It seemed as good as any when I signed up to boards many moons ago for the crack on the soccer forum (*), I'm stuck with it now and as the saying goes I am not my username .

*(I don't even watch soccer these days I'd much rather go for a run.)

Thanks for reading

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Singer

The Muppet wrote: »

In other news I will be one of the novices running the 2016 Dublin city marathon once I stay fit. Sure why not.

Really cool! It looks like you're good at following plans, so this should be no bother to you

Give me a shout if you fancy a partner on a long run around the Swords area.

The Muppet

chickey2 wrote: »

Best of luck with it, you're in good hands!

Thank you.

Singer wrote: »

Really cool! It looks like you're good at following plans, so this should be no bother to you

Give me a shout if you fancy a partner on a long run around the Swords area.

Thanks Singer Yeah I enjoy the structure of running to a plan . Tend not go miss too many runs on the.

Thanks for the kind offer . I hadn't forgot your offer from before so I will definitely take you up on that if you don't mind running at my pace. You may have a few routes from you training last year that I could use too. So cheers for that.

The Muppet

Tempo session today. 10 mins warm up 20 mins tempo and 10 mins cool down. Tempo for me is 8.13 to 8.18 minute miles.

21 minutes tempo completed @ 8.13 pace

Happy with that . Enjoyed the run .

The Muppet

50 minutes easy tonight .
Well 48:08 @129 bpm

4.44 miles @ 10:51 pace .

Pace was a little quicker than usual. same route
and heart rate as previous runs .

The Muppet

Out early for todays session of 10 min warm up , 5 x 5 mins at 10k pace (8.05) with 4 minute recovery and 10 minute cool down.

It's a wet morning which was nice and cooling for sessions. Before I went out I though the four minute recovery might be a little long, it wasn't especially for the last 2 reps. I found I could comfortably hit and hold the pace for the five minute intervals.

splits
1 5:00 @ 8:02
2 5.16 @ 7:59
3 5;00 @ 8:05
4 5:00 @ 8:00
5 5:00 @7:57

annapr

The Muppet wrote: »

50 minutes easy tonight @ 132 bpm

Enjoyable run felt very easy . 4.4 miles in the 50 minutes.

In other news I will be one of the novices running the 2016 Dublin city marathon once I stay fit. Sure why not.

Very exciting, and good luck with the training!

The Muppet

annapr wrote: »

Very exciting, and good luck with the training!

Thank you. I'm really looking forward to the training and all going well the marathon itself .

The Muppet

annapr wrote: »

Very exciting, and good luck with the training!

Thank you. I'm really looking forward to the training and all going well the marathon itself .

The Muppet

95 minute lsr was the plan today.

I have been running my easy runs by heart Rate keeping it below 132 BPM but our mentors on the marathon thread have advised us novices to run our lsr's in certain pace ranges . My LSR pace range is 11:28 to 12:53 min mies so I was determined to keep it all nice and easy and run within those ranges .

96.5 minutes @ 127 BPM
8.3 miles @ 11:38 pace

Thats week 12 of the current plan completed, I think I will stick with this plan for another few weeks but my focus is now on dcm 2016, I'm really looking forward to starting that plan in june.

Firedance

The Muppet wrote: »

95 minute lsr was the plan today.

I have been running my easy runs by heart Rate keeping it below 132 BPM but our mentors on the marathon thread have advised us novices to run our lsr's in certain pace ranges . My LSR pace range is 11:28 to 12:53 min mies so I was determined to keep it all nice and easy and run within those ranges .

It's absolutely fine to stick with what you're doing T, I did my marathon training by HR - we'll be doing a post on it closer to the time as I think there's one other novice running by HR too.

The Muppet

Firedance wrote: »

It's absolutely fine to stick with what you're doing T, I did my marathon training by HR - we'll be doing a post on it closer to the time as I think there's one other novice running by HR too.

Thanks FD, It's so slow, I do question if it's the right way to go when I see some of the other novices times. I will stick with it so.

Firedance

The Muppet wrote: »

Thanks FD, It's so slow, I do question if it's the right way to go when I see some of the other novices times. I will stick with it so.

Having done it both ways I can tell you the benefits of doing your LSR's very very slowly means your body copes much better with the sessions or MP runs and when it comes time to do races you're legs are raring to go!! I'm a big fan of HR training over pace training - can you tell?!!

The Muppet

Firedance wrote: »

Having done it both ways I can tell you the benefits of doing your LSR's very very slowly means your body copes much better with the sessions or MP runs and when it comes time to do races you're legs are raring to go!! I'm a big fan of HR training over pace training - can you tell?!!

I do feel fresher for the session runs since I slowed the easy ones. The only concern i have is when the mileage increases I will be out longer than I would be if running by pace but I'm doing my best to arrange my non running life around the time needed to train properly for the marathon.

The Muppet

Today is normally a rest day on my current plan but its a recovery/cross training day on the marathon plan I will be starting in June. With that in mind I have decided to make Monday my cross training day from now on.

I swam and cycled a bit in my youth so I will be doing one of either each week. I bough a Mountain Bike yesterday, I didn't heed my 6 year old grandsons advice who when I told him I was buying a bike and I would be able to go for spins with him said "now Granda you have to be careful ,make sure you get one with extra wheels cause you'll have to learn how to balance."

I got out for my first cross training session this evening a 40 Minutes cycle and I can confirm the old saying about never forgetting how to ride a bike is true. I loved cycling when i was younger and really enjoyed my spin this evening apart from missing the padding I used to have before I started running. A pair of those padded cycle shorts are now top of the shopping List.

Maximus Alexander

Cycle for a few days and the arse gets used to it, you don't really need the padding.

The Muppet

50 minutes easy tonight, I ran by heart rate .

49:47 minutes @ 131 BPM which translated to 4.64 miles @10.44 pace.

it's a very heavy evening , I sweated quite a bit despite the easy going.

FIFA2004

Bit late to the party, but delighted to hear you're training for the marathon! The very very best of luck with it. Can't wait to read about it and maybe pick up some tips for next year

The Muppet

Thanks Fifa giving it a go anyway . I feel I'm in decent condition to take it on .

I see your back at it after a tough week last week. No harm in having step back weeks every now and then . Any plans for parkrun ?

FIFA2004

The Muppet wrote: »

Thanks Fifa giving it a go anyway . I feel I'm in decent condition to take it on .

I see your back at it after a tough week last week. No harm in having step back weeks every now and then . Any plans for parkrun ?

You're flying with the training now, and you definitely have the determination to see you through!
It was mostly laziness, and a bit of demotivation, but I think the week off did me well in the long run. Hopefully will get one in this weekend but depends on work and my ability to get out of bed!

The Muppet

Training is going well but it's all lowish milage I have not ran over 10 miles in months .

Getting out can be tough all right but your going well and have a good attitude to it all. Keep at it.

The Muppet

Today's session was hill repeats. 8 x 70 second repeats with 2 minute recovery , 1 mile warm up and cool down.

Another warm evening didn't help but I got through well enough I think. The two minute recovery was tough because it took me that to jog back to the bottom of the hill after each repeat. It did mean I had to jog and not walk in the recovery part and even with that there was slightly more that 2 minutes between some of the repeats.

70 second Repeat pace
1 @ 6:53 minute mile
2 @ 7:05
3 @ 7:23
4 @ 7:18
5 @ 7:18
6 @ 7:39
7 @ 7:41
8 @ 7:17

The Muppet

50 minutes Easy today .I was five 5 minutes in what I remembered to start my watch. Very warm here again so I took it nice and easy.

53 minutes @ 127 bpm

4.5 miles @ 11:12 pace

The Muppet

This morning session was 10 minute wake/warm up , 4 x 3 min @5k pace with 3 min recovery, 3 x 1 min @10k pace with 1 min recovery, 2 x3 min@ 5 k pace with 3 min recovery , 10 minute cool down.

I was really looking foward to this last night but when I woke this morning I really just felt like a lie in. It is a beautiful morning so I convinced myself to get up and get the session done.

Splits
4x3 min @5k pace 7:48 min mile

1 @ 7:40
2 @ 7:39
3 @ 7 :44
4 @ 7:41

3x1 min@10k pace 8:05 min mile
1 @ 8:03
2 @ 8.05
3 @ 7:56

2x3 min@5 k pace 7:48 min mile

1 @ 7:56
2 @ 7:45

The Muppet

90 minutes easy this morning at 125 bpm.

7.77 miles @ 11.43 pace
Nice easy run before it gets too warm.

That's week 13 of the plan completed. The LSR.' Step up to 2 hours from next week which will lead me in nicely to marathon training .

The Muppet

45 minute spin on the bike today for my cross training fix followed by a good foam rolling.

The Muppet

40 minutes easy today at 129 bpm.

Wasn't really in the mood for it today which is unusual for me.

The Muppet

1 mile warm up ' 1,2,3,4,3,2,1 minutes @5k pace (7:48) with 2 to 3 minute recovery and 1 mile cool down.

5k pace
1 min @ 7:41
2 min @ 7:55
3 min @ 8:02
4 min @ 7:55
3 min @ 7:55
2 min @ 7:32
1 min @ 7:25

I was trying to run them by feel . I didn't quite hit the paces . 2 minute recovery on each repeat.

The Muppet

the plan was 40 minutes easy today.

Loops of the local park was the route mostly on Grass, most of my running to date has been on footpaths so following discussion on the Marathon thread I'm going to do some of my easy running on grass to try spare the knees as the mileage increases. No music today either which didn't really bother me on the run though I tend to find myself counting as I run when I don't have the distraction of music. Haven't a clue why I'm doing that?

I'm going to continue on my current plan for one more week after this and perhaps do a timed run at the end of it and then focus solely on marathon training.

44:13 minutes @ 132bpm, 4.05 miles @11:06 pace

The Muppet

1 mile warm up , 3 x 10 minutes at half marathon pace 8:30 for me with 3 minute recoveries and 1 mile cool dowm.

I got to one of my favourite running locations for this, along the coast on the howth road from sutton to Raheny.

There was a brisk breeze which kept me cool but also meant i had to give a little more effort to keep the pace on parts of the repeats. Half of repeat 1 and 3 and all of repeat 2 were into the wind.

10 minute splits
1 @8:32 pace
2 @ 8:31 pace
3 @8:29 pace

I had pace instead of lap pace set on my watch so I had to reset it after the warm up to record the repeats properly so the warm up and repeats were recorded as separate activities

warm up 1 mile in 11:09 @11:09
repeats and cool down 4.9 miles in 47.57 @ 9:37 average pace

The Muppet

2 hours easy this morning . I was on the road by 6.30 with a plan to run from Swords to Donabate on the headlands, I think it may be possible but unfortunately not when the tide is in as it was this morning, so after two miles on the coast the water blocked my intended route I had to head inland on country lanes, The amount of rabbits out with me this morning was amazing.

The run itself was nice and easy at average 126 bpm, 10.2 miles @ 11:45 pace. I ran it without music, a first for a lsr for me, It didn't bother me that I had no music though I cant say I noticed any benefit either given I was on a lsr so heart rate , breathing etc was nice and easy.

That's week 14 of the Plan completed.

I've been going solid for the last few months now so I think I may take a step back week this week and start into marathon training in earnest from Monday week.

In other news I have registered to start a 6 week Pilates course starting on Thursday next, i notice a lot of runners recommend pilates so I'm hoping it'll work for me in strengthening my core and help with marathon training.