Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Leader Of The (Mid) Pack

  • 16-11-2016 10:58pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭


    This is my log.
    There are many like it but this one is mine.

    For a long time, I wasn't sure about starting this off. I remember chatting to the Boards legend that is Krusty Clown, after one of his parkrun tourism gigs early this year, and I poured cold water on his suggestion that I start a log. More recently, I hummed and hawed when one or two of the DCM 2016 Novices put the idea back in my head.

    Anyway, main reasons I'm starting my own log are:-

    (1) To keep a reasonably accurate record of what I'm up to running wise
    (2) Pick up some decent hints and tips along the way.

    And If You Know The History

    I'm 43, male, married, and have lived on DNS all my life. Athletics was one of several sports that I dabbled in as a kid, in this case for about a year when I was 14/15. I can't say it was a resounding success. I'm probably the only one that remembers me doing it!

    More recently, I got back into running in the summer of 2012, to train for the IKA Run For A Life 10k, and from there on I was hooked. For the next three years, I "trained for" and ran races side by side with being a junior level Gaelic footballer.

    At the end of 2015, I decided it was time to call a halt to my long and largely undistinguished football playing career. Since then, I've come on a lot in terms of PBs and overall performance. Up till now, only once have I been close to winning a race, finishing second in the 2000 metres in this year's Trinity track races. However, I do have the slowest first place time in Dublin parkrunning history, leading home a seven runner field in a monsoon in Porterstown :D

    That has been the highlight of 60 parkruns to date. I've run two marathons, eleven half marathons, and geansaíloads of other races (including BHAA) over the last four years. Joining MSB this summer has been a definite plus, which should bring further improvements in the coming years.

    Main PBs below:

    5k - 20:36 (Porterstown parkrun, May 2016)
    5 miles - 34:08 (Terenure 2014)
    10k - 43:32 (Fingal, 2016)
    10 miles - 1:14:13 (Brian Boru, 2016)
    Half marathon - 1:37:30 (DCHM 2016)
    Marathon - 3:49:01 (DCM 2016)

    Since DCM, I've less than 20 miles in the bag, as I'm slowly recovering from injuries which I carried into it, and which flared up again during.

    4 miles tonight in 9:15 or so (guessing here, as I was stopped at junctions twice, and also had to relace one of my runners).

    Thanks for reading my very lengthy intro! Bye for now.


«13456736

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,415 ✭✭✭Singer


    Well done starting a log! I find logging to be very motivating, and a useful tool to look back at general progression and history of niggles etc.

    So, what races are up next?


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks B, hope your own recovery is going well. Fair play on the RV pacing gig.

    Regarding upcoming races, I picked up my number for Clontarf tonight. I could still run the HM, and I'd finish it, but I feel I could undo all my good work since DCM if I went down that road. More likely, I'll step into the 5 mile there (I've been told I can switch) but I won't be racing.

    Jingle Bells is one I'd love to do, but I won't know till the second half of next week if I can go or not (college tutorial weekend). Hopefully it won't sell out before that! Otherwise, I have my eye on the Raheny 5 at the end of January and the Tom Brennan 5k on New Year's Day. There's also plenty of XC planned, with both club and BHAA races in the coming months for me to get my legs mucky!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭Kennyg71


    Welcome to the logs, in and around similar to me, will follow with interest.
    Best luck with future targets.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks KG, you seem to be getting things back nice and steady yourself. Enjoy the Gingerbread.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,484 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Good man J, will be interested in this too as many of your race times are in and around mine - there's a big falloff for your marathon time as you know so I expect you will be knocking loads off that if you decide to have another go.

    What kind of mileage have you been doing over the last few years, if you've been tracking it?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks D, there's plenty of room for improvement across the board, but you are right, the marathon in particular is where I'm aiming for a much stronger performance next time out. Even so, that was just under half an hour faster than my previous attempt (Paris 2014). It will probably be DCM 2017 before I do another though. Barcelona (budget) and Connemara (exams) are out for next year.

    In relation to your mileage question, I followed the Boards plan over on the Novices thread fairly closely from late June onwards - highest mileage there was 43. I did a mini training programme for the Connemara half in April; with the highest weekly mileage being in the low 30s. In between I kept it to two 4 or 5 mile runs midweek and a parkrun at the weekend, before starting to jump in the Sunday morning club run (about 10 miles at that time).

    For previous years, the mileage question is tricky, because trying to combine football training and running was very difficult to manage, even at my level. Apart from a holiday in Lanzarote in January 2014, where I reached my highest ever weekly mileage (50ish), even coming up to the Paris Marathon I never got over low 30s for a week (with added GAA).

    So this is the first year I've really committed to it, and with improvements everywhere except a pacer assisted Terenure 5 mile, I'm confident of a lot more to come. I'm gunning for a sub-20 5k by year end (I'll have two, maybe three attempts), and I want to take out that 5 mile PB in Raheny. Updates to follow....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,003 ✭✭✭✭The Muppet


    Great to see this up , I will follow with interest.


    The best of luck with it and the goals.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks T, looking forward to it.

    I've put on a few pounds since DCM, but they should come back off once the mileage starts building again....


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭Bungy Girl


    Delighted to see this log. Will look forward to seeing those times come crashing down. All the best with it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks G, fair play on taking over the graduate mentor job :)


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thu 17/11 - 5 miles in 10:10 p/m

    For the first time since DCM, I tried running on consecutive days. Not too much hassle up to now, but with my time window to do this rapidly shrinking, I headed out into the freezing D15 night without much of a stretch beforehand.

    I deliberately kept it slow all the way. This was one of my old loops from my early days living in the area, with only two hills crossing over the railway line to contend with. Still, I wasn't feeling brilliant even after 3 miles, and then my old niggles started coming back, worse than at any stage since the marathon. Not so bad that I was going to stop or anything, but enough to slow me down even more for the last mile and a half or thereabouts. As I worked through some belated stretching and foam rolling after I got home, I couldn't help thinking that last night was a setback. Maybe I need more time before trying this tortuous two days running in a row lark again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭Kennyg71


    Take each run as it comes, just run as slow as body needs, but sometimes if
    you trow in couple strides can help, maybe not this run but the next. There's
    no set backs at moment all about recovery.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,839 ✭✭✭hot buttered scones


    Well done on starting a log. I'll be following with interest. Are you going to follow the graduates plan? I made grea tgains from the 2015 one, which left me with a good base for marathon training. Learned a lot from it, and then even more from keeping a log. I also started to pay ,ore attention to other peoples logs when I had my own going, so I learned even more from that again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks HBS, not sure what plan I'll be going on yet. When I get fully back in gear again, there'll be a lot more short stuff; for example, I haven't done 800s with the club since the summer.

    There are some very good logs from people here who are in or around my standard. I'll continue to follow with interest. It's definitely beneficial to see what worked (or what didn't) for someone, especially if you've a similar training plan or whatever.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Fri 18/11 - Rest, apart from stretching and foam rolling.

    Sat 19/11 - Clontarf Half Marathon - DNS

    Clontarf 5 Mile Porterstown parkrun - 3.1 miles in 23:42

    Felt a bit strange this morning getting up having decided not to risk Clontarf. This was my first half marathon, back in the summer of 2013, and it's still one of my favourites to this day. I could have run it, but at what price long term? Plus a late night drinking and playing poker made it an even easier decision; I could have gone out there and switched to the 5 mile of course, but anyway I'm happy with my choice.

    And so it was that I stayed home for another parkrun. On a bitterly cold morning, I kept the layers on until just before the start. There were a lot of icy stretches on the path, so I ended up running a fair bit of it on the grass. How much this had to do with it being a pain free parkrun, I don't know. Anyway, it felt easy, and, amazingly after Thursday's disaster, there were no niggles to report. It felt even better with the coffee, cake and biscuits that followed :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,199 ✭✭✭denis b


    Congrats on the new log and following with keen interest. I hope one day to match the 5 and 10km records of a retired Junior GAA star. It might take another year but its a goal. Sounds like a pretty wise decision to parkrun and coffee it out today.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks Denis, I'm feeling the benefits this evening i.e. not sitting at home with my legs in a bundle. Plenty of other races to come over the next few months.

    Your times are quite close to my own actually. It won't take you long to reach my current PBs. Very generous with regard to GAA :D I only ever got two winners medals in all my years playing; I stopped after getting my second one last year, a mere 20 years after my first!

    The club have two groups out early in PP tomorrow. I'll see how I feel in the morning before I decide whether to join them.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Sun 20/11 - "Long run", 8 miles approx.

    Feeling ok to go again this morning, so I defrosted the car and made my way out for my longest run since DCM. Six of us made it to Castleknock Gate for an 8 am start in subzero temperatures.

    The first four miles or so were about 7:45 min/mile, as a couple of the faster lads were with us getting a few miles in before joining another club group at 8:45. When they left, the rest of us settled into something closer to 8:20 pace, and the conversation picked up again, as we were struggling to keep up somewhat!

    I'd got through about 6 1/2 miles before the leg started playing up. I probably could have finished out the 10 mile stint, but I let the other three turn left down the Acres Road while I slowed right down and headed back to the car. It doesn't feel bad now, having stretched and foam rolled afterwards, but there was a clear message sent out that it still has to be looked after! I've a couple of days off now, so hopefully that will help with recovery. About 20 miles for the week, fingers crossed I'll be able to increase that next week.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,236 ✭✭✭AuldManKing


    Sun 20/11 - "Long run", 8 miles approx.



    The first four miles or so were about 7:45 min/mile, as a couple of the faster lads were with us getting a few miles in before joining another club group at 8:45. When they left, the rest of us settled into something closer to 8:20 pace, and the conversation picked up again, as we were struggling to keep up somewhat!

    .

    This bugs me a bit as SK sent out the message saying the run was going to be at a certain pace.
    I'd have let them off and run your own pace - especially early in the run in the cold - that could have caused an injury (and possibly did)

    This is 1 reason why we have lost a few people & others dont run with us on the long runs, 'cos its too fast for everyone. We should have 2 distinct groups catering for different levels.

    ............sorry - I'm tapering and cranky. Gimme more food.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    This bugs me a bit as SK sent out the message saying the run was going to be at a certain pace.
    I'd have let them off and run your own pace - especially early in the run in the cold - that could have caused an injury (and possibly did)

    This is 1 reason why we have lost a few people & others dont run with us on the long runs, 'cos its too fast for everyone. We should have 2 distinct groups catering for different levels.

    ............sorry - I'm tapering and cranky. Gimme more food.

    Hmmm....not sure if this was why I stepped off? I'd run the parkrun at a faster pace the day before, no problem. Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to run two days in a row again. Having said that, two of us had entries for Clontarf the day before, yet we ended up doing a good bit of our run at a faster pace than we would have out there (for outsiders reading this, the "slower" runners would be about 3:30 marathoners)

    In relation to the second part....that's a whole other discussion for the club, which will hopefully lead to more Sunday morning participation in the future. I'm of the opinion that I'll be much more able for the faster pace when summer comes. Time will tell! Good luck with the tapering in case I don't see you before SS.

    Monday's activity involved an easy stretching and foam rolling session, after work by day and college by night.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Mon 21/11-Wed 23/11

    Positives

    Two pain free stretching and foam rolling sessions. I also entered Jingle Bells, having received a favourable timetable for my college tutorial weekend.

    Negatives

    Not getting out for a run at all so far this week. Work and college make it hard to get out Mondays or Tuesdays, unless I go running at lunchtime, which I hate, or I have a day off.

    The plan was for an easy few miles tonight, but real life intervened. However, that might not turn out to be a complete disaster given my recent "fitness" history. I'll get out tomorrow, and then probably leave it till I add to my parkrun tally on Saturday morning. Recovery is taking longer than I hoped!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thu 24/11 - 4 miles @9:25 p/m.

    Easy two spins around a loop close to home, resisting the temptation to try and tag on to two runners who passed me. Tiny bit of a tingle near the end, not sore however.

    Fri 25/11 - Rest.

    Sat 26/11 - 5.1 miles approx. inc. Porterstown parkrun

    With Jingle Bells just a week away, and the marathon now 27 days ago, the plan was to try and pick up the pace a bit from recent weeks. I did a bit of stretching at home, before a half mile shuffle to Porterstown, and then a lap of the course with a clubmate. No pain to report, so I lined up fairly close to the front this time.

    A few of the faster lads from the club were there today as well. I let them whiz away into the distance and settled into a fairly comfortable stride. A Donore lad who runs here a lot was a bit ahead of me so he was the perfect marker for the first lap (1.1 miles in 7:15).

    At this stage I was leading a group of four, with two younger lads and the leading lady (an All Ireland winner). I tried to keep my pace steady for the second lap, and was happy enough with how that worked out. By the end of lap 2, the lads had been burned off, and there was just me and the lady footballer for the final turn. For the last lap, I had to decide whether I wanted to try and keep her behind me, or just let her off and keep my powder dry for next week. I chose the latter, and away she went while I cruised home in a time of 21:27.

    I'm delighted with that outcome, and better again, there were no niggles along the way. I'm feeling a lot more positive about Jingle Bells now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Sun 27/11 - Rest (unplanned)

    Best intentions etc etc. My intention was to do the club run this morning, or failing that get a few miles in on my own. However, I was feeling ropey after drinking "enough" pints of Guinness on Saturday night (family birthday) so that was knocked on the head. This afternoon saw a trip to my brother's house for my eldest niece's birthday party. Thankfully no more alcohol, but there was chicken curry and lots of cake. So I'm out there thinking, I can get out this evening and recover some of the damage. By the time we got home, however, I was feeling too drained to even bother with a stretch. So a bit of a disaster for me I'm afraid, but a fine day for the club, with our ladies picking up a team prize in the Nationals, and AMK nailing the sub-3 in San Sebastian.

    Less than ten miles covered in total this week, and it will be Wednesday before I hit the road again. I'm still thinking I'm in with a decent shout of sub 20 in Jingle Bells though. Either way, I'm looking forward to racing again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Mon 28/11 - Rest (planned)

    Work and college meant a late stretching and foam rolling session after dinner.

    Tue 29/11 - 4 miles @8:22 p/m

    I got a text at about 3:50 to say that my college lecture was cancelled due to a power cut. When I got home, I decided to take advantage of this and hit the books actually get out running. It was a very chilly night, so I had plenty of layers on as I headed around for a surprise bonus stint. Over a minute per mile quicker than something similar last week. It felt fairly straightforward, although I still need to shift some of the weekend's excess baggage. More stretching and foam rolling after I got back, before watching the Reds beat Leeds. Not a bad evening all told.

    Wed 30/11 - Rest

    I was originally going to chance another run tonight, but was home lateish after a dental appointment which preceded a visit to the parents. Hence, stretching and foam rolling took its place. I feel like I'm finally making some headway on the ITB front. My Jingle Bells race pack arrived today. I'll be in the MSB colours, wearing bib number 517.

    So just under 50 miles run for November (or if you prefer, since DCM). I'll be going into Saturday's race fresh, if nothing else. However, I've yet to reach double figure mileage for any single run since, and I've no speed work done either. I've run four parkruns in November, but they were all done at considerably slower pace than I'll need to reach if I'm to break the sub 20 barrier. With all this in mind, I'm as yet undecided whether to go for a conservative strategy, or just RLF and see where it takes me. Can't wait!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Time to catch up on the last few days...

    Thu 1/12 - 5 miles @8:26 p/m

    Very happy with this one. It was basically the same run as two weeks previous, but whereas that time I limped through the last two miles, this was a pain free run out - and the best part of two minutes per mile quicker overall.

    Fri 2/12 - Rest

    Sat 3/12 - Jingle Bells 5k, Phoenix Park

    Past

    This was my first ever 5k, way back in 2012. Back then I was thrilled with a time of 21:16. I thought I would have a better record in this race subsequently, however this turned out not to be the case.

    2013 - 22:23. Stinkbomb.
    2014 - Didn't enter.
    2015 - DNS, due to uncertainty about the race taking place in the midst of Storm Desmond.

    My PB for 5k was set on the grand occasion of my 50th parkrun, which took place in Porterstown at the end of May (20:36). In spite of my steady diet of nothing (relatively) with regard to mileage since DCM, I'd set the beating of this time as a minimum requirement here. One of my goals as stated at the start of 2016 was to go sub 20, and it was the only one I still had a chance of beating this year. So that was the plan anyway.

    Pre

    I got to the Papal Cross car park super early, and had a mile warmup done before some of our massive club contingent arrived. By chance, I bumped into nop98 and the artist formerly known as Firedance, and hence I was there to witness the presentation of her well deserved t-shirt :)

    Once the rest of our group had got themselves dressed for action, we got a nice warmup done around the Acres, finishing with some strides alongside the start area.

    I lined up not too far back, with some club colleagues a wee bit in front, and HelenAnne almost directly behind me. I saw Murph_D earlier, and was looking for him again as we waited for the gun, but no luck there.

    One

    My lack of speed work was certainly felt on the opening stint uphill. At this early stage, I was trying to follow our lady captain, a 19:xx 5k runner on the road, who's been improving rapidly on the XC scene. However, she gradually pulled away as we approached the roundabout, and quite a few others passed me too. To be honest, I was gasping a bit, and thinking maybe I'd set the bar a bit too high, considering my lack of action lately. But this would be the hardest kilometre, wouldn't it?

    Two

    Much of the same really, as we turned onto Chesterfield Avenue. More and more groups came by, and spat me out the back as soon as I thought I had a chance of staying with them. Surely some of them were thinking, who's the joker in the cap starting this far up? Our coach was near the 2k marker, and gave me a shout. Even at this stage though, I was struggling to come up for air. Not good. Not good at all.

    Three

    The slight downhill as we approached the turn onto Ordnance Survey Road gave me a small bit of respite, but not enough to halt the seemingly endless tide of runners leaving me behind. Shortly before we passed the Ordnance Survey itself, it was HelenAnne's turn. I made a half hearted attempt to tag on, but very soon it was clear that wasn't going to work. By now I was just hanging on and waiting for the last 2k, hoping the run to the finish would boost my confidence and speed. Eight minutes, eight minutes!!!

    Four

    The slope began to change in my favour. And finally, I started to pass people. I think I passed two runners in the first 3k, whereas we're talking three figures for people passing me in the same area. I was pushing harder now, and thinking that if I kept HA at a reasonable distance, I might have a chance of beating the 20. Surprisingly, there was nobody else around that I recognised. As we worked our way out of the treelined chicane, I was passed by a guy in a Samsung Night Run top, and a wee bit ahead was a guy in some Kerry marathon top or other.

    Five

    Downhill we went. I was still wary of maybe going too hard too soon, given the lack of speedwork. I had in my head "just one 800 left, this is the last one, give it everything". Trouble was, it's been 3/4 months since I ran an 800 with the club. Anyway, I was gaining again on the two lads above, and caught a few others coming down the hill. Just before we turned left for the final 150m push to the line, the road kicked up a tiny bit. I negotiated the turn, and then started turning up the gas as I could see 19 on the clock ahead. I'm thinking, Yes, it's on! Go! Go! Go!

    Just as I was going through the gap between Kerry guy and Samsung man, Samsung decided to dive right across me, and completely blocked my run. With Kerry guy on my left, I had nowhere to go, and ended up almost at a standstill. A clubmate was supporting here and gave me a shout to push again. I tried to repair the damage, but those two were gone, and another lad pipped me on the line, as I tried to regain momentum in a last gasp push, for what for me would hopefully be sub-20 glory. I crossed the line in 20:09 on the gun.

    Post

    At the finish I was absolutely fuming, as I tried to catch my breath on the rails, as Murph_D joined me, and scotindublin (who, unknown to me, had been following closely behind) gave me a shout. I reckoned I'd been cheated out of sub-20 by someone with absolutely no idea of etiquette. It wasn't like there was a prize at stake or anything. In the meantime, I met my mentors nop98 and Bungy Girl, who had a fine battle coming down the hill :D I also met denis_b again, and it was great to read of so many fine performances from the 2016 Novices Graduates later on.

    Many hours later, my fears were realised, as the chip time came in at 20:03. It's a PB of over half a minute, but I can't help feeling I might have missed my best chance of beating 20 minutes this year.

    Next

    I haven't given up yet on that goal. There's a couple of parkruns where I can go for it, and maybe Clonliffe's Christmas Cracker race on the 27th, if I still haven't nailed it by then. We also have a club 10k XC race on the 18th. Thankfully that's a handicap race ;)

    Sun 4/12 - 3 miles @9:05 p/m

    Poker and PB beers on Saturday night, along with lots of junk food, meant it was too early for me to join the club lads for any of the Sunday morning runs. It was closer to 11 by the time I got out. Due to college this afternoon, a rapidly shrinking time window meant I only completed two laps of Porterstown instead of the planned three. Still, a nice way to finish the week, and I felt a lot more refreshed afterwards. Looking forward to the next few weeks!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,121 ✭✭✭tang1


    Bit of HTFU over the first half of the race and you had it, taking over 30 secs off your PB coming off marathon training is great going, be proud of yourself, well done.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,831 ✭✭✭Annie get your Run


    There's a very flat 5K in the PP on New Years day, can't remember the name of it, Tommy Byrne something? Tang?? Anyway, massive well done on your PB, the sub 20 is there for the taking especially with some speed work in the legs. Great to catch up with you yesterday too :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,121 ✭✭✭tang1


    There's a very flat 5K in the PP on New Years day, can't remember the name of it, Tommy Byrne something? Tang?? Anyway, massive well done on your PB, the sub 20 is there for the taking especially with some speed work in the legs. Great to catch up with you yesterday too :)

    Tom Brennan 5k, you go eat cake at St Anne's so.........


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,484 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Nice going J - some similarities in my race. Sounds like I started a bit behind you, had HA in sight for a good while, and like you was trying to keep in range. I was passed by a Samsung shirt on upper Glen, possibly same guy. Tough luck on the straight, maybe he's a xc guy though, a legitimate block! You'll get it soon enough, matter of time!


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 1,199 ✭✭✭denis b


    Absolutely no doubt that the sub 20 can be done this year on the right course. Might be worth checking out a favourable Parkrun course. Do report.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭Kennyg71


    Great run today pity about them few sec, but great improvement. Well done on pb.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Ososlo


    Excellent pb! You're almost there! I'd highly recommend Clonliffe's Xmas Cracker for your next stab at it. It's a lovely course and if the weather plays ball, you'd have a great chance of getting your sub 20 and there'd be loads of good runners around your time. Well done yesterday!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭HelenAnne


    Murph_D wrote: »
    Nice going J - some similarities in my race. Sounds like I started a bit behind you, had HA in sight for a good while, and like you was trying to keep in range. I was passed by a Samsung shirt on upper Glen, possibly same guy. Tough luck on the straight, maybe he's a xc guy though, a legitimate block! You'll get it soon enough, matter of time!

    Well done, Murph d and WW; I had no idea I was so many people's marker / pacer! 😀ðŸ႒🻠14 sec PB for me - delighted. My first uncontroversial sub-20 (19.48) (and I know it's practically all downhill so I hope it still counts!)

    I loved it. I didn't know how I'd feel as I've had a cough for a few weeks, but I just thought I'd give it a lash and take each kilometre as it came, rather than worrying about the ones ahead. It was perfect weather and a perfect course, so I felt if I didn't break 20 there I just wasn't ready to. My previous pb's were 20.03 in Rathfarnham in 2015 and 20.02 in Malahide parkrun earlier this year; I'd say if you pick the right race you'll get from 20.03 to sub 20 much quicker than I did.

    I did the Reindeer Run 10k in Marlay today and felt wrecked! The drags at the top of the park felt like Everest!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Ososlo


    HelenAnne wrote: »
    Well done, Murph d and WW; I had no idea I was so many people's marker / pacer! 😀ðŸ႒🻠14 sec PB for me - delighted. My first uncontroversial sub-20 (19.48) (and I know it's practically all downhill so I hope it still counts!)

    I loved it. I didn't know how I'd feel as I've had a cough for a few weeks, but I just thought I'd give it a lash and take each kilometre as it came, rather than worrying about the ones ahead. It was perfect weather and a perfect course, so I felt if I didn't break 20 there I just wasn't ready to. My previous pb's were 20.03 in Rathfarnham in 2015 and 20.02 in Malahide parkrun earlier this year; I'd say if you pick the right race you'll get from 20.03 to sub 20 much quicker than I did.

    I did the Reindeer Run 10k in Marlay today and felt wrecked! The drags at the top of the park felt like Everest!

    That's brilliant HelenAnne! Congrats on the new pb!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,415 ✭✭✭Singer


    I did Clonliffe's Xmas Cracker a good bit faster than Jingle Bells last year (though the weather conditions were atrocious at Jingle Bells), it's a reasonably fast 5k alright. I'm sure you'll nudge over pretty soon anyway!


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,015 ✭✭✭jake1970


    Well done WW, congrats on the PB.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Thanks a million for all the good wishes! Feels great being back in the game, although the DOMS hit big time Sunday and Monday :eek:
    tang1 wrote: »
    Bit of HTFU over the first half of the race and you had it, taking over 30 secs off your PB coming off marathon training is great going, be proud of yourself, well done.

    Cheers! Getting used to racing at that speed again took some adjusting. Now I know I have the time in me, I can go after the next one with more confidence. More speedwork with the club should help.
    There's a very flat 5K in the PP on New Years day, can't remember the name of it, Tommy Byrne something? Tang?? Anyway, massive well done on your PB, the sub 20 is there for the taking especially with some speed work in the legs. Great to catch up with you yesterday too :)

    Thanks, congrats on the PB yourself! I have that race on my radar all right. I'm still hoping to get sub 20 this year rather than next, but if that's what happens I'll still celebrate it just the same :)
    Murph_D wrote: »
    Nice going J - some similarities in my race. Sounds like I started a bit behind you, had HA in sight for a good while, and like you was trying to keep in range. I was passed by a Samsung shirt on upper Glen, possibly same guy. Tough luck on the straight, maybe he's a xc guy though, a legitimate block! You'll get it soon enough, matter of time!

    Good to know, D! I've plenty of XC on the cards in the New Year. I reckon I'll run at least five or six of those races between now and March; club as well as BHAA. Think I need to get the old GAA shoulder charges working again!
    denis b wrote: »
    Absolutely no doubt that the sub 20 can be done this year on the right course. Might be worth checking out a favourable Parkrun course. Do report.

    Thanks Denis, I might have mentioned before (maybe not on this log though) that for a period in 2015 I'd run all the Dublin parkruns. As far as chasing a time goes, I haven't run Father Collins yet, so that might be one to try in this regard.
    Kennyg71 wrote: »
    Great run today pity about them few sec, but great improvement. Well done on pb.

    Yeah I'm feeling more relaxed and less diva-esque about the whole episode now; these things happen, it's great that we're able to do them. Nice couple of runs yourself lately.
    Ososlo wrote: »
    Excellent pb! You're almost there! I'd highly recommend Clonliffe's Xmas Cracker for your next stab at it. It's a lovely course and if the weather plays ball, you'd have a great chance of getting your sub 20 and there'd be loads of good runners around your time. Well done yesterday!

    Yes indeed, great shout on that one! I haven't run it before, but it's become a definite possibility. Minding myself for the couple of days beforehand might not be so easy though :) still, it's on the list for now.
    HelenAnne wrote: »
    Well done, Murph d and WW; I had no idea I was so many people's marker / pacer! 😀ðŸ႒🻠14 sec PB for me - delighted. My first uncontroversial sub-20 (19.48) (and I know it's practically all downhill so I hope it still counts!)

    I loved it. I didn't know how I'd feel as I've had a cough for a few weeks, but I just thought I'd give it a lash and take each kilometre as it came, rather than worrying about the ones ahead. It was perfect weather and a perfect course, so I felt if I didn't break 20 there I just wasn't ready to. My previous pb's were 20.03 in Rathfarnham in 2015 and 20.02 in Malahide parkrun earlier this year; I'd say if you pick the right race you'll get from 20.03 to sub 20 much quicker than I did.

    I did the Reindeer Run 10k in Marlay today and felt wrecked! The drags at the top of the park felt like Everest!

    Thanks H, I was certain when we were lining up that you'd run sub-20 already; I'd forgotten that it was in the GT5k. Well done on cracking it for sure this time, and fair play on completing the back to back!
    Singer wrote: »
    I did Clonliffe's Xmas Cracker a good bit faster than Jingle Bells last year (though the weather conditions were atrocious at Jingle Bells), it's a reasonably fast 5k alright. I'm sure you'll nudge over pretty soon anyway!

    Getting there B, so close! I still haven't made it onto the 10 round numbers table, still got a chance though!
    jake1970 wrote: »
    Well done WW, congrats on the PB.

    No worries, the PB I set in May bettered one that had stood for nearly two years (20:46, Malahide pr, June 2014) so when you view it like that, it's a lot more positive!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    After last week's PB, this week has been a step back (as opposed to a setback).

    Mon 5/12 - Fri 9/12 (inclusive) No running.

    College Monday & Tuesday. I'd planned to head out on Wednesday, but when I got home from work I felt absolutely whacked, so for a change I listened to the body and stayed in. Nothing on Thursday, due to some real life stuff which meant I wasn't home till going on 10 PM. Friday was our work Christmas night out, which entailed lots of eating and drinking. Running out of excuses here?!

    Sat 10/12 - Porterstown parkrun

    Having not even done a stretch since last Sunday, it was time to get the runners on again, regardless of last night's gallivanting. At least I got up and out; numbers for most if not all the Dublin parkruns, our own included, were down considerably. Needless to say, this morning there was no chance of me going after the sub 20.

    With this in mind, I got into what I couldn't even describe as a comfortable pace, slow enough as I was. For the first two laps, I'd the leading lady following close behind; a BHAA regular, who's run a few of the parkruns here as well. One of the young lads was coming back to me on the second lap, and I briefly entertained the crazy notion of going after him in the last spin. 14:40 with a lap to go.

    To be honest, I was totally bunched, and I couldn't be bothered to even try to respond as my chaser made her move early on lap 3. The last lap was a sufferfest; thankfully I was so far ahead of the next lad, that there was no realistic chance of me losing any more places unless I stopped altogether. Finally I got over the line in a time of 22:16, first in my age category :eek: and 9th overall.

    Positives: Hot chocolate at the finish
    Getting up and actually doing this
    Progress made overall this year. Looking back through my times, it wasn't until early January until I beat my time from today on this course. I'm getting there! Next week should see me getting back into it again, with hopefully another sub 20 assault next Saturday.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Sun 11/12 - 4 miles @7:42 p/m

    For a long time, it looked like this would be another non-running day. Two more Christmas parties left me feeling very delicate, to say the least. However, I finally got it together shortly after 6:30. I don't normally run after dinner, but tonight it was a necessary evil. I kept up a nice pace here, all things considered. Typing this now I feel much better, partially cleansed after putting away so much alcohol and junk food the last few days. Next week will be better, I promise :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Mon 12/12 - 5 miles @7:52 p/m

    I had a day off work yesterday, so it was a chance to go for a bonus run of sorts. The plan was to run from the house to Porterstown, four laps of the tarmac there, and then home. It didn't quite work out that way.

    Coming towards the end of my second lap, I'm coming up the hill when I see two women with five dogs between them. I moved onto the grass to try and dodge around. The biggest one took exception to my manoeuvring, and decided to bark her head off going for me. Funnily enough, after she'd been calmed down, one of her pals decided to try and follow me on my merry way (a Cavalier King Charles).

    I love dogs, but unfortunately some of their owners can be very ignorant of runners. It wasn't like I was coming towards them at a superfast pace! And in fact, the ones with the 50 foot leads are the worst, because you can't always see the lead if it's dark, and sometimes the owners make no attempt to shorten it, even though they can see you coming towards them for ages.

    Anyway. I decided I didn't want a repeat encounter in another five minutes, so I left Porterstown and headed out to the 2 mile or so loop around the outside of Tír na nÓg, the Carpenterstown shops, through the middle of Riverwood and back around before turning in through the estate to home. I was happy with my pace here, and overall a good outcome for a dark and dreary Monday morning in December.

    Times are approximate, as the stopwatch wiped them before I got around to writing this.

    Half mile plus to the start of the first lap: 4:45
    Lap 1: 8:11
    Lap 2: 8:15
    The rest: 18:05


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Tue 13/12 - Rest.

    Wed 14/12 - Rest. I had considered going Wednesday & Thursday, but with a back to back planned for the weekend, maybe the right decision was made?

    Thu 15/12 - 5 miles @8:04 p/m

    Similar 5 miler to the previous late night ones in recent weeks. Much quicker than previous attempts, without feeling under too much pressure. I even threw 5 100m strides in for good measure.

    Fri 16/12 - No running

    I've been fighting a head cold most of the day and night. So frustrating. I had planned a parkrun sub 20 attempt to start off the weekend, but now I could be struggling to be fit enough for the 6 mile XC on Sunday :mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭Bungy Girl


    I've been fighting a head cold most of the day and night. So frustrating. I had planned a parkrun sub 20 attempt to start off the weekend, but now I could be struggling to be fit enough for the 6 mile XC on Sunday :mad:

    Hope you're feeling a bit better today ? You know yourself you're better off letting a cold run its course and getting rid of it and wait until you're fully fit to race.

    Where's the XC on Sunday ? 6 miles sounds tough!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Bungy Girl wrote: »
    Hope you're feeling a bit better today ? You know yourself you're better off letting a cold run its course and getting rid of it and wait until you're fully fit to race.

    Where's the XC on Sunday ? 6 miles sounds tough!

    Thanks G, yes the fog is clearing, slowly but surely! Briefly this morning I had the mad idea of getting up and heading over "Sure I can just shuffle around. No pressure to put in a time or anything!" Then I turned over, and when I woke up again it was 9:30 :D

    I remember a few years ago insisting (against my wife's wishes) that I was able to do the Fat Turkey Run. This was in spite of me coughing and spluttering constantly for 2-3 days previous, and all the way across in the car. It's a tough enough course as it is, even in the whole of your health. Not an experience I ever want to repeat.

    XC tomorrow is in Porterstown Park. It's an annual event which my club (MSB) stages usually the Sunday before Christmas. I've never run a XC race as long as this before, but thankfully it's a handicap race. Should be a bit of craic anyway :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Sun 18/12 - Doyle Cup XC, 6 miles, Porterstown Park

    As outlined, this is an annual club handicap race. I shook off my head cold and shuffled up to Porterstown, before covering one of the 1.5 mile laps for a recce. Conditions were as good as you could expect for the time of year; beautiful sunshine and no wind, although there were one or two sticky spots.

    There were maybe 5 or 6 adults away ahead of me, and two lads starting with me. On the first lap, GQ was behind me for a mile or so, with the other lad dropped. Then GQ overtook me on the flat section at the bottom of the park and pulled away (he finished 3rd overall).

    By the end of lap 2, I'd caught all the adults who started ahead of me. However, I wasn't aware that there were loads of kids running too. Kind of disheartening when loads of them start passing you in rapid succession? (although good for the future of the club if they stick with it!) JC passed me early on the second lap, and I thought, well that's it in the bag for him. I didn't know till afterwards that he would have had to lap me! I was finding it heavy going in the last two laps, and maybe 10/12 more of the adults caught me, with me not passing anyone back apart from a few kids.

    AMK caught up to me with about half a mile to go, but even with him having run a marathon only three weeks ago, I wasn't going to try and go with him. Instead I tried to catch a lad around my standard who passed me earlier in the lap. That didn't work either, although I did pick up the pace in the last 400, to the extent that I kept one of our faster ladies at bay as I crossed the line.

    Time came in at 44:03; middle of the pack (of course!) but not bad for my longest ever XC race. Best comparison is my effort at a 5 miler in ALSAA in February. That was a race run in heavy rain in bottomless ground. Even so, I barely cracked 40 minutes. Shocking. I'm much happier with this performance, although Jingle Bells took more out of me, strange as that may sound? It was good that I took part anyway, because I have a lot of XC planned in the early weeks of 2017, and the runners certainly looked like they hadn't been aired in a while when I took them out of the bag this morning :o Well organised by the club, and hopefully I'll be fitter and faster for the next one.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭Kennyg71


    Well done, never ran XC always sounds tough and have idea I would struggle
    around.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,831 ✭✭✭Annie get your Run


    Sun 18/12 JC passed me early on the second lap, and I thought, well that's it in the bag for him. .

    Good of him to come out and race given it's his busiest time of year n all :D (I'll get my coat...)

    Well done! glad to see you've a few more XC lined up for the new year, they are tough physically and mentally but IMO you can not beat a XC race, the team work, the camaraderie and ultimately the physical benefits far outweigh how hard they can be :)

    As an aside I still haven't made it to porterstown PR and won't now until next year but it's high on the 2017 to do list..


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Kennyg71 wrote: »
    Well done, never ran XC always sounds tough and have idea I would struggle
    around.

    Cheers, no hassle! I highly recommend that you at least give XC a try. You never know, you might even find it more enjoyable than road races, parkruns and what not. The Dublin Masters is on January 8 in St Anne's Park. If you're of that vintage, no better time to get involved. BHAA also have a few decent XC races in the New Year.

    Do it now,
    Discover how,
    Do it now

    Good of him to come out and race given it's his busiest time of year n all :D (I'll get my coat...)

    Well done! glad to see you've a few more XC lined up for the new year, they are tough physically and mentally but IMO you can not beat a XC race, the team work, the camaraderie and ultimately the physical benefits far outweigh how hard they can be :)

    As an aside I still haven't made it to porterstown PR and won't now until next year but it's high on the 2017 to do list..

    Thanks AM, I've kind of missed the old XC scene. I've four on the list (two Masters, two BHAA) in the first few weekends of 2017. You're welcome to Porterstown any time!

    Mon 19/12 - 3 miles+ in 8:59 p/m

    I can't help thinking I undersold myself yesterday, as the legs certainly don't feel like they went through a 6 mile XC race. I suppose it's difficult to judge how hard to push when (a) you haven't run that far in XC before, and (b) just over an illness.

    Anyway, I went back to Porterstown this morning, for a couple of laps of the tarmac path this time. Half mile plus jog from the house to the start of my first lap in 5:08. Lap 1 in a gentle 8:44. I decided to pick up the pace a bit for the second one, and 8:21 was the result. A little bit quicker going home too (4:46).

    I'm not quite ready to put away the runners for 2016. I'm still chasing a sub 20 5k in 2016 (fingers crossed!) this time in the Porterstown parkrun on Christmas Eve. If I get this, I'll probably take on the Fat Turkey Run on the 28th (unfinished business there!) If not, it'll be a shot at the Clonliffe Christmas Cracker 5k on the 27th.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭HelenAnne


    Cheers, no hassle! I highly recommend that you at least give XC a try. You never know, you might even find it more enjoyable than road races, parkruns and what not. The Dublin Masters is on January 8 in St Anne's Park. If you're of that vintage, no better time to get involved. BHAA also have a few decent XC races in the New Year.

    Do it now,
    Discover how,
    Do it now


    I'd say KennyG might have no choice -- Raheny like to have a good showing at the Masters so everyone has to do it, cross country fans or no! :):):eek:


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Quick update.....

    Tue 20/12 - Rest.

    Work today and college tonight. It was the last night of the semester, although the next batch of assignments will occupy a fair chunk of my time over the holidays. Didn't get home till about 8:45, so no running.

    Wed 21/12 - 4 miles @7:36 p/m

    Partly a guilt run, but I'm delighted with how it turned out. With the week that's in it, there's been an unreal amount of sweets, chocolates, cake etc etc going around in work. Do you think I managed to steer clear of the carnage? :D All self inflicted, I admit!

    Anyway, to the run itself. This was two laps of a loop around the estates beside home. I got up to a pretty decent tempo on the second lap, and in fact I reckon it's the fastest I've ever run that loop. Not always easy with walkers, road crossings and so forth, but encouraging if I decide to go full tilt in the parkrun on Christmas Eve. Forecast is poor, and in all probability I'll have a few after work socials on Friday. So we'll see :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,003 ✭✭✭✭The Muppet


    Quick update.....

    Tue 20/12 - Rest.

    Work today and college tonight. It was the last night of the semester, although the next batch of assignments will occupy a fair chunk of my time over the holidays. Didn't get home till about 8:45, so no running.

    Wed 21/12 - 4 miles @7:36 p/m

    Partly a guilt run, but I'm delighted with how it turned out. With the week that's in it, there's been an unreal amount of sweets, chocolates, cake etc etc going around in work. Do you think I managed to steer clear of the carnage? :D All self inflicted, I admit!

    Anyway, to the run itself. This was two laps of a loop around the estates beside home. I got up to a pretty decent tempo on the second lap, and in fact I reckon it's the fastest I've ever run that loop. Not always easy with walkers, road crossings and so forth, but encouraging if I decide to go full tilt in the parkrun on Christmas Eve. Forecast is poor, and in all probability I'll have a few after work socials on Friday. So we'll see :)

    I'd imagine most of us are guilty of self inflicting carnage this time if year. It's really difficult to resist.

    The best of luck with the pb attempt Saturday if you go for it.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement