Dublin Marathon 2011 Race Report

I can finally call myself a marathoneer - yippeee.

I did the race last Monday, it is now Saturday and I'm still elated.    I have heard perople describe the after marathon period as an anti-climax, a period of 'where do i go now'.   I dont have that issue - all i want is to get cracking on another one.

The Race

The crowds were gathering before 9.  M dropped me in as far as Lombard Street and I walked up towards the baggage area.  My tummy butterflies were fairly jumping at the sight of numerous other (fitter looking) runners walking towards Merrion Square.

The Start Line before the Off - how will I feel if i get back here again?

I bumped into one of the lads from work & after dropping off our bags we met with the others from work (about 6 of us were doing the race, I hadnt trained with them though as I didnt want to run as fast as them in case of injury).

We had a laugh as we lubed up and answered various calls of nature and then headed for our respective starting areas.

I located myself between the 4.5hr and 5 hr. baloons as this was my hoped for time.   There was a bit of hanging around as the elites and faster runners headed off but I pretty much just enjoyed the atmosphere.   I didnt know what to expect but I was enjoying the experience greatly.....

Waiting for the start (forward view)

(backward view with Holles Street Hospital in the background, the spectre of 5 hours already looms....)

I had my mp3 player set (2 playlists, marathon music and marathon podcasts), my garmin was waiting to be started and i had shed my black bin-liner (needed in this part of the world to keep the cold out while waiting for the start).

Finally we got the start at 10a.m.    It took 11 mins or so to pass over the line, hit the watch & garmin to measure my time and take my first steps on the road to somewhere I had never thought i would visit.

The first km passed quickly but took 11mins, slow even for me (although far from the slowest mile of the day).

Running through town and up O'Connell Street was a real thrill;

Making our way to the start, and running through town up O'Connell Street (spot the handshaky photo)

Travelling up towards Phoenix Park we hit mile 4.    I had run one of my training runs from here to about 2 miles from the end and i did a quick mental scan of my body.    I had decided that this was the 'start' of my race and the first few miles were just the journey to here.    So I wanted to re-assure myself that I was okay, and remind myself that in my own mind i was starting from here....

The park was an enjoyable 4 miles, leaving it i took a phonecall from my sister who was surprised to get me (I had M's phone as its smaller and easier to carry). This was the first of a few calls which were very encouraging. 

The army running in combat boots & pack - way to go making me feel inadequate guys (especially as they passed me again about mile 23 & i didnt see them again)

I felt the call of nature and stopped at the porta-loos in Chapelizod, time per km going up due to the queues.

I continued slowly thru the miles keeping to an average 6min30sec per km up to 21km, almost half-way.  However the next 10km i felt more tired and the time went up to about 7mins per km.  My overall lack of anykind of speedwork was making its presence felt, also the reduced mileage i did to make sure i could get to the start line.

My nutrtion plan for the marathon was a gel at about every 45mins, plenty of water, and a packet of Jelly Tots and a packet of salted peanuts (for cramping purposes).   However, I stopped in a corner shop in Terenure at about 27km to buy something a little more solid; i settled on a bananna; of which half was eneough to satisfy me (I'm not even sure if i could have forced the rest down).

I kept up a fairly steady progress to 18.5 miles, however it was definitely getting harder.   I had taken on the plan to walk thru the water stations, refilling my own bottle at the same time.

Now there was a lot of people walking & the temptation to imitate them became too much, my walking periods became longer and my running slower.

I spoke to my brother in law (an experience marathoneer) who assured me i'd hit 4hr30, i didnt feel as confident and sadly i was proved correct.

The rain came down between miles 22ish th the end.    It wasnt just rain tho', it was a fully fledged downpour.  We got soaked and cold.   I was really appreciating the people who still stood out and cheered (the support all the way through was just fantastic). The volunteers also must have had an atrocious time of it, at least we were moving and getting some heat into us.

No heartbreak here, i was still loving the experience

Must have actually picked up the pace here, just passing UCD

My time per km had been slowing, but at about mile 22 i gave up on any pretence of running.   My hip froze up and i had to resign myself to walking.  I was now averaging between 8.5 & 9.5 mins per km.   I spoke to M and was unhappy to hear that she was waiting for me in Westland Row with the kids in the lashings of rain.

I kept walking on, i saw a small number of people being helped into ambulances, i imagine it was the cold and wet that finally got to them.

The last couple of km were a stroll, i was enjoying the whole experience so much i forgot that i was in a race.... I picked up the pace and did a vague impression of power walking in the last bit.   Met M & the kids with 1 mile to go and one of the boys & his friend joined me for the loop of TCD back to the finish line.

The race took me 5hr20mins, an absolute age compared to some, but i dont care in the slightest.  I got to the start without injury and got to the end eventually.

And so it finished, I even ran the last hundred yards over the line.    I felt good, i smiled literally all the way, it was an absolutely brilliant experience........I cant wait to do it again.

Dublin Marathon 2011 - Yippee

A short note to say I today ran my first ever marathon.....yipee.

A very rainy day in Dublin, and a very slow time of 5hr20mins - yikes (hip tightened up at mile 18 and by mile 22 i practically had to walk all the way).    But i dont care, i got to the start without injury, and got to the end eventually, and enjoyed every minute of it.....and now i have a pb to beat the next time.

Will write up a proper note over the next few days.

The countdown has begun....

Marathon Monday week.    What a time for ankles to start giving trouble.....  Feels a bit like plantar, its under my arches and i'm feeling a general fragileness around the ankles.    Just 2 more weeks, says he while praying to the running gods....

I went out for a very slow half marathon Monday night (almost 2.5 hours).   Feet hurting since then, but it may be also psychological as i also said it to folks in work about the run & the fact i'm doing it for diabetes research.   Nothing like a bit of fame to get the pressure on....

Anyway, i havent run since monday; I'll cycle to work tomorrow & take it from there.   I should be tapering but this might be more of a juddering stop.......

Can i say HELP......

Finally ready for the marathon?

Been a couple of weeks since i've written anything down about how training is going..... Basically life got in the way; but i've been keeping up the running and last Monday I signed up for the marathon!!!!

I hadn't done 20miles yet so handing over €93 was a bit of a leap, especially after a 23k nightmare the previous day....

Anyway a recap of the last 2 and a bit weeks;
25/9 i had a lovey 28km (c.18miles) run.   I headed out toSandymount/Booterstown direction.    The first 25k went well but the last 3km were tough enough.   I must say tho' i picked up 2 wonderful blisters, they started at 9kand kept getting worse in the wettish conditions of the day.
Due to the blisters during that week I did nothing until a 10k on friday night (24k cycling roundtrip to work thursday & friday).  I was going easier on myself because i figured the cycling counted for something, and also the thoughts of sticking a pin in the blisters didnt appeal at all, so i gave them a few days to go down.  (I do have photos of same but they are way too gross to put up, both because they're blisters, ad because they are feet).

2/10 - 23km, c.14miles.   My god what a horror.....   I didnt want to go out for a run at all, so i dilly-dallied until the afternoon, rather than going out early as i had originally planned.

I ran out to Yeat's Cottage in Howth, then back to Fairview to meet M & the kids at the gym.   Howth was looking lovely but altho i got a couple of pics i really wasnt in the mood.   It took a good 7k to warm up, i then felt comfortable for about 8-10k, then suffered for the rest of the run.   Something psychological seems to happen on these long runs, no matter what the distance its comfortable until the last few k, then the body seems to cave in.

Anyway the photos from Howth....

 Looking towards Irelands Eye from beside the King Sitric

 Same view from Yeats Cottage

And Irelands Eye from Yeats Cottage.

Signing Up for the Marathon

So I had a mare of a run, but at least i came thru it and my legs were not too bad.   The next day was the closing date for Dublin.   I had a bit of a wobble so I rang an multiple marathon and ultra-running friend Big E (who'd be running Dublin only he has had a stress factor the last few months).

He basically told me to go for it, take it slow & take the gels, that i have the distances under my belt.    Armed with this i went back to the computer and, taking the deepest of deep breaths, signed up.

So this week, with the take-it-easy approach, i did a 7k leg loosener Tuesday lunchtime (following part of the course), 10 late slow miles wednesday,  cycled to & from work thurs & Friday, and then (sadly after watching Ireland lose the RWC world cup quarter final to Wales) 6k leg loosener Saturday (I find the long runs better if i've been for a short run the day before).  

This was all building up to my 20miler this sunday.  

The Longest of Long Slow Runs

In keeping with my recent Positive Mental Attitude i was really looking forward to this run.    I planned to get the Dart/Luas into Heuston Station and join the route at the Phoenix Park.   

I ran thru a park packed with joggers and sunday morning strollers.   Its a bit far from my home but it reminded me that this is really a great park & i must bring the clann out again soon.

I could say i was comfortable for the first few k, but in reality i was comfy for the first 32k, and apart from the last couple of k (when i couldnt find a shop to replenish the water and so felt pretty de-hydrated).

I had a pretty great run, and only lost the course once.   I got to see parts of the city i'm not too familiar with and boosted the confidence that i might actually get thru this......

Anyway the route i took......

And the aftermath; I dont feel too bad as i write this, i met M & the kids at the gym and did a bit of sauna/plunge pool/swimming which seems to have loosened the legs a bit - even climbing the stairs isnt too bad (altho' i do have a bit of chaffing - more vaseline next time i think).

Oh, and finally, altho i didnt post the blisters, i will post the fact that i am now the pround owner of a black toenail - am i a distance runner yet?

An unexpected break

I haven't run since last Friday; 7 days without a run is the longest break in quite some time and certainly doesn't fit in with the plan-that-must-be-obeyed.....

The reason for this break? - a stinky head cold.    I cycled into work last Thursday & Friday (24k round trip) and Friday evening i ran 10k on a fierce-windy rain threatening evening.

I was meant to do 12k that night but  figured to cheat a little after the cycling to work.   This was to be followed by a 12 mile drop back run on Sunday (isn't it great that you get to the stage of looking forward to 'just' having to run 12 miles).

Anyway Sunday morning dawned and i just didn't feel like getting out, decided to defer to that night.   By the time evening came i was totally whacked out and decided laziness was the better part of valour and I'd be better off waiting till Monday night for my run.

Anyway Monday brought a disimprovment followed by out-of-work sick days on Tues & Wed.    I was ok to go back to work Thurs but still in no condition to go running.

And now (Friday evening)?  The current plan is to do a warm up 4 miles tomorrow and do 17 miles Sunday - bit of trepidation about this, but lets see how it goes....  Just need to get my head round to actually enjoying these runs again, and not feel like i'm on some sort of (dreadful pun warning) treadmill.

A late night 26km

Events conspired against running early yesterday (Saturday) or early today. 

Yesterday we had the normal Satuday taxi service - dropping kids here and there, and we also had a very important trip to Smyths Toy Store to get my daughter K a bike, in celebration of her being 1 year diagnosed with diabetes (might sound weird to celebrate same, but we are looking at it from the point of view of how sick she was and we didnt know why - 2 days of insulin and she was back to herself).

Anyway, this morning J decided he wanted to join the local rugby team (they dropped flyers into the school), so that cancelled running this morning (would have gone earlier but Ireland were playing USA in the World Cup, so couldnt miss that...)

Anyway short story long I got out tonight at 9:15p.m.    I needed to up the distance to 26k (16 miles).   It was a miserable wet night but enjoyable.  I did 2 loops of one of my usual routes - Raheny, down the Howth Road to Fairview, then along the Coast Road to Blackbanks and back up the Howth Road to Raheny.

The blow by blow is as follows;  first 3k were sore enough, as is becoming usual.   The ankles were twingy.   They warmed up and i felt pretty comfortable for quite a while.

During most runs i spend a lot of time negotiating with myself, tonight this took the form of telling myself not to turn for home at 10k, then at 13k, while running thru Raheny village on the first loop.  I then spent about ten minutes calculating how far i needed to run to be able to turn back & still have complete the 26k.   I find during runs that the simplest maths leaves me stumped - i figured wrong, and had i turned back in line with my calcs i'd have only done 24k.

The 2n time running the Coast Road was much windier (at least it seemed that way) but dry.  My ave time per km was moving from about 6min30sec to 7mins (it was 7mins30sec by the end of the run).   However i was still feeling okay, if tired.

My calf cramped up at about 19k and stayed cramped for a while.   I had been to a talk earlier in the week by an Irish Ultra Runner, John O'Regan, and he mentioned having a sachet of salt to take with water to fight cramp thru rebalancing your electrolytes.

I did this and it seemed to help, whether by placebo effect or not, who cares.....but as i sit here typing the calf is still pretty tender.

I reached the Bull Wall at 20.5km, which meant if i ran straight home i'd only do 24.5k, so negotiations started afresh; but there was only one real outcome likely - i didnt want to be out here running this far and this late to feel like a failure, so i passed the shortcut home and continued on the loop.

At this stage i was pretty much doing an old man shuffle but, no matter how slow, i wanted to keep as close to an impression of running as i could muster.  I did concede on one thing, i was going to stop at 26k and walk the last .3k home (i feel this helps loosen the legs a little as well as being able to finally STOP).

I did this and my time was pretty much bang on 3hours - very slow for 16 miles but i'm pretty proud of myself for getting thru it, especially late at night in such crappy weather.

The only downside is getting out of the bath at 12.45am, quite late with work in the morning.

And while am i still up blogging at 1:30am? Cause i'm on the 2am glucose check, and i know if i close my eyes now they'd need a nuclear explosion to get them open again.....

Happy running,

Waterford Half Marathon

On Saturday we drove down from Dublin to celebrate my brother in laws 40th birthday.

As we'd be down in Waterford my daughter spotted that the National Half Marathon Championships would be on the same day (good spot K).    I paid my €20 and figured i'd just use this 'Waterford Half' as a training run, adding on a bit at the end at the end to bring my long slow run for the week to 24km.

Well brain really wasnt in gear when I read the ad - did I mention the National Half Marathon Championships!!!! When I got to the car there was nary a 'fun-runner' in sight......these people literally disappeared from view in side profile.

Being one of the few possesors of extra, lets call it insulation....I knew at once i'd be watching this one from as close to the back as is possible.

We started off on the Cork Road and ran through the town to reach the Tramore Road.    The route was taking us almost to Tramore and then back to the track at the Waterforrd Regional Sports Centre.

The race started quickly and then picked up the pace....  My legs were stiff as pokers and every muscle cried out for relief.    I'm not sure what happened, was it the long drive, dehydration, lack of carbs?

Whatever it was I was stiff and sore and felt i couldn't keep going.   People were passing me with ease, and I was looking back at the end of the field wondering if I'd be finishing last.

M took the kids off to her mothers for lunch.    I thought she might watch the race from a couple of miles out the road and I was lucky she didn't - the first 3 miles were agony, and had she been there I'm pretty sure I would have just got in the car & called it a day.     As it was she needed to get K her lunch and couldnt wait, so I didnt have the chance to give up.

Just as well; after the first 3 miles the legs started warming up just as the rain began to fall.

Halfway to Tramore I could feel myself starting to enjoy the run.   I even started passing back some of the people who had passed me earlier in the race.

The rain really started to bucket (at which stage, feeling the chaffe, i vaselined up my chest, an oversight i'd pay for later...).

The rest of the run was uneventful enough, there was some great support in spite of the weather.

I was quite tired by the end, but forced myself to get through the extra runs around the track to bring the total up to 24k.    Time for the half was 2hr04m50s, with the 24 in approx 2hr27.

The legs were v. stiff the next day, but i spent an hour bodyboarding for the first time - and boy was it fun; i'm defo hooked.

Egging on Runners

(I dont mean encouraging runners, but more of that anon).

Very little blogging the last few weeks due to a) holidays and b) tiredness; but i have a couple of weeks of loving/hating my running so i thought i'd catch up with myself and my thoughts.....

Since my last post i've still been keeping to my non-plan.   However i checked my runs against the hal higdon plan i was following earlier in the year to find that as of yesterday i was only 15km short of where i should be by now.....cue surprise.


Holidays

We headed to Wexford on holidays for the 2 weeks of the 8th & 15th August.

Running was on the back foot but i got out for a few runs, but not as many as i should have done (my catholic guilt over not running was getting more exercise than my legs).

Notwithstanding this I did a good bit of sea swimming during my hols - swimming in 15C water for half an hour certainly gets the blood pumping (i must invest in a wetsuit at some stage but i dont like the feeling of them).

So a summary of my runs from Wexford...........

Week 1
Sun 7th August - 8km along beach - 48:08 mins
Tue 8th August - 12km 'out the road' towards wexford, 1hr 9 mins (running on a busy road with a 100km speed limit concentrates the mind).
Wed 10th August - 8km along beach - 54:29 mins (in my defence, very windy)

Week 2
Mon 15th 19.5km, 1hr 56 mins;  yep bit of a gap to this run, but this was one long slow run that was really enjoyable, ran out to Rosslare Port and back early in the morning, went down to Rosslare Strand before starting the run and saw a beautiful sunrise.......

When i got to the port i had to use the facilities in a local coffee shop, so i felt obliged to buy something, hence the photo of the most expensively uninspiring cookie ever....€2 for this....

And it tasted every bit as gross as the packaging suggests.

Anyway that run was wonderful, and since then
Wed 17th August - 5.3km 32 min (just wasnt in the mood and had to force myself out)
Sat 20th August - 8km 49:58 mins - back to running at 10p.m. after driving back from Wexford & helping unpack & get kids to bed, again this was a force yourself out run,


This week has been better, 32 miles in total

Mon 22/8 - 8k, 44:04mins (really tried to speed this one up, dont know where it came from, but if felt pretty good)
Thurs 25/8 - 14k, 1hr 25min - tried to stretch the distance a bit
Sat 27/8 - 8km 54:14mins - ran with a friend who is just back from injury so we took it slow (but i wasnt complaining much)
Sun 28/8 - 22km - 2hr32mins - yes i know it was slow, but i got there...

and .................. Egging on Runners......

That run last night of 22km started at 10:30pm and i got back home past 1 a.m.

The streets were wonderfully peaceful, but from a tiredness point of view i would have been happier to be in bed.   

I went out to Howth village, then back along the Coast Road to the Clontarf Bus Depot.     I had planned to do 24k, but i was seriously knackered by this stage, so knocked off the last 2 k.

And the title of this post?   As i ran along the Coast Road, a car flew past and with a guttural shout the passenger threw an egg at me.    Thankfully it missed, a little bit splashing the back of my leg.

I dont get it; what kind of a mindset would do this?   The lads werent young if they were driving a car; they also had to have the foresight to purchase the eggs.    I just cant understand how they can disrespect other people to the point of thinking this funny.   They must make their parents very proud.

Anyway they certainly didnt spoil my enjoyment of my run, or my sense of achievement in having gone out so late and still doing the long slow run, so F. them.

This week i hope to do some short runs during the week and run the Waterford Half Marathon on Saturday (altho i definitely want to do 24k so will have to keep going after the finish)....Lets see how it goes.

Stoppy Starty and Vampire Running

Both good points and bad points this week, but i'm finding it hard to motivate myself to get out, hence the stoppy starty nature of the title....

I've finally looked at my old plan for Kildare and, luckily, i seem to be following it unknowingly.   I did a 6k last Friday night, a 17.3k Bank Holiday Monday (yep should have been Sunday but the day got away from me).

I didnt get out Tues or Wednesday.   I really should have gone out last night but i was just soooo exhausted, so M and i sat on the couch and watched some tv - heaven.

Tonight i was just as tired when i got back from the ant-farm, but i got into my running gear before tea.   We all had dinner then all sat down to watch 'Sherlock' on bbc (great programme).

After kids went to bed M & myself watched more telly, by which time i felt un-tired enough to head out - hence the 2nd part of the title, most of my runs are so late i may as well be a vampire - tonight i left the house at 11p.m.

I brought the dog with me and did 6k without any music.   Sometimes its nice to tune out and self-hypnotise to the sound of foot fall and sharp breathing.   At this time of night the streets are peaceful and its quite rewarding to drag yourself out (getting into the shower at midnight is a bit of a bummer tho).

So, i need to get out for 8k at some stage tomorrow, 5k saturday and 11.2k Sunday (its a drop back week), and then see how it goes for the next few weeks.

On a slightly worrying note the left ankle was twingy most of the way and the right knee started tightening up in the last k - they're both okay now, an hour later, hopefully it'll stay that way....

Planning to not plan

Its been a pretty good week non-plan wise.   That is i'm keeping to my plan of getting out regularly and increasing the distances while not really following a plan.   Altho its less than 14 weeks to Dublin i think i'm still not ready to follow a defined plan, however in the words of Nixon i'd soon better do something or get off the pot.

I've been reading a lot of american and canadian blogs about people running in their heat, i.e over 35-40C!!!!    I once ran (while on hols in France) in weather that approached 28-29C.  The result - less a run, more of a walk, and a pounding headache to boot, definitely not my idea of fun (i cant even imagine the effort of breathing in that kind of heat).

This summer (if we're using that word) the temperature has rarely climbed above 20C, and usually has stayed in the 16-18C range - i'm quite happy with this!! 

Last night a case in point.  I left the house at 10:15pm into a soft rainy night.   I did my usual 5 miles route and loved every minute of it.    It never got to the point of being wearisome rain, it felt invigorating all the way, i was prob buoyed up by the fact that, yet again, i forced myself out against my better judgement and felt all the better for it.

Tonight M was going out to the cinema with a couple of friends so i didnt feel too guilty heading out at 7p.m. for 5 miles, nice weather and gentle temperatures, it was nice to get a run in the daytime, all recent runs are still late at night.

Times and distances for the last few days (all slow but who cares, i only had to use the compression bandage once to keep the ankle swelling down - i'd rather run slowly than not run at all).

July 19 - 8km 46:14
July 20 - 8km 48:11
July 22 - 5.3k 29:33
July 24 - 14.44 - 1hr:32:32 (v. rough late night run)
July 27 - 8km about 46 mins (forgot to charge Garmin)
July 28 - 8km about 47 mins (still forgot to charge Garmin, what a dipstick)


And tonights  grey sky over Dublin

Rough Weather Spectating & A Long Slow Run

Although it was a Sunday morning (and i'm about two steps away from  lack- of- sleep induced psychosis) I set the alarm early to go out and look at the Howth triathlon.

Until I got injured earlier in the year I had hoped to compete in this as my first tri, but after dropping out of the marathon 3 weeks before the event I don't think i had the strength of mind to get into the whole bike,swim,run thing straight away, and i only kept myself ticking over with 2 or 3 short runs a week, in fact its only in the last week or two that i’m really back at the running.

Anyway, K had expressed an interest going out to see the triathletes (her teacher from last year might be competing) so after morning calcs /  injections / breakfast we set off at about 8:15 on the short journey.

The weather for the day was atrocious, temperature couldn't have been more than about 12C, very windy with choppy seas and threateningly overcast.

We went down to the beach to wait for the swimmers.   The first swimmer over from Ireland's Eye had a huge lead over the field.   The 2nd swimmer home was a women (yippee, Kate was v. impressed) and she also had a huge lead over the field (apparently they’re both experienced sea swimmers, they needed it yesterday).

Looking at the people battling the choppy sea part of me was relieved that i wasnt with them, but a part of me was also dead jealous....

K. on beach with Irelands Eye behind

After freezing on the beach for about half an hour (July in Ireland, who thought we’d need fleeces!) we headed for a warming cup of tea, followed by a drive up to the summit to watch the bike race.

A truly enjoyable few hours, mainly for the one on one time i got with my daughter.

The Weekend Long(ish) Run

The day got away from me after that and it was 9:30pm  before i got out for my run.    I really ( REALLY)  didn't want to go out, but i figured that  if i start compromising before getting into a plan what chance will i have later in the year.

I wanted to do 12k, so I ran down the Howth Road to Fairview, then along the Coast Road, to Watermill and back home.

The wind down to Fairview was awful, really strong and funnelled by the road into a headwind.  Kinda takes the zip out of one’s step.

I was worried that the wind would still be against me on the coast which is no fun at all, but thankfully it was at my back, so I had a pleasant trot over the next 5k.

Wind was against me again for the last 2k, but i was so cheered up by forcing myself out and getting thru the run that i even managed to up the pace for the last k.

Distance - 12.2k
Time - approx 1hr 15mins (Garmin playing up a bit & had to be re-booted)

One Route, Two Runs - what a difference a day makes

Back to back 5 mile runs last night and tonight, and very different experiences of each.

Last night was a beautiful calm evening, no wind and a pleasant temperature.    I headed out at 10:20 p.m. after putting the kids to bed (these bright evenings make it very difficult to get them to bed at anything approaching a reasonable hour..).

I got down to the seafront quickly and thought the view of the moon over the city was beautiful.  I stopped to take a couple of snaps (shaky hand evidence below!).

When I started running again i felt weirdly dizzy.  I made it to 4k  and turned for home, but had hardly the energy to walk.    I had an emergency gel in my belt (I carry same if i haven't eaten for a few hours) and shame oh shame on a 5 miler, I swallowed it.

After a couple of hundred yards I forced myself to trot slowly (I thought of how ultra runners discuss ignoring the pain, running thru walls etc, and here's me only a couple of miles from home and walking...what a wuss!!!).

A very slow jog home, all the while thinking of fooooood,

Tonight tho' was very different.     I had a toasted bagel smeared with peanut butter about an hour before leaving the house (10:40p.m., if my runs get any later i'll be back to morning runs before long).

I was about .75k into my run when i felt the first light pinpricks of rain on my arms and face.   This didn't worry me too much as the weather forecast this morning had given rain in the west breaking up into light showers by the time the clouds reached the east of the country.

Well the spirit of Michael Fish is alive and well and living in Met Eireann..... Within another half k I was in a torrential downpour, but, weirdly, loving every minute of it.   

When you're having a good run nothing can stop the pleasure.   The rain was lashing down, running in rivulets off the end of my nose, and i cared not a jot!  In fact, in a perverse way it almost added to my enjoyment (well the temperature was still pleasant).

The only slight downside was that, after a couple more k the rain stopped - and what is worse than running in the rain? running in the dry with only the cold suction of a sodden tee shirt to remember the rain by...but still i enjoyed it!  All i could think of was that at one time had i been driving by a lunatic runnng thru a downpour i would have felt at best pity, at worst contempt - never would i have imagined he was enjoying himself...

Thats the weird thing about running, same route it, same time of night, different conditions, and you can never tell which one is going to be more enjoyable.....

And btw shaky hand evidence from yesterday (and another shot from Monday, just cause i like it)

Getting back into it

Well, for the first time in a couple of months I got out last week 3 times between Monday & Friday.   And although I didn't get in a long run at the weekend I got out Monday night for 11k, its the longest I've run since May.

Its unusual but I rang 5 k on Monday lunchtime, 5k again on Wednesday lunchtime, 8 k Thursady evening and 11k yesterday - and although the distances were getting longer the difficulty was definitely diminishing.....  The 5k on Monday was TOUGH and I cant really say why.

Why is it that on a long run the hard miles are the first 3?

Another impact on the running in the last month or so is that we've been doing a lot more glucose checks for K and it almost feels like we are back at the baby waking in the middle of the night stage.   When you've been up between 3:30 -4:30 am treating a low you dont necessarily want to hop out of bed at 6:30 to do a 5 mile run, hence the lunchtime & evening runs (and the skipping of same on too many occasions)....

On the marathon front I'm still not sure about Dublin in October.   There are a good few guys in the ant farm considering it and training for same (there's a lot of mid life crisising going on, me included) - at the moment I just want to get back to the distances I was running earlier in the year, so I'll keep it up and see in a couple of weeks.

But back to last nights run, I walked down to Raheny library with the family and ran on from there.   It was a beautiful calm evening.   I planned to do 10k but when I got to the beach I added on the extra k as it was just so enjoyable.  Is there anything more relaxing than the sound of a calm sea lapping against a strand?

Lovely run this evening

Got home from the ant-farm this evening, v. tired - did i want to go running - Nooooooo; but as i had a spare 45 mins I figured i'd guilt myself into 5 miles.

The weather was perfect for running this evening, no breeze and mild.    I ran down thru Raheny to Dollymount beach.

It odd how sometimes it works like that, the run you have to drag yourself out for is the most enjoyable, like that party you dont want to go too and you end up having a ball.

Anyway something (guilt over that bag of crisps & choccy bar at lunchtime?) made me go out - and it was great.

Dublin Bay looked lovely this evening and I took the run handy (pace 5m50sec per k) to ensure I didnt feel too tired/bet up.    I'd love to have more speed but I'd rather distance and sometimes, with the amount of trouble i've had in not being able to run at times over the last 12 months, I think i'm almost afraid to push myself too hard - in case something goes snap.

Anyway managed just under the 5 miles and Howth looked lovely in the late evening sun

Countdown to marathon

The countdown begins. It is 18 weeks to the Dublin City Marathon. If I follow Hal Higdon the plan starts tomorrow morning. Let's see.

My only worry is that the last time (Kildare in May) I dropped out at fifteen weeks, I think I just felt the plan was too long. I may just up the runs to around 25 miles.a week and then follow a 12 week plan.

None the less let's see if I get out of bed in the morning.

Back to it

Well woke up yesterday morning not wanting to go running. Really not wanting to go out.

But I've had this before and always appreciated the run much more from the other side. So I threw on the gear and hit the road.

Morning was perfect. After way too much rain for the last week it was cloudy but at least it was dry, and practically windless. I ran my usual 5 mile route, down to the coast road and along to the North Bull wooden bridge. It really is beautiful in the morning, you have the full sweep of the bay, and a grand view of any ships going in or out of the port.

First five k were grand, just motoring along. However by 6k I was starting to feel tired. This didn't worry me too much as I was only discussing this with a friend the other day, how on a long run the first 5/6 k can be awful, but once past them you can run for ages. Alas not this day. Shame oh shame I had to walk for a hundred yards at 7k, hr was at 160 which was high for this pace and distance. It came down quick but I still felt really rough.

Got home fairly tired, I'm in worse shape than I thought after the last 2 months of inactivity. Need to man up and start heading out there much more regularly

Starting off in running

Well, this is new.

I (being a luddite as far as the interweb is concerned) only became aware of blogging in the last month or so.

I followed some links to ultra runner blogs & signed up myself purely to follow other blogs (lurking is a new phrase for me, but that is what i was doing until i worked out what it was all about).   I then discovered some very reassuring & uplifting blogs by people with diabetes and I was hooked (my daughter was diagnosed as type 1 diabetic last september and it has changed a lot about how i see things).

I am, to put it mildly, a recreational runner, scratch that, jogger.    Two years ago I was over 16 stone, tending to high blood pressure, very unfit and always exhausted.    Today I'm 2 stone lighter (it was 3 but one snuck back on!!!), healthy blood pressure, quite a bit fitter, and still always exhausted (you cant have everything).

Up till then I had never run in my life, apart from during the odd football or hurling game.  The last serious exercise I did was twenty years ago when I cycled a bit and played hurling (badly).     Then, in August 2009, I met a group of old friends for the first time in years for a few drinks.    Two of the lads had gotten into serious marathon running and looked great.     They bet the other 4 or 5 of us to compete in the 10k Santa Run that December in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

I dug out an old pair of runners (at least 10 years old and last used for painting the house) and started off a few mornings a week trying to run around the block of houses where I live.    The location was picked for ease of retreat, the time was picked for ease of concealment.   With a lot of wobbling and sounds of desparate gasping I managed about 400 meters that first day before having to walk.

This continued with small increments of distance  over the course of quite a number of weeks and I have to admit I only persevered to avoid the ignominy of being the first to drop out.

But all thru this I remembered the most important thing anyone new to running should remember.   My friend had mentioned that for the first 2 months of starting to run its absolute agony, then your body learns how to breathe and run at the same time and you suddenly have the ability to increase the distances.  Had he not given me this pearl I am sure I would have given up long ago.

I made it to the starting line on a frosty December morning and completed my first 10k - and boy did it feel good.   As it happend I was the only one of the newbies to make it that far and all I wished was that I could get the other fellas to feel how great it is to run that distance.

Since then I've been increasing the distances and have done a few 10 milers and half marathons, but have struggled with injuries all along (who'd have thought trying to do distance running would be difficult after half a lifetime as a couch potato).

I was training for the Kildare marathon this year and got to week 15 of an 18 week training plan before having to stop thru injury, basically my knee gave up on me, but after 3 weeks of no running I had enough residual fitness to do a PB in the half of 1hr59min45secs - yippee, sub 2 hours is sub 2 hours no matter how slim the margin (although come to think of it shouting yippee for 2 hours sums up the measure of my ambitions).

I'm writing this blog as it is now just over 18 weeks to Dublin & I think its time to give it another whack.  

Lets see how this goes.......