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?
