3rd
September
The Irish weather does
it’s actual trick of giving us a mini summer in September. Certainly it made it
difficult getting around the building in work (3/4flights of stairs) and up and
down to the car (we have no parking space so I have to make do with parking a
mile uphill from work.). Anyway when I did get out this evening jogged and
walked 4 miles. Wanted to get the legs recovering after last weeks efforts.
4 miles at 9.46 pace.
HR 130
4th
September
Ran with the club.
Legs were like rocks again but headed down anyway. A very large crowd of around
24 or so turned up. Did a 3 mile easy jog with the fit for life group. Then
around 8 miles with the faster group. It involved a 3 mile warm up down by the
river back and town park. Followed by 5 X4 minute effort at around 5 mile pace.
First 2 minutes were at 6.08 pace. Way too much for me and I was feeling it. By
the second session i had to slow down and forced to jog at a respectable 7.30
pace which meant i was last down the back. The 4th and 5th
sessions was time to be sensible so I took it handy at around 7.35 pace. Then a
another mile or so jog back to the car. Obviously the efforts of last week and
walking a couple of miles every day in work are having a effect on me. Still
though I did 10 miles in total for a time of 1.25.16.
10.16 miles at 8.23
pace. 1.25.16
5th
September
Was running up in
Mayfield after work. It was very very very warm so as it was a medium pace with
a 4 mile descent and a 4 ascent common sense dictated I take it handy. The
first 4 miles Mayfield/Banduff/Glenthorn/Spring lane/ Blackpool/Leitrem st were
all done in around 8.17 pace. Mile 4 to mile 5 was a steep rise from the banks
of the Lee up to Montenotte Hotel via Wellington rd and Middle Glanmire rd. At
mile 5 the ace dropped and bang!!! the legs stopped working.From this point you
have a great vista of Pairc Ui Choimh and Blackrock/ Cork harbour. Anyway
walked a bit of a pace for 4 minutes or 0.2 of a mile. I wasn’t too upset about
this but mindful nevertheless. At 45minutes and 5.2 miles off i went again. The remaining 2.8
miles from where I stopped up to Iona Green, down Old Youghal rd and up to
Mayfield GAA pitch were all completed at sub 8 pace. Another tough Wednesday
workout but remarkably faster than last week despite the walk. I’d be lying if
I said the Blarney half marathon wasn’t praying on my mind. The chip and bib
number arrived today – number 62.
8 miles in 1.07.33. Hr
142.
6th
September
My 39th
birthday today. Gave myself one of the best (running) presents ever. Finally
cracked the 8 mile barrier that I have aiming for the last 2 years. Let me
explain.... I wanted to run 8 miles in a hour in training. The closest I came was
last week when I got 8 miles in at 1hour and 55 seconds. This time when I left
the house at 7.00 am I felt very confident within the first 4 minutes. I knew
the legs had recovered and I KNEW I was going to do it. Mile 1 consisted of 3
laps of the town park – 7.48. Mile 2 was achieved in 7.27. Mile 3 running up
the Cork road was made in 7.19. Big downhill for mile 4 which was nailed in 7.13.
I had reached the half way point in 29.49 with a uphill section in front of me.
Conquered that mile 5 in 7.06. Mile 6 I
was smoking -6.59, cracking stuff. Mile 7 down the railway road reached in 7.13
and finally back up the same road in 7.13. I was chuffed when I looked at the
stopwatch. 8 miles in 58.21 and a 8 mile tempo to boot.
To be fair the route
was flat, straight with a few downhills but a few uphills as well. The concentration
held up well as well. I could have ran another mile but decided to jog at a
slow pace for the last mile. What it means for the Blarney half marathon though
I have no idea. I feel uncertain as to how to approach it. Ideally a 1.37 would
be great but maybe Charleville is the one for that. A 1.40 time, fresh legs and
a nice finish wouldn’t be all bad on Sunday and a 1hr50min finish in the
Cork/Cobh race would set me up well for the 20 day taper for Dublin. I’m sure
when I check macmillian running calculator it will tell me i can do some crazy
time for it.
It was good to beat the heat as well by going
this morning
After work we headed
out for a bit of dinner that evening. Very nice too- the chocolate cake was
even better!!!
8 miles in 58.21 seconds
with a slow jog back of 1 mile. HR 152
nice cake!!
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