27th
December 2014
The
running year wasn’t the worst though I didn’t set any PB’s in the marathons I
ran (Connemara 3.37 and Amsterdam 3.30.06) or in any of the 4 half marathons I
ran. I ran a lot of second fastest times in the above races and also in 5 mile
races. My only notable PB was in the Ballycotton 10 (1.09.43). Given though
that the title of the blog alludes to running a sub 3.30 , it’s now over 2
years since I ran that time, the marathon PB mission has stalled . I was also
disappointed to miss out on the Sixmilebridge marathon. This and my times in
the 5 mile Ballycotton series may point to the fact that I am probably getting
slower. This is hard to accept as is the fact that runners of my age who I once
ran faster than are now leaving me for dead in races. That however is up to me
to remedy but not quite yet…
I
have finally stopped the dithering and the procrastinating and entered a race I
have wanted to do for years – Connemara 39.3 mile ultra. I had hoped to enter
it a number of times in the past but work commitments and other running
priorities had meant I kept putting it off. This time it will be different. I
have a late start on Mondays so it means I don’t have to stretch the back to
back long runs over the Saturday and Sunday. I hope to manage it on the Sunday
(with Mallow AC) and on Monday mornings. These will be the cornerstone of my
training. Tuesday will be a rest day or a easy recovery run. Wednesday will be
a mid week hill run up in Mayfield. Thursday a speed session with Mallow AC.
Friday a rest day. Saturday a medium run. That said nothing is set in stone
either. I might find that more rest and less running might suit me better or
that speedwork is detrimental to my training. I have currently a number of
books on the subject of ultra running. Proper training books mind you and none of that Dean
Karnazes ego tripping stuff either I also hope to run another marathon in
October. These are my goal races.
I
have also entered 3 ten mile races – Dungarvan , Ballycotton and Mallow but as
to weather they will be races, extended long runs or recovery runs that remains
be seen. I can’t really compromise on
the back to back long runs as they are fundamental to ultra training.
In
terms of setting myself a goal for the ultra the answer is that I won’t be
setting one. I will be happy to get the training done and get to the start line
as fit as I can be. After that the main objective will be to finish as
comfortably as possible and let the time take care of itself – just like my first marathon in 2010.
Week
1 of training has gone well. 16 weeks to go.
Mileage
for the week 45 miles. (Monday 4 miles recovery, Tuesday 6 miles with 5 X ½
mile repeats @ 6.22 pace, Wednesday 8.75
miles at 8.12 pace, Thursday 6 miles at 9.15 pace, Friday 13.36 miles at 8.42
pace and Saturday 7.5 miles at 8.06 pace)
