Need that sleep

Week ending 26^th March

Continuing where I left off on Monday , I went back running on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday all early in the morning with a disappointed aborted effort on Saturday. Wednesday I ran 7.5 miles with 8 X 3 minute efforts in the middle. I ran using the stopwatch so all distances were approximate. This was run at 5.50 am back home by 7.05 and then into work for a pretty straightforward day. Thursday morning was a strong effort, 8 miles again with the last 4 miles run at 7.45, 7.28, 7.27 and 7.35 pace. I felt good in work and when I came home to my Daddy role I was feeling fresh. It appeared the morning runs were working well for me. However by Friday evenings I was beginning to feel the effort practically nodding off during supervised study that evening. The students thought this was hilarious.

 I then met Derm and Tim for the Ireland – Wales soccer game and drove home that night at 11. 30 pm. The plan was then to drive back up to Cork the next day after minding Iseult during the night (Aoiffe’s night off) and give Nana Chris a bit of time with her while I went for a 13 mile run. This was a foolish plan ignoring the rule that you can’t without a decent amount of sleep. I had painted myself into a corner and I was shattered Saturday when I got up to Cork. I simply handed Iseult to Nana and went upstairs for a 2 hour snoozefest. I still wasn’t great all day with my stomach rebelling against me a few times in the day too. (eating too much chocolate lately ).Sunday morning I was a lot better , not withstanding Iseult’s new sleep transition and managed a 8.5 mile jog at 7 am before heading down to Mallow to help with their plans for the 10 mile race. As I say I would have preferred a longer effort but it was the best I could manage.

32 miles for the week. Monday 8.5 miles with strides. Tuesday 7.5 miles, Thursday 8miles, Sunday 8.5 miles.

Below a photo receiving stewarding instructions from club chairman Ger Buckley. I actually hadn’t a clue where I was supposed to be going !!!! Thankfully all figured out in the end.

Early morning running

March 20^th

Monday evening. Last week started off pretty slow but ended pretty well. I didn’t run the day after Ballycotton as I was pretty much squeezed for time when I got in the door, It was evident the rest of the week was going to be the same so I decided to try a few early morning runs instead. I have run a few 5.50 am runs in the past but they could be a more regular feature in the future. The Tuesday morning was a case in point. I was up at 5.35 am and was out the front door by 5.55 am.I planned to run a hour, anymore and I would have been cutting it tight for work. I didn’t use the garmin (takes too long to get a signal) but ran using a stopwatch. I ran deliberately conservatively as the legs and head were pretty foggy and rather than risk something silly, slow and steady was order of the day. The pace was roughly 8.30 pace with maybe 7.3 miles covered. Then it was straight into the shower, change of clothes and a be line out the door and into the car. I had the car parked by 8.15 am with the 15 minute walk to work on Wellington Road, a bowl of porridge in work and into class by 8.40.  Essentially I don’t have a minute to spare in the morning but the rest of the day went fine. I was home by 5pm that evening giving me plenty of time to get dinner ready, lunch made and what ever was required to help out Aoiffe and Iseult.  As I don’t get to bed until 12 pm most nights any lost sleep is made up on the couch form 8pm to 12 pm that evening. Iseult is in bed at that stage and I forfeit television rights to Aoiffe.

As I said it will take a while to get used to it but the benefits outweigh the negatives. I was back out for a A.M run again on Thursday morning and I was happy with the effort this time. I ran 4 miles slow with another 4 miles at a reasonably faster pace (around 7.50 pace). I really would like the pace of these longer aerobic runs to come down without me having to force it. For me it’s a ideal way of measuring my fitness as hopefully it will be the pace I hope to run a marathon at.  Saturday morning was a later 10 am run running 8 miles with a 5 mile tempo insert of 7.20 pace. It wasn’t a especially fast tempo but a solid run nevertheless. The wind was strong in parts and it gave my legs food for thought. Sunday morning was a solid 13 mile run, my longest long run in quite a while. The pace was 8.30 but the last mile was tough going. Getting there though….

This morning consisted of another 5.50 am run. I probably ran longer than I should have – 8.5 miles at 8.15 pace with 6 or 7  X 45 second strides. However getting into work was matter of being very efficient with my time but again I was happy with how the day went. As much as I am enjoying these early morning runs I am careful at the moment to use them sparingly. If I can get out running 4 times a week by May covering around 40 miles a week then I am doing ok. That’s plenty for the moment. After that I need to work on the pace.

Mileage to end of 19^th May – 36 miles. Tuesday 7.3 miles, Thursday 8 miles, Saturday 8 miles with 5 mile tempo, Sunday 13.1 miles.

20^th May 8.5 miles with 7 X 45 second strides.

Ballycotton 10 2017

Week ending 12^th March

If it’s the second Sunday of March then it means the Ballycotton 10 is the race to do so. I entered this last year right in the middle of recovery with the broken arm and damaged ankle and during tough times when Iseult’s reflux was causing her a lot of pain and us a lot of distress. The plan back then was to hopefully get back running and run under 75 minutes. I’m not sure if I will ever see PB’s that often these days. In fact they are very rare these days so I look for other motivation when running. The week leading up to the race was very hectic on a home and work front and in the greater scheme of things running is a very poor third behind family and work. I had Iseult for the usual night feeds Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and she was as good as gold but it does make proper rest difficult. We had a very good day Saturday as Aoiffe was at a course so I was doing the home alone with baby thing and as I pushed the buggy around town it appeared the weather looked promising for the race the next day. My Mum kindly agreed to mind Iseult on the day of the race but it was a panic driving Iseult and all her paraphernalia up so early in the morning and getting things straight before I headed down to East Cork. All part and parcel of parenthood.

I met my good friend Aidan in Ballycotton and saluted a few familiar faces. For the first two miles the legs felt very dead but I was running at around 7.05 pace. That effort was proving too much so I dialled it back and tried to run a comfortable but strong pace. I was doing ok enough hitting mile 5 in 36 minutes but a way off sub 7 minute pace. Mile 6 was solid too and I hit the 10k in the same time I ran Adare 10k two weeks ago. By mile 8 things were proving a bit more difficult and the arse was falling out of things a bit. I reckoned I was barely hitting 7.30 pace at this stage and when I hit the hill at  mile 8.5 it was real slog running at that stage. It was heartening to see John, Shane and Ray with the Mallow Ac banner giving good support. The last 1000 metres is in some ways the toughest part of the race as the end never appears in sight. It’s made all the harder as you are going through the village up the hill and never actually see what’s around the corner. Anyway I got there in the end putting in a little kick to finish in 1.12.47.

While not a great time I would have gladly taken it last November, hell I would have taken it on the way down. I think I finished 729 out of 2300 and around halfway out of Mallow AC runners. It is what is but glad nevertheless to be walking to the car with my souvenir mug in my hand. Not bad so I suppose.

Week miles 32 miles. Monday 7.5 miles at 8.20, Wednesday 7.5 miles with 6 X 800 at 3.15 -3.20, Thursday 5.5 miles at 6 am, Saturday 2 mile walk and Sunday Ballycotton 10 at 7.16 pace.