Week ending
9th July
I have just
watched the Cork hurlers pull off the most unlikely Munster Championship win in
many a long year. The campaign will only get tougher from here on in now. Similarly
with 11 weeks to the Berlin marathon I find myself with a lot of work to do if
I want to get a PB. I know fully well I’m probably not actually improving a
whole lot these days and haven’t really being improving a whole yet in the 4
years. At best I am running races looking for different motivations each time.
Today the
Cahir half marathon was one of those situations. I was looking for a solid
marathon pace type effort or a extended slower paced tempo run. This was in
light of a poor half marathon in Waterford.I was running very well within
myself for the first 11 miles all at 7.30 pace but started to struggle badly
after that having to slow down to a walk on a number of occasions. Whether it
was the heat (it was very warm), the elevation or just poor form on my part or
a combination of all 3 I don’t know. Maybe my “marathon pace” is in reality my true
half marathon pace but only 5 weeks ago I was well able to push a better time
in Cork. Thankfully the niggly ankle seems to be better.
I think the
down turn is probably down to me not getting a few basics sorted – sleep, diet,
consistency, speedwork.
Some are probably easier to fix that others but they
have all become issues in the last 5 weeks. Not getting enough sleep will have
a big impact on all the others and I am trying to remedy that within the limits
of being a S.A.H.D (Stay at home Dad). In the old days being a teacher and
being off for the summer meant sleep was never a issue. Diet is also within my
own compass, I am consuming way too many sweets and sugars. I was working out I
must be eating 2-3 chocolate bars a week plus 2- 3 cakes and one packet of biscuits
a week not to mention 3 bags of crisps and 3 ice creams. I don’t smoke and I
don’t drink but the sweets thing has to change.
Consistency is a bit harder, trying to get out
for a run at the same time 5 days a week is more dependent on people being able
to juggle their own incredibly busy lifestyle as well around me and that isn’t
fair on Aoiffe.
I had hoped
to be able to make Mallow speed sessions at least once a week but that has proved
impossible and given the new start times of training that will make things
worse. I can still make the Sunday long runs but everything else during the
week will be a solo affair. That’s why more than anything I never have really
made much progress in the last 3 years in terms of times, the inability to make
club sessions. My attendance from April to May was reasonably good and was
reflected in a number of promising runs.
All is not
lost, not by a long shot – I have the power to turn it around.
Tuesday – 8.5
miles at 7.34 pace, Wednesday – 3 mile pram jog/walk, Thursday 8.5 miles in
Cork at 7.50 pace, Saturday 5 miles at 8.16 pace, Sunday Cahir half marathon
plus 1 mile warmup at 7.34 and 8.16 pace each. 39 miles or so
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