It's been a while since a post. I'm full of food and dessert so this will be a scrappy post. Training wise I hit 42 miles a while back but have struggled to get anyway near that since.
I'm probably averaging 25 - 30 miles a week and just doing enough to get sketchy long runs in.
I did 10 miles last Saturday, 19 miles long the week before that, 11 miles long before that and I think 17 miles long before that. I generally tried to follow that up with a 6 - 7 mile jog the next day and maybe a another run or too on Wednesday or Thursday.
Some weeks going better than others but the sore ankle is a issue.
I had planned to do the big long run on the Christmas Eve but I was cream crackered. It is hard to account for it but I suspect being on the Charleville - Cork road no stop since the previous Thursday week might have been a reason. I was disappointed but rest was probably the best thing for it.
Saturday (Xmas day) I ran 5 miles with another 5 miles on Sunday. By the time I finished the second 5 miler I was feeling more up for the long run.
I set off Monday (27th December) at 8.30 am. I had the water bottles put out at various stages and these were a great help. It meant there was no messing round by going into shops and it also gave me a target going around tougher sections of the course.
I bonked at mile 19 the last time out, at the spot coming up from Ballyhea just past the Show Field. This time I was ready for it. Once I got past that It was reasonably plain sailing.
The funny thing is my legs stopped feeling sore past mile 20 and I was happy to keep going.
I put it down to the turkey and ham I was eating since Saturday!!!!
I finished with 23 miles in total at 8.58 average pace staying on my feet for 3hrs 25minutes. I could have kept going for another 2 miles but I had run out of road at this stage and didn't fancy another 2 miles in the opposite direction towards town.
In terms of Donadea the long run was a good run but it's still 8 miles short of the race distance. The splits were generally even but I was down to just under 10 minute pace at the end.
I was chuffed with the run and while the recovery was initally uncomfortable I was ok after 30 minutes. A bit stiff legged but ok.
How I was going to react to this run will be interesting but I was very happy. I ran 7 miles the next day. The legs were certainly feeling it as i ran at 9.20 pace but I was under little pressure and had time on my side. I could have done another 3 miles. Maybe some other time. The legs however proceeded to stiffen up during the day.
We will see how it goes..
