end of year post

 New Years Eve. According to Strava I logged over 1200 miles. Mostly all running but some walking in there too. The last 4 weeks have seen no running occur as my ankle finally gave up during the Clonakilty Marathon at the end of November. I don't like writing too much about it but the bottom line is that I pulled out at 19 miles or 18.5 miles. I'm not actually sure as the garmin had died and there was no mile markers anywhere on the route. It was impossible to put any weight on it and I was reduced to walking with a limp. The problem dates back to a old fall in 2016 but I had rolled it a couple of times in September. After most long runs when I was training for DCM it was very uncomfortable and I would be walking for a limp for the day afterwards. At mile 20 in DCM it proved to be a issue but it become a real problem during Clon hence the DNF (my third since 2020 ). I couldn't have walked or jogged the last 7 - 8 miles in a way I used to be able do before  Very disappointing and bitterly so. 

I went to physio a week later and he diagnosed a ankle sprain and issue with the Achilles and calf muscle. In layman's terms it's knackered from over use. I have been doing my prescribed exercises reasonably regularly.

I have done 7 days of walking and running these last week but beyond that the enthusiasm or interest in running isn't great. I am enjoying the Christmas break and like in 2013, 2018 and 2019 the running thing is not doing a lot for me. I am sure that will change but best not to force it.Eating wise I am doing all the bad things very well. On the scales yesterday I was 94.1 kg, around 2kg heavier than this time last year. For DCM I was 87kg.

I have entered DCM 2024 so that will be in the back of my head. In terms of 2023 I did complete one marathon and a few half marathons plus 3 ten mile races and 3 four mile races but injuries and illness had proved disruptive. I'll play the waiting game and let the mind and body recover in it's own time.

Dublin Marathon 2023 - 4hrs15mins-12 months is a bloody long time away...

 When I got back into Charleville last night after the marathon I was delighted to see Aoiffe and Iseult. Fire on, dinner on the table, cup of tea and a bun afterwards and of course a big hug from Iseult. I settled into my arm chair spending the night on my phone texting my buddy Aidan, receiving some nice congratulatory texts from family, friends and work colleagues. It was when I saw how other runners (known to me) got on that's when the disappointment kicked in.The next morning after a somewhat expected unsettled sleep (always the case after a marathon) the first thought was ...I left it behind me and 12 months is a bloody long time away.

I had 3 goals going into this one 1) Get to the start line 2) Get to the finish line 3) Get a good dinner in afterwards. I achieved all 3 (Junction 17 is a great spot for a dinner) but I also had a time goal in mind, get under 4 hours or at the very worst get a improvement on last year's 4hrs16mins.

At least I got that if only by a minute. The split up to mile 18 were very solid. I was maintaining a 9 minute per mile average allowing for the fact that the garmin and the miles on the course were out of sync by 15 - 20 seconds. I was determined to get to 20 miles and I was dong ok in that regard but I was feeling the strain at that point. Coming into Dundrum I broke on the hill and walked to mile 20. Even though I have run the DCM 6 times I never actually noticed that there was a hill there before or at least never took much notice of it. For me that was a sure sign I was finding this running lark a lot harder than before (and a note to my training in the future). 3 hours on the clock

The heavens opened up at this point for the third time and it cascaded down. I pretty much walked from mile 20 to mile 22 and at one stage I was not feeling all that well-a bit faint actually. I was gasping for water but there was no stations nearby and I simply picked a half empty bottle off the ground and drank that. I did the same at mile 21.

When I got to Roebuck Road (heartbreak hill) the rain became a torrential downpour and the spirits sank to a low. 3hrs 27 minutes up on the clock and it looked as if I was going to be out on the course for well over 4.5 hours. I jogged gently up the hill and down the other side and to my surprise I kept jogging after that.. While the pace was a 10min - 10mn20sec shuffle pace it was still better than walking.

On I trundled to mile 23, mile 24 and mile 25. The chest was getting very sore and the ankle was screaming at me to stop and walk. I did that for a minute or so and then jogged onto the last 800 metres on Mount Street. To be fair the crowds were great and jogging besides other runners all of us trying to get to the finish line was a amazing feeling. We might have been the slow bunch but we were all in it together doing our own thing. I crossed the line in 4hr15mins04seconds. I was absolutely shattered.

I could hardly make it to the funnel to get my medal and T shirt. The walk to collect the dropoff bag was even more exhausting. I must have been in a bad way as a medic asked if I needed assistance but I waved him away and met up with my buddy Aidan. He did well coming in at 3hr49mins but was probably unlucky not to come in under 3hrs45mins.

A note to the organizers in future - the crush on the way out needs to be avoided. It was hairy enough at times.

As usual it was great chatting to Aidan, his wife Emer and the rest of his family. Then it was time for a big feed in Junction 17 and the drive back to Cork from Portarlington. 

In the week since I have spent a lot of time sleeping and resting. I have run a lot of good marathons, bad marathons and a few ultras but I was seriously shattered after this one. The ankle is less sore now but I am sleeping a lot more than I expected.

In terms of what I am going to do in the future and what to improve on ...that's for another day.

Joe Jogger Joe Blogger

 Last week of the taper in front of me. Race day is next Sunday 29th October. Training has gone ok enough but load of areas for improvement, improvements I may never take on board.

1) I had hoped to get 3 x 20 mile runs completed. In the end I settled for 2 x 22 mls

2) I had hoped to get a good few long runs completed in Cork. In the end a 18 miler with Aidan on the 2nd of September.

3) I had notions of doing speedwork once a week mile repeats and tempos. Never really happened.

4) I had hoped to get 50 miles up on the legs in September. The most was 43 miles.

5) I had hoped to get under 1hr40mins in the Charleville half. In the end I settled for a 1hr52mins.

6) I had hoped to drop the weight to under 85kg but it has remained at 87kg.

7) Rejoin a running club. Never happened.

I have  run as well as I could under the present circumstances. Weekend long runs have always occurred. I l also have generally got 3- 4 times a week. HR has also remained steady. I am a lot more comfortable getting a baseline training of 30 miles a week up on my legs. Injury wise not too bad but the ankle is still niggly. The gammy hammy/quad thing is still there on faster runs.

One week to go. Lets enjoy this one.

the last week to make a good impression

 The last week of the training cycle before the taper kicks in.....time to squeeze in that mileage....I did ok enough but not as good as last year....3 miles recovery Monday morning. I had no work that day so that was great. Spent the rest of the day cleaning, hoovering, moping and powerwashing. Tuesday was a work from home in service but it gave me a hour off to pop out for a run. Good run too 7 miles at 7.57 pace.

Wednesday was a opportunity to run up in Mayfield after work (another half day) on the old hilly route. I covered around 7 miles at 8.25 pace but it felt, well, cleansing.

Thursday no chance of a run in work and I had so much to do when I come home the whole workout slipped away.  I had run 4 days in a row and was glad to get the rest. Friday I opted for a easy 3 miler to loosen the legs.(another half day)

Saturday - the day of 3 big things - Iseult's 7th birthday party, Ire V Scotland in the Rugby World Cup and lastly and most importantly a 22 mile run in Charleville. 

The run was hanging over me all week and their was moments at mile 7 and 13 mile I was feeling the strain.  However on a positive note I did plough through. By mile 20 I was on the last legs but battled through for the last 2 miles. The same boring route but solid overall pace 8.58 to 9min pace and good HR 145. Delighted to have got it done. My second 22 mile run of the cycle. Not sure where I stand for Dublin Ithough. 42 miles for the week. Birthday party was great as was the match.

My buddy Aidan ran 23 miles. His 4th 20 plus run of his cycle. Two will do me. It will have to.

On the road (hopefully) with Iron Man

 A good running week to cap off a pretty brutal working week. Least said about the working week issue but dealing with pillocks of different types had affected the long run the week before on the Sunday. I had hoped to get a 20 mile in but the work related stressors had taken its toll as I couldn't tune correctly into the effort. I tried one visualization and concentration aid after another but no luck. The legs or the mind gave in after 17 miles and I simply walked home the last 3 miles. 

I resolved this week to focus completely on the running and to not allow intrusive thoughts into the head. This did the trick and I ran 7 miles on Tuesday,Wednesday and 7.4 on Thursday. In work we had a sports day on the Friday and I didn't do any more rigorous than the egg and spoon race. I excused myself a hour early as the tummy wasn't feeling great and I feared the worse that night. HR was elevated too around 90 beats instead of the usual 70 beats. Queasy.

Nevertheless on the Saturday morning I felt and went on my run. It was the usual route but despite one enforced pit stop in the railway road I was feeling very relaxed. Again I substituted negative thoughts for a positive one (and for some weird reason kept singing Iron Man in my head). My pace was very solid and  after 20 miles I kept chugging away for another 2 miles. The garmin died at 16.2 miles but I knew the route well enough to pretty much guess the distance left. It was my best long run since the 18 miler I did with Aidan on the 2nd of September. The 13.1 race in Charleville on the 10th September was solid affected by the high humidity.

The rest of the day was great. 22 miles in the bag, 43 for the week, up to my Mum's for a social chat, nice dinner in the evening and wins by Everton in the football and Ireland in the rugby.

I was proud to wear my running top given to me by 6th years last May. It's good to remember the positive stuff - that's what matters.

35 days to the Dublin City marathon. 

Post holiday

 It was fair hot in Las Palmas Gran Canaria. I managed to get 14 miles in on the Monday before we left but plans too do a bit of running over there just didn't happen. Too hot (35 degrees), too hilly (the apartment was outside the main centre on a series of hills) and I was enjoying my holiday too much (beers and good food every night). By the end of the week I gathered enough gumption to do a 4 mile run Sunday and the Monday. The hills , the heat and the food made movement rather slow but I got the job done. Wednesday back in blighty I managed 5.5 miles, Thursday 5 miles and Friday 5 miles in Dublin. On Sunday I ran 16 miles in the usual Charleville route but the tank was empty at mile 10. Nevertheless I was happy in that I kept tipping away and didn't fall too far over the 9 minute pace. Total run was complete in 2hrs23mins. Around 8.53 pace. That night I popped up to Cork to see Peter Hook and his band play. A good set it was too around 29 songs. Standing 3 hours for that. 35 miles for the week.

Monday 21st very easy recovery walk jog. Around 3 miles at 12 minute pace. Tuesday 5.2 miles at 9.05 pace on Treadmill. Hopefully a few more runs at the end of the week. Back to work on Thursday.

August note. The flu before we fly.

 My last post was all very triumphal and then as is the way of these things ...... bang!!!! Well more of a sound of a squeaky balloon with the air being slowly driven out of it. A kind of a farty , squeaky sound.

I had a 3 mile recovery jog on Monday last fully intending to rack up a good mileage week up to the Sunday.

Anyway it never happened. I felt quite ill on the Tuesday morning, the kind of feeling where your body feels it skin wants to peel away from it bones and your head is undergoing some sort of trepanning process. Essentially a type of flu virus. I get this every year and have done for years. Feels like a type of flu - achey bones, sweats, nausea and all that. It usually coincides when I start upping the intensity of mileage for marathon training. It was never a issue when I was only up to 35 miles as that was quite easy in the past but not so the last 5 years . For example when I got food poisoning in Malaga in 2015 I was still able to knock out 45 mile weeks despite being ill for 3 weeks after it. (It's amazing when you never realize in the moment how fit you once were)

Anyway nothing for it but keep to the bed and to the back of the living room when the family are around. 

It meant no running this week so that was another hopeful training week gone to pieces.

Sunday I felt a bit better and ran a easy slow 5 miles at 10 minute pace (HR 127). The rest of the day I was still feeling crappy but at dinner time I had a massive craving for salad, peppers, steak and beetroot!!! It seemed to do the trick and I slept well. The tummy was a lot healthy the bank holiday Monday too.

I decided to head out for a slow 1 hour jog but my mile 4 I was feeling a lot better and kept going until mile 14 and 2hrs05mins later. (HR 152 - high) Had I brought a gel or two I might have kept going up to 16 miles but i was still mindful that I was a wee bit virus ridden. The HR was high enough. Even at 14 miles I am still in a solid position with 12 weeks to DCM.

The rest of the day I felt fine packing for the holiday abroad our first in 8 years. I obviously will be bringing the running stuff but now that I got some sort of log run done the mindset is more optimistic with a few to the next 4 weeks.

Running week

 Monday 31st July 3 miles recovery

Tuesday 6th August 5 miles at 9.53 minute pace . HR 127

 Monday 7th August 14 miles at 8.56 pace. 2hrs05mins. HR 151

Summer update

 I better write something I guess. Running going well enough. I ran that Cork City half marathon and despite the gammy hammy I ambled around reasonably comfortably. I think it was under 1hr54mins. I say comfortably as compared to other runners in particular doing those doing the full I had a easy time of it. It was the hottest day of the year and runners suffered badly. The whole set up was far from ideal and the organizers didn't cover themselves in glory. I had resolved not to take part again but 8 weeks later in the middle of a another training cycle I'm sure that (like the current wet weather) might change.

After that I stuck to the physio plan for the next 6 weeks and the quad/hip/hammy or what ever it was began to slowly improve. I was very happy with my approach to the recovery process but as is the way with these things I have begun to move away from it. I suppose boredom with it plays a part.I should do better there.

Anyway I started training for the Dublin marathon a few days after the Cork half and it was a case of slowly and surely. 8 weeks in I haven't done everything perfect but for most of it I'm  doing ok enough. The goal is to get the start line fit and healthy with the training done as well as possible (in particular the long runs). In terms of frequency I am hoping to get 5 runs in a week (only getting 4 in at the moment). In terms of pace I am hoping to keep the pace easy and HR no higher than 140 (not doing badly on that score) and speed work solid (I could do with a bit more there). Mileage wise I am only hitting 30 miles now (that's ok no rush ) and long runs are up to 16 miles (I'm happy with that). I could do with running long runs in a variety of settings (currently all Charleville). The weight has stayed the same since June (87.5kgs) but I would hope to get down to under 85kgs by October weekend. It might creep up a bit over next few weeks.

My score card would read 7/10.

When I do get to the startline I would hope a sub 4 marathon wouldn't be beyond me ( maybe 3hr52mins). 

The week ended 30th June read as follows

Monday 16 miles (8.40 pace HR 150)

Tuesday rest

Wednesday 3 miles (recovery pace 10.22, Hr122)

Thursday No run . Just too tired and lacking motivation

Friday 6 miles ( tried to run 5 miles at 7.40 but came unstuck and stopped after first 3 miles at 7.45 average and jogged home). 

Saturday no run. Cutting the lawn for nearly 2.5 hours and sending the last of the emails to my A.E for the state exams

Sunday 10 miles. ( Woke up after 3 miles did 10 miles in total. Notional marathon pace run at 8.10 pace, HR 154. Soaked through but good effort. The MP pace is probably a more relastic HMP in real terms)

Total mileage for the week 35 miles

I have one more big week next week before our holidays abroad (first in 8 years)

Gammy hammy

 Ah yes.... the gammy leg....I went to the physio last week..he diagnosed a pull in the quad muscle..... Took the week off running. Tried a 4 miler on Saturday, did that very slowly. Tried a 7 miler the Sunday after that. Again very slowly. Got around. Foam rolled and stretched and iced and all that jazz afterwards. Seemed ok enough but it does sting first thing in the morning and in the evening. Rested Monday. Another 6 miles Tuesday this week and no other running for the week. That's partly down to the heat during the day and too busy in the morning to get out. Anyway I'm pretty much where I was last year - plus ca change- apprehensive and allergic. I'll turn up Sunday and take it from there. 

No Mow May

 Due a update....as I write I had planned to pop out for a 14 mile run but the quad and/or thigh area has giving me gip since Thursday.  I tried but after a mile had to head back, started to tighten up completely. It was rock hard, a problem I have had over the years. Usually caused by over use or lack of foam rolling/ stretching, both issues I probably can hold my hands up too. I was running well this last few weeks, targeting the Cork half marathon on the June weekend. 

This week was a 3.5 mile jog to collect Iseult from afterschool and a jog back. Herself wasn't too impressed being in the walking company of "sweaty Daddy". Too warm and too fine a evening to be using the treadmill. I think the problem started on the Wednesday . I did a fair bit of walking in Cork on the morning walking to and form the car (2 miles) and then with the pupils to Fitzgerald park museum (3 miles). Later that evening I ran 8 miles at half marathon pace (7.45 average) and I probably felt a slight twinge that evening going up the stairs. 

Thursday I ran the hilly 7 miler during my lunch break - Wellington Road to Mayfield to North Ring Road back to work - 8.35 pace. Low heart rate (139)  very relaxed. Friday evening was the 4 mile race in Buttevant. I did this in October 2021 , training for the Donadea 50k. I ran 30.18 that day a slow time. This time I was way down the back and it cost me a bit of time. I finished in 28.54 a bit off a sub 28 minutes but a decent enough personal effort nevertheless. The leg was sore going into it and was twingey for the first 1.5 miles but during the race felt ok. The cooldown felt difficult. By Saturday I was limping a bit watching the small one take part in a camoige blitz.

We will see how it goes. I should be able to manage it ok but have to be careful not to do something more harmful.

The 2 previous weeks before that were good too - 37 miles last week and 32  miles the week before. It consisted of 14 mile long runs each Sunday. Speed sessions were 4 x 1 miles (7.10 average inc one 6.57 mile) and a 4 mile race in Galbally last Friday (28.40). In between a number of 7 mile runs around town here and hillier efforts in Mayfield.

See below photo of Buttevant 4 mile race. Never pretty...!!! (The same guy caught me at the finish in Newtown 4 miler too)

the space in your head , the head in your space

 I ran the 10 miler in Patrickswell. I had figured it would be very hilly and so it proved. I hung in with the 80 minute pacers until mile 5 and was left behind after that. Hills, hills and more hills. I haven't done any hill work of any worth this year and so it worked against me for the latter 5 miles. I had a few walking spells there at times but I wasn't upset and finished reasonably strongly at mile 9 and mile 10 to get in under 85 minutes. I was all in all happy enough. It is a tough course and it was a warm day so delighted to have got it done. As a race I liked it and will probably come back next year.  It isn't a PB course and is very different to Mallow or Dungarvan but that's no bad thing either. It was very well organised and well run. Anyway it meant 36 miles for the week. Not too shabby with a nice speed session on the Tuesday and a few easier paced runs the rest of the week.

I took Monday off running, back in work after a two week break so that kept me busy. I was also busy with helping Mum and Dad out with a few things out and getting ready for my first coaching session with the under 8 camoige group. I don't think Iseult was too keen on me being there!!!!

Tuesday I fitted in a 4.5 jog collecting Iseult from after school and completed the other 1.5 miles on the treadmill. A interesting way to run but it worked out well. Wednesday I ran a more orthodox 6 miles around the Cooleen route. Again I took it very handy mindful of the 4 mile race in Newtown the Thursday evening.

It was first time in a few years I had ran a evening race in maybe even 6 years but I was looking forward to it. I knew the course was flat and downhill but I had hoped for a solid 29 minute finish. I did a mile warm up, some stretches, another half a mile more stretches with a few running drills. It was a old routine I used to use and it always helped me relax and stay nimble. The race went well and I was close to a sub 28 minute time finishing in 28mins13seconds. I was delighted with the effort but as I said it was a downhill and flat course. Nevertheless a encouraging outcome. Getting there by degrees.

Saturday a 3 mile recovery jog - HR at 130 and good 12 mile jog along the usual route. I left the latter run until 12 mid day and it suited me better. I was comfortable until mile 11 but I found the 12th mile difficult. Overall time on feet 1hr45mins, average pace 8.37 per mile, HR 155 (a bit high). Then it was a free dinner and dessert in my wife's brother house. Happy days.

A busy week outside of running but I dealt with it well. That allowed me to get my head into my running space. 33 miles for the week. 

Hopefully a few more short races coming up and the Cork half marathon next month.

Easter Egg

 To be fair I haven't had a Easter Egg yet so I am being very virtuous. I took a break from the running last Saturday as I wanted to be fresh for a family 70th in Killarney. The Friday the day before I ran a 5 mile meaning it was my 8th running day in a row, another 7 day plus 1 running streak . The 70th went well , big dinner , no dessert and no beer. The Sunday morning I went for a lovely 7 day run in Killarney National Park. There was hardly a soul around at 740am in the morning just the sound of the stags and deers doing their early morning thing. I should have probably done another 3 miles but I wasn't  sure of the breakfast arrangements and got back before 9 am. (31 miles for the week)

I was facing into another handy week off so it was 6 miles on Monday and a session on Tuesday - tough it was too (8 x 800 metre repeats on the railway run with 1 warm up and 1 mile cooldown). The pace was roughly 6.54 per mile, a bit off the 6.40 I did a few years ago but i was happy with my effort. Wednesday I settled for a 4 mile easy jog on the treadmill and a another nice low HR 6 mile on Thursday (8.11 pace, 145 HR). Friday just for the craic I ran a 4 mile in the morning at a 8.45 pace.

The  6 day streak ended the next day. I had to go to a coaching course in Kilworth on the Saturday and truth be known I was quite tired. I am running a 10 mile in Patrickswell Limerick on Sunday. If complete that will take me up to 36 miles for the week.

Then it's back to work on Monday. That will effect the running for a few days.

Easter catch up - Mallow 10 done and 2 x 7 days running

 Anyway being the lucky guy I am I am currently off for 2 weeks holidays.  I always enjoy the Easter Break but it is funny how the same habits reassert themselves. 

For example

1) I am going to do loads of DIY  around the house but in reality I never get past a bit of grass cutting, a bit of garage or house clearance and a small bit of painting. To be honest i hate DIY, not my thing. Most blokes are probably the same.

2) I am going to catch up on lots of school work - to stand me in good stead for the rest of the school year. The reality is is that I can't even look at a school book. At best I might do a small bit of correcting.

3) Do lots of running. Get up to 30 miles a week and do a race or a bit of speedwork. Generally that works out well. The core work never really takes off.

The Running

I had a 3 week break  much from running. Chest infection and cough. It affected my plans to train for a 1hr15min run in the Mallow 10 but I was beginning to feel a lot better in the week leading up to it. Without even realizing it I went on a running streak of running straight through from Friday 17th to Thursday 23rd. That's 7 days. The  total mileage wasn't massive , probably no more than 30 miles and it wasn't by design either but it gave me a bit of confidence going into the Mallow 10 on March 26th. The key workout was on the Wednesday before the race running 5 miles at a sub 8 min pace. I had plenty in the tank after it so I was pretty sure the chest infection was not going to hamper me much. While a 75 mins might be asking a bit much I was sure I could get under 78 minutes. A low bar these days but it was where I was at but I was happy.

The race event went very well. I enjoyed myself . I chatted and saluted loads of Mallow Ac members and caught up on the racing gossip. The race itself was good to a point. I ran with the sub 80 minute pacers and pulled away from them at mile 2. I hit the half way in 38.25 and I knew I was a sure bet to get a77 minute time but I was hoping for a bit under that. The splits  from mile 3 to 7  were in the 7.33 range but the pull at mile 7 slowed me down a lot. I was beginning to lose time, running mile 8 in 7.42. By mile 9 I was running on fumes and dropped back a few places. I had nothing left in the tank and was hanging on a bit over the finish line coming in at 1.17.06.

It was a good 80 second improvement on Dungarvan and not bad considering my 3 week layoff. I was shattered coming over the line. The legs were well and truly emptied as evidenced by some heavy coughing and wheezing.  10 years ago I ran the same race in 1.09.55 and wasn't as tired back then. I gave it my all and no complaints but still slightly disappointed on not getting a faster time. HR on the Garmin was maxed out 169. This was about right as I felt momentarily ill at mile 8.5. I was a bit worried for a minute but it passed.

For the rest of the week I did very little. No running until Wednesday with a easy 5 mile. Friday another easy 5 miler, Saturday 5 miles on the treadmill with 11 miles on Sunday at 8.45 pace. On Monday 3rd April (holidays) 3 miles recovery, Tuesday 6 miles with 4 x 1 miles (a good session - 7.20 , 7.11, 7.10, 7.09), Wednesday 6 miles easy, Thursday 6.5 miles easy but with some local hills around town. Friday a 3 mile walk run keeping the Hr under 130.  This time a 8 day streak

back on track... i think...two minds

 After a few on and off weeks it was back to a better routine this week. 3 miles recovery on Tuesday. Hr was low enough 139 with a slow pace 9.20. Wednesday a 4 mile effort at 8.20 pace but HR was in the 150's, not so clever. Day off Thursday - funeral to go to in Ballyheigue. Friday - St Patricks Day - 5 miles a slower pace around 8.55 pace but HR was 146. Saturday I had a bit of get and go to do another 5 miles, no idea of the pace but effort seemed ok enough. Sunday I had it in my head to do 10 miles. I would have liked to do another 4 miles but the chest starting wheezing again at mile 8 so 10 miles was enough. Pace was slow 8.50 but HR was very high 156. 27 miles for the week. 

I could make the Cork city marathon but only if I start upping the long runs over the month of April. 

I am in two minds about that

update - 9th March 2023

 As I feared from my last post I was feeling pretty burned out the Monday after the 12 miler. The headcold came upon me first, then the cough, then the hard sneezing and the flu like feeling a week later.

I only ran 3 miles on the TM on the Tuesday and rested until the Sunday running 10 miles around the town. My mood and humour wasn't good on the week leading up to the 10 miler. I was a bit tetchy and the headcold and sore throat wasn't helping me. Work wise I was stretching myself too thin plus family funeral and a cross country meet with some students in Waterford on the Friday.

The Monday and Tuesday after the 10 mile I was totally immeresed in the cough and chestcold. I had to take the Thursday and Friday off work - the flu thing was making it's presence felt.

Slight recovery this week 3 ml on TM on Tuesday and 5mls outside on the Wednesday but ill again on the Thursday 9th March so I imagine another week lost .

Running and the impact of running.

Monday 3 miles recovery. very slow pace 10 min 30 sec miles - Hr average 116

Tuesday - felt very tired and very cranky. Take a rest.

Wednesday - 5.5 mile jog around town. Medium pce around 8.33 pace. Hr high 153. Hmmmm

Thursday  - 5.3 miles on treadmill. 9 min average pace but started on 10 min pace and worked my way down the pace. felt great afterwards but by the end of the day very tetchy and miserable. Cranky and ill tempered. Resting Hr was in the 70's all day. Normally it's in the low 60's.

Friday - 5 miles with 3 mile tempo at 7.30 pace. Took a lot out of me. Very tired and very bothered all day. A few stomach cramps.

Saturday - rest - no running. Just a pain to be around. a lot of anguish about the ...

....Sunday long run. 12 miles. 8.45 pace. Hr a lot better 149. Last Sunday same run same route same pace - Hr 158.

Nearly 31 miles for the week, delighted to get the miles but obviously my body was getting stressed out. Maybe I was carrying a virus but it was a rough week in terms of how I felt. Outside of running (mid term week off) I did a lo of fun and good stuff but as remarked by Aoiffe it was obvious I was not  in the best of form all the time.

Running - cause or affect?

I felt a lot better this evening. Back to my usual self but very limited running this week coming.

Mind and body needs to catch up.

In a interesting place

 Time for a update...Rare enough these days....I had planned to give Clonakilty marathon a go in December but as is typical with the shoddy organisation associated with that event the main event was cancelled a few days beforehand. My place has been deferred to December 2023 so I guess I'll have to park it for a while. I know it would have been a struggle for me but I had put a good block of training after the Dublin marathon including a good 20 miler in the driving wind and rain. Therefore I was hopeful of getting around at least but as I said it came to nought. 

For the rest of the month I did very little and simply enjoyed my Christmas and tucked into the grub. The weight went up to 92 kg but I was ok with it.

In the New Year I had resolved to get back running with a view to running the Dungarvan 10 and Kinsale 10 in February and Mallow 10 in March. I did have a very sketchy notion of running the Limerick or Cork marathon. I say sketchy because I have already entered the Dublin marathon 2023 and the aforementioned Clonakilty event. The Dublin marathon is the key long distance event for me so I am reluctant to over cook the legs too much by running Limerick or Cork. 

In terms of running in 2022 I had a decent year clocking up two marathons and 4 half marathons. Admittedly dropping out of the Donadea 50k with covid was a disappointment and recovery certainly affected my running for a few months afterwards. Also doing poorly in DCM was also a disappointment but that's a record I hope to put straight in October 2023.   I still think (based on my half marathons) I was well capable of getting a sub 4 but it didn't happen for me (for a variety of reasons) so going forward that's the goal this year - complete a good marathon in Dublin in 2023. A lot of running friends and acquaintances are showing no signs of decline so I don't see why I should either. 

January and early February has gone well. I am generally running 5 days a week - one recovery run (usually on treadmill), one 4/5 mile run on Tuesday, 5 mile speed session on Wednesday, 5 mile medium pace/hill session on Thursday and a long run over the weekend (currently capped at 10 miles).

What got me really excited was my run at the Dungarvan 10. I had expected to get around in 1hr25mins a slow easy plod but I hit a decent solid pace of 1hr18mins19seconds. It was my slower 10 mile time but as things stands I was delighted with my run. I went away from it thinking I could certainly improve on that time and hopefully that will stand me in good stead during the year. 

That's the plan  at the moment- it has put me in a interesting place.