Peak Summer

 I nearly forgot I had a blog. No desire to talk about running the last 6 months as not a lot happened. Anyways today is the 1st of August as ever the Dublin marathon is the key race to face into into 12 weeks time. If I get to the start line it will be my 3rd DCM in a row and my 7th overall. First one was 2010, then 2011, 2012, 2017, (virtual 2020), 2022 and 2023. 

So where do I stand?

51 years old in September. 18 official marathons completed plus a couple unofficial efforts. I want to get to 20 marathons preferably this year. I dropped out of Donadea 50k in 2022 (Covid) and Clonakilty 2023 (injured ankle) and my failure to make the start line in Manchester 2018, DCM 2018, DCM 2020 and Connemara 2019 still bothers me.

My resting heart rate was at it's lowest in 2017 (under 40) . These days its around 52.  My ability to do high mileage has declined (from a peak of 70 miles to now 35miles).  I am a lot more heavier and lacking  the mental and physical sharpness of the past. All I can do is work with what I have..

So .... here's the plan. Get to the start line of DCM having completed at least 2 x 20 milers. Maybe peak at 45 miles in terms of training, ideally a few times. Race a couple of half marathons. Maybe a few runs in the hillier parts of Cork city. Maybe a few speed sessions and a midweek long run.

Ideally the last couple of weeks of training would look like this:

Monday Recovery (3mls), Tuesday (7 miles with 5mile tempo), Wednesday (10 miles hilly), Thursday 5- 7 miles easy paced, Friday Rest, Saturday 20- 22 miles 

Then in the actual marathon itself - finish and get under 4hrs 10 mins. Dreamtime sub 4 hours.

Currently I'm around 92 kgs. Ran 3 miles Monday, 6 miles Tuesday, 6 miles Wednesday hilly, Thursday 3.2 mile walk.

We will see how it goes. If it doesn't happen time to draw a line under it.

Spring springs to mind

 First post of the New Year. Setting my targets for the year. My number 1 target is to stay healthy and well. That isn't just about running it's far more involved than that but the running helps. From a physical point of view I have targeted getting the weight down. It has always been a constant battle, more so as one hits the 50 years mark and also I am not capable of hitting the 60 - 70 miles a week of yore. I know even in the midst of peak marathon training I am at most ever going to hit 45 -48 miles a week so obviously I now need to pay attention to different aspects of a successful regime. 

So far going ok. 94kgs on the 1st January. For 26/31 days I ran a minimum of 3 miles a day and up to a maximum of 10 miles on Sunday. Other days I walked 3 to 4 miles making it part of my recovery run programme. This month as expected I haven't been as consistent but the mindset is still strong. The only fly in the ointment is a virus and cold I picked up over the last few days but I am ok now. 

I threw myself on the scales on 10th February and clocked in at 89.5 kg. Still on the heavy side for successful or satisfactory running but a good loss nevertheless. I still haven't looked at the vitamin side of things and the strength training but I will be looking into it now. I do get dogged down by colds and flus on a regular basis.

In terms of running I am adopting a gradual approach. The big target is of course the Dublin marathon in October (get to the start line fitter and stronger than previous years, bag a sub 4 marathon). That's about 36 weeks away so I hope to reach some intermediate targets between now and Easter (stage 1), Easter and June weekend (stage 2). Marathon training between June and August (stage 3) with the serious training kicking in as ever in September and October (stage 4). After that I hope to enter a few short and medium distance races resting up over Christmas.

At least that's the plan it could all go pear shaped too. That happens to the best of us. At least the ankle and groin have been behaving itself.

It has been 14 years since I ran my first race the Ballycotton 10. 2010 - 2017 I ran some very personally satisfying races. While I never stopped running the years 2018 and 2019 saw me declining rapidly. 2020 -2023 saw a comeback of sorts but with 2 big disappointments (DNF at Donadea and Clonakilty) and a general acceptance that my speed and endurance has slipped. Maybe 2024 might see a upturn in a more positive way.

Last Sunday I jogged happily around Dungarvan coming in a 1hr23mins. That's a start.