the eternal pessimist

Week ending 9^th April

A genuinely good weeks training up on the legs. Monday morning was the AM run at 6.55. I was short for time this time as I had to head to Mayfield before work to collect two lovely plates of chicken curry for my Mum (spoiled I know). As a result I capped off the running at 7 miles at a good snappy 7.37 pace. Again the effort was easy – I really hope these become a more regular occurrence. Tuesday night I showed my face up at the town park in Mallow for my first midweek session there since July 2015.Pretty hopeless appearance record but it was a very well run session (they always are) but a lot of old familiar faces no longer seem to be going to them. I can’t talk obviously given my poor apperance record but I have treasured memories of training sessions when I first joined the club when runners of all abilities would train and run together. Anyway we covered 6 miles with 5 X 4 minutes in the middle. I was running on grass in to a headwind but the middle speeds were only run at 7.05 to 7.10 pace. The first and last were a lot better 6.53 and 6.46 pace. I enjoyed the session and it was good to be there. Aoiffe, my wife did a great job in cajoling me to go. Hopefully over due course I can start making one or two appearances a week with the club. The standard has really picked up there and the benefits of training with a group are obvious but hopefully (unlike the previous 2 years) I can stick with it (Parent, husband and job responsibilities come first though).

I took a day off Wednesday as I was feeling a bit stale so rather than crash and burn I decided to rest up and focus on a few well needed jobs around work and at home. Thursday morning was another AM run at 6am and this was a workout I was most looking forward to. It was a 2 mile warm up and a 1 mile cooldown with a 5 mile tempo insert. The sunrise came up at around 6.25 just as I was getting into the tempo portion. It was the same old route I always use. The legs felt good and the last two miles were run at 7.05 and 6.57 pace giving me a overall pace of 7.10. I felt energised during the cooldown and was in good form for the rest of the day. Aoiffe headed to yoga that day and I felt no more tired than I would feel had I ran in the evening. As usual with Iseult gone to bed at 7 I took a hour nap on the couch before giving Bubbins her bottle at 11pm and settling down for the night.

No rest for the wicked on Friday morning with a slower AM run at 6 am covering 7.3 miles with a few light strides thrown in. That evening I managed to finish off Iseult’s room and move her cot and bits and pieces into her new room. For the first time in six months our bedroom was our own. Happy days.  Unfortunately I didn’t sleep a wink that night and was sweating a lot confirmed by the fact I had a stuffed nose the next day. The cold was caused by two things – not having a hot shower when coming in from training on Tuesday and also having a cold shower Friday morning (I never turned the hot water on- Doofus).

We were busy Saturday dropping Iseult to Aoiffe’s mum (Granny as distinct from Nana) and then driving to Ballygarvan to collect 300 euro’s worth of flowers in a garden centre. Aoiffe won the prize in a gardening magazine – interview and photo opportunity and the whole lot. Still though the cold wasn’t going away so going for a long run the day after on Sunday morning wasn’t probably the brightest thing. Iseult was up the previous 2 nights with the teeth so there wasn’t much sleep either. I set off at  9am thinking that I felt like crap after a hour I was coming back. What do you know – I ran my best long run in a long time – covering 13 miles in 1.44.30 with the last 7 miles at 7.50 pace. I wasn’t forcing the pace either. It felt very relaxed. I suppose if it were a planned marathon pace run I would hope for something faster but it was enough to be getting on with. The cold lifted too. The rest of the day was good too – Iseult’s bottom teeth cam down and Everton beat Leicester 4.2.

Now I am waiting for it to all go horribly wrong pretty soon.

41 miles for the week. Monday 7 miles, Tuesday 6 miles, Thursday 8 miles, Friday 7.3 miles, Saturday 13 miles.

Nibbins

Week ending 2th April

A poor running week but 3 useful workouts and one abandoned race entry. Very disrupted and disruptive. The 3 workouts I completed were in their own way very good but there wasn’t as much  running this week. Monday I was determined to catch up on some rest given the systems failure of the previous Saturday so no run there. Tuesday I had planned to do a few AM miles but didn’t set the alarm and slept out the 5.40 am call and was lucky to make into work at all. By the time I got out Wednesday the legs were getting cranky not having had any leg movement in a while. I ran 8 miles and what do you know it was the best workout I had a in a while. The first 4 miles were run in 7.45 pace but the next 4 were run at 7.15 pace giving me 8.04 miles for the hour. If I could manage such running while maintaining a relaxed exertion I would be delighted. There was no effort in it at all. This was underlined by the fact when I did get up at 5.40 AM on Thursday I was able to knock a easy paced 11 miles  8.32 pace without any effort. Friday was a non running day as I wasn’t home till 7.15 pm. That’s the norm though.

On Saturday I ran 8 miles (bumping into Ger Vowles at the train station). Again the effort felt easy but the pace was good -7.45. Only 2 months ago I was lucky to manage a 9 minute pace. The big run this week however was the UCC 10k on Sunday. I ran this last year and wanted to improve on last year’s patchy 45mins09seconds. I reckoned I could pull off a sub 44 minutes but I never made it to the start line. I had to turn around by Mallow and go back home. Iseult was in car with me ready to go up to Nana’s in Mayfield for the drop off before she got sick all over the car (both ends) and was obviously not happy about it. I wasn’t too chuffed myself but the poor mite was very upset. Anyway it meant a return trip home with a disgruntled baby and a disgruntled middle aged runner and a non too pleased mother/wife waiting for us. We cleaned Iseult up and she then proceeded to sleep the whole thing off after around 3 hours. She seems ok enough now, no fever and smiling away. These things happen probably caused by getting up a small too early (even though she awoke at 6) and a full breakfast (baby rice and 180 mls of formula milk), teething and a touch of the reflux. A car journey didn’t help.

Anyway lesson learned but a case of the race that got away. I didn’t go out running that evening either keeping a eye on nibbins and allowing my good wife the rest of the time in the garden- a greenfingers if there ever was one. I was annoyed with the whole drama but it was just one of those things. Learning about parenthood on the job.

I stuck to more mundane tasks for the rest of the day like making dinner , changing bins and doing the laundry. Making tea and having some brioche helped too.

Berlin training doesn’t officially start till the end of May but I would like to see a bit more consistency. The general idea is to be able to manage close to 40 miles a week made up of a long run of 2 hours (13-14 miles), 3 X 8 mile runs (with a couple of 5 mile tempos, 7 X 800 metres, marathon paced runs thrown in), one recovery run (4 miles) plus a couple of races (5 miles, 10k, 10 mile, maybe a 13,1 mile). I got there sometimes but this week didn’t quite hit the mark.

Miles for the week 27 miles. Wednesday 8 miles, Thursday 11 miles, Saturday 8 miles

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.

Adare 10k 2017

Sunday 26^th February

Running has been going well in the last week or so in that I am  completing 4 workouts most weeks with a solid speed session, one long run and two more relaxed aerobic runs. That’s probably as much as I will be able to do until the summer and even then I will be only doing 5 workouts a week but that particular cycle is a while aways yet. I ran 7.25 miles (1 hour) at 8.16 pace. I do hope this casual aerobic pace will eventually improve over time but I know it will take a while to ideally drop down to 7.30 pace by the time September comes around. On the plus sides the legs were pretty fresh after the 6 X 800 intervals the day before. Saturday morning I had hoped to get up at 7.40 am in order to join club members for the Doneraile hill session but I was pinned to the bed. I don’t get a chance to make the Sunday long runs either as I am on night feed duty with Iseult from Thursday to Saturday’s . 

Feeds are generally scheduled at 11.30 pm, 5 am and 9.30 am and considering Aoiffe has her all the rest of the week it would be unfair to change the routine for a club run. I miss the club sessions no doubt about it but family first. It may mean that running times will remain mediocre but that’s the way it goes. If I keep the emphasis on running for enjoyment and being less time obsessed that will hopefully prove a more fruitful approach. I ran 40 minutes easy on the Saturday morning (around 4.7 miles) before a busy day up in Cork City.

My good friend Aidan came down from Portarlington to run the Adare 10k with me. I ran this 3 years ago when I was training for a Ballycotton PB and a marathon in Connemara. This year I was hoping for a sub 45 minute time, slower than before  but ideally faster than the pace I ran in Dungarvan. The Adare course is a tough mother of a route with plenty of ups and downs but it’s also a satisfying race to have completed. The weather was pretty bad in the morning but storm Ewen had largely blown out when we started. Up at the sharp end were Micheal Harty and Sean Hehir, the rest of us making up the numbers. My mile splits were good at the start but started to slip as the race progressed. I was overtaken by a large amount of the field by mile 3 including Colm , Pat and Gary from Mallow. It was nice saying hello as they went past. I crossed the line in around 44.47 at around 7.13-7.15 pace with mile 5 passing in 36 minutes (must keep a eye on that). It was a solid average time but I would have liked to run a bit faster than my tempo training runs but again the course is very hilly. Aidan enjoyed himself finishing in around 41.45 – a loose shoelace costing him 30 – 40 seconds. It was a tough but fair race. The ankle was throbbing afterwards so the ice pack was thrown on afterwards.

Mile 1 – 7.04, Mile 2 – 7.07, Mile 3 – 7.11, Mile 4 – 7.21, Mile 5 – 7.10, Mile 6 – 7.08 , 1.45 for the rest.

Iseult and running

Week ending 26^th February

Midterm in school at the moment so a handy time off work. Normally we disappear to London for a break to celebrate a whole range of anniversaries ( our wedding anniversary in 2011, our first meeting in 2001, Aoiffe’s birthday, Valentines). It was one of those trips that last year that begat the process to us having our baby daughter in our life so I guess that’s a sort of anniversary too !!!!!!

Iseult is 20 weeks old and is thriving. I won’t lie the first 11 weeks were pretty horrendous and for a lot of it very difficult.( In fact it was awful and miserable) Not only were we novice parents but Iseult was struggling with reflux. Her little tummy was unable to suppress stomach acid and it was leaving her in a lot of pain and discomfort. Every second feed was vomiting up and some nights were marked by 6-8 hour crying marathons. I think we are over the worst of it and the little mite is getting stronger, has started on solids and is sleeping a lot more. There is still one or two issues she has to deal with and she is on medication to suppress the reflux (LOSEC) but there is no comparison to where we are now and where we once were. Perhaps the lowest point (amongst many) was spending the 30^th November in the A and E in the C.U.M.H (maternity hospital) with Iseult from 6.30 pm to 2.30 am in the morning awaiting a visit from the doctor in paediatrics. I seem to have spent the last 18 months in hospitals for one reason or another and I was getting well sick of it The place was full of sick babies and old people many of them lying on hospital trolleys, sitting on stools or standing up awaiting to be seen. By the time the doctor got to see us she looked at Iseult for 10 minutes and said there was nothing she could do. Off we trudged home again back to Charleville, I won’t deny I got emotional with my faith in the medical system in this country eroded even further. In fact there was many times where the last 20 weeks has been emotional.

So what was that got to do with running? It was in A and E I received my confirmation mail for the Berlin marathon in September 2017. I owe to myself and to Iseult to do my best there. No shortage of motivation there.

Training has gone well enough in the last week. 5 easy miles last Thursday week (16^th February), 8 miles with a 5 mile tempo at 7.16 pace on Friday, 12 miles at 8.20 pace on Saturday, Monday 7 miles at 8.20 pace, Wednesday 7 miles with 6 X 800 repeats at 6.50 average mile pace. Hopefully a few more sessions at the end of the week with a 10k race on Sunday.