Not much to report from the last weeks running, because as the title suggests, I have been wiped out.
It's funny how you can learn to spot the warning signs. While I felt fine and well during the day on both Saturday and Sunday, on both nights I woke in a sweat to such an extent that the bed clothes were soaked through. I knew that my body was obviously trying to fight some sort of an infection, so I upped my intake of vitamin C. Surprisingly, even though I knew I was coming down with something, on Sunday I did a 10k tempo to prepare for the St Patricks day 10k, and was happy with a 38.40, with even a little left at the end I felt.
Monday, I had a small dose of the sniffles, and decided I could 'outrun' this oncoming cold, and did 7 miles at 6.50 pace.
With the new position at work, I have been putting in some pretty long days. Tuesdays are normally speed training with Gary O' Hanlon, and I always really look forward to it. So it might give an indication of how bad I felt on Tuesday evening when I reluctantly decided I couldn't muster the energy to go. From then on it was all down hill (ah how I miss a hill) for the week. I would have benefited from a day or two in bed from Wednesday on, but circumstances dictated otherwise, and while I was capable of functioning well enough to work, I just couldn't pull on the trainers for a run at any stage. Each day I hoped I would feel well enough, but it was not to be. And all this on probably the best week of weather we had had since the start of the year! AHHH!!
I took some small comfort from the theory that a few days off running wouldn't make all that much difference, and I could treat it as a mini taper of sorts, and I was sure I would be ok for Mondays 10k.
On Saturday was the day of the wedding. I felt I was staring to recover, and was much more hopeful for Mondays run. I resolved to 'take it easy' at the wedding and enjoy the overnight hotel stay, get some good rest, and not eat too much cake. Well, just imagine the reverse of the last sentence! Our very generous hosts laid it all on, and while I didn't go too mad with the alcohol, I did have 'one or two' glasses of wine.
Whatever improvements I had made were wiped out by Sunday afternoon, and I knew there was no way I would be able to run the 10k today. Luckily Brian C was able to make use of my number, and he was dispatched with strict instructions on a maximum time allowed under my name ;)
While it's 'only' been a week not running, I feel like it's been much longer, and combined with the lack of miles a few weeks ago, I fear I might have suffered a bit of a setback. I have been reading the blog of Mick Rice, and while my short setback doesn't compare to his trials with injury, I can identify with the frustration he feels not running. While the scales have not shown any weight gain, I feel about half a stone heavier. Jesus, I have just realised, us runners are some moaners when we don't get to run!
Monday, 17 March 2014
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Bullseye
After a good week previous, I wasn't all that comfortable going into Bohermeen. I had checked the weather earlier in the week and the forecast looked good.
On Thursday I did as I was told, 1 mile warmup, 2 mile tempo at 6.30 and 1 mile cooldown. On Friday and saturday myself and Brian C from the club were undertaking our level 1 coaching course at Donore Harriers grounds. They have a lovely track there, and on the Saturday, which was a lovely day, there was plenty of young athletes going through their paces in all manner of events including sprints, javelin and hammer throwing. As trainee coaches we were given instruction on walking ( which is harder than it looks ), javelin, discus, and hurdles, as well as using blocks and how to set them up. It was all very enjoyable and took my mind off not getting out for proper runs.
Sunday came, and one of the things I like about Bohermeen is that it's quite a late start time at 12 noon. The morning was dry but cold, with dark clouds gathering menacingly. we travelled over to catch the start of the 10k which started at 11 and quite a few of our club mates were running it.
As the 10k finished the heavens opened and the rain began. There was debate on the dress code for the race, singlet or tee? Most of us opted for singlet given that we wouldn't be cold for very long, and the wet t-shirt would get heavy. I did practically no warm up before the start, trying to stay as dry as possible for as long as possible. There was as always a very large entry.
At the off I was quite near the front, having squeezed in beside a club mate, and the pace from the lead group was very fast. Although I tried to slow myself and not get carried away, the first mile was 6.15 I set the garmin for 6.27 pace, hoping for a 1.25 target. The first 7 miles were pretty comfortable ad the rain eased off as we went. I settled in with a small group, and in particular with a runner I recognise from Dunleer whom I had seen at quite a few races during the previous summer, and who always kicked my ass to put it bluntly.
We were about 4 runners, and through initial conversation the chap from Dunleer said he was looking for somewhere around 1.25 too, maybe a bit quicker. Splits for first 7 miles 6.14, 6.30, 6.23, 6.21, 6.23, 6.26, 6.30. All pretty even so far.
At 9 miles I felt the effort geting much harder. Our tempo runs in training had only gone as far as 7 miles, and pushing the pace from here was tough. I dropped back a little from the Dunleer runner, and he encouraged me on. I felt that it was he who was pushing on, and I was reluctant to up the pace so I let him go. After 1.5 miles we were back together, and he seemed glad it was so, and again we paced well together, dropping a few guys as we went. 6.26, 6.36, 6.22, 6.25, 6.31.
Into the last stretch, uphill into a breeze. I was fading rapidly, and for the second time I had to let my pacer go on the last mile. I was pushing hard and couldn't even look at the watch for fear of losing a second or two. Mile 13, 6.40. Around the last bend, with about a 100 meters o the finish line the clock came into view. Ah NUTS! Again, garmin was long (will I ever get it right) and the clock read 1.24.48. I ran for all I was worth, which was not much at this point, and crossed the line with 1.25.02 on the clock. I was gutted, and having started so close to the start line was doubtful that the net time would get me the time.
Tea and buns time, changed into dry clothes and the times were up on the wall. There it was, 1.24.59! With only a second to spare, ad echoes of Raheny 5 mile, I had done sub 1.25 and a new PB. I was pretty pleased. My top lesson learned today however, was always bring spare socks!
As is becoming pretty common, almost everyone did a new PB, and our club came 7th out of 25 in the team event, although our top two guys who did fantastic races skewed the results slightly
The legs felt pretty good the next day, and I ventured out for an easy 6 miles. Although the legs felt good, the effort for the associated pace was definitely hard. I did another mile or two training the kids on Monday night. Speedwork with Gary on Tuesday, and he mandated an easy enough recovery session. I was glad to hear that he is recommending a step back and recovery period before upping the training effort for the next target race. My next will be a local charity 10k on St Patricks day, but given that i have a good old Irish wedding to attend that weekend, it really will be just a fun run.
On Thursday I did as I was told, 1 mile warmup, 2 mile tempo at 6.30 and 1 mile cooldown. On Friday and saturday myself and Brian C from the club were undertaking our level 1 coaching course at Donore Harriers grounds. They have a lovely track there, and on the Saturday, which was a lovely day, there was plenty of young athletes going through their paces in all manner of events including sprints, javelin and hammer throwing. As trainee coaches we were given instruction on walking ( which is harder than it looks ), javelin, discus, and hurdles, as well as using blocks and how to set them up. It was all very enjoyable and took my mind off not getting out for proper runs.
Sunday came, and one of the things I like about Bohermeen is that it's quite a late start time at 12 noon. The morning was dry but cold, with dark clouds gathering menacingly. we travelled over to catch the start of the 10k which started at 11 and quite a few of our club mates were running it.
As the 10k finished the heavens opened and the rain began. There was debate on the dress code for the race, singlet or tee? Most of us opted for singlet given that we wouldn't be cold for very long, and the wet t-shirt would get heavy. I did practically no warm up before the start, trying to stay as dry as possible for as long as possible. There was as always a very large entry.
At the off I was quite near the front, having squeezed in beside a club mate, and the pace from the lead group was very fast. Although I tried to slow myself and not get carried away, the first mile was 6.15 I set the garmin for 6.27 pace, hoping for a 1.25 target. The first 7 miles were pretty comfortable ad the rain eased off as we went. I settled in with a small group, and in particular with a runner I recognise from Dunleer whom I had seen at quite a few races during the previous summer, and who always kicked my ass to put it bluntly.
We were about 4 runners, and through initial conversation the chap from Dunleer said he was looking for somewhere around 1.25 too, maybe a bit quicker. Splits for first 7 miles 6.14, 6.30, 6.23, 6.21, 6.23, 6.26, 6.30. All pretty even so far.
At 9 miles I felt the effort geting much harder. Our tempo runs in training had only gone as far as 7 miles, and pushing the pace from here was tough. I dropped back a little from the Dunleer runner, and he encouraged me on. I felt that it was he who was pushing on, and I was reluctant to up the pace so I let him go. After 1.5 miles we were back together, and he seemed glad it was so, and again we paced well together, dropping a few guys as we went. 6.26, 6.36, 6.22, 6.25, 6.31.
Into the last stretch, uphill into a breeze. I was fading rapidly, and for the second time I had to let my pacer go on the last mile. I was pushing hard and couldn't even look at the watch for fear of losing a second or two. Mile 13, 6.40. Around the last bend, with about a 100 meters o the finish line the clock came into view. Ah NUTS! Again, garmin was long (will I ever get it right) and the clock read 1.24.48. I ran for all I was worth, which was not much at this point, and crossed the line with 1.25.02 on the clock. I was gutted, and having started so close to the start line was doubtful that the net time would get me the time.
Tea and buns time, changed into dry clothes and the times were up on the wall. There it was, 1.24.59! With only a second to spare, ad echoes of Raheny 5 mile, I had done sub 1.25 and a new PB. I was pretty pleased. My top lesson learned today however, was always bring spare socks!
As is becoming pretty common, almost everyone did a new PB, and our club came 7th out of 25 in the team event, although our top two guys who did fantastic races skewed the results slightly
The legs felt pretty good the next day, and I ventured out for an easy 6 miles. Although the legs felt good, the effort for the associated pace was definitely hard. I did another mile or two training the kids on Monday night. Speedwork with Gary on Tuesday, and he mandated an easy enough recovery session. I was glad to hear that he is recommending a step back and recovery period before upping the training effort for the next target race. My next will be a local charity 10k on St Patricks day, but given that i have a good old Irish wedding to attend that weekend, it really will be just a fun run.
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