Running mad or mad to run?

Slogger Jogger · 22-01-2009 8:16pm

Managed to squeeze in 2 runs today

The schedule called for a short marathon paced run, but the wind was such at lunchtime and the company was good so a comfortable run and a chat was the order of the day.

Felt like I needed to do something when I came home (is it the 1000 mile challengeI wonder?) I don't know honestly, but with the rain pelting down outside I was glad I have the treadmill at home as a fallback option. Did 7k in 30 mins, so an avg 4:17 pace which was just what the doctor ordered. All in all a good day.

Total miles today: 9.3

No. of runs this year: 23
Total mileage this year: 182.6

Slogger Jogger · 23-01-2009 7:37pm

Obeyed the HH schedule today.... So today was a:
Rest day
Jour de repos
De dag van de rust
Resttag
Ημέρα υπολοίπου
Giorno di riposo
休日
Dia de descanso
День остальных
休息日

Total Miles today: 0
No. of runs this year: 23
Total mileage this year: 182.6

donothoponpop · 23-01-2009 8:17pm

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Obeyed the HH schedule today.... So today was a:
Rest day
Jour de repos
De dag van de rust
Resttag
Ημέρα υπολοίπου
Giorno di riposo
休日
Dia de descanso
День остальных
休息日

Total Miles today: 0
No. of runs this year: 23
Total mileage this year: 182.6

SJ takes a day off!

See? Told you that you wouldn't turn into a pumpkin!

Slogger Jogger · 24-01-2009 1:47pm

Switched my LSR from tomorrow to today due to family commitments. Boy, was I glad. This morning was one of those magical days for running. A frosty morning will little wind to speak of. The roads, fields, hills were white with frost. Very clear views of the countryside. The running took care of itself. Had to think on my feet a bit as I was running to try to find a long run route locally that avoided serious hills. And had to be careful on some slippery bits on the road but nothing too bad.

Don't have full stats for the run yet as there are problems with motionbased upload. Very happy with run and eked out 30K at a steady pace.. avg of 4:33 min kms. Avg HR of 154, Max of 165. Having read donothoponpops tale of hitting the wall on his long run yesterday I brought a gel and a bit of water with me. Used the water.. didn't turn to the gel. Still I finished reasonably strongly and at a push I could have done more. Happy days. Pushes me over the 200 miles so far for the year.

Garmin link: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7503215

Total miles today: 18.6
No. of runs this year: 24
Total mileage this year: 201.2

donothoponpop · 24-01-2009 5:32pm

Nice run SJ, nice pace, nice distance. Wind and rain are picking up round here now, so looks like you chose a good time to do it.

Abhainn · 24-01-2009 9:07pm

ya nice run SJ. Agree this morning was a rare fab one. Felt great alright

Slogger Jogger · 25-01-2009 11:58am

Stuck for time this morning so a short recovery run was all I could do. After the stormy conditions yesterday this morning was very mild. Perfect conditions for running really. I only had one route option and that was to do loops of the forest trail beside the house which was very wet and mucky after the heavy rain, but so be it and splish sploshing through the trails wasn't too bad. Ended up running faster than recovery pace in the end - surprised the legs were feeling reasonably good after yesterdays LSR. Avg pace 4:35

Total miles today: 4.6
No. of runs this year: 25
Total mileage this year: 205.8

Slogger Jogger · 25-01-2009 9:12pm

Got home this evening after a busy day and felt like a run to destress, wind down, call it what you will. Again the advantage of having the treadmill was mine. Did a steady marathon pace run of 8.38k. My weekend of running from a schedule point of view is more than balanced. Starting from tomorrow its week 10 counting down to Rotterdam... So far so good, touch wood.

Total miles today 4.6+5.2: 9.8
No. of runs this year: 26
Total mileage this year: 211

Slogger Jogger · 26-01-2009 8:07pm

A tough forum this. You do two runs on a Sunday and when you login on Monday you're still knocked back to the 2nd page

Couldn't face an early run before work today so had to sit tight to this evening to do something. The thought of running in a packed gym totally put me off so with the weather being relatively kind, a torchlit run it was to be. Up the local hill and back at a so so pace. More than required for a standard Monday but what the hell. Very atmospheric running in the dark. Little if any stars out tonight for company.

Hill ran here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7519697 Up and down and no nonsense. Route shape is a a tad ghostly or there might be a shark there too.

Total miles today 6.5; 4:58 min/k pace which isn't bad for 336m of ascents.
No. of runs this year: 27
Total mileage this year: 217.5

Krusty_Clown · 27-01-2009 5:16pm

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Route shape is a a tad ghostly or there might be a shark there too.

Who are you kidding? It's squiggle shaped.

Great running though. That looks like a tough hill. Does the IMRA run go over the top of it too?

Slogger Jogger · 27-01-2009 8:45pm

Imra run is on same hill and uses some of the trail (for the fast downhill for instance) but the imra run goes higher and is a tad steeper in parts on the uphill.

This evening's run was for speed intervals.. 800 x 6. Wasn't looking forward to it. Out into Shangannagh park for loops in the dark with my mate Ian and off we went. Didn't push the boat out too much as was conscious of saving something for the later intervals. Happy with session overall though. Splits were: 3.00 (didn't hear the start beep), 2.55, 2.59, 2.59, 3.05, 3.05 Did a slow 2 mins between each. The 800s seem to get longer each repeat :eek:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7525008

Total miles today 6.6; 4:32 min/k pace.
No. of runs this year: 28
Total mileage this year: 224.1

Slogger Jogger · 28-01-2009 7:23pm

Treadmill run for 35 mins before work at marathon pace.
Feeling fresh later on I then managed a recovery 6.6k. Legs feeling surprisingly good.

Total miles today: 5.1 am + 4.1 pm = 9.2
No. of runs this year: 30
Total mileage this year: 233.4

Slogger Jogger · 29-01-2009 8:31pm

Couldn't squeeze in the required 40 mins today but nearly did. Managed 7.9k in 34 mins. 4:17 pace which was terrific given the squally conditions. Ran with training partner which always makes the session tick over all the quicker.

Total miles today: 4.9
No. of runs this year: 31
Total mileage this year: 238.3

Slogger Jogger · 30-01-2009 8:14pm

65 days to Rotterdam.

Schedule called for rest day today but had to do a small run before work when I left the car off for a service. Crap conditions for running but managed to go marathon pace

Total miles today: 3.1
No. of runs this year: 32
Total mileage this year: 241.4

Slogger Jogger · 31-01-2009 11:59am

64 days to Rotterdam.

Schedule called for 9 mile marathon paced run. The weather was determined to dictate otherwise. Blustery wind... heavy rain... the kind of stuff which under normal circumstances would make me wuss out and consider a treadmill run. But, I prevailed out into the elements and slowly but surely got into my running. So much so that I found myself pushing the pace, determined to get the marathon pace despite the elements. In the end I outdid myself (and I may pay for it in the imra race tomorrow) as I did 10 miles at at average 4:11 min/km pace which is some 7 secs a km faster than MP :eek: This included 5 k splits below 4 mins on the way back, so negative splits too. And... 204meters of hills ascended into the bargain. A tough tough run, but very happy to have ticked it off.

The run was an out and back run out the backroads which paralleled a river that was in torrent. Magical sounds of the crashing of water.. On the return leg I was almost racing the water

Route data here:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7540007 The spike of HR at the start threw off the stats, but an avg of 159 isn't too far wrong and isn't bad in the circumstances...

Total miles today: 10
No. of runs this year: 33
Total mileage this year: 251.4

donothoponpop · 31-01-2009 1:46pm

As I can't keep up with you during the IMRA races, I've tried to blacken your name by variously pointing out inconsistent timekeeping, "wuss" treadmill miles that you do a lot of, but all to no avail, if you can produce this sort of run, and in todays foul weather to boot...seriously impressed with 10 miles at sub marathon pace, especially with that ascent included.:eek:

Slogger Jogger · 01-02-2009 3:31pm

63 days to Rotterdam.

imra winter race in Ticknock. Despite a tough run yesterday which resulted in sore legs and a nice blister on one of my toes and despite the (unplanned) 3k uphill warm up 'jog' from Marley Park to the start, I ran a good race today. I surprised myself by hanging in there throughout and running solidly and finishing 11th and helping boards to a good position (hopefully) on the team standings. A tough tough run which was longer and had more climb than anyone expected. I measured it as 10.18k with 417m of climb. The distance probably suited me in the end. The conditions underfoot were challenging. Muck, water, ice, rock. You name it we ran through it. All in all a good day at the 'office'

Garmin stuff here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7548345

Total miles today: 10.1
No. of runs this year: 34
Total mileage this year: 261.5

Slogger Jogger · 02-02-2009 7:49pm

62 days to Rotterdam.

Morning started with the dread of having to do a recovery run. Such was the weather the only option was to wuss out and do the treadmill run.. so I did the necessary (with the necessary incline). 1st k wasn't easy as the body didn't want to cooperate.. but this eased out and eventually did 30 mins, followed by some strength exercises.

Got away from work early to escape the worsening road conditions and it was just aswell as I heard later on the traffic news.. I found that the hills were pulling me out to run again, as they were snow covered and I can't quite recall ever running in the snow before so there was a first time for everything. So.. did the 2nd recovery run of the day.. a magical run through pristine white snow on the trails above the house. The only company was deer dashing across the trail up ahead. I've discovered that running downhill through snow is brilliant. A feeling that should be bottled. And strangely enough the legs now feel fine

Total miles today: 2 runs... (4.5 + 4.5 = 8.1) 4 + 4.1 = 8.1
No. of runs this year: 36
Total mileage this year: 269.6

ultraman1 · 03-02-2009 8:53am

you should check d maths there SJ:D

Slogger Jogger · 03-02-2009 9:37am

My maths inability is found out again

Slogger Jogger · 03-02-2009 7:10pm

61 days to Rotterdam.

Today's schedule called for hill repeats. An impossibility given the weather. Had to compromise (and in any event the hill race at the weekend was a better hill repetition than you could get!)

Did 5 wussy kms on the treadmill at a 2% gradient at 4:16km/min pace. Then out into the snow for a snowy trail run. Fantastic. 7.24k in 41 mins (5:45 pace), with some 250m of ascents.

Snowy pictures in my Annacurra flickr set here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickhanney/3250504259/in/set-72157611381852989/

Total miles today: 7.6
No. of runs this year: 37
Total mileage this year: 277.2

donothoponpop · 03-02-2009 9:01pm

Some great photos there SJ. Save some of that snow in your freezer: you can throw it on your treadmill in a weeks time and recapture the experience

ultraman1 · 03-02-2009 9:26pm

Sj,you could put your threadi on dat hill,and charge the city slickers for some semi wuss miles:D

Slogger Jogger · 04-02-2009 8:47pm

60 days to Rotterdam.

Today's schedule called for 4 easy miles. Due to time constraints I took the treadie with gradient option and did an average marathon pace (so ignored the easy miles bit). Felt the pace, so obviously the days of continuous effort do catch up on you.

Total miles today: 4.4
No. of runs this year: 38
Total mileage this year: 281.5

Slogger Jogger · 05-02-2009 7:12pm

59 days to Rotterdam.

Managed to get out again today to find that the trails up above the house were still deep in snow. Yippee. Another magical run, more than half of it was tough high-stepping through the snow which was on average 3 inches deep, but with drifts could be nearly a foot deep at times :eek: And not a single footprint to be seen higher up, except for my own from the other day.. and some hoove prints from the deer. Saw a bambi like deer at one stage on the trail ahead, looking back at me with a look of disinterest. 297m of hills ascended. Just over 5 min k pace. Nice hill: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7572476

Total miles today: 6.9
No. of runs this year: 39
Total mileage this year: 288.4 Heading towards the 300 mark at the weekend

Slogger Jogger · 06-02-2009 4:26pm

58 days to Rotterdam.

HH schedule said rest today. Eh, ignored that and decided to shuffle around the weekend schedule and do my marathon paced run today instead of tomorrow. Ended up running marginally faster overall, but no harm there: 4:15km pace over 17k.

Total miles today: 10.6
No. of runs this year: 40
Total mileage this year: 299. If I had of been conscious of the total (which I wasn't as I work in kms in any event, I might have done the extra bit today

)

Slogger Jogger · 06-02-2009 4:37pm

View out back window, the roads under which I did some of my run today. (I'll paste this into the snowy run thread too...)

ultraman1 · 06-02-2009 7:22pm

I take too many days off,hence im droppin down the 1000mile challenge.if i had a view like yours id be out every day and would defo be divorced by mrs ultraman.:D:D:D

Slogger Jogger · 07-02-2009 12:30pm

57 days to Rotterdam.

Decided to do a slow hill run in the snow while it was still there.

Ran the route of next weeks race and its still 80% under snow. Tough going as the top of the snow has iced up so the knee stepping movement to go forward took more and more out of you. Still a fab run. Details here:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7578909 Route is slightly longer than 'race' as this is from my front door...

Total miles today: 6
No. of runs this year: 41
Total mileage this year: 305

McConkey · 07-02-2009 12:51pm

Hey SJ, almost did you out of some milage by posting at the same time as you in the 1000 mile challange, I love your photos...beautiful snow-we don't have any in the west

the icy footpaths this morning are enough for me to contend with I'm afraid. Good luck with the training

Slogger Jogger · 08-02-2009 12:52pm

56 days to Rotterdam.

Was greeted by more snowfall this morning. There was a decent covering on the ground and it was still falling, so I'd a short debate with myself as to whether I'd run at all. In the end the schedule got the better of me and I headed out. Did the run in 2 stages. An out and back run on the backroads which were completely white. The snow running was great and you got a nice soft step even if ground underneath was tarmac. I was passed by a few 4x4s and I reckon I was getting some odd looks, but I was nearly going as quick as some of the wheel spinning cars at times.

Did just over 23k in a nice loop - the shape of which looks like a running shoe with its lace open

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7586225
Then, cranked up the wussy treadmill to eke out another 8k in 35 mins. This was not easy. Sweated profusely so it must have been having some effect!

Wore my skins running tights again. There could be a placebo effect but I've convinced myself that they do help the legs particularly after days of continuous running.

Delighted to have another long run ticked off on the journey towards Rotterdam. This week had me running 101k in total for the week. I think thats the most I've ever accumulated in a week.

Total miles today: 19.4

No. of runs this year: 42
Total mileage this year: 324.4

donothoponpop · 08-02-2009 1:54pm

Nice run SJ, was just out for a walk and it was very slushy, I'd say you got the best of the day to run in. Very decent pace too.

Krusty_Clown · 08-02-2009 5:04pm

Great running SJ. I can only imagine what the pace would be like if you flattened out those hills. Finally managed to get babysitter sorted, and got out just after mid-day in very icy conditions, but it sounds like Wicklow had the worst of it.

Woddle · 08-02-2009 6:06pm

I don't know where you get the mental strenght from. If I came home after 20 sth K, there is no way I'm getting on the treadmill. Even when I'm running I try my best not to run too close to the house as I know a run will get cut short. Great running.

Slogger Jogger · 08-02-2009 6:37pm

It was a case of having too cut short the outdoors run. The road quality was such that it would have been dodgey to go on a further loop. I'd myself mentally prepped to do around 8k on the TM so just changed into dry runners and did the necessary. I'm lucky to have the wussy device to fall back on for occasions like this.

P.S. Did anyone see the full moon? I think a night run early this week is called for.

Slogger Jogger · 08-02-2009 6:42pm

donothoponpop wrote: »

Nice run SJ, was just out for a walk and it was very slushy, I'd say you got the best of the day to run in. Very decent pace too.

I went out and back on the backroads to Aughavannagh as it offers the least amount of hills. Still had to prevail over 320m of ascents I think. Very happy with pace considering.. I don't monitor my pace too much as I'm running. I have this thing about looking at the watch and try to keep the watch watches to a minimum. I find that if I'm running without watch watching its usually that you're enjoying the run and the time goes faster :rolleyes: Very happy with avg HR too... 150 overall.

Slogger Jogger · 09-02-2009 9:37pm

55 days to Rotterdam. 8 weeks....

Recovery run day after the long run yesterday. Did just over 9k up and down Annacurra hill, which is still snow clad. Another one of those memorable runs. Picture the scene... you're running without any effort (as its recovery so speed doesn't matter), you're running in snow (so its soft and easy on the legs) and the moonlight is lighting up the sky giving you a resplendant scene - no need for headtorch for most of run. Spendid.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7597944

Total miles today: 5.8
No. of runs this year: 43
Total mileage this year: 330.2

christeb · 10-02-2009 8:45am

Hi SJ - good work on the recent progress. Just a quick question - are you going to concentrate more on flat training runs as you near Rotterdam? Reason I ask is that I would have thought you would benefit relatively more from running faster on terrain similar to the race itself?

Either way keep up the good work!

Abhainn · 10-02-2009 9:54am

Good running SJ.
Great pics also. There is great serenity in running in those surroundings.

Slogger Jogger · 10-02-2009 7:08pm

christeb wrote: »

Hi SJ - good work on the recent progress. Just a quick question - are you going to concentrate more on flat training runs as you near Rotterdam? Reason I ask is that I would have thought you would benefit relatively more from running faster on terrain similar to the race itself?

Either way keep up the good work!

Hi christeb, Good point. Its something that I'm conscious of and I've put more thought into my long run routes so that I will reduce to a practical minimum the hills. Aprox half of my runs are on the treadmill so thats fairly flat

My interval sessions recently have tended to be in Shangannagh park, again flat.. I'll continue with the hill runs and races as they are all 'tools' which the schedule benefits from in any event. Thanks for the encouragement, Cheers.

Slogger Jogger · 10-02-2009 7:09pm

Abhainn wrote: »

Good running SJ.
Great pics also. There is great serenity in running in those surroundings.

Thanks Abhainn. Depending on the weather it can look a whole lot less serene

. Will you make our hill race this Saturday?

Slogger Jogger · 10-02-2009 7:15pm

54 days to Rotterdam.

Schedule said tempo run for 45 mins, so hit the gym treadmill early doors, started slowish and ramped it up bit by bit. Got through 10K in sub 40 min (just about). Got through 11.4 in total, which was 3:57 min/km pace, which I was well pleased with. I won't say it was easy but it felt reasonably comfortable, which shows that things are ticking over nicely I suppose.

Total miles today: 7.1
No. of runs this year: 44
Total mileage this year: 337.2

Abhainn · 11-02-2009 8:56am

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Thanks Abhainn. Depending on the weather it can look a whole lot less serene . Will you make our hill race this Saturday?

Afraid not sir. A boring 23 miler planned Sat am so that will keep me busy. Best of luck in the race. The local ones are always special.
Looking forward to the race report

Slogger Jogger · 11-02-2009 8:09pm

53 days to Rotterdam.

Easy 5 mile real genuine unwussy open air run, at lunchtime

. Avg pace 4:29 min/k. A filler between the tempo run of yesterday and the marathon pace run of tomorrow.

Total miles today: 5
No. of runs this year: 45
Total mileage this year: 342.2

Slogger Jogger · 12-02-2009 7:18pm

52 days to Rotterdam.

A bonus today. Managed to get 2 runs in.
1st was the scheduled marathon pace run. Schedule said 4 miles at MP. Managed to do a bit more and did 10K, on the treadmill, with the elevation set to alleviate the wussy factor. Avg pace 4:17 min/km

2nd was an evening jog up and down Annacurra hill with donothoponpop. Took it very easy as the main intention was to see what condition the route was for Saturday's route. The 'good news' is that there is still a fair bit of snow on the track so the race will be a bit different to the usual hill race.

Total miles today: 12.2
No. of runs this year: 47
Total mileage this year: 354.4

Slogger Jogger · 14-02-2009 6:54pm

Only 50 days to Rotterdam, although it doesn't feel like too long ago when I started this journey.

Yesterday was the required Rest day in the schedule. Wasn't total rest as I was a nervous wreck organising the Annacurra hill race today and I MTBed up the hill to check out the route and that left my quads quite sore today as I just don't have biking muscles. Needs training (at some other time).

Today was quite an event. 'Running' a race event and running a race all combined. Went fantastically well. My schedule total was down today as I could only do the bare minimum required in the race, but still very happy. I'll struggle to get near the 32k required tomorrow as I'll probably still be exhausted... but happy at the same time. I'll probably never be 6th or on a winning team again so enjoy the moment

Total miles today: 5.5 (4:27 min/km pace over a 358m ascent hill race)
No. of runs this year: 48
Total mileage this year: 359.9

Slogger Jogger · 15-02-2009 5:56pm

Today was never going to be easy. After yesterday's race (and post race beers plus some wine last night) I'd the prospect of the longest yet run on training schedule. I contemplated swapping a shorter run to today and owing myself the long run, but then decided to do a 2 run strategy for the day, something which the sore race legs would forgive me for. It was a fine spring day too so it couldn't be wasted.

Run 1: Mid morning run around Anncurra race route again, plus the same again, but on other trails around the hill. 20k total 692m ascents 5:04 min/k pace. Home for brunch, rest, newspapers and rugby.

Run 2: After the Rugby match, I tried to rub some life into the legs and they were a wee bit stiff and sore. Hmm, this was going to be fun. However I knew that once I got going I'd be fine :rolleyes: And so it proved...
13k total, 185m ascents, 4:34 min/k pace. Surprised myself with this one.

Total miles today: 20.5 !
No. of runs this year: 50
Total mileage this year: 380.4

Oh, 105 days to Edinburgh marathon too....

ultraman1 · 15-02-2009 8:10pm

good goin SJ

Krusty_Clown · 15-02-2009 9:31pm

Sure you deserved the pints after the success of the race, and your personal result, but did you have to make it so hard on yourself doing the same circuit again?! There's an element of masochism there!

At least now you have a target time to beat - 36:45. Just two and a half minutes to knock off!

Slogger Jogger · 15-02-2009 10:17pm

It wasn't the run I'd intended but faith had other ideas. I got a call at 10.30 today from someone looking for race registration. Eh, lets just say they had the wrong day. In my tired and perhaps hungover state I obviously wasn't thinking clearly and before I knew what I'd said, I was down in the car park with them ready to roll

Snow was less evident, but replaced by more wet and muck. And I fully ran the hill today something I didn't do yesterday. The mind and the body plays some weird tricks on you at times. Once I ran it once it was the easiest choice (in a way) to run some of the same tracks again straight away, as otherwise I'd have to jog home and change into regular runners from my trail shoes. So in summary you're probably right about the masochism :rolleyes:

Running mad or mad to run?

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