Berlin or bust...

runrabbit

Super running today Emer - sounds like it was a piece of cake to you and it's nice to nail a PB on a training run! Imagine what you could do if you were really racing it!

Good luck with your 20-miler tomorrow

Emer911

Sunday 21st Aug
20 mile LSR.
Phew! That was a tough one. The legs were definitely a tad tired from the 10 miles at pace yesterday, and I was a bit nervous from the tummy perspective after my issues on the long run last week. I planned this one to make sure there were accessible toilets en route, so set off with a bottle of water in hand and some new sports jellies to try out (I have a feeling the gels aren't really agreeing with me).

It was a slow slog, but the jellies were very tasty and didn't seem to effect my tummy at all. It was very warm out there, so I had the full 500ml bottle of water gone by the 4th mile. Picked up another at a shop around the 7th mile, and a final bottle at mile 16. The jellies were consumed with relish along the way.

The run was ok. The legs were very tired by 13 or 14 and it was a mental battle just to keep them moving and keep the momentum going. It was slow, it wasn't pretty, but it got done. Thankfully no tummy troubles either. I think I'll invest in a few more packs of those jellies though.

Back home to a cold bath, a hot shower, some good grub and plenty of fluids (I'll keep away from the beer for a couple of hours )

Summary 20 miles in 03:27:33
Avg Pace: 10:22 min/mi

racheljev

Well done on your 20miles, I'll be doing the same (hopefully!) next week. What are the sport jellies and where did you get them - I've tried regular jelly babies and fruit sweets but I don't think I'm getting enough from them. I'm very willing to try new things

Emer911

racheljev wrote: »

Well done on your 20miles, I'll be doing the same (hopefully!) next week. What are the sport jellies and where did you get them - I've tried regular jelly babies and fruit sweets but I don't think I'm getting enough from them. I'm very willing to try new things

The jellies were Jelly Belly Sports beans
I was given these, but was told they're readily available in most sports speciality shops (cycle shops etc.) Don't know if they're actually any better than normal jellies, but they are just as tasty

runrabbit

Fair dues - I only managed 3 miles today and I've struggled to move since!

RacoonQueen

Great weekends running Emer. The jelly shots aren't bad either - prefer them to the gels myself, they're just a little more awkward to carry.

RubyK

Great training and racing Emer911

donothoponpop

That's a great weekends' running Emer. I was talking to MrEmer yesterday, he told me of your schedule, its very impressive, you've made great strides recently!

jcsmum

Can't believe you did 20 miles yesterday. Talk about making some of us look bad! :rolleyes:
Your race report was great. I love the t-shirt colour too.

claralara

A great weekend running there Emer, fair play to you! Congrats on the PB too

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

That's a great weekends' running Emer. I was talking to MrEmer yesterday, he told me of your schedule, its very impressive, you've made great strides recently!

Where's the 'no-thanks' button? :P

pgmcpq

Congrats on the PB ! 20 miles the day after. You'll tear Chicago up if you get any decent weather.

Emer911

Awe, thanks for all the lovely posts. I was pretty tired today, but all the nice encouraging comments helps to put it all into perspective.

Emer911

Plan for the week
Step back week <phew>

Monday | No Pilates so rest day
Tuesday| 5 miles
Wednesday|6 miles
Thursday|5 miles
Friday|Rest
Saturday|6 miles pmp
Sunday|12 miles

Emer911

Tuesday 23rd
I'm off work this week to spend some quality time with the sprogs before the school term starts back, but do you think that means a lie in? No such luck!
Yesterday morning I was out of bed at 6am to see my sis and her family off on the boat back to Eng-a-land (they've been on a wee holiday in the 'auld sod), and this morning I was dropping my OH to the airport for 8am as he has a week on foreign soil with work <sniff> (so up at 7am)

Maybe I'll get that elusive lie in tomorrow?:rolleyes:

But we were making use of the holiday time and the remainder of the family went rafting on the Liffey for the morning. Mad craic! The water levels were quite low, so we had to get out and walk the raft over 2 of the weirs, but it was such a laugh. We were skidding down one weir on our bums, and running down it and cannon-balling into the deeper water. Brilliant fun. I think the shoulders and arms might be giving out tomorrow cause we were paddling for about 7 km.

...well it's a training log so I can count the rafting!

So this afternoon I got on my shorts and dragged my tired sorry a$$ around 5 miles in the local park. It was slow, and the legs felt very heavy, but it's a step back week so they should be well recovered before next weeks big mileage (again).

Summary 5 miles in 00:50:14
Avg Pace: 10:02 min/mi (well I did say it was slow!)

Emer911

Thursday 25th Friday 26th

Supposed to go running yesterday but after the days excursions we returned home to Thunder, lashings of rain and hailstones the size of duck eggs (no exaggeration)! So I made an executive decision to postpone the run. Got up this morning, drank a glass of water and hit the roads before I could have second thoughts.
It wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was going to be. I felt ok and even though the first (slightly uphill) mile was slow the rest went fine.

Summary 5 miles in 00:47:41
Avg Pace: 09:32 min/mi

Emer911

Saturday 27th Aug
6 miles at pace.

Warm morning out there (and no rain, which was nice for a change) . The run went surprisingly well, considering. The first mile was tough, as usual and came in just over the desired pace (09:07/mi), but the total average was spot on. Happy enough with that one.

Summary 6 miles in 00:53:11
Avg Pace: 08:51 min/mi

Emer911

Sunday 28th
12 mile LSR

The plan was to head out for my run at about 11:00 (got up a bit late) but then the World Championships distracted me and it was after 13:00 when I eventually dragged myself out. :rolleyes:

It was REALLY sunny when I set off and I was glad of the shades, cap and sunscreen. Didn't bring any money for water, but the route I was doing could be easily redirected to pass the house if I needed to. By the 4th mile the heat was starting to get to me and I was mentally re-jigging my route, but the clouds came in and as I hit mile 6, the heavens opened and a welcome rain started to fall. Nothing too heavy, but enough to cool me down. So I kept going.

I started to feel really hungry around mile 8 (thanks to my late start), and at mile 10 I thought my tummy was going to ingest itself . Kept the legs ticking over but stuck into a Mars Chocolate Milk as soon as I stepped in the door. Nice :P

12 miles done in a very uneventful manner. Nice gentle running.

Summary 12.01 miles in 01:57:46
Avg Pace: 09:48 min/mi

Emer911

A new challenge thrown into the mix. My daughter decided that we should both do the 100 pushups challenge - don't ask me why :rolleyes:
She can already out pushup me - I got to 13, she got 20 :eek::o, but we're both doing the same plan.
We did week one, day one today:

DAY 1
REST 60 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED)
SET 1|10
SET 2 | 12
SET 3 | 7
SET 4 | 7
SET 5 |max (at least 9)

Pooped after that.

Day 2 will be covered on Tuesday and Day 3 on Friday.
DAY 2
REST 90 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED)
SET 1 | 10
SET 2 | 12
SET 3 | 8
SET 4 | 8
SET 5 |max (at least 12)


DAY 3
REST 120 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED)
SET 1 | 11
SET 2 | 15
SET 3 | 9
SET 4 | 9
SET 5 |max (at least 13)

Lets see how far we get before she gets tired of it

Emer911

Plan for the week

Monday | Pilates
Tuesday| 4 miles
Wednesday|9 miles
Thursday|Yoga
Friday|Rest
Saturday|10 miles pmp
Sunday|20 miles


I'm starting a yoga class this week on Thursday evenings so I'm abandoning the run on that day. I don't think it'll make that much difference and I think the required effort for the yoga will probably be greater than that of a 4 or 5 mile easy run.

Emer911

Monday 29th Aug
Lunchtime Pilates. Good tough class.

Tuesday 30th Aug
4 miles in the park. Nothing eventful. Legs were fine, lungs were fine. Probably a bit fast for the mid week run but it felt (relatively) easy so I kept plugging.

Summary 4 miles in 00:36:15
Avg Pace: 09:03 min/m

Followed by Week1Day2 of the pushup challenge :rolleyes:

REST 90 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED)
SET 1 10
SET 2 12
SET 3 8
SET 4 8
SET 5 max (at least 12)

Totally pooped now :P.

Emer911

Wednesday 31st Aug
9 mile midweek run
I was fitting this one in while the wee one was at her gym club, so I really thought I'd have to cut it short. Did a 7 mile circuit and got back to the gym with 15 minutes to spare so just kept going. The last half mile was in loops around the outside of the building, as the girls were due to be finished. I bet I looked like a total loon! Got the whole lot done though, which was nice.

Cool enough this evening, so it was actually a lovely run. Pity about all the concrete pavements, traffic and crossroads :rolleyes: but beggars can't be choosers.

Summary 9 miles in 1:24:46
Average Pace: 09:25/mi

Emer911

Thursday 1st Sept
Yoga class. Missed the 1st of the course last week (oops!), and this weeks class left me feeling wobbly-legged and sweaty... lovely!:D
Great class.

Friday 2nd Sept
W1D3 of the 100 Push-Up Challenge.
...she didn't forget yet. So the mat came out and we did Day 3.

120 seconds between sets:

11 - 15 - 9 - 9 - 13+

Funny that only last Sunday I maxed out at 13, but I got to 15 (I won't say easily) today and could still do more. Hurting now though, although more from the yoga than the push-ups.

Going to Waterford tomorrow to support the National HM.

Emer911

Year to date mileage check.

From January to end of August this year I've run 780.57 mi
For the same period last year I had logged 694.38 mi.

...so that's good.

Emer911

Saturday 3rd Sep
Plan 10 miles
Actual 9.84 miles

Went to Waterford (as chauffeur & supporter) for the National Half Marathon Championships. Went to college there in the ancient past, so did my 10 miles around the town visiting old familiar spots. Problem is, nothing was familiar :rolleyes:. It's SUCH a different place to what I remember. Sill it was nice to run around it.
Got a bit "lost" at one point when a road I was on seemed to go on forever and I thought I was en route to Cork:eek:, but it eventually came out where I assumed it would - phew!
Got back to the car at 9.84 and the HM finishers were already coming in so I called it a day, stuck on my warm clothes and went to shout them all home.

The running was a bit slow, but I was having a bit of a goo and wasn't really paying attention to the pace . Lots of traffic lights and road crossings too, which didn't make it easy to keep the pace up.
Took some Sports Jelly Beans and had a bottle of water with me.

Summary 9.84 mi in 01:34:13
Avg Pace: 09:34 min/mi

Emer911

Sunday 4th Sep
20 16 mile LSR

OK. It was supposed to be 20, I had a 20 mile route planned, I had the sports jellies and the water bottle with me. I ran out through Stepaside and on to Marley Park, back through Sandyford Industrial Estate and the plan was to wind my way back via Cabinteely and the N11.
Right.
When I left the house it was cool and dry, with very little wind. Perfect conditions. Took it slow and easy, and even thought there were a few choice hills I was feeling grand. Took a few of the jellies after mile 4 and again at about 6. By mile 8 the rain was starting and as I run over a (very exposed) bridge over the M50 at Ballinteer, the wind also made it's presence known. Still, I ran on and didn't mind it. I actually prefer a bit a rain on a long run, it keeps me cooler and helps me not to get dehydrated.

But by the time I hit Marley Park at the 10th mile, the rain was atrocious! It was pelting down and the 'rivers' in the road were swelling. Stopped for a toilet break and took some more of the Jellies. I was totally soaked at this point and the shoes were sloshing on every step. But I was 10 miles from home...

The next few miles were not fun. I ploughed on. I couldn't feel my hands (from the cold /rain) but I could feel the blisters forming on my poor wet cold tootsies. Every car that passed sent a sheet of water up over me. I was feeling very sorry for myself.
The planned route home took me near my sister-in-law's house. I decided to see if she was in and beg for a lift home. I know, I know. It's these hard runs that build character, but I was considering the hypothermia when making this decision, so bail is what I did. Knocked on her door, she took me in, I had a hot shower, she gave me dry clothes and drove me home - she's a saint!
I have the feeling back in all my extremities and there's only a couple of baby blisters on the toes, which should be grand after a day or two. No permanent damage so

Of course, I'm sitting here now and the sun is out and it's a cracking evening. Typical!:rolleyes:

So maybe I'll regret not getting this 20 miler done. But I've done one already, and there's another one planned for 2 weeks time, so it's not the end of the world. I've had a good training run in general and haven't missed many runs so I'm giving myself a break on this one.

On a positive note, the Sports Jellies are now my preferred energy boost. No tummy issues with them. Might need to up the intake though. Took one packet today between 4 and 14 miles and was feeling a bit hungry, so I'll try 2 packs on the next long run.

Summary 16 miles in 02:44:37
Avg Pace: 10:17 min/m

shazkea

I hear you; horrible day out there earlier and now it's fab. Your training has being going great so don't be too harsh on yourself for a few miles. As you say its not the end of the world and the next 20 miler will be a breeze (hopefully not literally!)

Emer911

Plan for the week

Monday | Pilates
Tuesday| 5 miles
Wednesday|6 miles
Thursday|Yoga
Friday|Rest
Saturday|6 miles pmp
Sunday|12 miles

Emer911

Monday 5th Sep
Did my lunchtime Pilates and followed that up with a nice relaxing swim in the evening to loosen up the legs. Felt good.
With the swim, we forgot about the pushups, so that'll have to happen tomorrow, Thursday and maybe Saturday.


The Week2 Push Up plan is:
DAY 1 | 60 seconds between each set
SET 1 |14
SET 2 |14
SET 3 |10
SET 4 |10
SET 5 |max (at least 15)


DAY 2 | 90 seconds between each set
SET 1|14
SET 2|16
SET 3|12
SET 4|12
SET 5|max (at least 17)


DAY 3 |120 seconds between each set
SET 1 |16
SET 2 |17
SET 3 |14
SET 4 |14
SET 5 |max (at least 20)

Emer911

Monday - later...

Finally got off my lazy butt and did my W2D1 of the Push Up Challenge. Found that very tough, which does not bode well for the rest of the weeks challenge :eek:
But it did get done. :rolleyes:


DAY 1 | 60 seconds between each set
SET 1 |14
SET 2 |14
SET 3 |10
SET 4 |10
SET 5| max (at least 15)

Emer911

Tuesday 6th Sep
5 mile run

Everyone is back in the groove and back to normal activities, so I was running after dropping kid2 to her club. Of course I forgot to charge the garmin after my LSR on Sunday so it had just 20% power when I put it on.

Headed out with my light running jacket on. It was pretty cool out there, but I was about a mile in when the sun made an appearance and I had to tie it around my waist. 2 miles later the clouds descended and the rain started. It was lashing in seconds, so I had to chuck it back on quickly - boy was I glad I'd brought it with me!
And that WIND! Dear Jeabus that was some wind! I felt like I was being blown backwards at times, but at least it was more or less at my back for my uphill bits. By the time I got back to the car the rain had stopped again but I was cold and wet and had another 10 minutes before her-ladyship was finished. Thankfully I'd stuck a sweatshirt in my bag so at least I had something dry to put on. <note to self: bring a towel and a change next time>

And of course the garmin gave up at some point during the run. But I just plugged it back in to charge up and it had recorded 4.5 miles, so not all bad.

Summary 5(ish) miles in 45ish minutes
Average Pace: 09:00 min/mi (for the first 4.5miles)

Emer911

Wednesday 7th
6 miles on a cold, wet and very wintry Wednesday evening. I was so cold when I got home from work that I decided the running tights and long sleeves were in order. I even wore my (light) gloves.
Did NOT want to run this evening.
Eventually kicked myself out the door and did the required miles. I found this a tough run, even though it was slower than yesterday. I guess we all have these kind of days sometimes...:rolleyes:

Summary 6 miles in 00:56:49
Avg Pace: 09:27 min/mi

Emer911

Thursday 08th Sept
Yoga Class

that is all.


...well I actually did W2D2 of the 100 push up challenge too. So that was:
DAY 2| push ups | Rest
SET 1 | 14 |90 seconds
SET 2 | 16|90 seconds
SET 3 | 12|90 seconds
SET 4 | 12|180 seconds ( I needed extra)
SET 5 |17|

Emer911

Saturday 10th Sep
6 miles.
Started out grand. The rain had stopped and the sun was out. The wind was there, but nothing too cumbersome, and I was enjoying my run. Crossed the road after about 2.5 miles and as I stepped up onto the footpath felt a 'tug' in my right hamstring. :eek:
Slowed a bit... no, it's ok, not a pull, keep going. Didn't think about it but after another mile or so I felt it again, but stronger. It felt like somewhere between an twing and a cramp - I stopped and stretched it out. Walked for a bit and eventually started up running again - but VERY slowly. Had to stop once more, and considered just walking home, but decided to try to keep it going to finish out the 6 miles. Glad I did now, because I didn't get any more problems with it for the last mile and a half.

Came home and did some foam rolling. Don't think I did any damage - there is no soreness or tightness. I'll have to keep an eye on it, and I must try to get a sports massage or something next week too. 12 tomorrow, so fingers crossed it behaves itself.

Summary 6 (very slow) miles in 00:59:19
Avg Pace: 09:50 min/mi

Emer911

Sunday 11th Sep
12 miles LSR

Well after an abysmal rugby match (seriously - the fumbles, dropped balls, miss-kicks... what were they at?) I headed out to the park to meet RunRabbit for a few miles. We met another buddy of hers after the first mile or so and ran a few very enjoyable loops of the park to take RR to 9 miles. It's amazing how quickly the miles go by with a bit of company (even my really slow miles)

After bidding them adieu, I legged it home to pick up the car key and then out again to collect the car from the Luas car park where we left it last night. The last mile I did find tough - I was getting hungry and the night out last night was probably making itself felt!

Still, that got done, and no ill affects after the hamstring thing yesterday. Only 4 weeks now to Chicago :eek:. Last long run (20 miles) next weekend. Nerves are starting to kick in now :P

Summary 12 miles in 01:59:08
Avg Pace: 09:55 min/mi

runrabbit

Thanks for the company today! It made the miles fly by!

Have confidence in your training - you will do great!

Emer911

Monday
Lunchtime Pilates.
Lots of arm & upper body work (as well as the usual) so I'm in bits today.

Tuesday
5 (late) miles
Had my alarm set to get up and do these miles this morning, but couldn't drag myself away from my nice, warm, comfy bed :rolleyes:
So after all my committments were done it was after 8:30pm when I actually got myself out the door. I must admit I was very reluctant... it was dark (yes the summer is definitely over) and cold and I was tired and hungry - every excuse under the sun was being hauled out (by me). But I got it started, and kept going until I got the 5 miles done. Phew!

Summary 5 miles in 00:47:00
Avg Pace: 09:23 min/mi

Emer911

Managed to get myself a sports massage today. Painful as heck, but I'm sure it'll do me good. He found sore bits I didn't know were there. :eek:

Emer911

Wednesday 14th Sep
As I packed my kit bag this morning I put in something for every eventuality - shorts, long leggings, t-shirt, running jacket and gloves, shades, hat. Well the weather had been so unpredictable recently I didn't want to leave it to chance!
So on an unexpectedly warm sunny evening, I stuck on the shorts, dropped off my charge at the club and headed out for the prescribed 9 miles.
I wasn't really looking forward to it, it must be said. But after the initial discomfort (lungs, legs, shoulders all giving out) I settled into it and actually quite enjoyed the run. The route was a bit uppey-downey, which wasn't making it any easier, and the pace was all over the place, but it got done. Looking at the splits it actually reads like a tempo run. The hills account for that rather than any specific aim on my part.

Summary 9.01 in 1:23:40
Avg Pace: 9:17 min/mi

Emer911

Thursday
Yoga class.

Friday
Rest

Saturday 17th Sep
10 mile @ pmp (about 9 min/mi)
Once the rugby finished (wow - exciting game and fantastic result!) I was raring to go. Headed out with the new 'courses' function in use on the watch, but it got a bit confused and I switched back to my normal lap pace/ distance screen that I use for these pmp sessions. I mapped the course last night and I guess I didn't quite remember which way I decided on, cause I kept being told that I was OFF COURSE... and occasionally COURSE FOUND for a few minutes before it went again. Ho hum, some additional learning to do with that function, I guess.
The miles? Well I took them one by one. The route was a bit undulating (not quite hilly, but not flat either) so keeping the pace was easier on some miles than on others. Kept an eye on the watch pace, and tried to just keep it even. Found it tough, and tiring, and I even walked up the incline over the railyway bridge towards the end of the 9th mile. But other than that lapse, I was fairly consistent (I think).

Still not sure if that pace is sustainable for 26.2 miles :eek:
20 tomorrow. Last long one before the taper begins.

Summary 10 miles in 1:30:21
Avg Pace: 9:02 min/mi

Emer911

Sunday 18th Sep
Another monumental day of sport - Dubs vrs Kerry, Liverpool vrs Spurs, Man Utd vrs Chelsea, and Emers 20 mile LSR
...yes, it did feel THAT big to me!
I had newstalk on the ear buds so was kept abreast of all the goings on in the different grounds and I must say that Liverpool / Spurs match kept me very amused for oh...about 90 minutes or so (I'm obviously a neutral here, so I just thought it was funny. The newstalk guys were saying that Liverpool should just be allowed to throw in the towel, that it was painful and unfair to make them play out the full time - brilliant stuff! )

It was a run of many minds and many weathers today. Started off with a cool, calm day and I was thrown winds, lashing rain, gentle mist, sun, and whatever else was in the shopping bag. So the brain was NOT enjoying all that. Several HTFU conversations were had internally cause I felt like giving up on this one SO many times.
I had my jellys with me, and from about the 10 mile mark on I was bribing myself with a few jellys every couple of miles. :rolleyes:
So it was slow, it was NOT pretty, but it did get done, and I'm sitting here now, after my gold bath and hot shower, and I know it'll stand to me. So I'm happy.
Taper time starts now.

Summary 20 miles in 3:27:11
Avg Pace: 10:21 min/mi

AND I got in time to see the end of the Final. Brilliant stuff and what a final few minutes - wow! I'm not a Dub, but the two sitting here beside me a very happy with the result!

runrabbit

Well done on the last serious session and enjoy the taper now!

Emer911

Plan for the week

Monday | Pilates
Tuesday| 5 miles
Wednesday|8 miles
Thursday|Yoga
Friday|Rest
Saturday|4 miles pmp
Sunday|12 miles

shazkea

Well done on the 20 miler - enjoyable or not it's now Taper time

Emer911

Monday 19th
Lunchtime Pilates
Lots of hard work today. We were using the circle and my poor thighs are in bits now, not to mention my hips, tummy, shoulders, calves, wrists, arms
...just one big crock today really
Thanks golly it's taper time!

jcsmum

Well done emer!

Krusty_Clown

Emer911 wrote: »

and I'm sitting here now, after my gold bath and hot shower

Jaysus, no wonder we don't have any money to feed the kids.

Emer911

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Jaysus, no wonder we don't have any money to feed the kids.

Of course, I meant my gold bath and diamond shower... silly me:D

Emer911

Tuesday 20th
5 mile run in the plan. Managed to fit in 4.7 before I had to call it a day and get back for my taxi run. Good as.
A slow one, the legs were certainly feeling the miles from the weekend.

Summary 4.7 miles in 45:22
Avg Pace: 9:39 min/mi

Emer911

Wednesday 21st
9 miles around stepaside/ sandyford while the wee one was at gymnastics. Would have liked to have done this on grass / trail, but the hard concrete pavements were what I had (my poor tired legs):( The pace was slow (again) but other than the tired calves it was fairly comfortable.

Nice to be able to run in the sunshine too. I somehow managed to avoid the nasty showers that were about today.

Summary 9 miles in 1:24:54
Avg Pace: 9:26 min/mi