Baby steps

Slogger Jogger · 06-09-2011 7:46pm

A strange one this. Wild weather out there this evening. Hit the trail and decided to stay on the same loop repeatedly more for the shelter of the trees than anything else. It was still quite exposed to the wind in parts but less than if I went road running. Underfoot conditions were muddy in parts and each loop of c. 1.8k had a short steep climb that sucked the strength from the legs. Still, the running felt fairly comfortable and the intensity picked up as the session went on. Said to myself I'd do 5 loops. Ended up doing 6. I was surprised at the pace as it didn't feel hard (except on the hill). The 2nd half of the run was in heavy rain which added to the 'fun', but once you are wet you are wet. A kinda elemental run this. On another day weather like this could leave me trudging around but not today.

10.27k, 141m climb, 4:02 pace

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112404775

brownian · 06-09-2011 7:59pm

wow - 4:02 pace over 10k, in rain and mud! Nice going, SJ.

Slogger Jogger · 07-09-2011 8:43pm

Fairly non-descript run in the rain at an easy enough pace considering the up and down terrain.
11.55k, 172m climb, 4:39 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112634838

Slogger Jogger · 08-09-2011 9:27pm

Jaded this evening and was devoid of energy heading out the door after a busy day with the family. The plan was to do some 400s and I choose to do them on the trails. I wasn't going to go all-out, but to concentrate more on running form. 1st rep was a disaster. Nearly stopped as the stomach was acting up. Stopping off for food 2 hrs before hand with the family wasn't the best prep for this. Things were better after that. 60s stops between reps. Even reps were net downhill, the odd ones harder as a result. 2k warm down jog at the end. Not one to write home about.

8.54k, 4:50 pace.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112852499

Pronator · 08-09-2011 9:41pm

You can't be on top form all the time. When your feeling empty the important thing is that you put the effort in and that's what you did;) It would have been easy to throw in the towel but you did not. Good job.

Krusty_Clown · 08-09-2011 11:15pm

The road to marathon happiness is paved with sh1tty runs. Makes the nice hill runs seem all the sweeter after it's all finished.

Slogger Jogger · 10-09-2011 12:52pm

A restless sleep and woeful weather put me off running the lakes 10k this morning. It wasn't a target race so it was an easy decision to make. Headed out to run locally with blustery wind and rain and felt I needed to run with conviction to make up for it. Wasn't easy but got through 10k in sub 40 mins. 8 of the 10k were avg 3:50 but a hill at 8k was just about joggable never mind running fastable. At 10k, took 30 secs rest and ran on with a mind to run easier. The pace was still up despite that but it felt okay. Got home before 11 and had the day to spend on family stuff so happy enough with the no-race call.

Total: 15:57k, 4:01 pace. 1st 10k, 3:59 pace. 136m climb. Weather: poxy.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113162771
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113162759

Slogger Jogger · 11-09-2011 11:44am

Cut short the intended 32k run this morning. Run was pretty much the same as last Sunday. Out and back to Aghavannagh. Comfortable pace despite the blustery and sometimes drizzly conditions. Body was none the worse for yesterday's tempo run. Except, in the later stages, on the run back home I felt a mild ache at the front top of the right leg. Ache grew as I ran, so with the clock showing 26k, I diverted home to make it 28k for the run. Icing the leg now by way of prevention. Touch wood and all that.:(

28.17k, 4:38 pace, 265m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113447488

Slogger Jogger · 12-09-2011 7:49pm

Headed out this evening a bit nervously as I wasn't sure how the body was after yesterday's run ended abruptly. In wild weather I took it very easy early on and glad to report no ill effects. Did strength exercises too before I left the house, so I'll incorporate them into the training the odd day. It can't but help.

9k, 5:22 pace, 213m climb.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113891011

Slogger Jogger · 13-09-2011 8:37pm

Same session as nearly 2 weeks back. 8 reps of up and down the trail in my forest with c. 60m climb in each rep. The time flew and the pace was well up on 2 weeks back. I think I was working harder on the downhills this time. Good session, particularly given the blustery conditions.

10.82, 4:44 pace, 426m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114120906

Slogger Jogger · 14-09-2011 9:21pm

This run probably should have been recovery paced, but it wasn't. Headed out the backroad 3.5k and up a road hill for the next 2k or so, then about face and back home. < MP avg by the end. Well happy with that. Lots of gnats in the air and blowing in the eyes. Somewhat annoying, but thats nature.

11.1k, 129m climb, 4:11 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114366436

Slogger Jogger · 15-09-2011 9:23pm

Lovely evening this evening. Ran with sun glasses to keep the gnats out of the eyes. One annoyance replaced by another as the glasses keep slipping forward. Need an elastic band or something around the back of the noggin.

Did a mainly road loop that I've done loads of times recently. Pace felt easy but the pace was still decent enough considering 2 short steep hills in there. If the hills were evened out the pace would have been MP.

Not doing half marathon on Saturday. Will do my own thing and focus on getting a good LSR in on Sunday.

10.81k, 4:21 pace, 106m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114591850

Slogger Jogger · 17-09-2011 5:23pm

Rested yesterday apart from a short strength session, to keep the table ticking over.

Today, the win for Ireland was a great start to the day. Headed out for a short run after that full of beans despite the blustery conditions. Intention was to at least do marathon pace and that was managed with time in hand. Same run as Thursday evening but pace upped again. Pretty happy.

11.01k, 104m climb, 4:06 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114999579

Slogger Jogger · 18-09-2011 2:24pm

Had a pain on my right foot sole this morning. Post on main forum refers. I didn't want to miss my planned LSR so I choose the safe, if insane, option of running my LSR by doing continuous loops of the woods beside where I live. At least then if the pain worsened I'd be within walking distance of home. It was a gamble but it worked out pretty well.

An added advantage of running around the trail was the relative shelter given that the weather was very mixed. Wind and some rain.

Each loop I did was c. 2k. It was a mixture of stoney dry trail with a short climb and other muddier stuff. Lovely to run on if you felt 100%.

The first few loops I was very aware of the pain in my foot. As it was central on my sole I couldn't adjust my footfall to protect myself. I just had to suck it up.

Despite that the pace was steady and after 6 loops, when I was into the middle third of my run, the pain in the foot lessened and eventually faded into the background. Its as if my body got fed up sending my brain pain messages that I choose to ignore. My sole is tender after but a bruise is showing

Successive loops went quickly, 2k at at time. Eked it out to 15 loops and 2 and a half hours worth of effort. Chuffed to finish it. Another LSR ticked off. Apart from the foot pain earlier I felt relaxed throughout and ran fairly comfortably. No breaks either for calls of nature, tying shoelaces and no water or gels carried.

Check out the map and elevation profile of the run!

32.2k, 4:40 pace, 320m climb.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115226067

Krusty_Clown · 18-09-2011 4:27pm

Great running and great mental strength too! Look after that foot. Physio straight away if it persists. No sense in risking making it worse. Brilliant elevation profile!

PositiveNegativ · 18-09-2011 7:56pm

Get off that foot before you make it worse. 3 days rest min, plenty of RICE. Bruising is internal bleeding and there's sod all down there to bleed that isn't doing an important structural or load carrying job.

Slogger Jogger · 20-09-2011 8:01pm

Rested yesterday from running. A 10 minute session of exercises to keep the winter strength table ticking over.

Felt fresh this evening heading out. Conditions perfect for running, cool, dry and no wind to speak of. Headed up the trails and did a nice loop picking the pace up particularly on the downhill until it was virtually marathon pace avg at the end when I was pushing it. Very happy with that considering.

11.82k, 236m climb, 4:17 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115868662

Slogger Jogger · 21-09-2011 8:03pm

Felt a bit meh this evening so wasn't too spritely getting out the door. Elected to do a trail and road combination loop that I regularly do, but for a change I ran it the opposite direction. Trail bit to Aughrim. Road bit to beyond Aughrim. Another trail bit to the Woodenbridge road, then backroads back to home. The 2nd trail bit was very greasy after rain and in road runners this was a bit treacherous as a fall was a distinct possibility. After pushing it last night the original theory this evening was to go easier. Plan went out the window in the last 1/3 of the run. The pace was increasing and a sub 4:20 pace was attainable, so I pushed a bit harder and pretty much reached avg marathon pace again. It ended up being a progressive tempo run then with some testing hills in there. And the last section was against a wind too. Really need to run easier tomorrow so :rolleyes:

11.22k, 4:16 pace, 141m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116087098

village runner · 21-09-2011 10:03pm

Great running.............I rem really following your log for Rotterdam in 2009 and you had a super run in enniscorthy last yr. No doubt you have the potential to break 3hours.
Any ideas wy you havent broken it before ?? are you trying anything diff this time ??

Slogger Jogger · 21-09-2011 11:41pm

village runner wrote: »

Great running.............I rem really following your log for Rotterdam in 2009 and you had a super run in enniscorthy last yr. No doubt you have the potential to break 3hours.
Any ideas wy you havent broken it before ?? are you trying anything diff this time ??

I followed training plans before but a lot of my runs were same paced, slower and I probably did too much on the hills. This time I'm doing more on the road and more faster stuff - tempo, reps (400s mainly and hill reps). My pace generally seems to have moved up as a result. 3 hrs was only really a target for that marathon in Rotterdam and I was unlucky but in retrospect not properly prepared. Touch wood I'll be prepared for Dublin if I can avoid injury. Cheers.

Slogger Jogger · 22-09-2011 9:08pm

A deliberately relaxed run after 2 harder days. Slow and steady up to the top of the hill. Relaxed coming down. Perfect conditions. Evenings closing in.

10.75k, 4:58pace, 344m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116305115

Slogger Jogger · 23-09-2011 8:02pm

Handful of trail loops. Comfortable pace for the most part except the last k when I pushed it on a bit as the evening light faded badly. Goodbye long evenings.

I've gotten used to resting on Fridays but as I'm helping out at the WAR Powerscourt tomorrow I may not get the chance to run tomorrow, so a run this evening it was.

9.26k, 4:14 pace, 89m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116484875

Slogger Jogger · 26-09-2011 8:43pm

The weekend was a wash out. Saturday I was helping out at the WAR AR at Sugarloaf and I opted to rest til Sunday for my LSR. Sunday I ended up babysitting, it was p*ssing rain and I'd a headache into the bargain so a run wasn't an option in the end. Still, I'll probably benefit from 2 back to back rest days.

This evening I felt fresh as I headed out into a fine evening. Did a road and trail combination with had 2 testing hills in there. The 1st 6k were relatively flat and the pace was held at marathon pace fairly comfortably. After that the hills started so it was a case of not letting the pace go completely a-ways. Once at the top of the hill you could let go and stride out with gravity. A great feeling. The last section of trail through the woods it was very dark so had to try to mind my footing as much as possible when you can't see.

15.43k, 265m climb, 4:14 pace pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117301135

brownian · 26-09-2011 8:46pm

going well there, SJ. Gotta be getting towards a good place, as DCM comes into view.

Abhainn · 27-09-2011 3:55pm

SJ solid and consistant form of late. Don't worry about the 2 days rest. Any races ( I mean road

) planned in next two weeks?

Slogger Jogger · 27-09-2011 7:11pm

Abhainn wrote: »

SJ solid and consistant form of late. Don't worry about the 2 days rest. Any races ( I mean road ) planned in next two weeks?

Cheers. Doing the 3/4 marathon in Athlone as a training exercise in pacing / replacement for a solo LSR. No other races in the offing though a sneaky 10k somewhere might be just the ticket at the moment as I seem to have found a bit of speed endurance from a consistent run of training.

Legs were heavy heading out this evening up the trails. I set my sights low then on a nice recovery session. Slow and steady to the top of the hill. Turning around the pace picked up without much effort. Before I knew it I had strung together 6 back to back sub 4 min ks. Gravity is a great thing. Some of which was on greasy trail with my well worn road runners. So a new training run is invented. The recovery to tempo run.

11.12k, 301m climb, 4:40 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117493939

Slogger Jogger · 28-09-2011 8:51pm

Really warm today but this evening when I set out to run the wind was blustery as hell. Ran a loop I've done a lot recently and the pace was low and fairly comfortable early on. Probably favourable breeze behind me early on. At the 5k mark and net downhill to here I was less than 4:10 pace avg with a trail hilly section to come. Didn't lose too much time on this 30s maybe, but as I turned towards Aughrim and home the headwind hit me. Still, managed to keep the pace ticking over until the 2nd hill just before home. Got to the top of that hill under marathon pace and a comfortable last k through the forest trail to finish in Annacurra village. A nice run. More evidence I hope that I'm running at a faster tempo than previous training regimes. Signs are good but I can't get ahead of myself.

10.82k, 104m climb, 4:11 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117736228

brownian · 29-09-2011 2:35pm

What's the DCM target, SJ ? You seem to be building up a decent head of steam...

Slogger Jogger · 29-09-2011 6:54pm

brownian wrote: »

What's the DCM target, SJ ? You seem to be building up a decent head of steam...

Cheers. I've a best of 3:01 so I hope and pray for a sub 3

This is the best sustained set of training I've done and I'm also at my best racing weight, c 68kg, so fingers crossed and all that.

brownian · 29-09-2011 7:02pm

After recent shock events overseas, I'm slow to tell anyone that it ought to be a cruise. But you seem to be well in the right zone - I'd have guessed you were thinking 2:55 or less, looking at the solid circa-4-minutes ks you're hitting on rougher ground. Yesterday's 4:11 pace would get you in handy enough, around 2:57...without all those hills and mud.

Slogger Jogger · 30-09-2011 9:03pm

Had no energy to run yesterday having gotten stuck in work.

This evening, 5 loops of the trail a stones throw from the house. Steady paced for the most part with a pick up in the final k.

11.05k, 109m climb, 4:14 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118136119

Slogger Jogger · 02-10-2011 6:43pm

Rested yesterday. An easy decision with the rain teeming down and with the race today.

Today, ran the 3/4 marathon with Pronator who was the pacer for those with a target of sub 3. The weather omens were good. Cool and cloudy before we started with no wind. Pretty much perfect conditions. Registration was very efficiently done and we lined up at the startline c. 11am along a narrow backroad. The backroads were pretty much what this route was about. Nicely countryside-ish, twisty and turny roads with some undulating hills, but overall pretty nice and well runnable.

Our plan was to run 7:30 mile pace. After a few miles we had a min in the bag, running comfortably. The hill after 5 or so miles didn't really present a challenge so our pace remained up. We'd a decent bunch of runners but they split as some were determined to run faster than our pace. So we had a core group of about 6 most of the way. Our other 3 hr pacer went ahead with the split group and finished 5 mins clear of us at the end. Not quite the spirit of pacing but there you go.

The pace was steady and the time flew. As the route was measured in both kilometres and miles a distance sign was almost always to hand.

Our group was reduced to 4 by the time we made the hill near the end. That hill wasn't too much of a challenge either and we ended up crossing the line about 2 mins to the good.

Nice running RAL3 who ran with us and sprinted clear towards the end for a good time.

Pronator's garmin is broke so this is the garmin track for my watch that he wore. I ran alongside with a conventional watch but our splits throughout at 10k, half marathon and the finish were the same give or take 1 second.

A physio rub down after was just the job. Couldn't hang around so hightailed it back to home. Would highly recommend this. Beats the hell out of doing a solo LSR thats for sure.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118611126
31.73k, 4:30 pace, 197m climb

Pronator · 02-10-2011 8:18pm

Great running today SJ - You talked your way round

and did not get out of second gear. A good sign for Dublin.;)

Krusty_Clown · 02-10-2011 8:23pm

Nice one SJ. How did it feel? Nice and comfortable? Looks like you're in very solid form.

Slogger Jogger · 02-10-2011 9:13pm

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Nice one SJ. How did it feel? Nice and comfortable? Looks like you're in very solid form.

Strangely comfortable, but the conditions were unreally good. The elevation chart for the race was in feet so hills measured in feet don't compare to Wicklow hills in metres

A day like today for Dublin would work very nicely.

Remember this as a possible event for next year. Its a good 'un.

RAL3 · 03-10-2011 9:41am

Very solid running yesterday SJ, you looked extremely comfortable and you were obviously running well within yourself (it was unsettling how it easy it was for you to chat away!) - bodes really well for your sub 3 DCM attempt.

When I eventually caught up with ye the company made it very easy to get through the last few miles - thanks again and best of luck with the rest of your training.

brownian · 03-10-2011 6:56pm

Good going, SJ. Sub-3 might be a little soft for you...:)

Slogger Jogger · 03-10-2011 8:26pm

Thanks guys. Soft or not brownian a 2:59:59 is the target. Anything else is a bonus.

The legs knew today they'd c. 20 miles done yesterday. The quads and calves were a bit sore. So not feeling comfortable today RAL3

Still, got out at lunchtime for a loop around Cabinteely along with Pronator. Oddly warm and windy and the pace was decent enough given the soreness.
9.2k, 4:32 pace

This evening, the calf muscles were sore and I was keen to dink them in cold water for a while. Snuck in a 5.1k recovery run around the woods before a 10 min soak in the outside water barrel. Felt great.
5.1k, 4:54 pace

brownian · 03-10-2011 9:01pm

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

.... a 10 min soak in the outside water barrel. Felt great.

Hmmm. In my part of Wickla they say that they ate their young out Annacurra way....I'm starting to believe it

Slogger Jogger · 04-10-2011 7:37pm

Initial plan to do some 400s in Kilgobbet were dashed by still sore calf muscles from Sunday. So settled for a road run instead. No real pace plan in mind so it was a case of see what happens. Out into the breezy lunchtime, heading towards Cabinteely then right up along the N11 to whites cross. Pace was steady but not fast up to here. Turning right down towards the rock road gravity played its part and at the end of the road an avg marathon pace run beckoned. Turned right, then left up past Stradbrook and kept the pace going to the end with a bit in the bag too.

9.58k, 4:12 pace, 83m gain
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/119140707

brownian · 04-10-2011 8:04pm

Sore calf or not, that's solid PMP running. Jammy 8-]

Slogger Jogger · 05-10-2011 7:41pm

Peeing down rain this evening so turned on the dreadmill for the 1st time in about a year. Did 10k starting at 12.5kph and progressing speed by 0.5 per k done. Last 3k were at 16kph. The dreadmill was protesting a bit at this, its top speed. So was I a bit. Finished in 41:28. 4:09 pace avg. Not in the least enjoyable but a necessary evil the odd time.

Pronator · 05-10-2011 7:48pm

I'll have to introduce you to the recovery run. Its a run you should try out, it might be a bit alien to you at the moment but its worth a try:D

Your in great shape, that coach of yours deserves a lot of credit;)

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Peeing down rain this evening so turned on the dreadmill for the 1st time in about a year. Did 10k starting at 12.5kph and progressing speed by 0.5 per k done. Last 3k were at 16kph. The dreadmill was protesting a bit at this, its top speed. So was I a bit. Finished in 41:28. 4:09 pace avg. Not in the least enjoyable but a necessary evil the odd time.

BeepBeep67 · 05-10-2011 10:54pm

Great training so far SJ, learn from past mistakes and follow a structured plan for the next 4 weeks and reap what you've sown.

Slogger Jogger · 06-10-2011 7:33pm

Took it relatively easy this evening. An easy choice as the wind was blowing something brutal. Avg 4:23 up to 5.5k distance. The 2nd half the pace stretched out a bit with 2 small hills in there and the worst of the head wind. Was good to be back into the forest trail for some relative shelter.

11.09, 4:32 pace, 128m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/119539111

Incidentally, had to fix the treadmill earlier. A bit of a bang near the end of my run last night ended up being a key screw between the running belt and the uproad unit shearing off. Clearly they don't make these things to take punishment. Found a similar nut and screw in my toolbox and fixed it up for the next outing whenever the weather is terrible enough to warrant it.

Slogger Jogger · 08-10-2011 12:07pm

Rested yesterday with a view to switching my LSR from Sunday to Saturday. Did 10 mins or so of various exercises to keep that ticking off.

An early start to watch the rugby. Never really got going today did we. As the final whistle went I was ready to head out the door. At the last minute I decided to do another LSR by forest loops, similar to what I did 2 weeks back. This time I brought a water bottle and gel with me. I could stash the bottle and drink from it on the odd lap. It was overcast and the grey conditions never let up. It was cool and a haze of drizzle was pretty constant. I took the loops handy and tried to run within myself. Counting them down 1 by 1. Did 15 in all, same as 2 weeks back. Felt good for the most part. In the closing 1/3 I was getting tired, probably more to do with the early start today than anything else. An early start LSR though is probably good practice for Dublin. Picked it up on the last 1 or 2 loops. Happy enough. 1 more LSR to go. Now its couch time.

32k, 4:44 pace, 312m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/119823953

Pronator · 08-10-2011 7:33pm

Now you do recall our agreement, you can't finish in front of me:D Great run, one more to go, then it's cotton wool time.

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Rested yesterday with a view to switching my LSR from Sunday to Saturday. Did 10 mins or so of various exercises to keep that ticking off.

An early start to watch the rugby. Never really got going today did we. As the final whistle went I was ready to head out the door. At the last minute I decided to do another LSR by forest loops, similar to what I did 2 weeks back. This time I brought a water bottle and gel with me. I could stash the bottle and drink from it on the odd lap. It was overcast and the grey conditions never let up. It was cool and a haze of drizzle was pretty constant. I took the loops handy and tried to run within myself. Counting them down 1 by 1. Did 15 in all, same as 2 weeks back. Felt good for the most part. In the closing 1/3 I was getting tired, probably more to do with the early start today than anything else. An early start LSR though is probably good practice for Dublin. Picked it up on the last 1 or 2 loops. Happy enough. 1 more LSR to go. Now its couch time.

32k, 4:44 pace, 312m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/119823953

Slogger Jogger · 09-10-2011 12:51pm

Tired this morning. But this run was just the ticket. Clear the head and get the legs moving after yesterday's LSR. Settled on a trail run to the top of the local hill. Wind was quite blustery and wasn't favourable for much of the run. Got into a steady groove and kept it going to the top of the hill. A bit of drizzle was actually welcome. Turning at the top to descend I didn't push the pace on tired legs. Took it handy to the end.

A good training week. 91k total. One much long week to go then taper time.

14.04k, 4:49 pace, 321m climb.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120085548

Slogger Jogger · 10-10-2011 8:50pm

3 weeks to go. Took it relatively easy on this one. I'm a lucky lucky man. Not only do I have a forest with nice trails beside my house, but in recent weeks work is being done to develop extra trails. The guys were working at the weekend and I took a sneak pick at their travails on my run this evening, and it was pretty damn good. A new circuit is opening up for me. Some is your regular fire-road trail, but other parts are rougher single-track, twisting and turning around tree stumps. I did 3 and a half loops of the intended trail. Underfoot conditions isn't great yet as it isn't finished but I can see that it will be brill when it is done. You could have a nice race here too of a few laps perhaps. Legs feel surprisingly okay after the weekend.

9.5k, 190m climb, 4:50 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120488765#

Slogger Jogger · 12-10-2011 8:17pm

Yesterday I was pressed for time so opted not to run and just did some exercises while the match was on.

Felt well rested today. Got out this evening in fading light and did a similar trail run to Monday. Each of the loops was nearly 2.5k, so did 4. Avg pace crept up each time. The work on each loop was the 50 to 60m climb over a relative short distance. After that the loops felt fairly comfortable. Really love the twisted and turny single tracks through the trees. Slight risk of slipping or going over on the ankle, but nothing bad happened. Pushed it on the final run in. Happy enough. Runs like this are why you want to run.

9.79k, 4:30 pace, 217m climb
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/121044923

Baby steps

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