Putting down the spoon

catweazle

Friday Lunch: Just 40 minutes on the turbo

Saturday Afternoon: Between a filling put in that was borderline root canal on wednesday that was still killing me, dozed up on antibotics and painkillers I was just about to head off on a rare run in Oranmore, I got the call to say the wife forgot her keys. So back in the car and drove home again and then got caught for some menial work. I eventually got out that evening and I hated every second of it, was close to packing it in a few times but dogged out 17k at 4.57 pace. AHR=145

Sunday: No-one to really blame here, I had a 1 hour 30 window to do something between mothers day visits but I just wasn't in the form. Tooth feels a little better this evening so perhaps I might dodge the root canal road yet

catweazle

Monday: With child minder duties swapped around this week I got in an easy run during the afternoon. 8k @ 4.57. Coldest day of the year I would guess, the breeze would cut you in two. Not an enjoyable run

Monday Evening: A quick swim of 1000m, including 5 x 108 off 2.10

Tuesday Lunch: The plan was an 8k tempo run close to race pace, I was going well at the outset but after the first km I turned into the wind. I had stopped taking the painkillers last night for the filling but a bitter breeze plus inhaling large amounts of cold air caused havoc with the tooth and I had to stop and walk with the pain. I got going again and at an easier pace it was more manageable. 8k @ 4.37. Would have liked to have got these in closer to race pace, I worry I haven't done enough at 4.20 pace recently

Wednesday Lunch: Pushing through the gears for 40 minutes on the turbo

Thursday Evening: 15k @ 4.40 pace. This was a better run than recent efforts, perhaps because I had finished the rounds of antibiotics the previous day. I am finding around 4.40 pace to be fairly comfortable, however I pushed the last 2 into 4.20 pace. Had to look at the Garmin a few times and was disappointed to only see I was holding 4.20 pace, the effort felt much more difficult. Heart rate was ok at 153 average but legs felt a bit tired.

Anyways besides a few bits and bobs that's more or less it for me now till sunday week. The taper starts with a stag bus is coming for me in the morning and it will feel like stepping into a funeral hearse - a 3 day stag awaits- I have been told we are going to Cream in Liverpool tomorrow :eek: 20 years ago I would have been frothing for the mouth to go there.

Expecting a very messy one there's loads of lunatics going on this one - Mrs C has being giving me more "don't do this - don't do that lectures" than usual :rolleyes:

sconhome

Life is a constant 'to-do' or 'don't do' set of lists, both of which wind fellows up no end!

Fair play to you digging in and getting the work done. Enjoy Liverpool & the 'taper'.

catweazle

A tough weekend finally in the bag - I woke up on the first morning after a big night. Couldn't remember how I got back to the hotel room the locker beside me was phone, cash, wallet and passport. A great start I thought until I looked down at the other side of the bed - hmmmm I will be leaving room service a decent tip as an apology

The rest of the nights weren't too bad as everyone as per usual went too hard the first night. I was disgusted to find staggering home on my last night an Evans Cycles superstore, just up by the hotel. Where was that when I was walking the streets in the morning trying to avoid meeting up with the early drinkers.

Managed 8k today which wasn't too bad - stuck the Garmin in the back pocket and just ran easy, I was happy to see 5.02 pace for the 8k when I got home. An annoying run, the 3 farmer dogs which I avoid running by were over this side of the area as I presume the bollox was cutting silage or something. While I thought they were going to pounce on me they aren't quiet as cocksure as they are outside their own house so I just tightened the buttocks and walked by trying to not catch their eyes, I only got a few go on son keep moving growls for a change, had to go through this ritual on the way home again then

Back up in Belfast for Wednesday and thursday of this week will bring the runners but doubtful I will get a chance so this will be a real wind down week before sundays race. Looking forward to getting it over with - while I will keep 3 tough runs a week, I have to get moving on the bike and swim.

On another note my friend the Fishmonger texted me from the Barcelona Marathon with a 3.47 time, delighted he beat my pb the bastard. I was surprised to say the least, I thought he would go sub 3.30 comfortably. But looking at his splits he had definitely targeted a 3.45 before slowing up slightly on the last 5k. While I was effusive in my praise back to him - I did have a sickeningly smug grin on my face that I would eat 3.47 for breakfast if I can keep the training good for it. :cool:

Dory Dory

How much was the tip? :eek:;)

sconhome

How are you fixed for Craughwell? I've been tempted with an entry . . . .

catweazle

amphkingwest wrote: »

How are you fixed for Craughwell? I've been tempted with an entry . . . .

Not great so far - I tried a few 4.20k's today and I was crawling with a stitch just coming up to the 2k mark

I have a choice of going for perhaps a "safe" 4.30 average pace or risk all blowing a gasket at 4.20 pace, I now may have the added pressure of you going by me if I blow up as well

I will see how I feel later in the week, in fairness I am wrecked today the heebie jeebies only really kicked in last night and I hardly got a wink of sleep but I am certainly not as happy with how I was going coming up to Kinvara.

pgibbo

What happened to the "I was taking it easy on AKW in Kinvara and I could have handed him his ar$e" attitude from the week after Kinvara???? :rolleyes::pac::p

sconhome

pgibbo wrote: »

What happened to the "I was taking it easy on AKW in Kinvara and I could have handed him his ar$e" attitude from the week after Kinvara???? :rolleyes::pac::p

:eek: :eek: Lies, damn lies!! The fecker was drafting off me all the way round, huffing and puffing like and old chimney. I even told him there'd be no sprint finish as I didn't want to embarass the lad. :rolleyes:

catweazle

Very little done this week with me working in Belfast again, stayed the night in the Maldron in Tallaght and snuck in a quick 1000m in the pool on thursday morning. An easy set of repeats on friday with 4 x 800m at 4.20 pace left me in a reasonably positive mindset.

Sunday Craughwell 10 mile Race:

This was one of the bigger goals of the year and right from the start I picked an optimistic goal of a sub 70 race. Unlike me I pushed hard on most of my training plan - with more hands on the knees moments in the last few months than in my lifetime. I tend to perform better in races than training so I never lost hope that I would get under 70 minutes.

The day was baltic and the first worry was that the filling would act up and I had regretted not taking some painkillers. Arrived nice and early and met a few of the usual heads and a few from the triathlon club. Ran down to the start with Frenchie and when he mentioned I should be looking at sub 70 I surprised myself by saying yes absolutely, I usually fob off a mumbled reply to being put on the spot like that.

Lined up at the start in the sub 70 section along with what seemed most of the Galway Triathlon club and off we went.

Straight away I was feeling good, the Zoots were making a rare outing and I was bouncing along - the start is mainly downhill and I was straining to slow down and I came in at 4.02 pace. I settled a bit after that but still came through the 5k mark in 21.15 - a little too fast but only by about 25 seconds. Nothing too much of note in the 2nd 5k set except for a bit of ambush marketing by Amphkingwest - I know where you live now tubby

Trundled on and came through 10k at 43.00 on the button - 40 seconds banked at this stage. I mentally reevaluated myself at this stage, certainly I could hold this pace comfortably for another few kms but I knew there was going to be some suffering eventually. It was going to be touch and go for sub 70, I knew I wasn't going to blow up royally at this juncture - which if you had offered me this situation at 10k before the race I would have bit your hand off

It came at around the 13k mark, nothing too bad just I could feel the energy wavering a little. I was in a little group of about 7 or 8 people, taking shelter from the wind and one of them was the butcher boy. I used to work with him in Tescos when I was back in college, hes a big lad with a decent bit of weight on him but hes well able to run as I found out when I tried to stay with him in this race in 2010 when he broke me at around the 12k mark.

He was beginning to struggle so I pushed on at the back of the group. I had finally turned on my HRM at the 12k mark and I was in the high 170's, 4k left is a long time for me at that heart rate I was blowing hard but I was ok. Km 13 was 4.28 but the group made up for it with a 4.15 Km 14.

KM 15 was where I made two costly errors, the group was pushing it into 4.10 pace and we were down to 4. There was a slight drag and I was really beginning to struggle and looked at the watch and did some mental arithmetic, I was still around 4.18 pace for 15k and knew I had a few seconds banked and I let them go and allowed myself a 4.32 km and I was following this up with another 4.30km until I realised that I was just coming up to 16kms and no sign of the finishing line. I had made the rookie mistake of forgetting that it would be more than 16kms of running with me not on the race line and I gave into the demons when I should have hung on for dear life to the group

I immediately broke into an ugly sprint - I was gone, I got the 16th km back to 4.23 and the .16 extra I ran was done at 3.44 pace but it was these 34 extra seconds that I hadn't factored that killed me and I knew crossing the line I was just over 70 minutes.

I still had hopes of scraping through with the chip time but they were dashed with a 70.02 finish confirmation. So 16.16k at 4.20 pace. Overall 115/618.

Mrs C remarked when I came home it was the first time she ever saw me disappointed with a race, I was peed off with myself getting so close - it would have been easier if it was 20 or 30 seconds off.

Still it was good running all the same for me - many a time I had my hands on my knees broken after 6-8kms at 4.20 in training so to get get over 16 at that pace is encouraging.

A 19.xx 5k and a 41.xx 10k I suppose is next on the list

griffin100

2 secs.......thats tough. Sub 20 5km and 42 10km will be no bother to you.

Trig1

Hard Luck Catweazle...2 secs is a balls!! congrats on a great run though, savage splits..I'd love to be able to hold that pace for 16k

Dory Dory

Three things cw.....

1) 20 to 30 seconds would suck way worse than 2 seconds....
2) it's a 10 MILE race so it would be much easier on the gentle reader if you refrained from alternating between miles and kilometers and just stick to the purity of miles as this gentle reader is getting whiplash from all the math computations I had to do in my head....and,
3) well done on yet another super race, super time, and super report.

sconhome

Tubby!! :eek:

I'll have you know, you took your sweet time getting around to halfway I was damn near frozen lying in that ditch taking photos.

Theres that little fat on me I'd x4 jackets on me to stop me from shivering to death.

Tough luck on the timing, you needed Polar reliability out there to help you today. Roll on the summer!

( well done, BTW ) :cool:

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Why be upset, last year or year before you would have been delighted with that time. Running in particular you seem to be making good strides this year.

pgibbo

Elisabeth Bald Meteorite wrote: »

Why be upset, last year or year before you would have been delighted with that time. Running in particular you seem to be making good strides this year.

+1 on this. It's a big improvement and what's 2 seconds at the end of the day? The important thing to focus on is the fact that your running is improving.

Well done yesterday

catweazle

Dory Dory wrote: »

2) it's a 10 MILE race so it would be much easier on the gentle reader if you refrained from alternating between miles and kilometers and just stick to the purity of miles as this gentle reader is getting whiplash from all the math computations I had to do in my head....and,

Christ Dory, 10 miles in just over 70 minutes - 70/10 = 7 minute miles or 7.002 mile average pace if Kurt pulls me up on it

Elisabeth Bald Meteorite wrote: »

Why be upset, last year or year before you would have been delighted with that time. Running in particular you seem to be making good strides this year.

Now Jacky if only you would follow this logic yourself and stop being so hard on yourself

griffin100 wrote: »

2 secs.......thats tough. Sub 20 5km and 42 10km will be no bother to you.

I am back to my old sandbagging ways

Sub 19.30 and 40.xx are the actual targets.

Trig1 wrote: »

Hard Luck Catweazle...2 secs is a balls!! congrats on a great run though, savage splits..I'd love to be able to hold that pace for 16k

Judging by your 42.36 10k you wouldn't be far off I would guess

amphkingwest wrote: »

Tubby!! :eek:

Tough luck on the timing, you needed Polar reliability out there to help you today. Roll on the summer!

( well done, BTW ) :cool:

Considering my polar was telling me I was averaging 212 bpm I would question their renowned reliability. * I must break out the other strap

pgibbo wrote: »

+1 on this. It's a big improvement and what's 2 seconds at the end of the day? The important thing to focus on is the fact that your running is improving.

Well done yesterday

Hmmmmm I remember a 29.59 text for an 8k from you a few years ago - I wonder would I have got it if it was 30.02

Dory Dory

Per McMillan, we'll all be expecting you to go a sub 3:15 marathon at DCM....or faster since that's 7 months away. No pressure, cw.....

BennyMul

Hard luck CW, 2 seconds is a pain in the ..... but great running, really sets you up nicely for the year, and for DCM and aim high, a sub 3:15 is there for you.

catweazle

Dory Dory wrote: »

Per McMillan, we'll all be expecting you to go a sub 3:15 marathon at DCM....or faster since that's 7 months away. No pressure, cw.....

BennyMul wrote: »

Hard luck CW, 2 seconds is a pain in the ..... but great running, really sets you up nicely for the year, and for DCM and aim high, a sub 3:15 is there for you.

Ha we will see - I will admit I would be looking for lower than last years 3.30 goal. My sister lives in Hopkington where the Boston marathon starts so I couldn't think of a better excuse for my long promised visit over there. However I may have to wait till 2015 as all going well the qualifying time is a bit more manageable when you are in the 40's

El Director

CW - enjoyed your report as always. Well done on a great time and mighty running improvement. Forget about the 2 sec, it is irrelevant, that was down to a mistake and not the fact you couldn't do it. You will have now problem with those 5k and 10k targets either. will you try to fit them in between now and DCM?

menoscemo

Nice report, well done on Craughwell.
Just to point out the course wasn't long just because of the racing line, even with a jones wheel 10 miles is not 16km

catweazle

El Director wrote: »

You will have now problem with those 5k and 10k targets either. will you try to fit them in between now and DCM?

Yes I will most likely do one or two of the Galway 5k Race series in early April, I will leave the 10k for a little longer. I will perhaps look at a training plan for 10k, the big pb in the 1/2 marathon attempt and a probable grudge match with the Fishmonger most likely wont be till early October in Sathill so I have time to try and get a little extra speed in the meantime

menoscemo wrote: »

Nice report, well done on Craughwell.
Just to point out the course wasn't long just because of the racing line, even with a jones wheel 10 miles is not 16km

Had to google that 10 miles = 16.09kms As Dory will testify I probably should have looked at training in miles instead of kms - it would have been a lot easier for everyone

menoscemo

catweazle wrote: »

Had to google that 10 miles = 16.09kms As Dory will testify I probably should have looked at training in miles instead of kms - it would have been a lot easier for everyone

It's a common enough mistake. People assume 5 miles is 8k all the time just because it is 'close enough'. However an extra 50m is 12 seconds @ 4 min/KM. Those extra 90m in a 10 miler would take over 20 seconds at that pace.

Dory Dory

catweazle wrote: »

Had to google that 10 miles = 16.09kms As Dory will testify I probably should have looked at training in miles instead of kms - it would have been a lot easier for everyone

See?? That'll teach you for being such a smart @ss.

catweazle

Glad I read another few logs with miserable effort training weeks which makes me feel better about my own. Way too much easy mentions below for my liking. I was lulled back into my old habits of wine and nibbles by Filmfour showing a Godfather Trilogy and then swiftly following it up with the Lord of the Rings trilogy after it for the week. While admittedly not a huge fan of it at the time, I think watching the three LOTR's together rather than months apart was much better and it grew on me. Feel I have put on all the weight I have lost though, although it doesnt take much discipline to lose the initial 2/3 kilos but I havent a notion of getting down to 73 kgs at this stage, I will take getting back to 75 which should be doable

Monday: More or less a day off, legs were stiff from the race. I headed to the pool later but with kids off I only did 300m before retiring to the Jacuzzi

Tuesday: An easy 8k run, 4.48 pace from memory.

Wednesday: An easy bike - 40 minutes

Thursday: A little better, 15k. While I set out easy at out about 5 minute pace after the turnaround it got easier and easier as I went along and towards the end I was down in mid 4.30 pace. 15k @ 4.51 pace

Friday: An easy bike - 40 minutes

Saturday: An easy run - feeling tired. 8k @ 4.55 pace

Sunday: Have not been outside on the bike in a few weeks so not too challenging a distance, did a local loop which is approx 45k. While I was warmish for a while, it started to rain and it finally soaked through and I was frozen and thankful to get off the bike towards the end. First thing I did when I got home was go online looking for rain jackets, some mind boggling prices for a thin sheet of plastic. 27.2 pace for 45k

Monday: An 8k run at 4.58 pace, this didn't feel good, felt tired and fat. Went swimming that evening, this was better, kids there but I have made a pledge to get to the pool regularly from April 1st on and do some decent distances or I am just wasting my time this year. Kids were playing volleyball over my swim lane and I was fit to kill them at certain stages but huffed and puffed my way through 2000m

Tuesday: An easyish 40 minutes on the turbo, one last episode of the Heroes Season 4 to watch and then thats it. No more TV unless its a sufferfest (well at least until I can get Game of Thrones season 3 downloaded which wont be out till end of month anyways)

pgibbo

Fancy a pedal on Sunday?

catweazle

pgibbo wrote: »

Fancy a pedal on Sunday?

Ya sounds good, put in a long day today so I should have some passes built up

catweazle

Wednesday Lunch: Tried to run a little harder so 8k at 4.31 pace, I finally think I must have got a taper right as I don't know how I held 16k at a faster pace two weeks ago. I must plan my next A race around a stag the weekend before.

Wednesday Night: Evening swim, another 2000m. 1500 with pull buoy and then 500 without. trying to build up a little stamina and consistency before I hit Interested swim plans for definite next week.

Thursday: Nothing - wife was away so meetings in town and then Pudsy

Friday Lunch: Finished the last episode of Heroes Season 4 and was well rid of it. Season 1 was excellent and season 2 was passable but its been penance ever since

Friday Evening: Down to the pool and no lanes free with classes. Tried to get some lengths in the play area but a family playing volleyball made it impossible. Went into the sauna where two lads talking and imitating MMA moves drove me back into the pool. Got a lane and surprised myself by getting in the 2000m with 12 x 108 off 2.10 - its getting easier

Saturday AM: I am definitely getting to know what suits me running and certainly two days off is a disaster, I run best after a day off. The HRM when I turned it on read 170, sweat mustn't be up yet it will sort itself in a few minutes I thought. After 10k at 4.45 pace I stopped to walk past the Doberman (no sign of him) and the HR drops down into the 130's, its shoots back up to the high 160's almost as soon as I started back. Decided it was me that was broken and not the HRM and eased down for the last 5k as the legs were wrecked and I couldn't get it into the 150's at all. 15k @ 4.52 pace

Sunday AM: Stayed in the mothers last night as we were at the afters of a wedding. Wasn't too ropey the following morning so the plan was to cycle out to Furbo or so and then back home which should be about 50k all in. A tailwind straight away which had me giving out as most of this cycle would be into it out to the home house.

Coming back through Salthill I heard a persistent scrape from the front wheel, I spot a nasty slit in my tyre and a big black scrotum of a tube sticking out from it. Tube wasn't burst so I let it out a little so I could cycle back to the mothers but I let out too much and it wasn't worth using a CO2 cannister on it.

Shoes off and a 15 minute walk of shame back to the mothers house after only 15k, luckily Mrs C was in Salthill walking the young lad so I was able to cadge a lift home. A bonus was that my clothes were in the boot so I got out of having to stop in town to meet all the in laws down from the wedding as the bib tights aren't the most flattering items

So a poorish week but I think my swimming mojo is coming back - we are expecting another Kitten in the house in October and all this talk of we cant fly on 3rd trimester, shes as sick as a dog and having promised her I would do three weeks this year had me contemplating would I just stick to the running. No need for double sessions which is proving very difficult to get time for!

So Humbert is more or less out at the moment (sorry Amphking) and it looked like Kilkee was gone too, but I think after some pleading and grovelling I am back in for Kilkee and we fly out the following day, all depending on availability of course.

I think after Kilkee it will be a running year for me, which in a way I am looking forward to. The Fishmonger Amphkingwest and Dory will be getting an ass whupping all going well in DCM

littlebug

catweazle wrote: »

we are expecting another Kitten in the house in October

well congratulations

Dory Dory

Serious congratulations on the kitten-to-be. I had convinced myself this super news was going to be the excuse you were looking for to get out of doing DCM....so you can imagine my surprise at your cocky trash talk about the ass whupping. But hey, bring it don't sing it....I will see you at the start line darlin'.

catweazle

Dory Dory wrote: »

I had convinced myself this super news was going to be the excuse you were looking for to get out of doing DCM.

Its also the perfect excuse if you beat me at DCM - Ah Carol sure I have hardly slept a wink this last month

Dory Dory

And i have jet lag and all the stresses of travel as my excuse ace in the pocket.

catweazle

Monday Evening: Session 1 of the 750m swim plan, a gentle introduction. Main section was 4 x 216 off 4.35 and 6 x 108 off 2.15. Nice long recoveries so these weren't too bad. 2600 swam which is the most I have swam in a long time

Tuesday Lunch: The tuesday tempo run - started to blow hard a bit after 3 or 4k, dialed it back to 4.40ish pace for a kilometre. Twas nice 4.40 felt like I was recovering and picked it back up to high 4.20 pace for the last few. 8k at 4.30 pace. Still freezing out there - christ its almost mid april

Wednesday Lunch: Tried Sufferfests There is no Try, not a bad one to do only 54 minutes long so you can squeeze it into a lunch hour - although I didn't as I only had a 40 minute window. A 4 x 2 minute time trial in the middle of it which I got caught out by as I assumed there would be a recovery between each one - went flat out towards the end of the 1st one as I knew I was cutting it short to be instantly greeted by the 2nd set with yer man looking for this one to be quicker. Struggled through - but good session will do this one again

Wednesday Evening: Definitely getting the love for the pool again. Main section was 16 x 108 off 2.05, wasnt looking forward to this but halfway through it I said this isn't too bad and was able to hold low 1.50's for the lot. My form still feels poor but my endurance is coming back. First time I have pushed myself in the pool since last July

As per usual my essential purchase of a new tyre led to some unessential purchases of winter gloves, merino socks, bib tights and a fancy aero cage and bottle. I will need to stand guard for the postman next week. I cant go near those bike shop sites anymore I am worse than the wife for the shopping

pgibbo

How do you only have 40mins at lunch? You work from home most of the time and the turbo is only a hop away??? You sure you're not looking for excuses? :pac::pac::pac:

catweazle

pgibbo wrote: »

How do you only have 40mins at lunch? You work from home most of the time and the turbo is only a hop away??? You sure you're not looking for excuses? :pac::pac::pac:

Nah I would usually able to cadge an 1.15 if I really needed it, just only had the 40 minutes that day. Needed to be back at 2 and didn't finish for lunch until after ten past one

catweazle

Thursday Afternoon: First set of repeats in a long while and I treated myself to a very soft re-introduction. 5 x 800m with 2 minute recoveries at 4 minute pace. Found the efforts tough but 2 minutes was more than enough time for me to get my breath back. Will increase the reps and decrease the recoveries over the next few weeks

Friday Lunch: An honest attempt at Sufferfest's "There is no Try", not too bad, short bursts of speed suit me more than the longer steady efforts.

Friday Evening: An aborted attempt at the pool - but a crash in Claregalway led to a big tailback. Turned back and used a pass for tomorrow instead. A late night with the golf.

Saturday AM: This run was a bit better, had an actual plan of 5 at 5.00, 5 at 4.45 and 5 at 4.30 pace. Coming into the 5k at 4.30 pace I had myself convinced that 5k in the high 4.30s would be fine. But I seemed to get second wind and averaged low 4.20s instead with a nice sub 4 kilometre to finish. 15k @ 4.39 AHR - 153

Saturday Afternoon: Swim was going well, a lad with an Ironman Regenburgs cap gets in beside me so we were chatting. He was a decent swimmer so we ended up sticking to our own sides. An auld guy gets in beside us and starts doing the deadmans float down the middle of the lane at a snails pace. I couldn't believe it, squeezed by him once or twice and gave him a good splash each time with my hand entry to no avail. I gave up - weekends aren't the best time for that pool anyways. 2 x 400 off 7.10 and 7.05 was all I got in

Sunday Lunch: Changed the ripped tyre this morning in about 3 minutes - this usually takes me well over an hour. Another gatorskin but this tyre came unfolded which had me wondering was that the reason it was so easy?

With heavy winds and some torential downpours it didn't take me long to justify watching the Ireland run and Amstel bike race. A near 3 hour very leisurely cycle until shame made me pick up the pace for the last 20 minutes or so

A late night beckons tonight with the golf, I stuck 4 euros on Cabrera at ridiculous odds on Betfair so I have the apple tart and wine ready. I let out a loud roar when he got the birdie at 18 and my dreams of a Garmin 500 and Powermeter were dashed when the wife comes down wondering what the commotion was, any winnings if he holds on are now going to be transferred to a holiday fund :rolleyes:

El Director

pgibbo wrote: »

How do you only have 40mins at lunch? You work from home most of the time and the turbo is only a hop away??? You sure you're not looking for excuses? :pac::pac::pac:

I always think it's gas how hard P Gibbo is on you CW :pac: There's is no hiding for you and he certainly keeps you honest! :cool::p

Hard luck on the Cabrera bet, I had 5 on Day at rediculous odds myself - he blew it and my dreams along with it

catweazle

El Director wrote: »

I always think it's gas how hard P Gibbo is on you CW :pac: There's is no hiding for you and he certainly keeps you honest! :cool::p

Hard luck on the Cabrera bet, I had 5 on Day at rediculous odds myself - he blew it and my dreams along with it

Hes a free coach - I was down in his house the last day and his missus offers me some carrot cake - I had to wait for the nod from Paul before I could accept a slice.

The wife comes down to me after the cry of anguish after Scotts playoff winning putt to see me slumped on the couch with my head in my hands. Great TV but I think I aged about 5 years.

I did everything wrong I bottled under the pressure and laid him off a little at poor odds and then I held fast when he went into odds-on. Hes a super player when he is in the mix, he doesn't suffer from nerves at all, his major mistake was going for the green in 2 off the pine at 13 but that's what you get with him.

I thought Day was the best player over the weekend, he didn't make as many putts as he should have but tee to green he was fantastic

sconhome

catweazle wrote: »

So a poorish week but I think my swimming mojo is coming back - we are expecting another Kitten in the house in October and all this talk of we cant fly on 3rd trimester, shes as sick as a dog and having promised her I would do three weeks this year had me contemplating would I just stick to the running. No need for double sessions which is proving very difficult to get time for!

So Humbert is more or less out at the moment (sorry Amphking) and it looked like Kilkee was gone too, but I think after some pleading and grovelling I am back in for Kilkee and we fly out the following day, all depending on availability of course.

I think after Kilkee it will be a running year for me, which in a way I am looking forward to. The Fishmonger Amphkingwest and Dory will be getting an ass whupping all going well in DCM

Congrats CW, that's great news!!

The bad news is I won't be in Kilkee or DCM this year, so roll on 2014 the Grudge Year when we'll be two all on the chizzlers front.

PS I'm going set a time in Humbert that will make your eyes water

catweazle

Not a bad week so far, had mixed feelings about it today, sessions are way down on last year. I am finding it much harder to do double sessions but a lot of them would have been junk anyways. So when I started to think about it every session so far this week has been pushing it

Monday Night: A swim session. Some tasty splits here. 2 x 396 off 9.20 descending. The first one was steady and I was surprised at it coming in at 7.10, it was comfortable. I decided to have a crack at my current pb for the 2nd one. I kept it steady again but different to last time I maximised the turns, once I hit 12 I started to crank it up a bit and went all out for the last 2. Came in at 6.30 for the distance so 10 seconds better than last month, I wasn't too bad, think I could have dropped the hammer a little earlier perhaps on the 18th length. 3 x 216 off 4.55 descending after, breathing was fine but arms were gone. 3.52 / 3.48 / 3.45. 6 x 108 off 2.05 all in around the 1.55 mark

Tuesday Lunch: I couldn't find any of my copious amounts of equipment (they have been moved into a ornate teapot on the utility windowsill I have been told). So went out watchless - no idea of pace but I knew I was going too fast and paid dearly for it when I hit the headwind and blew up after 3k. Recovered and was able to go hard again for the last 2k. 8k total

Wednesday Lunch: A trip to donegal meant I snuck upstairs early and left the laptop beside me with the Skype open. I did Sufferfests Local Hero, strained and heaved towards the end and finally touched in the 160's for max HR. AHR = 126 Max = 161

Thursday Lunch: The dreaded repeats, got lucky with the rain squalls and dodged most of the rain. A run of two halves, the 800m down was coasting at 3.50 pace and the 800m back into the wind was balls out trying to get under 4 minute pace. reduced the recoveries and increased the reps to 6 x 800 at 4 minute pace. Was well gone after the last one.

Thursday Night: I didnt want to miss the swim so after a full feed of a stir fry I waddled off to the pool. As the belly digested the swimming got easier. Main set was 9 x 108 kick/pull/swim and 3 x 400 off 9.20. I was a bit disappointed with the swim times 7.30 / 7.20 / 7.16, I was working hard so I thought they would have been quicker

Friday Lunch: A little demotivated I decided to stick on my favourite Sufferfest Fight Club. Love the music on this one and it ended up being a good session. Fought on well and with an initial struggle to get the heart rate up towards the end I was hitting into the 160's. AHR - 129 Max - 162.

Hoping the weather stays dry so I can get my 4th cut of the lawn this year, its great to get it out of the way before the weekend -

You hear that Gibbo - the 4th cut!!!!!!! You will be looking for a machete to get through yours soon

pgibbo

LMAO - bad and all as my front is the back is worse. Here's hoping for a dry weekend

Pedal on Sunday morning? Hoping for 3 hours......

catweazle

Not a great weekend which was a pity after a decent week

Saturday: 17k run, I knew early enough the legs had nothing, probably the remnants of 2 recent sufferfests. I settled on keeping it at easy and just added 2k on as I was looking forward to seeing Gibbo slaving away in the garden. No sign of him but perhaps he was trapped in the undergrowth. Pace was 4.53 AHR - 151

Sunday: The plan was for a long one but huddled in under the canopy at Seapoint to avoid a heavy downpour an old friend pulled up in the car. Hadnt seen him in a while so I went for a coffee with him, another friend arrives in as well so I gossiped off most of my window at that stage. Had to head home straight after, after struggling in against a strong headwind at barely 20k+ an hour it was lovely to be 30K+ and hardly pushing the pedals. 42k in total

Got the go ahead for a swim later which pulled the weekend back a little into the black and gave me three sessions for the week. 8 x 216 pull off 4.30 and then 8 x 25 alternating hard and easy

Monday Evening: Another swim - enjoying this plan. There are some unusual drills in it. Tonights were 8 x 33 tri start for a warm up. 10 x 108 off 2.15 with a target pace of what I would do for a sprint, wasn't sure what to aim for so went steady on the 1st and came in at 1.44 so decided to stick with that for the 10. Th3se were comfortable but I needed every second of the approx 30 I had recovery between them

I was beginning to struggle to hold the 10 x 54 off 1 minute and wasnt looking forward to the 10 x 54 off 55 seconds coming up. I was quickly bullied out of the pool by a new pensioner swim class, had to laugh they didnt give a hoot just piled into the lanes and started chatting, walking and stretching waiting for the tutor to arrive. So that was that. Will need to be done from now on before 6.50 or I am nailed

pgibbo

I'm waiting in the long grass :pac::pac::pac:

I hear there's going to be coffee stops at races this year too. Hard to beat race simulation of a Sunday morning

RedB

CW - the Kitten comment went over my head but the penny is just after dropping :rolleyes:

Huge congratulations!

p.s. is Kalmar still on the agenda next year!?:)

catweazle

RedB wrote: »

CW - the Kitten comment went over my head but the penny is just after dropping :rolleyes:

Huge congratulations!

p.s. is Kalmar still on the agenda next year!?:)

Cheers Red!

An Ironman is still "hoped" for but I have to be careful with it, I still have the permission as I don't think Mrs C has really grasped how much this will cost. So not sure how to approach it yet, I am considering throwing my hat into Norseman and pray my number doesn't come out of the hat. If it does I can justify to myself (and to her) that it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity

Otherwise a cheaper and more convenient location to get to, I will be very interested in seeing how Abhainn gets on if he goes to Challenge Amsterdam, with 4 or 5 flights a day and little travel involved this may be ideal.

This all depends on how I get on with the new arrival in October, Pudsy was a dream kid and was sleeping a full night from 5-6 months on, it might be very different this time

However having experienced a few 40ths already I am desperate to get out of one myself so Hardman comes in as a cheap handy option with less pressure on me to do as well as I hoped if I am struggling with the training

catweazle

Tuesday Afternoon: Not a good tempo run, the first four were at 4.24 pace with a sky high heart rate and then I just slowed, I wasn't in the form to fight on. 8k at 4.41 pace

Wednesday Afternoon: Much better, the full Sufferfest Revolver. Reached a max heart rate of 171 on the 15th rep, I had emptied the tank and should have known there was a sneaky 16th thrown in. Couldn't drive on so bottomed out at 171. AHR - 140 Max - 171

Wednesday Night: Starting off with kickboard I thought I would struggle during this but the plan was just right for me and I ended up being delighted with the session. The main set consisted of 12 x 108 off 2.15 holding an easy but consistent pace - all these were bang on 1.55's. Then 12 x 54 off 1:00 with 3,6,9,12 fast. From memory all around the 55-57 pace with the fast ones around 50 seconds.

A shifty looking fella was watching me for ages which had my nose twitching but he introduced himself after and said he was studying my stroke for a few weeks to improve. Had to laugh and told him to perhaps have a look at youtube before using me as his muse while strutting off away from him clenching my buttocks

Thursday Lunch: I am hoping the Sufferfest was still in my legs or I am going backwards in the running. The plan was 7 x 800m at 4k pace with 90 seconds recovery but I was buckled after 2 of them. Decided it was either go home for the day or reduce the pace. So I decided to run the rest at 4.15 pace, still found it disappointingly difficult but better than going home I suppose

Thursday Night: Ideally I would have liked to do the 3rd swim of the week on friday but its easier for me to double up on thursdays and be present and accounted for the Late Late show. After the large feed of mexican I was struggling on the fast warm up but eventually found a rhythm in the 30 x 54 off 1.10 and was holding 53-55 range for the lot.

Friday Lunch: With me off TV and movies on the turbo I stuck on Hell Hath No Fury, conscious of last weeks poor long run on saturday I deliberately kept this easy but it was still a better workout than what I would do stuck into Heroes or Game of Thrones. I was surprised the heart rate was only an average of 118 when I finished it, it certainly felt harder than that heart rate

Friday Evening: 3 double sessions in a row :eek:, this one was unexpected but I was in the good books as I covered for Mrs C earlier while she was collecting for the Special Olympics. I didn't know what to do, I wasnt going on the bike again and I wasnt interested in heading to the pool. With a long run tomorrow i decided a light 5k recovery jog down to the bridge would be the call, first lazy run I have had in a long time. Twas enjoyable until I got caught in a hailstorm.

My new Giro winter gloves and Merino socks arrived just in time - due to be coldish this weekend so at least I will get to try them out before they go into cold storage

catweazle

Saturday Morning: A miserable long run on a beautiful morning. A flash sale in Chadwicks had me in a queue for a strimmers at 8:30 in the morning. A few strange looks at my choice of attire (Skins compression tights) and then a deal that I would run the prom while Mrs C and Pudsy would walk

I never like running this early anyways and I was useless, struggling to go under sub 5 minute kms - I had planned to do 18k but I caught up to the missus at 15k so I took over pram pushing duties instead as I just wasnt in the form. Going to take it easy this week on the training front, perhaps the legs need a break

Sunday Afternoon: Out to the hill in Abbeyknockmoy in what I thought was a crosswind. 3 times up it and then freewheel recovery down. I had expected this to be easy as I had the road bike which is a compact but my lack of hill climbing this year showed and I struggled on all 3.

Headed back home into a strong headwind which was a nightmare, glad to get home and was wrecked for the rest of the day. 53k at 25.3kph AHR - 123 Max - 157

pgibbo

I was tempted to hide your strimmers as it was out in the lawn when I ran by on Saturday evening

When are you going to take the TT bike out of cotton wool and start using it? :rolleyes:

catweazle

pgibbo wrote: »

I was tempted to hide your strimmers as it was out in the lawn when I ran by on Saturday evening

When are you going to take the TT bike out of cotton wool and start using it? :rolleyes:

Fat lot of good that strimmer would be to you - I would have been delighted to see it stolen, its a bastard to start up :mad:

As regards my lack of use of the TT bike dig - I do recall I have used it in two races this year which at a rough guess is two more times than you :cool:

Perhaps this weekend for the TT bike, looks like the home stag is now coming up this saturday for all those lucky punters that missed Liverpool, so I might take it over with me to the mothers on the night before.

It has been on the turbo since last year mind you so its not totally alien to me