The Boggers Log

AuldManKing

Great run there.
So you can say you''ve been 'in' Jordan and have the damaged ballbag to prove it!

On a serious note, great work this week. Would've been very easy to put the feet up etc, but you got straight back into it.

career_move

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Was on the road at 6.30 this morning.

Wanted to get the run in before it got hot and besides I didn't get much sleep with the guy in the room above me been audibly uxorious, whereas the only banging I was doing was on his ceiling to get him to keep it down

Nice word

ThebitterLemon

I'm back in Amman (and before Cleanman says it, no not Peter Andre!)

Suitably lubed up I hit the dreadmill for an ER.

Had no love at all for this, in fact yesterday's long run seemed easier.

Listened to the Cramps compilation album "Bad music for bad people" to help me through the drudgery but even that couldn't see me past 5k

Need to start a formal training cycle again soon.

TbL

drquirky

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

I'm back in Amman (and before Cleanman says it, no not Peter Andre!)

Suitably lubed up I hit the dreadmill for an ER.

Had no love at all for this, in fact yesterday's long run seemed easier.

Listened to the Cramps compilation album "Bad music for bad people" to help me through the drudgery but even that couldn't see me past 5k

Need to start a formal training cycle again soon.

TbL

Tbl

If you are Amman any longer- I highly recommend going to Hashem:

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g293986-d1918356-Reviews-Hashem-Amman_Amman_Governorate.html

Best falafel I've had anywhere and it costs 50 cents or so a pop.

Also books@cafe is good for beers (they can be hard enough to find in Amman). Great city though

ThebitterLemon

drquirky wrote: »

Tbl

If you are Amman any longer- I highly recommend going to Hashem:

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g293986-d1918356-Reviews-Hashem-Amman_Amman_Governorate.html

Best falafel I've had anywhere and it costs 50 cents or so a pop.

Also books@cafe is good for beers (they can be hard enough to find in Amman). Great city though

Tnx DrQ, (you're up early!)

Do you know anywhere where I could get a few miles in outside, I've tried twice and failed. I asked at the hotel and they looked at me like I was mad and told me to use the dreadmill.

I was supposed to be here for two days and a week later the running gear is starting to look/smell like a used bidet towel

TbL

ThebitterLemon

I got demobbed from Jordan and shipped to Sydney.

Couldn't sleep so ventured out to try and get a bit of life into the legs and to see what the lay of the land is, running route wise.

Staying near the Botanic Gardens so ran around there for a while. Grand for a short run, but a lot of dead ends and steps. I'll have to try and find the Sydney equivalent of a long stretch of soft bog Connemara road, if I'm going to get a long run in at the weekend.

It was incredible to see the amount of people exercising so early in the morning.

Did 4.8 easy miles, I'll try and get out again this evening and find some LR route potential.

TbL

Tom Joad

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

I got demobbed from Jordan and shipped to Sydney.

Couldn't sleep so ventured out to try and get a bit of life into the legs and to see what the lay of the land is, running route wise.

Staying near the Botanic Gardens so ran around there for a while. Grand for a short run, but a lot of dead ends and steps. I'll have to try and find the Sydney equivalent of a long stretch of soft bog Connemara road, if I'm going to get a long run in at the weekend.

It was incredible to see the amount of people exercising so early in the morning.

Did 4.8 easy miles, I'll try and get out again this evening and find some LR route potential.

TbL

Isn't aerobics oz style filmed in Sydney - I'd just run in circles around the park they do it in - cos I learned my best stretches from that show!!

Gavlor

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

I got demobbed from Jordan and shipped to Sydney.



TbL

Are you in some kind of George Clooney movie role?!

ThebitterLemon

Gavlor wrote: »

Are you in some kind of George Clooney movie role?!

Ha ha, if I am I'm not attracting any decent calibre female fans!

More like the movie "run fat boy run 2" and if I don't get a LR in this weekend it'll turn into a horror movie

TbL

Calvin Johnson

Have you been home since Seville?

Do Mrs Lemon and all the little lemons miss their bitter lemon?

ThebitterLemon

Calvin Johnson wrote: »

Have you been home since Seville?

Do Mrs Lemon and all the little lemons miss their bitter lemon?

Only for a couple of hours.

The middle little lemon misses his Da the other two wouldn't care if I was turned into fruit pulp and Mrs Lemon initially enjoyed the bitter free zone but is now starting to think TbL may be sampling the forbidden apple in the garden of Eve.

TbL

Ososlo

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Only for a couple of hours.

The middle little lemon misses his Da the other two wouldn't care if I was turned into fruit pulp and Mrs Lemon initially enjoyed the bitter free zone but is now starting to think TbL may be sampling the forbidden apple in the garden of Eve.

TbL

:eek: What you getting up to??? Do tell!

SamforMayo

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Only for a couple of hours.

The middle little lemon misses his Da the other two wouldn't care if I was turned into fruit pulp and Mrs Lemon initially enjoyed the bitter free zone but is now starting to think TbL may be sampling the forbidden apple in the garden of Eve.

TbL

I thought they were all with you, you jammy fecker, Im getting to Westport for a night on my own and I consider myself lucky!

AuldManKing

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Only for a couple of hours.

The middle little lemon misses his Da the other two wouldn't care if I was turned into fruit pulp and Mrs Lemon initially enjoyed the bitter free zone but is now starting to think TbL may be sampling the forbidden apple in the garden of Eve.

TbL

So the lemon needs to keep away from the passion fruit and ensure his banana doesn't ripen beside the juicy pears.

Ososlo

AuldManKing wrote: »

So the lemon needs to keep away from the passion fruit and ensure his banana doesn't ripen beside the juicy pears.

Fruit porn:eek::eek::eek: I've heard it all now!

SamforMayo

Ososlo wrote: »

Fruit porn:eek::eek::eek: I've heard it all now![/QUOTE
Oh there is a term for it is there? Im gone right off fruit after that.

Duanington

(...stops by to see how TbL is getting on with his training.....moves swiftly along to the next log..)

belcarra

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Staying near the Botanic Gardens so ran around there for a while. Grand for a short run, but a lot of dead ends and steps. I'll have to try and find the Sydney equivalent of a long stretch of soft bog Connemara road, if I'm going to get a long run in at the weekend.

There's a really nice route along the seafront from Bondi to Coogee that you could incorporate into your long run. Perhaps drop in to Centennial Park en route from Botanic Gardens. That would give you a great basis for a long one with about 18km out and a shorter/less scenic/more direct route home making for a 35km run.
What's the weather like? Very warm??

ThebitterLemon

belcarra wrote: »

There's a really nice route along the seafront from Bondi to Coogee that you could incorporate into your long run. Perhaps drop in to Centennial Park en route from Botanic Gardens. That would give you a great basis for a long one with about 18km out and a shorter/less scenic/more direct route home making for a 35km run.
What's the weather like? Very warm??

Tnx Belcarra,

I'll look into that Centennial Park route.

It's too warm for me! I was sweating buckets after 4 miles before the sun even came up this morning.

TbL

ThebitterLemon

belcarra wrote: »

There's a really nice route along the seafront from Bondi to Coogee that you could incorporate into your long run. Perhaps drop in to Centennial Park en route from Botanic Gardens. That would give you a great basis for a long one with about 18km out and a shorter/less scenic/more direct route home making for a 35km run.
What's the weather like? Very warm??

Sorry Belcarra,

Are these two separate run routes you are suggesting? One out to Centenial park and another from Bondi to Coogee, I'm looking at a hotel map (without any scale) and they look miles apart.

I'll like to do the Bondi route, but am wondering how I'd get back to the hotel after.

Tnx for the tour guidance

TbL

Cleanman

AuldManKing wrote: »

So the lemon needs to keep away from the passion fruit and ensure his banana doesn't ripen beside the juicy pears.

Ah Jaysus, I'm after spilling my morning cup of coffee here at work reading this filth...

belcarra

I was intending it as one long run. Here is the jist of it:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/367964937
You could lengthen it by retracing your steps from Bondi and back via Coogee and Centennial Park again but whatever you think.
This is based on memories from being there 11 years ago but it was before my running days so not sure what it would be like as a run on the streets but as long as you don't get lost it should be good.
I even found a nice 100m climb for you too! ;-) (although I don't remember that hill being really as bad as that!)

If you wanted a LSR in a more rural setting I think you'd need to travel 40-60mins just to get out of the urban area so may not be worth it.

ThebitterLemon

Planned LR today. Am going to use Stazzas approach for the next few weeks.

The body clock is all over the place and was up at 4.30, got a quick bit to eat in the room and headed off.

The plan was to do at least 20 with 10 at MP +10/15 seconds.

When I got outside at around 5.30 there was rain water on the ground and I hoped it would rain some more as even at that early time I found it very warm.

Headed off towards Centennial Park and then tried to find my way towards Bondi Beach. (It was a bit of a struggle, my sense of direction is poor, I needed written directions from AMK to find the papal cross in PP!) After a couple of double backs (including one savage hill) and requests for directions I found myself approaching the beach. At this stage I was leaking sweat from every pore in my body and was completely drenched. I started to up the pace to try and get the +MP miles in, I was starting to struggle already so I decided to just run up and down the Bondi prom to get the miles in. I stopped at one end every time for a drink of water from the public fountain as I was focked at this stage.

I was starting to get a bad headache so pulled the plug after just over 15.5 miles. Not even the sight of some seriously fit native burds, running ahead could persuade me to do another few miles:)

I think it was only between 20-22• degrees during the entire run, but it seemed to seriously be sapping my energy. I'm here for another week so either I better acclimatise quick or the weather would want to get a whole lot worse.

Had a few bucks in my shorts so bought a cheap towel and tee shirt and took a swim in the Bondi waves (that weren't that impressive today, I've seen far bigger waves in Galway a few weeks ago!) Got the 333 bus back to the hotel and had a proper breakfast. Still have a lingering headache so need to get more fluids in.

MP splits; 7.19, 7.18, 7.29, 7.31, & 7.39

Total session time 2.05:19

TbL

belcarra

Just don't go mistaking dehydration for heat exhaustion! Also if it feels as though as you say then ease back on pace and forget about MP stuff during your lsr. No need to be too brave when conditions are against you! Just ease back and enjoy the 'scenery'!

ThebitterLemon

Ran to Centennial Park and took in a bit of the park. It was 5pm and it was still very warm. Did 56 mins ER.

Never thought I'd be harking for the wet & wild Connemara climate

TbL

ThebitterLemon

Did another ER today, 65 mins this time.

Again headed out to Centennial Park but this time took in the full loop, it was a bit easier today coz the loop was shaded by trees in lots of areas.

Sweated heavily again today but at least the shoes weren't squelshing like sodded sponges after todays run.

TbL

ThebitterLemon

Decided to use the hotel gym this morning.

Wasn't looking forward to it at all as I'd usually never do much more than an hour on the dreadmill.

Picked the dreadmill that was furthest away from the next nearest user.

It was warm in the gym, and I started sweating from the get go, after 20 mins a small little tributary had formed at the end of the dreadmill, 15 mins later we had added an estuary and at the end we had a full blow waterfall licking of the end of the tread.

I'd say that the treadmill hadn't ever experencied the pounding of a man of my girth and probably would have burst into flames were it not for the volume of sweat cascading onto it

Any way I ddi the following;

7 x 2k (MP-15 seconds, 4.20 pace)
1 x 2k (@ 4.08 pace)

All off 1k recovery @ 5.07 pace.

Happy enough to get the session done, all in 24k plus short wu/cd.

TbL

Stazza

Excellent work, Tbl. Nice to deposit the first session and have enough in the tank to do the last rep faster. Recover well - remember, it's during the recovery process that the adaptations take place.

ThebitterLemon

Stazza wrote: »

Excellent work, Tbl. Nice to deposit the first session and have enough in the tank to do the last rep faster. Recover well - remember, it's during the recovery process that the adaptations take place.

Thanks Stazza,

don't know how I'm going to manage the LR though, can't see myself even hitting 20 in this heat nevermind 22 but lets see.

TbL

belcarra

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Thanks Stazza,

don't know how I'm going to manage the LR though, can't see myself even hitting 20 in this heat nevermind 22 but lets see.

TbL

Was there any hint of a coastal breeze when you were out at Bondi?
If so maybe just keep to the coast for the coolest conditions?

ThebitterLemon

belcarra wrote: »

Was there any hint of a coastal breeze when you were out at Bondi?
If so maybe just keep to the coast for the coolest conditions?

Hey Belcarra,

can't honestly remember, I'm just back from Darling harbour and there is a good stiff breeze, hoping that lasts till Saturday. Temps for Sat are 21-28 degrees so I'm gonna head out again very early in the morning. I'll head to Bondi again and try and get in as many miles as I can from there.

TbL

ThebitterLemon

Did 46 mins very easy run.

Took in the Botanic Gardens at lunch time for this one, nice views throughout, natural, architectural and female:)

Legs felt a bit dead after the dreadmill session yesterday.

TbL

ThebitterLemon

Another ER run today, out to and a loop of Centennial Park.

It was overcast with a decent breeze so it made it a bit easier to get around.

All in, 59 mins nice and easy.

Hoping to get some class of a LR in tomorrow morning early.

TbL

ThebitterLemon

After last weekends fail I wasn't looking forward to the planned LR today and the day got off to a crap start.

Had the alarm set for 5am but killed it and went back to sleep till 10am!

Decided to do the run late evening when the temp was due to fall, but got a call just before lunch that has me been freight forwarded outta here tonight. Got into the gear in a seriously foul mood and headed out at about 2pm (mad dogs and Englishmen and all that). I copped a bit of luck weather wise, in that in started to cloud over and the sun was only coming out periodically. I had planned on running out to Coogee via Bondi and Centennial Park. There was a lot of traffic on the roads and it seemed to me to add to the heat in the air, so when I got to Centennial Park, I decided to change the planned route. I decided to do laps of the park instead and what I lost from a sceanery perspective I made up for with a traffic free loop, on a good running surface, mainly in the shade with drinking fountains dotted around the loop.

Happy enough with the decision and there was a bit of a breeze that helped as well. The park was very busy with families out and about, horse riders, roller bladers, a gang of lads playing cricket (I love almost every sport but cricket, give me a break!), there was even a team out hurling training.

There is a small incline in the loop and that section was exposed to the sun and it caused me problems every loop.

Ended up doing 8 loops and was starting to struggle a little on the last one, I think mentally I was psyched up to do 20 and once I got there the head starting drifting and telling me I was baked!

Didn't look at the watch much as I was concentrating on the laps so was a little surprised to see I'd done 20.5 miles @ 7.54 average.

Got a pint of milk and a banana, and I got some strange looks with my fat red face slurping a pint of milk and slobbing a banana into me

Walked the 2 miles back to the hotel and just as I was getting back it started raining, big fat rain drops. Fecking typical I'm been shipped out and the weather is turning Irish, they are celebrating St Paddys day here tomorrow so if it keeps raining at least it'll bring some authenticity to the event

Splits below:

1. 7.57
2. 8.14
3. 8.11
4. 8.17
5. 8.13
6. 8.06
7. 8.09
8. 7.51
9. 8.04
10. 7.46
11. 7.57
12. 7.51
13. 7.44
14. 7.46
15. 7.32
16. 7.44
17. 7.21
18. 7.52
19. 7.35
20. 7.31
.5. 4.12

TbL

AuldManKing

Some great running in the last few weeks TBL. Great long run right there.


so all we'll have now are the 'bog' standard stories of running around Connemera? Hhhrrrmmppp.

ThebitterLemon

AuldManKing wrote: »

Some great running in the last few weeks TBL. Great long run right there.


so all we'll have now are the 'bog' standard stories of running around Connemera? Hhhrrrmmppp.

Ba Boom! Tnx AMK, although tales from the Bog side will have to wait.

I'm been shipped to Singapore, and it even hotter and more humid than here!

The last time I was there I found it hard to even run outside for more than 20 mins.

TbL

yaboya1

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Ba Boom! Tnx AMK, although tales from the Bog side will have to wait.

I'm been shipped to Singapore, and it even hotter and more humid than here!

The last time I was there I found it hard to even run outside for more than 20 mins.

TbL

Sounds like Limerick is going to be a bit of a culture shock for you!

ThebitterLemon

yaboya1 wrote: »

Sounds like Limerick is going to be a bit of a culture shock for you!

Ha ha, and I doubt everyone will be calling me "mate" down in those parts

TbL

Ososlo

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Ba Boom! Tnx AMK, although tales from the Bog side will have to wait.

I'm been shipped to Singapore, and it even hotter and more humid than here!

The last time I was there I found it hard to even run outside for more than 20 mins.

TbL

You lead a very interesting life of late! International man lemon of mystery:D

ThebitterLemon

Ososlo wrote: »

You lead a very interesting life of late! International man lemon of mystery:D

Agent 00Lemon

TbL

AuldManKing

I love Singapore - been there about 10-12 times over the years. Lovely city.

I've yet to run outside though - all my runs have been on the dreadmill there.
I'd say you'd get funny looks running up Orchard or down Clarke Quay at mid day.

ThebitterLemon

Arrived in Singapore last night, it's about 5 years since I was here last and I'd forgotten how hot and sticky it actually is. When I got out of the taxi at the hotel I was hit by a wall of heat that seriously fogged up the specs.

This morning I had a short walk to my meeting, but once I arrived I was literally sweating through my suit. I had vague notions of doing a run outside today but the walk this morning put me completely off the idea.

Lunch was an experience and a half, I went to an indoor market type of place that had many different small food stalls. The food was great and really really cheap, if I was here full time I'd probably never eat at home. A plate of noodles with a couple of prawns and other "seafood" was about €1.70. Sampled a couple of other rice dishes and washed it all down with a glass of sugar cane juice (very sweet, even for my uncultured sweet palate). Had a dessert of "chin chow" that is basically a black herbal jelly with jellified coconut cubes and crushed ice. I really didn't fancy this but as I was in company I had to suck it up (literally!), felt a bit like Freddie Starr eating rhino testicles on that stupid jungle show

Did 35 mins easy on the treadmill after work, and treated myself to a massage afterwards. Was a bit weird in that the masseuse wore a face mask (covering her mouth and nose during the session) I know I perspire a lot but this was ridiculous! I spent most of the time glancing around in case Zed from Pulp Fiction made an appearance from a side door

Going to try and do a few tempo k's on the treadmill tomorrow and a 15 miler with 2 x 15 mins at MP -20 towards the end of the week.

TbL

ThebitterLemon

Pissing rain here today, if the rain doesn't soak you the sweat will.

Hit the threadmill with thoughts of doing a bit of a tempo session. Decided to try and do 4/5 x 1k at 16kph pace (3.45 I think), off 2 min recovery between reps.

Don't need much of a warm up here so got stuck into it pretty much straight away. Found the pace and heat a little uncomfortable at first so tried to distract the mind. Started thinking (don't know why) about a program that was on RTE when I was a young lad, Superstars I think it was called (some of the auld lads on here might remember it) and it involved various sports people undertaking different challenges to see who would be crowned the Superstar. Anyway what I remembered about this was that Pat Spillane and some canoeist used to have colossal battles at the chin ups, so I decided if I got through tonight's session I'd start giving chin ups a go.

Ok back on track, I hate the threadmill, especially at tempo speeds as I usually get the sensation that I'm only a fraction away from falling off. Did 4x1k at 16kph off 2 mins and did the last 1k at 16.7 kph. Was hanging on for dear life at the end of this one and wouldn't have been able to go any further.

Happy enough, and finished up with a full two & half chin ups, I'll need to call Duanington to get some mentoring:)

TbL

FBOT01

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

...............Started thinking (don't know why) about a program that was on RTE when I was a young lad, Superstars I think it was called (some of the auld lads on here might remember it) and it involved various sports people undertaking different challenges to see who would be crowned the Superstar. Anyway what I remembered about this was that Pat Spillane and some canoeist used to have colossal battles (Declan Burns) at the chin ups, so I decided if I got through tonight's session I'd start giving chin ups a go..................

TbL

Not admitting to remembering this but asked my Dad for you;)

Duanington

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Pissing rain here today, if the rain doesn't soak you the sweat will.


Happy enough, and finished up with a full two & half chin ups, I'll need to call Duanington to get some mentoring:)

TbL

:):)
2.5 becomes 3 - which then becomes 4.....before you know it you'll be doing chin ups in cigar-smoke-filled rooms!

ThebitterLemon

FBOT01 wrote: »

Not admitting to remembering this but asked my Dad for you;)

Thx FBOT01,

Was wrecking my head trying to think of his name.

Tell your Dad, thanks and say hi to your Ma for me

TbL

Ferris B

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Superstars I think it was called (some of the auld lads on here might remember it)

Guilty.;)

ThebitterLemon

The far away fields are greener, wetter and a whole lot windier.

Arrive home earlier and checked into a hotel. Got a full Irish and an hours kip and decided to head out for a session. Luckily I had a smelly old base layer in the car as it was cold.

Today's plan was to do 15 miles with 2 x 15 mins at MP -20 seconds (MP is 7.15, hopefully)

I'm staying in Stephens Green so decided to head out and back along the canal. Found the wind hard to deal with on the way out and the first 15 mins tempo was a bit disheartening and I could only manage MP -16 for the first rep. It was only when I turned around that I realised the effect of the wind as I really started to pick up the pace and managed the next 15 min rep in MP -40 seconds.

I was feeling strong now and kept the pace at a good clip finishing the last 4 miles in 7.16, 7.06, 7.05 and 6.58.

Finished the 15 miles in 7.15 average, by complete coincidence that's my PMP.

Felt strong at the end, and delighted with that session, first confidence boosting session I've had in a while.

TbL

Duanington

Well done TbL - fair play to you for keeping up some kind of routine with all the travelling.

ThebitterLemon

Duanington wrote: »

Well done TbL - fair play to you for keeping up some kind of routine with all the travelling.

Thanks D,

nice to be able to run in a tempreture that didn't leave me with a big red face, like Mr Angry, at the finish!

No chin up bar in the hotel so my record still stands at 2.5

TbL