Mum on the Run

Bungy Girl

So, I thought I'd get in before the New Year's rush with a log of my own. Always wanted to start one but was worried I'd be talking to myself, then realised it doesn't really matter if I am. It'll be just like home
Also I'm feeling very motivated after a PB at Jingle Bells yesterday. And feeling a bit sore and stiff. And hungover (in the interest of full disclosure). I probably over-celebrated the PB.
I've been running about 10 years now. First started in an effort to lose weight (I now weigh about 3 and a half stones less than I did then) then decided to do the mini marathon and followed the training programme in the Evening Herald. I know the Mini has its critics but it was a major motivator for me to keep training and by the time I completed it (in a sweaty, red-faced heap) I was hooked and now I can't imagine not running. I get very very grumpy if I can't run.
I don't need any motivation to train but I do need more time. Between work, Bungy Junior and life stuff it's hard to fit in 5 runs a week but I do make it a priority.
I've set a few goals for 2015 and I'm hoping the log and the collective wisdom that is Boards will help me achieve them. In no particular order I want to :

Make it onto the Ten Round Numbers Table - a lofty ambition for an aul wan but nothing ventured etc.
Build mileage sensibly* to 35-40 p/w
Keep injuries at bay by continuing to work on core strength, stretching and all the boring stuff when I'd rather be running

*I am not known for being sensible

Current PBs (all 2014 with a couple of exceptions)

1 mile 06:18
2 miles 13:28
5K 21:05
5 miles 35:51
10K 44:43
10 miles 01:19
Half Mar 01:57
Marathon :o:o really prefer not to say, but I did finish !!

Key races for 2015 will be Raheny 5, Sportsworld 5, Dunshaughlin 10K, The Lakes 10K and hopefully Off the Laois Half Marathon so I can get over my horror of anything longer than 10K.

Currently averaging 25 miles p/w with a long run of 7-8 miles. Don't do much speedwork but I race a lot and I do like hills

SamforMayo

Hi, I will follow this with interest! Your HM time does look out of tune with your other times which I am jealous of. It is hard getting out 5/6 times of week with juggling kids and work. Best of luck with your targets.
Well done on your weight loss. Are you part of a running club?

Bungy Girl

Thanks SamforMayo. Yes it is all a bit of a juggling trick, not sure what I did with my time before Bungy Junior. I'm not in a club now (can't make the evening sessions) but I was a few years ago and still hang out with them at races. I do most of my training runs solo which I don't really mind but it's great to catch up with the girls at races and eat our bodyweight in cake
Yeah all the running calculators tell me I should be doing better at the longer stuff but my body just doesn't co-operate. Not enough miles in the legs and a tendancy to get injured conspiring against me. But I'm determined this year. And now it's in writing so I have to

RonanP77

I'm impressed with your times for 10k and the shorter distances, they're faster than anything I've managed so far. I've never run further than that so can't really comment. Best of luck with the training and the log.

Bungy Girl

Cheers RonanP77, I got a good long injury-free stretch of training in this year which really helped bring my times down and I think the core work is starting to pay off too. I suspect I would be held together with sticky tape if not for the strength work so it's a necessary evil!

DarByrne1980

looking 4ward 2 dis log bungygirl. u mightnt believe it but youve already got to a very good standard. so i dont see any reason why u cant hit all ur targets in 2015. looking forward 2 following ur progress! Go Mum-on-the-run!

Bungy Girl

Thanks for the vote of confidence DarByrne1980! I have been looking at the Ten Round Numbers table with a combination of envy and respect for a few years but now I'm thinking for the first time I could possibly/maybe/perhaps make it on there (with one of the softer times, natch ).

I'm so glad I started this log! Mr. Bungy's eyes glaze over every time I talk about running so it's nice to be able to ramble away without judgement

Dubgal72

Hey, best of luck with this, you have some great times there. That 10 round numbers table will soon have your name on it. We're also v similar in our approach to core, stretching/rather be running. We should nag each other

Bungy Girl

Deffo Dubgal72. I am told I am an excellent nag :rolleyes::rolleyes:. I don't know why I hate the core work so much because I always feel better after it and it's really helping my running, but Yaaaawwwn! It's funny, I read your log and thought 'she sounds a bit like me, only faster '

yaboya1

Bungy Girl wrote: »

I read your log and thought 'she sounds a bit like me, only faster '

That reminded me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P0JM3h7IQk

:pac:

Good luck with your training.

annapr

Good to see another fast woman with a log! I will look on admiringly (and from far behind )as you smash those targets. Well earned hangover for the PB on Saturday!

Bungy Girl

yaboya1 wrote: »

That reminded me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P0JM3h7IQk

:pac:

Good luck with your training.

Lol, can't beat Homer for the sage advice. Thanks for the good wishes Yaboya1.

Bungy Girl

annapr wrote: »

Good to see another fast woman with a log! I will look on admiringly (and from far behind )as you smash those targets. Well earned hangover for the PB on Saturday!

I'm still suffering the hangover but also still buzzing from the PB so I think it evens out. Gonna do my best to reach the targets, lots of support on here which really helps!

Bungy Girl

I suppose I can't bask in PB glory for ever so it was back to the grindstone tonight with the necessary evil that is strength & conditioning. Pilates, followed by gym work (nothing major, I'm a wimp when it comes to weights), some foam rolling (ouchers!) and a Body Balance class. Looking forward to a run in the morning if all goes to plan and I can fit it in before work.

DarByrne1980

Bungy Girl wrote: »

I'm so glad I started this log! Mr. Bungy's eyes glaze over every time I talk about running so it's nice to be able to ramble away without judgement

Ahh old running grump Mr. Bungrys! - there are sum really great running people around here. we all luv to talk running so u can ramble away all u want.

hope dat the hangover is gone ;-)

Bungy Girl

I’m following the Cool Running 10K Beginners training schedule at the moment with a few tweaks to account for a hilly goal race (The Fat Turkey after Christmas). Today called for 5 x 400s @ 5K-10K pace. I don’t own a Garmin and there’s no track near me so I just tend to improvise and figure it out later. After dropping a surprisingly co-operative Bungy Junior off I had about 40 mins for the session.

• Warm up 1.5 miles on grass
• 6 x 1 soccer pitch @ 5K effort with 60 secs recovery (later worked out at 4:11/Km pace which is about right)
• Cool down 1 mile on grass/footpath

Total 3.5 miles (ish)

Home in time for second breakfast, a quick wash and a brush and I’m done. Feeling slightly smug now, I love getting my training done in the morning especially in winter :cool:

Bungy Girl

Bit nippy out there this morning! I don’t mind the cold so much but the wind was fairly biting. More good behaviour on the part of Bungy Junior meant I had enough time for a decent run before work this morning. I say good behaviour, I mean submission due to the fear of upsetting Santa Claus, but hey I’ll take it when I can.

I try to run on grass as much as possible to protect the creaky joints and I’m lucky enough to live near a park where I’ve carved out a mile loop on a mix of grass and trail. 3 and a half laps then half a mile home. Done and dusted.

• 4 miles easy (36:30)

Tomorrow’s supposed to be a rest day but Saturday isn’t looking good at the moment so I’ll try to get out again in the morning and leave Saturday free to do the million things that need to be done.

hillsiderunner

Bungy Girl wrote: »

I’m following the Cool Running 10K Beginners training schedule at the moment with a few tweaks to account for a hilly goal race (The Fat Turkey after Christmas).

That's a great race (at least the 2nd half is great), with the best logo ever (oh ... de cuteest), but be careful pacing yourself up the hill. Always a good bit of socialising in the Rugby club afterwards too.... I'm going to skip it this year because there's too much risk to my calf from a hilly race.

Feeling slightly smug now, I love getting my training done in the morning especially in winter :cool:

Wind, hail and sleet today, so I'll be feeling like a total badass if I get my run done today (but it's yet to be done!)

Bungy Girl

Cheers hillsiderunner, sound advice! I did the race last year and was ok until the last climb (up to the car park) which finished me off. Got a horrible stitch so couldn't enjoy the downhill at all :mad: So I have unfinished business with the Fat Turkey! Did the route a few times in training recently so hopefully my pacing will be better now that I'm familiar with the various ups and downs.

Hope you manage to get out today, training in hailstones counts as double miles!

Bungy Girl

Plan for this morning was another easy 4 miles (That’ll be on my headstone: ‘The plan WAS….but’). Time ran away with me and didn’t want to risk being late for work, so just
3 miles easy (26:30)
Long run tomorrow after pilates, with a rest day on Saturday although I might try to do a couple of sneaky miles if I get a chance to top up the weekly mileage.

Bungy Girl

What a fab morning! Love this sort of weather – cold, sunny and not much of a breeze. Pilates class first thing which felt less of a struggle than usual, maybe I’m getting better or maybe I was just lazy :rolleyes:

A friend was running one of the East of Ireland marathon series in Howth (4 laps of the Howth Peninsula :eek:) so I said I’d do a loop in the opposite direction as my long run (just under 7 miles) to cheer her on. Ended up keeping her company for a bit, extending my run by a mile or so. Fantasic sea views all the up to the top and down as far as Howth village make this route feel easier than it should given the elevation. Saw lots of marathoners en route – most of then are doing another 26.2 tomorrow. Legends.

8 and a bit miles @ around 9 min/mile pace on footpath

Night out tonight, whoop whoop, followed by an early start tomorrow for a busy day of Christmas related stuff. Then BHAA on Sunday and I haven’t even cleaned my spikes from the last outing

Bungy Girl

Wasn’t holding out much hope of getting out for a run today but got a twenty minute window and was out the door before anyone could change their mind. Didn’t know how the body would feel after jumping up and down like a loon (dancing:o) in high heels last night so I’m delighted that everything feels ok.

• 2 and a bit miles (18:30)

BHAA 5K xc tomorrow. No real target other than to try and run it at an even pace so I don’t blow up half way. Hopefully they’ll be screening the Euro XC after the race because there’s not a chance of watching anything at home that isn’t Peppa Pig or Spongebob :rolleyes:

annapr

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Wasn’t holding out much hope of getting out for a run today but got a twenty minute window and was out the door before anyone could change their mind. Didn’t know how the body would feel after jumping up and down like a loon (dancing:o) in high heels last night so I’m delighted that everything feels ok.

• 2 and a bit miles (18:30)

BHAA 5K xc tomorrow. No real target other than to try and run it at an even pace so I don’t blow up half way. Hopefully they’ll be screening the Euro XC after the race because there’s not a chance of watching anything at home that isn’t Peppa Pig or Spongebob :rolleyes:

Good luck tomorrow! Have fun. There's always Ben and Holly as an alternative

Bungy Girl

annapr wrote: »

There's always Ben and Holly as an alternative

Ha! I think I prefer the torture that is cross country...although Nanny Plum makes me laugh

Dubgal72

Hope it went well today, to plan...and beyond

Bungy Girl

Last BHAA race of the year today – 5K xc in Marlay. Bit mucky underfoot but nothing like the previous one in Santry which was a mudbath. The wind today made it tough going on certain parts of the lap. I made a few attempts to draft off some big guys (the one advantage of mixed races!) but it didn’t help much, the wind was kind of swirly rather than in your face if that makes sense. By the third lap I really had to dig in to hold the same pace but was able to catch a few people in the closing stages. Happy overall, slow enough time but a better placing than the last few races. Glad it’ll be back to the 2 milers after Xmas. I find the longer XC races very tough. Ate a ridiculous amount of brack afterwards, then home to raid the fridge and haven’t stopped eating since.

• 5K xc + 1 mile approx warm up & same for cool down

TOTAL WEEKLY MILES: 25.5

Dubgal72

We'll done, nice report! My tree now matches yours tat for tat hope you're washing that fridge down with some vino too

Bungy Girl

Dubgal72 wrote: »

hope you're washing that fridge down with some vino too

Oh yes

Bungy Girl

Monday is now my default day for strength & conditioning. Obviously it’s not ideal to lump it all together in one evening but, (and here’s to not jinxing myself!) so far it seems to be working and I’ve had a good injury-free stretch since around September. I’m still pleasantly surprised to wake up and not feel battered, particularly after a race or tough session. If I win the Lotto (unlikely seeing as I don’t buy tickets) I will hire my own personal physio to come everywhere with me.

On the way to Pilates last night I spotted a girl running barefoot on the pavement (where I live is practically famous for its dog poo’d footpaths and, also, it was freakin’ freezing). What struck me as odd was that she was running on the balls of her feet, almost on tippy toe . I thought the whole idea was to land on the midfoot? It occurred to me that it probably wasn’t doing her calves or achilles any favours but I don’t really know enough about it (despite reading Born To Run).

I was a complete dunce in Pilates. The instructor had to put not one but two sets of weights on my ankles just so I could do my roll-ups:o. Normally I can do these no bother so I’ll put it down to the abs being tired from Sunday’s race. Next to the gym for the usual short routine (must look at changing this up a bit) and then a Body Balance class. A mile walk each way and that’s another Monday completed.

Dubgal72

That made me feel completely lazy! Really must must must start using Monday for that sort of thing....

Bungy Girl

Dubgal72 wrote: »

That made me feel completely lazy! Really must must must start using Monday for that sort of thing....

If I don't get it done on Monday then it won't happen, but it's such a chore! Good to get it out of the way early though. Laughing at the idea that a County Champ could feel lazy less than 48 hours after winning the title. Seriously, feet up and more prosecco! There's always next Monday