Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose

diego_b

Neady83 wrote: »

Just under 4:34 for Diego today.

Well done D, you only got stronger with each loop, you raced it incredibly well. Delighted the plan paid dividends for you Really looking forward to the race report

Thank you so much again S, you gave me a nice boost with each lap..deadly support!
Absolutely delighted with it and still smiling over it all!

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Well done D!!! I'm sure you're delighted with that! BG is the person to ask how to clean the runners now

Thanks AM, definitely. I felt I ran it as well as I could as the GPS was fairly useless and I never bothered with the whole K’s thing...I was running miles so maybe should have worked on that!! Indeed it took a job to clean myself so gonna see what I can do to my runners now.

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Great time, D! Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Thanks BG, delighted with it. Will do a report over the next day or so! So any tips on cleaning runners after cross country :-p

Murph_D

Congrats D!

Bungy Girl

diego_b wrote: »

So any tips on cleaning runners after cross country :-p

Yes! Delegate

diego_b

Donadea 50K 2018 race report

TLDR
Official Time: 4:33:58 (Target 4:30-4:40)

Avg overall pace: 8:52min/mi (from my watch)
Avg heart rate: 167bpm (max recorded was 195, 104% of max 188bpm)
Training plan used: An adapted version of the Gary O'Hanlon 4hr training plan for the Donadea 50K.

Started with a slow first mile and a too fast second mile meant I was right up with the 4:30 pacers from the end of mile 2 and stayed within 30 seconds of the pacers up till around 20 miles, I let them go then and ran my own pace over the last 10 miles...recorded my second fastest marathon time with 3:50:20 enroute to finishing with a new club record for 50K.


Preamble
This race caught my eye a few years ago probably not long after doing my first marathon in 2015 but I noted that a sub 4 hour marathon time was recommended before entering the race. I got a sub 4 time in DCM 2016 but unfortunately we had a wedding on the same day as the Donadea 2017 so couldn't do it. Trained for the Tralee marathon instead and came home there under 3:44. Somewhere along the way I noted that my club's men's record for the 50K was vacant and I fancied getting my name in there. Bad day out at DCM 2017 (Targeted sub 3:40, came home under 3:55 but with a big positive split of +15mins) set my focus for winter training and my first target for 2018.

Morning of the race I left my parents home in Laois just after 7am having had breakfast and fully kitted for the race barring a top and tracksuit bottom to discard. Arrived in Donadea around 8:15, passed through Sallins on the way which was nice as we lived there for 7 years before we moved to Kerry (still own an apartment there) and it's where I learned run (along the canal there) doing my couch to 5K plan in May/Jun/Jul/Aug 2013. Conditions looked to be pretty decent in Donedea, bit of chill in the air which I like and it was dry. I ambled down to the registration tent and hung around there for around 45 mins chatting to a few people I knew and collecting my nice new purple hoodie. Bumped into Singer and walked back up to the car park with him, form was good now which was great.

Stayed in the car then for around half an hour and had some of my homemade flapjack and a banana. Up to the starting area and dropped of my dropbag and my few bits of food and drink at the aid station. Decided to carry the 4 gels I planned to use in my flipbelt planning to take one towards the end of every second lap. Met Neady for the first time before the start and had a nice chat with her for a few mins, felt bad for her not being able to run the race but she went and did a staring role on the sideline throughout with a cheer on every lap. Many thanks!

Walked with Singer up towards the start line there and enjoyed the race briefing....much appreciated humour. Funny seeing some videos/pictures of myself starting the race and I've a big smile on my face. Boded well for a good run I guess!
Kinda missed the start by a second or two before hitting the start button on my watch but no matter we were off to do the 10 laps (not sure if I remember them all)

Lap 1 - 27:33
My first mile was 8:44 (think I thought I saw 9 something at the time) and then my second mile was 8:11. Up right with the 4:30 pacers then and I had a few mins to decide whether I woud stick or twist here. GPS was not very useful as a pacing tool so I said I'd hang back at the back of the pack here and bed in for as much of the long haul as felt okay. Mile 3 I was taking off my gloves and dispatched them at my drop bag at the end of the first lap. Tried to avoid the puddles on lap 1, from lap 2 I was running right through the most of them. The mud and climb in the cross country section (I'll call it) was a bit more energy sapping than pure road but it easier on the body.

Lap 2 - 26:35
Not much recollection here, a lot of chat in the pace group. I wasn't partaking at the back and just monitoring effort. Was feeling fine and it was probably about 5 miles in when I felt I was bedded in nicely. I was monitoring my heart rate here and there just to be sure I was in a good place as I felt I was. Took my first gel here towards the end of the lap.

Lap 3 - 26:41
My plan for the day was to try not to think too much about the distance and number of laps in total. I was just going to count up to 5 laps and then count back from 5 down to the finish. I think it was in this lap when we were first lapped by Mr. GOH himself and he went past at such speed it was a pleasure to witness in full flight. As a midpacker I don't normally get to see the fast end of the field runners unless being lapped of course :-)

Lap 4 - 27:14
No recollection here, the joys of laps. Just to add as well for 4hrs 30+mins I had little to any thoughts of anything but running. Who needs meditation!?!
Actually now I think of it I was actually talking to Marthastew for a good bit of this lap as I had moved up beside her (she was pacing) so I lost a few miles there and nearly forgot to take my gel. Some more lapping going on here, not sure if it was here or the next lap that Cathriona Jennings passed us, I think maybe start of lap 5 but can't recall.

Lap 5 - 26:48
Half way there now, I recalled going through the finish line and thinking maybe a 4:30 is on the cards but there was a long way to go yet. I remember having some thoughts about DCM 2017 and when the wheels started to come off and the annoyance of having to walk. I had decided today that walking was not on the cards, I didn't want to coast it around either but would run it as fast as I could even if it meant a positive split in the end. Early on I decided that I'd rather go with the 4:30s and see how it went than sit back. I wanted to set a good marker on the club records too!!

Lap 6 - 26:58
Getting into the high teens here but things still going to plan, I picked up a small bottle of flat coke from my bag at the aid station and carried it on my pocket. It's great stuff in fairness for that purpose and I do find I get a good boost from it. I was popping some salt tabs during the race and the odd shot block, each roughly every 5 miles. For drink as well I took the odd bottle of water at the aid station and dropped half a zero tab as well I was carrying. Worked well I thought to keep moving forward. On the flip side there was a chap running with camelbak thing and I've never seen anyone to have to stop so many times to go for a p, he well marked the trees anyways if there's any dogs about. I joked with O that I did he needs to connect the pipe to the other end...

Lap 7 - 26:54
Things started to change a bit here now, I noted that the pacers were starting to split a bit and I ended up moving ahead of marthastew in the start of the lap into the hole in the middle between the pacers. I held my pace pretty well but going through the cross county section I could martha saying something to the people behind me. She speed up to go past me and told me she was going to lose the balloon after this lap. I said no worries and fairplay (nothing much coherrent was coming out but I meant to say thanks for getting us this far).

Lap 8 - 27:55
We were around lunchtime in the day now so I knew my wife and father would be around soon. I was hoping to see them on this lap but I did not...turned out they just missed me. Neady was still there giving me a cheer each time and helping keep my confidence up. I knew I was losing the 4:30 pacers now, I did speed up a little bit here to close the gap to maybe 20 seconds but the heart rate was a little high, it was here I recorded the 195 so I eased it off a bit. Just a bit of don't f it up was going through my head now, I knew I should be good for my target range time and even if the pace was now heading for 9 min/mi but you can only run as fast as you can for a given distance. Last get taken at the end of this lap here....hard to get down but it stayed down even if the stomach was not 100 percent happy about having to take it.

Lap 9 - 28:37
Going through the finish area now and there was my wife and da, they gave me a great cheer and I told them two laps to go. It was funny here but there was some tears in my eyes going through here as I knew I was going to do it and was so happy about that. I quickly grabbed 250ml bottle of zero from my drop bag. I got through all of this in the lap, I was definitely having to dig deep here. I think I took a second orange segment off the nice Lusk AC people here, great stuff that. I went through the marathon distance in 3:50:20, my second fastest ever and given my watch managed to be around 300-400 metres short at the end I suspect I was sub 3:50 but no matter it a 50K race. Even though I was tired now I was still running and running fairly strong passing a good few people walking. Each time we went into the muddy part and that bit of climb I was making ground and passing the odd person. I had seen some people finished their race as we were going through the finish line here which was a bit hard on the head but you just keep going.

Lap 10 - 28:43
The final lap, some good cheers going through the final lap here now. Took a bottle of water and got through a lot of it over the lap. Just thought of the lap I did a lot of my training on down home in Kerry, a simple almost 3 mile loop and just thought do that and it's all done. I was so happy that I did a good bit of my training on loops as that alone was a big test on the day and it really stood to me. This lap was strange as it was quite lonely for a lot of the lap but I went past a Navan AC female runner who was walking for a second in the cross country part. She then passed me out and we chatted a small bit over the last few K. She asked me what time I had on my watch and I said just under 4:29 and that we should come home under 4:35, we both kinda laughed as whilst we running you still don't know. She told me she was training for a 100 mile race in a few weeks (wow) and I said she was finishing strong, onto the last K before the finish it had a long kinda lane thing and with maybe 300-400 meter to go I told my new friend I was going to give it on last push and she said go for it. I pushed on a small bit and as we crested over the hill I could see 4:33:xx on the clock and I said I might get under 4:34 here. Just then my left hamstring started just to cramp up so I had to ease back and just eased it into the line finishing up in 4:33:58 official.

77/185 overall, 64th male, 11th in age category

Crossing the line I grabbed Anto there to shake hands but also to stablise myself and took a minute or two at the barriers to get my head back together and ease out the slight cramp. Had my shiny new medal now and it is a cracker. My wife and Da came over to check on me but I was grand after a minute or two, head a bit frazzled but nothing bad. I didn't sit down till we got back to the car half an hour later as I hung around to chat to a few here and there and to see those making the cut off and that clock finally shutting down. I just loved this race to be honest but saying that I am sure when I'd want to go over the marathon distance again. It helped me to get completely over the disappointment of DCM and felt I got rewarded for my training through the winter months. Great start to the year and I plan to take most of the this next week off and then get back into easy stuff before maybe working on shorter distance stuff over the next few months doing a few races here and there.

Thanks for the nice words here, there and everywhere I interact with you, it all helps getting through it especially when it's needed most.


Strava Link

Few pics

skyblue46

Great race report and a fantastic performance. I've enjoyed following your log and I must say your enthusiasm for the event makes me think I'll put it on my bucket list....as a once off!

Annie get your Run

Great report D, well done again! Your training paid off and you had a super Ultra debut! It's a brilliant event for sure but best not to tell Anto or he'll get a big head.... :pac:

Singer

Great running and report! Delighted you had a good day, and it was good catching up before the race. Sorry I wasn't around to see you after.

jake1970

Great running D and well done on a brilliantly executed race.
Congrats on the club 50k record.

Younganne

Well done D, training paid off. Great event and great report too. Enjoy getting the name in the 50k Club record slot!!

diego_b

skyblue46 wrote: »

Great race report and a fantastic performance. I've enjoyed following your log and I must say your enthusiasm for the event makes me think I'll put it on my bucket list....as a once off!

Thank for your kind words, fully recommend the race to be honest. In regards well run events (and entertainment) it's up there as good as it gets. To my mind as well it's the national championships and if you're going to maybe only ever do one then like the marathon in Dublin you might as well do the best country has.

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Great report D, well done again! Your training paid off and you had a super Ultra debut! It's a brilliant event for sure but best not to tell Anto or he'll get a big head.... :pac:

Thanks AM, it was nice to get the pay back for sure on training. Good feeling running such a long distance knowing you're good for this. Also my recovery is going well, legs a bit stiff today but nothing bad at all really.
Haha does he know I wonder and it gives him the confidence to run it in the unique manner he does, as Neady commented on the Donadea thread he's a tonic.

Singer wrote: »

Great running and report! Delighted you had a good day, and it was good catching up before the race. Sorry I wasn't around to see you after.

No worries at all B, towards the last few laps I was wondering would I be seeing you coming to lap me!! I did have a wonder did you maybe DNF that you didn't lap me but glad to see you got through it. You did well to get through it and it looks like a very tough run, very impressive to get it under the belt on the back of your planned/unplanned marathons!!

jake1970 wrote: »

Great running D and well done on a brilliantly executed race.
Congrats on the club 50k record.

Thanks very much L, even with the positive split I am very happy that I gave it my best and got a nice reward there. I did just have to finish but I think I've set a record that should last for a little bit.

Younganne wrote: »

Well done D, training paid off. Great event and great report too. Enjoy getting the name in the 50k Club record slot!!

Cheers A, it really is a brilliant event. It took a lot of miles to get there in good nick and then it was what I wanted it to be and I got all I wanted from it as well. Yup I wanted to set a strong enough time as well and think I've done that so I might get away without having to race 50K again for a little while yet ;-)

Wubble Wubble

Great performance and report, just reward for all the training.
That Ultra 100k club record looks to be well within your scope

chickey2

Well done! Great report. You deserved a good run after all that training.

ReeReeG

Well done, and the race report was excellent reading! Would almost make me consider it someday... ALMOST :P

ariana`

Wow great report and great running, well done. As others have said i'm a tiny bit tempted :eek:

hot buttered scones

Well done - that's great achievement. Glad to see all the training paid off.

nop98

Well done Diego! Funny how we both "graduate" from DCM15 grads to the ultra class in the same week! #ClassOf2015Rules!

Neady83

A cracking report Diego, well done again and it was really great to finally meet you in person

I wondered what had happened with Marthastew and the pacing groups as the 4:30 and the 5hr pacers were swopping out laps (I think) so I wasn't sure what was going on.

You raced an incredible race, smart and well paced and you looked strong throughout. I'd such fun cheering everyone on and chatting to the most interesting people on the sideline. Sorry I wasn't there to see you finish, I was getting cold and left around the 4:20 mark but I knew you were expecting your family. Maybe hanging around from 8am was a bit ambitious

There's a really nice looped marathon in Clarinbridge on September 8th, mostly flat, bit of trail but no mud. If you liked the loops, this is a cracking one

Singer

nop98 wrote: »

Well done Diego! Funny how we both "graduate" from DCM15 grads to the ultra class in the same week! #ClassOf2015Rules!

Me three!

skyblue46

nop98 wrote: »

Well done Diego! Funny how we both "graduate" from DCM15 grads to the ultra class in the same week! #ClassOf2015Rules!

Classof2017 are you listening? Fancy getting 4 of us around?

diego_b

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Great performance and report, just reward for all the training.
That Ultra 100k club record looks to be well within your scope

Thanks J, certainly felt good getting a nice payoff. Never say never on the 100K, it's the commitment and time needed for the training would be the real stickler there and I wouldn't go near it unless I could train proper for it. My wife would kill me I'd say! In fairness she's great but the last month or so of training can annoy a little bit!!

chickey2 wrote: »

Well done! Great report. You deserved a good run after all that training.

Thanks very much C, I actually like winter training oddly enough...hate the heat but it was good way to get my general mileage up a nice bit.

ReeReeG wrote: »

Well done, and the race report was excellent reading! Would almost make me consider it someday... ALMOST :P

Thanks! No consideration needed here, if you ever want to take on a 50K it's the one to do!!

ariana` wrote: »

Wow great report and great running, well done. As others have said i'm a tiny bit tempted :eek:

Thanks, haha another candidate for next year, love it!! Anto will have to increase the amount of entries.

hot buttered scones wrote: »

Well done - that's great achievement. Glad to see all the training paid off.

Thanks M, thrilled with it and like doing my first marathon getting through the training was a big thing for me. The race almost being bonus territory!

nop98 wrote: »

Well done Diego! Funny how we both "graduate" from DCM15 grads to the ultra class in the same week! #ClassOf2015Rules!

That indeed is a funny one N, what are you going for next btw? I am planning on shorter stuff race wise for a few months at least (I think). Will you give Dublin a go again this year!?

Neady83 wrote: »

A cracking report Diego, well done again and it was really great to finally meet you in person

I wondered what had happened with Marthastew and the pacing groups as the 4:30 and the 5hr pacers were swopping out laps (I think) so I wasn't sure what was going on.

You raced an incredible race, smart and well paced and you looked strong throughout. I'd such fun cheering everyone on and chatting to the most interesting people on the sideline. Sorry I wasn't there to see you finish, I was getting cold and left around the 4:20 mark but I knew you were expecting your family. Maybe hanging around from 8am was a bit ambitious

There's a really nice looped marathon in Clarinbridge on September 8th, mostly flat, bit of trail but no mud. If you liked the loops, this is a cracking one

Absolutely great to catch up with you, I was graced to be in the presence of a proper ultra athlete before I made my debut over the shortest eligible distance for an ultra event!

No worries at all, I was amazed you were there as long as you were to be honest especially with all the 'roids etc. Actually with each lap I could actually spot you on that straight from a few hundred meters away before I got up near to you due to the pink lining on the hood of your coat. Glad you enjoyed the day when you must have been disappointed not to be able to run and never let on at all when I was talking to you.

Cool, will keep an eye out for that race. I will be running Dingle with my better half the weekend before that all going well. She signed up last week as I asked her would she be interested and said I'd run it with her. Not sure what the plans are for Charleville this year yet.

Singer wrote: »

Me three!

Of course!!

skyblue46 wrote: »

Classof2017 are you listening? Fancy getting 4 of us around?

Haha good stuff. Have you heard of "The Race", have a read about that one and see what another 2015 grad Neady has done...24 hour event!! Epic stuff.

skyblue46

Erm....we'll let you best us on that one!!!

nop98

Singer wrote: »

Me three!

Of course B - forgot to acknowledge your effort! #ClassOf2015Rules

skyblue46 wrote: »

Classof2017 are you listening? Fancy getting 4 of us around?

A match-up between the 2015s and the 2017s is in the making, me thinks. That makes me wonder, where are my own grads, the 2016s? Where are you, WW, Pomplamouse, Scot, and others?

diego_b wrote: »

That indeed is a funny one N, what are you going for next btw? I am planning on shorter stuff race wise for a few months at least (I think). Will you give Dublin a go again this year!?

I haven't really decided yet, D. I am yet to lace-up since Orcas, my legs are fine but my toe is purple and can probably do with a few more weeks rest. I don't really want to go in a training block yet, I just want to go out because I love it, not because I "have" to. DCM, I am not sure, I think I have gotten the trail bug and I have been "cured" of longer road races... Although I do have some unfinished business there.

Neady83

nop98 wrote: »

I haven't really decided yet, D. I am yet to lace-up since Orcas, my legs are fine but my toe is purple and can probably do with a few more weeks rest. I don't really want to go in a training block yet, I just want to go out because I love it, not because I "have" to. DCM, I am not sure, I think I have gotten the trail bug and I have been "cured" of longer road races... Although I do have some unfinished business there.

Ahem ... nudge nudge ..... the Maurice Mullins is on April 7th. Wouldn't require too much of a top up on what you've already done and it's not too far from you

You could trail race yourself through the year

Annie get your Run

Neady83 wrote: »

Ahem ... nudge nudge ..... the Maurice Mullins is on April 7th. Wouldn't require too much of a top up on what you've already done and it's not too far from you

You could trail race yourself through the year

Event difficulty EXTREME :D:D but sure it can't be any harder than what he's already done!

Sorry for the hijack deigo!

diego_b

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Event difficulty EXTREME :D:D but sure it can't be any harder than what he's already done!

Sorry for the hijack deigo!

No worries, it was that one word that also caught my eye on the link above, though I think maybe Nop already turned it all the way up to 11 on the difficulty scale!

denis b

Just got to follow up on strava by reading the race report David. Well you certainly should have shaken off DCM 17 with that run. Think you just had an off day in Dublin and Donadea is a far fairer reflection of your continuing progress. When you started out on your running journey did you ever think that you would get to this point? Congrats.

Neady83

denis b wrote: »

When you started out on your running journey did you ever think that you would get to this point? Congrats.

+1 to this. Funnily enough, after reading your Donadea race report, I went back to read your opening post in your log. You must be so proud of yourself, what a long way to come.

hot buttered scones

Neady83 wrote: »

+1 to this. Funnily enough, after reading your Donadea race report, I went back to read your opening post in your log. You must be so proud of yourself, what a long way to come.

And after reading this post, I did the same. What a fantastic achievement.

diego_b

denis b wrote: »

Just got to follow up on strava by reading the race report David. Well you certainly should have shaken off DCM 17 with that run. Think you just had an off day in Dublin and Donadea is a far fairer reflection of your continuing progress. When you started out on your running journey did you ever think that you would get to this point? Congrats.

Thanks Denis, maybe so but I think I could have trained better for DCM....if only there was a way to prove that ;-) (October Bank Holiday Sunday 2018 :-) )...and on the latter definitely not!

Neady83 wrote: »

+1 to this. Funnily enough, after reading your Donadea race report, I went back to read your opening post in your log. You must be so proud of yourself, what a long way to come.

hot buttered scones wrote: »

And after reading this post, I did the same. What a fantastic achievement.

Ah thank you very much, for sure there is no way did I think I would run as fast or as far as I have done so to date, it literally still feel like bonus territory and sometimes in races it becomes my motivation to think maybe I might not get to run as fast/far as this again so keep going!!
My first 5K race in Run in the Dark in Nov 2013 was 28:26....so to think less than 4.5 years later I'd being running faster in distances such as marathons, a 50K and more half marathons than I actually have count of off the top of my head then no chance would I have thought that!! Some people bring it up to me now and again, I have explained to people at this stage that running/races is not just a fitness thing anymore it's one of my primary hobbies, that going from where I was 5 years ago is ridiculous.

ariana`

diego_b wrote: »

My first 5K race in Run in the Dark in Nov 2013 was 28:26....so to think less than 4.5 years later I'd being running faster in distances such as marathons, a 50K and more half marathons than I actually have count of off the top of my head then no chance would I have thought that!! Some people bring it up to me now and again, I have explained to people at this stage that running/races is not just a fitness thing anymore it's one of my primary hobbies, that going from where I was 5 years ago is ridiculous.

It's an incredible achievement and very inspirational to the likes of me reading this. I tend to assume that people who run at your level have been running their whole lives or are somehow born/built differently to the likes of me It's inspirational to realise that at least some of the people i aspire to started like me and with hard work and dedication made some amazing progress. I don't know if i'm wording what i want to say right (it's been a long day at work :rolleyes:) but i just am in such awe and so inspired every time i delve into logs such as yours, thank you for keeping a log

diego_b

ariana` wrote: »

It's an incredible achievement and very inspirational to the likes of me reading this. I tend to assume that people who run at your level have been running their whole lives or are somehow born/built differently to the likes of me It's inspirational to realise that at least some of the people i aspire to started like me and with hard work and dedication made some amazing progress. I don't know if i'm wording what i want to say right (it's been a long day at work :rolleyes:) but i just am in such awe and so inspired every time i delve into logs such as yours, thank you for keeping a log

No probs and thanks for the nice smile you’ve given me with your post, genuinely honoured by such kind words. I find huge benefit from the logs here and try to keep up to date with a lot of them, you can get ideas of different things with how to change up your training and I’ve often found brilliant suggestions/tips in them. Also people will chirp in if they see you doing something silly which is helpful!
Best advice I can give is just be consistent in what you do, try pick a goal that’s achieveable so when you get there (and you will) you then get the confidence boost for your next goal. I have found I make big gains from good training plans (I’ve just bought a few books off Amazon based on the training plans I’ve seen the likes of Singer and Murph_D do to help plan the rest of the year), plans don’t need to complicated but I like knowing what I should do from day to day and week to week as I don’t have the knowledge to make it up myself. Best of luck with your training, keep logging too!

Ultraman100

well done Diego,a well executed race ..u even managed to get goh in ur finishers pic

diego_b

Ultraman100 wrote: »

well done Diego,a well executed race ..u even managed to get goh in ur finishers pic

Thanks! Indeed I had a quick word with him to say thanks for the training plan and thanks to you too for it!

Bungy Girl

Late to the after party here, but have just finished your report. Huge congrats on the club record and the massive achievement that is your first ultra. Great photos too, love the muck .

diego_b

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Late to the after party here, but have just finished your report. Huge congrats on the club record and the massive achievement that is your first ultra. Great photos too, love the muck .

Thanks BG! I joked with Marthastew during the race that I’ve never run cross country so it felt like I was making my debut over the muddy terrain in one section of the course!

Mrs Mc

Only catching up on reports now D huge congrats on such great achievement well done great report.

diego_b

Mrs Mc wrote: »

Only catching up on reports now D huge congrats on such great achievement well done great report.

Many thanks A!

aquinn

Absolutely brilliantly done, congratulations.

diego_b

aquinn wrote: »

Absolutely brilliantly done, congratulations.

Thanks A!

diego_b

Time to catchup!

Firstly seriously thanks again for all the kind words, much appreciated!

So post the race I said I'd try be good and take most of the next week off, I was no more stiffer than I would be post a marathon and I felt in decent nick to run from say Wednesday on but through various reasons (not least losing 2 hours of my life trying to reprime an oil burner at home, silly boy let the oil ran out but least didn't have to get a plumber in!). So I didn't get a run in till Saturday. With that I did the local parkrun in Tralee in 23.33 @ 7:32min/min. This felt okay now and a nice shake out to be honest. Finished strong to take a few places on the third lap and get my fastest mile for the day. Between a very short warm up and then a cool down I did 4 miles in total.

Sunday 18-02-2018

8.5 miles easy in 1:19:02 @ 9:18min/mi.

That gave me a huge 12.5 miles for the week.

diego_b

Monday 19-02-2018

5.53mi in 51.37 @ 9:20min/mi
Just some general easy mileage which a lot of my runs will be whilst I try build up again. I put 5x15 second strides into this as well just to break it up. Nice to do an evening run with no need for a head torch.


Tuesday 20-02-2018

7.5mi in 1:10:18 @ 9:22min/mi, another run after work. Easy miles but far from an easy evening thereafter. My daughter had a bad fall at her grandparents house and afterwards kept wanting to fall asleep, when my wife brought her home I woke up her up immediately and then she started getting sick. I had a fair idea what we were dealing with (concussion) and knew we'd need to go to A&E. Debated briefly about calling for an ambulance but figured we'd be in the hospital before that would have arrived.Tough drive in the car with her over the 30mins or so as it was very hard for my wife to keep her awake and then she was getting sick as well. Long and short of it all, everything was clear on the CT scan so no damage thankfully. She was diagnosed as having suffered a bad concussion and was to be kept in overnight for hourly observation, my wife was very tired and I was wide awake (between the earlier run and adrenaline) I said I'd stay with our little lady overnight. It took until till around the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday before she was back to herself. So a really horrible scare and won't be forgotten, we've been told there won't be any issues long term wise but we have to monitor her for the next few weeks for a few things and she's off sports for a few weeks just in case.


Wednesday 21-02-2018

No running, see the above...and finally got a shower from Tuesday's run 24 hours later. The adrenaline didn't leave the system till around half 10 that night when I was simply exhausted and went to bed early.


Thursday 22-02-2018

4mi in 37:16 @ 9:18min/mi, uneventful out and back easy run after work.


Friday 23-02-2018

Rest day, went out for food in a nice Asian place with my wife and daughter. They do "free" ice cream for desert so K loves it!


Saturday 24-02-2018

Figuring with the easy mileage I'm doing I'd use the parkrun as a session anyways but fooling myself I prepped as if I was going to give it a right good go. The last Sat of the month is pacer day in Tralee so I figured I'd go with the 23min pacer for two laps and then finish with a good push. And suddenly on my warm up lap (I run the lap in reverse) I met a running mate who was surprisingly doing the 22min (originally there was none), he said come with me and I was like ah we'll see. So after the briefing I lined up about 3 rows back from the front and 22min pacer beside me. I said to him I'll stick with you for a bit anyways. Lap 1 I was with him all the way but I did feel the pace tough going, Lap 2 I was about 3-5 seconds behind him at worst but the gap was holding steady into Lap 3. So I had a stick or twist moment, breathing hard but holding the gap so could I do it. Just a thought crossed my mind that I'd probably pb it if I could stay where I was (22:07 was the time to beat) but coming into the last few 300 meters I started to get a final push on it and just kept eyes on the gap. Just close it as best I could I figured, properly maxed out if I wasn't before that (recorded a max heart rate of 209 on the run), last bend and final 100 metres I levelled up with the pacer and he beckoned me again (he'd done a fine job on that front a few times on the run) and I went past him to finish in 21:52 (avg pace 7:01min/mi). Delighted and probably my best ever paced 5K (not that I paced it!). Only looked at the watch after the first lap but I actually forgot about it thereafter and raced it my best, pretty happy with it as first time under 22min for a parkrun and only 11 seconds slower than my 5K pb. Hopefully a bit more to come when I get into a plan from the Faster Road Racing book that came in the post this week. It was a nice feeling to be able to pull that time out of the bag after a tough week. Gave my pacing mate a huge after crossing the finish line as I simply would not have done it on my own.

Including w/u 5 miles in total.


Sunday 25-02-2018

10mi in 1:32:57 in 9:07min/mi, little bit fast for an easy run but felt okay. Took in the hills on some of a tough local 10K race route. Had the joys of a dog following me for about half a mile in the third mile. I think he was harmless but I didn't enjoy it. Pretty cold weather for the run so long sleeve t-shirt and running jacket for this. Started with gloves but they came off after a bit. Enjoyed the run but was under a small bit of pressure as I left it late starting and wanted to get back in time for the United match. Surprising win but will take that!

Total mileage for the week: 32.03miles

Bungy Girl

Glad to hear your daughter's ok now, D. What a scary couple of days for you all.

Nice work on the 5K!

eyrie

That sounds like a terrifying experience with your daughter, glad to hear she's ok!

Well done on the parkrun PB

Neady83

More PBs, there no stopping you D

So glad that your daughter is ok, that must have shook both of you to the core.

diego_b

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Glad to hear your daughter's ok now, D. What a scary couple of days for you all.

Nice work on the 5K!

eyrie wrote: »

That sounds like a terrifying experience with your daughter, glad to hear she's ok!

Well done on the parkrun PB

Neady83 wrote: »

More PBs, there no stopping you D

So glad that your daughter is ok, that must have shook both of you to the core.

Ta on the parkrun, I've become so used to the longer stuff now it's not harm to mix it up again and hopefully knock off a few soft pbs.

Thank you all, she's doing great now...a bruise about the size of my hand around the back of her ear/side of head and down onto her neck which is a bit odd looking. She's can't see it though (the smallest scratches on fingers/knees always get a request for a plaster)...dunno what she'd think if she saw this thing but her hair covers it really. For sure it was not nice and then in the news over the weekend we saw that story of the poor young footballer in Dingle who died after a clash of heads which kinda brought it home again with how head injuries can go. Not much you can really say about something so sad with that but you heart goes out to the poor family involved, friends, players and coaches.

diego_b

Thanks again for the well wishes for my daughter, she's doing grand and as it turns out a lot of her regular sporting/social outlets are being cancelled this week due to the weather so she doesn't seem to be missing out too much.

Monday 26-02-2018

3.1mi in 27:32 @ 8:39min/mi
Met up with a local running group for this, had hoped to do a few more miles but was happy enough with the short run and left it at that. Grand few chats and the few miles were done in no time.


Tuesday 27-02-2018

8.5mi in 1:17:48 @ 9:09min/mi (incl. 8x15 second strides). Did this after work and thankfully all quite on the home front this Tuesday evening! Was very well wrapped up for this with only part of my face uncovered when my back was to the wind.


Wednesday 28-02-2018

Rest day, had two hours of juvenile coaching after work this evening so didn't get home till half 8 so said I'd leave it be as the treadmill is on the horizon for Thursday evening so why spoil the wait! Suspect Thursday and Friday runs will be on the treadmill but all going well they'll put the roads back out for Saturday.

diego_b

Thursday 01-03-2018

8 mile easy in 1:13:13 @ 9:09min/mi. Grand enough evening down my neck of the woods, ready to go running after work around half 5 I was going to go for the treadmill. But barring the cold and the occasional bit of light sleet it was a nicer day evening than I’ve often ran in. My wife was happy so away I went on the road with an out and back run to the local village. Told her I’d turn back if any issues with the weather at all and not a bit thankfully. Even now conditions have not changed much since so guess we’re getting off with this one!

diego_b

Friday 02-03-2018

Snow had arrived an no chance to get on the roads so 10K easy on the treadmill in just under the hour here.


Saturday 03-03-2018

Tralee parkrun managed to be one of only 5 parkruns on in the entire country on Saturday. It was just confirmed before 8am that it would be going ahead but going on postings on Friday all looked good to go. In my own case we're about 25-30 min drive away so once we got through the first 10 mins or so of dodgy roads the rest was perfect. Really enjoyable run now, slightly surreal park at times with snow on the grass but perfectly cleared footpaths which had been gritted the day earlier.

I did a half mile warm up before this, not much time for anything else, then the parkrun itself which I ran at a half marathon/tempo type pace...worked out as 23:09 @ 7:33min/mi. Half a mile cool down in total.
On the 3rd lap there was a young fella from my AC about 5 seconds up the road who seemed to be pacing the run better than I had seen him do in recent parkruns where I think he'd gone out way too fast. I decided to hold my pace/effort and not speed up for the last lap to see would he be able to hold his ground and he did it well and even kicked with a good finish over the last 50 meters. Happy with my own run to get a bit of pace work in!

The event was excellent as always and big credit to the core team and volunteers for getting it on given the conditions around the county the previous day. We got off very light in comparison to the rest of the country.


Sunday 04-03-2018

10 mile easy in 1:29:55 @ 9min/mi. Did this around 10am on Sunday morning as after that we'd a day ahead in Siamsa Tire in Tralee seeing my daughter perform in some shows there. Run went well but the pace was a little bit on the quick side for an easy run for me, effort wise it felt finest and my heart rate was even dropping for the second hour of the run than the first. Not sure what that means here but anyways all good.


Total mileage for the week: 40miles

Younganne

I'm only catching up, glad your little princess is all ok. Very sad about that your lad in Dingle. My heart stops everytime one of mine has a clash or gets knocked or falls in football. The eldest girl has had whiplash & concussion from football matches.

Well done on the Parkrun, great running.

diego_b

Younganne wrote: »

I'm only catching up, glad your little princess is all ok. Very sad about that your lad in Dingle. My heart stops everytime one of mine has a clash or gets knocked or falls in football. The eldest girl has had whiplash & concussion from football matches.

Well done on the Parkrun, great running.

Thanks A, she's all good now for sure. She was only asking me last night can start running around again so told her she can from Thursday when she's back at gymnastics and then basketball on Friday. Hopefully won't happen again but I guess these things can. Whiplash, crikey! Must require a fair hit for that to happen to someone, never heard of that in a game to be honest. Yeah it got a lot of coverage locally in the papers over that poor chap, fingers crossed for all families that is not something that befalls anyone as just tragic.