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Playing the Numbers game: Sub 5;10;17;36;60;80
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Right time to get this back going again. Have been drifting along since Athlone. Have been getting out most days when I get the chance and have hopped in with running buddy on his sessions when it suited so have been getting the miles in. Finished September with 152.9 miles.
Also had a club race on the 25th Sept. It was the county winter league 5k with the club hosting it. Went into it nice and fresh and decided not to look at the watch. The course was nice and fast for first km with a generous downhill. I deliberately held back here and just concentrated on having people I knew I should be near within striking distance. The second km was into the wind with a long drag so held on for this knowing there was a big climb on the 3rd km. Decided to make a move on the hill as could see the group ahead of me were slowing and starting to drop a few. Bombed up the hill and picked off most of the group. Two guys had forged on from the group and when I caught them they were taking it in turns to push on trying to drop me. After a third time, I decided to push the pace even harder and was nicely surprised to see that they didn't respond. Got to 4km with open road ahead of me and nothing to chase so just concentrated on holding on. Finished in 18:19 which is decent for that course and was first scorer for the club.
That gave me a nice wee boost so plan is to keep doing club races and try to get out running when work schedule allows and will try and get two sessions done a week with running buddy but not going to stress about it.
1st October: County Masters Cross-Country (5k):
Arrived into this not sure what to expect. It was my first masters race and first in this venue. I wasn't sure that I would get to race until 20 minutes before it started as I had the two kids with me so me running would depend on getting someone to keep an eye on them while I ran.
Thankfully the women's race was to be run first, which gave me more time to find a minder!. I done a warm up with the lads from the club while that was on with both kids running with me! Not the best warm-up ever but did get a decent stretch in. We had plenty of numbers so there wasn't that much pressure on me to run as we were fairly strong.
Once the women's race finished we were called to the start and I held back until the last minute but got the nod to run as I had a few willing volunteers to mind the kids.
I hadn't really seen the course until I got to the start line. The course was very hilly but also very dry and a neat track had been mowed for us to run on. The organisers decided to run the jnuiors - under 19's (or maybe 18's) along with the masters race as both were 5k. The juniors were happy to lurk at the back for the start which I found odd. It was the most civilised start to a cross country race I've ever seen. The start had an immediate hill which pulled the legs so thought I was in for a tough run after doing it the first time knowing I had to do it 4 more times. It was about 500mtrs in before the race settled and the first thing that struck me was that the pace felt slow and nobody wanted to take the front running.
Hit the first lap in third place for masters and 4th overall with one of the juniors on the shoulder of the front runner. Decided not to push to the front as wasn't sure what tactics were at play ahead of me but did resolve to follow anyone who made a move. Pace picked up a small bit on second lap but nothing major and was still feeling comfortable. On the hill on the third lap the pace was quickened considerably and it took me a few seconds to react but after cursing my lack of attention I followed the lead two and was now second masters with the junior lad leading the race. The pace was definitely quickening here and we were all starting to puff hard.
There was a second hill and then a bit of a drag which had the only really mucky bit so was trying to get the breathing and form right for this. Could tell that leading master was finding it tough and the lead junior was now pulling away so decided to follow the junior. The race was definitely on now and a few behind me were also starting to make a move. I didn't dare look back to see what category they were.
By the start of the 4th lap I was in second overall and first master, less than 10metres behind junior lad. By the top of the hill I was on his shoulder and just focused on keeping there as he kept upping the pace. We were neck and neck starting into the last lap.
On the last ascent of the hill, he pushed the pace on again and my legs just couldn't react. In truth the legs were like jelly and I was a bit wobbly cornering. Had a stern talking to myself to keep the focus and use the downhill to recover before the next drag and the mucky bit. Risked a check to see how far back second master was before the mucky bit and could see that he was running strong and gaining on me, along with two juniors who were starting to make a move. This made me lose concentration and I took the worst possible path through the muck and nearly stumbled. I was really vexed with myself and pushed myself hard up the drag to regain lost ground. The legs were now screaming at me and I still had 400mtrs to go with two sharp corners.
I got the head down and just focused on the finish line and running as hard as I could. On the last corner I could feel somebody coming around the outside and tried to put the hammer down but there was nothing more left and he got past me. Thankfully it was one of the juniors and I tried to go with him but he was opening a big gap.
With 200 to go,I risked a quick glance and could see nobody coming close but tried to keep the pace up. Real worry was now that the legs could give out at any stage and nearly done a face plant coming into the finishing chute. Once I stopped to give my name the legs buckled completely and I couldn't even get my name out!! Thankfully someone from the club was able to do the honours for me
. There was plenty of dry retching for a long time after this which just confirmed that I left absolutely nothing on the course.
First masters cross country and first place finish not a bad result!! We also were first team so two gold medals was not a bad haul for a day that started not knowing if I would get to run or not.
So after nearly falling out of love with running, the buzz is back in a big way. It's a funny old game!!0 -
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^Thanks folks, mojo's definitely back. Thankfully too as means I don't have to worry about training for a marathon so
:D
Monday 3rd Oct: 2.3miles @ 9:20 avg pace
Very handy recovery run as the legs were completely banjaxed after the xcountry.
Tuesday 4th Oct: 2 easy, 4x200 @ 40sec w/200jg, 2x400 @ 81sec w 400jg, 1x800 @ 2:44 w 800jg, 2x400, 4x200, 2 easy
Wasn't sure about chancing some speedwork but had a day of work so decided to go with this. Done a very easy 2 mile warm-up and plenty of stretching before getting into this. Weather conditions were perfect and soon got into this, hitting the paces without too much fuss. 800 was a bit of hanging on but after the 800 jog was ready for the 400s. Happy out with this as was consistently hitting the paces.
Splits were: 37;39;39;40; 79;81; 2:44; 80;81; 40;39;40;38
Total: 9 miles
Wednesday 5th Oct: 7 mile @ 8:14
Nice and handy run in the forest in beautiful sunshine. Legs felt a wee bit heavy but nothing worth worrying about.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Rest
Ended up with a headcold so decided to be sensible and take the few days to recover with half an eye on possibly running Run With Catherina on Sunday.
Sunday 9th October - Run With Catherina 10k: 38:16 (new PB)
Finally felt like the head cold was lifting Saturday evening so decided to race Sunday but couldn't make up my mind whether to do the 5k or 10k. Had to go in early to race hq as was getting cones and barriers out on the route and setting up another few things on the route. We got this done in jig time so made a spur of the moment decision to register for the 10k.
Had to do another drive of the 10k route so used this to plan a strategy around the hills!! Headed home for a quick bowl of porridge and then headed back to race hq to warm-up. Had loads of time to spare so was chatting to loads of people and there was a great atmosphere about. Enjoyed chatting to some people I had trained on a couch 2 5k course and were lining up for their first 5k. I had one embarrassing moment when I was chatting to Feidhlim Kelly and some other guy joined us and even though I knew his face very well, I had to ask him his name as I couldn't recall it. Turns out it was Sean Hehir
:o. Had a great chat with Sean - a true gentleman who had a great run and went on to win the race.
Anyway after all the pleasantries we were led up to the start line and I was feeling good. While waiting around earlier I was reading back on my log here to check my last few 10k's to see what worked/ what didn't when I read a post Firedance had made about mantra's so decided to try it out for this race to see would it keep the demon's out.
Race started out without too much fuss. Route had a generous downhill first 2km before gradually climbing for 2kms, a few sharp hills over the next 2km and a nasty hill after a long drag just after the 7k mark and then it was downhill to the finish.
We had a huge crowd cheering us at the start and I definitely let the pace pick up over the first 400mtrs as the cheers were ringing out. Was in about 13th place after 500mtrs and feeling good. First km beeped at 3:24 which was about 25 seconds ahead of target. It was a nice downhill but still a fair bit on the fast side. Normally this would throw me but I just kept focus on how good I felt and the fact that I was nicely placed in a group of 5. 2nd km flew by with the course leveling out and again here I just focused on staying with the group which was now down to 4 of us and I was the 3rd of 4. Was surprised when watch beeped at 3:43 but again kept the focus and thought of it as time in the bank with the hills to come.
Next 2 km and we were gradually climbing all the time and spent the time trying to keep in a good spot and not get cut away from the group which was now getting strung out. 3:58;3:59
Two of the lads in the group pushed on after the 4km mark and even though it hurt a bit I decided to go with them and hang on. I managed to hang on and it was just the three of us now forging on. I knew there was a hill coming up so decided to up the pace (all the while repeating my "I love hills" mantra). Managed to drop both of them by the time we reached the top of the hill and kept pushing. 3:46
Normally this would be where the going would get tough for me in races and I was in a lonely windy part of the course with no one to work off or chase down. But today I pushed away all those negative thoughts and focused on staying calm and running well. 6th km beeped at 3:48 and was happy with that. I expected to leak time on the next km with the drag and steep hill but just focused on getting up the hill. The legs were in bits when I got to the top of the hill and I was just happy to keep moving. Didn't lose too much time because of it but it was tough going even while repeating "I love hills" over and over!!. 3:54;3:55
Last 2km were flat with a nice generous downhill finish (it rivaled the jingle bells finish) but the legs were in bits so just focused on taking it home. Once I hit a straight I could see the lead female about 100mtrs ahead of me. I did make a bit of an effort to close the gap but she was running very strong. Put the boot down on the last 400mtrs and was thrilled to see 38:16 on the clock as I crossed the line. 3:52;3:47
I knew I had run well but was genuinely shocked to get a PB on a course like that (first PB in 14 months :eek:). Chatting to Sean Hehir afterwards, he reckoned Dunshaughlin is a minute quicker than the course today and who am I to argue with him!!
Even manged to squeeze into the top ten so not a bad day's running.0 -
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AuldManKing wrote: »Super stuff - delighted again for you - seen the result earlier (our MSB Cavan superstar was 1st female........no, not that Cavan superstar, the other one....).
Congrats, well deserved after a tough year.
Cheers. Yeah what is about MSB claiming all the great Cavan female athletes!! 0 -
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