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Man! I feel like a runner
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Mon 13th
4 miles @ 10.27/m in beautiful sunshine. Calves were feeling tight enough after Terenure, and I stopped to stretch them against a pole about a mile in.
Tues 14th
An hour-ish easy before work. The calves were tight again so I headed uphill to the Goat to stretch them out. 5.5 miles @ 10.18/m.
Weds 15th
Up again for a run before work but this time attempting a CV session. I was using my newer paces from GIR so I didn't fancy doing 4 or 5 mins at that pace, and said I'd do the 7x3 mins session from one of the weeks on the grads plan. Lord. It was rough. In fairness, I was going too fast for some of them so in the end only did 5. My own fault really. Pace should have been 7.15 - 7.25, and my splits were: 7.13, 7.16, 7.12, 7.07 and 7.29. Did a longer cool down to make up the hour running planned.
Thurs 16th
Rest day, and was travelling to Offaly to break the journey west for myself. Seeing as I was going to be home for the night, I'd booked my friend who is a physio for a rub on the old calves. She gave out to me for not using my foam roller enough on them.. or on my hamstrings... or on my quads... or for not doing my exercises for my tennis elbow...:o we had good chats otherwise though
Fri 17th
Handy few miles around home before heading to Inishbofin. 4 miles @ 10.11/m.
A few drinks were had on the island when we arrived but we managed to restrain ourselves for the most part...did some nice walking about the place too.
Sat 18th
Inishbofin 10k
First off, what a beautiful island. I absolutely fell head over heels for the place within minutes of arriving on Friday. It was a privilege to run in such a gorgeous place, honestly.
I'd eventually decided to just run my own race and see how it went, but my intention was to start off gentle enough. I knew it was definitely hilly from the walks on Friday.
HOWEVER there was a woman on the start line with a dog off lead which kept running about the place and under people's legs, so when we were set off, my only option was to run quite fast away from the dog and its owner who couldn't have been bothered keeping her dog close. So annoying.
Anyway, into the first turn which brought us up our first lonnnng hill, there were 2 ladies a bit in front of me and a few lads well up ahead. I settled into a sensible pace for the hill and when I caught up with the 2 women, I hung behind them for a bit before realising I was definitely able to pass them and up the pace for the remainder of the hill. I was reasonably sure I was now the first woman. Hit Mile 1 at the top of this hill in 8.09.
I decided my tactic would be to run the uphills at a very kind-to-myself pace, and hit the flats and downhills hard. Hence why Mile 2, which was mostly downhill, was then 7.26
For most of this mile, one of the half marathoners was behind me and I was constantly expecting him to catch me. I was also expecting Wubble Wubble to catch me at some point on his 3rd lap of the HM 
The start of Mile 3 was along road in front of a lovely beach and some really cute cottages. For once I was actually noticing my surroundings! Unfortunately this mile was also one long uphill, with one awful section going to be repeated in the second shorter lap
. The HMer caught me along here. Clocked this at 8.04, and was through 5k in about 24.40 I think. I was happy to get to halfway as usual and felt pretty good leading into the second half.
Mile 4 brought us back around to the pier and the start line. I was passing some of the half marathoners now too. It was pretty hot actually, I should definitely mention that hardship too Did this in 7.56 before heading into the long starting hill again.
This was not the most pleasant mile. I was very hot and feeling the hills by now, and my easy pace up the hills had slowed a lot more! I was just dying to get to the turnoff for home by now. 8.57 for this mile
Finally took some water at the start of the 6th mile (there were plenty of water stations, I just wouldn't usually use them in a 10k), gulped a little and poured the rest over my head. Instantly felt better and told myself to finish this race in a way I'd be happy with. I knew there was a good chunk of downhill once we got past some horrible uphill and I made the most of it. Mile 6 was 7.23
The finish was a bit cruel, being uphill to the community centre! Got myself up it anyway despite the best efforts of a man on a bike cutting across in front of me just before the finish line :rolleyes: finish time: 49.29
As it wasn't chip timed, they were noting numbers only and the clock time, so actually no one was sure if I was the 1st or 2nd woman right afterwards. BUT I found out for sure at the BBQ later that evening that I was indeed the 1st woman!! I was thrilled if I'm honest.
I know it was only a small race and if that was a race in Dublin or any big town, I wouldn't have a hope of winning anything. But I was pleased with my effort levels and how I ran it. So I will enjoy this feeling :pac: And possibly bring the plaque to work to put on my desk :P
My friend ran a great 10k also, and we're already planning our return next year
Was great to have the running chats with WW after the race and at the bbq, he ran a great HM on a course that included those dreadful hills FOUR TIMES.
I'd definitely recommend it as an event which doubles as a lovely weekend away. Very well organised, and one of the friendliest crowds I've ever come across, as well as being in aid of a lovely and worthwhile cause.
Sun 19th
Back to Dublin after a stop off for Mammy-dinner and a nap, and was dying to stretch the legs. 6m @ 10.08.
33 miles for the week. Happy out.0 -
Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,427 CMod ✭✭✭✭
Join Date:Posts: 17156
Physios do that.
Congrats on your time and place.
Neady of this parish of will be happy with another 'if in doubt go west/west is best' conversion. :pac:Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.
CMod: Entertainment
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