If it's worth doing, do it right!!!

OOnegative

Week 28th Oct-2nd Nov 2019:

Monday 28th - 6.25 Easy@8.23min/mies in 52mins 36secs
Wednesday 30th - 5.70 Easy@8.26min/miles in 48mins 02secs
Thursday 31st - 8.05 Easy@8.22min/miles in 67mins 21secs
Friday 1st - 5.75 Easy@8.28min/miles in 48mins 47secs
Sunday 3rd - 13.20 Steady@7.55min/miles in 1hr 44mins 27secs

38.95 miles for the week.

Nothing exciting to report last week so not going to go into each individual run as i normally would, it was easy stuff up until Sunday around the local neighbourhoods. I was sure to pay attention to the legs to see if there was any unwanted niggles lurking post Amsterdam, all good thankfully.

Sunday i felt good so while himself was attending soccer school i did something a little more taxing you could say, felt great and would have went longer only i had to run home with himself when he was done, beautiful late Autumn morning for a run.

That's me up to date, a session on the cards this week and increase in the mileage.

Darren 83

Congrats on the result just catching up on the log

OOnegative

Monday 4.11.19

Rest Day.

Tuesday 5.11.19

7.15 miles Easy@8.23min/miles in 59mins 58secs

First run this Autumn under the street lights of Den Haag, scared the bejaysis out of another runner in Westbroekpark as i passed him, never heard or seen me with no street lights there.

Wednesday 6.11.19

8.50 miles Easy@8.24min/miles in 1hr 11mins 25secs

Another run under the evening sky, this time heading up Laan Van Meerdervoort to Kijkduin and turning back and retracing my steps. chilly out.

Thursday 7.11.19

w/u, 12x400m@5k(200m rec), c/d.

Out straight after work to do this, up to my usual spot along the cycle path and straight into the session after a 2 mile warm up. Felt super on the 400's and kept the recoveries nice and handy as my quad was twingey since previous evenings run. Splits were:

1.25, 1.25, 1.25, 1.26, 1.26, 1.26, 1.25, 1.25, 1.26, 1.26, 1.25, 1.25.

Happy with the consistency on those, 8.90 miles for the session.

Friday 8.11.19

9.30 miles Steady@7.48min/miles in 1hr 12mins 31secs

A cold, dry, sunny afternoon in Den Haag, my kind of running weather. Out to Kijkduin once more along Laan Van Meerdervoort and home then through the running paths in the dunes of Westduinpark. Lovely run.

Saturday 9.11.19

7 miles Easy@8.22min/miles in 58mins 36secs

More easy miles after work following same route more or less as Tuesday evening but taking in a few city miles on this one, a glorious chilly Saturday afternoon for a run.

Sunday 10.11.19

Klaverbladloop 5k - 17.57(5th/274)

Had my eye on this to bring the curtain down on my years racing and a last attempt at going sub 18 before 2019 came to a close. Tram out to Zoetermeer and the first morning the ground had a coating of frost. Done a longer than normal warm up taking in the first and last km of the route as i finished. A bit of a drag but also a fast downhill finish.

Lined up and like home, runners in the wrong place but i've long since gotten over that and concentrated on my own race. Race kicked off bang on 11.50am and a quick half lap of the track before getting out onto the paths, usual runners going out to hard in first 400-500m then dying a death:rolleyes:. Settled into my pace handy enough and up the aforementioned drag we went, few runners around but the field had well thinned out at this stage. The Dutch are serious for cutting corners during races and taking the shortest way possible, i stuck to the bike paths where the race was supposed to bevran. Down the other side of the drag a quick left then right and a long straight along a canal and mile 1 beeped at 5.44.

Bang on target and feeling good, canal went on for a bit and i was now in a small group of 4-5 runners, pace being pushed by one lad but i was happy too hold back and run my own race. Right over a bridge then immediately right again along the other side of the canal. Group broke up here with few pushing on but i remained with two other lads and we ran more or less side by side for a while, mile 2 beeped at 5.42 and i was still feeling good. Over another bridge where one of the lads fell off the pace here, and we again approached the drag. I pushed the pace here and lost the other lad, great support at the top from locals. Downhill again and i tried to step on the gas but it just wasn't there but i was holding steady and not slowing just no extra gear when i wanted.

The runner ahead was just to far in front for me to catch so concentrated on the sub 18, i knew it was going to be close. Mile 3 beeped just as i stepped foot on the track again in 5.42. Again i tried to kick but it wasn't much but a bit faster, eyes on the clock 17.xx still showing i pushed once more and crossed the line in 17.58 on the watch later confirmed as 17.57 by the timing company. Over the moon and one last PB to round out my 2019 racing season. 6.35 miles for the day.

47.20 miles for the week which was a decent one, good session and a decent race. More miles is the only change for next week as the start to marathon training approaches.

Comic Book Guy

Brilliant running B, You're on a roll right now!

eyrie

You're making it look too easy lately! Fantastic stuff, congratulations.

Kellygirl

Well done again B. You are flying.

Laineyfrecks

Absolutely brilliant!! Well done

Swashbuckler

Very satisfying to read that for some reason. So well executed. Consistent splits. Super stuff B. Taking some decent fitness into the marathon block. Long may it continue.

career move

Awesome

AuldManKing

Nice work Barry - there's something about keeping the week consistent and then racing untapered - you had a good session on the Thursday and kept the mileage high between then and the race.

Supper splits and no fade - you are in great shape.

Mr. Guappa

I really enjoyed reading that report. Super performance, and tops off a great year! Congrats

kit3

Great running & two great results there Barry - congrats !

Wubble Wubble

Brilliant run and a well deserved result there B. What a way to finish out your racing for the year!

Younganne

Well done B. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll continue to go from strength to strength. A great read.

Good luck with the marathon training cycle.

Back in Black

Great stuff B, you are flying these days!!

healy1835

Great to see the consistency paying off pal. You were due a good run at it, and now you're making hay. Exciting times

shotgunmcos

Catching up
<83 HM!
<18 5k!

Damn good running B. Damn good!

kerrylad1

Great stuff,B.

OOnegative

First and foremost a big thanks to all for the kind comments after the 5k PB here and on other platforms.

Last two weeks running has taken a back seat, 37 miles last week & 35 this. We had in-laws with us last week so I let the missus dictate what happened so she could spend time with her two sisters which all things considered was no issue with me when I think of all the time she sacrifices for me to get out for a run. This week i’m a single Dad since Friday as L returned home for a class reunion. My runs have been all easy stuff save for a MP type session this week in the freezing cold which went well.

Back to it full time from tomorrow again, the Seville plan starts the week after and the quest for sub 3 begins, off my recent Half PB it should be achievable but then again the marathon is a completely different beast, i’ll enjoy the training as always and keep the nose to the grind stone till February 23rd 2020!!

healy1835

I know a man who nipped under the 3hours off a 1:22:3x Half keep the consistency going B and the rest will take care of itself.

shotgunmcos

Sub 83 half .... no 'should be achievable' about it! Foundation is there. Consistent marathon plan on top and you are ready to go. Just about getting to the start line healthy!

OOnegative

25th Nov-8th Dec '19

Absolutely horrendous two weeks on the running front, the 25th and 26th i was laid up with a vomiting bug i had caught off the young lad. I went for a run that Wednesday and managed to pull/twinge something in my back by breathing in:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:!! Was in bits for rest of that week, tail end of the week a cold came along. I felt it wasn't bad and ran last Tuesday and Wednesday, big mistake and made the cold worse:mad:. Cue 2/3 days of only getting out of bed to work and returning more or less when i finished.

Last week was to be the first week of Seville Marathon training which didn't go to plan, will regroup and start gain today. 11 weeks and there can be no more fcuk ups!!!

Sheep1978

Hopefully thats the end of the ill health and misfortune. 11 good weeks and you'll smash it

Laineyfrecks

Won't be a bother to ye

OOnegative

Monday 8.12.19

8.50 miles GA@8.24min/miles in 1hr 11min 27secs

Blustery morning in Den Haag, out via Laan Van Meerdervoort to Kijkduin and home via the running paths through the dunes, white horses rolling in off the North Sea.

Wednesday 11.12.19

5.20 miles GA@8.25min/miles in 43min 48secs

Lap around Van Stolkpark, Westbroekpark Scheveningse Bosjes and home, the day the dream died!!!

Thursday 12.12.19

5.70 miles Steady@7.28min/miles in 42mins 35secs

Up towards the harbour then cutting into Westduinpark for a bit trough the paths and trails, home via Segbroeklaan, a run to blow off some steam:mad::mad:.

And that was that for the week, 19.40 miles, nothing but pure laziness to blame for it plus the fact that Seville is off the cards due to not being able to get the time off from work, to say i'm pi$$ed off about it is an understatement but strong believer in everything happens for a reason. I will now have to pick another race to target as i'm the kind of runner who needs a goal to work towards or i get lazy as this week has shown.

eyrie

Ah no!!!! Lousy, sorry to hear that. Any other options on the cards at the moment?

Murph_D

Ah Jaysus. Sure you couldn't just pull a sickie?

Mr. Guappa

Such a pity that the Seville plan won't work out. Massively frustrating and disappointing I'm sure. At least you found out before you were well into the middle of the plan, and as you say, these things happen for a reason.

OOnegative

Murph_D wrote: »

Ah Jaysus. Sure you couldn't just pull a sickie?

Not in my nature D, plus a days sick leave here requires a cert & they are like hens teeth from doctors!!

Kellygirl

Ah no. That’s really frustrating. I’m the same needing a goal, especially at this time of the year when it’s so cold, dark and wet. Hope you find another race soon.

Annie get your Run

How about Cork? I've signed up for the relay (with the wonderful Sanctuary Runners crew), it'll be deadly! L could do the relay too, or the half! G'wan

OOnegative

Annie get your Run wrote: »

How about Cork? I've signed up for the relay (with the wonderful Sanctuary Runners crew), it'll be deadly! L could do the relay too, or the half! G'wan

It’s 3 weeks to late as we plan on visiting for kids midterm but that’s last week in April & first in May.

career move

OOnegative wrote: »

It’s 3 weeks to late as we plan on visiting for kids midterm but that’s last week in April & first in May.

You could do Limerick (Sunday May 3rd) but I suggest you go for something outside the box ..... Ballyhoura mountain marathon Saturday May 2nd. It's where all the cool kids are going (if they stay in one piece )

OOnegative

career move wrote: »

You could do Limerick (Sunday May 3rd) but I suggest you go for something outside the box ..... Ballyhoura mountain marathon Saturday May 2nd. It's where all the cool kids are going (if they stay in one piece )

Am sure all cool kids are doing Ballyhoura but i’ve let the marathon dream go, disappointed as I am about it, this was the only window I was willing to dedicate to training for one. All my eggs were in Seville and seeing that’s not happening i’ll leave the marathon for now.

Swashbuckler

Seems like it's setup for a Barry V Paul half marathonoff in Limerick on the bank Holiday weekend.................

OOnegative

Swashbuckler wrote: »

Seems like it's setup for a Barry has his ass handed to him by Paul half marathonoff in Limerick on the bank Holiday weekend.................

Fixed that for you!!

shotgunmcos

career move wrote: »

You could do Limerick (Sunday May 3rd) but I suggest you go for something outside the box ..... Ballyhoura mountain marathon Saturday May 2nd. It's where all the cool kids are going (if they stay in one piece )

Ha ha Kate!

Swashbuckler

OOnegative wrote:

Fixed that for you!!

As time passes I realise it's less and less likely I'll be doing anything spectacular in the first half of next year. Just need to get back to consistency.

AuldManKing

OOnegative wrote: »

Fixed that for you!!

Swashbuckler wrote: »

As time passes I realise it's less and less likely I'll be doing anything spectacular in the first half of next year. Just need to get back to consistency.

Such a pair of sandbaggers!

Swashbuckler

AuldManKing wrote:

Such a pair of sandbaggers!

I wish I could sandbag. I'm just crocked

MY BAD

Swashbuckler wrote: »

As time passes I realise it's less and less likely I'll be doing anything spectacular in the first half of next year. Just need to get back to consistency.

Stay positive. I was looking back at my training for for this year particularly when I was injured and remembering how I felt the year would go for me at the time. Its surprising how quickly things come together even when you don't think you are in the best place.

OOnegative

Monday 16.12.19

8.35 miles GA@8.23min/miles in 70mins

One of those time to fckin cop yourself on runs!! Up towards the harbour and out to Kijkduin via the running paths. Loads out running this morning.

Tuesday 17.12.19

7.55 miles GA@8.23min/miles in 63mins 18secs

Pre work run, will have to optimise time heading into New Year and getting out before work is something that will have to become the norm. Up to the promenade and few miles in around Ooostduinpark and back home.

Wednesday 18.12.19

Rest Day, crazy day delivering the mail:mad::mad::mad:.

Thursday 19.12.19

8.25 miles GA with last Steady@8.12min/miles in 67mins 43secs

Another pre work run out to Kijkduin via Laan Van Meerdervoort and back home with wind at my back through the dunes. Lovely run.

Friday 20.12.19

10.10 miles GA@8.21min/miles in 1hr 24mins 24secs

Positively balmy 13 degress out running this, it was teeming rain but that didn't cool things down. Out around Ockenburgh and back home through Kijkduin and the dunes, another hugely enjoyable trot.

Saturday 21.12.19

6.30 miles GA@8.20min/miles in 52mins 30secs

Groggy run this afternoon, had few drinks night before but nothing major but felt the effects all day till i done this. Mist lifted on the run as always, its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Sunday 22.12.19

Rest Day, Disney on Ice in Utrecht.

40.55 miles and a bit more dedication and cop on this week. I'll be up the walls Monday and Tuesday of next week delivering mail but hope to add another 5 miles to this weeks total. Happy with the week even though its nothing spectacular, been very lazy post Amsterdam Half and its starting to show:mad::mad::mad:.

OOnegative

2019 Review.

January-March:

I entered 2019 with gusto and January's months mileage reflected as much, i kept the runs on the easy easy side and enjoyed every bit. I kept speed work and anything faster to a minimum and Steady pace was the fastest i ran building the base. My first race of the year was the Kort Puinduinrun in Kijkduin, a short but challenging race over hills and flights of steep stairs. Long story short, first ever podium coming 2nd!! After this, the months of February and March were a bust due to illness save from a week of enjoyable tourist runs in Milan in late February.

April-June:

First race of any kind of anger took place in April with the Zier Lenteloop 5k where i ran a surprising at the time 18.41. Just 6 days later on a tropical Monday morning in Aarlanderveen i ran the 55th edition of the Drie Molenloop 6.5k and came home in a surprising 3rd place after going out way to hard and having to hold on for nigh on 3 miles:eek:. No more racing then for near a month until The Royal 10 5k, one of the bigger races in Den Haag. The training showed its effects here where i ran an 11 second in 18.14. Onto June where i ran a 2nd place at the ARAMCO Beach Run 5k in 27 degree heat at 10am in the morning!!

July-September:

A Cooper Test 1st place at beginning of July before heading home t Ireland for 10 days, where i ran a very controlled 10k PB of 38.24 at the South Dublin 10k in Grange Castle. Onto the mountainous Sliabh Bawn 10k in Co Roscommon the Saturday after where i won my first ever race in 42.05, delighted to do this and celebrate the moment after with my missus. From there on it it was head down with all roads leading to the Amsterdam Half.

October-December:

On a wonderful afternoon in late October i ran the race of my life so far, my Amsterdam Half experience to this day fills me with pride and happiness!! A 1.22.38 exceeded my expectations by two minutes if i'm honest, and to have a great friend like skyblue46 to share that experince with made it all the more memorable. I sometimes fall asleep at night reliving those last 4 miles where i took the handbrake off and went for broke(sad but hey!!). A few weeks of excess celebrations and the last goal of the year was achieved at the Klaverbladloop 5k in Zoetermeer running 17.57 for a new 5k PB. Laziness took over since!!

In review its been the best year of my running life so far, a race win and 3 other podiums, results as soft as they maybe, cannot be taken away from me:D:D:D:D. The following PB's were achieved:

5K - 18.25 to 17.57.
10k - 38.46 to 38.24.
Half Marathon - 1.26.11 to 1.22.38.

I'm heading into 2020 in the best shape i've ever been in for the start of a new running year and pray it will be half as kind to me as this year has. To those who follow this log and the one i retired earlier in the year, i wish you all a very Merry Christmas, thank you one and all for your comments and contributions this past 12 months. Its hugely hugely appreciated, and thank you for taking the time and effort in doing so. I hope Santa brings you all an injury free 2020 and loads of new PB's. Thanks folks.

Barry.

career move

Lovely to be able to look back on your year with such happiness and pride. I hope 2020 is just as successful for you.

Happy Christmas Barry

OOnegative

career move wrote: »

Lovely to be able to look back on your year with such happiness and pride. I hope 2020 is just as successful for you.

Happy Christmas Barry

Thanks Kate, very Happy Christmas to you to.

ariana`

What an amazing year! Congrats on all of it. You put in the work and reaped the rewards.... Happy Christmas, I hope 2020 is equally as successful for you on every front.

OOnegative

ariana` wrote: »

What an amazing year! Congrats on all of it. You put in the work and reaped the rewards.... Happy Christmas, I hope 2021 is equally as successful for you on every front.

Thanks E, Happy Christmas to you and yours to. Get 2020 out of the way first before 2021 comes into mind.

shotgunmcos

Merry Christmas B! Fantastic running year indeed, got better and better!

ariana`

OOnegative wrote: »

Thanks E, Happy Christmas to you and yours to. Get 2020 out of the way first before 2021 comes into mind.

Ooops always getting ahead of myself!

OOnegative

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Merry Christmas B! Fantastic running year indeed, got better and better!

Same to you and the family M, thank you.