If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.

Week 3 of 10: Dublin training block - 49 days to go

Monday: 5 miles v easy; Lower Body strength session

5 miles @ 9:58 - more pep in my step than expected after Saturday’s half marathon

Tuesday: 6 miles v easy, Upper Body strength session

6 miles @ 10:09; Manky weather but Wednesday looked worse so decided better to get my run out of the way. Was nice and smug that the rain had stopped and then at 2.5 miles the first of about 3 torrential downpours got me. It was a bit of a plod and legs were more tired. Showered when I got to the gym and into dry gear but called my upper body session a day after 30 mins as didn’t have the energy.

Wednesday: Rest

Weather was as manky as predicted so popped into the gym to walk on the treadmill while I had a spare half hour to get steps done.

Thursday: 7 miles very easy, 1 mile 8:20ish / Lower Body Strength

Warmup a little fast with the 7 miles @ 9:46 and the 8th miles was at 8:24 and hard going. Ran with a friend and we both found the humidity really high. I was puce after and dripping with sweat so took my time going to the gym to try look more normal. Had a good session then though and progressed with weights for both barbell squats and leg press.

Friday: 6 miles very easy + 5x20s strides / Upper Body strength

Legs more awake again and the 6 miles @ 9:58 and enjoyed the strides. Humidity high again. Calories increased for the day by 300 in prep for this morning’s long run. Enjoyed the extra carbs.

Saturday: 21 miles: 6M Easy, 4M 8:25ish, 4M Easy, 4M 8:20ish, 3M Easy

21 miles in 3:08:26 @ 8:58

6M@9:24; 4M@8:16; 4M@9:09; 4M@8:18; 3M@9:43

Had company for this as my coach was in Cork which was fab. Weather seemed perfect with no wind and off we went. We realised fairly quickly that the humidity theme was continuing today. We’d gone over to Rochestown to run a few loops in Blackrock / Passage area so we could drop by the car a couple of times. I wore my hydration pack anyway to be well used to it for DCM. It is working well. Just before the first 6 miles were up we stopped at the car and I took a bit of extra water. We set off then for Passage West and upped the pace. The heat was tough but managed fine and every mile was very slightly faster than the last. Looped around Passage and back again and hit the car during our easy miles which were probably faster than I normally run easy but my coach felt it was no harm to keep those miles slightly faster than easy anyway. Took a bit more extra water and headed for the marina and started our second set of faster miles by Pairc Ui Chaoimh. I was fine for the first mile but started to struggle a bit on the second after we rounded onto Monaghan road. M seemed strong enough still so I was quiet for once and tried to stick to her pace which helped matters. Had a brief respite on the small sharp hill by Atlantic Pond back onto the marina and back onto the line. We’d about 1.5 miles to go at pace here and M was planning to stop at 17 miles while I did 4 more myself. She kept going though until about .35 miles before I was due to switch to easy and took herself to the shop for coffee while I kept going. I kept going and finished the pace miles and shuffled along for the first of my last 3 miles. I was embarrassed passing people coming towards me because I looked a state. I was soaked from sweat and no doubt puce again and now shuffling along so felt people were probably saying ‘god help us”! For some reason in mile 20 my right knee was killing me and my IT Band really pulling on it. No way I’d stop though and funnily enough it went away during mile 21 and I picked up the pace again. When I’d .2 or .3M to go I picked up the pace further as dying to finish. I was fairly shattered after and soaked through. I was able to wring out my T-shirt and hydration pack.

I used 4 scoops of tailwind in 1L and that lasted the whole time and I carried an extra bottle of 300mls as will as a couple of sips from the car twice. I ate well after and had a really busy day flying around the place with the kids but was happy as no headache or picking at food and again fuelling and recovery seems to be good. Wore the Saucony Endorphins and my ankles were hurting a little for the last couple of miles but I suppose 21 miles is a long way really so they just need to get used to it!

Sunday: Will rest and walk 

Total (running) mileage: 46.65 miles so the highest week so far

Strength: 4 sessions

Week 4 of 10: Dublin training block - 42 days to go

Monday: 7 miles v easy; Upper Body strength session

7 miles @ 10:04 Can’t remember too much about this. Was with a friend and got soaked. Gym afterwards.

Tuesday: 3 miles easy 3 x strides, 8 x 3' CV off 1' jog, 2 miles easy, Lower Body strength session

Actual was 6x3’ reps and my legs said no more! I was aiming to do the reps at 7:25-7:35. Felt good starting out during the warm up and the strides and then started into the CV reps. Paces were 7:24, 7:29, 7:36, 7:40, 7:38, 7:51 and the last one in particular felt like the biggest battle against gale force winds …. Actually a gentle breeze! The legs were just too fatigued from Saturdays long run. I jogged back up to the gym keeping the cool-down at 2Km instead of 2 miles! Bit disappointed but there was no point pushing it. Took a rest and did my leg workout which went surprisingly well.

Wednesday: Rest and physio

The physio session was great. My ankles were a bit messed up since the Vaporflies in the Waterford half and sure enough a few things needed to be released there and a good going over my right IT Band too. Walked the 5Km fun run route I was organising locally and put out the kilometer markers and did it again later to put up arrows.

Thursday: 1 miles easy, 10 miles 8:50-55

Didn’t know if my legs would be still fatigued for this but set off with a friend anyway hoping for the best and it went well. We stayed at the slower end of the paces and the 10 miles were at 8:55. Unbelievably busy day after setting up everything for the fun run, cycling the route to check it, clearing it later etc. Huge success though with 280 registering for it so a good fund raiser and great for the community too. The spread after was amazing! Very late night collating results etc. feedback was fab and all the hard work was worth it.

Friday: 40’ v easy

45’ @ 10:29, Had my check in with my nutritional coach and she put up my calories by 100 a day to 2120 daily and 2405 the days before and of long runs, all carbs. Very happy with more food!! I was feeling pretty good but she felt there were a few red flags in my check in that would start to show in a couple of weeks. I’ve been aiming to maintain weight (for the 1st time in my life) but had dropped an lb each week for the last 3 weeks, I was starting to pick at food a bit as feeling hungry and a couple of other things that I can’t remember now! Exhausted and went to bed at the same time as my kids.

Saturday: 34km: 7Km easy; 4 x 4k @ 8.20ish, off 1k float, 1k LT(7:50-8), 6k easy

Reps: 8:16, 8:19, 8:20, 8:20; LT: 7:53

Total: 21.14miles @ 8:54

Decided to try out the alphaflies for this so did my warmup in my Gliderides and noticed about half a mile or so into that I’d paused my watch at the start so ran a bit extra around Douglas to make sure my watch still got to over 21 miles and the session looked like it was supposed which is pure madness and my ocd tendencies really are ridiculous at times. Switched into the Gliderides about .5 mile before the first rep. Wow they were so weird and felt bizarre … and loud! More people than usual moved out of my way as I came up behind them I noticed though so handy out really 😂. Anyway, the 4km reps were grand and I was more worried about the shoes than anything else. They are fine when it’s totally flat but as I ran through Passage West they were a little unstable on the smaller bumpier footpaths that were all at angles etc. I was a bit worried they would give me blisters on my left arch and very conscious of them altogether. No blisters at all so that was good. Anyway, I ran on and turned around by the ferry and headed back towards the car. All fine and I was on my 3rd rep when I was passing the car so kept going. There were so many runners out. I timed it nicely that my 1km off was uphill by Blackrock Castle and my last 4km was all along the Marina as far as the end of Centre Park road. I was feeling surprisingly good and not guzzling my tailwind like last week. Did my last 1km off and then the LT kilometer. Wasn’t sure if I’d manage that but it was actually fine. Dithered a bit about whether to take the shorter route back to the car and change out of the alphaflies into my Gliderides for the last 1-2 miles of my cool-down but decided to go the longer way by the water. The first part of the cool down was awful and felt manky. When I’d two miles to go I decided to pick up the pace and that felt way easier in the shoes. My watch told me I was did an 8:50 min mile and then 8:49 but they were so much nicer than the “easy” miles at 9:37 at the start of the cool down. Was glad to get the runners off me to honest into something more supportive.

I used 4 scoops of tailwind in 1L and had 100mls left over and I carried an extra bottle of 300mls but didn’t really need it. Humidity was way down compare to last week. 52% as opposed in the nineties

Very pleased with the run but not sure what to do about marathon shoes now. The Alphafly is without a doubt my fastest shoe but I’m not sure how good they are for me. My ankles are very sore after them and I think it’s because I possibly need a firmer shoe as they are a bit squishy for me. I don’t think it’s a good idea to do any more training runs in them but maybe do the marathon in them? The Vaporfly is a definite no for anything longer than a 10k/10 mile I’d say for me. Hard to know about the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2’s as my ankles were sore last week too but I think that was caused by the Vaporflies the week before. Next weeks long run is 28km easy with the last 4km fast so will wear the Gliderides and I think try the Speed 2’s for the following week which has 3x6k @8:20 in it and about 20 miles in total I think. Any opinions? I do wonder is it a case that my ankles just need to get used to a squishier shoe but maybe not the time to test that theory 6 weeks out when I’m in good shape and could wreck it!

Sunday: Rest and 5Km walk 

Total (running) mileage: 51 miles so the highest week so far (51.5 if you count the half a mile not on Strava)

Strength: 2 sessions

Thanks P. Yes I wear a stability shoe and I think that’s the problem alright as I’d say I’m rolling inwards when I wear them. It isn’t as obvious in the Endorphins I feel and less so in the Alphas than the Vaporfly. I definitely won’t train in the Nike’s again or certainly a long distance. I’ve only one long run left with ‘stuff’ so I think I’ll try the endorphin’s that day to see how they are over the distance after a couple of weeks of training in stability shoes too. Maybe I should have gone for the endorphin pros rather than the Nike route 😂

Ha ha! I’ve always had a shoe obsession … used be LK Bennett stilettos in a former life but I couldn’t walk in them these days!!! Happy to be motivating someone… thank you.

Thanks P. I think you are right.

Yes, I was thinking I might even throw a comfy pair of runners into my drop bag at Dublin depending on what I wear for the race. I’ll wear the Speed 2’s this Saturday for my long run anyway and start dithering after that 😂

Week 6 of 10: Dublin training block - Peak Week, 27 days to go

Monday: 5 miles v easy; Lower Body strength session

8m@9:48; only 5 miles on the plan but my eldest seemed to have a slight headcold and Covid in the class so was terrified he’d be home from school the next day and I wouldn’t get out. Went into the gym and felt a bit tired so just did 2 sets of all the exercises instead of 4 and made the weights heavier.

Tuesday: 8 miles v easy; 

Son still testing negative so packed off to school and I went off to physio. I was worried about my left calf but she felt it was just a bit of scar tissue and gave that and my right knee / IT Band a serious going over. Checked everything else and sent me on my merry way. Was so tempted not to run as felt tired and it was raining but then remembered I’d to get my steps in anyway and running was faster than walking so set off and did 5.62 miles @ 10:05. I actually enjoyed it even though it was raining as it wasn’t cold. Was just a drowned rat driving home after.

Wednesday: 4 miles easy, 3 miles @ 8.40, 2' easy, 4 x 1' hills, 3' easy, 3 miles @ 8.30-8.35, 3' easy, 3 x 45s hills, 2 miles easy

This totalled 14 miles - a fairly hefty midweek session. My legs were sore from physio but just ignored them. Had to plot it out the night before to make sure I was hitting the hill at the right time. I got it spot on too. I’d chanced my arm a few times telling my coach it looked a horrific session hoping she’d make it easier but no chance. She told me I’d be well able. She was right too. I was thrilled with my pacing. The first 3 miles at 8:40 were 8:36, 8:37, 8:36 and the next 3 were 8:29, 8:27, 8:27. Not sure how I managed that. The hill repeats were horrible but I always hate them anyway. My body felt a ton weight trying to pull myself up them. Anyway, very happy after.

Thursday: 8 miles very easy

8.1 miles @ 9:50. I felt like Forrest Gump on this run. I had planned to take a rest day but Friday’s weather looked horrible so had coffee with my aunt and my sister and then set off for my run. I assumed my legs would be tired from the previous day but they actually felt quite good and I could have gone on forever. The weather was lovely and it was just a really enjoyable run. I hit 202 miles for September that day, my highest ever monthly mileage.

Friday: 1 hr walking on the treadmill

Pouring rain so went to the gym to get my steps in. Started into an upper body session but after 2 exercises I gave up. Just couldn’t face it.

Saturday: 32km: 6k easy 3 x 6k w/1k float rec at 9.15ish 5k easy (1st 6k @8.35, 2nd @8.25, 3rd @ 8.20-8.25)

20 miles @ 8:46 average. Was fairly worried about this as my calf was quite sore the day before. I did foam roll the night before and just hoped it was the result of physio and not the start of something. Decided to head over to Rochestown to do the Blackrock / Passage area so I’d pass the car a couple of times if the calf did give trouble and I was prepared to stop. Figured I’d leave my drinks in the car and pick them up each time I passed too while I was at it. Wondered was I asking for trouble wear the Speed 2’s but tried them out anyway. The warmup was grand and picked up one 250ml Tailwind before heading to Passage West for the 1st 6Km. That felt very easy and averaged 8:29. Made sure to have that bottle gone before reaching the car again and took the next two. The calf eased out and I just felt the odd twinge every now and then but no trouble. The 2nd 6Km was fine too (8:22) and I somehow managed to time the 1km float for the only uphill on my route! These 6km reps were going so well I was having a notion of making my last 6km a 4th rep. The 3rd one knocked that out of me. The majority of it was directly into the wind which had been getting stronger and I was trying to make it faster than the last rep so by the time I finished it (6:22) I was wrecked. All 3 of my 1km floats were fast enough too at approx 9min miles so it was a good workout. Initially the 5Km cool down was tough but I picked up the pace which felt easier in the Endorphins. I passed a little horse box with about 1.5 miles to go and treated myself to a cold bottle of water and filled my soft bottles and on I went. The workout was over at 19.88 miles but sure I couldn’t stop there and trotted on to get to 20 miles. Last of my hard long runs … though I honestly think it will be easier than 21/22 miles next week all at easy pace. The Speed 2’s were grand and fairly comfortable. I feel my right big toe in them for some reason. My ankles were a little sore after but not really during. Thinking of them for Dublin now or at least they are the most likely option. Let the dithering begin!

Sunday: Rest day

Junior Parkrun 1.2 miles @ 9:48. My 7 year old asked me last night could we do Junior Parkrun this morning. I said to him my legs were tired after running 20 miles but he told me that I’d have 24 hours rest and be fine! Glad he’s not my coach! He took off sprinting so I let him off and I jogged along and picked up some random child who was crying and got her to run with me instead. I caught up with him when he dropped his barcode and stayed with him after that. He did it in 12:15 which was a good start. He’s a determined little lad and wanted to know the times for first and last and where he sat between them and is already planning his training to get faster! Did an hours walk later on to stretch the legs. I was so tempted to jog 3 miles to make it a 60 mile week but that would have been for pure vanity and probably no benefit whatsoever.

My legs are definitely tired and quite a few sore spots after the last few weeks which have been my heaviest ever. Time now to start getting them into better shape before this day 4 weeks time ( I’ll have had so many drinks in McGrattans at this point!!!). The week ahead has high enough mileage but should be much easier and then the taper! Woohoo!

Total (running) mileage: 57.1miles 

Strength: 1 session … need to get back to that this week.

Thanks C. He’s loving the attention but back to school and milking it.

Thanks D, that’s a lovely post. Hopefully weather etc will all be good on the day and I should be sorted. I had to get that long run in as mentally that would have bugged me over the next couple of weeks even though chances are one missed run would not make a huge difference.

Thanks C. If it’s half as good as yours last week I’ll be very happy!