If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.

You are so funny!

Week starting 13th February

Monday: 65’ easy;

6.23 miles @ 9:42; Didn’t think I’d get a run in as took the kids to the aqua dome in Tralee for the day. We got home late afternoon and I really needed fresh air after a snooze in the car on the way back so headed straight out. Absolutely loved the run. It was such a lovely evening, getting dark, a warm breeze and I felt like I was just gliding along and kept pulling the pace back. A fab run.

Tuesday: 45’ easy + 6x15s strides; Upper Body strength

5k+6x15s strides; 3.72 miles in total. Legs felt a little tired on this run so decided to do the strides after 5Km and call it a day as wanted to try get myself nice and fresh for the season the follow morning. 

Wednesday: 15 mins, 8’ MP, 2’ easy, 8X2’ on(5k Approx)/off, 15’v easy; lower Body strength

7.94 miles; This was the session I had to skip last week after I rolled my foot and I had been looking forward to it. Set off for my warmup and had planned to run into the park after my 8’MP for the rest of the session. Decided to head for the straight road for variety though. My watch beeped to signal the end of the MP part and I thought I must have programmed my watch incorrectly as felt I had done 5 mins max. The distance seemed about right so went with it. The 8x2’ were a little more challenging. The 2nd 4 reps were slightly slower and I think it was partly as I was against the wind but I suppose I was tiring too. Anyway, I was happy overall with the session I was roasting at the end. Amazing how warm and humid it is at the moment.

Thursday: Rest day from Running, Upper body strength

Friday: 40-45’ v easy

4.01m @ 9:59; This didn’t go that well. Had DOMs from the gym and heavy legs. Not that enjoyable.  

Saturday: 13 miles with last 5 at tempo

13.1 miles @ 8:55 in total; This was great. A few of us from the club met at 7:45am at the parkrun start point and set off in two different paced groups. I was setting the pace for the slower group. 4 of us toddled off and did an 8 mile loop bringing us back to start line, at which point 2 of us continued for 2 miles at 8:30ish pace returning again to start line. Had a 5 min break here approx before starting into Parkrun, where I shot off too fast at 8:09 for the first mile and struggled through the next 2. I was delighted afterwards with the run though as it’s my longest run since Dublin. Coffee and goodies afterwards with all the Parkrun and club gang who were there and then home to spend the day baking for our club race which was on today.

Sunday: Rest (of sorts)

The Carrigaline 5 mile race was on and as it was our club race we were all volunteering instead of running. I left the house at 8:30 and drove very carefully to Carrigaline hoping my home baking would not be wrecked by the time I got there … all my cupcakes survived! I really enjoyed the day and was stewarding just before the 1 mile mark and then the 4.5 mile point. Great supporting and fun directing traffic and only one rude driver to deal with. A nice police man had stopped earlier and given me his mobile number and said to ring him if anybody giving any jip as there’d always be one but no calls needed. The running was amazing. I never get to see the front runners and it was a right treat. A fab spread afterwards and plenty left for us too after all the runners were fed. Tidied up and headed to get my eldest son to take him to a birthday party and had to stand and watch soccer for 2 hours - finally got home at 7ish absolutely shattered.

35.02 miles in total and 3 strength sessions

Week starting 20th February

Monday: 60’ easy; Upper Body strength

6.21 miles @ 9:40; Ran with a friend who did 4 miles and stopped to chat when she finished before doing my last 2 miles.

Tuesday: 15' easy, 2 x 15s strides, 5 x 5' LT off 2' easy-mod, 3 x 2' hill reps, 15' v easy; Leg strength

9m total. This was a good session. Tough but doable. The LT reps weren’t as hard as a few weeks ago. The hill reps after were a killer. I was buzzing after. Had a fulfil bar and went into the gym and all motivated to do a great leg workout.

Wednesday: 40-45’ v easy; Upper Body strength 

6.24m@9:37; my friend was doing 10Km and I was doing 4 miles. We came back past the cars at 4 miles and I said I’d do another 5 mins with her to get to 45mins or so and sure then just decided to keep going as was a lovely run gym after as usual.

Thursday: Rest day from Running, Lower body strength

Lovely walk in the woods first to get my steps in.

Friday: 40-45’ v easy

4.31m @ 9:20; ran with 3 friends and a little faster than easy. Body was a hit sore from tossing and moving black bags of clothes at a school cash for clothes collection.  

Saturday: rest day

Walked to get my steps done. Back very sore

Sunday: Kinsale 10 mile race

Initially planned on just jogging this until I spoke to my coach last week and told her I was doing it as part of my long run - she told me to race it if I felt like it and rejigged my plan for the week to allow me to do that. She recommended 2 miles before and after to bring it up to 14 miles. She rang last night and I said I didn’t think I could PB as much hiller than Dungarvan so we agreed a good strong run was more important than the PB and Mallow is my target for that anyway. Only issue was my banjaxed back so I made a decision not to wear the alphaflies in case I needed to jog or walk and wore Vaporflies instead. Was ok’ish doing my 2 mile warmup and went to change into the Vaporflies. Silly move as my back hurt more walking in them 🙈. It was bitter and never dawned on me to bring arm sleeves, though the wind was behind is for the first half so didn’t feel so cold anyway. I went to line up, took a gel (as not sure how to fuel for an 12 noon race) and we were off down the hill. My back was very sore and for a few minutes I thought I should stop there and then but kept going because I haven’t an ounce of sense at times and I was giving one if the lads a lift home so had nowhere to go anyway! It eased a little as I ran but the Vaporflies are too soft for me and it hurt running downhill. Should have worn the Speed 2’s. My first 2 miles came in at 7:44 and 7:46 but they were easy miles with downhills. I was working quite hard too … or at least my breathing was hard. The hills really started in mile 3 and we climbed until mile 5. My pace slowed to 7:56, 8:21 and 8:15 but feeling relatively strong. Passed the water station at 3 miles. It was cups and people were spilling it everywhere I didn’t take any as had 300mls of Tailwind in my pocket anyway. One of the girls in the club was in front of me the whole time and I was holding my own staying behind her. She finished Dungarvan 1-2 mins ahead of me so was good to stick with her.

The downhills started after mile 5. I knew though that they were steep with a few uphills but overall the 2nd half should be easier than the 1st. I was working hard though and took a big sip of tailwind as I came to where we take a left at Eli Lilly. Next thing I looked up and there were my husband, 2 kids and sister in law who lives near there at the corner all cheering me on. It was a lovely boost. Round the corner we went and whoosh, the wind I was running next 2 girls and considered jumping in behind them but figured it would be a bit rude. Mile 6 came in at 7:56. Miles 7 and 8 had some steep and long downhills and weirdly I couldn’t pick up on them. I actually slowed down to 8:02 and 8:13 and a good few people passed me on the hill which was unusual. The wind was strong but I just felt the endurance wasn’t there. I faded at the same point in Dungarvan and blamed lack of fuelling but today I was fuelled. The last 2 miles were really tough and I felt I was crawling at 8:33 and 8:29. I was tempted to give up and just jog in seeing as I knew I wasn’t going for a pb anyway so why the pressure. Still, I’d have to come up with an excuse as to why I just gave up so I didn’t. Anyway, turned up the road towards to the school where the finish line is … seemed so much longer than on my warm up! Felt like I was crawling up the short steep hill onto the track which is a form of torture at a finish line and into the 300m track to finish. I crawled around it but then the finish line was in front of me and one of the lads from the club was standing there taking photos and somewhere I got the energy to sprint and raised my arms pretending I got a PB for the photo! Was handed water and lay back against the wall to catch my breath. My club mate came in just 40s ahead of me so I was delighted I stayed close enough to her. She had stayed steady in the last 3 miles when I slowed. We set off to do 2 slow miles cooling down and got back for sandwiches and tea and a catch up with all the others.

I’m pleased enough with the race and don’t feel I’d anything more in me but that disappoints me a little. Looking at Strava a lot of people seemed to slow in the last 3 miles whereas it just seemed to be me in Dungarvan. Mallow is my target though so I hope I can stay stronger for the whole 10 miles there. My back is in very sore since and I’ve take nurofen and deep heat and a hot water bottle on it I’ve physio anyway on Wednesday.

40.07 miles in total and 4 strength sessions

Hi there, well done on yesterday! That wind was bitter! Totally normal to have a longer distance run on your watch and I was actually thinking about it for a lot of the route yesterday. It was very hard to run the race line as it was a really bendy route and the route is measured as the shortest possible distance from corner to corner normally but we couldn’t run that with the crowds for the first few miles … if you are taking a bend wide you are adding distance on to your run. There’s a great article about it on the Cork running page I’ll link to it here:

I would consider Mallow an easier route. I ran it last year too and it starts with a bit of a pull up but after that then it’s relatively flat. There’s a lovely downhill at about 3 miles down the main Cork - Mallow road to recover and then you have fairly flat after all that. Will you do the Cork half? (The article above is very relevant if you are doing it as you can add on huge distance for yourself.)

If you can do 10 miles on the 26th March you’ll be well able for another 3 on June 4th. Go for it … it’s a great day out. I really enjoyed Mallow last year so hopefully you will too.

Week starting 27th February

Monday: Rest, Upper Body strength

Back in bits after Kinsale so just walked to get my steps done and into the gym.

Tuesday: 35' easy,

32’ @ 10:15 … didn’t feel like walking so a gentle run but not really a bright idea with a sore back so skipped leg day in the gym then.

Wednesday: Physio and yoga 

Torture session with the physio kneeling up on the bed with her elbow into my back and side. I’m still sore to touch today but she sorted me and worked out whatever I had done to my back. Also gave me brace for my arm as I have tennis elbow which at least doesn’t affect my running and in good news the achilles is vastly improved only a little tight in the mornings but not an issue during the day. A very gentle yoga session after with a friend who is a yoga teacher.

New Saucony Endorphin Speed 3s delivered and they felt lovely. Much more stable than the 2’s

Thursday: Walk

Physio had said I could run but I was too sore from her handiwork so decided to leave the muscles settle and just walk. I went home to declutter the house but baked a ton of stuff instead. I was exhausted that afternoon and evening and really fatigued. It was very strange. I felt I was starting to come down with something but interestingly enough my resting heart rate was the lowest it’s ever been all week so not sure what was going on

Friday: 40-45’ v easy, Upper Body Strength

3.85 miles @ 9:52; while my back was tender the stiffness was gone new issue was sore throat. I’m a crock.

Saturday: Planned: 14 miles easy with 5x50s LT surges in 2nd half

Was nervous Friday night that I wouldn’t make this as had advertised it on the club Strava group with a start time of 7:30am and wasn’t sure who was turning up to join me. Had a lemsip and laid out all my gear anyway. Coach had said if my back was sore just do 10 miles. My alarm went off at 6:30am and I felt great, bright as a button. Throat was fine besides a little hoarse and nothing else. Heated up my raspberry and white chocolate baked oats, had a coffee, made up my 300mls of Tailwind and headed in. Just 2 turned up as most were racing today. One girl just wanted 8 miles so I’d planned a loop to bring us back to the start and then myself and the other guy would head off again. I was wearing my new Speed 3’s and loved them from the very start. I had spare runners in the car just in case. The weather was perfect running weather if a little cold. I’d shorts and long sleeves on and very comfortable. Our pace was a little faster than I had planned (9:30-10) but very consistent and felt easy ranging from 9:11-9:23 for the most part. I forgot about my Tailwind and didn’t touch it. My friend ended up doing 9 miles and myself and P continued on round the pitches in the park. We were well ahead of time which meant we’d be starting Parkrun with only 1.5-2 miles left to do of our 14 miles and we didn’t want to stop before Parkrun as we’d freeze so we figured we’d just keep going and maybe just do one lap of Parkrun. We did the 5x50s surges in the couple of miles before Parkrun and looped back to the start point again with just over 12 miles done at that point. It was pacer Saturday so we thought they might keep us in check. When we right behind the 23 min pacers we pulled back! We were both feeling really good and as we finished the first lap of Parkrun we decided there was no need to stop and we’d go for the 15 miles. Each mile of Parkrun was faster than the last and I literally felt I was gliding along. I could have easily kept going and toyed with the idea for a couple of mins as I approached the finish line and was at 15.2 miles. Would I go to 16? My son needed to be at GAA though so that put a halt to my gallop and I called it a day. I was buzzing after that - was just the nicest run and I felt brilliant the whole time. Never touched my tailwind which I decided after was actually great as was going out last night so would use the calories on gin and tonic instead … I’m sorry today about that one 🥴 . Love love love the Speed 3s. Busy reading reviews of the Pro 3 and Endorphins Elites then today.

Sunday: Day of rest

Went out last night so no voice today and shattered … a hangover I think it’s called - not familiar with them anymore!

22.19 miles in total and 2 strength sessions, one yoga

Ha ha. I’m always doing something D! Not very good at sitting still. The physio reckoned she sorted me out. My ribs were all caught I think from throwing the bags and she was happy I was good to go again after she fixed me. There is no comparison to how I feel now compare to this day last week. I’m literally just tender to touch now from physiobut not stiff or anything. I felt brilliant running yesterday and not in the slightest bit caught up. Of course I should have come home and stretched but no time for that as was on the go with kids activities form the moment I got home for the rest of the day.

I don’t know actually. It could be me making up phrases in my head. I was completely stiff and couldn’t twist properly last week. I really hope Mallow goes well. I’d like to get a few solid weeks under my belt before it so hoping ice or weather won’t scupper anything this week. Yesterday’s run definitely had me feeling that I was back on track. Hopefully a few of us will get to meet there!

Week starting 13th March

Monday: Walk, Upper Body strength

Was supposed to be doing 60 mins easy and had ranged to meet a friend but woke up and my hip and achilles were not in a happy place so did the responsible thing and texted to cancel and went to the gym instead. Did half an hour walking on the treadmill and upper push strength work. I also texted the physio looking for an emergency appointment.

Tuesday: 15' easy, 2 x 15s strides, 6 x (3' cv, 1' easy, 1' vo2max) 3' easy between sets, 20' v easy; Lower Body strength 

9.21 miles in total. So I know I shouldn’t really have done this session but the day’s rest had helped and I really wanted to get the session in before Mallow next Sunday. Lovely weather for running and I knew the next day was not going to be so off I went. Started the workout and off I went for the warmup and did my two strides and started into the workout … and wrong workout was on so stopped and found the correct one on the watch and skipped straight to the speed stuff. CV pace is 7:35-45 and VO2Max is 7:00-7:10. I’m really not too wonderful at getting paces spot on and all my CV reps were a bit too fast at 7:19, 7:30, 7:22,7:33, 7:25 and 7:36. I’d really need the minute recovery before starting the VO2 1 minute reps which were paced where they were supposed to be at 7:00, 7:02, 7:12, 6:49, 7:01 and 7:10. At the start of the session I though I wouldn’t have a hope of finishing it and it was tough but I was very pleased afterwards. I crawled back up to the gym doing my 20 minute cool down and then did a really good leg workout where I increased the weights in a few of the exercises. Hip wasn’t great after but head stuck firmly in the sand. Physio texted me back late that night asking if I was still in trouble and said she’d squeeze me in Thursday.

Wednesday: Rest and Upper Body strength

Walked on the treadmill for 30 mins and Upper Pull session. Increased the weights on every single exercise. Feeling really strong. Physio texted that evening to say 1:15 the next day.

Thursday: 60’ easy and Lower Body Strength

6.26miles @ 9:39 with a friend after school drop. Hip didn’t feel too bad at that pace …. Slowest pace in a while though. Showered in the gym and did my lower body strength work before heading for physio. Another couple of weight increases which I was delighted with. Physio wasn’t too worried once she checked me over. She said she was worried before I got there that she’d be sending me for an MRI but turned out to be the ligament connecting my pelvis to lower lumbar (or something like that) that needed fixing and she went to work and job done. Bit more work on my tennis elbow and showed me again how to wear the brace … I was wearing it wrong and it was doing nothing 🙄. She sent me off with warnings to behave myself pace wise over the weekend and to keep easy pace easy!

Friday, St Patrick’s Day: 5miles @ 9:02

Went out to meet the Parkrun / Club crew and brought coffee and flapjacks for after. We got soaked but it was very warm so not too bad running in the rain. Ran too fast as a result even though I was with a gang who all planned on running slower. All changed in our cars and moved up to a drive through coffee place that has sheltered benches where we all sat like a bunch of hobos drinking our coffee and sharing all our home baking. I never stopped eating for the rest of the day after that then as we did a local parade and the community hall afterwards for a kids disco and tea / coffee and loads of biscuits for the parents. Very enjoyable day though

Saturday: 12 miles easy - 12:03 miles @ 9:37

Deliberately didn’t join the club runners for this as I needed to watch the pace. I did text my new running friend from last week to ask if she wanted to join me and we’d do 10 min miles … which I didn’t achieve but 9:37 did me no harm. Not a twinge from the hip which was great. It was really humid so could have done with some water but was grand really. Quads a bit sore from Thursday’s strength session … I Think. Later on I took my boys in shopping and I popped into the health shop for a Magnesium rub for my 7 year old who is getting leg cramps. I brought a magnesium spray for myself too. Been meaning to start taking magnesium for ages. The shop assistant was telling me to go sparingly on my son and that your skin can itch/tingle if you put on too much and if you are deficient so I only put a tiny bit on him. When I was going to bed I sprayed my quads with plenty of the spray and rubbed it in and rubbed it into my calves and IT Band area. Within minutes my skin was tearing itchy and ‘tingling’ was putting mild. I remember years ago I lived in Cameroon and we did this jungle walk and upset a nest (?) of fire ants or stinging ants and we all had to run and all jumped fully clothed into a waterfall to get them off of us. That was back in 2003 and I hadn’t thought about it in years. Anyway I hoped it would stop soon and started googling. Google told me it would stop in 1-2 weeks 😱. I was panicking at this point and Google also told me that it would absorb in about 30 minutes and some people remove the residue then. The more deficient you are the more it itches as it’s absorbed. After about 20 minutes I couldn’t take any more and hopped into the shower. That did the job luckily. I’m sitting here this evening and I have put one spray on each quad and it’s tingling slightly but nothing like last night. Apparently as my level comes up in 1-2 weeks that will stop and I can increase the amount. Must read the instructions in future 😏.

Sunday: Rest

I missed a 45’ very easy run during the week but my husband was away, having gone to the rugby yesterday and I was cooking for my parents and sister’s family too for Mother’s Day and then go to removal so no run for me. No harm done.

32.51 miles in total and 4 strength sessions

The poor kid 🙈. Thank god the shop assistant had warned me or I wouldn’t know what was happening.

Cameroon was an experience to say the least. Plenty wild stories from there.

Week starting 21st March

Monday: 60’ easy, Upper Body strength

6.11 miles @ 10:06; Can’t remember much about this. Kept it very easy. Later on that day I got a weird sharp pain at the base of my hip / top of my leg. The top of my hip and glute was still perfect after physio the previous week

Tuesday: 15' easy, 2 x 15s strides, 6 x 3' LT off 2' easy-mod, 15' v easy; Lower Body strength 

7.24 miles in total. Like last week I shouldn’t have really done this session with the pain at the top of my leg / hip but I reasoned that I’d do it, rest all week and do Mallow. I was sore throughout but could hack it.

I rested after that session until Mallow though was sore all week. I still had a notion that I could run through it and I’d physio booked for today and the plan was I’d rest then for a couple of weeks and hopefully finally sort the hip out.

Sunday: Mallow 10 mile

Arrived in Mallow nice and early to meet club mates and we did a nice slow 2 mile warm up on the Parkrun route there. Could feel the hip but no bother. Loved the pre race banter and was with one of the girls who does social media for the club so she was trying to get footage for reels which was cracking us up. The race was at 12:30 so a funny time food wise. I’d had my usual baked oats for breakfast and when we lined up I had a gel. The weather was perfect and I was really hoping to at least go sub 1:20. I started with the 1:20 pacers. I was very relaxed really. Started off and was feeling great energy wise. Stayed right behind the pacer until his balloon was hopping off me. We started climbing the hill and I felt really strong and pace wasn’t a problem. My watch said I was doing 7:30 or so at that point. Then out of nowhere it felt like all the muscles at the top of my leg and hip flexor seized up and pains shot down my quad, IT Band and glute. I tried to keep going for a few seconds wondering what to do, would I continue on and see would it ease, would I back off and jog round. The pain was bad so for the first time ever in a race I pulled out to the side and stopped. I stood there not knowing what to do. I tried to run again and that wasn’t going to work. A few volunteers asked if I was ok. I was close to tears but said I was grand and headed back the way I came and felt everybody was looking at me. I considered joining a lady from the club who runs more like 12 min miles and was at the back of the pack but figured that would be daft altogether. I picked another wounded warrior whose calf had gone and we both hobbled back. Was nice to have the company. I went to the car, changed and got my sandwich and coffee I’d left for after and hobbled to the finish line and waited for everybody to come over. It was actually fab to see all the leaders and the speed they came in at. I was a bit gutted looking at the downhill finish line wondering if I’d have gotten a PB. Waited till all the gang came in with some amazing PBs and I left after that as had a removal to go to.

I’d physio today and she’s not too worried. Thinks it was a bit of a perfect storm with all the muscles pulling different directions and she rubbed everything out. I’ll walk tomorrow and take it handy for a few days and she doesn’t see a problem with a few easy short runs next week in Lanzarote.

Hopefully after Easter I’ll be all sorted and hit the ground running and ready to train for Cork half!

No point going into too much detail this week. Struggled through 3 shorts runs during the week before a 1 hour run yesterday. Monday’s run was with the club and too fast considering I’d no running done for 2 weeks or so. Straight away my hip was at me so I pulled right back and ran back to Costa and waited for the gang for coffee. The next day I went out by myself and hip was fine at a really slow pace. Energy levels were atrocious most likely after all the food and drink on hols and being sick on holidays too. I was really fatigued and sleeping for Ireland since I got home so very sluggish. Saturday I went out to do an hour, half an hour before Parkrun and then meet up with 2 friends who were doing Parkrun at a very slow pace. Energy levels were back to normal and all was good. Slowed right down when I met my friends and found it difficult to go that slow initially. 45 mins or so into the run the pain at the top of my leg / base of my hip returned. Finished out the run but very sore for the rest of the day. Was supposed to do the 25km Railway Run today but obviously couldn’t. Went down to support the club and enjoyed another morning cheering everybody over the finish line.

I went to the gp last Wednesday and he’s referred me for an MRI. He thinks the pain at the top of the leg is bursitis and Google would indicate he’s right. Very disappointed that the 2 weeks rest did nothing for me there though. Hopefully the MRI will be soon and give me an answer. I pulled my bike out of the garage earlier and pumped up my tires. Ordered a number plate for the bike rack as forgot to do that when I changed my car and I guess I’m back on the bike for a while. Very hilly around here and would prefer to bring the bike somewhere flat to get used to it again.

My coach had written out a plan for me for this week before the hip flared up again yesterday. Tomorrow was just 5Km and 5 strides. I’ll see how I feel in the morning. Google says I can run if no pain but sure who knows. Probably shouldn’t but I’ll walk if any twinge at all. I’m hoping to target Cork Half but that’s probably slipping away now … but got added to a Dublin group within the club this eve so excited about that at least.

Still doing as much strength as I can but I’m limited as can’t do anything that aggravates the hip which takes out so much lower body. Tennis elbow is preventing Push type upper exercises too. I’m a complete crock. I actually think yoga is probably exactly what I need and don’t know where to start! I should probably see can I find a handy class and get used to it.

Thanks for that. I’ll actually browse around now. I think the mobility work is what I’m missing over all really.

Thanks all. Did a bit more research today and have decided to go to a consultant to try get a better picture of what’s going on. My gut feeling is that the ITB tear is a result of whatever else is going on in the hip as I’m convinced that just happened in or just before Mallow at the end of March whereas the hip is giving trouble since November. I feel the program I’ve been given is to let the tear heel but I think I’ll still be in trouble and that’s no good so I’m not going to hang around now and wait to see. Hopefully the referral will go in next week and I’ll start chasing for a cancellation.