Timing is everything

Tired selfie in Ryanair

Wanted to be in my best shape this season in late September and October. Won’t happen. I think I already got my pick for this year and it was in July. I was able to pull off b2b on the hilly course in 3:17 and 3:14. And after that it was slippery slope for me. I know that I just let myself to do things I shouldn’t. Ate too much, ate crap food. Haven’t been working on my core muscle enough. Basically I just let additional kilos to stick to my body and muscle were substituted by bad, bad fat. I never was very skinny but last year was able to put so much work that actually weight went down quite a bit and the ‘belly tire’ was gone. That cost me a lot of work but was able to do that. So, seems that now I’m just lazy and cannot force myself to do the same.
In my case weight has a huge impact on my running abilities. Every additional kilo is slowing me down. Lack of core muscle adding up to fast tiredness during the race. I never loved running. Even now I’m not very convinced that I like it (especially when results are not as I would expect). I enjoying very much when running ok race. Hate when making mistakes on the course. I’m not very talented runner. I think that all I have achieved till now was a result of work I have put into training. So, now, when training (running and diet) not going as suppose I suffer. I again need to find my Zen… Should stop complain and start ‘doing’. Last week I have tried a fruit and veg diet, with some addition of sushi. Was actually doing OK till couple of days later we started to be very busy in work. No time for lunch break (running or proper food) and I was trying just to grab whatever I could just to kill hunger. I was even able to do 24 hours fasting day. Didn’t have that in ages. But it was just 24 hours and after that I just everything what was in the fridge.
I hope that sharing with all of you will somehow motivate me to get back on track again. I know that support is very important. Thanks Theresa. Sorry, slipped a little bit with my diet but will start again and hopefully for good this time. And if food will be sorted fat will disappear as well. And when fat will disappear muscles should start to grow again. And that should give me good platform to get good times again.
So, my chain would be:
diet –> fat ⬇ –> weight ⬇ –> muscle ⤴ –> health ⤴ –> speed ⤴ –> times ⬇ –> Alan ?
And happy Alan is the ultimate goal. Of course if that would bring as well sub 3 marathon then that’s class. Read more

Isn’t that romantic…

Eating together

There is plenty to tell about that marathon. Not necessary great or good things but plenty…

First thing first. My Lovely Wife decided to surprise me and do the marathon in Clonakilty as well. So, this time I wasn’t alone on the 26.2 mile journey (I’m never alone, massive amount of runners is sharing experience with me). Cause Bozena didn’t want to slow me down she asked me to run with runners where she has started with early starters. Bozena started after 7 AM and me at 9 AM. New Clonakilty course was set on the about 12 km loops (you were running to beach and coming back) so that gave us opportunity to see each other couple of times during run. Cause Bozena was supporting one of the injured walker she end up walking the whole marathon and that gave me chance to catch her and Eamon (supported walker) with still at least 15 km to go. There I have decided that I will accompanied my Wife to finish line and we have walked together till the end. When I told that story to rest of the guests in B&B (as well runners) girls said that it was very romantic… Read more

First consultation

So… I have decided to join the runners club. It isn’t regular athletic running club, it’s more of a trail running club. Name of this club is Trailhead – http://trailrunner.ie/. Having talked to a  couple of runners about Don (owner and running coach) and his philosophy I decided that it will be the best way to go. I had to talk to Don first and that’s what I did when I was there on Sunday (assessment) and today… Now I can’t wait for results. Read more