me running…
There was so many marathons run on the Lusk East of Ireland Marathon series route. But there was always in the way. So, Lusk virgin, besides that suppose to be first part om my first back 2 back this year. Not really with the fitness levels where these suppose to be I knew that I could be for a challenge. A quite of challenge. But first things first…
If someone had asked me to describe Malta in one word ‘chaos’ would probably be the one. Starting with day to day activities to the marathon organization. But you have to experience it at least once in your life (Leo, suddenly marathon in Nice is looking much better)… Me and Bozena were looking forward to that marathon. Malta, nice weather, sun. We couldn’t be more wrong. Wind, rain, lack of sun. But Sliema itself is great and you can just imagine how nice it can be when the weather is great. When writing these few first words (internet is BAD) can see that shy sun is showing little bit from behind the clouds. Still windy though. Anyway back to Malta marathon experience…
I can just laugh now. Should run slow and steady. Instead of that I have run quite fast… and that was just the first ultra. Definitely too fast. Result was quite nice. Can’t complain about that… but just these 8 more kilometers…
Fitness level – all time low. Unhealthy food level – very high. Eating – an addiction. Long runs predictions – looking bad…
OMG. That will be horrible horrible run for me in Donadea next Saturday. I know that I will be able to finish. No problem with that, but I know that it will cost me much more than if I would run that 6 months ago. As I was saying in one of the previous post, do not slip. And I did. I’m weak mentaly and physically. I know that I will eventually bounce back. But for now, I’m in bad place… Even during training sessions I’m not focussed on my goal, on ultra runs. In stead of slowly to finish line, keeping strenghts during whole run I’m trying to do a speed session from each training run. And why? Just because I can? Or maybe cause I’m not thinking. Need somebody to think for me? Hard to find positives now.
End of January. Time to get into the car and head straight to Lilliput again for marathon. This time at least I knew where to go. This time unfortunately My Wife wasn’t with me. Sometimes biggest supporter need to get rest as well. But wasn’t traveling alone. Fellow runner – Tara – was looking for lift to Lilliput. Was nice to have company when driving but as well nice to meet closer another marathon runner. To talk about ideas which go throught your head when you are on the 1st, 6th, 13th, 21st and the last mile. And gues what? It seems that it not just me or Mr Murakami who thinks that from about mile 20 supporters should watch out for you. You could punch them if you really tired 😉 Anyway, that just prooved that I’m not strange, at least too strange.
It took me some and training to start running with the same pace whole way through trainings and marathon runs. It’s a simple as you would think. Keeping same pace through 42.2 km distance is quite demanding but doable. Anyway, since before Dublin marathon I wanted to try and pace runners in the race. Wasn’t lucky with Dublin but knew that it will happen for me. I have sent emails to organizators of 2015 marathons in Dublin, Toronto, Liverpool, Prague and Berlin. All emails I have sent at least 8 months before the race day… And you would think that would be enough but not. Got reply straight away from Berlin and Dublin that they have their pacers team sorted out. First positive reply I got was from Toronto. Unfortunatelly, at the time of email arrival we have already decided that taking a week of during stay in Toronto will take too much days from our holiday days ‘budget’. But that was the first yes. Then came Liverpool and reply that they will be putting together team in the beginning of 2015 and that they will give me a shout if I will be included. Still, maybe. And there was a no from Prague. They put me on to the reserve list. And… after asking them again some time that I got reply that I’m in and they just working out a time for me. After couple of email here and back I ended up as 4 hours pacer in Volkswagen Prague Marathon 2015. Nice… I know, that I will be required to wear Adidas gear (hopefully shoes will be ok) cause they are main sponsor for the race…
Recently I have been asked via my website for info about some Irish marathons in 2015 and since I look at all sorts of lists of marathons in and outside of Ireland I have decided to put together the list of Irish marathons for year 2015.
… Christmas. Of course, I should be in festive season mood now. But I’m not. All I can think of is running. Would I be prepared for the next season? Would I be able to run these ultra runs? All that sits in the back of my mind… I would say not even in the back of my mind, it is taking over my head completely. What races to run? What runs to jog? How to plan everything? And I would like to squeeze more runs into my calendar. Can I do that? In some cases yes but I need to remember that ultra runs need more recovery time, which will force me to choose the runs carefully…
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…
For some time I’m in process of planning marathon venue in Lucan. It’s not very easy but after couple of weekends of running in St. Catharina’s park I thing the route is starting to getting shape. Today’s run and I know how the half marathon route could look like. And it will be 3 big loop and one small. Each loop with 20 m incline, so not to bad at all. Route will go via park and to Leixlip (run via two counties) and through village back to park. Hope that we will have some voluntiers for running.