me running…
Oh my… Today was really bad day. Haven’t finished my training which wasn’t super hard really. Did similar, or maybe even harder, exercise a week ago and in warmer weather and all was good. But today it was a disaster. It supposed to be 8 km @ 5.15 pace followed 6 km @ 4.50. Run not too long, not too fast all the time…
I have quite a number if books about running. From runners biographies to books about running technique. Most of those have some kind of the running programs – 80/20, Daniel’s method. Tried most of them. Tried to adjust them to my (then) current pace. I was always failing on creating program for myself. As a ‘mathematics brain’ I was always trying to follow program to the letter. So, this was my failure when I was getting something like – 45 minutes of running. It can’t be more vague. I can work with ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ but not ‘some running’. I know that sounds like moaning but that is me…
It is huge. It is ugly. So heavy that we needed neighbor to help us to bringing into the house… But, men, I love it.
Some years ago, I really enjoyed running on the treadmill. Getting up in the morning and being in gym before 6 AM when they were opening door. Then morning run for an hour. Maybe little bit longer. And then work. I always was choosing same treadmill. Setting speed and watching netflix on my mobile. I could just go… I really enjoyed it. Couldn’t understand how running on the treadmill could be boring for anyone. I know that you were running in the same spot for long but it was running. Then you could always watch movies, listen to music and don’t stop for traffic. What was really great, at least, for me was that control which you had when was running on treadmill. You were setting running speed as you wanted. So easy to train intervals, uphills, sprints. When doing recovery run there was no chance that on some point you will start to run faster and completely waste recovery session. I think that for me treadmill is a tool to get you better at running. And I like it when gym staff was referring to me as ‘our gym hamster’ 😉
Every cloud has a silver lining…
That’s about the meds. Now, about the runs… After the ‘Lock Up the Year’ marathon (and the long visit in the bushes) I thought that recovering will be very long process. And I wasn’t mistaken. Thursday treadmill run. 12 km was interupted twice. Friday same training, same outcome. Then doctor visit came and got new meds. Saturday got two 12 km sessions. First one interupted once, but was able to run second part (10 km) at speed of 14 km/h. Second session, speed 13.6 km/h and no problem. Felt great but knew that I was not out of the woods yet… Today I wanted to got more km at one go. Decided for half marathon distance… And guess what? No toilet call. Hurray… Hope that means it will get just better. So, looks that THE PLAN is still on the cards. So glad that I have still chance to accomplish it… And by the way – 1:35:12 for half-marathon (in Hoka’s). Not bad for my condition and running since Wednesday without any break (Wednesday was marathon)…
Anyway… Last week I wasn’t running the first bit of Art O’Neill training cause I was after marathon in Lilliput and wasn’t sure if I would manage 30 km of steady climb. Even that I’m not taking part in the race I wanted train with the group and to know better ‘trail running’. Second part of the route is not long, just about 11 km but it is kinda challanging. Incline on that part is about 350 m on the very tricky ground. Socked grass, holes cover with bushes, slippy mud. Everything adding up to very challenging course for me. Starting up slowly on the trodden path for the 2.5 km and after that muddy climb to flat bit where you starting to femiliarize yourself with grass and the wet hill side. Even that it’s kind of flat it is hard to run (at least for me, could see Don just flying there). I was lucky not to fell even once and wasn’t last one 😉 (probably cause I wasn’t run the race day before). After reaching 6 km it was downhill. Easier but still hard enought. Crossing the river. Soaked feet again. Try to run in such a condition. For me it is something new but some of the club members are really good at it. After that, another river crossing and small bit through the forest. And from there 2 km on the path to check point number 2… Really nice run. Enjoyed it very much. I hope that we will do next part, from check point 2 to finish soon (just not this weekend – Clonakilty marathon)…
One regret only. Better shoes. All I know, my Inov8 are great but not for wet mountains runs and these don’t have good cushioning in them. And the last thing caused heel pain again. Need to work on that… Gels and creams to the rescue…
Just to give you more idea of the Art O’Neill race you can follow the link –> http://www.artoneillchallenge.ie/
I knew that process will be painful but eventually I will achieve my goal training with the club – 3:05 for marathon. I should be able to run that time in next 6 months, so I should be faster at marathon in Tokyo or Malta (depends which I will choose). And now the whole ‘fun’ jest started. First diet – cut any kind of bread, end with caramel latte and no sweets. Because I would not like to eat meet I need to deliver proteins to my body with fruit and vegetable (have to google proper ones which I will like). Proper nutrition plan will be given to me later (already a little bit concerned about that). First task is 36 hours fasting, I should just drink water and black coffee to allow my body to cope with less food and saving energy which is needed to digest the food. Will be hard to do but I will do it. Going to sleep soon, so will have almost half of that task behind me…
That was about food. Now first running task. After explaining how many miles I’m doing weekly I was asked to cut 15 km which I’m running on the treadmill. That will be hard to get use to, but I should use that time to recover. Something which I never did in the proper way. OK. First task – tomorrow try to run 10 km with pace of 4:30 min/km, with equal splits (if can’t slow but still try to keep same pace on splits). Cause I’m trying for the first time do back-to-back marathons over Saturday and Sunday I was asked to rest on Friday and following Monday. Whole next week is almost rest week, just one session on Tuesday. But then I should try to run Dublin Half Marathon with same 4:30 min/km pace (1:37:30 – time). That will be hard. The idea is to learn how to run steady and avoid faster and than slower kilometers…
I know that I will be angry quite often but I know that I need to commit to training if I want to get to next level. 3:05 for marathon, after that ultra marathon and in 2 years 100 miles run… Relax and stay strong.
Anyway… After that 13 km I know that I will need to work on my breathing and overall strength. And as an addition I will need to watch fitness levels and diet. You need to get serious if you want to achieve your goals but still remember that running is fun. I know that most of the time I keep forgetting that
‘Stop overthinking’. Yes, that what I should do and hope that training with running coach in the club will help me to achieve that.
And by the way that was my first trail run and I have really enjoy it, even if I wasn’t actually particularly strong.
Ok, back to race now. Route us quite nice for runners who starting their marathon adventure. There was just one almost 40m incline and after that was fairly flat (maybe that one small hill just after 40.5 km which could be a killer if you are tired at the end of the race). Cause the weather was ideal to run (no sun, no wind, clouds) I cannot say if the surroundings very particularly nice. But we were running on the back roads of Laois county. For the race which weren’t to big I need to say that it was organized quite good besides last 300 m before the finishing line where there was total chaos. Cars going in and out, not allowing runners to get on the road and run. I was finishing my race running on the grass. Anyway, easy run… if your right ankle not hurting since kilometre number 14. It seems that my ankle hasn’t healed since last marathon. During last week training sessions I could say that ankle wasn’t working in the proper manner but was hoping that two days rest before marathon will allow to recover and heal. Haven’t worked out. So, little bit painful 28 km of run for me. But cannot complaint. My choice. And apparently wasn’t so bad cause I haven’t been talking to any part of my body during whole marathon.
I have been asked today by Claire, who we have met before race, on the parking lot, what is my hardest moment during the marathon. I had to think a little bit about that question (even if I have just run two marathons in my life). Definitely last couple of miles, 6 maybe, are very hard. You running out of ‘steam’ at this stage and the only thing which is pushing you towards finishing line is your mind, your will. Today that has been confirmed again 😉 But I have mentioned Ballina marathon with its 5 laps and 35 m hill. Have said that knowing you still have couple of repetitions of that incline your will power was weakening…
Today will power was strong… that allowed me to get me new PB – 3:23:09 and finish on the 7th position from 100 participants.
As usual, couple of pictures below.
It seems that I’m sweating now more and I’m losing breath and can’t run any more. I know that after marathon I decided that I need to lower mileage I’m doing daily. Before marathon it was about 30 km daily on the week days (not Wednesday) and about 28 km daily over Saturday and Sunday. Now I would like to ‘downsize’ to 25 km and 25 km…
But unfortunately for last couple of days I cannot fulfil my plan on the gym. It is so warm in gym, seems that there is no air after some time of cardio training (maybe AC not keeping up). Anyway, point is… at the moment I cannot get to 25 km a day, so I think I will change to outside run as well in the evening and just keep treadmill runs in the morning before work…
Still need to prepare for the next MARATHON…