Saturday's 20 miler...

...had to be just that and no less!

I planned on running in the fantastic Phoenix Park this afternoon. I had a 5 mile circuit, I'd have to run 4 laps of that to make up 20 miles. 20 miles... it's an awful long way and I couldn't stop thinking about it all morning. The more I thought about it the less I wanted to do it but the hour cameth, I got my stuff together and hit the road.

I got to the park a little before 2pm, changed in my running gear and I was on my way by 2.05. I decided that I'd set my my pace to 9.30 minutes per mile and try to maintain that for the duration of the run. Last weekend for the Dublin 1/2 marathon I tried to start on and maintain a 9 minute mile pace but at 10 miles I was exhausted.

After the usual first few miles of breathing issues, stitches and muscle spasms timed for maximum comedic effect I settled into a comfortable rhythm. As I was running alone I had my ipod with with me, something I hadn't done for a long time. After spending the entire previous evening wrestling with iTunes, iPods and... I, I finally transferred enough music to get me around 20 miles.

The first 5 miles were comfortable enough (after several comedy moment during the first few miles of course). The music matched my mood and pace perfectly; upbeat without getting too excited with the odd dodgy note.

Before I knew it I was approaching the car and my first water and gel stop. It was a dead stop! I had to get the key out, open the boot, get the water bottle, open the gel pack, etc. It took a few minutes to get going again and then a few more to get back into a rhythm. The next 5 were a little harder but I was keeping up with my 9.30 pace. As I rounded the last corner before the long straight run to the car I felt it get a little harder to run, a few seconds later George Harrison guitar introduced "My Sweet Lord"... what timing! That got me up to my second water and gel stop.

After another 2 or 3 minute stop it took me a little longer to get back into my rhythm. Feeling tired but good I ran my third lap without much difficulty until I reached the that corner again and it felt as if someone had turned up the gravity. This run back to the car was tough and I fought the overwhelming desire to walk.

This was my final water and gel stop. This one turned out to be the longest, I was getting very tired. It took a huge effort to get those tired legs moving. My pace had slowed right down, I felt tired and heavy but the was the last lap and I convinced myself that it was all in my head... you see no matter how far I run the last stretch is always the hardest. So I struggled on and made reasonable progress. I glanced at my watch and my pace had plummeted, I was 10 minutes behind... but so tired!!

Two miles into my last lap I was really fighting. I was running downhill, one of my precious recovery downhills, when I noticed a small car driving slowly towards me with a line of 5 or 6 card behind it. As I approached the car I noticed the passenger waving to me. I was tempted to ignore her and actually took a few steps past the car when my conscience kicked in and I had to stop, after all there could be something wrong. As I walked back up the hill to the car I took my ear phones out only to be greeted with "... do you know the way to the Zoological Gardens...".

This was the emergency! I must have looked a state; dripping with sweat and a bright red face... but they wanted to direction to the Zoological Gardens. She must have picked her victim carefully; there were walkers, sign posts, one single road... and she picked me. I told her that she should keep driving along this, the only road available, and when you reach the next junction there will be a number of signposts, and one of which will point in the direction of the Zoological Gardens. After than it's a case of pointing the car in the right direction.

Yes, I had stropped out! Even the smallest things had started to annoy me. I was on the last lap, I was exhausted and ready to finish but there was another 2 miles to go. That unplanned stop threw me completely off my stride. I knew it entirely in my head and it took another mile before I settled down, by this time I was turning the last corner and on the final straight! This was tough, very tough and with less than 1/2 a mile to run I gave in and walked. I probably could have carried on but at that moment my body won the battle. I walked about 150 metres, up to the next junction, and then push myself back into a run.

When I made it back to the car my Garmin had registered 19.75 miles, I couldn't believe it, I had to keep going to make up 20 miles. It didn't take long and once I had clocked 20.02 miles I stooped the watch, stopped running, turned around and slowly walked back to the car.

I had no idea what my time was, my watch was in virtual partner mode. After much fiddling and pressing of buttons I got to the time/distance menu. I had run the 20.02 miles in 3:37:58, not bad considering how utterly exhausted I felt. I had run an average pace of 10:53; slower that I had hoped but not disappointing.

Based on these figures it's reasonable to assume that I would run a marathon in 4:50, a lot slower than Cork! More work required then!

Here's a link to my route and stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/954150

Thursday's 6 miler...

... yet again turned in to a 5 miler. There's something about these extremely early morning runs... I guess it's just a case of getting used to them. We actually ran 5.27 miles in 48:46, a respectable pace of 9:15.

Of course I had my new toy, the heart rate monitor... My average was a little slower than yesterday at 158, that's 78% of my maximum rate. I must find out what all this heart rate info means! Am I in the right place? Too slow? Too fast?

Wednesday's 6 miler...

...turned into a 5 miler! Another 6am start but having got to bed at 2am I knew 6 miles could be a trick too far. I had promised to be at the track at 6.20 (ish) but due to circumstances completely within my control I couldn't find first gear... an apologetic text and phone call later and I was on my way finally got there at 6.40.

After 5½ laps we had notched up 5.05 miles in 46½ minutes, that's a pretty impressive pace of 9:12!!

My new Garmin heart rate monitor arrived yesterday.... clever gadget that talks to my watch. Apparently my resting heart rate is 60 (Beats Per Minute) and my maximum is 185. What happens if I exceed 185? If I pushed a little hard this morning I could have found out... my highest rate this morning was 172! My average rate was 162 which works out as 82% of my maximum, sounds like a good place to be!

Nine Minute Mile Maddness...

Up and out early this morning! I wanted to start and sustain a pace of 9.00 throughout the entire run. I started well and kept my pace at 9.00 for the first 2 miles. After that I started to lose a little pace. A little sprint gained lost ground so I wasn't too worried. As I approached the half way mark I had lost more ground and it was getting harder to keep up.

The return journey was mostly downhill but it didn't do anything for my fading pace. I arrived home having ran 6.04 miles in 58 minutes exactly, that's a pace of 9:36... so much for my 9 minute mile plan!

2008 Dublin ½ Marathon!

The night before the ½ marathon was Culture night in Dublin city. This is a fantastic idea where museums, galleries, and an eclectic collection of anything remotely cultural stays open well into the night, or some cases opens to the public for the first time. Needless to say I was out there and spent much of the evening walking between events. With the ½ marathon the next morning I managed to get home before midnight but also polished off a bottle of wine that someone foolishly left in the fridge.

Next day I arrived a little late, as usual. Why am I always surprised at how long the walk from registration to the start line. It was 10 o'clock by the time I got within shouting distance of the start line, luckily there was no sign of the race starting. I had time to fiddle with my Garmin 405; I wanted to use the virtual partner function to keep me on target for a 2 hour ½ marathon. After much effort I finally got it working and set it to a pace of 9.01. 10 minutes later there were some rumblings on the start line and soon we were off.

As usual (there's a pattern emerging here) I took off too quickly. My Garmin reported that I was several seconds ahead of my virtual partner. Every time I glanced at my watch that lead had grown... and I wanted more. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly I forget the pain and distress of running out of energy having peaked too soon in a race. But here I was building up to exactly that.

The first 3-4 miles were fine, I was sticking to the grass as much as possible and although the pace was fast I felt comfortable. The next 3-4 miles were a little tougher but manageable. I picked out a runner who was running a little faster that I was and attempted to keep up with her. I managed it for a little over 3 miles but had to let go around mile 8.

The next couple of miles were a little tougher but I kept the pace up. Things changed when I hit mile 10; I could feel something sucking the energy out of me... the same thing happens to my wallet every time I go shopping. From then on it was work... hard work to keep going.

As I approached mile 12 there were a couple of medics working on a runner, he was exhausted but looked OK. As I approached mile 13 there was a similar scene but this guy didn't look so good. There wasn't much I could do so I said a quick prayer and carried on.

With a 100m to go I spotted one of the fetchies cheering us on which gave me the boost I needed to get across the line. 2 hours 4 minutes and 27 seconds after bolting across the start line I stumbled across the finish line. I didn't beat the 2 hour barrier but this is a brand new PB. Fantastic!! My average pace was 9:30, if I could keep that pace up for the first 20 miles of the marathon I'd be home in well under 4.30.

Exhausted as I was I had a little more to do. I wanted to get 16 miles in today so I walked the very long mile back to the car to drop off my gear and ran back to the finish line. I carried on running for another mile before turning around and running back to the finish line to make up 3 miles. It was a slow 3 miles, I ran it in 32:05, that's a painful pace of 10:48.

Here's a link to my route and stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/899692

Last run before the Dublin 1/2...

This was my last training run before the 2008 Dublin 1/2 marathon. I did pretty well to get out tonight but I can hand much of the credit to Joe. It was wet evening and the sun was beginning to slip behind the horizon, hardly ideal conditions. The plan was to run 5 miles but I wanted to run at least 6 miles as a pathetic makeup for chickening out of my Wednesday run last night. I'm can't remember what brilliant excuse I used; too dark, late, wet, long, who knows.

We were running circuits of a park that measured just under 1 mile. The park has public lighting as is perfect for evening running. We chatted for a couple of laps which turned into 6 laps before we knew it... one more and we'd break 6 miles and I'd be happy.

In all we covered 6.2 miles in 1:01:14, that a pretty relaxed pace of 9:53. Not great but let's save the best for Saturday's 1/2 marathon.

Early morning short run

I'm getting back into these early morning runs as my 7am wakeup call testifies. After short but decisive negotiations with my warm & comfy bed I was up, dress and out by 7.30.

This morning I had a 6 mile run planned. As usual I started the run with pace of a little over 7 minute miles, which is far too fast. The town was just waking up as I ran through it and out towards the Curragh. It took 3 miles before I settled into the run and reduced the pace to a reasonable 9 - 9 1/2 minute miles. After the half way mark it got easier, but it was mostly downhill back into a now wide awake town.

The final distance was 6.25 miles which I ran in 59:01; that's a respectable pace of 9:27... Not to be sniffed at!

Early morning long run...

It's 05.30 as the alarm clock switches on dragging me out of a place I really wanted to be. The radio muttered in the background, it was difficult to make out what was been said but I didn't really care. I knew I had to get up but I just needed another minute, maybe two.

It's 05.45 and the second alarm sounds, this one is an annoying buzzing noise that demands attention. It's silenced immediately, I get the message.

It's 05.55 before I finally drag myself out of bed. It's dark outside, probably cold too but there are 12 miles of parkland to be covered and I'd better get on with it. It takes a couple of minutes for my Garmin to lock onto its' satellites so I sit on the doorstep while putting my trainer on, still mucky from last run.


With trainers on and satellites found I took off. As usual, my pace was far too fast at a little over 7 minute miles. I tried to slow down but am hopeless at regulating my pace. After a few minutes I got it down to 8 minute miles and eventually to a reasonable 9 minute mile but not before I felt exhausted.

To save my knees I ran on every scrap of grass I passed until I got to the Curragh, by that time the sun was up and it was turning into a beautiful morning.

I ran towards Donnolly's hollow and after 5 miles I finally got my pace down to my marathon target pace of 9.30. I Connolly's circled the monument, took a gel pack and some water, and ran towards the golf course. I wasn't sure if I could run around the golf course but I ran up to the club house anyway where I met some of the groundsmen who were busy getting the course ready for the day.

After a short break I doubled back and ran cross country towards the main Curragh village. After a circuit of the large field next to the motorway I had covered over 10 miles and it was time to return home. By this time the town had woken up and everyone was busy getting somewhere.

As I approached the bridge that marks a mile from home I had covered a little under 12 miles and I decided to take a little detour to add a little more distance. I turned into what I thought was a lane, it turned out to be the house for the Parish priests and as luck would have it one of them was leaving in his car. Thinking I was looking for assistance he rolled down the window to ask what he could do. I explained that I was out for a run and wondered if this lane was a dead end. While it was definitely a physical dead end, I was assured that it was by no means a spiritual dead end.

By the time I reached home I had covered 13.29 miles in 02:15:23. That's an average pace of 10:11, a little over my marathon target but with 7 weeks to the marathon I'm happy with that.

Running on the dark side...

Tonight I had to run 6 miles but I just couldn't face an hour on the treadmill. Although it was getting late I decided to jump in the car head to the Curragh, getting there a little after 7.30. With the summer behind us it now starts to get dark at 8pm so I wasted no time. To make up the 6 miles I had two laps of the largest field to run. Half way around the first lap all was going well but it was getting dark, a second lap may not be possible.

The route takes me along lovely undulating grassy terrain, parallel with the M7 motorway. After a couple of miles there's a left towards the military camp and then a little cross country around the perimeter camp (the Army are very protective of their gaff...) which eventually leads to the main access road to the camp. Then I take a sharp left by an old airfield, used occasionally by military helicopters, along the road back to the starting point.

By the time I reached the road it was very dark and hard to see where my feet were falling, so a second lap was out of the question. When I arrived back at the starting point a quick check of my watch revealed that I had actually ran 4 miles rather than 3, phew! To make up the other 2 miles I ran 2 loops of the road where there was occasional light from passing cars, now that is dedication!!

Getting better...

Riding home tonight was a nightmare, the wind and rain nearly swept me off the bike a few times but after a 30 minute roller coaster ride I made it home safely. The plan was to run 8 miles on grass (yes, outside in the howling wind and horizontal rain) but that just wasn't feasible option for sane people. We decided to visit the gym that I'd been paying fees to for the last couple of months and had visited only once to find out what time they closed at with the intention of returning that night but didn't.

Anyway, 10K on a treadmill is not easy, that's a little over an hour of running on the spot, well not quite that bad but it feels you're running around in circles. At any rate I'm very glad to have done it, that's short-run number 2 out of 3 done.

Getting back...

It took a while but I'm finally back to midweek running. Tonight we ran a little over 6 miles on grass. While it was a tough run I'm very happy that my knees were pain free... looks like I'm over that injury!

RUBBISH!!!

I missed yet another training run.... AARRGGGGGG!!! You see... tonight I worked late, got home late, it was well after eight, so I ate late, quite a large plate, and after all that I just didn't feel great, I was in quite a state, getting a little irate, partly about my weight, but mostly about the date, you see it's getting late, and I need to train at a more frequent rate, from now once I pass through my gate, I need to run straight, far out of my estate, but not as far as Kuwait. It's getting late....