Getting back to normal...

After the disappointment of Athlone my main focus was to get back running and gauging how I felt as it went along without doing anything stupid.

Tuesday 17th September - Session

This was my first attempt at running since Saturday. Was feeling a tightness in my chest during the warm up of a mile but decided to give the session a go and see how it was. The session was 2x12 mins @ 10K pace followed by 3x400m.

I started off ok but after a few minutes I was struggling with my breathing although the pace not being too hot. I eventually stopped after 9.5 minutes. Had a chat with Gary and he told me just to join in for the 2nd 12 minutes and to do it at an easier pace to get something from the session. That I did and finished up after that with 3.81 miles for the night.

Wednesday 18th September - Easy Run

3.97 miles @ 9:02 pace

Just got out for a few easy miles again to monitor how I felt. Legs still feeling pretty wrecked for some reason but apart from that seemed ok.

Thursday 19th September - Tempo Run

Thursday night is tempo run but I wasn't expecting to be able for it. The plan was for 10 miles @ 5-10 secs quicker than MP. I met up with Ken for whom this would be an easy pace who had a good 10 mile route in mind. We set out with the aim to hold MP for me and to be honest I would have been happy to get 6 miles done and take it easy from there. I felt like stopping every mile and while it felt I was slowing the pace was hovering where it should. When we got up the nasty hill at Stevenstown I felt happy that I would make it home.

That I did with 10 miles completed @ 8 min pace. For the day that was in it RESULT.

Saturday 21st September - Long Run

17.5 miles @ 8:43 pace

I had picked up a number for the Dublin 1/2 with the aim just to run it as part of my long run. Little did I know that ladies numbers were pink and men's white. I got a few looks before the race (or at least it seemed that way, maybe I was being paranoid).

I got to the park shortly after 9 and set off around the back of the park. Made my way back to the start and bumped into Niall, John, Olwyn & Matt at various stages before the start.

Lined up a bit back from the 1:50 pacers and set off shortly afterwards. Was keeping an eye on the pace early on to make sure not get caught up in the race. The miles ticked off pretty ok even though the legs felt tired. A lot of people seemed to have gone off too quickly and by maintaining my pace I was passing plenty of people after 6/7 miles. It did feel pretty warm though. As I came back into the park after 10.5 miles or so I knew a few hills awaited but that would be no harm. As we headed up military hill everyone was being ushered over to the side of the road to allow an ambulance down the road. We were subsequently to hear that a runner had collapsed and sadly passed away R.I.P. I kept the effort steady to the finish but I did notice a couple more people receiving treatment at the side of the road and were passed by another ambulance. It was all a bit scary to be honest.

Eventually crossed the line, picked up my tee-shirt and walked back to the car. It definitely helped being able to clock up the miles during the race and the legs were suitably tired.

Tuesday 24th September - Session

Having not run Sunday or Monday (feck you Dublin) I wasn't sure how this would go. Got there early and did a 2 mile warm up. 

The session turned out to be (1x14min & 2x12min w/3 min recovery). The pace was to be 20-30 seconds quicker than MP. This went well and the paces were (7:30, 7:25, 7:12). Was glad to be able to pick up the pace for the last 2 mins or so of the last rep and test how I felt or otherwise.

Finished off with a short cool down. 7.95 miles in total for the day. Also signed up for DCM today.

Wednesday 25th September - Easy Run

9.18 miles @ 9:03 pace  

This is normally a rest day but after speaking with Gary I switched Friday's run to today as I will be doing a Kilomarathon on Saturday so would take Friday as a rest day instead. Was talking to Rosemary and she was also planning to do the 9 miles this evening. We set off and took in a few hills through Stamullen as we headed for Julianstown. Eased the pace up a bit for the last few miles to try and leave a bit of life in the legs for the next day. Got very dark towards the end. The nights really are gone to pot.

Thursday 26th September - Tempo Run

Just myself and Rosemary again as Susan had to get her run in early although we did meet Alan on his run as we were warming up and Brian as well on his run.

Following a mile warm up we set off with the target being 10 miles. The official target was 5-10 secs quicker than MP but that would be having a rest day before this run. We were always slightly outside this target but we had said from the outset we would be happy if we could keep it at MP. I don't know what was up but running just felt very awkward and my legs seemed to be all over the place. The road also felt gradually uphill all the way. Felt like easing up after 5 miles. After 6.5 miles when we turned around Rosemary told me to go on ahead if I felt like it. I had been hanging on to her tail for the last mile there was no way I would be kicking on anywhere. Slowly but surely the miles ticked off with the last couple of miles difficult in the dark. Eventually the watch beeped for 10 miles and we had kept the pace at 8 min miles.

A really tough session mentally and physically but it is probably better to have a few of these to prepare you for what lies ahead.

11.63 miles in total for the day.

Summary: Feeling much more normal this week and have a lot more energy. Doing a Kilomarathon (26.2K) in Moone tomorrow which is close to my in-laws. The aim will be to do this race somewhere between tempo pace and long run pace. Basically not a flat out race but a good pace. In the words of Gary leave a little bit behind you. After last night and with 10 miles to do on Sunday hopefully I can do that.

In other news I had entered the ballot for the London Marathon never expecting to get a place with 125,000 entries in the ballot for roughly 15,000 places. I found out on Wednesday that I had been lucky enough to get a place. This is a race I have always looked at growing up long before I started running of any sort and probably the one race I would love to do. For the moment though all roads lead to Dublin....