Happy New Year

It's a New Year and a New start, or in some cases a continuation on from where you already were. For me it's a case of switching back onto a disciplined routine after the festive season and shedding any excesses along with a bit more hopefully.

Here's what I've been up to since my last post:

Monday 23rd December

5.02 miles @ 9:17

Just an easy loop around Balbriggan from what I can remember. Legs probably a bit tired from the race the day before.

Wednesday 25th December

5.04 miles @ 8:38

Headed out after Mass on Xmas morning for a bit of fresh air before the 2 dinners and all that goes with that (We cook dinner for my dad & brother and then head down to the In-Laws for dinner in the evening down there). Was wondering was I mad running on Xmas morning but came across someone else doing the exact same thing within a few minutes. I did seem to get a few strange looks from cars but it was a really lovely morning for a run and I really enjoyed it.

Thursday 26th December

Tinryland 4 mile Xmas Handicap

I had spotted this the week before Xmas and being quite close to the In laws once permission was secured I decided to give it a go. Woke up with a sore toe that was difficult to bend but headed off anyway noticing a bit of frost on some of the back roads. Got there in plenty of time and signed up giving myself an overly optimistic time of 28 Min's.

Did a bit of a warm up and noticed the footing was difficult in some spots on the approach to the finish but the race seemed to be going ahead anyway. I changed from my racers into my training shoes as these have more grip at the moment and hung around as various different groups started off. Before long I set off with 3 others in the same time bracket.

4 miles in 29:33 (7:06, 7:27, 7:51, 7:07)

First mile was pretty much on pace till I cam to a ice patch on a downhill which threw me completely and I nearly went into a ditch. Lost touch a bit with the other 3 here and they gradually pulled away. Small hill in mile 2 and then a good rise in mile 3 combined with excesses from the day before were causing me to slow. Picked it up a bit for the last mile but it was a struggle.

Glad to do the race as it is not something you would do in a session by yourself on St Stephen's day.

This turned out to be my last run of the year as the sore toe made itself known later on and turned into a limp. A couple of days rest combined with a wedding on NYE put paid to any further running.

Thursday 2nd January

7 miles @ 8:57

Just the usual Thursday evening club run around Gormanston College. Everything feeling a bit sluggish between not running and excesses of Drink & Chocolate.

Friday 3rd January

9 Miles @ 8:30 - 9

Normally I'm not free to run on Friday evening but I was this week so I headed down from home to meet the Balbriggan Roadrunners and did their loop with them and the continued on home again. Around 9 miles in total and pace is an estimate as I didn't have the Garmin with me.

Lovely to meet and run with some new faces.

Saturday 4th January

Malahide Parkrun in 21:23

First visit for a while to Malahide to give the legs a good blowout. Rosemary, Eamonn & Brian were also there from Star of the Sea so we had a good catch up before the race.

Ran this completely by feel without checking my pace once. It was a little bit congested for the first mile or so but opened out after that. As we headed out onto the bigger loop I just tried to pick people off in front and passed a few along the way. Didn't have a whole lot left to give at the end but hadn't gone full tilt at it either. Was happy enough with the time for the time of year and given the course.

Sunday 5th January

11.62 miles @ 8:33

There are hills and then there are hills. Met up with the club gang for this one and the decision was taken to head for the hilly route. Started in Stamullen and headed out by Ballestran, towards Mullaghteelin before a bit of respite heading towards Clinstown and climbing again towards Greenanstown and then climbing again towards Herbestown. This one seemed to go on forever and the legs were full of lactic reaching the top.

We got a bit of respite as we headed towards Naul before tackling Snowtown hill being re-assured when we reached the top of this that it was mostly down hill from there. Running with faster runners the pace picked up gradually towards the end.

Really enjoyed this route and the challenge it provides. Hills are good right?



So that it where I'm at right now. I noticed on Facebook during the week that there was 100 days to the London Marathon. That is the main goal for the early part of the year. A couple of goals for January are to run 160 training miles, get the long run up to 16 miles and get under 35 Min's in Raheny 5 mile race.

Hopefully I can give them all a good go.