MIA - Apologies

I appreciate that a few people have been logging on to catch up with me (I have one of those site metres), and I have failed to keep up to date with my Blog this week. I seem to be good at writing excuses on this blog, but I have been trying to tie up the loose ends before I leave my existing job this Thursday, starting my new one next Monday morning, so I have been busy at work.

All the work has left little time to play, either on here, on other's blogs, and sadly, very little running. Having made the decision to postpone the Dublin Marathon till next year (for me I mean), I decided to ease off panicing, deal with the work and get back into the running once I start the new job, so no problems really.

In many ways it's a relief not to be going through those nerves one has when you are 5 weeks or so away from a target race. No worries about getting in the last 20 miler, worries about the pace you did that 12 miler in last weekend. Worries about the little niggle you had in your knee when you did that speed session last night - You know the feelings? And for those reading this, and getting ready for their first Marathon - We ALL get those doubts, we ALL ask ourselves the same question, and believe me, YOU will ask those questions right up until you cross the starting line on Race Day.

I'm looking forward to the next few weeks - the new job, new running, and setting my plans for my first 2007 races. I'll actually try a few short races for fun before Xmas - There is a 4 Mile Business House Race on Oct 16th I'll probably run for fun, and there is always the Jingle Bells Races in the run up to the holidays, so all is not lost for the year. I'm really looking forward to the Dublin Marathon and maybe giving back something to running by helping others on the day in whatever way I can - Should be fun.

Monday, Monday - Why am I so Lazy?

Another weekend has passed, and once again running takes a back seat. As you would know if you've been following my rambles, I have been slack in my training this summer, and no matter how well intended I am in getting back to speed, I'm struggling when it comes to actually doing it!

Take this weekend for example. Friday evening, it took me 2 hours to get home, the 5 miles that usually takes 30 minutes. There had been an accident and the road was blocked. Now, I had trained at lunchtime in the gym, 2 miles on the treadmill and a short circuit, but I had wanted to get out for a little run when I got home. I didn't, I went for a pint instead, to ease the traffic frustrations I had endured.

Saturday I had to go up to the North to visit my mum - I do this every weekend, she's 92, still living at home, but not particularly mobile, so I go up, draw her pension, makes sure she has everything she needs, and spend Saturday evening watching TV with her. I took my kit, but by the time I had driven the 75 mile trip, I had to sort a few things, do her garden, go to Belfast for some shopping, I didn't run.

Sunday, I was intending to go for a run in the morning before heading home, but I didn't. I stayed in bed - had a lie in. By the time I decided to get up, I was pushed for time, I needed to get home to watch the Liverpool v Chelsea soccer match. I drove home, watched the game, with a beer or two, and so ended any hope I had of running.

I don't write this to glamorise being lazy, or the fact that I enjoy a beer now and again, I write it to try and give myself a guilt trip. Today, it's Monday morning again, and I start the week with good intent. I'll head the gym at lunchtime today, maybe do 3 miles on the treadmill, and tonight I have to study. Tomorrow I have a meeting, Wednesday I'm meeting friends, Thursday, my boss is leaving and we have a "do" for him, so we'll see how much, or how little, I can manage this week.

I have made the decision to skip Dublin. I'll be there, and will encourage everyone, maybe run the last 6 miles and act as a tow truck , but the way I feel right now, I'd struggle even with 6, never mind 26 - C'est la vie. But I will get back, that I promise, and Boston 2008, although it seems a long way away right now, is still going to motivate me - I hope!

Que Sera, Sera

With time ticking away, and much to do on the home front, I have decided to give up worrying about the Dublin Marathon, and look towards next spring and Connemara and beyond. Whilst I will more than likely run around Dublin on October 30th, along with 10,000 others, I will not be looking for anything beyond completion. I have Seven weeks to get prepared, rather than 7 weeks worrying about whether I'll be fit enough to run under 4 hours.

In the meantime I can work on getting my fitness levels up. Look at short races as sessions to help me get my leg speed up, and work seriously on my weight. As I have got older I have found it harder and harder to keep my weight down. I'm presently hoving just under the 200lbs mark, actually 198 this morning. Whilst not quite the heaviest I have ever been, it's heading that way. Ideally I would like to be running at 175lbs or below, and although I am 6 foot and not overweight per se, I have always been light framed, and so the weight tends to go on in the wrong places, so to speak. So, that is my task for the next few months - Serious weight loss, and sustainable weight loss. No point in doing what I have tended to do in recent years, lose pounds, get to a weight I am happy with, and then pile them back on again when nobody is looking!

Time Flies

You know when you are waiting for something to happen, like a vacation that you have had planned for months, then time drags. Each day seems to last forever, and work takes forever to get through.

Well, when you are unfit, following weeks of slacking on your training, and you have a Marathon planned for the end of October, then time speeds up - RAPIDLY! It's already the 7th September, and the Dublin Marathon is only 53 days away... 53 days to get myself into a shape that will see me around the streets of my home city in one piece.

I know that hard work over these few days will enable me to survive the race, but I had higher hopes when I entered the event back in April. You all have my complete permission to give me a kick up the backside, and I promise to make amends, work hard over the winter and be ready for an assault on a Boston Qualifier in 2007. Starting now!

Eight weeks and Counting

I believe that today is Labor Day (We would spell it Labour), in the US, so Happy Holiday to y'all. For me it's a normal working day. The first day of my 4 weeks notice period, and eight weeks today, the Dublin Marathon takes place. Will I be ready in time to survive the run?

I have to confess I am beginning to doubt my ability to make it. My summer of slacking has not left me in the best of shape, and whilst previously I have been able to recover form and fitness quickly after a lay-off, I am having those nagging doubts this time, heck, I'm getting older.

This weekend I was tied up on Saturday, having to drive up to see my mam, a 150 mile round trip, get the weeks groceries in, then shoot home to spend a few hours vegetating in front of the TV watching Soccer. It was only a few weeks ago that the World Cup ended, and here we are with the first qualifying games for the European Championships. For the record Ireland lost 0-1 away in Germany, whilst England won 5-0 against the mighty Andorra (those blue skinned aliens looked better on Star Trek). So no running, and a few beers :).

Sunday morning I went out and ran a brief 2.5 mile run, clocking 20:25 on a blustery day, a little over 8 minute pace, but I didn't feel great at all. Maybe it was the beer, maybe it was in my head, but I didn't actually enjoy the run, it was hard work - hence those nagging doubts. I will tie up the shoes again today, and will continue to run - I will get back on track, but at the moment things are not looking good. Hopefully, I'll read this post back in a couple of months and laugh, today I'm not laughing (except for a certain fellow blogger who has her underwear on inside out :))............

Slowly, Slowly

Friday, and my first week back running after my Slacking Vacation!

Well, I am glad to report that I have run 4 days in a row - That's the good news. The bad news is that the runs have only been 3K, 3K, 4K and 2 Miles. Not exactly Marathon preparation. On the plus side of those runs, they have all been under 8 minute mile pace (as they should be), and have been getting progressively easier, and faster. A long way to go to get ready for Dublin, and only 8 weeks to get there. A tough challenge, but all the hard work up until May must still have some residual left.

As to the new job, for some reason, when I actually tell people which department of the government I am heading to, they shy away :) - I always thought that those nice people in the Revenue Commissioners were warm and cuddly.... Well, I am.......