With a week to go before my trip to California and the Surf City Marathon, it was a chance to see how the training has been going, and a chance to let the legs turn over sharply before putting them thru 26 miles next week. The Raheny 5 is a classic race here on the last Sunday in January, and this was the 24th running of the event, and my third year in a row taking part.
My training has been going well in the last three weeks since the cross country race at the beginning of the year, and whilst I may be short of the distances in my legs to have a chance of a Boston Qualifier next week, I was confident that my speed over shorter distances would be getting back to a respectable level. Before the race I was saying that I would hope to be around 38 minutes, whilst privately I was thinking that, if the weather conditions were right, I would go a bit faster. A speed session on Friday night augered well for a decent run, and with the weather being a perfect January day, sunny, and in the sun at least - semi-warm! - with only the slightest breeze, I would have no excuses.
As I said, this is a well established, and very well supported, road race, and the good day certainly brought the numbers out, so the start was a little cramped. The race starts on the road, in a housing estate, and as such there is limited space, so when the start came, there was a somewhat chaotic dash, then a stop as the domino effect took place, then within 14 seconds I was across the line and off, almost without a hitch.
It was obvious to me right away that I was feeling good and was up for a decent run. The first couple of turns saw me holding my position well, keeping flaying legs of fellow competitors away from myself as I bobbed and weaved around the slower starters. It was relatively incident free, which was a surprise given the numbers involved, but I soon settled into my stride, and before I knew it I was at Mile 1 and 7:35 was on my watch, almost perfect. The race settled into a pattern for me, easing along, with only one hiccup when a young runner tried to cut across me at a turn, and almost knocked me over, and as he had ear phones in (I hate people who race with earphones!!!!) he failed to hear my expletive, but he felt my elbow as I defended my position on the road!
Mile 2 was a 7:22 and the third mile down towards the coast road saw a 7:18 clocking. I started to push on as I felt strong and Mile 4 was reached in a further 7:10, progressively quicker each mile, and the Mile 4 marker is just as we climb away from the coast road towards home. Given I have run this race before I knew what to expect and I dug in as we completed the gentle slope - it's not a tough climb, but around 100 yards of gentle uphill after the initial lift. When it levelled off, I eased into a strong rhythm and prepared for the finish -
- I was deciding where to kick, and remembered that there are three turns as we approach the finish - The finish is back where we started, with a small park that we run around the outside of - You can hear and see the finish as you approach the first of the three turns, and a few people started to sprint out then, but I knew we still had 400 to go, so I held back, pushed on down the length of the park, before the second turn where I picked off the jump-starters and as we turned the last corner, I kicked out, sprinted for the line, some 50 yards, and crossed the line stopping my watch in 36:27, 7:02 for the last mile, and a very satisfying performance.
I also use the WAVA tables to work out my age related performances, and although I ran this same race two years ago in 36 minutes dead, this years performance was actually a better age performance, with a 66.83% performance, my best age adjusted performance over ANY distance since 2001!
Now I can look forward to next week with a confident feeling, although I won't be going mad and expecting to run a BQ performance, but I will be confident of a decent run and, more importantly, having a good time.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Slack Posting but running go OK
I know, I know, I'm as bad as ever at keeping this as up to date as I should. But on the plus side, I have been running well in the last two weeks, with training completed on 11 days out of the 14, and the base mileage building up and consistency becoming the key word.
Now, I appreciate that there are a few readers and fellow bloggers who train every day, but as the years have advanced for me (slowly I hope!), I have always programmed rest into my plans, so no apology for the rest days - we need to recover.
What I have been doing is planning out the next few months of racing and goals. This Sunday I have the Raheny 5 Road Race, and I would hope to be running sub 39, depending on weather. The following week I am off to sunnier climes, and California for the Surf City Marathon, and although this was originally planned as a Boston attempt, I will now be looking for around 3:50 and a good hard training run with friends :).
When I get back I have a couple of cross country races in February, all the time building the training for the spring and a few key races. Firstly, my last race in the M45 Category, the Ballycotton 10, and naturally following on, my first race in the M50 class, although I'm not certain which that will be, but I have entered the Omagh 1/2 Marathon on March 29th, however their are a couple of other races before that one which could make the First!
All these are gearing me up for the Connemara Marathon on April 6th, the tough Galway race that sorts the men out from the boys, and the women from the girls. All being well I am really hoping to run sub 4 here (worth 20 minutes elsewhere!), with the last 3 miles the tough part.
That's where I am at, and here's hoping that I can get through this period unscathed and all will be well for a late spring/early summer attempt at the 3:35 I need to make Boston next April.
Now, I appreciate that there are a few readers and fellow bloggers who train every day, but as the years have advanced for me (slowly I hope!), I have always programmed rest into my plans, so no apology for the rest days - we need to recover.
What I have been doing is planning out the next few months of racing and goals. This Sunday I have the Raheny 5 Road Race, and I would hope to be running sub 39, depending on weather. The following week I am off to sunnier climes, and California for the Surf City Marathon, and although this was originally planned as a Boston attempt, I will now be looking for around 3:50 and a good hard training run with friends :).
When I get back I have a couple of cross country races in February, all the time building the training for the spring and a few key races. Firstly, my last race in the M45 Category, the Ballycotton 10, and naturally following on, my first race in the M50 class, although I'm not certain which that will be, but I have entered the Omagh 1/2 Marathon on March 29th, however their are a couple of other races before that one which could make the First!
All these are gearing me up for the Connemara Marathon on April 6th, the tough Galway race that sorts the men out from the boys, and the women from the girls. All being well I am really hoping to run sub 4 here (worth 20 minutes elsewhere!), with the last 3 miles the tough part.
That's where I am at, and here's hoping that I can get through this period unscathed and all will be well for a late spring/early summer attempt at the 3:35 I need to make Boston next April.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
First Race (X-Country) of the year
Oh dear!
I did think I was getting back to a reasonable level of fitness - sadly, it was clear by the events today that I am either getting too old for all this, or I have a lot of work to do to get back to a decent level of fitness. Or (thinking positively), I just had a bad day!
A few years since I ran my last X-Country race, I was encouraged by colleagues to take part in the first BHAA race of the year - the South Dublin Co Co Cross Country 4 mile race in Tymon Park, Templeogue. It was a cold day, but fair to say the conditions underfoot were good, and I dusted my spikes off, and lined up with a few other hardy souls, and off we went on a 4 mile trudge around the park, three laps of the circuit.
I won't bore you with the painful details of the race, suffice to say I had a bad day at the office. I took 35:30 to run the 4 miles, and felt terrible. I have felt better at Mile 20 in a marathon when I wasn't fit :) - But I got around, and next week, it's Race 2 in the series, next one over 5 miles - Here's hoping I have a better week.
I did think I was getting back to a reasonable level of fitness - sadly, it was clear by the events today that I am either getting too old for all this, or I have a lot of work to do to get back to a decent level of fitness. Or (thinking positively), I just had a bad day!
A few years since I ran my last X-Country race, I was encouraged by colleagues to take part in the first BHAA race of the year - the South Dublin Co Co Cross Country 4 mile race in Tymon Park, Templeogue. It was a cold day, but fair to say the conditions underfoot were good, and I dusted my spikes off, and lined up with a few other hardy souls, and off we went on a 4 mile trudge around the park, three laps of the circuit.
I won't bore you with the painful details of the race, suffice to say I had a bad day at the office. I took 35:30 to run the 4 miles, and felt terrible. I have felt better at Mile 20 in a marathon when I wasn't fit :) - But I got around, and next week, it's Race 2 in the series, next one over 5 miles - Here's hoping I have a better week.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
And now for 2008..........................
Having given you my life lines on 2007, it's time to turn to my running and look back on 07 and forward to 08. 2007 was not my best year ever, but strides were taken in the second half of the year, albeit they were small strides, which lead one to hope for better things to come. It took until June for me to record 100 miles for the year, although there were good reasons, but July, August and September saw strong miles logged and improvements in my running was noted.
I was sidelined for most of October with PF, which put paid to my attempts to qualify for Boston at Philadelphia, but thankfully that seems to have cleared up, and I can renew my quest for 3:35:59 with vigour in 2008.
I was happy with a couple of my races in 07, with a reasonably decent run at the Dublin Half Marathon in September, recording 1:48:58, only 33 seconds off my M45 best, and the Spar Laganside 10K in Belfast saw me running my fastest 10K in four years, with negative splits and a WAVA equivalence of 66.58%, so all was not lost for the year. My total mileage for the year was only 543.8 miles, but given the missing months, I can be reasonably happy that things are going the right way.
The goals for 2008 must start with CONSISTANCY! One hundred miles per month must be the minimum target, and regular running, with no less than 5 days per week a target. I already have a number of races planned, with a trip to California and the Surf City Marathon on Feb 3rd first up. I would hope to be under 4 hours comfortably here, and then Connemara on April 6th, where I will be hoping to break 4 hours on a very tough course. After that, I am leaning towards another US trip and the Flying Pig Marathon on May 4th, where if all goes to plan I will be able to run that elusive Boston Qualifier.
As for other goals, obviously I will be setting new marks for all my distances as I hit the 50 mark in March and go into a new class, M50. Having said that, some of my times at M45 are soft, and I feel that I should be able to lower my times from 10K upwards. Goals of sub 45 for 10K, sub 72 for 10 miles, sub 1:40 for the half, and my marathon time of 4:07 from Prague is a very soft target. with a BQ of 3:35 the aim.
Philadelphia in November will round the year off, and if all goes to plan, and I can remain injury free, I should be running around 3:30 there.
All of this will depend on avoiding injuries and motivation. With the new age bracket I feel motivated to perform this year, only time will tell. One thing I do know, if I can remain injury free, I will have no excuses - As I've said before - If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!!!.
I was sidelined for most of October with PF, which put paid to my attempts to qualify for Boston at Philadelphia, but thankfully that seems to have cleared up, and I can renew my quest for 3:35:59 with vigour in 2008.
I was happy with a couple of my races in 07, with a reasonably decent run at the Dublin Half Marathon in September, recording 1:48:58, only 33 seconds off my M45 best, and the Spar Laganside 10K in Belfast saw me running my fastest 10K in four years, with negative splits and a WAVA equivalence of 66.58%, so all was not lost for the year. My total mileage for the year was only 543.8 miles, but given the missing months, I can be reasonably happy that things are going the right way.
The goals for 2008 must start with CONSISTANCY! One hundred miles per month must be the minimum target, and regular running, with no less than 5 days per week a target. I already have a number of races planned, with a trip to California and the Surf City Marathon on Feb 3rd first up. I would hope to be under 4 hours comfortably here, and then Connemara on April 6th, where I will be hoping to break 4 hours on a very tough course. After that, I am leaning towards another US trip and the Flying Pig Marathon on May 4th, where if all goes to plan I will be able to run that elusive Boston Qualifier.
As for other goals, obviously I will be setting new marks for all my distances as I hit the 50 mark in March and go into a new class, M50. Having said that, some of my times at M45 are soft, and I feel that I should be able to lower my times from 10K upwards. Goals of sub 45 for 10K, sub 72 for 10 miles, sub 1:40 for the half, and my marathon time of 4:07 from Prague is a very soft target. with a BQ of 3:35 the aim.
Philadelphia in November will round the year off, and if all goes to plan, and I can remain injury free, I should be running around 3:30 there.
All of this will depend on avoiding injuries and motivation. With the new age bracket I feel motivated to perform this year, only time will tell. One thing I do know, if I can remain injury free, I will have no excuses - As I've said before - If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!!!.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Relections on a year gone by
2007 – A reflection.
I thought I would jot down a few thoughts about life in general as 2007 slips away into memories. I will also write a plan for 2008 and a more in depth reflection on my running for 2007, but first the way 2007 panned out for me.
Obviously the major event in the family last year was the passing away of my mum on May 27th. She had celebrated her 93rd birthday on the 2nd May and whilst her health had been ailing for many months, and the reality to all that visited her was that her days were numbered, her death still came as a shock to us all, and whilst you can appreciate that it is coming, when it actually happens it hurts just as much. I can take solace from her passing peacefully, and knowing her great faith, she was ready and willing to go and join her brothers and sisters in heaven and all her friends that had gone before. She inevitably leaves a great gap in my life, a loss that can’t be put into words too easily, and I am only thankful that I decided to come home 5 years ago, along with Liam Óg, and we were able to spend precious time with her over her last years.
But mum was always one with a smile and a jovial quip, and life must go on, a cliché I know, but go on it does, and there were some bright moments within 2007.
I am living in an apartment in Dublin Docklands these days, and feel like a yuppie amongst the young and trendy who share my block. Maybe I should have said I feel like the proverbial old man amongst the young things, but in truth, I have a great apartment, in a great location in a rapidly developing area of the city. I am 5 minutes from work, and only ten minutes from the centre of town, so have turned “green” in walking most places, and my car gathers dust in the garage for most of the time.
In 2007 I met Adrienne, and we have become a firm fixture. She is a ray of sunshine who has come into my life and helped me through the worst of times, without having met mum. She has been a solid brick to me, and helped me move forward. She lives outside Dublin, around 20 miles out of the city, but we spend a lot of time together and ((fingers crossed)) we will spend a lot more in 2008 and beyond.
Work wise, I am settled into my role within the Irish Civil Service, and love the job. I spend all my time auditing taxpayers, and some non-taxpayers, and am now enrolled with the University of Limerick doing a degree in Applied Taxation, with one week a month spent back at school, and ominously, exams set for March!
Liam Óg is still at Queens University up in Belfast, but is home every weekend, and he has now acquired a steady girlfriend and is smiling and enjoying life. He is hoping to head to Canada in the summer for a vacation, and is working at Lillies Nightclub here at weekends to save for his trip. He celebrated his 22nd birthday in November, and Melanie had her 20th, albeit over in England. Mels had taken a gap year, but I am pleased to say she has been accepted to start at Sheffield University next September on a degree course in nursery education, so she too will be off to college to gain the tools for a successful career.
One of the highlights in 2007 was meeting distant relatives for the first time. A few years ago I was very fortuitous in coming across a namesake, Sarah Mycroft, in the results of a marathon race in Australia. I found an email address, made contact, and lo and behold, this contact led to me discovering family on my father’s side that I was unaware of. Time passed, contacts were made, and this year, Frank and Tricia Mycroft, Sarah’s parents, and my second cousins, came to Ireland and we met up a couple of times on their visit, and hopefully this will lead to more such “family” gatherings in the future.
My best wishes to one and all and hope that 2008 is bright and happy for all.
I thought I would jot down a few thoughts about life in general as 2007 slips away into memories. I will also write a plan for 2008 and a more in depth reflection on my running for 2007, but first the way 2007 panned out for me.
Obviously the major event in the family last year was the passing away of my mum on May 27th. She had celebrated her 93rd birthday on the 2nd May and whilst her health had been ailing for many months, and the reality to all that visited her was that her days were numbered, her death still came as a shock to us all, and whilst you can appreciate that it is coming, when it actually happens it hurts just as much. I can take solace from her passing peacefully, and knowing her great faith, she was ready and willing to go and join her brothers and sisters in heaven and all her friends that had gone before. She inevitably leaves a great gap in my life, a loss that can’t be put into words too easily, and I am only thankful that I decided to come home 5 years ago, along with Liam Óg, and we were able to spend precious time with her over her last years.
But mum was always one with a smile and a jovial quip, and life must go on, a cliché I know, but go on it does, and there were some bright moments within 2007.
I am living in an apartment in Dublin Docklands these days, and feel like a yuppie amongst the young and trendy who share my block. Maybe I should have said I feel like the proverbial old man amongst the young things, but in truth, I have a great apartment, in a great location in a rapidly developing area of the city. I am 5 minutes from work, and only ten minutes from the centre of town, so have turned “green” in walking most places, and my car gathers dust in the garage for most of the time.
In 2007 I met Adrienne, and we have become a firm fixture. She is a ray of sunshine who has come into my life and helped me through the worst of times, without having met mum. She has been a solid brick to me, and helped me move forward. She lives outside Dublin, around 20 miles out of the city, but we spend a lot of time together and ((fingers crossed)) we will spend a lot more in 2008 and beyond.
Work wise, I am settled into my role within the Irish Civil Service, and love the job. I spend all my time auditing taxpayers, and some non-taxpayers, and am now enrolled with the University of Limerick doing a degree in Applied Taxation, with one week a month spent back at school, and ominously, exams set for March!
Liam Óg is still at Queens University up in Belfast, but is home every weekend, and he has now acquired a steady girlfriend and is smiling and enjoying life. He is hoping to head to Canada in the summer for a vacation, and is working at Lillies Nightclub here at weekends to save for his trip. He celebrated his 22nd birthday in November, and Melanie had her 20th, albeit over in England. Mels had taken a gap year, but I am pleased to say she has been accepted to start at Sheffield University next September on a degree course in nursery education, so she too will be off to college to gain the tools for a successful career.
One of the highlights in 2007 was meeting distant relatives for the first time. A few years ago I was very fortuitous in coming across a namesake, Sarah Mycroft, in the results of a marathon race in Australia. I found an email address, made contact, and lo and behold, this contact led to me discovering family on my father’s side that I was unaware of. Time passed, contacts were made, and this year, Frank and Tricia Mycroft, Sarah’s parents, and my second cousins, came to Ireland and we met up a couple of times on their visit, and hopefully this will lead to more such “family” gatherings in the future.
My best wishes to one and all and hope that 2008 is bright and happy for all.
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