Having reflected back on 2014, I can now look forward to the New Year and a New Running Plan.
What are my hopes and aspirations. Well, I have entered a few races already, and set myself some targets, and I guess one way of checking myself is to publish them, and then I have no excuse if I fail.
First up is the Raheny 5M at the end of January. Nothing too high here, as it's winter, and the weather can always play a part in destroying over ambitious targets. I will be happy to have a time that starts with a 41... It will point me in the right direction...
Next up on the target list, with entry paid up, is the Ballycotton 10m on March 8th. This is a race I have run four times in the past, 2002, 03, 06 and 08. With a best time back in 2006 of 1:15:50, this time I will be aiming to run it faster than I did in 2008, which was 1:23:50, slightly ambitious, average pace needed of 5:12 per Km, or 8:22 per mile, but a goal should be hard, but achievable...
Whilst entries aren't open for the Dublin Race Series yet, I'm aiming to run these, with the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon in August already subscribed for. I'll reconsider these specific races after Ballycotton, but in loose terms - here are my time goals for the year, subject to staying fit all year - something that hasn't happened in many a year!
5Km - General time goal of getting under 22:30, and when it comes to Waterstown Parkrun, I want to get near to 23 minutes on that tough course!
5M (or 8Km) - Raheny mentioned above with a 41 and change target, but as the year progresses I would hope to get near to 38 minutes again.
10Km - Not that many races at this distance on the Race Calendar, but I would dearly love to get back into the mid 40's for this distance, but I'll settle for a sub 50 to start.
10M - Ballycotton above, and Frank Duffy will be targetted in August for a decent time - Hopefully well under the 1:20 mark, something I have failed to achieve on three previous attempts at that particular race.
1/2 Mar - Two planned, with possibly a third thrown in there. However I will be looking to run a sub 1:50 later in the year, I'd like to aim for 1:45, but if I manage 1:49:59 I'll be happy.
MAR - Realistically, no plans to run one this year, as I want to concentrate on re-building everything and enjoying my running, instead of focusing on the training needed to run a Marathon. If I do have a good year, I may up my training for DCM, but I wouldn't want to simply run one for the sake of it.
I also intend to run Parkruns as often as I can, because they are great, and I do have one other great goal that will be achieved on July 10th at 3pm, I'm getting married!!!! Now there is one race that I can honestly say I am looking forward to running!!!
Happy Running Everyone (Or to both of you reading my blog these days!!!)
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
That Was The Year That Was - Reflections on 2014
As one should, the end of each year is a time to reflect on how the year progressed, what we learn, and a time to look forward to the New Year with expectations. As this is supposed to be my ramblings about running, I'll leave reflections about the state of the world to other fora.
Since I wrecked my back in February 2012, I had been unable to run properly for nearly two years, with a couple of small attempts during 2013, but as 2014 started I was determined to have one last chance of getting fit again and re-starting my running. January saw me jumping in with both feet and I ran the Marlay Park 5K Parkrun - Well, when I say "run", I completed the course in 33:39, not an auspicious start, and to be fair, it was a pretty true reflection of where I was at, fitness wise. BUT, it was a start....
Actually it was a hic-cup! I did start training, but I didn't feel right and felt that a little longer was needed before I could really test myself. So, I decided to diet a little, and by the end of June I felt I was ready to "run". Through work, in years gone by, I had regularly ran in BHAA Races (Business House Athletic Association), and a 5K was coming up in Irishtown, under the BHAA banner, and Revenue were promoting this to try and encourage fitness at the workplace, so an ideal (re)-starting point. I had last run this race in 2007, in 23:50, so I had a measure.... It was no magnificent return, but I got around, and clocked 30:17, and I was determined to move on from there.
Three days later and I discovered Waterstown Parkrun... Living in Ballsbridge, without a car, it is hard for me to get to Marlay Park, or many of the other Parkruns in the Dublin area. However, Waterstown is on the bus route that goes past my apartment, so despite a 35 minute journey, it seemed to be the easiest to get to, so I went. Really glad I did, as I have met some great people there, and must mention Julie O'Connor and all the work she and her team have put in creating a family friendly running event every week. But my first venture there was a shock to the system. It's a tough course, with some lovely gentle inclines, and my first time out, I recorded 30:37 for the trip - Ouch, and it hurt too!
But I persevered, I was up to running three times a week, and the following Saturday I ducked under 30 minutes, 29:52, and thankfully haven't been over again since. The training went well through the summer, and I continued to run the Waterstown Parkruns into September, bringing my time down to 25:28 in two months. I had set a target of getting under 25 minutes for 5Km by the end of September, and I achieved this at the Rathfarnham 5Km at the end of the month, managing to bring my 5Km PHD (Post-Herniated Disc) PBB, down to 24:39 - I was on the right road..
The last three months have been a little up and down, with a 5M Race best of 42:29, and a couple of over distance 8.5Km Races (They were supposed to be 8Km, but for one reason or another they were long), one in Argentina while back there on holiday, and the last race of the year in Clontarf with my new running friends from #RSP - The runners Support Page on Facebook. Unfortunately I came home from my holiday with a cold, and Clontarf was a little tricky as I hadn't shaken it off, and it turned into a chest infection, which resulted in two weeks off running at the start of December. Pleased to report I am now back healthy, and raring to go. I set myself a challenge of The 12 Runs of Christmas, i.e. running every day over the holidays, my twist on the Irish 12 Pubs of Christmas - And NO, I don't have a beer on every run!
So, after a false start, a tough time getting back into it, I have ended the year with a total of 412.5Km in the bank, which given it was only for half a year in truth, is my best return since 2008 - A lot to look forward to in 2015.
Since I wrecked my back in February 2012, I had been unable to run properly for nearly two years, with a couple of small attempts during 2013, but as 2014 started I was determined to have one last chance of getting fit again and re-starting my running. January saw me jumping in with both feet and I ran the Marlay Park 5K Parkrun - Well, when I say "run", I completed the course in 33:39, not an auspicious start, and to be fair, it was a pretty true reflection of where I was at, fitness wise. BUT, it was a start....
Actually it was a hic-cup! I did start training, but I didn't feel right and felt that a little longer was needed before I could really test myself. So, I decided to diet a little, and by the end of June I felt I was ready to "run". Through work, in years gone by, I had regularly ran in BHAA Races (Business House Athletic Association), and a 5K was coming up in Irishtown, under the BHAA banner, and Revenue were promoting this to try and encourage fitness at the workplace, so an ideal (re)-starting point. I had last run this race in 2007, in 23:50, so I had a measure.... It was no magnificent return, but I got around, and clocked 30:17, and I was determined to move on from there.
Three days later and I discovered Waterstown Parkrun... Living in Ballsbridge, without a car, it is hard for me to get to Marlay Park, or many of the other Parkruns in the Dublin area. However, Waterstown is on the bus route that goes past my apartment, so despite a 35 minute journey, it seemed to be the easiest to get to, so I went. Really glad I did, as I have met some great people there, and must mention Julie O'Connor and all the work she and her team have put in creating a family friendly running event every week. But my first venture there was a shock to the system. It's a tough course, with some lovely gentle inclines, and my first time out, I recorded 30:37 for the trip - Ouch, and it hurt too!
But I persevered, I was up to running three times a week, and the following Saturday I ducked under 30 minutes, 29:52, and thankfully haven't been over again since. The training went well through the summer, and I continued to run the Waterstown Parkruns into September, bringing my time down to 25:28 in two months. I had set a target of getting under 25 minutes for 5Km by the end of September, and I achieved this at the Rathfarnham 5Km at the end of the month, managing to bring my 5Km PHD (Post-Herniated Disc) PBB, down to 24:39 - I was on the right road..
The last three months have been a little up and down, with a 5M Race best of 42:29, and a couple of over distance 8.5Km Races (They were supposed to be 8Km, but for one reason or another they were long), one in Argentina while back there on holiday, and the last race of the year in Clontarf with my new running friends from #RSP - The runners Support Page on Facebook. Unfortunately I came home from my holiday with a cold, and Clontarf was a little tricky as I hadn't shaken it off, and it turned into a chest infection, which resulted in two weeks off running at the start of December. Pleased to report I am now back healthy, and raring to go. I set myself a challenge of The 12 Runs of Christmas, i.e. running every day over the holidays, my twist on the Irish 12 Pubs of Christmas - And NO, I don't have a beer on every run!
So, after a false start, a tough time getting back into it, I have ended the year with a total of 412.5Km in the bank, which given it was only for half a year in truth, is my best return since 2008 - A lot to look forward to in 2015.
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Another PB at 8.5Km !!
Having been under the weather all week with a chest infection, I was feeling a lot brighter for Saturdays trip out to Clontarf and the Clontarf 5 Mile race, in conjunction with their Half-Marathon. The great thing about this race was my first chance to meet up in person with the gang from #RSP - The Runners Support Page, over on Facebook. I joined this on-line group a few months ago, and have been enjoying the banter and motivation coming from the members, so it was great to meet up with so many of them on Saturday, and great to relax after the race in the Yacht. The vast majority of the gang were running the Half-Marathon, but I chose the shorter race given the chest and the holiday.
Now, regular readers will know that my last race, advertised as an 8Km race, was actually 8.5Km, and this must be following me around, as the Clontarf Race had to amend the course due to a spot of flooding on the course. Unfortunately, the marshalls at the turnaround point made a human error and forgot to adjust the location, which resulted in the race actually being, yes, you guessed it, 8.5Km! My new favourite distance :).
As for the race, I started gently on the narrow pathways, and settled into a steady rhythm, around 5:15 pace, as we ran along the waterfront, before crossing the bridge and then the long run to the turnaround. As we came off the bridge on the way back I felt my chest starting to wheeze up, so took it easy on the run back, clearly identifying that we were running more than 5 Miles as the markers hadn't been moved, and I knew the pace I was running, and feeling the chest, I didn't kick on at the end, and crossed the line in 44:17, for 116th position out of 541, which isn't bad, and a few seconds faster than that last 8.5Km race :).
Big plus on the day was meeting the #RSP gang - Negatives were; the over-distance race, although these things happen; and the chest infection lingering longer than hoped.
Couple of pics with the gang, and running along - Back to Parkrun if I can finally shake off this nasty chest.
Now, regular readers will know that my last race, advertised as an 8Km race, was actually 8.5Km, and this must be following me around, as the Clontarf Race had to amend the course due to a spot of flooding on the course. Unfortunately, the marshalls at the turnaround point made a human error and forgot to adjust the location, which resulted in the race actually being, yes, you guessed it, 8.5Km! My new favourite distance :).
As for the race, I started gently on the narrow pathways, and settled into a steady rhythm, around 5:15 pace, as we ran along the waterfront, before crossing the bridge and then the long run to the turnaround. As we came off the bridge on the way back I felt my chest starting to wheeze up, so took it easy on the run back, clearly identifying that we were running more than 5 Miles as the markers hadn't been moved, and I knew the pace I was running, and feeling the chest, I didn't kick on at the end, and crossed the line in 44:17, for 116th position out of 541, which isn't bad, and a few seconds faster than that last 8.5Km race :).
Big plus on the day was meeting the #RSP gang - Negatives were; the over-distance race, although these things happen; and the chest infection lingering longer than hoped.
Couple of pics with the gang, and running along - Back to Parkrun if I can finally shake off this nasty chest.
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