Dublin Marathon

I know I have been lax at posting since I came back from the US, but Work has been VERY hectic and I have been getting a few things organised for the influx of visitors for the Dublin Marathon this Monday coming. I've also planned another Stateside Trip and Marathon, this time for February and the Surf City Marathon on Feb 3rd next, over in Huntingdon Beach, California. More of that later...

Anyway, just a quick summary for those heading to Dublin this weekend. Here is a rough idea of what is planned.

Saturday Evening:
7 pm onwards - The Porterhouse on Nassau Street, for food and a few beers to calm the nerves.

PUT YOUR CLOCKS BACK

Sunday Evening:
7pm - Runners World Visitors form the Forum, Dinner at Luigi Malones in Temple Bar
- Athenry AC, Dinner at Da Pino's at the junction of Parliament Street and Dame St.

Monday Morning:
7:45am - Meet up at the Mespil Hotel for Community Injuries, and stroll to the baggage area and Start
9:10am - Start Running (For any Elite Ladies get there for 8:45 as you'll be setting off early)
11:15am - Finish Running if you're winning the race
1:00pm - Finish the race for mere mortals
1:00pm onwards - Drink, relax, chat about why you ran so well/badly, and generally meet up with friends to relive the day

The pic is myself and Andy (FOAR) from earlier this year to help those who don't know us recognise our mugs in the Pub on Saturday.

An interesting Vacation - And it took in a Race too :)

Well, a week in the sun, great relaxation by the pool in Palm Springs, catching up with a good friend in Santa Monica, and what else do I find - A Race to run, and no plain ordinary race, this was a little different.

I called into the Running Wild Shop in Palm Springs and asked if they knew any local races over the weekend, and I was informed about an 8K event in Yucca Valley - some 30 minutes from PS. So, Saturday morning, we left PS at 7, in 70 degree temps, dressed in shorts and a running shirt. My mistake. Assumptions that Yucca Valley would be similar in climate to PS were ambitious! How was I to know that Yucca Valley is 3,300 feet up the mountains - It said VALLEY! We got there - And it was FREEZING :) - I'm in shorts -

Anyway, I entered, grabbed my New Buzzard Run T-Shirt (another clue there), and sat in the car until 5 minutes before the start. It was still freezing, and then they told me about the course. It was an 8K Race, 4K up hill and 4K down hill - Meet the Buzzards! The climb was on the road, but a rise of 1000 feet was in order - Why didn't I stay in bed, or around the pool, it would be 85 by now in PS!

There were 68 entrants in the race, a mixed bunch, 95% local, but friendly :). The race started, and a 100 metre flat stretch was the only flat bit for another 7800 metres! We turned onto PioneerTown Road, and it was up hill all the way. The road wasn't tooooooooooo steep, just steady all the way, no respite. I settled into a rhythm, and just tried to suck it in. The sun was shining, but the wind was into our faces, and it was nippy!

Gradually the race settled into a pattern, with around 20 people ahead of me. I struggled a little on the hill. It was tough going, but I got my head down, made Mile One in 9 minutes, and continued up, making Mile 2 in 19:00 - And still it went up! Further up the road I could see a really steep climb and was dreading it, but then I saw the turnaround point, just at the bottom of the steep climb, a relief, and a spur as I counted the runners coming back towards me, I was 18th at the turn! It was 24 minutes and change, but it was all down hill from here!

I quickly passed a runner in orange, and set my sights on a couple ahead of me. They had Big Sur Jackets on when they passed me on the way up, so I kept them in sight, some 20 metres ahead. I was speeding up, naturally, but so were they, and I bided my time, closing the gap very gradually as we passed Mile 3, then Mile 4. There was little point in checking my watch as splits were irrelevant, but the gap was down to 10m by the last water station. It had warmed up now, and I was running well, so I closed them down and drew level with half a mile to go. A brief chat (we were not in the same Age Group), and a joke about This Being a No Passing Zone, and we ran together until the turn and Flat Land to the finish.

Would there be a sprint finish, you bet - I hate losing over a finish, and the three of us started to kick. Mrs Big Sur dropped off quickly but Mr Big Sur and myself were flying, and we ran hard along the wide road (The pic is from a long way out, but you can see a wide road and us sprinting hard - line abreast). Well, I held out and crossed the line a few strides ahead of my new friend, in 41:34 - Not the best time in the World, but enough for 15th Place Overall, and Third Place in my Age Group.

It had warmed up by the time we finished, and the prize giving was great fun with a special call out for me coming all the way from Ireland, "Just for their race", and the Mayor offering me an "Erin Go Bragh" as he gave me my medal. The prizes for the winners were sculptured Buzzards, and with door prizes etc., saw virtually everyone who took part receive something for their day - Something much bigger races should be envious off.

I really enjoyed my trip to Yucca, and I had a great relaxing vacation in Palm Springs and LA. Looking forward to my next Vacation now, and that will have a little race too, the Philadelphia Marathon, but first I have to run around Dublin in a couple of weeks.

On Vacation - Or Warm Weather Training

I know I'm being naughty again, and missing a few posts, but I'm off on Vacation and enjoying the sunny climes of California for a week. After the summer we've had in Ireland, believe me, we need some sun :) - So I'll be back soon, with the build up to Dublin and then onto Philadelphia - Have fun while I'm away :)

Dublin Half Marathon - Decisions to be made

Apologies for those dropping in and expecting daily updates, but I've been a little hectic this past couple of weeks with work and life in general, so time to post has been infrequent. I have still been training though, and yesterday, Saturday 22nd, I took part in the most important stepping stone so far in my quest to qualify for a Boston Qualifying Time for next April.

As regular attendees will know, I have been focusing all my running this year on seeking that elusive 3:35:59 that will enable me to line up in Boston on a Monday morning in spring 2008, just weeks after I reach my 50th birthday. Actually, when I say all year I am somewhat exaggerating, as I really only started serious training in June, what with everything else that had gone on on the early part of the year. So a somewhat ambitious target of my BQ by Philly in November has been progressing along, and with a few hiccups along the way, I have been progressing in the right direction. I did post a reflection recently that I felt that Philly was about 6 to 8 weeks too soon for me, and yesterdays race would enable me to judge more accurately as to where my "Marathon State" actually is.

Well, the day arrived and amazingly, given the summer we haven't actually had, it was a blue sky that greeted me at 7:30 when I arose from my slumber. The drive over to the Phoenix Park was uneventful and after collecting my number I walked the mile or so to the start, only to find that the race start was delayed for 15 minutes due to the numbers. I haven't seen the official results yet, but the tannoy announcer was saying that there were as many as 4000 running yesterday - have to admit it didn't seem that many, but if accurate that is an amazing turnout for the race, and a wonderful climax to the Adidas Series that acts as the Dublin Marathon Build Up.

I was determined to treat this as preparation for Philly and attempt to run at Marathon pace, i.e. 8:15, and not make my usual cardinal sin of flying off too fast and then hanging on for dear life. There wasn't a gun or klaxon to start we just seemed to edge forward and then we were moving. The race was chipped, so I started my watch at the mat, and as far as official results may go, these splits are my watch times, so I'm hoping they will concur with the overall picture when released.

The first mile was along Chesterfield Avenue, the main drag through the Park, a nice wide road with plenty of room to spread out. For once I wasn't having to run around people, I had started as near as I dared to the front, and hopefully not too many were weaving around me. The first mile marker was hit at 8:09, good pacing, just what I wanted, I hadn't got carried away. The sun was warm and the sweat was dribbling off me very early. I was glad to be running in my Club Vest, suitable vaselined and with my "stop-chaffing" shorts too. It felt very easy at this pace, but I resisted the temptation to speed up, even though I felt pedestrian at this pace, and with Mile 2 showing 8:20, life was good. Mile 3 was slower, 8:22, but then we hit a couple of down hill stretches and an 8:04 mile followed by 7:57 had me running nicely along the time zones.

The next couple of miles saw the hills that had plagued me in the Frank Duffy Race a few weeks ago, and again, I realised that I would have to run these twice, with the second time coming at 10.5 miles into the race, but that was for later, this time I was taming the beasts - 8:18, 8:23 and 8:26 saw them defeated and back onto Chesterfield and the second loop. A couple more miles of 8:18 each (consistent), saw me hit the 10 Mile Mark in 82:35, only 5 seconds outside my target, but I did have those hills to tackle again.....

Well, the good news is, they didn't defeat me, but they did slow me down. Even though I was running a comfortable pace, the long drags took their toll. I should put these hills into perspective, they aren't the Newton Hills, but they have made me suffer a number of times over the years, and humbled more than me, but today I was determined to pull my body through the couple of miles, I managed it, albeit with slow miles of 8:40 and 8:34, but mentally I beat my demons, and when I recovered I was able to glide home the last mile and a bit in 9:09 and cross the line in 1:48:58 - At least I think that was my time, I forgot to press the button when I looked at my watch!

My thoughts on the race were positive, and a realistic assessment of where I am in my quest. The overall pace was 8:19, a touch outside my goal, and I did feel tired, and certainly not ready to run another 13 miles at the same pace just yet. I appreciate that Philly is still 8 weeks away, but I can't see myself quite managing to get into total shape by then, and as this quest has been about stepping stones and Philly is not the Last Chance Saloon, I will look at a 3:50 in Philly, and, not that I ever need an excuse to visit the US, I will target a January Marathon, possibly Houston, and try for my Boston time there.

Carlton Tower

I know this hasn't got a lot to do with running, apart from the fact that I run past it every day! But just to liven up my Blog, I thought I'd show you the building of a high-rise apartment block across the road from me. When I moved into my apartment last October, there was an empty lot - This is what happened next!

W10D3 - Nearly half way to paradise

After my very satisfying run on Sunday, I would normally have taken a day off and recovered on Monday, but I have signed up to a Personal Training programme with the gym, Club Vitae, that I am a member of, and I had an appointment with Gordon, my very own personal sadist (umm, I mean Trainer!), on Monday at 5 pm. Now, I have no problem with my running training, I'm perfectly capable of sorting that out, but as I have got older, I have found it harder to maintain the upper body, and the belly! So, a planned programme will hopefully help me keep the shape right, and this will also have a benefit on my running style.

Monday night saw Gordon taking me through the paces, squats, lunges, power walking on a 9% incline whilst simultaneously lifting 5 Kilo dumb-bells over my head, crunches on the big ball, and a few other so called training exercises to please his sadistic fantasies... He kept me at it for 90 minutes, and I tried to maintain my heart rate and breathing whilst pushing myself - It was actually enjoyable, in a masochistic sort of way, just hope that it has the benefits in the long term.

Tuesday, I woke up as stiff as anything. I was aching in places, I had no idea I had places! I ditched the planned long run with Mike, and instead took the day off from training to allows the newly worked muscles to recover - last thing I want to do is to over cook myself.

Today it was back to normal. The pains have gone, and a lunchtime run was called for, along Sandymount Strand, and while I wasn't planning to run a hard run, the 5 Mile trip was taken in 37:04, a 25 second PR for the route. Feel tired from the run, but very pleased with the progress which I can gauge from my times over a route such as this.

I am away at a Conference for a couple of days now, so won't be online until the weekend, but I'll have my runners with me, and will continue to train. I have a 10 Mile race on Saturday morning, part of the BHAA series, and I hope I can run a little better than I did at the last 10 Miler, the Frank Duffy, a couple of weeks ago.

Would you believe it? Best 10K result in 6 years!

Running is like life - It can be full of surprises. After my disappointing 10 Mile race two weeks ago, and the slight interruption in training with the tooth problems, I was trepidatious when I drove up to Belfast on Sunday morning for the Spar Laganside 10K Road Race. The weather wasn't even trying to help as it was persitently drizzling all the way up.

I have mentioned before that 10K is not that common a distance here in Ireland for some strange reason (given we are metric on out roads etc.), but this was to be only my 5th 10K race since 2003, and as you know, I try and race pretty frequently.

There were over 400 entries for this race starting on the Short Strand and then heading across the Queens Bridge into Belfast City and around the cycle path on the embankment of the River Lagan. The race was to be 1 3/4 laps and was pretty flat with a couple of small bumps over bridges and back to the road from the cycle path.

The race was started with a whistle, and I quickly got into my stride and felt comfortable as we headed over the bridge and started to spread out. I missed the first K marker, but saw the 2K sign and saw that I was at 9:00 dead, and was running evenly, so I guess two 4:30 Kms. I had been aiming around 4:40 pace, so I eased back a little, so as to be within my time frame, knowing I had 20 seconds to spare on my target if I tired. The drizzle had stopped, and whilst no sun appeared, the running conditions were very good, no wind, and a good surface once we were on the cycle path.

The next three kilometres were even paced at 4:40, so reaching the halfway point at 23:00. This was faster than I had been expecting, and whilst I was feeling it in my running, it wasn't an "easy" run, I felt comfortable around this pace, and the 6K mark came up some 4:32 later, so still well on target for my sub 47 race. The second half of races has been a mental problem for me off late, but I hung in there, focusing on my style, and dealing with a wet, paper, number that was detaching itself from my singlet, I tried to refix it, but it disintegrated in my hand, so I ripped the rest of the number off, and squeezed it in my hand as I ran the last third of the race.

Kilometres 7 and 8 were the slowest ones of the race as I relaxed and tried to ensure a sub 47 race, not burning myself out (as done in other races this year). I ran 4:43 and 4:45 here, but knew that I had something left in the tank for the last 2000. As we ran up the cycle path, I started to pick other runners out as targets for the last mile - The penultimate K was run in 4:35, and my brain was calculating hard that I could manage under 46, never mind 47, if only I can finish under 4:25 in that last tenth.

Now, my forte used to be my strong ability to kick over the last 100m. Sadly that knack has been lacking in the last year or so, but I am trying to develop a longer, stronger drive for home from around 500m. Picking off other targets in that distance, I was winding it up well, and I could see what I thought was the finish, only to be directed to turn 180 degrees into a drive and run a further 50m, I dug hard and pushed on, crossing the line and stopping my watch at 45:55 - I had run 4:20 for that last kilometre, and negative splits for the race.

So, I was surprised by this speed. Amazed to break 46 at this stage in my training, and running my fastest 10K since June 2003. When I did the WAVA age related calculations, my percentage came out at 66.58%, which made it my best 10K since August 2001, when I was flying in training for ---- Philadelphia!

As I said, running can be full of surprises, some better than others, but I'm certainly not complaining about this surprise, just have to continue to build for Philly.

A hundred miles plus month - and toothache!

August draws to a close and the leaves start to turn on the trees. Where has the year gone. It's September already and thoughts turn from summer salad days, to the fall marathons we have planned and the nights drawing in.

But August was a good month for me, with 120 miles covered as I upped the mileage and reached Week 9 of my 20 week plan for Philly. My weight is down to 187 and overall I'm happy with my running. On Wednesday I awoke to acute toothache. Now, I will confess to hating dentists (nothing personal you understand), but it has been many years since I last sat in the chair, but this toothache was unbearable, so an emergency visit was required. €50 later, I had a script for anti-biotics and an appointment for the end of September to remove two root canals. Bottom Line, I had to take a few days of running as the anti-biotics and pain killers made me high and tired at the same time.

Saturday morning and I was back on the road. Understandably, I took it nice and easy, and ran the 5 miles along Sandymount Strand at a nice easy pace, and felt all the better for it. I am travelling up north later today as I have a 10K Race tomorrow up in Belfast - Makes a welcome change, although I have no great expectations, just taking it easy and will see how I get on.

Into Week 9 - Nearly Half Way there

It doesn't seem much longer than yesterday that I mapped out my 20 week plan to be ready for Philly in November. Twenty weeks, and November, seemed so far way. My fitness levels were low too, and my weight high, but I has 20 weeks!

Well, here we are and Week 9 has commenced, it's nearly the end of August, and November doesn't seem so far away now. I'm almost at the half way point in my key training, and I need to reflect on what I have achieved so far.

Overall I can't be disappointed given where I started. My overall fitness level has increased, and whilst I am not back to where I would like to be, I am well on the way. The weight has dropped off, and I am down to 187 lbs, with my 180 target well in sight. I am actually heading to the gym for a Body Composition Analysis (BCA) on Wednesday, so that will indicate where I need to work to tone things up.

Over the weekend I managed a couple of nice runs, 4.1 miles on Saturday and 7.3 miles on Sunday, both on the roads around Naas. On Monday evening I called to the gym and ran something of a time trial, doing a 6Km session tempo style, starting at 5 mins per Km, and increasing each Km, clocking 29:32 for the session. Finally this morning, I went for a run with my Canadian Training friend, Mike, and we ran 12.5 miles through the City in the early morning, heading on to the Phoenix Park as the sun came up and we saw the deer enjoying their dewy breakfast chew as we ran along, before heading home along the Liffey Boardwalk/ It was a 2 hour run, averaging around 10 minute mile pace, and a good start to the day. And I managed to expunge the demon of that darn Glen Road Hill in the Park that scarred me from that 10 mile race, as I coasted up and over the crest.

Yes, all in all, there have been a few downs in my training, but things are generally on the way up, and I'm looking forward to the next 11 weeks and the trip to Philly - Still a lot of work to do, but I'm getting there :)...... Stay Posted

Week 8 and that New Drawing Board

After Saturdays disappointment, it was always going to be a tough week, getting back on the rails and pushing on with the training. I rested on Sunday to tray and allow for a decent recovery from the tiredness, and on Monday I ran a regular route along Sandymount Strand, and a 5 miler. I think I allowed my frustration out of the bag as I timed myself with a new PR for the route - maybe if my race had been on Monday - What's with this bio-rhythm stuff anyway!

Tuesday I was meant to be meeting up with Mike for a steady 12 miler, but I had runs of other kinds on my mind, and had to pass on the training run - enough said!

Wednesday and I decided on a different run - With hindsight, 5 pm on a week night is not the best time to be running through Dublin City Centre, too many people! Pedestrians are worse than cars - they expect you to get out of their way. But I ran along the Liffey, through the city and up to the Phoenix Park, and whilst a little Stop/Go. it certainly kept me on my toes as I zig-zagged through the masses. All in all around a 7.5 mile run, and nice and easy too.

Thursday, and my motivation is certainly back. I was really looking forward to a run, and as I want to build my mileage up each week, an extended run to Sandymount was on the cards. I started with a loop of the river, over the Sean O'Casey bridge, along the North Wall and back over the East Link, before heading out to Sandymount and the majority of my 5 miler from Monday. Measured this run at 6.6 miles on the old Gmap tool, and I clocked around 8 minute per mile pace, for a healthy run.

No racing this weekend, just a few nice runs, maybe out in the country, nice and slow and more miles in the legs. The weight is still dropping, albeit slowly now, and I have made 188, only 8 lbs to go in the 12 weeks before Philly - Getting back on the rails has been easy - Now all I have to do is stay there.