The Softy

Trial and Error

So two of my personal best are on the soft side, 10K and half Marathon times. I had planned to tackle the 10K in early July but herself indoors was in Hospital for a week, when like a revolving door she came home and Lorraine went in. Not much serious training done in prep for the new target race Kilmurry Harvest Festival 10K. I ran this before and had a complete disaster of a race. So Monday before the race I decided to do 6 * 1 Mile 10K paced reps just to see what my current pace might be. My 5K time gives me somewhere between 6:40/6:50 per mile pace. So off I set first Mile was 6:30 and felt pretty okay (famous last words) well we all know what happens in reps when you do the first few too hard. They go backwards pretty quickly (6:40, 6:45, 6:55, 6:58, 7:04). I thought I was going to die on the fourth one and very nearly pulled the plug but had some harsh words with myself, you plonker Rodney you went out too fast.

Rodney Part Two

Race day, as usual we get a warm sunny evening for the race. I don't do running in the heat, I just boil over. I decide to try and get 42:30 which is 8:30 per Two Kilometres. Usual 2 mile warm-up with some strides too wake the legs up. Pretty soon we where off. Small crowd so the greyhounds flew ahead leaving me in their wake. I was conscious of not going out to quick, and tried to keep the speed down on the watch, problem it was either too quick or too slow so I was all all over the place. I couldn't get into a rhythm at all. We passed the finish shortly after the 1 K mark and the pace lifted again but it got pulled back pretty quickly with the first of 3 climbs out of Kilmurry. This section is net Downhill but has 4 stiff climbs in it. Passed 2K mark and my time was 8:57 !!. Way too slow and at this rate I would not even get near my PB of 43:56. Still my pace was all over the shop and now my mouth was as dry as the Sahara. Passed 4K with a bad  split 17:52 at which point came the first Water station, I stopped and took a good drink of water. Two runners passed me and where both ahead by 35 to 50m when I started up again. I spent the rest of the race following them but at least I had now managed to find a pretty even tempo. Passed halfway 22:03 which was a big improvement but it didn't register with me at the time. I had at this point pretty much given up on a PB as once we hit 6K its a nice drag to 9K before it flattens out. Spent the rest of the race  just trying to catch the two runners in front of me. It wasn't until I casually glanced at the watch at 9K that I realised I had got quicker 39:04 meant any decent last kilometre would at least unsoften my PB. Dug in for the rest of the race still trying too catch the two in front but they where not coming back to me. Finished with a new PB of 43:21. As per usual I consumed more calories the I burnt in the after race picnic.

Conclusion

Any time you get a new PB it should be a good race but I ran a stinker. Even with no specific 10K work done I should have got under 43 minutes. I didn’t really get to the pace of the race until after halfway which pretty much cost me the time. It is ironic I ran the second half faster then the first, when the second half is net elevation gain and the first 5K was downhill. There will be another day out to try and rectify this in September, but with 3 marathons pencilled in over the next few weeks I may not really be in true 10K shape but hopefully I might give a better account of myself.

Bright Side of the Road

Always take the weather with you

Sixmilebridge delivered again. If running 10 Marathons in Ten days was going to be hard enough, the weather as usual made it a true test of stamina. Not since the summer of 95 when Clare finally kicked Biddy Earlys curse to touch have we seen temperatures in the high 20's and low 30's. As I have said before I don't think GOD likes us marathon runners too much or maybe he had an alternate motive for inflicting such conditions on the 23 or so lunatics about to attempt this challenge. Short story 23 legends were born over that week, they inspired a community and showed that faced with the adversity what the human spirit and body can endure. Eighteen of those got home on the final day but the five that fell had the hardest choice to make in pulling out. They had brought themselves as close to the cliff both mentally and physically before making the correct choice to let it go for another time. The motto on the back of the finishers t-shirt got this spot on. So many memories and emotions were experienced over the ten days, watching the joy on the their faces as we approached with Mr Freezes and Ice Lollies. Sharing their smiles each evening as they ran,jumped, walked or crawled under the finish gauntry to step closer to their ultimate goal. 

Some of the finishers

They say you get out what you put in, well I can honestly say I came away with much more then I gave.
As special mention must go to Tom and Richie, the success or failure of this event lay at their door. If it failed they would carry the can, well it didn't and was there ever any doubt in that. That been the case they fully deserve the credit for its success.

Dark Side of the moon

I could not pass up the opportunity to run at least one marathon last week. I had originally pencilled in Thursday but had to switch to Wednesday instead due to my own incompetence in looking at my calendar.  I know the course pretty well and had ran it on Saturday in the low 20's for a very uncomfortable and hard Two hour half marathon. How I was going to fare in the high 20's was another matter. Wednesday or Day Seven was the warmest so far but not as humid as other days well thats what I was telling myself. We gathered at the start with everyone trying to get under the small bit of shade that was been offered by one small tree. A quick loop of the town and we are on our way. I went along at about four hour pace with Denzil leading us out and two other day trippers James and Ed in close attendance. James kicked on shortly after the mart and I lost Denzil and Ed at the first water station. Fumbling trying to get a zym tablet out of the tube only to realise they had all stuck together with the heat. Got some into the bottle and another bottle to cool myself down. I was surprised that I caught up with Ed so quickly before Kilmurry but he was struggling with an injury and pulled up shortly afterwards. Got to mile 6, had planned on taking on some of my homemade gel drink spent more time looking for it to realise that it must still be in one of the cars circling the course. No worries as I have another at 12 and sure I get it from whoever has it soon enough. Heat was intense but I was feeling okay and still going around four hour pace, I was down time wise due to the delays at the two water stops, but wasn't bothered really as this was not a day for a PB. Tom said todays PB is getting around in one piece which was pretty sound advice. Ran into Paddy at Mile 7 or 8 so I tagged along with him for a bit. Finally got to meet Jennifer dishing out the ice pops, and the like at mile Eight stayed and chatted with Paddy until mile 12 where he was feeling the pace( he was on number two of a back to back in these conditions). I tipped on while he took a breather. Brian or Dave as I called him flew passed me here, thought about tagging on but his pace was a little too hot. Meet Thomas on the way out and he commented I was looking good, and I felt good at this point. Passed half way 2:01:23 on the clock told Sandra I'll get water off her on the way back. Got my gel at the finish and headed out on the second loop. The climb back out of the town broke me. In less than a mile I went from comfortable running to absolutely no energy in my legs. The (eddies) hill sucked me up and spat me out. From here to Kilmurry was a real struggle, I had to stop several times and walk, I was absolutely drained from the heat. Water at the stations was warm and was not helping me. Meet with Siobhan who had a chilled bottle which help a bit but I was still struggling. I was expecting it to cool down in the evening as the sun went down but this was not the case. Just after Kilmurry cross I came down a hill and in front of me was an angel. Bowl of ice cold water and a sponge. I drowned myself, relief,I was so happy I could have kissed her, I think I did too. From here on I was back, picked back up the pace to four hour pace again. Pretty soon I caught up with Gino who was running his 100th today and then I saw in the distance John who took off earlier in the race. He was my next goal so I set about trying to reel him in. It took the mind of the heat and gave me something to focus on. Finally caught and passed him at mile 22. Got halfway up the Bitch as Thomas calls it when again the legs gave out and had no energy. Walked about half a mile to the next station refuelled and once I got over the climb felt good again. I passed the mart(25) just on Four hours and set 4:10 as a goal. Ran from here to the finish but thought I was going to be outside the time. Mike (of Clare FM fame) came along side on the bike and pushed me out to the finish 4:09:50 and it was over. Tom then of course asked probably the most obvious question of the week. "Do you want a can Ger ?". To which I reply as I fell to the ground "Can a duck swim!". Okay there may have been a four letter word in there somewhere. As I skulled my can in the cold tub I was satisfied that today I completed my eighth Marathon in brutal conditions, and it had taken me nearly 47 years to accomplish. I pondered, tomorrow night 18 of these guys/gals would equal that in the same amount of days. This really brought home to me the enormity of this challenge, and what is required to complete it. 

June 29th  
          16 Miles Long 2:28:24 @ 9:14 HR 144

July 2nd         
          10 Miles Tempo 7 miles 54:37 @ 7:49 HR 163 with 1.5 Mile WUWD

July 6th
           13.1 Miles Easy 1:58:14 @ 9:02 NO HR  

July 10th
           26.2 Miles Long 4:09:50 @  9:33 pace, NO HR

One Step Beyond

Let the Madness commence

Today is Day One of a unique event been ran by B.M.O.H to raise funds for the Juvenile section of the club and School Building project for Kilmurry National School. It is also D-Day for the 23 elite runners as described in the Clare Champion or lunatic's, mad-men (and ladies) or whatever else you want to call them. They start their journeys into the unknown of running 10 marathons in Ten Days on the roads of Sixmilebridge.There will of course have other runners completing one or two Marathons over the course of the Ten Days as well, most notably Keith Whyte fresh from his 100K record setting run and Ruthann Sheehan current 24 Hour womens road record holder.
By Monday the people of the Bridge might be forgiven in thinking that the men in White coats need to be contacted, yes it the fancy dress marathon and I am really looking forward to some of the outfits that will be on display. 
Fortunately or unfortunately I have yet to get this level of madness or enlightenment depending on whatever way you look at it but I hope to be there most days to assist in whatever way I can in making sure that on Saturday 13th we see 23 runners complete this unique challenge.
So best wishes to all running this over the next 10 days, and as for the weather well its Sixmilebridge and we may even get snow in July.

Kind of Blue

Kilmurry 10K

As I had missed a planned 5K time trial last week, I decided on Thursday evening after a quick chat with Leon that I would give this a bash. Plan was 5K between the three and eight kilometer marks. Got there about 6 and registration was quiet picked up my number and bumped into the fast postman who was registering ahead of me. He had won Saturday in Kilmihil (repeated the feat here as well) but said he was given a good race by Jake o Regan. Meet with some familiar faces from B.M.O.H who where on pacing duties for the day. Made my way to the start and set of with Paul Conway in the 55 Minute group. At 3K mark said my goodbyes and set off. Plan was to run between 6:45 and 7:00 min miles (as the elevation profile suggested downhill) for the first 2K and just try and hold on after that. Yes their was downhills but there where uphills as well which I was not expecting. Through the first K in 4:15 and feeling every bit of it but  was 9:00 through 2K when the alarm bells went off. I had ran 2 mile intervals 10 days previous in similar conditions at a faster pace. Hit 3K and my average pace was just under 8 min miles. Could see the 50 min balloon ahead but just could not get to them. The last 2K I just want to forget, struggled and at the 7K mark threw in the towel and stopped to walk, just wasnt intreasted in pushing it anymore. After 200m of feeling sorry for myself some guy passed me so I picked up with him and we ran to the finish. We managed to pick up the pace for the finish but I didnt push it too hard as I didnt want to tweak the hamstring when nothing was on the line so I pulled back a small bit towards the end.

 I had stopped the watch at 8K for my 5K time and didn't even bother to look at it until afterwards. Disgusted when I saw 25:18 and the HR readings where well below what I have done for previous 5/10K races. It was a case of me wimping out when the going got tough.  

The usual spread of Sandwiches and cake and all sorts afterwards helped to console my bruised ego. Overall its a well orgainised race on a tough  but run-able course. Its a pity the numbers were small but I will return again next year and try to redeem myself.

Normal Service Resumed

After Friday nights no show I ran a 4 mile tempo run @ 8 min mile pace on a hilly loop with 1 mile warm up and warm down this evening. Felt good and strong throughout. Kept pace up the hills and recovered on the downhill sections. If the planned 2 mile and 1 mile intervals on Thursday and a paced 10 mile run on Sunday go as well I will be very happy indeed, and will confine Friday Night to a one off event that I don't want to repeat.