A Time to Reflect

Ok, so excatly 4 weeks to the big M. After the Uber -successful half marathon, I have a little rumination before bed time with some cocoa- pass the pipe and slippers, ahhh- so...:

What have we learned so far?

• Slowly building up distance in a disciplined fashion is wise and fruitful, the weekly long run is key
• Listen to your body. Do other activites too to build up core. (My example, sit ups, ju jitsu, football)
  
• I think I can run the damn thing without cutting back on fags, drink and other recreational activities. I didn't think this would be possible a few months ago. It may not be, mind!
  
• There is actually a buzz from this madness, you do feel good after the runs.
• The mind is powerful, and staying relaxed on your run, not tensing anything and smiling outside and inside is critical
• Doing the marathon, my speed will need to be on or under the 10 minute per mile mark until after 20 miles, and if I'm able, I can up the tempo.
  
• I will need to do 2 more long runs before Oct 26th and D Day- one next week, around 20 miles and the week after, around 16.

My sister, God love her, did that 100k trek thing, and was forced to quit with chilblains, heat rash and general feeling shitness at 70k- thats a continuous trek. Fair play.. she is hobbling today, ooer

The Half-Marathon race, Phoenix Park, 26th Sept 2009

The stage was set, Europes largest public park hosting a record 8,000 runners in the park hoping to complete the 13.2 mile distance.

The day was sunny and warm, better weather than we have had most of the summer. People looked radiant in their lycra as they went through the stretches pre race. The announcer kept people entertained by slagging, encouraging and disparaging the entrants.
A few months ago, I had cajoled a friend of mine, Eoin Lynch to run the race series- and although I was in Clifden, he was true to his word and ran the 5 mile and 10 mile earlier in the summer. I was delighted to have a companion to run with- although he was aghast I had already run 16 miles in training!

My body felt fine, the only thing niggling at me was it was 10am. I got up at 8am which is an astounding feat all by itself. I had never ran in the morning before! Had cereal, actimel and sausages and was hungry for action.

The first 6 miles we spent chatting and joking at a fairly leisurely pace- we had joined the 3rd wave of runners at the start- those who expected to run in over 2 hours. There was a lot of bodies around us and the sun was beaming down.

Then, something strange happened. I started running faster. Eoin kept with me for a mile or so but i couldn't stop accelerating- I felt I was on my own special escalator which propelled me past everyone! I munched a vitamin tablet, stayed relaxed and kept up the pace- suddenly I started thinking about finishing within 2 hours - and by mile 12, my legs were feeling heavy as I was running at 10k pace then but I gritted my teeth and kept going. The crowd toward the end were fantastic and I managed a 100 metre sprint (felt like that) to go past the finish line, much to the amusement of the supporting mob. Not sure of the official time, but it was damn close to 2.00 hours. Eoin came in about 5 mins later, very very sore indeed! But he made it, and raised 500 yo yos for Aware.

Got my goody bag, refulled and ate, and made my way 2 miles back to my car. Definately on a high- my training plan is totally working. Had a cigarette in the car. Drinks tonight!!

My sister is simultaenously doing a 100k walk today, sheesus- they don't stop for the night- it will take over 24 hours and walking continuosly/eating in the dark. Crazy lady. For charity though..

EDIT: Official time and placing below- didn''t quite nail the 2 hours but a valiant effort as I decided to try and hit it with 6 miles to go- next time so !
Overall Placing Time

3578

Rowland Smithers (No. 270)

Dublin

02:01:31

Takin it easy, but that wasnt the plan!

Friday, did a 4 mile run- then played the Kildrought Inn in Celbridge. I put some video of that on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ1DMuxkXmc

Two other vids on there too. Successful gig, we were asked back for 3 other dates

Saturday: Basic gym work and a nice piano gig in Brasserie 15. Party in Kill with Paul McIntyre.

Sunday: So hungover. Lord of the Rings all day

Monday: Oops. Nothing

Tuesday: Badminton and Football

Wednesday: Going to Ju Jistsu with Gillian for intense pain. Its a really intense workout- the first hour is all stretches and serious Ab work and then theres some technique like james bond rolling and tumbles and wriggly motions. Half hour for fighting at the end where you try to break someones leg or arm. Sportingly, of course

55 kms covered last week. Lets see how many this week.

Yes, that's true. Need to build up the endurance and these next few weeks will be hard going before tapering off the training.

Monday: rest. important after long run. did some cycling doing jobs in town though.

Tuesday: Badminton and Football. 8k says my watch.

Wednesday: 10 kms run in my local village of Kill. It is a 6 mile loop collequially known as 'around the wall'. This is a lovely area which encapsualates the backroads of Kill and its hidden demesne's, estates and millionaires gated dwellings. I put on my best shorts. Took me 45 mins. And there were two ghastly climbs. I remember doing a 10 k run in the phoenix park about 5 years ago in 55 mins so I'm definately going in the right direction. Bit uglier now though. Thats 18k so far this week.

The 16 miler is complete

Ow.

Really sore. But happy.

16 miles (26 kms) completed in just under 3 hours. 2000 calories, 25,000 steps. Equivilant of running home to Kill.

Ran from city centre to Clontarf, up the coast road and into St Annes park, around the park and back through Fairview, Marino, Drumcondra, Glasnevin and Phibsboro.
In all fairness it was a beautiful hot day, so I ran topless much to the delight of everyone I encountered. The amino acid gel food thingy was ingested at 13 miles and made a big difference to my mood and energy level.
Gill ran me a bath and I have had a pizza and some fags and two beers and I feel ok now. What surprises me is that I was never ever out of breath or close to it. Legs and feet do start getting sore though..

Two more major runs before the marathon- one 18 mile and one 20 mile. The thought makes me less than excited but I know I can do this now and I'll need to suffer a bit before I taper off the training in October.

Ciao!

The pedometer james bond watch

Just a quick post to detail just how the Sportline Pedometer watch has changed my life.

Perhpas a slight overstatement, but how and ever-
Played football on Tuesday indoor- set up the watch, and in the hour, I ran 6 kms
Thursday, ran from my home to Croke park and down to Dublin port and back down the quays- 9 kms- just under 50 mins
Friday- outdoor football, one hour, the watch proudly boasted I had run 8kms.

Next up is a 16 mile run.. probably take the coastal route through the city- up through Clontarf, Sutton and back..

Half Marathon upcoming end of the month and I know I'll be fine. Still smoking and drinking like Rab C Nesbitt though;-0 Great gig on Friday with Kybosh and tonight I play "all the hits" in Brasserie 15. I'm a middle aged womans dream!

The Electric Picnic review and Alternative endurance Training

I never guessed I'd be writing a review of Electric picnic in a Marathon Blog, but here goes, as it is an endurance/mayhem marathon of craic.

Friday- Got into the festival already in great spirits- had a 8 mile run the day before, so guilt free.
Pitched my Quickpitch tent which leaps gleefully from it bag into a tent in 10 seconds and proceeded to imbue as much chemicals and buckfast as is humanly possible. MGMT and their song 'Electric Feel' were a highlight as was Orbitals set which was just crazy on the main stage. The body and Soul arena was a a great setting for a bit of chill time and spent the rest of the morning visiting other tents and making friend with what were random people. No sleep at all and straight into...

Saturday- in retrospect, my body needed sleep as it was quite cold and it felt as if my body were made of hollow wood. 2 guitars joined to my hips with concrete shoes. But I gallantly carried on, accepting my zombie like plight. As most of my friends were worse than me, Itried to help some, like Aido and Lara. I got a massage and saw Noise Control in the amazing Arcadia tent complete with fireballs and really impressed with Explosions in the Sky. Brian Wilson was great for California girls and other classics and Madness had everyone feeling alright. Ate a crumpet. Met up with the less than effervescent Cian in Body and Soul as we chatted to other festival goers. Went back to camp
and met up with Kat and Co. Went to rave in the woods. Awesome setting.
Slept at the ensible hour of 8am until...

Sunday- Awoke to lashing and lashings of ginger beer and trifle. No not really, after 4 hours of delectable sleep I awoke to the thunder of rain on my tent. After silently sobbing, I got my brave face on, and my swimming goggles and put my speakers on full blast to @nothings gonna stop us no, classic 80's cheesy tune by Starship. Made people smile anyways. Real food was on the agenda today after 2 days of madness. Ingested 2 breakfasts and some coffee and straight to body and soul where I booked the lovely masseuse from yesterday. Discovered the Sauna tent and lots of nake boys and girls inside. Sweated green and black. Obtained Ayuvedic massage. Drank Chai. Went back to Sauna. Chatted to naked people. FELT BRAND NEW.
3 hours well spent. Time for Royskopp- brilliant set and bacardi tent after for a bit of festival dancin' and Basement Jaxx rocked the place. As I'd been mainly pure that day, decided to beat the crowds at 4 am and drive home. Couldnt fit tent into bag and walked to wrong car park. Left a bag by mistake and walked to car. Realised car keys were in lost bag. Walked 3 miles back. No bag. Retrace my steps for 4 miles. No bag. Went to welfare and lost property. No bag. Now its 9am and I'm in Stradbally using supervalu phone and ATM so I can get breakfast. Not ahead of the game anymore, but lucklily its a lovely day for walking too much. I set my pedometer and I've already walked 17 kms through slush and sludge. Went to lost property and the cops have got my keys!! The conscientous thief had taken my bag with IPOD, flip camera, torch etc but dumped the keys. Small mercies but I'll take them. Plenty of people to push out of the mud as their vehicles get trapped. Help Kat and Moira dissasemble tent and bring all baggage to car, push more hapless vehicles out of the shit and finally make way home by 2pm. Still no sleep. Want a pint, have 4 in Pifko and thats officially it. Must have walked a marathon over the 3 days and feelin OK today!

The Pre Lectric picnic

That 7 miler was pretty handy actually... did a fast enough pace- just over 1 hour.
Monday- at the Gym, pumping IRON
Tuesday half hour badminton and one hour football.
Weds- took her easy, I had an audition for a restaurant- Brasserie 15 in Castleknock. The feedback was good and the manager was talking about a weekend residency..
Thursday: 7 miles around the park.. lovely- in my brand new running shorts and top.
Friday Saturday and Sunday, I will be enjoying the best festival in Ireland whilst desperately clutching onto my sanity and come up smiling Monday Morning.. adios..

New Route- 7 miles around Phoenix Park... easy!