This Year for sure

When I am not doing website design I am talking about running to people.  Unfortunately it is only talkingand I cannot get over a very long slump.  Maybe if Iactually pay out the cash and enter a marathon I will get the inspiration to go ahead and do it.

So I am hesitantly looking at the Dublin marathon (again) will I wont I hmmm..

Long Runs Beginning for 2011 Marathon

I am starting my long run sessions again for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday mornings.  This years marathon is on the 6th June 2011 so that leaves 19 weeks to race day.  This gives plenty of t ime for he beginner runner to get ready in time for the race.

These runs are targeted at the 8.30 – 10 minute milers looking for some company on long runs.  If you are speedier then feel free to come along but we will all be left behind.  These were very successful 2 years ago where we had groups as large as 11-12 on some mornings.

First run will be the simple loop February 6th at 8.30.  This is approx 6.5 miles and we will build on this over the next few months.  E-Mail at kieran@grangewebdesign.com if you are to come along or just show up on the day.

Where: Hartys Quay – Opposite Rochestown Inn

Time: Sunday Feb 6th at 8.30

Distance:  Approx 6 – 6.54 Miles

Bring a friend.  I look forward to seeing you there!

New Year – New Beginning

I haven’t run for over 3 months.  Not a jog, sprint, hop.  I met Austin Murphy on the line during the Autumn and that was my last time putting on my runners in anger.  Sad but true.  And before meeting him it had been months. So tonight I am going for a quick jog near Nemo for 20 minutes just to get old bones moving again.

The belly needs some serious work and this is just a teeny weeny beginning.

I am pretty disgusted with lack of progress but obviously not disgusted enough to actually have done any running!  I genuinely love to run. It’s the motivation to start which is the problem.  So home this evening and back in the saddle for the new year and a new beginning.

No mad goals, no PBs, no marathons just move the legs.  I plan to run again early Sunday mornings on the line and once this cold snap breaks I will start early mornings again from home as that I now accept is the only way I will run regularly again. I just have to put a contract in place with my wife that she wont mind being woken up.

Fell Down a Hole

I fell down a hole in my running for the last age and last night found my stack of running gear looking at me sadly from the back of the wardrobe.  I promised it I would take it out for a trot very soon.

Off to Spain

I am off to Spain on Saturday for two weeks to run in the sun.  So no long runs for a while will try and get energy going on my return.

Top Secret Marathon Running Tips

I went for a few pints on Friday night.  Franciscan Well in Cork, great spot and there was a party on as well.  Met some really interesting people during the night and had some high quality conversations )even with the strong beer they sell=.

During the night I met a couple from Cork, one (the guy) who has run sub 2.30 and his partner who has placed in Berlin.  So pedigree assured.  I of course sidled up and tried to get some secret tips from them.  I thought they would confirm that eating chips and slurping wine on weekends was a sure fired way of getting faster.  Along with my revolutionary technique of skipping mid week runs and not doing enough mileage might at last be recognised as the way.  However my hopes were shattered.  They told me the only way to improve my marathon times was the following.

• Up your mileage per week.
• Run at least 4 times if not 5 (I hear 4 there folks).  This includes the long run at weekends.
• Get the long runs in, don’t skip them.  22 miles has to be the long run and if possilbe twice before the marathon..
• Get your mid weeks up to 8-9-10 in the first 3-4 weeks of the 20 week program.
• Bottom line to get around healthy and enjoy the experience and think of breaking 4 hours you have to have 25-45 miles per week under the belt.  Now to buy a belt.

So there you are no secrets there my friends,  things I already knew.  Now to implement.  Push the chips away,  keep the wine for that special occasion (no Friday isn’t a special occasion) and as for the 12 bottles of Corona I bought at special offer they can be for friends.

Cork City Marathon Review

Cork City Marathon 2009 review  is my opinion and its up to you to form your own thoughts and make comments.  The mens winner was Michael Herlihy in 2.30.36 and the ladies was Lucy Brennan in a time of 2.51.25  Read the Irish Times report here

Overall I thought it was well organised. The committee deserve a great well done as it is no small feat to organise such and event and there are always some glitches (which I will of course get ot later). The heat was savage beating down from the start and getting hotter. I don’t care what people say the actaul temperature was it felt like 30 degrees. For Irish runners we are not used to it so it was a hard day from the first to the last. If you look at the splits across the board very few from the winner to me (way back at the end) did a same or faster second half marathon.

So here is Good v. Bad

Water Bottles – Lucozade

I loved the water bottles. If they hadn’t been there and it had only been cups I would have had to drop out as I could not have hydrated enough. Well done perfect size life savers. As for the Lucozade this is a shameful waste of drinks and when I got to the Lucozade stops they were all gone which was a pity. Lastly I think a lot of the relay runners were hit by having to wait in the heat for their leg and dehydrated right there which was a cause of a lot of them fading during the race.

T-Shirts Marathon v. T-Shirts Relay

Simply put the relay t-shirts were nice and stylish. The marathon ones were a rubbish I personally will rarely if ever wear it especially running. Why the difference in style. Like having a different colour but red – imagine washing it it would be like a gore movie!!

Route

Its hard to find miles in Cork. All us long mileage runners know that. Overall the route is OK but spots like out of the Jack Lynch and straight road are killer and boring. Easy for me to say as I don’t have to go out with the measuring tape but perhaps there is some room for variety?

Finish Line – Good and Bad

Finishing in Patrick Street irrespective of the pain is one of the special moments in my life. Twice now and each time the tears well up especially as I run or hobble this time over the line with my kids. However at the end line you are offered water and a pretty dodgy banana which I didn’t take. Also was it just me or was the timing mat just before the finish line.

Pros and Cons of the Relay

There is a school of thought that is anti having the relay and I can understand their sentiment. It CAN be disheartening for a relay runner to pass you out but you must think that the really would not take place in the city if it was marathon alone and the numbers doing the full marathon have dropped while the relay numbers increase. So keep it up. However if Iwas the full race winner I would think they deserve a different finish line as it must be heart breaking to run your top pace and see a fresh relayrunner break the line in front of you.

Next Year?

If I enter next year and was to wake up and see the sun of last Monday I would just run the half and not do the whole one as everyone without exception suffered i nteh heat. Howevver it is agreat marathon with fabolous support . I still think of the old woman im Mahon who ran 50 yards with me and then gave me a bg hug luv’ and ran back to her deckchair.

The organising committee and Gina Johnson  did a great job and take all feedback and have done so in each year to make it a better run. Let them know and they will try and implement changes. If you don’t run it next year why not volunteer to help. Without volunteers it would not be a success.  Well done – Jog on !!

Dublin City Marathon – Training Plan

Has he lost his mind.  I am still stiff after the Cork City Marathon but my mind is now turning to another goal.  That is the upcoming Dublin City Marathon in October.  I am seriously thinking of giving this a serious (very serious this time) crack.  I am gald to have completed the Cork marathon but the heat and feet problems mean that I would like to go to Dublin in October and give it a crack.  It is 20 weeks away and with about 2 weeks ahead of me to recover I am going to follow one of Hal Higdons plans religiously for the 18 weeks on Intermediate and see what results it gives me.

I will be starting the Sunda morning runs in a couple of weeks wit ha mid week speed session around the same area.  The only difference on the Sunday morning runs is that I will make the start locations a bit different to add a bit of variety into them and to see different parts of Cork.

Dublin is a full marathon and a lot of fun plus I have two brothers who are interested in competing in the event so it should be a good day out.  Let me know if you are interested and we can meet up in the coming weeks.

Update - I never ran this let alone put on my runners.  My fingers are faster than my legs at the moment

Well Done to All

Well done to all the group who took part in relay and full Cork City marathon.  In what was a scorching day with uncomfortable conditions completing even a leg was a great achievement.

I was on track for a 4.40 till mile 17 when 3 blisters in succession kicked in.  That was the end of my running and I hobbled, skipped that last 6 miles finishing in about 5.40.  A bit disappointed in that time really.  Mental note go to chiropodist next time a week before and get some work done.

Stiff and sore today hobbling around the office.  I personally think the heat was too much and made for an uncomfortable race.  A well organised race the bottled water was a life saver and I think saved on much more people suffering.  Saying that a lot of people collapsed and several were shifted to hospital on completion.

What next?  I am thinking of the Dublin City marathon next.  With the summer ahead I plan to get moving again early next week and get much fitter than I was for this one. But for the moment well done – enjoy your sense of victory and maybe we can start some early morning 10Ks down in Mahon again in the coming weeks and make it an informal gathering that we can co-ordiantge through this web site?

 

Good Luck to Everyone in the Cork City Marathon

As the big day approaches I want to wish everyone involved in the Cork City Marathon the very best of luck.  For those in the Sunday group special best wishes.  I would not have been in a position to run it without the lure of the run on those mornings.

If anyone wants to run it with me at my snail like pace please drop me an e-mail at kieran@grangeheights.com.  It can be a lonely run on your own and a bit of a chat and its always nice after a portaloo break when your legs are stiffening up that there is someone equally stiff and sore jogging on the spot outside waiting for you.

Even if you want to plough your own furrow at your own pace again enjoy the race,  hydrate, take walking breaks if your body tells you to and keep the head up on the day.  Jog on!