Base is building and back racing some IMRA

Loving being back training and over the last three weeks I have started to feel good running.
The runs are short most days with a 30min trot to work.I will start to add in 30mins on the way home when my training picks up.
I have ran two IMRA races which for those that dont know are hill races based in the dublin/wicklow mountains.They vary in distance and are great fun.
The first one I managed to finish 6th with a good descent but struggled on the climbs.
I improved on my second race to 5th which went up Djouce.

I will do two more weeks of IMRA races and start to add some quality tempo runs to improve fitness.

Hope you are all enjoying the weather :)))

Building again.....

The first few weeks returning from injury or a period of inactivity can be tough.
I started with 3.5 mile runs and on Tuesday I managed 50minutes.
Satrday i joined a few guys from work and did a session of 75seconds on 25 seconds off and 3 x 35seconds with 1minute recovery.I found this comfortable which shows my anerobic system and speed is still pretty good.

My total miles for the week where 30miles.I will be doing a programme for myself with the view to running a sub 75minute Half marathon and doing some Duathlon's

Run fat boy run .......

Since the 21st I have ran no more than 10times and three of these where races when I shouldn't have been racing.Sometimes the body can only take so much training and with a long rest I am the journey back to start enjoying running again.

The plan is to run to work which is just under 4miles each day and gradually build up my miles.
I will do races as my sessions and hopefully shed some weight as I have gone above the 13stone mark(race weight (11stone 12pounds)

I became a daddy for the first time with the birth of Ella Jane and while the sleep pattern is tough I don't use this as an excuse for not training.There are 24 hours in the day and surely I can find time for 20-30minutes :)

Distance Running Observer: Kawauchi's Statement

Distance Running Observer: Kawauchi's Statement

Decision time looms !!!

Well with very few runs in the last two weeks I am struggling.
The good news is my adductor and hip flexors seem to be improving everyday.

I have ran 5 x 3.5 mile runs since Hell & Back race and one track session.

The plan now is to increase the long run from 9 to 11 this Sunday and the following week
I will race the Debra half marathon.
Connemara will be a case of getting around but id still like to run sub 3hours.

Great news is that we will be sponsoring the bohermeen athleticclub half marathon and the Kinvara half marathon.

Well done to Gary and Siofra our sponsored athletes who both got medals at the National cross country championships.

http://www.bohermeenathleticclub.com/

http://www.rockandroad.ie/

Hell & Back

After my long run on the Sunday I ran 3-4miles the next few days after but my adductor got
so bad I couldn't run further than 5minutes without pain.
I decided it was time to rest and book in with the physio.
Not the best prep for Hell & Back but we rocked out with Colin and Neil to Kilrudery
for the second edition of this race.The first one i had ran when not very fit and finished 4th place so i was aiming for top spot even with my injuries and interuptions the week before.

The race started and i felt sluggish at the start runnign side by side with mick Kavanagh my AK
teammate.Alex another AK teamamte had made a terrific start and blasted out of the pond in first place.
After 2k I made a move past the leaders.
I started to feel comfortable at this stage but once we hit a slight incline I was caught by Damien lawless who looked strong and full of running(even if he let the funniest noises when jumping obstacles)
Mick had gone slightly back at this stage and i don't think his choice of footwear was helping on the muddy conditions.
After we came off the top of the Sugar Load a big move was made ont he descent by Ritchie Healy and i thought he was gone but as the field leveled out myself and Damien caught him.I felt very comfortable at this stage and could hear both lads breathing heavily.
The race was to stay like this and with 1k to go i put the head down and went for the win.
I didn't bother to look around as this shows a sign of weakness but I could sense I had a few metres on the two lads.
As i approached the last field i heard shouts from behind and the lads where telling me I had gone of course and i had to run extra metres to get back on course.
to my suprise my lead was longer than i though but now was no more than 20metres.
as we approached the water I took a heavy fall in a gutter and after pulling myself up was still leading.
This was followed by a heavy fall int he pond which I didnt realise was so deep.
I managed to crawl my tired body out of the pond and muster up one last drive for home.
my body was tired and my mind wasn't working @ 100%.As I approached the hay stack ritchie was hungry for his first win and was slowly eating into my lead.as I got to the final hay stack which was 3 high Ritchie joined me and was quicker coming of the back and sprinted to the line for a well deserved win.After looking at the video of the finish Damien had similar problems to me and had two bad falls.
mick did well to finish 4th place and out team packed well with Alex in 7th and colin in 10th to take the team title.

Since the race my adductor hasn't been good and I havn't been able to train.Physio treatments are all i have been doing and I hope to get back running int he next 10days as Connemara is fast approaching.

Injury strikes

I guess somethings in life happen for a reason.Well after what was probably one of my best training runs ever last Sunday in Ticknock I could feel a small pull in my adductor on monday but just ran slow as it was a recovery day.
Tue I was booked in with Vinny Mulvey to get some work done and Vinny in fairness did alot of soem good work but im not expecting miracles.

I had signed up for the Donadea 50k run and was going to use it as a long-long run.
Also signed up to run the Hell and Back 10k this Sunday(my birthday)

Hope with some rest it might heal but not holding my breath.

The last 5 weeks have been all over the 100miles per week and the best consistancy for a long time.
i will try my best now to maintain my fitness and try increase my core work and flexibilty.