A personal best!

Ater a week of brutal storms,  somehow the sun managed to come out in all its glory on Saturday morning, as we lined up for the inaugural Valentine’s Weekend 10-mile Road Race on Saturday, February 15th. 

Thanks to this unexpected bonus of warm sunshine, the atmosphere was unbelievable at the starting line. The excitement was evident in all of the 620 runners who lined out.

Each had their own reasons for running - some just to finish a 10-mile race, others aiming for a personal best or to beat a previous time, and some just running for fun. 

I’m still not sure what my reasons were - but I was definitely aiming to try and get a good time, so the pressure was on a small bit. 

However, I tried to pretend that I didn’t care what I did in case it threw me, as I’ve learned that creating too much expectation can be a bad thing.

The support along the route was also an added bonus and it was great to see supporters clapping the runners. This positive support also showcased the best of Tralee, which is fast becoming a venue for great sporting events. 

The crowd really pulled us along on the first few miles as everyone was pretty much together as we travelled up towards Caherslee and out The Spa towards Fenit. The first few miles went smoothly enough even though I did find myself running faster than normal but I found I could keep it up. Maybe this fitness lark is working after all!

I hate The Kerries - I think that everyone who ran the marathon last year does - so I wasn’t happy when I turned down the Kerries road to head for Higgins Waste.

But actually, those few miles are not anywhere as bad as I remember from the marathon, which goes to show how your mind changes when you’re tired. 

I honestly thought there were major hills on that route, and while it can’t be called flat, it’s nothing like I thought it was. 

The really good thing about the whole race is that there was always a runner beside you, and there was great camaraderie between us all as we each pushed ourselves.  

A 10 miler is a nice distance I think - it’s not too long like a full marathon but it goes beyond the more normal 10k distance, so it’s a great achievement to have under your belt. 

The hardest part was the pull out of Knockmoyle and the road out to the lock gates. It just seemed so long - I suppose because I was getting tired. But thanks to a young spectator who fed me a Jaffa Cake, I was able to keep going. The sun beating down on my head didn't help I am used to training in hailstone so these conditions are not good for me. I am sure some people love sun for running, I on the other hand would have preferred it be overcast. 

I have to say thanks to all the spectators, as they really helped, and while it might not see like a big deal going out, it really does boost the participants. 

The canal was tough, but not as lonely as the marathon last year, so I got through, although I did feel like giving up on a few twists and turns. 

It felt like it took ages to reach Prince’s Street and finally the finish line was in sight, and a final push. 

I have to say I was thrilled to finish in 1.40 - a personal best for me - and I think a respectable time at last. 

I have to say thanks to Joanne Allman for pushing me, as I tend to get lazy and believe I can’t run faster than I am going, when I actually can. 

I think my training is definitely paying off, so for all those out there who think they can’t improve, just keep training and you will. 

This time last year it would have taken me two hours to do that time but look at me this year - 1.40 and it’s all from just doing my training, and nothing else. That's 10 minute miles which is fast for me and now of course the curse of all runners is that have managed that much I have to improve on it. Its a never ending cycle and what keeps you addicted to running. I don’t know if I can actually keep that pace for the whole 26.2 miles of the full marathon but hopefully I will do it faster than last year and that will keep me happy!

Marathon runners are mad!

I have to say IT: marathon runners are mad. We’re all mad - there’s no other word for it. Nobody in their right mind gets up at 6.30am in wind, hail and rain to run 18 miles - except lunatics.  

Standing at the Oyster Tavern on Sunday morning at 7.30am, I definitely came to the conclusion that nobody should be out of bed in this weather. Yet we managed to run 18 miles.

The first few were tough going though, especially with the hail hitting our faces. And let me tell you - it hurts: I expected to get home with marks on my face. 

Luckily, the weather actually improved and we had sunshine by the end. The wind nearly blew me away on Barrow Hill. I was actually running up Barrow and being blown backwards down it. 

Barrow Hill is hard enough without fighting the elements and boy was I glad when I reached the top. 

I didn’t have the best run on Sunday due to a dodgy runner’s tummy, so making it around the 18 miles was a feat in itself. But in my new positive mood, I’m not letting it get to me. The fact that I did 18 miles and felt pretty good at the end is enough for me. 

In fact, I even managed to run fast for the last few minutes - something I was never able to do before. 

And it was nearly worth running the 18 miles just to eat the homemade rocky road on offer after the run! I burnt off all these calories and then put them back on by eating chocolate - but who cares? I deserve it after getting up at 6.30am and running that far.

Medal

This weekend is a rest weekend, and it’s the Valentine’s 10 mile run. so it’s a relatively short one. I love saying that - only 10 miles! Sure it’s a walk in the park! 

Okay, it’s not that easy really, but when you compare it to 18 miles, it’s fine. 

I’m actually looking forward to the 10 miler: it’s a nice challenge but not too tough and hopefully I will do okay. 

I am, of course, looking forward to my heart medal - it’s the only heart I’ll be getting on Valentine’s weekend! 

It will take pride of place in my medal collection. It’s a very small medal collection but it’s getting bigger and soon I will have a second marathon medal too! 

I read back last year’s blog and I was super excited about reaching 18 miles and although it’s different second time around, there’s still a sense of pride and confidence that I can in fact run that far. 

I was trying to think the other day what my life was like before I started running. 

It’s only been over a year since I first joined ‘Born to Run’ but I don’t know what I did before. It seems so weird to think of not running - it’s definitely one of the best things I ever did mainly because I have a whole new lifestyle and group of friends. 

In fact, I’m nearly getting sad that the marathon training is now over. I can’t believe it - only one more long run to go before the big day. 

I’m actually feeling confident this week and I think I might be able to improve my time this year - or at least get home under the five hours anyway. 

I don’t want to become too confident as it will come back to haunt me if it takes me longer this year, but I think my running has improved. 

I’m definitely stronger which I think may also have to do with my strength and conditioning class with Tralee Tri Club, and that’s definitely a bonus. 

I’ve learnt a lot more about running and refuelling this year and if I can get over the mental block, I should be okay.

Here’s hoping anyway!

Keep on believing!

I’m back in action! My last few blogs have been a bit depressing and I was finding it tough to gear myself up for another marathon. But after a fantastic 15 mile run I remembered why I signed up for this madness! 

Since I joined the Born to Run club last year my whole life has changed and for the better and I know I can do any challenge I want to. 

26.2 miles is tough - but it can be done. And the only way really is to believe in yourself. I had forgotten that for a while - there will always be bad runs when it seems like you are not making progress, but you are, as every run means you are putting in the miles and getting fitter. 

It doesn’t matter if the 12 miles was tough or the 14 miles, every run is different and will stand to you. 

Maybe my fitness has improved in recent weeks as I found the 15 mile run relatively okay. I won’t say its was great - 15 miles is still 15 miles - but it wasn’t that bad. 

Not even Barrow could beat me and I made it up, slowly and surely. I always find the route from Barrow to Fenit long but this flew by as well, and while I was tired when I made it back to the Oyster Tavern, I think I could have managed a few more miles. 

The 16 miler was a little tougher. I did this on Friday evening after work as I wanted to take the weekend off and enjoy an alcoholic drink for a change. 

Once upon a time I was out every weekend - now it’s a rare occasion and one that must fit in around my training. So off I set on Friday evening so as to make sure I did my run too - that’s dedication for you! 

I actually missed running the route. As it was in Tralee it was obviously flatter but tragically I can’t say this made it easier. The first 12 miles were fine and I felt comfortable but 12 is my limit it seems, as I had to pull myself through the last four miles.

A fall at mile 6 also didn’t help and nearly resulted in an injury when I put my hands out to save myself and jerked my shoulder. 

Still feeling the effects of it, but I am hoping it is nothing serious. It’s not stopping me training - so that’s what counts.  

We included the last few miles of the marathon into our Tralee route and I am not at all taken with the ‘skinny mile’ as it has become known, from Mounthawk to Rock Street. It is the longest mile ever.  

I hear the conditions for the Saturday morning runners was tough, so fair dues to everyone who completed it in the wind and the rain. I had it easier and still found it tough.  

This weekend is only 12 miles so I am super excited as it is not a real long run. Imagine - 12 miles can now be considered a short run! 

We’re doing the 10 mile Valentine’s Route so I am looking forward to running that in advance. However, it has to be said I am not looking forward to The Kerries. Those few miles last year in the marathon were so tough that I have pretty much written The Kerries out of existence and I refuse to go there, unless absolutely necessary. 

I’ve made a promise to myself that I will not keep looking at my times anymore and just enjoy my training. 

Once I finish, I finish - but I had to have a sneak peek at last year’s 15 mile and 16 mile run and I’m on average 15 minutes faster than this time last year, which is a result. It may not translate on the day of the race but fingers crossed it will. 

Our next long run is 18 miles and then the Valentine’s 10 mile Road Race and a 21 miler and its time to taper down. 

That’s all that is left in our training programme and already I am having withdrawals. 

It has gone so fast this year it’s unbelievable. But it’s also exciting that in a short few weeks I will have another marathon under my belt. 

It never gets easy

Since my last blog, I’ve managed two long runs, and with a 14-miler and 12-miler under my belt I’m feeling slightly more confident. Which is a good thing with just weeks to go until we’re all standing on the start line.

Fourteen miles was tough going. It was my first long run since before Christmas, and I must say I was scared. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I had it in me. But thanks to Marilyn O’Shea and Caroline McConnell - and of course the rest of the Born to Run crew - I got through it and I was actually pretty happy. 

It was my first time out on the course since the day I did the marathon on St Patrick’s weekend last year, and it brought back memories - not all of them good. 

I had forgotten just how tough the course is and I found it quite hard. Some of those hills were hell - but everyone kept pushing me on and even though I wanted to give up, I kept going and I finished the 14 miles. 

Thanks to my wonderful Garmin I can now compare last year’s runs with this year’s training - and it’s great to see. I’m somewhat faster than last year - but not that much. 

This is very disappointing, and I think it is kind of throwing my training. I want to do it faster this year - but what if I don’t? 

Running a marathon is all about being positive and when I see that I haven’t improved all that much it affects me, and is really not helping me get ready for this year’s event. 

I know it’s all about just doing the training and not putting myself under pressure - but that’s easier said than done.   

I have to say - categorically - it’s not easier the second time around. I know everyone thinks its great that I have one done, but it’s not great at all. 

To be honest, it’s way worse second time around - first of all because you don’t have the excitement of completing your first 14 miles, 15 miles and so on, but also because you have to do more than cross the line this time around. I want to go back to being a first-timer! I looked back at my blog for last year’s 14 miles and I was definitely more positive - so hopefully the positivity will return. 

The 12 mile run wasn’t too bad, but I did find the hills tough enough especially Barrow again. It just keeps on going up and up. I barely managed to make it. But of course once I did, I was delighted. 

I’m finding the hills tough this year. You’d think I’d be better at them by now, but then that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. If anything, they’re worse this year. 

I’m supposed to be very fit by now but I’m not seeing it - how unfair is that? 

Also, this fitness lark should surely at the very least help me lose a few pounds, shouldn’t it? 

Again - not the case, even though I’m really trying to be good. Of course I deserve chocolate after my long runs - we all do - but other than that, I’m on a health kick.

The scales are ignoring it, but I’m going with the premise that muscle is heavier than fat. If it’s not, I’m in trouble! 

I’ve also begun a strength and conditioning class with Tralee Triathlon Club. My plan is to do a triathlon this year. 

If anyone had told me last year I’d be considering a triathlon, I’d have said no way - but as I’ve said before, running does change your life. And for the better. 

I also swim with the club at 7.15am on Friday morning. Yes, I think it’s perfectly acceptable to get out of bed at 6.30am to train. God knows why. 

Apparently the strength class will help me with my running and make me faster. That’s what they said - so it’d better work! 

In the meantime, it’s all about the marathon and this Saturday is fifteen miles. Here’s hoping I conquer it! 

Panicking big time!

Last year was was definitely not my year for training. As if the weather wasn’t enough to prevent me from running during Christmas, a chest infection and cold definitely put paid to my training for the past week or so. 

I’ve now missed a 10-mile and 13-mile run, and I’m absolutely gutted. I was so looking forward to reaching the half-way mark before Christmas, but the rain and wind prevented us all from completing the scheduled run - and I’ve been too sick since then to fit in much training. 

I did attempt a three mile run but I ended up coughing so much I couldn’t breathe. I thought I’d lost a lung. 

I managed six miles on St Stephen’s Day but got caught in the rain, which definitely didn’t help my chest. Since then I have been staying indoors for fear of getting worse. 

I read the training schedule this morning and nearly had a panic attack. There’s only really five more long runs left before the big day! Yes, it’s definitely time to panic. 

Next week its 14, then a 16 miler, 18 miler, 19 miles and 21 miles - that’s all that’s left. 

I better stop thinking about it or I’ll have a nervous breakdown. I had great plans for doing a faster marathon this year - that might not be the case now; at this rate of going I will hardly make it over the line at all.

On the other hand, maybe the rest will have done me the world of good and I will be faster than ever! 

I’ve been reading the Facebook updates all Christmas and the lovely runs that everyone in Born to Run has been doing, and I’m jealous - particularly of all those who last weekend reached that 13 mile mark. It’s the half way point and if you can do that at this point, you can definitely do the marathon - so no self-doubts please.

The weather has really not been kind to runners in recent weeks but getting out there shows the dedication of anyone training for the Kerry’s Eye Tralee International Marathon, and they should be so proud. 

It is a great achievement and with only five longs run to do there is no excuse not to keep going and make 2014 the year you do your first marathon or the year that you do a PB. 

Yes, I have all the running lingo now - who would have thought that within a year my life would be all about running. 

There’s another change - most of the gifts under the Christmas tree this year were running related, including a mini iPod which I plan to use to get me through the last six miles of the marathon. I figure it might be better than crying this time around. 

I also got a triathlon and marathon refuelling kit - so I’m all set with energy gels and recovery shakes for the rest of the year.

Let’s hope they get me through the marathon, and also help me in my New Year’s resolution - which is a triathlon. 

I also have new running clothes to. Now I just have to get back to training.

Hopefully after this bout of illness I’ll be raring to go this week and I might even manage 14 miles at the weekend. 

I’m not sure if you should increase from 10 miles to 14 but hopefully I have it in my legs from last year and I will be able to complete it. I’ll have to give it a go anyway and see how I get on. 

It’s scary how fast we seem to be increasing. I don’t remember it going so fast last time around but the weeks are flying by. 

I can’t wait now for the next long runs to get back out on the marathon course and get ready for St Patrick’s weekend. 

Running is my life

If you’re a runner, Christmas is cancelled - there’ll be no rest for us during the holidays. Instead, the season of goodwill is the season of more miles. 

And really, we can’t afford to put the feet up. The time is going by so fast and it won’t be long before the big day on March 17th. 

I’m trying very hard not to panic here, but someone put up on Facebook last week that it’s only 100-and-something days to the marathon. I nearly had a nervous breakdown. 

It feels like we only started training recently but we’re in week nine already, and at eleven miles. And it’s fantastic to be nearly halfway there. I did this week’s run alone and only did ten miles, after somehow picking the highest route I could find, at home in Kilgarvan. 

For those who know it, I ran to Morleys Bridge up to my house, which is seriously high. It’s towards the highest pub in Ireland, which says it all really.

I missed the company of my fellow runners when times got tough, but it’s a long one done and dusted - although I’m feeling a bit stiff two days later. Not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one. 

My pelvic and hip injury is still flaring up, which is really not helpful to my training and although it eases out when I run, I know its probably not going to get better if I don’t rest.

But I can’t rest - because I’d miss running too much, and it’s too close to the big day. 

However, I’ve become very good at doing my stretches and strengthening exercises, which is one good thing I’ve learned this time around. So hopefully I won’t have to take time out. 

I am really enjoying the shorter runs and I’m definitely improving my speed a bit - not much now, but I can see an improvement, which really pushes you on. 

I love the routine of running and meeting at the Aquadome every evening after work for a chat and a run. It doesn’t even feel like you’re going training, just going to meet friends after work. 

Many of my friends who don’t run just don’t understand why I hate missing a run, but it’s seriously addictive once you start. 

It’s not only about the running but about meeting people and reaching your goal. Like maybe doing the three miles faster or running up Ballyard without feeling like dying. 

I wasn’t even sure after last year’s marathon that I would ever want to do one again, but I actually can’t wait to increase the mileage after Christmas to the really long ones - 16, 18, 20 miles. Madness I know, but there’s a great sense of achievement on the long runs. 

It’s hard to get all the training done and the run up to Christmas is the hardest. This weekend I have two Christmas parties which is going to really affect my long run - sorry Marcus, I know I shouldn’t miss one, but this might be a slight exception. God, I feel guilty and I haven’t even missed it yet! 

But then, running becomes such a part of your routine that if I you don’t do it you just feel bad, so it’s nearly easier to do it than to live with the guilt. 

It’s a bit like having that extra chocolate when you know you shouldn’t, but you do anyway and feel bad afterwards. I can’t miss a long run without feeling like that. 

I suppose that’s a good thing. Maybe it means I really am a runner.  

It's tough going

Marathon training is tough, there is no doubt about that, I was completely wrecked after running 10 miles last Sunday. In fact you would think I had done the marathon itself I was so tired. So after completing the double digit number it was off to bed for a few hours to rest. At least I have an excuse for going to bed in the middle of a Sunday afternoon! Time seems to be going to fast this year I can’t believe we are at double digits already. Only a few weeks go we were only working our way up to long mileage and this weekend we did 10 miles. Its sounds fantastic to say I ran 10 miles on a Sunday morning before most people were even up. Yep, it is boasting but all of us training should be -after all we are getting out of bed at 7am on our weekend to run. The nine mile run was tough I felt every mile and couldn’t get into the run. They say you have days like that and definitely the nine miles was one of those days when running was not my thing. Such runs actually help get ready for the marathon though as you have to learn how to keep going when you don’t really want to and this is how you are going to finish on the big day by pushing yourself forward when you don’t want to and you can’t. So, a bad run is actually a good thing the trick is not to give up and keep going no matter what you just have to finish the long run. And again this is where Born to Run comes in all of us have had bad runs and good runs and the group are there to support you and help you finish, so Gretta thanks for coming out to meet me on the last of that nine mile run. I am glad when it was over but overjoyed that I finished. The nine mile route took us around the new bye-pass and although there is some sneaky hills they were worth it for the run down Oakpark. It’s actually a nice running route around Tralee for anyone looking for somewhere different to run. 

I don’t care what anyone says it is an achievement to finish nine miles and the buns and jaffa cakes served at the ‘Dashboard Diner’ is an incentive to keep all of us running again Gretta and Catherine thanks for the mobile 

cafe that is there to meet us every Saturday morning! 

Thankfully, the 10 mile run was not as bad as the nine mile run and I enjoyed most of it although I still can’t find some-one who runs at my pace and I end up behind or ahead of most of the group. 

Hopefully my next run will out on the marathon route. I missed the first excursion out there this week. 

I am both dreading and looking forward to doing that route again. I haven’t been out in that direction since completing the marathon last year but at least this year I already know every bump and lump in that road and I will know them even better by the time March comes again this year. Sometimes I think I am mad to be doing any marathon training - it takes up so much time, its all I think and talk about and its tough and then I remember that it is all worth it when you cross that line. I am feeling the pressure this year to do the marathon faster, I am after all supposed to be fitter this year, but 26 miles is still 26 miles, so I can’t see how I am going to do it that much faster but we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, its onwards and upwards in training although I have to admit I’m going to be bold this week and miss training all weekend as I am away for a few days. And already I feel guilty that I am going to miss it not sure if that is good or bad but I will make up for it I promise!