Keeping up

Been back in store for the last 2 weeks. Has its upsides, I have been able to run in/cycle home. Missed the beauty that is working in a set place at a set time. I have managed to keep my mileage at around 35-40 miles a week. will start dropping long runs back in This week.

Had a good run in yesterday got the average down to 7:38 per mile that was nice. I had 2 external factors helping out,  one was I was late so had to boot it to make it on time, the other was Ro posted a run on Strava and his average was lower than mine. I had been plodding for 3-4 weeks. Just trying to get my distance up so decided to make a real effort. I wasn't sure what I had in me, Worked quiet hard yesterday but recovered well and had a lot more to give so pleased with that.

IMRA leinster league starts on Wednesday, so it  looks like I will be struggling at the back until I get a few under my belt. It's all good though, looking forward to the battles between myself James and Ro. We are all coming off some pretty ropy fitness so it should be interesting. Be great to get some time in the hills. The first few are local just to get the rivalry warmed up.

Already struggling to keep the bouldering sessions going but this must be done to avoid any injurys. Had 2 sessions last week both in Awesome walls. They have reset the problems on the top floor which was timely as I was starting to loose my enthusiasm for the last set. Hit the training room to keep the campusing alive. With the longer evenings may head to Dalkey this week if the weather plays ball.

Still head down training for the Wicklow way Recce in April, that will be 40 miles then the big one in May. Have the Samsung night run that evening as well so that should hurt like hell. A few in work doing it in memory of a friend. The Irony being I don't think he ran a day in his life but he was a lover of sport so kind of fitting. Hopefully just get around in time to have a few beers after.

Stresses

Things that have vexed me this week,

Runners not saying hello when they go past you in the opposite direction. even a head tip, slight hand gesture to acknowledge a shared passion.

hoping Eve can make it through the night without wetting herself when I get up on average 3 times to go for a pee. its only going to get worse for me.

Garmins powering off with 17% battery left!

no make up selfies and selfies in general!

Guilt free

There is something satisfying about watching the Cycling on TV on a Sunday afternoon after you have done your Long run. Milan San Remo on Eurosport the weather looks cack for them cant say I'm jealous.
I was slightly jealous of the wwu and trail runners yesterday until it started hammering it down.

The week started well did a fast 5 miles down the pier on Monday really tried to push it still only came in at 7:30 min/Mile. Felt good after it I'm sure the pace will return its only been 4 weeks.

Had a savage session at Gravity on Tuesday, a  few heads around Sean,Andrej and Paul but was climbing with Mark, James,Joe and Shane. The session really snuck up on me I was stiff as a board on Wednesday worse on Thursday. James had a few good goes at the blues for a change and did sterling work. May try cycling down in future for a bit of Aerobic work. The weather was good but held off going for a run want the foot to recover.

Wednesday headed out on my lunch around Kiliney had to take a few phone calls but the weather was mint so it was all good.

Thursday into Awesome, Micheal, Ricky and co where busy resetting so I had a potter. It took ages to warm up and work out the kinks from Tuesday. Then had a blast on the new problems with the boys still stood around,  eager to impress but bollloxed I didn't ooze style and technique. Ah well it was still a good session and was well beaten up afterwards. The problems are pretty interesting and I got a good burn of them.

Piers on Friday, went for my Jantastic timed effort. 1:05 for 8.1 I hit 1:06:36 so not to far out would like to get it under an hour when I'm Going well. Another beauty of a morning. Then cycled into town felt a little heavy legged but it was grand. On the cycle home the weather had completely crapped out, I was lucky that it didn't bin it down on me but it was still Baltic. Stopped to give my tube to a guy who had punctured on the way home so that's my good deed done for this year. It wasn't a day to be pushing your bike home!

Hit Awesome again with Dec and the kiddlies never really warmed up,arms still beasted from the other 2 days so just did some stretches and a bit of climbing. Still better than nothing and it worked the kinks out. Eve wore herself out in the kids area and demanded chalk off me to try some pull ups on the bridge bit. She is getting quite close.

Couldn't sleep on Saturday night might have to start doing a short run/cycle on Saturdays before Ann heads to work, not sure I'm burning enough energy to sleep properly..

Up early ish Sunday, got out the door for 8 hoped the watch would make it, it didn't and shut off at 11 miles. annoyingly when I charged it later it said it still had 17% battery left! Good run in great weather out to Poolbeg just shy of 16 miles so added a little kink at the end. Pushed a bit harder at the end as a girl was running just up the way making it look effortless. I caught her eventually but it wasn't easy., felt good and when out of the wind it was roasting. Days/mornings like that and you realize Dublin is just as stunning as any where. Sea on one side mountains on the other.Set off with hat and gloves took a while to warm up but was golden after 5 miles.

Now while Eve is sleeping I'm chilling watching the cycling, not all bad..
38 miles this week will introduce a Thursday short run next week to get up to 45. Hoping for the Wicklow way in May.

Evening plod

Met Mr C last night for a stretch along the piers lovely still evening the harbour was like a mill pond. 2nd run of the week and feeling good, hopefully be up to 37-40 miles this week then start dropping in an extra session.
Foot feels okay but every run causes a degree of worry as I wonder if I'll wake up with another stress fracture.

Trying to keep the bouldering up as it's savage and it must keep the core strong. Hit Awesome over lunch on Tuesday had a good session did all the yellow black and pinks on the back wall. Was trying to pinpoint the difference between them and gravity... I think it's that with Awesome I can either do it first/second go or I'm just stonewalled, with gravity I feel a degree of progression and that with a few sessions I might pull it off. Still intresting problems and felt nicely tired afterwards.

Some strong lads the guys met in font


http://vimeo.com/m/88008875

Was inclined to do a fingerboard session this eve but ended up having a beer instead..

old draft just to post

More of an aid to my memory than an interesting blog, hardly climbed since February just lost the drive. Still headed to the coop but found I was just dropping off rather than pushing that last bit to finish the problem. Never really got into the grove on my warm ups more going down for the banter and to abuse people than actually climb! Partially down to not having the strength over Christmas to commit to any projects so had nothing to focus on.

Plodded on until April when I decided to sign up to WAR! So with 2 weeks to get my training in I dropped climbing for a week. It was good to be training just to complete something instead of having to hit a certain level.

So I headed to Glendo on the 2nd to Climb but it rained so I headed up the Spinc then round Camaderry with Jimbob. I hadn't taken my shoes with me so I got a blood blister on my big toes but the running was nice, I was a little concerned about how the whole route was going to go as I felt pretty wrecked after just 1 part of 4! Cycled the bike part of the WAR route on the Thursday after work, I had never cycled over 40k before but had been covering a bit of distance in and out of work. Pleased we got round and in a reasonable time but in my head I was worried about linking all 4 parts. Then my foot hurt so I couldn't do anything over the weekend!

War day was good cool and a little damp was real nervous before the start but so were most people waiting to start so it wasn't to bad. From the minuet we started i was grand, I broke it down in my head into 4 different parts Spinc to lough Dan, lough Dan to Djouce, Djouce then the final cycle. I loved the race! I got cramps going down to Lough Dan hadn't really considered the kayak it hurt like hell and was the only time I felt I would be responsible for someone elses time so had to fully commit! Got to Djouce and didn't have to get off the bike on the savage hill to the transition. It drizzled a bit on Djouce and I got a bit to comfortable walking but managed to pick up the pace towards the end. Was quite looking forward to the cycle as it was supposed to be down hill.... It nearly broke me I lost a gel pack in my bag and was starving the wind was against us and it was a strong effort to get to the finish! I almost stopped to pick Jelly babies up off the road i was that hungry!!!
The last 1.5 k run from Laragh to the car park was a killer although I was making the action/motion of running it was barley quicker than a walk! My finnishing time was 4:59:39! I had set myself a target of under 5 hours, this was a number I pulled out the air but was pleased to get under it. Good to have a welcome committee of Eion lawless, Dave Hanlon and James Clancy waiting for me at the end nice of them to sit around and wait for me! Although I hated the idea of walking back to the car park it probably helped with the stiffness.

I'm really pleased I managed to Finish after only training for 2 weeks it was a great day out I really enjoyed it.

Had the Carphone ball that night in the Convention center, the food was lovely but I was finding it hard to stay engaged and the lovely but small foods didn't satisfy my hunger!

Cycled out to Howth on the Sunday which got rid of any stiffness I think going over the summit was a step to far but hay live and learn!

steady away

wow nearly 2 years since I have blogged. I blame Ann, hard to get her to spell/grammar check these days...

Been frustrated by a stress fracture in my foot for nearly 9 months, maybe only 6 runs in that time. Turned to Tiger beer and crisps in the evening to pass the time. Pushed up to nearly 12 stone and panicked. Some UK runners were doing a weight loss twitter support thing, so I tagged along. Dropped to 11.6 happy at that. Posting your weight on Twitter each week makes you more careful of what you eat I guess.

The upside to the stress fracture was I returned to climbing. A good thing going with Dec and Mark on Saturdays in Awesome with the kids. Hardly an all out session but it scratches an itch and Eve loves it. Well the cake part anyway. Darragh seems to be popular with all the girls. Good to be back in the mill with it missed the dull ache after a good session, the sore tips after a day on the granite but mostly I missed the banter.
Headed to Glendalough on a day off on my own realised my motivation had changed. I had a good day but I'm not driven by grades and Projects (lucky I'm still shit and I don't have one) but by the banter of a group.
Enjoy the Tuesday night sessions in Gravity. Chris and Dave both have class in door walls that keep me busy. That is clearly the future for me just need Ann to make it big.

3 weeks back into the running as well. managed 4 sessions a week up to 10 miles on my long run. Pain free ish on my foot but it's still a constant worry.

Will have to drop the highland fling as I wont be near fit and will just do the trail on the Wicklow way. Still plan to be ready for the Wicklow way in may then the lakes in July. Time will tell.

Got a new bike for crimbo. It stays in the bedroom I possibly love it more than Ann and Eve.

Hard to fit it all in but it definitely helps you make the effort. Hoping the bike will stop me over training on the running and the climbing will keep my core strong .

hopefully the start of an epic summer.....