Training Run Times

[Happyhonkaman]

I got the youngfellas GAA calendar for next year and popped it into the family cal, sweet jesus the first half of the year is almost booked out before we have even got the the start. In that case I need to put a few things through the calendar to make sure I have targets to train for or I will just get completely consumed by his stuff since coaching takes up a lot of my time as it stands.

I really want to do an olympic distance tri but haven't managed it for a variety of reasons, mostly to do with putting everything else before myself so I really want to get one done this year, its a solid training target as well as no chance Ill manage it otherwise. I have my eye on the Dublin HM also, and signed up for Tour de Beara on the bikes in May. We are away for Christmas so Ill do a bit of light running with the youngfella to keep him ticking over for the start of the season, and then start into some kind of programme when I get back.

Jan 25 - Raheny 5 mile
Feb and March = running and swimming training
End Mar - Dublin HM (No date set yet, was 30.03 last year. Entries also v hard to get)
April and May = add biking to the running and swimming training
May 23 = Tour de Beara cycle (Signed up for 140km, might knock this back to the 115km course)
May 30 = TriAthy Olympic distance tri (Not sure if this is even possible after Beara but if I took it handy in Kenmare it might be ok)
June = Cross training
June 28 = Harbourman Olympic distance tri - This is probably the better plan rather than Athy, but getting both in would be class
I'd keep the training going through the summer and pick up some sprint tri's

Seems ambitious and would take a fair degree of making sure I am out 3 times a week min which is a big ask with everything else thrown into the mix.

 

[jimmym]

Sunday December 7th, a bit warm, got up to about 22 or 23 degrees and of course I'm now starting an hour later than previous years. It sucks being slow. I had found a new energy gel crowd called Mynystry, German brand which I tried a few times and liked. BUT, I broke a golden rule and purchased new shit at the Expo the day before!!! I even joked to the lads selling it, What could possibly go wrong? (Nothing did) The race day package included a powder to mix with 500 mls of water to take before the race, 3 'normal' gels, a reset gel and one last caffeine one..... (This is the most organised I've ever been with hydration and nutrition and I think it worked really well. In fact the wife gave me an extra bottle with a carb mixture at km 13 and a flat coke at km30). Fueled up like a fooking junkie I was. Set off at slightly faster than target pace and tbh even though I knew it could backfire, I thought, fook it, stick at this pace. Up to about km 30 I was feeling decent enough. Passing people slowly, no knee pain (what the heck?!?) and breathing and all quite good.

The old calves were tightening up mind and I only just avoided actual cramps. The only time I stopped running was at about km 34 where I asked a guy to spray one of the calf muscles. They were sore, well tender, by now but I seemed to know that they weren't going to cramp - don't ask me how. I think the slowest 5k split was 30 to 35. I now decided I needed a strategy of pep talking to myself. I started saying shit like, "Ok lad, get to the turn for home at km33. Then we're heading towards Plaza España... Ok, 5k to go. C'mon we've got this. Bullring at km 39, 3 fooking kms to home" I was talking out loud and didn't give a shite if anyone was looking at me funny or anything. Lots of people walking and hobbling by now, lots. So I was passing a good few. I think I managed to increase pace a tiny bit after km 35, splits suggest I did anyway, if only by a second or two. Crowds were fairly massive towards the end, holiday weekend, lovely weather (for spectating!) and I knew I could get emotional but held it together till I finished. I was a tiny bit pissed off to have missed the 3.40.xx - by a few seconds - but I quickly copped on to myself. Had a few sobs after I got the medal and sure that's it really. I'm going to try to keep up the leg exercises next year and I think I'll forget about marathons for a bit. Twould be nice to try to get a little bit faster at 10k and maybe a Half or two.

From July to December I lost about 6kgs and i think this helped. I was off the booze for lots of that time, would have a beer or a glass of wine once a week. This was a big change for me! Oh, the cholesterol stuff. I stopped taking my pills for the last 6 days and popped a strong painkiller for the 3 evenings before the race. Did it help? I think so. Unfortunately, not taking the meds probably isn't a long term option.

2025 is a wrap. Bring on the new one. Happy running, Proccers.

Great report Carmona, trying a new gel was certainly a gamble , 2026 is full of possibilities,

 

[jimmym]

Got out for 5 miles tonight, 42.57, delighted with that, I regret not pushing on to 10k
My best time this year is 54.25, I would have smashed that,

 

[Happyhonkaman]

Got out for 5 miles tonight, 42.57, delighted with that, I regret not pushing on to 10k
My best time this year is 54.25, I would have smashed that,

Good man JimmY, I’ll hopefully get a run in Sat or Sun morning this weekend. I’ve been back in the pool a bit recently, some difference from running for me, I can obviously get faster etc but no prob hopping in and knocking out a decent 1k

 

[jimmym]

Good man JimmY, I’ll hopefully get a run in Sat or Sun morning this weekend. I’ve been back in the pool a bit recently, some difference from running for me, I can obviously get faster etc but no prob hopping in and knocking out a decent 1k

Lots of my colleagues have embraced swimming, they find it a great help for running.

 

[Happyhonkaman]

Lots of my colleagues have embraced swimming, they find it a great help for running.

The difference is that there is nearly no chance of picking up the injuries you get running and because the muscle groups used are different you can swim the night after a run no prob. I think they’re a great combination to build up endurance

 

[Papa Smurf]

Well done C, thats sounds like it went really well. You hardly expected it to be 'fun' did you? little drama in there, the body held up well so thats got to be a good sign. A great way to round out the year.
What shoes did you run in?

 

[jimmym]

Would love to do a half marathon abroad in 2026, Any suggestions especially races where i would be guaranteed an entry?

 

[Happyhonkaman]

Would love to do a half marathon abroad in 2026, Any suggestions especially races where i would be guaranteed an entry?

I have a buddy up here that does one abroad every year. himself and his friends pick a different European city each time and head in Feb/March/April before holiday season starts. It’s a great idea as they’d be mixed abilities so no one is going to be left miles behind, and most people can manage to get themselves into enough fitness that they will get though it. They are in Lisbon this year, and they’ve done Seville, Rome and a few others. Another buddy did the HM in Bruges last year and said it was absolutely class - ran it in 1:35 as well

 

[Eastwood]

Lots of my colleagues have embraced swimming, they find it a great help for running.

I do two of each (on a good week) and find the swimming definitely helps the running fitness and helps prevent running injuries by just doing less.