It's amazing how easily a day missed can become a week missed! Happily, it is only the blog that has suffered ... mostly. I did miss out on one 5 mile run last week for reasons I am struggling to remember. I didn't manage to get out on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. I know I was preoccupied with something, but can't remember now. It doesn't matter. I managed to arrive in Kenmare on Thursday evening and so on Friday morning, I was galloping up Ashgrove, down to Roughty Bridge, through the town, out the Sneem Road to turn left up Tubrid, down past Cromwell Court and home through the town giving me more than 8miles. The weather is beautiful here in Ireland at the moment. My Friday run was done at 11:00 and so I was soon quite warm and heading for the shade where I could. Let me just add, that wherever I mention Ashgrove we are talking a hill which is probably just short of a mile long, climbing about 400feet. It's a lovely run, done in the countryside mostly, with views across to low mountains.
On Saturday morning then, I hopped out of my bed at 7AM to have my coffee and porridge, then I rested a bit to allow digestion and was out on the road by 9:00. I had been looking forward to this shorter 'long' run of only 13 miles. I had also decided to do it within running distance of the house, just to save on time and to allow No.1 get on with his favourite activity - grass cutting! So, again I head up Ashgrove, down to Roughty, through the town, out the Killarney road, turning left to head towards Reen. As I say, I had been looking forward to this run, but I was soon disappointed. It was all a bit more of an effort than I had anticipated. It was fine, don't ge me wrong, but I had expected to feel a bit livelier and to 'sail' a bit more. By mile 7, I was growling and shedding a few tears. My frustration was directed at the lack of a GPS signal allowing me to measure my distance and pace, a useful distraction when the run is a bit of a struggle. It was one of the rare few moments in this campaign that I was wondering what I was doing? Why was I doing this? What did I hope to achieve? Who did I think that I was? I was never going to be a good runner! At this rate, my marathon would take 5 hours. I paused to report my whereabouts to No.1 because I was heading into a quieter road and we had agreed on a check-in call at the half-way point. I gave all my troubles to him. He reassured me that I was tired, had had a busy week, have been training hard but will be more rested by the marathon and so on. I knew all that too. From the beginning of the call, despite the snivelling and frustration, I was insisting that I did not want to be collected. I turned back into it and plodded on, brought to a sudden stop by a herd of cows being driven from one field to another. Then, I rounded a corner and came into a beautiful country road of trees in their first, shy bloom of Spring. It was beautiful, and although tired, a new commitment and engagement emerged. I struck on down the road and was rewarded with my first hearing of the cuckoo, always a favourite Spring moment. Encouraged, I ran on. I paused to visit Dad and Mairéad in their Kenmare home, enjoying a bathroom stop, a drink of water and, of course, a longer chat than I should have had. My legs were stiffer as I headed down their hill, but with only 3 to 4 miles to go, and having conquered my earlier blues, I was soon warmed up and pounding my way back to town. Then, it was all food shopping and preparation and visitors and Easter was here.
I have a few thoughts on Saturday's run, one which has been confirmed for me last evening. I have worn out my runners! You may recall the Asics Kayano 16s bought in January/February. They have at least 300 miles on them now. I have been feeling the ground over the last few days, hard sensation to explain. I took out the new gifted runners last evening and felt the difference. The trouble with runners is that it is the mid-layer which provides the cushinoning is largely out of view. Most websites suggest 300-350 miles depending on your surface. I have been running on the road. My runners are shot, I would think. Any thoughts on this, you running people?
My other thoughts on Saturday's run are more philosophical. I wasn't present to it. My mind was ahead of me, back at the house, planning shopping, anxious to get into preparations, wash unclean floors for a much-loved almost crawling baby and all the myriad of things that trouble us when visitors are due. I, correction, we have it down to a fine art and with the lovely Summer weather we have at present, a bar-b-q makes life so much easier. It's not all me, by the way. I don't want to be embarrassingly gushing or anything, but I have one mighty helper. He also does the breakfasts! I do love entertaining, but on Saturday morning last it was competing for my attention. I was fighting, not so much tiredness and distance, as anxiety and impatience to be 'sorting it'. I wanted to multi-task in the most extreme of ways - run while cook, make beds etc.
Sunday, Monday then I rested. Tuesday I should have gone out, but the last of the visitors departed at midday and I needed to get stuck into finishing the project mentioned in my earlier post. I thought I might run in the evening but with the creative juices flowing I stuck with the project.
I woke on Wednesday morning determined to get in a run. I just needed 5 miles so did my Ashgrove route, back by Sheen Falls to give me the 5 miles. I worked on through my project and was satisfied to stop at 18:30. I put on my runners again and headed out for another 5 miles. Yip, you read right. I did a second run on Wednesday. To tell you the truth, I did it quite naturally. It was only when I was out that I realised I was happily and easily in my second run of the day! Imagine! I remember Killian talking about that once, when he was heavily involved in running, and I was full of awe and admiration. Here I was, making up the miles, twice in one day. It may not be the wisest course of action, but it was possible! Amazing! This time, I headed out past Sheen Falls, over our beloved Roughty Bridge, left into town, around the square to give me that extra bit and back home to give me over 5 miles.
I rose at 4:15 on Thursday morning, left the house at 5am, parked my car in UCD at 8:50, got through presentations and other work 'stuff'. I was out running the Slí na Sláinte by 20:40, doing it twice to get the distance. Oddly, the now dreaded Slí na Sláinte was strangely comforting last evening. I had thought to go down towards Sallins and the Canal, but the local appealed more: familiar, safe, comfortable, predictable and easy. It was a lovely run, not least because I was relaxed after the challenges of the last few days. I also love running as the light changes (morning or evening). It was quite duskish as I turned in home. I had a bit of fun with this run too, doing 'sort-of' intervals using the telephone poles for the first round of the Slí. I just plodded gently through the second.
I also took the time to look back over the week and to wonder at it all. Why do we (I) fret so? It all gets done - Easter, visitors, family, running, work - in its own time. It all gets done and everyone is happy.
Now it's another Bank Holiday weekend and I have a long run to do tomorrow - 19 miles. I had planned to use the Sneem Road again, turning at Blackwater Bridge towards Dereendirough and into the Black Valley, but it's the weekend of the Killarney Rally which means noisy cars racing round corners. Too dangerous! Another sign of how serious I take this running lark - I picked up the phone and rang the organisers to know where Saturday morning's stage would be held (the programme was not online). Imagine the organiser's surprise when a woman rings her who wants to run 19 miles on Saturday around the Black Valley/Sneem area and would the cars be in her way? I didn't quite put it like that, but that was the implication!
I have another route planned now, it should be beautiful, away from Rally cars. We are going to head towards ... d'you know, I think I'll keep you in suspense. Have a good weekend folks! Keep safe!
on shoes, 350 miles would be at the upper end if you were what they always call 'heavy' - i.e. a lighter runner will be able to get longer from the cushioning (physics 101). I have to say that that seems a little low to me, but if you feel they are shot, then they probably are - and you probably don't want to take the risk of injury at this point. So I'd switch the the new ones, and keep these older ones for shorter runs when the marathon is over. I've just replaced my Asics Nimbus and they have well over 500 miles on them - they have holes in the sides and toes, but still good for a few miles (perhaps this means I don't need the cushioning as much). I weigh about 61kg so wouldn't describe myself as heavy, but not exactly a nymph, either.
ReplyDeleteI had precisely the same kind of moment out running today - about 6km into my run - it was hot, I hadn't eaten and I was just fed up with it. Too slow, too leaden, why was I doing it at all? So maybe it was physiological in origin? I'm tired too - a long week's running last week, so I took 2 days off (and yes, fretted about it - why?). I think it just happens sometimes and you have to find something to lift you - a bird appearing, or something good. This was a gritting the teeth, mantra kind of moment. I got there - in the end.