I’ve just finished three hard (-ish) days in a row, and I’m feeling fantastic. Monday’s 10 miles went very well. The sky was slightly overcast and the wind was blustery, but it still made for very decent running conditions. I was a bit wary of today, because instead of the scheduled recovery run I decided to do double-figures again because I can’t run on Wednesday. To make things worse, I had to drive Niamh's parents to the airport in the morning for a 6:10 am departure, which meant getting up at 4:35! I dropped them off, and when I got home decided that I had enough time for 11 miles, so that’s what I went for. I couldn’t believe how well it went. Despite the fact that I had slept less than 5 hours, and despite running 10 on Monday and 8 on Sunday, the whole run seemed utterly effortless. When I got home I was pleased how well I felt, but when I checked the time and realised that I had done the run at 8:00 pace, I couldn’t believe it. Running has never felt so easy, and I feel in great shape already. The marathon is still some 22 weeks away, and I’m already looking forward to it – if I don’t demolish my present PR by a significant margin, I shall be very disappointed.
Maybe I shouldn’t look too far into the future just yet, there are still an awful lot of miles ahead of me, and who knows how long the high will last.
Nana was only here for two nights, but Cian managed to demolish a DVD of hers. We were all sitting at dinner, suddenly he took off, and by the time we realised what he was up to, the damage had been done. Despite being rather embarrassed, I couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit pleased underneath – finally Nana knows that we're not exaggerating when we tell her of his destructive streak.
On a totally different note, it’s now exactly one year since I’ve started this blog. I had finished my second marathon a few weeks earlier, in Belfast, where I had an absolute nightmare of a run. Afterwards I decided that a) I’m not done with that marathon thingy yet and b) I have to learn how to properly prepare for such a distance. This lead me to buy Pfitzinger’s book, as well as starting this blog to keep a diary and to ensure that I would remain focused. I didn’t even know that there was a whole community of running blogs out there – it took me a few months to discover those. I haven’t looked back since.
29 May: 10 miles, 1:26, 8:36 pace
30 May: 11 miles, 1:28, 8:00 pace
Hey Thomas, I'm glad I discovered your running blog! Cian is pretty funny...and you're not a bad runner.
ReplyDeletehappy blog-a-versary!
ReplyDeleteand look at those two runs...nice work!!
This post gives me hope, someday someday!
ReplyDeleteThis nice comunity, the power of written words is incredible!
Isn't it great when it all comes together and you have one of those effortless days? You deserve it after all your bouts of illness. Keep up the good work - and congrats on a year of blogging!
ReplyDeleteGreat that everything is clicking right with the running, ride the high as long as it goes!
ReplyDeleteHappy blog-a-versary.
The lovely effortless days. Those are the best! They happen for me occasionally, but when they do, it is bliss. That is one of the reasons I push through the difficult days is that every so often, I am rewarded by the running spirits with a perfect run.
ReplyDeleteTry to live in the moment, as you can not predict the future, nor change the past, so do your work today and the Marathon will take care of itself in due course!
Way to go Thomas.
yay!!! feeling good!!!
ReplyDeletehappy blog-o-versary!
Yes, I love it when Ash does his stuff when his nana is around - I always think, "see? he's not an angel! I'm not making it up!"
Happy anniversary. Sounds like the running is going well, keep at it!
ReplyDeleteThomas - keep it going for the next 22 weeks and a PR is yours. Keep focused and don't be afrid to push beyond your limits now and again.
ReplyDeleteJust think, in a few years you can focus Cian on running and you'll be chasing him on the road rather than in the house.
Congratulations on not only your blog-a-versary, as the running chick calls it, but also on some great runs. Your right though, you still have a lot of miles to put in. Great to hear it is going well to start out.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are some great days! Why marathoning, come over to meet the other side of 26.2:)
ReplyDeleteit's really cool to read back over your last few weeks and see you handle each of the little niggles and oddities in stride. each one, you great with a "if it doesn't get worse, i'll just keep pressing on" and that's the last we hear of it.
ReplyDeletei think i've figured out what job you can suggest to cian for when he grows up.
saboteur.
keep up the great work with your training! you're on pace for a fantastic showing!
Happy Blog Day Thomas.
ReplyDeleteYour running is coming along in leaps and bounds, and with the great weather this week (fingers crossed it stays over the weekend), we have no excuse for not building our base. 21 weeks on Monday :)