After all that talk about how great I feel and how well the running is going, I suppose it was only a matter of time until I came back down to earth. Saturday’s recovery run went well enough, even if I was a little bit stiff from the rather fast 16 miles the day before. Sunday rounded off the week with a 9-mile tempo run. I was quite surprised to see a tempo run in the schedule so early in the training, but went with the plan. I did 2.5 miles warm-up, 4 miles at about 7:10 pace, and another 2.5 cool-down. I felt pretty good about it, but was fairly knackered towards the end. This finished my week on 56 miles, which, incidentally, is a new record for me.
Monday is a bank holiday in Ireland, so I didn’t even have to get up early. I definitely needed some sleep, because I was conked out for nearly 10 hours flat. I had taken a anti-histamine tablet on Sunday night, which always make me drowsy, and that might have contributed to me being knocked out. As a result of that lie-in, I didn’t leave for Monday’s 11 miler until 9:40, by which time the sun was high in the sky and the temperatures were about 22C/72F, which for Ireland in June is as hot as it gets. Mindful of a terrible run about 3 weeks ago, I took some water in a water belt, even though I hate running with the extra weight around my waist. But boy, was I glad I did that, I would have been seriously dehydrated otherwise! As soon as I went out, my legs let me know that they were not happy. Whether it was the 56 miles in the previous week, the tempo run yesterday, the several hours of gardening over the weekend, the after-effects of the anti-histamine, or (most likely) all of those things together, it was a death-march from the beginning, and it didn’t get better. I toyed with the idea of turning around after 3miles and doing a 5 mile loop in the forest to Ard-na-Sidhe instead to make up the miles in the shade, but decided against it because I wanted to run over some hills. It didn’t help that I drank most of my water on the first half, and got rather thirsty on the way back. I finished the run in 1:34, which I suppose is still not too bad, but 6 minutes slower than the same run 7 days ago. I will think about throwing in an extra rest day this week if later on I still feel as beaten up as I do right now.
Lola has chickenpox at the moment, and she’s not happy about it to say the least. Cian’s misbehaviour isn’t helping, but I’ll tell you about that another time.
3 June: 5 miles, 47:31, 9:30 pace
4 June: 9 miles, 1:12, 8:00 pace, with 4 miles at about 7:10
5 June: 11 miles, 1:34, 8:32 pace
Man, that's a lot of miles! No wonder you were tired. Plus, running in the heat is a whole different deal.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the chicken pox. I remember them only too well! Have your other two had them or are you in for a long stretch?
O-o-h, 10 hrs of s-l-e-e-p!!! I am totally jealous!
ReplyDeleteThe new stress you are acumulating should be a good reason to feel slower, but for sure it will adapt soon!
ReplyDeleteHope Lola recovers soon, don't let her move too much, that will help her recover sooner! (i know is hard but my girl had it last year and she was moving and catch it again....grrr)
Hang in there Thomas! Take the bad with the good and don't look up too much. Might be a good idea to stash water along your route too. I sometimes carry a bottle & drop it halfway out. It's a real treat on the return leg, esp if it's got some sugar in it ;-)
ReplyDeleteKids with Chicken pox is no fun. My daughter just went through a round with her daughter and son (5 and 3).
ReplyDeleteBlame it on the gardening! It should be avoided at all costs - its not a "natural" activity for men - running is! Wishing Lola a quick recovery and it not spread8ing among the family.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sounds like cumulative effects of all the gardening, running and the drugs. The sum of the parts...
ReplyDeleteI hope Lola gets better soon, and I hope all the adults have had the chicken pox before!
Thomas - I know what you mean about the tiredness, and I only ran 16 miles last week :) - Still in transition mode between rest from Prague and commencement of Dublin 20 week plan.
ReplyDeleteLet me know when you will be up in the city and we'll definitely plan to get together for a run and a pint - or three (not sure if that's runs or beers:))