Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Home Alone

Monday’s wake-up call was unusual. I’ve gotten up at 4:50 before, or even earlier, but at least then I got to run. Yesterday I had to get up at so early in order to drive across the entire country and get to work on time. I don’t think a lot of people ever had to commute from Dublin to Kerry, but since I could not possibly miss Gaga’s 75th birthday party on Sunday, and didn’t want to take an extra day off work, it required a very early start. I didn’t mind, after Manchester City’s win over the Old Enemy (also known as Manchester United, or the Filth, or the Scum, or a few slightly less endearing terms) I was so deliriously happy that nothing could possibly upset me. Actually I didn’t head straight to work, I drove via Tralee for my chest x-ray, the results of which I haven’t received yet. Niamh and the kids are still in Dublin, they will arrive tomorrow by train.

Of course I could not run before work, but I made up for it at lunchtime when I did a 5-mile loop in the bright sunshine. The weather was fabulous, so much so that I was definitely overdressed (I’m still overly cautious because of my pneumonia). The bigger problem was that I was anxious not to get back late, and ran a good bit faster than planned. I kept telling myself to slow down, but the legs had other ideas. In the end I was really pleased though, because I didn’t even know that I was still able to run at sub 7:30 pace, even at the expense of a rather high heart rate. To make up for it I ran very slowly today, and only after having a good night’s sleep. This time I was pleased to have the HR well into the 140s, but I know that I used to run that pace at much lower levels. But I can see some progress now, and am reasonably sure that I will be able to finish the Connemara Ultra 8 weeks from now, even though my original target of 5:15 seems to be well out of reach.

Since I don’t have to get the kids ready for school in the morning, I can afford to sleep a few minutes longer because it takes 20 minutes less to get ready. I might run around Caragh Lake tomorrow, for the first time since Christmas. I’ve felt absolutely fine on all of my runs since my latest comeback, and I’m sure I will be ok. I promise to take it easy over the hills, though.

11 Feb
5 miles, 37:05, 7:25 pace, HR 158
12 Feb
5 miles, 44:22, 8:52 pace, HR 146
Posted by at 8:32 pm

5 comments:

  1. GrellanTue Feb 12, 10:07:00 pm

    Good steady recovery Thomas.

    The only reason i'm "officially faster" than you is that you have not raced a short distance in six months. Your 5k PB was set last July and your 10k PB last April a target (Sub-40 min) that I hope to achieve this April.


    With the Connemara ultra in your sights I expect your focus will be endurance as opposed to speed over the next 8 weeks.

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  2. GrellanTue Feb 12, 10:18:00 pm

    ps Got accepted for the Ballycotton 10. Are you planning on running it.

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  3. Love2RunTue Feb 12, 11:37:00 pm

    I'm so looking forward to seeing the two of you both fit and in a race together! Place your bets ;-)

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  4. MichaelWed Feb 13, 04:51:00 am

    Enjoy tomorrow!

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  5. EricWed Feb 13, 10:08:00 am

    The pace and HR will come back--you'll be surprised how fit you are in eight weeks. You're demonstrating excellent patience.

    Caragh Lake...I'm jealous. I'm doing University Bike Path. Not nearly as interesting, and a lot colder. Have fun. =)

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