It's only 10 days to Tralee, so I am far busier looking forward to this than looking back to the near miss in Ballycotton. I try not to think about the fact that my time would have been good enough for a t-shirt last year, but then again in 1993 the 100th man ran 56:17, which puts today's general standard into stark perspective. It was still my best race ever, and by quite some margin too, and the WMA calculator gave me a rating of 79.03%, far higher than the 75% I can usually expect when I run well.
I had a chat with Keith during our cool down after the race, he thinks the Bangor race provided a shock to my system and it adapted accordingly; once I had recovered from that (which took most of the rest of the year) I was running at a higher level than ever before. I concur with this view. It certainly contrasts to some of the warnings I received a year ago that this kind of race would permanently slow me down.
The runs since Ballycotton have all been relatively short and easy. The legs still had some residue of soreness this morning and my heart rate is still a bit elevated, so taking it easy is an absolute no-brainer. The training for Tralee is done and dusted anyway. I might do a leisurely run on the Kerry Way at the weekend, depending on the weather, and one mellow workout next Wednesday (the coach's "taper workout") but certainly nothing strenuous.
10 days to go. It's getting close!
- 4 Mar
- 6 miles, 46:06, 7:41 pace, HR 141
- 5 Mar
- 6+ miles, 47:02, 7:46 pace, HR 136
- 6 Mar
- 8 miles, 1:00:39, 7:34 pace, HR 140
You go into it battle hardened and ready Thomas,bring it on
ReplyDeleteDo you have a goal pace? Seriously reckon you should go for 4 minute ks (2:48) - Jaymee ran 2:45 off a similar 10 mile time.
ReplyDeleteFantastic run in Ballycotton Thomas. I can understand the initial disappointment of finishing just behind the last T-shirt winners and so close to breaking the hour but your improvement over the last year has been remarkable and I agree with you and Keith that your body's reaction to the Belfast 24-hour has been the primary trigger. 2:50 target for Tralee is within your capability but you'll have to work bloody hard for it. See you on Saturday.
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