A few days ago I realised that I was not signed up for any race at the moment. I don't know the last time that was the case, it might have been about 10 years ago! That doesn't stop me from running, of course, but it means I am not focused on anything right now. In all honesty, I think that's a good thing right now. Too often I have focused too much on the next event and over-exerted myself in training, and not only did it come back to bight me a few times, eventually it all proved too much and my body stopped cooperating properly, overtrained.
While the time off earlier this year was very frustrating, I can sense that it actually did me some good and allowed some things that were out of whack to get back into balance. The challenge is now to keep it that way, something I am not particularly good at but the lack of focus might help in that matter.
I ran a few more miles than the previous week, and the mileage got to about 100k, give or take a bit. That might sound an awful lot to the average runner but it just kinda crept up on me, without trying to hit a certain mileage. The legs are definitely starting to feel much better again, after Connemara, and things are definitely improving.
My easy pace is somewhere around 8:30 these days, which isn't fast by any means. I used to run a minute faster on my easy days. But that's fine. If the pace comes down with training then that's great, and if it doesn't then I will just keep running in my post-competitive stage.
At some point I will need to decide what I'm going to do next. I can definitely rule out a long ultra this year, I have already decided that. I guess I will run a race in the autumn, but which one remains to be seen. If they re-open entries for Dublin then I might try and sign up, otherwise I might look at one of the hillier options around here - there's plenty of those around.
And for next year? Who knows! Niamh keeps telling me at every possible opportunity that 24-hour races are off the agenda, but that may or may not be the case. As for my cheeky suggestion of a 48 hour race instead - I can't tell you her response, this is a family-friendly blog (well, sometimes). Maybe focusing on some shorter distances might have some merit, I know at least a couple of guys roughly my age who did very well in that, but shorter distances were never really my thing and I don't think I'll get the taste for it now.
Anyway, I did an attempt at a workout on Saturday but got the effort wrong, too high. I thought aiming for a HR of 160 was reasonable enough, after all that used to be my evaluation effort, but it was too hard and after 1.5 miles I had to pull the plugged, totally cooked already. The strong wind at Bray promenade sure didn't help but I guess I'll have to dial it down a bit. On the plus side I did a loop around Peoples Park in Bray, along the Dargle river, and liked what I saw. I don't know why it took me over a year to check it out but it might be a really good venue for those kind of workouts in future.
I also did the Cliff Walk (well, Run) again, and wouldn't you know it, taking it easy on the way to Greystones means the return leg will feel much more doable! Who'd have thunk it! I also broke a long standing habit of mine and actually has some bites to eat before heading out for my long run instead of running it in a fasted state. I wanted the final 2 miles, uphill, to be less of a suffer fest and lo and behold, it worked. Eating breakfast and waiting for close to two hours before running isn't practicable on most days, and running in a fasted state does bring its own benefits, but in that case it was definitely the right choice.
Oh, and Niamh got to talk to her uncle Kevin on Saturday. He is in his eighties now but he still walks for half an hour every day, and does up to 25 km on the weekends. (!!!!) He looks at least 20 years younger. When I grow up, I want to be Uncle Kevin!
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