Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Another Return

Running your long run on Monday morning has the disadvantage that your weeks starts awfully early. This week it started even earlier in the middle of the might with the not particularly task of changing a nappy of the truly fearful kind. Having accomplished that, I left a content baby in the care of her mother and set out on another customary loop around Caragh Lake.

There’s not much to say about that run, apart from the fact that I felt pretty good. After crossing over most of the hills I did speed up for the last 4 miles and managed an average pace of 7:11 on those. The idea is to get that down to 6:50 at the same effort level once the marathon approaches. The night sky was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed looking at the stars, but unfortunately that didn’t hold for the day and I got completely and utterly soaked when cycling home from work in the evening.

Today was an easy day, and I managed to sleep for over 8 hours. Despite that I was still half asleep when I hit the road, and I was at least 2 miles down the road when I suddenly realised that today was my birthday. So, here I am, starting my last year in the general age group. Niamh asked me if I was dreading the approaching Big Four Zero, but I said I couldn’t wait moving into a new age group category, which caused plenty of eye rolling on her part.

The run wasn’t quite as funny, I was stiff and sore, especially in the quads, but during all the uphill segments the calves were just as unwilling. I guess Sunday's workout has left some belated marks. I didn’t check my pace and ended up doing almost exactly 8:00. But I was seriously glad to be home again after 10 miles; sometimes you feel better after a mile or two, but today I was just tired. Maybe it’s old age? Anyway, word in the family is that a surprise party is on the agenda - the kids aren’t very good at keeping secrets. But I assure you, I’ll be very surprised all the same.
26 Jan
15 miles, 1:57:48, 7:51 pace, HR 148
last 4 @7:11 pace
27 Jan
10 miles, 1:20:08. 8:01 pace, HR 140
39 today

15 comments:

  1. happy brithday. So are you a real vet yet or still an M35?

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  2. Happy Birhday, enjoy your day!

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  3. happy birthday......almost exactly 1 year older than me. I click over on 31/1

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  4. Happy birthday Thomas. M40 doesn't make running any easier so enjoy your last year competing with the big boys.

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  5. Happy Birthday Thomas!

    I too am looking forward to my next big birthday. But for me it's the big five oh and a move into the super vet category!!

    Look forward to hearing about your 'suprise' birthday party.

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  6. Ah, you are so young! Shoot, I'm 51, Eric is 52, and we still think we're 39. Except for the change in age group, you'll barely notice. Happy Birthday Thomas!

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  7. Happy Birthday Thomas! Unfortunately everytime I move up to a new age group I am always amazed at how fast those old farts are!

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  8. Happy Birthday Thomas! I'm a few months shy of the M50 group, maybe the competition will be lighter (I doubt it).

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  9. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and many more. you don't look a day past 29.

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  10. Happy birthday! The most competitive age group right now in the Ozarks is the 50-59 mens. These guys are fast! The best days are ahead!

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  11. I can't wait to see the photo of the cake. You just missed being born on Australia Day!

    Time to really ramp up the training over the next 12 months so when you hit the big 4-0 you can go for some vet wins.

    By the way, you can't blame age until you're on the wrong side of half a century!

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  12. Hey, wow, I visited just around the (missed) birthday! Do I get a cake? :) Happy Birthday!!! I can't believe I beat you to this number, and it's not even running, ha!

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  13. Happy Belated Birthday, Thomas!

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  14. Happy Birthday Thomas! I turned 39 for the first time a week ago and am now telling myself that 40 is the new 30.

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