Ballinderreen 10km

More racing:

Mon - 10km treadmill recovery run 38:43 (3:49’s)

Tue am – 2km up, 10km treadmill threshold run 32:42 (3:16’s), 1km down. All up 13.0kms

Tue pm – Tuam AC easy run 8.7km

Wed – Claregalway 9.5km easy run 40:46 (4:17’s)

Thu – 2km up, 6 x 30 secs, 6 x 3 mns, 2km down. All up 11.0kms

Fri - Treadmill 10.0km recovery run 36:30 (3:39’s)

Sat – Rest

Sun – Ballinderreen 10km 32:29 (3:15’s). All up 12.5kms

Weekly Total 74.7kms

Good conditions at the Ballinderreen 10km (my PB course). I ran a good hard controlled effort and won the race in 32:29 (over 45 seconds quicker than Hollymount the previous week). Pleased with that and I can hopefully improve on that at the Fields 10km on Dec 26^th.

Hollymount 10km

A race to gauge the progress:

Mon - 2km up, 10km treadmill threshold run 32:43 (3:16’s), 1.0km down. All up 13.0kms

Tue am – Claregalway 9.5km recovery run 36:35 (3:51’s)

Tue pm – Tuam AC easy run 7.9km

Wed – 2km up, 6 x 30 secs, 6 x 2.5 mins tempo, 2km down. All up 10.0kms

Thu – Treadmill 10.0km recovery run 37:22 (3:44’s)

Fri - Treadmill 10.0km recovery run 36:50 (3:41’s) plus strides. All up 10.7kms

Sat – Treadmill 7.2km easy run 30:00 (4:10’s)

Sun – Hollymount 10km 33:15 (3:20’s). All up 16.1kms

Weekly Total 84.4kms

Very good conditions for the 10km in Hollymount (what a contrast to the prior year). I took it out fairly hard and to my surprise nobody went with me. I’d opened up a lead in the first km and then it was into the old time trial mode to which I’m well used to. The multiple laps are tough mentally but I knew the gap behind was opening up but you can never relax when you have John Byrne hunting you down. I felt pretty comfortable throughout – certainly not redline as the heart rate analysis afterwards showed. I crossed the line in 33:15 for the win so at least that’s a step in the right direction. Next step is to get back into the 32’s then maybe one more sub 32 in the auld legs. Who knows….

Still struggling overall with a few niggles. The groin is still far from right so I have to manage the intensity with that. Plus I still have a sore blister on the ball of my foot. I can tell you that once you hit 45 the body just falls apart...

Treatment week

Mon - Claregalway 9.5km recovery run 36:06 (3:48’s)

Tue am – 2km up, 8km treadmill threshold run 25:25 (3:11’s) then 5 x 400m, 1.0km down. All up 13.0kms

Tue pm – Tuam AC easy run 8.8km

Wed – rest (massage and podiatrist visit for dead skin removal!)

Thu – 2km up, 10 x 1 km treadmill threshold run, 1.0km down. All up 13.0kms

Fri - Treadmill 8.0km easy run 35:56 (4:00’s)

Sat – 2km up, 10km treadmill threshold run 32:43 (3:16’s), 2.0km down. All up 14.0kms

Sun – Claregalway 14.8km easy run 1:00:46 (4:06’s)

Weekly Total 82.1kms

Nothing too flash in there. I had a very sore blood blister on the ball of my foot so I went to the pod for some skin removal. Not pleasant but something I’d recommend for any runner as the feet feel great afterwards.

Corofin Winning Ways 8km

Trying another race to gauge progress:

Mon – 2km up, 10km Claregalway threshold run 34:49 (3:29’s), 2.1km down. All up 14.1kms

Tue – Athlone easy run 7.9km 35:47 (4:32’s)

Wed – Claregalway 14.2km recovery run 54:00 (3:48’s)

Thu – Mayo AC easy running 11.3kms

Fri - 2km up, 10km treadmill threshold run 31:54 (3:12’s), 1.0km down. All up 13.0kms

Sat – Treadmill 8.0km easy run 32:30 (4:04’s)

Sun – Corofin 8km – 27:35 – all up 12.9kms

Weekly Total 81.4kms

A tough first half to the race into a strong breeze but I managed to work away from the field and had opened up a nice gap. I tried to push the second half but had no pace and despite the win it was a very disappointing run. I thought I'd break 27 with ease but I was nowhere near it. So not really the confidence booster that I was after!