Saturday 1st to the Friday 7th March 2014

Saturday 1^st March

RACE Day!!!

I had all my gear prepared the night before, so I could get a lie in this morning.  As the race was not starting until 12pm I didn’t have to get up out of bed until 9am.  It was great to wake up and it was bright outside.  I had my breakfast of porridge, yoghurt and a banana, to set me up for the race.

Left home and picked up John on the way to Kinvara. We arrived in Kinvara just before 11am, got parking and went to register.  It was a lovely bright dry morning, with a slight breeze, nearly ideal conditions for running. The race is very well organised, we went to the community centre to register, got our numbers, t-shirts and a bottle of Lucozade, all done within 5 minutes.  Once we had our numbers we went back to the car got into our race gear and went to warm up.  A quick jog for about 1km.  After what felt like about 10 trips to the toilet, it was time to go to the start line.  The 10km started at 12pm and the half marathon at 12.10pm. We saw the 10km participants take off so I took the final few sips of water and prepared to go. 

The race started all of a sudden, no count down, the horn just sounded and we were off.   My ankle was at me all week (I have plate and pins in my ankle since I dislocated it a few years ago), and the start of the race I was in a good bit of pain.  This happens every so often but normally it eases out once I hit my stride. This did not happen until I was about 3-4miles in. I found the going very tough. But after 5miles I finally felt myself hit a good rhythm and my ankle felt fine again.  Nearly all my running of late has been done in the early morning where the temperature had been close to zero.  As this morning was quite cold I decided to wear a few layers of tops as this is what I had been used to.  Nearing half way I regretted this decision.  The weather was lovely and I was really heating up.  I got over this and continued at a steady pace.  There was a hill at mile 11 which was quite tough but after that I knew I was nearly home.  Back into Kinvara for the last half mile I tried to push myself near the finish but I had nothing left in the legs and across the line in a time of 1:56:59, just under 1:57:00 so I can say I did it in 1:56.  Not a PB (my PB for ½ Marathon is 1:54) but I wasn’t expecting it to be.  I had been training hard all week and I knew starting off I was off the pace a bit, but I was still quite happy with my time.

Relieved to be finished and was greeted by my parents at the finish line with a cool bottle of water. 

Sunday 2^nd March

Woke up at 7am to go for a run.  I hit the road for 8am and did a 7 mile run to loosen out after yesterday’s race.  I had that completed just after 9am.  I had my porridge and headed for the gym. 

In the gym I did 10mins on the Rower to warm up.  Then onto the X-Trainer for 45mins, onto the Stepper for 20mins and on the Bike for 25mins. 

I finished with core and ab work. I did 30 seconds plank, followed by 30 push ups (push ups with knees on the ground) 10 seconds rest and repeat 4 times.  I followed this with leg raises and ab crunches.  I did 20 leg raises followed by 1 leg raised ab crunch, 20 with each leg raised; 10 seconds rest and repeat 4 times. I then did a variety of ab crunches X 80 and again repeat 4 times.

Then finished off in the pool with a 30mins Swim.

After dinner I went for a 7 mile walk with the dog. The route I take is a quite scenic one.  It’s the same route, where I would do my training runs.  It’s quite hilly.  You can see Ennis on one side and the Burren on the other. It  takes in Dysart Church, Dysart Graveyard and Dysart O’Dea Castle.  Here are a few pics.

The View of the Burren

The View of Ennis

The View of Dysart O'Dea Castle with the Burren in the Background 

Monday 3^rd March

I had the alarm set for 6am and I was up and in the gym by 7am.  I did 20mins X-Trainer, 20mins Stepper and then 20mins on the Bike.  Finished with a 30mins swim.

I got my regular walks done during my breaks at work today.  I do a lap around the block on my two 15mins break and twice on my half hour lunch, it’s a 0.75mile route.

As I was giving a talk to WeightWatchers class on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings this week my training in the evenings was curtailed this week.

Tuesday 4^th March

I stayed in bed this morning.  I got up at 7.30am and headed to the pool for a swim at 8am.  A quick swim and then time for work.

Wednesday 5^th March

I was in the gym for 7am this morning. I did 20mins X-Trainer, 20mins Stepper and then 20mins on the Bike.  Finished with a 30mins swim.

I got 2 walks done while on my breaks at work today.

After my talk to the WeightWatchers class in Shannon I got to the gym by 8pm I did 45 minutes.  25mins on X-Trainer and 20mins on the Stepper.  Then down to the pool for a quick swim and home before 9.30pm

Thursday 6^th March

I got my regular morning session done today.  I did 20mins X-Trainer, 20mins Stepper and then 20mins on the Bike.  Finished with a 30mins swim.

I also got a walk in on each of my breaks today.

I had an event to attend in the evening so I had the evening off!!

Friday 7^th March

I was in the gym just before 7am this morning.  I did 20mins X-Trainer, 20mins Stepper and then 20mins on the Bike, then a 30mins swim and I’m ready for work.

I went for a walk on 2 of my breaks today.

After work I got to the gym before 5.30pm.  As I had missed out on training each evening during the week I decided to do 5mins extra on each of the machines.  I did 10mins on the rower to warm up. 50mins next on the X-Trainer, followed by 25mins on the Stepper and then 30mins on the Bike.  I finished with core and ab work.  I did 30 seconds plank, followed by 30 push ups (push ups with knees on the ground to start back with) 10 seconds rest and repeat 4 times.  I followed this with leg raises and ab crunches.  I did 20 leg raises followed by 1 leg raised ab crunch, 20 with each leg raised; 10 seconds rest and repeat 4 times. I then did a variety of ab crunches X 80 and again repeat 4 times.

Finish off with a relaxing 30mins swim.