Sunday 10 April 2011

Connemara 2011

Half - 1:41 Full - 3:25 Ultra - 5:24:XX. Cramps at mile 19. Walked at mile 24. Still a 5 minute PB. Clubmates did very well:- Paul Daly, who I ran with until mile 19, finished in 5:10, without a watch and 2 weeks after the Wicklow Way Ultra. John Desmond, who went out with his usual fast pace, finished in 5:18. Maura Regan had a fantastic run finishing in about 5:40 to finish 5th Female - that would have got her 1st or 2nd spot last year. More later. Later You can see from the HR data below where my race came apart just before mile 24, where I walked for the guts of half a mile and once I resumed my effort was less than it had been before. More Much Later

15 comments:

  1. Can't argue with a P.B. and a 5 min improvement is really impressive, nice one Grellan

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  2. Well done on the PB. Sounds like a tough day at the office! Heat can't have helped. Look forward to hearing all about it!

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  3. One day someone will tell me how it is possible to train as much as you did for that race and then cramp at mile 19. I mean, does anyone ever cramp at mile 19 in training?

    That's still a very respectable time that won't be matched by a lot of people as well as a new PB, but I know you had more in you.

    There's always next year, of course.

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  4. Thomas, my thoughts exactly. Maybe I should return to a mainstream cushioned shoe.

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  5. I can't tell whether you're happy or disappointed but I was out in this morning's heat for an 18 miler and I can't say I would have relished another 21 miles of it. Still, 3:24 is an amazing time for a full in an ultra. 5:24 isn't bad either ;-)

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  6. Richard a bit of both. Happy that I managed to finish and get a PB. Especially when I started to walk at Mile 24 - 15 hilly miles from home. Dissappointed In that I didn't get the chance to do my best, whatever that might be. It wasn't actually that hot.

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  7. Great effort - looks like you finished well, which is impressive.
    Where were the cramps? Calves or thighs? One or both legs?
    I also had problems at LA, due I think to quite light shoes with no insoles. I don't think I will go back to a "mainstream cushioned shoe" but I may rethink the insoles and also do more hard runs in the shoes.

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  8. i hope when you wake up on monday you'll put this result in it's place: it seems the cramping might be as a result of wearing vibrams. you can put that right. a pb in under 5:30 is way beyond most people. there is lots celebrate.well done grellan,

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  9. Sorry it wasn't what you hoped for, but a PB is a PB as Scott Brown is fond of telling me.

    I was going to mention Bob's LA race - also one of Scott's where he wore light shoes.

    Probably an individual thing (whether the calves need more cushioning from the shoes). Saw one bloke wearing Vibrams in our marathon Sunday, also another something like thongs (flip-flops) who ran something in the sub-2:50 range.

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  10. You shot past me at ultra mile 16 .I was at marathon mile mark 3. I was easing into my 2nd marathon of that weekend having run the race directors marathon the day previous. You & Paul were chasing John. 3 of you like greyhounds. Amazing sight Grellan. You must very proud. Well Done , Ger.

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  11. Interested to hear the post mortem on this but another example of just how hard it is to have everything go perfectly on the day.

    You will have another chance to have a race reflect exactly the effort put in but for now you have enough to be happy about. a

    And when a little time has gone by you might see this as the more deserving of praise, I certain think so.

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  12. Well done on the PB Grellan. Maybe something between Vibrams and structured will remove the cramps; that's assuming it was the minimalist footwear that brought them on. 5.24 remains a very, very good time.

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  13. Well done on a fine race and dragging me some of the way with you, it was very much appreciated.
    We`ll break 5hrs on that course easily next time!!
    Valerie Glavin

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  14. Bob, cramp was in right calf only, all other muscles were fine.

    Ewen, We passed a guy wearing vibrams at mile 5 - don't know how he finished.

    Ger, you should have shouted out to me. Well done on the back to back marathons. You'll have to give me the low down as I may do one or two in Sixmilebridge in July.

    Valerie, great to meet you on the day. Your attitude certainly is what running is all about. Send me the 5 hour training programme and we'll see.

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  15. Well done Grellan you put in some savage miles in the lead up to it next its a 50 mile for you !!

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