My recovery from Connemara has gone pretty well. To be quite honest it is one of the best recoveries I have had after a marathon/ultra, with the sore quads walking downstairs lasting less than 24 hours - maybe the Guinness after the race helped loosen things out.
My first run was on Tuesday, where I joined the Clubs 4 x 1 mile track session - jumping into the slowest pace on offer at about 7:44 miles and while my legs felt a bit tired and achy there were no noticeable niggles. Since then I have run every second day, getting in a reasonably long hilly run with the club on Saturday morning (14.8 miles) with no issues. Today I went out for a impromptu progression run at lunchtime with Brendan (all my runs with Brendan appear to be progression runs) getting down to 6:27 pace for mile 5 before I eased back slightly as I could feel a pain in my right adductor (groin) so i'll keep away from the speedwork or anything below 7 minute pace for a while, no rush.
Given my endurance base I thought i'd look for another ultra to run in the next month or 2 and set my sights on the JFK 50 Mile Challenge in Sneem on 26th May. The only problem is that it is advertised as a walk ,which participants have to complete within 20 hours . No problem there I thought. However I sent an e-mail to the organisers asking was it open to runners and got 2 separate courteous replies saying that running or jogging is not allowed but they'd love to have me walk it. Maybe I could do a Rob Heffernan on it or it would come in handy as training for one of those 24 hour races that require a bit of walking ;-)
Tue 3rd Apr - 6.70 miles in 1:02:30 (9:20 pace - with 4 x 1 mile @ 7:44 pace and loads of standing around)
Thu 5th Apr - 5.64 miles in 42:33 (7:33 pace - Easy run)
Sat 7th Apr - 14.80 miles in 1:59:12 (8:03 pace @ 135 HR - Long run)
Mon 9th Apr - 9.58 miles in 1:11:11 (7:25 pace @ 133 HR - Easyish run)
Tue 10th Apr - 5.64 miles in 39:36 (7:01 pace @ 136 HR - Progression run)
Hmmm, you could always try this? Maybe a little short in distance but might suit endurance. You know you want to........... :-)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.walkersassociation.ie/node/122
Hey Grellan - what about the Mourne Mts Double Marathon in June - or do you need to do one sooner. Liam
DeleteI'd love to Liam, but that's a serious away trip and I don't think I have the brownie points built up yet.
DeleteCheers Rónán. JP has already asked me to run Ballyhoura and i'm seriously tempted although I am pacing 3:45 in Limerick the following day. While back to back marathons is all good endurance training if I did both i'd be away all weekend in addition to the pressure i'd be under in Limerick with 26.2 hilly miles in my legs.
Deletewhy not walk it backwards. that would really freak them out and you would get instant national fame, especially if you won
ReplyDeleteThat's the best suggestion yet Marty - I like your lateral thinking. Although I think with walking events everyone's a winner.
DeleteFast walking is a skill that could come in handy when you tackle a 24 hour race. In his 48 hour races Martin Fryer uses a run/walk schedule from the start. I think something like 25/5. He practises fast walking too - did the Canberra 2 day walk a couple of weeks back.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Ewen, some the great (ultra) "pedestrians" of the 19th and early 20th Century walked more in training than they ran.
ReplyDelete