Yes. I am taking it easy this week, for many reasons. First of all, I swang from a maximum of 25miles a week to near 40 quite quickly. This was simply the result of doing 6 runs a week instead of 4 and of increasing the length of some mid-week runs. Secondly, I was feeling the tiredness in my legs, in my tendency to have a permanent head cold, and just general tiredness (occasional irritability). Thirdly, my left knee hurts. It's not much, but enough to find myself leaning more on my right calf on Monday morning and not wanting to 'jar' the left too much. 'Right then', says I, 'I'm taking my own advice seriously and I am staying off my running legs for 3 days (maybe 2).' This feels ok, leaving me wondering if I am a true runner at all? A real runner would not want to rest, surely? It is giving me a chance to catch up on other things and, to my delight, I discovered a great public pool in Naas last night. It's big, clean, bright and it has a gym where I can pay-as-I-go to use a treadmill, perhaps, when in need of a proper interval session. I went swimming in lieu of running last evening which was a real treat. So, today is Wednesday. We have a staff retirement today with a little wine reception and so, for the first time in ages, I am going to be sociable and have a glass of wine. This means I left the car at home which means that running would be an impossibility. Tomorrow is Thursday. Depending on how the knee is on the stairs I might head out for a short three-mile run on the grass. The main purpose of the rest week is to be back clocking up the miles on Monday next, knee included. 'C'mon knee, c'mon!' I hear myself mutter from time to time.
I had one main run since I last wrote here. I had planned this for quite some time, but never quite had the opportunity until last Saturday. The idea was to run from Clonakilty, through Ardfield, past the Red Strand, the Long Strand, Owenahincha and to land in Roscarbery. I thought it might be 14 or 15 miles, which I wanted to do at this stage of my training. The more I looked at maps, however, I realised it would be barely 12. In the end, I had to include a round of the bay in Roscarbery to bring it up to 13.1. It was fab! The day was warm, but misty with little wind. The road was undulating (lots of up and down). The views were superb and the area is charged with memories for me: picnics, swimming, cycles, childhood afternoons on the dunes, walking with parents, grandparents, visits to my granny's homeplace, just laden with memories. I loved it, and just felt as if I was cruising along at an easy pace. I allowed myself two faster miles at the end, ignoring my HRM, which climbed into the 160s bringing me at under 9m/m and with plenty left in the tank.
On Monday then, I just did 3 miles because my knee did not feel comfortable.
Before I finish, let me add that I have registered for the Bantry Bay Half Marathon and for the Dublin City Marathon. The latter scares me, but excites me. I like the fact that I am now committed. I am not sure yet whether I will do any other shorter ones, apart from the Race series leading into the Marathon? I have to think about that.
24/2 13.1 131minutes.43 seconds. 10:03m/m (last two particularly fast @ 9:04 and 8:43) 148bpm
27/2 03.2 31.29 10.26m/m 128bpm
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