Northern Ireland Running

Glad to hear dervock went well. Some good runs from  a few guys in our club too.

Rodney bad luck in the gain - maybe time to find the root cause of that.

Did some mountain running today for a change. Not my forte but whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that...

Ricky W

Cheers that's amazing information!  Why does the end have to be like that, I managed a 10 miler yesterday, have been struggling for distance since the VLM this year, never mind hills!

Hope to see you there.

None taken HMM , I was just sorry I couldn't tag along behind you. There were a few walking at that stage and everyone was encouraging each other when they overtook. I managed to get running again (more of a shuffle really) after mile 21 and kept it going to the end.

Have to mention Jerry Forde in the wheelchair as well, 100+ marathons, a true legend.

I found the second lap very tough from mile 13.1 onwards.  To be ushered to the opposite side from and realise that my race was really just beginning was as difficult to swallow as a warm gel.  

I started walk/running at about 16-17 miles, just behind you HMM and, I guessed, maybe DS.  I thought my shuffle might have been slightly quicker, but soon realised I was up against old hands.

My legs felt like lead for the last 4 miles as I hadn't run this long since Dublin in October.  Against a realistic target of 4:20 I managed the first half 2 hrs and the second in 2.22, which I have to be content with, but told me all I needed to know. The good natured banter and laughter at the blunt end of a race is always a joy for me and makes me wonder, 'Why does anyone want to be better to miss out on this?'

I just finished my first IM distance tri a couple of weeks ago and I knew this was going to be a tough day.  However, I knew the work Kenny, Brian, and the others had put into it, so knew it was going to be a great event not to be missed.  Which it turned out to be Kenny, thanks.

Back on the bike for a couple of recovery weeks and then I'm going to turn myself back into something that resembles a runner again, if I ever was one in the first place .

Hello again VT'd. I thought you were doing the Bolton IM. Which one did you do? If it was only a couple of weeks ago, you did very well to run the marathon on Saturday. 

Hi Paul, thanks, good to hear from you.

I did Outlaw in Nottingham.  I injured my achilles 10 weeks ago and did next to no running in the important peaking phase leading up it. 

I subsequently worked hard on my swimming and bike training, which at least put me in a decent position just to get round. 

I wanted to get a long run in post Outlaw, so Dervock was always on the cards for me as long as I stayed injury free.  It's not quite there yet, but as long as I don't stress it again with pacey runs (as if !!!) then I'll manage to keep moving forward and retain some base fitness.  I'd loved to have gotten in round the 4 hour mark, but as usual with these things, you take what it gives you on the day.

Are you doing ireman again?  I've entered the half as a curtain closer, then it's training for Dublin Marathon, rest and then back to the start for Lanzarote IM 2013.

I just want to add my praise for Saturday, it was a fantastic day, so well organised.  The goody bags were great, the course was tough but strangely enjoyable, I totally loved running down through the Dark Hedges.  The support around the course was great & it was very well marshalled.  We (Larne yins) liked the idea of getting the mile markers sponsored, something for us to think about for Larne half next year!! 

My own race was reasonable enough, I knew I was nowhere near pb standard, but hoped to run better than Stranraer. I started well but found the hills tough going, I literally just got up them at whatever pace I could!!  My time was 1.52 which was 5 mins quicker than Stranraer but still 5 mins off my pb, but at least its going in the right direction.

Not sure what I'm aiming for next, I'm doing reasonably long miles at the minute so might attempt a marathon before the end of the year!!

Well done VT'd for completing Outlaw. I'm watch the Ironman series on Ch4, the pros are great to watch but it's the elderly athletes who are really inspiring. They just don't give up. DS did Lanzarote this year, it's a very tough one. No, I'm just doing a few sprint tris this year, but nothing longer than that. It's too time consuming and, anyway, my swimming needs sorted first. The canoe support teams are starting to recognise me as the aul eejit always at the back. I did the Dalriada Glenarm sprint tri last Wednesday, it's a nice one. With the running, I hope to get up to the Causeway in September and also should get down to the Dublin marathom in October.

Reiki - yes maybe see you @ Cookstown. I'll be bringing up the rear hoping to break 2 hours - aiming for 9 min mile pace... although my priority is to try & enjoy it so will treat it as a long training run rather than put myself under too much pressure!
What sort of pace do you plan to run? If you did VLM this year I'm sure you'll still have plenty of miles in the legs!

Heather as we had no major sponsor mile marker and water stop sponsors brought us in some much needed cash.

Davy I think everyone found the second lap tough going with the heat.There are some great pics of the Dark Hedges up on the facebook page. Marathonpic.com had said they would cover the race but pulled out as their wasn't enough competitors. I think they miss a great opportunity there.

Today the tiredness has really kicked in I had hoped to do NFU on Friday but I have no energy.

C75 don't know what going on there it's just opened for me. You can enter on the night at the Joey Dunlop Centre from 5.00pm. There was no online entries for this race. See you Friday.

HMM I went to training last night and was so tired I wasn't going to bother running. 500m x 8 1 min recovery ran the first 6 then blasted the last 2, 20secs faster than the first 6. I got a good nights sleep last night and will make my decision of Friday morning. 

HMM, how many races/events have you got left to complete for the 40 at 40 title???

Kenny what time does the kids 1k race start at on Friday might come up and let my son run it and then watch the main race.Still to tired and sore fromDervock to even think about running myself

6.15 Jim. I know how you feel and I didn't run.

Just in from my last hard run before Cookstown on Sunday.

Ran a hilly 9 miler at a perceived effort I felt comfortable with for completing 13.1 - surprised to average 8:40 m/mls for the run and at the end felt like I could have run another 4 at the same pace. (I know I shouldnt run at race pace but its all in the head for me - I like to know what I am capable of come race day!)

That's 1 full m/ml faster than I ran at Lisburn - what a difference a month makes! However I'll not too excited until I have completed Cookstown - bit of a killer by all accounts.
Other than Reiki - anyone else entered for Sunday?