The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

April 27, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Tralee,Ireland

Member Since:

Oct 01, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I've never worn compression socks.

Short-Term Running Goals:

To do a race.

Long-Term Running Goals:

1. Break the world record for the marathon in the 50+ age group, when I'm 50 in 2015.

2. Never wear compression socks.

Personal:

Married with two girls (6 and 10).

The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method is a four year experiment.

The first year (2012) was about getting back into running, staying off the smokes and booze, while sticking to a healthy eating plan and shedding mountains of lard. All boxes ticked.

Year two (2013 - age: 48) Injured Jan through March. Build back up and work on my 5k speed. Goal 15:45.

Year three (2014) will be about doing my first marathon in the spring. (Just for the experience and on a tough course - maybe Tralee; goal time, 2:30ish.) Then begins the prep work for Berlin 2015

Year four (2015) is all about breaking the world record for the marathon in the 50+ age group - it's only 2:19 :).

The above might sound nuts; it is, but then I'm nuts. Please do not copy any of the training I do: if you do, you are likely to end up running like me - not a good idea.

The idea is to have a laugh along the way. If I fail, I don't know what I'll do - my whole belief system will crumble and I suspect that this little rock might just stop spinning for a couple of seconds. Jakers, I better not fail for all our sakes. That's some burden, even for SuperBam.

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00

Tue, Jul 24, 2012

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
13.50	0.00	0.00	2.50	16.00

9:30 a.m. 10 miles incl 5x800m @ 3k pace off 90 sec jog rec. What a beast of a session. Doesn't sound like much but it's a real gut churner. I'll enjoy my lunchtime nap (sorry Bret).

Warmed up 4 miles incl 6x100m strides with jog back rec and a 200m stride to tune into the pace of the session. Based on my 4x1 mile session three weeks back, I should've been looking at knocking out each rep in or around 2:42. But after my hill session last week, I knew I was a touch fitter and planned to do these in 2:39. But they went 2:39, 2:36, 2:38, 2:38, 2:36. Happy as Larry. So later in the week, when I do my 4x1 mile @ 5k pace off 90 sec rec, I think I'll aim for 5:32 pace (83 sec 400m's) rather than the planned 5:36 pace. I doubt Mo's quaking in his spikes but I'm pretty pleased with the way things are progressing.

Did the whole session incl the warm up and 3.5 miles warm down in my new ASICS Hyperspeed 5's. What a pair of shoes. I think I'll be buying a few more pairs of these little puppies. Tonight, the new ASICS Nimbus 14's get to go through the motions as I amble round for a slow 6 miler...

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY DOING DES NEWS TODAY AND HAPPY PIONEER DAY, WHATEVER THAT IS - I'M GOING TO GOOGLE IT IN A MINUTE. SUSPECT IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH HAWKEYE AND THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS:)

Oops - just read what it's all about. Enjoy the parades, fireworks and rodeos. Learn something new everyday.

6:30 p.m. 6 miles easy. Wanted to break-in the new Nimbus 14's but it was raining cats and dogs, so I ambled round in my Nimbus 13's. Tomorrow, even if there's a river outside my front door, the 14's are going to start earning their money. Some amazing results and times at Des News today, well done everybody who got out there and gave it some.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00	Weight: 133.00

Comments

From Bret on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 06:54:06 from 64.128.133.66

Excellent workout sir. Really knocked-out those 800's very well. If I can get to those kinds of splits in the next 14 weeks....

Do you think the Hyperspeeds are good for a marathon? I have not looked into them, but need to consider something new. Glad to hear you like them.

From Bam on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 07:19:10 from 213.191.253.217

YAWN - sorry, just woke up from my post lunch nap. If you get the mix right between intervals, threshold, tempo, and hills, you'll fly. 4 weeks of hills should prepare you nicely. During your hill phase, I'd be tempted to throw in a once-a-week 4 mile threshold run (nothing that'll take you over the 4mmol mark.) This will help you adjust to the speed work and make the mp stuff feel easy. But I'm sure you have it sorted.

The hyperspeeds are fantastic. I read somewhere that Ryan Hall loves them. They are light(ish) 7 oz I think. I'd say they're cushioned enough for a marathon, but I'd make sure not to have too many miles on them when you run the marathon, perhaps a couple of 10k's and a half to break them in. Also, it depends on your size. I'm 5'7", 133lbs, a light striking/mid-forefoot runner and to boot, very handsome. I think they're topnotch racing flats and the new Nimbus feel great on too. They look less clumpy. I'm looking forward to trying them tonight...

From Bret on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 08:00:31 from 64.128.133.66

Thanks for the pointers on the hill phase Bam. Will also check out the hyperspeeds - it seems we have similar builds - I am 5'8" and recently been weighing-in around 138 - but not handsome. My wife has declared that my appearance of late resembles a cancer-treatment patient.

From Bam on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 08:16:29 from 89.204.244.92

Funny you say that, last year my wife was always calling me lardy and the usual plethora of sobriquets for the plumper folk. Earlier this week, she told me I looked like a skeleton. I whispered, "Yeah, but a handsome one."

From Jake K on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 08:32:41 from 184.167.8.115

Very nice session.

Remember to tell your wife - "Gaunt is beautiful" :-)

Pioneer Days is awesome - any excuse to take an extra day off from work is good w/ me!

From Jake K on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 08:34:16 from 184.167.8.115

Oh and guys - Andrea gives me a bunch of crap constantly about how I look (ie. skeleton) and she is no bigger than a pencil herself. You just can't win with the ladies!

From steve ash on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 09:35:40 from 174.52.177.84

Tell me about it..

From Bam on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 13:39:34 from 89.204.251.190

I'll tell you lads, and I tell it ye for free, the maidens are a strange breed. Could you imagine the grief if they knew we were gassing about them. Ho, ho, we'd soon be splashing the cash down the florists. "Im sorry sweetpea, I was just showing off in front of the lads. You know I think you're perfect and I'm the luckiest guy on the planet. I'm just off to the gym to put on some bulk for you, baby"

From aleph on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 22:01:24 from 75.76.231.184

Only men would complain about looking too skinny...

Nice job on those strides-- it always feels good to beat a goal.

Add Your Comment.

Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.

Debt Reduction Calculator

Featured Announcements

Most Recent Entries:

New Kids on the Blog
(need a welcome):

Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):