The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

March 29, 2024

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201120122013
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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.

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Update: did a little session today:3x(6x30 secs) jog back rec and 5 min jog between sets. Felt good, better than anticipated.

Anyway, some news: We're moving to England - my homeland:) In some ways I'll be sad to leave Ireland - it's a great country and the people are tops - but I am looking forward to heading home. We've decided to go back to Oxford and settle ourselves down, for many reasons but mainly to give the kids a better springboard and all that stuff. The kids are buzzing - they want to go today. But we're waiting until July so that they can finish school.

Better try and shed this Irish twang that I've picked up: jakers, I don't want anybody mistaking me for an Irishman.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Russ on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 06:27:27 from 24.223.102.45

I hear Oxford has recently started a University and they're hoping for good things. I bet you'll miss that tranquil seaside view but going home is always worth it. Nice job on moving the legs as well.

From Rob Murphy on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 06:55:46 from 24.10.249.165

Quite an adventure. Good luck.

I hear what you're saying about the kids. Every so often we think about moving to a quiet, rural area but there are so many more opportunities for them here.

From Bret on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 06:57:27 from 216.234.133.229

How exciting for you and your family. Best wishes on the move!

From Jason D on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 07:47:19 from 24.1.80.94

OH. MY. WORD. YOU ARE ENGLISH? (Notice the highly effective emphasis here).

So good to hear the girls are excited. Always hard to say whether young folks are behind hunkering down in an old place or excited to see what develops in a new one.

So does this mean the WR 50+ will be set on the major stage of the London Marathon? :)

From Bam on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 08:42:24 from 89.126.28.24

Thanks chaps - it's not really a big deal. Most of our clan (on my side) live in and around the Oxford area.

Jason - I'm not sure what nationality I am:) US/British/Irish - I'm not too fussed either.

On the WR 50+ thingy, I've a sneaky suspicion it will be set in Watford at a BMC meeting. That said, I doubt it will be the marathon; I think it will be the 1500m and the 5000m. The record for the 1500m is 4:05.2 (relatively speaking - pretty poor) and the 5000m record is 14:53:2 (more respectable but still not too hot).

But that's all great me saying that when I'm probably in about 18 min shape:)

From Rob Murphy on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 09:04:45 from 163.248.33.220

That explains your unmistakable erudition.

I have a lot of kin around Oxford Mississippi. Does that count?

From Dave Taylor on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 09:17:19 from 63.255.191.163

You're just trying to get some more altitude for your training so you can come over here and try to compete with us. Well, I suppose 500 feet is better than sea level - only ten more of those moves and you should be ready! But seriously I hope you have a great time in Oxford. Or Oddington, if you want somewhere a bit smaller but close.

From SlowJoe on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 10:41:30 from 155.219.241.10

Exciting news, good luck with the move. Does this mean no more weird looks from the culchies?

From Neasts on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 10:58:44 from 75.169.56.70

Now I'm going to imagine you talking like Inspector Lewis, unless you tell me you sound more like Sergeant Hathaway. :-) Be sure to post one of your runs from the Bodleian. Seriously SO jealous.

From Bam on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 14:07:52 from 89.126.28.24

Rob - if my erudition was a teenth of yours I'd be a wise old fool rather than just an old fool:)

Dave - I lived in Oxford for many years and it's very nice and all that but the true beauty of Oxford lies in some of its quaint villages. We'll probable (that's a great sp.) end up in a village on the outskirts of the city.

Joe - No more culchies:) but the country folk of Oxfordshire are a tad touched. Very good that you remembered culchies - very impressed.

Neasts - I loved Morse! I don't watch Lewis, although I did enjoy his character in Morse. Lewis is a Geordie and sounds nothing like me,and for that matter, nor does Sgt Hathaway; I sound more like Morgan Freeman:)

I'll be doing my track session on the Iffley Road track - where Bannister broke the 4 min mile. It's a great place to train and you can feel the history of the place.

From Rob Murphy on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 14:21:37 from 163.248.33.220

I have a friend who is a history professor at the University of Oklahoma who used to be a visiting lecturer at Oxford On his first day he was dining with a bunch of aged Oxford dons. While munching on the salad course, he had a conversation that went like this...

Aged Oxford Don - "So, Professor Gillon, what do you teach?"

Professor Gillon - I teach United States History".

Aged Oxford Don (looking confused) - "Oh.... what do you do in the afternoon?"

See, that's hilarious to me!

From Bret on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 14:43:06 from 216.234.133.229

Great stuff Rob!

From Bam on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 15:02:20 from 89.126.28.24

Hahaha. That is very funny.

I was listening to a history broadcast on the radio on Sunday - can't remember the subject matter but it was some erudite stuff - and the question came up, when does something 'become' history? That made me smile. I suppose that's more of a philosophical question.

From I Just Run on Tue, May 14, 2013 at 08:45:06 from 67.79.11.242

I'm a little late on the response to this blog entry by SuperBam but I can tell you one thing regarding his nationality ... It's sure not Texan! :-) Half the stuff he says I don't understand!

Oh...and by the way SlowJoe, don't be expecting any "quaint villages" where you're moving. :-(

Bam, can I come visit?

From RileyCook on Tue, May 14, 2013 at 09:04:14 from 132.3.45.80

Good luck with move. I am with Jason though, I had no idea you were English and not Irish. This changes everything...

From Bam on Tue, May 14, 2013 at 13:19:54 from 89.126.28.24

IJR, you're welcome any time - just let me get there first:)

Riley, If my dad heard me calling myself British he'd leather me and tell me I'm Irish; if my mum heard me calling myself British or Irish, before she shot me, she'd tell me I was United Statesian.

From Neasts on Tue, May 14, 2013 at 13:50:33 from 75.169.56.70

I'm still trying to process Morgan Freeman...

From Bam on Tue, May 14, 2013 at 14:48:33 from 89.126.28.24

Neasts, I was joking about Morgan Freeman, but I think you knew that. I asked my daughter if I sound like anybody from the T.V. and she said that I sound like, Simon Cowell. She's grounded.

From Tom K on Wed, May 15, 2013 at 06:32:22 from 71.228.90.171

Like a twinkie, Like a twinkie.

http://youtu.be/-2BzLf2jwIM

There's not a day goes by I don't feel regret. Not because I'm in here, or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can't. That kid's long gone and this old man is all that's left. I got to live with that.

From Bam on Wed, May 15, 2013 at 07:13:41 from 89.126.28.24

Tom, Twinkies must be a US thing, I don't think we have them over here - if only my voice sounded like that:)

I'm going off memory here - I could look it up but I'm confident: that's from 'The Shawshank Redemption.' Great movie.

From Tom K on Wed, May 15, 2013 at 07:23:47 from 71.228.90.171

Great movie. Great ending.

http://youtu.be/zRBl0GPBm4o

I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.

From derhammer on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 10:45:03 from 64.245.52.2

Love that part of the world - I lived 3 years in a village called Brackley in Northants. My flat was 50 feet from a pub on the High Street. Went to Oxford quite a bit on the weekends. Lots of great memories. I miss it. Enjoy!

From Bam on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 12:56:00 from 89.126.28.24

Derhammer - I know Brackley: When my brother came towards the end of his footballing days he played semi-pro football for Brackley Town and I used to go over and watch him. In fact, he got his nose busted by a bouncer outside a pub in Brackley. Unlike me, he's a cheeky chappie:)

From Neasts on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 12:55:43 from 75.169.56.70

Bam, back on April 12th I promised you I'd let you know if I read the book you recommended. I finished it at about 2:00 last night (this morning?), with some favorite passages already marked and a few of the book's themes ready to infuse my dreams. That was just a beautiful book and I'm glad to have read it, so thank you very much.

P.S. I like Simon Cowell! Probably because I've never had to sing in front of him. :-)

From Bam on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 14:09:47 from 89.126.28.24

Neasts, I'm glad you enjoyed The Secret Scripture; it's a lovely little book. Here's another one for you: Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor - simply one of the most beautiful books ever written. Even Simon Cowell would be crying by the end of chapter 2:)

From allie on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 20:02:30 from 97.126.223.200

i'm pushing for a move to england, so i guess this means we will be neighbours.

From Bam on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 08:26:33 from 89.126.28.24

Jakers, I'm moving to Australia:)

James hails from Bucks, so if you move to his part of the world we would be neighbours. My family mainly live in Bicester - I'm sure James will know of Bicester.

England's a very expensive place to live. I suspect James wants to stay in the States - don't blame him. Apparently, the US is the greatest place on the planet:)

From allie on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:17:33 from 161.38.221.168

according to my sample, england is better. we are going to move to st. ives and dine on pasties and 99 flakes everyday. oh, and strongbow.

see you soon.

From Bam on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:28:12 from 89.126.28.24

Hahaha dine on pasties - brilliant. St Ives is meant to be very nice, but isn't Cornwall a separate country? They speak a different language down there.

From allie on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:30:02 from 161.38.221.168

i think they speak pirate.

From Bam on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:54:00 from 89.126.28.24

You might be starboard thar!

From Dave Taylor on Tue, May 21, 2013 at 15:37:37 from 63.255.191.163

OK this update has too many comments, time for you to make another. Has to have some running in it though. Like maybe an out and back to Killarney. Or at least Milltown. That's right, if you don't post em, we'll start handing em to ya.

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