The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

April 24, 2024

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

Sun, Feb 24, 2013

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
5.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	5.00

a.m. 5 miles easy along the canal. Nice fresh morning. Bumped into my old fella at the end of my run - he was out doing his first training session of the day: he walks a mile and a half in the morning and then again in the evening. Jakers, we're all at it:)

My plan is nothing more than 5/6 miles in one go until the end of March. I'll throw in the odd double day (a 3 or a 5) and the odd session of drill/strides. I've introduced some functional fitness and pre-core work (very important stuff - getting the minor muscles to fire before the bigger core muscles, through rolls and bears and crabs and other such animalistic exercises - it's about going back to being a toddler. There's no point doing planks etc, if your body has forgotten how to function correctly. This, I suspect, is why so many of us are suffering with hamstring/glute/core/s.i. problems.) I intend to develop this over the next month so that when I get to April, and start 3 months of base training, the F.F. will be the norm.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00	Weight: 144.00

Comments

From Rob Murphy on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 06:06:14 from 24.10.249.165

Is that Irish for your father? How old is he?

From Bam on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 06:42:39 from 89.126.28.24

Old fella is what we call our dad. He's 73 - 74 in May. He had all the blocked arteries etc and has had operations but he's flying now. He's eating a healthy diet and exercising. He was a good boxer and rugby player back in his day.

Everyday my mom and dad tell me what they have to eat and yet 18 months back, when I changed to a healthy lifestyle, they were laughing at me eating fruit and nuts and seeds etc.

It's great though, as they both have something new to focus on and instead of sitting watching the news channel 24/7, they've started living again.

From Rob Murphy on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 08:19:39 from 24.10.249.165

That's good news.

It's funny how many people act like the rules don't apply to them. It's also pretty cool when people finally realize that a healthy lifestyle is tons more rewarding than they thought. Every now and then, the light does come on.

I've always been fortunate in that exercise and activity comes naturally to me. It doesn't take a whole lot of self-discipline.

My dad died in December, 2009 at 76. Did not take care of himself at all but ironically was the person most involved with getting me into sports and fitness.

He outfitted our garage with an impressive set of weights and equipment when I was a kid. Every evening he's sit and watch me work out while drinking his beer and chain smoking.

I sure do wish he would have lived long enough for my son to remember him.

From Bam on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 08:44:34 from 89.126.28.24

I think the reason why my folks are making an effort is so that they can have the opportunity to see Grace and Olivia grow etc.

I was like your dad: I was cooking healthy food for the girls etc and then I was drinking and smoking and eating rubbish. The girls nagged me to change. Life was nice and simple before: none of this stretching and running in freezing rain and getting injured etc:)

Sorry about your dad. You'll just have to make sure that you're around for your grandchildren - what a thought!

From Rob Murphy on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 09:21:55 from 24.10.249.165

There are good things about having kids when you are 40 but there are drawbacks as well.

From Rachelle on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 12:31:01 from 66.7.127.115

Good stuff Bam you are making very consistent progress.

Thanks for your input on my blog today, I really appreciate it.

From SlowJoe on Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 15:28:34 from 69.131.141.92

I just kind of skimmed this post, but sorry to hear about the crabs, I'm sure they will go away soon.

Nah, your plan sounds good. I think your patience will pay off and hopefully be the end of any injuries for awhile.

From Bam on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 08:21:17 from 89.126.28.24

Rachelle - I'm looking forward to seeing how you go over the shorter distances.

Joe - I spat my granola over the keyboard when I read that. What, with all the chatter about American 'men' shaving their legs and then your comment, our yard was more like a comedy club than a house trying to get two muppets out to school:)

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