The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

a.m. 8 miles slow run (turbo paralysis.) Introduced my first real functional fitness session. Crickey-O-Blimey. I knew that I needed to work on my strength but I didn't realise that I had turned into such a wuss. Complete and utter pansy. As BabyBam would put it: EMBARRASSING!

 p.m. 7 miles easy. First half of the run was slow but I picked up the pace over the last couple of miles. After this morning's run and 'strength workout', I was surprised my legs felt good. Let's see what tomorrow brings. Maybe a cheeky little iPad...

a.m. 8 miles. 3 miles w/u; 3x5x22-24secs @ 3kish pace with jog back rec and 5 mins job (Freudian slip there - meant jog) between sets; 2.5 miles w/d. Nailed it. Got the session bang-on and kept it aerobic while managing to feel relaxed and strong.

Did the session on a quiet boreen near the estuary. Beautiful spot. White horses out on the water. Waves swooshing against the rocks. A lone seagull frolicking. Bam - gazelle-like - striding out in tights, wooly hat and gloves - two culchies spectating from a field. Real deal muck-savages in wellies and bog hats. I think they took a fancy to me. Mustn't wear Nike tights down quiet boreens frequented by culchies - could be dangerous.

Searched the house. No sign of an iPad. But then I gave up material things long ago - apart from the computer and a few other things. Ok, I chose to reject many of life's material things and not allow myself to be subjected to the platitudes of consumerism etc. But today of all days, I just wanted an iPad:  a little biddy-widdy white iPad, but not a mini iPad.

I'm over it. Happiness fecundates from within. Yes, the external world may trigger those moments of pure bliss, but the ovewhelming joy of being in touch with what it means to be truly aware of your existence on a daily basis outweighs the transcient joys of materialism - although an iPad would be nice.

Actually, I don't even know why I want an iPad. I don't even know what they do.

Enjoy this fantastic day...

p.m. 7 miles easy in the new trainers that I got today, for my 48th birthday. I suppose you can't run in an all singing and all dancing iPad - or can you?

a.m. 6 miles easy. As expected, legs felt tired from Sunday's functional fitness and yesterday's session. Legs are just letting the brain (small as it is) know that they need a bit of time for the necessary adaptations to take place.

So, more importantly, yesterday I turned 48. Athough I was less than subtle (now there's a surprise) with my hints, I didn't get an iPad. Instead, I got two pairs of running shoes and other running apparel - very nice. Although that cheeky little iPad remains (for now) in the shop, I'm not a broken man. In fact, I'm overjoyed. Majella gave me a present that I wasn't expecting. One of those very special presents that you rarely get when you've been under the thumb for a good-many-a-year: a brand spanking new steam iron. I'm off to play with it...

p.m. 3.5 miles easy. Was going to do a 7 but I wanted to get back to my new iron.

a.m. A cheeky little 6 miler. Planned on doing a 13 with 7-8 at high-end aerobic pace but my right boo-tock was whinging like a good-un. So, to be safe, I settled on an easy 6. The boo-tock seemed to appreciate my kindness and even seemed to have eased by the end of the run. I'll see how it is tonight.

Last night when I finished my run, two of my neighbours were giving it some big chit-chat out on the street. I stopped and talked them. They mentioned the Tralee marathon etc but I said that I wasn't running. And then, stood there in the gelid night, in my tights and wooly hat and gloves, it dawned on me as I heard my voice booming through the darkness that I was finally and completely a runner:

'...Yeah, I'm thinking about the 5000m national champs in August, up in Dublin,' I said, stretching my hamstings - like I was somebody. 'I'm hoping to drop in some decent speed before moving up to the marathon. I've only been at it blah, blah, blah."

Yes, I have transformed from a three dimensional person into a sad case - a one dimensional runner:)

p.m. 11 miles. 3.5 easing up to high-end aerobic ; 6 @high-end aerobic; 0.75 @ threshold; 0.25 @ VO2 Max; 0.5 w/d.

Great run - worked hard and kept the concentration levels high. Focussed on running relaxed and hard. Dug in and pushed on when it hurt a bit. Enjoyed the incessant discomfort. Dropped Jake and Matt when I eased up to threshold  pace - they were gurning like babies:) - and caught Ryan Hall during VO2 Max pace - pulled his shorts down as I overtook him. Yep, I'm the man.

Wake up son...

a.m. No run. 30 mins AIS. Right boo-tock is playing up. Have decided to take a rest day and blast the boo-tock and the rest of this old body with some PT. I think it was the Functional Fitness (FF)stuff that set this off. Not that FF is the problem. It's more a case of poor body management. Adding in FF on top of 100+ miles a week and tempo and strides was a mistake. I think I'll drop the FF and introduce it in September after I've had an end of season break.

No run today. Leg feels a lot better but I'm going to give it an extra day - just to be safe. Will be back at it tomorrow.

I was listening to an interview on the radio with John Treacy the other night and he was saying that every marathon takes something out of you that you can't put back in. He went on to say that for elite marathon runners, their first5/6 will be their best. This was all in context of Fionnuala Britton running her first marathon prior to Rio etc. He also said (Mark Carroll concurred) that before any serious runner enters into their marathon cycle, they should spend a real concerted effort working on speed - not marathon or half marathon speed - but 5k speed.

I don't know how to do links - it's on the list of things to learn. If you google, Off The Ball interview with John Treacy and Mark Carroll, you'll get it. It's all about how far Fionnuala Britton can go. It's only about 5 mins long.Two guys who really know their stuff. Worth a listen, if not for the top class info from top class athletes, then the mellifluous lilt of the Irish brogue.

The other side (taken from another site):
Meb: Olympic medal in 2004, New York City Marathon Winner 2009, USA Olympic Trials Winner 2012, 4th place in 2012 Olympic games marathon despite a stitch that put him back in the twenties mid race. He is also targeting a win at Boston by his recent statements and no doubt he will go close. Expect a top 5 performace in a loaded field. He is 37 by the way.

Gomes dos Santos: New York City Marathon Winner 2006 and 2008. 5th place in 2012 Olympic Games Marthon. He is 35.

Martin Lel: 10 top 3 performances at Major Marathons from 2003 until 2012. This includes 3 London marathon wins, 2 wins in New York and 5th in 2008 Olympic marathon. He is 34 and still going strong when injury free.

Wison Kigsang: 7 marathons in 2 and a half years including 5 wins, an Olympic medal and a 2.03. Is the no 1 marathoner in the world at this moment in decline?

Look at his recovery rates and it would indicate that if the training is specific the recovery from a fast marathon is actually easier than a slower one. This rejects the nonsense that elites go so hard they have only a few good marathons in them. The opposite is the case, the fitter you are, the more quality ones you can do.

a.m. 6 miles easy. Felt sluggish but it was good to get back out there. A bit of tendonitis lingering but hopefully it will go away if I take it easy for a few days and continue to ice and take NSAID's.

p.m. 3.5 miles proper European hardcore X/Country with Grace.

Grace had a frump-on because she was told to stop going on her multipad to skype all her mates. It's like having all her friends living with us. So, to sort her out I took her out along the North Kerry Way through fields and muck and over fences and walls and stiles. Great fun. She ended up clattered in mud and ran 3.5 miles with the last half mile uphill. 

The leg niggled but I think it'll be ok in a day or two.