How are our leaders Fergus, Jessica and Taragh getting on?
FERGUS CROKE – HALF MARATHON
I can’t believe that the weeks are going by so fast! It feels like I only submitted my last diary a few days ago.
Week ten of the training plan and I finally missed a couple of runs due to the Beast of the East. I was getting irritated at not being able to train so I decided to put on my trail runners at the weekend and managed to do at least one good run in the snow. I got a surprisingly good level of grip with the runners and I did receive a lot of strange looks as people drove by me.
Week 11 consisted of two 10km runs and a 14km at the weekend. As the legs were feeling quite fresh from the snow break, I decided to put the foot down on one of the 10km. I went into the run with a mindset that it was a race. I managed to complete the run in a new PB of 53:11 – four minutes faster that the 10km I ran in week one of my training plan.
There are now less than two weeks to go to the actual race and I’m really looking forward to it – it must be the competitive streak in me! My plan between now and the race will be to reduce the running distances and pace, get my sleeping back on track and drink plenty of water.
JESSICA KEATING – 10K
It’s not been a great two weeks for the old training, what with Storm Emma and having to work overtime the following week to compensate.
I managed to get one 5k run in, which was tough to get in to. It’s amazing to see the difference a few weeks of bad eating and drinking can do to your energy levels and I certainly felt it all throughout the run. My ankles were a little sore after the run too. As the road was still a little icy, I found myself not fully planting my foot down in my stride, which obviously impacted somehow on them.
I managed a few swims to compensate, but it’s not been a great two weeks considering we’re so close to the race.
Run, walk, run... That’s what it’s been like over the last two weeks. It’s been tough going but the injury is getting better and feeling stronger and the kilometres are getting clocked up. The weather threw a spanner in the works for one week. I let the week go, wasn’t too hard on myself and started back with new energy and enthusiasm. It’s paying off. I’ve learnt to be easier on myself and to enjoy the experience and to let the odd day go and be alright with that.
The race is coming up so quickly at this point, I can’t believe that’s it’s so near. I could have prepared more, I could have run more, I could have got more kilometres on the board, but I didn’t and I’m OK with that. I won’t be breaking any records or finishing at the top of the field, but I’ll finish and I’ll partake.
So the last two weeks will involve more running mixed with long walks and enjoying the moment and the experience. Good luck to anyone else taking part, I’ll see you at the finish line!