115 days 8 hours 25 mins
I’m aching. My legs are in bits. Today’s training was really tough, compounded by the fact that I did effectively a triple session in one sitting.
Firstly, I had a 90 minute sculling session, which was good. I’m beginning to get the hang of sculling, and the new training boat is fantastic. But still, a 90 minute session is hard work, and requires both physical exertion and proper concentration.
Next up, was Neal’s latest invention is a 30 minute ergo piece, pulling hard, at 24 SPM. Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever done 30 minutes of solid, without-a-break exercise, but it’s rather daunting. To do 30 mins on an ergo is worse than let’s say, running, yet I’d still choose it over, say, swimming, because you’re not going to drown on an ergo. Pulling hard and keeping a 24 SPM rate, well that just adds to the fun. Also we had to make note of the metres covered and the average split (7736m at 1:56.3) and this will be used in future to benchmark our progress.
With about 27 minutes left on the clock, I wanted to give up. Similarly, I had enough with 21 minutes; and then surely at 15 minutes, halfway, it was ok to give up; and then at 11; and finally at 4 minutes, when I was nearly finished, I was sorely tempted to just drop the bar and say “Enough”. But I didn’t. And that’s really what ergos are about; it’s a mental battle. The body can do it, but ergos test the mind. I’m fit enough, I don’t like it, but I gotta force myself to do it (and I will feel great afterwards). Sheer bloodimindedness.
Finally, the last piece of today’s mini-triathlon was a four mile run in the Phoenix Park, completed in 30 minutes flat, with an average split of 7:30. It was a good run, especially in the context of all that had gone before it, but as I’m sure you can appreciate, I’m shattered!
As of this minute, my alarm clock will go off in exactly five and a half hours and it’s time to go to college for a 7am ergo session. This life of mine is great fun, and I’m so glad I do it, but my God! It’s hard work!
129 days 13 hours and 14 minutes
Til the Dingle Marathon! That’s right folks, I’m running my first marathon on 3 September, around the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry!
It started training today with a nice casual little six mile run to the Merrion Gates and back. Half the run is along the beach at Sandymount; it’s just lovely. It’s a sixteen week training programme, so watch out for weekly mileage totals.
More to come…
***
Marathon mileage: 6
The merits of running
I just saw this ad on TV and I laughed so much I nearly choked. I suppose it just describes my relationship with sport. “Oh hello!” Anyway, I’m out injured with a shin-splint at the moment, so my running has been drastically curtailed. Anyway, by the time I’d come across lovely dog-walking-man, I’d be about 5km in, panting hard and sweating heavily. Not really how you want to meet your future husband.
