Hold the front page.....Forde in second workout in four days sensation,film at eleven!!!!!
Ok so a tad dramatic but never let it be said I don't have the ability to laugh at myself!
An easy 10 miler out and back along Cobbs Creek Parkway this evening,under grey skies,after a brutal winter it's reassuring to know spring is just around the corner.
I'll happily take an hours less sleep this Sunday for an hour of more daylight in the evenings,my 10 milers have been easy enough to get in under daylight but the fact that warmer weather is on tap makes me a happy camper.
Track tomorrow,14x400m repeats,looking to build on the last two sets of 12x400m from Feb 13th and 20th
Friday, March 11, 2011
Bastards On Parade
''You may bury me w/ an enemy at Mt Calvary,you can stack me on a pyre and soak me down w/ whiskey.Roast me to a blackened crisp and throw me in a pile
I couldn't really give a shit I'm going out in style.
You can take my urn to Fenway spread my ashes all about or you can take me down to Wolly Beach and dump the sucker out
Burn me to a rotten crisp and toast me for a while
I couldn't really give a shit,I'm going out in style"
Going Out In Style-Dropkick Murphys
It's seemly getting harder and harder to put in back to back training days of late,I lost two days either side of Dropkick Murphys at The Electric Factory on Wednesday nite.
Wednesday was just one of those days at work and by the time I got home I had a couple of messages from my sister to call her as a can of worms has been opened in the last few days,by the time that phone call had been dealt w/ it was too late to run as I was heading over to The Electric Factory post celebration of Spurs advancing to the Champions League 1/4 finals.
A late nite ensued,it was 12.40am when I got home and when the alarm went off a 4.40am I wasn't feeling it,and returned to sleep....
I was an hour late getting to work{slacker} but stayed an hour late to make up for it{responsible} but coupled w/ the rain and being bollocksed I blew off last nite,tsk tsk,what the frig I went to bed at 9.30pm last nite as I was that knackered.
It's funny the older we get the less we seem to be able to handle,going back 17 years ago when I was only 29 I recall going to see Ned's Atomic Dustbin at the TLA,it was the first gig in a while I'd gone to "stag"as I'd been dating Christine for a while and the mosh pit was off limits,she didn't share my love of the Neds so I figured a chance to relive old glories that nite......
I lasted 6 songs b4 clambering out of the pit for the safety of further away from the stage,at 29 I was feeling old,fast forward 17 years and staying out till close to midnite to see Dropkick,getting home by 12.40am shouldn't be a big deal on a weeknite but for love nor money I could not get out of bed yesterday morning,I may have to start scheduling days off after weekday gigs in future.
Anywho it was worth it,Dropkick rocked,I've been a fan for a while but never saw them live,last year on my trip to Boston for Indoor Nationals I downloaded "Sing Loud,Sing Proud" on my ipod along w/ my Flogging Molly cds and Pogues best of cds,it not only provided the ideal soundtrack to the weekend but inspired me to see both bands and add their cds to my library,I always though "Highway To Hell" "Wherever I May Roam" or "The Last Beat Of My Heart" would be the songs I wanted played at my funeral but Flogging Molly's"If I Ever Leave This World Alive" or Dropkick Murphys"Going Out In Style"have now taken over at the top of that list.
No excuses tonite I hope a 10 miler and track tomorrow for 14x400m b4 a 16 miler on Sunday to round me out to 50 miles and hopefully build momentum moving forward going into spring.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
LAH Life After Hobbes
Dave King of Flogging Molly always says how the Irish"don't mourn death we celebrate life" and w/ that in mind I knew today had to be the first day of getting on w/ life in the post Hobbes era.
Having spent the weekend in my room I took yesterday off work to get caught up on all the domestic chores that fell by the wayside,w/ them done today was about going back to work,coming home,training,making dinner,writing my blog,business as usual....the only thing missing is a large orange cat taking up room on the stool at the pc,that cat,he could've had the bed,the recliner....but NO he had to have the stool and yours truly had to squeeze his boney butt on here somehow.....I'm going to miss that.
I was glad to be out running after everything that's happened,after a week long layoff it was time to let out the clutch and burn rubber along Cobbs Creek Parkway and did I ever,64 mins for a 10 miler,it's been a while since I've been sub 67,then again w/ all the angst of Hobbes dying,not having ran for a week and warm enough temps to shed down to long sleeve shirt and 3/4 bottoms went a long way to such a fast time.
Tomorrow I'll hit Catherine St hill for a repeat of my hill repeats,I tried hitting Temple's track last Wednesday only to find the track off limits as either Temple or CCP's athletes were using the track which kyboshed that so rather than run that risk again I'll do the hill repeats I did 2 weeks ago.
Having spent the weekend in my room I took yesterday off work to get caught up on all the domestic chores that fell by the wayside,w/ them done today was about going back to work,coming home,training,making dinner,writing my blog,business as usual....the only thing missing is a large orange cat taking up room on the stool at the pc,that cat,he could've had the bed,the recliner....but NO he had to have the stool and yours truly had to squeeze his boney butt on here somehow.....I'm going to miss that.
I was glad to be out running after everything that's happened,after a week long layoff it was time to let out the clutch and burn rubber along Cobbs Creek Parkway and did I ever,64 mins for a 10 miler,it's been a while since I've been sub 67,then again w/ all the angst of Hobbes dying,not having ran for a week and warm enough temps to shed down to long sleeve shirt and 3/4 bottoms went a long way to such a fast time.
Tomorrow I'll hit Catherine St hill for a repeat of my hill repeats,I tried hitting Temple's track last Wednesday only to find the track off limits as either Temple or CCP's athletes were using the track which kyboshed that so rather than run that risk again I'll do the hill repeats I did 2 weeks ago.
In Loving Memory
"How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh outweigh the bad
I thought we'd get to see forever,but forever's gone away
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday
And I'll take w/ me the memories to be my sunshine after the rain,it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday"
It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday-Boys To Men.
It is w/ heavy heart and much sorrow and sadness I have to report the passing of His Nibs aka Hobbes.
At the grand old age of almost 16 and 3/4 the Orange One has enjoyed his last can of Tuna on this mortal coil,should there be such a thing as kitty cat heaven I would guess Tuna is served on a daily basis,rest assured if it isn't His Lordship will have little difficulty letting it be known he'd like his daily helping of Tuna!!!!
Having been my faithfully companion for just over 16 years it'll take some getting used to not coming home to him,long b4 my annual treks to wherever Nationals are held both indoors or outdoors Hobbes was my welcoming home committee following a marathon or half marathon and was often the only person I had to share the highs and lows of a good day or bad day at the track.
I recall his first mouse,his declaration of all things Tuna and his reaction to a big brother Calvin and then how he reversed roles by becoming big brother himself to Precious these past few months.
It's a shame Hobbes wasn't a few years younger when Precious arrived I think to have witnessed them together for a few years would've been great fun,in the brief time they had their influence on one another was heart warming to watch.
I once had the good fortune to read a fridge magnet that said"Cats are God's children w/ fur" I believe this to be true,in 16 years friends,lovers,loved ones,family have come and gone but Hobbes was always there,pets will love you unconditionally,I know I'm not everyones cup of tea but Hobbes always loved me and all he asked in return was to fed,watered,made a fuss of and have his litter changed,not much to ask for?
As my own mother pointed out "there aren't many humans who've put up w/ me for 16 years" a truism if ever there was one and w/ that I'll sign off,it's time to knuckle down to the day to day things and also get back to training,Hobbes's memory will serve as a driving force for the rest of the season.
Farewell mate,thanks for all the love over the last 16 years
xoxo
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Howzat!!!
Tis Yer Man Kevin O' Brien scoring the fastest century ever in the Cricket World Cup,100 runs off of 50 balls on route to his 113 runs that helped Ireland do the unthinkable and defeat England in the Cricket World Cup in Bangalore today.I realize that Cricket isn't a big deal here in America,but then again neither was Soccer 20 years ago and look at it now.
Also my blog is read worldwide and I know for a fact that it's read in five of the counrties that are playing in the 2011 Cricket World Cup,Ireland,Australia,England,Holland and Canada{I know,Canada,who knew!!??}.
Chances are Ireland won't advance from the group stages of the World Cup but this famous victory will be talked about and drank over for years to come!!!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Hitting The Reset Button
I did say in Friday's blog that I was going to take a few days off to shake whatever it was that was lurking around my lungs.
It was my first sub 50 mile week since the last week of December when I lost three days due to the snow and only clocked 38 miles.
To have kept running over the weekend just to log another 50 plus mile week seemed churlish,a few days off to shake whatever gunk I had on my lungs and begin this week and month firing on all cylinders seemed more prudent.
Although Spring is officially still 19 days away it was a glorious afternoon to run,donned the shades,ditched my hat and gloves and enjoyed an out and back 10 miler along Cobbs Creek Parkway.
I didn't feel any ill effects from my days off or the crud that had been on my lungs,the real test will come tomorrow when I hit the track for 8x800m repeats.
Happy St David's Day to any Welsh readers out there,I know St David kind of gets overlooked in March,time to put some Catatonia on ye olde ipod me thinks
It was my first sub 50 mile week since the last week of December when I lost three days due to the snow and only clocked 38 miles.
To have kept running over the weekend just to log another 50 plus mile week seemed churlish,a few days off to shake whatever gunk I had on my lungs and begin this week and month firing on all cylinders seemed more prudent.
Although Spring is officially still 19 days away it was a glorious afternoon to run,donned the shades,ditched my hat and gloves and enjoyed an out and back 10 miler along Cobbs Creek Parkway.
I didn't feel any ill effects from my days off or the crud that had been on my lungs,the real test will come tomorrow when I hit the track for 8x800m repeats.
Happy St David's Day to any Welsh readers out there,I know St David kind of gets overlooked in March,time to put some Catatonia on ye olde ipod me thinks
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Coming Up Short.
It's hard to believe that this time last year my 3,000m pr was 9.38.3. and here I am slightly boo hooing the fact I missed a chance to go sub 9 on Thursday,it's another classic example of how we as runners are never or seldom satisfied w/ our performances!
B4 I go any further let me state for the record that although I was nursing a sore throat and subsequently minor congestion on my lungs this in no way is being used as an excuse for falling short of my desired sub 9,Rod Laver once said and I quote"once you step on to the court you are admitting to yourself,your opponent and the fans you're fit enough to play....don't walk off afterwards saying you were ill or injured"
I'd feared for a few days my throat was getting sore,by Thursday I was croaking and subsequently the congestion on my lungs has forced me to shut things down for a few days to shake this completely so that I can resume training Monday or Tuesday at the latest.
As is my won't I seeded myself in the fast heat,if you're going for time in a race it's the best way although it's always curious to check the results afterwards to see where your time would've stacked you up in the next heat,case in point my 2.06.0 in the last Thursday Nite meet earned me 9th in heat 1,I'd have finished 5th in heat 2.
The race plan was to try and clock 36 seconds per lap to clock 4.48 for the mile and come through the bell in 8.24 and hope for a 34/35 second final lap to clock 8.59/8.59....easier said than done!
In a 17 man field w/11 runners on the starting line and 6 of us on the turn we broke at the top of the back straight and thus the battle to slot in where we wanted to be began,I came through 200m in 36 seconds oblivious to where I was positionally w/in the race,I was aware there were runners behind me so I wasn't last which although it's about time and not place you still never want to be last.
1.10 at 400m a slight pick up in pace,after this my splits become blurred,when they're coming around thick and fast over 200m it's hard to recall them all.
I hadn't planned to focus on kilometer splits to be honest but w/ Ian Brooks calling attention to us going through the first k I looked up to see 2.58 after 5 laps,on pace for sub 9.
The 1k split threw me off for recalling my mile split,I know I looked up each time I came through the finish but I just don't recall my mile time,I do know my 2k split was 6.01 still on pace for sub 9 but I was beginning to slide back through the field,I began to lose contact w/ Matt Chaston and Jimmy Lynch.
I was well shy of the 8.24 I needed at 2,800m but drove hard over the final lap to close in 9.08.3 and finish 14th of 17.
Slightly disappointed that I not only missed sub 9 but also missed a pr 9.07.1. but this time last year I hadn't even ran my 9.13.6. or 9.11.4. so clearly I'm doing something right.
Here we are in late February I have 10 more months to lower my pr and go for that sub 9,the question is when?I have 1 more indoor race scheduled in three weeks time b4 switching to outdoors and focusing on Worlds and Nationals,maybe post July I can look for a 3,000m to join the sub 9 club.
B4 I go any further let me state for the record that although I was nursing a sore throat and subsequently minor congestion on my lungs this in no way is being used as an excuse for falling short of my desired sub 9,Rod Laver once said and I quote"once you step on to the court you are admitting to yourself,your opponent and the fans you're fit enough to play....don't walk off afterwards saying you were ill or injured"
I'd feared for a few days my throat was getting sore,by Thursday I was croaking and subsequently the congestion on my lungs has forced me to shut things down for a few days to shake this completely so that I can resume training Monday or Tuesday at the latest.
As is my won't I seeded myself in the fast heat,if you're going for time in a race it's the best way although it's always curious to check the results afterwards to see where your time would've stacked you up in the next heat,case in point my 2.06.0 in the last Thursday Nite meet earned me 9th in heat 1,I'd have finished 5th in heat 2.
The race plan was to try and clock 36 seconds per lap to clock 4.48 for the mile and come through the bell in 8.24 and hope for a 34/35 second final lap to clock 8.59/8.59....easier said than done!
In a 17 man field w/11 runners on the starting line and 6 of us on the turn we broke at the top of the back straight and thus the battle to slot in where we wanted to be began,I came through 200m in 36 seconds oblivious to where I was positionally w/in the race,I was aware there were runners behind me so I wasn't last which although it's about time and not place you still never want to be last.
1.10 at 400m a slight pick up in pace,after this my splits become blurred,when they're coming around thick and fast over 200m it's hard to recall them all.
I hadn't planned to focus on kilometer splits to be honest but w/ Ian Brooks calling attention to us going through the first k I looked up to see 2.58 after 5 laps,on pace for sub 9.
The 1k split threw me off for recalling my mile split,I know I looked up each time I came through the finish but I just don't recall my mile time,I do know my 2k split was 6.01 still on pace for sub 9 but I was beginning to slide back through the field,I began to lose contact w/ Matt Chaston and Jimmy Lynch.
I was well shy of the 8.24 I needed at 2,800m but drove hard over the final lap to close in 9.08.3 and finish 14th of 17.
Slightly disappointed that I not only missed sub 9 but also missed a pr 9.07.1. but this time last year I hadn't even ran my 9.13.6. or 9.11.4. so clearly I'm doing something right.
Here we are in late February I have 10 more months to lower my pr and go for that sub 9,the question is when?I have 1 more indoor race scheduled in three weeks time b4 switching to outdoors and focusing on Worlds and Nationals,maybe post July I can look for a 3,000m to join the sub 9 club.
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