The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

May 18, 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

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
11.00	0.00	0.00	2.00	13.00

10:30 a.m. 7 miles. 3 w/u incl. 6x100m strides; 8x400m off 90 sec's jog rec; 2miles w/d.

I've decided to cut down the miles on my w/ups and w/downs so that there's no padding/ junk in my weekly mileage totals.

Well, I'd conservatively predicted that I'd do today's session in 73's. I suspected that I might do the 400's in 72's with a couple of 71's. Here what transpired:

1. 70 secs, 2. 70 secs, 3. 69 secs 4. 69 secs, 5. 70 secs, 6. 69 secs, 7. 68 secs, 8. 68 secs. AP - 69 secs. Got a text off Mo saying he's going to skip the marathon altogether and go straight into the ultras - he fears my speed; so do I: based on today's workout, I now have to do my longer sessions much quicker, which means more pain than Humpty Dumpty felt when he fell off the wall - I wonder, did he fall off the wall, or did he hit the wall because of poor preparation?

Very pleased and surprised. This basically means that I should be doing my 5x800m off 90 secs in 2:26/2:28 and my 4x1 mile off 90 secs in 5:08-5:12, which seems tough based on my current fitness levels, but it's something to aim for over the next few weeks. The recent introduction of 'lactate threshold' runs should help...

6:30 p.m. 6 miles relaxed - probably a touch too quick. My legs knew that they'd been put through the mill earlier. Had the aches and pains associated with a good workout. Got a feeling that when I head out for my 8 miles tomorrow morning, because I'll be moving so slowly people might think I'm trying to escape from an old people's home.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00	Weight: 132.00

Comments

From Bret on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 05:25:44 from 96.228.167.228

Excellent session sir. I actually thought your prediction of 73's was a bit conservative - glad to see I was correct. Good results keep us motivated.

BTW conspiracy theorists opine that Humpty was pushed.

From Jake K on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 08:57:34 from 155.100.226.191

Nice session. Things are really coming around nicely... that's some good speed on the quarters.

Sorry that you have to run faster on long intervals now, though :-)

From scottkeate on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 11:21:00 from 198.228.217.146

Great session, Bam! I like how dialed in you seem to be in your training. For the record, I may continue to pad my w/ups and cool downs with junk miles--I took credit for 2 miles at 11min pace while running with my 9-year-old son last night :-)

From Andrea on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 15:14:36 from 72.37.171.52

Great workout BAM!

From Rob Murphy on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 15:16:20 from 163.248.33.220

Sitting here at my desk diggin me some Mumford and Sons.

From Bam on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 15:29:38 from 89.204.255.97

Bret - I was hedging my bets with the 73's.

Beautiful employment of 'opine' - every letter's earning its keep.

Jake - I'm dreading my next session as I'll have to start off quicker than planned and hope to hang on. I guess I'll be getting used to the discomfort of speed kicking in earlier.

Scott - thanks. All the miles count. I think I was struggling to justify 10 miles out of a 2 mile workout: normally, I try to make the miles add up to 10 on a workout. If I'm honest, I was too shattered to shuffle 5 miles for a w/down. Watch this space for some excellent padding. I'd count 2 miles @ 11 min mile pace with my daughter as 4 miles. 2 bonus miles for quality parenting:)

From Bam on Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 15:49:18 from 89.204.255.97

Thanks Andrea - I feel bad: I was buzzing after the session and then tonight I scoffed 3 bowls of ice cream - that's gonna take a week to work off.

Rob - my old fella likes Mumford and Sons and so do many members of my family but they're not my 'cup of tea.'

I like classical, funk and soul, and decent rap and Paolo Nutini. You should see me body-pop; I can't break but I'm the toughest popper in Tralee.

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