Good luck Gary, what one are you doing..? As Willy said you don't actually need gels for a half as the body has enough carbs stored for about 2 hours of running. But loads do take them as it would do no harm, I take them in a half but it's more to get the stomach used to them again. I also use high 5 as they are the ones given out I'm the Dublin marathon.
In Spain at the moment and even getting out before 7am it's still 20 plus degrees, very hard to do any kind of speed work at all.
Back jogging so ran 19 miles last week. Doing the east cork marathon in 4 weeks time and Dublin to. There's a London ultra October of 35 miles the first in it's kind. 75 miles planned for next year in London and to enter they judge you on what time you do on this 35 miles race which is class I think. Almost all flat course and probably a good interesting route to
Back jogging so I did 19 miles, brilliant. Back jogging to me means 3 or 4k so I'm not the worst first night in pre-season
Went a for a drive around the Half Marathon course for next week. The last few K in the Phoenix Park are going to be fun Doing it for Charity so hopefully that will give me that final push. Comfortably got up to 18k a few weeks ago but the course will be a test.
Course description from someone who is pacing: First 3 miles flat, just a short drag then into royal hospital kilmainham then flat to downhill all the way to chapelizod, then long flat stretch along outside of phoenix park, as we enter park short hill at 7 miles then slight drag from about 7.5 to 8.5 up main avenue of park. Miles 9 to 10 downhill. Again drag up towards the s bends then. 11 to 12 long drag which includes short hill in furey glen. Once you get tru that bit of a chance to recover for final stretch as last mile and a bit flat. In summary most of hills from 7 miles onwards so try and conservative pace wise as you will need to work harder from 10 miles onwards.
Its not a great half and well over priced, in saying that I am doing it as it doubles up as the national half championship.
I downloaded the app for it during the week which had the map and saw the evelation so glad I went for the drive today as I would have been jacked For those hills going by my training pace for first 12k
the last 4 miles is pretty much the same as the last 4 miles of the great Ireland run (10k) course, miles 11 and 12 will be tough and not enjoyable on tired legs. the hill from chapelizod gate up to the furry glen is tough.
Ran the east cork marathon yesterday in 3.58. Very tough course with lots of hills but a great route tho. Great set up to from the organisers.
I was going to do the Dublin half but have something on, will maybe just lash the long runs out of it. Whats your plans..?
I'll most likely race Rathoath this Sat and then do the Dublin half as part of a long run with MP miles or something. See how this week goes first