The second week of training in 2011 was also the last week of running in my thirties. I've been totally aware of the impending arrival of my 40th birthday for the last 6 months or so, but the last few weeks have drifted by very quickly and I'm still a little in shock by the whole affair really.

I suppose what is scary is the pace that time passes by; it's funny when I'm running intervals 3' can seem to last a lifetime but I can honestly say I remember being 21 like it was yesterday. So looking forward, I'm going to try and be conscious of how quickly time passes and to be grateful for the time and times I do get to enjoy.

For my birthday, Siobhan bought me entry into Dublin City Marathon and the race series before it - so that keeps me nice and focused for the year. However, the more immediate goal is the Connemara half marathon in April and the intermediate county xc in February.

Training at the moment is all steady pace with some sub threshold tempo and hills. I'm also trying a little bit of strength work twice a week. Anyway, the week that was in it had

5 runs

1 x 90' easy
2 x 75' steady
1 x hills (10x1' with 90" recovery)
1 x 125' hilly steady

Total mileage was 58.4