Running

[Dubh driocht]

VG Bingo. You captured it for me. I met a friend at the expo on Sunday who strongly recommended a vest and boy was she right. I actually enjoyed the solitude of Phoenix park but have to admit the cheering at the corners and in the last mile were uplifting. This was my third, and final, marathon at the age of 52 but look forward to plenty more 10ks and halves. Belfast in 99, NYC in 2000 but the emotion from the Dub crowds in the last couple of miles was wonderful and muppet or any others should seriously consider Dublin 2015- it's shit hard but hugely satisfying. Plus, Moysider, LL, M4S, Bingo, AG, ADA me and the lads can sit at the bar and tell you where you're going wrong

[Hereiam]

Bingo that was an insightful read. I would to do the Dublin marathon next year. The longest i have run was a 10k a couple of years ago. Might start the training next week.

[Milltown Row2]

That difference from doing the 22 milers to do then the extra 4 miles seems to be the difference from keeping on target and fecking up!! Well done lads decent reads

[moysider]

Cracking report Bingo! Savage read. Unfortunately I could identify with a lot of it. Well not really unfortunately. I feel lucky to be able to put myself through that.

That difference from doing the 22 milers to do then the extra 4 miles seems to be the difference from keeping on target and fecking up!! Well done lads decent reads

No, I don t think so MR2. Yesterday saw a huge amount of runners struggle. Even the elites. So it wasn t like a few novices went crazy on the day.
A bit like football - ye get a different game when it s dry and calm than if it s wet and windy.
Ye have to run the conditions but because you ve invested so much preparation into a marathon you re inclined to try and hit your targets. It s an unforgiving race and you pay the penalty later.

We review things we might have done better.

Bingo made an error of wearing a compression top and realised it was too warm for that.

I eat too late night before (3 hour drive/hour Q for registration/1half hour wait for food)  and ended up in a sweat in a hotel room, unable to sleep as well. Sheets ended up as wet as if I had a bad flu (certainly did not help with hydration for the next day).
To try and cool down I turned down air conditioning to the last. Still in a sweat but air got so dry I ended up coughing - like a smokers cough. So turned off the conditioning. The bit of sleep I got was literally a nightmare.
Still ended up in decent form for the off and felt strong for 20 miles.

The reality is, for somebody chasing seconds for a pb (even in optimum conditions), the last 2 miles can do ye in. This game is not an exact science and it s very thin line between having a good day and being an agitated wreck!

It s all great craic and worthwhile either way

[orangeman]

Bingo - well done - great read. It seemed to be total carnage this year on the course ?.

[thebandit]

Marathon Race report (been tipping at this on breaks since yesterday, when it was fresh).

Last year, the training, the race itself, the afters, couldn't have went better. Smashed the PB and felt good until the last few miles. But crossed the line with a smile. This reflected the training, which I really enjoyed and had a good crew to run with namely the brother who was doing it as well (and had a painful day).

This year, I'd put in a good year running wise. Never really took a break, ran 1.08 for a 10miler at start of the marathon training programme, got half marathon down to 1.32 and ran 40.30 for a 10km. Both of them came in spring/late spring for the half. So was motoring rightly.

When time Marathon came round I was fully on for it, all summer I was looking towards it. When it came to actually start the training, I was struggling. Not on the running but actually getting the runs in. Work, family life and the GAA where just taking time. Seriously thought about parking it after about 3 weeks into the programme but a very comfortable 15miler plus words of wisdom from her indoors "would you not like to do 3-in-a-row when you can" sealed the deal.

As with everything, I'd sacrifice something to get it done. It meant sleep! Early runs where the order of the day and truth been told I loved the peaceful mornings round the local forest park where I had a nice 5 mile route on repeat. One morning I'd a 19mile done at 8.20am as I'd a club function that weekend and a few pints would be in order!

By time marathon came round, I felt decent. Didn't stick to the plan as rigidly as last year but had good quality runs in. One thing bugging me was not hitting 22 miles in training LSR like last year. It also turned out I has 18,19 and 20 done this year against 20x2 and 22 last year. But what can you do. I'd get through it and said I'd go for a PB by breaking 3.20.

The weekend was upon us. A lot from the club booked in for Sunday night in Dublin. Last year, I travelled up on the morning and it worked well, so stuck with this. Hit the expo on Saturday, took the kids and herself up. They enjoyed it, had a nose round and a bit to eat down the road. Sunday done nothing, a 3 mile loosener like last year on Sunday morning and never left the house he rest of the day bar one trip which I'll get to later!

In my report last year, I mentioned a GAA legend in my club, Eddie murphy and his rounds of encouragement round the RDS as he waited on his sister who was running. Well, Eddie was running this year and taking on his first marathon. He travelled up with me and the driver, the brother who wasn't running this year, and we'd a good craic heading up the round.


Got dropped near the start and straight away I remarked how mild it was. First decision, wear the planned compression top with vest over it or just vest. Went with the compression top. Regret that soon enough!

We changed on side of footpath outside Earlsfort terrace which included a flash of the arse to whoever was looking. Off to bag drop and then waved each other off as Eddie was in wave 2.

Toilet break and then in the starting pen. Head a few others from the Rockets and we'd a chat and craic, few selfies etc and then I moved further up to get the 3.20 pacers in sight.

Plan was to keep them in sight until half way, move closer after that and try stay with them or even get ahead over the closing 10km or so. Sounded great and for the first 30km it was perfect!

The usual National anthem, the welcome, the cheers and then we where off. As always the first few miles where chaotic. Hard to get space, people cutting across, pavement jumping and this year we had the added distraction of pollards on the Green, normally they'd be down but a few ahead clipped them in the road and the shouts went back to be aware of them.

First few miles went grand, was about 8mile pace for first but then got to 7.35/7.40. I did miss the old route here and the buss of heading up O'Connell Street. The Combe and Thomas street, just didn't feel the same.

Breeze was in faces heading up the liffey but it still felt warm. I was immediately  regretting the compression top, even if it was light. We hit Hueston and position was great, 3.20 pacers about 200m ahead, pace was good and the field had spread out. The first tough was approaching but it wouldn't feel it so early.

The drag from round Hueston station up and through the park was marked by a few in pre-race route reports. I planned to maintain effort but not maintain the pace, time could be got back on the other side. Dropped off a bit and was 7.50/8 or so. Moving nicely but the uphill climb was very noticeable and breathing was getting heavy. Kept it easy and was soon well into the park with the pacers about 400m ahead. First gel in ahead of second water station and I needed a leak as well!

Into the toilets just past the water station and sprung out clocking a female runner with the door as I opened it. I apologised and joked they should have windows on the doors! She was grand and said she'd learned a lesson not to run so close to the toilets again!

Picked up a bit as it was flatter and got a bit of time back but soon settled into nice target pace again. The breeze/wind was very noticeable in the wide open spaces of the park. It was more of a cross wind rather than head on but did take some extra energy.

Out of the park and through Castleknock. It was super, great noise and buzz in the village before the turn back down the hill. Eased up the pace a bit, as planned, to reign in the 3.20 pacers but not as much as others who seemed to bomb down the roads.

It was a fairly quiet section of the race, 2 miles of so on quiet roads and then back in to the Park. Into Chapelizod is always great, plenty of noise. By now I was very warm, sweating way too much and couldn't get enough water.

About 9 miles I decide to lose the compression top. Change on the run, vest off, top off, vest back on. Both of them where ringing. I knew it presented another problem - nipple burn. I had slapped on lost of Vaseline but knew this was lost on the compression top and the vest was very wet. But I'll deal with that later.

Top was flung in a bin outside the Hilton at Kilmainham. Crowds where huge and massive noise. Great enjoyed that part and seen first friendly faces from home in the crowd.

Through half way at Dolphins barn and was perfect. 1.39 or so with the 3.20 pacers just up the road. Met the brother and he give a few words of enoruragement and I was happy. Still very warm though, horsing in full bottles of water and knew tough section No 2 was ahead.

Another long drag up Crumlin, the wind always seems to be against you. I noticed people had started dropping off and field was well broken up. Some casualties already, including one of the Elite women with a blanket round her sitting on the pavement with some first aiders. She seemed fine, just keeping warm till a lift came no doubt.

Through Crumlim and past The Sub pub, right in position and pace still perfect but was working a bit too hard for it. Felt an effort now and felt very warm. Into Terenure and it was becoming a chore. We where further along this year than last but I remember feeling really good at same point last year.

I think it was going through Milltown, about 6 miles to go, I threw in the towel for the PB. It was in the head for the last few miles but I just didn't see where I'd get the legs from. I was feeling drained. 3.20 pacers had started to drift and I knew that Clonskeagh was ahead and its my least favourite part of the worse.

By now it was noticeable now many where suffering. Several had stopped and where cramping, others limped along. A runner in a all in one blue suit passed, how was he managing in the heat? He was fully covered.

The sun was now out and it was tough going, pace was over 8's and heading further away from required pace. Plan was to keep going, get over Roebuck and see how it goes. Legs felt gone.

Round the mosque at UCD,I just broke into a walk, needed some relief. I mentioned a trip to the shop on Sunday night, when packing I remembered Wine Gums! Got a packet and had them onboard. I had 5 gels in and was feed up of them. Took two wine gums and started trotting again.

When you walk, people home in on you and try to lift you again. You nearly feel quilty for not doing it for them but you feel helpless. Plus you start to listen to their conversations - "Jesus, they look terrible" "That fella looks very pale" "Will we go for a pint!".

Onwards, back into a very slow jog. Roebuck was grand. An experienced runner told me recently, if injured, train on hills, you'll feel great. Roebuck felt like that, its not much of a hill but got up and over great, was nearly some relief on the legs. Still very warm.

Down fosters avenue and walked again. Just drained, felt demotivated and sorry for myself. Heat was very apparent and back was stiffening. More wine gums, picked a target and ran from it again.

Stillorgan dual carriageway, another quick walk break, more wine gums. It was then apparent how bad it was. Just to my right, a frencg guy was trying to coax a runner to stop. I passed the guy but hadn't even noticed how bad this guy was. He was wobbling badly and dangerously towards the traffic, French runner was pleading with him to stop, his head was all over the shop and legs where barely holding him up. I seen two spectators and pointed back to this guy and asked them to get help. Another runner had him held up by now and French guy ran towards a Garda ahead. I'm sure that was the end of the race for him, about 3.50 to go.

Down and off UCD flyover, turned at RTE and yet another break. The walks where about 100m but seemed to take an age. Got to RDS and seem a few people I knew in crowd, few nods back but that was the height of it. Severve discomfort everywhere, felt sick but said to get to 25m mile mark as my wee lad had pointed it out when we left the expo at the RDS and we laughed about me racing home from there.

Just before the RDS, a 3.30 pacer comes past - F**K IT. I looked at Garmin and cursed it as well, it clearly went wrong somewhere. I waited for the other two pacers to past but no sign. Was too bollixed to look round to see if they where coming, so just ploughed ahead waiting on the inevitable. Still no sign, checked my garmin and convinced he was off track. So kept going and he was new target.

Round the corner from 25m mark and another quick walk, last 2 wine gums. I was now convinced that they where getting me home. We wear the Blayney Rockets tops and normally we get a lot of shout outs, as do all the tops with names on them. We'd get a lot of "Come on Blarney" as well mind but earlier in the race "Come on Blarney Robbers" was the second best shout out I got all day.

The best was round here, an older man standing on his own on opposite side of round past the Aviva, says to me "Keep going Blayney, theres a pint waiting for you in the Spinner!". I never really looked at him but he was a Dub and I didn't recognise him but he just named my local! I managed to laugh some how. 50 yards further was a man in a very bad way on road, eyes rolling and ambulance personnel with him. What are we doing to ourselves here!

In the last mile and crowds where just immense. 5 deep, more likely. It certainly put a spring in the step but everything was shouting back to stop. I'd have walked but couldn't stop, the brain had taken over and it just wanted to finish. Seen Eddies sister and two brothers ahead, screaming at me to go. Brother was on opposite side and he was roaring as well.

Seen a sign - 800m to go. It might as well have said 10miles. Couldn't see the finish yet but the noise from everywhere was deafening been honest. I couldn't hear anyone but I know lots where there from home as they told me afterwards. I seen the finish, brilliant, noise still unreal. 200m to go, a runner ahead goes down just as he reaches the blue mats for the final 50yards, couldn't believe, so close.

Two stewards come to his aid and link towards the line.

Push for the line and I'm done. I let a roar of two out of me and I'm done. Feel absolutely empty, no feeling of elation like last year or feeling of achievement, just sheer relief and my finishers pictures (link below) relect this. Eyes closed, hands on head - relief!

Next is the long walk - medal, t-shirt, bag of not-so-goodies. I only water the water and guzzle it.

Hopple round to the bag collection, get bag and then find a spot to sit and I just sit there for at least ten minutes. Shattered. Eventually peal off the runners, socks and feet are in bits, blood and blisters. Gather myself a bit, make the "I'm grand" phone calls and then get changed over the course of ten minutes. Hopple down to meet Eddie, He's ran a good race, just over 4.03 but ran it very steady. Is feeling it too.

He changes and we head off to get lift and meet some of the other rockets along the way. Its a quiet car down the road. Can't believe as we get towards Blayney the Temp is dropping all the time - we leave Dublin to 18degrees and nice blue skies and now its 13degrees with a nice drizzle, heaven!!

In hindsight, I'm happy I got 3.28. I'd have taken it last year. At 30km I was bang on course but knew the game was up, I wasn't suddenly going to get a burst of energy to maintain pace. Maybe I should have eased up earlier and made it easier on myself. Who knows. I give it a shot and they don't come around often enough to not have a dam good go.

I never dreamt I'd run a marathon. To do 4 is brilliant. As usual, when you finish, its a case of never again, why do that to yourself! But that passes and lets just say theres one in Berlin next September and I entered the ballot for it this morning 

http://www.finisherpix.com/photos/my-photos/currency/EUR/pctrl/Photos/paction/search/pevent/dublin-marathon-2014/pbib/3956.html My finishers Pics!!

Top class Bingo.... I stopped setting alarms at one stage during the summer, I could rely on you slamming the door at 6:55 am

[imtommygunn]

Bingo great report. I don't know what it was about Monday but I've a lot of running buddies who did it and all bar one were way off what they were aiming for. Some of them would be experienced marathon runners looking <3 and a good bit below(having done those times a few times before) and either didn't finish or were 20+ minutes behind schedule. One guy got 2:35 but to be honest he probably has the potential to be a 2:2x guy so even though he smashed his PB it still may have been slow for him. It's a great time no matter what but taking into account how a lot of people struggled I think that makes it even better.

[CD]

Finally got time to sit in peace and read your race report Bingo - absolutely brilliant and congratulations again by the way - the last line made me laugh! That's what it's all about! Having picked up an injury just six weeks out after a brilliant three months of training, I was feeling slightly sorry for myself on Monday - I'm beginning to think I may have dodged a bullet!

[andoireabu]

Great reading Bingo. 

I'll not try to match that but what I would say to lads here who are thinking about it but aren't sure if they would be able, buy a pair of runners and go.  I only started running 6 months ago and the first run I did was 2.5 miles.  I was stiff for a week but after a while it gets easier and the distances go up.  Thought about it after watching a mate do the London Marathon and decided to enter Dublin. 

Got a training plan off the web and started to follow it (not always rigidly) and started to see the improvements.  I wasn't one for bothering with times, just wanted to get to the line and I still wouldn't know my best 5k or 10k time.  Also got a lot of great info off this thread so thanks to the experienced lads for that. 

On the day I prob made a few rookie mistakes but sure thats how you learn.  I arrived in loads of time and got the bag left in and changed into the gear.  Started stretching and watching the crowds gather round.  Headed for the start way too early though.  Was standing nearly an hour waiting for the start.  When the anthem came on the nerves were gone and I just wanted to get going. 

The start was a bit mad with lads tring to get away out in front and people going off very quick.  Kept the head though and kept my own pace.  In training I'd been using my ipod to measure distance and at the 3 mile marker it said I had done 4!  Nearly shit a brick and thought all my training had been shorter than I thought it was.  Worried a bit that I wouldn't make it round but too late to turn back at that point!  Up through the park was nice and the way back through the park was good as well.  No problem with the legs and the breathing was good.  Heading towards halfway and the pain started in the knee but I was expecting it anyway.  Got to the halfway mark at 2hrs 15 and then hit a tough spot.  Decided to walk the hill into the breeze instead of killing myself and popped two neurofen for the knee.  By the time I got to 15 miles I was ready to go again.  The next few miles are a bit blurry because I lost track of where I was but when I saw 20 I was happy I was going to finish, even if there was more walking done.  The last two miles were unreal.  The crowds and the thought of being finished fired me on and at the 800m point I was smiling.  Home stretch and I saw the main clock getting close to 5hrs but I wanted to beat that so emptied the tank and overtook a few people on the way in.  Then I noticed the clock for the wave I was in and I had time to spare!  Home and done in 4:55:07.  Delighted!!

Still not sure if I will do another one or not but if I do I'll do a few things differently.  Training will be more professional rather than just doing boring miles and I might tailor it to aim for a time.  Definitely try and manage morning of the race better as well.  And park closer to the finish line.  I'd a half hour walk back to the car after instead of parking on Stephen's Green!!

Not putting my pics up because most of them are walking shots!!

[Rois]

Brilliant read Andoireabu from a first timer.  Well done - definitely some achievement! 

[manfromdelmonte]

Fair play lads

But all that running is a killer on the body.
Since I stopped running I'm in much better shape for playing hurling and football.

[muppet]

Brilliant read Andoireabu from a first timer.  Well done - definitely some achievement!

+1

[moysider]

Well done andoireabu - you ll def. be back for more I d say.

Fair play lads

But all that running is a killer on the body.
Since I stopped running I'm in much better shape for playing hurling and football.

Wouldn t say it s wise for anybody still playing serious football or hurling to be marathon training alright, but I m gone to auld for football

I even quit astroturf football because last time I popped a calf and couldn t run for 8 weeks. Running and cycling and fishin is all I ve got left but I m happy out.

[magpie seanie]

Brilliant read Andoireabu from a first timer.  Well done - definitely some achievement!

+1

+2, well done andoireabu.

All this talk is making me think stupid, stupid thoughts.....

[Rois]

All this talk is making me think stupid, stupid thoughts.....

I went out for first run in about two months last night, and signed up for Run in the Dark 10k on Wed 12 Nov (2 weeks time - there's one in Dublin and Cork as well if anyone's interested).

Definitely inspirational!