Marathon First Timers

Domer

The Dublin Marathon 2007 was launched yesterday, and they are looking for Marathon first timers to join Tommy Tiernan in a challange to finish the marathon in October. Lets hope Tommy does a better job then Colin Corkery did last year!!!

Details on www.adidasdublinmarathon.ie

Good Luck,
Domer

Dinkie

Hi Domer,

Thanks for that link. I've always wanted to do a marathon, but always considered my self too unfit.

Applied for the "impossible team" (Wrote a crap email - so hope its not all going on that) and am now praying I get selected! it would be a dream come true

Dinkie

Abhainn

For those of us that don't know, how did Corkery do ?

damianmckeever

Dropped out very early on in the training stages so never even made it to the start line.

irelandsown

Question for anyone thats run the marathon before. Is the course marked out in Kms, miles or both?

Just wondering so I can structure my training properly.

aburke

Miles.. all 26 of them!
10km and half-way [13.1miles] are also marked.

We've still got some traces of the imperial system left in us!

Alan

irelandsown wrote:

Question for anyone thats run the marathon before. Is the course marked out in Kms, miles or both?

Just wondering so I can structure my training properly.

Domer

Just on the Corkery questions, I was one of the Marathon First Timers last year... "The Virgins Team!".

Corkery came to the first press day in May, and was never seen nor heard from again. He didn't even make it as far as the 5 mile challange.

Of the other 12 first timers, we all got to the start line, and 11 finished. One had to withdraw mid way with a reoccurring injury, and I believe he is hoping to run it this year.

A great experience and highly recommended!!

Domer.

Dinkie

Are there any other Marathon groups around for first timers to join??

I am looking at one mentioned on Irish Fit.ie. Does any one know if that is any good?

Thanks

Marathon Man

Get out of my way fun runners

louthandproud

Marathon Man wrote:

Get out of my way fun runners

Try Boston Marathon, no fun runners there.

hunnymonster

There are plenty of fun runners in Boston. You can buy a place and many runners in the US sweat blood and tears to qualify and then just go out to enjoy the race at a much more moderate pace.


On a serious note though. If you are likely to take 5 hours to do a marathon, don't start with the elites. It's plain rude to hold faster runners up.

louthandproud

hunnymonster wrote:

There are plenty of fun runners in Boston. You can buy a place and many runners in the US sweat blood and tears to qualify and then just go out to enjoy the race at a much more moderate pace.


On a serious note though. If you are likely to take 5 hours to do a marathon, don't start with the elites. It's plain rude to hold faster runners up.

Perhaps Marathon man should try the olympics then. Just not a very sporting sentiment above re fun runners. Of course fun runners should stay out of the way if the elites, common sense. And sub three twenty runners like myself and I consider myself a fun runner, should stay out of the way of faster runners than I and so on. Running is for everyone and although elite runners deserve the space to run in these events, it isn't nice to see fun runners (most runners) being put down by elitist comments.

hunnymonster

sounds like common sense but every race I do I spend ages working my way around walkers in the first couple of miles.

ZiggyStardust

Hi all,

In the national marathon in Limerick a good few years back, the race starter said over the PA system that elite athletes over this line and the "fun" runners behind it. Asked what was termed an elite athlete, the reply was sub 2h 30 mins. Then he was asked what was termed a fun runner and he couldn't answer it.
I think what I'm trying to get at to marathon man is that to me, there are no fun runners that do marathons (regardless if sub 3h or above 4 hours). To do a marathon as alot of you will know, takes alot of time and preparation, not only in the 25-45 miles a week training, but in diet, socialising, getting injured etc. etc.

Dave

Marathon Man

If you can't do a marathon in less than 3 hours then one should just do a few laps of the phoenix park and stay out of my way.

Domer

Over the past five years the Dublin Marathon has had an every increasing number of entrants, with over 10000 for the past 2 years. Over those 5 years the numbers breaking the 3 hour barrier have been as follows (numbers from the Marathon web site)
2002 220
2003 209
2004 235
2005 182
2006 200
So by my calculation thats approx 2% of the entrants in the 2006 marathon. I was one of the other 98% who fulfulled a life long ambition of running a marathon, and am a better person because of it.

If your attitude is as you portray perhaps you are best served staying out of OUR way. Running is a sport where people at all standards can enjoy the benefits and the thrill. What other sport can allow 10000 people the honour of running with the likes of Sonia O'Sullivan.

louthandproud

Marathon Man wrote:

If you can't do a marathon in less than 3 hours then one should just do a few laps of the phoenix park and stay out of my way.

Well if you are an under three hour person rather than an under 2.5 hours then you will also need to stay out of the way of the serious runners. Or better again, run your own marathon far a way from civilisation where you won't be bothered by anyone and no one will be bothered by you!

hunnymonster

very few sub 3's in 2005. I wpnder was that the weather?

run_Forrest_run

hunnymonster wrote:

There are plenty of fun runners in Boston. You can buy a place and many runners in the US sweat blood and tears to qualify and then just go out to enjoy the race at a much more moderate pace.


On a serious note though. If you are likely to take 5 hours to do a marathon, don't start with the elites. It's plain rude to hold faster runners up.

here here, not that I am an elite or anything (far from it: marathon best = 3:24) but I can't stand it when people try to get up the front only to hold up the whole show as they drag their sorry asses around the first few miles only to drop out at mile 12 or something.

I don't go near the front at race starts, I respect the elites too much! In marathons I have often passed people at miles 12-17 and judging by the state of them and the condition of them I wonder what on earth were they doing at the front in the first place! Everyone knows it's all about negative splits during a marathon..keep the cool for the first half the assess the situation!

Deluded naive first time road runners..nothing but hassle!

run_Forrest_run

ZiggyStardust wrote:

Hi all,

In the national marathon in Limerick a good few years back, the race starter said over the PA system that elite athletes over this line and the "fun" runners behind it. Asked what was termed an elite athlete, the reply was sub 2h 30 mins. Then he was asked what was termed a fun runner and he couldn't answer it.
I think what I'm trying to get at to marathon man is that to me, there are no fun runners that do marathons (regardless if sub 3h or above 4 hours). To do a marathon as alot of you will know, takes alot of time and preparation, not only in the 25-45 miles a week training, but in diet, socialising, getting injured etc. etc.

Dave

totally agreed that a marathon take a lot of time and preparation but some do take it more seriously than others. Also I regard a fun runner on the day as someone who is not out to achieve a precise time or to beat a PB.

At least whether U are serious or a fun runner it is great to see people doing marathons...not like the relay thing going on for the Cork marathon...it just boils my blood to see people on the route who are only going to do something like 6 miles and then there's the hard working people going the full 26.2 miles..as if using the term 'marathon' in their mini marathons wasn't enough! :mad:

radar0976

Totally agree with you. I'm running in the Cork Marathon and aiming for about 3:15. It seems there are going to be more people running the relay that are doing the full marathon. Quite obviously the whole thing is going to be hijacked by unfit people dragging themselves around a few miles and claiming "I ran in the Cork Marathon". Ehhhhhhhh no you didn't. A marathon is 26.2 miles. Anything less is at most a road race and doesn't deserve marathon in the title. The focus on a marathon day should be on the people running the marathon. These people who have put their heart and soul into training and abstinence for months, all for a few hours of one day and it should not be destroyed by people who have done a half assed training plan of a couple of weeks. Whether a marathon runner takes 2.5 hours or 5.5 hours anybody who gets around a marathon course deserves respect. Mixing this up with a relay event on the same course on the same day is ridiculous. Fair enough if people only want, or are only able to run a few miles. A marathon course is not the place for them though. I can see it now, the relayers will be clogging up drink and refreshment stations which should be solely for the use of marathon runners and / or relayers running two or three consecutive stages. Hopefully it will all go off ok, but I suspect not!

fatmammycat

Well firstly, hello.
I'm doing my first marathon in October and I will do my utmost not to impede the more serious runner or the elites. But I don't think there's any need for the rude attitude to the novice marathon runner MM, didn't everyone have to start somewhere?
Anyhoo, I ran my first 10 miles yesterday and I was in the BUPA fun run last month. I'm also signed up for the Flora ladies race next month. My plan is to increase my distance slowly and surely, adding a mile or two each fortnight, until September, so bearing this in mind I have a question to the more experienced runners.
I split my training between the treadmil at the gym and the roads around here, (for the hills and to break the monotony) but even after yesterday's road 10 miles I can feel a very slight twinge in my shins, nothing a day or two of recovery won't fix, but it is there. What's the best way to avoid this?I have good running shoes.
Thanks in advance.
FMC

quozl

Ahh, I don't mind the idea of relay runners at all, as long as they don't get in the way. At least they're running, and maybe they'll get sucked into the idea of doing the whole thing instead.

The mini-marathon thing does annoy me slightly, what's a 10k got to do with a marathon? Good marketing I guess.

[edit]
FMC, it's probably just because you're not used to the distance. Building it up slowly and steadily like you're suggesting is sensible, but you'll probably still get the odd twinge. Just key an eye on them and make sure to take extra rest days if needed.[/edit]

fatmammycat

Thanks Quozl, I figured as much, but needed to hear it.

run_Forrest_run

oh sure in cork a mini-marathon is not even 10km, it is 5km I believe, reduced from a whopping 6km!

I am all for people getting out there and running for charity and/or good health but it's the misuse of the 'marathon' word that pees me off...call it runner snobbery if U wish but c'est la vie.

Clum

Fun runners, or slow runners, can't impede the Elite athletes, the elite athletes start in front of everybody else. It's the club runners who get blocked at the start of races by walkers and joggers. I'm no prize race horse myself but I've gotten to the stage of competing with the club runners and having to avoid walkers in the first Km of a race does wreck my head.

Bupa actually had a section roped off behind the elite athletes for club runners and I started at the back of this group (and happily passed most of them) but still I had to run around walkers within the first few hundred meters!!! What were these walkers thinking, starting at the front of the club runners section?

The relay thing is a good idea IF the relay runners respect the full marathon runners and give them plenty of room at the change-overs. Events like the Cork and Belfast marathons may not be possible without the participation of relay teams.

HardyEustace

Not a race horse myself but do find it very tiresome having to dodge round people.

Since I'm slower I always make sure to start well at the back so I don't impede anyone.

I'm not being funny but do you think its stupidity or lack of thought that makes people do this? Maybe when people are creating the race information packs they should use this medium to highlight this more to people? Even an announcement at the start to tell the slower runners to keep left? After all how else will they realise what they're doing?

hunnymonster

radar0976 wrote:

Totally agree with you. I'm running in the Cork Marathon and aiming for about 3:15. It seems there are going to be more people running the relay that are doing the full marathon. Quite obviously the whole thing is going to be hijacked by unfit people dragging themselves around a few miles and claiming "I ran in the Cork Marathon". Ehhhhhhhh no you didn't. A marathon is 26.2 miles. Anything less is at most a road race and doesn't deserve marathon in the title. The focus on a marathon day should be on the people running the marathon. These people who have put their heart and soul into training and abstinence for months, all for a few hours of one day and it should not be destroyed by people who have done a half assed training plan of a couple of weeks. Whether a marathon runner takes 2.5 hours or 5.5 hours anybody who gets around a marathon course deserves respect. Mixing this up with a relay event on the same course on the same day is ridiculous. Fair enough if people only want, or are only able to run a few miles. A marathon course is not the place for them though. I can see it now, the relayers will be clogging up drink and refreshment stations which should be solely for the use of marathon runners and / or relayers running two or three consecutive stages. Hopefully it will all go off ok, but I suspect not!

In fairness to the Cork organisers they have some real runners involved in the organisation and appear to be taking it seriously. For example the plan is to funnel off the relay runners at the changeovers so that they do not impede the marathoners and that there will be a water/drinks station at this section so the marathoners will not have to queue behind relayer's.

hunnymonster

To the person who said the elites are roped off at the front, sometimes yes, sometimes no. Even when we are separated somehow some walkers always manage to blag their way in there!

louthandproud

hunnymonster wrote:

To the person who said the elites are roped off at the front, sometimes yes, sometimes no. Even when we are separated somehow some walkers always manage to blag their way in there!

Don't think anyone could have balgged there way into the Bupa's elite runners, the women about 15 of them went off 10 or so mintes before everyone else, and both women and men had yellow numbers. So if you weren't elite you weren't going to get in.

Anyway in general if people aren't elite enough to get special numbers at these events then you will just have to either not enter mass participation events or you will unforntunately have to put up with all sorts of fun runners, club runners, novice's and what ever else as there just isn't room for 10000 people of different sppeds to run on the streets at the start of a race without interferance. However, I do also get frustrated with people positioning themselves as near to the front as possible when they have no intention of going off at a good pace, it just seems unnecessary and inconsiderate.

Clum

hunnymonster wrote:

To the person who said the elites are roped off at the front, sometimes yes, sometimes no. Even when we are separated somehow some walkers always manage to blag their way in there!

I thought they're only elite if they have a segregated starting row. Otherwise the race organisers do not have an elite category and those runners, who sometimes do get invited to events or who would qualify to start in this front row, mix it with the club runners and everybody else.

But whether there is an elite category or not, club runners always have to deal with joggers and walkers at the start of a race....and that is annoying.

radar0976

hunnymonster wrote:

In fairness to the Cork organisers they have some real runners involved in the organisation and appear to be taking it seriously. For example the plan is to funnel off the relay runners at the changeovers so that they do not impede the marathoners and that there will be a water/drinks station at this section so the marathoners will not have to queue behind relayer's.

Well that's good to hear anyway. Sounds like a sensible approach to the issue of mixing the relay with the marathon. I'd heard there were a few experienced runners involved in the organization alright. Those guys from the BHAA (Business Houses Athletics Association) know what they are doing. They do a great job every year running shorter races around Cork, and their flagship event the annual Cork - Cobh race which is always a very enjoyable race. Anyway here's hoping that the Cork Marathon will go off smoothly and there won't be too many teething problems.

PrideWinner

Running is not meant to be easy.If you are going to give something a go like a marathon at least train for it properly.There is no fun in run.Remember u got to have winning mentality.Nobody enters an event thinking there going to lose.So fun runners stick to sauntering around the phoenix park

hunnymonster

wow, people feel quite militant about this don't they. I'm just glad there are a bunch of people out there in their trainers getting sweaty. It's better than them sitting on the couch. The world would be a better place if people lined up correctly at races, particularly walkers in marathons but if they don't I'll just run around them. I might remind them how rude they are though

louthandproud

PrideWinner wrote:

Running is not meant to be easy.If you are going to give something a go like a marathon at least train for it properly.There is no fun in run.Remember u got to have winning mentality.Nobody enters an event thinking there going to lose.So fun runners stick to sauntering around the phoenix park

I think at least 9990 people enter the Marathon knowing that they aren't going to win the race. I run in the pheonix park for fun and have also ran 5 marathons also for fun. I train properly so that I can enjoy running these events. So for me there's loads of FUN in RUN. I don't win the races but I do feel like a winner when I cross the line.

ZiggyStardust

Well said......

run_Forrest_run

here here, if was not fun I would not be running in the first place. OK, some days I ask myself what am I doing but at the end of the day it makes me feel good and gives me a buzz and I love feeling reasonably fit and healthy.

donaghs

PrideWinner wrote:

There is no fun in run.Remember u got to have winning mentality.Nobody enters an event thinking there going to lose.So fun runners stick to sauntering around the phoenix park

Its getting a bit silly. An sane person respects the fact the better runners should be up near the front so they are not impeded by slower people. But to say that there's "no fun in running?" Its a proven fact that exercise makes you feel better. I can be fun while you do it, and there's a high afterwards. And the good feeling lasts much longer. I get this from running more than any other sport.

As for entering an event to lose? Nearly everyone entering their first race can't expect to win. But its an amazing feeling to finish your first long-distance race. This spurs you on to compete harder. Running is enjoyment. Admittedly if you're running totally flat-out, exhausted and in pain, you won't feel the benefit until after the race.

Fun-running gets people into the sport. Curious first time runners don't tend to have the mentality of choosing between winning at all costs or self-loathing.

Marathon Man

Marathon Man wrote:

Get out of my way fun runners

ok ok. rather foolish thing to say. firstly because i derive a great deal of satisfaction and have a lot of 'fun' in training myself. secondly because everybody regardless of ability is at one point a first timer. now lets put this issue to bed.

p.s. good luck with the training first timers.

Jason_77

Hi All,

Having read this thread about the marathon first timers, I am deeply shocked and disappointed with the attitude of a number of posters.

If you have logged onto this site, you obviously have an interest in athletics. At one stage we were all beginners and sought help from the more experienced runner. Can you imagine if you logged on here as a beginner and saw some of these posts? How would it make you feel? I would get the impression that people did not want beginners in the sport.

I consider myself to be relatively new to the sport of running and I take pride in every achievement I gain, from my first 5 mile, first 10k, first half marathon and eventually my first marathon in Belfast yesterday. Each of these achievements took considerable effort at the time of undertaking them.
It is the same for all beginners, we all have to start somewhere and build on our achievements and for that all runners should be applauded.

Can posters please be mindful of the beginners and give them all the support they need in order achieve their goals and hopefully aim for the full marathon one day.

With regards the relay runners in the marathons, as mentioned I ran Belfast yesterday. The marathon field comprised of approx 1500 runners, while the relay teams made up over 10000 runners. I found the relay runners to be very supportive on the route, and it would have been a very lonely run but for these people. At no point did they get in the way of the marathon runners and the change-over points were organised and marshalled very well. I suspect that this event may not go ahead if it was not for these relay runners. It is also worth noting that many of these relay runners were probably achieving a goal for themselves and hopefully the first of many running events. A huge amount of money was also raised for the various charities by these runners.

Please show support to all runners out there, Elite, Club and Fun runners alike.

Hope you all enjoy your running and best of luck in any event you partake in.

Finally, if you have any inkling to do a marathon just go for it. A tremendous sense of achievement. Don't worry about a sub 3 hour time, just enjoy it all.

Jason.

run_Forrest_run

congrats on your run Jason_77, I'm glad U experienced the euphoria of crossing the line after your first marathon.
I don't mean to be dissing the newbies, sure I am no pro myself. I sometimes just get annoyed with inconsiderate runners/walkers out there, those who do not know their place along a race start. I have lots of respect for those starting out, I was one of them a few years ago. About supporting them, well I am usually working too hard to manage supporting anyone else but myself but generally I've found that runners alike tend to look after each other.

so what's your next marathon?

Jason_77

No marathons planned yet.
Anyone know of a marathon around July/early August. After that I am away travelling for a few months, so it could be next year before I experience it again.

Will have to settle for the adidas series.

hunnymonster

The only Irish one I know is Longford marathon but that is late august (26th). If you're willing to travel for a race
www.marathonguide.com do a fairly good USA and International listing as do www.runnersworld.co.uk for UK events

--amadeus--

I think it's a lack of understanding on teh part of new walkers / runners who don't understand that chip timing means that it doesn't matter when you cross the start line. Last year in Dublin I lined up in the 3 - 3:30 section and there were three or four people directly in front of me carrying Tesco plastic bags full of sarnies and bottles of Coke!

That said the way it was done in Dublin, with sub 4 hours having one colour number and 4hr+ a diff colour would have worked really well had it been better policed. I personally found it was a lot clearer early on becasue of it. Either that or do like Longford and have a seperate (earlier) start for the walkers.

fatmammycat

Hello all, I'm just back from my first 20k run. I did it on the treadmil in the gym and I feel CHUFFED stupid! Apart from my usual dodgy start everything went pretty smoothly (okay, I admit I did stuggle with putting my shoes on after my shower, my toes kept cramping up).
Anyhoo, I just wanted to share/shout from rooftops.
Have a good weekend.

hunnymonster

great news. milestones are great. Don't worry about the problems bending down. I was fine after my first long run until I needed to use the toileet. Sitting down was fine, getting up hurt - a lot!!!

fatmammycat

Ah yes Hunnymonster, I see what you mean. I just got up from my desk to get a drink from the kitchen and good lord. Ye-ouch.
It would appear I need to grease my muscles with some hooch.

onekeaneo

Hi all,
This is my first time posting on these boards and I plan to run the Dublin Marathon this year which yes will be my first Marathon and my first race (if I don’t run the half Marathon before this). So with this in mind I suppose you could call me a novice. Having said that I have been running for almost 5 years now. I consider my fitness to be of a decent standard. Last week I ran the furthest I have ever ran. 19 miles in 2 hrs 40 mins. If my training goes to plan I would hope!! I could finish the Marathon in 3.30. But to be honest I won’t be beating myself up if I don’t. For me finishing will be enough this time round. Granted I won’t be lining up at the front of the grid and I understand the frustrations of elite runners trying to get passed walkers and first timers but to say to people not to bother and to “stick to sauntering around the phoenix park” is very harsh to indeed to first timers. I have to agree with Jason77. I mean come on lads a bit of support for us first timers!!!!!

irelandsown

I'm training for the Dublin marathon in October. For the last month I have been struggling with a groin strain I picked up in the last soccer match of the season. My physio ws only letting me run on grass and on the treadmill for the last two weeks.

I have a 10K race next weekend and was wondering, is training on grass and on a treadmill going to hinder my performance in the 10K?

Should I ditch this type of training and get back on the roads?

aburke

Ditch the roads!
The best bit of advice I ever got was to do more training on grass surfaces, rather than on the road. It does no harm, and will save your knees.
Pounding out miles is tough enough, without doing it on the roads.

I found it tough initially, and it took my ankles a while to get used to it, but now it's second nature. I'm lucky in that I live near a University Sports ground, so a full lap of all pitches is 2 miles, and hence, it isn't that boring and repetitive.

About 70% of my training is on the grass, with 10% on the track and 20% road.[It can vary a good bit though]
All bar 5% of my racing is on the roads.

irelandsown wrote:

I have a 10K race next weekend and was wondering, is training on grass and on a treadmill going to hinder my performance in the 10K?

Should I ditch this type of training and get back on the roads?

onekeaneo

aburke wrote:

Ditch the roads!
The best bit of advice I ever got was to do more training on grass surfaces, rather than on the road. It does no harm, and will save your knees.
Pounding out miles is tough enough, without doing it on the roads.

Don’t agree with that at all. This will be my first Marathon but all my seasoned marathon runner friends and my physio have advised to do just the opposite to be honest. Yes running on grass will help your groin in the short term and the punishment on the legs. But your not running the Marathon on the grass. You need to get your muscles used to the hard surface of the roads for long periods. Therefore the bulk of you training needs to be on the roads. If you do the vast bulk of your training on grass then your legs won’t be used to the harder surface come race day you’ll be in trouble.
I’ve also struggled with my groin this year and to be honest the only way around the problem is to bite the bullet and rest it up for the 2/3 weeks, whatever it takes. You say your football season is over now so this would be a good chance to rest up, get the problem sorted fully and then get stuck into your training.
Like I said I’ve struggled with my groin in the past and that’s what my Physio suggested. I took her advice and I’m back now in full training with (touch wood) no problems. Heading out this evening for a 22 miles run.