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DCM 2014: Mentored Novices Thread
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Hi folks, like others I was much more of a lurker rather than an active participant on this thread, but I would like to greatly thank everyone who was on hand to dispense the wisdom of their experience - as a first time marathon runner, it helped me enormously with my preparations. In the end I exceeded my ambitious hope of 3:30 and was over the moon to manage a 3:27 finish. More than the time though, I will take away the memories of the incredible support everywhere, the kids looking for a high-five, the families with jellies and sweets, the street parties and that 10am BBQ!! That said, my particular favourite was looking up at the local wag in Castleknock with his sign "congratulations, you're the slowest runner...so far"
As the pain slowly begins to dissipate from my limbs, and the euphoria which stuck with me all through Monday and Tuesday also begins to disappear, I've been struck by a numb and empty feeling - I was just wondering if this is common to any other novices? I've really noticed today that I've been feeling down - something which provided me with a focus and which seized me with such excitement and nervousness in the weeks beforehand has now gone, and I feel at somewhat of a loss... Traditionally I'd been a keen GAA and soccer player, but having completed my first marathon, I'm really hungry to take running a lot more seriously! But at the same time I'm frustrated that it'll be months before I'll have another big event to focus on!
Sorry if this is somewhat of a stream of consciousness, but until I meet the two friends I ran the DCM with tomorrow, I feel like I'm going a bit crazy and that nobody else outside the first-time marathon community will understand!
You have echoed all of my feelings, and I look forward to hearing the response you get. Last night I noticed I was filling my calendar with some seriously unimportant stuff, trying to fill the void I guess. haha0 -
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Yeah, I know exactly how you feel, bit of a let down not having the Marathon to look forward too. A bit like going back to work after the Christmas Holidays !
It may be worth picking a race to target in the next few months. I'm thinking of the jingle Bells 5k on December 6th as my first post marathon race.
This is the first time since March that I'm not registered for an upcoming race!
We have an intern at work who is not Irish and mad to do the Run in the Dark event in two weeks so in a moment of post marathon despair I signed up with her. Sure what else will I be doing. 0 -
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KillianByrne wrote: »I know RayCun will be here soon touting the benefits of joining a club and he's right, they provide lots of support, structure and most of all, experience. Most clubs would be happy to have you along for a few sessions to see how things work.Question; what sort of commitment would be needed to join a club? and what's more what is the standard like? being a modest enough runner, I'd be afraid others would leg it off or I'd hold em back...
Clubs are for people who enjoy running, not necessarily people who are brilliant at running. Most clubs will have a good mix of standards, and anyone who has completed a marathon won't be starting at the bottom.
A club's regular training sessions will motivate you to get out the door, training in a group will make it easier for you to do the hard sessions, and you get great support at races from your clubmates.
And if you're very lucky, and live in the right area, you might even get to join Brothers Pearse! 0 -
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Well, here goes- my 1st ever race report. Sorry it's so long!
I headed in to town on the Luas with 2 pals leaving husband & offspring in their beds with firm instructions not to forget supplies for us & which runner would require which gel flavour (and a small bottle of electrolyte drink for me and a massive tupperware of jelly babies & beans for every other runner) as we weren't running together. We arrived at the bag drop area with loads of time and looked for the portaloo with the shortest queue. A very helpful volunteer advised us to head for our start & that the queues would be much shorter there. They weren't!!!! My 2 pals went off to find their pacing groups & I remained in the queue. By the time I crossed the start line I think the clock was showing 2:25! No need to panic I thought, I have my Plan A (4:20) & Plan B (4:30) pace bands, a fully charged Garmin, a new friend I had met in the queue who was also hoping for 4:20 & we decided to join forces. I had read enough on here to know not to head out too fast so off we trotted around the walkers, fancy dressers and past the 5hr & 4:50 groups where I met 1 of my pals, had a brief chat & off we trotted again.
The first mile was slow with all the weaving but I thought 4:20 could still be on if I took it easy & kept the head. I couldn't get over the crowds & the amount of runners, I was enjoying myself despite my panicky start- running past Christchurch & Dublin Castle- the city looked beautiful. The smell of the hops outside Guinness was not particularly pleasantly aromatic but before I knew it we were in the Park and being blown sideways. At this stage I could see the 4:30 pacers, my splits were ok, maybe a little down but as I was running up along Chesterfield Ave I wasn't worried as I felt I could wreck myself along that drag & pay for it later. My new friend & I parted company as I pressed on to try & catch the 4:30 pacers. I crossed the 10K line in 1:01:57 position 8220.
I met my other pal in the 4:30 group, ran with her for a while, discovered I knew one of the pacers through the kids, had a chat with him for a while & then pressed on cos I was feeling good & the lure of the 4:20 was still calling. :cool: The support around Chapelizod, Inchicore & the fancy dress house in Kilmainham were awesome. Even the gels were going down ok at miles 6 & 12, along with jelly beans I was carrying in my amazing 5 pocketed shorts. Things were going well. I crossed the halfway point in 2:10:42 position 9365. A small bit behind target but okish.
The thing about large pace groups is that you can take shelter within them. I found Crumlin Road very windy as I was still trying to pass people. I knew from the splits that all those extra 10secs per mile were beginning to add up and that Plan A was gone but I was determined not to lose sight of Plan B. At this stage I had figured out that seeing as I had started at least 2minutes behind the 4:30 pacers I had a bit of wriggle room. The sun had come out by now & I was enviously coveting other runners sleeveless attire but we were heading towards Terenure & this was where my family were so head down & keep going. The support along by Bushy Park was amazing- I saw so many people I recognised from the school run etc - for me it was a big high point even though I was beginning to struggle at this stage. I could hear the whistle from the 4:30 pacers getting louder which I knew wasn't a good sign so after some encouragement from my husband, the 3 beauties & my friends off I went to try & catch my friend from the loo queue who had just passed me. 30K split 3:07:45 position 8616.
Clonskeagh Road was tricky, hot & slow. I found myself taking 2 walk breaks but it was hard to start again so I decided I may as well keep on shuffling. Here, my friend from the loo queue pressed on. I nipped in to a portaloo just past Bird Ave thinking a little sit down would be nice & when I came out the 4:30 pacers had just passed!!!! :eek::eek::eek: From here on it was damage limitation. I knew my brother would be at UCD with another electrolyte drink for me so that took all my focus. Whether it was the drink, the sight of the pacers disappearing or the post from Marlay Parkrun facebook saying that there would be a Parkrun from UCD flyover to Merrion Square with a bit of a warm up beforehand, something changed & thankfully I managed to get out of 1st gear & into 2nd. Along Merrion Road I started picking off targets & from Ballsbridge to the finish, the sheer noise of the supporters seemed to carry me home. On the final stretch I knew I was within Plan B range & was legging it when I remembered something I had read here, to savour your first marathon so I slowed down a bit, began to look around at the throngs of people lining the home straight & smiled..... a lot. I crossed the line with my arms held high, thrilled with myself. 4:27:04 position 7550
Yes, it was tough but it was totally worth it. The legs today aren't too bad at all - thank goodness 'cos I had to leg it after my childminder today as she drove off without her bag & phone! 200m sprint isn't my idea of a recovery run! Will I do another one? well, I wouldn't rule it out.
Finally, I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone here, from Ososlo & her excellent team of advisors to my fellow novices/graduates. I may not have been the most prolific poster but I was always an avid reader & found the fact that there were a group of people doing the same training, asking the same questions & having the same pace or whatever doubts very comforting.
We did it!!!:D:D:D 0 -
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Being so amazing is exhausting. I'm wrecked.
Two bad nights sleep so please let this be one. Keep waking up to an ache, moving the hot water bottle and trying to get back asleep. Woke in superb form this morning and with all my gushing and best wishes over the day I wore myself out, it was a hard afternoon!
Thankfully I've no welts or body woes post race, all toenails are still in place. Body feels fine moving but thighs would be the sore part so banisters very handy this week for downstairs. Eating more post-race then in the run up to it. Tomorrow is a new day.
ha ha, you're hilarious. I LOVED your reaction when I asked you how the day went for you when I met you after in the pub. You were walking on air you were so happy Super!
Third night.... so you'll sleep like a baby tonight:)0 -
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I'll keep my race report short and sweet.
Set off with the 4:30 hour pacers feeling confident before the race started. I had thought about going out with the 4:20 pacers but decided to play it safe and enjoy the experience of my first marathon.
I didn't find the first 13 miles that easy, I was working to keep up with the pacers which worried me a little. Crumlin was OK, I was well tucked in behind the front of the group so didn't feel the wind that much, it was damn hot though.
When we turned at Walkinstown I felt much better. Miles 15 to 17 were very comfortable, we hit mile 18 and I felt amazing. I started thinking "I can do this, I can actually do this!"
By mile 19 I was less comfortable, by mile 20 I was struggling to keep up and I knew what was ahead of me...Clonskeagh. My husband was at mile 21 so I forced myself to keep with the 4:30 pacers until then. Mile 21 was my last decent mile.
Met my husband, swayed a little and almost had a mini breakdown. He walked with me to the water station and after a few encouraging words I started off again, at a snails pace but my head was down and my spirit was broken.
I spent the last 5 miles on a run walk strategy, listening to two voices in my head, one telling me it's OK to walk from here, the other one telling me the 4:40 pacers are going to catch you! I kinda didn't really care at that stage. At 800meters I managed to pull it together and finished in 4:38
I didn't really enjoy the whole thing, I felt no sense of achievement at the end (stupid I know), all I was thinking about was those last 5 miles and what had gone wrong. I really thought I could run the whole thing, so I suppose the fact that I walked knocked me for six. After all the training I put in I felt disappointed with myself.
I now realise how lucky I was to have finished and gotten my Plan B target time. I said afterwards I would never run another marathon but I will be back next year no doubt about it I will beat that wall in 2015! 0 -
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