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DCM 2017 Mentored Novices Thread
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Seriously though if I ever hear of a person thinking of trying a marathon for the first time my advice would be simple...follow boards novices thread, stick to the plan and utilise pacers. It would cut down on the number of ill prepared runners.
For myself last year, I didn't go near a pacer and didn't want a bit of them.
It was a very personal thing for me, I did every inch of the training on my own and I wanted to do the run itself on my own. Discipline was a big part of it, I was going to run to my own plan and listen to my own body, I felt that if I started speeding up/slowing down according to somebody else's schedule that it just wouldn't work for me. I was proud of that discipline, that it came from within me and got me from start to finish, it wouldn't have felt the same to hang on to someone else's coattails.
I also didn't want any conversation or forced grins at any point, spending energy on social conventions just wasn't in the budget. I took great heart from the fantastic crowds but I could remain apart from them in a way I couldn't if I had to keep giving thumbs up to people who meant very well but weren't helping me.
I think pacers are awesome for doing what they do and its clear as day that they hugely benefit a hell of a lot of people, but I just wanted to note that they might not work for everybody and there is nothing wrong with that. 0 -
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bucketybuck wrote: »For myself last year, I didn't go near a pacer and didn't want a bit of them.
It was a very personal thing for me, I did every inch of the training on my own and I wanted to do the run itself on my own. Discipline was a big part of it, I was going to run to my own plan and listen to my own body, I felt that if I started speeding up/slowing down according to somebody else's schedule that it just wouldn't work for me. I was proud of that discipline, that it came from within me and got me from start to finish, it wouldn't have felt the same to hang on to someone else's coattails.
I also didn't want any conversation or forced grins at any point, spending energy on social conventions just wasn't in the budget. I took great heart from the fantastic crowds but I could remain apart from them in a way I couldn't if I had to keep giving thumbs up to people who meant very well but weren't helping me.
I think pacers are awesome for doing what they do and its clear as day that they hugely benefit a hell of a lot of people, but I just wanted to note that they might not work for everybody and there is nothing wrong with that.
I think you might have noticed I didn't use them either, for pretty much all the same reasons. Lots of this years novices utilised them though. That does not mean that they all stuck on their shoulders. They used them as a reference point, dropped off them at times, passed them at times but it helped them. Me, I'll always be the man that runs alone!0 -
Amazing race reports so far, fair play to all of you dedicated hardworking people, absolutely brilliant stories!
My own race was a massive achievement, but also a huge learning experience.
Had my t-shirt ready, bus times double-checked etc the night before, and although I went to bed at reasonable hour, couldn't get much sleep strangely enough and I was up around 5:30 am. Sneaked downstairs, got ready, had some granola, got dressed and left the house as quietly as possible. Parked at the bus station 2 kms away (herself to pick up the car later in the day) and after some anxious waiting around, got on the bus which was toasty warm so I fell asleep. Woke up at Custom House Quay, short walk to the start, too late for the novices meetup, so went straight to bag drop, ate a small banana, no queue for portaloos, and loads of volunteers giving clear directions - it was beautifully organised, couldn't fault a thing really!
I can't recall exactly when, but at some stage in last six months, I had switched myself over to Wave 3, hoping that would be 4h to 4h 30m wave, and that I could stay at the back of the 4h 30m balloons. However, it turned out that Wave 3 is 4h to 4h20, and I place myself at the tail end of 4h20m group, I knew I wasn't going to finish with them. We shuffled along to the start and I was already beaming ear to ear - a marathon. 18 months ago I struggled with C25k W1D1. Three years ago I couldn't walk across the road for the fear of my back popping / disc issues. Thought about the physio friend who put the fear of life in me by asking me to consider wheelchair in ten years time. The cheeky fecker, but thanks to him I was about to run a marathon. I was just so happy already right in that moment, I wasn't worried about anything else, not even the next 42.2kms.
We took off, and I was superbly comfortable - jogging along at a very comfortable pace, keeping 4h20m balloons couple of hundred meters ahead. Had a sip of water at the first water station, and as we entered Phoenix Park, I saw the stag running away from the us towards the left after causing some commotion up ahead. Running thru Chesterfield avenue felt smooth. No congestion, light blue 4:20 balloons are floating just ahead as always. Took a gel near the monument, purely because that one was tickling / scratching on my skin (I had tucked four of them into my shorts' waist band, not very sophisticated here I know). Saw the guy in full army gear and thought of my dad in India who served in army 28 years (he constantly advises me to not to run, and qualifies his advice because he had done one too many multi-day full-kit runs and it's not good for health when you are past 40 etc - typical over-protective Indian father there).
Castlenock was amazing. The noise, the energy, hi-fives, I loved it. Further up there was a guy in front of my with a t-shirt about criminal dictatorship in Venezuela, reminded me of a good ex-colleague who's father was shot and killed there.. made me think about how lucky I am to be here, and have the time and energy to train and attempt a marathon, where as around the world this could be a luxury. Also for some reason I started missing my daughters - 4 year old rang me while I was on the bus and said in a very serious tone "Daddy, you win okay?"
Threw some water on my face further down from here and I could already feel and taste the salt, but I was still feeling fresh.
Back in the park, I was really surprised to see how close the 4:20 balloons are, and I made conscious effort to slow down. I recognized parts of the road from FD 10 mile, and then couple of turns later as we were exiting the Park, there was a lucozade stand, and I grabbed two half-cups and slowed down to a walk to drink them. As I was leaving the young lad there handed my a bottle of lucozade and I was thinking great, this will come handy. The moment I took it off him I was like whoa, this is big?! It must have been one of those litre bottles, and I completely lost focus there for a while. I wanted to hand it over to someone, and I knew someone would want it, but to whom? I can not run while holding something heavy in hand - never worked for me - and this was wrecking my head. So I left it on the side of the road for someone to pick up and marched on - and realised where the heck am I? Balloons are long gone, so are the crowds. I am going up a hill and it's hard. Tummy felt funny, need to throw up or something. I looked for a spot - and was it the gel?
Lucozade? Sh1t. I ran up the hill, turned around, did I see the balloons disappearing? Not sure. Surely, it's not even half the way?!
I kept moving along in the 6m 10s-15s per km pace and there were more hills and I was feeling dull. I was going into that special 'detachment' mode where I just keep moving without seeing / hearing and more importantly 'caring'. Then I saw someone shouting and hollering my name - a good colleague of mine - that really cheered me up and kept me going for a while. Then I saw it's all slow uphill and more uphill, which was fine, but by the time I got to half-way, I knew this wasn't going great. Walked thru the half-way point with some water, and I could already feel my thighs were hurting, couple of toes on the right foot have gone numb already.
I don't know that part of Dublin that much, but unfortunately I had slipped back into that zone where I don't care. I kept moving when I could, walked when I need to. Could feel a cramp coming in the right calf, so I walked a bit more. Further up 4:30 balloons caught up with me, I didn't even try to stay with them. Walking wasn't great either - everything was sore, and walking was slow. Others were walking faster than me, which made me throw away the 4h20m pace band somewhere along the way. Took some jellies from a kind spectator, and couple of more further up the road from a little girl - dracula fangs - that cheered me up a bit and made me miss girls at the same time. Around Terrenure area, I walked a good bit I think, and then when I saw 4:40 balloons coming up, I woke up again and started running. Alternating between walking and running, I went over the hill around the bends following the crowd in a daze..
.. and finally around UCD I was back into more familiar territory of Dublin again. Running down towards N11, I remembered how my motorbike's chain fell apart along there (could have been a lethal accident but got luck) that left me stranded there for over an hour one Tuesday morning and while waiting for recovery how I saw a topless old dear in the house across the road etc By now support was thick and I noticed people were calling out my unusual foreign name which made me happier. Went up N11 flyover, around and over towards Merrion road as quickly as I can (not very), again amazing support all along the way. There were these three teenage lads standing at the side of the road roaring "You can do it, I know you can do it" looking runners one by one in the eye. Some lads they were, I am sure they will go places. Around here I became aware that my left nipple is hurting a lot - yeah, must be the cold air, should have tap'ed, but no far to go now.
Final couple of kms were just a case of keeping at it while enjoying the atmosphere. It was electric to say the least. Also I was now realizing that I am actually going to finish a marathon. Immediately right calf started cramping again, but it didn't get too bad. Kept chugging along, enjoying the wall of noise, feeling absolutely over the moon, crossed the finish line punching the air. Stopped the watch as an automatic reflex, didn't check the time or look at the clock, I was relieved, and happy and sugar.. I am nearly crying. Someone congratulates me and I am really going to cry now. Another guy 'are you alright' and I am like 'sh1t, can't cry'... Kind lady with the medal also makes the effort to read out my name - I was really going to cry then, and holding that back was almost as hard as the last 0.2k of the marathon.
Walked in absolutely agony to the baggage area, I have never been so happy yet so sore in my life, I really thought I was going to throw up. Picked up by bags, sat down on the steps and got into warmer clothes. I sat there 20 minutes collecting myself. Saw an ex-colleague, took photos for random strangers, someone took mine, and then walked next 40 minutes to Custom House Quay (1 km) to catch my bus home.
I am really sorry I didn't have it in my to make it to McGrattans. I really would have liked to see you novices, it's been a journey that I am extremely thrilled that I was part of. Thank you each and everyone of you for doing all the incredible things on this thread and outside, and to Wubble and Wubble's helpers for the amazing words of wisdom!
Okay, so I didn't do as well as I had hoped - but then again, I had hoped wrongly. My 4h30m target was purely imaginary, and I think my thought process for coming to it was as simple as "oh cr*p, half in 2h7m was hard, can't do twice that in 4h, so 4h30m it is". I hadn't taken in a lot of the good advice here - I have my excuses, but I will spare you the details.
So, I finished 4h 55m 27s. To me, this is massive. This is beyond the wildest dreams. My A goal was to finish. My B goal was 5hours. Both in the bag. My C goal was 4h30m, but as above that detached from reality. Yes, had I invested more time in training, more time doing LSRs, and had put in a bit more grit in the day itself, perhaps I could have made my C goal as well. Perhaps. Perhaps a DNF. Perhaps a DNS by overexerting myself during training. Perhaps perhaps. None of that matters. I am super thrilled and thank you all for it!
Holy cr*p, look at that wall of text!! Sorry!! To many more marathons in years to come!!! 0 -
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Aawww Lads & Ladies - I'm nearly in tears here reading the reports for the last hour.
All superb performances.............just look back and read them from the perspective of a mentor - from where you've come, some people with zilch training, some with little structured running - to complete a Marathon!!!
Thank you for your kind words, but our role as contributors is easy - you have the hard job!
I'm laughing at those who missed a target by a few mins in their 1st marathon (....I missed mine by 25 mins in my 6th Marathon....different story though).
I'm incredibly proud of the pacers, having been one myself - the references to Mark & Jamie, the 4hr pacers (Olywn & Joe I think), and the 4:40 pacer - Anne - I know them all and will tell them of your words - they'll be delighted as they are all fabulous human beings too.
I loved every minute of this experience, I felt very invested in your training and your performance - but more importantly in your well being.
Its a fine line to get a good performance and risk injury with getting a good performance and feeling good doing it.
I think WW & his band of merry men (ladies inc) achieved this.
Well done all - I'm incredibly proud of each and every one of you.
You all have a story coming from this, that you'll tell over and over again - you never forget your 1st time
with my utmost appreciation.
Alan0 -
Halloween Jack wrote: »Thank you so much for all the imparted wisdom over the weeks and months AMK, a legend through and through...
Thanks Mam. 0 -
Why did I sign up to this gruesome distance??
After doing a 5k relay race with work I was browsing boards one night and came across this forum, and then this thread. Creeped for ages and then looked at the plans. Thought it wasnt too bad as it was only 4 days a week (HHN1) and off I went with the first couple of runs. 3 years ago I posted on FB saying id love to do a half marathon or a full one, and would love to do it for Temple Street Kids Hospital, as when I was born I was very sick. I was in and out of there for a long time, and id love to give something back to them.
Took a while and a bit of reading to realise what EASY and LSR paces actually meant! As the runs got longer I got an injury. Went to a physio (purely because he was close) and he was crap. 4-5 weeks out from DCM and I went to a really really good physio, Aidan Woods. This man saved my marathon, FACT!
I knew coming into it that I hadnt got the best of training blocks under my belt, but itd be enough to get me over the line (the start at least!). I missed a couple key runs, even missed a full week at some stages. Towards the end It was really bad, the 20 miles turned into an abusive 17 miles, and from there it was downhill. The knee was constantly sore, the midweek runs were now torture and it was really getting to me. I knew id get there, but the competitive side of me always wanted a sub 4 and id be fairly annoyed at myself if I didnt get it. Thinking back, its absolutely ridiculous because we should consider ourselves lucky to be out there regardless, and the more people I encountered out on that course the more that it hit home.
The prep was done, the carbs were consumed, the fluids shoved down me, I just needed to wake up early (Lazare made sure of that!) and show up, and it was game on.
Miles 1 - 3 (09:17, 8:50, 9:04)
Me, Lazare and RolandDeschain were at the start together, three of us absolutely BUZZING. Got a sneaky selfie in that I dont think ill forget for a while, I would have loving to get one after to compare the looks on our faces! All agreed to go out there and run our own race, if we split up then so be it! First couple miles were handy, opened up a bit nicely on the downhill onto the quays.
Miles 4 - 6 (09:10, 09:03, 09:28) 10k Mark: 57:10
Onto the north circular road and heading to the park, all feeling good. Got talking to a lad here that was sound, running under them trees was deadly especially with the sun. Into the park, left after Garda HQ and we witnessed a Stag on a rampage. Ran along side me on the grass verge on Spa Road and jumped over a kid on the side!! Quickly turned around and headed back the opposite way. Coming to the 4 mile marker the knee started at me, turned onto chesterfield and it was confirmed. Found myself ahead of pacers so had to pull back. The girlfriend and parents were just at 5 miles. Seen them with the dog so ran over and told them the knee was gone, they said no keep going your doing great, quick hug and off I went up the rest of chesterfield. Gel at mile 5.5
Miles 7 -9 (09:14, 08:41, 08:55)
Coming out of Castleknock gate was absolutely insane, the cheers as soon as you leave are mental. Caught up with Roland here, and the two of us couldnt believe the atmosphere, he asked how I was and I told him the knee is gone. Off he went again, what a runner! Downhill after the left turn I popped two painkillers from my little drugs bag :pac: and a half zero tab! Off we go back into the park and I catch back up with him. "Take it easy, forget about your time and just think of how much of an accomplishment it is actually doing this!" Was similar to what he told me, I said "Exactly, we are lucky enough to be doing this, fook the knee!" As I passed a person in a wheelchair with his folks I said well done to the both of them, he put his hand out for a high 5 off me, the knee was the last thing on my mind now! Absolute warriors the three of them. Someone walloped off the bollards going out the gate! Ouch.
Miles 10 -12 (09:02, 08:59, 08:49)
The rest of the route Ive never ran so wasnt sure what to expect. Over the bridge and the sharp left was more great support. Through couple tunnels singing oge oge oge with the 4hr pacers, ledgends. Gel at mile 11.
Miles 13 - 15 (08:59, 09:00, 09:05) HALFWAY: 01:59:21
Painkillers definitely working last couple of miles holding the serious pain at bay, but its still really sore. Again, the support at Dolphins barn was unreal, not somewhere im familiar with so was just following everyone rather then remembering the route in my head. Halfway there!! Home stretch now, right??
Miles 16 - 18 (08:44, 08:55, 09:00)
Gel here at mile 16. Just past the walkinstown roundabout (I Think??) More great support, the miles ticking away and im LOVING the music stations, as most know I love running with music so these were a real pick me up! Hamstrings were tightening up, really fecking badly,
Miles 19 - 21 (08:59, 09:08, 09:06) 30K Mark: 02:49:14
Nice run down templeogue road with the cheering zone before turning right onto Orwell, close to where a family member lived that passed a couple weeks ago, really helped me through here I must say. Now both groins are tightening, no if I stop I wont start running again, must keep going. I run through a hamstring cramp with a bit of encouragement from a randomer.
Miles 22 - 24 (09:18, 08:52, 08:59)
Woah woah woah, where did this hill come from. Took this real slow and just mustered on up, hamstrings SCREAMING at me to stop but I had to keep going. "Go on Damo!!" I heard, what?? I looked at a woman and she just had her fist in the air to keep going, then I remembered my name was on my number haha. That picked me up big time. Didnt like this part of the course really, other then telling myself its only one park run left. One lad said "Sure its only 5k to couch!" and the pacer said "Its 5k to a bar stool ya eejit!!" :pac:
Miles 25 - 26.2 (9:15, 09:02, 02:54)
Longest two miles of my life, I couldnt believe how close we were but they were taking ages?? Legs are completely shot at this stage, hamstrings were gone, my left shin was in agony from really early on but now its agonising, groins were gone, I was a mess. That turn onto the final 800 meters was unreal, the crowds :eek: More music had me buzzing, got the crowds going by waving my hands up and down for more support. On that final stretch I had no more pain, it dissapeared. I put what little energy I had left into that last 100m, hands up in the air and over I went. I done it. 3:57:57!!l
Rang the OH and she told me where they were. Got my medal, bag and top and went to meet them. Such a relief, im a marathon runner.
Post race
18 weeks, missed runs, smashed runs, a couple of injurys, and over an incredible €1200 raised for Temple Street Childrens Hospital later, it was all done and dusted. I set a goal of raising €500, and done over double that. I couldnt believe how generous people were with the donations, and I think theyll be sick of me thanking them, but that meant a lot to me being able to help out such a great cause, that do amazing work to change kids lives like they did mine.
I didnt make McGrattans as a lot of my family came in to meet me at the finish and head for food, but I hope we might even be able to catch a pint after Jingle Bells, fingers crossed. Unreal experience, thanks to Wubble Wubble, AMK and the numerous other people on here that filled us with invaluable advice every single week, honestly I know for fact I wouldnt have done it without all them posts. It may not seem like much to yourselves, but yous help us out immensely.
Right so, whos signing up on Wednesday?? #DCM2018 :cool:
Fair fuc*in play to you - a great race. I’ve ran 5 marathons, and I’ve made a balls of all of them so I’m in awe of all of you who did so well yesterday.
The only downside for you is the above puts you down as a nominee for 2018 mentor 😀0 -
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Great performance, D. Lovely to meet you yesterday. Delighted that you had such a good day. Negative splits are hard to come by but if they are managed correctly like you seemed to have done, they are definitely the way to get the best out of yourself in the marathon IMHO. I am sure we will meet again but in the meantime feel free pay that pint forward to the next novice marathoner you come across in need of a well deserved reward for their effort Cheers M 0
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Got a decent nights sleep until my phone beeped at 5am with Lazare's wake up message to the whatsapp groupThe prep was done, the carbs were consumed, the fluids shoved down me, I just needed to wake up early (Lazare made sure of that!) and show up, and it was game on.
Hey you feckers, lol. I didn't post to the whattsapp group, I posted here.
Making me out to be the sleep wrecker :pac:0 -
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Great performance, D. Lovely to meet you yesterday. Delighted that you had such a good day. Negative splits are hard to come by but if they are managed correctly like you seemed to have done, they are definitely the way to get the best out of yourself in the marathon IMHO. I am sure we will meet again but in the meantime feel free pay that pint forward to the next novice marathoner you come across in need of a well deserved reward for their effort Cheers M
Thanks Mark. Hopefully meet again in the future.
AMK, actually got intoduced to you in McGrattans by Mark but didn't realise it was you. Could have passed on my thanks in person0 -
Well done Novices, super race reports coming in, great reading indeed!
I was cheering you all on at the 16 Mile marker just before the KCR and I really enjoyed being a spectator this year, although there was a small voice in the back of my mind yelling 'you have to do this again, this is fantastic'
I noticed that a lot of people were dousing their faces with water, the heat appeared to taking it's toll on a quite a few people, did anyone else find the conditions a bit warm??
As expected there were quite a lot of overseas runners, Danish, American, Scottish, Italians in particular this year I noticed and all running with smiles and/or grimaces on their faces as the fantastic crowds cheered them on, no wonder Dublin is so popular.
Well done to everyone, whether you hit your time or not is not really important as your first DCM was always going to be tough, you are all MARATHON RUNNERS now........you will know what to expect for next year :eek:
Now where is that 2018 DCM website..............??0 -
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