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The road least taken

2

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Catching up on your DCM which I somehow missed - very very well done, a great result in tough conditions and I just love the mind over matter discussion, it really resonates with . me. You certainly found the middle way that day.

    Good luck with the Boston block. It's a difficult course and you'll need things to go your way, especially as it's an away trip. Not sure how your plan to squeeze Donadea in will work out. You seem to realise that yourself however so no point in saying anything more than Donadea is a great race that everyone should do at least once, but maybe not if you want a big marathon performance in the same spring season. I'll be very interested to see how it goes though and best of luck with it all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Thanks Murph, 90% swinging towards doing Donadea 2024 instead. If Boston goes well I might give Amsterdam a crack late next year, then I think I'm going into the hills. :-)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Block WEEK 5

    6-WEEK BUILDING PHASE week 2

    MONDAY Off Day

    TUESDAY 8 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up - 8 x (300m uphill at 10k Pace(6.40 per mile), 30 seconds rest, 300m downhill at MP) 90 seconds rest between sets - 2 mile Warm Down

    WEDNESDAY 6 mile Easy Run (8.15 per mile)

    THURSDAY 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 4 x 1 mile at HMP(6.55 per mile) with 2 minutes rest between - 2 mile Warm Down

    FRIDAY Off Day

    SATURDAY 14 mile Aerobic Run (7.40 per mile)

    SUNDAY 5 mile Easy Run (8.15 per mile)

    43 miles - The conditions were not ideal but nothing too challenging.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Block WEEK 6

    6-WEEK BUILDING PHASE Week 3

    MONDAY Off day

    TUESDAY 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up then 6 x 1k at 10k(6.35-40/mile) pace with 2 minutes rest and a 2 mile Warm Down

    WEDNESDAY 6 mile Easy Run (8.03 per mile)

    THURSDAY 5 mile Easy Run (8.15 per mile)

    FRIDAY 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 2 x 2 miles at HM(6.55 / mile) with 3 minutes jog, 1 x mile at HM-10k(6.35/mile) Pace then a 2 mile Warm Down

    SATURDAY 4 mile Easy Run (8.15)

    SUNDAY 14.5 mile Marathon Simulation, consisting of:5-6 miles easy(8.05) 6-7 miles at MP(7.05 bit fast) then 2 miles easy

    Down week planned

    27th Dec 8 mile at 8.09 Tuesday. That's my 2000 2022 miles done and dusted, good base for next year.

    Might give a 1.30 half a shot Saturday morning. Then back to week 7 Boston block next week.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Happy new year guys, thanks for keeping me honest.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Many happy returns, and congrats on a great year.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭Wottle


    And to you, what a year 2022 was for you and sth tells me you're only getting started!



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    😁 im one of the 90% but do think if throwing it in 2024 as a build up to either Connemara ultra or Hamburg Marathon (will decide later on this year if both are still available to sign up that is). So definitely interested in seeing how it will work out for you. Best of luck in 2023



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Thanks @Murph_D @babacool and @Wottle, just about ready to give the post Christmas months a go, watching the evenings get longer is worth it.

    Did feck all during the down week. A few miles on Friday with a couple of 6.50/mile to keep the leg ticking over.

    Had a really high heartrate sleeping Friday night, no drink or anything, up above 60bpm which is post whiskey territory for me so decided to give the half threshold blast a miss. Went for a more sensible threshold 10k instead (4.10 per km) in 41.45. Hard going but nice way to end the year.

    Tomorrow back on the cart with week 4 building phase of the BAA plan.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Bound to happen- the other half has had a dose the last two weeks, chesty bunged up all that and as happens sometimes living in a house with infected :-) I started to feel it early in the week leading to a proper no sleep coughing night last night. Running on the back burner I think.

    Monday - rest day

    Tuesday - Session Hill repeats - feeling ok

    Wednesday - hilly aerobic - bit tougher than normal

    Thursday - aerobic - not feeling it

    Friday - rest day

    Today - bad cough - no running.

    With the sheer volume of respiratory illness in the air lately I was half expecting to get something. As recommended -anything below the neck - rest up.



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    I hear ya re this whole illness going around. Family got hit early in December (First child). Second child then all Xmas period, meant the Moment i recovered from the First child i got something again with the 2nd 🤦‍♂️. Never stopped running though 😁. Probably should have but too stubborn.


    hope you get over it soon



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Thanks, normally I'm a big fan of using the running to tell me how sick I am 😃 and plowing ahead anyway but I also have a math/stats exam Tuesday( my first one since leaving cert in 1991) so maybe recovery is an excuse to study, would much rather be running.



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Bring the books with you on the run 😂



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    For the day that's in it, no sleep last night with the coughing and spluttering and as its over a week since this started I decided to ask the professionals. Answer- antibiotic, steroids, inhaler and

    "Especially no running for at least ten days"

    Ah well



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Sure he didn’t say “at least 10hrs”?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    😃 I wish, steroid hunger has me on the biscuits already.



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Hhhahah. Know that feeling just too well! Hope it will clear up soon!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,505 ✭✭✭Laineyfrecks


    Hope you feel beter soon😊



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    The drugs work, by Tuesday I was feeling fine again, minimal cough and sleeping fine so gave it two more days and back at it. Seven days off in total.

    Thursday - 4 mile at 7.30 per mile - nice 30 minute shake the dust off

    Friday - 6 miles recovery - 8.30 per mile

    Saturday - 8 miles aerobic at 7.45 per mile

    Sunday - 11 miles at easy 8.10 (90 minute run)

    I will drop back into the plan next week at -10% and see how I feel. Return to normal next week with 11 weeks to Boston.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Last week of the building phase, next week Marathon specific training. 11 weeks to go

    MONDAY Off Day -nada

    TUESDAY - 8 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up then 8 x (400m uphill, 45 seconds rest, 400m downhill at MP) 90 seconds rest between sets - 1 mile Warm Down. This was proper tough - picked a 7.8% hill in local park, I could hardly maintain 8.00 per mile up across the reps, 7.00 down. - 1200 feet of elevation gain, this session drops every second Tuesday with the next having 10- reps and the following having 12, dreading them already. But its Boston I'm training for so has to be done. (Vaporfly)

    Hips in flitters for two days.

    WEDNESDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run (8.15/m in Reebok Floatride)

    THURSDAY Off Day - Nada

    FRIDAY -10 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 3 x 2 miles at HM(6.50 per mile) with 3 minutes jog 1 mile Warm Down (Nike Tempo)

    SATURDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run(Reebok Floatride) 

    SUNDAY 16 mile Aerobic Run (7.50/m in Alphafly)

    I wore the supershoes a couple of times out of pure laziness and since I'm just getting back into hard sessions I wanted quick recovery(don't care)



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    That's some day out there in north Dublin, hope the rest of you are getting the same. Had a fantastic easy 10 mile this morning, the sun really does do wonders for the mind and body.

    Week 1 of Marathon specific training 10 weeks to go

    MONDAY -Off Day

     TUESDAY 9miles, consisting of:2 mile Warm Up : 6 x 1200 at 10k pace(6.45/m) with 2:30 rest :2 mile Warm Down

    WEDNESDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run (8.15/m)

    THURSDAY 6.5 mile Aerobic Run (7.45/m)

    FRIDAY 3 mile Easy Run (8.20)

    SATURDAY 16 miles, consisting of: 3 mile Warm Up : 3 x (2.5 miles at MP(7.15) / 1/2 mile easy) 4 easy 

    SUNDAY 10 mile Easy Run (8.10 / m) -what a wonderful run along the estuary, sun and not a screed of wind.

    My first straight forward no drama week in a while, 50+ miles. Still a bit off my stride, 90% of where I should be but better than nothing, finished two assessments for college early and tomorrow is a bank holiday, , whoopedy do



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Week 2 of Marathon specific training.

    MONDAY-Off Day

    TUESDAY-10 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 10 x (400m hill at 10k Pace(6.40), 45 seconds rest, 400m hill at MP(7.10) 90 seconds rest between sets -2 mile Warm Down 

    WEDNESDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run (8.10)

    THURSDAY Nada 

    FRIDAY 10 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up -3 miles at HMP(6.50/mile), 3 minutes jog, 2 miles at HMP, 2 minutes jog 1 mile at 10k(6.40/mile) pace-2 mile Warm Down 

    SATURDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run(8.30 saved my powder for Sunday)

     SUNDAY 18 mile Marathon Simulation (on rolling hill course), consisting of: 8 miles easy(8.20/mile) - 8 miles at MP(7.15/mile), starting slower and finishing faster -2 miles easy cool down. Had a watch snaffu today, just before a water stop I scheduled for Malahide park(they have a great water fountainy thing) at about 7.9 miles I hit the lap button instead of the pause, its mad how little things can effect concentration. I spent the next 8 miles trying to figure out in my head how I could fix it, obviously I couldn't and the fact it was only 0.1 off a mile didn't occur to me till near the end of the run, technology so a divil, followed by snacking on crap all day :-)

    Nice session all the same,

    One interesting bit about this week was that the distance covered was identical to last week - 51.45 miles . Not intentional and didn't even notice till I looked it up for this post.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Week 3 of Marathon specific training.

    MONDAY - Off Day

    TUESDAY 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 4 x mile at 10k Pace(6.45/m) with 3 minutes rest 4 x 400 at 5k Pace(6.15) with 1 minute rest 2 mile Warm Down 

    WEDNESDAY 6 mile Easy Run (8.10/m)

    THURSDAY 6 mile Easy Run (8.15/m) the watch told me to chill out so changed from aerobic to easy

    FRIDAY 10 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 2 x 3 miles at HM(6.55) with 3 minutes jog 2 mile Warm Down 

    SATURDAY 3 mile Easy Run (supposed to be 5 but I did this super easy and dropped a couple of miles as the watch told me to rest after the previosu evenings session- 8.50/m)

    SUNDAY 15 miles, consisting of: 7 miles easy 6 x (3 minutes at 10k Pace(6.45), then 2 minutes at MP (7.15/m)) 3 mile Easy

    Six runs-51.1 miles-average pace 8.00/m- 6.50 hours of running.

    This week I let the tech get inside my head, my dependable Coros has been telling me my runs are mainly only fair and not only that its telling me to rest for longer. I did find hitting the 10k intervals hard on Tuesday but running in and around trees doesn't help with the GPS or accuracy.

    Rest tomorrow but Tuesday is a dinger, 12 x 400m uphill reps at 10k effort with downhill MP. There is a perfect 400m hill in the local park but it leaves my hips stiff for a couple of days, we will see if I am better equipped than the last time.



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    Is that the Boston plan? Seen a few others with this “10k pace up and MP down” stuff. Should basically mean “all at same pace” which might makes it easier to get right.


    With regards to the watch telling you fair etc 🤣 always smile at that. Usually my watch tells me im detraining before a race and after workouts and peaking after easy runs. So basically this whole thing is shite and I turned it off. Definitely nothing I would go by.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    That's the one, the BAA Level three, I use about 90% and add or take away if I see no value. I will try for the same up as down, thanks. Although maybe a smidgen slower up - the hill is just shy of 8%.

    I agree with the watch but I'm a sucker for technology, the same way I wouldn't consider myself superstitious but if I see a magpie on my run I spend the rest of the run looking for its brother. too much info :-)



  • Registered Users Posts: 361 ✭✭babacool


    8% …. Pfff 🤣 the one I use is around 11% 🤣. Joke aside… a session I love - hill sprints. But usually I go up at mile effort and slow jog down.


    enjoy 😁



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022



    And all of a sudden its March, had a step down week last week, dropping volume down by 10% to 45 miles, no change in intensity, some nice juicy sessions. Februarys tale of the tape - 201 miles, 27 hours running, +6000 ft of elevation gain.

    MONDAY - Off Day

    TUESDAY- 9.7 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 10 x (400m uphill at 10k Pace, 45 seconds rest, 400m downhill at MP) 90 seconds rest between sets and 2 mile Warm Down

    WEDNESDAY -5.2 mile Easy Run

    THURSDAY -5.2 mile Aerobic Run

    FRIDAY -Off Day

    SATURDAY -14.5 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 10 miles at MP (start a little slower and finish faster) and a 2 mile Warm Down

    SUNDAY - 10 mile Easy Run

    MONDAY - Off Day

    TUESDAY 10.8 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 5 x 1 mile at 10k pace with 3 float and a 2 mile Warm Down 

    The only negative I can find is I have a slight pain in my right glute, felt the right hammy a few time last week which seems to have shifted to the cheek now. Some easy running scheduled for tonight and tomorrow so hopefully by the time Friday roles around I will be OK for sessions. 🤞 19/20 miler this weekend as well, funny thing is I was looking forward to this. Mad how the mind changes over time.

    Just under seven weeks to the Marathon.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    The pain in my right glute forced a rethink for the last week, I decided to remove all intensity and just get in steasy miles

    WEDNESDAY 4 miles at 8.30 per

    THURSDAY 4 miles at 8 per

    FRIDAY 10 miles at 8.10 per

    SATURDAY 4 miles at 8.00 per

    SUNDAY - 20 miles at 8.15 per

    The pain is less and seems to be easing, have a rest day today and back to hill repeats Tuesday, hopefully.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Low intensity last week and half this week. After the ok ish 20 with some residual pain in the glutes and right leg I decided to knock the Tuesday hill repeats on the head and give myself 3 days, still six weeks out at that stage so no better time to take a small break.

    Monday - always a rest day

    Tuesday - 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up, 3 x (800m uphill at HMP, 60 seconds rest, 800m downhill at MP) 2 minutes rest between sets -4 x (400m uphill at 10k Pace, 45 seconds rest, 400m downhill at MP) 2 mile Warm Down

    took the day

    WEDNESDAY - 6.5 mile progression - 8.30/mile starting off and 7.20 ending

    THURSDAY- 6.5 mile steasy Run (8.10/mile)

    FRIDAY - Off Day

    SATURDAY - 16 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up(8.15 per mile) 2 x 5 miles at MP(7.20 per mile) with 1 mile float (8.45) between reps and 2 mile Warm Down

    SUNDAY 10 mile Easy Run (8.25)

    Quite a drop in volume due to the niggles the last two weeks but that's the game, 5 weeks today to the race with the three main peak weeks (max volume of 56 miles and maximum intensity) starting this week.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Even before I qualified for Boston I was using the BAA plans, mainly because they free online and very clear intent, I used them last year for Manchester and the few weeks for Dublin when I was not struggling with my hamstring both modified slightly but about 95% to the book. This week was peak volume in this race block with 58 miles and some nice intensity dropped in for good measure. I don't think I've ever gone over 60 miles and as such the devil on my shoulder almost persuaded me to fit an extra two miles in yesterday but thankfully I said no, phuck 60. The pain in my glute is less and wasn't noticeable till after the 20 mile during some extreme couching. More foam rolling and massage gun this week.

    I really enjoyed this week.

    MONDAY - Off

    TUESDAY 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 2 x (2k at HM(6.50), 1k at 10k(6.35)) all with 2 minutes rest 5 x 400 at 5k Pace(6.15) with 1 minute rest - Warm Down

    WEDNESDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run(8.25)

    THURSDAY 6.5 mile Easy Run(8.25)

    FRIDAY 12 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 8 mile cutdown at MP(7.16) 2 mile Warm Down

    SATURDAY 4 mile super Easy Run (9.05 - keeping heartrate at 125, no reason)

    SUNDAY - 20 mile Aerobic Run - 7.45 per mile


    Four weeks to day to the race,



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Pretty straight forward week, some nice intensity and topped of with a rolling hill 20 miler. The last Sunday session of the block, three weeks to go. Woooop de doop

    MONDAY -Off Day

    TUESDAY 8.5 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 5 x (800m uphill at HM effort, 60 seconds rest, 800m downhill at MP) 2 minutes rest between sets ,1 mile Warm Down (heartrate showed av 142)


    WEDNESDAY 6 mile Easy Run (8.40)

    THURSDAY Off Day 

    FRIDAY 9 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up - 6 mile tempo at HMP(6.55)2 mile Warm Down 

    SATURDAY 5 mile Easy Run 

    SUNDAY 20 Marathon Simulation (on rolling hill course), consisting of: 9 miles easy - 9 miles at MP(7.15 to 7.25) -2 miles easy (average heartrate 144)




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    MONDAY Off Day

    TUESDAY 9-10 miles, consisting of -2 mile Warm Up -3 x (2k at HM(6.55), 1k at 10k(6.30)) all with 2 minutes rest 1.5 mile Warm Down

    WEDNESDAY 4 mile Easy(8.20)

    THURSDAY 6 mile Aerobic Run(7.50)

    FRIDAY 4 mile Easy (9.00- HR at 125)

    SATURDAY 13-14 miles,

    2 mile Warm Up 10 progression miles MP 7.20 down to 7.05 1 mile Warm Down 

    SUNDAY Off


    Tapertime

    Two weeks to race day



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    First week of taper, If I'm being honest I never mind tapering, maybe I will go mad this next week

    MONDAY always Off Day 

    TUESDAY 8 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up -5 x 1k at 10k pace(6.30-6.40) with 2 minutes rest 5 x 200 at 5k Pace(6.10 to 6.20) with 30 seconds rest -2 mile Warm Down 

    WEDNESDAY 30 minutes Easy Run 

    THURSDAY Off Day 

    FRIDAY 10 miles, consisting of: 2 mile Warm Up 2 x (3 miles at HM on(6.50), then 1 mile easy) -2 mile Warm Down 

    SATURDAY 4 mile Easy Run 

    SUNDAY 10 mile Easy Run

    The last 3 weeks I've been cooling the jets - 58 miles - 48 miles - 38 miles and this week 36 miles. Still plenty of intensity. This week has two sessions, Tuesday and Thursday, Might take Thursday off and use the energy sightseeing ;-)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Best of luck with final week and the journey over. Any particular race strategy in mind, and what's the target? It's a brilliant race, enjoy the buildup.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Thanks Murph, would love a crack at 3.09.59, 1.33 first half , hoping the quads get to the newton hills intact for a 1.36 second half. If the stars align and I can hold a decent line, the wind blows good and the pen(10.25 start) doesn't have too many day trippers then just maybe.

    The conditions will decide everything,

    As of 10 minutes ago Friday is forecasted for 28c , cooling to 17c Monday. Was hoping for 12-13c Any warmer than 20c and i will drop back to 3.30 in survival mode.

    The misses and teenage daughter are coming along to cheer me on so I'm very happy, can't wait to see the Boston sights.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭Mr. Guappa


    Best of luck



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Great stuff and your strategy sounds good - especially like that you have a fallback plan.

    I wouldn't worry about the pen. When I did it I had a 10:50 start but the waves were very well organised. There was no one to slow you down because the vast majority of Boston runners are there with a fairly recent qualifying time so pretty much everyone set out from the pen at the same pace, no shenanigans!

    Great that you have a fallback plan. I did it on a hot day with no plan B and paid the price. It's definitely a factor in Boston where the weather can be anything from blistering sun to snow and ice and biting wind, so always good to have a backup strategy.

    Have a good one.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Wicked haad, 3.18 for my first major. Not bad.

    Now to see if the local bar has any nice scotch.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,505 ✭✭✭Laineyfrecks


    Well done, enjoy the scotch😊



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,021 ✭✭✭Kellygirl


    Well done. That’s excellent.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Rambling Race report, probably should have done it earlier but with being in the states and then travelling meh,

    This Boston race really started last year in Manchester with a 3.18 solid run on a lovely course, I wasn’t focusing on Boston but as I now had a BQ in my age category I applied, got accepted on the 29th of September. Happy days.

     I was gently tapping away at DCM training after my first hamstring tear at the Fingal 10K a few weeks earlier, so I didn’t get too excited. DCM was lovely, great conditions and I was in good shape for what felt like a very easy 3.17 finish time. Had a little breath and dived into the online Boston BAA plan. It’s a 20-week training plan with 3-week prep, 6-week build, 9-week Marathon specific and 2-week taper. Pretty standard. I add two down weeks for Christmas and maybe recovery after a Donadea attempt.

    +2000 for 2022, this made me very happy and confident I had a good base.

    Did I mention I started a Bsc degree as well last year? so I had winter exams and as I hadn’t done applied maths/stats since my leaving cert in 1990 I had to allocate a shed load of time to this as well. The misses is a saint, no way I could do all this **** without her ever expanding patience.

    All going fine till Christmas, my favourite time of year, much merriment and gluttony followed, Santa brough me new shoes (Although black Friday was also kind to me, rocking new Alphaflys,  Vaporfly and tempos, later to add Hoka mach 5 to my rotation in place of retired speed 2) so I was all set. The first week in January was simply sweating the badness out of me then I got the worse chest infection, I expect it to bugger of after a few days, but it didn’t so after five nights of no sleep it forced me to the doctor for a course of anti-biotics, steroids, inhalers and various other meds. By mid feb I reckon I back on track, slight niggles mainly with the hammer during intervals but that’s running.

    One thing I remember about spring in Ireland this year was how awesome it was for training outdoors, feck all rain, and not particularly cold. I was in a few groups online for Boston and some of the guys in the states didn’t get a decent day till April. In March I also had a glute issue after hill repeats which forced me into a couple of weeks step back training with no intensity. All in all, the training wasn’t bad, no bad injuries and I felt ready come April for my first Major.

    So Boston, what can I say, amazing city, amazing people. I had been to New York in the autumn and although it was awesome the people are not particularly friendly. My faith in the good old US of A was reinvigorated by the sheer goodness of the Bostonians. We flew on Thursday arriving at lunch and went straight to the Hotel, which was lovely. Off we went exploring Boston in a lovely 28C, Friday was the same, upper 20s and record temps for that time of the year. Found some great restaurants, visited the sights. Probably over did the touristy stuff but feck it, 20,000 steps Thursday, 35,000 steps Friday (a 10 k final run included) 20,000 Saturday including the expo which was mainly adidas (got the jacket 😉 and a few other stands, pretty underwhelming if I’m being honest. Sunday lots of walking as well, not clever but we had fun.

    Get to the race already!

    Race day Monday, the weather was cold, into a headwind all the way, mist and rain. Those are the cards I suppose, got up at 5.45am, had some crackers and a Maurten drink. Vaselined the nipples and other bits and then went to the lobby to get a cab, but as often happened while we were in Boston, a guy beside me in the lobby offered to bring me to the bag drop. Love Boston. The bag drop was easy, rows of buses with bib numbers on them, you matched your bib number and handed the race bag in the window and off ye went. Then a queue for the buses to Hopkinton, about 15 minutes then onto the bus, lovely and warm to start but some **** mutant (London accent) opened the window to allow the wind in, even though I had two extra layers I shivered all the way to Hopkinton which takes about an hour, got to the start area, drizzling and foggy, sat in a tent for over an hour also shivering.

    At about 9.45am I readied myself and got in the queue for the start pen which was scheduled for a 10.25 start, I was happy to be moving, lots of toilets, water and bananas available. Exceptional organisation by the BAA. The start line is on a lovely street at the lip of a hill and by this time all my shivering had stopped, the excitement had overtaken me. Woops and smiles where the order of the day.

    I wore a decathlon hydration belt with only a 250ml bottle as backup as I knew there was water cups at nearly every mile, I also had 3 x Maurten blacks and three Decathlon (two caffeine) gels to fuel the run.

    10.27, off we go, straight downhill surrounded by thousands of likeminded people. I had decided just then that 7.20 pace was the order of the day. One thing to note is that your starting pen is in order of your qualifying time, so everyone starting at my time had run a qualifying race around 3.15 to 3.25 (7.25 to 7.35 ish)

    Mile 1- 7.45

    The first mile was mayhem, mainly downhill but not all, the rolling hills as they call them had started and there was no way to hit the pace. The crowd didn’t ease at all so after the first mile I decided to push on with the hope it would open, a couple of near misses, trips and should bumping ensued. I would discover that the race doesn’t open up until after 10K.

    Mile 1 to Mile 5 averaging 7.32 per mile

    Mad crowds and runners going at 7.30 pace made it hard to push. The support along this stretch was amazing, between the fog and rain this was not a pleasant day for spectating but there they were, cheering, offering candy, shouting names and generally being the best supporters in the world.

    Mile 6 to Mile 10 averaging 7.11 per mile

    Off we go, this is the pace I trained at, and I reckoned I was capable, felt the hammer from about 4 mile but I had made my mind up to run through any pains, and if it went it went.

    Fvck off cups, the worst fvcking hydration method ever, a load of absolute boll0x, can’t describe how much I hate cups.

    Mile 11 to Mile 15 averaging 7.23 per mile

    Did I mention how much I hate cups- on the other hand it was nice to see the Maurten gels handed out on course, at the cost of these bad boys I was nearly going to keep taking them for home. This stretch was fine. The crowd in the towns and the famous scream tunnel were unreal. Mad buzz

    Mile 16 to Mile 20 averaging 7.27 per mile.

    Rookie error, seen a stall on the side of the road with a big banner, - “prevent cramping try this amazing blah blab la”, over I weave towards the table and grab a cup(grrrrr) and neck it. Holy sh1t, this stuff was foul, like drinking tobacco sauce, rank. Took me a mile not to get sick. The crowds only got better and then we hit the newton hills. The course is described as net down hill, but it is never flat or down hill for long as there are many little hills even before the four famous Newton hills culminating in Heartbreak hill. If I’m being honest, I reckon on a good day I could have done them at 6.30 per mile, nothing really too bad but it became apparent quickly that my quads were banjaxed from all the ups and downs in the previous 16 miles, I decided to run on feel from here.  

    Mile 21 to Mile 25 averaging 7.58 per mile

    I had nothing left, my coma pace is 8.00 to 8.15 and this is where I my effort stayed even with a decline in elevation. I have never been so close to walking as I was in the last 3 miles of Boston, but the crowds got even better, they swept me into the city. The Citgo sign is not as close as I would have liked. There was a small bridge on the last bit of the course, which is like a dip, the pain here was on a new level but I had seen some clips of the course and knew there was only two small turns to come before the finish straight.

    Last bit- 8.11 per mile and what a finish this race has. In flitters, leg gone, never been so thirsty, the shivers returned but this time they had a smile. Unbelievable experience.

    Went to McDonalds for a celebration big mac and coffee, what a tasty burger that was.

    When I look back to what I could have done better to finish the race faster there are loads, I put 6kgs on between Manchester and Boston, I didn’t taper properly, I had some niggles and I didn’t plan the race strategy properly, but I wouldn’t change a thing, what a journey. Best race in the world.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    Great account of a great race. So many things to take away and it sounds like you learned a lot as well as having a lot of fun. That's three marathons now with a similar finish time - all very different though in terms of the conditions and the courses. I found Boston brutally difficult. Well done, you kept the wheels on!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,021 ✭✭✭Kellygirl


    Well done. Sounds a very tough route. Deceptively so with the net downhill? Great you kept going. Recover well now.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Thanks Guys, most certainly the toughest one yet. Spent the morning looking for my next race, we are all a bit mad I think.

    Anyone done Amsterdam?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,502 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Thanks Murph, should have guessed there would be one, 👍️



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭Mr. Guappa


    Sounds like a great and memorable weekend, and still plenty scope for improvement.

    Maybe don't give yourself too much time to "experience" Amsterdam before that race 😉



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    👍️I think your right, the plan is to fly in the day before and leave the sightseeing till Monday :-)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,021 ✭✭✭Kellygirl


    I’ve done the half over there. It’s very flat obviously! I’d do it again as so easy to fly there and flight times are good. It’s not the most exciting route ever though I think the full is probably better as goes through some of the more well known locations. The half was a little industrial in parts.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭marathon2022


    Nice one, 👍️ Ive signed up for this now so here's to a good clean training block. Leaning towards doing the Pfitzinger plan. Will buy Advanced Marathoning and see what it looks like.



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