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Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread
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Safrongirl wrote: »Had a slow 19k this morning - my usual route is being ploughed up in the forest and ended running through thick gooey mud - my new runners are a mess and to add I got a blister on my heal - think some mud got into my shoes and this caused the blister as never had one before - I had thought I would go further than the 19k but with the blister and running out of time I had to call it a day - raging
Also turns out i am not working Sunday so I plan to try and do 27k - have a route planned out so going to get up early and just do it - I will take a gel at about 10k and I also run with a belt and a water bottle on it for hydrating.
I drink 2 litres of water everyday but find after long runs sometimes this isnt enough so taking 1 litre of coconut water now too
Hey Safrongirl -
That's good going, 19k - even if you had intended to go further. How are the knees? Still foam-rolling like mad?
Small word of warning. New shoes + blisters = alarm-bells. It's maybe worth your while slowly easing in the new shoes. I wouldn't rush into a 27k on them straight away. In fact, running a 19k - 27k double in just a couple of days seems a little heavy to me, without the new shoes thrown in! Just my opinion.Safrongirl wrote: »my plan would be to eat a lot in the 2 weeks building up and drink loads too - the week before I will up my carbs and protein even more and the Friday of the week will be my last big meal day - Saturday will be all carbs and nothing too heavy - morning of race will be my usual coffee and bagel pre race breakfast before I drive up to Dublin
Ah - the weekend-of-the-race-planning, I recall the startled look on the LUAS commuters' faces when they were unexpectedly swamped by nervous runners at insane-o-clock a.m.
It might be worth considering getting down to Dublin the night before... You wouldn't want the hassle of finding parking spots, etc.. on the morning itself. Plus you won't be able to get near Merrion Square with a car that morning. Might be worth considering.0 -
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Well the weather did what the weather does, it rained until mile 12 anyway, regardless of the forecast. Should have just gone out this morning.
I ran the first 16.5 miles of the DCM route plus 2.5 miles to get me back to a Luas stop. Must say I felt a bit silly on the Luas going in, me in shorts and my pink Frank Duffy top and everyone else dressed for a monsoon. I definitely got a few strange looks.
My new flipbelt clone (THIS ONE) arrived during the week so I tested it with 2 gels and some jelly babys. The belt worked really well. It holds plenty, everything is easily accessible and you wouldn't even know you're wearing it.
I planned to run as close to 10:00 pace and managed to do this, coming in at 9:58.
Nothing stands out for the first 1.5 miles, but i found the downhill bit on Bridge Street to the Liffey uncomfortably steep. I'd imagine this can get a bit hairy on the day if it's wet as it would still be quite congested wouldn't it?
Once over the bridge it's pretty much all uphill for about 5 miles (out of the park to College Rd), but it's all very gentle, especially this early. The only part here I thought was a bit of a drag was Aughrim Street. Chesterfield is a bit boring on your own as it's so straight, but it shouldn't cause any issues.
Turning left onto College Rd, there a short incline before it flattens out. Once you hit Tower Road though there's around 2 miles downhill, apart from a short incline back in the park before you reach Upper Glen Rd. I didn't push it on this descent at all, but I did naturally gain a few seconds.
The next standout section was the hill on St. Laurence Rd. Last week I found this easy, but I did wonder what it would be like after 10 miles rather than 4. I took my first gel at 9 miles. Good news is it's still not that bad. I didn't push it up the steepest part and on the day I'd gladly lose a few seconds that I earned on Tower Rd. Once up the hill it flattens out and even goes slightly downhill. I found that i recovered on this downhill bit, my heart rate dropping back down to normal LSR rate.
Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham and Rialto flew by and I found this part very comfortable, but at 12.5 miles you turn right into a 1.5 mile incline from Dolphins Barn and up Crumlin Road. I found this part a drag last week at 6.5 to 8 miles. It's just not a nice stretch, very straight and all you see is a climb. This week I found it really tough. I was thinking to myself that this is the part, pretty much bang on half way, where I'll be making a choice between pushing for my "A" time or easing back and enjoying it. Do a lot of people struggle at this section? Is it because it's "only" half way? My legs felt ok, but I had that weak feeling as if I needed fuel. I wore a hydration backpack today so I was drinking enough, small bits all through the run.
I took my second gel at 13.5 miles.
Soooo...a funny thing happened once I cleared Crumlin Road, around the 14.5 mile point. I got a new lease of life. I mean I felt fresh, fresh as a daisy, like I could pick up the pace whenever I wanted (I didn't). I physically smiled to myself at this point. If this was the 2nd gel working it was amazing. I've been a bit meh about gels, taking them, but not actually noticing a surge in energy, but today....oh my god it felt great!
I coasted the last 4 miles back to Windy Arbour Luas at 9:56/10:06/10:01/10:03 pace. Soaking wet, I didn't care what I looked like at this stage.
Congrats to everyone on their long runs this weekend. It's amazing how far we've come endurance-wise.
That's a great overview KP and well done to you too on your long run, great going, especially loved the smiling to yourself part
Crumlin road / halfway is a tough part both mentally and physically. If you have supporters on the day this would be a fantastic place for them to be to give you a much needed boost.0 -
Hey Safrongirl -
That's good going, 19k - even if you had intended to go further. How are the knees? Still foam-rolling like mad?
Small word of warning. New shoes + blisters = alarm-bells. It's maybe worth your while slowly easing in the new shoes. I wouldn't rush into a 27k on them straight away. In fact, running a 19k - 27k double in just a couple of days seems a little heavy to me, without the new shoes thrown in! Just my opinion.
Ah - the weekend-of-the-race-planning, I recall the startled look on the LUAS commuters' faces when they were unexpectedly swamped by nervous runners at insane-o-clock a.m.
It might be worth considering getting down to Dublin the night before... You wouldn't want the hassle of finding parking spots, etc.. on the morning itself. Plus you won't be able to get near Merrion Square with a car that morning. Might be worth considering.
I am of Thursday this week so could do my long run Thursday instead and just do my 10k route tomorrow ???
I am only thinking out loud about the actual event - keep changing my mind about everything so often - dreamt last week that I was running it with 2 of my friends and everyone had gone home and it was dark and we were the only 3 left running !!!!!0 -
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Extrasupervery wrote: »Beats my mam's idea - she put loose chocolate buttons in the back pocket of her shorts today for LSR fuel and was somehow both surprised and disappointed when they melted and made her look like she **** herself. She lapped me twice, btw.
:D:D Best quote of the day thread! 0 -
Firstly: 19 Mile LSR done. Delighted.
Secondly, I included the last 9 miles of the DCM route so I thought I'd give a bit of a run down.
I joined the route on the Templeogue Road at the junction with Fortfield Road. From here it's arrow straight down to Terenure with a slight decline. After you come through the village it's on to Terenure Road East heading on towards Rathgar which is more of the same, but the slight decline is replaced by a very slight, possibly even imaginary incline.
As you approach the church there's a hard right onto Orwell Road. It's still flat here but the straight lines are replaced by a couple of twists and turns before a hard left onto Orwell Park. Half of this road is slightly uphill, followed by a nice mild descent towards Dartry Road.
This whole section from Templeogue Road to Dartry is quite pleasant and quite easy, and I suspect it will be a bit of welcome respite after 18 miles to have a couple of miles where it should be easy enough to catch your breath while holding marathon pace.
Then it's onto Milltown Road which runs along the banks of the Dodder, yet despite this is quite undulating. It's not severe at all, but there are noticeable rises and falls and it would be well worth modulating your pace along here to avoid wasting unnecessary energy as you pass through 20 miles. There's a nice glide downhill before you hit a junction with another hard right towards Clonskeagh Road and onward to the infamous Roebuck.
This stretch is part of my commute so through familiarity I'm probably a poor judge of it. I normally have a bag on my back and today I didn't so I was floating along. It's generally uphill but there are some dips as well, particularly where you cross the Dodder. Once you cross the bridge the incline does get a little steeper but it's nothing that would trouble well trained athletes like us
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Roebuck Road itself is a weird one because Clonskeagh Road feeds into it, but there's a T-junction with a left turn where it turns into Goatstown Road and Roebuck actually continues to the left of the T. I've never actually run that part of Roebuck because I continue straight so I was eager to see what all the fuss was about and, I gotta tell you, it's a total pussycat.
I ran the mile or so beforehand at around marathon pace to try and get a feel for it, but obviously there is a difference between arriving there after 10 miles and after 22. Still, the road itself is vaguely uphill most of the way but I wouldn't even describe it as a drag. The infamous 'Heartbreak Hill' appears to amount to a stretch of a 100m or so at the end where it steepens significantly but I wouldn't be worried about it at all. Goatstown Road is worse. I mean if that's the worst the DCM has to throw at us I think we'll be all right; the only obstacle you have from here on out is all the miles in your legs.
Right after you crest the rise you turn left onto Fosters Avenue and you get to just cruise downhill for a while. It's a really nice grade where you can drop into neutral, switch off the engine and just let the hill do the work for you as you roll down to the N11 / Stillorgan Road. It's a free kilometer.
Left onto Stillorgan Road and now you're heading back into the city. It's downhill for a while but only slightly and not enough to make it feel especially easy. It's boring too, for me at least, to run on big wide straight roads like these and I couldn't wait to get off it. There is a climb up to the UCD flyover, and then the corresponding drop coming down the other side before you come to the turn off for Nutley Lane. It's not too bad in general terms but I could imagine you won't be too keen to see it after 23 or so miles and it might require a bit of cement. The RTE mast will be in front of you and you take a hard right and now you're back onto a smaller, leafy green street. I felt like this was still a little downhill and enjoyable enough to run on.
Left turn onto Merrion Road and now this is it. There are still 2 miles to go, but it's pancake flat and a straight shot all the way to Merrion Square and glorious victory.
Oooh, look at the time... 0 -
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Well done Novices for all the heroic runs in the rain, it will stand to you on the big day! I personally love running in the rain and getting the 'respectful' nod from another space cadet runner running in the opposite direction.
To anyone who had a tough day and felt that their run didn't go as well as they would have liked, don't worry too much and dust yourself down and go again next week, it will more than likely go very well for you....better to get a bad run out of the way in training before the DCM.
Loving the mad dreams posts too, I had a dream last night that I was running the DCM this year with a non runner friend who was wearing work boots and overalls who didn't train and was flying past me at the halfway point.........and I not even doing the DCM this year!!
Love this thread.....almost there guys......keep the madness coming 0 -
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