Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread

Pomplamousse · 10-10-2016 07:14PM

A Neurotic wrote: »

Holy crap, an hour? I wasn't sure I'd survive my 20 minute one...

I think I'll stick to 20 minute appointments from now on:o

On the plus side it was only €45 for the full hour whereas my local physio quoted me €95 for the same. So if anyone wants a recommendation for an appointment of torture in the Artane area, let me know.

ToriV · 10-10-2016 07:26PM

diego_b wrote: »

Hi there, have gone through spells of issues like this. What is working very well for at the moment is moisturizing my feet every day with a cream with 10% urea in it. Can't recall the brand but got it in Boots. Also changing from 1000 mile fusion socks to the thinnest socks I could get. Currently using Nike performance socks and working very well.

I had huge problems with my feet too. I now put vasealine on every night to moisture them, a layer before running and got really thin underarmour training socks and not a problem since. Even after 20 miles on Saturday. The thick socks were killing me.

Murph_D · 10-10-2016 07:27PM

bucketybuck wrote: »

Does anybody know what the story is with buses during the marathon, are they rerouted or suspended due to road closures?

There will be information about this on Dublin Bus website and social media feeds. There is always bus service on the day but obviously disrupted, some routes more than others.

Firedance · 10-10-2016 07:33PM

bucketybuck wrote: »

Does anybody know what the story is with buses during the marathon, are they rerouted or suspended due to road closures?

Yes they will be (although to what extent won't be known until the week of the marathon I would imagine). Sunday service will be in operation so in other words the first bus will most likely be too late to get you to the start on time... If you can get a lift/carpool/get the luas these will be your best bet on the day, as nop already pointed out in bold you'll need to be at the start for 8am, yes, really, you will!

ToriV · 10-10-2016 07:34PM

20 miles LSR done on saturday, and three 5 miles during the week done! My running partner tripped out running after dark, hurt both her ankle and knee and was recovering. So 20 miles by my lonesome. But got through it fine, it was very warm here, so took a hi 5 zero drink with me, practiced my gels and discovered the joy that is Star Bursts (THEY WILL ALWAYS BE JUICY FRUITS TO ME). They were great for getting rid of the dry mouth and taste great. Loved them!!

Finished strong, and felt I could have kept going, so delighted. Actually sat in the car amazed that I did that....and a little sad that it was the last real long one. Strange isn't it?

andrew1977 · 10-10-2016 07:46PM

Neady83 wrote: »

Have you been drinking enough water, keeping hydrated and getting some salt and electrolytes during your long runs? Zero tablets are great to pop into water during a run. I had three of them in my pocket during DCM last year and popped them in the bottles of water.

A deficiency in magnesium can also cause cramping. It might be worth popping two every night before you go to bed.

Another question for you please, looking for yours or anyone else's guidance and advice .
My confidence has taken a bit of a knock from the 3/4 marathon in longwood where I had to walk a bit of the way.
I know it's tapering time but I have the urge this weekend to try do 3/4 marathon at slower pace just to give me the psychological boost for race day knowing I can do it
Madness to do it?
Thanks

Singer · 10-10-2016 07:52PM

Murph_D wrote: »

There will be information about this on Dublin Bus website and social media feeds. There is always bus service on the day but obviously disrupted, some routes more than others.

For a sneak preview, check out last year's diversions!

https://www.dublinbus.ie/News-Centre/General-News-Archive/Dublin-Marathon-2013-Diversions11/

I'm guessing there might be some additional disruption on the Saturday and Monday this year around Merrion Square.

Singer · 10-10-2016 07:56PM

andrew1977 wrote: »

Another question for you please, looking for yours or anyone else's guidance and advice .
My confidence has taken a bit of a knock from the 3/4 marathon in longwood where I had to walk a bit of the way.
I know it's tapering time but I have the urge this weekend to try do 3/4 marathon at slower pace just to give me the psychological boost for race day knowing I can do it
Madness to do it?

Some additional info could be useful:

How many other long runs (say, over 16 miles) have you done?

What was your pace yesterday? (before the cramps etc.)?

What is your target pace for DCM?

Firedance · 10-10-2016 07:57PM

Firedance wrote: »

although to what extent won't be known until the week of the marathon I would imagine

Singer wrote: »

For a sneak preview, check out last year's diversions!

https://www.dublinbus.ie/News-Centre/General-News-Archive/Dublin-Marathon-2013-Diversions11/

:rolleyes::D:D

andrew1977 · 10-10-2016 08:02PM

Singer wrote: »

Some additional info could be useful:

How many other long runs (say, over 16 miles) have you done?

What was your pace yesterday? (before the cramps etc.)?

What is your target pace for DCM?

I have been doing 16 miles plus once a week for the past couple of months, slowly building it up to yesterday which was the longest run I have ever done.
Had a 4 hour target in my head for the marathon, but think it's out of reach . I finished yesterday in 2hrs 55 but I was dead on my feet, had the 1/2 done in just under 1h 50, was fine up to 28k , then the wheels came out with the hills, exhaustion and cramp.
Had done a few 30k training runs before , in an around the 2h 50 mark.
Should I chance it this weekend again?
Thanks for your help.

Singer · 10-10-2016 08:05PM

ToriV wrote: »

But got through it fine, it was very warm here, so took a hi 5 zero drink with me, practiced my gels and discovered the joy that is Star Bursts (THEY WILL ALWAYS BE JUICY FRUITS TO ME). They were great for getting rid of the dry mouth and taste great. Loved them!!

They'll always be Opal Fruits to me, but each to their own.

bucketybuck · 10-10-2016 08:12PM

Firedance wrote: »

as nop already pointed out in bold you'll need to be at the start for 8am, yes, really, you will!

Just to pick up on this as well...

On DCM morning I'll be travelling in from South of the city, but there is a friends house a few minutes walk away from the start line that I was planning to use as a base of sorts. Say my wave goes at 9.30, will I need to be at Merrion square at 8am, or could I chill at my friends house then wander over at around 9am.

Not to be too crude but part of my thinking here revolves around toilets. 19000 people wanting to use the toilet before the race sounds like a recipe for disaster so waiting in my friends as long as possible could be useful in that regard.

Singer · 10-10-2016 08:13PM

andrew1977 wrote: »

I have been doing 16 miles plus once a week for the past couple of months, slowly building it up to yesterday which was the longest run I have ever done.
Had a 4 hour target in my head for the marathon, but think it's out of reach . I finished yesterday in 2hrs 55 but I was dead on my feet, had the 1/2 done in just under 1h 50, was fine up to 28k , then the wheels came out with the hills, exhaustion and cramp.
Had done a few 30k training runs before , in an around the 2h 50 mark.
Should I chance it this weekend again?
Thanks for your help.

Sounds like you raced yesterday instead of treating it like a training run! Sub-4 may not be necessarily out of reach, you went off way too fast yesterday. Something like a slow 16-18 miles, with the last 3 miles at 4 hour pace could be worth doing? Make sure you're well recovered this week, that run sounded like no fun!

budhistmonk · 10-10-2016 08:14PM

Singer wrote: »

ToriV wrote: »

But got through it fine, it was very warm here, so took a hi 5 zero drink with me, practiced my gels and discovered the joy that is Star Bursts (THEY WILL ALWAYS BE JUICY FRUITS TO ME). They were great for getting rid of the dry mouth and taste great. Loved them!!

They'll always be Opal Fruits to me, but each to their own.

Same for me. And MARATHON not snickers (sorry). Are we showing our age there?

bucketybuck · 10-10-2016 08:16PM

andrew1977 wrote: »

I have been doing 16 miles plus once a week for the past couple of months, slowly building it up to yesterday which was the longest run I have ever done.
Had a 4 hour target in my head for the marathon, but think it's out of reach . I finished yesterday in 2hrs 55 but I was dead on my feet, had the 1/2 done in just under 1h 50, was fine up to 28k , then the wheels came out with the hills, exhaustion and cramp.
Had done a few 30k training runs before , in an around the 2h 50 mark.
Should I chance it this weekend again?
Thanks for your help.

I'm no expert, but if you are aiming for a 4 hour marathon and in your LSR you did the 1/2 in 1h 50, then it sounds like you are running your Long Slow Runs too fast.

andrew1977 · 10-10-2016 08:18PM

Singer wrote: »

Sounds like you raced yesterday instead of treating it like a training run! Sub-4 may not be necessarily out of reach, you went off way too fast yesterday. Something like a slow 16-18 miles, with the last 3 miles at 4 hour pace could be worth doing? Make sure you're well recovered this week, that run sounded like no fun!

Thanks for the reply, will do a 18 miles or so this Friday at easy pace and follow your advice. I was doing ok to around 27yesterday, then the climbs caught me along with the calf cramp and exhaustion First race I ever had to stop and walk a bit. You hit the nail on the head, I raced it yesterday instead of a training run.
The positive I take from yesterday is that it gave me the kick in the proverbials to know on marathon day NOT to take off at that pace.

Firedance · 10-10-2016 08:20PM

bucketybuck wrote: »

Just to pick up on this as well...

On DCM morning I'll be travelling in from South of the city, but there is a friends house a few minutes walk away from the start line that I was planning to use as a base of sorts. Say my wave goes at 9.30, will I need to be at Merrion square at 8am, or could I chill at my friends house then wander over at around 9am.

Not to be too crude but part of my thinking here revolves around toilets. 19000 people wanting to use the toilet before the race sounds like a recipe for disaster so waiting in my friends as long as possible could be useful in that regard.

Absolutely, as long as you're in the vicinity (hotel, friends house etc) that'll be fine, what you want to avoid is arriving too late, the queues for the bag drop might be long at that point, if you need to find a toilet before you start likewise the queues will be long but as you say, if you're using a friends house closeby as base that sounds like a perfect solution to all the above

I might wander over at 8.45 though rather than 9 but I've been know to be 2 hours early for races

kin9pin · 10-10-2016 08:24PM

nop98 wrote: »

Checkpoint! Do you realize that..:

(a) There will be > 19,000 participants of DCM this year. Do you need hotel accommodation for the weekend? Close to Merrion Square? Then I suggest you get booking a.s.a.p.

(b) You need to pick-up your race-bib the day(s) before the marathon in the RDS? The Marathon Expo is on Friday (12-7pm) and Saturday (9am-7pm). The marathon is on Sunday. There are no exceptions to this.

(c) You need to be in town on Oct 30 well before 9am. Let's just say 8am at the very latest! The DART does NOT go that early (the LUAS does - but not that frequent at that time, plus there'll be a good walk). Do you know how you'll get to Merrion Square, that morning, on time?

(d) You know the time of your starting wave, right? Just checkin'

No
Yes
Yes
Yes

joesoap5 · 10-10-2016 08:26PM

Mrs Mc wrote: »

Well done everyone on your long runs and enjoy the taper. For those of you like me following Dave Carries plan you don't taper for another week don't start doubting your plan and comparing to what everyone else is doing stick with your plan trust your plan it was the same last year so don't panic.

I'm going to be really naughty and disagree with you Mrs Mc.
I think that plan is too heavy for a newbie in the closing weeks and that there's nothing much to gain in the last two to three weeks.

I'm not a novice but unless you've decent mileage behind you for this period of training I would suggest winding it down a lot more and perhaps following the boards plan. Why would a newbie need a 12 mile long run the week before a marathon?

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

chickey2 · 10-10-2016 08:39PM

Don't forget the clocks go back one hour the night before/morning of the marathon!
Don't end up two hours early and frozen before the start!

Van.Bosch · 10-10-2016 08:55PM

Im following the P&D 55 plan which calls for 16 miles this weekend. i was doing well with training but last few weeks have been sketchy so i dont feel i have the training done or the right stamina. i did two 20 milers so far and was doing a final one yesterday but stopped at 18.6 as i was wrecked. I am tempted to do 20 miles this week instead of the 16 to build up my fitness again as i feel the stamina dropped over the bad weeks.

My head says its too late - is it right?

Edit - just saw my question is pretty much the same as Andrews

FITZA · 10-10-2016 09:10PM

Hi Nop98, my totals on the mileage tracker seem to be messed up??

The Muppet · 10-10-2016 09:11PM

This luas on Marthon morning, where's the nearest stop to Swords . Had hoped Metro North would have been a possibility.

Think I'll have to jog in with Singer.

kin9pin · 10-10-2016 09:13PM

FITZA wrote: »

Hi Nop98, my totals on the mileage tracker seem to be messed up??

Should be fixed now.

robinwing · 10-10-2016 11:18PM

joesoap5 wrote: »

I'm going to be really naughty and disagree with you Mrs Mc.
I think that plan is too heavy for a newbie in the closing weeks and that there's nothing much to gain in the last two to three weeks.

I'm not a novice but unless you've decent mileage behind you for this period of training I would suggest winding it down a lot more and perhaps following the boards plan. Why would a newbie need a 12 mile long run the week before a marathon?

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

You are bang on Joesoap , lots of runners think they can still train hard in the last fortnight even , I'm certainly not a novice and probably was running before most of you were born , this is wind down time as Joe says . if you have not put in your long runs and hard mileage before now its too late . Wind down and enjoy your leisurely runs , don't even bother timing them . Rest is more important than running from now on . I'm nursing a bit of an injury now , not much but I don't want it to get worse so I run in the middle of the road late at night around the estate where the ground is even . I keep away from bumpy footpaths etc and am using brand new runners with good absorption from road shock. Mind yourself from now on and pamper yourself a bit , you deserve it

kabuxa · 10-10-2016 11:24PM

nop98 wrote:

(b) You need to pick-up your race-bib the day(s) before the marathon in the RDS? The Marathon Expo is on Friday (12-7pm) and Saturday (9am-7pm). The marathon is on Sunday. There are no exceptions to this.

I was told that if we can to collect on Friday... there are more runners than before and a day less to collect. They won't have time on Sat to cover all athletes if we want to go to bed early. It will be a late evening so... if we can we should try to go on Friday.

Subzero3 · 11-10-2016 03:49AM

Hi,

Looking forward to my first marathon. I will be staying in Terenure. If I use the online bus times will they be accurate for the day? ie changes to bus routes due to marathon. Is anyone from around that area to advise. I will be starting in Wave 1 and want to be there 1.5 hours before start.

Thanks

Mrs Mc · 11-10-2016 07:08AM

joesoap5 wrote: »

I'm going to be really naughty and disagree with you Mrs Mc.
I think that plan is too heavy for a newbie in the closing weeks and that there's nothing much to gain in the last two to three weeks.

I'm not a novice but unless you've decent mileage behind you for this period of training I would suggest winding it down a lot more and perhaps following the boards plan. Why would a newbie need a 12 mile long run the week before a marathon?

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Thanks Joe I'm from last years novice group and I know a few of this years novices are following the same plan I followed this plan last year and remember doubting it at this stage. I followed it last year and it stood me well on the day. It gives the option of 18/20 this weekend so think I'll stick to the plan unless something happens this week but do appreciate your input thanks.

denis b · 11-10-2016 07:58AM

Subzero3 wrote: »

Hi,

Looking forward to my first marathon. I will be staying in Terenure. If I use the online bus times will they be accurate for the day? ie changes to bus routes due to marathon. Is anyone from around that area to advise. I will be starting in Wave 1 and want to be there 1.5 hours before start.

Thanks

I would not chance it with reduced frequency of service at that hour. Grab a taxi on the street and you should be close to the start for €10. Less stress for your big day. Enjoy the run

Firedance · 11-10-2016 08:08AM

Van.Bosch wrote: »

Im following the P&D 55 plan which calls for 16 miles this weekend. i was doing well with training but last few weeks have been sketchy so i dont feel i have the training done or the right stamina. i did two 20 milers so far and was doing a final one yesterday but stopped at 18.6 as i was wrecked. I am tempted to do 20 miles this week instead of the 16 to build up my fitness again as i feel the stamina dropped over the bad weeks.

My head says its too late - is it right?

Edit - just saw my question is pretty much the same as Andrews

Something we've said often through this thread is don't try and catch up on missed runs, let them go. You've done what you've done to date and there are no gains to be made from running 20 miles this week, in fact the opposite is true, you've far more to loose. Go out and run your 16 miles, run it well (take it slow!) and let that give you a confidence boost in itself.

Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread

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