Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread

nop98 wrote: »

Last year, it was quite cold before the start and I wore an extra running layer. I was regretting it within a few miles, then spend most of Chesterfield Avenue juggling to take it off from under my t-shirt with the bib on it. A friend of mine was waiting in Castleknock so I sort-of flung it in his face as I ran by. I spent all about 3 minutes feeling guilty about that.

oh yeah, any extra layers you might wear go on over your singlet/t-shirt with the number on it.

At about five to 9 on the day there'll be a rain of clothes going from the pens out to the paths on the side...

Havnt run since last Saturday due to resting up my tired body/physio treatment and slight calf strain.

Got a great rest during the past couple of nights sleep, woke up this morning with the urge to run .
Take it handy on my run this afternoon ? 8-9 miles max .
Sounds ok ?

PauloMN wrote: »

Single-figure days left to the big day. It has just hit me. Like a high-speed train!! :eek:

Hope everyone is doing ok and steering clear of injury and illness. Last "long" run for me tonight, 8 miles easy. Have been so cautious running this week - no hills, safe paths, easy pace, watching every kerb like a hawk etc.

Just want to get to the start line at this stage.

And no paths with leaves. Leaves are deadly....I swear ilI be wearing a tin foil hat this time next week!

I wonder how many of the 19500 entrants will actually start the race ?

Hi Novices. Enjoy the few days left of being called this. In nine days you become Graduates :cool:


So you're all being calm, serene models of zen, right? No fretting about the weather, no over-dosing on pre-race nerves....NO OBSESSING ABOUT TARGETS, ok?!



This week is where you need to put the final touches to TITT (trust in the taper).


You have done the training, 'the hay is in the barn'. You've stuck to the plan, covered the miles, got the blisters, the sore muscles and probably a few PBs along the way. Your only job now is to get to the start line refreshed and raring to go having spent the last two weeks allowing your body to make all the lovely adaptions from all the hard work you've done. You can do this on two levels, mentally and physically:



THE UNCONTROLLABLES

Don't dwell on the uncontrollables, such as weather. Why waste nervous energy on what you can't control? Firstly, you can't control it and secondly, you are going to need every single ounce of all your energy!



THE CONTROLLABLES

Over the next nine days, make sure at least seven of these are restful, unbroken good nights of sleep; at least eight hours starting as far before midnight as you can. You may not sleep very well next Saturday night but if you have banked enough sleep credit in the preceding nights, this will not matter at all. My dad, a very experienced runner, always says its the second night's sleep before a race that is crucial.



IMPORTANT INCIDENTALS

• Now is NOT the week to move furniture. Don't lift anything heavier than your running shoes
• Have any massage/treatment earlier in the week than later. If later in the week, make sure the intensity is lowered accordingly.
• Line up some non-running books and films to read and watch
• Be nice to your family and loved ones. They have put up with 'Marathon You' for six months. Now they are getting 'Crazy Taper You'. I repeat, be nice to them!

TARGETS

Don't get hung up on targets. I know you are and nothing we here on boards can say will persuade you not to be. We've been there. If it starts to go wrong, have the courage to adjust, sooner rather than later. Have a back up plan. A distressed mile in a marathon can feel like four :eek:

You should feel like you are jogging for the first 10 miles. It might start to pinch a teensy bit - only slightly - at 13 miles. Fatigue will start to set in at 18 miles but if you have paced yourself correctly, you will have enough left to start the final dig at 20 miles, WHEN THE RACE REALLY STARTS



YES,

Noel Carroll, an Olympian and one of the founders of DCM wisely said that


It's not the distance that will kill you, but the pace.....



Start. Off. Slow.

You will gain it back later in the race. I promise....



Start off too fast too soon?


You. Will. Suffer. Horribly. I swear.....


Your main objective is to enjoy the day. You have dedicated months and miles to achieving this goal. Make sure you bloody relish it.



SMILE


RUN TALL


BREATHE


RELAX



HIGH FIVE YOUR SUPPORTERS



THANK THE STEWARDS, THE PACERS AND WATER PROVIDERS


Most importantly,


DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!!!!



You are so lucky to have been in Nop's hands this year. The biggest kudos to Nop and the back room crew. One last job for ye: Make sure they don't put their hands in their pockets all day in McGrattan's



Best of everything to you, Novices of 2016 :cool:

DG

Sunday again for my 8 miles this week....may get a few easy miles in the morning.

Take care everyone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=173HOgYd624

Things not to do when you're already suffering from taper madness:

-do a yawn/stretch thing and cause yourself to pull or strain a muscle in your side. It hurts. It's not near my legs so I'm really hoping I'll be ok during tomorrow's run. I booked another sports massage for after tomorrow's run so if it's still sore I'll get the physio to have a look.

-reverse into the side of someone's parked car. Waiting for the angry phone call:( I don't think they'll accept taper madness as an excuse for me not to pay for any damages. So annoyed with myself I could cry:(

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

In addition to my achilles problem, I now also appear to have a throat infection. I'm angry. :mad:

I got two of those during training. If you haven't already been to a Dr and it doesn't start to improve by the end of the weekend, definitely go to a Dr. I let it drag on longer than I should have, needed antibiotics in the end but once I started taking them I was back running & feeling back to normal pretty quickly.

Hope everyone else is having a better day than I am:pac: