Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread

Extrasupervery · 26-10-2016 09:04AM

I have run dozens of road races over the past few years and have never, ever had a problem with headphones. During a very rural 10 miler a few years ago, I had to run up to and a runner ahead of me and point out the ambulance that was attempting to pass us, she was running in the middle of the road oblivious to it. I had headphones in, she didn't. You can't ban idiots. I listen to stewards, I pay attention to what's around me, but I like some music as a distraction and some company, too.

If I looked to my breathing as an indicator that something was wrong, I'd have never run more than 3 miles. I have run with headphones in for years now, and won't be changing it for Sunday, as per the 'nothing new on race day' rule. My OH took the advice of this thread and stopped running with music for a while, when he went back to it (due to long run boredom) he said it made his run 10x more enjoyable. I really don't get why it concerns anyone else that I run with headphones in, as I do so safely.

kittyclaws · 26-10-2016 09:05AM

spaceylou wrote: »

Thought I had dodged the man flu BF had at weekend but this morning sore throat, (slightly) swollen glands and not entirely clear nose

All tips for instant cure welcome!!

I swear by a tall glass of hot whiskey followed by a lemsip and an early night.

faithmc · 26-10-2016 09:08AM

Spaceylou...If you go to a good health shop there's a range called Solgar. Ask for wild oregano oil capsules. They're amazing. Natural antibiotic and anti inflammatory. Really good for respiratory problems too. Feel better soon

faithmc · 26-10-2016 09:14AM

I came across this recently...reckon i'll be doing this for more than the last mile!!!

http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/07/just-for-fun/weird-things-runners-do-to-get-through-the-final-mile_43412#wlouM2vYi0MC8Qlc.97

bucketybuck · 26-10-2016 10:03AM

I can run without headphones, but its a fact that running to music does help me get through the long runs and so on a day where every little bit of help is needed I think I'll be bringing them with me.

I don't fully agree with the whole health and safety angle to be honest, they are just headphones, not a soundproof bubble, I think most non-idiots still have a good sense of what is around them. There will always be proper idiots of course, thats a given.

I'm also wary of overstating the crowd support as well. I tend more to introvert than extrovert, so to me nearly 5 hours of being the focus of other people sounds tiring, not invigorating. At some point I know I'll want to retreat inside myself a little and get on with the real business of the day. I've done every step of the training on my own, its been a very personal journey for me and certain music has played a part in that.

That doesn't mean I won't appreciate the crowds of course and I will be making a point to soak up the atmosphere as much as I can. I just don't want 26 miles of soaking up atmosphere, so I'll bring the headphones and let them help me through some of the tough times.

yaboya1 · 26-10-2016 10:03AM

Just popping in here. Good luck to all running on Sunday. As many have said already, you'll be better prepared than the majority toeing the line.
Fair play to nop98 for doing a great job as mentor, but it's obviously driven him mad judging by his recent referrals to FBOT as 'great' and me as a 'boards legend' :pac::pac:

I am due to pace 3:40, so come say hello if you're joining the group.

Speaking of pacers, there's one question coming up here quite regularly which can be answered using common sense:

"Which wave will the x:xx pacers be in?"

Obviously there are now four waves due to the allowance of an additonal 2,000 entries this year, so the original times have been slightly adjusted. If we use Wave 1 as an example, it was 'Under 3:50' before the introduction of the 4th Wave, but is now 'Under 3:35'. Therefore (rather obviously if you think about it) the pacers in this wave will be for 3:00, 3:10, 3:20 & 3:30.

I am pacing 3:40. That is not 'Under 3:35', so we do not belong in Wave 1. We will be somewhere near the front of Wave 2 (3:35 - 4:05). The same logic applies across the board to all pacing groups.

Good luck again and see you Sunday

spaceylou · 26-10-2016 10:25AM

Thanks for all the remedy suggestions, I particularly like kittyclaws whiskey prescription

diego_b · 26-10-2016 10:49AM

Best of luck to all the novices for Sunday, hope to catch you in McGrattans afterwards. Been a pleasure seeing each of you progress through your training. Nop has prepped you very well and you're well set toeing the line. I hope time targets aside you enjoy the day and whilst it will be hard, really hard at times remember to just keep moving forward. It's simple but that's it.
That last mile plus 0.2 or so in from Ballsbridge is something else and that's what has me back again this year. It's still very fresh in the mind and I am looking forward to seeing it again. It's the accumulation of all those long runs and days when you didn't feel like training but you got it done. Your races/session good and bad but you got them done. It's those doubts about whether you (body and mind) could actually do the distance but you are going to get it done.

If you spot me on course, do say hello. My name is David and I'll be wearing a blue St. Brendan's AC singlet.
I'll be starting around the 4 hour pacers and all going well on the day will come in just ahead of them....but that's the unknown bit!!

RasTa · 26-10-2016 10:54AM

Running way to fast this week

Tues - 2.4m @ 9.04 p/m
Wed - 5.1m @ 8.24 p/m

tony1980 · 26-10-2016 01:25PM

Just finished with the physio, should be all good for Sunday

smashiner · 26-10-2016 01:25PM

faithmc wrote: »

Sorry Nop98...I'm bold I know but they're part of my checklist at this stage. I promise i'll try very hard not to tun them on!!!

Hi Guys,
I always...always....always run with headphones on bar the odd race, so I completely understand the concept of running for 26 miles without them might seem weird. I brought mine to the DCM and put them in my pocket and never took them out as the crowd were amazing and you will miss out on so much if you wear them for the entire race.

Bring them, put them in your pocket/arm band and only whip them out if you really feel that you can't get through it without them.

A tenner says that you will forget all about them about 30 seconds after crossing the Start line and you then realise .....'Holy Jesus I am actually running the Marathon.... this is the best feeling ever!';)

seanin4711 · 26-10-2016 01:41PM

its a balls as I am in wave 4 and want a sub 4 with pacers.
Have to be so so disciplined!!!

Safrongirl · 26-10-2016 01:50PM

Had my last physio too - had lovely guy who says its my bum that needs work well my glutes so gave me some exercises where I look so silly doing them - crab walk anyone ???and everything else is good - he did a bit of dry needling on quads and I should be grand for Sunday. Think its more the reassurance from a professional telling me that nothing is wrong .
So resting as much as I can today and then nice 5km tomorrow and I think thats me done ?

seanin4711 · 26-10-2016 01:53PM

5/6km run tomorrow planned.
Physio Friday morning and that's all she wrote!
DCM lets be having you!

faithmc · 26-10-2016 02:15PM

Safrongirl wrote: »

Had my last physio too - had lovely guy who says its my bum that needs work well my glutes so gave me some exercises where I look so silly doing them - crab walk anyone ???and everything else is good - he did a bit of dry needling on quads and I should be grand for Sunday. Think its more the reassurance from a professional telling me that nothing is wrong .
So resting as much as I can today and then nice 5km tomorrow and I think thats me done ?

Ouch ouch ouch safrongirl...i did both my piriformis muscles before the peronial tendonitis set in. Jesus Christ the pain of physio (Not to mention the mortification of having him sticking his elbow into my bare ass cheeks!!!!) was so sore but it did the trick thank God. Totally agree RE his word being reassuring...I held my breath thru the whole session yesterday morning!!! Glad you got the A OK.

I notice you're location is Cavan. Can I ask if you're coming into Dublin the day of the marathon and what you're thinking of parking wise please? My original plans are scuppered and I'm coming in from Navan the morning of the marathon. TIA

cmac8 · 26-10-2016 02:20PM

Similiar to faithmc above, my wife is driving up with me on the Sunday. I am in the last wave so have a bit more time than early starters but wondering where would be the best place for her to park etc and should we be expecting much traffic coming into dublin at that time on a Sunday?

Safrongirl · 26-10-2016 03:12PM

I am coming up on the Saturday and staying over night in a hotel - I am working till 3pm on Saturday ( starting at 5am too ) and hopefully if I get all done I can get away a bit early so plan is to go straight to RDS and then to the hotel. I was trying to plan for coming up on the day and then had no idea about parking etc so got a good deal in a hotel in IFSC which is 20 minutes walk from the start line so just booked it.
Was talking to others and they still recommended to be at start area about 8am even though we arent starting till 9.30 - said by the time you bag drop - get to your wave start area etc ???
My original plan was to drive to Blanch centre and get taxi in from there .

jameshayes · 26-10-2016 03:14PM

It'd be handy enough parking in the city centre i've heard, otherwise there'll be loads of room in the pheonix park i'd bet

Downtime · 26-10-2016 03:20PM

jameshayes wrote: »

Confirmation email from DCM just came through.. it has a number "8927" on it.. maybe my race number!

I doubt it. Mine has 24000+ on it.

paddydriver · 26-10-2016 04:34PM

So 24 hours on from the panic of yesterday I think we are back on track. Got out for 5.5M this morning (Last of the Purple's on the Boards Plan.. Woo-hoo!) and ran it at PMP. I added in a single hill sprint too in order to test out my sore calf and all was good. Following the run I went to physio and he gave the all clear. He could feel tightness in the back of the calf but no tears etc - he said I would know all about it if something serious. Gave me assurances that hill sprints would have rooted out any issues.. his professional opinion is that tightness will be gone in few days and either way would not be a precursor to anything more serious on Sunday as he reckons long distance race will not go from tightness to tear - hence the hill sprints to test for any pain.

Anyway, I've been up and down stairs today and no issues. There is just the slight residual tenderness from the physio pressing right into the the sore area but I think if you press hard into any muscle its gonna be sore afterwards.

Now.. the cold, and its interesting to see this going around; I too have had a cold and Thankfully has not developed but whilst there is no cure for a cold you can try stop it from getting worse. I went to "Airfield" locally to me and got some of their honey (€€€€) and supposedly local honey is best - maybe it has the immunities for the local colds.. who's to know. Anyway, been taking that in boiled water with lemon. Lots of water and some paracetamol. Hopefully on top of it but tomorrow will be a good indicator.

Think I will leave running now till a slow 2M on Sat morning to get legs working. Nearly there now.. looking forward to Sunday. Weather does indeed look promising for us so fingers crossed. Best of Luck all in the remaining taper...

Oh.. on headphones; I think to block out the atmosphere on Sunday is bad idea. I've gone out to watch DCM so many times and the support is fantastic.. I personally want to soak it all up and use to bring me home.

The Muppet · 26-10-2016 05:08PM

Last speed session on the plan completed \0/

5 miles with 3 @pmp, I didn't really run it by the book.

5 @ 131 bpm 10 33 pace.

Not sure ill get out tomorrow as it's gearing up to be a busy day but i'll see. Going to the expo first thing saturday morning I hope to get the 2 miles in after that.

Nearly there now.

Wubble Wubble · 26-10-2016 05:14PM

Downtime wrote: »

I doubt it. Mine has 24000+ on it.

It's not the race number. I got the same email as when I registered in March.

kin9pin · 26-10-2016 06:45PM

5m with 3m PMP completed tonight. Felt the benefits of the taper, I had to slow myself down on the first PMP mile as it felt easier than I remember.
I think I'll give tomorrow's easy run a miss and will just do the 2m loosener early on Saturday. Feel I'm in good shape now, just can't wait until Sunday.

Bought a top in Penneys today for €6. SIX EURO!. Planned to wear and discard before the start, but it looks like it might not be needed if the weather holds up.

Wubble Wubble · 26-10-2016 07:33PM

Brilliant work guys. Especially when it seems like the hard part is slowing down your PMP miles! It's getting closer!

Maximus Alexander · 26-10-2016 07:55PM

I'm the best at taper. Is there a prize? 4 miles last week and 2 so far this week.

Wubble Wubble · 26-10-2016 08:01PM

See your 2 and raise you 0 !!

Maximus Alexander · 26-10-2016 08:08PM

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

See your 2 and raise you 0 !!

We should get a hash tag going.

#TrainHardTaperHarder

FITZA · 26-10-2016 08:53PM

2 miles this evening, only 2 miles left to run on Saturday....I too had to slow down my run this evening which did feel great. Physio appointment after the run and she said all seemed ok so hopefully it's just get through the next few days and get to Sunday feeling like I can run a marathon

nop98 · 26-10-2016 09:15PM

So ... in order to keep the mind of a certain event on Sunday (as if that's possible), I am actually quite curious what everybody is thinking about plans/goals for after DCM .. ? Running-related goals primarily, obviously, or anything else worth sharing?

Couple of rules-of-thumb to keep in mind...
> Don't count on any mileage the first 1-2 weeks after DCM. Especially not the first week. It's probably okay to lace up and hobble around for 3 rec miles the weekend after, but not much more than that..
> Don't plan any races for November, tempting as it might be. A day for every mile raced - so that more or less rules out the month of November. Great opportunity to volunteer at the local parkrun, maybe

There are a couple of great shorter distance races to target in the winter (sorry, Dublin focussed):
> Dec 3 Jingle Bells 5k
> Jan 29 Raheny 5M
> and I'm sure much more.

Go on, any plans, ambitions, goals out there? :cool:

paddydriver · 26-10-2016 09:28PM

IM Dublin next August.. as soon as it opens

Away to hotel next week for food and beers..

Recovery run next Monday.. but lets get Sunday done first..:pac:

In the lottery for Berlin 2017

Gotta have targets or I will stagnate.

Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread

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