Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread

conor_mc wrote: »

The other guys have commented on mileage etc, so no need for me to go over that, but this comment struck me - do you train with 3 Isogels on your LSR's? Your 10m and HM PB's are both 3-4 mins faster than mine, but I've gone sub-4 in both 2015 and this year. On Sunday I had 1 gel and maybe a dozen or so jellies out on the course.

It does sound like your endurance is the problem, and if you're running LSR's loaded up on gels like you race, then you're not improving your body's fat-burning capacity.

For what it's worth, my LSR pace tends to be 9:30-10 m/m. But I frequently ran LSR's before eating in the morning, certainly the 12-16 mile runs, maybe not the longer ones.

Very interesting, I'm split on the influence of gels etc and I know you're not saying ignore it but what is the key to your endurance? Is it running on empty and getting your body used to it?

What plan did you follow by the way? Thanks

The Black Oil wrote: »

Pompla, hopefully not all is lost and a bit of tinkering will get you sorted. Have you checked that Garmin megathread? Maybe it's one of those things like a phone and you've to put it into recovery mode. My Garmin often fails to sync first time I connect it. Maybe there's a more underlying issue and the files are not corrupted. Am not that techie with the watches, fingers crossed. Are you using Garmin Connect - does it store past workouts even after you've unplugged?

It was saying it had synced yet my marathon run wasn't appearing on Garmin connect. Then when I unplugged the watch, it was saying I had no running history at all. Unfortunately I ended up having to reset the Garmin so if there was some way of getting it back before, I'm pretty sure that's now gone. Seems to be working ok now that it's been reset. I suppose it could've been worse, it could've failed the morning of the race!:eek:
But thanks anyway! And well done again on your performance on Sunday! I also found it really really strange not having to go for a run this evening!:o

This is my race report. Sorry its so late, but it was a bit of a blur to be honest for the last few days. it was only this morning that it started to clear - or I came down off the high.

Prerace Saturday morning - had a bad night with my 9 month old having a bad cough and waking at least 10 times in the night. Got up at 6 with him and decided to go to Dublin earlier than I has planned, to get the expo out of the way and have a early nap. The nerves and fears of the last two weeks - classic taper madness - had given away to a calm acceptance. I ran through all the possible outcomes in my head on my last run. Finish within my time - great. Not finish within my time - great and lessons to be learned. Not finish - not so great, but still got through all the training, learned so much and could learn so much from not finishing - it can happen to Paula Radcliffe, so why not marathon novice like me. there is always another marathon. I was ok with any of these and it really helped to keep me calm.

Got to the expo, got my number very quickly and had a quick look around. Looked at the pacers, but they were jammed so headed off to where I was staying. Had lunch and a two hour nap and vowed to just sit as much as i could for the rest of the day. Had a short bath and was in bed and asleep by 9.30. Slept great and really felt the benefit of the proper rest. If i was at home I would have been up and down doing stuff, so I can really recommend doing that the day before if you can.

Race Day. Woke at 5.45. Had some porridge, bagels and coffee. Drank 500 mls of High Zero sports drink and sipped some water while I waited. Put on my race gear - and felt excited and privileged. I was running this for a childhood cancer charity. I had a picture of the little boy in whose memory it was founded on my wrist band and I remembered that I was so lucky. I walked up to the start and reminded myself of my plan - easy out, steady middle, floored finish. Went to the loo and wandered up to the coral. It felt like a long time standing there and I was glad to have something to throw over me. My plan was to follow the 4.10 pacers and i settled in a few people behind them. We soon started the walk up to the start and Out of the corner of my eye i spotted a line of portaloos. I made the decision to go - in out quickly and save having to stop later. But by the time I came out - the 4.10 pacers were very far ahead of me. We hadnt started yet - and I knew it would be congested for a while so didnt panic. Next thing the gun went and we were off.

Started my watch and thought about the graph - slow out, slow out. I kept looking at my watch to make sure i was ok pace wise and it suddenly tells me im running 5.35 minute mile. Garmin acting up so switched it off and on at one mile and hoped it would right itself. I love running with a pacer cos it takes all the pressure off watching the watch, but they were getting further and further away from me. So I had to make a decision - my watch was still jumping around the place, so as we headed in to the park i vowed to slowly catch the pacers. I could see them so it was by inches that I reeled them in. I knew booting up just to catch them would cost me later and cost dearly. Increased my pace very slightly and stuck to the shortest line and slowly those balloons got closer.

If anyone thinking of doing a marathon reads nothing else of this report, please please read this bit. In the park, the amount of people passing me was really unsettling me. They were jumping and weaving to get past and really putting in a hard effort - sweat, laboured breathing the whole lot. It made me want to run faster, like I wasnt doing this right and i would get left behind. It look a huge amount of control not to do do it and I watched more and more fly past me like a bat out of hell. Three runners bedside me actually said it will be grand cos we are banking this time for later!! I swear I whipped my head over to them and for one minute i doubted everything I knew. They smiled at me and ran off into the distance. Think of the graph - think of the graph i told myself. I had a gel, drank some of my electolyte drink and sucked a Star Burst. And stayed put. I kept my balloon in sight and just kept trucking. I passed so many of these people at 20-22 miles in absolute shreds. it was not a pleasant thing. I saw my three "banking" runners holding each other up around Miltown. I felt bad for them. So dont so that - you dont want that feeling EVER. SLOW OUT -

Out of the park and was delighted to see the words "supple" on the back of a tee shirt which could only be our TBO! I got up to him and had a few words and wished him well. I was then in the pace group so felt very relaxed and just concentrated on enjoying it. The crowds were amazing - Castleknock was spine tingling!! The noise and people calling your name - it was just electrifying. I would do it again just for that alone. Being part of the pace group was great cos they also shouted "Come on the 4.10s" and made you really feel like you were in this together. it was warm so took water at every station drank some and poured some down my neck to stay cool. Gels every 5 miles and my starburst when i felt like it. Just as I practiced - downed with plenty of water.

Pacers were fantastic - even paced and spoke to loads of people. Even found a woman on her 700th marathon - which stunned us all into silence. If they are Boardsies, i loved you guys so much I'm surprised I didn't follow ye home!

Through halfway dead on pace - felt great and just trusted to keep doing as I was doing and go from mile to mile. I just tried to keep it even and take it in things around me. The only niggle i has was the unknown of going over 20 miles - would i be able to keep going at this pace?? I was feeling more tired than earlier but that was as expected. I knew no matter how tired i was I would keep going. I would kick myself on Monday if i quit. Had a great chat with a guy named mick about football for a few miles and that really passed the miles. Most of the time I didnt know what mile I was in, i just dug a little deeper and smiled and ran. Smiling makes you think its enjoyable - it really works. I looked my the face on my wristband and reminded myself that it was nothing in comparison what kids with cancer go through.

Got to 20 miles feeling really steady. The pacer with beard shouted that there were a few hard miles and coming up and then we were free wheeling home. They paced us up those hills and they were over in an instant. I knew then I was going to finish this thing and feel ok. Got up heartbreak hill and then it was hit for home. I had faced that fear of that distance i hadn't done yet and I knew I could do it. I ended up on the other pacers shoulder for a few miles and had a great chat about his running - from the Comrades in SA to nearly dying of cold in Connemara. He was inspiring and told me if I could still be chatting at the RDS that I should hit for home. I thanked him and started to ease into a higher pace. My left thigh was complaining a bit, but I just stuck with the plan to come in just ahead of the pacers. So I floored what i had left and went.

That green carpet was a welcome sight - heard my son and OH half roaring at me , waved and kicked for home. And then it was done....

it was the most amazing experience - the training, the boards support and the marathon. I will do it again - in a heartbeat. Worth every step and black toe nail. You will not be sorry you did it - if you do it right. Get a plan, follow the plan, trust the plan and then trust it again. This race will fool you into thinking you are invincible at the start - only so it can chew you up and spit you out in those heartbreak miles at the end. But if you resist, trust your race plan and execute as best you can, you will feel bloody superhuman.

The Black Oil wrote: »

Great report. The shout outs like the 'come on the 4:10s', were great, didn't expect that sort of thing at all.

Neither did I! But it was mad cos I really felt we were this group. Made it so much easier. I swear it was the most surreal experience.

Hows the body?? Feels weird to be finished now.

Fbjm wrote: »

There's always the Clontarf half marathon in two and a half weeks :P

Ehh... pass. :pac:

Fbjm wrote: »

No one but me is mental enough to go for it no? No...? Guys?

Think a bit longer term, even medium term....by all means run it but don't race it. The mantra of a not racing/hard running for a day for every mile raced is a good way to avoid injury.

So 26 days....from last Sunday.

Thanks for all the lovely responses to my marathon report guys...I'm blown away that it touched ye.

Muppet please don't apologise...I asked for honest advice and ye gave it. I didn't say anything about my dad at that time purely as I was so late to the group. It was solely my responsibility to take or leave your advice and genuinely if there wasn't so much emotion behind my marathon; I would've listened to ye because as ye said 4 weeks ago, there'll always be more marathons. Also, a sincere thank you for counting me as one of ye as the answer to nops question about what I would've done differently is that I would've liked to have been here from the start for support and maybe to have met some of ye at other events. I'll stick around and I'm definitely gonna keep running...is this thread gonna stay active or do ye start a Graduates thread?!!!

Congrats again to all you graduates...aren't we a pretty awesome bunch!!!

I thought it was all fun and games hobbling around the house the last few days but it's time to go back to work and my right foot is still acutely painful when I weight bear. If it's short staffed today I may just go and hide for the day!

Hope ye are all recovering well. The Clontarf HM was my first and I loved it but I don't think I'd be up for it again just yet.

I am so behind on the thread but well done to everyone just starting to read reports and the first one I came across was faithmc. Oh my god what an emotional report I am so delighted for you what a lovely emotional story I'm just short of crying but on the dart to work so have to hold it together. Wear that medal with pride for you and your Dad. Well done.

budhistmonk wrote: »

Hi P, it's possible the fit file is still on your computer. I had a similar problem. If you use windows I think the fit files are synced from the watch to "ProgramData/Garmin/CoreService/Devices/<number of your device>/Sync/<Fit Type directory/"
or
"ProgramData/Garmin/GarminConnect/<name of your device>/<Fit Type directory/"

and then from there to Garmin Connect site.

Might be worth seeing is there are fit files under here that match the date/time you might have synced with the marathon run on it. If you find one maybe try to manually sync from Garmin Connect webpage and if it does not sync try to repair it and try to upload again.

Not sure if any of this will help but maybe worth a try.

Just tried that but there seems to be no .fit files in that location:( Thanks a mill for the suggestion anyway!

jameshayes wrote: »

Did you have a look at the tool called "**Garmin Online FIT Repair Tool: Useful if your activity file is corrupted/incorrect/dorked up." on this site: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/tools

Unfortunately I don't seem to have any activity files to even attempt to repair. But I've kept that link for future reference. Thanks!
Sorry, I don't mean to distract this thread with my technology woes.

How are all the marathon legs doing today? My quads and heels are still sore but much improved since Sunday. Apparently it was hilarious watching me attempt to walk:P

I managed to walk to work today looking like a normal person. Quads and calves are still tender, but they are at least functional again!

Also in the 24 hours after the marathon my achilles was vibrating when I moved my foot. Like if you put your finger on it you could feel a sort of tremor. That has now stopped.