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DCM 2018 - Mentored Novice Thread
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this is ballsy, i have read it twice- a fantasic report, be proud of those miles.I hope nobody minds but I'm going to post my race report here as well as on my training log.
As this is my first marathon, I've tried to provide as detailed and honest an account as my memory will allow. It's more for my benefit than anything (how selfish) but if you can take any encouragement or positives from reading it, all the better! Apologies if it goes on a bit.
So here were were, the day that all of the months of hard were leading up to. The feelings of extreme nerves during the previous couple of weeks had gradually turned to excitement in the days before the marathon and I was eventually in full 'race mode', feeling very focused.
The day before the main event, I had everything prepared, race clothes, change of clothes, fuelling, the works. I was starting to feel really good about this.
Pre-race
On the morning of the race (after a fitful night's sleep), I got a lift in with some lads from Waterstown RC. I'd never actually met any of them before, they were friends with a girl that I work with and they kindly offered me a lift in when they'd heard I was stuck for transport. It was cold enough, as predicted, but I could already tell that it was the beginning of a perfect weather day for running.
Had a nice relaxing journey in with a few laughs along the way and as most of them were experienced marathoners, they gave me a few last minute pointers to send me on my way.
Arrived in town about 8am and made my way up to Stephen's Green to meet my fellow Boardsies for a brief meet up before we made our way back down to the bag drop off. The buzz around the city was something to behold and it was really only then that I fully understood the sheer enormity of the event. Around Merrion Square. there were runners literally everywhere I looked. Controlled mayhem is an accurate description I think. Removed a few outer layers and made sure I had everything I needed before dropping off my bag. A much needed trip to the portaloo was had, then like a lost sheep, headed up towards the Green start line.
Apart from a few last minute stretches, I honestly didn't know what to do to pass the time. Thankfully, before I knew it, the crowd started moving along up to Fitzwilliam St. and I followed the 3:40 pacers to the start line. In typical 'me' fashion, it was at that moment that I started to doubt my plan of achieving a 3:40 time. Common sense would have to be the order of the day, I thought. Even if I eventually found myself running with the 3:50 pacers, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad day at the office.
My heart was thumping as 9:15am approached and all of a sudden, off we went.
The race
Miles 1-6
Naturally, as expected, things were slow to get moving but I still enjoyed the atmosphere around me, trying to soak it all in. The first mile came and went in a flash, couldn't believe how quickly it had passed. Up past Patrick's cathedral and towards Christchurch, I was feeling great, helped in no small part by the perfect running conditions. At this point, I was more than happy for the 3:40 pacers to be ahead of me, as long as I kept them within my sights.
The first lag of the day - Blackhall Place/Stoneybatter - brought the first little mis-hap. I took at bottle from the water station and after removing the lid to drop the half a zero tab in, I dropped the lid and somehow managed to pick it up quickly enough not to impede any other runners. Way too close for comfort. Had to make sure the next one went more smoothly.
There was great support along NCR and as soon as we got into the park, I had to prepare myself for Chesterfield Ave. I was trying my best to match my pace band against my watch and although I was 10-15 seconds faster for miles 3, 4 and 5, I still thought I was running at a moderate enough pace. Picked out my first bit of support along Chesterfield Ave which gave me a great boost. The stretch along this par to the route was not as much of a drag as I was anticipating and as we hit the 10k mark, I couldn't believe how quickly the miles were passing by. Still, checking my pace and was still averaging 8:15-8:20m/mile. Took a gel during mile 6.
Miles 7-14
Exiting the Castleknock gates was a completely different kettle of fish. The support was immense and the band on stage really carried us along. There was a real carnival atmosphere and I was astounded at the lengths some people had gone to with their posters, banners and shouts of encouragement towards their own families and friends. Lots of high-fives were the order of the day and added to the feel-good factor before we made our descent back into the Phoenix Park. Looking back, it was this moment that may have been a turning point for me. I was more than aware that I needed to take it easy but as I checked my pace for mile 8 as we entered the Phoenix Park once more, alarm bells rang when I saw 7:57. There was a marginal improvement for the next mile as we headed towards Chapelizod gates but was back into 7 minute territory on the next downhill stretch of the Upper Glen Rd.
St. Laurence Rd was manageable enough and by this point I was just looking forward to running through Kilmainham where my wife and two kids would hopefully be waiting. Heard my name being shouted out as we ran down Sarsfield Rd and saw it was another familiar face.
The anticipation of seeing my family was almost too much to bear and found myself having to fight back some tears of emotion at the thought of seeing them. As we approached South Circular Road, I was frantically scanning the crowd for a sign of them and there they were, just outside the gates of the Royal Hospital. Simply put, I lost the plot as I jumped foy joy and let out shouts of delight that I were almost out of my control. A sight that no doubt will be etched into the memory of my kids for some years to come. My plans of high-fiving them were not to be as one of the stewards had asked my wife to move slightly away from the road just before I appeared and the photo opp she had been waiting ages for came and went. I was so disappointed for her and was almost tempted to turn back but knew that would be crazy. Still, I was so happy to see them.
My actual pace and my pace band were still not that far apart and as we entered Rialto. Fantastic support again from the locals who were armed with tubs of jellies, oranges, apples bananas, jaffa cakes, the works. It was as this point that I felt that something was not quite right. Running along the Crumlin Rd, I experienced the first sign of tiredness in the legs and as we approached the half way point in 1h:50m, I begun to wonder how on earth I was going to cope if I was feeling like this now and felt like I was now left with a serious uphill battle if I wanted to achieve a negative split. The pacers were now further away than ever and could just about make out the white balloons in the distance. Took a gel at mile 11, followed by water with Zero tab.
Miles 15-20
I knew my parents would be waiting for me on the Cromwellsfort Rd so perhaps that would give me another much needed boost. As we neared the Walkinstown roundabout, the support was phenomenal and I found myself dipping in to some of the jellies on offer. Not something I had planned to do at any stage of the race and saw it as an ominous sign of what was to come.
I spotted my parents outside the Submarine Bar, just where they said they would be and once again, excitement took over, so much so that I decided not to take the banana that my dad was patiently holding out for me. I wondered if I would eventually regret that.
The thrill I felt very quickly vanished and I was back to where I was before, feeling tired in the legs and a general feeling of discomfort. At this point, I had begun to lose a little bit of focus and was no longer aware of where we were on the route. The 3:40 pacers had begun to pull out of sight completely. Not a good sign.
What followed after Templeogue/Terenure is all a bit hazy. I became quite disoriented and the tiredness in the legs very quickly progressed into an actual ache. My pace was gradually becoming slower and it felt like everything was going wrong very quickly. Panic begun to set in. I thought as long as I maintained this slightly slower pace, I would still perhaps manage a 3:45 finish or thereabouts. I became less and less aware of the crowds of supporters around me and before long their cheers and clapping were doing absolutely nothing for me whatsoever. I noticed some runners around me had begun to walk and for the first time I wondered if that would eventually be my fate. After Terenure, my sense of location grew less and less and even the prospect of facing the infamous wall barely registered with me. I noticed that as my pace lessened, more and more runners with much fresher legs than mine were passing me by. This was not the plan and as much as I tried, I just couldn't push any harder. Then, somewhere around the Milltown area - I can't be sure of this - the legs went. Cramp - something I've never experienced before - had well and truly set in and I could feel (and see) the muscles in my legs tighten. I pulled up with severe pain in the back of my legs and had no choice but to stop running. I was devastated. As I limped on, with other runners offering words of encouragement, I kept looking behind for the 3:50 pacers. Still nothing. I stretched for a minute at the side of the road and started to run again at a much slower pace. Again, the legs went and the pain was becoming worse.
Took another gel at mile 20.
Miles 21-26
I just kept walking, and I was in good company too as the number of walkers grew. I hoped that after a few minutes of walking, the pain in my legs would pass. After a few more stretches, I tried running again but this time the pain was at its worst and the legs turned into a jelly-like state and I stopped once more. I didn't know where to turn, what to do or what to think. I was in pain, I could barely walk and worst of all, sub 4 now felt like an impossible task. I felt like crying but I wouldn't allow it. I took another glance over my shoulder and there they were in the distance, the 3:50 pacers. My heart sank and as I limped up towards Roebuck Rd, I let out a very loud "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" in complete frustration. The pace on my watch read 12:29 and at that moment, I honestly felt like packing it in there and then but knew that wasn't really an option. The pacers glided past and all I could do was watch. I managed another half mile or so of light running and in desperation, I asked an onlooker if I could take a drink of her coke, thinking that it would help somehow. She saw I was in trouble and very kindly obliged. Couldn't possible say whether it had a positive or adverse effect. Took two clif bloks.
Like with the previous few miles, I really had no idea where I was and as the crowds grew in size, all I wanted was for them to disappear. I saw another familiar face but didn't even have the energy to call their name out. By now, the 3:50 pacers were nowhere to be seen.
As we turned onto Stillorgan Rd, I somehow managed to start running again at a reasonably moderate pace and thought that maybe, if I pushed enough, I could catch up with the 3:50 pacers but I clearly knew this was too big an ask. Just before Nutley lane, the legs went again but not quite as bad as before so I walked again for another minute while checking the time on my watch and saw that just over 3 and a half hours had elapsed. I did the maths in my head and knew that it would take all my strength to make sub 4 at this point. I started off running once more and prepared myself for the final stretch.
I was able to pick up the pace with the pain in my legs just about manageable and begun to overtake a good few other runners as we approached Ballsbridge. I now knew that if I were to stop again between here and the finish line, it was all over so I dug deep and ran through pain like I've never known. The last half a mile seemed to go on forever and all the previous romantic notions I'd had before today of approaching the finish line completely went out the window. I was utterly spent by now and the noise from the crowds, which had almost trebled in size, became almost overwhelming to me and as crazy as it sounds, I tried as hard as I could to block it all out. I kept telling myself that I had to stop but something - I don't know what - made me plough on. I could see the official time ahead was 03:56.xx so pushed hard once again for the final 200 metres and crossed the finish line in a complete daze. Official time was 03:57:01
Once I had crossed the finish line, all I wanted to do was to sit down on the ground but there was enough common sense coming from the race stewards to tell me that it was not the most sensible idea in the world. I could barely walk, I couldn't speak and as the medal was placed over my head, it barely registered with me. After receiving my race t-shirt and goodie bag (how disappointing was THAT by the way?), I made my way slowly up to collect my bag.
No-post race selfies, no tears, no smiles, no hugs from family and a whopping 17 minutes outside my target time. At that moment, I felt like a fraud and most of all embarrassed for aiming my sights so high, telling the world how I was gunning for a 3:40 finish. It was the exact opposite to how I imagined this moment to be. I couldn't have felt any more low.
I rang my wife and it turned out they couldn't get anywhere near the finish line to see me so I got changed (very slowly) amongst the hoardes of fellow finishers and went off to meet them before saying a very brief farewell to the other Boards crew who had gathered in McGrattans. Would have loved to have stayed but it wasn't to be.
Later that evening, while sitting at home on the couch watching tv and thinking about the whole day, I burst into tears. Just like that. Better later than never I suppose.
Looking back, I think there were many factors which contributed to my horror show (pacing/fuelling/competitive streak/inexperience) but I have gradually gotten over my disappointment and know deep down that I should be proud of what I achieved, especially in the last few miles.
I will definitely be back next year, stronger, wiser and hopefully this time with a realistic goal and new PB.
Thanks to everyone who shared the experience with me. We did good! (Didn't we?)0 -
So here it goes, my race report...
Woke up before my alarm at 06:00 on Sunday morning. It was like Christmas, I was so excited. Following a substantial breakfast, I donned enough clothes for a polar expedition and my friend dropped me in near the Shelbourne, where I spotted the legendary skyblue46. It was easy to recognise him from his caricature! We were soon joined by more Boardsies, and after a short while, everyone made their way toward the bag drop area.
Following a few half-hearted stretches, a couple of loo trips and last minute fuelling, myself and the rest of wave 3 were off. The fairytale for me was sub 4. I knew this was on the optimistic end of the scale, so I planned a very conservative first half of 2:03:30, and we'd see where I was after that.
Miles 1-7:
My focus for the first 7 miles was all on keeping a handy pace, and I managed this. I started off behind the 4-hour pacers, and as planned let them off into the distance. The 4:10 pacers passed me after a mile or two, before crossing the Liffey anyway. Again, this was expected and all good. Passed my 3 person support crew on Chesterfield Avenue, and again later on the far side of the park. My 10k target time was 60:09, and I passed that mark in 60:40. Happy days.
9:39; 9:35; 9:48; 9:33; 9;36; 9:43; 9:48
Miles 8-13:
I knew I needed to pick up the pace over the next 10-12 miles, and while I managed to slightly up the pace, I always seemed to be 5 or 10s per mile slower than planned. I guess I had settled into a slow pace over the first 7 and found it hard to adjust to a faster pace. Found myself bunched up and boxed in on a few occasions as well. I also think that I was so wary of doing the first 7 miles too fast, that once I was over them I completely forgot about taking my time on the hills, drags and inclines over the middle portion of the race. I'd pay for that later.
I don't know Dublin too well, so after Chapelizod I could have been anywhere really. I passed the halfway mark in 2:05:57, over 2 minutes slower than intended. I still felt strong, but knew that sub 4 was looking unlikely. The first half had flown by. I couldn't believe that I'd been running for over 2 hours at this stage. Far too much brain power was wasted around this time trying to work out potential finishing times and the like.
9:12; 9:18; 9:11; 9:42; 9:16; 9:19
Miles 14-18:
Somewhere around mile 14 I reeled in the 4:10 group and passed them by. I was still ticking along nicely at this stage, although still slightly slower than my paceband suggested. At 17.5 miles, I passed by a woman who, while racing, was on the phone to her friend providing an update.
9:18; 9:09; 9:02; 9:10: 8:51
Miles 19-21:
Tried to lift the pace again around here, but my legs failed to comply. I still managed to tick away at an ok rate, but I was beginning to worry about what lay in store over the next hour or so.
9:24; 9:41; 9:17
Miles 22-26.2
I heard a dreaded rumble approaching from behind. It was the 4:10 group. They invited me to board the bus, but I just slipped right out the back in seconds. These miles were so tough. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and willing myself to keep running, no matter how slowly.
I went up what I assumed to be Heartbreak Hill and breathed a sigh of relief that the worst was behind me. I nearly cried a mile or so later when I spotted another, even bigger hill. As bad as I felt, I was still passing plenty of people who were walking, stretching and really struggling. Passed an ambulance crew attending to a fellow runner on the side of the road near UCD I think. Hope that person is ok.
It was during this period that I really appreciated the crowd. I had my name on my number, and the odd shout of encouragement from the sidelines was a great boost. I gratefully accepted a banana from a supporter. I ate half, and passed the remainder to a guy who was walking.
As I passed the RDS, I knew the finish was within reach, and managed to dig deep for a final push. The wall of noise over that finishing stretch was something else. I felt like I was sprinting at this stage, although a look at the youtube stream later showed more of a brisk walk. As I crossed the finish line, I tried in vain to raise my hands. 4:13:21
10:06; 10:17; 10:43; 11:03; 10:15; 9:10 (0.3)
If you told me at the start line that I'd finish in 4:13 I would have been gutted. But at the finish line, I truly didn't care about the time. As I limped over to get my medal I burst into tears, and balled my eyes out as the guy put it around my neck. I've no idea why, as I wouldn't be a very emotional person.
I met the OH afterwards and we made our way to McGrattan's. It was great to put faces to names and usernames, and share experiences, good and bad. I do all my training alone, so to have this group has been invaluable to me.
I'll end this with some thanks. Firstly the mentors. All the novices I spoke with during the day all echoed the same sentiment, which was huge gratitude to our three mentors, and an acknowledgment that we would never have made the start line without your advice. Thanks again to ariana', skyblue46 and kellygirl, your efforts over the past months are truly appreciated. Thanks are also due to the many other forum regulars who dropped in and tried to guide us in the right direction. Your input was always welcomed and appreciated.
To the people of Dublin. BRAVO! People spoke of the wonderful crowds, and I thought yeah, great, whatever. But I was blown away by the support all over the course. So many signs raised a smile, and high-fiving the odd child gave a timely boost. But, over those closing 6-8 miles it was the crowd that kept me going. The encouragement, the cheering, the refreshments and then the noise over that closing mile is something that I will never forget.
And finally, to my fellow novices, this experience was so much richer and more rewarding for having shared the journey with you. It has been so enjoyable to watch your journeys to becoming marathoners, and I've learned so much along the way. To those who began this journey with us, but for whatever reason did not make the start line, I highly recommend that you give it another crack next year. You'll be in great hands with coogy, eyrie and juke
Now, which way is the Training Logs forum?0 -
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