Are those my feet?

Thanks for all the well wishes folks. Best of luck to those of you running tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing many of you for the post-race analysis

Dublin Marathon 2019 Report

Warning - this will be a by-the-numbers report. No drama, no tears, just a boring, well-executed race . And lots of boring race detail.

Travelled up to Dublin on the Saturday with the OH, who was supporting, and two others who were running also. Lots of running talk which was great. I trusted my plan, trusted my training and believed I was ready, so hearing stories of their training and plans didn't phase me one bit. In and out at the expo before a quiet evening and an early night. The last thing I read before bed was my race report from last year. A great reminder not to get carried away too soon. Up before the alarm in the morning, had a decent breakfast of overnight oats and bagel, before heading in. Bumped into coogy in the wave 2 holding area - he looked as relaxed as I felt.

As planned, I started off way down the back of wave 2. I let pretty much the whole wave off into the distance as I casually jettisioned the tracksuit pants and ambled up along towards the start line. I was calm, composed, ready. I chucked the hoodie as I approached the start line, and then realised I didn't even have my watch ready to go. Set that up, and finally, crossed the line almost 5 minutes after the leaders of wave 2.

Miles 1-7: 8:43, 9:05, 9:09, 8:55, 8:59, 8:49, 8:59
As outlined last week, I'd broken the race into 5 sections. Rough guide pace for these miles 8:55 or thereabouts. Nice and easy, don't get carried away, handy on the hills and don't be afraid to go slower than planned. There was plenty of room to run over the opening two miles and, as planned, I tried to run the shortest course I could. This was very much a focus throughout, particularly early. I was patient, waited for gaps to develop, didn't panic. It was warmer than expected, and I'd got rid of the hat, gloves and extra top by Stoneybatter. Running the racing line meant I happened upon the frist water station and grabbed a drink. Put in a zero tab and tucked it in my flipbelt. I didn't need to pick up water again until Kilmainham. Took Maurten gels at 2.5 and 5.5 miles. Some lunatic went weaving and zig-zagging through the pack over by the zoo at great speed. It was pretty reckless and could have easily caused an incident. Of course, I saw him again at Walkinstown and he was walking by then. Passed my OH at mile 5, and was keeping an eye out for applegirl at Myo's but didn't spot her. Still, knowing where people were dotted throughout the course helped provide a short-term focus. Also, I apparently passed Lazare and skyblue46 but never heard the shouts! 10km target was 55:20, went through in 55:35. Spot on.

Miles 8-10: 8:27, 8:29, 8:38
Goal pace for these miles was 8:30. Time to take advantage of the course and pick things up a touch, but not get carried away either. Took another gel at 8.5, and passed the OH again on the Upper Glen. Nothing too remarkable through this phase, focus still on keeping the effort controlled and following the racing line. Routine was a word that kept popping into my brain throughout the race - this all felt routine. I'd trained hard and was now putting that training to use.

Miles 11-15: 9:06, 8:33, 8:36, 8:49, 8:44
Planned pace through this section was 8:45. I'd forgotten how much of a pull it is up St. Laurence's. Just stuck to the plan - easy on the hills, don't worry about the time. Which way do we turn at the top? Nudge that way. My next supporter was my aunt who had a great view from her apartment in Kilmainham. Took on another Maurten gel at 11.5 miles. Passed a local guy I know after Kilmainham - he had gone out too fast, as I feared he might, and would have a tough second half before finishing in 4:30. Halfway target was 1:55:20 - I went through in 1:55:26. Still spot on. And only 13.16 miles covered as per watch - nice one. The next supporter I was on the lookout for was fellow 2018 novice effibear, who would be around the 14 mile mark. I spotted her but she was busy chasing a child as I passed! I was on the shoulder of a tall guy through the Walkinstown roundabout - eventually I copped that it was the lad who'd travelled up with us on the Saturday. He was running even splits for a sub 4, and achieved his goal, despite a slight fade to finish. Brief hello, etc., before I gave a wave and moved ahead.

Miles 16-22: 8:33, 8:31, 8:21, 8:22, 7:58, 8:26, 8:51
Through the Walkinstown roundabout, and now it was time to lift the pace and head for home. Target pace was 8:35 for this stretch. I took a Hi-5 gel shortly after the 15 mile mark, and having finished my most recent water bottle I'd a little wait until the 16 mile station to fully wash down that gel. I reckon I'll go Maurten only next time out. Anyway, I felt really strong all the way through to Milltown. I just kept churning out the miles, picking off runners and of course, keeping the course as short as possible. 30k target was 2:42:50, and I passed through in 2:43:12. That will do nicely. Shane Ross was out supporting somewhere here. I was feeling strong around Bushy Park, and tried working out if 3:45 was a possibilty. Throughout the race I'd been repeating applegirl's "endure" mantra from the novice thread. Here I decided, to hell with "endure" let's attack!! I lifted the pace a touch and said we'd see what transpired. Took a caffeine gel at mile 19 or so, and that seemed to have an immediate effect as I really kicked on for that mile - maybe too much. This was my strongest period of the race as I passed Huzzah!, ReeReeG, juke and strawberry swan at Milltown. Loved the sign guys :pac:. Slowed a little through the hills and maybe the earlier speedy miles had taken a little too much out of the legs. I think it was the water station after Milltown that had cups only - I was raging. Grabbed a lucozade at the next station, and nearly got sick. Heartbreak Hill was ok, and very sticky underfoot. I didn't have much in the legs to take advantage of the following downhill.

Miles 23-26.2: 8:38, 8:36, 8:33, 8:24 and 7:28 for the bit
Planned paces here were 8:30. I was working pretty hard now, and wishing that I'd carried a second caffeine gel. Aerobically, I could have given more, but the legs just wouldn't follow. I knew if I could keep it under 9min/mile I'd come home under 3:50, and if I could knock it to under 8:00min/mile I'd get under 3:45. I tried pushing, god knows I tried - but the legs just wouldn't go with me. Still though, I hadn't faded and was knocking out the planned paces. No matter what anyone says, the Stillorgan flyover bits are most definitely uphill. Richie Sadlier was out supporting around here. Took a final Maurten gel around the 23 mile mark. The next few miles I was feeling ok, and I finally managed a speed up after the 40k mark when skyblue46 emerged from the crowd with a roar of "drive it home". "I will!" says I, and put the foot down. That lasted about 100m before the legs told me where to go. Still though, I kept ticking along nicely after that and managed a decent pick-up approaching the line as well.

Finished in 3:47:15 - a PB of over 26 minutes, and a negative split of 3+ minutes. I'm also super pleased that I ran "just" 26.28 miles. JOB DONE!

As soon as I stopped running my legs didn't want to know. I plodded through the medal, jersey and goodie bag areas, blubbering "thanks for volunteering" to each volunteer I dealt with. Took a while to get changed, before catching the OH and grabbing a shower and a sandwich.

I thoroughly enjoyed McGrattan's. It was great to meet so many from these parts, many for the first time. Everyone had the post-marathon buzz - what a great feeling! A search party was eventually deployed to reluctantly drag me out of there. Had a few more pints when we got back to Tipp.

I'm delighted with my race. No drama - I just ran as planned. Happy days . It's very rewarding to see the hard work paying off. I loved the grads plan, and I was also delighted that my "plan buddies", Browneyes79 and coogy, had such great races themselves. Having someone on the same plan is something I found very helpful. Shout-out to eyrie as well, whose training on the same plan last year I referred to more than once. Thanks also to all the contributors to this thread all year - much appreciated! I'll leave the marathon alone for 18-24 months now I think - who knows what I'll be targetting next time I face the 26.2 :eek:

Singer wrote: »

Honestly I've no idea how you survived marathon training with novice training. You were pretty relentless with the novices, and your own training went very well too. There's not many who have survived doing both at the same time

It was only in McGrattan's that they told me about the "mentor's curse" :eek:

Lambay island wrote: »

Only just caught up with your report now. Superbly executed race and you achieved and surpassed even what you wanted to do. Thanks for all your help in the novice thread, you reassured me at one stage towards the end when i was doubting my pace and strategy. Only sorry i couldn't stay longer in mcgrattans. I might be tapping you up on the training plan you used this year as ive just reloaded again.

Thanks D! I was trawling through some of the logs here as research for my next target and came across this advice from OONegative:

Train to current fitness. See improvements. Rinse and repeat. Stay injury free

You had a phenomenal first marathon following a beginner-level plan. Just shows what can be achieved with lots of easy miles. If you can string some consistency together over the next 8 months leading into the training block for next year's marathon, then the sky is the limit. I'd love to see you start a training log too, I think you'd gain a lot from it.