Your worst ever race?

adrian522 wrote: »

Yeah, something with XC in the title for sure.

Absolutely. That savage Novice race. Still not right after about 5 years.

Ooh this one is easy for me, even above coming 2nd last in a Mountain Marathon or a DNF on my first sub 3 attempt... - A DCM 2014 report from a previous log

How to do Marathon like a Muppet!

Training:
Why bother? It just makes you tired, you get skinny and sure the Marathon itself is a few weeks worth of the minimal weekly amount of exercise for an adult anyway right? The odd run here and there is good and a long run every 4 months is loads. Plus wise people have written books on how we are born to run so it will just come naturally to you on the day.

Fueling:
Instead of the same ole same ole starchy meals the day before, opt for something unusual you have never tried before and have 2 plates of it! Lettuce and Feta cheese quiche with orange chocolate and honeycomb cake for afters, anyone? On race morning have your porridge over 4 hours before the race so you are slightly peckish. It will encourage you to run faster to the first food station and get there before the masses.

Gear:
Forget about the shoes you are using all the time. Save your Marathon shoes after you buy them for, the Marathon. You get that new shoe feel on the morning and who doesn't love the smell of new shoes? Also never mind the Vaseline if you are wearing short shorts and the forecast is for rain. Won't the rain naturally lubricate the sensitive areas? There is no way it can get sunny and warm enough in late October in Dublin to worry about salty sweaty friction right? Getting back to the born to run philosophy, if you tie your shoe laces so tight that you cannot feel your toes, it might encourage you to remove your shoes and run barefoot like we are supposed to.

Logistics:
A long sleepy drive to the big smoke on race morning may not kick start the relevant adrenaline you will need to run hard to that first food station. Cut it fine enough so you need to do a mile tempo to drop off your bag and you can hear the starter go when you are still a block away from the starting pen! You will be angry enough at yourself for being late for the start that the sudden adrenaline will break you into a good enough sprint to get your heart rate up quickly.

The Race:
Start 3 pace bands back from your target pace band so you can build your confidence passing thousands of people in the first 10 miles. Since you will be constantly side stepping and will need to use both flanks of the road quite often its best to plan running 11 miles in the first 10 miles. Finally negative splitting a Marathon is too stressful. Best to run the first half an hour faster than the second half to be safe that you don't put that stress on yourself in the final 2 miles.

The Actual Result:
10km 46 mins
21km 1:38
42.2km 4:18

Late for the start! Seriously Took an hour of Marathon lunacy to catch the 3:20 bus where I finally settled and ran with a couple of boardsie buddies for a few miles. Left calf tightened at mile 12 and locked up just after half way. The quads joined the party within minutes. I stopped and stretched enough times to ensure no lasting injury but 13 straight miles with both calves and both quads cramping constantly = new very painful PB

haha, where to start.

I've had my fair share of Dnf's, most of them have faded off into the background as I feel they were the right call but probably the most soul destroying race I've ever run was the Dublin Marathon in 2014 for a myriad of reasons. I was in really really good shape going into it even though as usual I had done something stupid during marathon training, ran 30k at 2:57 pace at the human race 30k 3 weeks out, didn't kill me and gave me loads of confidence heading into Dublin but had an effect I think. Goal was sub-3 and everything pointed to me been super close to that shape but still borderline at best, went in with the attitude of I'm going to go for it, whats the worst that could happen.

Alot around here will remember that day as absolute carnage for everyone because of the unseasonably high humidity, that was just one of the issues I had. I went off with the pace group and felt a little flat fairly early but not too bad until we got to Chesterfield Avenue where early alarm bells started to go off in my head as the pace group started moving away from me and the effort just to keep on felt way too high as my watch pinged a 6:37 for an uphill mile, It was my third marathon and second Dublin but I was still super niave about pacing and how to run that course especially so my mind was just going cling on the pace group at all costs, I'll post my splits through those early km's below just to illustrate how stupid I was(the GAP paces really shows the absurdity of it along with the humidity).

I started to really struggle around Mile 10 and slowing which then wasn't helped by mate not been there with my carb drink which I'd opted for over gels which only added more to the amount of problems swirling around in my head, I was completely gone off the back of the pace group at this stage and passed through halfway in 1:30:1x and absolutely blowing a gasket.

At 14 miles, I ended up pulling up onto the footpath, gave a quick stretch for a minute or two and jumped back in, I met Yaboya1 here which helped me get into a rythm over the next few miles with him although at below goal pace, I was able to maintain it decently well but had to change my form to to take the pressure off parts that were hurting. Around 19 miles, that started to cause issues and the inside of my knee started to cease badly and forced me to pull up again just after the peak of Roebuck, the next mile or so was walk/shuffle just to get to the physio tent at the UCD flyover where the 3:10 pacers passed me. They done some quick work on the knee but lying on the table had made everything else completely lock up. I tried to join back in again when of my clubmates passed on 3:30pace but I could only last about 400m before having to stop again before just pulling my singlet off so people would stop telling me to run and get going again and just sat down on the kerb hands in head for 10 minutes. I don't remember why exactly but I decided to get up and finish the bloody thing, probably because it was the quickest way back to town with 4 miles to go and I just wanted it all to be over and ended up walk/hobbling it home in 3:55:xx. The torture doesn't end at the finishline as you have to face everyone after it who all mean well just remind you even more. So yeah, my worst ever race isn't even one of my dnf's

depressing right? That race taught me so so much about running

1. the marathon isn't just a race against the clock, it's a measured effort against the terrain, weather, clock and a million other things. be flexible and don't just target a time because its your arbitary goal time set weeks or months in advance.

2. Don't be a mindless slave to pace groups, they are only a guide but your effort levels and pace are much more important, be wary of running the hills too fast just because the pace group does or to hit perfect even splits.

3. Don't trust anyone else with essentials like drinks or gels to meet you on course and if you do, have a backup plan or source of fuel on you.

4. Respect the marathon, it's a brutal mistress

heres my early splits

Dublin Marathon 2011

Aim was for sub 3:40.

Training had gone really well. Walked up to the marathon line feeling good and confident. After 4 miles the wheels came off. I couldn't hit 9 min miles even. Couldn't understand why and struggle to half way and drop out in tears. What had happen?

Other half said I could run a marathon in Cork in a few weeks, but the hunger was gone.

Hindsight is a great thing but in the build up to the last month I was up and down to home, my mum had gone into the hospital. Mentally it must of drained me and all the driving must of sap me. A few weeks after it she died and I didn't run again till Jan. Puts everything in reality. Year later I tackled Dublin again, just to put the ghost to bed, not to break 3:40. Got to half way and was thrilled, came home in 3:41, last time I ran Dublin.

One more for the books

New York Marathon 2013 Sub 3:30
This was to be my last marathon. Prep was really good, did Athlone 3/4, second half at race pace and coasted home. Week before the marathon and I picked up a bad cough. Nasty cough I couldn't shift and didn't go to the doctor.
A few days before the flight it seem to ease, I was going anyhow. Kids went to their grandmothers. Friday night in Dublin the youngest had a bad cough and emergency doctor was called. Doctor said it was bad, any idea where he got it from ? Mother inlaw said the father. Doc said the father will need to be examined, where is he. Oh in New York to run the marathon:eek:

Sure I ignored this and still went to run the race. Fell a small bit off the pace early on but was ok with that. At half way I was working hard but still didn't take stock of it. Got to the bridge before Manhattan and I started to cough alot. Definitely lost a lung there. Continue on with a walking plan, got in at 4:07.
Wasn't too upset this time, I knew what had happened.

So haven't ran a marathon since, not sure I will.

First marathon and hoping for 3:35-3:40, and every reason to expect it after really putting it in during the previous few months.

Felt something go wrong at 10km. It kicked in at the halfway stage. Staggered over the line at 4:53. Heartbroken.

Had the flu the weekend before.

Oh, this is more difficult.
I've so many.



Can I wallow in self pity?

It doesn't get much worse than a DNF on a track. No place to hide.

Another one from the vault from back when I was 18(ish) (so like 2 years ago :P)

**Disclaimer - All my coached athletes turn away now :P **

Back in the day when track and cross reigned supreme and I had not become a full fledged road runner the seasons where quite distinctive with XC finishing before Christmas and track not truly kicking in till April/May the months in between were a little ill disciplined (and me in general)

I met myself at an impasse with a race and social commitment colliding with an 18th Birthday the Saturday night followed by Raheny 5 mile on the Sunday. As it was one of the first 18th's of the School group as well as it being a house party it was not to be missed so said to myself have one or two and stop early :rolleyes:

Couple of WKD's later (not actually WKD but sure for dramatic effect to the story) found my decision making slightly impaired with a number of bad decisions including calling out one of my female friends on her weight lifting prowess after overhearing exaggerated claims on figures which closely matched my matched my bodyweight so I figured a simple experiment would solve things once and for all.
To be fair to her she was able to lift me however what I did not realize was she had been in pub half the day before she arrived so was not exactly steady on her feet. Rather than dropping me she held form as we came down like a tone of bricks,me with my shoulder and hip taking the brunt of the fall and her coming down on top of me.

Woke up the next day and made my way home with my training partner and his dad (one of the club coaches) getting into the car to head to the race. This is a true walk of shame to a runner. Quick shower grabbed the gear and got a lift out to the race.

1st two miles and wasn't feeling too bad and actually hitting solid 5.40s. It was at this point I sobered up enough to feel how much pain both the hangover and the damage from the fall as the paces for the next few miles started climbing to ridiculous levels. I think I just about scrapped under 30 minutes (around 29.51/52) vowing to never drink again (and never running again with how bad I was feeling)

While I did not stick to them I did make a rule of not drinking on a race week, something which I have largely followed the past 13 years since.

Oh, this is so easy. DCM 2016, my second marathon. I over-trained myself into injury a few weeks out, and then on the day ran as if nothing had happened. Also, I had picked up a cold in the days before, which wasn't "maranoia" but an actual cold. On the day itself I was delighted to be running pain free, but after 10 miles or so things went rapidly downhill, and I walked off the course at the half-way mark. The walk back to town from Crumlin was utterly miserable. Afterwards when I looked at my heart rate, it was through the roof and way higher than at the Dublin Half Marathon a month prior when I had run a lot faster. It turns out you can't outrun a cold and downtime from running.

Oh Jesus this is easy! 100% Jingle bells 5k 2019 was my worst race EVER!!!

As someone relatively new to racing after doing well in my 1st marathon & enjoying it, I naively thought the natural procession would be that i would PB my other distances!

I trained really well for my marathon, very dedicated then took a little break & went into another plan, again very dedicated!
Jingle Bells was known to me as a fast course where PB's just happen! I thought because I enjoy speed this would be a good one for me mid plan to boost my confidence - how wrong i was...

Off we went and being completely honest i felt tired! My legs felt tired, already i wondered how i was gonna reach my target paces A lot of weaving in & out of people before i settled. 1st km clocked at 4:18, i really needed to be slightly below this & knew I just didn't have it in me to push faster than what i was doing!

It never got any better, i really wanted to stop, i had never felt like this before & it was horrible! I can usually talk myself out of these kind of thoughts but not this time. It was more than just thoughts it was physical - simply put i could not run the required pace to get my PB! For the 1st time ever i thought about stopping, why i didn't i honestly don't know. I finished in a time of 21:48. That didn't matter to me now, i just wanted to go home! I met D & S after my race & i know i hide absolutely nothing on my face, so it was quite obvious to both that i was very disappointed - almost sulky like! This is something i have tried to work on since & hope i am improving on, again i think this comes down to experience something i will gain with each race i run!

What this race taught me is that nothing is a given, each race depends on the conditions & how you are both physically & mentally that day. It also taught me to try sulk less if a race doesn't go my way

As per D above (and others!) I've had quite a few, shall we say, underwhelming race performances. While many of them just turned out to be "a bit rubbish really", one or two still stand out.

The 2013 Fat Turkey Run has been right up there for many years, perhaps more for the fact that I should never have started it in the first place. Coughing fits before and during, and a tough opening mostly uphill 5k didn't help. I remember sitting on the wall beside Sutton strand at the finish feeling like death. I haven't run it since - in 2018 I had entered, and drove across, but after a bout of coughing while sitting in the car, on that occasion I made the sensible decision to turn around and go home.

But it's the St Cocas 5k of 2019 that gets the nod. I decided to run this on the basis of a return to form of sorts (20:20, PB 19:43) in the Docklands 5k, which took place eight days before. On a more favourable course, surely I was in PB shape? Whatever about physically, mentally I was not. I remember the very fast downhill first k with Damo, Lazare and others, even at that stage hanging on. Before 2k my PB attempt had gone up in smoke - a phantom injury "forcing" me to step over to the side of the road and start walking back to the start. Eventually I turned and finished it out - passing people at a ridiculous rate, but who cared, I was miles behind. I remember seeing our now captain and one of the coaches, and hoping they wouldn't spot me on my way to a stinking 22 minute plus "effort". I was absolutely bulling. Talk about not wanting to work for a PB. Hopefully I will get a chance to redeem myself on the course, but realistically it looks like I'll have to wait at least another year.

I thought this would be an easy one for me but when I really thought about it, I had more races to choose from than I thought I would.

First one that came to mind, was my first ever race back in 2013, The Great Ireland Run. I was oblivious to what sort of training was required, I understood nothing about running paces on any level and was about as unprepared any any person could be. Even though I crossed the finish line in a HEAP, finishing in under 50 minutes was a triumph of sorts so that rules that one out. That said, it would be another 5 years before I would run again.

I guess from a tactical perspective, as opposed to a race just not going my way, the obvious one has to be 2019's Docklands 5k.
I had bigged up my chances in my head a little too much and setting out with the 19 minute pacers (with absolutely nothing to suggest this was achievable) was to be my undoing.
With not much more than a kilometre under my belt, I knew that I had completely misjudged not just the race, but the distance also. A noticeable gap between me and the pacers was growing by the second and half way down the North Quays, the leading pack sailed past us effortlessly.
At the turn, I was already feeling like the jig was up - not helped by the humidity levels - and the long and desperate trek back up the North Quays was an experience to forget. At the final turn back onto the South Quays, the finish line was still 1km away and by now I was hurting real bad, compounded by being overtaken by the 20 minute pacer.
At that moment, throwing in the towel seemed like a very good idea but I pushed on, no longer caring about a sub-20 or sub-anything.
Crossed the finish line in 20:07, not a particularly bad finish time but this was an out and out s**t show, no doubt about it.

The splits tell you all you need to know:
Mile 1 - 6:01
Mile 2 - 6:21
Mile 2 - 6:50

Lesson well and truly learned.

coogy wrote: »

The splits tell you all you need to know:
Mile 1 - 6:01
Mile 2 - 6:21
Mile 2 - 6:50

.

Nothing at all wrong with winding down!!!