Its all about Time...

Dublin City Half - 30/03/2025

Short Race report…

Wow, Wow, what an absolutely fantastic race and day. A few short warmups on O'Connell Street (left hand side) with only 4-5 others. Said a few hello's to Greg, and a few other club mates. Lined up on the Right side behind the 1:30 balloons with Eibhin. Off bang on time and lots of crowding for first mile or 2, difficult to see parked cars with the suns angle, and crowding. Lost Eibhin on Richmond Road. Turn on to Drumcondra and the drag up to Whitehall was mostly ok (7:00 and 6:57). Loads of support. Sun Breaking through and getting warm. Beaumont and run down to Malahide road was flying along, and passing runners 6:33, 6:33, 6:42.

Home turn down Brookwood, and on to Howth Rd. Brief callout from S and the Coach. Road closures and contra flow worked really well. Raheny village and the support defining (a few mor sub 7's). Running down watermill and a "Go on Dave" from Dick Hooper gave me new strength. The sea filling in and sunny sky all fab and to be savored. Hundreds cheering at the carved Tree. on to the Bike track and passing runners every few seconds. Flying. Slight wind into the face. Wooden Bridge and the turn to the city and the wind becomes a bigger factor.

Still passing loads. Hello from Mark at Bay. A few 6:50's. Fatigue beginning to Build. Through 10miles faster than the Trim10. Past Woodsy, Zoe and Kev. Mile 12 Tough (7:01) and a possibility of Cramp.

Ossory Road and an unwelcome Hill, North Strand, left to the finish, Crowds 3-4 deep and sound unreal. Across the line in 1:29:50. What a fab race, loved every minute, Given it was mostly a home race and the support and weather played ball. Watched E and Woodsy finish in 1:32. Great result all round.

Already looking forward to 2026.

Brief synopsis of training for 2025.

Took on a run coach in early March, and for the first time i had a weekly training plan to follow. The plan have 2 session per week Tuesday interval, and Saturday longer paced run. Other 2 run days were easy, with Gym the other 2 days, and rest on the Friday. I found it nice to have a some overview and coaching available it required. Ran 3 half's from Early march to Early April, with the Dublin Half yielding a sub 1:30. More solid training runs in April and May with the sisters, with lots of quality on the Tuesday and Saturday runs.

Terenure 5 had a 33:03 result that was a little off where i wanted to be, but i put it down to a heavy legs from the previous weeks training. Also a local race in St Annes a week later had a 3rd place finish. Around here I had some minor Left Achilles issues, but felt ok to run and fine after a warmup. Again lots of social runs with the lads and the sisters.

Problems started in 2nd week of July, when i had 2 solid sessions followed by a 19:49 in a charity 5K, followed that up with a Tuesday LT session where i was flying, then stupidly did a track session with the lads the day after, and tweaked the left Achilles. As a result no running for the rest of July, and all of August. Only re-started running in Late September.

So now facing into the Marathon in a weeks time with 1 long run that was compromised by Storm Amy a few weeks ago (19m), a 14m and a 10m last Saturday. Cant see myself doing the Marathon next year as the training load is getting to much and potential for injury increasing. This will def be the last one, so I feel i have to give it one last go.

Dublin Marathon 2025.

As mentioned above the training was seriously compromised for most of the summer, with just 1 long run (I would only consider 16m an MLR).

The plan was to run a conservative race, and run with Eibhin for 10k, at around 7:30 pace, then let her off and I would drop down 10/15sec for next 10K, same for 3rd 10K, and he last 10K at 8:10-8:20 per mile, to have a planned finish around sub 3:30.

A lift in from a fellow runner to close to Pearce St Dart station, and an easy walk up to the closed barrier at Lincon place. After 10 mins we got to drop the bags, and I opted to change into the old Alphas that I ran in 2023. More easy walking around Merrion Sq and up past Fitzwilliam sq. Plenty of time to warmup and say a few hellos to other clubmates. Temps were cold at 6-7C.

Lined up about 10 rows from the gantry, at around 8:30am, and watched as the spaces beside us filled up, a few words exchanged to Will and Damo. Off bang on 8:45 and being so far forward had no joggers or walkers to negotiate. Also, plenty of space to get into the running. Easy enough progress for first 2 miles, until the 3:00h balloons passed us at Merchants Quay. They must have been way back at the start. Miles 1,2,3 (7:27,7:19, 7:36)

Steady up the drag at Stoney batter, trying to conserver efforts and energy. Lots of calls out and encouragement from marshals at this point. The left on to NCR and then into the park. Woodsy and the 3:10 balloons passed us at around the chesterfield and north road roundabout (1/4 from the PP) exit. Miles 4,5,6 (7:27,7:33,7:32). A few words of encouragement were exchanged.

10K at the exit from the park and I was supposed to drop off the pace and let E push on. I was feeling OK, at this point and opted to run with her for another few miles, maybe to the exit from the park at chapelizod ? Support at Myos unreal as usual, got new strength here, after a gel.

Next got rid of the gloves and plain running and into the club colors. Steep descent down Tower Road and back into the park. Still feeling good at this point, E had to tell me to take it easy and hold back. But privately I was wondering when the fatigue would start ? miles 7,8,9 (7:40,7:21,7:22).

The exit from the PP and some friends screaming, and a high 5 from Jenny. Left through the village and up the only real serious hill on the course St Lawrence Road, which we took very easy with several runners passing us. This is part of the route / city that I don’t know too well (10,11,12 – 7:19, 7:44, 7:30) so just kept the head down and ran stride for stride with E.

Halfway in about 1:39 and I mentioned that I was going to drop off the pace and would see her at the end. She briefly pushed ahead. I ran like this for maybe 1 mile until the black forge where I took another gel, then again caught up with her. Left at the Walkinstown round about and that long Cromwellsfort road, before the very welcome right at the KCR. The first real doubts were emerging here; had being going well up to this point, probably running on energy and spring training only.

The only positive at this point was that I had run with E and S from the KCR the week before, at marathon pace for the last 10 miles to the marathon finish line. If I could just repeat that I would pull off a miracle. Down Bushy road nice and steady. Carmel caught us that this point, all of us stride for stride, Raheny runners together, shouts of encouragement unreal. However, I was really beginning to struggle and trying to keep it inside.

Through Terenure village and Rathgar and I was really hurting, little energy and the ability to maintain 7:30ish was gone. S and hubby here on the bikes and offered a gel and flat coke, which I gratefully accepted. Sad my good bye to E and wishing here the best, at the bottom of Orwell road with 7 odd miles to go. Next mile to Milltown, and the couple of drags were tough but manageable. The corner at Milltown and Clonskeagh road again fantastic support. Tough to make the right turn and run away from the finish line, but it had to be done. Down to Astons then that drag up to the Mosque. Legs were screaming and energy all but spent, I had to stop and walk briefly. At that point my race was over…

Pretty much a run walk to the finish for the last 5 miles. MrsDrak was located on the down slope on Fosters but all I could manage by way of thanks was a weak wave and a nod. More walking that running down Stillorgan road and the overpass. The gang, Jenny, Siobhan and the Caroline, screaming encouragement, but when they seen me properly, there was a “its ok you don’t need to finish Dave, you have done enough”… With just 2 miles left there was not F*ing way I was not going to finish but had resigned myself to walking to the finish.

Hundreds of runners were streaming past very minute that this point. The left on to Merrion road and a few words exchanged with Christy. Another 3 mins and Helina and Bernie asked did I want water and gel, I politely refused (I think). I was now walking the footpath, as I didn’t want to impede others. The RDS And the cramp stopped me completely. Slowly walked it off before seeing Dick Hooper and got a “oh Jesus Dave”, brough me to a new low a (15min/mile in here). 1 mile walking left, nothing in the tank, runners streaming past. The last left on to the purple mat the tried to run the last 100m, based on the encouragement from the massed supporters but immediate both legs cramped, so had to walk over the finish line in 3:43.

Hardest / worst ever marathon, but that was down the injury in June and resulting no training over the summer. Could it have turned out differently, no idea? Sorry for E to get 3:20 again (same as last year), with all the training and sessions she put in.

Tough to get back home after the race, body was freezing, and pretty dejected. Still at least there is next year…