The -OFFICIAL- Dublin Marathon Pacers - Pacer Race Day Instructions now in

figs · 13-08-2009 06:11AM

I'm aiming for a sub-3:20, so I too would like to see a 3:15 pace group... it may get me some of the way around the course, and allow me to have a slightly slower second half. Something like 1:37 + 1:42 would do me just fine!

earlyevening · 14-08-2009 11:34PM

Hi figs. Haven't seen you in IMRA in a while. Sounds like there are at least 2 of us for a 3:15/3:20 group. I'd see 3:15 as a best possible result for me I think. I did 3:26 last year but that crazy McMillan says 3:01 is possible for me!

village runner · 15-08-2009 06:31PM

As a 3.30 pacer i went to the 10 miler to pace the lad today. Couldnt fault it except that i hope the mile markers are better placed in dublin. I found a few of them long and the last mile short. I found it hard to pace with these discrepancies. Also with hills and breeze proved tough. For example mile 9 would have been very tough to go through on schedule. We lost 30 seconds on this mile although we did gain it on the last one. It was a good experience as when people are expecting you to do it right you have too.

The target was sub 70. We went thru halfway in 35.12 although my garmin had me at 34.49 and finished in 69.35 i think.

I was sick of telling him to step behind me when the breeze was in our face. Use every advantage you can especially when its there so i expect to see that in dublin.

goofygirl · 18-08-2009 06:20PM

I'm assuming there won't be a 4 hr 15 pacer or anything?

village runner · 28-08-2009 08:42AM

Any updates ?
Was out out of the last two weeks so maybe i have an email on my return.....

Wally Runs · 01-09-2009 05:50PM

I do have something to add. I ran in Longford at the weekend with the aim coming in on 4.30, the Dublin time I have been assigned too. To set the scene, I ran 3.59 in the Amsterdam last year (my fourth marathon) and while my training to date has interrupted with some injuries, it has been fair. I normally run and train by HR and kms. My training has been based on a sub four time.

Anyhow, given I have never run ‘as a metronome’ before, I made out my pace band for 4.29, giving me roughly 10.15 minute miles. I set my Garmin for timing and pace.

At first I found it difficult to slow down and could not settle into a stride, it helped to chat to other runners. Once past about 3 miles I found a nice pace, but this was still around 9.30 – 9.45-minute miles. When I came to the mile marker, I was invariably between a minute to 30 seconds ahead. The most I think was two minutes but my rolling average was closer 10 minutes. (The Garmin was ‘early’ by about 200 yards but this was consistent, I am guessing given the small numbers in the race I weaved about much less).

Now, all was well till mile 20, when I tanked, ending up having to walk some miles leaving me over by 15 minutes in the end. I should add once I felt I missed 4.30, I set out to finish the race and preserve myself for later but yeah, I bombed!

So what did I learn?

A marathon is still a marathon even of you think you are running slower that you normally would. In my normal HR run, I would have run a faster first half and ‘banked’ some time. It is hard enough to run to set pace if your body wants to go faster.

I need more time on my feet and need to work on my base fitness before Dublin.

It is a bigger responsibility that I thought in having a group depend on you. If that was Dublin, I would have been truly gutted and not just for me. So I think a minimum of two pacers per group, as is planned.

Everybody has a bad day! Right?

village runner · 01-09-2009 08:14PM

Wally Runs wrote: »

I do have something to add. I ran in Longford at the weekend with the aim coming in on 4.30, the Dublin time I have been assigned too. To set the scene, I ran 3.59 in the Amsterdam last year (my fourth marathon) and while my training to date has interrupted with some injuries, it has been fair. I normally run and train by HR and kms. My training has been based on a sub four time.

Anyhow, given I have never run ‘as a metronome’ before, I made out my pace band for 4.29, giving me roughly 10.15 minute miles. I set my Garmin for timing and pace.

At first I found it difficult to slow down and could not settle into a stride, it helped to chat to other runners. Once past about 3 miles I found a nice pace, but this was still around 9.30 – 9.45-minute miles. When I came to the mile marker, I was invariably between a minute to 30 seconds ahead. The most I think was two minutes but my rolling average was closer 10 minutes. (The Garmin was ‘early’ by about 200 yards but this was consistent, I am guessing given the small numbers in the race I weaved about much less).

Now, all was well till mile 20, when I tanked, ending up having to walk some miles leaving me over by 15 minutes in the end. I should add once I felt I missed 4.30, I set out to finish the race and preserve myself for later but yeah, I bombed!

So what did I learn?

A marathon is still a marathon even of you think you are running slower that you normally would. In my normal HR run, I would have run a faster first half and ‘banked’ some time. It is hard enough to run to set pace if your body wants to go faster.

I need more time on my feet and need to work on my base fitness before Dublin.

It is a bigger responsibility that I thought in having a group depend on you. If that was Dublin, I would have been truly gutted and not just for me. So I think a minimum of two pacers per group, as is planned.

Everybody has a bad day! Right?

Dead right. I also agree that there should be at least two but the numbers havent come in. I asked a lad that runs 2.45 would he be interested in pacing 3.15 and he laughed at me.

RacoonQueen · 01-09-2009 08:31PM

village runner wrote: »

I asked a lad that runs 2.45 would he be interested in pacing 3.15 and he laughed at me.

Did he explain why?

village runner · 09-09-2009 05:59PM

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Did he explain why?

Lets just say he wasnt interested in jogging around.

Has anyone heard anything about it

SharkTale · 10-09-2009 10:25AM

Hi Guys,
Just to advise that the DCM route has been measured and marked. With mile and KM markers on the footpaths in paint.

Getting close now (ish)

--amadeus-- · 21-09-2009 09:45AM

A month to go - are we getting excited yet???!

Mixed bunch of news on progress. As you know our sub 3 pacers have had to drop out and we are looking for stand ins, which is proving very difficult. We are looking at contingency plans and will keep you all in teh loop.

However by now you should all be fully registered and the room has (as far as I know!) been sorted for showering after the race. It would be great if we could have a drink in the hotel bar afterwards as well - I'm sure a few of the pacee's will want to buy the pacers a pint or two!

We are going to try and set up a Pacers meeting the day before and a "Meet the Pacer" stand at teh Expo as well so taht we all get a chance to thrash out last minute questions. I'm in Liverpool on teh Sunday (small matter of a match to attend

) so won't be in until lateish Sunday night but hopefully will meet some of you.

Kit should be sorted this week and in the post to you as well.

So all is looking pretty good!

kennyb3 · 21-09-2009 10:03AM

is there a final list of who is pacing what or is it still up in the air?

IronTractorBoy · 21-09-2009 12:24PM

I am not listed as an entry on the Active Europe site as an entrant. Would we be listed on there?

Hard Worker · 21-09-2009 03:19PM

IronTractorBoy wrote: »

I am not listed as an entry on the Active Europe site as an entrant. Would we be listed on there?

The pacers entries have just been processed. You won't find them on the Active.com listing. Acceptance slips should be in the post.

village runner · 22-09-2009 08:36PM

Dont have access to a laptop so i am just confirming that i am still up for pacing 3.30 and after berlin i am come though injury free.

ASnyone that is going to pace of a garmin i would take 3 seconds a mile. In other words 8 min miles are 7.57 on garmin. Two years ago i ran dublin in 8 min mile and ran 3.31 and loose change so be warned.

Really looking forward to it and might run 8 min miles in the half just to get back into it.
The shower after it will be a godsend.

Krusty_Clown · 23-09-2009 09:09AM

That tallies with my own experience VR. I ran 6:51 pace in Berlin, but finished 50 seconds out, based on my racing line and GPS acurracy (covered an extra .2 of a mile). Definitely better to use a pacing band as well as the Garmin to stay on track. I presume the mile markers for Dblin will be bang on.

Would be a good idea to equip the pacers with a load of spare pacing bands to hand out before the start of the race (for their reaspective time target - promotional opportunity?!), or have them to hand out at the expo.

--amadeus-- · 23-09-2009 09:25AM

Kenny - listings are pretty firm and are as per the table a few pages back. Final, final shuffles may be made the day before depending on how people are feeling but ideally we'll stick to the plan.

VR, KC, great runs in Berlin well done to you both.

My plan for Amsterdam is not to rely on teh auto lap Garmin feature as I've found it a bit off the pace as well, so I was going to manually press lap every km. I think that's the best option for pacers as well as it ensures you're bang on by race distance not just distance.

Pace bands are a brilliant idea. I like the idea of having a handful of pre-printed bands to hand out as well, in case people get separated from the pacers. It's a little late now to get them sponsored but maybe Addidas would print them if thier logo was on them? HW, any thoughts?

All teh bits and pieces are coming together - fingers crossed you guys will all have the opportunity to meet not just each other but a few other interesting people either before or after the race. There is a room in the Conrad for post race showers so it probably makes sense to try and have post race drinks there as well, for us, your pacees and teh general Boards crowd?

IronTractorBoy · 24-09-2009 12:47PM

I was planning to use my garmin virtual partner mode (set for 4:29) plus another stopwatch which I would use as additional verification at 5 or 10 mile intervals.

I assume that the conard bar is open to anybody? As I could get family to meet there.

--amadeus-- · 24-09-2009 01:47PM

IronTractorBoy wrote: »

I was planning to use my garmin virtual partner mode (set for 4:29) plus another stopwatch which I would use as additional verification at 5 or 10 mile intervals.

I assume that the conard bar is open to anybody? As I could get family to meet there.

As far as I know - I'm hoping to meet up with the mentored group there afterwards as well.

Is your brother coming over again?

IronTractorBoy · 24-09-2009 10:12PM

Yes he is doing it as well, hopefully finish after me. Also got some more family coming over.

Daithi BC · 25-09-2009 05:11PM

I'm still hoping to be available for 3:30 pacing. Having been training for an attempt at 2:50 in Berlin, I picked up shin splints about 6 weeks beforehand, and only ran about 8 times between the adidas 10 mile race and Berlin. I was aiming at an even paced 3:25 to 3:30 in Berlin and got round in 3:26 without being under too much pressure apart from the final 5k, and even then my pace was the same.

I should be able to make a call on the shin by the end of next week, but I'm felling ok as of now.

Assuming I'm ok, I'll be doing a few 3:30 paced runs on the Curragh over the next few weeks. If anyone would be interested in meeting up for a training session, then please let me know.

SucCes09 · 29-09-2009 11:35AM

Virgin marathon runner, and wondering how to identify the pacers? Do they have something to identify them at the start and during the race?

Apologies if this was posted previously but i could not locate it...

--amadeus-- · 29-09-2009 01:05PM

Pacers will be wearing special "Pacer" kit and will have an ordinary race number on the front and a PACER sign on thier back. Most usefully they will also have a big helium ballon over thier heads with the tharget time written on

Krusty_Clown · 29-09-2009 01:28PM

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Pacers will be wearing special "Pacer" kit and will have an ordinary race number on the front and a PACER sign on thier back. Most usefully they will also have a big helium ballon over thier heads with the tharget time written on

Please tell me it won't be fluorescent pink?! Also, will we get a chance to have a practise run in the gear? Make sure it fits. Four hours in painful gear=ouch! Should I practice with a helium balloon, and give some of the kids in the neighbourhood some shooting practice?

--amadeus-- · 29-09-2009 01:34PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Please tell me it won't be fluorescent pink?! Also, will we get a chance to have a practise run in the gear? Make sure it fits. Four hours in painful gear=ouch! Should I practice with a helium balloon, and give some of the kids in the neighbourhood some shooting practice?

I thought you liked pink? We had to put in a special order for it just for you!

I actually don't know about teh colour but I do know that it (along with numbers) was supposed to be posted this week so you should get a chance to wear it a few times between now and the day. As for practicing with a big balloon check out teh cinema for insperation...

Krusty_Clown · 29-09-2009 01:42PM

--amadeus-- wrote: »

As for practicing with a big balloon check out teh cinema for insperation...

LOL. I saw that with my daughter in the cinema on Sunday and never made a connection. I bags being Russell the wilderness explorer. Great movie by the way.

SucCes09 · 29-09-2009 03:00PM

Another question....
trying to follow Hal's Higdon's legendary plan for training (Intermediate I), and messed it up a little due to factors beyond my control - i.e. work. Was supposed to do a 12milers last weekend, but did 20 as I'd missed the lsr the weekend before. This weekend i am supposed to do another 20 miler but not sure if doing this is a good idea or if it would greatly increase the risk of injury before the tapering truely begins.
have not been following the plan to the letter, but have been getting in 3-4 runs a week for the last while (since completing "the half IM" in Wexford in August).
Any ideas on how to proceed?

Sosa · 29-09-2009 10:24PM

--amadeus-- wrote: »

I thought you liked pink? We had to put in a special order for it just for you!

I actually don't know about teh colour but I do know that it (along with numbers) was supposed to be posted this week so you should get a chance to wear it a few times between now and the day. As for practicing with a big balloon check out teh cinema for insperation...

Any news on the sub 3 pacers ?

Hard Worker · 30-09-2009 12:53AM

Sosa wrote: »

Any news on the sub 3 pacers ?

The two original pacers had to withdraw through injury. There is now one confirmed replacement and another who returned from a holiday in the U.S. today and is going to be roped in, although he doesn't know it yet.

IronTractorBoy · 30-09-2009 12:22PM

Are joking about the balloon?

The -OFFICIAL- Dublin Marathon Pacers - Pacer Race Day Instructions now in

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