Attention for Post DCM runners

ecoli · 01-11-2011 11:48AM #1

This is just an appeal to everyone who has had a long journey to DCM

First off I want to congratulate everyone who took part

The last week has seen the highest number of people viewing the forum. This happens every year but is followed by a huge drop.

I just want to make people aware that there is more to the sport of running that Simply DCM

There are plenty of races throughout the year from various organisations:

BHAA
Independent Road Races (both Club and Charity)
AAI
IMRA

There are different disciplines to suit everyone:

Track
Road (5k to Marathon)
Cross Country
Hill Running

There are plenty of training groups for all levels:

Fit for Life Groups
AAI Clubs
Boards regular meet and train groups
College clubs

So many people see it as a once a year thing for they feel they can't keep up the commitment but as little as 1-2 days training a week in between marathon training plans can have huge difference in terms of fitness and making next year easy. Fitness is built up over months and years not just a 18 week training plan and you will be suprise how much you can improve and if you dont want to run a marathon ever again you will be suprised just how much the sport has to offer so I would urge people to try something new and keep it up

Pisco Sour · 01-11-2011 11:53AM

And athletics is also a fantastic sport to watch once you give it a chance. Take your experience of running the DCM and use it to develop a greater interest in the sport at an elite level, and how they do things, and what you can learn from them etc.

We've many supremely talented athletes in Ireland. Get out there and support them. I'm certain it would be greatly appreciated.

Oisin11178 · 01-11-2011 01:15PM

If youve caught the marathon bug there is no need for it to be very expensive. Heres a list of the irish marathons and ultras.

2011 Marathons

There are lots of marathons in Ireland now. Here's a full list so far. If we've missed any, please email patgrainne@yahoo.co.uk
Feb 19 West of Ireland Marathon Series Connemara www.runireland.com/events/west-ireland-marathon-series-190311
Feb 26 Donadea 50 km forest run ( invite only this year ) www.boards.ie
March 5 West of Ireland Marathon Series
March 19 West of Ireland Marathon Series
March 26 Wicklow Way www.imra.ie/events/view/id/823/
April 9 Connemarathon - directors
April 10 Connemarathon www.connemarathon.com
April 25 West of Ireland Marathon Series
April 30 Ballyhoura mountain challenge marathons.ahotu.com/race/ballyhoura-mountain-marathon
May 1 Limerick www.greatlimerickrun.com
May 2 Belfast www.belfastcitymarathon.com
May 15 Kildare www.kildaremarathon.ie/full_marathon.html
May 21 Burren www.clareburrenmarathonchallenge.com
May 29 Newry www.newrycitymarathon.com
June 4,5 & 6 Kilkenny 3 Marathons in 3 days www.susielonghospice.com/runkilkenny.html
June 6 Cork www.corkcitymarathon.ie
June 11 Mourne Way www.mournewaymarathon.com/
June 18 Portumna www.runireland.com/events/2010-06-26/portumna-100km-and-u-marathon
June 25 West of Ireland Marathon Series
July 6,7,8,9 & 10 Sixmilebridge 5 Marathons in 5 days www.runireland.com/events/5-marathons-5-days-race-5
July 22 Belfast 24 Hr http://www.runireland.com/events/energia-belfast-24-hour-race
July 23 Bogtrotters www.thebogtrottersmarathon.ie
July 24 West of Ireland Marathon Series
August 13 Connemara 100 www.connemara100.com
August 20 Sixmilebridge Marathon Series
August 26tbc Longford Invitational
August 27 Fermanagh Lakelands Warrior Run 100km/50km www.runireland.com/events/lakeland-warrior
August 28th Longford www.longfordmarathon.com

September 3 Dingle www.dinglemarathon.ie
September 10 WOI NB: Moved to October 1st!
September 17 West of Ireland Marathon Series
September 24 West of Ireland Marathon Series Club Championship Connemara ( Members only )
September 25 Carlow/Kilkenny Marathon Run Ireland/Facebook
September 25 Mooathon www.mooathon.com
October 1 West of ireland Marathon Series, Galway
October 1 Causeway Coast www.causewaycoastmarathon.com
October 8th West of Ireland Marathon Series (Originally scheduled for 15th)
October 31 Dublin www.dublinmarathon.ie
November 20 Sixmilebridge "Eddie Murphy Memorial" Marathon/ultra 30 Miles and 52.4 Miles (Double marathon)
November 26 West of Ireland Marathon Series
December 10 Clonakilty www.runclon.ie/

December 17 West of Ireland Marathon Series

Cabaal · 01-11-2011 10:33PM

Might be an idea of posting a 2012 list instead of a 2011 one?
The dates are different, http://www.connemarathon.com/ is on the 1st of April this year for example

Oisin11178 · 01-11-2011 10:45PM

Cabaal wrote: »

Might be an idea of posting a 2012 list instead of a 2011 one?
The dates are different, http://www.connemarathon.com/ is on the 1st of April this year for example

Just wanted to give people an idea of how many races there are. Feel free to reseach the dates of nexts years races and post them yourself though.

Cabaal · 02-11-2011 08:29AM

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Just wanted to give people an idea of how many races there are. Feel free to reseach the dates of nexts years races and post them yourself though.

I figured that alright and it does a pretty good job alright, in retrospect its hard to have a full 2012 list this early....here's the 2012 list from the same source you used:

Jan 13th Art O’ Neill Challenge www.artoneillchallenge.ie/
Feb 18 Donadea 50 km forest run www.boards.ie anthonyslee@eircom.net https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/198520/177279.docx
March 31 Connemarathon - directors
April 1 Connemarathon www.connemarathon.com
April 1 Giants Causeway Crossing 100km/50km www.lostworlds100.com
May 7 Belfast www.belfastcitymarathon.com
May 26 Burren www.clareburrenmarathonchallenge.com
June 4 Cork www.corkcitymarathon.ie
June 9 Mourne Way www.mournewaymarathon.com/

June 16 Portumna www.runireland.com/events/2010-06-26/portumna-100km, 50km-and-marathon

September 1 Dingle www.dinglemarathon.ie

September 30 Mooathon www.mooathon.com

September 30 Carlow to Kilkenny Marathon - http://www.runireland.com/events/carlow-kilkenny-27

Oisin11178 · 02-11-2011 10:00AM

Highly recommend donadea if anyone wants to step upto 50k. Also connamara for anything from half to ultra. Best organised race in Ireland imo.

ultraman1 · 02-11-2011 10:03AM

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Best organised race in Ireland imo.

which one:D

Oisin11178 · 02-11-2011 10:10AM

ultraman1 wrote: »

which one:D

To close to call anto, both are just great:D

RacoonQueen · 02-11-2011 10:15AM

I love how ecoli is trying to encourage people to run shorter races and Oisin posts a list of marathons. :pac:

RayCun · 02-11-2011 10:26AM

if you want to run another marathon - because you enjoyed that one so much :eek: or you have unfinished business - that's great.

But I think some people think, "I've run a marathon now, I don't need to do another one, and why else would you run?" If you run at the shorter distances (and join a club!) you don't need to put quite so much time into training and you have a whole different set of challenges...

Pisco Sour · 02-11-2011 10:36AM

RayCun wrote: »

But I think some people think, "I've run a marathon now, I don't need to do another one, and why else would you run?"

To be fair, the marathon isn't for everyone. After I did mine, it was very much a case of something ticked off the list, and I have no desire to do another one in the foreseeable future, probably until my late 30's, when I have lost all speed in my legs.

I'm sure there will be others like me, but if running a marathon is something that brings somebody into the sport, even if it isn't a long term future in the marathon distance, then that is very much a good thing.

Running a marathon, and then never doing any form of athletics again is a different story.

Mind you, it can be hard to get motivated again after doing your first marathon. That's something I found anyway.

HardyEustace · 02-11-2011 10:36AM

Well, having read a few things on the more long term approach. A lot seem to advocate maintaining a good "10k race" training year round and then ramp up to the marathon as appropriate.

Maybe a list of 10k/8k races would be good to have?

Right now I feel like I never want to run again and it's taking all my strength not to throw every bit of running kit in the bin.

But remembering the wise words

This too shall pass

RacoonQueen · 02-11-2011 10:39AM

Enries for DCM 2012 are open by the way.

Oisin11178 · 02-11-2011 11:02AM

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I love how ecoli is trying to encourage people to run shorter races and Oisin posts a list of marathons. :pac:

I think he was trying to keep people interested in running. I personally dont like shorter distances and id say a small precentage that did the dcm this year will follow suit. But yeah the vast majority will far better enjoy the shorter stuff.
You cant go wrong with races like the raheny 5. Give the new people and incentive to keep a little bit of training up over christmas.

elvis jones · 02-11-2011 11:09AM

Waterford half on Dec 10 is next for me !

Then in 2012, i'm focusing on a half Iron next year and the Longford Marathon in Aug. I'd also like to get my 10k time down close to 45 min.

If all that goes well i'm move on to the Eddie Murphy memorial next Nov to make a stab moving towards ultra.

DCM for me was a stepping stone. I don't think i'll do next year as Longford is my home marathon and doing that is a big deal to me.

But for the next 8 months all focus is on getting a Half Iron under my belt and ticking off another box on my CV.

plodder · 02-11-2011 11:27AM

Marathon training is hard this time of year. I don't know how people do it, to be honest. So, it's not surprising people fall away after the DCM. But, it's a shame to throw away all that fitness and condition.

Cross country is a great option in the Winter. You can't beat it for variety.

D Chief · 02-11-2011 11:28AM

I failed to get my 4 hour target in DCM 2011, but I really want to achive that goal and am thinking I'll keep training going over the winter and target a marathon in April or May.

Of the Irish marathons around then (Kildare, Limerick, Belfast, Cork) which would be the easiest, flattest course? Do any, or all, have pacers?

PaulieC · 02-11-2011 11:34AM

I'm still having some difficulty walking down stairs, but I just filled in the entry form for the Donadea 50k :eek:. I've had a book at home for a while now about training for an Ultra. Perhaps now it's time to actually read it

(oh and do the training)

elvis jones · 02-11-2011 12:19PM

D Chief wrote: »

I failed to get my 4 hour target in DCM 2011, but I really want to achive that goal and am thinking I'll keep training going over the winter and target a marathon in April or May.

Of the Irish marathons around then (Kildare, Limerick, Belfast, Cork) which would be the easiest, flattest course? Do any, or all, have pacers?

Longford is flat, that much i can tell you but its not until August.

Diggy78 · 02-11-2011 12:27PM

D Chief wrote: »

I failed to get my 4 hour target in DCM 2011, but I really want to achive that goal and am thinking I'll keep training going over the winter and target a marathon in April or May.

Of the Irish marathons around then (Kildare, Limerick, Belfast, Cork) which would be the easiest, flattest course? Do any, or all, have pacers?

Can only tell you about the Kildare marathon. There are pacers. I got a PB there so it's probably easy enough even with a few tough hills just before half way. Support is intermittant between towns and villages. Plenty of water and energy drinks supplied (and in bottles which is a big thing for me). Nice bonus of passing slower half marathon runners from about mile 15 to the finish. Definitely a marathon to consider.

elvis jones · 02-11-2011 12:28PM

Diggy78 wrote: »

Can only tell you about the Kildare marathon. There are pacers. I got a PB there so it's probably easy enough even with a few tough hills just before half way. Support is intermittant between towns and villages. Plenty of water and energy drinks supplied (and in bottles which is a big thing for me). Nice bonus of passing slower half marathon runners from about mile 15 to the finish. Definitely a marathon to consider.

Just wondering is it all on tarmac or is there a mixture of under foot conditions ?

ecoli · 02-11-2011 12:32PM

HardyEustace wrote: »

Well, having read a few things on the more long term approach. A lot seem to advocate maintaining a good "10k race" training year round and then ramp up to the marathon as appropriate.

Maybe a list of 10k/8k races would be good to have?

Here are a few over the next while

Dec Aware 5m, Jingle Bells 5k, Waterford Half Marathon, Clonliffe 5k, Goal mile (Xmas day)
Jan Tom Brennan Memorial 5k, Raheny 5 mile
Feb My Sport Enniscorthy 10k

Would be some good targets for anyone interested in good quality races. Also believe it or not many coaches believe marathon conditioning is the perfect way to prepare for the shorter distances. Personally I run marathon mileage (or close to it) in order to prepare for the shorter distances

You are right with 10k training as it gives you a good blend of strength to maintain the marathon fitness you have built up while improving speed and running economy

@ RQ: I wouldn't care if people decided they wanted to go further thats great the point was to show there is so much more to offer to people in running than just a once a year thing

HardyEustace · 02-11-2011 12:45PM

Dec Aware 5m, Jingle Bells 5k, Waterford Half Marathon, Clonliffe 5k, Goal mile (Xmas day)
Jan Tom Brennan Memorial 5k, Raheny 5 mile, Tuam 8k
Feb My Sport Enniscorthy 10k
MarCraughwell 10mile

@ecoli - just sick of doing long stuff right now so 10k training looking good (though I'm sure there are many dedicated people who just even more/longer for 10k peak conditioning).
@RQ - could feel the bile rising in my throat at the thought of another...

RacoonQueen · 02-11-2011 12:55PM

Fields of Athenry in December as well.

Diggy78 · 02-11-2011 11:40PM

elvis jones wrote: »

Just wondering is it all on tarmac or is there a mixture of under foot conditions ?

Marathon was all on tarmac, think the half was too and I know the ten k had a mix of tarmac and grass.

kit3 · 03-11-2011 12:32AM

Hi. I've been running since March 09. I've done 7 halfmarathons ranging from 2.30 to 2.13 in Sept. Delighted to do DCM in 4:59:43. As you can see I'm a plodder- have never done any speed work - was afraid to before DCM in case it led to injuries. My plan now is to do the HH Recovery program. Was then thinking about a 10k programme followed by the HH intermediate half programme (or something similar) to target Kildare half in May. Does this make sense to you experienced runners ? Would like the challenge of bringing down my half time. (Then maybe DCM 12

ultraman1 · 03-11-2011 10:27AM

Diggy78 wrote: »

Marathon was all on tarmac, think the half was too and I know the ten k had a mix of tarmac and grass.

less than 1km of the half is on grass

hardCopy · 03-11-2011 12:44PM

Dec 28 - Fat Turkey 10K Run, Howth
Apr 01 - Connemara Marathon
July - Humbert Challenge Half-Ironman, Swinford, Co. Mayo

Have signed up for the first two already, training starts tomorrow.

elvis jones · 03-11-2011 12:55PM

hardCopy wrote: »

Dec 28 - Fat Turkey 10K Run, Howth
Apr 01 - Connemara Marathon
July - Humbert Challenge Half-Ironman, Swinford, Co. Mayo

Have signed up for the first two already, training starts tomorrow.

Still mulling over Connemara, needing to be down there the night before isn't ideal for me.

I want to know the date of Humbert !!!! I want to enter Humbert !!!!!!

tHE vAGGABOND · 03-11-2011 01:54PM

Amazed at the lack of longer races around, in preparation for people running April Marathons..

Literally cant find a half [or there about's] in Late Feb/ Early March to run before Paris in April? Surprised, since its "the other" big marathon season, and I would think many people would be looking for such a race?

Dungarvin 10 mile in late Jan is as close as I have come so far

Wild West Run in Killarney at the end of Feb looks the only candidate [a trail run], but that's basically a couple of days gone between long trip there and back..

Attention for Post DCM runners

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