"Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them"

RedRunner · 15-04-2014 11:32PM

Ososlo wrote: »

Great report RR. You had me all choked up!
You had a tough enough time out there so well done for digging so deep and still finishing in a superb time.
You've lots more to take off that time in the near future, that's for sure.
How are the legs now?

Thanks A. Legs are still pretty wrecked. Hamstrings, quads, hips and glutes all suffering a bit. But it was all worth it:) No issues with the PF during the race and I think it's ok now. Probably won't run again until next week and then it will be all recovery pace running I reckon.

RedRunner · 15-04-2014 11:33PM

tang1 wrote: »

Great report RR and great balls to get through it to the end. 35mins off your PB is savage going.

Cheers Tang. The crowd were magnificent and that really helped too.

RedRunner · 15-04-2014 11:37PM

AuldManKing wrote: »

given your splits from mile 19 - 3:52 is a remarkable time - especially how you were previous to this training cycle.

Thanks A. Endurance is still my downfall so I need to work out how to fix that. If I could run the whole way I'll do damage to that time in Dublin with another good training cycle.

RedRunner · 15-04-2014 11:39PM

Bahanaman wrote: »

Great report! Some chunk off the pb. Hearing of your own and everyone else's experience of London and Manchester makes a fella want to go out and tackle a marathon straight away! Instead I have to wait just over ten weeks and head for the glamour that will be......Waterford!

Thanks Bahanaman. Ah Waherford is not so bad! Good luck with the training for that one.

digger2d2 · 15-04-2014 11:40PM

Well done RR, great pb, enjoyed the company over the few days and nice to see a boardsie keep his drink in his stomach

RedRunner · 15-04-2014 11:52PM

digger2d2 wrote: »

Well done RR, great pb, enjoyed the company over the few days and nice to see a boardsie keep his drink in his stomach

Thanks .It was great to have good company to celebrate with.

blockic · 16-04-2014 05:04AM

We'll done RR. Savage time considering and great experience. Imagine the time you are going to get next time out with another cycle and a good day out. Keep it going!

career_move · 16-04-2014 07:41AM

That was a super time considering. Congrats RR on a really tough race

Gavlor · 16-04-2014 07:58AM

Bahanaman wrote: »

Great report! Some chunk off the pb. Hearing of your own and everyone else's experience of London and Manchester makes a fella want to go out and tackle a marathon straight away! Instead I have to wait just over ten weeks and head for the glamour that will be......Waterford!

That's rich coming from a Carla lad!

pistol_75 · 16-04-2014 08:54AM

Well done Rob. Smashing PB considering the last few miles you had to contend with. Do you think starting off (and continuing) quicker than the MP you had trained for had any impact on the later miles?

RubyK · 16-04-2014 09:02AM

Fantastic pb! You must be delighted! Well done.

Calvin Johnson · 16-04-2014 09:06AM

Well done RR - great report.

See you in Dublin.

Murph_D · 16-04-2014 09:17AM

Enjoyed reading that report, R - gritty finish! For me the takeaway is to stick to planned MP no matter what - and I guess that can be difficult in a huge event like London. Fair play on a huge PB though - cant ask for much more than that!

Tom Joad · 16-04-2014 09:49AM

Well done RR - great report and greats guts to see it out and finish with a fantastic PB.

Runchick · 16-04-2014 01:11PM

Brilliant report R you really captured the mood, what a day, eh? Glad you enjoyed the celebrations too, wish I coulda stayed for a few more!! Enjoyed the company for the weekend, you're a real gent

Hope the recovery's going well, get that foot sorted and you'll be in great shape for Dublin

Bahanaman · 16-04-2014 01:47PM

Gavlor wrote: »

That's rich coming from a Carla lad!

Dinn Rí! Need I say more?!!!

TRR · 16-04-2014 02:16PM

Well done R, great stuff. hadn't realised you had cramped so bad. I'm still laughing to myself at your face in the coal hole when you were looking at meno in disbelief muttering "he's my coach"

RedRunner · 16-04-2014 08:35PM

TRR wrote: »

Well done R, great stuff. hadn't realised you had cramped so bad. I'm still laughing to myself at your face in the coal hole when you were looking at meno in disbelief muttering "he's my coach"

Ha ha...I remember that now alright. Just as well he wasn't giving me any drinking tips!

RedRunner · 16-04-2014 09:25PM

pistol_75 wrote: »

Well done Rob. Smashing PB considering the last few miles you had to contend with. Do you think starting off (and continuing) quicker than the MP you had trained for had any impact on the later miles?

Murph_D wrote: »

Enjoyed reading that report, R - gritty finish! For me the takeaway is to stick to planned MP no matter what - and I guess that can be difficult in a huge event like London. Fair play on a huge PB though - cant ask for much more than that!

Thanks for the comments lads. I had been thinking about this but I'm not totally convinced of that. My designated MP training pace range was 8:20-8:30. If you look at my last 22 miler with 10 MP miles, the MP miles were not too dissimilar to what I was doing early on in the marathon.
I wouldn't totally rule it out however. I suppose potentially I may have been a bit stronger if I was closer to 8:35 pace for the first 16 but I'll never know. My endurance has definitely improved over this training cycle because I was running over a minute faster per mile than last marathon so strength has improved also. So the big question do I just stick to these paces for next one and ensure I keep the pace even and finish it out running or should I see how training goes and re-evaluate later in year?

With a 1:39:50 half I really should be doing better than 3:52:confused:

RedRunner · 17-04-2014 11:43AM

No running, yet. Still feel quite fatigued but legs starting to get back to normal. Did a bit of rolling and stretching today to try help them on their way.

Don't think I felt this tired this many days out from marathon last time out. Hopefully a few more days rest and sleep will sort that out.

WTD|zero
MTD|62.60
YTD|639.93

Beef · 17-04-2014 11:49AM

RedRunner wrote: »

No running, yet. Still feel quite fatigued but legs starting to get back to normal. Did a bit of rolling and stretching today to try help them on their way.

Don't think I felt this tired this many days out from marathon last time out. Hopefully a few more days rest and sleep will sort that out.

WTD|zero
MTD|62.60
YTD|639.93

I must say this time last week I was shattered. it was Sunday before energy levels returned to normal I think. Great report btw ! I feckin love a good race report!

New runner · 17-04-2014 02:05PM

Well done RR,great PB and great report. My PB is 3.52 also.

HelenAnne · 17-04-2014 02:36PM

RedRunner wrote: »

With a 1:39:50 half I really should be doing better than 3:52:confused:

I didn't! My best half is 1.37.xx and I did a slower marathon than you (3.54). I'm putting mine down to lack of endurance (I was always fine at LSRs but the last 3 in the marathon killed me), not using gels and maybe lack of mental strength.

I'd say for you it was maybe just the heat? It can be so hard to cope with even a bit of sun when you're not used to it, and we had a cold, wet winter and early spring here.

Fantastic PB anyway, hope you're happy with it.

dazza21ie · 17-04-2014 06:43PM

New runner wrote: »

Well done RR,great PB and great report. My PB is 3.52 also.

Until the 1st of June that is!

RedRunner · 17-04-2014 11:43PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

I didn't! My best half is 1.37.xx and I did a slower marathon than you (3.54). I'm putting mine down to lack of endurance (I was always fine at LSRs but the last 3 in the marathon killed me), not using gels and maybe lack of mental strength.

I'd say for you it was maybe just the heat? It can be so hard to cope with even a bit of sun when you're not used to it, and we had a cold, wet winter and early spring here.

Fantastic PB anyway, hope you're happy with it.

Thanks. Yes, the heat may have been a factor but I do still have issues with endurance that I need to work out how to fix. Based on MacMillan calculator that HM time should be putting me at 3:30 so even allowing for 10mins inaccuracy on that, I think I should be nearer to 3:40. I was on 3:42 pace through 35k then I started suffering so I don't think I'm far off it.

Maybe more MP miles in my longer runs is part of the answer.

Having said all of that, yes I am happy with the result and the experience will stand to me. Hopefully I can take another chunk off in DCM in October!

overpronator · 17-04-2014 11:58PM

Only catching up on this now, very well done on a gutsy finish, cramps are cruel. Congratulations on the huge pb!

dazza21ie · 18-04-2014 09:38AM

RedRunner wrote: »

Thanks. Yes, the heat may have been a factor but I do still have issues with endurance that I need to work out how to fix. Based on MacMillan calculator that HM time should be putting me at 3:30 so even allowing for 10mins inaccuracy on that, I think I should be nearer to 3:40. I was on 3:42 pace through 35k then I started suffering so I don't think I'm far off it.

Maybe more MP miles in my longer runs is part of the answer.

Having said all of that, yes I am happy with the result and the experience will stand to me. Hopefully I can take another chunk off in DCM in October!

I have an entirely unscientific theory. I reckon that when you are looking for such a big improvement in your marathon time, like you were, endurance issues should be expected because it nearly is like running your first marathon again for your body.

That is not to criticise your training. I just think it would take more than one marathon cycle for your endurance to catch up.

Maybe a slightly more conservative approach in the first half could have improved your time somewhat but I wouldn't dwell on that too much. You got yourself a big PB, a pretty successful training cycle where you stayed relatively injury free. That's all in the bank and your going to be stronger for it. Get yourself recovered and have a go at some shorter I'm sure you will see some nice gains and well done.

RedRunner · 18-04-2014 09:58AM

dazza21ie wrote: »

I have an entirely unscientific theory. I reckon that when you are looking for such a big improvement in your marathon time, like you were, endurance issues should be expected because it nearly is like running your first marathon again for your body.

That is not to criticise your training. I just think it would take more than one marathon cycle for your endurance to catch up.

Maybe a slightly more conservative approach in the first half could have improved your time somewhat but I wouldn't dwell on that too much. You got yourself a big PB, a pretty successful training cycle where you stayed relatively injury free. That's all in the bank and your going to be stronger for it. Get yourself recovered and have a go at some shorter I'm sure you will see some nice gains and well done.

Thanks Dazza. Do you know what , I think you are probably right. Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. I'm still a novice really at marathon running so I need to be a bit more patient.

Steroo · 18-04-2014 09:58AM

I think we all get a little too obsessed with the times. I did.
You made it there injury free!
You ran London and get there through the ballot!
You enjoyed the experience and got a nice pb.
You can now do it all again later on the year

I wish I could say all that. Enjoy the rest let the body recover, no rush.

Ososlo · 18-04-2014 10:15AM

RedRunner wrote: »

Thanks Dazza. Do you know what , I think you are probably right. Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. I'm still a novice really at marathon running so I need to be a bit more patient.

Exactly. Just like Mo;)

"Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them"

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