Last Year of My Twenties (C25K and Beyond)

Cheers TbL, there'll be no praying to mecca this time

If this chest clears up, there's no reason the DCM won't be a bit of craic. Otherwise it's gonna be a tough day.

JMSE wrote: »

is sean runnin monday?

Course he is You?

27/10/14


Dublin City marathon 2014 - 4:23:06

Lead Up:
I wasn't 100%, I had got over the cold/flu but I still had a lingering cough. I also hadn't slept properly in days with sick kids and stress at work. On Sunday morning I was out fencing in the cold and rain, there's no escaping work where I'm from! Had broken sleep, hit snooze until 7am and woke up in a panic, threw a breakfast into me and got down to the start line for 8am. Briefly met Martyboy and wished him luck. Down to the wave 2 starting pen and waited around 45 minutes. It was cold before we got moving again but had to laugh at the amount of clothes being thrown to the side. It was like Penney's on dole day, mad stuff.

The "Run":
Slotted in a few rows ahead of the 4hr pacer, I would have preferred to start at 4:10 but with the crowd I couldn't get back. No worries I would run my own race. Never experienced such a crowded race it was a bit mental for the first mile or two, but once we turned onto the quays it was plain sailing. Somehow I had got ahead of the 4hr pacer, but not by much. I was angry with myself for this but my effort level was low, and breathing was fine, I was feeling good so I stuck to this effort until Phoenix Park. Reigned in the pace big time for PP, but the winds were a problem, tucked in behind groups here. Out of PP and into easily the best crowd of supporters, they were amazing, heard "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" played on a flute, brilliant stuff. I was beaming.

I don't know Dublin at all, so everything was a bit of a blur until half way. I was absolutely fine up to this point, effort was perfect, I was controlled. My legs were a little tired but nothing to worry about. The minute I passed the halfway line, the 4hr pacers passed me, it was a bit of a knock but thought I would let them off and stick to my own effort. Hit the halfway point at 2:00:30 on the Crumlin Rd and my legs all of a sudden set to concrete, I was bollixed with the click of a finger. I kept running for another 10 minutes, keeping the effort way down, but after this I was reduced to a walk.

From Mile 14 on it was absolute carnage. It was hard to stay positive with so many real casualties. Thankfully they were all being seen to and hope nothing serious occured. I was determined to finish but it wouldn't be pretty. I ran/walked the remainder, wondering what the hell I did to deserve this!

Around Mile 18, I distinctly remember I was walking in a group of all men, there was absolutely nobody running, so I set off in a jog to show them all I came to Roebuck Hill and remembered all the talk and decided to get to the top without walking. It was the hardest part of the marathon but I got up having to push throngs of walkers out of the way. People were pissed off when I asked them to move but there were literally a full row of walkers with nowhere to get through. I was grumpy too so I understood!

Ran/walked to the Mile 24 mark and from there I ran to the finish. It was horrendous, I was in so much pain and just wanted it to end. 1k, 800m, 400m. That was the longest 400m of my life.

Across the line at 4:23:06. Thank ****.


The Aftermath:
Straight to McGrattan's, and met up with a few boardsies. Great mix of novices and pro's alike, heard tales from the 3:40 pacers group and all the novices experiences. Great to meet you all. After 4 or 5 pots my legs were actually feeling 100% so I thought it would be a good time to checkout and get on the road. Good thing as I lost the ability to walk shortly after.

Synopsis:
I didn't follow the plan to the letter.
I didn't do a LSR beyond 19 miles.
My training in the final month was hit and miss to put it mildly.

I will not run another marathon unless:
I know the route, this really disheartened me towards the end, I had no bearings.
I am 100% prepared, and to be honest I can't see even another year of running preparing me for that. I want a solid two years from now if I was to ever put myself through that again.

Then again I have a short memory! In all fairness I enjoyed it, and hated it in equal measures. Dublin is an amazing place with amazing people and glad I experienced the friendly race, the support was unbelievable. Also sounds like I have to get to the Christmas beers, sounds like craic.

martyboy48 wrote: »

You were gone from mcgrattans by the time I got there.... Past your curfew

Hope you're recovering well after the marathon effort, good going

Sorry I missed you, I was rehydrating very nicely but had to hit the road unfortunately. Sounds like I missed a hazy one!

Well the first LSR is definitely going to be short! Probably no need for such as gradual rise to 10miles after that I suppose.

The sessions were a proper killer, used to do them in Fahy's fields if you know it, dread the thoughts of the place now Regardless of the obvious benefits, coming out of the 14th rep of that I was confident I could nail the 5K. So that's the basis for hinging the whole plan off sessions. Will definitely need to ease into it though after such a break.

The race is the now named "Bulmers74 10K" in Newport, Co. Tipp on St. Stephen's Day, would like to do the Fields of Athenry but it's way too far away.

Cheers for the input!

All the aches and pains are finally gone and think it's safe enough to get running again this week. Looking through some of my marathon photos it is clear that once I hit the wall, my form went out the window. That would explain my sore hip joints and ankles, so it's something I'm going to work on again.

Got to the doctor about my ever present asthma that I've never dealt with, so now I'm on Seretide four times daily and have really decreased my 25 year Ventolin addiction. Swimming now and again to train my lungs in regular breathing also, hoping it might make a difference.

Thanks to martylad48 and blockic I finally bashed my plan together. It's a daunting prospect putting together you're own plan, but it works itself out with the key sessions in the end.

It is designed to sharpen my fitness after the marathon training, and it should deliver a sub 47 minute 10K. Fingers crossed!

laura_ac3 wrote: »

Sorry if I missed it elsewhere in your log or the novice thread but any particular race in mind for a crack at the new goal?

St. Stephen's Day 10k in Newport, Tipp. Don't want to check the Munster vs Leinster kick off time incase it clashes

JohnDozer wrote: »

Not sure if you're infersted but if you're doing 10k training, there is a 5k race series on in UL on Thursday evenings. Started about 4 weeks ago, maybe 4 weeks left. €5 a race. From previous results only about 30 people enter each race but a good workout all the same! Can send on more info if you want

Brilliant little race series. There's 6 weeks left before the race tonight. Only 20-30 runners there but the quality is always pretty good for competition. It's pretty flat too which is bonus.

MaggotBrain wrote: »

Are you doing any of them Netwerk? Fingers crossed I'll make one towards the end of the month.

I doubt it. I was going to do the one tonight but I'm going to take a break for 2-3 weeks instead just to be on the safe side. It's a cracking course for a pb if you do make it.

It's been a while...

22/12/2014
3.02km @ 6:05. 18 minutes of non stop running. :cool:

Since the DCM my knee has been in rag order. Physio didn't help, so in the last two weeks I did 7 very short runs. Each one has been agonisingly painful but the last and today have been pain free.

Put on a stone of cheeseburgers and liquor since I last spoke to ye, time to shake my fat ass into gear :eek:

Thanks for the mammy like PMs, I'm back...