DCM 2015: Mentored Novices Thread

Race Report

OK so today was D-Day, the day that I would remember for the rest of my life. I went to bed reasonably early on Sunday evening, but try as I might I just could not relax.. Head completely in a spin over the marathon, I could think of nothing else.. Hour after hour passed by and it was well past 3AM before I managed any sleep at all. To top it all I woke at 5.30, just 45 minutes before I was due to get up.. I managed a few more Zzzs before the alarm woke me. I just felt ready, not tired and adrenaline had already kicked in. Breakfast was porridge with muesli and honey. I remembered the last LSR I had done when I had not prepared nutritionally well and suffered massively for it and I was determined not to let it happen again.

I drove into the city and parked around the Charlemount Street area and wandered down to the Alexander Hotel off Merrion Square. I was running for Temple Street, who had laid on a reception room in the hotel where we could leave our bags and go for refreshments after the event. I said my hellos and goodbyes and set off for the start line (after negotiating a large queue in the hotel toilets). I was soaking up the atmosphere when I saw a familiar face – Gavin Walker, who was on Operation Transformation a couple of years back. We had a chat (a lovely fellow by the way) and then took our places behind in the building crowd. I was in the 4.30 group and met PJD, Toulouse, TFGR and Ratracer plus a couple more of you for the first time. We had some chat and all of a sudden the race was underway.

The first 10k was very handy and passed by really quickly. I was enjoying it and running well within myself. When I arrived into the Park I was caught short and asked the lady running next to me where was the next toilet stop. She told me I had missed them! She then proceeded to tell me to go down the next left where there were Tea Rooms I may be able to go in and use the loos there! Not a cat In hells chance of this happening.. I ended up against the fence which I think backs onto the zoo. Meanwhile the 4.30 pacers passed by and were a good 100m past by the time I was back en route. I met a very nice English bloke who I ended up running with till around mile 16.. We chatted about everything and anything and I couldn’t believe it when we passed the halfway mark. It almost seemed too easy... No injuries or cramps and what’s more I felt like going a bit quicker.. We had long passed the 4.30 pacers and every time I looked back they were further away. I knew English man was struggling a bit to maintain the pace so we eventually drifted apart, I looked at his finishing time after and he had knocked a massive chunk off his PB so I reckon he may thank me for it!

I have to confess I didn't know a lot of the areas until we hit Terenure, however, there were certain areas such as Chaplizod and Castleknock that will stay with me forever. The crowd were almost pulling you along.. I had never been part of anything like this before. My original plan was for a 4.30 finish but I knew I had it in me to beat this.. There was a time near Terenure that I suddenly became conscious that I was passing a lot of people. It was strange because I felt so strong. I remembered Dubgals advice to do it smiling and I think it helped me to do this and stay positive. There seemed to be hundreds of people walking and here was me gliding past them! Another thing I had promised myself was that I would try to run and not walk the entire race. . Terenure was amazing as was Milltown for the support. My sister and family were roaring me on and then my parents on up the course at Clonskeagh.

My strategy for nutrition was to bring 2 gels and have them at 5 and then 10 miles and then take the ones on offer at 16 and 22. Along with regular water and some Lucozade this worked like a charm for me. My race strategy was just to run at a pace that felt comfortable. I know this sounds very simplistic but worked well for me..
I was given 2 gels at 16 miles so I decided to take the second one early at the turn onto the Clonskeagh road in anticipation of Roebuck hill. After seeing my parents for a split second I ran up the hill through the amazing support and onto Fosters Avenue. Loads of people were walking up but I still felt pretty good.. I met a Parkrun friend at the top and seeing her was the boost I needed at that point to keep going.

The last 3 miles were horrible for me. Suddenly I started losing power and it was only willpower and determination that kept me running.. Surprisingly enough my splits for miles 24, 25 and 26 weren’t bad considering the world of pain I was in. Turning onto Merrion road I knew I was nearly there and the crowd really kept me in the game.. I got to the finish line having ran the whole race (bar one pee stop). I can honestly say I had nothing more to give out there. . When I got over the line I was drained but still smiling.. 4:21.52. Result!! 8 minutes ahead of target..

The fun part then began when I began to make my way back to the hotel. Negotiating my way through the spectators was worse than the last mile of the race! I got into the hotel exhausted but relieved.. Temple Street had laid on refreshments but best of all I got a sports massage. I never had one of these but I highly recommend it after a long run. I felt much better afterwards. I’m afraid I was so bushed I couldn’t make it to the pub. I made the slow walk back to the car and back to normality..

Again thanks to all of you especially Dubgal for all the advice. An unforgettable experience!
Splits if anyone’s interested..

1 9:56.5
2 9:54.2
3 10:01
4 10:15
5 10:03
6 10:06
7 10:14
8 9:54.9
9 9:54.5
10 9:46.0
11 10:03
12 9:42.9
13 9:48.2
14 10:07
15 10:00
16 10:05
17 9:45.5
18 9:13.5
19 9:18.8
20 9:22.4
21 9:32.2
22 10:07
23 9:51.5
24 9:49.5
25 10:16
26 10:03

frash wrote: »

Thanks - I even made the top ten most thanked list

One more for you, thought I did already!

Dubgal72 wrote: »

You may have heard this before somewhere but just dropping this in....

It seems so obvious when you read about it and listen to experts but there are so many aspects of health that are negatively impacted by a lack of sleep.

Cool podcast on it here

frash wrote: »

anyone recommend a HM for the Spring?
a fastish one around Dublin or surrounding counties preferably

Did Wicklow last March but it's very hilly

Bohermeen ac near Navan is meant to be good, February if I'm right

JMSE wrote: »

@ Frash, love the writeup,

"Tempo runs. Fartlek runs. Strides - all things that I don't really know what they are but things that I read about people on the boards plan doing."



Well done on the fundraising

Well done Jim tuffing out the race, think mix during weekly runs, tempo,400m reps & longish mid week helps endurance, it's learning curve for us all.
plenty of time before next year 😀

Hey did anyone cop the 'David Guetta 12" remix' of the National Anthem at the start?? :eek:

The guys with the music and the speakers forgot to lower them down for the Anthem.....I didn't know whether to stand with my hands behind my back or to break into my 'embarrassing dad' dance routine

Feeling a lot better today, going down stairs is still a problem, but I think that my knee is settling down nicely. No exercise for me this week bar a brisk walk or two and then going to go back swimming for a few days next week!

Just a small word to anyone who didn't hit their times or a feeling a bit down about how the day went........don't be too hard on yourself at it was your first time to run 26.2 miles and the last 6 miles were a massive unknown and only by completing your first Marathon you can actually experience this....as they say 'it takes 1 year to get 1 year's experience '

I had a really tough day out in 2014, and needlessly beat myself up for weeks afterwards but I learned so much from it and I decided that I was going to have another crack at it in 2015 and beat a lot of my PB's in shorter events this year as I was 'battle hardened' from the DCM training and the actual race....

I even strayed to the 'Dark Side' and did a few Duathlon,Aquathons and Triathlons (Sorry RayCun....I was weak )....but I missed 'running' too much and did a Darth Vader and then returned to the Good side of the Force after a few months.....

Be proud of your achievement regardless of your times....you are a marathon runner.....not everyone can say that!!

smashiner wrote: »

Be proud of your achievement regardless of your times....you are a marathon runner.....not everyone can say that!!

+ 1000,000

You never appreciate how deep into the well you need to go so sometimes setting a target is a bit like pinning the tail on the donkey.

But everyone dug deep to finish. Beyond deep. I think I forgot until I read the reports here just how tough those last 6 or so miles are. It's not just a physical battle but a mental one. And crossing the finishing line is winning both of those and therein lies a huge achievement, regardless of time.

Alan30 wrote: »

Hi Folks first off thank you for the kind wishes in relation to my father in law. I was still unsure if i would be running right up until 8am on Monday as we where told he would be unlikely to survive the next 24/48hrs on Sunday afternoon. But here we are 4 days later and he is making some slow signs of improvement.

As far as the race went I had an absolute great time even thought i was nearly 12 mins outside my A goal time. I was running with a friend who was doing his first marathon and we had great fun until he showed me a clean pair of heels at 16 miles. I started to get cramp in the right calf from about 21 miles and really suffered in the last mile but it was an incredible day and such a more positive experience for me than last year where i thought i would never want to run again. So a 17 minute PB of 4:21:50.

Going forward i will definitely need to do more hill work as it is pancake flat where i do most of my training (Dundalk) so will need to hit the foothills of the Cooley mountains. Also need to try and increase my stamina so probably longer mid week runs in order. I was thinking of doing a spring marathon if anyone has any experience of any possible Manchester or Barcelona?

Congratulations to everyone on there results, and to Dubgal on a great job as mentor she had a hard job following Ososlo from last year but once again the Boards Novice Thread was a complete success.

Ah excellent, glad to hear he is improving and you got to do the race!

Out of curiosity has anybody signed up again for next year already? I have not and won't until next summer but thinking about it for sure.
I have no negatives from this experience and barring some quad stiffness today I seem to be recovering well.
Interesting I don't know what is going on with my knee but whatever was there seems to have been worked out a bit which is nice.

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

I contacted a running club about joining about a year ago. I told them how slow I was and if that was ok and they ignored all my attempts to contact them.

It's fine though, I understand I'm a completely different kind of runner to the kind clubs want on the books.

FOR NOW.

In future I may try again with a different club.

TFGR I know a triathlon club who are starting a beginners block and specifically a beginners running block next Saturday morning at 9.30am in the Phoenix Park. I spoke to the run coach and he said all levels were very welcome and he was thinking it was a couch to 5k sort of thing - which you are way beyond obviously - depending on who showed up. You can also try out a session without signing up. Couldn't recommend the club, members + running coaches enough - very supportive and knowledgeable. I know it's a triathlon club and not a running club specifically but there is no obligation on anyone to compete and lots of members concentrate on one discipline only but enjoy the cross training and social aspects. Beginners swimming also starting next week and you only need to be able to swim a length of a pool. If you're interested pm me for details.

diego_b wrote: »

Out of curiosity has anybody signed up again for next year already? I have not and won't until next summer but thinking about it for sure.
I have no negatives from this experience and barring some quad stiffness today I seem to be recovering well.
Interesting I don't know what is going on with my knee but whatever was there seems to have been worked out a bit which is nice.

still working on other half, think will leave off till new year when memory
fades, have been of little use in house all summer.

Joining a running club doesn't really suit my weekly schedule as from what I see they're mainly early evenings (around 7) and weekends around 9 - 10.

I generally run lunchtimes or after 9pm. Weekends I'd be up & out before 8am.

Might check out a park run though - closest to me is Cabinteely I think - could swing by as part of a longer run.