DCM 2015: Mentored Novices Thread

What went well with your training plan?

I followed the Boards plan. I thought it went well, only missed one run due to illness, but I had to drop out at mile 16 of the second 20 miler as I was shattered after the half marathon.

What would you do differently with your training?

I probably wouldn't race, or if I was, it wouldn't be longer than a 10k. I'm not quite there yet in terms of recovering fast enough in a training cycle.

What went well about the race?

The first 15 miles went really well. Was happy with the pace, but then the glutes started to tighten so I pull back involuntarily. I lost nearly 2 mins per mile on my planned pace so that was disappointing. I finished fairly okay, and I was in good condition the day after, with just feeling a bit tight. By Wednesday, I was back to normal, so that was a great sign of how well training went.

What would you do differently if you could start the race again?

I don't know if there's much I could have done. I probably should have stuck with the 4:30 guys a little closer and maybe tried to chat to someone to take my mind off the glutes, it may have helped.


So what Next ?

I'll take the next 2 weeks handy. Then, I'm planning to do 4 weeks speed training before I get back into the marathon training cycle for Limerick 2016. It's my local marathon and is considerably lower cost than the Dublin one for me!

denis b wrote: »

Have really enjoyed the race reports, to the point that I am only getting my own homework done now. I joined this thread to complete a long held ambition (a 34 year one) to run a complete marathon in under 4 hrs. Life and other interests interrupted things and I got around to running again in my early fifties. Last year I tried my luck in Belfast but had to walk/run from the 18 mile mark.This year I tried the Belfast Marathon again but over trained and failed to finish. Lessons learnt - I looked for help and guidance and was directed to this thread. I hit gold.
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I love reading all the race reports but this one in particular hit a nerve! After a very disappointing DCM it's lovely to hear u try, try and try again! Sounds like u did it in style too!

Deleted User wrote:

Shankill, but I do my flat runs in dun laoghaire

I'm in Shankill too

Windorah wrote: »

I love reading all the race reports but this one in particular hit a nerve! After a very disappointing DCM it's lovely to hear u try, try and try again! Sounds like u did it in style too!

That's it exactly Windorah, imo. A bit of learning and perseverance certainly helped. Congrats on finishing and hope you feel encouraged to give it a go again.

long_b wrote: »

Thankfully, in the words of the Sultans of Ping, I'm "back in a tracksuit"

Early physio and mostly extended rest seems to have done the trick. Building up to about 7km on the lovely grass in Trinity over the last while.

Hoping to get back to a decent weekly mileage over the winter. Learning to swim too.

Also learned not to book races too far ahead. Fairly sickening getting your HM race number in the post when you can barely run 5k!

Bravo to you and your team of loonies!

Meet you on the 4:30 pen next year!
Will discuss over beers this Xmas big man.

What went well with your training plan?
Did the HHN1 plan, as that seemed to suit my needs. In the past, anytime I’ve ever pushed the body a bit I seemed to get hit with an injury and then I would always scale it back. The HHN1 seemed to suit in that there was little fancy stuff, just miles at “comfortable” pace with a focus on just getting to the start line, time was secondary.
This worked for me, even though I was carrying an achilles injury and also a hamstring/glute issue from early on, the fact that all my runs were at a comfortable pace seemed to keep them in check (along with physio).
I was happy enough that I did put in the miles/runs. Probably a little bit shy with my running frequency (59 runs complete out of 72 in the plan).These missed runs were genuinely down to work/life/injury issues and were not down to a lack of interest.

What would you do differently with your training?
Nothing really, as stated I just wanted to get to the start line in one piece. I avoided fartleks/hills/speedwork and even races, I just kept my eye on the big prize.
I did all the runs on my own as I enjoy the personal space so I might mix this up a little.

What went well about the race?
Everything. The atmosphere, the energy, the support, the guts, the determination, the joy, the sadness, the camaraderie, the relief, the pride. I loved every minute of it, even the tougher aspects. It was all part of the journey.

What would you do differently if you could start the race again?
I would definitely have planned my fuelling a bit better. I did have a race-band and had marked which miles the water/lucozade/gel stations were. Unfortunately, this was left at home on my bedside table! When I realised on race morning I just decided I’d figure it out as I go rather than waste energy on stressing about it. I was carrying my own gels also but I honestly lost track of how many I had taken and when, also I had hoped to interchange with the Lucozade stations but not knowing which station was next just threw me into confusion.
So what Next ?

Immediate term: I’m currently on day 5 of my 6 day tour of Cork Takeaways!
Short-term: Aim to keep a running routine of 4 days a week over the Winter months.
Mid-term: Build up speed/strength and aim to break 2 hours for the half-marathon in Cork in June.
Long-term: Dublin, I’ll see you again next year but this time I’m coming back better prepared from all the lessons I have learned along the way this year from my own experiences and of course the invaluable support from this forum.

Clearlier Questions.



What went well with your training plan.

I followed the Dave Carrie2 plan from Irish Runner, it had lot of Variety of runs & Intervals ,Tempo ,Strides, Steady pace
and long runs progression was good, had been told it was import to do 2-3 at least 20 miles, and it had 3 on plan so fit the bill
it also had PMP miles built I at different stages of LSR progression, they all went well so gave me great confidence about being
able o hit PMP on day. Did all midweek session on my own, and ran LSR with company which really worked for me. The plan
in general brought structure to my running which I never had before. Also forced me to deal with Achilles & problem with calf
strength issues. Hit all my targets for Race series which really helped confidence.

What would you differently with your training.

I came of very low base of running of 10-12 miles per week and just decided to run a Marathon, most I had run prior was
2-3 10k runs. So in hind sight could have done with extra year preparing as suggested early on, but in my head I was determined
at that stage and putting things off has not always worked. I was not always on top of the controlables, such as stretching and
warming up etc, will make that essential in future, Also did not really get to grips with speed for different sessions, but it is hard
when you have nothing to compare it with. Maybe get down to Club and see about doing specific sessions,

What went well about Race.

I was really confident going into race, not sure why as it was all new, maybe as said above had hit all previous targets & sure what
was to loose, I was only testing myself. I set a target of 3.50 2-3 weeks out, after LSR with 12 PMP miles went really well and felt
it was achievable, I used pacers as guide for first 3 miles or so, got out in front of pacers and never looked back,reading course over
view posted and knowing when to expect hills and suggestions on how to deal with different sections helped, I never rushed any further,
in my head than the particular point I was in Race and only checked Timing every 3 miles or so. Also being told to brake down into
3 parts 10 10 10, worked really well and being able to access how I felt at each stage was good. Not panicking when I heard people
cheer for 3.50 pacers and being able to find bit more and push on towards the end, and hitting Target.

What would you do differently if you could do race again.

I am not sure, I would have done huge amount differently, as I think I gained a good experience. Maybe I could have stayed with
3.50 pacers till 20-22 miles and finished more comfortably. But being out of group allowed you to egage with crowd and atmosphere
and not being worried about being stepped on. My pacing was little to fast at start, could have been a bit better. I only set two goals
3.50 and Finish, so if it had of went wrong not to sure what would have happened, also knowing in my head that if 3.50 pacers caught
me I was done, I am glad it didn't happen as not sure how I would have coped. also did not really let up on hills early on hit them hard
so I think it told as race rolled on, rookie error.

What Next

get on top of continuing to strengthen weakness, try to figure some short term goals, get a plan together to keep ticking over and
not lose gains made in fitness. Workout paces for different sessions. I now know that with work I can still progress which is a good
target for future, had thought up to now, I was running best I could, who knew.