Please skip unless very very bored (the first bit is for those who are not aware of my history from the Novice thread).
My Running history
Just to fill in the blanks, I only started running in May and had trained well until August when my Knees started playing up leading to pretty much no training throughout August and September, followed by three weeks of training with a three day gap between each run.This was to keep my knees from being over used.
Motivation
My main motivation to start running was to keep to a normal level of weight so that I could enjoy food without looking like a Whale. I succeeded in doing this by starting off at 193lb and finishing on 181lb on the day of the Marathon.
I also feel that my mind has improved due to the exercise regime.
It was also a bet placed with a work friend that I would beat him in the Marathon. Although some 11 years younger than me, I figured he would not go through with it, but if he did, it would give me someone unfit to gauge my progress against. Sadly he never really started his training, however with the encouragement of fellow work friends and decent runners Yaboya and Calvin Johnson and the introduction of this forum, I kept my training going. My brother had also ran a few Marathons with dodgy knees leading me to believe that my previous knee injuries could be overcome.
Racing History
Malahide Park run after four weeks small training
27:49
Clontarf 5 miler after 7 weeks training
47:35 (run it with injured shoulder)
Swords 10k after 10 weeks training
57:25 (my only run that I was happy with and fully fit)
PP 10Mile after 14 weeks training although had hardly run in three weeks leading up to this
1:41
PP Half Marathon after 18 weeks training although no real training done in the previous 7 weeks leading up to this
2:23
Injuries
In my 20's I had suffered from painful knees from playing on hard pitches in the spring time in most years of playing Football. I had also suffered with very restrictive and tight calves again on spring time Football pitches when the ground was hard. This was always my main fear that would cause me to not make it past a few miles worth of training in my new running career.
These old injuries held firm until I over did training by doing five days running in a row to catch up for a lost two days. This at first just annoyed my calf, but then after a few days rest, my next run had the pain coming from my left knee more so than my Calf.
From then on, rehabilitation and Ultrasound from the Physio had been the main time consumer with 1 and a half hours stretching and strengthening exercises to be done each day to help the diagnosed patellar tendonitis. No running was aloud besides running to two lamposts, walk to lamposts for a maximum of a few miles each day and maybe build it up as the days went by. This was soul destroying, however, the bright light was that the Physio was still happy for me to run the Marathon!!!!!!
The ten mile race dented my confidence as although managing to get around without stopping, my knee locked afterwards and I was walking around like a disabled person for days afterwards.
Nothing changed in the next month and the Half Marathon race was similar with the only difference being that my fitness had gone much to my disgust!
I visited the first aid tent after the race to see if they could give me anything for the once again locked left knee giving me a straight leg that would not bend! One of the on duty Doctors took a look at my knee and diagnosed a small tear in my cartilage which sent me off for visit to the doctor a few days later, followed by a MRI scan which showed up that I did indeed have the tear.
I was lead to believe that a minor operation would need to be done before the marathon thus meaning for about the fourth time since May i was out of the Dublin Marathon!
However when I visited the consultant, he was happy for me to run the marathon as long as I had a knee brace, and gave me a later date for the minor op.
And finally onto the Race!!!!!!!
Dublin Marathon 2014Weekend Build up
I had managed to somehow get myself to the race weekend, all be it well short of anything like full marathon fitness. I collected my number on the Saturday Morning and then had a full days work until 10pm that night.
I was told that Saturday night was the key nights sleep ahead of the Marathon as you can never sleep the night before due to nerves.
Sunday was long and dull just waiting for the day to pass and sure enough I only managed a few hours sleep despite going to bed at 9pm!
Next morning I was up at 5.40am, had two buttered toast along with two bananas giving me plenty of time to go through my now usual pre race toilet routine.
My Taxi was booked for 7.40 which gave me 20 mins to fly through the empty Bank Holiday Monday streets to near the start where I was due to meet Yaboya and Calvin Johnson for a pre race get together to wish each other luck on what were very different goals.
I managed to text the boys to let them know of my cab issues and wished them luck ahead of some meaty targets ahead of them, they didn't need the extra stress of waiting around for me even if I was eventually their by 8.20.
7.40 came and went as did more precious mins until I ended up hailing a cab down at 8.05 with stress levels increasing all of the time - just what you need before a race! My cab finally showed up a full 50 mins late at 8.30 and called asking where I was, thank goodness I managed to get another cab!
I was well wrapped up in my race gear with gloves, frank duffy hat, jogging bottoms and hoody unaware that it was a warm morning in my own zone just trying to keep everything warm.
Hat and gloves came off and were left with my change of clothes at the baggage area.
As others have mentioned the lady at the baggage area mugged us right off saying loads of toilets were awaiting at the start area, I ended up going behind a van, luckily only needing a number one!
The Plan
I had been toying with many ideas of how to set off, maybe just setting off at the back as I did in the last two races and seeing how I felt as the race progressed.
I also had a crackpot idea that my exercises in the past two months had meant my hamstrings gave me a much longer running stride now so should set off with longer strides meaning I may find myself with the 4:40 pacers until my fitness showed its ugly head!
In the end I decided to go with the 5:00 pacers as this would give me more protection against the wind. I had a 5:00 pacing band to assist should I lose sight of them at any stage
The Race
I found my way to next to one of the five hour pacers before the start and had a chat and established that he was not on the boards, for small chat I also asked about pacing up and down hills and was assured it would be a even pace. Not ever followed a pacer before, I was intrigued to see how this would go.
Mile 1-7
The Race began at last with me deciding to line up to the right side of the road as that seemed to be the shortest route over the first few miles. We set off, with the pacers on the opposite side of the road before our run turned to a walk as we made the first turn. We soon got going into a nice steady pace again. Worrying I broke sweat within the first mile, maybe it was the sight of me being level with the 4:50 pacers already?
At the 3 mile mark I looked at my wrist band and noticed that I was already two mins ahead of the 5:00 pace and had a crafty look over my shoulder as we went over the liffey with the 4:50 and 5:00 groups behind me.
Having read Tungaska's write up of the Course and also discussing my plan on the Novice thread, i had it in my head to walk up the hills so once in PP decided to walk up the steepest part and have a gel which would give the pacers a chance to catch up and hopefully give me a chance to cover up against the wind.
I got going again, and about half way up PP, the 4:50 pace group finally went past which made me happy as it meant the 5 hour group were getting closer. I decided to let them go rather than use them as cover as I really wanted to with the five hour group. On the way past me, two ladies from the group made comment of my boards name on the lower back of my shirt, it sounded like they were boards members, but failed to say hi. Maybe not my biggest fans!
10k marker 01:09:27Mile 7-16
I was still hoping the 5 hour group would catch so again walked up the hill after Castleknock, then took my second gel coming up the hill again walking coming back into PP.
I then again started running and finally after about 8 miles was in the 5:00 group. My legs were not how expected so after staying with them until the tunnel I backed off again and walk up the hill.
I was then a few hundred meters behind for a few miles before another hill had my mind telling me to walk once more. I met Ciarenmac somewhere around this point but sadly after a brief chat told him I was stopping again to walk up another bloody hill. I was then aware that he must be suffering in some way as over the next few miles I kept seeing him in the distance and not really pulling away. Took another gel near crumlin road, felt like a pussy walking this but my legs though we had finished by now as they were not used to all of this walking crap!
02:31:31 Half wayMile 16-26
Most people around me were employing walk/run tactics now. I think that mentally this made it easier for me to give in and do the same. I said a quick hello to a fellow Englishman wearing a Newquay shirt which cheered me up as I ran past him. He then grumbled at me for stopping a few hundred meters later as he was using me as a target.
I saw the 15 bus around the 17 mile marker and the soft part of me would of loved to jump on it as it goes right by my place! I was now in a daze with no real injuries thankfully, but my usual drive and determination was no where to be seen. I was in a daze, just walking up the slightest incline and even some flat parts at this stage while gobbling up any sweets the kind crowds were giving out. I found that I was running the parts with crowds in and loved the encouragement of them shouting out my name, but then I would stop and walk again on the quieter stretches.
30k marker 03:51:06
By this stage the bits that I was walking went on and on during long stretches of tiny hills, my walking was so slow that fast walkers were keeping up with me even though I was jogging some and then walking some!
I finally got some energy once wandering up 'The wall' but was now sensing that large parts of the earlier crowds were diminished which was not helping my mood. I knew that after 'the wall' it was supposed to be all downhill started running again before it slightly ramped up a tiny bit up to a junction giving me the chance to stop again.
We were then over the bridge and i started again with the plan of getting to water station which a spectator said was a few meters around the corner. When I turned the corner I could not see any water signs and promptly downed tools again despite this now being downhill. I got to the water station and once again started running a few hundred meters and walking a few hundred meters. Every first aid tent had people wrapped up in blankets and on stretchers which was worrying, but I kept going and was almost feeling like I could run to the finish just past where I collected my number. I then turned the corner to collide with a stupid Women embracing a man and just running back to the curb. I was so angry, shouted some abuse and she apologised. I was maybe a little harsh, but I had got a bit of precious momentum again, and that brought me to a standstill and worse still caused my calf to scream!!!!
After 50 meters I got going again and when I turned to go up the hill by the pub called beggers bush? I noticed people holding flags ready to run the last bit to the finish so volunteered my help if I could hold the English one which they let me to my joy. I then realised we were just standing their whilst the clock was still ticking so close to the finish, so i gave the flag back and run on only to see the flag wavers with many still up ahead of me start to run into to the finish! Why could i of just waited another few seconds and I would of got to parade my precious St Georges cross over the finish line???
Once over the canal i lengthened my stride and started overtaking people who were mainly the flag wavers before trying to kick for the line and finishing in a whopping five hours forty five!!!!!
I then caught my breath back bent over with my hands on my knees only to notice my fellow Englishman next to me in the same manner gasping for air!
Official Chip time 05:45:28Thoughts after the Race
I was very emotional after as this meant a hell of a lot to me, all be it in an awful time! I nearly even shed a tear!
I know a lot advised me not to run, but I'm glad I did it. If I got run over by a bus tomorrow, I can at least say I did the Marathon!
However I am bitterly disappointed at my mental state during the race. I failed to show any drive or determination. I honestly don't see why I can't of done that in at least twenty mins quicker at the very least!
The journey this year has helped me stay fit and keep the weight off. I have learned know a large amount of useful information which can only help me improve.
The Future
I have a minor operation to look forward to on Monday on a small tear in my knee. Hopefully the recuperation goes to plan and gives the rest of my body a chance to heel in order to put me bang on to be fitter and stronger when I return to running in the New year. This has not put me off one bit and besides the 10k, I have very soft PB'S to beat. MK Half and Full Marathons await and then some unfinished business to deal with at DCM 2015!!!!!! Oh and I never ever will stop up a bloody hill ever again!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you to anyone taking time out to read such a huge amount of drivel
