Half marathon time and first marathon goal time

Name|HM place|HM time|Mcmillan prediction|1st marathon and what you did|Finish time|Comment
career_move|Athlone '12|1:46:39|3:44:27|Dublin '12 - went with 4hr pacers|3:57:49|Upped the pace at UCD. Was hurting a bit after mile 23 but pace didn't drop and finished with a negative split
RayCun|Dublin half '10|1:48:34|3:48:29|Dublin '10 - goal was 4 hours |3:58:06|reasonably comfortable. I was tired when I finished, but pace was consistent, never in real pain. Could have gone a few minutes faster perhaps, but not much under 3.55. Started behind pacers, passed them in the park, stayed a little ahead all the way
blockic|Athlone '12|1:32:29|3:14:38|Dublin '12 - went with 3:30 pacers|3:29:20|Comfortable up to about 18 miles, legs dead after Roebuck and started to suffer, clinging on for last 5 miles and wall truly hit. Could not have run a second faster. Met my 3:30 goal but in hindsight should have been more conservative to enjoy it more. Only get one first marathon. Plenty others to worry about times
hardCopy|Dublin half '11|1:57:44|4:07:46|Dublin '11 - went with 4:15 pacers|4:28:10|Felt good until I hit Foster's Avenue, my back went into spasm on the downhill and I started to drift away from the pacers. Caught them again at the next drinks table but then my ITBs and calves started to cramp as well and I lost them just before the flyover. Ended up walking most of Nutley Grove before digging in some more to run in from Merrion Tesco.
Statss|Bohermeen '13|1:35:09|3:20:15|Connemara 2013 |3:38:27|tough course, so not ideal for the macmillan comparison, I reckon it was 3.30 effort on a normal course, still 10 minutes out for predicted time. Felt okay most of the way around I wonder in retrospect could I have gone faster. Not to worry was a great experience for a first time. Report is here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84043558&postcount=125
ncmc|Clonmel '12|1:48|3:47|DCM '12|3:57|Went with four hour pacers and pushed on some time after Roebuck Road. Was tired when I finished, but not exhausted, probably could have pushed on a bit in hindsight. Actually was probably more wrecked after the HM than the marathon!
murphd77|FrankDuffy 10m 2012|1:25:45|4:00:42|DCM '12|4:02:26|I was hopeful of a sub-4 and I think I'd have got it if I went with the pacers. My basic error was pacing myself but calculating the pace on the exact marathon distance and not allowing for the extra few hundred meters that most of us tend to run on the day. In fact if you subtract the time taken to run that extra distance from my overall time, I ran the first 42.2k in something like 4:00:40, which is pretty close to McMillan. Something to think about if you trust McMillan and you're going to be close to the wire.
RubyK| Kilkenny '10|1.49.20|3.50.06| DCM '10|3.59.19| Lined up a few rows back from the 4 hr pacers, and moved ahead of them before halfway mark. Had no watch as battery died before the start, so just concentrated on staying ahead of those balloons.
menoscemo|Dublin'09|1:48:xx|3:48:xx|DCM '09|4:15:xx|Went with 4hr pacers. Started a minute behind and caught up by 6 miles, comfortable to 15 miles than started to slip. Dropped completely off pace by 19 miles and started walking, only picked up a jog home from 22 miles
RunningKing|Dublin '11|1:40:42|3:31:56|DCM '11|4:05|Went out just behind 3:30 pacers. Cramp from mile 13. ITB for all Oct meant no real running for 1 month before hand. Didn't enjoy it. If doing it again (for 1st time) would try to enjoy the atmosphere
pac_man|Dublin '11|1:37:48|3:25:xx|Dublin '11 |3:55:xx| I didn't really train for the marathon and am a prime example of someone who blew up from not doing long runs(longest run was the half marathon). I decided on the day that id be well able for 3:30 but but just after the KCR~ 15 miles, i had to start walking and struggled badly.I didn't get why people were carrying these belts around their waists,I was fairly naive and its quite funny when I think about it now.One thing I remember was how congested running with a pace group was especially up the Crumlin road, I had the same experience last weekend in a half marathon. If I was running my first marathon again, id wouldn't run for a time or with a pace group and u'll probably enjoy it a little bit more. Training for it would probably help as well.
wexford1996|Oilgate '12|1:37:34|3:25:20|Dublin '12 |3:27:20| Went with 3:30 pacers and managed to pick it up a bit from Milltown onwards. Had done five 20 mile runs in advance so was pretty strong at the end.
Clearlier|Sturminster Newton half 2010|1:38:39|3:27:37|Dublin '10 - positioned myself halfway between 3:15 and 3:30 pacers, kept to a certain heart rate to halfway, upped it to 20 miles and let fly from there|3:24:00|Felt very comfortable until just before halfway, picked up the effort without too much bother, ran out of energy at about 18 due to nutrition error but got my second wind within a mile or two, picked it up again at Nutley lane and was thinking about how close I could get to 3:20 before cramp hit at 24.5 miles. Just about held it together once I got going again.
kkcatlou|Athlone '12|01:47:52|03:47:01|DCM '12|03:56:07|Did a steady 9 min pace throughout although my last 6 miles were my fastest. Felt great throughout. Really took in the atmosphere and stayed "present" throughout. Didn't run with pacers, but did chat to a few people along the way
yaboya1|Dublin '10|1:47:53|3:47:03|DCM '10|3:39:36|Felt I could do better than the calculator, but injured my hamstring three weeks out meaning I did relatively nothing in the lead up to the race. Still went out with the 3:30 pacers and stuck with them comfortably until Terenure (17 miles). Hamstring started to hurt again badly at that stage. Once I knew 3:30 was gone I set my sights on getting under 3:40 (which I just about did). The last nine miles were very difficult
rom|Cork '11|1:51:57|3:55:36|Dublin '11 - went with 4hr pacers|4:27:43|Had run my marathon in training 3 weeks earlier. Didn't take any of the advise that I read on here to take my long runs 45-75 secs slower than marathon pace. 25 mins positive split says it all.
Mr.Wiggle|Mallow10 '12|1:11:30|3:18:02|Cork '12|3:23:00|started with 3.30 pacers but left them after mile 5 feeling the pace was that bit too slow for me. In hindsight I shoulda stayed with them and realy enjoyed my first marathon as it turned into a slog around the 20 mile mark for me and I wasn't able to enjoy the finishing straight on Patricks St.
AlanM|Dublin '12|1:38:58|3:28:17|Dublin '12|3:44:22|Started off thinking I could get close to 3:30 even though I hadn't really be training for that time. First 20 miles were ok, last 6 hurt, a lot. If I'd gone with the 3:45 pacers I probably wouldn't have had the same problems
snailsong|Achill '11|1:39:59|3:30:25|DCM '11|3:29:12|I went with the 3:30 pacers knowing that it was an ambitious target but Achill is hard and I figured I'd improved since then. Loved the first half, under pressure from 20 miles or so. Lost the pacers at 23 miles but made a big effort and caught them on Nassau street.
Rainbow Kirby|Dublin half '09|1:58:55|4:10:16|DCM '09|4:24:56|Was extremely conservative with any predictions for the marathon - had made a 4:45 and 5:00 pace band but left them in my bag by mistake on race morning. Ran pretty much purely by feel on the day, trying to feel comfortable for as much of it as I could, ignored the pacers (though it was nice to know that the 4:30 group never passed me) and only ran about a 1 minute positive split in the end (close enough to 2:12/2:13)
Killian Byrne|Dublin half '12|1:56:04|4:04:10|DCM '12|4:30:29|I thought I had done everything right, trained hard, good nutrition etc and was really hoping leading up to DCM for a sub 4, however i was cautioned by everyones scepticism of the McMillan times and decided on the day to follow the 4.15 pacers. I thought this would be just fine, breeze around just ahead of these guys and break away at the RDS for a decent fast time for my first marathon. everything was just about fine until we got out of the park and through chapelizod and I started to feel the legs tire. I started a walk/run in Terenure and fell behind from there. Some poor lad beside me asked me to stop asking him how far we had left on Merrion Road and it was a battle to finish. The thickening crowds kept me going and I was caught by the 4.30 pacers which spurred me on for the last 2 miles to the end. By the looks of things here, my 1/2 time and full time seem pretty similar to others
eoinín|Clontarf '12|1:37:46|3:25:45|DCM '12 - paced for 3.45 using Garmin|3:41:42|I didn't trust McMillan and had felt myself tiring towards the end of my 20 / 22 mile training runs so I set myself a somewhat conservative target of 3.45. I intended to go with the 3.45 pacers but felt boxed in behind them and had overtaken them by O'Connell Bridge! Kept to a steady pace, marginally quicker than 3.45 pace, using my Garmin. Felt physically and mentally good the whole way around and really enjoyed every minute of it. Tired a little towards the end, as you'd expect, but I didn't slow the pace much. I've subsequently thought that my target may have been too conservative and I could maybe have got 3.35ish. But I think the slower pace enabled me to go out and have a comfotable, fun race, which was more important to me than a better time. This year I hope to go for ca. 3.30 (11 mins slower than Mcmillan has me down for), but I hope increasing my pace compared to last year doesn't take away the enjoyment I felt. I guess it's hard to get the exact balance between enjoyment / decent finishing time right!

Sorry career_move, I meant that they were pacing 3.15 for the athlone 3/4, but had mentioned one would want to be running in that category if they were planning on a sub 4 marathon. I've done quite a few half marathons, and my longest run was athlone 3/4. I felt comfortable the whole way at just ~5.51min/km, and could have acheived 5:30min/km in hindsight but I was wary of the hill at the end and didn't want to end up walking!

I'll check out the novices thread,

Thank you

I was at a talk the other day and the topic of the importance of knowing what shape you’re in came up. The example was given of Eric Gillis who was hoping to qualify for the London Olympics. The qualifying standard was 2:11:30 and all his training was geared towards this. But coming up to his marathon, he felt he just wasn’t in that shape, but felt confident he could run 2:12 low. So he amended his target and ran 2:12 low with even splits. 6 months later on his next attempt he ran 2:11:29. 30s doesn’t seem a lot but at that level the margins are fine. It must have been tempting to think it’s only a second a mile and to go for it. But they must have thought that running a good race slightly slower, consolidating and going for it again with 6 months more training under the belt would be better than going for it first time out and possibly blowing up, after which you start questioning the training etc.

It’s hard to imagine a 3 hr runner thinking that he might be in 6:53 shape but he’s definitely not in 6:52 shape and adjusting his goal accordingly. I think the opposite happens more often, when you hear someone say that they’ll run 89:30 first half to give a little breathing space. I wonder if you’re just about in shape to run 90/90, you’ll more than likely be able to run 90:30/89:30, but far less likely to run 89:30/90:30.

In the tables above it seems like many people run a slower marathon than predicted, but that’s because the prediction is based on their HM time. This probably illustrates that first time marathoners are simply more HM fit than marathon fit first time round simply because it takes longer to develop the aerobic conditioning needed for a good marathon, rather than a criticism of the training itself. If they knew what marathon shape they were in rather than basing it on HM time and amended target accordingly perhaps they would have got closer to the predicted time. But then it’s hard to know what marathon shape you’re in if you haven’t done one.

Good awareness of what shape he was in and a positive experience with good pacing as well as altering expectations due to course and conditions stood to Eric well when he performed very strongly in London, coming through like a train in the latter stages when all and sundry were dropping like flies running 2:16 to finish 22nd.

I ran the Dublin Phoenix Park Half in 1:41, then did the DCM (my first marathon) in 3:53. Would have been on pace for 3:45, consistently under 5:15 per km until around the 28km mark. Legs just started to go then, and just decided that finishing was going to be enough for me. My only goal by that stage was to just keep running, not stop or walk at any stage. Pace seriously dropped, but slowest km ended up being around 6:10.

Have signed up for Derry on June 1st and Berlin on September 28....would like to just get as good a time as possible in Derry, but am targeting a 3:30 run in Berlin. Gonna be tough but so long as I keep up my training think it's very doable.

Name|HM place|HM time|Mcmillan prediction|1st marathon and what you did|Finish time|Comment
career_move|Athlone '12|1:46:39|3:44:27|Dublin '12 - went with 4hr pacers|3:57:49|Upped the pace at UCD. Was hurting a bit after mile 23 but pace didn't drop and finished with a negative split
RayCun|Dublin half '10|1:48:34|3:48:29|Dublin '10 - goal was 4 hours |3:58:06|reasonably comfortable. I was tired when I finished, but pace was consistent, never in real pain. Could have gone a few minutes faster perhaps, but not much under 3.55. Started behind pacers, passed them in the park, stayed a little ahead all the way
blockic|Athlone '12|1:32:29|3:14:38|Dublin '12 - went with 3:30 pacers|3:29:20|Comfortable up to about 18 miles, legs dead after Roebuck and started to suffer, clinging on for last 5 miles and wall truly hit. Could not have run a second faster. Met my 3:30 goal but in hindsight should have been more conservative to enjoy it more. Only get one first marathon. Plenty others to worry about times
hardCopy|Dublin half '11|1:57:44|4:07:46|Dublin '11 - went with 4:15 pacers|4:28:10|Felt good until I hit Foster's Avenue, my back went into spasm on the downhill and I started to drift away from the pacers. Caught them again at the next drinks table but then my ITBs and calves started to cramp as well and I lost them just before the flyover. Ended up walking most of Nutley Grove before digging in some more to run in from Merrion Tesco.
Statss|Bohermeen '13|1:35:09|3:20:15|Connemara 2013 |3:38:27|tough course, so not ideal for the macmillan comparison, I reckon it was 3.30 effort on a normal course, still 10 minutes out for predicted time. Felt okay most of the way around I wonder in retrospect could I have gone faster. Not to worry was a great experience for a first time. Report is here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84043558&postcount=125
ncmc|Clonmel '12|1:48|3:47|DCM '12|3:57|Went with four hour pacers and pushed on some time after Roebuck Road. Was tired when I finished, but not exhausted, probably could have pushed on a bit in hindsight. Actually was probably more wrecked after the HM than the marathon!
murphd77|FrankDuffy 10m 2012|1:25:45|4:00:42|DCM '12|4:02:26|I was hopeful of a sub-4 and I think I'd have got it if I went with the pacers. My basic error was pacing myself but calculating the pace on the exact marathon distance and not allowing for the extra few hundred meters that most of us tend to run on the day. In fact if you subtract the time taken to run that extra distance from my overall time, I ran the first 42.2k in something like 4:00:40, which is pretty close to McMillan. Something to think about if you trust McMillan and you're going to be close to the wire.
RubyK| Kilkenny '10|1.49.20|3.50.06| DCM '10|3.59.19| Lined up a few rows back from the 4 hr pacers, and moved ahead of them before halfway mark. Had no watch as battery died before the start, so just concentrated on staying ahead of those balloons.
menoscemo|Dublin'09|1:48:xx|3:48:xx|DCM '09|4:15:xx|Went with 4hr pacers. Started a minute behind and caught up by 6 miles, comfortable to 15 miles than started to slip. Dropped completely off pace by 19 miles and started walking, only picked up a jog home from 22 miles
RunningKing|Dublin '11|1:40:42|3:31:56|DCM '11|4:05|Went out just behind 3:30 pacers. Cramp from mile 13. ITB for all Oct meant no real running for 1 month before hand. Didn't enjoy it. If doing it again (for 1st time) would try to enjoy the atmosphere
pac_man|Dublin '11|1:37:48|3:25:xx|Dublin '11 |3:55:xx| I didn't really train for the marathon and am a prime example of someone who blew up from not doing long runs(longest run was the half marathon). I decided on the day that id be well able for 3:30 but but just after the KCR~ 15 miles, i had to start walking and struggled badly.I didn't get why people were carrying these belts around their waists,I was fairly naive and its quite funny when I think about it now.One thing I remember was how congested running with a pace group was especially up the Crumlin road, I had the same experience last weekend in a half marathon. If I was running my first marathon again, id wouldn't run for a time or with a pace group and u'll probably enjoy it a little bit more. Training for it would probably help as well.
wexford1996|Oilgate '12|1:37:34|3:25:20|Dublin '12 |3:27:20| Went with 3:30 pacers and managed to pick it up a bit from Milltown onwards. Had done five 20 mile runs in advance so was pretty strong at the end.
Clearlier|Sturminster Newton half 2010|1:38:39|3:27:37|Dublin '10 - positioned myself halfway between 3:15 and 3:30 pacers, kept to a certain heart rate to halfway, upped it to 20 miles and let fly from there|3:24:00|Felt very comfortable until just before halfway, picked up the effort without too much bother, ran out of energy at about 18 due to nutrition error but got my second wind within a mile or two, picked it up again at Nutley lane and was thinking about how close I could get to 3:20 before cramp hit at 24.5 miles. Just about held it together once I got going again.
kkcatlou|Athlone '12|01:47:52|03:47:01|DCM '12|03:56:07|Did a steady 9 min pace throughout although my last 6 miles were my fastest. Felt great throughout. Really took in the atmosphere and stayed "present" throughout. Didn't run with pacers, but did chat to a few people along the way
yaboya1|Dublin '10|1:47:53|3:47:03|DCM '10|3:39:36|Felt I could do better than the calculator, but injured my hamstring three weeks out meaning I did relatively nothing in the lead up to the race. Still went out with the 3:30 pacers and stuck with them comfortably until Terenure (17 miles). Hamstring started to hurt again badly at that stage. Once I knew 3:30 was gone I set my sights on getting under 3:40 (which I just about did). The last nine miles were very difficult
rom|Cork '11|1:51:57|3:55:36|Dublin '11 - went with 4hr pacers|4:27:43|Had run my marathon in training 3 weeks earlier. Didn't take any of the advise that I read on here to take my long runs 45-75 secs slower than marathon pace. 25 mins positive split says it all.
Mr.Wiggle|Mallow10 '12|1:11:30|3:18:02|Cork '12|3:23:00|started with 3.30 pacers but left them after mile 5 feeling the pace was that bit too slow for me. In hindsight I shoulda stayed with them and realy enjoyed my first marathon as it turned into a slog around the 20 mile mark for me and I wasn't able to enjoy the finishing straight on Patricks St.
AlanM|Dublin '12|1:38:58|3:28:17|Dublin '12|3:44:22|Started off thinking I could get close to 3:30 even though I hadn't really be training for that time. First 20 miles were ok, last 6 hurt, a lot. If I'd gone with the 3:45 pacers I probably wouldn't have had the same problems
snailsong|Achill '11|1:39:59|3:30:25|DCM '11|3:29:12|I went with the 3:30 pacers knowing that it was an ambitious target but Achill is hard and I figured I'd improved since then. Loved the first half, under pressure from 20 miles or so. Lost the pacers at 23 miles but made a big effort and caught them on Nassau street.
Rainbow Kirby|Dublin half '09|1:58:55|4:10:16|DCM '09|4:24:56|Was extremely conservative with any predictions for the marathon - had made a 4:45 and 5:00 pace band but left them in my bag by mistake on race morning. Ran pretty much purely by feel on the day, trying to feel comfortable for as much of it as I could, ignored the pacers (though it was nice to know that the 4:30 group never passed me) and only ran about a 1 minute positive split in the end (close enough to 2:12/2:13)
Killian Byrne|Dublin half '12|1:56:04|4:04:10|DCM '12|4:30:29|I thought I had done everything right, trained hard, good nutrition etc and was really hoping leading up to DCM for a sub 4, however i was cautioned by everyones scepticism of the McMillan times and decided on the day to follow the 4.15 pacers. I thought this would be just fine, breeze around just ahead of these guys and break away at the RDS for a decent fast time for my first marathon. everything was just about fine until we got out of the park and through chapelizod and I started to feel the legs tire. I started a walk/run in Terenure and fell behind from there. Some poor lad beside me asked me to stop asking him how far we had left on Merrion Road and it was a battle to finish. The thickening crowds kept me going and I was caught by the 4.30 pacers which spurred me on for the last 2 miles to the end. By the looks of things here, my 1/2 time and full time seem pretty similar to others
eoinín|Clontarf '12|1:37:46|3:25:45|DCM '12 - paced for 3.45 using Garmin|3:41:42|I didn't trust McMillan and had felt myself tiring towards the end of my 20 / 22 mile training runs so I set myself a somewhat conservative target of 3.45. I intended to go with the 3.45 pacers but felt boxed in behind them and had overtaken them by O'Connell Bridge! Kept to a steady pace, marginally quicker than 3.45 pace, using my Garmin. Felt physically and mentally good the whole way around and really enjoyed every minute of it. Tired a little towards the end, as you'd expect, but I didn't slow the pace much. I've subsequently thought that my target may have been too conservative and I could maybe have got 3.35ish. But I think the slower pace enabled me to go out and have a comfotable, fun race, which was more important to me than a better time. This year I hope to go for ca. 3.30 (11 mins slower than Mcmillan has me down for), but I hope increasing my pace compared to last year doesn't take away the enjoyment I felt. I guess it's hard to get the exact balance between enjoyment / decent finishing time right!
RedRunner|Dublin Half 2011|2:10:30|4:34:39|DCM 2011 - paced myself|4:45:36|No structured training for this. Hadn't run full HM distance before running HM and think I only did one 20 mile and one 18 mile LSR. Hit the wall at 18/19 miles and run/walk strategy for there to finish.Enough said! Started running the previous year and went as far as HM which I did in 2:12 ish.
Chickenballs|Dublin Half '94|1:38:00|3:26:15|DCM 1994 - ran like crazy!|3:50:10|Yes, my first marathon was in 1994 and I only turned 18 a couple of months previous to that. I actually started training when I was 16 after watching the Marathon that year. Foolish is not the word! My training wasn't structured at all except with my Dad's mates every Saturday running the cross country in UCD 5/6 Miles - From what I can remember I only did about 2/3 long runs over 15 miles most of my runs were 10 milers running like hell from Dun Laoghaire to UCD and back. My last 20 mile training run I was convinced I did in 2 Hours and bragged about it to many but we couldn't come up with the exact distance because this was the dinosaur pre-GPS era - The best I could do to distance out a route was a map and a sheet of paper marking the routes twists and turns with a pen and then with all these pen makings on the sheet using the length of that with the scale of the map - good oul Scouts! (Found a video here on it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf8ZI1TY5IU).Anyway, back to the marathon; I ran it like crazy thinking I'd do it in 3 Hours - at 5 miles I was at 40 mins and going crazy cause it was so far behind, by the time I got the Phoenix park (mile 20 and a different route to recent years) I had to walk I hit the wall big time - my training buddy passed me without saying a word he told me after he didn't want to disturb me in my mental coma! Ended up with a terrible time and very sore for weeks later. Have done it twice since with little training and did the same time. The mistake I made was running the marathon at such an early age not something I recommend, take it from me young folk. I've had hip trouble since doing it and I'm told a hip replacement will be needed before I reach 50 if I don't give up running. Saying that I've trained the 55 mile 18 week plan for this years 2013 marathon 90% on grass which helped alot! Expect 3Hr 20/25 - hard to judge your road pace when your on the grass so much.
event|Carlingford 13|1:46:02|3:43:09|GLR Limerick 13|3:58:50|Started out well, paced myself ok I thought. But I was wearing an nike top under my singlet. FUll sleeve, it was chilly enough. After about 8 miles, it started to get very warm. I had trained in the winter really, thats why I thought I'd need it. Was roasting on the day, affected me badly. I also didnt take any water on board until mile 9. I thought I wouldnt need it. That and the heat combined to make it very uncomfortable from 18 miles on. I'll know for the next time (CDM 13) to dress correctly and take water on early. My goal was sub 4, so got that but really thought I wouldnt near the end. Nearly quit, but the 4 hour pacers caught me and kept me going
jebuz|Dublin 12|1:24:56|2:58:45|Dublin 12|2:59:46|I revised my goal from 3:15 down to a sub 3 after that half race, it was a key race for me and really gave me the confidence and belief to go for it. Marathon went well but jesus did I nearly keel over at the RDS when cramps hit on both hamstrings, I hung in there and stayed with the 3hr pacers the whole way, good times, good times.
singer|Dublin 15|1:36:03|3:22:08|Dublin 15|3:32:04|Tried to go for 3:30 on the day, but struggled in the last 4 miles.
tailgunner|Reading '16|1:49:36|3:50:39|Berlin '16|3:58:49|Reading was in early April, and probably had little bearing on the shape I was in for Berlin in late September. I reckon I could have run sub-3:55 on the day, and maybe a little quicker again if it hadn't been so warm, but I wanted to be very conservative for my first marathon. Stuck to 9 minute miles the whole way around and was fairly comfortable for most of it - until the closing stages anyway!

Name|HM place|HM time|Mcmillan prediction|1st marathon and what you did|Finish time|Comment
career_move|Athlone '12|1:46:39|3:44:27|Dublin '12 - went with 4hr pacers|3:57:49|Upped the pace at UCD. Was hurting a bit after mile 23 but pace didn't drop and finished with a negative split
RayCun|Dublin half '10|1:48:34|3:48:29|Dublin '10 - goal was 4 hours |3:58:06|reasonably comfortable. I was tired when I finished, but pace was consistent, never in real pain. Could have gone a few minutes faster perhaps, but not much under 3.55. Started behind pacers, passed them in the park, stayed a little ahead all the way
blockic|Athlone '12|1:32:29|3:14:38|Dublin '12 - went with 3:30 pacers|3:29:20|Comfortable up to about 18 miles, legs dead after Roebuck and started to suffer, clinging on for last 5 miles and wall truly hit. Could not have run a second faster. Met my 3:30 goal but in hindsight should have been more conservative to enjoy it more. Only get one first marathon. Plenty others to worry about times
hardCopy|Dublin half '11|1:57:44|4:07:46|Dublin '11 - went with 4:15 pacers|4:28:10|Felt good until I hit Foster's Avenue, my back went into spasm on the downhill and I started to drift away from the pacers. Caught them again at the next drinks table but then my ITBs and calves started to cramp as well and I lost them just before the flyover. Ended up walking most of Nutley Grove before digging in some more to run in from Merrion Tesco.
Statss|Bohermeen '13|1:35:09|3:20:15|Connemara 2013 |3:38:27|tough course, so not ideal for the macmillan comparison, I reckon it was 3.30 effort on a normal course, still 10 minutes out for predicted time. Felt okay most of the way around I wonder in retrospect could I have gone faster. Not to worry was a great experience for a first time. Report is here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84043558&postcount=125
ncmc|Clonmel '12|1:48|3:47|DCM '12|3:57|Went with four hour pacers and pushed on some time after Roebuck Road. Was tired when I finished, but not exhausted, probably could have pushed on a bit in hindsight. Actually was probably more wrecked after the HM than the marathon!
murphd77|FrankDuffy 10m 2012|1:25:45|4:00:42|DCM '12|4:02:26|I was hopeful of a sub-4 and I think I'd have got it if I went with the pacers. My basic error was pacing myself but calculating the pace on the exact marathon distance and not allowing for the extra few hundred meters that most of us tend to run on the day. In fact if you subtract the time taken to run that extra distance from my overall time, I ran the first 42.2k in something like 4:00:40, which is pretty close to McMillan. Something to think about if you trust McMillan and you're going to be close to the wire.
RubyK| Kilkenny '10|1.49.20|3.50.06| DCM '10|3.59.19| Lined up a few rows back from the 4 hr pacers, and moved ahead of them before halfway mark. Had no watch as battery died before the start, so just concentrated on staying ahead of those balloons.
menoscemo|Dublin'09|1:48:xx|3:48:xx|DCM '09|4:15:xx|Went with 4hr pacers. Started a minute behind and caught up by 6 miles, comfortable to 15 miles than started to slip. Dropped completely off pace by 19 miles and started walking, only picked up a jog home from 22 miles
RunningKing|Dublin '11|1:40:42|3:31:56|DCM '11|4:05|Went out just behind 3:30 pacers. Cramp from mile 13. ITB for all Oct meant no real running for 1 month before hand. Didn't enjoy it. If doing it again (for 1st time) would try to enjoy the atmosphere
pac_man|Dublin '11|1:37:48|3:25:xx|Dublin '11 |3:55:xx| I didn't really train for the marathon and am a prime example of someone who blew up from not doing long runs(longest run was the half marathon). I decided on the day that id be well able for 3:30 but but just after the KCR~ 15 miles, i had to start walking and struggled badly.I didn't get why people were carrying these belts around their waists,I was fairly naive and its quite funny when I think about it now.One thing I remember was how congested running with a pace group was especially up the Crumlin road, I had the same experience last weekend in a half marathon. If I was running my first marathon again, id wouldn't run for a time or with a pace group and u'll probably enjoy it a little bit more. Training for it would probably help as well.
wexford1996|Oilgate '12|1:37:34|3:25:20|Dublin '12 |3:27:20| Went with 3:30 pacers and managed to pick it up a bit from Milltown onwards. Had done five 20 mile runs in advance so was pretty strong at the end.
Clearlier|Sturminster Newton half 2010|1:38:39|3:27:37|Dublin '10 - positioned myself halfway between 3:15 and 3:30 pacers, kept to a certain heart rate to halfway, upped it to 20 miles and let fly from there|3:24:00|Felt very comfortable until just before halfway, picked up the effort without too much bother, ran out of energy at about 18 due to nutrition error but got my second wind within a mile or two, picked it up again at Nutley lane and was thinking about how close I could get to 3:20 before cramp hit at 24.5 miles. Just about held it together once I got going again.
kkcatlou|Athlone '12|01:47:52|03:47:01|DCM '12|03:56:07|Did a steady 9 min pace throughout although my last 6 miles were my fastest. Felt great throughout. Really took in the atmosphere and stayed "present" throughout. Didn't run with pacers, but did chat to a few people along the way
yaboya1|Dublin '10|1:47:53|3:47:03|DCM '10|3:39:36|Felt I could do better than the calculator, but injured my hamstring three weeks out meaning I did relatively nothing in the lead up to the race. Still went out with the 3:30 pacers and stuck with them comfortably until Terenure (17 miles). Hamstring started to hurt again badly at that stage. Once I knew 3:30 was gone I set my sights on getting under 3:40 (which I just about did). The last nine miles were very difficult
rom|Cork '11|1:51:57|3:55:36|Dublin '11 - went with 4hr pacers|4:27:43|Had run my marathon in training 3 weeks earlier. Didn't take any of the advise that I read on here to take my long runs 45-75 secs slower than marathon pace. 25 mins positive split says it all.
Mr.Wiggle|Mallow10 '12|1:11:30|3:18:02|Cork '12|3:23:00|started with 3.30 pacers but left them after mile 5 feeling the pace was that bit too slow for me. In hindsight I shoulda stayed with them and realy enjoyed my first marathon as it turned into a slog around the 20 mile mark for me and I wasn't able to enjoy the finishing straight on Patricks St.
AlanM|Dublin '12|1:38:58|3:28:17|Dublin '12|3:44:22|Started off thinking I could get close to 3:30 even though I hadn't really be training for that time. First 20 miles were ok, last 6 hurt, a lot. If I'd gone with the 3:45 pacers I probably wouldn't have had the same problems
snailsong|Achill '11|1:39:59|3:30:25|DCM '11|3:29:12|I went with the 3:30 pacers knowing that it was an ambitious target but Achill is hard and I figured I'd improved since then. Loved the first half, under pressure from 20 miles or so. Lost the pacers at 23 miles but made a big effort and caught them on Nassau street.
Rainbow Kirby|Dublin half '09|1:58:55|4:10:16|DCM '09|4:24:56|Was extremely conservative with any predictions for the marathon - had made a 4:45 and 5:00 pace band but left them in my bag by mistake on race morning. Ran pretty much purely by feel on the day, trying to feel comfortable for as much of it as I could, ignored the pacers (though it was nice to know that the 4:30 group never passed me) and only ran about a 1 minute positive split in the end (close enough to 2:12/2:13)
Killian Byrne|Dublin half '12|1:56:04|4:04:10|DCM '12|4:30:29|I thought I had done everything right, trained hard, good nutrition etc and was really hoping leading up to DCM for a sub 4, however i was cautioned by everyones scepticism of the McMillan times and decided on the day to follow the 4.15 pacers. I thought this would be just fine, breeze around just ahead of these guys and break away at the RDS for a decent fast time for my first marathon. everything was just about fine until we got out of the park and through chapelizod and I started to feel the legs tire. I started a walk/run in Terenure and fell behind from there. Some poor lad beside me asked me to stop asking him how far we had left on Merrion Road and it was a battle to finish. The thickening crowds kept me going and I was caught by the 4.30 pacers which spurred me on for the last 2 miles to the end. By the looks of things here, my 1/2 time and full time seem pretty similar to others
eoinClontarf '12|1:37:46|3:25:45|DCM '12 - paced for 3.45 using Garmin|3:41:42|I didn't trust McMillan and had felt myself tiring towards the end of my 20 / 22 mile training runs so I set myself a somewhat conservative target of 3.45. I intended to go with the 3.45 pacers but felt boxed in behind them and had overtaken them by O'Connell Bridge! Kept to a steady pace, marginally quicker than 3.45 pace, using my Garmin. Felt physically and mentally good the whole way around and really enjoyed every minute of it. Tired a little towards the end, as you'd expect, but I didn't slow the pace much. I've subsequently thought that my target may have been too conservative and I could maybe have got 3.35ish. But I think the slower pace enabled me to go out and have a comfotable, fun race, which was more important to me than a better time. This year I hope to go for ca. 3.30 (11 mins slower than Mcmillan has me down for), but I hope increasing my pace compared to last year doesn't take away the enjoyment I felt. I guess it's hard to get the exact balance between enjoyment / decent finishing time right!
RedRunner|Dublin Half 2011|2:10:30|4:34:39|DCM 2011 - paced myself|4:45:36|No structured training for this. Hadn't run full HM distance before running HM and think I only did one 20 mile and one 18 mile LSR. Hit the wall at 18/19 miles and run/walk strategy for there to finish.Enough said! Started running the previous year and went as far as HM which I did in 2:12 ish.
Chickenballs|Dublin Half '94|1:38:00|3:26:15|DCM 1994 - ran like crazy!|3:50:10|Yes, my first marathon was in 1994 and I only turned 18 a couple of months previous to that. I actually started training when I was 16 after watching the Marathon that year. Foolish is not the word! My training wasn't structured at all except with my Dad's mates every Saturday running the cross country in UCD 5/6 Miles - From what I can remember I only did about 2/3 long runs over 15 miles most of my runs were 10 milers running like hell from Dun Laoghaire to UCD and back. My last 20 mile training run I was convinced I did in 2 Hours and bragged about it to many but we couldn't come up with the exact distance because this was the dinosaur pre-GPS era - The best I could do to distance out a route was a map and a sheet of paper marking the routes twists and turns with a pen and then with all these pen makings on the sheet using the length of that with the scale of the map - good oul Scouts! (Found a video here on it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf8ZI1TY5IU).Anyway, back to the marathon; I ran it like crazy thinking I'd do it in 3 Hours - at 5 miles I was at 40 mins and going crazy cause it was so far behind, by the time I got the Phoenix park (mile 20 and a different route to recent years) I had to walk I hit the wall big time - my training buddy passed me without saying a word he told me after he didn't want to disturb me in my mental coma! Ended up with a terrible time and very sore for weeks later. Have done it twice since with little training and did the same time. The mistake I made was running the marathon at such an early age not something I recommend, take it from me young folk. I've had hip trouble since doing it and I'm told a hip replacement will be needed before I reach 50 if I don't give up running. Saying that I've trained the 55 mile 18 week plan for this years 2013 marathon 90% on grass which helped alot! Expect 3Hr 20/25 - hard to judge your road pace when your on the grass so much.
event|Carlingford 13|1:46:02|3:43:09|GLR Limerick 13|3:58:50|Started out well, paced myself ok I thought. But I was wearing an nike top under my singlet. FUll sleeve, it was chilly enough. After about 8 miles, it started to get very warm. I had trained in the winter really, thats why I thought I'd need it. Was roasting on the day, affected me badly. I also didnt take any water on board until mile 9. I thought I wouldnt need it. That and the heat combined to make it very uncomfortable from 18 miles on. I'll know for the next time (CDM 13) to dress correctly and take water on early. My goal was sub 4, so got that but really thought I wouldnt near the end. Nearly quit, but the 4 hour pacers caught me and kept me going
jebuz|Dublin 12|1:24:56|2:58:45|Dublin 12|2:59:46|I revised my goal from 3:15 down to a sub 3 after that half race, it was a key race for me and really gave me the confidence and belief to go for it. Marathon went well but jesus did I nearly keel over at the RDS when cramps hit on both hamstrings, I hung in there and stayed with the 3hr pacers the whole way, good times, good times.
singer|Dublin 15|1:36:03|3:22:08|Dublin 15|3:32:04|Tried to go for 3:30 on the day, but struggled in the last 4 miles.
tailgunner|Reading '16|1:49:36|3:50:39|Berlin '16|3:58:49|Reading was in early April, and probably had little bearing on the shape I was in for Berlin in late September. I reckon I could have run sub-3:55 on the day, and maybe a little quicker again if it hadn't been so warm, but I wanted to be very conservative for my first marathon. Stuck to 9 minute miles the whole way around and was fairly comfortable for most of it - until the closing stages anyway!
davedanon|Dublin HM 09|1:41:33|3:33:43|DCM 09|3:47:08|Not my first marathon, but the first was in 1983, and a disaster, so it might as well have been. Pre-Garmin days, so the only data to go on comes from the official results, as the memory's a bit cloudy. It seems to have been a steady enough run, through the half in 1.53, so the pace held up well enough. Was just delighted to finish, and beat the 3:48:xx achieved by my 20 year-old self. As an aside, my first half had been the previous year, a 1:52:xx. On a recent 13 mile training run, I deliberately ran an extra .1, finishing in 1:48:xx. It feels good to remind yourself of just how far you've come every now and then, instead of focussing on the next target all the time.
jake1970|Athlone 15|1:28:56|3:07:12|DCM 15 went with 3:20 pacers|3:18:30|I had set a target of sub 3:20 for the marathon. I stuck with the pacers till mile 19 and as I was feeling reasonably comfortable I decided to push on ahead of the pacers and I managed to stay ahead of them till the end.

Name|HM place|HM time|Mcmillan prediction|1st marathon and what you did|Finish time|Comment
career_move|Athlone '12|1:46:39|3:44:27|Dublin '12 - went with 4hr pacers|3:57:49|Upped the pace at UCD. Was hurting a bit after mile 23 but pace didn't drop and finished with a negative split
RayCun|Dublin half '10|1:48:34|3:48:29|Dublin '10 - goal was 4 hours |3:58:06|reasonably comfortable. I was tired when I finished, but pace was consistent, never in real pain. Could have gone a few minutes faster perhaps, but not much under 3.55. Started behind pacers, passed them in the park, stayed a little ahead all the way
blockic|Athlone '12|1:32:29|3:14:38|Dublin '12 - went with 3:30 pacers|3:29:20|Comfortable up to about 18 miles, legs dead after Roebuck and started to suffer, clinging on for last 5 miles and wall truly hit. Could not have run a second faster. Met my 3:30 goal but in hindsight should have been more conservative to enjoy it more. Only get one first marathon. Plenty others to worry about times
hardCopy|Dublin half '11|1:57:44|4:07:46|Dublin '11 - went with 4:15 pacers|4:28:10|Felt good until I hit Foster's Avenue, my back went into spasm on the downhill and I started to drift away from the pacers. Caught them again at the next drinks table but then my ITBs and calves started to cramp as well and I lost them just before the flyover. Ended up walking most of Nutley Grove before digging in some more to run in from Merrion Tesco.
Statss|Bohermeen '13|1:35:09|3:20:15|Connemara 2013 |3:38:27|tough course, so not ideal for the macmillan comparison, I reckon it was 3.30 effort on a normal course, still 10 minutes out for predicted time. Felt okay most of the way around I wonder in retrospect could I have gone faster. Not to worry was a great experience for a first time. Report is here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84043558&postcount=125
ncmc|Clonmel '12|1:48|3:47|DCM '12|3:57|Went with four hour pacers and pushed on some time after Roebuck Road. Was tired when I finished, but not exhausted, probably could have pushed on a bit in hindsight. Actually was probably more wrecked after the HM than the marathon!
murphd77|FrankDuffy 10m 2012|1:25:45|4:00:42|DCM '12|4:02:26|I was hopeful of a sub-4 and I think I'd have got it if I went with the pacers. My basic error was pacing myself but calculating the pace on the exact marathon distance and not allowing for the extra few hundred meters that most of us tend to run on the day. In fact if you subtract the time taken to run that extra distance from my overall time, I ran the first 42.2k in something like 4:00:40, which is pretty close to McMillan. Something to think about if you trust McMillan and you're going to be close to the wire.
RubyK| Kilkenny '10|1.49.20|3.50.06| DCM '10|3.59.19| Lined up a few rows back from the 4 hr pacers, and moved ahead of them before halfway mark. Had no watch as battery died before the start, so just concentrated on staying ahead of those balloons.
menoscemo|Dublin'09|1:48:xx|3:48:xx|DCM '09|4:15:xx|Went with 4hr pacers. Started a minute behind and caught up by 6 miles, comfortable to 15 miles than started to slip. Dropped completely off pace by 19 miles and started walking, only picked up a jog home from 22 miles
RunningKing|Dublin '11|1:40:42|3:31:56|DCM '11|4:05|Went out just behind 3:30 pacers. Cramp from mile 13. ITB for all Oct meant no real running for 1 month before hand. Didn't enjoy it. If doing it again (for 1st time) would try to enjoy the atmosphere
pac_man|Dublin '11|1:37:48|3:25:xx|Dublin '11 |3:55:xx| I didn't really train for the marathon and am a prime example of someone who blew up from not doing long runs(longest run was the half marathon). I decided on the day that id be well able for 3:30 but but just after the KCR~ 15 miles, i had to start walking and struggled badly.I didn't get why people were carrying these belts around their waists,I was fairly naive and its quite funny when I think about it now.One thing I remember was how congested running with a pace group was especially up the Crumlin road, I had the same experience last weekend in a half marathon. If I was running my first marathon again, id wouldn't run for a time or with a pace group and u'll probably enjoy it a little bit more. Training for it would probably help as well.
wexford1996|Oilgate '12|1:37:34|3:25:20|Dublin '12 |3:27:20| Went with 3:30 pacers and managed to pick it up a bit from Milltown onwards. Had done five 20 mile runs in advance so was pretty strong at the end.
Clearlier|Sturminster Newton half 2010|1:38:39|3:27:37|Dublin '10 - positioned myself halfway between 3:15 and 3:30 pacers, kept to a certain heart rate to halfway, upped it to 20 miles and let fly from there|3:24:00|Felt very comfortable until just before halfway, picked up the effort without too much bother, ran out of energy at about 18 due to nutrition error but got my second wind within a mile or two, picked it up again at Nutley lane and was thinking about how close I could get to 3:20 before cramp hit at 24.5 miles. Just about held it together once I got going again.
kkcatlou|Athlone '12|01:47:52|03:47:01|DCM '12|03:56:07|Did a steady 9 min pace throughout although my last 6 miles were my fastest. Felt great throughout. Really took in the atmosphere and stayed "present" throughout. Didn't run with pacers, but did chat to a few people along the way
yaboya1|Dublin '10|1:47:53|3:47:03|DCM '10|3:39:36|Felt I could do better than the calculator, but injured my hamstring three weeks out meaning I did relatively nothing in the lead up to the race. Still went out with the 3:30 pacers and stuck with them comfortably until Terenure (17 miles). Hamstring started to hurt again badly at that stage. Once I knew 3:30 was gone I set my sights on getting under 3:40 (which I just about did). The last nine miles were very difficult
rom|Cork '11|1:51:57|3:55:36|Dublin '11 - went with 4hr pacers|4:27:43|Had run my marathon in training 3 weeks earlier. Didn't take any of the advise that I read on here to take my long runs 45-75 secs slower than marathon pace. 25 mins positive split says it all.
Mr.Wiggle|Mallow10 '12|1:11:30|3:18:02|Cork '12|3:23:00|started with 3.30 pacers but left them after mile 5 feeling the pace was that bit too slow for me. In hindsight I shoulda stayed with them and realy enjoyed my first marathon as it turned into a slog around the 20 mile mark for me and I wasn't able to enjoy the finishing straight on Patricks St.
AlanM|Dublin '12|1:38:58|3:28:17|Dublin '12|3:44:22|Started off thinking I could get close to 3:30 even though I hadn't really be training for that time. First 20 miles were ok, last 6 hurt, a lot. If I'd gone with the 3:45 pacers I probably wouldn't have had the same problems
snailsong|Achill '11|1:39:59|3:30:25|DCM '11|3:29:12|I went with the 3:30 pacers knowing that it was an ambitious target but Achill is hard and I figured I'd improved since then. Loved the first half, under pressure from 20 miles or so. Lost the pacers at 23 miles but made a big effort and caught them on Nassau street.
Rainbow Kirby|Dublin half '09|1:58:55|4:10:16|DCM '09|4:24:56|Was extremely conservative with any predictions for the marathon - had made a 4:45 and 5:00 pace band but left them in my bag by mistake on race morning. Ran pretty much purely by feel on the day, trying to feel comfortable for as much of it as I could, ignored the pacers (though it was nice to know that the 4:30 group never passed me) and only ran about a 1 minute positive split in the end (close enough to 2:12/2:13)
Killian Byrne|Dublin half '12|1:56:04|4:04:10|DCM '12|4:30:29|I thought I had done everything right, trained hard, good nutrition etc and was really hoping leading up to DCM for a sub 4, however i was cautioned by everyones scepticism of the McMillan times and decided on the day to follow the 4.15 pacers. I thought this would be just fine, breeze around just ahead of these guys and break away at the RDS for a decent fast time for my first marathon. everything was just about fine until we got out of the park and through chapelizod and I started to feel the legs tire. I started a walk/run in Terenure and fell behind from there. Some poor lad beside me asked me to stop asking him how far we had left on Merrion Road and it was a battle to finish. The thickening crowds kept me going and I was caught by the 4.30 pacers which spurred me on for the last 2 miles to the end. By the looks of things here, my 1/2 time and full time seem pretty similar to others
eoinClontarf '12|1:37:46|3:25:45|DCM '12 - paced for 3.45 using Garmin|3:41:42|I didn't trust McMillan and had felt myself tiring towards the end of my 20 / 22 mile training runs so I set myself a somewhat conservative target of 3.45. I intended to go with the 3.45 pacers but felt boxed in behind them and had overtaken them by O'Connell Bridge! Kept to a steady pace, marginally quicker than 3.45 pace, using my Garmin. Felt physically and mentally good the whole way around and really enjoyed every minute of it. Tired a little towards the end, as you'd expect, but I didn't slow the pace much. I've subsequently thought that my target may have been too conservative and I could maybe have got 3.35ish. But I think the slower pace enabled me to go out and have a comfotable, fun race, which was more important to me than a better time. This year I hope to go for ca. 3.30 (11 mins slower than Mcmillan has me down for), but I hope increasing my pace compared to last year doesn't take away the enjoyment I felt. I guess it's hard to get the exact balance between enjoyment / decent finishing time right!
RedRunner|Dublin Half 2011|2:10:30|4:34:39|DCM 2011 - paced myself|4:45:36|No structured training for this. Hadn't run full HM distance before running HM and think I only did one 20 mile and one 18 mile LSR. Hit the wall at 18/19 miles and run/walk strategy for there to finish.Enough said! Started running the previous year and went as far as HM which I did in 2:12 ish.
Chickenballs|Dublin Half '94|1:38:00|3:26:15|DCM 1994 - ran like crazy!|3:50:10|Yes, my first marathon was in 1994 and I only turned 18 a couple of months previous to that. I actually started training when I was 16 after watching the Marathon that year. Foolish is not the word! My training wasn't structured at all except with my Dad's mates every Saturday running the cross country in UCD 5/6 Miles - From what I can remember I only did about 2/3 long runs over 15 miles most of my runs were 10 milers running like hell from Dun Laoghaire to UCD and back. My last 20 mile training run I was convinced I did in 2 Hours and bragged about it to many but we couldn't come up with the exact distance because this was the dinosaur pre-GPS era - The best I could do to distance out a route was a map and a sheet of paper marking the routes twists and turns with a pen and then with all these pen makings on the sheet using the length of that with the scale of the map - good oul Scouts! (Found a video here on it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf8ZI1TY5IU).Anyway, back to the marathon; I ran it like crazy thinking I'd do it in 3 Hours - at 5 miles I was at 40 mins and going crazy cause it was so far behind, by the time I got the Phoenix park (mile 20 and a different route to recent years) I had to walk I hit the wall big time - my training buddy passed me without saying a word he told me after he didn't want to disturb me in my mental coma! Ended up with a terrible time and very sore for weeks later. Have done it twice since with little training and did the same time. The mistake I made was running the marathon at such an early age not something I recommend, take it from me young folk. I've had hip trouble since doing it and I'm told a hip replacement will be needed before I reach 50 if I don't give up running. Saying that I've trained the 55 mile 18 week plan for this years 2013 marathon 90% on grass which helped alot! Expect 3Hr 20/25 - hard to judge your road pace when your on the grass so much.
event|Carlingford 13|1:46:02|3:43:09|GLR Limerick 13|3:58:50|Started out well, paced myself ok I thought. But I was wearing an nike top under my singlet. FUll sleeve, it was chilly enough. After about 8 miles, it started to get very warm. I had trained in the winter really, thats why I thought I'd need it. Was roasting on the day, affected me badly. I also didnt take any water on board until mile 9. I thought I wouldnt need it. That and the heat combined to make it very uncomfortable from 18 miles on. I'll know for the next time (CDM 13) to dress correctly and take water on early. My goal was sub 4, so got that but really thought I wouldnt near the end. Nearly quit, but the 4 hour pacers caught me and kept me going
jebuz|Dublin 12|1:24:56|2:58:45|Dublin 12|2:59:46|I revised my goal from 3:15 down to a sub 3 after that half race, it was a key race for me and really gave me the confidence and belief to go for it. Marathon went well but jesus did I nearly keel over at the RDS when cramps hit on both hamstrings, I hung in there and stayed with the 3hr pacers the whole way, good times, good times.
singer|Dublin 15|1:36:03|3:22:08|Dublin 15|3:32:04|Tried to go for 3:30 on the day, but struggled in the last 4 miles.
tailgunner|Reading '16|1:49:36|3:50:39|Berlin '16|3:58:49|Reading was in early April, and probably had little bearing on the shape I was in for Berlin in late September. I reckon I could have run sub-3:55 on the day, and maybe a little quicker again if it hadn't been so warm, but I wanted to be very conservative for my first marathon. Stuck to 9 minute miles the whole way around and was fairly comfortable for most of it - until the closing stages anyway!
davedanon|Dublin HM 09|1:41:33|3:33:43|DCM 09|3:47:08|Not my first marathon, but the first was in 1983, and a disaster, so it might as well have been. Pre-Garmin days, so the only data to go on comes from the official results, as the memory's a bit cloudy. It seems to have been a steady enough run, through the half in 1.53, so the pace held up well enough. Was just delighted to finish, and beat the 3:48:xx achieved by my 20 year-old self. As an aside, my first half had been the previous year, a 1:52:xx. On a recent 13 mile training run, I deliberately ran an extra .1, finishing in 1:48:xx. It feels good to remind yourself of just how far you've come every now and then, instead of focussing on the next target all the time.
jake1970|Athlone 15|1:28:56|3:07:12|DCM 15 went with 3:20 pacers|3:18:30|I had set a target of sub 3:20 for the marathon. I stuck with the pacers till mile 19 and as I was feeling reasonably comfortable I decided to push on ahead of the pacers and I managed to stay ahead of them till the end.
vaggabond|Dublin Half 2011|1:47.*|3:45:12|DCM 11 went with 3:45 pacers|4.02.*|Was my first marathon. Looking back at my log now, training was great. But I had injuries all over the shop, bad knee leading into the half. It vanished and half was great, but came back in full. In full I was grand until 18 ish miles, on track for around 3.45. But wheels fell off totally and finished in totally agony and was really gutted & and ruined the whole experience for me. Like several later marathons, a *slightly* more conservative target would have been a *far* better idea!
boardtc|Tullamore Half 2018|1:47.57|Did not use McMillan|DCM 18 |4.02.17|My first marathon. I used the modified Hal Higdon plan posted on boards.ie. Training and tapering was textbook and injury free. I used a customised for the course pace band from MyMarathonPace to target 3:58 with even effort, slow start, max finish fade, medium downhill pace & max negative split bias. A bit more info here. It worked perfectly...almost....I was tracking 3:59:55 until I hit the 26 mile marker and bonked taking 3m23sec to cover the last 350m :-( I had no mental capacity in the last quarter and did not take on any fuel/water.