Dublin Marathon 2012 - Mentored Novices Thread

shortie_chik wrote: »

Ha ha! Thanks Walkedit! My OH is a triathlete! He's far fitter & faster than I am, but I can keep going for longer. Slooooow & steady! I've entered myself (perhaps a bit ambitiously!) in the sub 2h category with him, so at least we'll start off together!

ah that makes sense

are you keeping the watch? :-)

Usually don't post until I've caught up with the thread, the last few days the race reports have been coming in quicker than I could read them so only getting around to it now. Some great runs and realy entertaining tales in there.

a Target: 3:45
b Target: sub 4
Result: 3:58:19

Really thought I had 3:45 in me after a 1:40:xx HM. Started back too far in field and lost time in the initial miles with the crowds. Waited until it thinned out to make time back (10 secs per mile) steadily over miles 5 - 18 to get back on track by mile 18. I knew it was a massive risk but I wasn't willing to give up the goal that early in the race.

Hips gave me fierce trouble then and I knew I couldn't keep that pace up as they stiffenned and restricted movement. Last 8 miles were pretty sore with knock on effects from that but I got there under 4 after a massive achy slow down.

Managed to enjoy it all the same, it was a fantastic experience which has been summed up plenty by other posters already which I couldn't possibly improve on.

Lessons learned:
- Get in the right position for the start.
- Don't try and make up ground too quickly
- Work on hip strength, got a lot to do there for strength and conditioning.

Next steps:
- Got a series of PB's to smash

Dilbert75 wrote: »

How's this?

Ha! how wrecked do I look! I remember that, saw a camera and said "this is my opportunity' Good stuff Dilbert! Thanks

Ok, here goes, apologies this has taken me a few days but between the spin home on Tuesday, work yesterday etc, I had intended posting last night but it took me nearly an hour & a half to get through the posts that I had to catch up on & I then fell asleep on the sofa:eek:
My target time was between 4 & 4.15 so the plan was to see where I was after 20 miles & go from there.Started about 50 yards behind the 4 hr guys but had lost sight of them by the time we got down by Trinity College so said to myself that I 'd plod along & I'd surely catch sight of them again in the park.Passed some guy on the ground on Dorset St who seemed to be in a bad way so hope he was ok, its a bummer to go 2 miles & something like that happens,some other guy walked off the road around Phibsborough - dont know what happened but his race was over also.Looked at my watch at 3 miles & was at 28 mins odd so I said ok I'm doing fine, relax & motor on into the park which was great, I really enjoyed this section (any people who train here are so lucky to be able to run this every week,it was a lovely run), spotted the 4 hr pacers about 150 yards ahead of me so was happy out going over the 10k in just under an hour,contemplated taking a p break but said no because I didnt want to lose sight of them again & was feeling ok so ploughed on & they were just 50 yards ahead by the exit on to Chapelizod, I didnt find this section too bad & went up the hill fairly comfortably - some guy shouted oggy, oggy, oggy when we went under the bridge & of course everyone else in the group carried it on which was great but when some fellow behind did the same he got no response which was funny. I stayed fairly well on pace then with the 4 hr boys but I was going into unknown territory as I didnt know the places we were running through which was a bit of a disadvantage but kept on a even pace going through the half in just under 2 hours - that was the plan so happy out.I said to myself that if I could get maybe 50 yards ahead of the pacers I could go for my p break & fall in again behind them but I was a bit scared to push on too much so when I went slightly ahead of them for a while they were right behind me when I looked around again so I hadnt gone anywhere.Was starting to feel it at around mile 19 so I eased back a small bit & said now is the time for that p break & re group so thats what I did & passed over the 20 miles in just over 3 hours, the pacers had gone about 100 yards ahead at this stage so I said grand no problem just sit in & run along & see what happens,i knew that Roebuck hill was around somewhere but not knowing where I was I didnt know that it was around the corner so when I saw it in the distance I said oh s***t, I think I'm in trouble, its not that its that big a deal its just that it comes at 20+ miles when your starting to get tired.Got over the top, never saw Ray Darcy but being honest I wouldnt have seen Catherine Zeta Jones either:eek: Once I got to there I knew that I was in serious trouble as i couldnt kick on again going down the hill & I could see the 4 hr pacers about 150 yards ahead, got a bottle of water at the end of the hill & for the first time I walked through the station & plodded off again down towards the UCD flyover & saw the 4 hr boys diappearing into the distance, got over & headed for the RTE turnoff but at this stage it was just get home if you can, got on past the RDS & turned down the road but had to stop & stretch as my legs were in meltdown, hamstrings, knees, quads, hips & up into my backside were screaming at me to do something & it didnt involve moving forward, I finally got to the last water station, walked through it & gulped down some water. From there on I dont know where or how I gathered the energy to get home, it was all the Halloweens that I've ever had rolled up into one - a complete hightmare.I came around the never ending corner of Trinity college on fumes & that last run up towards the finish must be the longest finish of all times at I thought I'd never get there - BUT I DID:eek:I have never in my life felt as bad & I have never in my life put my body or mind through something as tough as those last 4 miles - but I'm living to tell the tale & they say what doesent kill you will make you stronger. The last miles are mostly a blank but as someone said in an earlier post your mind has strange ways of blanking out some things & this is why women have more than one child - I didnt have a child but Jesus it might have been easier:eek:.I knew when I got to Pearse St cop station I was nearly home but I cant thank the crowds enough for getting me through those last few miles - respect, respect, respect!!!!!When I got over the line my watch had just gone over 4.12 & I just melted, I went over to the side, threw myself over a barrier for a few minutes & then tried to move but oh horror I had seized up so gathered myself to get my medal ( which I kissed) & tshirt.It took me about 5 mins to get up towards baggage reclaim where I met a few friends but I was wasted big time.I felt as though I was going to throw up from about mile 22 & that feeling didnt go away for about 2 hrs after the finish - as I said above I took myself & my body to somewhere that I have never been before -fair enough I have never ran 26 miles either but I was at the bottom of the well for a long time but I survived.
In hindsight I should have gone with the 4.15 pacers & kicked on if I could rather than emptying the tank & falling home for a bad last 5 miles which slightly spoiled the experience as I really enjoyed the first 21 miles.After the nightmare I still got home in 4.12 so that would probably have been a better plan but for my own competitive self I was on 4 hr pace for 20+ miles which is where I wanted to be & I cant say what if this or that happened because when I crossed the finish line I was empty, I'd nothing left to give & I couldnt have ran it any quicker so theres no regrets on that score.
Will I do another one - I dont know at the moment - I said never again at the finish so its getting better:eek::eek:Yeah I felt yesterday that I had a small bit of unfinished business but its too early & my legs are too sore to make a decision but I know that I'm going to keep running to keep up the fitness & keep my weight in check.
What have I learned from the experience - you need a running buddy for the LSR's, you dont need an ipod to keep going when the going gets tough,Dublin people are fantastic,I couldnt say enough about them the support was unbelievable - I felt like an elite athlete at times running the Olympic marathon, put your name on your bib or number no matter how you feel about doing it - I didnt & I now know that I should have,go with what the experienced guys tell you on this forum or in general, they know best & your half & 10k times do matter when you calculate your expected time - it was spot on for me anyway.Do your LSR slower than slow & realise why you are doing them that slow because in a marathon you will be out there that long. Dont go out too fast no matter how good you feel - take note for anyone reading this next year - I was great & crusing after 19, good after 20,struggling by 21 & nearly dead at 22!!!

I couldnt make it to McGrattens as I wasnt physically able & i wouldnt have been great company either plus I had family there as well so it was best to head back to the hotel SLOWLY:D:eek: so hopefully I will meet some of you people some time.However just reading the posts I must have been running next to some of you for a long time with the 4 hr guys & some of us must have been on the final run in together - I was the guy that looked f****d:eek::eek: Does anyone know who the pacers were or do they post on here one of them had a tattoo on the side of his leg & another guy was about 6 ft plus???? - machines, machines, machines!!!!!
Sorry for the long post, but no doubt I'll be adding to other posts in the next few days.
Oh by the way "I'M A MARATHONER" :eek::eek: yeah baby :D

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. It took me couple of days to get the courage to reopen this forum page. I got sick the night before the marathon, bad tonsilitis infection with high fever couldn't make it. The worst was that I had to drive my brother in law to the start line. It was tough being there and not being able to run it after all the training. But I have to say at some stage looking at those 3 waves passing in front of me, I thought of all of yous and your comments on this forum and was proud of you Well done again! I would loe to find another marathon to run before the end of the year somewhere in Ireland even if it s not the same as DCM, just to reward myself for all that training...

blockic wrote: »

Sorry to hear that lmguillou, tough break. i know there is a marathon in Clonakillty in December but might be a bit of a trek for you...make a weekend of it!

Thanks blockic, that's the one I was thinking of actually would love to hear feedback from people who ran that one in the past

Walkedit wrote: »

ah that makes sense
are you keeping the watch? :-)

I think I'll have to give it back this evening
My own is good enough for a half-marathon, and that's all I've scheduled for the moment!

shortie_chik wrote: »

I think I'll have to give it back this evening
My own is good enough for a half-marathon, and that's all I've scheduled for the moment!

maybe u will be on Santas list?

npresto wrote: »

Docrock, you must have ran my race too! I couldn't have said any of your words above any better to describe my experience! Well done man!

It's only really starting to dawn on me today what I achieved on Monday.

I will never forget this experience as long as I live!

I will never forget it either plus theres a few people that I will keep reminding of it too;);)

Just looking back in the cold light of day, there was a lot of people struggling in the last 4 miles so we werent alone on that score.You cant beat experience & we got some lesson on Monday.As you say its some achievement & its only really sinking in now.

One thing I regret is not trying to meet up with the others from boards who were trying to run under 4 hours, even though I was probably running right next to some of you, for the most part I ran the race alone, I got to talk to one other guy for a few minutes and I think it would have helped to have been running with those who had the same goal, I still don't think I would have made sub 4 but I think I would have gotten closer to it if I had had some 'Friends' to run with

menoscemo wrote: »

Breffni would have been the Big lad (no they were all big ) with the orange Shirt and Tattoos. He did over 100 miles on the 24hr Track race in belfast in the summer and then ran the Connemara 100mile race in 22hours a fortnight later. The very next week he ran 2 marathons in 2 days, the second one in 3:29 :eek:

I think Oisin and Tom (running coach) (two of the other 4hr pacers) are on well over 50 marathons as well Oisin has done 30+ this year already...They are all in the 100 Marathon club and trying to clock up the century as soon as possible.

Its nice to know that I was running in elite company for a while:D:DJesus it wasnt knocking a stirr out of them, fair play to them youd know they were serious runners in fairness.

Wow I made the mistake of trying to read through all of the pages I had missed before writing my race report but every time I logged on there were too many pages to read so never got round to writing! Some brilliant runningand reports tho, congratulations to all!

Had a really great day, despite fading at the end and missing my target. Got into town about 8.15, baggage, bathroom, etc, etc and lined up just behind the 4hr pacers! Thought the start was so funny with all the raining clothes. One poor woman took a rolled up black bag right in the face, she was not impressed! Set off in a nice rhythm, a few slow corners in the first mile alright but feeling good and loose and really enjoying the atmosphere. By the phoenix park had caught up with the pacers, some really good banter, hilarious when one of them nipped off for a pit stop to a chorus of cheers!! The park was great and then from Chapelizod on the crowds and support were amazing. Did anyone see the 11850 guys somewhere around Kilmainham I think?? Saw the walk of shame girls as well, too funny. They also got a fair bit of stick form the runners! Oh and the eucalayle singing couple who popped up all over the place were just bizarre

Anyway, back to the running!! Felt absolutely brilliant for the first half, was concentrating on running relaxed and enjoying it all. Was just ahead of the pacers from mile 10 to halfway. Started to feel the pressure a bit by mile 14 tho, everything suddenly got harder. I am from Templeogue so had a fair few friends and family to look out for here so tried to look like it wasn’t hurting (don’t think I succeeded!) Chatted briefly to Denis (I think?) on Fortfield road, asked me if I was a Boardsie cos of my name on my t-shirt. Didn’t get your username tho! Anyway, apologies for not being better company, I was battling inner demons at that stage, trying not to slow too much and looking out for family. You looked in great shape at that stage and pulled away from me pretty quickly. In hindsight I definitely should have tried to have a proper chat and run with you for a bit, it might have given me a second wind.

Struggled on with the pacers still in sight till mile 18 then I took another gel and got the worst stomach cramp that caused me to stop and walk doubled over for a minute or two. And after that I never really got going again properly. My left cramped at mile 19 so I had to stop and stretch. And after that I ran/walked the rest of the way. My head had gone by that stage. I definitely should have walked less than I did, so a little bit annoyed with myself, altho I missed a fair chunk of training through injury as well so it was physical as well as mental. And I got the worst leg cramps on the way around Trinity college. Ran the last 800 metres in the straight leg shuffle. If I speed up I’ll cramp, if I slow down I’ll cramp but if I just keep going I thinkI’ll be ok!!

Amazing feeling to finish, the crowds in town the last few miles were phenomenal, was surprised at how emotional I felt. Not too disappointed about missing my time, I know the miles were just not in the legs, but I do need to work on my head as well. I’ll get there! And had a brilliant day after. Great to meet a few of you briefly in McGrattans as well. But I’m guessing from the world of hurt I was in on Tuesday that drinking pints all day isn’t ideal post-marathon recovery. Only feel normal again today.

Was my second marathon and was very similar to last year in that I aimed for 4 and faded late on. Last year the fatal mistake I made was hardly doing any running from the day of the marathon until I started training for this one back in June! I should have been far fitter and ready than I was last year, and I definitely wasn’t. Don’t do that!! Really felt like I was starting from zero again in June…….. Now to listen to my own advice and go sub 4 in 2013!!

docrock wrote: »

Jesus Killian, youve lost some weight since you started on OT, how much have you lost since the start of that??

Thanks, 5 1/2 stone to date. kind of happy where I am now, maybe a half more to go, but not really 'trying', if it happens it happens.