robinph runs around roads

Didn't get to run at what has become my normal time today so went out later instead, it's bleeding cold outside at night time. Did 7 and a bit @ 7:20'ish today

Kind of forgot about this over the last week, but I have still been out for some running ... and a couple of races since the last post. The training has been a 5, a 7, a 5, a 4 and a 12.

Then interspersed with that I also did a 2 mile race around Raheny which I manage to finish in 11:15 which was about 15 seconds off my previous time for that route I think, was also a slightly bigger field in the race last week so more chance of someone to try and chase down, or keep in front of. Then on the Sunday there was the Raheny 5 as well where I knocked 3 minutes off the time I got last year which I guess has to be down to wearing the BAC vest this time around.

A day off running and suffereing with a hangover does wonders for my running.

I had a little 5 mile jog around a field in Swords on Saturday in 30:23 and I then spent Sunday sat quietly in the corner. Then yesterday I just did a slightly hilly 5 and a bit @7:50'ish pace. I then proceeded to change my meds around in preparation for doing a long run today and knocked things down by more than before. Again I think I may have changed things a bit too much to be able to deal with the rest of the day, but despite the BM of 17+ before hand I went out and did just over 18 miles @ 7:45. Got through 6 gels on the way round and then had a BM of 6'ish afterwards. Clearly still need to mess around with things a touch as that much of a drop is not workable for marathon day, but it was great to be able to make it all the way round that far and still feel good with the running and able to actually stand upright.

Here is an actual race report type thing for your entertainment:

Landed in Dublin off a very chatty plane full of people coming over for the marathon and then head to the hotel to check in. Had been expecting them to not be having breakfast available in the hotel early enough on the Monday morning so had travelled with some emergency supplies, at checkin though they tell me that breakfast will be available from 6am for marathon runners, and do I want a complimentary massage as well. So get myself booked in for the massage and then head off to the RSD to fetch my number. Wasn’t possible to get on the bus out to the RDS as they were too packed so shared a taxi with some other people who were stood around in new looking runners and looking a bit lost about what to do and where the expo actually was. Got number, had a bit of a wander, had a bit of a chat with a few people, then (via Pennys to pick up a tshirt and gloves to throw away) back to hotel for massage, food and sleep.

Sleep didn’t go too well and I was up at about 2am and don’t think I really got off again after that. Met a few people as wandering around at the start and getting ready, felt great, but also actually quite nervous. Normally I’d feel fine, and not really be caring much about anything that was to come, before this one certainly felt different.

Pushed up to just behind the 3hr balloons and was a meter or two behind them at the start line, by the time they got to the corner with St. Stephens Green I was about 100m+ behind them. Wasn’t concerned, and wasn’t pushing on as much as I might in other races, was taking the crowds getting in my way as being a good thing and just went with them.

Had caught up with the 3hrs balloons by about 3 and a bit miles and was just going to stick with that group, then overtaking me I spotted a guy from my other club in the UK so started chatting with him for the next couple of miles. Next thing I know we are 100m ahead of the balloons. Everything is feeling good but I decide that the Zoo is a great spot to stop and water a tree, no major need but I figure if I don’t now then stopping later on and I’ll not be able to get going again. So loose track of my running buddy and the pacers get back ahead of me again by a few meters. I catch and pass them again and join earlyevening for a bit of a natter through the rest of the park and we are then swopping places for a good few miles further.

Kind of doze of a bit somewhere after half way so not sure where or what or when things happened, but at some point myself and earlyevening split, and then I find myself running behind another 3hour pacer that I’d not seen before. Running along behind them for a good few more miles, but not overly concerned with keeping too close as I knew there was another 3hour guy behind me. Woddle for some evil reason decided to take pictures at the top of a hill, but try my best not to look too much like I’m struggling as I go past.

Somewhere between 18’ish and 21’ish I must have slowed a bit as the cheers for the 3hour group behind suddenly start getting louder, and then they go past. Manage to sort myself out and just stay in the gap in the crowd 20meters behind them and don’t let them get any further away. Once I get as far as StupidPrivate, who only just picked his camera up in time to catch me, the pace group has virtually disappeared in front with people either dropping off behind or moving on ahead of them for the final surge. I figure that seeing as the road is now clear it must be time to properly put the foot down. I catch up with the 3hr pacer just going round Trinity as he shouted to get any stragglers to get a shift on, and then with a push on from misty_floyd it’s just a straight sprint to the finish. Until Trinity I was still half expecting to grind to a halt I think, but nothing was going to stop me then until the finish line.

I did then collapse in a heap shortly after the line, until they came along and dragged me out of the way for making the place look untidy.

Very happy few pints then had afterwards, even if many people didn’t believe the time.

I'm not sure to be honest. I was doing more mileage before Rotterdam, although clearly still far less than ideal. Before Rotterdam though my official half PB was still something in the 1:5x's so although having done faster in marathons I'd not yet convinced myself of my speed capabilities. Since Rotterdam I did two 1:23 halves though, and that finally convinced me that I did actually have the speed, especially since doing the second one proved it wasn't a fluke first time out.

I then knew I had the speed and wasn't at all worried about doing a 1:30 and carrying on going further than half at that pace. I had no idea about how far that might be though and until the very last turn was still expecting to come to a stop despite being able to up the speed. Because I couldn't really believe it I then found myself walking into the first aid tent straight after the finish before the baggage area because I was assuming that something must be amiss, they soon told me to bugger off though, but I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to collapse around the corner.

I do think the training with the new club helped me with being able to up the pace when the 3hr pacer caught up with me around 21miles, but possibly more mentally than anything else. From the getting shouted at to do more repetitions of some sprint around a field and trying not to get left too far behind the fast kids in the same group and after the previous however many laps of the same does push you past where your were comfortable before. I'll give the club training sessions credit for that, but not sure that I've actually got much faster from their training just yet as it's probably too soon to tell. I do think I'll keep going through the pain a bit longer though from both those sessions and the other sessions with running in a group just keeps you giving more without realising it.

The last part of my video of the race is repeated shots and angles of you crossing the line screaming your head off.

One of the few flat races around these parts this morning, being flat and on road makes it even more unique. Great opportunity for a PB at 10km...and I did, knocking 8 seconds of a time from a multi terrain course from last summer.

Now down to 36:30 and I have very consistent mile pace through the race as well compared to normal with only a variation between 5:45-5:53 miles so I'm happy with that.

I'm disappointed though as I am now sure that I can go faster and I wasn't lying in a heap on the floor after crossing the line, so clearly didn't try hard enough. It's a bit of a new feeling to have a PB and not be totally happy though.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Started sneezing when I opened this thread. Bit dusty in here.

Someone always has to be complaining.

Sonia beat me by 9 seconds in the chipped results.

I don't even care about the 1 second quicker time than my Garmin they gave me, now I'm pissed off that I didn't hold on for longer through that last mile.