The -OFFICIAL- Dublin Marathon Pacers - Pacer Race Day Instructions now in

HardyEustace

xebec wrote: »

Less than 10 minutes walk, it's on Earlsfort Terrace...

10 minutes walk when you haven't run a marathon...

village runner

Got the gear today. Top class.
Where is the hotel we are meeting in relation to the start and where would one park a car ? Any multistorys nearby or has the hotel a car park.

The thing that says 3.30 pace team in the paceket. Is this what i put on the back of my singlet ?

Krusty_Clown

Got mine too. Might have to wear something under the singlet, as I'll be out there for a few hours, but the kit looks great. will go very well with my black balloon.

village runner

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Got mine too. Might have to wear something under the singlet, as I'll be out there for a few hours, but the kit looks great. will go very well with my black balloon.

I heard the 4 hour group are getting hte pink baloon.

IronTractorBoy

They tried to deliver mine today but I was at work, got it redirected to work tomorrow. I will need to see what other base layers to have so the kit colour and ballon colour does not clash :-)

hot to trot

Krusty , thats brill news for me. Thanks Hope to see you there.

robinph

I'm going to be keeping an eye out for whoever is wearing the pink balloon and I'll make sure I get plenty of picctures of you. Hope this new kit of yours doesn't clash too badly with the pink.

Izoard

Just saw the mail from Jim A. re; the pacers...congrats to all on a great initiative...just wondering if there will be a "Reservoir Dogs" moment in the Conrad around Mr. Pink/Mr. Black etc...:)

See you Monday!

Hard Worker

village runner wrote: »

Got the gear today. Top class.
Where is the hotel we are meeting in relation to the start and where would one park a car ? Any multistorys nearby or has the hotel a car park.

The thing that says 3.30 pace team in the paceket. Is this what i put on the back of my singlet ?

Yep, the pace time "number" goes on the back of your singlet. Your regular race number will go on the front.
I will have a liaison person ( Donna ) at the hotel to meet you at 8am. She will walk you to the start. The pacers can use the hotel car park and the parking fee will be covered. Just let the liaison person know.

Runonewon

Are these pacing groups a new venture in DCM?,it sounds like a great idea.Can anyone use the pacing guide, hope i can hang on to the sub 3-hour gang for as long as possible as i'm hoping for around 3.05-3.10.Best of luck to all the Runners and Organisers.

funrunner

Hello Dublin Pacers and thank you in advance.

I'm thinking of joining your 3 hour group (as a pacee). Do you know if the 3 hour pacers have anything in mind as to where they will position themselves at the start? I'm hoping to try and minimise the gap between gun and chip time as gun time is what counts for certain purposes but if pacers not close to front of sub 3:30 pen, and pacing to sub 3 chip time, then could run into problems.

e.g. A friend made a mistake last year by starting ahead of the Dublin pace group then joining them when they caught up. Group was paced nicely to sub 3 chip time, but as she had crossed start line before them her chip time as well as her gun time were just over. She had forgotten about this until it was too late - i.e. when she saw the finish line.

Any thoughts?

IronTractorBoy

What email is that? As I have not received any email details despite being a pacer.

hunnymonster

ITB, don't worry, it was the regular entrants that got the email. Someone forwarded it to me asking what colour I was. I hope Jim doesn't mind me posting it here.

from Jim Aughney
Thank you for your entry to the Lifestye Sports - adidas Dublin Marathon. There is just over one week to go now to race day, so I hope your training was as you planned it.

You will by now have received your acceptance slip by e-mail, take care of it , sign it, and bring it with you to Registration in the Main Hall of the RDS on Saturday 24th or Sunday 25th from 12 noon to 6pm.

We are including an extra water station thanks to Ballygowan this year, bringing the total on the route to 10.

We are also introducing pace teams this year. The team will have balloons in the start area for people to see clearly what their target time is. To join them just stay close to the balloon of your target time. [/COLOR][FONT=&quot]Red Balloons = 3:00, Yellow Balloons = 3:30, Purple Balloons = 3:45, Black Balloons = 4:00, Pink Balloons = 4:30.
[/FONT]
Tickets will be available in the EXPO for the post race part and prize presentation in the Hilton Hotel in Charlemont Place. The post race party will start at 7.30 with the prize presentation at 8.30.

Good luck to one and all and I will see you at the finish line on the 26th.

Jim Aughney
Race Director.

--amadeus--

Yay, go Team Black

(will match my eyes!)

[edit] Got the kit (Mrs A made appreciative noises so I think she likes it!) but no PACER "number" to pin on the back - do I need to check the bin or are we getting those at the Expo?

hunnymonster

I just checked my bin and none there either (couple of apple cores though so I'm good for fibre!)

Welcome home A.

macinalli

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Yay, go Team Black

Excellent, am going for sub 4 and was having a mini-crisis about chasing a man with a pink balloon for 4 hrs!

Thanks again to all the pacers, am really looking forward to the big day now...

potsy11

This may be a silly question!

Will the pacers be running with the balloons attached to them? Will they have similar coloured gear?

If balloon not attached how will we know who to follow?

Does anyone sense my nerves!

hunnymonster

we'll have the balloons attached. We're in bright yellow and black kit (well at least I am, assume the others are the same).

Wally Runs

I got a pacer 'number' for the back. No race number, that is to be got on the day! Wally (the pink!). No pins though (have to have something to give out about). Mrs. Wally also like the kit!

Krusty_Clown

hunnymonster wrote: »

we'll have the balloons attached. We're in bright yellow and black kit (well at least I am, assume the others are the same).

I like to think of us a bumblebees. No, scratch that, not nearly hardy enough.. Wasps.. Terrifying wasps..
Wasps with balloons.

I received a Sub-4 number to pin on the back. Just need to pick up my super-shecksy '96' for the front. It's the same upside-down as the right way up, should I take a tumble.

Speedy44

Apologies if this was already covered, but will the pacers be going at exactly the required pace per mile?

In other words, I am shotting for sub 3, I was origionally going to try and keep 6:45 pace which will give me about 2:57 and change. A 3hr marathon is 6:52 pace, so is that the pace that they will be maintaining throughout?

Tx,

tunguska

Speedy44 wrote: »

Apologies if this was already covered, but will the pacers be going at exactly the required pace per mile?

In other words, I am shotting for sub 3, I was origionally going to try and keep 6:45 pace which will give me about 2:57 and change. A 3hr marathon is 6:52 pace, so is that the pace that they will be maintaining throughout?

Tx,

Once you shoot for under 3hrs youre on your own speedy Im afraid. no pacers beyond that point. If youre going for 2:49 then you'll have to maintain a 6:25(approx)/mile pace.
I mean if you want to work off the 3hr pacers, I know one of them and I can guarantee every mile will be bang on whats required. He's like a human metronome.

village runner

funrunner wrote: »

Hello Dublin Pacers and thank you in advance.



e.g. A friend made a mistake last year by starting ahead of the Dublin pace group then joining them when they caught up. Group was paced nicely to sub 3 chip time, but as she had crossed start line before them her chip time as well as her gun time were just over. She had forgotten about this until it was too late - i.e. when she saw the finish line.

Any thoughts?

She must be telling porkies as this is the first time there are pacers in dublin.

woundedknee

Dublin Marathon had one sub 3hr pacer in 2007 & 2008.

village runner

woundedknee wrote: »

Dublin Marathon had one sub 3hr pacer in 2007 & 2008.

Oooooooooooooopppppppppppppsss. I stand corrected. Never saw one.

woundedknee

It was a last minute arrangement both times with the Race Director. Pacer was Martin Rea from Belfast.

RedB

tunguska wrote: »

I know one of them and I can guarantee every mile will be bang on whats required. He's like a human metronome.

Basic question here but what about those of us who aren't human metronomes? While I'd love to keep a steady pace I know that I'll probably fade as I head pass 18m, therefore it'd make sense to try to keep ahead of my goal pacer and plan on him catching up with me in the last mile?
Do most people not fade or is it just me?:(

robinph

It will be easier to keep the steady pace if you are keeping up with a person wearing pink balloons though, that is the point of the pacers. They are the ones who have to worry about being human metronomes, you just have to keep up.

village runner

RedB wrote: »

Basic question here but what about those of us who aren't human metronomes? While I'd love to keep a steady pace I know that I'll probably fade as I head pass 18m, therefore it'd make sense to try to keep ahead of my goal pacer and plan on him catching up with me in the last mile?
Do most people not fade or is it just me?:(

Good question. Personally i wouldnt like to do mile 9 in 6.51 and would feel i lost time if i done mile 6 in 6.51.
I aint qualified enough to hit every marker at exact speed. Average the speed every 5 miles. It will be interesting to see if time is lost at the start.

Alot of people do fade but alot fade because they start too fast.

If i was a 3.10 runner i def wouldnt be running with 3 hour pacer. Last 10km you will def blow up. Only my opinion.

IronTractorBoy

I have not got my kit yet, as I inadvertently game my postcode for my work address, however they still could have found it as there is a red H on most junctions in the town.

The yellow and black combination seems a good idea and without the two warm up sections.

Speedy44

Here are the splits for last yrs pacer:

Martin Rea
10K 00:42:45
1/2 M01:30:27
30K 02:08:06
Chip Time 03:00:04
Finish Time 03:00:07

Its a tough call all around. Personally, I think I agree with V.R. re some miles been more difficult then others, hence the sound advice of taking 5ml splits. The pacers are there to do a job so the question is do we put our faith in them, or strike out on our own?
It definitely appears to make more sence to stay with them until at least 20-22mls.

Did someone mention somewhere about a cv for the pacers been available?

--amadeus--

Every single one of the Pacers has been vetted by myself, HW and approved by the DCM organising committee. The sub 3 pacers are personally known to the committee and every pacer has recently run at least 30 mins faster over the distance and most have run DCM several times. All have got a minimum of 4 marathons under thier belt.

The race CVs were provided to myself and HW in confidence so I won't be publishing them here but if any of the pacers want to post up their details then I think that would be a good thing (I'll do mine in teh next post)

As for splits - the approach has always been that the 5 mile splits will be as close to on teh nail as possible to accommodate any hard miles (hills, traffic, etc). I would expect pacers to finish ever so slightly over the target time as they will slow in the last 1200m or so to encourage the stragglers and struggler's in thier group to sprint finish.

--amadeus--

I started running properly in the late summer of 2005 in prep for DCM 05. I did a pee-poor 14 weeks of training and went in woefully underprepared and have been trying to make up for it since.

My marathon race history is:

DCM 05 - - - - - - - 04:23
Paris 06 - - - - - - - 04:00
Longford 06 - - - - - 03:45
Dublin 06 - - - - - - 03:37
Cork 07 - - - - - - - 03:33
Berlin 07 - - - - - - - 03:25
Rotterdam 08 - - - - 03:15
Dublin 08 - - - - - - -03:11
Rotterdam 09 - - - - 03:06
Amsterdam 09 - - - - 03:00

10k PB is 38:45 and Dublin will be the first time I have ever crossed a finish line without also recording a PB.

Any other questions feel free to yell. So thats me - do the other Boardsies pacers want to stick something up?

Krusty_Clown

Speedy44 wrote: »

Here are the splits for last yrs pacer:

Martin Rea
10K 00:42:45
1/2 M01:30:27
30K 02:08:06
Chip Time 03:00:04
Finish Time 03:00:07

Its a tough call all around. Personally, I think I agree with V.R. re some miles been more difficult then others, hence the sound advice of taking 5ml splits. The pacers are there to do a job so the question is do we put our faith in them, or strike out on our own?
It definitely appears to make more sence to stay with them until at least 20-22mls.

Did someone mention somewhere about a cv for the pacers been available?

Speedy, if you're at a stage where you're looking for credentials of the pacers, it sounds like you may be building up too much of a dependancy on them. Have you much ground to make up to go sub-3?

Just my personal opinion, but you have to be prepared to go the distance by yourself, and then make use of the pacers if they fit your particular race pattern. At some stage you may need to drop down the pace, or pick it up, which means they may be out of sight. A bathroom break, an open shoelace, all of these things could mean that you might not be able to stay with your target. The pacers should be a useful tool, not a solution.

Krusty_Clown

Longford '08 - 3:25 (First marathon)
Dublin '08 - 3:22 (40 second negative split)
Connemara '09 - Pacer (pacing friends) - Target was 3:40 - Finished 3:38
Berlin '09 3:00 (7 second Standard deviation between 5k splits).

Dublin pacing group Target: 4 Hours.
Strategy: Even pace throughout.

eliwallach

--amadeus-- wrote: »

I did a pee-poor 14 weeks of training and went in woefully underprepared and have been trying to make up for it since.

My marathon race history is:

DCM 05 - - - - - - - 04:23
Paris 06 - - - - - - - 04:00

Amadeus, thanks for that.
You have filled with with renewed confidence !

Training dor DCM '08 was haphazard (code for: not enough,and not enough quality!) and I finished in 4:26.
Resolved to rectify this in '09. So fingers crossed. I will be following HM pace group and aiming for 3:45.

Can'y ever imagine that I'll be following you into 3:00hr territory, mind :rolleyes:.

Speedy44

--amadeus-- wrote: »

I started running properly in the late summer of 2005 in prep for DCM 05. I did a pee-poor 14 weeks of training and went in woefully underprepared and have been trying to make up for it since.

My marathon race history is:

DCM 05 - - - - - - - 04:23
Paris 06 - - - - - - - 04:00
Longford 06 - - - - - 03:45
Dublin 06 - - - - - - 03:37
Cork 07 - - - - - - - 03:33
Berlin 07 - - - - - - - 03:25
Rotterdam 08 - - - - 03:15
Dublin 08 - - - - - - -03:11
Rotterdam 09 - - - - 03:06
Amsterdam 09 - - - - 03:00

10k PB is 38:45 and Dublin will be the first time I have ever crossed a finish line without also recording a PB.

Any other questions feel free to yell. So thats me - do the other Boardsies pacers want to stick something up?

wow, impressive cv there amadeus, way to progress.
I'd hire ya :-)

scottreynolds

--amadeus-- wrote: »

I started running properly in the late summer of 2005 in prep for DCM 05. I did a pee-poor 14 weeks of training and went in woefully underprepared and have been trying to make up for it since.

My marathon race history is:

DCM 05 - - - - - - - 04:23
Paris 06 - - - - - - - 04:00
Longford 06 - - - - - 03:45
Dublin 06 - - - - - - 03:37
Cork 07 - - - - - - - 03:33
Berlin 07 - - - - - - - 03:25
Rotterdam 08 - - - - 03:15
Dublin 08 - - - - - - -03:11
Rotterdam 09 - - - - 03:06
Amsterdam 09 - - - - 03:00

10k PB is 38:45 and Dublin will be the first time I have ever crossed a finish line without also recording a PB.

Any other questions feel free to yell. So thats me - do the other Boardsies pacers want to stick something up?

This is actually the best post for me i've seen for ages showing the progression. Here I was worried that changing my goal time for my first marathon meant I was destined to never do a fast marathon but alas I have hope. I leave your pacers thread alone now....

Speedy44

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Speedy, if you're at a stage where you're looking for credentials of the pacers, it sounds like you may be building up too much of a dependancy on them. Have you much ground to make up to go sub-3?

Just my personal opinion, but you have to be prepared to go the distance by yourself, and then make use of the pacers if they fit your particular race pattern. At some stage you may need to drop down the pace, or pick it up, which means they may be out of sight. A bathroom break, an open shoelace, all of these things could mean that you might not be able to stay with your target. The pacers should be a useful tool, not a solution.

Hi KC. Good points about bathroon break, shoelace etc. I guess I'm just starting to get a wee bit nervous at the stage.

I have a pb of 2:52 from Boston, but that was wayyy back in 1993. Was out of the sport for a long time and only really started getting back into it properly a couple of yrs ago. I attempted Dublin last year but was ill prepared and had to pull out at 15mls.

This yr I've been training for it since June (also got a good winter's programme in). Topped out at 85mls a few wks ago, have done 1 -24ml, 2 -22mls, 2-20mls, 4-18mls, loads of tempo runs, hills etc.
Did 300mls in Sept. Ran 29:49 in Streets of Galway 8K in August, and, for what its worth, 5mins flat for the mile last week on the track.

Krusty_Clown

Speedy44 wrote: »

I have a pb of 2:52 from Boston, but that was wayyy back in 1993. Was out of the sport for a long time and only really started getting back into it properly a couple of yrs ago. I attempted Dublin last year but was ill prepared and had to pull out at 15mls.

I salute you. Breaking 3 in 1993, and attempting accomplishing it again in 2009 is an incredible achievement.

Speedy44

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I salute you. Breaking 3 in 1993, and attempting accomplishing it again in 2009 is an incredible achievement.

good save KC :-)

average_runner

Do you think if i started off with the 3:45 group that i could push on later for 3:39?

Not sure on my pace yet so wondering would that strategy work?

TFBubendorfer

average_runner wrote: »

Do you think if i started off with the 3:45 group that i could push on later for 3:39?

Not sure on my pace yet so wondering would that strategy work?

You'd almost certainly be better off trying to run even splits, i.e. set out at 3:39 pace.

IronTractorBoy

I will add my actual race times later. But nasically started running about 8 years ago after starting to lose weight (5 1/2 stone lost) and gradually built up from a very slow 100 meter jog. I have since done a few marathons and Dublin 3/4 times (pb 3:47), and then gone on to do Ironman's and this year I did the Connemara Ultra marathon.

Hard Worker

--amadeus-- wrote: »

I started running properly in the late summer of 2005 in prep for DCM 05. I did a pee-poor 14 weeks of training and went in woefully underprepared and have been trying to make up for it since.

My marathon race history is:

DCM 05 - - - - - - - 04:23
Paris 06 - - - - - - - 04:00
Longford 06 - - - - - 03:45
Dublin 06 - - - - - - 03:37
Cork 07 - - - - - - - 03:33
Berlin 07 - - - - - - - 03:25
Rotterdam 08 - - - - 03:15
Dublin 08 - - - - - - -03:11
Rotterdam 09 - - - - 03:06
Amsterdam 09 - - - - 03:00

10k PB is 38:45 and Dublin will be the first time I have ever crossed a finish line without also recording a PB.

Any other questions feel free to yell. So thats me - do the other Boardsies pacers want to stick something up?

That's very similar to my own.
Brilliant run in Amsterdam.

osnola ibax

Just want to ask a quick pace question. I have two plans in mind, now I know upon hearing them you will definitely choose one over the other, but I just need to hear it from someone else. I really want to go under 4 hours, but trainign has been hit and miss over last little while and I'm not sure its possible, also having a bit of ITBS (old news). Which plan is best:

a. set out at 9 minute miles, reaching the 20 mile mark in 3 hours hopefully and then have 60 minutes to do the last 6.2 miles, affording me the "luxury" of slowing down (9:40 miles).

b. set out with the sub 4 pace group and hit 9:10 miles all the way

its b. isn't it, its a stoopid question really, just confirm it for me

village runner

I am the stocky lad pacing the 3.30
Took up running Nov 2006 weighing 17st 4ibs

Dublin 2007 in 3.31 weighing 15st 1ib
Paris Apr 2008 3.24 weighing 15st and wearing flats like a dope
Berlin sep 2008 3.11 14st 7ibs
Rotterdam 2009 3.04 13st 11ibs
Berlin 2009 2.59 13st 6ibs.

Dublin 2009 3.29.59 going thru halfway no faster than 1.44.30 and getting as many with me as possible.
I went through halfway in 07 in 1.44.45 but weight killed me in the 2nd half.
Paced a friend to sub 70 in hte 10 miler.
Please introduce yourself before the start and may that be the last you have a conversation in the race.
Best of luck to everyone.

Speedy44

Wow, very impressive Village Runner, to get from 17st 4lbs just 3 yrs ago to running a sub 3 should be an inspiration to anyone out there. Take a bow lad, you deserve it.

wizwill

Speedy44 wrote: »

Take a bow lad, you deserve it.

+1

spb100

Hope to be part of the 4.30 pacers. My CV is far too long to list as it stands at 165 marathons including Snowdonia/Dublin last two years (sub 3.45 Dublin both times), and a PB of 3.07.

ps Amadeus awesome run in Amsterdam WELL DONE