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Right, Left, Right, Left, Repeat
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Firstly this is long and rambling in places, so apologies to anyone reading. Synopsis at the bottom
Race Morning.
After a restless night sleep the alarm went off at 6:00 and down for the early breakfast in the hotel. Back to the room and got the essentials out of the way. Rechecked the kit for the 10th time since checking in yesterday, surprisingly no one had crept into the room in the middle of the night and swiped it. Taxi was booked for 7:30 and we headed into the start area. The day was looking like it was going to be perfect, nice cool crisp morning without a breath of wind. Met up with some more friends at the start area and passed the time in nervous chat until it was time to head over to the bag drop and make our way to the start. Bag drop was easy and well manned, no problems at all. Kept an old top and hat and gloves on me to the start area, one last pit stop before heading over then I worked my way in just back of the 3:30 pacers. As soon as the wheelchairs went off I got the od gear off and over to the side, last check on the laces and tried not to think about what was coming.
First 10 miles
I told myself that whatever happened over the first 3 miles I was just going to go along with the flow, I wasn’t going to try and force my way around people to make up time, just stay as close as I could to the balloons but not to swerve too much. The first turn was very tight and I lost a good 10 yards but didn’t let it worry me, plenty of time to get backing position. My legs were feeling fine, none of the problems that were there during taper. Only issue was that I knew I was going to have to pit stop, figured I may as well get it over with as soon as possible so pulled over at the first water stop. When I came back out the balloons were still in sight but probably the best part of a minute down the road. No problems, just bring hem back slowly as we went through the park. Running through the park was amazing,, the colours on the trees and the beautiful clear morning made the running feel effortless. By the exit gate I was back up with the pace group and the support going out the gate would make the hair stand on your neck, just awe inspiring. I knew the drag was coming now and was prepared for it, but I still started to feel in more than I should. First little warning signs were playing in my mind, I should have been comfortable at this pace still. By the time we reached the 10 mile point I had a bad feeling starting to play on my mind. People had been telling me that you should be just out for a jog for the first 10 miles but I was actually starting to feel the strain. Those catch up miles in the Park were just too fast, even though I didn’t realise it at the time.
Miles 10 - 20
Told myself to hold on pace to the half way point and have a rethink on strategy then depending on how I felt. Started to feel more comfortable again and decided it was just a little early crisis and not to worry about it. I missed the water station at mile 12, it came up on my unexpectedly and I found myself on the wrong side of the road, decided to wait until the end of the station to cut across but the last tables were just sports drink and I left it. Organisation wise that’s my only gripe of the day, particularly in the pace groups there was a lot of congestions, water stations should have been on both sides of the road always, some were and some weren’t. I wasn’t feeling overly worried though and pushed on. Through half way in 1:45 and was feeling OK again so decided to keep on pace. I knew starting out that I probably wouldn’t be able to stay on pace all the way but would hang in as long as I could. By mile 15 I knew it was time to ease off and hold something for the final push in the last few miles. Dropped back to 8:30’s but for some reason it wasn’t feeling any easier. I started to try and interact with the crowd and let my mind get away from the growing pain which seemed to work for a while but by the time I hit 20 miles (the half way point) I knew that I was in for a world of pain for the next hour.
Last 6.2
I knew the roads out here from my time living in Dublin and had often walked them, I had heard people talking about the hills here but I couldn’t picture them in my mind. Well they were there alright mountains appearing in front of my laughing at my pain. Pump your arms, shorten your stride, don’t look at the top just run. My legs were thrashed by now, pain in every muscle and my knees were in agony. Just run to the next mile marker. Up the UCD flyover and suddenly there were giant hurdles in front of me (ok they were only kerbs, but they looked like Beechers Brook to my frazzled brain). Suddenly without any conscious decision on my part I stopped somewhere after mile 23, one second I was running and the next I was stopped on the side of the road one knee on the ground and my head spinning. A lady was over to me asking if I was ok and telling me to keep going only a few miles left. I took a gel then and just gritted my teeth and got moving again, not really a run just a slow shuffle towards the finish. About a mile later my hamstring decided that it had enough and seized up totally. Once again spectators came to my rescue and stretched out my leg for me and got me moving again. By now all thoughts of time were gone it was just a matter of finish. At no time though did the thought of quitting occur to me. Walk 30 seconds run for as far as I could until a cramp somewhere would stop me again, stretch, walk, run again, and repeat. The crowds were deep by now and every time I stopped the encouragement was unbelievable. The last half mile was just amazing, the support just made the pain bearable and I managed to run (well hobble really) the last half mile at something resembling a reasonable pace. The finish line just couldn’t come fast enough though. Such a feeling of relief to get over it. 3:43 on the watch.
As soon as I stopped moving my legs just gave out and every muscle seemed to go into instant spasm. Some friends had finished just ahead of me, they passed me in the last mile and were waiting for me at the end. They helped me through the finish area and baggage claim.
Aftermath
I have to say I was disappointed at myself in the hours afterwards. I had been determined not to stop but I really had no choice in it my body just refused to go on. Looking back now I am delighted just to have finished and in a time I would not have thought possible 12 months ago. My first time target was 4:15 back when I started in January and to be over half an hour better than that is an achievement. A few lessons learnt though The pacers are great, but if they don’t fit in with your times don’t try and make them. I really should have tried to run steady 8:15’s and I more than likely wouldn’t have had the collapse that I did in the last 3 miles and would have posted a better time. Run your own race. I ran through the park at an average pace of 7:40, it felt grand at the time but it was really what killed me at the end. Also I never understood what people meant by 20 miles is half way, well it’s true, the mental strength needed for that last 10K is something that will stand to me forever. If I got through that I can get through anything.
Will I do another one? I think so, I am proud of what I did but I think I need to apply what I learnt and run a ‘proper’ marathon.
Apologies for the ramblings again.
Synopsis.
Ran Marathon.
Blew up.
Finish 3:43
Will do it again.
Distance: 26.2
Pace: 8:27
Weather: sunny, cool
General Feeling : exhausted
Weekly Total
Miles : 26.2
Runs : 1
Monthly Total
Miles : 121.90
Runs : 160 -
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well done - 3:43 is nothing to be sneezed at - fantastic job.
Its amazing what you read and think - "yes I remember that". In your post it was how fabulous the phoenix park was, and yes I went through there too quickly too and paid for it - and the hurdles at the UCD flyover - nearly killed me - remember thinking, why - why would they make us do that
Must write up my own story soon....0 -
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