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DCM 2014: Mentored Novices Thread
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Nicely timed advice there...
Just back from seeing ecoli about my foot and I have to take at least ten days of running.
I probably could make it around the 26.2 miles but I don't think it would be pretty. Ecoli agrees.
Just as well I was leaving it until the last minute to register.
Disappointed obviously but also a bit relieved as I wasn't happy with last week's 20 miler and don't think this week's would have been any better.
Now where's that Belfast novices thread....
Best of luck to all and big thanks to ososlo.
Sorry to hear that frash, feel bad now posting the above
Hope the 10 days sees you right, take it handy. 0 -
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This might be inappropriate, but after a weekend in Berlin watching the marathon and surrounded by Marathon runners, I decided to add my observations to the flood of Berlin reports. I was there as a supporter but couldn't help thinking about DCM looming so close and what I might learn from watching the race and many conversations with all the great runners who completed it.
The race itself...
8-9k... I stationed myself among small knots of people along Torstrasse, wheelchairs whizzing by first to appreciative cheers. One of the last wheelchairs seemed a good bit slower, as he passed I realised he only had 1 functioning arm. A lone runner came next, middle aged man, heavyset, seeming to shuffle slowly... It seemed he had a badly twisted leg, some sort of disability. How could these two possibly keep going for 26 miles? Hard to fathom the strength of character and perseverance involved.
Then came the flotilla of bikes and SUV's (BMW of course) announcing the arrival of the race leaders. A knot of 8-10 runners, all African, went by at speed, even at that stage the next group were 100m or more behind.
After the waves of elite runners, the crowds arrived. I was looking out for all the boardsies but didn't spot anyone, it was dizzying looking at all the runners. Failed my first test as a supporter: Murph had to give me a shout out as he ran past.
I did see some Crusaders in the crowd so shouted loudly at them. Also saw a couple of guys in grass skirts and lai's and a 'midnight cowboy' wearing only a pair of jocks adorned with Stars and Stripes. Someone asked me afterwards where his race number was... No idea!
41k-39k
Determined to up my game as a supporter, I headed off on foot towards the end of the race. Just after the 40k mark, I saw the leaders again. By now the winner was on his own, a good 200m ahead of the next runner. They were beautiful to watch, all rhythm and speed and grace. Haven't seen anyone looking like that at Parkrun!
I walked back along the course against the flow of the race to around 38-39k, adding my cheers as runners went by, still very spread out. I could see the 35k gantry, this was a long straight stretch. I found some shade and a barrier to lean on where I had a good view of the runners approaching. I had tracked a few people on the app so was anxiously keeping an eye on their progress as they hit 35k.
The first person I spotted was a Crusader who was going very well, looking comfortable. I heard after that he did 2:44 or thereabouts. I shouted at every Crusader I saw, and afterwards a couple of them graciously thanked me for the support! I also called out to the few Dublin race series T-shirts I spotted, but before anyone accuses me of being overly nationalistic, I indiscriminately cheered as many people as I could, using names where I could read them. The runners really responded to the spectators, smiling, sometimes waving, sometimes barely a nod.
Yaboya was the first person I recognised, he looked like he was feeling the heat at that stage, but his sub-3 was still on. About a minute behind him came FBOT, who looked relaxed although I could tell from the app that he was unlikely to make sub-3 by then but wouldn't be far off it.
....and the Midnight Cowboy was still going well at 39k too...
A Crusader passed near me and smiled at the shout out. I realised it must be the legendary marthastew. Then I started to get anxious about where Murph was, about 10 mins later he appeared in his Crusaders singlet, looking happy and going well.
They were heading into a dogleg at this point so I redeemed my earlier miss by legging it up a side street and catching Murph again at 41k, to his surprise.
From there onto Unter den Linden where the crowds were huge and the end was in sight, through the magnificent Brandenburg gate. The organisation was brilliant, they even had a pedestrian crossing right in front of the gate... crossing hundreds of spectators across the path of thousands of runners, a feat of German engineering! The stewards redirected the runners to move crowds across the wide road in groups, corralling us in a centre island while moving the stream of runners again. A bit like a lock system on a canal or something.
From there to the 'family meeting area' where I found Murph under the M section (those Germans again... would never work in Dublin though because half the race would congregate under M)! He was happily drinking a beer, still alcohol-frei at that point, delighted with himself and keen to know how everyone else had fared.
We walked back to the hotel, through streets full of runners and their supporters, then went to the Oscar Wilde to get the reports from FBOT, Yaboya, Belcarra, Marthastew, Loughie (did Donegal proud!) and various Crusaders... and the high performing supporting team of Ferris, Mrs. Ferris, Mrs. FBOT, Sinead, Roisin... and others, too many to mention all, even if I remembered all the names! We concluded that being a marathon supporter is hard and thirsty work.
Reflections from a novice... what I learned from it all:
In Yaboya's immortal and (very) often repeated words, you have to respect the distance. I saw people at 38k who were on for sub-3 or maybe even 2:45 (in other words, leagues above me) who were walking, looking glazed and out on their feet. Other people looked comfortable. Still others, like Yaboya and Marthastew were obviously making a huge effort and grinding it out.
You don't know if you can do the distance until you do it. Your first marathon is about proving that. And to quote FBOT we are training for a 10k... The most important and toughest 10k any novice will have ever done... one that comes after 30k!
Training is necessary but not sufficient. The training really works, it's practice, practice, practice. But it doesn't guarantee anything. The day itself, the race is what counts. Any number of things can go right or wrong--heat, hydration, how you're feeling, what's in your head. You can only control 3 of those at best! Leo, a Crusader who has done 28 marathons this year (!) was tripped up by someone running in a bottle outfit. He picked himself up, cut and bruised and finished. Some people who had been training diligently exceeded their targets. Others who had been training just as diligently didn't quite make theirs.
Finishing is what counts. Everyone I saw afterwards was delighted and on a high, even if they had missed what they were aiming for, that disappointment seemed short-lived and quickly replaced by a sense of accomplishment.
Marathon runners are a very supportive bunch... Or at least the ones that made it to the Oscar Wilde! They all enquired about and congratulated each other... Even though it's ultimately an individual achievement, there was such a strong sense of them being in it together. They were all generous in encouraging me for DCM, and respectful of a very slow novice, when they could have been dismissive.
It's a deadly buzz! The atmosphere, the sense of community, the support. Great fun.
I wish I had seen the people running at 4:30 level, where I am more likely to be, all going well... But I think the vibe will be similar.
FBOT, Yaboya, Belcarra, Marthastew and Mr Stew, Loughie (up Donegal!), various Crusaders. Not sure whether I'm more intimidated or inspired about DCM after hanging around with all those hard core runners!!!
Murph has been wearing his medal ever since.
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neilthefunkeone wrote: »My food intake was off the charts i was eating like a horse and takeaways all over the place!
Also guilty!
Bless me Fr for I have sinned...
Had an office lunch on Monday that constituted of Domino's Pizza - after a chinese takeway on Saturday. A bit too keen on the little treats with a cuppa too many nights too.
Really have to direct more of my dedication into being good with the diet.0 -
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Hi I'm a bit late to this thread but loving the advice and chat. Really excited now.
Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
I ran the Frank Duffy 10 in Sugust, 78:04 (a first so also a PB)
I ran a Fit For Life 5k in August also, 21:38 (also a first/PB)
Recently ran the Dublin HM in 1:41:08 (also a first/PB)
Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training ? (No problem if you do)
No unless interval training
How much training do you currently do ? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant to your current fitness level.
I train 5/6 days a week
Tuesday and Thursday are usually speed and strength intervals (5x 1 miles at 7.15 pace with 90 secs rec or 10x 1k 60 secs recovery), Tuesday run is alternated with 9-11 mile easy/steady run. Weekends are easy 6-8 miles Saturday and long run Sunday. Have alternated long runs (16-18-20) with long slow and steady and fast finish runs.
What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
Or just complete it in no specified time?
Finish happy having graduated into 'cruise speed' hopefully break 3:30
How many days a week can you train?
5-6
Why are you running this marathon?
Needed motivation after I started jogging in January after a break of a few years and two kids. Also a long 'To Do' list!0
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