DCM 2014: Mentored Novices Thread

annapr

Ososlo wrote: »

now now. Anyone here goes out and runs 18 miles with 10 at mp on the weekend just to check out if the yellow ribbon in their hair causes chafing to their heads will be punished accordingly. :cool:

Think about the extra weight on the day too!!

annapr

Ososlo wrote: »

perfect! 3 headbands then instead of ribbons? They'd stay on better on most of your heads than ribbons anyways I'd say:p

Ososlo, the simple solution is you hang out ON the bar until we all get there, yellow ribbon optional.

laura_ac3

Ososlo wrote: »

Tunguska is not a fan of following pacing groups afaik and yes your pace will fluctuate if you let your pace be determined by the course profile and not the pacing group. This worked well for me last year.

If you've planned on following pacers then I think you should stick with that. Yes they will maintain consistent pace (ease up a tiny bit on uphills I think). Yes I think you should stick with your plan as it sounds like you'll feel more confident that way. In saying that, don't be afraid to drop back the pace a bit if you are finding it a bit challenging. You'll likely catch up with them later in the race anyways. I don't think you should worry and stick with your plan.

Thank you. As my first one (obviously!!) I like the idea of the pace group to help keep me in check at the start especially and then hopefully for some motivation/distraction later on. As well as not having to drain myself by doing pace calculations

I will bear the drags and course profile in mind and back off a bit on them or elsewhere if I need to. Won't know until the day really I suppose but there I've said it, that's my plan

Gavlor

laura_ac3 wrote: »

Sorry to distract from the socialising theme but I have a running question :eek:

I read the great summary from Tunguska and I've noticed advice about not worrying about exactly maintaining marathon pace for some of the drags. I remember ecoli I think posting something similar also - about keeping the effort consistent and not to obsess with keeping the marathon pace on some of the sections. Presumably then the pace might fluctuate a little bit depending on hills, drags, ups, downs etc?

As a novice who personally won't be setting any records for speed how much of this should we be concerned with? I only ask because I had planned on following pacers who I think (stand to be corrected) will be maintaining a fairly consistent pace? If so, do you just stick with them (and ignore the comments That might make me nervous :rolleyes: ) or back off the pace a bit for those sections and hope you gradually catch up on the next favourable part?

Hope that makes sense. Taper madness

You're worrying about nothing.

If your plan is to go with the pacers then go with the pacers. Trust in them and enjoy the ride

Ososlo

annapr wrote: »

Ososlo, the simple solution is you hang out ON the bar until we all get there, yellow ribbon optional.

ah it's been WAY too long since I've been ON a bar....
the memories......

laura_ac3

Gavlor wrote: »

You're worrying about nothing.

If your plan is to go with the pacers then go with the pacers. Trust in them and enjoy the ride

Worrying about nothing.....hmmm that's a frequent statement by my OH. When random people off the internet are saying it to you as well maybe it's time to take note of the consistent theme

Thank you!

AuldManKing

Gavlor wrote: »

You're worrying about nothing.

If your plan is to go with the pacers then go with the pacers. Trust in them and enjoy the ride

are you talking about the race or what happens after they buy you a drink???

Laois_Man

Catherina McKiernan again - mostly reiterating everything you've heard a thousand times already. But oh well....

Gavlor

AuldManKing wrote: »

are you talking about the race or what happens after they buy you a drink???

Let's just say I'm keeping a close eye on the ladies that are thanking your post :cool:

annapr

Laois_Man wrote: »

I just read that summary
Kinda sorry now I did
I don't think most novices should be concerning themselves with all that at all

I thought it was a great post... Really created a picture of the course and what to expect. Great advice about not overdoing it on the early hills. Although the idea of letting rip with 4 miles to go is inconceivable to me at this stage!

annapr

Gavlor wrote: »

Let's just say I'm keeping a close eye on the ladies that are thanking your post :cool:

If in fact they are 'ladies'

Dubgal72

Completely off topic, I had the bright idea to rearrange my kids shelves this afternoon. I started to bring a slim set of shelves downstairs but realised after the first stair that it was a bit heavy and oops I am running 26.2 miles in two weeks...I automatically jammed their descent with my thigh which on any other non-marathon-buildup-day-of-the-year would have been fine and come away not bothered by a bruised thigh. I'm still sweating when I realise what a close call I had. So no moving furniture peoples...or am I the only dope that needs telling?

Ososlo

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Completely off topic, I had the bright idea to rearrange my kids shelves this afternoon. I started to bring a slim set of shelves downstairs but realised after the first stair that it was a bit heavy and oops I am running 26.2 miles in two weeks...I automatically jammed their descent with my thigh which on any other non-marathon-buildup-day-of-the-year would have been fine and come away not bothered by a bruised thigh. I'm still sweating when I realise what a close call I had. So no moving furniture peoples...or am I the only dope that needs telling?

Taper madness alive and well in Dubgal's house:D

Dubgal72

Ososlo wrote: »

Taper madness alive and well in Dubgal's house:D

Haha is that what it is? And only 24 hours in, what will I be like by the end of the week?!

Laois_Man

annapr wrote: »

I thought it was a great post... Really created a picture of the course and what to expect. Great advice about not overdoing it on the early hills. Although the idea of letting rip with 4 miles to go is inconceivable to me at this stage!

I didn't say it wasn't a good post. It is...for it's audience....which isn't (most of) us, and your last sentence is a good example of why.

Ososlo

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Haha is that what it is? And only 24 hours in, what will I be like by the end of the week?!

Good question. It won't be pretty, I won't lie to you.
I think everyone needs to give their DCM medal to their partner/husband/wife/closest person to them etc as they are the ones that will really deserve the medal come the afternoon of the 27th of October:)

Dubgal72

Ososlo wrote: »

Good question. It won't be pretty, I won't lie to you.
I think everyone needs to give their DCM medal to their partner/husband/wife/closest person to them etc as they are the ones that will really deserve the medal come the afternoon of the 27th of October:)

Erk (but thanks for the honesty) to your first sentence and 'Totally agree!' to the rest :-)

gingersnap

Ososlo wrote: »

Just so you feel normal and not like you're losing your minds:D

You know you're tapering when...

you research celebrity marathon times to see what famous people you could beat

I actually did this the other day! Not that I could beat the majority of them.

I read some of the race day reports from last years novice thread and there's a lot of detail of emotional and physical ups and downs from the big day. I don't know whether I'm excited or scared about the whole thing now.

I am definitely feeling a bit down about winding back the miles though. Throughout the year I've built up slowly from 6 miles to 20. Every few weeks there was the excitement of looking forward to adding an extra mile to the LSR and the feeling of elation afterwards that it could be done (I do think LSRs are a little like childbirth, hard and painful at the time but afterwards, when you look back you think that it wasn't really that bad )

Probably just a touch of the taper madness. Does anyone else feel like they'll miss the hours and hours of training?

Chivito550

I'm confused. Not only is this poster fully aware of the story of one of the worst prepared marathon runners in boards.ie history (no offence PM) and the injuries this caused, but is in fact taking things an incredible step further by actively looking for tips off him on how best to emulate this accomplishment.

Pacing Mule

Chivito550 wrote: »

I'm confused. Not only is this poster fully aware of the story of one of the worst prepared marathon runners in boards.ie history (no offence PM) and the injuries this caused, but is in fact taking things an incredible step further by actively looking for tips off him on how best to emulate this accomplishment.

Lol - none taken.

Edit: my understanding is that he is comparing what he's done so far versus what I had done. If his goal is to get around it with the preparation and injuries he has then checking in with someone who did make it around in similar circumstances does make sense.
My advice to him is bizarrely enough actually the most relevant !

annapr

Laois_Man wrote: »

I didn't say it wasn't a good post. It is...for it's audience....which isn't (most of) us, and your last sentence is a good example of why.

Have to say I disagree. Great advice in there for anyone. It's all relative. Plus it was the first time I realised we have to go OVER the UCD flyover. That would have been a shock on the day while I was trying to let rip in the last few miles.

Pacing Mule

annapr wrote: »

Have to say I disagree. Great advice in there for anyone. It's all relative. Plus it was the first time I realised we have to go OVER the UCD flyover. That would have been a shock on the day while I was trying to let rip in the last few miles.

It's a tiny hill. The main road dips to go under it more than anything.

ChadHogan

Ososlo wrote: »

I would be an advocate of using the course profile to your advantage so making time on the downhills and easing up on the uphills. Other people will say the only way to go is consistent splits with the pacers. You really just have to decide that one yourself.
To me your strategy sounds fine but I invite other opinions.
Remind me again how you'd been feeling at the end of the long runs and why you felt so bad?

Thanks for responding Ososlo, you're certainly being kept busy this evening!

At the end of each of the long runs my legs were shot. I was fine aerobically and also felt fine from an energy point of view but legs cramped up completely in the last mile of each and never had that feeling of still having something left in my legs.

I was noticing an improvement from week to week for sure, but for each run as distance increased I was at my limit as regards distance or time on my feet. One 20 miler required a 3-4 minute walk break and I also didn't manage too many MP miles on my LSRs.

I know its not exactly the same, but after the Half marathon I felt I could have done another few miles, i had an average pace that day of 7:46 p/m, so i've come to the conclusion that pace itself isn't a problem its sustaining it for 20+ miles

denis160

gingersnap wrote: »

(I do think LSRs are a little like childbirth, hard and painful at the time but afterwards, when you look back you think that it wasn't really that bad )

Probably just a touch of the taper madness. Does anyone else feel like they'll miss the hours and hours of training?

Ginger snap had the exact same thoughts on my last few lsr's, difficult journeys with great outcomes, so so hard to get through at the time but so worth it at the end!

RayCun

laura_ac3 wrote: »

Thank you. As my first one (obviously!!) I like the idea of the pace group to help keep me in check at the start especially and then hopefully for some motivation/distraction later on. As well as not having to drain myself by doing pace calculations

I will bear the drags and course profile in mind and back off a bit on them or elsewhere if I need to. Won't know until the day really I suppose but there I've said it, that's my plan

Stay behind the pacers. When you are going uphill, slow down and let the gap grow a little. On the downhills, reel then in again slowly. If you can, pass them out in the last four miles and go fir the line yourself. If you can't, just stay with them. And remember that they finish 30 seconds early, so don't give up if they are a little bit ahead of you in the last miles

KillianByrne

Ososlo wrote: »

if they can find them!!!!!!
Actually, thinking bout it, I think the 3 wise men/stooges should be the focal point for the McGrattan's beers and each should wear a yellow ribbon in their hair. I'll buy you each the drink of your choice if you comply.
Well?

The pacers would need to have hair for that to succeed.

Laois_Man

gingersnap wrote: »

Does anyone else feel like they'll miss the hours and hours of training?

To be honest, no!

I'm looking forward to being able to go out for a run because I want to, not because the plan stuck to my fridge is wagging its finger at me.

And I'm looking forward to getting rid of niggles and hopefully seeing that all this slow running has made me faster once I get some speed sessions in the legs.

neilthefunkeone

Don't think i'm gonna miss the training but will be happy with the extra free time!

I'm still gonna keep running.. What id like to do after the marathon is improve my times on a few shorter distances 5/10K..

I'm also looking forward to getting out for a few long cycles on the weekend!

Also considering a few dualathlons/triathlons for next year maybe.. So actually that free time is never gonna be back!!

Laois_Man

From people on this thread running their first marathon - to this man running his last - 83 year old John Collins, of the Country Club Athletics Club in Limerick will be running his 30th consecutive marathon on October.

I imagine the reaction he'll be getting around the course from the spectators!

Joleigh

ChadHogan wrote: »

Thanks for responding Ososlo, you're certainly being kept busy this evening!

At the end of each of the long runs my legs were shot. I was fine aerobically and also felt fine from an energy point of view but legs cramped up completely in the last mile of each and never had that feeling of still having something left in my legs.

I was noticing an improvement from week to week for sure, but for each run as distance increased I was at my limit as regards distance or time on my feet. One 20 miler required a 3-4 minute walk break and I also didn't manage too many MP miles on my LSRs.

I know its not exactly the same, but after the Half marathon I felt I could have done another few miles, i had an average pace that day of 7:46 p/m, so i've come to the conclusion that pace itself isn't a problem its sustaining it for 20+ miles

Have you been to physio at all? My legs were so stiff and tight at the end of my first 20 miler. One trip to physio made such a difference. You might just need to b loosened out of it's just your legs that are holding you back.