"It's what you do next that counts"
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Thanks everyone for the support and a big thanks to @Murph_D and his super Chicago race report. I had saved it for the airplane journey over and when things got tough, especially the last 3k, all I wanted was the same satisfaction as Murph had by going sub 3'20 but boy did we do it in contrasting ways!
Had a couple of nice jogs on the Friday and Saturday, legs felt great, just the left calf let me know that it might want to interfere with my race plan.
I threw some kinsei tape on it and wore a compression sleeve, which I had worn on the flight over.
I was way more relaxed for this marathon than any other, I kept asking myself why? Did I care enough?
Yes I did, on the start line I was raring to go and with that enthusiasm I decided to abandon my 7'20 per mile pace and go with 7'10s, I wanted a sub 3'10.
I averaged 7'10s for the first 10 miles - 1'11'35 but the tail section of the course was met with a head wind. @Sandwell has mentioned that he didn't really notice it but he was running a far smarter race. The fact I did feel it was because I was working too hard and it was only now that the heart rate confirmed as much.
Up to that point, heart rate was fine but I hadn't any bounce in the legs and I noticed that lack of bounce pretty much from the start but didn't pay it any attention.
Halfway in 1'35 but pace was starting to drop. In Seville the miles passed effortlessly, today not so much and the real slog began. I still had thoughts of making 3'15 but at 20 miles these were abandoned - 2'26'01
I also stopped here and walked for the first time, a minute to be precise. The bargaining had started - "If you stand any chance of sub 3'20, you need to get your heart rate under control, just have a little walk" I didn't know if I was fooling myself.
The support throughout this marathon was unreal and I had my name shouted at least a 100 times.
Another short walk at mile 23, there may have been one more walk but I don't really remember.
At mile 24 we're back at Vondelpark and this is where my left hamstring threatens to cramp, same point as Seville but today I'm ready for it and immediately start running backwards, it worked, kept the cramp at bay, I turned back around and was aware I couldn't pick up the pace. This happened a couple of more times throughout the park.
I've roughly worked out the maths and realise sub 3'20 is still possible, I think of Murph's race report and how delighted he was with his sub 3'20, I wanted that same feeling desperately.
125 meters to go and I look at my watch and think I've got this, I up the pace some more and BANG, left hammy goes, I grimace, clench my fist and shout my way to the finish line (captured below 😅),
refusing to keel over as I did in Seville or to be more accurate keel over on the finish line, a volunteer immediately rushed over to me and helped me stretch it out for about 5 minutes - 3'19'21 (10 minute positive split)
I feel a bit like our Government "lessons will be learnt" - this is my 9th marathon and although its still a near 6 minute PB, it was a lousy, stupid performance that I was lucky to get away with.
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Tuesday 25th - 9k including Nutley Lane to the marathon finish
Wed - Rest
Thursday 27th - 8k with 100 meter strides sprinkled throughout, felt good.
Fri - Rest
Sat 29th - 2k, watch acted up, so just wanted confirmation it was in working order.
Sunday 30th of October - Dublin City Marathon
I had no reason being on the start line, however I just couldn't resist. I'd no idea how my legs were going to respond and the angle I would take, is one of experimentation. I felt zero pressure.
Race week I decided to load up on beetroot juice, won't do this again.
Also loaded up on creatine, 5g for 5 days. The reason for this was more part of a hydration strategy, as the body stores more water with it.
I also made my own energy drinks with dextrose and electrolyte powder, I wanted to make them more isotonic.
I also went with the sis 22g isotonic gels over the 40g betafuel that I'd taken in Amsterdam. The result would be 150g worth of carbs consumed in Dublin compared with Amsterdam's 280g.
The big question though, can I run a quicker time than Amsterdam by running a smarter race?
I started just in front of the 3'20 pacers (Amsterdam 3'19). I had 2 friends beside me both targeting a similar time.
I led the first two miles 7'22 & 7'22. Met @robinph had a brief chat, fist bump and wished him well.
My running partners took over the pacing for the next few miles and I was constantly telling them to ease up. I needed to get my fractions right, miles 3-6 were 7'41, 7'26, 7,26, 7'32.
Leaving the park and up Castleknock I decided to let them go, I knew we were marginally too quick, mile 7 - 7'35.
Miles 8-10 I had planned to run a little quick and take advantage of their net downhill 7'14, 7'20 & 7'04. I actually felt ok and far better at this point than in Amsterdam but my heart rate was a tad high and I was certainly sweating more than usual.
Inchicore to Crumlin however, was my undoing, those couple of short but sharp hills after Chapelizod had ruined my rhythm, miles 11-14 were 7'35, 7'25, 7'27 & 7'49.
I knew the experiment was over at this stage but I had my wife and kids waiting for me on Fortified road, I still pulled off miles 15-16 in 7'40 & 7'39.
I loved seeing my family and got a jolt of energy, miles 17-18 in 7'44 & 7'37
One of my daughters caught this snap and what's funny is that for the first 10 miles, I thought the shouts for Superman were for me, my singlet colour scheme is based on the Kryptonian but turns out the shouts were for the other guy on the right :-)
Although the jig was up, my average pace was still marginally quicker than Amsterdam. I also had one more friend to see in Rathgar. I was though planning my exit route and when I saw my friend I alluded to the fact it's only a matter of time before dnf'ing, mile 19 - 8'03.
I had zero issues in not finishing, nothing to prove, no interest in the medal, got what I wanted from the experiment and had a bit of fun doing so. After Orwell Park I'll go left instead of right and make my way back to RCSI off Stephen's Green to collect my belongings.
The spanner in the works on Orwell was one of my starting companions, he was struggling badly and I could see he needed cajoling.
His marathon PB is 3'41, the 3'20 pacers were yet to pass and I started thinking maybe a 3'25 would be a realistic finish time but within minutes he was walking.
The 3'20 pacers went by us at the top of Milltown but there was zero chance of SP getting on that train.
I was feeling good again, HR back into easy zone but accepted my fate as a crutch for the next 10k.
The remaining miles 20-26 were 8'24, 9'43, 9'58, 11'49, 10'10, 9'47, 9'52.
He went into cramp dozens of times, I had to massage/punch his hamstring each time. I felt so sorry for him because his training had gone so well, 88 minutes for the half marathon, he'd put huge effort into it but at 6ft5 and 100kg, it looks like the heat and humidity were his undoing.
He still ran a 5 minute PB, we crossed the line in 3'36 but not sure he's overly happy.
Our other starting buddy held it together and ran a 37 minute PB with a 3'18.
It's actually my 3rd fastest marathon but I definitely would have been ok with dnf'ing.
My takeaways,
1. For a marathon you need a certain selfishness and I'll start solo from now on, I can't help thinking that miles 3 to 6 contributed to my elevated HR.
2. Two weeks is not enough recovery between marathons.
3. Quite happy with my reduced fueling
4. Do not like the Dublin route
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