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DCM 2017 Mentored Novices Thread
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Good luck to all the first timers on Sunday! I was in your shoes this time last year, one of the boards novices with the hard work all done and about to do my first marathon, and all I can say is that it is worth it, it really is.
As somebody who wasn't much of a runner before deciding to do something stupid like a marathon, coming from that perspective I thought I would jot down a few random thoughts and advice that might be useful to somebody, somewhere.
In no particular order:
- Get into the expo early, or park away from it and walk in, its just an arse of a place to get into and out of.
- Same on the day itself, get in as early as you can. Last year I was stood outside the house waiting on a taxi that hadn't shown up wondering what the hell I was going to do, and then when I got in realised I had to walk a godawful distance around all the closed roads to get to the bag drop. It all worked out but who needs that stress, get in early and relax.
- I suppose you already know about buying cheap Pennys gear to wear pre-race and ditch before the start? Do it, it works, its a good idea.
- There were massive queues for the toilets pre-race last year, when waiting in the holding pens everybody will want to use the portaloos. But I would suggest waiting, when the earlier waves go you will filter into the pens vacated by those earlier waves and towards the start line, you will pass loads of loo's sitting empty and you will still have a good 5/10 minutes time to make use of them. So don't stress the big queues 20 minutes before the race, sit tight and grab one just before you start.
- Stick to your pace! My proudest achievement last year is that I held my pace from start to finish, I stuck to my plan, and come the last few km I am damn glad I did so! Be disciplined!
- By the way, those little pace bands you can nab at the expo are surprisingly useful. I had a garmin and thought I wouldn't need them, but they are a really good way of checking at a glance where you are compared to your goals!
- Ditch the headphones! Thats coming from an avowed headphone user, I always, always run listening to music, but honestly, they didn't help me last year and come the end when the struggles started they just became a nuisance.
- All my training last year was using the Choc Blok chewy gels, and I was happy enough with them in the main. I do wish though that I had something different for around mile 20, I started to get sick of the gels and struggled to keep taking them, I found that I really wanted something more substantial like a nutty bar or something like that. Think savoury instead of sugary. I couldn't face any more gels or any sugary drink like Lucozade, I really wish I could have had a protein bar and some water with a zero tab in it! So if you can, maybe give yourself that option...
- One thing I found was that there wasn't much water to be had along the last 5km, I would have killed for a bottle at that point but had to make do. Its worth bearing in mind, keep a bottle from earlier if you can.
- High five the little kids, it gives you power.
- The post race pint is a better idea in theory than in execution.
The post race cod and chips on the other hand...
- When stretching after you finish the Dublin City Marathon I recommend pulling your right hand over your left shoulder and giving yourself a big pat on the back.0 -
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Hoping it’s just something I ate. I did have acupuncture yesterday so wondering if that triggered something. Anyway, will medicate myself and hope for the best. Was just finishing making my pacebands and serious doubt setting in! Funny because I was cool as a breeze until earlier on. Time for taper madness to hit maybe!
Rarely a dull moment in marathon week
How does it feel today?0 -
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Was in bed at 10:30 with the alarm set for 6am.
Am now in the children's A&E with my toddler who fell out of her bed. She was hysterical with pain holding her neck and had a small nosebleed so i took no chances and brought her here.
Everything's fine now thankfully, fully checked over and tests done, and she's no longer in any pain. Keeping her in for another hour or so to monitor.
Fun and games, am sitting here watching Peppa in a hospital at almost 2am.
I am so glad she is ok and I hope you can catch up on some sleep! ah peppa pig my daughter loved that as well. I felt sorry for poor daddy pig who ever wrote had daddy issuesHow long before does one generally consume liquid for the final time?don't want to be stuck in a very long queue for the loos. There's plenty of water along the way?Thanks ,S
if you read back to bucketybuck post no 5088
you will get some great tips
Thanks bucketybuck for sharing
Kellygirl hope the tummy is ok today, mine did the exact same last night during my run :eek:
Got out for the easy 3 miles last night I had to drag myself out I was feeling very tired yesterday and during my run tummy was at me at the start. when we finished I synced my watch to my phone it showed GPS updating then finished but did not show my run, it was gone from my watch but not on my app I actually thought it deleted it, had a little bit of a freak out about it possibly happening on Sunday LOL But my run is there this morning showing in the app and on strava 
I have a tom tom watch I am going to make sure it is fully charged and updated for Sunday 0 -
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Wore it last night and didn't feel a single bit of pain although it was only 3m, that's not to say I won't feel it during the 26.2 on Sunday! have it with me to see what the physio thinks of it. I know it's going to flare up but if I can make it as far as I can without it happening, I'll be a happy man. 0
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Wubble Wubble wrote: »Rarely a dull moment in marathon week
Still no reports of injuries caused by assembling flat pack furniture or catching up on that ever growing list of DIY jobs that have been neglected over the last few months . Either they have very understanding partners or they are winging it until next week.0 -
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The Muppet wrote: »Still no reports of injuries caused by assembling flat pack furniture or catching up on that ever growing list of DIY jobs that have been neglected over the last few months . Either they have very understanding partners or they are winging it until next week.
We spent most of the week of my first marathon moving house. Far from ideal (purely in relation to marathon prep!) but it had to be doneLifted up all the decking out the back on Sunday (just in time for Halloween). Back was in bits Monday and seemed to move down to my hammers yesterday. Epsom salt bath last night (first time ever) seemed to help a bit. Same tonight and hopefully all good then
Didn't we talk about not trying anything new in the week of the marathon? :pac: Fingers crossed everything will be grand after tonight.0 -
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TFBubendorfer wrote: »For a small race where I can go to the toilet 2 minutes before the start I stop drinking at least 30 minutes before the start, preferably more.
For something like Dublin where you're penned in for ages I'd stop drinking at least an hour before the start. Obviously make sure to drink enough before that cut off.
Also, I find that the urge to constantly be sipping water as well as feeling the need to go to a toilet in the last hour before the start are both a sign of nerves rather than an actual physical need.
My mouth does be dry a lot of the time, I'm definitely not suffering with a disorder, drink vast amounts of tea though, really vast amounts (albeit usually quite weak) . Cut it out to very low amounts next few days ? 0 -
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