DCM 2023 Mentored Novices Thread

Club Plan: Track|rest|Track|rest|rest|28km

Actual: Track|rest|Track|rest|rest|28km

The weeks are flying by and other week of getting all my runs done. The 2 track session weren't too bad. Probably could have rested better during the week but it's been a strange one with the child's first week away at college and a work deadline. My long run on Sunday was probably one of my best training runs on this plan. Did 7km beforehand at possible marathon pace of 6:25/km. Then lined up for the Athlone half marathon. An ok route, most of which was on the greenway out and back, at least it was safe from traffic and there were barely any cyclists on it. Once we settled after the start, got into marathon pace up to about 8km. Then met with runners coming back the way and found the pace pick up to about 6:10/6:15/km. At the turning point, picked up the pace to half marathon pace, approx 6:00/km. Looking now at my strava I was under that for all the kms, around 5:50/5:55/km. Not gonna lie - it was nice to be passing by people, felt strong. Loved the finish where it was 1.75 laps of the track, great support. Had worked out a time of 2:10 based on my planned paces and came in at 2:09, not bad work! Really really happy with that run, it did make me think about getting down my half marathon pb to 2:05 or even nearer to 2 hour mark - but that's a conversation for another day! Took a gel before the start of the half, another at 5mile and last at 10mile. Quads are a bit sore today now with the stairs, I'm hoping the track session tonight won't be too bad.

Marathon pace - McMillian puts me at 4hr31mins based on yesterday's half. However 35sec/km would bring me in at 6:40/km or 4hr40. Perhaps I'll aim for 4:40 so. When I started my training I was hoping for under 5 hours but as the training has gone well (touch wood), I got notions of 4:30!

Edit: got my new runners in the Elverys sale at the weekend and will be taking them for a test drive this evening!

Haven't posted recently - not injured thankfully and still on track for the marathon. Have just been really busy with work, other committments and life in general. After this week is over I should have a little more time. Training has been going reasonably well. Enjoyed the half on Saturday and was pleased with the chip time of 1:58:56. I made the decision to go with the 2 hour pacers knowing that the 1:50 pacers would have been too ambitious and I didn't want to run solo as I would have gone out too fast without a doubt. I was comfortable up until that hill on Acres Road between miles 10 and 11 but my legs were a bit heavy after that. My breathing tends to be fine at that pace but I find the legs get very heavy. What a perfect day for running all the same - we should be so lucky for DCM ! I think on the day I'll go with the 4:20 pacers. Was debating going for 4:10 but I'd probably regret it if I did 😂.

Not especially looking forward to the 20 miler this week. I have to do it on Thursday and will be under time pressure so will go for an early start so I don't end up going too fast.

Great to see everyone getting on well at the half and meeting or beating targets. Thanks as always to the mentors for having us so well prepared!

Congrats all on the amazing half marathon times. Wow!!!

My head is a bit melted after the weekend. I was too late booking for DCHM so decided to do a HM by myself. It didn't go to plan. Started out a little too fast (maybe 10 sec/km too fast) and legs became real heavy at around 15km so ended up with some walking breaks till I finished. I was not in tip top shape as was given a ticket to a gig on Thursday unexpectedly and had more pints than I should. Still tired Sunday!

Either way, my confidence took a hit so I'm rethinking my 5hr marathon goal. Probably forget about time/pace for a while and just train based on heart rate and see how (un)comfortable I am on the long run at easy pace. What had me believing faster times were possible were those online calculators and even my Garmin watch says I could do the DCM in 4:31! Reading the advice posted today has put me back into reality.

I'm not suggesting anyone should do that, but I'm just commenting on the fact that sunny ran 7km at MP before a half marathon and the energy required to do that would definitely impact times.

I don't know how much running 7km at MP before a half would impact my HM, I can't quantify it, but it's very easy to know for absolute sure I wouldn't have been able to do it after my HM, so I'm just making the point I couldn't have done the same HM time

@MisterJinx going to read the article a few times as some stuff in there I need to let sink in. Thanks for linking!

I'm finding it so difficult to post here lately. Kids are manic and when they go to be I go to bed (to prioritise sleep) so there never seems to be time. Add in all the runnng, cleaning, cooking ... and ... gahhhh! Giving myself a rest day today as quads are still achey from Saturday.

@Kellygirl I don't know about bagel exactly, and haven't practiced, but need something more substantial. Maybe porridge, or I could make another batch of your energy balls. Banana won't cut it on race day as there'll probably be 2 hours between leaving house and actually running. I was collected at 7.15 on sat morn and ran at 9.15 so 2 hours of not eating wasn't great. So it was a bit silly of me just to have a banana. I might try porridge on sat morn before 20 miler. I must say I'm dreading it!

@skyblue46 you're spot on! It's definitely tension. There's been more than one occasion where a race volunteer shouted "DROP YOUR SHOULDERS!!" as I ran past them. Usually near the end of a race. I've a physio appt tomorrow so will se if there are any exercises that aid tension avoidance.

I know people are going to talk a lot about goal time. I'm not getting too deep about it or it'll stress me out. A general 4.30 is my goal but I'm not bothered if it's slower. Question: if my goal pace is 6.20pkm, what pace should I set out at? As I remember someone saying on here that no novice should be running their mp until 10km in, get the hilly part out of the way, or some such. I'd like to have that nailed down pacewise, but taking it easy breezy thereon in, just enjoying the whole thing. 😃

@Sunny Dayz meant to ask, what runners did you get? Hoping to get mine on Friday.

Question - if I get my runners on Fri I wonder if I should wear them for the Sat 32km lsr?

I got theses ones here - Brooks Glycerin 20:

My last maybe 5 / 6 pairs of runners have been Brooks Glycerins and only 1 pair gave me a bit of trouble. I wore my newbies yesterday for training and they were fine. I hadn't noticed how worn my old ones were until I felt the cushioning in these! I usually try to go to the local specialist running shop to get my runners as I appreciate his advise but I just haven't had time. No chat or advice in Elverys other than what size do you want. It's mad to think these are my marathon runners!!

I wouldn't advise you wearing them for your 32km run. Unless you are looping back to the car/house a bit and wanted to try them out for a few miles at the beginning or end of your run.

Managed 25km including the DHM on Saturday, average pace for the half 5.20km, felt comfortable, but legs were tired on Sunday. Planning 27/28km this week, as only time for three more long runs really including tapering. Just wondering how I should pace the marathon or should I wait until the week beforehand to decide.

Haven't posted in a while, but all going to plan so far.

Well done to everyone on the HM at the weekend, some great times and great reports.

My aim at the start was under 4hrs, but I think it might be a stretch, I'm on the HHn plan and have no pmp done and the mileage is a bit lower than the boards plan, saying all that the plan is really working for me although the long runs are getting harder to plan as everyone understands I'm sure, so ill be happy to reach the taper in a couple of weeks.

I'd be hopeful I can run it around the 6k/m mark so coming in around 4.20 I think would be achievable but I also want to enjoy it and running the entire marathon is more important, will see nearer the time and after the longest run 32K the following weekend.

Thanks for all the info here it's great to be part of and hearing everyone's experiences, we are nearly there.

Remember that the clocks go back that morning, so what is 7:00 on the clock should feel like 8:00.

I would just caution as well that it is easy to tie yourself in knots and start worrying about micro level details. You have all run multiple really long runs and know how you felt during and after. You should be tweaking that as you see fit in the remaining runs, so the night before and morning of the marathon should be very similar to what you have done for your long runs. You just don't want to end up overdoing it and not feeling right as you set off.

Had a 45 minute maintenance physio session on my back this morn. Boy did I need it. Told her to notch the massage gun up to level red and go for it. Vibration was so strong it was making me cough! 😆 She said the tension in my middle back, particularly right side was mental. Got some stuff to do daily, mobility stretches etc., Will do another maintenance session before the big day.

Week 13 : 30k in the bag last week. Had the flu so had to push myself to run the the Half but really enjoyed it after a few nurofen, was quiet fresh finishing with plenty left in the tank which was great. Ran it at an average pace of 5:49 slightly faster than most of my LSR but nothing to drastic. Started to feel weird in my lower left calf on route home & thought it was curtains. Went to physio Monday & he said it was just very tight. Ran 10k today on egg shells but it seems ok so fingers crossed. Feels slightly weird but I’m probably over focusing on the area while running. This marathon craic is not good for the nerves. Tried a few SIs blackcurrant gels ( disturbing yolks) so I’ll be switching back to high 5’s aqua. Everyone is flying .. the next few weeks are probably critical so hope all the bodies hold up .. keep the faith … 💪