Dublin Marathon 2023

Was a tough day out there today in places!! Weather was mixed but the support was unreal!!

I'm not sure if the pacers are still sourced through Boards but wanted to wish the three 4.20 pacers heading out to The Lebennon on peace keeping duties tomorrow a safe tour. Was called out before wave 3 got going, nice round of applause and it put in to perspective the whole day.

Well done to all who lined up today!!

Looks like they went through the wave starts and resolved the extra time added where the runner started in a later wave than the tracker had been set up for. Mine at least - I was getting text congrats for sub 4 when I was wet and feeling a little underwhelmed with my actual 3:40 off a "comfortably on for 3:30 at 19 miles". Over it now and pleased enough with how the body's recovering after food and rest.

Absolutely buzzing about today. First marathon, first run longer than a half! Tipped around in 4:33. Had to walk in parts particularly up some of the hills in Clonskeagh. Did 2:01 for the 1st half, so maybe too fast but I was going for a bit of a time there.

The cheering around the whole course was amazing. I smiled the whole way around. The finish was brilliant. I felt I was in the Olympics.

Will try another one again! Well done to everyone who made it today, everyone inspired me! Legs in bits now!

Sad to read this, after all you put in to the Novices thread.

We go on so much about the importance of enjoying your first go at this thing, but it is tough. I do hope you can pick out and focus on what was awesome about the day.

The reason we go on about making sure you enjoy it is so you'll get hooked, because once you're hooked you improve, and much better days await you.

1st marathon yesterday…

was in wave 4 but loved to wave 3, they were checking bib colours but I managed to walk in whilst he was checking someone else, few people wanting to change wave definitely got rejected.

couldnt get over the level of support, there wasn’t one 1km that didn’t have people lined on the streets, absolutely amazing and in pretty miserable conditions.

was aiming for 4hrs myself, legs blew up at 21k and pace started dropping, finished in 4:11 so was happy enough.

on reflection, time means absolutely nothing, for anyone to go out there and run 42k is a huge achievement, I definitely have a new found respect for marathoners, a huge physical and mental battle for some.

really enjoyed the day, and that was down to the supporters, nothing else!!

Didn't see you yesterday morning John like last year. I went with Wave 1 (had to be back to bring son to a party). Thought I was on for 3:30 but got around in 3:31.

Yep...pretty similar but slightly better quality I think

22,500 was the entry limit this year I believe. I guess due to transfer system. 25,000 was last year

It's hard to push on for another 600 or 700 metres when your watch goes over 42.2, I finished 42.9k, most I see on strava are 42.6k to 43.1k

Bit of a weird outcome for me yesterday. My 3rd Marathon and 2nd Dublin and my worst finishing time (by about 14 mins), so far. 4.24.

I felt like my training effort was the best so far in comparison to previous marathons, the metrics suggested that anyway.

Just one of those things. Enjoyed the day massively though and was happy with my perseverance to finish the race. The crowds along the route were fantastic as were all volunteers. Pints afterwards were great too.

I knew my aim of sub 4 hours was gone by Chapelizod. My pace was good to that point, and I felt comfortable, holding conversation, fresh, but my HR was elevated and I knew it wasn't sustainable so had to make the decision to pull back the pace at that point. Can't explain the elevated HR so early.

Knees and hips blew around Milltown and the following miles home were a bit brutal (on-off efforts). Managed to get an energy boost from the crowds in the last mile and actually sprinted the last half mile at a decent pace.

Great day though.

Oh and thanks to the random passers by who stopped for me and gave me a lift to town after they spotted me waiting at a bus stop, for a bus that wouldn't be coming (unbeknownst to me).

You'd think orgabisers, Dublin Bus and Irish rail would have some connective thinking on days like yesterday.

New one got it's first outing on the dog walk this morning, how long till.....

That’s the sponsors colour so I guess they get to decide what colour it is

Well folks I found it a poxy day to race the weather was brutal the last few Kms.

I didn’t feel great after the first 10km then got into my rhythm this was my 2nd DCM and and finished in 2:50:XX wasn’t the time I wanted but it wasn’t to be.

Onto the next one..