There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest
If found in bar, please return to race!
Comments
-
Dublin Marathon '23 - Race Report
Pre race
I'd gotten the expo out of the way on Friday, so that I could relax on Saturday. I also decided to give the Leinster match a miss in the afternoon, as I reckoned that 2 hours standing on a terrace would be suboptimal race prep. An early dinner of Lasagna and chips were followed by the RWC final and a relatively early night. Sleep wasn't amazing though, but there's no surprise in that before a big race. I'd already front-loaded my sleep the previous few nights, so it wasn't a big issue.
The alarms started going off about 6:20. I'd two set and A had another one. Up and showered then downstairs for breakfast; my standard pre-long run breakfast of a couple of slices of toast with butter and jam. Then made up a Berocca and grabbed a banana and we were off, with A driving into the city centre, picking up a few friends on the way.
The organisation on the day was great and my bag was dropped off in a matter of seconds. Met up with some of the Sanctuary Runners for a pre-race photo-op and chatted with a couple of the pacers.
After that I made my own way towards the wave 1 entrance. There were plenty of toilets, but the queues were not insignificant, so I just waited around for a while. I'd already decided that wait for wave 2 and start at the front of it instead of watching everyone in wave 1 disappear into the distance as I ran my own race.
The added benefit of this was that the toilet queues dissipated by 8:40 or so and I'd a choice of facilities to make use of. This was probably for the better as I managed 4 pre-race poos and that's without even having a coffee.
Eventually the wave 2 runners were allowed around the corner onto Fitzwilliam Square and I took my place near the front on the right. There were still 5-10 minutes of waiting around, but eventually the gun went off and we were on our way.
Race
Miles 1-2 (Target: 7:45)
The first couple of miles were all about settling into my rhythm. The plan was to start out at about 7:45 pace for the first 2 miles to Stoneybatter. One of the first things that occurred to me after the start line was that I wanted to pee, but I managed to push the thought aside for a while. There were plenty of runners streaming past me, some doing so at a rate of knots. The hardest thing was blocking them out and sticking to my own plan. That said, mile 2 was definitely a bit on the hot side. I get a great shout out from some of the Raheny crew that I know as I cross onto the northside.
Paces: 7:44, 7:36.
Miles 3-7 (Target 7:56)
Miles 3-7 start at the bottom of Stoneybatter and finish near the top of Tower Road in Castleknock, which is the highest point in the marathon, so I'd set a target of an average pace of 7:56 for it. As we ran up Manor Street past the first water station, I once again felt the need to pee but decided that it wasn't pressing enough for me to stop at this early point in the race. At the top of Manor street I get a shout out from K&B, who have brought their family out to support. It's around here that I remember that I'm meant to taking gels. Oops. So the first gel gets taken on the North Circular Road after 3.5 miles instead of after 2.
There were still plenty of runners streaming past me, but I was for the most part still sticking to plan. It's always a joy to run in the park and this time was no different. At this stage I know it so well, so know that there are parts of Chesterfield that are more of a drag than others. I think that this really helped me to maintain efforts. As I turn onto Chesterfield I'm greeted by huge cheers of encouragement from a group of Sanctuary Runners. Shortly after that I get my first shout (of many) of encouragement from my wife, who's out on the course on her bike.
As I got to some of the quieter parts along here, I found myself eyeing up some of the trees for a quick pee stop, but in the end, I decided against it. There are lots of cheers and encouragement along the length of Chesterfield, from C&Y, @Singer and then another friend M, who's husband is running his first marathon.
For the second time already, I forget to take a gel. I remember a mile or so later, so not much harm done (hopefully).
From the time my watch beeped to when I passed the actual 7 mile marker I counted about 10 seconds. This is generally something that I try to keep in mind for the latter parts of the race.
The big blot on my paper here is that for the third time running DCM I managed to miss seeing my mother as I ran through Castleknock. Next time.
Official 10k: 0:48:40
Paces: 7:53, 7:46, 7:58, 7:45, 7:51.
Miles 8-10 (Target: 7:38)
This block starts with more support, this time from the outlaws, who've brought their two kids out to cheer me on.
After the long uphill section from the city to Castleknock, the next few miles back into the park and into Chapelizod were much appreciated. Things were generally feeling good, although I was starting to notice a few small bits of tightness in my glutes.
Back into the park and I see another runner going "off piste" for a quick call of nature behind a tree. I briefly consider a similar detour, but decide against it.
The watch beeps for 8 miles and I again count the seconds until I pass the official marker; 12 seconds. Not bad. Same for the 9 mile marker, but this time the difference is over a minute. WTF? By the 10 mile marker the difference is back to 15 seconds. Hmm...
It was along here that I got chatting to another runner. She was only a few weeks after finishing the Wicklow Way Ultra and was flying along in great form.
Paces: 7:36, 7:37, 7:40.
Miles 11-14 (Target: 7:52)
Through Chapelizod and the hill on St Lawrences Road loomed. "Take it easy and just get to the top" I told myself. My new ultra running friend is telling me how she'd normally walk the big uphills on trail runs. We'll be having none of that today. Her target is 3:30 although she's already well inside that and enjoying the day.
St Lawrences Road is negotiated without any issues, but by the end of mile 11 I've a stitch starting to build on my right (IIRC) side, relatively shortly after taking my third gel (only a mile after scheduled). Not what I want. I use the excuse of some traffic to let my new friend head on and give me some time to wallow in my own misery. I get another shout out from A in Kilmainham, but she tells me afterwards that I looked "concerned" both there and shortly after in Dolphins Barn. To be fair, I'm wondering how I'm meant to keep this up for another 14/5 miles. The aches and pains of long distance racing have started. Nothing sinister, but, yeah, concerning. The one good thing about having a stitch is that I forget for a while that I need to pee.
Official 20k: 1:37:16
Official Halfway: 1:42:51
I not aware of there being a massive hill between 20k and halfway, but nearly every runner I've checked on the official results seems to be slower for that short block, including the leaders. It seems more likely that one or both of those markers were incorrectly placed.
As I get to the CIH, I start to feel the heat for the first time and notice the sun making an appearance. After a few minutes I need to pour some of my water over my head. "Not a good sign" I think to myself. That may not be a good sign, but at least the stitch has abated.
I don't tend to drink a lot of water when I'm running, but always pick up a bottle at water stations and carry it with me to sip. It seems that I may need it for more than that today.
Paces: 8:11, 7:51, 7:50, 7:50.
Miles 15-17 (Target: 7:49)
The end of mile 15 brings me to Walkinstown roundabout. As I'm nearing it, I find myself comparing how I feel now to 2019, which was my first marathon and still my PB. On that day I was wondering how I was meant to keep going at this pace. Now I'm 2/3 minutes ahead of that time and wondering how I'm meant to keep going at this pace.
Around the roundabout and I get a shout out from @Laineyfrecks .
The end of mile 15 also brings me to the realisation that I was meant to take another gel after mile 14. Better late than never.
The weather has taken a turn. At mile 14 I was worried about the heat, but the sun has been well and truly vanquished and replaced with a glorious shower of rain. Bliss!
I have a nearly full bottle of water at this stage, so decide to attempt to open it and put a Dioralyte tablet into it. Thankfully I manage to pull the procedure off without a hitch.
Paces: 7:48, 7:43, 7:49.
Miles 18-21 (Target: 7:46)
Who needs to carry water? Just open your mouth and you'll have all the water you could desire.
The glorious shower has become a torrential downpour. Suddenly there are glistening rivulets everywhere along the road. The heat is now the least of my concerns. This allows me to focus on the slowly building and migrating niggles.
While I may be focusing on the niggles, A catches me again in Terenure and said afterwards that I looked much more comfortable than I had in Kilmainham and Dolphins Barn. My Sanctuary Runners top gets noticed at their cheering station near Terenure, so I get another real boost from them.
I may be concerned by some of the increasing niggles, but at the same time I'm tipping along nicely, slowing at bit on the inclines and making the time back on any downhills. I can feel that I'm working harder, but I still feel relatively comfortable. As I take another sip of water, I notice some more portaloos. Yup, I still need to pee.
Around the 20 mile mark , my left adductor starts complaining for the first time and it's the first niggle that worries me. Thankfully it settles after a minute or so.
Official 30k: 2:25:53
Paces: 7:38, 7:42, 7:46, 7:53.
Mile 22 (Target: 8:00)
I don't know the latter stages of the route that well, I'm usually in somewhat of a stupor by the time I get there. As happened in '22, I'm wondering if I'm on Roebuck yet. Am I there yet? Am I there yet? I try to just focus on avoiding the worst of the raging torrents of water on the route. I'm fighting a losing battle. At some point I realise that I'm not really going to get any wetter. Finally Mount Roebuck appears in front of me. I can do this. Just manage the effort levels and hope when I get to the top, that my quads survive the downhill of Fosters Avenue. Mission accomplished.
Pace: 7:54.
Mile 23 (Target 7:40)
Having defeated Roebuck, I slowly start to build up the pace again on Fosters. In 2019 this is where I really started to struggle and by Nutley it was all I could do to place one foot in front of the other. The niggles are still growing, but they're manageable.
As I'm running down Fosters Avenue I notice my feet squelching in the runners for the first time. Yup, I'm not getting any wetter than this. I've reached peak saturation levels.
Pace: 7:53.
Miles 24-26.2 (Target: 7:47)
...or flying it in like a Jumbo Jet.
It's been a while since I've been able to read my (badly) homemade pace band, so I can't work out whether I'm ahead of or behind target. I've stopped counting the time between my watch beeps and the mile markers as I've run out of fingers and toes.
I'm fairly sure that they're about 0.1 mile out of sync.
"How long will it take me to run 0.1 mile?"
...does not compute.
I reach Ballsbridge and get another shout out from the Sanctuary Runners who have a cheering station here. Then I see A for the final time before the finish. Double boost!
It getting tougher, but I'm going in the right direction and still passing other runners for the most part.
The legs are making their presence felt, but by this stage I know that they're going to hold up.
I'm pushing as hard as I can, but when I try to push any more the dry heaves threaten.
Official 40k: 3:14:29
"Which mile marker did I just pass?"
Hmm...
So, I've 10 minutes to cover the final 1.22 miles.
"Did I work that out correctly?"
"8 minute miles and you're golden."
"Are you sure?"
"It definitely sounds plausible."
"Are you sure?"
"Umm...definitely."
"What about the extra 0.1 mile?"
"You'll be grand. Don't worry about it."
The watch beeps for 26 miles and I can see the 26 mile marker and the finish up ahead. It looks like there's the same distance between me, the 26 mile marker and the finish.
Bugger.
I try to push on, but the body won't allow me. I'm at my limit.
Almost...
Paces: 7:37, 7:52, 7:55, (7:14).
Official Finish: 3:25:19
Post race
I cross the line knowing that I've just missed out on my 'A' goal by 20 seconds. I also know that I've crossed the line having given it my everything.
I make my way over to the barrier for some well earned dry heaving. A volunteer looks over in my direction momentarily to see if I need assistance, but they know. There's a smile trying to break out on my face.
I collect my medal and t-shirt and meander along Merrion Square to collect my goodie bag and my own bag. Chat to some of the Sanctuary Runners who ran brilliantly.
There's no point putting an extra layer on, the rain is teeming down now and it'll just get soaked as well. The downpour eventually eases after 5-10 minutes and I find somewhere to get changed quickly before meeting up with A in McGrattans. I walk in the back door, straight up to the bar and order a Guinness. 2 minutes later I have a Guinness in my hand. Bliss! I start to walk towards the front and a group are leaving a table. Perfect timing! I sit down and finally I get to take my runners and socks off, dry my feet and put on dry socks and runners. This is as good as it gets! Then it's heads down in the phone checking all the other brilliant results on the day.
Catch up with some other runners and fellow boardsies over a few pints. Does it get any better than this?
Then back to the local for a pizza and a few pints in good company.
Looking back now, I'm hugely proud of my run. It's an official negative split and a PB by 6:34 on my 2019 debut.
I'm not finished. I'll be back next year and I while the marathon distance can be cruel, I know that all going well, I can get another PB.
20 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Week starting 2023-10-30
Monday - Nothing
Tuesday - Also nothing
Wednesday - 4m recovery
Got out at lunchtime. All systems okay for the most part, although lateral quads were fairly achy.
A nice hot bath before bed.
Total: 4.01 miles, Avg. pace: 8:53, Avg. HR: 125.
Thursday - 30 minutes turbo
Not quite recovery intensity.
Total: 10.38 miles, Avg. speed: 20.7 mi/h, Avg. power: 136 w.
Friday - 4m recovery
Post work loop. Legs much better than on Wednesday. HR a bit elevated, but was feeling a bit clogged up, so that might explain it.
Total: 4.00 miles, Avg. pace: 9:23, Avg. HR: 132.
Saturday - St Anne's parkrun #144 @ not recovery
This included the jog from/to the car. Parkrun time was 26:09.
Legs still not 100%, but happy enough to push things bit beyond recovery.
Where's Wally?
Total 4.50 miles, Avg. pace: 8:58, Avg. HR: 130.
Sunday - 30 minutes turbo
Again, not recovery intensity.
Total: 11.09 miles, Avg. speed: 22.1 mi/h, Avg. power 168 w.
The week in review
Mostly recovery adjacent.
Next week
Slowly building the miles back up, while mostly keeping the intensity down.
10 -
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
