I can finally call myself a marathoneer - yippeee.
I did the race last Monday, it is now Saturday and I'm still elated. I have heard perople describe the after marathon period as an anti-climax, a period of 'where do i go now'. I dont have that issue - all i want is to get cracking on another one.
The Race
The crowds were gathering before 9. M dropped me in as far as Lombard Street and I walked up towards the baggage area. My tummy butterflies were fairly jumping at the sight of numerous other (fitter looking) runners walking towards Merrion Square.
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| The Start Line before the Off - how will I feel if i get back here again? |
I bumped into one of the lads from work & after dropping off our bags we met with the others from work (about 6 of us were doing the race, I hadnt trained with them though as I didnt want to run as fast as them in case of injury).
We had a laugh as we lubed up and answered various calls of nature and then headed for our respective starting areas.
I located myself between the 4.5hr and 5 hr. baloons as this was my hoped for time. There was a bit of hanging around as the elites and faster runners headed off but I pretty much just enjoyed the atmosphere. I didnt know what to expect but I was enjoying the experience greatly.....
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| Waiting for the start (forward view) |
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| (backward view with Holles Street Hospital in the background, the spectre of 5 hours already looms....) |
I had my mp3 player set (2 playlists, marathon music and marathon podcasts), my garmin was waiting to be started and i had shed my black bin-liner (needed in this part of the world to keep the cold out while waiting for the start).
Finally we got the start at 10a.m. It took 11 mins or so to pass over the line, hit the watch & garmin to measure my time and take my first steps on the road to somewhere I had never thought i would visit.
The first km passed quickly but took 11mins, slow even for me (although far from the slowest mile of the day).
Running through town and up O'Connell Street was a real thrill;
Making our way to the start, and running through town up O'Connell Street (spot the handshaky photo)
Travelling up towards Phoenix Park we hit mile 4. I had run one of my training runs from here to about 2 miles from the end and i did a quick mental scan of my body. I had decided that this was the 'start' of my race and the first few miles were just the journey to here. So I wanted to re-assure myself that I was okay, and remind myself that in my own mind i was starting from here....
The park was an enjoyable 4 miles, leaving it i took a phonecall from my sister who was surprised to get me (I had M's phone as its smaller and easier to carry). This was the first of a few calls which were very encouraging.
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| The army running in combat boots & pack - way to go making me feel inadequate guys (especially as they passed me again about mile 23 & i didnt see them again) |
I felt the call of nature and stopped at the porta-loos in Chapelizod, time per km going up due to the queues.
I continued slowly thru the miles keeping to an average 6min30sec per km up to 21km, almost half-way. However the next 10km i felt more tired and the time went up to about 7mins per km. My overall lack of anykind of speedwork was making its presence felt, also the reduced mileage i did to make sure i could get to the start line.
My nutrtion plan for the marathon was a gel at about every 45mins, plenty of water, and a packet of Jelly Tots and a packet of salted peanuts (for cramping purposes). However, I stopped in a corner shop in Terenure at about 27km to buy something a little more solid; i settled on a bananna; of which half was eneough to satisfy me (I'm not even sure if i could have forced the rest down).
I kept up a fairly steady progress to 18.5 miles, however it was definitely getting harder. I had taken on the plan to walk thru the water stations, refilling my own bottle at the same time.
Now there was a lot of people walking & the temptation to imitate them became too much, my walking periods became longer and my running slower.
I spoke to my brother in law (an experience marathoneer) who assured me i'd hit 4hr30, i didnt feel as confident and sadly i was proved correct.
The rain came down between miles 22ish th the end. It wasnt just rain tho', it was a fully fledged downpour. We got soaked and cold. I was really appreciating the people who still stood out and cheered (the support all the way through was just fantastic). The volunteers also must have had an atrocious time of it, at least we were moving and getting some heat into us.
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| No heartbreak here, i was still loving the experience |
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| Must have actually picked up the pace here, just passing UCD |
My time per km had been slowing, but at about mile 22 i gave up on any pretence of running. My hip froze up and i had to resign myself to walking. I was now averaging between 8.5 & 9.5 mins per km. I spoke to M and was unhappy to hear that she was waiting for me in Westland Row with the kids in the lashings of rain.
I kept walking on, i saw a small number of people being helped into ambulances, i imagine it was the cold and wet that finally got to them.
The last couple of km were a stroll, i was enjoying the whole experience so much i forgot that i was in a race.... I picked up the pace and did a vague impression of power walking in the last bit. Met M & the kids with 1 mile to go and one of the boys & his friend joined me for the loop of TCD back to the finish line.
The race took me 5hr20mins, an absolute age compared to some, but i dont care in the slightest. I got to the start without injury and got to the end eventually.
And so it finished, I even ran the last hundred yards over the line. I felt good, i smiled literally all the way, it was an absolutely brilliant experience........I cant wait to do it again.
