Dublin Marathon
26/10/2009 - 26.2 Miles
After doing my first half marathon I swore I would never do a full marathon, then again I always swore I would never run either. However, after watching some of the London Marathon actual on the street rather than on the sofa I was in two minds. If that many people can do it then surely it can not be that hard. So I entered the ballot for London safe in the knowledge I had little chance of actual getting in.
I was flicking through a magazine after doing the Turbo X (I knew reading was a bad idea) I noticed this one, in one of my favourite cities and it was on my birthday. I was joke when I suggest that I should do this. Next thing I had booked my place, flights and accommodation, arrange for both my parent and in laws to join us. Therefore, I was (or rather should have been) committed.
No idea how to train for this. After a bit of surfing and look at various programs found the Shades Training Program on the Runners World forum. Emailed Shades for a copy and off I went.
We arrived in Dublin Saturday morning and after dropping our bags off at our apartment we made our way over the the Expo which was at the RDS. After trying to work out what bus would get us there we grabbed a cab instead. On arrival there was hundreds of people walking around with there kit bags.
Went upstairs to collect my number and chip. Had an extra little surprise as well a birthday card from the organisers. Walked across the mat to check the chip was working and my name flashes up on the screen James Joy - GBR. Wow feel like a member of team GB now. Then downstairs to collect my kit bag.
Walked around the Expo for a while looking at the various stands ended up buying a mug and a top. Then had a look at the wall, it was then it hit me, what the hell am I doing, I am actually looking forward to it.
Spent Saturday walking around Dublin. Sunday I had planned to spend the morning with the family then back to the apartment to relax for the rest of the day. Did go according to plan and ended up walking for miles around Dublin.
Race day. Had laid my kit out the night before so got dressed. The weather on Saturday and Sunday had been wet and windy so what to where was an issue. However, the weather had turned it was sunny and no wind. Decided that just my club vest, shorts and gloves where in order.
I had my porridge and a banana, said my goodbyes and made my way over to start. Had arrange to meet Shades and LB from the Shades forum at a hotel near the start. Entered the hotel and found them. Really nice people Shades was so relaxed (well you would be if you had run over 200 marathons) and this must have rubbed off and I felt calmer. Left them in hotel to go and drop my bag off. There was loads of people as I dropped my bag off and thought there is no way I will find Shades and LB in this lot. However, as I turned around and spotted them walking to the start. Caught up with them and found a place in the start where we could see the 4:30 pacers. They had said to look out for pink balloons, I was expecting normal balloons not the two huge weather size balloons that actual had.
With a couple of mins to go I dumped my top. Then off we go, took a few mins (4 actually) to get to the start line. Then off to get as close as possible to the pace group.
As we approached the first water station, I ran ahead as my plan was to walk whilst drinking and this was how I had trained as not sure if it was cups, open bottles or sports caps. It was sports caps so I kept running.
Felt like I needed a wee, but where to go as the queues for the toilets where massive and I didn't want to lose the sight of the pace group. This feeling was not helped as everywhere I looked people where darting down side street, alley ways, behind cars, etc to have a wee. I really need to go now. Next water stop have a wee.
As we entered Phoenix Park I checked behind me and the pacing group where about 30 seconds behind me. Loads of people having a wee against the wall. That was it, went off road and joined them. Finished my business and turned around and the pace group had just passed me.
Re-joined the group as the next water stop was coming up. This was my first Gel stop as well so ran ahead and eat my gel and grabbed a bottle of water. I was still ahead of the pace group and lost sight of them in the park, with the twist and turns, but according to my watch I was on target, so assumed the narrower road had slowed them down.
Caught up with this guy, Sgt. Gerry I think his name was, in full army kit. Yes full kit, boot, uniform and 25Kg of kit. Ran with him and a group of followers for a while until we exited the park.
Next water stop grabbed a bottle. Realised I had not walked yet, there was a hill so I walked up this. I was over pace at this stage so good way of getting back on pace. Started running again still could not see the pace group. Was I actual on pace or not? Not sure but felt ok so kept going.
Next water stop was my gel stop. Eat my gel running and grabbed a bottle and walked. Course now not as flat as I thought it was going to be and getting tough.
By the half way point I was still on target for a 4:30 but still no sign of the pace group. Kept up with the run to the water stop and then walk for 2-3 mins and when the hills felt a bit tough walk again.
At mile 17 someone shouted "Keep going you are down to single figures". Had not thought about how far was left so far. 9 miles is a long way. Tried to push this to the back of my mind and thing about how far to the next water stop instead.
The next stop the road had become really sticky. All the gels and spilt sports drinks. At this stage lots of people pulling of the course to stretch, rub almost anything to keep the legs moving. Small groups of people around the St. Johns station receiving treatment. Couple of people at the side of the road being treated my motorcycle paramedics. Try not to think about how my legs are and keep moving forward.
At around mile 22 it entered my mind that we are now into the unknown. Never been this far before. Time starting to slip. The pace group then caught me up. Ran with them until the next water stop and walked. Tried to keep them in sight but could not.
As we came back into the city centre the crowd support was getting more vocal. Last water stop over the bridge and run to the finish. People around me are really suffering but must keep going. Last Km guy in front of me being support by a friend on a bike. He stumbles and his friend cuts across in front of me on the bike to support him. Nice to see but put me off my stride and had to run around them both. 800m mark I could see my family, Myia ran with me for 50m, push to the finish. Everyone cheering and across the line. Stop the watch and just over 4:40 but did not stop it on the line.
Got my medal had my chip removed. Picked up my very heavy goody bag and was then given a lunch box. Walked around to get my bag, stopping off to have my photo taken. Picked up my bag and but my top on. Opened my lunch box sweets, apple and a cheese sandwich. On any other day would have given it a miss but it looked amazing and walked around eating it, drinking the water and sports drink from my goody bag.
Finished getting dressed and phoned my family only to find out they where at the wrong meeting point. So walked up the road to find them. Found them and we walked down the road to find a cab. Jumped in the cab and back to the apartment for a soak in a cold bath, shower and something to eat.
Official finish time was 4:40 dead. Considering my first priority was to finish, my second was under 5 hours and my third was under 4:30 I was very happy with this. Would I do it again? Loved it and will be back next year.