Getting to the finish line , getting to the finish line - Dublin marathon 2022 - 4hr16mins04sec

First time marathon runners are always told the priority is finishing, let the time take care of itself. That was my mantra in 2010 for my first marathon. That adage was equally applicable to me in 2022, my first serious marathon in 5 years. There was a lot of water under the bridge in those intervening years so this marathon was like a case of starting all over again. I had framed this mission as a case of a 49 year old man attempting to finish a marathon  and getting that medal and t shirt. Simple as....

Training had gone very well. I started in June and had been quite consistent over the 20 weeks. My mileage was usually between 35 - 44 miles a year with 3 big long runs of 21, 22 and 21 miles. I had also ran 3 half marathons - Tullamore (1.56), Charleville (1.44) and Blarney (1.46). None of these are old style fast times but I was happy enough to be making progress. I didn't do any speed work or S+C but the fitness was improving and the hunger was good. By the time I got to the start line in Dublin I had outlined 3 goals 1) Get the training completed and get to the start line 2) Get to the finish line and get my medal and 3) Aim for a realistic time -sub 4 hours.

I stayed in old friend Aidan's house in Portarlington and we headed up in the morning parking not far from the start line. We decamped into Aidan's office in T.C.D changed and headed out to the place of battle. I was very relaxed and confident I would achieve my last 2 goals. It was good to chat to some old faces and make friends with some new ones. 

The start was very low key and I was a bit confused looking around for the sub 4 hour pacer but was now-where to be seen. Anyway I trotted off and as the first 10 k to Castleknock was a climber I simply decided to keep the pace to around 9 min pace. This I managed easy enough and began to enjoy the downhill drop from mile 8 to mile 11. The crowds as usual were brilliant and I was enjoying myself. By the time I hit the 13.1 marker in Walkinstown in 1.55.34 I was feeling relaxed and confident and without extending myself looked well set to get under 4 hours , maybe even sub 3hrs50mins.

Anyone familiar with the DCM course knows the sections from mile 14 to mile 18 is where you really have to dig in . Firstly it's a gradual uphill, secondly you are running into a headwind and of course your piling more pressure on the legs. For me this was always the make or break section. Get past this and you can face into mile 20 with confidence. 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2017 were marathons where I always managed to kick on after this point.

However by mile 18 I was beginning to struggle. The left hip was getting tight and the energy levels were dropping. I didn't pack any gels with me and I had a pretty basic breakfast (2 weetabix) Traditionally I used to take a gel every 5 miles or so as well as having my banana and sports drink at the start line. However for what ever reason I had no gels and dispensed with my usual pre race feeding ritual. Maybe this was a factor I don't know or maybe I was out of practice running marathons. Maybe my legs weren't conditioned enough . Maybe I didn't do any S+C or maybe I didn't diversify my long run training routes. Maybe I'm just a bit older. Maybe I was running a few seconds too quick. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

I stopped at mile 18 for a stretch and eased out the hip but by mile 20 I knew it was walking time. The legs had had it and I had no energy left. It was great to see Brendan, Denis, John and Paudie on the sidelines giving me encouragement and fellow runners were urging each other on. The hardest and most painful walking mile was from mile 20 to mile 22. I had nothing in the tank. Splits were 11 mins, that sort of thing. At this stage it was all about the finish and I had decided to walk run in 3 min spells and see how long that would take me. It worked well enough in so far that I reckoned  might get in close to 4hr15mins.

Judging by the carnage on the roads I wasn't too bad. There seemed to be a really high number of people getting medical assistance, I presume dehydration or general fatigue. It looked bad at times.

By the time I got to mile 24 I was beginning to seize up again but I was determined I wasn't stopping to stretch or drink water or in the case of one of two guys indulge in some childish moaning or self pitying. (Some lads the younger ones were a bit childish)

I hit the 40k mark in 4 hours and I suppose the white level fever induced a better and prolonged spell of walk running. At this point I doing around 10 minute miles and I crossed the line in  4hr16mins04seconds. It was my slowest marathon but it still great getting it completed and getting my hands on the medal. I wasn't particularly downhearted or disappointed but I knew just like my first marathon in 2010 it was all about the finish. Aidan strolled around in 3hrs50mins. It was great to hang out.

Marathon number 16. This one is for my Mum - a real fighter.

Time to rest up . (photographs courtesy of John Holland and Joe Murphy)

Getting to the finish line means getting to the start line

 After dropping out of the Donadea 50k with Covid I rested for a couple weeks, self isolating and all that. I went back running hopeful of getting to the start line of the Cork City marathon. The running was going ok with the log runs getting to 18 miles by end of March. The problem was that I was completely wiped out after every run.....I mean wiped. Getting home and going to bed at 9 pm....this went on from March to April. The HR was high enough too even for the shortest runs - usually in the 155 range. On top of the fatigue was the picking up of coughs and colds, never a good sign. I popped into the doctor and after taking blood tests and going through a questionnaire he confirmed I was still dealing with the after effects of COVID and probably had developed a mild dose of long COVID. He told me to take a break.

After that I pretty much pulled back on the running and entered the half marathon instead. I was doing maybe a couple of 4 mile runs a week and long runs of 8 miles, maybe one of 10 miles. By June I was feeling a bit fresher but I felt I had little chance of finishing the half marathon and even at best maybe 2hr 20mins. On a personal note a close family member under went a serious health and lifestyle issue and that had to be tended too as well.

I turned on the start line with very little expectation. I hadn't even brought my Garmin with me and even contemplated pulling out so low was my confidence....

The run itself was a massively enjoyable experience and I had plenty of zip in my legs. I crossed the line in under 1hr55minutes, not my fastest half marathon but in view one of my best. I then realized the biggest factor holding me back these last 4 years wasn't illness or my age or my lack of preparedness it was me and no one else. I was chuffed with my run even though it wasn't the fastest or the best trained. 

Rule 1 : get the training done and turn up. Rule 2 finish. If the training isn't perfect turn up anyway 

Looking back on the last 4 years the failure to get to the start line in Manchester Dublin Connemara or to finish the virtual marathon (a low stakes non event admittedly ) was more about my failure to make allowances for myself rather than anything else. Running and being able to run is a gift.

Next post I will write about my training over the summer.

P. S Sad to see the passing of Thomas Bubendorfer, a inspiration as a runner and blogger.

Time for a post?

 Time for a post...it has been a while...You will have to wait a while yet though 😁😁😁

Photo Donadea 50k 2022 - DNF with COVID

 I don't really take a good photo at the best of times but the below one says it all. I think I was 9 miles into the race (3laps out of 10laps) and I was feeling pretty crappy. Snot running down the nose and weak legs. Chest was starting to heave as well. Finished up at 15.5 miles. Hacked up the phlegm. Drove home. Positive antigen test the day after. Positive PCR test the day after that. Felt pretty mank and tired all the week. A bit like a flu. Informed all close contacts, employer and race organiser. Felt a lot better on the Saturday after. Self isolation finished on Monday 21st. Blank antigen test. (Why I couldn't have got the VID a week later?) Went for a jog today. 4 miles. Slow pace (9.11 per mile) but the HR wasn't so unreasonable as to be considered crazy (154). Ankle sore mind you. Donadea hurt me but 950 euro raised for Women's Aid. Time to pick myself up.

Donadea 50k 2022 - DNF and the COVID kick

 A bad week ended with a bad run. COVID household in chez Daly/Lowe. Iseult and Aoiffe got caught with the virus. I had 3 antigen tests tested negative but feeling brutal Saturday morning at 1 am. I took a few paracetamol and hoped for the best. I also tested negative on another antigen test at 3am. I  was up at 5.30 am with Iseult waking up at various stages during the night. Left the house at 6 am. My routine was totally out of whack. Had hoped to be staying in my friends house the night before but obviously that wasn't on.The start of the race I was not feeling good at all. Pain in the head and totally drained. By lap 4 my time was ok but I knew I wasn't happy and I was totally zoned out of it. I wasn't enjoying this at all, in fact I found it to be quite BORING - a feeling I never experienced before. The legs were like jelly. I was done going up the muddy hill a 5th time and resolved to call it a day. I was empty.

I got back to the car and starting up yellow phlegm. Pure shit state of affairs. I felt little pity for myself. It was one of those things and all things being equal I know I might have got under 5 hours or at least 5hrs10mins. At least I raised nearly 900 euro for Womens Aid so thanks for all those who gave generously. I felt bad letting people down and that does bug me.

As for Donadea I am gutted. I was 90 % sure I would get a sub 5, all my raining pointed to it. For 70 quid I do feel you could get a bit more bang for your buck but thems the joys. There is too much cult worship around the race organiser for my liking. Mallow 10, Ballycotton (now gone), Charleville 13.1, Connemara marathons are better events but don't go blowing its trumpet as much as this event.There is certainly no cult of the RD anyway. Its probably its selling point but doesn't work for me. 

Feet up time and await the results of another antigen test tomorrow. The training had gone well but the real life intrusions did for me. You can't run with a virus inside you. Those anti vaxxer nuts talk their little brains and their big holes. A few of them were in the leading race group today. Knobs.

P.S 

Just tested positive. Guess that explains it. All information passed onto relevant authorities and race organiser.

over the humph - 1 weekto go

 Too lazy to write regular posts these days.

Last week i decided to enter the MCI marathon in Bracknagh with my buddy Aidan. This was a response to the poor 18 miler the Sunday previous. The week leading up to Bracknagh was very solid, a couple of 5 milers during the week. Monday during my lunch break and a pacy 5 miler (7.37pace) on the Wednesday in Charleville. I headed to Offaly the Friday evening staying with Aidan and his family.

This was my first MCI run and it was verywell organised. The plan was to run over 4 hours (my frst time ever) and to treat it as a training run.  The route was flatish enough - 5 laps X 5.25 miles. I ran very slowly with the regulars for the first two laps. (Big shout out to Irene, a mighty lady and a 100 mile runner in Connemara). I started to push on a little bit but felt very relaxed.No gels this time either, just a banana for the first 3 laps, some water and lucozade. The first 13.1 miles passed in 2hrs03mins and the first 20 miles went in around 3hrs04. By lap 4 I was feeling fine reaching 21 miles. By mile 22 the inevitable heavy legs kicked in but I was well able to manage it. I passed a number of runners all in varying states but by mile 23 - mile 25 the pace had dropped to under 10 minute miles and the humpback bridge before the finish had me walking for 45 seconds.  Mind you I wasn't worried. It was a training run after all and I didn't want to be pushing for a time. I crossed in around 4hrs4minutes but kept jogging for another 5minutes after that giving me 4hrs10mins on the feet and around 27 miles on the legs. Job done. I was delighted. It was my first marathon since 2017 and my 15th overall so box ticked.

Aidan strolled in at 3hrs 55 minutes and was very relaxed. He is in great shape.

Next day in Charleville I tacked another 5 miles up on the legs giving me 42 miles for the week.

With 2 weeks to go to Donadea all the work was done and I did very little all week. A easy 5 miles on Wednesday and Saturday and nothing on Sunday. I hope this works out ok for me, I had very heavy legs going into 2 years ago . Saturday night I was out for a rare dinner with my wife (no daughter in tow) so we made the most of it. Full tummy today. 

The legs hopefully need very little work this week. Maybe a couple of easy turnover jogs. Then up to Donadea on Saturday. 

In terms of shape I am as good as I can expect. The long runs while not always easy and not without their problems are okish . 19 miles, 23 miles, 24 miles, 18 miles and 27 miles. The mid week stuff was okish, mostly 3 runs a week but not always 100% consistent either in terms of frequency. The training cycle is slightly better than the attempt of 2020 but it could go either way on the day. The consistency of old (running 5-6 days day in day outbang on)isn't quite there at the moment.

The left ankle is still a issue but I hope I have done enough to keep it quiet. Possible outcome? I intend to finish, raise money for Women's Aid. In terms of finishing time I think sub 5 hours is unlikely but maybe 5hrs15mins to 5hrs20mins might be more likely?I am going to enjoy it and ignore the nonsense.

After that rest and recovery and train for the Cork marathon (again just finish) and hopefully hook up with the running club again. I turned down the offer of a spot for Connemara marathon/ultra and the Wild Atlantic Ultra. I am a ways off that but maybe next year (who knows- anything happens and usually does). Weight wise I have moved away from 14 stone and is now somewhere in the regionof 13stone 7pounds. I was careful with a few thingswith the diet. That will most definitely slip for a few weeks after Donadea tho !!!!

humph

 Last week just 2 runs. feeling the effects of that 24 mile run. V groggy all week. Some stomach issues too. 7 mls wednesday and 10 miles Sunday. I was glad of the cutback. My buddy aidan ran 26.6 miles on his own and just ran a 10 mile race in 72 minutes today. On fire he is.

This week. 6 mls Monday at lunch time/ 7.2 miles up in mayfield. a good hard workout and a very good 7.6 miles at 7.54 pace on Thursday. I was cruising for that one.

Today (Sunday) I had hoped for a big long run. Ideally somewhere in the region of 27 miles, 4.20 on the feet. I was doing ok for first 18 miles. There was a few personal issues going on over weekend and that was certainly playing on my mind. Felt unsettled and being honest was becoming very bored with the run, not tuned in, not happy, bothered. Ankle flared up at 17 miles and I came to a shuddering halt at 18 miles. I just had enough and wanted to get back home. 38 miles for the week. A lot lower than what I hoped for.

Very disappointed, Less than 3 weeks to Donadea and probably just getting to the start line might be as good as I can hope for. Finishing even under 5hrs30mins, (nevermind 5 hours) or even finishing at all would be a achievement.

This week will consist of smaller easier runs. Being the eejit I am I have booked in for a more interesting run on Saturday.

24 miles - hard run hard fought

 The week started off well enough. Monday 7 miles at around 9 minute pace or so. Wednesday I picked up the pace a bit going for a run at 12.30 pm covering 8 miles at 7.45 pace. Back to work on Thursday and felt a bit zonked reverting back to a 6.40 am wake up call and a 2 hour out and back commute. I can only speak for myself when I say I was glad to get back to work, it is only right and proper we attempt to keep the schools open. . . . 

Anyway as usual no running on Friday and I was pretty wrecked by Friday evening. The head wasn't up for running at all and the thoughts of a impending long run was filling me with dread. I was putting myself through mental torture at this point. I will run long Sunday? I won't !!! I will!!! I'll just do 7 miles and do it on Wednesday instead or I will do it on Sunday week. It was begining to hang over me like a dark cloud.

My poor wife was showing great patience with me but after a 7 mile run on Saturday I was feeling a lot better. I put out the water bottles that night in the usual spots and slept well. A good sleep always helps.

Sunday morning I just decided to go running, as simple as that and see what happened. A good plan in the circumstances. By mile 7 and water break one I was warmed up to the task and got as far as Ballyhea and decided to progress to Churchtown railway crossing. That took me to mile 11 and I was enjoying myself. Then it was back up to Charleville via Ballyhea (14 miles , water break two). By the Amber service station (17 miles) the left knee was tightening up and I was beginning to feel the pressure. A bit of stretching did the trick and then it was back down to the Railway road. By mile 18 I stopped and walked. It was getting tough now but I resolved to keep moving. Running resumed again and I ran up towards Broomscourt and down in my old house in Manor Hill. It's up hill and steep on the way up and simply walked up the hills and went back running on the flat. I hit mile 20 in 2hrs 56mins.

At this stage I decided to keep moving and at this stage I running a bit and walking a bit. The pace had dropped from 8.50 per mile to around 10.30 per mile but I kept moving and sometimes that's all you can do. I ran back down town and cut cut through Holycross and back up to the Park. That took me to 22 miles and it was getting very hard now. I then stumbled through a awkward running patch from there out on Smiths Road and back before coming into my estate and hitting 24 miles in 3hrs38minutes. I walked for 2 more minutes to simply round it up to 3hrs40minutes on the feet. 

Again like 2 weeks ago when I ran 23 miles I was out on my feet at the end but if needed I know I could have kept going for another 2 miles but it would have involved a lot more walking and very labored running. What stopped me was I had reached the limits of what running routes the town had to offer. Anyway plenty of training left and long runs ahead of me ....

In terms of Donadea I know I can run up to 26 miles maybe 27 miles and while there may be a bit of walking-running from 23 onwards I am pretty sure I can stick it out. It's how I deal with the last 4 miles is the thing. I am not bothering with the sub 5 hour thing, it creates unnecessary pressure and realistically I am probably a bit off it. The race organiser can do what he wants - I don't give a jot. To quote him "Fook off".

What's next?

This week will involve a shorter long run but hopefully better mid week efforts.

The next big long run will be in a few weeks. Hopefully I can stretch it to a bit over 4 hours so I might adopt a slightly different approach next time.

new post 2022 and 10 years in review

 The blog is 10 years old this year. I started writing it as a way to record my plan to get a sub 3.30 marathon. The title of the blog was orginally called getunderthat210minutes and attracted a nice little following at the time. 2012 was a big running year for me. I joined Mallow AC running club at a time when the running boom in this country was at it's peak (I have not rejoined in over a year). Joining the club was the biggest reason why I did manage to acheive my sub 3.30 goal in the Dublin marathon that year. It also happened to be my marathon PB. The running thing was a intregal part of my life from 2010 to 2017. It occupied my life to such a degree that I now look back on it wondering - why was I so taken up with running long distances at the age of 37 years in a life where I showed no enthusiam for participation in sport at all?

That enthusiam dimmed some what alarmingly after 2017. I for what ever reason just went into a DECLINE failing to make 4 marathons from 2018 to 2019 and my speed and endurance just melted away. I did complete a 50k race in 2020 but ran very poorly on the day and in Autumn of that year I had to pull out of a virtual marathon after 20 miles. Ever since then I have still managed to clock up a average of 20 miles a week and completed a few half marathons but the hunger of those "glory years" has never returned and probably never will. Maybe it's a age thing or a burn out thing or maybe it's part of the natural cycle of things. 

At times I think I have made my peace with it and have accepted it and just move on.  Sometimes I get a return of that old hunger and drive and I am back in action. It goes in cycles. I think it's better to operate in between both worlds than on either end of the sprectrum.

Thankfully the last number of weeks has seen the hunger. return I logged 53/54 miles last week. 23 miles Monday 7.3 miles on Tuesday 7.2 miles  Friday 7.3 miles Saturday and 10.2 miles Sunday.  This week I logged another 7 miles on Monday and a decent 8 miles today (7.45 pace with a number of 7.30 splits). I think the lie in bed over the holidays and the rich food has helped me. Not driving 2 hours a day is always a positive.

Back to work tomorrow. We will see how it goes.