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| Gearing up |
For me training was the easy part (maybe not the track sessions) because I was always training with a group,so you feel the pain together but running a marathon event is different, no matter how many group training runs you do on the day you are in it alone.
That was the hardest part for me, running alone and not having anyone to spur you on in the dark times or being the one to spur others on. Of course its not all bad, the experienceof running through empty streets with crowds cheering either side of you is overwhelming and amazing. TOP TIP: Write your name on your bib, theres nothing like hearing strangers chant your name when things get tough at mile 20!
So race morning approaches, I had had my breakfast, gotten into town (staying near a LUAS line is helpful and quick) and was making my way to my corral when I met half the Ballina AC club all waiting in line for the port-a-loos, i though to myself a quick pit stop was a good idea and I still hasd plenty of time...20 mins later and we are all still in the queue...panic....our corral was taking off at 9:10 and it was 9:07....finally in and out of the portaloos. Running to the start line in a panic was never my vision for starting the marathon but c'est la vie!
So the run...nothing like the anticipation and excitiement right before you take off at the starting line.
I felt strong, but then doubt starts to creep in,I knew I could finish my only concern was my time. I had trained (using the term trained loosely) for 4:05 but I thought I might have the extra push in me to do 4.00, but until you run over 32km you can't envision the pain, the suffering, the tiredness you experience and it honestly makes you not care about times anymore.
Once hitting the halfway point the little voice in my head wasn't cheering with excitment that I was halfway there, instead the voice was screaming DEAR MOTHER OF GOD YOU'RE ONLY HALWAY! Ya, great, very helpful....doubt stated to creep in, the supporters who I had revered and praised in the first 21km were now pissing me off with their incessant cheering and smiling faces...easy for them looking on.
I did something I instantly regretted, I stopped to walk. The hill before the halfway point had killed me, my breathing was shallow and hard to control.
I went with my natural instinct and took a gel, gels fix everything right?!
And I can say the next 13 miles were a mix of hope and desperation- jsut the thoughts of the sugar coursing through me was enough to get me running again and within 15 minutes I was feeling great again! Invincible even, ideas that maybe I'd get in way under 4 hours spurred me on...but then reality and muscle cramps hit and again the niggling self doubts rears up and I slow again. For me the mental struggle in a run is always the toughest-fighting with myself to stop, take a break, slow down....its something that I have to continuosuly work at. And it was a long fight that day!
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| My first marathon medal |
I remember running by the RDS and back into town and the last approach to the finish line when I could see the finish line- the longest finish line yet!
Still theres nothing like crossing a finish line after so much hard graft for 13 weeks, 4 hours and 12 minutes-the pain in my legs was intense and I immediately cramp up. All around me fellow finishers are dropping to the ground to elevate their feet for some relief and I find myself doing the same thinking we must all look ridiculous to the onlookers peering over the barricades.
I can say the walk back up the hill to my hotel will never leave my memories but the achievement was unbelieveable and led me to complete Belfast marathon just 6 months later and do Dublin again in 2017.
I still haven't reached the elusive sub 4 hour marathon and its something I may never do. I am taking a marathon break for 2018 and probably 2019...but 2020 might be the year.
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