full race report now that stan has fed me n morgz has rubbed my weary legs.
Conditions were very crisp o.o degrees but almost perfect for running, ran with my gloves on the whole way
Hotel was close enough to walk the 15 mins to the starting area. Got there in a good time to have the inevitable loo stop then get the craic off the other runners. Seemed to be very many first timers surrounding me so felt in good company. Crossed the starting line to massive cheers from the many people crowding the streets, first mile was really tight to get movin but happy to go with the flow and start off slow so not too panicked by this. Started to thin out a little by mile two through the city centre then at mile three brought to a standstill at the bottleneck to pheonix park but totally worth the glorious scenery around the park with the grass glistening white and the moon still in the grey sky but the place just felt so beautiful and peaceful it seemed a shame to blether on the way through it. Reminders of a few years ago when the wee toon runners did their first international trip to the Pheonix Park 10k
- no chocolate cakes running past us this time tho
Once we came out of the park we came upon what must have been Irelands friendliest neighbourhoods, it was as if each neighbourhood has been set a competition to see which could be the most supportive of the runners cos they were all out of this world. I had my name on the front of my wee toon runners top and have never felt more like I was at home with the local crowds cheering me on
It felt like I was one of the elite runners that they were cheering home to a win, some were shouting keep going Fiona you look strong, others shouted relax the shoulders fiona you look a bit tight!!! It was just so unbelievable I still cant get over it - and on the last .2 stretch the guy with the loudspeaker shouted "come on crowds lets cheer Fiona home to the end", I could have cried as I sprinted that last stretch home,what amazing folk. Two people running beside me asked was I a local, I must be very popular as everyone was shouting on me!!!
I honestly thought I must have looked like a poor wee soul that looked like they needed some lovin either that or I had something nasty stuck to me, either way they fair spurred me on with the kids giving me high fives, the adults handing out oranges, melons, jelly babies, wine gums and all other types of gums too
Another thing they did with the crowds was make them into funnels to help you up the three or four small sharp inclines - so you were running up a cheering incline - helped me no bother i did much overtaking on these, all the hill training helped no end
In total this made my first marathon the most amazing experience, so enjoyable, on the pain side of it all, my hamstrings complained first then settled down then my quads started moaning about the load but stayed manageable!! Over the last unknown 4.2 miles as I passed soul after soul who were crawling along very obviously in much pain I felt for them all and went the fastest I could as I was very aware that at any minute that person who looked crippled could be me
I was thankful that this time I was spared this total all encompassing pain and had a great run with no "wall" involved.
I would totally recommend this marathon to all and especially first timers,just can't believe it wasn't that hard!!
Biggest training tip from a Marathon Runner - put your name on the front of your top
My two compadres who did exceptionally well will be on to post their race reports, although fja is away with work now until the weekend
So well chuffed to report Dublin Marathon, Distance 26.7 miles Time 3.56 YYYYEEEEEHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!