Dublin

So here's my report for the Dublin Marathon.

We arrived in Dublin on Saturday afternoon (it was raining!), and once we'd got to our hotel, we threw our stuff in the room and went to the expo to get my running number etc. I had a bit of a dodgy throat but nothing to worry about at the time. On Sunday it was a beautiful day - cold, and bright and bloody windy. Not good!! In the afternoon we met up with fellow running/bloggy type people Trev, Julie, Judith and Keith. We had a few drinks and chatted about this and that. As the day wore on I started to feel a bit dodgy. My throat was bothering me and I felt like the problem was creeping towards my chest. I wasn't happy and very pessimistic about Monday. We met up with Sharon in the evening (who was also running) and her brother Rob for a meal. Had a nice evening but was still fretting about the task ahead and whether I should be doing it with a dodgy chest.

We had an early night followed by an early rise the next morning. I got up at 6.30am and could hardly speak. My chest felt a bit tight - aaahhhh!!! I knew it would probably clear once I'd been up for a while so I got ready and went down to have breakfast with Andy.

As usual for me before a long run, I took a variety of pills (Immodium and Ibruprofen) and decided I would start the race and see how I felt. At the end of the day, if I felt rough I would just stop (though that doesn't sit comfortably with me at all).

It was freezing cold outside but calmer than the day before. Andy walked me to the baggage area and then we said our goodbyes and I made my way to the start (which was about a 20 minute walk).

The race started at 9am and it only took a couple of minutes to cross the line. I decided that I would try and stick with 10 min miles for as long as I could and then after that, just play it by ear. I actually felt pretty good and soon settled into a decent pace. I kept my jacket on for quite a while which is unusual for me, but I didn't want to make the dodgy throat/chest worse!

Because I undertrained for this event I was expecting to walk on and off but because I felt okay, decided that I wouldn't stop at all until I'd see Andy and the others who were going to watch at certain points. I had a revolting gel at about 6/7 miles which definitely helped (despite making me feel like vomiting). I was still at a comfortable pace and enjoying Phoenix Park which is beautiful. I was soon past the 11 mile mark and wondering where Andy was when my phone rang. He said 'We're at the 11 mile mark, where are you?' 'Just gone past!' was the reply!! Couldn't believe I'd missed them and they obviously thought I was going to be a lot slower (bloody cheek!!!). He said they'd make their way to 19 miles which was fine. I was still feeling pretty good but walked at this point to have another gel (which did make me heave). I only ever walked briefly to have a drink or something to eat which I was quite proud of as it's unusual for me! Andy rang again when I reached about 15 miles to see how long I'd be. At this point I started to feel crap. My hip was really hurting (which is what buggered me up last year) and I was having negative thoughts!! I had some more painkillers and just plodded on and started to pick up again. Felt good again and actually made it to 19 miles a lot quicker than I expected to. I think it was about 3 hours 20 mins into it. They were quite shocked too!

It was at this point that I started to think I might actually crack the 5 hour barrier if I carried like this. I couldn't actually believe this because I haven't put the training in - and a 5 hour marathon to me was something totally out of reach in my mind. I had another gel to get me through the last few miles and felt fine up to about 22/23 miles. The wheels were starting to fall off but I knew I could do it and refused to let the bastard beat me. My little toe was really hurting and I knew it was blistered but decided against stopping to sort it out (so glad I made that decision, which I will explain later).

At 24 miles, I knew even if I walked the rest (which I wasn't prepared to do), I would get in under 5 hours so was feeling very proud of myself and very close to tears too. I had my name on my vest, which surprisingly not many people did, so got lots of shouts from the crowd. That really helped especially in the last couple of miles. Because you are back in the city centre then, there are loads of people all willing you to get to the end. I knew Andy was right near the finish (in a pub!!) just before a bend in the road that leads to the all important line.....

I was officially knackered and didn't have an awful lot left at this point, I would start walking and then have someone yell 'Come on Rachael' at me which started me off again. I saw Andy and then turned the corner to see the clock....

Last year it took me 5 hours 37 minutes and 17 seconds
This year it too me 4 hours 52 minutes and 40 seconds

How pleased am I?

I love the Dublin marathon. It's much smaller than London which is the only other marathon I've completed but in my opinion it's so much nicer.

I will be back and who knows, may be next year I can get 4 hrs 30?

Oh, I almost forgot..... my toe was absolutely killing me once I'd stopped and after meeting up in the pub (of course), we went back to the hotel. I took my trainers off and my socks and saw the problem. My little toe on my right foot was almost twice the normal length and width and was basically made up of a very large blood blister. It was agony!! I had to peel off the tape I had put around it before I set off that morning which was really painful. I put a couple of holes in it to drain it and then Andy went to reception to ask for a sewing kit so I could thread some cotton through it. It drained very nicely but is still really painful. God knows what it will be like during the Mds. I'm still considering amputation.....