Hi one & all

 

About time I put pen to paper regarding my recent Marathon exploits over in Dublin circa 26^th October – seems an age ago – yes I did survive – new job has hindered catching Tuesday training since. None the less hope to be back soon!

 

Conditions on the day settled down after the preceding day’s torrential rain & blustery conditions had struck fear into many. Race day dawned calm & mild, if anything too mild, 16 degrees, a little warm for marathon running?

 

Race start was well organized, with the usual fanfare of intro’s and a great pep talk from the commentator, as only the Irish can.

 

Before I knew it we were off………that’ll stop me gabbing on the line in future – stay focused! Intention was to run a negative split covering the first half slightly slower than the second, but keeping the pacing group in sight. Lining up half a dozen rows back from the front felt good, however, the pacers lined up just behind the front runners. As it transpired & gauging later reports, the pacing group set off at a blistering pace, which left many reeling. And so I made my own arrangements & tried to stick to my splits keeping the pace group in sight. By 2 miles we crossed the Liffey for the first time and took in a gradual climb into Phonenix Park at 4 miles which was a welcome relief from the City streets & was peaceful & tranquil at 9ish – early at least for a Sunday. Before we left the peace of the Park, the route skirted past Dublin Zoo where we could heard the calls or was it taunts from the animals.

 

Leaving the Park settled into a steady pace & began to enjoy the day. There were plenty of folk out on the course cheering us on. Spirits lifted every time we went past a Spar shop, as these were one of the main sponsors. They’d laid on steel bands at each, which really sent spirits soaring as well as the hairs on the back of the neck! I kept the pacing group in sight and kept edging forward to reach them, catching them around 13miles. With this accomplished I fell into step with the group & tucked in the front ranks near the two pacers.

 

After 16 miles, any rises became more noticeable and it seemed the second half definitely had more hills / steeper inclines or was this just my body beginning to protest. Given the warmth of the day, kept taking the opportunity to take on water.

 

By 20 felt good and decided to move ahead of the group as previous races had given me predictions of a safe margin below 3 / so with best laid plans I began to quicken my pace, edging ahead of the group a little. Was this the right move?

 

However by 22 I knew the pace / fatigue was beginning to bite. I could see my pace was still good but was feeling increasingly weary. I knew both pacers were still behind me, so I kept plugging away. By 24 one of the pacers & a couple of runners drew parallel & moved ahead. Reconciled myself there must be another pacer just behind & as long as I kept plugging away I could make it…….? With every step I knew I was feeling tired but knew equally this was drawing me closer. Digging deep I kept pushing doing the mental arithmetic. Were the splits right/? could I cover the last 1 mile 365 meter’s quick enough?

 

Well those last couple of miles seemed to take an age and felt like none other I’ve raced or trained before or since. Edging towards the line my vision was becoming odd & I felt light headed. None the less mustered up my best effort at raising the pace and at least attempted a semblance of a sprint for the line. I was spent………

 

Looked at my watch 3.01.03; well the last miles had taken their toll after all. None the less felt over the moon I’d come that close after all and had improved my 2003 time by 12 minutes (only previous marathon attempted). Later found out that the second pacer had dropped out all together & my assumptions were ill founded after all; live & learn. As is the way, with any marathon I’ve attempted, felt a huge sense of satisfaction regardless of the result and this seemed to deter me feeling any lack of achievement at the end of the day.

 

As they say, a PB, is a PB , however close it is to Sub3. I now know the magic Sub3 isn’t unobtainable, perhaps just a question of time & inclination.

 

As a post script. Dublin’s a great Marathon to run, the people are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met in a Capital, what they may lack in number, they make up in happiness & humour. One worthy note if you do take the family, take plenty of money, Dublin is a Capital City after all and particularly since the Euro, prices have rocketed and not returned post crunch. None the less theirs plenty to see & do, make sure you book accommodation early, prime locations book early. The weekend was a great family success for the children Molly (4), Daniel (2),  they loved the Zoo & the Liffey boat cruise. It was a real team effort on the family front and I couldn’t have done it without them; the children cheering on along with wife Elaine & Grandma Anne, with pearls of wisdom as always!

 

Finally I’d like to say a huge thank you to all those at Wilmslow RC who’ve encouraged me & been so generous in sponsoring me to date. If this is the first you’ve learnt of my Marathon in aid of Multiple Sclerosis & you’d like to contribute, please see my page at

 

http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Gilbert-2009DublinMarathon/

 

Place	Name	From	Place	10km	1st-half	30km	Finish
overall			in cat.	time	time	time	time
317	Rob Gilbert	Gbr	51	00:43:07	01:28:59	02:05:47	03:01:03

 

 

10446 Finishers

2009 winners

Men

1	Feyisa Lilesa (Ethiopia)	2:09:12
2	Alexsey Sokolov (Russia)	2:10:38
3	Noah Serem (Kenya)	2:11:14
Irish
15	Segiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers)	2:22:06

Women

1	Kateryna Stetsenko (Ukraine)	2:32:45
2	Helalia Johannes (Namibia)	2:33:26
3	Tiki Gelana (Ethiopia)	2:33:49
Irish
86	Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrocks)	2:45:43

 

 

 

Happy running

 

Rob Gilbert