Dublin City Marathon Report
Here's a somewhat belated race report. Let me know if I've missed anyone's results or anything else I really should have mentioned.
It was a crisp dry morning early on the day of the marathon. Sunday had been gorgeous early on and, even though the weather forecast wasn't good, we were all hoping for a repeat. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. We met at the Luas stop on Stephen's Green at eight. At half eight the heavens opened and it started lashing rain.
We raided a coffee shop on the top of Grafton street for a last toilet stop and changed into our trusty plastic bin liners, before dropping our gear off at the bag drop. Shortly after, I realised that I'd left my gels behind. With 15 minutes to go I had to wish everyone luck and race back to the bags...
Got my gels from the bags without any hassle and then jogged back down to the bottom of Grafton street and the race start. I couldn't spot anyone so I jumped into the lineup at the sub 3 hour sign. With the benefit of hindsight, I should have been a lot closer to the front. It took the best part of two minutes after the gun to cross the starting line and my first mile was 8:40 as I worked through the crowds. I passed Mary and Tadhg shortly after the first mile and they shouted encouragement.
Things opened out a bit for the second mile, but it was still over seven and a half minutes - a lot slower than my target pace of 6:45. By the third mile, traffic had thinned and I started hitting my target pace. Mark Riseley, who'd agreed to cycle the course beside me carrying water bottles, met me as we came into the Phoenix Park. It was cold and still raining heavily. Mark told me that I'd missed the main three hour bunch, who were a good bit ahead of me.
My gut reaction was to hare off trying to catch the earlier group of runners. Mark very sensibly advised that just maintaining my target pace would still bring me under three hours. Surprisingly, given the weather, there was great support in the park. Mark cheered on Rory Doherty from 3D as we passed him. On the side lines Neil O'Brien, Big Jim, Tara Nolan and Nessa Smyth were all shouting support. The 10k mark passed by, but I ignored the clock as all my estimates were in miles.
Mark was calling my mile splits and on mile eight leaving the Phoenix Park at the Chapelizod gate I did 6:15. At first I was worried that my pacing was wrong, but Mark told me that the mile was downhill and one of the fastest on the course. Shortly afterwards we came to the first hill. Only two hills on the course, said Mark, in between telling me to imagine I was wearing glass slippers.
Coming through Inchicore, at about mile 11, Niall McDonnell shouted hello to me and told me that Gavin Duffy wasn't far ahead. I spotted Gavin ahead of me just before we crossed the canal and eventually came level with him after the water stop at Crumlin Shopping Centre. We chatted for a while before I pressed on past the Childrens Hospital.
At the half way mark, the clock read 01:31:29. Sub 3 hours wasn't looking too likely. I got a little discouraged and my pace started drifting. Mark gave out to me that I'd just done a 7 minute mile and was landing too heavily. I found out afterwards that it was 7:20, but he didn't want to discourage me! At the Walkinstown roundabout there were big crowds out and loud Eye of the Tiger type cheesy music. Between the crowds and the music I picked up the pace again.
My brother Daire had arranged to meet me at the turn off Fortfield road and that was my next target. When I got there, himself and Mark cycled beside me as we came along the side of Bushy Park. Daire wished me luck and turned back at Terenure crossroads. I'd been running on my own since the start of the marathon and my concentration (and pace!) was starting to drift. As we turned the corner at Rathgar crossroads Brian Crinion, who was marshalling, gave me a great cheer and that really lifted me. However, shortly afterwards my concentration began to slip away again.
Running along Milltown road Mark let me know that I was dropping the pace. Lisa was there to cheer me on at the bottom of Milltown Hill opposite the Dropping Well, but my pace had slowed. As we went under the arched railway bridge on Milltown Road, two runners in matching blue and white club gear passed me. Mark urged me to stay with them. It was the perfect opportunity. Just as my concentration was failing, along came a pair of guys to follow. I upped the pace again and sat in behind them.
As we ran along Clonskeagh road I found myself relaxing into an easy rhythm. Even though we were running faster, it was far easier than being by yourself. Dave Tilly gave me a big cheer coming up Roebuck road. I knew there would be a gang from the club on Foster's Avenue and was looking forward to a few friendly faces. I spotted Mark Healy at the top of the hill. Ray and Anna were cheering halfway down the far side, followed by Tom and Loraine. It was great!
Coming up to the UCD Flyover Mark passed me some flat Coke I'd prepared earlier. The sugar and caffeine rush was really noticeable. I passed it around to the rest of our group. Shortly after the flyover Mark told us that if we upped the pace a little we could still break three hours. I went to the front of the group and upped the pace as we turned in by RTE's Donnybrook campus. A group from Pulse Tri Club cheered for Piranha from the corner.
We flew along doing 6:17 for the next mile. Our group stretched out, but I was starting to feel fairly tired. We passed Alan Ryan outside the RDS. Mark told me I couldn't let someone from 3D get away. He knew that would motivate me! Mark and Alan shouted something at each other about this being nothing compared to Ironman. I took mental note.
Coming up to College Green and it was starting to feel like hard work. Mark shouted something inspirational and turned off to take an alternate route. Nassau street stretched out forever. As I turned the corner onto Merrion Square with the finish line in sight my stopwatch read 2:59:55. Sub three hours wasn't going to happen.
After crossing the line I was amazed at how stiff my legs felt. That doesn't happen after a triathlon! The atmosphere in the finish area was brilliant. I hadn't realised how cool it would be to share an event like the marathon with thousands of other runners. After a massage, some stretching and a change of clothes I felt a lot better. The other Piranhas arrived shortly afterwards. Big thanks to Chris Burke for tea and toast in the AIB canteen! Finally, it was off to Doheny & Nesbitts for some well earned pints with the marathon gang.
Results
| Overall | Name | Nationality | Cat. | Place | 10km | 1st-half | Chip | Finish |
| 211 | Eimhin Mc Manus (No. 9227) | Irish | M | 121 | 00:45:02 | 01:31:29 | 03:00:31 | 03:01:45 |
| 600 | Gavin Duffy (No. 10500) | Irish | M | 352 | 00:43:39 | 01:31:54 | 03:17:53 | 03:18:49 |
| 634 | Frank Kehoe (No. 9221) | Irish | M | 373 | 00:44:43 | 01:34:36 | 03:19:42 | 03:20:05 |
| 765 | Niall Mc Donnell (No. 9537) | Irish | M | 460 | 00:44:02 | 01:34:19 | 03:23:36 | 03:24:09 |
| 982 | Nick Walsh (No. 9507) | Irish | M40 | 170 | 00:50:37 | 01:43:37 | 03:28:39 | 03:29:35 |
| 1092 | Mary Horgan (No. 8262) | Irish | F | 52 | 00:50:37 | 01:44:22 | 03:31:24 | 03:32:21 |
| 1271 | Tadhg Sullivan (No. 10113) | Irish | M | 716 | 00:50:26 | 01:44:22 | 03:35:57 | 03:36:54 |
| 1291 | Rich Muehlenbeck (No. 9802) | American | M | 726 | 00:50:18 | 01:43:49 | 03:36:21 | 03:37:18 |
| 1520 | Sam Blonde (No. 9826) | French | M | 841 | 00:49:48 | 01:45:51 | 03:41:51 | 03:42:30 |
| 1659 | Anne O' Leary (No. 10790) | Irish | F35 | 37 | 00:57:48 | 01:56:25 | 03:41:59 | 03:45:06 |
| 1915 | Rory Cawley (No. 6218) | Irish | M | 1036 | 00:50:18 | 01:43:50 | 03:48:50 | 03:49:48 |
| 5149 | John Staunton (No. 10057) | Irish | M | 2482 | 01:06:53 | 02:16:48 | 04:43:33 | 04:48:27 |
Related Links
Dublin City Marathon Website
ASI Photos from the Race
The course map
Photo gallery on club website
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