Dublin Marathon 2010 et all

(The last 18 months)

This was going to be very much a different marathon experience for me, as all my previous marathons had been done for my own selfish/single-minded gains.

The difference this time was that I was running Dublin to help Linda get round in a respectable time, hopefully 4.15ish, with a smile on her face and we were trying to raise a bit of aid for the kids in Pakistan.

So where did all this begin?

Well last year, 2009, my running had started to improve again and in April, I got a place in London. This was one I’d always wanted to do, but never thought I’d get the chance to. I thought I had a sub 4hr marathon in me again and I ran well at Reading Half in March, posting a 1.39ish, as well as bumping into Mick and Carmel in the baggage tent!

Needless to say, London was a big flop for me and I limped over the line in 4.20 somat! Then came ‘The Cape Wrath Challenges’ in May. COME ON YOU GUY'S, YOU HAVE TO COME UP THERE IN 2011!!

Now this is a different beast to London - less people, but so much more hills, scenery and just a very friendly relaxed atmosphere. Lo and behold a great run and 4.09ish in the marathon. So spurred on by this, I looked at another marathon in the Autumn. The Baxter’s Loch Ness. By this time, Linda was persuading me to travel north more and more. I ran well again at the Glasgow Half; 1.37ish and really believed I had a 3.50 marathon in me somewhere?

Loch Ness arrived in October and on the start line I felt like a lion! It was a spectacular morning, perfect conditions and I was flying - well all the way to the 19 and a half mile point, when, after realising that I was on for a 3.45ish, the last hill was behind me and it was downhill and flat to the finish, my right calf decided to lock. Over the last 6 this spread until the whole of my right leg was almost immobile and once again, I limped over the line in 4.02ish. Gutted!

So as you can imagine, this put my spirits down a bit and I gave up the marathon ghost for 2009.

Then, with a good winter behind me, we once again ventured northwards to Durness, for the 2010 Cape Wrath Challenges.

I felt really good, knew I was in pretty good shape and proceeded to get course PB’s for the Half on Monday 1.39ish - the Hill run on Tuesday 37ish, a trot round Durness 8.5 on the Wednesday, a great laugh on Thursdays at the fancy dress beach run and rest day Friday.

Marathon morning Saturday came with a very early start. It was damp and misty - not much sight seeing to be done on the Cape today! It's surprising, but I never feel I have a weeks racing in my legs on the marathon day. This was the 3rd year that Richard (Crompton) and I had been up here and it's such a chilled out week, you recover from the days running and the evening’s beer, very quickly!!

I had made friends with a couple of guy's who were running at a similar pace to me all week and we got pitched in the same ferry at the start. Off we went. I ran fantastically well, despite having a wee dram forced down my neck at about 17mls, finishing in 3.40 and feeling on top of the world, the monkey was well and truly off my back!!!

So, with Linda having finished her masters in February and having the time to train, I suggested we do an Autumn marathon. I would help her train to get through it in good health, as she had done Loch Ness in 2007 and it wasn't the best experience for her.

So, here we are on the start line of the 2010 Adidas Dublin Marathon. Training plan done and dusted, all gone well, with just a couple of minor hiccups, but both generally in good shape.

Now, confession time. I had a sneaky feeling that our target of 4.15ish could be a bit of a long shot, based on our long training run times, but the main aim was to enjoy ourselves.

The gun goes, 11,000ish runners set off into a chilly but bright sunny Irish morning, and it takes us about 4mls before we get the feeling back in our fingers! By this point though we are motoring along quite nicely, totally immersed in the flow of the race, 6mls comes along through Phoenix Park and we are well on course. Halfway point in 2.02ish and I’m thinking ‘that's great Linda, hold on’. Then just before 20 mls Linda decides to walk while she takes a gel onboard. I think could this be where the focus goes and she starts to struggle? Not a chance! She picks up the pace again, holds it together as we charge through the crowds in the last 3mls, with a grin and a grimace, (couldn't tell which one was which though?) and cross the line in a fantastic 4.10.30 - (You’ll notice there is no ish on this one!!)

Job done, a great run, a good marathon to do guy's - pretty flat and the Irish really do get behind you!!

Hope to see a Wesham team up in Durness in May 2011. It’s a great weeks running, for £55 and the accommodation is great and cheap too!

Cheers,

John Rudd.

http://www.supportunicef.org.uk/dublinmarathon

Submitted: 13th November 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor