With thanks to Alan for this great report:
So after missing out on DCM in 2015 I decided to train for a spring marathon. I eventually decided on Manchester as it was supposed to be flat and have great support. I had only done one marathon previously which was DCM in 2013. This was before I joined the club. The week of the marathon I had been sick so it just about finishing that day, for this reason I was looking forward to having a proper go at a marathon this time round.
I followed a training plan which went well although some of the long Sunday morning runs in wind and rain were tough. The plan seemed to be working I got a PB by 4 mins in the Bohermeen half and was really enjoying the training. As marathon day came closer I had hoped going for somewhere between 3.45 – 3.55 which seemed possible going by my training runs. Plan B was to get anything under 4 and plan C was to just knock as much as possible off my last marathon attempt.
Race day arrived and after breakfast we left the hotel to get the tram to the race village at Old Trafford cricket ground. The race village was overcrowded and as my wife Ciara was with me there was no need to use the bag drop so we just walked up to the start area which was about 10 mins walk. The Wheelchair athletes were first off at 8:55am then 5 mins later it was our turn.
There was no wave starts so the first few miles were crowded. This meant it was tough to get your own space. In the first 5 miles you came back past the start twice which I didn’t mind because I knew Ciara would be at the 2 & 5 mile mark. I was feeling very comfortable as I went through 10k in 52:33 around 12 miles it began to get a bit hilly there was a few gradual inclines. I went through half way still feeling comfortable in 1:52:17 and still well on target. 17 miles in and warm weather was beginning to become a factor so I tried take on extra water. Also around 17 miles I could hear shouts of ‘Come on Dunboyne’ from a group in Athenry AC hoodies which gave me a badly needed boost.
I got to 30k in 2:43:06 and struggled on to 22 miles where I had to slow down, not sure if it was due to the heat or maybe my pacing, or both. Plan A was now well gone. I looked at my watch when I hit 23 miles then when I looked up at mile marker it said 22: now either I was hallucinating at this point or there was a second 22 mile marker put out by mistake. Everyone around me was also confused by this so I was relieved it wasn’t just me. This was one of the organisers many mistakes on the day.
I had to re-focus and try and up the pace for the last few miles then turning onto Talbot road I could see the finish line in the distance my watch said 3:58 with about 800m to go, I couldn’t get my legs to move any quicker and finished in 4:01:04. Overall I was disappointed I didn’t hit my target but I did enjoy it, the support was brilliant and was happy to be 48mins quicker than my last marathon attempt. Sub 4 in Dublin in October hopefully.
A big thank you to everyone in Dunboyne AC for all the advice and support over the last few months and also well done to Angela Egan on a brilliant run.
