The Dublin Marathon in 2003 was my first very serious marathon. I had run London in 1998 but with a naive approach to the race I struggled from 19 miles very badly. My race performances leading up to that debut were far better than the performance I achieved in London. It was an experience at least.
A few years passed before I trained for the Berlin Marathon in 2002, but two weeks before the race I part tore a calf muscle which didn't heal for weeks and weeks, meaning a long lay off.
After getting fit again in the early part of 2003 I visited Boulder USA for the Bolder Boulder 10k and some experience of altitude. Whilst there I did some runs with Lee Troop and Andrew Letherby. Troop would be 17th in the World Championships Marathon later that summer and had credentials over 10,000m up to the Marathon with a 2:09.49 PB recorded just weeks beforehand at the Lake Biwa Marathon.
I raced fairly well at 5500ft and returned refreshed and full of ambition. I entered Dublin upon my return and went about a build up for the race during a very hot summer which seemed to feature lots of long runs in blazing sun.
After getting fit again in the early part of 2003 I visited Boulder USA for the Bolder Boulder 10k and some experience of altitude. Whilst there I did some runs with Lee Troop and Andrew Letherby. Troop would be 17th in the World Championships Marathon later that summer and had credentials over 10,000m up to the Marathon with a 2:09.49 PB recorded just weeks beforehand at the Lake Biwa Marathon.
I raced fairly well at 5500ft and returned refreshed and full of ambition. I entered Dublin upon my return and went about a build up for the race during a very hot summer which seemed to feature lots of long runs in blazing sun.
Dublin would be on Monday 27th October and I commenced specific training on 28 July following my return from a two week holiday in Ibiza.
This training is listed below. It included a half marathon pb seven weeks before race day, which came after a summer of fairly mediocre performances.
M am 5.3 miles feeling good, pm 7 miles feeling good 41 mins
T 7 miles in rain
W am 5.3 miles feeling good 32 mins, pm 7.5 miles
T am 5.3 miles feeling good, pm 7 miles feeling ok
F 10 miles in 60 mins but felt faster
S am [4 miles waming up/down] session on grass in Kempston with Lewis Cadman as follows: 7.55 (4 mins jog) 3:47 (4 mins) 1:45 then 4 x 150m strides. Not a tough session. Felt good, pm 5.8 miles easy
S 19 miles in hot weather in 2:00h
87 miles
M rest
T am 5.3 miles in 31, pm 5.3 as this morning 32:56
W am 5.3 miles steady and very hot, pm 7.5 miles in 36 degrees comfortable
T 10 miles very hot - out and back course so steady out and blasted back 30:20/27:12 (57:33)
F 5 miles in very hot weather, easy
S am [4 miles warming up/down] 'woolfpack fartlek' with group in 35 degrees as follows: 2x 1min/2min/3min/2min/3min all with 1 min jog and three mins jog between sets "very very hot", pm 5.8 miles really easy in very hot 36 degrees
S 20 miles - hottest day recorded in UK - 100 degrees - took water en route but very dehydrated at the end 2:13
73 miles
M rest
T am 5.3 miles easy but felt tired, pm 5.3 miles steady 30 mins
W am 5.3 miles easy, pm 8.1 miles moving well and feeling good
T [4 miles warming up/down] 6x1000m on track in spikes - felt flat 2:55, 2:59, 3:02, 3:04, 3:04, 3:04 with 2 mins between efforts
F easy 5.3 miles with sore legs from last night
S am [4 miles warming up/down] on golf course from Phil O'Dell's house 2x big lap/small lap with 2 mins between efforts and 3 mins between sets 9:06/5:01/9:07/5:06 - felt tired for whole session, pm 5.3 miles feeling very tired
S rest
53 miles - very tough week
M 19 miles felt ok and easy but calves were tight 2:03
T am 5.3 miles, pm 7.3 miles easy followed by 4x100m strides
W rest
T 7.3 miles in new Nike Zoom Ekiden racers to wear them in followed by 4x strides
F 5.3 miles feeling tired and groggy
S 5.3 miles with splitting headache before driving to Matt Raw's parents in North East
S [2 miles warming up/down] Bishop Aukland 10k - really poor performance 32:07
58 miles - something not right
M am 7.5 miles felt good, pm 5.8 miles steady and felt good followed by 4x strides
T rest
W am 7 miles felt great, pm [4 miles warming up/down] 12x400m (1 min jog) 67,66,67,67,67,68,68,68,67,68,68,68 - best session for some time
T am 6 miles sore from yesterday, pm 5.3 miles
F 8.8 miles windy followed by 4x strides
S am session at golf course again [4 miles warming up/down] 4x short laps 4:47, 4:48, 4:47, 4:51, 4:52 brilliant session - really moving well. Lead session throughout, followed by 5x 30s strides, pm 5.8 miles felt superb but Achilles sore
S 22 miles felt good throughout 2:23.12
86.2 miles and seem to have clicked again
M rest
T am 7 mile home run felt comfortable, pm [4 miles warming up/down] 12x400m (55 secs recovery) 68,66,67,68,67,67,67,66,66,67,66,66
W am 5.3 miles tired, pm 5.3 miles really tired
T 8.8 miles good pace in 51:49 the 4x strides
F 7.5 miles steady, pm 5.3 miles easy felt good
S [4 miles warming up/down]5x mile loops at golf course, much faster than last week, had Matt Janes with me for four efforts - 4:54, 4:47, 4:45, 4:47, 4:41, pm 5.8 miles felt superb
S 20 miles very tired in 2:13
84 miles
M rest
T am 6 miles felt effortless at steady pace, pm [4 miles warming up/down] 12x 400m (55 secs recovery) 68,68,67,67,67,68,67,67,67,67,66,66 felt superb but holding back for Sunday
W 7.5 miles tired
T 5.3 miles really tired
F am 5.3 miles easy and tired, pm 5 miles with brother easy
S 3.3 miles very easy
S Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon 4th in then 67:17 pb. Through 10 miles in 51:18 (5 mile 25:28) and last 5k in 15:55 - well pleased
57 miles and great boost with half marathon pb
M 4.8 easy jog in Welsh countryside
T am 8 miles steady in Wales, pm 5.8 miles steady
W am 5.8 miles steady, pm 7.3 miles steady then 4x strides
T rest
F am 7.5 miles felt ok, pm 7.5 miles felt terrible with bad guts
S rest
S set off for 24 miles but developed bad guts and cut it to 14 miles
61 miles - bad week with guts
M am 5.3 miles fast, pm 6 miles feeling back on it, then 4x strides
T am 5.8 miles tired, pm [4 miles warming up/down] session at Polhill on grass. Bad guts all day made this tough. 5x 1min (60s) 4x 2mins (60s) 5x 1min (60s) - 2 mins between sets
W 6 miles, guts settled
T 6 miles bad guts still
F 6 miles feeling awful
S [3 miles warming up/down] SEAA 6 Stage relay at Aldershot. Ran 3rd leg (6k) Felt very negative beforehand but fine once underway. Ran 18:54 - not a great run but ok considering the week I've had
S 25 miles in 2:43.52
77 miles having nailed longest run
M rest
T am 7 miles steady, pm 7.3 miles moving well
W am 5 miles steady, pm [4 miles warming up/down] 12x 400m (50 secs recovery) breezy and felt tough 68,67,68,67,68,68,68,68,68,68,68,68
T 7.4 miles good pace
F am 7.3 miles tired but swift, pm 5.8 miles tired
S am [4 miles warming up/down] 5x mile reps on golf course, alone 4:54, 4:49, 4:47, 4:49, 4:50 (2 mins rest), pm 5.8 miles really tired
S 20 miles in 2:06 - tired afterwards
84 miles
M rest
T am 5.3 miles steady, pm 6 miles steady
W 7.5 miles steady
T 5.3 miles legs tired
F am 5.3 miles tired, pm 5.3 miles easy
S 3.5 miles jogging
S BUPA Great South Run 10 miles - very windy from 4-8 miles slowed me down (5 miles in 25:04 and 10k in 31:44) ran 51:26
50 miles
M 8.8 miles steady
T am 5.8 miles brisk, pm 7.5 miles tired
W rest
T am 7 miles steady with sore groin, pm 7 miles and felt great
F am 6 miles with sore groin 'holding out as 27th nears', pm 7.5 miles tired and steady
S 5.8 miles easy and tired
S 14 miles in 1:28 - started slow and felt good towards the end
69 miles
M 7.5 miles feeling ok with improved groin
T am 5.3 miles with stiff groin, pm 5.3 miles
W 5.3 miles with 4 x strides
T 5 miles comfortable 'groin is touch and go, worried as I'm easing down and it's getting worse'
F 6 miles easy. Groin not good but now have 48 hours rest
S rest
S 3.5 miles 'Groin so-so. Feel positive about this build up'
Monday 27th October 2003 Dublin Marathon, 9th in 2.23'22 - 5k 17:53, 5 miles 28:08, 10k 35:01, 10 miles 55:16, Halfway 72:14, 20 miles 1:48.53, last 10k in 34:10
In summary, this was a fantastic race experience. I set off very easily with no real time goals in mind and clipped off the early miles and was feeling very comfortable, ignoring any urges to push on. At 10 miles we left the park grounds and hit the road and for the first time the race felt underway. I soon paired up with Irishman Pauric McKinney and together we worked through to 20 miles.
I can't really emphasise how relaxed I was about this race, I really had no firm idea of the pace I was looking for. It was my first serious attempt at the marathon, and I wanted a positive experience. My early splits reflect my approach and I don't recall being concerned by the pace at any point.
I had toyed with taking on water in training as most of my training had been done in some very hot conditions but when I took a small amount at about 21 miles it came back up, so I spat this out and worked towards the finish, dropping McKinney and feeling strong.
I can't really emphasise how relaxed I was about this race, I really had no firm idea of the pace I was looking for. It was my first serious attempt at the marathon, and I wanted a positive experience. My early splits reflect my approach and I don't recall being concerned by the pace at any point.
I had toyed with taking on water in training as most of my training had been done in some very hot conditions but when I took a small amount at about 21 miles it came back up, so I spat this out and worked towards the finish, dropping McKinney and feeling strong.
Weatherwise everything was ideal. It was cool enough for gloves and there was no wind. I am writing this some years after the event. I had moved away from McKinney but had nobody ahead to aim for, I ran the last few miles totally isolated but in no real pain.
I recall towards the end I started to fear cramp, but this didn't occur. The soles of my feet hurt and I had a black toe nail - that's all (probably due to wearing no socks, which I tend to do now). Although the final mile was tough, as you'd expect of a marathon, I crossed the line having run a sizeable negative split, which is the only time I have ever managed this up to now in a marathon - 72:14 and 71:08. I felt like a marathon runner proper and that this was where my future would be in running. Result here.
Upon finishing I was gripped by cramp which lasted for some time and massage didn't help. But the euphoria of the race went on for some time afterwards and I was soon entered for London and relished the chance to go quicker.
Upon finishing I was gripped by cramp which lasted for some time and massage didn't help. But the euphoria of the race went on for some time afterwards and I was soon entered for London and relished the chance to go quicker.
In the days leading up to the race I followed a high carbohydrate diet but nothing too fancy. From Thursday morning to the Sunday I ate only carbs and little else. My meal the night before the race was chicken and rice with a Powerbar. On the morning of the race I had a coffee and a Powerbar as well as lots of water.
What does surprise me about reading my training log for the race some years later is just how low my mileage was. In 2003 I was 29 (ideal age for the marathon) and single without any children or a demanding job, yet my weekly mileage is extremely low compared to later attempts at the distance that proved less successful. Perhaps there is a lesson in this for me?
During the weeks before the race I recall really 'clicking' in training. My 10k performance at the very beginning of the build up was woeful, but from that point onwards I was really running well in training, and enjoying it. My run at the Great South was ruined by severe wind off the Solent. I should have run faster really as my 10 mile split from the half marathon at Lake Vyrnwy was quicker.
1) Onesmus Kilonzo (Kenya) 2:17:04
2) Kimutai Lezan (Kenya) 2:17:29
3) David Kossgei (Kenya) 2:18:34
4) Charles Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:18:38
5) Simon Pride (United Kingdom) 2:18:52
6) Gary Crossan (Ireland) 2:20:27
7) Zacharia Mpolokeng (South Africa) 2:21:13
8) Graham Malinga (South Africa) 2:22:06
9) James Lawler (United Kingdom) 2:23:22
10) Pauric McKinney (Ireland) 2:24:18
1) Onesmus Kilonzo (Kenya) 2:17:04
2) Kimutai Lezan (Kenya) 2:17:29
3) David Kossgei (Kenya) 2:18:34
4) Charles Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:18:38
5) Simon Pride (United Kingdom) 2:18:52
6) Gary Crossan (Ireland) 2:20:27
7) Zacharia Mpolokeng (South Africa) 2:21:13
8) Graham Malinga (South Africa) 2:22:06
9) James Lawler (United Kingdom) 2:23:22
10) Pauric McKinney (Ireland) 2:24:18