Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Dublin City Marathon

Good morning a resounding ouch to you all. As well as battered from yesterday's run I am hungover as a goat and I have a cold. Ah yes. I knew adding a bourbon and coke to the mix was a bad idea.
Yesterday was terrific and I fear I have developed marathon fever, for despite the pain, I dribbled on to my oldest friend last night how much I was looking forward to next year. I was drunkish though, so it might have been the hooch talking. Certainly this morning I couldn't run from here to the kitchen and the outside of my right foot is so painful I can't put my full weight on it.
Anyhoo, yesterday. I got up at the crack of 6:15, a mythical time of still darkness. I had a bowl of Ready Brek and juice while the paramour made me coffee, toast and rashers. Then I went back upstairs and proceeded to get into a flap as I lost one thing I'd previous had in my hand after another. I put down a pair of socks, only for them to disappear and then I couldn't find my running trousers, the same ones I had laid out the night before. Yes, that sort of a flap.
Eventually we left the house and got into town too early. 7:20. I sat in the car wittering and worrying about needing to wee.
Sitting about was making me twitchy so I kissed the paramour bye and made my way to Bewleys for said wee, and then over to the starting line up at Fitzwilliam Street. I was first one in my group, but after a while I was joined by two ladies from Dubai who were freezing in their tiny running shorts.

I got to stand around in the cold for another hour-shrinking my bladder further, so that by the time we began to run I was bursting again. I was amused to see so many black bin bags on folk, some customised and really surprised to see people tossing away their fleeces and gloves and what not. Astounded really. I had on a light running jacket and I tied that around my waist.
The need to pee became a pressing issue and unlike the chaps, I can't do it against a wall. Fortunately a very nice hotel on Pearse Street didn't bar its doors and me and about twenty other women availed of its pristine bathroom, so much nicer than the portaloos.
Lighter, I began to enjoy the run.
I have to say, I have never seen Dublin so beautiful as yesterday. The autumn sun lit the leaves on North Circular road. The old red brick Georgian houses were never more lovely. The park looked like a movie set. It was really stunning and I spent the first half of the race taking it all in and feeling incredibly fortunate. And what a reception we got. There were people out everywhere clapping, cheering us on, handing out biscuits and jellies and sliced oranges, there were kids lining the roads with their hands out for high fives, there were home made signs and whistles and bells and clappers. It was terrific, (except for the man in the Celtic top wearing a devil mask on Parnell Square. He scared the shit out of everyone and it was funny to see the starling like swoop of runners as they crossed the road to avoid him)
The second half was tougher, but easier in another way as I was on home turf. I stopped into a pharmacy in Rathgar to buy painkillers as for some annoying reason my hip was bothering me and I was fighting a cramp in my left calf. I gobbled two anadins, drank water, stretched the muscle out and cursed. But after another mile it was no better or worse so I resolved to ignore it.
I had said all week long to any poor sod who would listen that the first eighteen miles would be the marathon and the last eight miles would be my Sunday run- this 'logic' is what I used to convince myself. But let me tell you, the last 8 was no Sunday run.
At 22 miles I had pains and aches. My chest was beginning to get sore and I had chafing under my bicep. Also my hamstring was beginning to whistle at me now and then. People were starting to drop off and walk. I met a man who was bleeding badly from what looked like a shredded blister. I gave him a plaster from my fanny pack and wished him luck, but damn, his foot looked like minced meat and he still had another four miles to go.
There is no gimmick to beat the wall, no trick or way around it. This is where your training comes in and any mental strength you may possess. You've got to dig deep and get on with it. So I did just that. I was muttering under my breath about how I didn't believe in walls and stuff, I also began to sing the mashed potato song to the tune of Falco.
Rounding the corner onto Nassau Street was thrilling. Everyone was clapping and screaming us on. I came up behind a chap who was walking and for some reason I cannot fathom ( I'm not normally so forward) I tapped him on the back and said, 'Come on man, we're almost there. Let's finish how we started.' He nodded and forced himself off into a run and we ran down the last 300 Metres together. I believe I even whooped when I rounded the corner and saw the finish and when I crossed it I was grinning like a loon.
The man and me exchanged names, shook hands and went off to collect our medals. We're bound by an identical time now and it's all a bit groovy.
Then I met the paramour and we went for a pint. I wore my medal on the outside of my coat. Yes, I am that nerdy.

Labels:

69 Comments:

Blogger aquaasho said...

Brilliant! I'm smiling so proudly of you for some reason! Congrats!

8:39 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you missus. I looked out for you at the baggage area yesterday but didn't see you. I did ask some tall blond boy but he didn't seem to know you. And at that stage I was too knackered to try someone else.

8:45 a.m.  
Blogger aquaasho said...

No probs! I'm so glad you had a great first marathon experience!

8:55 a.m.  
Blogger Caro said...

Hurray! You rock. Thank you for letting us exercise vicariously through you for the past months :)

9:20 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Most excellent, well done. Did you stay on the sunny side of 5 hours?

9:24 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you for the support.

9:24 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Nope Nonny, I slithered over the five.

9:25 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah but that is normal for your first run, I think you are fantastic.Inspirational stuff altogether I will definitely do it next year.

9:30 a.m.  
Blogger James McInerney said...

Well done, congratulations. Am jealous - running the DCM is a big ambition of mine.

9:38 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

Brilliant, brilliant and extra brilliant. Well done you!

9:49 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Ah thank you very much. (Elvis voice)
Docky2, if you get the opportunity and you stay injury free do it, it's brilliant. You could start training in March or April and be well up for it by October. Or later than that even, but the longer training suits me better. Honestly, it's just such a terrific buzz.

9:53 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done. You only need to do a marathon once. You've done yours. Now please slink in to a winter of beer and chocolate like the rest of rest of us and stop making us feel so bad.

9:55 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done FMC. Hearty congratulations from the town of sprouts.

I suspect you must be feeling on top of the world, not withstanding the hangover, sore foot, achy muscles, and all the rest... :)

10:11 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done you, it's a terrific achievement. I did a 20 mile fast walk for a charity event a couple of years ago, and about an hour after the end, my legs literally seized up - my boyfriend of the time had to carry me to the car - I was stiff and sore all over for several days. Your fitness must be phenomenal. You now deserve all the massages, etc. to ease any remaining aches and pains. Are you going to post a pic of you with your medal?

10:12 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thanks folks. I forgot to put in my post how impressed I was at the organisation of the event. The drinks stations were brilliantly efficent as were the ambulance crews and the baggage area and loos. To accommodate 11,000 people so superbly must have taken such an unbelievable amount of organising, but it really paid off in spades.

10:21 a.m.  
Blogger Twenty Major said...

Well done FMC.

10:21 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Shebah, I will when I get batteries. It's very swish.

10:23 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What did you Mam think?

10:29 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

I don't know, I'm not talking to her at the moment, but I expect she's impressed and bitter.

11:33 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahh sorry to hear that. I’m sure she is thrilled possible to stubborn to admit it.

11:54 a.m.  
Blogger Irishman said...

Awesome! Well bloody done! :)

1:00 p.m.  
Blogger Manuel said...

Well done, I rally mean that. LMM does her fair share of marathons and I know how hard it all is. I raise a pint of Belfast ale in your honour....

1:19 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thrilled for ya, well done. maybe the sunnyside of 5 next year??

1:33 p.m.  
Blogger Megan McGurk said...

So happy for you, FMC. Your post is glowing today with your accomplishment in nailing the big marathon.
Clap, clap, clap!

1:39 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

What ho chumlies and many thanks. I believe I will try for an under 5 next year. I like a challenge.

1:47 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congratulations, well done FMC!!!!
I liked your little touch of helping that lad finishing his run - you're such a Star :)

2:04 p.m.  
Blogger Cycles Goff said...

Congratulations, Fmc, very well done. If you had stopped your watch every time you stopped to pee and go shopping you probably would have broken four hours...

2:16 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done Miss Cat - is that your first marathon? that's great to have finished it, it's something you can now boast about forever! ;-)

Are you going to tell us your time? Or how about you just tell us the time of the 300 meter man?

2:20 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

a bit of advice fmc. your time can reveal your identity on the results page. forewarned etc etc

2:26 p.m.  
Blogger Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...

Absolutely effing brilliant! Well done! I'd buy all your drink and a hearty seafood dinner if I were there.

Sit back and enjoy it for a bit before you're out there pounding the pavement again. Seriously. It's a great achievement, you really did a nice job.

And make damn sure to tell your mammy you did it!

2:49 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you, it was a terrific experience. I won't be revealing my time because as stipes quite rightly points out to do so means I might as well print my full name here, and nobody wants that. And if Etheline every discovers I have a blog and she is mentioned in it quite regularly my life wouldn't be worth living. Death by chinese burn is a terrible way to go I'm told.

3:04 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great stuff FMC - well done!

PS - you mean to say that Fatmammycat is not your real name?

3:38 p.m.  
Blogger John Mc said...

Nice one sister! Nice one.

If my fucking knee ever heels I might try one meself.

Pictures of the medal? You earned it, let the world see it.

3:39 p.m.  
Blogger Pat said...

You brilliant girl! What a great experience and how well you describe it. Many congratulations and I hope all pain and discomfort quickly disappear. Bravo!

3:42 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thanks folks, I'll post a photo of it as soon as I have batteries for mah camera, it's very swish with a delightful red ribbon.

3:51 p.m.  
Blogger FINN said...

you are one of the gutsiest people i've ever met, fastmammycat, and an inspiration to boot.

well done.

4:30 p.m.  
Blogger Martin said...

Congratufeckinlations.

It's not easy impress me, but ya came pretty close

4:56 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you, I'm beginning to blush. And I blush the same way I run, lobster style. Not a good look.

5:07 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done FMC! Great story!

6:08 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats FMC! And I for one would LOVE to see a picture of the swishy medal draped over one of your very fine felines. Try to snap the picture BEFORE they shred the ribbon, though.....

7:15 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you folks, maybe Puddy can do a bit of modelling for me. I'll ham her up first.

7:31 p.m.  
Blogger Kim Ayres said...

Superb! Hugs and congrats all round!

7:40 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you sir.

8:07 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel like I deserve a beer and I've just got the end of your blog. Hey congratulations. I have so much respect for what you've done. It always seems a bit cruel to me though - you set a goal, you work your arse off months to achieve it, you're nearly there - and then -right at the end - there's a fucking great wall that you have to smash through in order to reach your goal. You deserve to be wearing a deep smile on your dial.

8:56 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you sweetie.

9:28 p.m.  
Blogger The Hangar Queen said...

Fantastic job FMC...I'm just thrilled for you.

Where do I sign up for next year's?

4:19 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

That Miss Queen, I'm pretty sure the adidas dublin Marathon site will put up a post when they are taking entries again. Are you thinking of taking part? It would be fun to do a cross ocean motivation for queens and fatcats.

8:19 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats missus well done! If you are starting up again please let us know what to do to achieve it. especially us who need to lose a stone first!

11:49 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats missus well done! If you are starting up again please let us know what to do to achieve it. especially us who need to lose a stone first!

11:49 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Thank you LG, and don't worry about losing wight first, it comes off naturally with the training.
I'll probably take it easy for a week or two as my right foot is a bit lame, but when I re sart training for next years marathon I might post a schedule so that more of us can participate and support each other.

12:06 p.m.  
Blogger The Hangar Queen said...

I'm in.....seriously.

12:41 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

All right then!

10:03 a.m.  
Blogger Gayé Terzioglu said...

FMC, big congratulations on your achievement. It's such dedication and great discipline (none of which I seem to have as far as running is concerned). :)
I wrote one under the pre-marathon post, but I was a bit late to ask this before your day. I was at the first water station volunteering, handing water bottles out to runners who wanted some.
Wearing the red jacket and the cap and all. I was trying to figure out if I could see you, but realized soon I don't even know what you look like at all. So it was a bit useless effort.
Did you drink any water at the first water station??? :) Were you in the group of first athletes that started earlier?
G

6:03 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

I was in the over 4 hour so in the paddy last group, I wore a beige visor and the green bib of the slower runners.
My first station would have been before the park on the NCR. I actually ran past it a few steps and had to go back ( At the start of any run I'm inclined to run head down and not notice some thing until last moment).
Fair play to you for manning the stations, they were terrifically organised. We probably passed! I would have said thank you.

8:52 p.m.  
Blogger Del said...

Just came accross your site. a very bid congratulation and well done. i completed dublin in 2005/2006 and belfast in between and felt guilty this week for not participating, its a bug!!
for any would be first timers i would suggest now is the time to think about it but january is the time for action, ie start training.
who knows, we may all be on that line together in oct 2008. del

2:40 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Cheers Del. I'm definitely going to go again next year.

2:59 p.m.  
Blogger Journey to a Centum said...

Marathon "CHECK"!

Nothing is quite so thrilling as spying the finish and knowing you are going to make it. Congratulations!

Having read your account and seeing the pictures on aquaasho's blog I'm tempted to run Dublin. Perhaps in 2009. Iceland is first on my check list as I have relatives there.

Great Work!

3:00 a.m.  
Blogger I am the Big Bad Wolf said...

Girl, if you're gonna run marathons you can't stop into a hotel for the bathroom. That garbage bag is good for covering up when you squat down behind a bush...

2:48 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

NOW people tell me!

11:37 p.m.  
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