The first run back on home soil following the most recent global adventures took the Marathon Man down to Melbourne for the inaugural Great Australian Run.
The Great Australian Run was live on the Ten Network so the start was slightly delayed to accommodate the Elite Women's and Elite Men's start groups getting clear prior to the rest of the field being released.
Michelle Bridges who is one of the Trainers from "The Biggest Loser" in Australia turned up to lead the warm up though this was a little challenging with the routine not starting until we were all crowded into the start pack.
The elite field was packed with class with Hail Gebrselassie, Craig Mottram, Collis Birmingham and Benita Johnson lining up for the start. The Beijing Olympic Athletes who performed such great efforts for Australia at the Beijing Olympic Games were on hand to get proceedings under way with the Pole Vault Gold Medallist Steve Hooker and the Silver Medallist in the 400m hurdler Sally McLellan.
The morning was perfect for running although it was heating up as we were patiently waiting to start the run. When released it was a process of dodging through the crowds of people to get a clear path.
It was around the 8km mark near the bridge after Federation Square that the Ten cameras zoomed in and I somehow managed to put a few words together which later on proved to be very funny viewing. Considering I had stopped for the interview passing the 10km mark in 49:24 was not too bad.
In the run home I passed a guy with red hair who mentioned that he had attended the "Spirit of the Marathon" movie a few days earlier and passed on his congratulations for my effort in the Marathon des Sables. It was at this stage that he passed me most probably due to the surprise and then with close to 1km remaining I kicked on the after burners and fired up to pass this gentleman and sprint home to cross the line and finish the 15km event in 1:13:57.
Following the race I was fotunate to meet up with Steve Hooker and Benita Johnson and get up close and personal with the marathon champion Haile Gebrselassie. This was a fun morning in Melbourne although I must say following my most recent events it was a little different pulling up after only 15km. All good fun :-)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Athens Classic Marathon
The Athens Classic Marathon was the final marathon is what has been an incredible five week international adventure. The history of returning to the home of the marathon was a major reason for including Athens in the global adventure and I was not disappointed.
The race started from the city of Marathon with around 5,000 lining up on the start line. Prior to the start I was pulled aside by a television journalist from NovaSports 1 to be interviewed live only minutes before getting under way. I was focused on getting ready for the start of the race so not too sure whether I made much sense or not ...
At the start it was spotted that the pace groups were represented by a single rider on a push bike. The course started by looping through the site of the Marathon Tombs on dirt roads and following this section of the course then lead into endless major roads and motorways that would lead towards Athens. I had been warned by many people that this course was not for the fainthearted and indeed was very challenging with many hills to get over. It was also mentioned that the second half of the course was a little more friendly and that the hills would eventually end so this was always in the back of my mind.
I maintained a respectable pace from the start and it was not until just prior to the 28km mark that I noticed the 4km pace bike surge past me. While extremely frustrated not to maintain my pace I stepped it up and made sure that I would be as close as possible to the 4 hour time.
While the crowds were relatively small compared to the week before in New York City, the common cry of "Bravo" could be heard along the way when I would run through the small crowds of supporters. I could feel the energy and history over the final stages as we approached the site of the first ever Olympics. When I spotted the crowds building I knew that the finish line was not so far away. It was a great pleasure to see that the road towards the finish line was all downhill after struggling through many hills during the run. I made my move and over the final kilometer sprinted it out to overtake a number of competitors. It was a mix of making the most of this historic moment in Athens and also being fully aware that this was my final run in the Marathon Man programme for the year and I wanted to post the best possible time. The energy on entering the Olympic Stadium was incredible and I ended up crossing the line in a new personal best time of 4:02:13!
It was a great way to complete what has been an amazing adventure. By setting a new personal best time by more than three minutes in the fifth marathon over five weeks I guess it shows that the previous training runs over the weeks ahead had been really worthwhile. The Marathon Man international adventures have been beyond expectations and I am now really looking forward to mapping out a very exciting schedule of challenges for the new year. The journey has only just started ...
The race started from the city of Marathon with around 5,000 lining up on the start line. Prior to the start I was pulled aside by a television journalist from NovaSports 1 to be interviewed live only minutes before getting under way. I was focused on getting ready for the start of the race so not too sure whether I made much sense or not ...
At the start it was spotted that the pace groups were represented by a single rider on a push bike. The course started by looping through the site of the Marathon Tombs on dirt roads and following this section of the course then lead into endless major roads and motorways that would lead towards Athens. I had been warned by many people that this course was not for the fainthearted and indeed was very challenging with many hills to get over. It was also mentioned that the second half of the course was a little more friendly and that the hills would eventually end so this was always in the back of my mind.
I maintained a respectable pace from the start and it was not until just prior to the 28km mark that I noticed the 4km pace bike surge past me. While extremely frustrated not to maintain my pace I stepped it up and made sure that I would be as close as possible to the 4 hour time.
While the crowds were relatively small compared to the week before in New York City, the common cry of "Bravo" could be heard along the way when I would run through the small crowds of supporters. I could feel the energy and history over the final stages as we approached the site of the first ever Olympics. When I spotted the crowds building I knew that the finish line was not so far away. It was a great pleasure to see that the road towards the finish line was all downhill after struggling through many hills during the run. I made my move and over the final kilometer sprinted it out to overtake a number of competitors. It was a mix of making the most of this historic moment in Athens and also being fully aware that this was my final run in the Marathon Man programme for the year and I wanted to post the best possible time. The energy on entering the Olympic Stadium was incredible and I ended up crossing the line in a new personal best time of 4:02:13!
It was a great way to complete what has been an amazing adventure. By setting a new personal best time by more than three minutes in the fifth marathon over five weeks I guess it shows that the previous training runs over the weeks ahead had been really worthwhile. The Marathon Man international adventures have been beyond expectations and I am now really looking forward to mapping out a very exciting schedule of challenges for the new year. The journey has only just started ...
Monday, November 3, 2008
New York City Marathon
The build up to the New York Marathon had been incredible! Starting the day out at 4.30am I caught a taxi in to 51st Street to meet up with the "Team For Kids" group that had 14 busses waiting for us all. The atmosphere was electric with everyone buzzing in the early hours of the morning with anticipation of what was ahead for us all. Following a police escort to the start line in Staten Island, we arrived prior to 8am and it was clear that the major challenge would be keeping warm in the hours before the race started. This was the first year in the New York Marathon that there would be a wave start with the lead group getting away at 9.40am, followed by the second wave at 10am and then the third wave at 10.20am.
I had been placed in the third wave start and it was a little alarming when I could not find a 4 hour pace group though could only see the 4:30 pace group so I made the decision to start out on poll position and catch up to the second group ahead. The initial rush of being the first out of the gate was quickly restrained when greeted by one of the largest hills ever over the first mile of the race. The advice of taking it easy in the first 2 miles was ringing in my ears and I maintained a strong position. It was after the initial few miles that I decided to tune into my iPod and turn up the music. Having run Dublin without turning on my iPod today I thought that it may be best to focus on my own race. It was a great decision and I managed to tune in to my own race and also take in some of the crowd along the course.
It really was amazing to see the crowds along the way with the highlight being at the 13km mark when running down the street and the bands playing and me feeling on a high I recall pumping the crowd up and running backwards and really getting into it! It was such a rush to be feeling so good and be in the middle of such a electric atmosphere. There were so many incredible sights and sounds along the way from crowds ten deep to church choirs! Mind you I did realise that there was still a long way ahead ...
Without the pace group having balloons to identify where I was travelling I spotted the 4:15 pace sign on the back of some runners and was fairly sure that this would have been from the second wave ahead of me and gave me a little more inspiration to continue pressing towards the 4 hour target time. As I continued passing through the crowd and making my way through a number of runners that were doing it tough, I was ahead of the 4 hour pace by more than 5 minutes by the half way mark and although favoring my right hamstring and achilles was feeling confident. By the 30km point I remained slightly ahead of the 4 hour target pace though could feel the pain and muscles tightening like nothing else. It was great to see a good friend at the 30km stage though this was the time where I lost a few minutes against the clock and was a few minutes down on the target pace by the 35km stage. In the homeward stretch towards Central Park there were few opportunities to pass by a number of runners at the crowd was massive and fellow runners were tiring. It was rewarding to track down and pass by one of the runners who had taken off early in the initial miles of the race though by the 40km mark I was down by 5 minutes on the target time! I pushed as hard as possible through the crowds of people now struggling towards the final line and crossed in 4:05:35 ... Missing the 4 hour target though still posting a personal best time in my fourth marathon in four weeks!
Time 5K 0:25:31
Time 10K 0:51:50
Time 15K 1:19:42
Time 20K 1:48:19
Time 1/2 Mar. 1:54:32
Time 25K 2:18:44
Time 30K 2:49:15
Time 35K 3:21:46
Time 40K 3:52:25
Final Time 4:05:35
Time Pace/Mile 0:09:22
Every runner had a story to tell and the adventure was certain to be memorable to each and every person that took part in the 2008 New York Marathon. Thank you so much to all the supporters that made the day so special. Now for the final adventure to Athens Greece to compete in the home of the marathon and take care of the 5th marathon in 5 weeks ...
I had been placed in the third wave start and it was a little alarming when I could not find a 4 hour pace group though could only see the 4:30 pace group so I made the decision to start out on poll position and catch up to the second group ahead. The initial rush of being the first out of the gate was quickly restrained when greeted by one of the largest hills ever over the first mile of the race. The advice of taking it easy in the first 2 miles was ringing in my ears and I maintained a strong position. It was after the initial few miles that I decided to tune into my iPod and turn up the music. Having run Dublin without turning on my iPod today I thought that it may be best to focus on my own race. It was a great decision and I managed to tune in to my own race and also take in some of the crowd along the course.
It really was amazing to see the crowds along the way with the highlight being at the 13km mark when running down the street and the bands playing and me feeling on a high I recall pumping the crowd up and running backwards and really getting into it! It was such a rush to be feeling so good and be in the middle of such a electric atmosphere. There were so many incredible sights and sounds along the way from crowds ten deep to church choirs! Mind you I did realise that there was still a long way ahead ...
Without the pace group having balloons to identify where I was travelling I spotted the 4:15 pace sign on the back of some runners and was fairly sure that this would have been from the second wave ahead of me and gave me a little more inspiration to continue pressing towards the 4 hour target time. As I continued passing through the crowd and making my way through a number of runners that were doing it tough, I was ahead of the 4 hour pace by more than 5 minutes by the half way mark and although favoring my right hamstring and achilles was feeling confident. By the 30km point I remained slightly ahead of the 4 hour target pace though could feel the pain and muscles tightening like nothing else. It was great to see a good friend at the 30km stage though this was the time where I lost a few minutes against the clock and was a few minutes down on the target pace by the 35km stage. In the homeward stretch towards Central Park there were few opportunities to pass by a number of runners at the crowd was massive and fellow runners were tiring. It was rewarding to track down and pass by one of the runners who had taken off early in the initial miles of the race though by the 40km mark I was down by 5 minutes on the target time! I pushed as hard as possible through the crowds of people now struggling towards the final line and crossed in 4:05:35 ... Missing the 4 hour target though still posting a personal best time in my fourth marathon in four weeks!
Time 5K 0:25:31
Time 10K 0:51:50
Time 15K 1:19:42
Time 20K 1:48:19
Time 1/2 Mar. 1:54:32
Time 25K 2:18:44
Time 30K 2:49:15
Time 35K 3:21:46
Time 40K 3:52:25
Final Time 4:05:35
Time Pace/Mile 0:09:22
Every runner had a story to tell and the adventure was certain to be memorable to each and every person that took part in the 2008 New York Marathon. Thank you so much to all the supporters that made the day so special. Now for the final adventure to Athens Greece to compete in the home of the marathon and take care of the 5th marathon in 5 weeks ...
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Continental Airlines Friendship Runathon
The 2008 ING New York City Marathon is now a week long series of events. One of the best events is the Continental Airlines Friendship Run. It begins at the United Nations building on 1st Avenue and winds around a bit before it heads up 5th Avenue to finish at the 26 mile marker of the marathon. It is a great event that bring out costumes of the different nationalities that run the race.
I was fortunate to meet up with a number of people from around the world and the Marathon Man proved a great hot amongst the other national costumes on display. I soon found my way to the Travelling Fit crew and met up with Mari-Mar Walton, Dave Wilson, Michael and Ryan Murphy.
It was a really nice run through the streets of New York City where I was fortunate enough to run alongside and meet up with Catherine Ndereba the world class Kenyan marathon champion.
When I reached Central Park it was important to take in the surroundings in preparation for the big race tomorrow though was conscious not to cross the finish line until the next day.
The atmosphere was simply electric with some 15,000 people taking part in the event and I made the most of the opportunity to capture the moment and spent some time bonding with fellow runners taking photos.
Bring on the big dance tomorrow ...
I was fortunate to meet up with a number of people from around the world and the Marathon Man proved a great hot amongst the other national costumes on display. I soon found my way to the Travelling Fit crew and met up with Mari-Mar Walton, Dave Wilson, Michael and Ryan Murphy.
It was a really nice run through the streets of New York City where I was fortunate enough to run alongside and meet up with Catherine Ndereba the world class Kenyan marathon champion.
When I reached Central Park it was important to take in the surroundings in preparation for the big race tomorrow though was conscious not to cross the finish line until the next day.
The atmosphere was simply electric with some 15,000 people taking part in the event and I made the most of the opportunity to capture the moment and spent some time bonding with fellow runners taking photos.
Bring on the big dance tomorrow ...
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