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Wallace and Gromit at the Dublin Marathon

CHRIS QUIGLEY 2 NOV 2013
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Wow, wow and wow! This sums up the experience of all the training and actually taking part in the Dublin Marathon, which for both of us was our maiden marathon on the road.

What had started as a mere idea to celebrate Wallace's 50th birthday became a reality as we boarded the early morning flight to Dublin. All the training was now completed from way back at the end of June, this was it and the reality that we were off to do the marathon was starting to sink in.

No issues with the travel arrangements as we landed in Dublin and got our coach transfer to the hotel.
On check in we realised that we just around the corner from both the start and finish line as we made our way down to the RDS centre to collect our race packs and numbers.

Once at the RDS you start to get an idea that you are in a big race; there were hundreds and hundreds of people all there for the same reason and the atmosphere was electric to say the least.

I must mention the weather at this point, on arrival it was very wet and windy with the promise of a storm on its way for Monday, but at least we were here and the weather would have wait for tomorrow.

Back to the hotel and at last some downtime to chill out and await the morning of the race. I don't think either of us slept too well the night before as a mixture of excitement, a touch of anxiety and pre-race nerves started to kick in.

We were both up early and opened the curtains to be greeted by a crisp sunny morning with just a stiff breeze in the air. We then made our way down to baggage drop off as we were both in the second wave to go off at 9.10am.

The Irish national was sung and we all stood waiting for the first wave to go before it was our turn.
A brief announcement and we shuffled forward to the start and were off.

It’s pretty hard to describe the sheer numbers and noise of it all as we set off from Fitzwilliam Street and out into the centre of Dublin. The support was unbelievable and like no other race I had ever been in.

My plan was always to do a steady first half and push on from there if I felt good. The course is mostly flat with some gentle inclines as it makes it way up O'Connell Street and enters into Phoenix Park.

Both Wallace and I passed through 10K in 47 minutes which was putting us both on for sub 3:20 at that point. The course then passes out of Phoenix Park and onto Brickfields Park which marks the halfway point.

A quick look at my watch and my split bands and all was looking good so far. It was time to test the legs and put some good miles in and get some 7 minute miles in up to the university at 21 miles and the cross over into the unknown: I had never gone beyond this distance before.

At least you can see the city centre and the turn for home, with legs feeling good I wanted to maintain the pace and keep the legs moving. Yet another look at the split bands and watch and looking good for sub 3:15.

The last five miles went past in a haze with the crowds really starting to push you onto the finish. At this point started to believe this was it, I was going to finish my first marathon and in a good time too. The final two miles and the turn down into Fitzwilliam Street for the finish will remain with me for some time to come - the noise the emotion of it all as I crossed the finish below my target time.

What can I say about what came next as I collected my medal and made my way down to collect my race shirt? The emotion was all too much and the tears welled up and it all came out. But who cares, I'd done it and was over the moon with my time too. Fantastic time for Wallace too who finished under his target time of 3:30.

A couple of things come to mind on reflection of the whole event was how quick it went compared to some of our later training runs which took us over 3 hours. Also the pain of when you stop at the end is something too, but at least it subsided as I kept moving down to baggage claim. The weather too held out on the day with bright sunshine if a little windy at times but no storms as predicted.

It has been a wonderful experience and it has taken some time to come back down from it for both of us. But I would like to thank everyone who gave their advice and tips for completing the marathon, and I see this being the first of many marathons for Wallace and Gromit. Watch this space!
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