Virtual Marathon 2020: How Mindset is Key

“Virtual Marathon done and what an unbelievable day for it. Had the best pacer I could ever ask for for the last 10k in the Pops... except for the fact that 20 seconds into running together he tells me did a 10k cycle to “warm up” this morning.

“WTF, I told you to take it easy this week” I yelled as we ran through the busy Main Street.

“No, you told me to take it easy on the running!”

Thanks, Dad.”

The above is copied and pasted from an Instagram post about my favourite marathon to date, my Virtual Marathon in 2020.

In 2019, after two failed attempts, I finally achieved my goal of doing the Dublin Marathon in under 4 hours. I wasn’t even going to do the marathon 7 weeks out from the event. the fear of failure had set in as I had doubted my training up until that point. A week away during September helped me realize that really, it doesn’t matter if I failed or not. I had already failed royally in 2017. I felt truly embarrassed running it in 5 hours when I had said I would in 4. What’s the worst that could happen?

A side note on that. Regardless of the time you run a marathon, running a marathon is a hell of an achievement and you should always be proud when you cross the finish line, regardless of what happens on the day. My embarrassment is more because of the time I said I would do it in as opposed to the time I did it in.

I knew at mile 24, taking a left past Vincent’s Hospital that the goal was in the bag. I had 30 minutes to run 2 miles to achieve that goal. I soaked in the energy from the crowd that day as it got bigger and bigger along that 2 mile stretch of road to the finish line. The crowd really does drive you on in the Dublin Marathon. There’s rarely a point in the race where you don’t have people cheering you on! Yes, I was in pain. But I could not stop smiling. Nearly laughing during the 20 minutes it took to run along that road.

After crossing the finish line, I took a moment to myself at the side of the road before meeting up with others at a near by pub to celebrate our marathon with friends and family. 2020, it was time to set the goal even higher.

Except we know what happens next. Dublin would be cancelled. Covid had struck. And a new challenge presented itself. Doing the 26.2 miles without that crowd.

With it being Virtual, the time element was taken out of it. Now I wanted it to mean something more than just spending 4 hours plus of a Sunday morning run. I wanted to involve people in the journey. I love the atmosphere and having everyone out that comes with the Dublin Marathon, especially after the race is over. There’s a great buzz in the town. That wasn’t possible with Covid. But I could still involve people in some way and make this one special.

The hardest part is the last 10km. Regardless of training, anything can happen in that last 10k.

So I figured I needed a pacer. Someone that was going to stick by me and motivate me to keep pushing for the last 10k.

Enter The Pops.

My Dad had done a small bit of running before. Had never done a 5k run or any sort of race. Getting him to do a 10k would be like a marathon for him. A big ask that he wouldn’t know on the day if he could do it. To me, perfect scenario! Now we would both be tested.

I had set him out a training plan and convinced him it was a good idea. As you can see from the highlighted Instagram post above, he had his own ideas on a training plan too! I have been asked if I made that up. Truth is, I left out the 10km he did on the bike the night before!!

Getting to that last 10k with no crowd was going to be tough. I had set out a marathon playlist to get me through the first 3 plus hours with the last 30 minutes being epic Rocky soundtrack anthems to get me to keep going.

For the first 32km, I had decided to run along the coast from Dublin towards Wicklow and then into Bray. Thinking of the DART, I assumed it was mostly flat. I was wrong! The hills from Dalkey on were insane! Bray is all uphill too once you get into the town!

As what happened this year, and at least once before every marathon, I had failed on a long run near the 20km mark. I felt drained around 25k, and with 3 weeks to the marathon, I had serious doubts if I could do a virtual one.

But the biggest difference between a marathon run, virtual or not, and a training run is the mindset. You build yourself up for the big day so that you are mentally prepared for what is to come. From the specific starting point, nutrition, clothing (a great pair of running socks is essential!!) etc. I’ve done 4 marathons to date, with two days to go until the 5th. And I know for a fact that I can’t just get up out of this chair and run 42km. But on Sunday, I will be ready for it. Running trains that mindset to keep going. I didn’t have that for my first marathon but have built on it every year since.

And on my virtual marathon, I was ready. As tough as the hills were, and maybe it was because it was my 4th time attempting this distance, it was the easiest marathon I had ever done. I had my route picked. I knew where I was going to get my water and Lucozade along the journey. I knew at what stages I would be based on the music on the playlist.

The Rocky music, ‘Gonna Fly Now” was pumping out of the headphones as I passed the 32km mark. I was surprised at how great I felt! I was also surprised that for the first time in his life, Dad was late!

10-15 minutes trying to keep moving, until the Pops arrived.

And the last 10k, well the headphones weren’t needed for that. Like the last 2 miles the year before, I just took it all in and enjoyed it!

A day I’ll never forget.