Dublin Marathon 2022

Check out the Any Given Runday Podcast for a full review on the 2022 Dublin Marathon event!

Mindset before the race:

A whole year since the Thoroughbred Marathon, and every race since has had the Dublin Marathon in mind.

12 months ago, for the Thoroughbred Marathon in Kildare, I set off initially, intending just to finish it. I was told it was 3 miles uphill and flat from there. I got caught up in the crowds and, after a 4:50 start, found my way down to 4:40 and cruising!

This could be the day I set near a 3:30, I thought, as I set PBs over 10 miles, Half Marathons and 30ks.

But I struggled as I got past the 30k. “It’s all downhill from here”, a bystander roared at me as I made my way through another small village I was pretty sure I had never been to before. Right next to “Seán, this is a really nice cooked dinner”, it is up there with one of the biggest lies I’ve ever heard!

After 1k uphill with no end in sight, I stopped. And the walk/jog method over the next 11k and hour 20 minutes began!

Since that race, I wondered whether it was my body or mind that gave up first. It lead me to 50k runs, 4x4x48 Challenges, and 80k trail runs to find the answers. Maybe it was that I wasn’t strong enough. The gym game increased along with PBs in half marathons, 10ks and 5ks (even if sub-20 still eludes me).

It’s also been 12 months since I said I would get 3:30 in the Dublin Marathon. So it sounds like all those races/events' significance depends on how today goes.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. Like any fitness journey, it’s about the journey as much as the destination. Yes, there are runs/gym sessions I don’t want to do, but, for the most part, I find a way and get through it. But, no matter the goal, if you’re not getting something from the journey, you likely won’t stick with it long enough to get the goal you want!

3:30 may happen today, and damn right, I’m aiming high! But if it doesn’t, what a fun year of races and running with great people it’s been, regardless!

Today is a celebration, and there’s no better way to cap it all off!

#LetsGoGetEmAgain

After the race:

We did it!

Dublin Marathon 3:30 ✅

Easily the toughest marathon I’ve ever done. Was not expecting to feel as… well, fucked, as I did in the last 3 miles especially.

The pint is getting flat so I’ll save the post race post for another time.

I’m absolutely thrilled. Wrecked, cramped up and feeling a bit better now than when the race was over but the wave of accomplishment after crossing was indescribable!