Running the 25th Annual Dublin City Marathon
By PAT CLEARY
VANCOUVER - After booking in at the Mespil hotel in Dublin on October 24 last year, my wife Ira, and my sister-in-law Eileen, went off to shop on Grafton Street while my brother Noel and I went to the Main Hall at the RDS to pick up my race package. A field of 10,500 marathoners were registered and each one had at least two or three family and friends with them as support so, an already crowded city of Dublin, was busy.
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| PAT CLEARY |
Later, we met up with the girls and my niece Fiona and we ate at Gothams Bistro off Grafton Street. After the meal Fiona gave us a grand tour of Dublin on foot and of course this included the popular Temple Bar district.
Fiona took a taxi home and we headed towards our hotel. Along the way, we stopped at Toners Bar and had a few pints. I drank 7-Up. Got to bed around 11 PM. We awoke around 2 AM to hear the wind slapping rain against our hotel room window. These are the worst possible conditions a runner would want.
The rest of my night was restless and I slept intermittently and finally got up around 7 AM. The wind had subsided and the skies were clear — the gods were smiling on us. The race was to begin at 9 AM and I had arranged to meet Denis, a friend from my hometown of Doneraile, near the start line at around 8:15 AM.
People were everywhere. Streets were barricaded off. The start line was on Nassau Street at the Kildare Street junction. When 8:30 AM arrived and Denis was nowhere to be seen I made my way towards the start line.
Eamon Coghlan the great miler was only about 15 feet away from me. Of course he was with the elite seeded runners. The atmosphere was electric and we were getting packed tighter as 9 AM approached.
Finally, the start gun went off and as we passed over the brown carpet, our start times were recorded by our computer chips which we received in our registration packages. These were attached to the laces of our running shoes.
We ran around Trinity College through Westland Row, Pearse Street, College Street, Westmoreland Street, over O'Connell Bridge up O'Connell Street and past the first mile mark. Only 25.2 miles to go.
On up to the North Circular Road, to North Road and through Phoenix Park. The sun was low in the sky. A brilliant haze hung over the park and the moist grass glistened as we weaved our way between the seventh and eighth mile.
Exited the park at Chapelizod Gate. On the Crumlin Road we passed the 12th mile. Between the 15th and 16th mile, Denis caught up with me on my left. We chatted briefly and he took off at his own pace.
On Stillorgan Road we passed the 21st mile and it was here I developed severe cramps in my right leg. Dehydration had set in, so I walked, sipped some power gel and drank some water. Rejuvenated I got into my stride but just past the 23rd mile mark on Merrion Road, my right leg seized up again.
More water, limped, got back in stride and hit the 26th mile mark at Leinster Street South. Right leg seized up again with only 200 yards to go. Both sides of the street were packed with cheering supporters. I stopped, massaged my leg, limped a little.
I was fatigued and dehydrated, but the encouraging words and cheering of the spectators ignited the fumes in my tank and I coasted across the finish line in three hours 42 minutes and 24 seconds. I was 10 minutes behind Denis and 19 minutes behind Eamon Coghlan. Of the 10,500 runners, I placed 1,715th.
Later as we headed south to Cork, I rested contentedly with Ira in the back seat of Noel's car. Cork had the All Ireland Hurling final and I had my Dublin Marathon Medal around my neck. Back in Doneraile, Denis and I celebrated with family, friends and neighbours at O'Donovan's pub, but that's another story.
I would like to say how absolutely wonderful the people of Dublin were as we ran the course. Families offered trays of water and food from their homes as they played music and cheered us on. “Come on lads – you're doing great – keep it up now – only a few more miles to go.” These images will remain with me forever. Thank you Dublin.
P.S. This year, on March 10, my sister Geraldine was buried in Doneraile County Cork. She had received a heart transplant but the body rejected it. On April 18 I ran the Boston Marathon and dedicated it to Geraldine's memory.
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