Dublin Marathon Part Deux

ipads don't make great typewriters, so the saga continues!

Anyway, back to work I went. Mile 22, 7:00. I knew that shortly I would be coming across the marvellous Hacket support group, and mentally, that's where I knew I could draw my strength from.
On reaching that point, I was almost there, in my head anyway, and I knew that if I could reach that point strong, head held high, it was a straight run home.
And so it transpired, I met the fabulous support, and to be honest at that point, it almost brought me to tears. Whatever happened in the last last few miles, I could suck it up.
Mile 23, 7:00. Going through 30k, I was position 763.
Mile 24, 7:00, steady, steady, steady. This was tough, but do- able. I was passing runners at an extra ordinary rate, and this was giving me some extra strenght.
Mile 24, 6:47. Push it if you can, but not too much, those two mile might as well be 6 in a a marathon. The temptation was also to not take a drink, but I stuck to the rule, and took water even at the very last station, which was very welcome.
Mile 25, 6:50, still going strong, but at this point, the finish could not come soon enough. It always surprises me, that in the early stages, you can run a 7 minute mile, and it will pass quite quickly, but 20 miles later a 6:50 mile feels like an eternity!
Mile 26. The finish line is almost here,nut the job is not done, those pesky .2 of a mile still have to be conquered. The noise from the crowd is amazing, the shouts of my name from the sidelines from the few faces I recongise. I can see the finish, I can hear the crowd, I am in the olymics, I am winning the gold, and all the other emotions as you approach the finish gantry and the carpet, the deafening roars of encouragement that surely must be just for me! 6:48.
Over the line in 3:02:06 chip time. Arms stretched up in victory. I didn't care about the 2:07 seconds that on another day will be important to me, today I cared about finishing strong and ahead of my target, and.  a new PB by 3:11 minutes.

At the finish, I met another club mate, an amazing lady who is one of the most talented runners in the country. She had left it all out there seeking the elusive sub3, and was suffering the effects, as many other runners did on the day. Thankfully she bounced back quickly, as she always does, and victory will be hers another day.

As I collected my tree shirt and medal, I became quite emotional, as I tend to do on these occasions. I have met many a grown man in tears, and I am not ashamed to say I had many a tear in my eye on this occasion.
This is where I get a bit deep, but the tears of joy were for a personal victory against the wall, for the health to be able to run, for the beautiful day we had, for the support from the crowd and club supports on the route, for the volunteers, for my family, and for life. Mostly, for life.

Gerry Duffy says it best, 'we get to'. Some people don't. So whether we have a good time, which is great, or we don't, we are there, we 'get to' be there.

And so as I said before this marathon, there will be no marathons for me next year.
Although, I did qualify for Boston again, and me and Boston have some unfinished business. And registration for Dublin 2017 opens next week. Just sayin.