This is the 2nd time that I have run this race. I ran it in 2017 and PR'd (PB'd) my marathon by almost 23 minutes. It was the first time … MORE
This is the 2nd time that I have run this race. I ran it in 2017 and PR’d (PB’d) my marathon by almost 23 minutes. It was the first time I broke 4 hours and I had 7 minuted to spare.
My mission this time was to BQ. (My BQ time is 3:35:00 and my personal best so far was 2019 Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA USA at a 3:49:21.
I finished Dublin this year at 3:30:06 (A BQ with 4 minutes, 54 seconds to spare) – and I stopped at one of the water stations to make sure that I filled my bottle with Lucazene (whatever their electrolyte drink is called – it’s good, I just can’t remember the name of it) and I also walked 2 hills. the crowd is excellent. the fellow runners are considerate. They give you full, flip-top squirt bottles of water at every other mile, so you can carry it with you if you wish or (if not) there’s enough weight in it to properly chuck it off-course. End result: you’re not stepping over 22,500 + cups at every station.
I will never ever ever ever ever have anything bad to say about this race. I really wish I lived there (or closer to there, or in a city where direct-flights are frequent and cheap) because this could very well become my annual adventure. I love this race. I love it. I love my shirt (which you get after you get your medal, not at the expo), I love my beanie hat (which we got at packet pick-up). I love it all. Plenty of portapotties. Well-organized bag drop. the volunteers are like no others
The best part of this year was that – when I crossed the finish line, I stopped my watch and threw my arms up in jubilation! 3:30:08 and I lost it. I just started crying. A nice Irish man asked, “are you OK?” and another guy said “ah – those are tears of happiness if I’ve ever seen them, lad!” When I could finally get my breath back enough to say “20 minutes! My personal best by 20 minutes!” both guys gave me a big hug and I got several pats on the back. I’ve cried at the end of a lot of races, but there’s something about Ireland – people are SO NICE.
They’ve changed this to a lottery system next year, but if you can find your way into this race – do it. It’s fantastic. (the half in September is good, too)
The best thing about this race: it will NEVER,(never ever ever ever ever) be “too hot.” I’ve signed up for autumn and winter races up north in the States and you’re never really guaranteed good temps (I think of my friends all doing Chicago in 2017 – it was 85ºF for them, while I enjoyed 38ºF in Dublin.)
P.S. Irish Stew and Mashed Potatoes is good luck the day before your race. it’s worked for me on my last 5 fastest marathons. ☺
RUN THIS RACE!
This is the 2nd time that I have run this race. I ran it in 2017 and PR'd (PB'd) my marathon by almost 23 minutes. It was the first time … MORE
This is the 2nd time that I have run this race. I ran it in 2017 and PR’d (PB’d) my marathon by almost 23 minutes. It was the first time I broke 4 hours and I had 7 minuted to spare.
My mission this time was to BQ. (My BQ time is 3:35:00 and my personal best so far was 2019 Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA USA at a 3:49:21.
I finished Dublin this year at 3:30:06 (A BQ with 4 minutes, 54 seconds to spare) – and I stopped at one of the water stations to make sure that I filled my bottle with Lucazene (whatever their electrolyte drink is called – it’s good, I just can’t remember the name of it) and I also walked 2 hills. the crowd is excellent. the fellow runners are considerate. They give you full, flip-top squirt bottles of water at every other mile, so you can carry it with you if you wish or (if not) there’s enough weight in it to properly chuck it off-course. End result: you’re not stepping over 22,500 + cups at every station.
I will never ever ever ever ever have anything bad to say about this race. I really wish I lived there (or closer to there, or in a city where direct-flights are frequent and cheap) because this could very well become my annual adventure. I love this race. I love it. I love my shirt (which you get after you get your medal, not at the expo), I love my beanie hat (which we got at packet pick-up). I love it all. Plenty of portapotties. Well-organized bag drop. the volunteers are like no others
The best part of this year was that – when I crossed the finish line, I stopped my watch and threw my arms up in jubilation! 3:30:08 and I lost it. I just started crying. A nice Irish man asked, “are you OK?” and another guy said “ah – those are tears of happiness if I’ve ever seen them, lad!” When I could finally get my breath back enough to say “20 minutes! My personal best by 20 minutes!” both guys gave me a big hug and I got several pats on the back. I’ve cried at the end of a lot of races, but there’s something about Ireland – people are SO NICE.
They’ve changed this to a lottery system next year, but if you can find your way into this race – do it. It’s fantastic. (the half in September is good, too)
The best thing about this race: it will NEVER,(never ever ever ever ever) be “too hot.” I’ve signed up for autumn and winter races up north in the States and you’re never really guaranteed good temps (I think of my friends all doing Chicago in 2017 – it was 85ºF for them, while I enjoyed 38ºF in Dublin.)
P.S. Irish Stew and Mashed Potatoes is good luck the day before your race. it’s worked for me on my last 5 fastest marathons. ☺
Easy course, great support
Dublin is a destination race and follows a super flat course built for personal bests. Reminds me a lot of running Chicago, without the skyscrapers. Best part of the race … MORE
Dublin is a destination race and follows a super flat course built for personal bests. Reminds me a lot of running Chicago, without the skyscrapers. Best part of the race was the crowd support, with cheering Dubliners lining most of the course and many handing out candy. Expo was ok, and unfortunatley race shirts are distributed at the finish line. Most of the race is run through the rather unspectacular Phoenix Park (at least the view runners had) and suburbs of Dublin. Swag included a finisher’s shirt and a stocking cap. Lucozade provided at the half and beyond along with sports gels. Of course, if you don’t live in Dublin the draw is the City and that definitely rates 5 stars.
Hands-down: My favorite marathon so far!
This race exceeded my expectations. I was blown away by the crowd support. I was really impressed with how organized the start and finish line areas were. I always make … MORE
This race exceeded my expectations. I was blown away by the crowd support. I was really impressed with how organized the start and finish line areas were. I always make note of the portapotty situation and (1) there were TONS of them (2) they FLUSHED! Why doesn’t America have this technology yet?
The expo was held at the Royal Dublin Society. I brought my parents with me because I love them and I wanted them to have a proper vacation outside of the States at least once. We had hop-on, hop-off tours so I told them to go look at the book of Kells and I would go to the expo (since I had already seen the book the year before.) I was trying not to look like a tourist when I was getting there. I got a little lost, but a helpful man at one of the hotels pointed me in the proper direction. The Expo hall had a lot of exhibitors; but I only really had time to look around and pick up my bib because I had to meet back with my parents. I bought a mug and a jacket. The mug was really cheap-looking, but I didn’t care. I told myself that I was walking out of there with a mug.
**Race morning**
Daylight Savings Time ended and I didn’t realize that it happened that night so when I woke up, I was in a great panic! “I won’t have time for a proper breakfast, I need to get there! I’m going to miss the race.” But when I went down to breakfast, the place was loaded with marathoners, so I then realized that the switch was made. (It was when I got back from the race, that I saw signs that said “remember, we turned the clocks back last night!”… go raibh maith agat, hotel! I appreciate it! ☺)
**Race Start **
I was on a mission for this race. This was my 20th Marathon and I decided that this was the one – this is when I am going to break 4 hours. So I found my pacer (the pacers are all attached to giant balloons with their anticipated finish time on them, so you can’t miss them), I got in line, and the race began. The race starts (I think it is near St. Stephen’s green) but the streets are lined with beautiful Georgian townhomes. (again – the crowd support!) I think that the only time the crowd thinned out a bit was when we were in Phoenix Park, but the park was simply stunning in the autumn: the bright green grass, the orange leaves, and the bright blue sky! (I love autumn. We don’t really get “autumn” in Florida, so I miss it. And I know that the race organizers cannot control the weather but if all races had the kind of weather that we had that day, it would be perfect. It was about 38ºF to start. The sun was shining and the sky was so blue. ☺ )
There were some points on the course where we were just running through areas that are just utilitarian – shopping centers, petrol stations, just normal areas, but at the same time: we’re in Dublin and that means that there is an old stone church right behind these places and – what’s more – “we’re in Dublin!” (For a girl who lives in hot, humid, Florida USA and came from the Midwest USA, this was heaven for me.)
I “lost” my pacers somewhere in the park, but I never saw them again and I tried to keep it that way. There was one point after the 20-mile mark when I was desperate for water and one of the bike riders went ahead and brought some back to us. That was really nice.
One part that will always stick with me is that, at around mile 18, we were coming up a hill and this guy decided to tie his shoe. He didn;t move over. He didn;t signal that he was going to slow down or stop. He just stopped to tie his shoe right there inthe middle of the road. (…and the Dublin Marathon is a BIG race. I think that they said there wer about 20,000 runners in it so it’s not a thin field.) So this guy stops to tie his shoe and boy, did the lads let him have it! I thought to myself “ahh! I’m HOME! ♥ These are MY people!” I wanted so badly to join in but they had it pretty well covered. ☺ ♥ … the lads. I love them.) That pretty much carried me through the rest of the race. After that, I didn;t pay too much mind to my miles or my pace – I was just sight-seeing and I felt good. I knew that I was meeting my goal since I was ahead of the 4-hour pace team so I just stuck with that.
I always say “you’re not ‘almost there’ until you can see the finish line,” so I saw it, and I gave it all that I had, but the road was ever-so-slightly uphill. That made it a little tough, but I was “almost there” even 1/3 of a mile away. I crossed the finish line, stopped my watch, and immediately went into tears. I got my finisher’s shirt (which is a 1/4-zip tech shirt in royal blue with lime green accents.) I got my medal (it had Jonathan Swift’s bust on it, but my sister calls it my “Sloth from the Goonies Medal.”) paying no mind to them whatsoever. I was outright sobbing.
My previous personal best marathon time was 4:16 and I was on a mission to run 3:59:59.
**Result** 3:52:52
All of the “clean eating”, food measuring, extra time at the gym, yoga, and foam rolling that I had done had paid massive dividends and I had no one there to rejoice in my post-race euphoria … until some nice volunteer came up, wrapped her arms around me, and said “ah, darlin’ you’re grand!” I hugged her back and said, “I’m more than grand! I did it! I did it by a lot!” It felt like we hugged for a solid minute while I stood there sobbing, just letting it all out while trying to let it sink in that I really did it.
** and that’s why this was my favorite race so far. Irish people are super, super nice. They are funny, they are witty, and they are so welcoming. That volunteer, though- she was the icing on the cake for me at that marathon.
Sorry that this wasn’t my usual thorough review, but I would run this race every year if I had the funds to travel there and still run all of the other races that I do. Any race where you set a personal best by more than 20 minutes gets a 5-sneaker rating. (I loved it so much, that I signed up for their half marathon since it was a week after the 2018 Berlin Marathon.)
If you can afford to: **Run the Dublin Marathon** don’t hem and haw about it, just do it.
Happy Running!
Friendly
The friendliest marathon and best crowd support I've ever encountered and i have done major marathons. The course is what i would call fair. The first half is more difficult … MORE
The friendliest marathon and best crowd support I’ve ever encountered and i have done major marathons. The course is what i would call fair. The first half is more difficult than the second especially around the Phoenix park which is open and wind can effect. Good quality of runner, it sells out very quickly, 20,000 sell out and sold out 10 months in advance for 2019.
Great course, wonderful support
The course is characterized by gently rolling hills. It runs through downtown as well as scenic Dublin country-side. Due to the large number of participants, the start/finish areas are very … MORE
The course is characterized by gently rolling hills. It runs through downtown as well as scenic Dublin country-side. Due to the large number of participants, the start/finish areas are very chaotic. The spectators in each neighborhood off support like no other race!
Great course - Great race!
Fast, flat course. Great crowd support through the majority of the race. Nice scenery. Part of race is run through a park (only major hill) which I found relaxing. It … MORE
Fast, flat course. Great crowd support through the majority of the race. Nice scenery. Part of race is run through a park (only major hill) which I found relaxing. It was a little drizzly at the beginning with temps around 55. Frequent water/aid stations, though no port a potty in the last 4-5 miles (unless I just missed them). Nice shirt and medal at the end. All said, one of my favorite marathons. Would definitely do again. It’s Ireland – enjoy!!
Race officials provide poor service
The race course meandered through Dublin and spent the better part of the race inside of Phoenix Park, a very large park just west of downtown. We were running with … MORE
The race course meandered through Dublin and spent the better part of the race inside of Phoenix Park, a very large park just west of downtown. We were running with a friend who was doing his very first marathon. Unfortunately, it rained for most of the race, but it wasn’t too bad (i.e., it was not a downpour).
One of the first things I noticed that concerned me was that the race officials started taking down the aid stations and re-opening the streets very early. We were not running at a fast pace, but two hours into the race, aid stations were being dismantled and as we continued, we could see that others had already been dismantled. At one point, an aid station had been taken down, but we could see that there were dozens of flats of water bottles and energy drink by the collapsed tables. When I walked up to the area and asked for a bottle of water, the volunteers told me that I could not have any because the volunteers were going to take them home. Sure enough, some of them were carrying them to their cars as she told me this.
Striving to have a good attitude, I endeavored not to let this ruin my race experience. As we crossed the finish line, however, they were out of shirts for the runners (no shirts had been provided to the runners at packet pickup) and all of the aid tables had already been taken down (so, no water or snacks). There was a lady walking around with a clipboard to record all of the names of individuals that did not get shirts. It was a very long list as she had several pages of names and numbers already written down by the time we arrived. We were promised that we would get our race shirts in the mail over the next few weeks.
After several weeks, two shirts showed up in the mail, but one was the wrong size (much too small). Our friend (first marathon, mind you) never received a shirt. I called the Dublin Marathon to determine what we needed to do to get the XS shirt replaced and to obtain the shirt that was never sent. Carol, the “Race Manager”, was unable to help. She explained that all the shirts were gone and that, even though she had received many calls from people that had not received shirts, they would not be running another batch.
I can overlook the aid stations and road re-openings, but not getting a finisher’s shirt is something I have never heard of before. The fact that the race organizers were unsympathetic to our plight and to fixing the problem makes this a race I will not do again.
As a side note, I am planning to do the Rock-n-Roll Dublin Marathon later this year. I am certain there is no way that the Competitor Group would let something like this happen.