I was quitting the Dublin Marathon. I hadn't even made the half-way point. This, in particular, annoyed me, as I had done several half marathons in 2023. In the buildup and on the day though, everything went against me. My training was lax, I was sick for the last couple of weeks beforehand, my sleeping arrangements weren't ideal as I was in a shared dorm in a hostel. I had a splitting headache that morning. To add insult to injury, after being drenched to the skin waiting for a spin to the RDS because the event management people insisted on taking down the medical tent, I had to walk in from the RDS to get my bag. Walking through cheering crowds, watching people finishing. It was probably in the top five most traumatic experiences of my life. I swore that day that I'd never feel that way again. The next marathon I was going to enjoy. The next one I was going to finish.
I had already signed up for the 2024 London Marathon as part of the CUH Charity team. I had booked it by chance when I was already training for Dublin. Now though, with the experience of failing one marathon behind me, I knew I had to pull out all the stops. On 3rd December, I gave up alcohol (having learned the hard way that being an active alcoholic is not ideal marathon preparation. The next day I started my marathon training under the guidance of a new running coach. I got sick just before Christmas and again just after finishing my last long run (18 miles) three weeks out. That aside, I think my preparation was about as good as it could have been.
London itself was a special experience, 28 of us flew out from Cork and there was a very noticeable team spirit among the group. We all ran out own individual races, but there was a real sense of togetherness.
As for marathon morning, I'd be lying if I pretended there were no nerves, but what was clear was that I had a laser focus. It took me 7 hours 17 minutes and 53 seconds (although 17 minutes is about how long I queued for the toilet, so I'm saying 7 hours) and I walked more than half of it. I won't be breaking any records and no one will remember my time but me, but I did it. I completed the London Marathon. Something I couldn't have dreamed of doing a while ago. The atmosphere was electric, the support unreal, the buzzer was like something I'd never experienced before. It was tough, physically it nearly broke me, but unlike Dublin, I never entertained not finishing it. I pushed on, dug deep, whatever cliché you want to use. The London Marathon was an experience that I will never forget.
I thought I was going to get emotional as I crossed the line. I didn't. I think it was just relief at that stage. However, I did get strangely emotional at different points. The most surreal was at about the halfway stage when YMCA was being played and I almost lost it. It's not because I'm in the closet or anything, I just think it was because it was the half-way point, which I didn't make in Dublin, and the fact I was part of such a brilliant buzz. Apart from about miles 15-19 where you thought "where the fuck is everyone?", the support throughout was something else. Constant offers of jelly babies, kids offering high fives, stuff you get at any marathon or half marathon, just on a much larger scale.
It wasn't all positive, after the adrenaline wore off, Monday morning I retreated back into my typical thought patterns. "Ah sure you walked most of it. You're not a real runner." It's funny, because:
I had already signed up for the 2024 London Marathon as part of the CUH Charity team. I had booked it by chance when I was already training for Dublin. Now though, with the experience of failing one marathon behind me, I knew I had to pull out all the stops. On 3rd December, I gave up alcohol (having learned the hard way that being an active alcoholic is not ideal marathon preparation. The next day I started my marathon training under the guidance of a new running coach. I got sick just before Christmas and again just after finishing my last long run (18 miles) three weeks out. That aside, I think my preparation was about as good as it could have been.
London itself was a special experience, 28 of us flew out from Cork and there was a very noticeable team spirit among the group. We all ran out own individual races, but there was a real sense of togetherness.
As for marathon morning, I'd be lying if I pretended there were no nerves, but what was clear was that I had a laser focus. It took me 7 hours 17 minutes and 53 seconds (although 17 minutes is about how long I queued for the toilet, so I'm saying 7 hours) and I walked more than half of it. I won't be breaking any records and no one will remember my time but me, but I did it. I completed the London Marathon. Something I couldn't have dreamed of doing a while ago. The atmosphere was electric, the support unreal, the buzzer was like something I'd never experienced before. It was tough, physically it nearly broke me, but unlike Dublin, I never entertained not finishing it. I pushed on, dug deep, whatever cliché you want to use. The London Marathon was an experience that I will never forget.
I thought I was going to get emotional as I crossed the line. I didn't. I think it was just relief at that stage. However, I did get strangely emotional at different points. The most surreal was at about the halfway stage when YMCA was being played and I almost lost it. It's not because I'm in the closet or anything, I just think it was because it was the half-way point, which I didn't make in Dublin, and the fact I was part of such a brilliant buzz. Apart from about miles 15-19 where you thought "where the fuck is everyone?", the support throughout was something else. Constant offers of jelly babies, kids offering high fives, stuff you get at any marathon or half marathon, just on a much larger scale.
It wasn't all positive, after the adrenaline wore off, Monday morning I retreated back into my typical thought patterns. "Ah sure you walked most of it. You're not a real runner." It's funny, because:
- I wouldn't tolerate that talk from anyone else.
- I wasn't getting that from anyone else on the CUH team.
Some people on the team ran Boston Marathon qualifying times. All were at least two hours faster than me, most a lot more, but they were all coming up to me afterwards like I had won the bloody thing.
As I finish this piece, six days later, the memories are crystal clear. I find myself missing the buzz, reminding myself what I was doing this time last week, the pre-race nerves, the carb loading. I'm no Eliud Kipchoge, but I think back to what I've achieved, and it amazes me. Fellas like me don't do marathons. Yet I did, not just any marathon, one of the best marathons in the world. The memories from last Sunday will never leave me, nor will the sense of achievement. Nothing in my life has fundamentally changed since the London Marathon. I have the same life, the same job, but I have my medal, as well as the heightened sense of my own resilience.
As I finish this piece, six days later, the memories are crystal clear. I find myself missing the buzz, reminding myself what I was doing this time last week, the pre-race nerves, the carb loading. I'm no Eliud Kipchoge, but I think back to what I've achieved, and it amazes me. Fellas like me don't do marathons. Yet I did, not just any marathon, one of the best marathons in the world. The memories from last Sunday will never leave me, nor will the sense of achievement. Nothing in my life has fundamentally changed since the London Marathon. I have the same life, the same job, but I have my medal, as well as the heightened sense of my own resilience.
It is estimated that 0.17% of people will do a marathon this year. That figure doesn’t allow for multiple marathon runners, so the percentage is probably lower than that. I’m part of that 0.17%. If a tubby bloke from Clonakilty can run the London Marathon, then what else can I achieve if I put my mind to it?
I’m much too politically aware and cynical to believe in this meritocracy nonsense. There are always barriers. However, I’m moving with a spring in my step this week (figuratively not literally). The gloom of Dublin last October has been lifted. No one can take my medal away from me, or the sense of pride.
⏩Donal O'Driscoll is political activist who enjoys running. He recently completed the London Marathon.
Great story Donal about life, its challenges, its personal struggles and the sense of satisfaction that can be derived from putting the effort in. A rule of thumb for me is not to be the best that can be but to be the best that I can be. Good writing - hope we see you back here.
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