Torrential rain and bright sunshine reflected the range of emotions experienced by the struggling runner, writes Claire Shoesmith
That was my first and last marathon. If yesterday proved anything, it told me that I am definitely more of a half marathon girl.
Although to be fair to my aching body, I did make it round the very wet 26-mile course yesterday and arrived at the finish line in one piece, having walked only a few times It really was quite a day. Rarely, if ever, have I experienced so many emotions in four hours, well four hours and 10 minutes to be precise.
Moreover, rarely has anyone seen so many weather variations in the same time period.
Having grown up in the north of England and spent many a summer holiday in a not-so-sunny north Wales, I thought I was pretty experienced in rain, but it seems Dublin felt it had something to teach me.
Rain, rain, and a little more torrential rain featured heavily in the first half of yesterday's endurance test. However, that didn't put me and my running partner off. In fact, it kind of helped. We got so wet just walking to the start that somehow our nerves got washed away along with everything else.
The start was a little chaotic to say the least, but once we had crossed the starting mat I have to admit to feeling quite excited.
The run itself, dare I say it, was enjoyable until the 15-mile mark. But from there things started to go downhill - in my performance and sanity that is, rather than the opposite of uphill. I think this may have something to do with the fact that I started off quite quickly.
It's funny really. Having trained for the most part on my own, I was used to plodding along at whatever speed my legs cared to carry me. But for some reason, faced with people running in front of me, I felt the need to overtake as much as I could. This however came back to haunt me later - when coming down Fosters Avenue they all overtook me.
Then came the worst part of the run for me, though thankfully the sun had come out by that point. Turning on to Stillorgan Road it hit me how long it takes to drive into the city centre from there, and I had to run it.
At this point I was deeply regretting not having ever run more than 18 miles in my training and cursing the injured Achilles that prevented me from completing my training schedule as I would ideally have wished.
Anyway, none of that matters any more. The important thing is I did it, I have the T-shirt to prove it, and I don't think I'll be doing it again. Does anyone know how to stop a letter that has been posted? I sent my London marathon application form off last month.