When it was all over, Conor Crowley, one of the 8,000 runners in yesterday's Dublin marathon, described the lure of the day to Paul Cullen.
"This year, I can't get over how good I feel after the race. The weather dictated how it went for me; it was very, very benign. Mind you, it was bitterly cold starting off at 9 a.m., but you warm up.
"I'd normally run in a T-shirt in expectation of a downpour, but I was able to get away this time with wearing a singlet. Funny thing, in all the years of the Dublin marathon, the weather's been really bad on only two occasions.
"I said I'd do it in 3.45, but it wasn't looking too good as I was going through the Phoenix Park [after 20 miles]. I said: 'Oh no, this isn't promising'.
"I thought: 'The usual story after 21, 22 miles. Here we go again, there's nothing in the tank'. I normally crawl home the last few miles.
"Thankfully, though, I didn't go to pieces. I kept up the pace and stuck to it and I'm really happy with that. In the last mile I was waiting for a twinge in my hamstring, but I managed to just keep going and finish in three hours 46 minutes.
"It was lovely out there today. The trees were fantastic as they lose their leaves. You get a buzz out of that during the race, just looking around.
"This is my 22nd Dublin Marathon. I'm still kicking myself for missing the first one. I've done more or less the same time for the past 18 years, which is consistent if not spectacular.
"The level of support is less than in the early years. Back in the mid-1980s the crowds would be 10 to 15 deep in many areas, and there was a great atmosphere. Now it goes through a lot of leafy suburbs on the south city at a time when everyone is still in bed.
"Each year I start training in April. I fit in two runs a week as the weather gets better. I live in Glenageary, so my favourite routes take me along the sea-front, anywhere away from the traffic.
"I did a 20-mile final training run two weeks ago, but at 43 your recovery period isn't as quick as it used to be. On the day of the race, I get up at 6.45 and make do with a bowl of cornflakes and some cake - no coffee.
"Why do I run marathons? Well, I wouldn't do it if it wasn't for the sheer enjoyment. Loads of people say why do you run, it must be boring, but to me it's a complete switch-off.
"How you do depends really on how relaxed you are at the start line, and sometimes on how much you are the worse for wear. Then the problem is that you hit 'the wall' after a few miles.
"I remember one year starting at the GPO saying novenas because I'd been up through the night before. How am I going to get to the finish of this race? I thought. But you do it - you just get on with it.
"I must be getting sensible, because this is the first year I haven't gone to the pub over the weekend.
"The family used to come out to support me, but then my boy was saying: 'Come on, Dad, there's loads ahead of you. Why aren't you getting a medal?'
"Now that I'm finished, I'll head for home and mind the three kids while my wife plays tennis. I'm already dreaming of a nice bath, a good dinner and a glass of wine. Then I'll just put the feet up and think about next year."