We were delighted to be joined by Brian, Bri and Ger on Monday night for a live preview show of the Dublin Marathon. Our goal was to answer your questions and help runners get through race week without overcomplicating it. We cover tapering, start-line nerves, carb loading, weather strategy, and how to think about pacing when the marathon gets hard. Bottom Line: Stick to what you’ve practised. From familiar food, familiar fuelling, realistic pacing, and enjoying the day rather than chasing last-minute “magic” fixes or "secrets" to marathon success... and enjoy it! It's an honour to run the packed streets of Dublin. A marathon can go any which way, so take it all in, regardless of the outcome.
04:30 - Live show opens and the Dublin Marathon context
07:10 - Brian Swaby on training progress and threshold gains
09:06 - Why the first kilometre should not be run by heart rate
10:30 - Ger on racing hard from the gun and managing early spikes
13:29 - Bri on race-week nerves and avoiding unfamiliar foods
16:16 - Beetroot juice, placebo effect, and why race week is not for experiments
18:21 - Keeping race-day breakfast and carb loading familiar
21:21 - Ger on marathon week, social media fearmongering, and experience
23:45 - Cereal choices, high-GI foods, and timing breakfast before the start
27:28 - Bri on topping up glycogen between breakfast and the start
29:49 - Staying warm before the gun and what to wear in bad weather
32:43 - Ger on mindset in rain, wind, and imperfect race-day conditions
34:06 - Running into headwinds and when to sit behind a group
36:52 - Bag drop essentials for after the finish
37:51 - Bri on taper nerves, trusting the coach, and first-marathon uncertainty
39:24 - Dublin crowds, course energy, and staying focused through noise
42:43 - A, B, and C goals for race day
47:42 - Post-marathon blues and why a future race can help
49:55 - Bri’s speed dust setup and hourly carb targets
53:30 - Water stations, carb intake, and not overthinking the numbers
58:51 - Breaking the marathon into chunks instead of 42.2 kilometres
60:38 - Enjoying marathon day, bag drop, and race-day photos
66:52 - Final advice: keep the carb load sensible, use the aid stations, and stay relaxed
We will be at the Marathon Expo this Friday afternoon from around 4 pm, so pop over and say hi, especially if you would like to feature in a future episode of the podcast!
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