A huge huge thank you for the texts, phone calls, emails and messages over the last few days. It’s been overwhelming to say the least. The atmosphere in the city on Monday morning was absolutely incredible, as was the support from the hundreds of thousands of people lining the route. The Airtricity Dublin Marathon most certainly lives up to the title of being “The Friendly Marathon”. Thank you to Evan Scully, Tommy Scanlan, Barry Minnock, and my uncle Cormac Murphy for giving over their Bank Holiday Monday to be a part of my support team. Watching Barry run in the Dublin Marathon 3 years ago was hugely motivational for me, and had it not been for injury he would have unquestionably been a force to reckon with in this years race. I’ve been very lucky to have Tommy accompany me on all of my key long runs over the last few months, providing me with drinks and gels and sheltering me from the wind in all conditions on his bike. The weekly (sometimes twice weekly) acupuncture and deep tissue sports massage treatments that I’ve received from Evan (Scully TherapyClinic) have been crucial in keeping me injury free in the build up to this years race, helping my body and legs to recover from successive weeks of heavy training. The weekly treatments that I receive from him are an integral part of my weekly schedule. Colm Rooney and Brian Maher did an excellent job at pacing us through 6 and 10 miles respectively on Monday, keeping us on schedule for a sub 2:16/17 clocking. Unfortunately we took a little bit of a battering from the elements thereafter, but it was an incredible race to be a part of. When Joe made his move at the 14 mile mark I genuinely thought he had the race won. It was a seriously impressive debut from Joe in testing conditions, and I know he’ll be back stronger and more determined than ever before after Monday’s race. The strength and depth in mens and womens marathon running in Ireland at the moment is hugely encouraging, and the outstanding performances of Paul Pollock, Mark Kenneally, Sean Connelly, Maria McCambridge and Linda Byrne (just some to name but a few) in the last few years have helped push marathon standards in Ireland higher and higher. With athletes of the caliber of Joe, Alistair Craig, Mark Christie and many others planning on stepping up to the marathon distance, next Summers European Championships in Zurich could provide a fantastic opportunity for Irish athletes to win both team and individual medals at the marathon distance, and I hope to try and be a part of it. The Dublin Marathon is an event like no other I’ve ever experienced. Unquestionably a large part of the races success is down to the tireless year round efforts of Jim Aughney, Eugene Coppinger and all of the Airtricity Dublin Marathon team. Through the support of Jim and the Marathon Mission initiative I’ve received support to go altitude training and been enabled to compete in many races abroad. Our monthly training sessions and post workout talks with Irish marathon legends like John Treacy, Jerry Kiernan, Eamonn Tierney and Emily Dowling are something we all look forward to. I’m also hugely grateful for the ongoing support that I receive from Adam Jones and my club in Rathfarnham AC. The support coming through Terenure/Rathfarnham on Monday was absolutely incredible, as was the support from my Rathfarnham WSAF AC teammates, my training partners from Raheny Shamrocks AC, friends and family members who went to great efforts to travel to as many different points on the course as possible, and from the many thousands of people lining the route on Monday morning. If you had said to me, when I started running at 12 years of age back home in Clare, that one day I’d win the Dublin Marathon I wouldn’t have believed you. Im extremely lucky to have very supportive family, friends and loved ones. Im also very lucky to have a coach of the calibre of Dick Hooper in my corner. He instills a profound sense of self belief and discipline in all his athletes, devoting a huge amount of his time to both his athletes and to his club. Under this guidance Ive achieved things that I would never have thought possible, and hopefully theres more to come. The last number of years physiotherapist Eilis Connery of Premier Physiotherapy in Ballinteer has been a big help in helping me rehabilitate from injury on many many occasions, and the physical therapy treatments Ive received from Richie Corcoran, Paddy Hamilton, Kate ONeill, Anna Crooks, David Ivers and Mark Ryan these last few months have also been a massive help. Thanks again, and sorry for waffling on above. Please keep Ricki Savage and his family and loved ones in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:57:10 +0000
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