The final pre-race update - All the info you need to stay in touch on Sunday

There's just 13 hours until the start of the 2008 ING New York City Marathon. First off, we're aware that there's problems with the audio interview file, we are working on it and hope to have it fixed by 1pm tomorrow. (edit - Interview now available - Cóilín)

Next up the race updates will begin around 4pm Sunday Irish time. There'll be five or six in total, ending around 11pm. Don't be disturbed and go ripping up your betting slips if my time initially seems to slow, the race chip on my shoe is what counts and not the clock on the course. This is because I'll start way back and the race will be on between 10 and 30 minutes when I get started.

Keep an eye out for the updates as the splits will give you a good time of how my race is progressing.

Finally I'd just like to give a brief mention to the International Friendship Run, a 2.5 mile event I walked today. It was great buzz and it was cool to hit the streets with my fellow foreigners. Make no mistake though, today was playtime. On Sunday moring, it's business time.

The Big Interview

Technical problem with Interview now rectified and available for download.

With less than 48 hours to go until the start of the 2008 ING New York City Marathon, STIG for CF Ireland brings you this exclusive interview, as sports journalist extraordinaire Cóilín Duffy speaks with Emmet Ryan.

To listen to this controversial one-on-one, just click on the link below.

The Big Interview

Remember to tune into this blog from 4pm on Sunday Irish time, 11am Eastern time, to catch regular updates of my progress in the race.

The Sunday Column - Part one of the campaign is just hours away

Monday morning will see John Craddock take to the streets of Dublin in part one of STIG for CF Ireland 2008.

John's done plenty of these before so he knows what he's doing and despite his own protestations he has done a reasonable bit of training for this race. A personal worst will be mocked if it occurs, the pressure's on.

We'll have updates during the day when possible, though this will likely be just one highly useless one just after the start. My flatmate however might be able to deliver more useful updates later in the day with more relevant information.

Late tomorrow night we'll have a video of John's race highlights, including pre-race experiences at the registration Expo. Stay tuned to this blog for further updates.

Oh and seeing as it's been at least three days since the last shameless plug for the charity element of this, you can donate to the campaign to show your support for John and me at our MyCharity page. As always we're grateful to everyone that's supported us to date.

Welcome Irish Times readers

Some of you today will be visiting this blog for the first time after reading about my escapades in this article from today's health supplement of the Irish Times. Welcome to STIG for CF Ireland's blog...let's get you up to speed.

As you'll be aware from the piece I'm doing the New York City Marathon on 2 November in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland. On top of this my good friend and training partner John Craddock will be competing in the Dublin City Marathon on 27 October, which is this Monday, as part of our campaign.

Here's a montage charting our preparation that regular visitors to this blog will be familiar with.


There's plenty of info in the posts below about other activities we're doing as part of the build up and other ways in which you can get involved in the campaign.

If you would like to donate check out our MyCharity page and thanks for your support.

The Sunday Column - The last big runs

I am breathing heavily as I write this. I'm set to 'taper' in a week (more on that further on) so I needed to get in a couple of decent length runs before then. Thus this morning and yesterday I hit the mean streets of Ranelagh.


'The Distance', by Cake

I had contemplated doing the Simon Community's 5 miler in the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning but getting out there in time for the 10.30 start was just plain unfeasible.

Instead I opted to do a similar distance around my own area in Ranelagh. I've a lap of the area set out that's just under 2 miles long so three of these would be ample replacement. At 11am with my iPod on my arm I set out from Anna Villa. Around the corner on Ranelagh Road I encountered what would be a recurring obstacle that morning.

Babies, lots of babies. Ranelagh's full of them in their buggies, being rolled around and generally proving an obstacle to cumbersome runners like myself. If slalom running ever becomes an Olympic sport I'm a shoo-in for gold in the over 100kg category.

In my haste to get around them I realised that I had done an awfully fast first mile, I kept this up for the rest of the lap and was duly feeling it with two thirds of my run still to go. I ran a much slower second lap, as more toddlers swarmed the streets of my adopted village.

Up by Belgrave Square I took a mild breather before getting going again. Word to the wise, when you're feeling wrecked and need to keep running 'Stronger' by Kanye West (yes I know it's just a Daft Punk cover, but it's a great cover) is quite a good choice. In more refreshed form I took off on the final lap of the morning, slowing as I came to Birchall's at the corner of my road.

Later that day, having realised I wouldn't be drinking that night, I figured "Fuck it, I'll do another five tomorrow". So at 9.30am this morning I took off once again on another three lap stint.

Sundays are great. Parents are too tired or hungover to bring their kids anywhere, especially that early, so the roads were empty. Ranelagh was a virtually buggy free zone. The one family I did come across that could have impeded me even managed to spot me at a distance and the father moved the rest out them out of the way to clear a path (yeah, that dude's a ledge).

This morning's five was actually faster than yesterday, and both sets were done at a pretty hard pace. Thus I am sitting on my couch three hours later, still somewhat out of breath. Of course the flatmate isn't even out of bed yet, lazy sod.

The reason I decided to put in these two sets when I did was very much a matter of timing. From next Sunday I'll be tapering, which is the fancy way of saying taking it easy until race day. The typical advice is that runners don't do any hard runs in the two weeks before a marathon and instead just focus on staying loose.

So with my training nearly complete for this phase it was time to get in some good miles before race day. I'll likely do another five next Saturday morning before the tapering period begins.

Breaking News - John Craddock signs onto the STIG team

After frantic negotiations that required emergency legislation from both houses of the Oireachtas, STIG for CF Ireland can announce a major breakthrough. Veteran marathon runner John Craddock has signed on to the STIG for CF Ireland team for 2008. Check the video below for details:



John has acted as Emmet's coach and training partner to date in this year's campaign. He will now also compete in the 2008 Dublin City Marathon on 27 October, giving STIG for CF Ireland a competitive presence on two continents within the space of a week.

If you want to show your support for John and Emmet and donate to STIG for CF Ireland you can do so at our MyCharity page.

The Sunday Column - Meeting my team mates

Saturday morning saw me pay a visit to the Spawell to meet up with the other members of Team CF Ireland.

Twas an interesting enough event. We heard the different stories as to how people got there. Many of these were tough going, no shock there, as we heard from one girl in our group who lost three siblings to Cystic Fibrosis and two guys, also doing the race, who have children with Cystic Fibrosis.

We also shared war stories about past experiences in distance running. A couple of the others are a tad worried about the prospect of doing their first marathon. I reassured them somewhat by pointing out that I'd done three to date and was still standing.

Martin Cahill, no not The General or one of his relations, is organising our group which will participate in the race. There are three Persons With Cystic Fibrosis (PWCF) in our group that will do the race, though none were present on Saturday. I was informed at the event that this is the preferred term and henceforth it's the one this blog will use.

On the kit side of things we hit a snag. While we had no problem getting tracksuits bottoms, a polo shirt, and fleece to fit me there was one problem. I'm comfortably the biggest member of the team (no shock, how many offensive linemen do marathons?) and getting a singlet for me is proving a challenge. It's be handy to have one to wear over my t-shirt come race day.

If we don't resolve the issue it could lead to the continuation of a bizarre little tradition that has occurred in every marathon I've done to date. In 2000, 2006, and 2007 at least one American has roared "Come on O'Neill's" at me as the sports gear manufacturer's logo was the most recognisable/only insignia on my t-shirt while racing.

The Sunday Column - 2 PBs down, 1 to go

Yesterday was the Adidas Dublin Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park. John Craddock and I lined up with a rather large field for the 13.1 mile course.

My tactics were similar to 10 miler a month earlier, run the odd numbered miles and walk the even ones. This time though to make the time go quicker I brought along my iPod, in my new little holder for it on my arm.

I had actually paced out the playlist so that I knew where I should be by the end of certain songs. Creativity somewhat took over around 5 miles in as some songs simply had to be included even if they broke the routine.

A simple tip for any running playlist: AC/DC, lots of AC/DC. Aside from that there was a shedload of Jim Steinmann penned tunes, assorted other power ballads, three variations on the Rocky theme, and Can't smile without You by Barry Manilow. Yeah, yeah we all have at least one song in these list worthy of mockery.

Anyhoo back to the race (which began with 'Start me up' by the Rolling Stones), and thanks to my system I knew I was flying on my running miles and not too shabby on my walking ones. I had a minor panic towards the end of the fifth mile (the last one under the system) when 'Song 2' by Blur ended and I was nowhere near the mile marker. I then realised that I still had the whole of Blondie's 'Call me' to go to remain on schedule and I reached it well before the end of that.

I pushed through and was still perfectly refreshed through seven miles, around the point where the fast people finally disappear from the course and stop running into the backs of us normal racers. I'm just going to say this: Races like these with just the fast people are only paper-scissors, to play the game you need the Rock.

Unforgiveable puns aside I quickly worked out that I had a problem ahead. Military Hill, or whatever its called, is the worst uphill part in the course. It's also the guts of a mile. On the first lap I walked it but I was scheduled to run it on the second lap in the eleventh mile. This would be tough.

It didn't start well. I was breathing heavily and my legs weren't in a running mood. Halfway up the hill the help I needed arrived. 'Promontory' from Last of the Mohicans. As in this:



This was some seriously motivational music! Got through the mile, well almost. The stewards were cleaning up the course and one of them asked me if I knew the rest of the way in, this lead me to believe that they were picking up course markers and putting them in their van. I said yes and asked him where the mile marker was, he said it was around the corner. When I didn't see it I assumed they'd annoyingly yoinked it (I'll explain why I assumed they'd do something so unhelpful later on) but in fact it was 2 corners away so I walked an eighth of that mile.

While walking the twelfth these two ladies approached me and one asked "Are you Emmet?" I said yes, vaguely recognising her face. "You gave us great tips last year, we wouldn't have finished it otherwise." That was really, really nice of them I thought.

In case you're wondering all I said was that walkers should run the first 50 yards or so of every mile to freshen up their muscles. I don't know if it's a physiological or psychological effect but all I know is that it works.

Meatloaf's 'Anything for Love' (thank you Jim Steinmann, thank you!) was in full swing as I hit the last mile. Man this hurt. I pushed on for the first half mile, had to stop and walk for a while, then pressed on again for the final quarter mile. As I approached the bend I could see the clock, I had a new target. I utterly needless sprinted around the final bend to guarantee success.

You see before the race my hope was a time around 3hours and 3 or 4 minutes, which would be about a minute a mile under my previous best. I figured breaking the 3 hour barrier was a little beyond my reach at this stage but lo and behold there it was, 2 hours 58 minutes on the clock. I raced around just to be safe but this 10 seconds of sprinting was wholly a case of showboating.

I crossed the line around 2 hours 58 and 40 seconds, again this will likely come down by around a minute when the chip is calculated (this discounts the time spent waiting to get to the start line). Essentially it means I beat my personal best by at least 17 minutes which is well ahead of my target.

That puts me in good stead to make a serious challenge at my PB in the marathon proper in November. The big difference between that best and my previous bests at this distance and over 10 miles, is that I set this all the way back in 2000. A time when I was a much lighter man. Still I'm confident now, whereas before I was only hopeful.

Before I go I have to say something about the organisation of the race and it's not positive. When you pay a fee to enter one of these things you expect a reasonable level of organisation. After the problems last year I wasn't exactly brimming with confidence.

Sure enough the stewarding was far from ideal this time. There were a few problems with directions aside from the bit I mentioned earlier but the most irritating bit came at the end. When I finished they had run out of goodie bags.

This is kind of important as after three hours on the road a body is crying out for something. The goodie bags come in handy in this regard as they're loaded with sugar. The last thing I expected was that they'd run out, I've stewarded at distance races before and they usually overstock to ensure this doesn't happen.

Ah well, rant over. I wouldn't let that ruin my day. I'm delighted with the time and confident I can build on this in the weeks ahead.



Just a reminder our Mycharity.ie page is up and running. You can donate there and help us reach our target for 2008.

Keep an eye out this coming week for the first Guest Post this year...actually come to think of it, it's the first ever, on the STIG for CF Ireland blog.

The Sunday Column - One personal best down, two to go.

Booya! Far from perfect but lobbing 5 minutes off my personal best will do nicely.

I went into the Frank Duffy 10-mile road race in the Phoenix Park with a headband and a lifetime best of just over 2 hours 15 minutes. So looking like a cross between Rocky while training and Will Ferrell in Semi-Pro, I lined up wearing John’s number.

I had missed registration during the week but luckily John had spotted the earlier than usual deadline and registered himself so he could lend me it if necessary. So off Emmet ‘John Craddock’ Ryan went, a man with a plan.

Like all good strategies it was simple. Run all the odd numbered miles, walk all the even ones except the last which I would also run.

I got off with ease and approaching the mile marker I considered changing tactics. I was feeling very comfortable but no, no I wouldn’t change horses mid-stream. Hannibal loves it when a plan comes together so who am I to argue.

So I walked the second mile, ran the third which was uphill. Ouch, need to plan better. Walk the fourth and I am cruising. Four and a half miles in the most wonderful thing happened. We turned onto the second lap, free from all those sodding elite athletes that keep breezing by my back as they lapped me. Pesky fast people.

At this stage I was selecting targets, using other racers as markers to watch my pace on my on and off miles. As I slowed to walk they would overtake me for a few minutes but when I started to run I soon overtook them. It worked well and as I turned onto the eighth mile I started to bear down on the sole one still ahead. I left her in my wake shortly after the last water station.

With the rain beating down I forced myself forward. The nine mile mark, I break from the plan. I need to cease running for a while. Half a mile later I kick again.

The final bend and I’m breezing past runner, I’m still fresh enough. I see the clock and cross the line with 2 hours 10 minutes on the clock. When the chip is calculated that’ll knock anything from on to six minutes off that time.

A new PB and unlike the last one I still had something in the tank. It’s far from perfect but you’ll hear no complaints from here.

Next up is the half marathon, again in the Phoenix Park, next month. My PB there is just under 3 hours 16 minutes. Then there's the you-know-what in November. One down, two to go.

The Sunday Column – The drawbacks of success

This coming Sunday I play what will be the most important game I’ve played since I took up American Football three years ago. It’s also the cause of a substantial obstacle to my marathon preparations.

While I am delighted to be on a team in the playoffs I have noticed the difference in my fitness over the past few weeks. I’m in optimum condition for football but that is not necessarily the best shape for running.

Last Saturday should have been the first preparatory race for the New York City Marathon, the Adidas 5-miler in the Phoenix Park. Due to the extension to the football season I had to give this a miss as I have with much of my running based training. I’ve bulked back up slightly, which is necessary for the upcoming game or games, but the challenge will be to drop this again after the season ends. There is an upside, strength-wise I’m doing fine and frankly don’t need to build up on the power front any more for the race. While crushing people generally isn’t an important part of marathon-running, this part of my preparations should still translate well on the stamina front when I start back running again. Still it will take my body a couple of weeks to adjust.

The knock on effect is that with a 10-miler ahead in August I’ll need to ramp up the early part of my resumption of training in order for this race to be of any real use.

Essentially the biggest drawback is that I have to shuffle matters around in order for the half marathon in the Phoenix Park in September to be at the point in preparations that I need it to be.

If I had the choice would I change any of this to be able to prepare earlier? Not a chance in hell. New York can wait; I have business in Cork to attend to first. The Admirals are my only priority for now.

1 day to go

"It ain't about how hard you can hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

There are less than 13 hours until the start of the 2007 Dublin City Marathon. Then the pain begins. Thanks for all your support in the build up to this race. It's much appreciated by the three of us. Keep an eye out for reports on how the race went sometime next week as we divulge the full gory details of the 26.2 mile course.

3 days to go...sort of

Survivor...awwwww yeahhhhh

Yes, yes I know I was supposed to post this on Friday but I fell asleep before I got a chance to.

Having woken up at 2pm on Thursday Irish time (6am in Vegas) I packed and boarded my flight to Chicago before connecting to Dublin. Everything was going fine until that flight took to the sky.

Then some git in seat 36A, the row behind mine, with a Northern accent decided to talk loudly for the entire flight home. What sort of git (this is a family blog so I'd best watch my language) actually talks on a redeye? I have a loud voice, I realise this so I don't talk on night flights ever.

But no, some people feel that their views on President Bush and God knows what else are so important that they have to spend the entire night telling it to his buddy next to him. On a flight with no earplugs this is cruel and unusual punishment, especially when some of us have to go straight into work afterwards.

So after doing my shift in ENN I finally got to bed around 6pm yesterday, roughly 28 hours after I got up previously. Not the most ideal prep for Monday.

4 days to go

Happy St Crispin's day

The weather in Vegas has been lovely and warm. I pray it isn't the same come Monday in Dublin.

Whether you're a World class runner or a charity stroller the conditions on raceday will have an impact. Last year was perfect. Another cold dry day like that would be ideal for this year's marathon.

If it rains I'll be ok though I'll be sick as dog when I go to the Chinese embassy the next morning to sort out the visa for my trip there. For Gareth it'll be a much worse as an injured ankle tends not to blend well with slippy roads so I hope it stays dry lest he hurt himself further.

The nightmare scenario for John and I is a warm day. Both of us bake quickly in the heat and what little energy we have will go fast.

5 days to go

I don't know if it's actually in any way beneficial but damn that trip to the spa felt good. Being a rather fancy hotel the Mandalay Bay has a rather pleasant spa. The sauna and steam room felt most refreshing, as did the cold pool though it was nowhere near as pleasant for obvious reasons.

I spent about an hour and a half there today and feel really refreshed afterwards. With a transatlantic flight at 11.20 tomorrow, meaning I've to be in the airport for 9.20, this was realistically the last chance I had to get some chill out time before I come home but it did a damn fine job.

6 days to go

Mr T gives his prediction for the marathon

Damn those new shoes I bought were a bad idea. My new black shoes, which I wore for the first time yesterday, proved to be too tight. The end result was that I have now got a couple of nasty blisters and have resorted to wearing sandals in order to give my feet every chance to recover.

My efforts at carbo-loading this week have also hit a slight snag as my meals to date have consisted of protein, protein and more protein. I'll have to change that soon. Marathon prep aside Vegas has been fun so far. I walked down the strip yesterday as far as the Bellagio fountains, which many of you will have seen in Ocean's 13.

7 days to go

I've arrived in Las Vegas and while it may not be the ideal place to prepare for a marathon in just one's week's time the creature comforts should mean I won't get too wrecked. I've a room with two double beds and a big plasma TV. Nice.

I'm reliably informed that this place has both a gym and spa. It's the Mandalay Bay, of course it does. So I'm going to hunt them down later today. Until then I'll leave you with The King.

And then there were three

This is the best picture we could find of Gareth. Honest.

I promised a big announcement so here it is. Dr Gareth Murphy will join the STIG for CF Ireland team for 2007.

Gareth suffered an ankle injury similar to the one that put me out of action for three months, just a couple of months ago. Like me he tore ligaments around his ankle, causing a whole heap of pain. Gareth's chances of participating in the marathon looked slim at that stage and the problems would be compounded in September. Just a couple of mornings before the half marathon, which was meant to be his first effort at training after injuring himself, Gareth managed to stab himself in the foot by stepping on his big shiny belt buckle while getting out of bed.

His PhD may be in Cosmic Physics but he'll be earning a professorship in pain come the 29th of October. Under normal circumstances Gareth would slaughter both myself and John. He's barely over 10 stone and tends to keep in good shape. This time though he'll be heavily hindered as his ankle still hasn't fully recovered with the marathon being the first test of it since the injury.