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! Ultrapure Sports Recovery Kit is the perfect answer for post marathon training recovery. Check out Ultrapure.ie or shop here Get the AGR Ultrapure Sprint Bundle HERE with the exclusive AGR Bobble Hat!! If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong. Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers. Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie. ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles). altarfuel.com
