Ep 141 Final top tips for the Dublin City Marathon 2026 with René Borg
· Trail Running Ireland Podcast
Runners from every corner of the country and every running discipline head for the 45th Dublin City Marathon this Sunday. Eoin Flynn and René Borg of Running Coach Ireland guide you through the final few days, race morning, the 26.2 miles themselves and the first hour after the finish.
René calls race week an execution phase, not a training week: protect sleep and energy, sort logistics early and try nothing new. One bad night before the race matters far less than regular under-sleeping, and Eoin recommends a short afternoon nap and, if possible, a day off work on the Friday. René explains the modified carbo-loading approach, with more carbs and less fibre from Thursday to Saturday without stuffing yourself, and says race-morning food should be exactly what you have rehearsed.
On the race itself, the first 5 to 10 km should feel almost too controlled, because there is no such thing as banking time. They discuss the forecast wind in the Phoenix Park and on the Crumlin Road, how to use pacing groups without letting them replace your own judgement, and how to handle stomach trouble and cramps. René splits the race into four phases, and Eoin points out that 98 to 99% of starters finish. They close with tips for the hour after the finish: a simple meeting point, keep moving, and have warm clothes, carbs and protein ready.