“I think everyone should experience defeat
at least once in their career.You learn a lot from it”
Lou Holtz

On monday the leg was still sore and the motivation and mental strength to get out of bed and continue with other exercise was lacking.
By tuesday I decided that if I was to run Comrades I needed to be able to do perform one last decent run of around 25km. I managed to run 8km before deciding I just couldn’t go any further. At this point I decided to pull out.
The next couple of days however I renewed my hope one more and tested my leg out with 10km on thursday. I was pretty certain I couldn’t run after this but Rheanna got my hopes up once more and we have been working pretty hard on treating my back and leg.
Over the weekend I was hopeful I could get better and run but Sunday I could only manage 6km and the leg has been quite sore. Probably the worst it has been. So it is now all over for 2008.

Words can’t express the disappointment at not being able to run but the reality is I have no one to blame but myself. The lack of consistency in training has been the biggest problem and highlighted a number of areas I need to work on. With the earlier date of May 24 for Comrades 2009, I have less than a year already to get right and start training for the tougher down run…

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling,
but in rising every time we fall”
Confucius

“A man is not defeated by his opponents but by himself”
Jan Smuts, SA General

This was an extremely frustrating week.
On monday I ran 14km and was joined by Daniel. It was a nice easy run.
Tuesday I ran Mt Coot-tha (hill run) and managed a strong 25km in a fairy decent pace. Wednesday was backed up with an easy 12km.
I was starting to get a sore back during the week but was feeling pretty good after the previous couple of weeks.
On Friday morning I wanted to do a 30km run, the last decent run before Comrades. It was a struggle to get up but I hauled myself out of bed. It started out okay but after 4km or so I could start to feel a tightness through my left calf. I contiuned running as these things usually go away pretty quickly, but by 6km I had to stop as it was getting worse and I didn’t want to aggravate it. At 2.30 in the morning and 6km from home, I started the walk back very pissed off. It would have taken almost an hour to walk home so I had to suffer the embarrassment of catching a taxi home.
Saturday and Sunday it wasn’t much better. It’s so frustrating as I should have all the hard work out of the way and starting to taper down. The last thing I want is to be worrying about trying to get my back and leg right and still get some decent mileage in because I haven’t been able to run. The week ahead I have to get it right…

“A life spent in making mistakes
is not only more honourable but more
useful than a life spent doing nothing”
George Bernard Shaw

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life,
all my troubles have strengthened me…
you may not realize it when it happens,
but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing for you”
Walt Disney

After my week of milestones in week 35, I have had 2 of my worst weeks. Laziness, injury and tiredness have all made this a tough period.

In the first week tuesday I ran Mt Coot-Tha and did 20 by doing 2 laps. Whilst it felt fine at the time, I think the large amount of downhill strained my shins which aren’t used to that. I took a few days off to recover and by the weekend I was both lazy and extremely tired which conspired to stop me getting out of bed to train.
On the saturday I woke up with a sore right achilles/shin. Considering I hadn’t run in 3 days I was a bit perplexed but decided to rest it. It has taken a while to start to settle, playing havoc with my emotions!

This last week I have only run 3 times for a total of 40km. Not ideal preparation but I can’t change that fact now.
With 4 weeks to go, I need to step up and have a couple more decent weeks of about 80-90km, with a 25-30km in there somewhere.
Getting the tapering right so that I am fresh on race day is the challenge, as I actually feel better the more I run and usually feel sluggish with rest.
The end is nearing…the countdown is beginning

“To describe the agony of the marathon
to someone who’s never run it is like trying to explain
colour to someone who was born blind”
Jerome Drayton

“Learn to run when feeling the pain; then push harder”
Kenyan runner William Sigei

A week of milestones and a mental shift has seen me become a lot more confident of tackling Comrades.

On monday I ran 10km and was joined by Daniel. Thanks for running with me. It may have been a bit slow for me but it helped to have an easy run.
Tuesday I ran up Mt coot-tha which involved a steady 2.2km climb to the top. A total of 26km made that a tough mid week run.
Wednesday I decided to take it easy and was meant to do 10-12km. I pushed and managed 15km which involved a short but steep hill mid way.
Thursday was an easier session as I looked to let my legs recover.

Friday was my long run and I had a daunting goal of trying to run 60km, as I knew I had to do this to have any form of endurance to run Comrades. Waking up after 5.5 hours sleep was tough, and I just wanted to stay in bed, but I knew I had to do this run. It started out well at 5 min/km pace. I ran towards creek road which involves almost 3km of undulations (not 2km hills like in Comrades but at least there are 3-4 500m inclines). By now my pace had slowed to about 5.15/km. I ran past my work and turned around after 22km. By now I was needing the toilet as I hadn’t been able to go twice before my run like I usually do, so I headed home and got there around 37km. I was struggling a bit, slowing down and my feet were starting to get a bit sore. I had a drink, a banana and went to the toilet. I also took a couple of nurofen to make sure I didn’t get a headache as my shoulders can get tight with a long run.

I started off again and felt okay although I was running 5.30 pace. I had another drink stop at42.5km and that broke up the 12-13km out and back I was trying to do. I reached the 12km mark and realised I had now run almost 50km, my highest equal run, but hey I was still feeling quite good, running a bit faster and I wasn’t stiff or sore in my legs like I should be. Oh well, maybe the last 10-12km wouldn’t be that bad.
I actually felt quite good and my pace was getting better and better. From 50-55 I was running 5.10/km, and from 55-60 I got down to 5.00/km. I was feeling really good at 60km so decided to run another 5km, although my right ankle had a slight niggle starting. I ran the last 5km in about 4.52 pace. I was happy to have achieved 65km, in a time of 5hrs 43m and for the first time I feel like an ultramarathoner. After all that is just over 1 and a half marathons.
Unfoftunately I wasn’t able to get a nap in at all and had to go to work, but I lasted till 5pm and went home 30 mins early.

Saturday was an easy day although again I felt surprisingly good. I couldn’t run fast at all but not nearly as stiff as I usually am after a long run.

Sunday I decided to tackle mt Coot-tha again even though I knew I shouldn’t push too hard. I drove out to the bottom as I wanted to do a shorter run. My aim was 8-16km, depending on how I felt. I ran up the first 500m incline. Boy was it tough with slightly stiff legs. Then a flattish 1km before a 2.2km steady incline up, up up…Then the next 4km or so were mostly down but a little undulating. Before descending down. the loop being about 9.5km. I wanted to do the hill again, visualising the big 5 of comrades, so I thought i’d run to the top and turn around to give me 16km. The second time around was slightly tougher and much slower, running just over 6.00/km. I decided i’d just do another lap so I ended up running 20km.

I’m happy to have done a 65, my longest ever run. Now I can wind down in the road home to Comrades. It was also my biggest ever week with 144km, beating the 122km I mananged early november. My biggest goals now are just to keep up some steady runs, stay injury free and make sure I don’t get sick! The last few days i’ve had a slightly phlegmy throat so I’m looking forward to an easy week coming up and looking after my health…

“The secret of my success is this:
Every time, I tried to go as far as I could.
When I climbed the hills, I saw the mountains.
Then I started climbing the mountains…”
Ted Turner