“Do what you can,
with what you have,
where you are”
Theodore Roosevelt

Resting HR (average): 51

This week i’ve had to deal with extreme tiredness. All i’ve wanted to do is sleep. This week i’ve only managed 3 times to exercise twice per day, as i’ve had some early nights. Tuesday I was in bed by 7.30pm, Thursday by 6.30, and Friday and Saturday by 8.30pm. Mind you i’ve had some early morning starts. 2.00am on Friday and 3.00am on Saturday (well that was mostly due to the Stormers playing!)

It’s been pleasing to note my resting heart rate decreasing slowly. I’d like to be averaging under 50 firstly, and then get down to mid 40′s. Hopefully that will coincide with some better running performances.

My runs this week have been increased but with mixed performances. A few have been at a better pace (but still not even at or below 5:00/km pace), but my 26km Friday run occured at a shocking pace of 6:00/km! I was out at 3am on Friday morning and it felt fantastic to do a long (well ok a medium run) run in the early hours for the first time in months. It’s such a peaceful time being out alone with no cars or pedestrians out, where you can sing along to your mp3 player and no one is around to make you feel like an idiot!

I’m pleased that the shin pain i’ve been experiencing is disappearing, and the legs feel physically quite good. Now they just need some strength and power, and to go a fair bit faster!

I’ve also noticed my arms starting to get more muscly again. They have picked up a fair bit of weight too, so with more training i’m hoping they get a bit smaller but better defined.

Next week i’ll freshen the legs with lower mileage and look to up their strengthening.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

“It’s not what happens to you
but what happens in you that counts”
John C Maxwell

Resting HR (average): 53

This week I had to push to get the mileage up over 60km. It’s been a while and the body is going extremely slow to cope with it. Whereas 6 months ago I was averaging 5:00/km, now I am struggling to average 5:30/km. However mentally I feel strong so it is simply going to take time to build the base back up in terms of mileage and then the speed will come slowly.

In the mirror this week I managed to catch a glimpse of some abs reappearing beneath the thick layer of adipose tissue! Nothing will please me more than to have them back in all their glory!

It was a tough week and I managed to exercise twice per day on 4 out of the 7 days. Next week I look forward to having an easier week, with less running.

“Many people succeed when others do not believe in them. But rarely does a person succeed
when he does not believe in himself”
Herb True

“It’s not what you are going to do,
but it’s what you are doing right now that counts”
Napoleon Hill

Weight: 70.7kg  
Fat content: 20.4%
Resting HR (average): 54

This week I had to push to get the mileage up over 60km. It’s been a while and the body is going extremely slow to cope with it. Whereas 6 months ago I was averaging 5:00/km, now I am struggling to average 5:30/km. However mentally I feel strong so it is simply going to take time to build the base back up in terms of mileage and then the speed will come slowly.

In the mirror this week I managed to catch a glimpse of some abs reappearing beneath the thick layer of adipose tissue! Nothing will please me more than to have them back in all their glory!

It was a tough week and I managed to exercise twice per day on 4 out of the 7 days. Next week I look forward to having an easier week, with less running.

“It is never too late to be what you might have become”
George Eliot

“The most important thing about getting somewhere
is starting right where we are”
Bruce Barton

January has been a month of rebuilding after getting the year off to the worse possible start. The first 4 days I didn’t do any exercise due to sickness.
Starting from scratch I’ve been concentrating on getting into the groove of exercising daily. Where possible I’ve been aiming for twice a day. The sessions are shorter due to my new work regime, but they are consisting of short sessions of ab work/lower limb stability and stretching exercises morning and night, and then short-medium runs or strengthening sessions in the morning. The evening consists of more ab/stability/stretching and then a short exercycle, crosstrainer or step exercises

Running Mileage

Dec 29-Jan 4 20km
Jan 5-11 30km
Jan 12-18 22km
Jan 19-25 52km
Jan 26-Feb 1 55km

“Those people blessed with the most talent
don’t necessarily outperform everyone else.
It’s the people with follow through who excel”
Mary Kay Ash, Founder Mary Kay cosmetics

“You never know who you are and what you are
until you’ve really been tested”
Dr Beck Weathers

The last 4 months have been extremely difficult. Over that period I have had to cope with the regret and disappointment of not having run Comrades 2008. It has been harder to come to terms with than any other sporting event I have participated in.

The frustration of injury and the fact that the sports doctor and multiple Physios who have seen me haven’t been able to really help me much has made the whole process that much harder. A sportsperson without hope finds it hard to dream about the future (well I do anyway! Not knowing whether I could continue running plays havoc with the mind!)

Another terrible consequence of this whole ordeal has been the weight gain! Since May 2008, I have picked up 11 kilos!!! Fat is everywhere! Especially around the belly (there are no abs to be seen) and you could pick me up by the handles on my sides now! Suddenly my pants are struggling to go on comfortably now! My upper body is bigger which is not the worst thing for the male ego but it definitely needs refining. It’s amazing how quickly you put on weight, and how slowly it takes to go away. I feel like I’m a contestant on the biggest loser!

Late December has seen me start exercising again. A few sick days around new years was not the start I was looking for, but the groundwork for a new, improved Sanjay Deva is on the go. I aim to start slowly (I certainly can’t go quick even if I want to!) and build up. Consistency is the main focus this time around. I have been struggling with a some patellofemoral discomfort around the right knee, and then bilateral shin pain which is really limiting my running (maybe it’s from all the extra weight!).
The mind is starting to feel refreshed and the hunger, determination and dreaming is coming back.

“Failure is the opportunity
to begin again more intelligently”
Henry Ford