“Obstacles don’t have to stop you.
If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it,
go through it, or work around it.”
Michael Jordan

The greatest challenge in running the comrades I am told is mental. The past 4 weeks have been extremely tough due to a minor shin injury and the effect it has on the mind. The self-doubt, the ability to remain in a positive state of mind, the faith required and above all the courage to persevere.
I was ready to pull the pin and give up on the dream before remembering the pain of regret will outlast the pain of 12 hours. And if I fail at least I need to give it my best, comfortable in the knowledge my best wasn’t good enough. The more I learn this time, the better I can prepare next time.
So I must rely on the strength I posess and the preparation I have already done before facing a pain like i’ve never had to endure before…here goes…

“There is no tomorrow.”
Apollo Creed, Rocky III

“You pay a price for getting stronger
You pay a price for getting faster
You pay a price for jumping higher
But also you pay a price for staying just the same”
H Jackson Brown

This week saw inconsistent effort. After trying to do more hills, my right calf and shin were a little sore by wednesday so I took a day off to recover
I mananged a good long run on friday, but then had a quiet weekend as I was still a little stiff
This week I need to return to a full training week and take the hills slower…

“The opportunity to become who we want
lies in this very moment’s behaviour”
David Reynolds

“He who falls and gets up didn’t fall, he only stumbled”

The last couple of weeks have been inconsistent. The mental side of things play such a big part even before the race is won.
It has been hard to maintain the mental focus in whilst niggles and tiredness kick in. Getting up in the mornings and keeping the right attitude up are the tough things. At the back of any runners mind is the thought “Have I done enough miles?” The answer to that question is always “no”, but it nevers make you feel any better.
I was reminded from an ironman this week that it is better to be underdone that overdone, which was a nice reminder that things could be worse. It gave me a good dosage of motivation though, so it’s back on the road again…

“To achieve all that is possible,
we must attempt the impossible.
To be all we can be, we must dream of being more.
To reach our dreams,
we must reach out to others”
John C Maxwell

“Ninety percent of all those who fail
are not actually defeated.They simply quit”
Paul J Meyer

The obstacles keep coming. Monday started off well with one of my best runs in a long time and feeling absolutely great.
On tuesday I attempted a hill session for the first time in too long and that left me knacked tuesday and wednesday.
My friday long run got cut back to 20km as it was all I could manage and saturday and sunday I rested as I think I have a few flu like symptoms and very little energy to train.
With time ticking by the weeks are getting more and more critical…

“Never fear pressure –
greatness was rarely ever forged without it”
Blair Singer

“There is no man living
who isn’t capable of doing more
than he thinks he can do”
Henry Ford

This has been a tough week, with extreme tiredness the main issue
The early week started of well with better running times but as the week progressed, the long hours at work took its toll and the 3.30am starts just caught up with the body
On friday I like to do my long run but after getting to bed at 11pm, I couldn’t wake up to go running at 2am. So instead I slept in and saturday and sunday I have decided to rest and recuperate.
The aim now is to start getting back to putting in an evening training session too With only 140 days to go, time is ticking by quickly. It translates to less than 20 training weeks…

“The key to being successful is not to
make the same mistake too often”

“It is easier to go down a hill than up,
but the view is best from the top”
Arnold Bennett

This was my first 100km week since November, and my first long run too.
the early part of the week went well but the runs started to get progressively slower.
Then on friday it was back to running 30km+. I had forgotten how hard it is on the feet! Although the extremely slow pace meant I had more time on my feet than I would’ve liked.
The saturday recovery run and sunday middle distance run felt okay although the body is tired from getting used to the high distances again.
Next week’s goal is to increase the long run…

“Running is a lot like life.
Only 10 percent of it is exciting.
90 percent is slog and drudge”
English runner Dave Belford

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune
but great minds rise above them”
Washington Irving

The early part of the week was simply trying to put in the miles and get back to a consistent training pattern.
Unfortunately after doing 18km on tuesday I pushed too hard with my hamstring strengthening and aggravated my leg. Friday saw it stiffen up so I had to adjust my routine when I wanted to increase it.
Still I managed 80km for the week which was solid if not spectacular. The consistency of a couple of weeks training is paying off, the big runs just need to give me the endurance I will need to build. Lets hope for a bigger week next week…

“It’s not whether you get knocked down…
it’s whether you get up”
Justin Herald

“Never let anyone tell you it can’t be done
when you know in your heart it can”

This week it has been back to consistent training.
The leg is starting to get better and the limiting factor has been in the lack of fitness and not the injury.
With my rehab exercises taking up a decent portion of time I have neglected my abs and have put on a fair amount of extra weight around the mid section. Now I have to get rid of that again.
Sunday saw me trying to run longer than an hour, something I haven’t done in a while. The combination of poor conditioning, and strong Brisbane heat and humidity absolutely drained me. When I got home all I felt like was an ice bath. It certainly doesn’t make training easy.

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

“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere
and many of us will have to walk through
the valley of the shadow of death again and again
before we reach the mountaintop of our desires”
Nelson Mandela

These 2 weeks have reached desperation status. It has involved making a decision as to whether I can run Comrades or not. I have consulted 2 different physios and had had differing opinions. I have a lower back, pelvic, hip area tightness with poor muscle balance that has resulted in a hamstring strain and neural symptoms. At least it is now recovering and I can move forward.
The training is very light and easy, with a focus on working on my weaknesses and instability. It has meant my goals have had to be revised from a silver medal and a target of 9 hours; to simply finishing within the 12 hour cut off and getting a finishers medal.
Game on…

“A champion gets up one more time
than he gets knocked down”

“The will to win means nothing
if you haven’t the will to prepare”
Juma Ikangaa, 1989 New York marathon winner

This week started off with a good session on monday and a pretty sore leg on tuesday morning, so this week has focused on trying to get my leg right for the tough stuff still to come.
I have focused on my patellofemoral joint and eccentric strengthening of my hamstring which resulted in it feeling much better. The test will come as I start running on it again next week

“Always measure an obstacle next to
the size of the dream you’re pursuing”
John C Maxwell