“It hurts up to a point, then it doesn’t get any worse”
Ann Trason, Champion Ultramarathoner
Resting HR (average): 54
Injury status: (L) Calf 3/10, General lower limb pain!
Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 28; Afterwards 23.5
The Comrades Marathon ‘down run’ is all about pain management. This week I got to experience plenty of it!
Monday was a fairly easy 10km, and on Tuesday the pain started!
I ran 20km, and from anout 11km, my Left calf started to get very tight and felt it could blow up at any stage. Whilst that was a struggle in itself, at least that took my mind off the pain of my sore nipples! It has started to increase in humidity in Brisbane, and running in a singlet, it still gets drenched in sweat. Once wet, the chafing begins!
I have been pretty good recently, so I didn’t apply any protection (I usually use Nip Guards on longer runs, and lubricant on shorter runs). Also it saves a few dollars by not having to use Nig Guards which are for single use . Whilst it was sore, it wasn’t until I got back home and looked down that I realised the left one had bled, on my nice white singlet!
The problem with “runners nipple” is that once it heals, the skin sort of calluses over, and goes hard. The chance of ‘reopening’ the abrasion are higher.
Sanjay suffering from runners nipple
Wednesday was a strengthening session on the total trainer, and a cycle and quad strengthening in the afternoon.
Thursday morning was a 6km tempo run. I worked hard and felt I was sprinting on the way home, but alas I had run slightly slower than the first half of my run!That afternoon my quads were a bit stiff from the previous day, something I rarely ever get in my quads.
Fridaymorning I had a set myself a minimum of 30km, and aim for 40-45km. First I had a 21km out and back to the East of Brisbane. It started off fine for the first 5km, then because it gets fairly undulating along ‘Old Cleveland Road,’ my pace became very slow and I was practically running 6:00/km’s for the remainder.
At about 15km my Left Calf started to get tight and sore. Running out and back I was practically near home at the 21km mark. The pain was too much for me and I decided 22km would be my limit.
The previous evening I was talking to a friend who told me it is important to train according to how one feels. If one doesn’t feel good, then it is better to take it easy/rest. It conflicts with my own personal mantra of “You can always do more that you think you can!”
(After 21km) I decided to do 1 more km, as I was now running to the west side. With the turn around and having to get back home it would make 24km. It was so hard to run each step, let alone think of running 1km. When I got to 22km, I thought 1 more km, that would mean I’d have to run 26km. The pain was becoming unbearable.
When I got to the 23km mark, I thought if I was going to do 26km, I may as well do my minimum target of 30km. Keep going for 2 more km and turn around. By now my feet were killing me too, and as I kept going my calf started to ease slightly.
I figured I could keep going a bit further to the petrol station where I normally buy my drink and maybe that’d help me keep going. When I stopped the pain a wave of burning pain swept up my legs! The cold drink was great, but it was better to keep moving, no matter how painful that was!
I just concentrated on running each km. Each km I ran I’d effectively have to do 2, as I had to run back home yet.Somehow I found the energy and determination to have run 32.5km, meaning I had 12.5km to get home. Whilst I had manged to feel better for the last 7-8 km, that feeling was wearing off!
At the 36km mark I didn’t know if I could make it home. Although it’s always tough, I don’t ever doubt whether I can make it home. Just over 3km to get another drink. Whilst I mormally think of small goals to keep me going, this was getting way harder than it usually is!
The last 5km, were a nightmare. Pain. In every inch of my lower body, and neck too. Instead of focusing on kms, that last 2-3km I focused on 200m at a time. When I finally staggered home, I was dead!
The pain was so intense I couldn’t sleep like I normally do! It goes to show however, if you put your mind to it, you can definitely do more than you think you can. My immediate thoughts were that was only half a Comrades! Remind me why I want to run it?
Saturday I did a 45 min cycle in front of the telly as I watched the Springboks play Leicester. The rest of the day we got a decent workout moving boxes to our new place!
Sunday was a 12km recovery run. I felt okay for the first 8km, then it got a bit harder as my legs are still recovering from Friday.
Next week the challenge is to keep up the momentum whilst Rheanna is away. It’ll be an easy week to let the legs recover (my training load had a massive spike and shouldn’t increase by more than 10%), and if I do more 4 runs during the week, I look forward to taking the weekend off running…
| Mon 2Nov | 10km,Abs |
| Tue 3 Nov | 20km, Abs, Squats, Step exercises |
| Wed 4 Nov | 1 Hour total trainer, Abs, Squats, 30 min cycle |
| Thur 5 Nov | 6km tempo run, Abs, Squats |
| Fri 6 Nov | 45km |
| Sat 7 Nov | 45 min cycle |
| Sun 8 Nov | 12km, Abs |
| Mileage | 93km |
| Running Load | 367 |
“What counts in battle is
what you do once the pain sets in”
John Short
November 10th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Sounds interestng Sanjay. Don’t overdo it at this stage of preparation. I would aim to be fit enough to run 20km on 1st January and build from there. Too much training now will leavey you tired and listless by March next year.
And by the way, the best Comrades training run in Brisbane is aroundthe ring road of Mt Coot-tha. Its 10k (or 11 if you start from Botanical Gardens) and covers everything you will meet on the road to Durban. Big up hills (think Inchanga and Cowies Hill) big dowhills(think Bothas Hill and Cowies Hill).
Yes, I have doen a number of Comrades and yes, I run Mt Cooth-tha, regularly.
Best of luck.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
“remind me why i want to run comrades” – because 19,999 other people are going to attempt it, and if they can do it, YOU can do it.
But mostly, the beauty, the people, the atmosphere. Durban, Pietermaritzburg, ABSA stadium, the big 5 (hills that is), the challenge, the knowing that you can do anything.
And lets face it, you love to run! with or without the nipguards.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Hi Warren,
Thanks for your comments. I find it hard not to push and find my limits!
How many times have you run Comrades? And what sort of times? Are you running Comrades next year? I am aiming for 9 hours so I want to be fit enough to ensure I can handle the distance easily. My body needs to train for length otherwise it gets stiff (I have a nerve tension problem that needs to get used to distance, but unfortunately needs to be managed once I start doing longer distances too! It’s very frustrating)
I’m not up to doing Mt Coot-tha yet, although I have done it in the past.
Good luck with your training.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
True. Although mostly I run because you inspire me to!
And the people of South Africa need role models. Also there is “Champions development” who I am supporting. If anybody wants to sponsor me in my challenge, all the money will go to Champions development.