“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

Resting HR (average): 52

This became a fairly tough week. Monday I got up late and did not feel like running. Leaving at about 8am the heat was more intense than I am used to and I was glad to finish that one
Tuesday was a decent run of 16km. I had hoped the 3 days off running last week would leave me nice and fresh, but once again it was slow and a struggle. My left thigh has been a bit tight, as has my right calf.

Wednesday I used the total trainer, and then thursday was a 6km tempo run. Although the pace was not great (around 5:00/km), I felt quite good except for a niggle in the right side of my back.

Friday I left at 3.30am for my long run. My back was pretty sore. I’m not sure if it is from Rheanna standing on me! Or maybe I strained something in my training somehow. Every step I took I could feel the pain and it was about 6/10. I wanted to give up after 1 or 2 km. My goal was 30, and I didn’t want to give in. I just focused on 1km at a time and set myself small targets. As I ran 6km out towards the gabba way, I just focused on reaching the turning point. Then I focused on getting to the Victoria bridge which was 11km. Then it’s 10km out to St Lucia which I have done many times so I knew I could run that by breaking it into 4 lots of 5km. At 12km, I stopped and needed tp rest for a minute. Then I concentrated on getting to 5.5km out this way as I stop at the BP for a powerade. Boy was that welcome. Then another 5.5km, as I now decided I was running 32km and not 30km.

At the turnaround point I just broke it down to 3kms to the water fountain. Another 2.5km to another powerade. Then another 2 or 3 and I was almost home. My back eased a bit after 25km as my lower legs and feet started to get sore. But the last 2kms I ran a bit quicker, although I was very glad to finish!

The biggest factor getting me through was to remain focused on my goal of comrades. Then I think of my friends and family and things that inspire me. Thoughts of training years ago with my sister supporting me, or my mum taking me to hockey each week go through the mind and give me the strength to keep going.

I believe that mileage and consistency are important, but your most run of the week is the long run. It’s what builds up your endurance. As I only have 62 weeks to go, there are only 60 odd long runs, so it is important to complete as many of those out of the 60 as you can. It is very easy at this stage to say it doesn’t matter all that much, but it is at the other end when there are only a few weeks left that you will be most grateful.

Saturday was just a 1 hour total trainer session as my back was sore, and Sunday I managed to run 16km through the pain before needing to rest for the entire day as the pain was casuing my mind and body to be extremely weary. Next week will be a lighter week and recovery as I seek to get my back and leg right…

“Pain is temporary.
It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year,
but eventually it will subside
and something else will take its place.
If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
Lance Armstrong