“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you,
they’re supposed to help you discover who you are”
Bernice Johnson Reagon

FEBRUARY 2010

Resting HR (average): 53
Resting HR range: 46-59

Neural mobility: 34/30cm

Average weekly mileage: 24km
Average training load: 79

Running time:km range: 4:50 – 5:29

After a good January and averaging 67km a week, February has been a disappointment with an average of only 24km a week.

The main reasons were finding it hard to sleep and consequently wake up and losing momentum.

With Comrades 2010 an unlikely reality now, establishing a routine is the most important thing to me and my schedule. The challenge for March is to build the routine up and perhaps not push quite as hard as January. With regular training I can build a base and start to prepare properly for a strong 2011 Comrades marathon!

“To be tested is good.
The challenged life may be the best therapist”
Gail Sheehy

“Most of life is routine – dull and grubby,
but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going”
Ben Nicholas

Not a great week once again. It started well with a 8km on Monday and a reasonable quick 15km on Tuesday.

Thursday was a 6km tempo run which was quicker than I have been but Friday morning was too hard to get up after some late nights. In the weekend there was minimal training due to the rugby and have an Internet Marketing workshop all weekend.

When you don’t fit in the longer training sessions, you don’t get the gains you want. With Comrades 2010 become more and more unlikely, I can start to focus on running the Comrades Marathon in 201.1. For that I need to start laying a strong base now!

“There is no challenge more challenging
than the challenge to improve yourself”
Michael F Staley

“Getting momentum going is the most difficult part of the job,
and often taking the first step is enough
to prompt you to make the best of your day”
Robert J McKain

The last 2 weeks have not been great! After sitting for 3 days in an Internet Marketing seminar, it aggravated my back which cause pain in my right lower calf and shin.

Missing 1 or 2 days, slipping out of the routine and I’ve found it extremely hard to wake up. It doesn’t help when the humidity makes it hard to sleep at night, and you only fall asleep at 1am! Trying to then wake up at 4am is tough going.

It also doesn’t help you trying to fall asleep if you haven’t exercised during the day! It’s a vicious circle.

Consequently there was no running this week (Rugby season and having to wake up in the middle of the night for games from South Africa doesn’t help either). I’ve only done 6km over the last 2 weeks, and it’s a momentum stopper.

At least I’ve done some exercise, and have only missed 5 days so far this year.

Next week I have to force myself to wake up early, get out on the road and get some milage going again…

“Enthusiasm is the energy and force that builds
literal momentum of the human soul and mind”
Bryant H McGill

“Strength and growth come only
through continuous effort and struggle”
Napoleon Hill

Resting HR (average): 52

Injury status: (R) calf/shin 4/10

Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 36; Afterwards 32

What a terrible week! My right lower shin and calf have been sore. Initally I thought I’d strain my tibialis posterior (one of the shin muscles), but I should know better. I don’t really get muscles strains.

The previous weekend I had been in a 3 day seminar and I think the sitting upset my back which refers pain down into my shin. I should just keep running small amounts as it helps to loosen up my back.

This week has been a diaster with very little running. It doesn’t help when I just struggle to wake up and then when rugby season starts! Too many middle of the night games from South Africa to watch make it hard to wake up and get out for a run!

Next week’s challenge is to wake up, get some decent runs in and get back on track!

“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength”
Oprah Winfrey

“Even if you’re on the right track,
you’ll get run over if you just sit there”
Will Rogers

Resting HR (average): 50

Injury status: (R) calf/shin 2/10

Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 34; Afterwards 30

A reasonable start to the year and some high mileage in recent weeks allowed me to reduce the length of my runs and have an easy week. Not that the running is ever very easy!

I tried to increase the pace on my runs and get a little faster. Monday was an easy 8km and I was obviosuly still feeling the effects of the previous week as I couldn’t run very fast!

Tuesday was a decent 15km and Wednesday was a welcome day off running. A good tempo run on Thursday was followed with a medium 24km on Friday. It felt a better than the previous week’s long run!

The weekend I only managed 2 short sessions as we were busy with an Internet marketing seminar so I had less time to exercise. Sunday’s run gave me a Right lower calf/shin pain, so I’ll have to work on that over the next few days as next week it’s time to up the mileage again!

“The will to win is worthless, without the will to prepare”

“Don’t let yesterday’s disappointments
overshadow tomorrow’s dreams”

JANUARY 2010

Resting HR (average): 55
Resting HR range: 46-62

Neural mobility: 37/31cm

Average weekly mileage: 67km
Average training load: 288

Running time:km range: 5:00 – 6:11

After a poor 2009, 2010 has started much better. Whilst I’m desperately unfit, putting in solid sessions and reaping the rewards later.

I achieved my goal of getting back to marathon distance, the goal for February is to push that up and see if I can run a 50km!

“Don’t let your body push you around. Keep running!”

“Gotta get up, Gotta get up, Gotta get up”
From “Ride on time” by Blackbox

Resting HR (average): 52

Injury status: General lower leg soreness!

Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 37; Afterwards 31

A solid week helped by a good long run. However early in the week I found it tough getting up in the mornings. It reminds me of the song Ride on time by Blackbox, the tagline being “Gotta get up.”

I missed my Tuesday run, it always sets back the weekly mileage when you miss your midweek longer run.

At least I still managed to do some exercise sessions and Tuesday I worked the legs hard using a step.

Thursday was a tempo run during the heat of the day. Jeez it’s been hot during the Brisbane summer!

Friday I was out at 1.30am. It would choose to rain on my long run!

After about 16km I was starting to struggle. I had run at a reasonable pace, but I got slower and slower….and slower still! My thick Thorlos (socks) were wet and had a crease which created a terribly painful hot spot under the ball of my foot. Why I didn’t stop and fix it I don’t know!

A wet top didn’t help either, and my left nip guard had fallen off which was irritating my nipple too.

At 24km I wanted to give up. I thought about calling Rheanna to come get me, but simply set small targets. 2km at a time.

My feet were getting sore and my legs really tight. When you want to give up, you have to think of your goals to drive you, and I was also motivated by the thought of not finishing what I set out to do and being the same as everyone else!

When I got home after 43km, all I could think of was I never want to run again! (That’s a common occurence after my long runs recently!) A pace of 6:11 per km is disgraceful! Oh it’d be nice to be fit again!

Exhausted after my 43km long run! I just had to lie down!

My wrinkled foot after running 43km

Looking worse for wear after running 43km!

Saturday was a fairly easy day, and then Sunday was good to back up the long run with a slow, steady 18km.

Next week will be an easy week. I’ll reduce the mileage, aim to run a little faster and work on strengthening the legs…

“Every runner has excuses, only winners never use them”

“No one ever drowned in sweat”

Resting HR (average): 54

Injury status: General lower leg soreness

Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 37; Afterwards 31

Training is always tough. It’s worse you are not fit, because the recovery between sessions is lower and it’s always harder to start the next session.

Monday was an easy 10km.

Tuesday my legs needed a rest from running and I took 3 days off to give them a break. It always feels good to freshen the legs, but once you start running again, it’s like they’ve never rested at all!

Training in the Brisbane summer is tough. It’s so hot (but it’s not the heat that kills). When running you need small water stops to just stop the mouth from being dry, and your clothes just get drenched in sweat. They get heavy, and it’s annoying having to wipe off the sweat constantly.

Friday I was out at 2am and the rest had helped my legs. For the first 15km anyway! After that I started to get progressively slower…and slower. I ran out 19km to St Lucia and turned around. My battery in my mp3 died. There would be no music to keep me occupied on the way back, I’d have to listen to myself!

I started to get sore feet about 22km, and had a second drink stop at 26km. From there I struggled.

It hurt to run, but it hurt even more to stop. When I stopped I’d get a burning, tightness type of pain down my legs. The last 6km were a struggle, although I did run the last few km a bit quicker.

Once again I was very stiff and sore afterwards.

That night I had to have a bath to try and ease the muscle fatigue. There was just a deep ache all through my legs! I guess I’ve been pushing hard and increasing the mileage faster than I should do. But I had wanted to get back to marathon distance by the end of January.

Saturday and Sunday were fairly easy recovery sessions.

Next week will be a big week as I aim to get back to marathon distance! It hurts already!

“Pride lasts longer than pain”

“What will determine the course of your life
more than any other one thing is whether or not
you’re willing to tolerate necessary discomfort”
Barbara Sher

Resting HR (average): 58

Injury status: Low backstrain 5/10

Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 33; Afterwards 28

Pain. Lots of it!

This week was a tough week, and required pushing through the pain barrier!

Monday through to Thursday I was feeling tired! It’s been tough getting back into normal training again but at least it was a full week with decent mileage for a change.

The midweek longer run on Tuesday started to get more comfortable, but it was still very tough. I can feel how tight I am neurally by the fact it takes 6-8km to warm-up and feel looser. Running those first 6-8km is painful, especially through the shins and thighs!

Friday I was out by 3am. I can’t believe I felt so sore. Every step caused immense pain in my shins, hamstrings, everywhere! At 7.5km I sat down and was ready to ring Rheanna to come and pick me up. I figured I’d just run 500m more and do 8km at least. I kept thinking I can’t give up, otherwise I’d be just like most other people!

At 8km, I thought, just get to 10km. At 10km I was not too far from a service station and thought, get some food and have a powerade, then see how I feel. I paid for 2 powerade’s (so I’d pick up the second one on my way back), it’s amazing what spending $3 does for you! I struggled through to 16km and my turnaround point, focused on the fact I had to at least pick up my second powerade which I’d paid for!

Then it was just get to 20km, 22km, 23km, 24km…etc

There was a lot of stopping at traffic lights and intersections on the way back. I was so grateful just to stop and try rest my legs.

When I got home, at 32km I could barely stand. My feet and legs were so sore! As I said to Rheanna “this was one of the hardest runs I’ve ever done.” I say that fairly regularly, but I am sure this ranks as one of the toughest! (They all do, not sure why someone would voluntarily do this so often!)

Saturday and Sunday were fairly easy days. Next week I need to build on this week’s training, hopefully it’ll get slightly easier, but I wouldn’t count on it!

“Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence,
is the key to unlocking your potential”
Sir Winston Churchill

“Resilience is the ability to
come back and keep trying,
even when you fail or things are tough”

Resting HR (average): 58

Injury status: Low backstrain 3/10

Neural stretching (knee to nose. averages in cm):
Baseline 37; Afterwards 31

With a new year, it was nice to re-evaluate and set new goals. 2009 produced a good beginning before being derailed with neural pain and frustration at not knowing to handle it. After numerous specialist consultations and investigations it was up to me to deal with it, and I finally feel I now know how to handle it.

2010 is more about training consistently and reaping the rewards that brings. The 10kg I need to lose will hopefully happen as I build up and regain more intensity.

It was nice to start off with a fairly solid week. One knows one is not fit when 24km is a long run and leaves you knacked! I took it fairly easy over the weekend, but next week brings the chance to build on some decent sessions and push to the next level…

“Resilience is having faith that you will succeed
and the knowledge that each failure
is a learning opportunity and experience”