Update on Monday 22 October

Not much running since the marathon. The right calf was strained and I did not run for 5 days in fact walking was a problem. Did manage some slow Bay walks over the weekend and some very slow jogging on Sunday afternoon. It has taken almost a week for the pain to cease but I suspect it will now mend quite quickly. I will ease back into some running during the week with always the only goal to get to the start line of GNW as fit and injury free as possible.

I suspect there will be no more serious training between now and the race with everything focused on recovery from the injury. I suppose that is fine as I needed a mini break and mentally I should be able to handle the much reduced running and justify it by convincing myself the benefits of the rest will show on race day or more than likely on the second day of the race!!!

Fitzroy Falls Marathon : 3.56.xx

I drove down to the Southern Highlands early on Friday and had a wonderful lunch at a one hat resturant at Berrima. I then spent the rest of the day just doing some easy sightseeing in a wonderful part of the country that reminds me so much of England.

Last year I finished just under 5 hours in second half meltdown of nearly 3 hours in the heat. This year the plan was about the same as last year but with the hope of no second half disaster - that was to run the first half steady and get to halfway in just under 2 hours and then hope to hold the pace to the end. I got to halfway feeling good in about 1.56 so the first part of the plan was achieved. I was hoping the cooler weather this year would result is a better second half. I managed that with about a 2 hour second half.

I went into the run with a tendon problem behind the right knee. That caused me almost no problems but at about 36k a sharp pain in the right calf meant a major problem. I managed to limp to the end and was suprised that I almost held my pace despite the increasing discomfort. It is a problem that will have to be sorted out quickly with GNW close.

On the way home dropped into have a very pleasant afternoon tea with LucklLegs and Jim.

Melbourne Marathon : 3.10.34

Was I disappointed? Should I have been disappointed? I still am not sure.

I had no real idea of what would happen in this race as since late August I have done no real sustained quality aerobic training. I have either been tapering for a marathon or in recovery mode and so the best I could have expected was to not loose to much endurance/speed. Don't get me wrong I have been happy with what has happened since Gold Coast as it has all gone according to plan as preparation for GNW.

At the start line I set a plan to stay with the 3 hour pacer for as long as I could - they entered the start and stood next to me - so I was on the bus by default.I knew I would not be able to go the distance but thought it would be nice to go quick for while. Then I planned to back off to a maintainable pace and hold it for as long as possible until the early fast start caught up with me.

The run then went very much to plan. I stayed with the 3 hour pacers until 15k and then eased very much off to run through the half in 92.45. At that time my very best finish was going to be 3.05.30. I just about held onto that pace until 35k when I slowed to take on water and then just lost the rhythm and could not get it back. That resulted on 35 minutes for the last 7.2 k and the time slipped back to put me over 3.10. Still better than the last two Melbournes that have been 3.17's.

Nice finish in the MCG. The ran back to about 34k mark and ran into the finish again with LuckyLegs. What a pleasure to be with such a detrmined runner. She would not give in and walk although it looked and sounded like she was doing it very very tough. There were tears in her eyes when she realised she would make it into the MCG before the gates were closed.

Update

Wednesday 3 October
Easy run with JD and Tess around the Bay It was a beautiful morning with just a touch of humidity. The Bay was absolutely flat because of no breeze and sparkling like a diamond. Total of 22 k with just a hint of the tendon giving some discomfort in the last few k's.

Thursday 4 October & Friday 5 October
As they say 'respect the distance' so have put in place an intensive 2 day taper of no running as the perparation for the Melbourne Marathon. Still no definite race plan but still toying with the idea of pushing hard for the first half and then consider what needs to be done - slow down and survive or continue and more than likely hace a 'crash and burn' finish.

Update

Thursday 27 & Friday 28th September

After the run on Wednesday I had a slight strain of the ligament behind the right knee so a few days rest was called for. However the expected sleep ins didn't occur. Even without an alarm I was still up at 5.00 am so I headed off to work early to catch up.

Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th

Resumed some light running which seemed okay although the strain is still present. Also did a lot of walking and I mean a lot in preparation for GNW.

Monday 1 October

I have a hilly course that I run that is a 7.5k loop and ran this twice : 41.30 & 40.30. Hills and GNW seem to go together. I think for GNW preparation I don't need leg speed or much more endurance but some strength on hills might come in handy. And so I will do these for the next few weeks as well as some longer running when the strain is better.

Tuesday 2 October

Ran the same course again in 38.30 and 39.30. The ligament strain is still presence and it restricts the running a bit. I am hoping that I will be able to 'run through' by reducing the speed of the session and the distance of the session.

With the strain the marathon on Sunday will require a rethink of the race plan. It will partly depend on how the recovery goes and making sure I do nothing stupid on the day for a short term result and put at risk getting to the start line at GNW. I think no matter what it will be very slow and steady.