Pre Hunter Valley Marathon

Just filling in some time on Saturday night before this marathon tomorrow. By the way with a continuing left ankle injury, some medical issues that continue and now a right hamstring niggle no doubt caused by compensating for the ankle all makes tomorrow being a test of just getting through with a little damage as possible.

At best 3.30 if ever thing holds together ... if things start to go bad then it could be a long, slow and painful limp to the finish. I have never DNF'd a marathon and do not intend to do that tomorrow.

Skiing went well except for the strong winds on a couple of days but out of the wind there was plenty of fresh snow.

The car was rather frozen after being in the car park at Perisher all day.

Mr & Mrs Eagle on a very pleasant afternoon

A well rugged up Eagle

A snow break

As is usual this is my ski holiday time. So I am off to the snow for 5 days. The weather is not the best and the snow cover is just enough but a break from work is just wonderful. I will be back in time to have a couple of easy runs and then off to the Hunter Winery marathon.

Gold Coast Marathon : 3.21.15

Disappointed with 3.21.15 but not surprised with the way I ran the race.

With an ankle problem, some medical issues and a very busy work week with lots of interstate travel that all combined left the preparation over the last 4 weeks much less than ideal. I was undecided even as Horrie and I walked to the start what to do as regards a race plan.

In the end as I was standing in the start I decided rather out of hope than real expectation to start out at 3 hour pace and see how I went. It was comfortable but a bit of a strain up to 20k and just a minute or 2 behind pace. I thought I would continue what was on a common sense approach a pace that was not wise to continue with but on an emotional level it was teasing me to continue.

By 28k it was obvious that the emotional thoughts should be ditched. I then slowed by choice but by 35k I has no choice and the body choose to run at the pace that it was then capable of - which was rather slow. For the first time in a long while the last 12k or so was bit of a mental and physical battle.

I guess the saying 'Nothing ventured nothing gained' was the race plan for this one.

Even so it is a great race and great atmosphere and I always enjoy the weekend.

Update 01.07.08

Absolutely no running since last Tuesday. The ankle was not good and I have not tested it since for various reasons. Being, I wanted to give it as much rest as possible, work has been so hectic that my space in the mornings for a run has been severely compromised and I have developed an medical issue that has made running very difficult

So that all means very under prepared both physically and mentally for Gold Coast Marathon. Survival during the run and a finish will be the only aim.