Carcoar Marathon: 5.19

I was pleased to start my 5th Carcoar marathon in very pleasant cool conditions. But that lasted about a 1k when the coolness was gone but not feeling hot either. For a few hours the weather  temperature was not an issue. There was some cloud cover and a light breeze that could be felt at times that kept the conditions pleasant for longer than expected.

The course is perhaps the toughest road marathon we have. Trail marathons like Glenbrook are tough but I consider that a trail run. this is more a road marathon that is sometimes on sealed roads and at other time on dirt roads.  Glow Worm marathon is out on its own for being so tough and brutal for any marathon I have run. Running Wild has runs that maybe tougher but they are mainly in trails and I have not run them so no comparison can be made. 

With where I am at, at the moment this was never going to be quick due to a significant lack of fitness. I got what is expected with a very slow run but at least I was not last but not far off it. A long way for 2 years ago with a 3.36 and 6th overall. Maybe I will get back to that running I just need to fix a few things.

In some weird way I enjoyed the marathon not because it was a pleasant experience but because I knew it was going to be a huge challenge because of my fitness. Despite the 5 hour+ finish I thought I managed myself well and got a time that was probably close to my fitness level for the course. I was steady to start with and  ground out the tough bits with a much running as possible. 

I was satisfied with being able to run the last 7k after walking the long steep hills past where there had been forest but has now been cleared. That is the last long steep hill. I walked that and thought about and reflected about what has been a very difficult year with my illness, a long period in hospital after the operation and then the recent death of my father BUT you know what I was running a marathon, not at home in bed or the like.

I am feeling okay with myself and life. Some days are better then other but really that applies to all of us. .

Oh by the way the flies were a real bitch this year. 

Carcoar Marathon next Sunday and some thoughts

This marathon is on Sunday. An easy and beautiful 3 hour drive from Sydney over the mountains. 

Am I ready ? No. 10 days ago I ran the Batemans Bay marathon and today was the first day I have run since. And that was not a run but no more than a jog around the Bay. I don't want to blame anything because it is me that has not got out of the house in the morning. I just don't have the energy or desire. I want to go out but it just does not happen.

Could be the side affect of the hormone treatment that is permanent.

I am back to 2 little voices in my head. That takes me way back to my drinking days. At the moment one says go and run and the other makes excuses (either real or imagined) that I should not and at he moment the 'not run' little man is winning except for this morning, thankfully as I felt much better having jogged the Bay. 

I am not sure how I can get on top of this issue and I want to. Maybe some professional help like I did all those years ago.

Carcoar is a tough hilly course so I know it will be a real test and I will have to use all the experience and will power that I have to finish. I don't need fingers crossed but just a positive frame of mind to get the job done.