COMRADES MARATHON 2008 WEEK 25: Inconsistent efforts

"You pay a price for getting stronger
You pay a price for getting faster
You pay a price for jumping higher
But also you pay a price for staying just the same”
H Jackson Brown

This week saw inconsistent effort. After trying to do more hills, my right calf and shin were a little sore by wednesday so I took a day off to recover
I mananged a good long run on friday, but then had a quiet weekend as I was still a little stiff
This week I need to return to a full training week and take the hills slower...

Training for week Mon 18 Feb - Sun 24 Feb
Mon 18 Feb	8km, 1 hour total trainer
Tues 19 Feb	20km
Wed 20 Feb	Rest
Thurs 21 Feb	50' cycle
Fri 22 Feb	42km
Sat 23 Feb	40' cycle, 20' crosstrainer
Sun 24 Feb	Rest
Weekly mileage	70 km

"The opportunity to become who we want
lies in this very moment’s behaviour"
David Reynolds

COMRADES MARATHON 2008 WEEK 23-24: Ups and Downs

"He who falls and gets up didn’t fall, he only stumbled”

The last couple of weeks have been inconsistent. The mental side of things play such a big part even before the race is won.
It has been hard to maintain the mental focus in whilst niggles and tiredness kick in. Getting up in the mornings and keeping the right attitude up are the tough things. At the back of any runners mind is the thought "Have I done enough miles?" The answer to that question is always "no", but it nevers make you feel any better.
I was reminded from an ironman this week that it is better to be underdone that overdone, which was a nice reminder that things could be worse. It gave me a good dosage of motivation though, so it's back on the road again...

Training for week Mon 4 Feb - Sun 10 Feb
Mon 4 Feb	8km, 1 hour total trainer
Tues 5 Feb	20km
Wed 6 Feb	15km
Thurs 7 Feb	2 hours total trainer
Fri 8 Feb	Rest
Sat 9 Feb	Rest
Sun 10 Feb	Rest
Weekly mileage	43 km

Training for week Mon 11 Feb - Sun 17 Feb
Mon 11 Feb
Tues 12 Feb	20' cycle
Wed 13 Feb	12km
Thurs 14 Feb	2 hours total trainer
Fri 15 Feb	12km
Sat 16 Feb	36km
Sun 17 Feb	Rest
Weekly mileage	60 km

"To achieve all that is possible,
we must attempt the impossible.
To be all we can be, we must dream of being more.
To reach our dreams,
we must reach out to others"
John C Maxwell

COMRADES MARATHON 2008 WEEK 22: Feeling fatigued

"Ninety percent of all those who fail
are not actually defeated.They simply quit”
Paul J Meyer

The obstacles keep coming. Monday started off well with one of my best runs in a long time and feeling absolutely great.
On tuesday I attempted a hill session for the first time in too long and that left me knacked tuesday and wednesday.
My friday long run got cut back to 20km as it was all I could manage and saturday and sunday I rested as I think I have a few flu like symptoms and very little energy to train.
With time ticking by the weeks are getting more and more critical...

Training for week Mon 28 Jan - Sun 3 Feb
Mon 28 Jan	8km, 1 hour total trainer
Tues 29 Jan	20km
Wed 30 Jan	15km
Thurs 31 Jan	2 hours total trainer
Fri 1 Feb	20km
Sat 2 Feb	Rest
Sun 3 Feb	Rest
Weekly mileage	63 km

"Never fear pressure –
greatness was rarely ever forged without it"
Blair Singer