Where we’re at this week.
As part of our long term strategy there are fixed points along the way. One of these is the Canberra marathon in April. Wayne and George have run the marathon ten times and so are now considered Griffins. This is the title earned by that group. This year will my seventh and so I hope to join them in a couple of years time.
The Canberra marathon starts outside Old Parliament House, does a lap of New Parliament House and then does a big loop around Lake Burley Griffin finishing just down from the start. The reason we take on the 8 hour drive and the 7 am start is that conditions are usually good with cool temperatures and it gives us a marathon before winter sets in.
This week is one of the tougher ones. A couple of weeks out and we’re trying to get lots of kilometres in but at the same time not cause too much damage. My aim for the week is to complete 100 km of running. Sunday was a long run of 31 km which will be the longest run before Canberra. I’ve completed a progressive increase over the last couple of weeks of 21, 25, 28 and now 31 km. There comes a point where the distance becomes secondary to the time on feet so although we mightn’t run all the way out to 42 km we will spend the same amount of time running as we expect on marathon day. My 31 km was a touch under three hours of running. I’m hoping to finish Canberra around or under 3 hours 20. We’ll see.
Tuesday was track night 8 km of warm up and then 2 sets of 5 x 400m with a 100m float recovery. All done at quicker than marathon pace. A couple much, much quicker. White line fever strikes again.
Wednesday I try to break down to 2 runs. This Wednesday was 10 km around Lysterfield park and then another 10 km later on up on the bike path. Thursday back in the park for another 12 km and Friday which I don’t usually run was a further 11 km down around the roads in Rowville. We have a family wedding on this weekend and I’m not sure when we can fit in a run so better to get it in the bank now than miss out. Saturday is Parkrun and that will get me to 101 km for the week. Job done.
So, is it that important whether I make 80 or 90 or 100 k at this stage? I think there is what may be a placebo confidence effect. When I get to the line on marathon morning there are always doubts. The biggest one is always , Have I done enough? If we can reassure ourselves that everything we wanted to do is done, the boxes are ticked, then if not confident at least we won’t be assailed by niggly, naggly doubts.
Some days are rainbows and unicorns. Others are just rainbows.
