Panic

On the Leed side-streets you slip down,
Provincial towns you jog 'round...
The Smiths - Panic

2 weeks out from Melbourne Marathon, I should be in the early stages of taper, having just pushed myself through the biggest training programme of my running life. But, it is not to be. Once again, injury suffered through trail racing has cruelled any chances of hitting the target I had planned at the start of this campaign. And it was a campaign, started nearly 23 months ago after Melbourne 2013, it was designed to deal with the demons of a badly run race. The fact that this has happened 2 years in a row is not lost on me. But the fact that today my physio said that I should be rightly proud if I can make that start line on October 18th, it put things in perspective. Given that 7 weeks previous (on race day), I had severely injured my ankle, it would be miraculous...

The only issue now is how to pace myself, should I get to that start line. And I have every intention of doing so. (Although, some days, I feel disheartened and wonder if it is all worth it).

He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt
Joseph Heller - Catch-22

The classic war movie scene shows the crippled bomber, 1 propeller stalled, another misfiring, the other 2 gamely hanging on, smoke trailing from damage caused by flak, slowly loosing height in a dramatic attempt to get the crew safely back to friendly territory. I feel something like that bomber; currently my poor body lurches from one injury to another. Just as I have managed to overcome a nasty ankle injury, an adductor strain threatens to derail any plans of the marathon. So close to race day, I am determined to get to the start line, in what form, I do not know.

I won't be the only one fronting up on the 18th with a pre-existing injury, too many of us do it. For some, we will be lucky and get through, for others, it will prove to be a major mistake. The marathon is an unforgiving race.

He just kept picking them up and laying them down.
Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) - The Long Walk

The Long Walk, written in 1979 by Stephen King (under a pseudonym), details the ultimate game/reality TV show where groups of young men, almost boys, walk from the Canadian border south, to as far as possible. Guarded by soldiers, the 'contestants' are governed by a strict set of rules about their participation. Minimum pace, no outside help, no running off etc., any offences are dealt with harshly (gunned on the side of the road by the soldiers), the ultimate prize for the survivor (and there can only be one), is riches beyond belief.

I was reminded of this as I crewed for friends at the Surf Coast Century (SCC) during September. Front runners looked good. Amazingly good for people who would run 100 kilometres in under 9 hours. But as the mid packers, and the back of the pack runners came through, they looked progressively worse. But they were determined, and they persevered, testament to the mental strength these people have.
But watching SCC, I can see the appeal for everyone watching The Walking Dead...

Less than 2 weeks until race day, taper time, and injury repair period....

Until next time...