My slow and steady comeback to running continues to go well. I've been competing in short races (around the 5k distance) and in doing these, I realise how much I miss the thrill of racing. I possess a very strong competitive gene! The unknown Formula One driver Jean Behra once said, "Life is racing, the rest is waiting." Yes, a seemingly extreme life philosophy, but one that applies to my own running. Don't get me wrong — I do enjoy the simple act of running (the movement; being in nature; the camaraderie of runners), but I love racing.
An unexpected upside of this return from injury is being taken back to my running roots as a 23-year-old enthusiastic newbie. Every couple of days I can feel my fitness improving (and the data from the Garmin backs that up). The graph is steadily pointing skyward. This is exciting, but I have the knowledge that the graph will eventually flatten. A truth that my naive 20-something self didn't think would happen until I was running 30 minutes for 10 kilometres. Sounds crazy, but I had no coach and no idea. In reality I reached my peak as a 37-minute 10k runner.
On the 17th of July I ran in a race where, for a few kilometres, I was thinking 'wow, I'm flying along, passing runners, blasting along this muddy trail, feeling young again!' The race was the Sri Chinmoy Gungahlin Gallop 10k Trail Race — up on a muddy single-track to the top of this bloody big hill and back down again. I finished in the middle of the pack (probably towards the rear of the middle!) and my time of 75 minutes was woefully slow for a 10k, but my body and mind were for once co-existing in a place familiar to all runners. Greedy I know, but I want more of that.
Racing down the hill (recalling my days as a steeplechaser) in the Gungahlin Gallop 10k [John Harding photo]
My video, mostly showing runners in the 30k
16 comments:
Very good news! Are you coming over for the Trail weekend then??
I'm happy for you, great race photo!
Yes Rachel. I haven't entered yet but most likely will do the 5k / MTB double.
Thanks Anna - John had impeccable timing with that one.
So happy for you ET. So very happy :-)
I'm with you!
Excellent news, now make sure you don't have a setback!
Thanks J. The running happiness will be yours too one day.
Thanks Bob.
Bloody oath Thomas! I'm the most careful warmer-upperer, stretcher and strengthener you've never met!
Good to have you back out there...!
It is great to have you back - albeit we'll miss your Youtubes!!!
Thanks Bron. Really enjoying it, even though my handicap sucks ;-)
Thanks BR. I'll still be Youtubing races & some other local runs, just not the ones I'm running in :-)
That post may as well have been written by a younger 23 year old running nut such was the passion. Good on ya mate. Very motivating and inspirational. Wouldn't mind seeing a couple of archived pictures one day. Bet you haven't changed a bit.
Ha ha, thanks Mark. Once a running nut...
I'll look into the archives - photos back in those days were taken on Instamatics and stored in shoe boxes, so I'd have to scan them :)
That’s great news.
A wonderful action shot, and it looks like the impact at footfall might produce greater stress at the knee than the calf ;)
Agree Canute - John's timing was perfect. My legs miraculously recalled the soft landing technique of my ancient steeplechase days ;)
Glad that your comeback to running continues well. You always run in beautiful places.
We're lucky Stefano. I never take where we live for granted :)
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