Training Log Archive: Dolf

Event: 6" Trail Marathon
 

First 3 inches went great, second 3 inches was a sufferfest.
I started off with a few walking breaks up the first hill, then passed a heap of people on the first downhill. I got into a pretty comfortable pace, taking the occasional walking break on hills. I ran a little past the sharp turn off Torrens road but heard someone yell out, then yelled out to some others a bit further up, not much time lost there. Another short delay when some people didn't take the right turn when the track headed downhill towards Del Park road. I was pretty sure it was a right turn but waited about 30s until someone came through who was certain.
Coming into the first aid station I was feeling pretty good and up about 10mins on last year. I was thinking that I could maybe scrape in just under 4:30.
Then when I took off my hydration pack my right shoulder seized up an I got a sharp nerve pain. I decided against refilling it and just filled up an empty Gatorade bottle I had in the pack as it wasn't too hot and I still had some water left in the pack. I got a banana and gels then had someone help me get my pack back on before heading out. Andre popped up at this time looking pretty comfortable and I ran with him for a short while before letting him go ahead while I walkd for a while trying to get my shoulder better.
(He scraped in under 4:30 so well done Andre on a top effort)
I started running with my arm up against my chest as it was more comfortable but it was still hurting and it was no longer heaps of fun to bomb down every hill as the jarring made it worse. I ran with Wil for a while, from the Scarp rd downhill to the climb out of Oakly dam. Coming into aid station 2 I was still thinking I may be able to run around the time I did last year (4:46) but kit was slowly slipping away. Mark was kind enough to find me some nurofen and I was hoping things would improve when they kicked in. I saw Rachel just before the steep rutted downhill, she was having some trouble with her quads cramping not long after the first aid station.
Things got much worse when about 6km from the finish, while having a walk break I tried to reach a back pocket with my right arm, realizing I couldn't reach I brought my arm back up to my chest but in doing so I had a severe nerve pain on top of my shoulder that caused me stop and collapse on the trail. A couple of runners behind me stopped and I asked them to tell the next volunteer what had happened and I stopped my watch thinking my day was done. Then realizing I was so close to the finish (and having pulled out of the Mainpeak race a few months before), I decided I would just walk the rest of the way. Rachel caught up and stopped to help me up. She said she would stay with me the rest of the way as her day was not going the best.
A big thank you to Rachel for this, I really appreciated it.
After jogging/walking a bit further a car with some volunteers pulled up to help me out and made me a sling so I wouldn't have to hold the strap of my pack. My legs were actually feeling ok at this stage but I could only run for a short while before the shoulder would hurt too much and we would take a short walk break. We ran into Dangerman out for a MTB ride a little further down the track. I think I may have been a little annoying when I was always asking Rachel how far we had left and how long we had been going ( my watch as a little off as I paused it when I thought I was done and restarted when we got moving again). I was thinking we could still scrape in under 5 hours but we ended up a minute over.
Well done to tRicky, Andre, Wil, Rachel, Joel, and Juffy. Everyone had a different experience but well done to all for finishing.
Thanks also to Mark & all the other volunteers.
Again a huge thanks to Rachel.
Good times.

C • Well Done 6

More Physio, neck & back are almost good now. Should be good for Sunday.
As a bonus I got a few needles in my right calf as well.
If I was a cartoon character I'd leak whenever I had a drink, I've had about 30 needles in my neck/back/leg in the last 5 days.

C • Akoobarrim? 3

Another physio appt followed by a massage.
Neck & back improving but I don't have a full range of motion yet.

C • Bugger 6