Psyching up for the 48 hour race

Ten days to go to the 48 hour circuit race and I am getting really excited! It is a mental game and that is exactly what draws me to these type of events. The mental battle a circuit (or lap) race throws at you.

I am preparing my mind more than my body for this. I've been asked a lot of times how do you train for a race like this? How do you train for a multi-day event?

My short answer is you don't. You just do your normal long runs as normal ultra training. I like to do some really slow runs with lots of walking between the running, There will be lots of walking so I like to train for that as well.

Physically I don't think you can do much more. I will certainly add more back to back long runs and more runs on tired legs to the mix. Other than that I think the battle is all in the head.

I like to do more loop type runs than normal. 10 x 1km instead of 1 x 10km for instance. I've been doing most of my runs as loops the last two months. I don't know if it really makes a difference, but if my head tells me it does that is all I want.

Thinking or feeling I am mentally prepared is a win. I am feeling like that currently and that is good. I am feeling ready to go and run round and round and round for two days.

The 471m track.

I am not in the best of shape but I am not in bad shape either. The broken toe is healing well and I am almost pain free. It is uncomfortable but that is something I can live and run with. By next week it should be almost back to normal.

I will go and give my support at the start of the 10 day race this Saturday and the same for the start of the 6 day race next week. That is the final part of my mental preparation. Being at the track and watching the runners in the long races doing their thing. That will get me to the start of the 48 hour race on the 19th with my head exactly where and how I want it.

I will post details of my planning and prep for the run over the next few days. This is circuit running and I love it!

Happy training everyone!

Forced Rest & Taper

On 19 December at 10:00 in the morning I will start the 48 Hour Circuit Race at the Johannesburg Festival of Running. Last night I made sure that I will get proper rest and taper.

I kicked a brick while playing with the dogs and broke the middle toe on my right foot. I am not pleased with myself...

Happy training...or resting...or tapering!

Alberton 10km Race Report

I don't run 10km races very often but when I get the chance I really enjoy them. It was the same yesterday at the Alberton 10km road race.

Waiting for the start.

My initial plan was to run 20km at home on Saturday and then the 21.1km half marathon on Sunday for a 41km weekend. Some commitments changed my plans for me so I ran 30km at home on Saturday and the 10km race on Sunday to give me the 40km I needed for the weekend.

On our way!

It was a lovely morning and everyone was happy that the race started nice and early at 6AM. The temperature was perfect and some clouds kept it just right for both races. Alberton Athletic Club always puts on a very well organised race and this year was really good yet again.

Great to be running a road race again.

There was a descent turnout and I enjoyed seeing many friends at the start and along the way. I haven't run a road race for a very long time now and I enjoyed being back.

I was told more than once me running a road race was the reason for the clouds rolling in.

My plan was a slow run on tired legs in preparation for the 48 hour race I'm running from 19 - 21 December. I did exactly that although my legs were not tired after Saturdays 30km. This is great news! There is hope for the 48 hour!

Running past a local church.

A typical neighborhood run.

I felt stronger and stronger as the run went on. Between 4 and 5km I started feeling very good and at 7km I was feeling great! Between 8 and 9km I was feeling super and I finished feeling very strong and not tired at all.

Winner of the double lap half marathon lapping me :)

Onto the fields of the rugby club.

And to the finish!

I am extremely happy with my weekend's 40km and even happier with how I'm feeling today...ready for more running!

Happy!

Another race and medal in the bag.

My final prep for the circuit race is now here and my excitement is really building. I will keep you up to date.

Happy training everyone!

November Update

And here we are in the last week of November already! Crazy but true! Life has been busy and I haven't been around blog land as often as I would like to be.

The good news is that running is going well and I am training hard and often. It looks like I will be running 2 races before the year is gone. A 10km this weekend and then the 48 hour circuit race in December. Exciting for sure!

A busy schedule so I'm in for the 10km only.

I'll be slogging along for 48 hours in December.

My son Rohann finished primary school last week. Seven years that really flew by. Now 5 years of high school is waiting. Rohann is very excited. He is only sad that he will not be going to school barefoot again!

Grade 1 to grade 7 -  2008 - 2014

Last barefoot schoolday...

 Happy training everyone!

Frik The Legend

I ran my first road race in 1981 and did most of my running in the 1980's and 1990's. At every race there was one face I always saw. It is still the same today. Frik is always there.

Frik du Preez is one of South Africa's running legends. This past weekend he ran his 2000th official race. This is Frik's Facebook entry:

2000th race done and dusted - 176 x ultras, 225 x marathons, 142 x 32km, 702 x 21km, 334 x 15km, 331 x 10km, 90 x orther = 54417.8km

54417,8 official race kilometers! Wow,,,that is all I can say. And yes...that is 702 half marathons!

Frik, I salute you. 2000 races is a goal I have as well. But I have a long way to go...

There are so many photos of Frik around it was impossible to select something specific. So I'm just posting a random few.

A few medals.

In the 1980's we got badges for races and not medals.

Frik and his "dog", Bottel.

700 half marathons done!

Marshalling at the Colgate 32/15km.

Some permanent numbers.

What he does when he is not running.

A young Frik at the Harrismith Mountain Race.

Congratulations Frik! You are a true legend and a great inspiration.

ENER-B... Energy from the bees!

I love honey. I always have. I remember my dad bringing home 7kg containers filled with honey many many years ago. It was always one of my favorite spreads on bread. In 1973, our under 10 rugby team was fueled with honey. Before every game we each had to eat a spoonful of honey.

1973 Primary school rugby team - League and District winners - Fueled with honey :)

I am the no 2 just visible at the teacher on the other side giving us our honey before the game.

Honey on toast is my favorite pre-race meal and having honey during a race is a bonus! So I was naturally very pleased when I received my box with 25 sachets of honey from Ener-B. Thank you to Karien from Running The Race that gave me the order details.

Ener-B is a local product and the sachets contain 100% raw honey. Bliss to a honey lover like me! I get nauseous from most of the energy gels available, but honey sits well with me. I can really energy up with Ener-B.

I love the sachets too. I've only seen it used by one other product, 32Gi. The sachets can literally be opened with one hand. Just fold and squeeze. No sticky mess!

If you love honey or would like to try it, go visit www.enerb.co.za

Happy running everyone!

To Inspire Is The Best Inspiration

I've been seeing a family of four (Mom, Dad, Daughter1, Daughter2) on my morning runs for a few months now. They are all overweight. A lot! But they have lost a lot of weight over the last few months. I can see that clearly. I see them almost every morning and greeting each other has become part of the routine.

On Monday night I had to stop at our local supermarket on my way home from work. There between the isles I bumped into (literally) the family of four. They recognized me and after greeting each other I added that they are doing really well and it is great to see them continuing their walking.

Their reply was great! "It's because of you that we continue. Seeing you every morning and seeing you never stop or give up keep us going every day. You are our inspiration."

Wow, that was really awesome to hear! That really inspired me.

I think the greatest inspiration is to be the inspiration.

Happy training!