Octobia.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

OK well the training is going OK I guess. I mean, I'm actually getting out there and doing it, but it's all relatively gentle, and just as I'm feeling good about my running again, I try a tough little hill session or a bit of speed work and come up well short - bad enough to know the Point to Pinnacle (which I had dared to hope may be back on the agenda as a run) is so tough as to preclude serious consideration. However... I'm still keen.

I have proven one interesting thing: a fast run/walk is faster than a slow continuous run. I know this because I have started running to and from work (on the basis that I'm not going to be in anything like reasonable condition for the race unless I put in two runs per day for a while) and I found that I covered the 5km faster using a run/walk technique than if I did it as a steady jog. The trade off was that the run/walk left me feeling like dog doo doo, while the jog left me invigorated. Work that out!

As for that race... I did indeed start training for a race walk attempt as BB suggested, but in doing so I figured I still neeeded to set a target, and as I finished in 3h09 last year, thought I'd aim for sub 3. But to walk it sub-3 is actually harder than running it sub-3, because it requires incredible technique and strength to race walk at that speed (for me that is). To do it at a slow jog would be simpler and easier - still requiring plenty of strength and endurance of course, but bugger all technique. Anyway, the next couple of weeks will tell, but I'm thinking I need to run it, as I don't have enough time to get back to the level of race walking fitness I had last year.

I am taunted everyday by this mountain, as I can see it clearly from my living room. I have an especially good view of the toughest section, which is from the 14 km point to the 18 km point at a gradient of 9%. It is a very, very tough section, but I see it everyday and drool...

...but then I jump on the treadmill, set it at 9% incline and nearly die. And that's without a 14km hill climb preamble.

But still the sight of that mountain gets me excited.