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Stay Fresh
Often when you are saturated in a constant training momentum you
accumulate a certain amount of fatigue that is pretty much with
you for every run that you do. You probably often here yourself
say something along the lines of "Yeah not a bad session
considering I am feeling tired and sore from yesterdays long
run".
With
Race Day less than two weeks away, what we have to strive for
now is to eliminate the fatigue feeling and replace it with
FRESH. Please don't walk away from Race Day
disappointed by your performance and the reason being that you
felt tired right from the start.
It
is far better to be underdone for an event than overdone.
As
funny as it seems it often takes discipline to cut back in your
running prior to an event, the compulsive side of you will try
and tell you otherwise.
Looking back on my running career I often competed when I was
well and truly cooked and did not feel alive on the day.
It makes it such hard work.
One
year at the City to Surf an unknown by the name of Dan Brown
from USA won the race. Dan was at the event with some
school kids and kept a low profile going into the race for he
was having a break after running well in the 97 Goodwill games.
I remember Dan pulling away from me on heartbreak hill and it
would be fair to say that in my day I was a better athlete over
the hilly 14k than him. I just couldn't go with the guy
for my legs were so tired, he was so fresh and just pulled away
with every stride. I was not fresh for the race, I was
over cooked.
With
two weeks to go you still have time to save yourself if you are
feeling tired. Reduce the intensity and length of your
runs and monitor how you are feeling. Get that bounce
back. Hit the sack a tad earlier than usual. Rest up
for Race Day. You won't get any fitter in the last two weeks.
Start getting a mind set like Big Kev and scream out
"I'm
Excited".
The work is done, enjoy easing back.
Pat
Carroll
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