Only 5 more weeks (including this week) until this year’s Comrades Marathon. The one thing that I am most excited by is the week prior to the race where I will get to reacquaint myself with family and friends from South Africa. This week is always special as it is the time when I get to catchup and reminisce about times gone by. It is the time when the event seems so near and yet so far away at the same time. It is also a time that I relish but at the same time one that I don’t like as just as soon it will be over again and as all good things it must come to an end eventually. That is true also of any event that one prepares well for. The time must come when you do cross that finish line and stand alone in your thoughts. A time when all else seems trivial and you are euphoric. A time when time stands still and you know that you are not done, nor will you ever be done, but just for that brief second or few minutes you will know that you have conquered and that you preparation has served you well.
Running together – stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Unique motivation to produce results
Recently I have been doing some reading about stories of the bush wars in Africa during the 1970s and 1980s.
A very interesting story that I came across was about two young men who had been conscripted into the South African army in the late 70s. They had an absolute tyrant of a commander and were stationed on a dust bowl base in the middle of the heat of Namibia. They had no idea about long distance ultra running but they soon found out that their commander was fascinated with the Comrades Marathon and put the word out that anyone from the unit who would train for the event would be exempt from doing his PT sessions for the duration of their training. Many in the platoon signed up thinking that this was their ticket to getting out of his hell sessions.
One by one they dropped out until there was only the two blokes left. They trained hard and got pretty fit, but still had no idea about the course or what they were going to face on the journey.
The commander then put out another word to them that if any of them ran silver, then they would be further exempt from PT for the rest of their two year stint on the base. Both ran silver as this carrot was just something that was too great to miss out on.
Running together – stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
A very interesting story that I came across was about two young men who had been conscripted into the South African army in the late 70s. They had an absolute tyrant of a commander and were stationed on a dust bowl base in the middle of the heat of Namibia. They had no idea about long distance ultra running but they soon found out that their commander was fascinated with the Comrades Marathon and put the word out that anyone from the unit who would train for the event would be exempt from doing his PT sessions for the duration of their training. Many in the platoon signed up thinking that this was their ticket to getting out of his hell sessions.
One by one they dropped out until there was only the two blokes left. They trained hard and got pretty fit, but still had no idea about the course or what they were going to face on the journey.
The commander then put out another word to them that if any of them ran silver, then they would be further exempt from PT for the rest of their two year stint on the base. Both ran silver as this carrot was just something that was too great to miss out on.
Running together – stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
Friday, April 22, 2011
The 2 hour marathon debate
Experts have for a long time been divided on this matter and there are some that say it will just not happen at all. Current world record holder (albeit on a technicality) Haile Gebrselassie believes that it will be done, but not by him and only in about 25 years time or more.
To give you an idea of what one needs to do to get to the 2 hour marathon, it would need solid speeds of 13.1 miles per hour, whereas the current world record sits at 12.7 miles per hour. This is a significant jump and would take a very special talent to get there. Quite simply the combination on the day would just have to click and go so well.
As to possible courses for an attempt, the simple answer to this would be that they would have to be either London, Berlin or Rotterdam as these are the fastest traditionally (as we saw on the weekend Boston was great for a record but it does not count).
One would also have to assemble a top quality field of pace makers and throw a significant amount of money at them (not to mention the eventual winner) to bust themselves in the attempt to get someone under 2 hours. It is clear that anyone going under that magic 2 hour marker would not only write themself into the history books, but also have the potential to earn and incredible amount of money.
Who could do it one may ask? My money is definitely on someone from East Africa, with a slim possibility of perhaps someone from North or South Africa. The rest of the world just does not have the pedigree or the track record.
With the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa being 2500m above sea level and with a good climate, it bodes well for those training in that atmosphere.
A young Ethiopian with a very quick 5000m track time is my guess for the person to crack it.
Running together – stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Achilles tendon fixes
The Achilles tendon is indeed a tricky little beast and having had some niggles with it this year during my Comrades training, I thought to share some of the things that have helped me.
Firstly it is important to note that the Achilles tendon and the Tibialis Posterior Tendon (the tendon running up the inside of the leg attaching at the ankle and midway up the calf) have very poor blood flow through them.
Pain in this area could be due to a lot of different reasons, but the test for Achilles problems is to pinch the tendon between two fingers and if extreme pain is felt then the Achilles is abit tender.
Many people advise administering ice to this area, but I have felt that if it is true Achilles problems, then sticking your foot in a bucket of hot water is far preferable. Remember that to heal this area we need to actually encourage more blood flow and not restrict it as one would do in the case of an ice bath or a swelling injury.
Diagnosing between a stress fracture and tendon problems is also fairly easy. Try hopping on the injured foot. If hopping is not possible and is the worst pain you have ever felt then don’t muck around and get to a doctor. If hopping with very little or no pain is possible then you probably have tendon problems.
The best way that I have found to build up the tendon is to do calf raises. Start with 3 sets of 10 if you can manage it. Then switch to single leg raises (also 3 sets if you can manage it). Following this try standing on a step (or stack of books) and do calf raises and drops (similar to above). Aim to finish with your heals dropped for about 30 seconds to really increase blood flow and strengthen those tendons.
As mentioned above, these are only my experiences and if you are in doubt, then you should immediately consult your physio or sports doctor.
Running together – stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
Firstly it is important to note that the Achilles tendon and the Tibialis Posterior Tendon (the tendon running up the inside of the leg attaching at the ankle and midway up the calf) have very poor blood flow through them.
Pain in this area could be due to a lot of different reasons, but the test for Achilles problems is to pinch the tendon between two fingers and if extreme pain is felt then the Achilles is abit tender.
Many people advise administering ice to this area, but I have felt that if it is true Achilles problems, then sticking your foot in a bucket of hot water is far preferable. Remember that to heal this area we need to actually encourage more blood flow and not restrict it as one would do in the case of an ice bath or a swelling injury.
Diagnosing between a stress fracture and tendon problems is also fairly easy. Try hopping on the injured foot. If hopping is not possible and is the worst pain you have ever felt then don’t muck around and get to a doctor. If hopping with very little or no pain is possible then you probably have tendon problems.
The best way that I have found to build up the tendon is to do calf raises. Start with 3 sets of 10 if you can manage it. Then switch to single leg raises (also 3 sets if you can manage it). Following this try standing on a step (or stack of books) and do calf raises and drops (similar to above). Aim to finish with your heals dropped for about 30 seconds to really increase blood flow and strengthen those tendons.
As mentioned above, these are only my experiences and if you are in doubt, then you should immediately consult your physio or sports doctor.
Running together – stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
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