Pick up where you left off

Have You Got That ‘Thing’ That Beat You?

Here is your inspiration to revisit and have another go.

This time last year I met my match on the (half) marathon circuit. After a fabulous Devonport half marathon, completing it faster than I hoped (in under 2 hours), I was feeling good.

On the morning of the Omaha half marathon I came out to my car to a completely flat tire. My initial reaction was not of joy, it was more panic… Would I get the wheel off and a spare on in time? Or should I see this as a mystic sign and just give up?

The problem was, on a big heavy Landrover, with big heavy wheels, in a state of rushing, I was exhausted, and I am very sure I was producing adrenaline too – very much a necessary neurotransmitter and pain reliever for a long run.

I got the wheel off, and a new one on, with just enough time to get to the start line. And by just enough I mean no time to stretch or really warm up. And I felt drained.

Well I paid for it. Within the first 5k’s I was very much over it, looking at my Garmin every few metres. The howling northerly as I ran up Omaha Beach did not help. By the time I got around to Point Wells, a brand new pain, the worst I had ever experienced in running to that point, had kicked in (in my hip). From kilometres 7–18 (of 21.1Km) I was in the pain room. Walking, limping, running for a bit, limping, walking…

Somewhere in the entrance to Omaha the pacer for 2hrs10mins jogged past me, and that was the fire that I needed. ​​​​​​There was no way that I was going to allow myself to run this in over 2 hours and 10 minutes.

I got to experience how it is possible to run out the other side of pain, but the experience had a lasting impression on me. Even though I came in at a reasonable time (considering), I was very much beaten by the run. Very much beaten…

I stopped running with enthusiasm and regularity and have continued to do so.

Until a few weeks back.

An email came through… Omaha Half Marathon ‘Final Early Bird Tickets’.

Like a good masochist, I decided to sign up. Since then I have been building up my running again. 3k’s, 5k’s, 8k’s.

My run on Sunday was my first long run since then. 14km. Slow at over 6 minutes per kilometre.

But damn it felt good. Not just being out there on the road with my dog, pushing myself again. But also knowing that I was getting back on top of this situation that beat me in the past.

And at this juncture it might beat me again…

I didn’t tell you this story to go on about running. I told you this story to remind you to pick up where you left off. Get back on the bike, the horse, the project, the mission.

I have started training late, I don’t want to guarantee that I will get in under 2 hours. But my goal is to get to the finish line without being beaten down the way I was in 2023.

I want to beat the run – I don’t want it to beat me.

Take some time as the year winds down to look at what has beaten you in the past. It is never too late to take a look and have a shot at conquering that obstacle one more time.