Opening the account: first event for 2010

This weekend I'm going to do a 27km offroad event across some of the most beautiful scenery in the country - a low pass between two volcanoes, across sand and tussock grass, and luckily toward the end, a few stands of beech trees. It's going to be hot, so I'll be looking forward to any shade that's going!

I'm nervous tho - while my scabs have all gone I've not run much recently so this is going to be a long run, but a big jump up from my recent distances. Injury worries? Oh, yes! Like Anne I really fear spending a lot of time off at any stage this year. So here is the internal dialogue:

• Maybe I shouldn't run? But it's OK, I can tap out 27km.
• I won't do it as well as I'd hoped. But treat it like a long weekend run. Done those before off a low base and survived.
• This will set me up really well for a 25 k'er planned for late April. 
• I need to practice not falling over during runs of more than 10 km
• It'll be a really cool event, and supports a good cause
• I LOVE carbo loading (even though it's hardly necessary for this -I can't taper off nothing!)

So for now, the ayes win out. Wish me luck!

   

A tumblin' down

Goodbye Christmas! Had a great holiday and even managed some running, then came home with the idea of a good long run with some fantastic running buddies to kick-start my final training for a 27km off roader on the 30th of January. An hour or so in I tripped and fell, grazing my elbow and knee. A week later, and I can finally bend my knee again. Needless to say that the infections in both sites have meant I haven't run (or done anything vaguely athletic) for 8 days. Hmmmm, not exactly the taper I was planning!

The worst thing is that I have to admit that this is hardly the first time I've decked out while running. I don't pick up my feet, I'm clumsy and when I hit, I seem to hit hard AND slide. I have scars on my knees that would make a ten year old boy very proud. My workmates laugh when I have to negotiate the stairs at the office after a weekend crash. But the worst thing is being stuck inside. I even felt like going out today when it's raining and 12 degrees Celsius in January, the middle of our summer.

The short of it: the 30th of January will now be a moderate training run with lots of other people around and a finish line photo - a photo that hopefully will not show bloodied knees and a sheepish grin. Wish me luck!