The Road To Redemption!

July 3rd 2011, Gold Coast Marathon. After 6 months training I'm on the start line eagerly awaiting the gun to signal the running of the biggest marathon in Australia. Up until the final 4 weeks everything had been going well and then I strained the insertion linking my left hamstring and glute. Fortunately I've come through this and a massage therapist who had treated me in the days leading up to the event has assured me that I'd be fine.

After the speeches including one given by former marathon world record holder, Rob de  Castella (sorry American members but Alberto Salazar never held the world marathon record because the course was short) inspiring the field to emulate the glory of Pheiddipides, the runners are given a 10 second countdown. The gun goes off and all of a sudden my hamstring gives in. I try to run it off but I can barely lift my leg.

After 5 kilometres I finally decide to call it a day right outside the apartment I rented on the course. And so 6 months of hard work comes to an end on the side of Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise.

October 2013, I've just aborted another attempt at the marathon. But fear not as it is a precautionary measure for a tight glute. However I've pencilled in the 2014 Dong A Seoul Marathon. So it's just a question of adding to the good base that I've developed over the past 6 months. And the great news is that I'm back with my old coach, David Lucas, who trained me to my pr back in 1999.

So for the next 6 months I will submit a regular monthly or bi monthly blog covering my progress. David and I have unfinished business to attend to as we travel the Road To Redemption.