Its Just A Flesh Wound
Canberra 2006 - what a weekend!
The laughs started on the trip down, sharing a flight with Tara & Ciaran (CR Finbar), Robert Song, Iliketoast, Ihatetoast, Digger, Fat Bloke, Gav and a few other runners as well as the odd normal person. Gav deserted Fats to chat up some chick .... apparently she was flying down for a wedding and Gav was trying to assertain if pasta was on the menu before he put in too much of an effort :-)
That was just the beginning of a weekend of fun, with loads of socialising and a bit of running. After a big group of us had lunch at Caphs we headed back to the expo and then watched the Saturday arvo 10k and 5k. In one way it gets you so fired up for the next morning but in another you see how hard they are all working out there it makes you wonder why you do it. Then there was another mob visit to Caphs, this time for dinner before hitting the sack and worrying about Sunday.
Having poll position when it comes to accom (right at the start/finish) the room becomes an unofficial meeting place/pit stop. First visitor at the 'Do Drop Inn' was a very excited Clairie at 5:50am and from then on there was a steady stream of pop-ins, all ready for the big one. It seemed no time at all before we were outside and Clairie and I were making our way to the 3:30 flag. The minute we got there the gun went.
With the ITB not behaving at all I'd figured there were three points in the race where I could stop and not be out in the middle of nowhere - 12k, 25k, or the finish line. The goal was 10k pain free. Unfortunately I only got about 100 meters pain free, but it was just a niggle and didn't get worse ... well not for a while. I fiddled around with the pace, but around 5 min kms seemed to make it managable. Good thing was at that pace at different times I got to hang out with lots of CRs including JD, CJ, Spud and Tuttle.
The first part of this race has to be the best of any marathon - the lake, running around the parliament houses, the hot air balloons etc, it really did take my mind off my leg. So at 12k when there was the first bridge crossing I figured I'd keep on going. I'm so glad I did because heading out to the turnaround were five big signs that Pat's wonderful partner Sue had posted up for each of us from his squad. I wanted to point mine out to the guys running near me and tell them it was for me.
The plan was to stop and walk as soon as the niggle became a pain and that didn't happen until 20k I think. I sooned dropped to over 5 minute pace and was struggling to keep my form. Crossing back over the other bridge and coming down the hill to the water station at 22 1/2k I knew it was time to stop and walk for a bit. When I started up again other things were bothering me, my hip, my ankle, my quads.
I walked a little but ran mostly for the next couple of kms, including a brief run with Rent Boy who was driving the 3:45 train. I got the crowd to do a "3 cheers for Rent Boy" :-) He told me our mate Geoff (aka Fat Craig Mottram) was just behind and due to injury was doing a run/walk thing so I kept an eye out for him thinking I'd hang in with him for the whole 42k. Soon I spotted Truckie just before there and stopped and chatted. Geoff hadn't appeared yet, probably just as well.
Thing is I wasn't really hurting badly, well not bad bad bad, and was wondering if I was talking myself into it just because I didn't want to do the journey out to Death Valley and back again. He was wonderful and assured me that pulling out was the sensible thing to do. I realised he was right as I left him to go up to the cheer squad and had trouble walking. The gang there were so supportive, full of hugs and congratulations for me for getting as far as I did.
After a bit of cheering I headed back to base with Chris and Kate and slipped in for a quick shower and was back at the finish line as the 3:10 people were coming in. There were so many great performances, I'd love to list them but would be bound to forget some. But special mention must go to my little mate Clairie - a 3:23 debut marathon. And our training partner Tara - also on debut she finished in 3:30! We three girls did so many long runs in the hot humid weather with all the smelly boys, who by the way, had great runs too.
Now to the aftermath, and I don't mean the great traditional lunch and drinks at El Ranchos, drinkies at the post party at Rydges, and pizza and drinks at Bellucis :-) My leg is sore. I may have set my recovery back a couple of weeks but as this stage I'm thinking it was well and truly worth it. I might not feel the same way next physio visit.
Thanks to all for messages of support, encouragement, advice etc etc in the lead up to Canberra. How lucky are we all to be part of this wonderful running community!
The laughs started on the trip down, sharing a flight with Tara & Ciaran (CR Finbar), Robert Song, Iliketoast, Ihatetoast, Digger, Fat Bloke, Gav and a few other runners as well as the odd normal person. Gav deserted Fats to chat up some chick .... apparently she was flying down for a wedding and Gav was trying to assertain if pasta was on the menu before he put in too much of an effort :-)
That was just the beginning of a weekend of fun, with loads of socialising and a bit of running. After a big group of us had lunch at Caphs we headed back to the expo and then watched the Saturday arvo 10k and 5k. In one way it gets you so fired up for the next morning but in another you see how hard they are all working out there it makes you wonder why you do it. Then there was another mob visit to Caphs, this time for dinner before hitting the sack and worrying about Sunday.
Having poll position when it comes to accom (right at the start/finish) the room becomes an unofficial meeting place/pit stop. First visitor at the 'Do Drop Inn' was a very excited Clairie at 5:50am and from then on there was a steady stream of pop-ins, all ready for the big one. It seemed no time at all before we were outside and Clairie and I were making our way to the 3:30 flag. The minute we got there the gun went.
With the ITB not behaving at all I'd figured there were three points in the race where I could stop and not be out in the middle of nowhere - 12k, 25k, or the finish line. The goal was 10k pain free. Unfortunately I only got about 100 meters pain free, but it was just a niggle and didn't get worse ... well not for a while. I fiddled around with the pace, but around 5 min kms seemed to make it managable. Good thing was at that pace at different times I got to hang out with lots of CRs including JD, CJ, Spud and Tuttle.
The first part of this race has to be the best of any marathon - the lake, running around the parliament houses, the hot air balloons etc, it really did take my mind off my leg. So at 12k when there was the first bridge crossing I figured I'd keep on going. I'm so glad I did because heading out to the turnaround were five big signs that Pat's wonderful partner Sue had posted up for each of us from his squad. I wanted to point mine out to the guys running near me and tell them it was for me.
The plan was to stop and walk as soon as the niggle became a pain and that didn't happen until 20k I think. I sooned dropped to over 5 minute pace and was struggling to keep my form. Crossing back over the other bridge and coming down the hill to the water station at 22 1/2k I knew it was time to stop and walk for a bit. When I started up again other things were bothering me, my hip, my ankle, my quads.
I walked a little but ran mostly for the next couple of kms, including a brief run with Rent Boy who was driving the 3:45 train. I got the crowd to do a "3 cheers for Rent Boy" :-) He told me our mate Geoff (aka Fat Craig Mottram) was just behind and due to injury was doing a run/walk thing so I kept an eye out for him thinking I'd hang in with him for the whole 42k. Soon I spotted Truckie just before there and stopped and chatted. Geoff hadn't appeared yet, probably just as well.
Thing is I wasn't really hurting badly, well not bad bad bad, and was wondering if I was talking myself into it just because I didn't want to do the journey out to Death Valley and back again. He was wonderful and assured me that pulling out was the sensible thing to do. I realised he was right as I left him to go up to the cheer squad and had trouble walking. The gang there were so supportive, full of hugs and congratulations for me for getting as far as I did.
After a bit of cheering I headed back to base with Chris and Kate and slipped in for a quick shower and was back at the finish line as the 3:10 people were coming in. There were so many great performances, I'd love to list them but would be bound to forget some. But special mention must go to my little mate Clairie - a 3:23 debut marathon. And our training partner Tara - also on debut she finished in 3:30! We three girls did so many long runs in the hot humid weather with all the smelly boys, who by the way, had great runs too.
Now to the aftermath, and I don't mean the great traditional lunch and drinks at El Ranchos, drinkies at the post party at Rydges, and pizza and drinks at Bellucis :-) My leg is sore. I may have set my recovery back a couple of weeks but as this stage I'm thinking it was well and truly worth it. I might not feel the same way next physio visit.
Thanks to all for messages of support, encouragement, advice etc etc in the lead up to Canberra. How lucky are we all to be part of this wonderful running community!
posted by Tesso at 12:57 PM
30 Comments:
Well done on making such a wise decision. Hope you didn't harm your recovery too much. What song did you get up to? Did you see any of the SARRC guys over there?
Tesso, I am so, so proud of you for giving yourself every chance to do it, and then listening to your body and pulling out when you realised you would be doing more harm than good. What a champion.
I thought they said you can't put a wise head on young shoulders!
Good luck with the recovery. It really is no fun being injured.
Geoff (aka Fat Craig Mottram) - never thought of this before, but its very true! :)
Glad to hear you talking positive about the weekend, when I spoke to you on Sunday I wasnt sure how you were going to pull up, and I'm not just refering to the leg here! Hopefully it hasnt put you back for weeks and weeks... I know I gave you the tv stretch but I have quite a good bed one (that could sound terrible in the wrong context) and I'm sure you'll be back out running all of us & then some before anyone knows it!
I am soooooo proud and happy for you that you had a go and also made a great decision to stop.
As Team J's official running role model you are a legend!
Rest up mate and come back strong ;-)
Tesso, that was really gutsy to give it a go and pull out before doing yourself more harm. I wish you a speedy recovery and hopefully injury free for your next race.
Tesso great achievement in starting the race. But am so glad you made the very wise decision to stop. So often we decide that we don't feel the pain and run through it. Only later on we are injured for much longer and hating ourselves for doing it. Sorry I missed you down there.
Great report ..... I was relieved you pulled out but more pleased you were there.
Jeez, I thought you were hurting real bad, wuss!
Just kiddin', wise move and you still got to experience the whole Canberra marathon weekend, certainly beats staying put in Brissie!
Gutsy stuff Tess, great catching up too, might see you at GH in May?
Tesso, it was great to meet you in Canberra. Well done on such a courageous decision. You at least managed to experience both sides - the competitive AND the cheer squad. Do hope you can rest and recover quickly and bounce back injury free once more.
Tesso you are a person with a rare ability to draw people together in a very quiet no fuss sort of way.
You didn't let the sad fact that you had to pull the plug before the finish in any way diminish your care and concern for others. You were there to share their tears and ecstacy.
I was so pleased to see you out on the course and then low and behold you were at the finishing line cheering me in. Double blessings.
When we didn't see you out on the course, I thought you must have pulled the pin. Wise decision and I know you will run many more great races in the future.
Very wise decision Tesso.
Well done and you got to enjoy both side of the coin... aren't you lucky?
Tesso
I am sorry I couldnt make it to Canberra on sunday and even more sorry the day didnt pan out as well as you had hoped. I really get the death valley analogy though, it is a real slog on the other side of Lake BG.
Thanks for all your support and good wishes too, sorry I have been off the blog radar a bit lately, doing a catch up tonight!
You are such a wise woman! Your attitude is amazing. I'm sorry that you didn't finish - but it was the smart thing to do and will get you back to runner sooner than you would have had you finished. You're my hero! Great report.
Tesso, I hope bad bad bad is soon good good good. It was the right decision to stop stop stop.
100 metres pain free? You know, there is such a thing as a 100 metre race.
Tesso, thanks for your kind words about my comments on Sunday's race. People like you are inspiration to me, not just for your approach to running but for for the ease you can make friends and for what you put into the sport. I've had ITB too; I hated it but did get over it and have never had it since. I am sure you will be at full steam before too long. Sorry I didn't catch up with you on Sunday and I am not sure if I will be in Brisbane during the year, although I think Pat is trying to talk me into running the GC marathon. But I will certainly be running the SMH Half in Sydney and the C2S and would love to catch up if you should make it down for them. Finally, I have an apology to make. I lost interest in my Blog at one point last year, not realising that people (and you were one of them) had made comments on the site. I only discovered that yesterday and I am greatly embarrassed about it. My apologies for not acknowledging your comment last year.
Hi Tess, sorry I missed you in Canberra too. Congratulations on making it to the start line. Glad you could be there, was a good thing you did pull out to be able to watch Claire and others finish.
*hugs* great job... hope the leg is feeling heaps better xxx
Get better soon mate ((((Tesso)))
Thanks for including me in your activities over the weekend and making me feel so welcome in your group. Much appreciated.
Look after yourself.
:-( but a very smart decision.
Enjoy your recovery!
Good effort Tesso. Atleast you had a go.
Good to know that the first bit of the marathon is the most fun. At least then you experienced the best bit and could bugger off when the fun was over ;)
Glad to know you took it sensibly Tess. Look after you
Tess Mate,
Believe it or not, I've rarely been more proud of you than I was on Sunday when you let the strength of your mind beat the strength of your heart and pull out of the race.
Now lets concentrate on beating that ITB and if it takes the standard six week break from running such as that which Langy took, then that's what it takes.
Matt
I'm your 27th comment. What a bummer.....I think you made a good choice. Now you will be able to run another day.
Well done on a tough choice.
The good thing about running and pulling the pin is that there are plenty of other runs to look forward to.
Tesso I can't even imagine how hard that must have been - but i can't even imagine how tough you must be to have made it to the start line and as far around as you did. You are a star!!!! Now rest- you deserve it!!
Tesso, so sorry that I haven't dropped by all week. There is nothing I can add to the comments below - it was the right decision to make but a bloody tough one. Good on you for having the guts to make it.
Looking forward to catching up with you at Warwick :-)
Tess, I hope that silly old ITB is on the mend by now! You were wonderful to set out as you did & then had the courage (& common sense!) to finish when your body told you it was time.
Like you, I think: what would we do without our CR friends of whom you are a very special one. Take care & recover!
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