GOING THE DISTANCE

Runners map for 2019 is of utmost importance

In days of yore a family would set off on a road tripping holiday with a printed version of as reliable and up to date a road map as possible.

Failure to do so made arrival at a previously unexplored destination somewhat precarious and time-consuming.

A runner’s map for 2019 is no less a project worthy of serious consideration.

For some 2018 was a year of "mission accomplished", but for many more it may well have been a proverbial "train smash."

When things go awry there is always a reason. It could be a deviation of the original plan. "Last year I did 1500km in preparation, so this year if I do 1600km I will automatically be stronger, faster."

That unfortunately is what can be defined as "winging it." Equally tracking what "others" are doing and emulating their strategy is abandoning a personally tried and tested road map to success.

Training aside for the purpose of this discussion, an equally important criteria to 2019 planning is race selection. The calendar is widely available, so do we spontaneously choose and perhaps run everything? Nope, that would be a deviation from the plan and the probable non-achievement of that one big goal at that special race of choice.

Focus is absolutely required. The three weeks that follow allow for a mixture of training and relaxation and then reality strikes. Work, school and yes, road races.

My views on running too many marathons and ultras, particularly in the latter stages of a calendar year, are not universally popular, but I am always open to debate and look forward to being proved wrong, or maybe right.

Fortunately runners returning from holiday can ease in to the new year and choose between a number of shorter distance events, before building up to either a halfmarathon, a marathon or for others still the Two Oceans 56km or Comrades Marathon.

The first two races in January are the PWC 10km, which offers a mixture of traditional road and some beach and the East London Eye Hospital Laser Challenge, also over 10km and run through the leafy suburb of Beacon Bay.

Times at both, or either of those 10km events will tell a runner everything they need to know about where they are in respect of preparation.

A relatively new phenomena for road races is the fast sell out of entries and this, too, is a crucial element to planning the road map of 2019. The "sold out" sign has not yet gone up on a local race but it is coming. Entries are open for both 10km events as well as the Bridal Drift Half-Marathon on January 27, with a number of popular races also open for business in February.

Start with the goal, carefully plan the road map to achieving it and do not be sidetracked with trivia.

Do not abandon any already successful methodology because of what others are showing off on their apps.

Successful runners believe in themselves and their coaches or support teams. It can be that simple. Let 2019 begin.