Back Into It

4 September 2006

Training to Train

I had my first training session today after two months off. Man, what a shock to the system! Everything is hurting right now. I'm sore in every part of my body. After doing a lot of weights in my last preparation and then having a couple of months off I didn't realize how weak I had become. My running is fantastic it's just everything else is tough! But trust me I'm going to work on it and get back into it.

Right now I'm at the beginning of a 12 month plan. Coach has provided me with what he calls a pre-training program which I'll do for about two or three weeks. I'm training myself to train so to speak so that when I do start training I won't get a lot of muscle soreness. Plus by doing this I'll reduce my chance of getting injured because I've prepared my body. Unlike a six hour day when I'm in full training these sessions consist of a series of jogs, push-ups and sit-ups and only take an hour or two then I go do my other stuff like have a massage and so on.

Once a week I also go to the track and do a longer session that includes a warm-up, weights and a hill-run. So you can see Coach wants to introduce me back into training very slowly. Now's the most important time so I'm in touch with him everyday because if I get this wrong it can hurt me later on down the track. The phone company loves me!


Going Back to the States

I'll be heading back to the California in mid-November for three months of training with Coach John Smith. Coach gives me confidence you know and I'm really looking forward to being with him again. He takes the pressure off me and stops me from burning out. The plan is that I'll be back in Australia in mid February in time for the Nationals in March. I'm coming back to win so Coach and I will prepare for that.


Mapping Out 2007

After the Nationals I'll probably stay home until the end of April then head back to the States for May and June to prepare for the European track season in July and August. Of course the main goal for me next year is to be ready to run in the World Championships in Osaka in August. That's what I'm really focussed on.


Let's Get Into It!

You know it's a long time to train for the World Championships and I'm already sick of talking about. I just want to get into it! It is what it is for me now. I just have to go out and practice and do what Coach says. My body is back in his hands and it's his problem to get me right. I ask him what I need to do and I do it. I asked him if there is anything more today and he said no. So I listen.


Wariner is the Man

It wasn't as tough as I thought it'd be not competing in Europe this year. It was actually good not being there because its allowed me to study each of the runners you know. I've been looking at all the races on the Net and it's still Jeremy whose on top. He's got a great race plan and can string three races together. That's what you've got to do if you want to win. All the guys can run great times in single races but when it comes to Championships you've got to be able to do what he does.

Coach knows I've got a lot of improving to do because I'm still making little mistakes in my races, especially in the last 100. That's what we are going to work on. Get a little more mature in approach, a little stronger in my body and we'll do fine. That's my focus right now and that's how I'm going to get quicker.

That's it for now. All I can say is it feels good to be back into training. I just hope the pain goes away soon! I'm sure I wasn't this sore last year! Must be old age. I'll be right in about three weeks.


Until the next time, take care.
John

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