Consistency

Everyone who knows me reasonably well knows I'm a runner. Not all know that I only started really trying to be a regular runner in 2016 when I plotted to run my first half marathon. It was a learning experience for me, making lots of mistakes, learning about ITB syndrome (Ilio-tibial band), different kinds of run and the basics of hydration and nutrition on the hoof. 2017 was when I really started to race a bit more, running my first marathon and scrapping over 2000km for the year on new years eve, but it was 2018, just seven years ago when I really got the hang of it. One month I got to 400km which was unfathomable in 2017 where even in my runniest week of them all before my first marathon, I didn't break 300km. 2018 which is the first lump below was a fun year but not necessarily hitting goals. It ended with hernia surgery shortly after getting a 3:29 marathon PB. But it set the foundation for what for a long time was my best year, 2019, the second bump. It had me breaking 1:30 for the half marathon, 20:00 for the first time and brought my marathon PB down to 3:26 then 3:23. 2019 ended with me slipping on a boardwalk injuring myself and then Covid happened. There was only one solid year of running in 2021 with injuries and niggles blighting any consistency until late 2022.

The end of 2023 started the most consistent period of my running life, and consistency is one of the most key factors in running success. The body makes changes over time to be more efficient and stronger. With strengthening exercises and rest, it should be possible to run regularly without injury (apart from face-plants on concrete paths). 

The far right of the chart shows my training to prepare for Christchurch Marathon that will be in two weeks' time. It has some monstrous numbers: February I cracked 400km, and March will be over 480km with some running tomorrow, a new record month of mileage. 

This consistency has brought me to a new plateau: while my best before 2024 was 3:22 in the marathon, my three marathons were all 3:16 or under in 2024 including a 3:10 best; while my best half marathon before 2024 was 1:29:56, I have now run under that three times with a best of 1:27 and crucially never over 1:31 (even a "poorly paced run" has been a pretty good time). And in the seven 5km parkruns I've since Jan 2024, I've run six under the 20 minute ceiling that took me so long to break. (For the record, the only one over 20 minutes was done within a 33km long run and was a pretty respectable 21:28.)

But there has been something irksome in the numbers. I ran a 1:27 and a 1:28 half marathon in the middle of 2024 but have run all four halves since that between 1:29:30-1:30:46, metronomically consistently slower than my best. Since my 3:10 marathon breakthough in June 2024, my following two were 3:14 and 3:16 respectively. My watch tells me I have the fitness to break 19 minutes in the 5km but my parkrun times are as follows: 19:25, 19:51, 21:28, 19:42, 19:23, 19:36, 19:44; the 19:25 was yesterday morning and I felt pushed to my limit and with my current fitness should have been a PB, but wasn't. 

So I'm in a plateau despite the hard work put in. Next weekend is the Waterfront Half, which just like yesterday morning's race should by any measure be a good time, at least better than the same event last year where I got 1:28, if not a PB. And the marathon the following week should be better than the 3:10 that is my best in Hamilton. But both may not be, too. 

How the body performs can be so fickle. I hope that with a good taper and a smooth few days before, both will reach expectations.