Under Thirteen Weeks to the 2009 Canberra Marathon

Here in Sydney we have just come through our first really hot week of the Summer with Friday's temperatures touching the mid-30s on the coast and then Saturday scorching us with temperatures passing the 40 degree mark. For the mild weather loving city folk, this was survival weather.

Running-wise I still ventured out on Friday for an 11km run over a fairly flat course through the Sydney CBD and over to the Ultimo area. Temps were hot and the pace was slow. Still, that's another 11km off the schedule.

Fortunately, Saturday was a scheduled rest day and only the most foolhardy would rigidly stick to their training plan and head out on a day like that. Sunday saw more reasonable temperatures return to Sydney and I took off for an hour and a half jaunt around my local suburbs. I'm beginning to feel more confident that my body is going to stand up to the rigors of another marathon campaign after struggling with a torn calf at the end of 2008. I just make sure I'm diligent in my stretching routine before running and then do a cool down stretch after. It's not like I have to get myself some specialized back stretching equipment to do the job correctly.

This week the training schedule is pretty straight forward with days of 10 and 11km mid-week leading up to a planned 25km run on Sunday over at Balmain. Things are looking as though they're on track and I can now start to think about booking a motel room in Canberra.