What did you make of it?
I don't know why I didn't run faster. I ran 33:39 at Noosa the week before which is only three seconds off the Australian 55+ best for that distance on the track (pity the Masters don't have Best Performance for the road 10k). I am actually training better and rested more this year. Last year I had a cold too (maybe it was one of those mythical "fitness colds"). I am not usually a strong hill runner but this year I was being overtaken on the hills a lot more than last year. My last k was slow as and I lost 20 seconds on the runners around me. I thought I would have at least run faster than last year.
Keith Bateman's run was just amazing. He deserves the outcome as he really applies himself to the task in both training and racing. I was about 30 seconds behind at 5k and fully expected to pull him back some on Heartbreak but he actually took more time out of me up the hill. I am supposed to be the strong marathoner so I was well and truly put in my place. I think Keith expected me to push him to a good time (he sent me a text the night before suggesting this - but I missed it). I am glad he ran his own race as I am simply not of his level.
Jonny ran really well and was well pleased with his time. He was a little disappointed at getting pushed out of the top ten over the last k. He thinks he can run faster and is looking forward to next year. He is also looking forward to the National CC at the end of August. He has trained specifically for the Nationals.
What were Jonny's injuries?
The problem that first took Jonny out of running competitively was a ganglion in his knee. It is between an artery and a nerve. It is the nerve that stops your foot from dropping. At that time it was thought that surgery was the only option and his GP seemed to think that it may damage it to keep racing and training on it at a high level. His GP referred Jonny on but Jonny just dropped out of running competitively. Jonny had this diagnosed whilst doing his under-graduate uni degree and just couldn’t cope with it as well as his work load. Then during his Honours year he started jogging on the weekends for relaxation.
Jonny could still run about 60k a week without problems so he started running again but then hurt his back in the surf when a few of the lads from the USA came over for a visit. This kind of messed him up mentally and he became very frustrated and just let it go completely.
Last year he came with me for the C2S and that motivated him big time. He made the appointment to see the specialist the next day. When he did see them, the surgeons assured him that he could run without damaging his knee, however, it was too risky to try and remove the cyst.
Is his comeback complete?
I doubt it. He has recently run a few 130k weeks without his knee bothering him too much. When younger and before his knee problem he seldom ran more 80k. Now he just wants to run and enjoy his racing without all the expectations and carry on.
Has he made it back to the standard he was or is there
anymore improvement to come or has he managed to exceed his previous best form?
He is confident that he can improve. He wants to do a marathon and is keen get under 30 minutes for 10k. The runners near him at C2S were sub 30 minute runners. His times are way quicker then when he was a lad.
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