The Schedule

With only a few days left, I guess I better start thinking about the schedule of events at the Police and Emergency Services Games. I've entered three events which are:

• Cross Country 10km
• 5000m track
• Half Marathon

While the games go for about two weeks overall, my races are over two weekends. The first race is this coming Sunday, which will be the Cross Country, held at Jells Park. I get to go into this event, hopefully fresh and with plenty of time to recover for the following weekend. The second weekend will be the big test on recovery and endurance. The 5000m will be held on Saturday afternoon at the Police Academy track and then Sunday morning will see me travel all the way up to Ballarat for the Half Marathon. Just for good measure I decided to add the Run For The Kids race (14.1km) for the weekend after, before I take some down time.

My approach is to aim for the gold medal in each event. What makes this particularly difficult is I have no idea who I am competing against. Therefore my goal could be anywhere from easily achievable to just naively impossible. So I need to think about what will give me the best possible chance. The biggest influence to this is the training I have already done. That is what gives me any chance of achieving the medals. However, I cannot change what I have already done, or not done.

What can be done in racing?

Quite simply I need to race to my strengths, know my capabilities and be open to changing tactics within each race. I'll be a bit more specific on this, without getting down to the exact times I believe I am capable of... (you have to keep some things to yourself until the end of the race).

Just going for a fast time may not, be enough to win. There may be a need to put in surges or sprints, or other tactics to break an opponent during the race. This may result in a slower overall time, but just heading out at a near even pace may help someone tuck in and pace off me. What I need to do is go out at pace I believe is doable and see how this affects my opponents. From there I have to do what it takes to remain in a winning position. If the field is weak, it may mean I can simply just run a solid race. On the other hand, I may have to suck it up big-time and race above myself to hang on to the leaders.

I competed in the Games a two years ago, and the races came down to some pretty intense, but friendly and close racing. If the standard is similar this year, then I am definitely in with a good shot.