I first completed the Great Ocean Road Marathon in 2019. It was my first marathon with breathtaking views and an overall fantastic weekend with friends. Read more about it Here.

With a year off due to COVID19 restrictions, we aren’t going to miss two years in a row! Accommodation has been booked, race fees paid up and a bulk order of nutrition gels have been ordered.

Unfortunately, 9 weeks out from the Great Ocean Road Marathon, during the Razorback Trail Run, I rolled my ankle which has kept me off my feet for 3-4 weeks. This has significantly impacted my training block and has caused me to revise my goals for the event. I did consider (for a very short amount of time) not participating, but I think I’ll be ready. I’m also happy to continue to reevaluate my condition and goal times as the race gets closer and make necessary changes or withdraw completely.

Ultimately, I need to make sure I don’t further injure myself and put the Surf Coast Century 100 km in jeopardy as I need those points to qualify for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.  My upcoming races for 2021 are found Here.

So, in order to get the most out of the race, I have set three different Goals. An A, B, and C Goal. My A Goal is the big one. The most important. The one I am there to achieve. However, during the event, I am able to calculate if I will be able to reach the goal or not. Failure may be due to a number of reasons which include lack of preparation, injury, poor race execution or just not feeling it on the day.

The course tracks the Great Ocean Road from Lorne to Apollo Bay with the marathon distance (42.195 km or 26.2 miles) finish just out of the Apollo Bay township. The final 2.4 kms is brutal. You can see the finish line and the marathon distance has already been completed. It’s mind over matter to finish those last kms.

The goals I have set for the Great Ocean Road Marathon in 2021 are as follows:

A Goal: Marathon distance (42.195 kms) in 3 hrs 20 min.

B Goal: Marathon distance (42.195 kms) in 3 hrs 30 min.

C Goal: Marathon Personal Best (PB) under 3 hrs 47 min.

When I set my goals, I try to keep them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely). Unrealistic goals are destined for failure and are unhelpful for building momentum in my running journey. 

In order to achieve the goals stated above, I have needed to follow a training plan. The plan has changed significantly due to my injury and I have generated a revised plan with the assistance of my sports physio. My Strava account tracks my progress against my training plan. 

Like any training plan, it is not set in stone. I will make adjustments and have already done so. If I miss a day due to injury, unexpected circumstances, I will continue on OR make adjustments. Scheduling in additional workouts to “catch up” will likely lead to injury. I’m not interested in that.

Things don’t always go to plan. In the lead up to big events and on race day, the unexpected can happen. However, our results reflect how well we have adapted and overcome the obstacles standing in our way. Stick at it! Adapt, overcome and hit those goals.