Well, what's been happening over the last 6 or so months?!
A S&*T LOAD!!!!
I'm not going to go in to heaps of detail but if you want to ask anything questions or want any more info just let me know!
First things first.....
TRUE GRIT 24 HOUR ENDURO
The culmination of close to 10 months of dedicated training found me 2 hours outside of Sydney facing the starting line of an 11km course with 30 obstacles I would be wandering around in for the next 24 hours!
I knew i had the km's in the legs, my gear was checked and i was primed to go. I felt REALLY good for the majority of the race and was averaging 2.5-2.75 hours per lap and was sitting in the 10th-12th spot for most of the event. I was enormously proud to be leading the charge for Team OCRL SA with ex Olympian Brad Jamieson. Unfortunately 3 of our team encountered early injuries which put them out of action but they will be back!
At about lap 7 (ish) my left knee developed a REALLY bad pain every time I faced a downhill section, and, with an ammo carry and sandbag carry up and down a 300m loop on the side of a hill was agony. At the end of lap 8 i changed my shoes and socks for the 1st time thinking that this may provide some relief but there was nothing. The ice cold of the mud mile was nice but coming straight out of that to the sandbag carry i knew i couldn't get another lap in.
I had always set myself the goal of 10 laps, 100kms and the last lap was going to be my "dad lap" to honor my father who passed away unexpectedly in December 2014. I took with me his silver necklace that he never took off. I was going to wear this on my last lap, for him.
Coming out of the sandbag carry on lap 9 I knew I wasn't going to do it. I was distraught coming through the back section of the course walking at barely a shuffle and coming down sideways at the steeper decline sections.
When I returned to the transition section and saw my pit crew (my wife) I used every piece of self control I had left to keep myself together. Barely able to put weight on my left leg and completely unable to bend it I made the hardest decision to finish there, 9 laps and 99km in. Asha pleaded with me to push for that next lap, members of my team who had changed, eaten and were comfortable offered to get back out there and chaperon me on the final lap but not knowing the extent of the damage to my knee I snapped back that I was done.
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| nervous anticipation. Jeff looking cool as! |
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| Team SA! Great group of athletes right there |
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| Team OCRL SA |
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| My final walk through the transition area. Flanked by Brad Cook |
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| The whole crew! Athletes and Support team |
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| Facing the reality it was over after this lap. This was at the 3/4 mark of the last lap |
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| Crushing the monkey bars early on |
I took some time to gather my thoughts and then explained to them my situation. I refueled, changed and sat by the camp fire in quiet reflection and took in the enormity of what I had accomplished, trying to push to the side the gutted feeling of disappointment and failure for my Dad.
I finished this event in 11th place. Out of over 200 competitors.
The fact I didn't accomplish the "Dad Lap" haunts me every day. Unfortunately due to this event falling on my daughters birthday in 2016 i will be unable to attend and atone for the disappointment of this year.
In 2017 I will make amends for this.
Task Force #1
After Enduro it took me close to 3 months before I was able to do any running or weighted leg work. I had a severe case of Patella femoral inflammation.
As part of my gym, Base Camp SA, they set up a military style training group titled Task Force. Of course I was going to do this!
TF1 saw us meet at the crack of dawn at Chambers Gully conservation park. In true military style we were to follow a set list of instructions to certain way points, complete various exercises and meet our instructors back at a rendezvous point. After 5 hours we all made our way back, as a team with everyone in tact. We were presented with a Task Force t-shirt and an invitation to Task Force #2.
TF2 started this week but due to various factors, none injury related for once, I ruled myself out. This week long, early morning beach session workouts look to be fantastic and there is a strong contingent representing there!
Obstacle Course Training with Matt Murphy, Ryan Atkins and Jon Albon
Launched 3 weeks ago this web based training program developed by one of Australia's best Obstacle Course Racers and star of Search for Hurt, Matt Murphy with 2x Worlds Toughest Mudder winner Ryan Atkins and 2x Spartan Race World Champion Jon Albon offers either a 4 week beginners program or a 10 week advanced program. I have enlisted for the 10 week course and at the start of week 3 I am feeling great. I can definitely feel the benefit of an increased running volume but I am learning some great technical and data skills to improve my overall performance. I am really looking forward to phase 2 of this in the next week or so.
I am still aiming for 5 OCR/Strength based workouts per week but trying not to let this impinge on the OCT side of things.
I'm loving the interaction on the private FaceBook group from the 3 superstars. Makes the average person feel like one of the elites.
It's all a balancing act!
Want more info??? Check out www.obstaclecourse.training
and finally.....Next years goal
2016 Spartan Race Trifecta
Just today, with the support of Asha, I have signed up for an annual pass for Spartan Race.
Basically what the season pass gets me is the following...
An ideal gift for any Spartan contender, the Season Pass package comes in a branded presentation box including a Spartan 300 Tshirt, a trifecta holder for that swag of 2016 medals and season holder VIP card for access to Stadium Event VIP areas and 10% off all Spartan merchandise. And of course you’ll get access to all 2016 races including free Ultra Beast entry.
BOOM! Done!
My big goal for 2016 is to get my hands on the coveted Trifecta. Basically this means completing the following
- Spartan Sprint. 5+ kms and 15+ obstacles
- Spartan Super. 13+ kms and 20+ obstacles
- Spartan Beast. 21+ kms and 25+ obstacles
There is also the enormous Spartan Beast which is 42+ kms but this is held on the same day as the normal Beast so this will have to wait. The trifecta is what i am after.
My 1st race i have registered for is the inaugural Spartan Stadium Sprint at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, QLD in February 2016.
Check out www.spartanrace.com.au for more info!!! Use code "burrows" for a 10% discount off the registration costs!
Well that's about it! I will do my best to post a little more often! yes i have said that before...but this time i REALLY mean it!
