Heartbreak Hill.  If you’re signing up for the City2Surf and plan to run the course, then you know that you’ll be facing this killer incline.

It will obviously be a breeze for the experienced runners who will effortlessly gallop their way along.  However, for novices – such as myself – it’s an absolute test of endurance.

Starting around the 6km mark of the entire 14 km course the hill itself is only about 1.5 kms in distance.  However, because you encounter it smack bang in the middle of the course, it takes you by surprise.  Whether you’ve prepared yourself for it – or not.

The view half way up “Heartbreak Hill”…not that you get a chance to enjoy it during the actual City2Surf…

The trick is to “save yourself”.  Find a steady pace leading up to it.  Then, once you’re there – attack it.  Hammer and tong.

Unfortunately, with all this rain and wind, along with the time constraints of raising toddler twinlets, I haven’t been able to do as much running as I would’ve liked this past week.

But in the rare occasion that I have, I’ve been focusing on my endurance.  All whilst tackling the beloved Heartbreak Hill.

I’ve decided that I’m too early in my training to worry about my time or how fast I’m running.  Those goals are completely in the back burner.  Instead, I’m making sure that with each run, I’m increasing the distance and making sure I’ve got some left in the tank to make it up the top.

So far, I’ve done 8.8 kilometres.

It damn well wasn’t easy.  I felt the insides of my shoes, rubbing my feet and forming blisters.  Half way up the hill I started getting the painful sensation of pins and needles in my feet and calves.  At times I slowed right down to a “Nanna-Shuffle”.

I just made sure I didn’t stop.

Dare I say, training for the City2Surf has revealed some hidden parallels to life and its challenges.

To take things slow and steady.

To build up that pace  gradually.

To store a little away for any upcoming surprises.

As always, here are the weekly highlights and achievements…

Highlights:

Running last Friday morning and seeing this spectacular view:

At the peak of “Heartbreak Hill”

Achievements:

Although my running has dropped this week, I’ve still managed to lose a kilogram.

Goes to show that it’s true what they say about weight-loss:

“80% diet and 20% excercise…”

See you all next week for some more running and fitness joy 🙂