Dodge the Super Plods
The Super Plods. The very words strike a chill in the heart of any runner before an important race, at a time when they should be peaking and feeling full of energy.
It has happened to me, and I bet it has happened to you.
The term 'plods' was first coined by Graeme Lindenberg, who ran six gold medals at the Comrades Marathon, of which two were third placings.
Graeme is a sports physiotherapist, and well qualified to speak on this. When you are unfortunate enough to have the Plods, you feel sluggish with heavy legs. The only solution is rest, and no amount of mental strength will turn your race into a good one.
And while the Plods are a setback at any stage in your training, the absolute worst is when it progresses to the Super Plods just before a race – when you are supposed to be peaking.
To put it in a nutshell, when you are peaking, you should be feeling the complete opposite to
