RT: Ryan, what’s the latest? Spending a lot of time on the bike still for cross training?
RG: I had a break for a couple of weeks and then started doing a bit of bike work. I’m up on the Gold Coast now on holiday and start running again in a couple of days.
RT: What specific injury are you currently battling against?
RG: I had a stress reaction in my navicular. Same issue that put me out last year but I caught it at the early stages this time.
RT: How fit does the bike/wind trainer keep you?
RG: Nothing replaces running but hopefully it will keep some weight off so things are a little easier when I start back up.
RT: In your latest blog you joked about potentially becoming a cyclist if your injury woes don’t subside. Was there a little bit of truth behind this? There sure are a lot less Africans to compete against in the pro peloton?
RG: I got 5/60 in my last exam at Uni so if things didn’t work running wise I’d definitely have a crack at something in the sporting game. In saying that, I’ve grown up wanting to win running races so I’ll still be plugging away until I do that.
RT: I hear you are spending about 9 hours per week in the gym doing strength work. Can you tell us a little bit about the nature of this strength work? Does it incorporate a lot more than just core stability work?
RG: Yeah a lot of work to prevent the buckling of the hips and knees which leads to getting injured in the lower chain. Ger Keane at Hartmann International in Ireland helped me out in setting up the program.
RT: Were you happy with your runs in Daegu? Making the semi-finals was pretty impressive after your more than patchy lead-in to the championships?
RG: I was fighting a bush fire with a garden hose. I didn’t have much in the tank but I tried to get involved but just wasn’t good enough to compete. A good thing to take from it is if I can get a solid preparation I shouldn’t be too far from the mark.
RT: Post Daegu you called it a day for the season and missed a few planned hit-outs, such as the 5th Avenue Mile. Did you cut the season short due to injury worries?
RG: Injuries worries and terrible form. I performed averagely in Daegu but it probably deceived everyone into believing I was in 3:35 shape. In all reality I was in 3:40 shape and going backwards.
RT: Do you think there is a chance you rushed back into hard training and competition a little too quickly after your stress fracture of 2010? Or do you think it would not have made a difference?
RG: No. I was on crutches for 3 months and didn’t run for 5. I took my time coming back but the people I saw to treat my injury in Sydney were quick to say that the injury was caused by high mileage and if I ran less I’d be fine. In reality the amount I ran wasn’t the issue, it was the way I ran. Now that this has been addressed I’m keen to see what I’m capable of.
RT: What’s the plan for your lead-up to the London Olympics? Will you race at all in Australia this summer?
RG: If all goes well I plan to do a full Australian season. I’m yet to do a qualifier for London so I’ll be trying my best to get it in February.
RT: Are you heading to Falls Creek in November?
RG: No I’ll be in Canberra for a couple of weeks with the Melbourne Track Club boys. I’ll be at Falls in January.
RT: In light of your injuries problems, is anything going to change with your actual training program or will it be more of the same?
RG: New strength work and if that starts to work I’ll start upping my mileage to about 220km a week like Chris Solinsky!
RT: Lessons learnt during 2011?
RG: Just because someone’s got a degree doesn’t mean they’re right.
RT: Any funny stories worth telling?
RG: The stories that I usually tell people are not able to be published on the internet.
RT: You mentioned also in your last blog that you and your best mate Matt Fox plan on opening a club at the Gold Coast upon retirement. Is this a serious plan? Is the plan for it to be a seedy establishment or one where only collared shirts and leather shoes are allowed?
RG: The latter. It will be exclusive and we don’t want to give too much away at this point. The name has been decided, as has the location. We can tell you that it is a short stroll from Cavill Avenue but in a slightly quieter location (on an island) away from the packed, free entry clubs. Our target market will certainly be the upper-class. It would be where Usain Bolt would enjoy a Guinness when he visits the Gold Coast.
