Hard work without getting results is like being served bacon without eggs – disappointing and not that satisfying.

With just a few days left until D-Day in my Noosa 10km run challenge, I’ve already had enough positive results from five weeks of training to make anything that happens this Sunday morning a bonus.

Hitting the finishing line after 10km may be the end of the challenge set by the kind people at USM Events, but it’s only really the beginning of exploring how much more you can get out of a 38-year-old body that has been largely idle since its 20s.

Readers of this column over the past few weeks will already be aware there have been some early benefits since starting this six-week training program, under the guidance of personal trainer Kate McDonald.

Until yesterday, just how much I’ve benefited physically was a mystery, and I’m only guessing when asked “how much better do you feel?”.

Out came the scales and measuring tape, a week out from the start of the Sunshine Coast Daily 10km as part of Half-Marathon day at Noosa, and here’s a short summary of the findings.

Of course, if you start off a training program, your results will be different to these, but it’s proof the training, and the time, money and effort, is worth it.
It takes some dedication, but it’s not unachievable.

After starting off at 99kg, I’m down to 96 and that’s without concentrating just yet on too many changes to my diet, which still has its failings.

The estimate is 5kg of fat has been wiped off and a couple of kilos of extra muscle have been added on.

Almost 7cm has come off my waist, 2.5cm off my chest and hips and 1cm off my biceps.

The body fat count on all five parts of my body that were tested yesterday was down, although there’s still much more work to be done.

However that is one of the main discoveries, and surprises, I’ve had since returning to the world of exercise – once you start the hard work, you become even more determined to do more.

It’s why there’s so many people pounding out kilometres on Alex Hill, the Caloundra boardwalk or the national parks around Noosa.

There will be obstacles, and there’s been a couple of unwanted ones for me in the past month, but pushing on and not giving up when it starts to get difficult will just add to the satisfaction at the end.

Along with a couple of thousand others, whether they’re running the half-marathon, 10k or 5k, I’ll be on the starting line on Sunday morning already knowing this race, not that it’s a competition between me and others, will only be the start.

There are already other goals in mind, ones which will need even more work.
Good luck to everyone who’s having a go this weekend.

If you have any interesting stories about your race build-up, or past race experiences, let us know at sport@scnews.com.au.

You can discover what happens in Noosa on Sunday morning in next Monday’s Daily.
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Entries are still open for the Half-Marathon, 10km and 5km, as well as the Viridian Vertical stair climb over 3.2km on Friday morning. Check out www.usmevents.com.au for more details.