One phrase has had to disappear from my vocabulary over the past three weeks.

It will have to stay away for the next few weeks as well and probably shouldn’t even return after that.

The two words are “I can’t”.

Since taking up the challenge to get fit enough to run the 10km event at the Noosa Half-Marathon Festival on August 19, I’ve discovered I can do more than I thought I could.

And if I can do it, after years of sitting in front of a computer at work, lying around watching television at home, playing a bit of golf, and riding my bike now and then, so can most of the Coast’s population.

To fill you in, at age 38 I was getting way too close to hitting the 100kg mark, and my sporting activity, like many men my age, had dropped to almost zero after being a major part of my life as a kid through to my late 20s.

Along came USM Events who set the challenge for myself, Zinc 96 radio presenter Al Doblo and one of the radio station’s listeners to tackle the 10k race on six weeks’ preparation.

Unfortunately for Al, stress fractures have sidelined his progress.
I’ve survived three solid weeks of training, under the guidance of personal trainer Kate McDonald, in the gym, on the road, in the pool and on the bike – although my left knee has given me some painful problems I wasn’t banking on.
Putting the pain of that aside – an injury just makes you more determined to succeed – the pluses from just three weeks of training are immense and the goal of getting to the finish line is still an achievable one.

Parts of my body which were flabby are a little less so.

I have more energy, sleep better at night and have a feeling of general well-being that had been lacking for ages.

After just three weeks, I can run further than I have since high school, can churn out laps in the pool better than at any time in my life and can ride a bike at a solid pace for much longer than before this whole challenge started.
It almost feels like I’m an athlete.

So if you’re reading this thinking “I can’t do that”, think again. Find yourself a personal trainer to help you out – I know a good one – and start now.

It’s not worth putting off any longer.

You can enter the Noosa 5km run/walk, 10km run and half-marathon at www.usmevents.com.au.
All three events are on Sunday, August 19.