We have all trained hard to reach this stage in our build-up for the February 24 events and everything has been done to accomplish our pre-set goals.

However, how many times, shortly before a race, have we pondered on that tiny, nagging muscle pain in our legs.

Well, this is the story of Scott Jurek, a dominant elite US ultra marathon runner who has won races beyond the 50-mile distance with his latest achievement being a record in completing 165.7 miles in 24 hours.

Combating feats like the 135-mile Badwater Ultra Marathon through Death Valley in sizzling heat was indeed impressive but the 100-mile ‘Hardrock’ was one of his toughest courses ever.

As the name suggests the terrain of this race is wild and dangerous, and includes 11 mountain passes, six elevations in the region of 13,000ft for an overall vertical climb and descent of 66,000ft.

Apart from the altitude, it also features running through snowfields and rock which crumbles under your feet, and cross country where no trail exists with a cut-off time of 48 hours to finish.

With proper training and acclimatisation to the altitude, Jurek felt he could conquer this challenge.

He travelled to Silverton, Colorado a month prior to the race, whereby he lived simply, but trained very hard, sucking in the thin air of the 11,000ft altitude.

The race strategy was carefully planned, the trickier parts of the course were well noted and with one week to go, Jurek was breezing through 30-mile runs at over 13,000ft peaks.

Then, two nights before the event, he sprained an ankle and tore his ligaments while relaxing at a soccer kick-about.

Needless to say, anything possible for a speedy recovery was applied. There seemed to be no way he could run. However, no excuse was permissible for this amazing athlete.

Race day arrived and at 6am, Jurek was at the starting line, his swollen ankle wrapped in layers of duct tape.

‘Don’t think about the injury,” yelled another runner as Jurek kept the pace despite the pain.

The first 22 hours of the race seemed an eternity. But then, he decided not to think about the injury and simply marvelled at the beauty of his surroundings. He eventually reached the finish line the following morning after 26 hours and 8 minutes.

Did the race end there for Jurek?

Surely not! For the next 21 hours and 52 minutes, with his ankle still in a bad shape, he waited at the finish line to greet the other 96 competitors.

So, you think your little ailment will hinder your performance on February 24?

Well, think about Jurek’s story and see if you can change your way of thinking.

With three weeks to go, may I remind you that tomorrow should mark your longest run or walk whereby tapering for the race must now commence. This means you should run less and rest more.

Why is tapering important?

This is a highly crucial aspect in our training as throughout these final few days we can permit the body to recover from muscle strains or depletion incurred by high mileage. Fitness will not be lost but, on the other hand, the immune system and overall strength will improve, enhancing better performance on the day.

Tapering should start gradually as from Monday. Training is still important here, so retain your normal weekly schedule but drop your mileage by 20 per cent each week on longer runs.

Also try to eat more protein during this stage to repair muscle tissue.

Another important factor is to check on your clothing and footwear.

Do not try anything new on race day, so make sure you have comfortable apparel. Running shoes start to lose cushioning after 300 miles so ensure they are not worn out but well broken in.

In the meantime, enjoy your running.