Week Summary Log (12-18 Sept)

Monday
Am - 9.8 km (46:14) ~235' gain
Pm - 6.6 km (28:35) ~225'

Tuesday
Pm - 18.5 km (1:31:20) ~935'

Wednesday
Pm - 14 km (1:01:45) ~143'

Thursday
Pm - 13 km (58:30) ~123'

Friday
Pm - 10.5 km (43:30) ~97'

Saturday
Am - 35 km (2:55:30) ~463'

Total: 107.4km
Total time: 8 :25:24
Average speed: 4.71 min/km or 7.58min/mile

This is the longest distance i have done in a week. Even in my most intensive training period in the past, I have never exceeded 100km a week before. So i am really grateful to God that i could achieve this mileage this time. 

I ran 35km today - my long run at the end of the week, in preparation for the Taiping Marathon next Sunday. I was enjoying myself in the first half of the run, just running at an easy pace so that i won't burn out in the second half. I started at 6.45am, and the weather was still quite cool then. But on my way back, it became much hotter and i was definitely straining under the hot glaring sun. I started to feel pain in both knees, and that made me worry that my knees are still not able to handle long distance despite all the distance that i have done in the past 7 weeks. I was quite discouraged then. My bottles were empty and my pace decreased significantly. I had to stop by a stop to top up with some catarade before I could carry on. Finally I arrived at the destination at a time of 2:55:30. Surprisingly after I reached home, the pain had disappeared.

A few experienced runners have been telling me that the most important aspect of marathon training is the long run at the end of the week. And the key is to be comfortable in the long run. However, i was clearly not comfortable in the long run today. Why? was it boredom? or the sun? or too many cars on the road at that time? or maybe I was dehydrated? I am not sure. If I can't run a simple 35km with ease, what more can i think of doing a 100km one day, or even 100 miles? Hmm.. Maybe I am still a very young runner. It takes years to build a runner, or a champion. I just have to be patient.

Running is something to ease into, not something we can muscle our way through. It is important to feel comfortable on the run. That means - enjoying the process of exertion within the aerobic threshold, at the same time emptying the mind of all distractions and stress. Some days you have to push yourself beyond your limits. But in between of these 'hard' trainings, one cannot emphasise more the importance of just spending time at the feet, easing through and being lost in the realm of running.  What's then left is just you, your heartbeat, sometimes the surrounding nature, and God.

It's such an authentic experience.