Here are my workouts since my last post. Sunday's run was cut short thanks to rain and lightening. I started at 4am and ran 13 easy miles in an hour and 50 minutes, followed by swimming 10 laps in the pool to cool down. I also did 30 minutes of yoga. Monday was my "rest day" which meant I ran by time: 50 easy minutes of running and 30 minutes of yoga in the morning. I then ran 3.5 miles at 5.30pm just to loosen up a bit.
This morning (tuesday) I went out for 10 miles where I finished faster than I started. This took 76 minutes and I made sure I finished strong and in control of my posture.
Thats all for now!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
9 miles, 5.30am. 8.39 warm up, 7.52, 7.53, 7.45, 7.23, 7.03, 6.53, 7.16, 8.00 cooldown. 7.38 per mile average pace.
I was quite happy with this run. I am trying to concentrate on progressive runs for all my non-recovery days, which is why the above is so specific. One of my (many) problems is going out too fast and fading at the end or reverting to a slow shuffle at the end of long runs. I am going to try this again on my 18 miler tomorrow *gulp*.
I havent kept a speed log in a while because I tend to get very obsessive about numbers and then just push and push and push. The geek in me is so happy to see this written down!
After the run, I did a 100 stair repeats and 30 minutes of yoga.
I was quite happy with this run. I am trying to concentrate on progressive runs for all my non-recovery days, which is why the above is so specific. One of my (many) problems is going out too fast and fading at the end or reverting to a slow shuffle at the end of long runs. I am going to try this again on my 18 miler tomorrow *gulp*.
I havent kept a speed log in a while because I tend to get very obsessive about numbers and then just push and push and push. The geek in me is so happy to see this written down!
After the run, I did a 100 stair repeats and 30 minutes of yoga.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Did 2 runs yesterday - one painfully slow 9 miler, followed by 30 minutes of yoga. At 7pm, I went back for another 5 miles which I finished in 40 minutes.
This morning, I logged 7 miles and a 100 stair repeats. I plan to run for another 50 or so minutes this pm. But, I hate running when its crowded because (1)on a friday evening, some idiot will try and race you, or (2) some boy will try and race you. I go out of my way to avoid running side by side with anyone and quite frankly, the last thing I need is to run beside some grunting thing next to me. Women never do this. Its always the boys. *sigh*.
Anyway, until next time. :-)
This morning, I logged 7 miles and a 100 stair repeats. I plan to run for another 50 or so minutes this pm. But, I hate running when its crowded because (1)on a friday evening, some idiot will try and race you, or (2) some boy will try and race you. I go out of my way to avoid running side by side with anyone and quite frankly, the last thing I need is to run beside some grunting thing next to me. Women never do this. Its always the boys. *sigh*.
Anyway, until next time. :-)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
First up - updates!!
Had some really good runs lately. I have a routine now which is slightly strange but it works for me. The past 5 months I have found that I have a long early morning run once a week anywhere between 12-15 miles, 2 stair workouts that are in the 700 repeat range (150-ish minutes), one swim if I'm lucky and the rest are recovery miles here and there. I am hoping to get some decent mileage between now and Monday morning. Having said that, I've decided to be a giant bum today and do nothing. I get very restless though so I know I will run long tomorrow. And its going to hurt. And I wont care :-)
Anyway, I want to talk today. So I will. About silence. Have you ever noticed that when you work so hard physically, you are reduced to silence. When even the thought of letting out a coherent sentence is hard work. There is something beautiful about working so hard that you are reduced to silence next to your friends. Some relationships never get to the level where silence is ever comfortable, let alone productive and healing. Some people never share discomfort without blaming or complaining. Some people do not understand the unspoken commitment of never quitting. If they dont, then they also do not share the sweaty, blood soaked palm-slapping victory. Some people never know that the paper-cone water cheers at the finishing line is even finer than a crystal-clink of a champagne drink!
I will report back my run tomorrow. See what I mean by restless?? :-)
Had some really good runs lately. I have a routine now which is slightly strange but it works for me. The past 5 months I have found that I have a long early morning run once a week anywhere between 12-15 miles, 2 stair workouts that are in the 700 repeat range (150-ish minutes), one swim if I'm lucky and the rest are recovery miles here and there. I am hoping to get some decent mileage between now and Monday morning. Having said that, I've decided to be a giant bum today and do nothing. I get very restless though so I know I will run long tomorrow. And its going to hurt. And I wont care :-)
Anyway, I want to talk today. So I will. About silence. Have you ever noticed that when you work so hard physically, you are reduced to silence. When even the thought of letting out a coherent sentence is hard work. There is something beautiful about working so hard that you are reduced to silence next to your friends. Some relationships never get to the level where silence is ever comfortable, let alone productive and healing. Some people never share discomfort without blaming or complaining. Some people do not understand the unspoken commitment of never quitting. If they dont, then they also do not share the sweaty, blood soaked palm-slapping victory. Some people never know that the paper-cone water cheers at the finishing line is even finer than a crystal-clink of a champagne drink!
I will report back my run tomorrow. See what I mean by restless?? :-)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesdaily!
Why is it that even when God gives us hope, we still fear. The mind is poison sometimes - like when your in a party dress still looking for a nightgown!
Had some good miles lately. Took my run indoors on Monday afternoon and ran on the treadmill infront of the mirror (just because staring at myself helps me zone out completely), covered the screen and just ran to Ms. Amos. Finished 25kms in 2 hours 15 minutes. I definitely felt it in my legs on Tuesday - did 190 stair repeats in 40 minutes, followed by yoga for 25 minutes. This morning, I clocked 27kms in 2hours 15 minutes again. Not surprised that I'm faster on the road. It was also tons more fun!
Want to go long again tomorrow...watch this space!
Had some good miles lately. Took my run indoors on Monday afternoon and ran on the treadmill infront of the mirror (just because staring at myself helps me zone out completely), covered the screen and just ran to Ms. Amos. Finished 25kms in 2 hours 15 minutes. I definitely felt it in my legs on Tuesday - did 190 stair repeats in 40 minutes, followed by yoga for 25 minutes. This morning, I clocked 27kms in 2hours 15 minutes again. Not surprised that I'm faster on the road. It was also tons more fun!
Want to go long again tomorrow...watch this space!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The last time I posted was 6 days ago. I've only really run junk miles since then - but I always atleast run 40 miles a week by default no matter what so here goes:
13 miles - tuesday
10 miles- wednesday
6 miles - thursday
300 stair repeats in an hour plus a 2 mile run - friday
250 stair repeats
Nothing tomorrow. I will have a proper post when I've had a proper run.
Till then, Happy sunday!
13 miles - tuesday
10 miles- wednesday
6 miles - thursday
300 stair repeats in an hour plus a 2 mile run - friday
250 stair repeats
Nothing tomorrow. I will have a proper post when I've had a proper run.
Till then, Happy sunday!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Updates!
From memory, these have been my workouts the last 4 days:
350 stair sprints on Thursday
400 stair sprints on Friday
10k in the am, followed by weights and playing around in the gym on Saturday
I was most happy with my run this Sunday morning. You see, as much as I love running and giggle everytime I leave before dawn, I also feel guilty and miss my bed. I ran 9 miles very hungover. I felt thirsty and had a side stitch and this is probably why I dont have any serious addictions - it makes running uncomfortable!
Anyway, I wont run tomorrow because there will be more (much more) of the same tonight! People in Singapore, enjoy your long weekend. Its hot, the air thick, and you literally feel like your inhaling everyone else's sweat in this weather!
350 stair sprints on Thursday
400 stair sprints on Friday
10k in the am, followed by weights and playing around in the gym on Saturday
I was most happy with my run this Sunday morning. You see, as much as I love running and giggle everytime I leave before dawn, I also feel guilty and miss my bed. I ran 9 miles very hungover. I felt thirsty and had a side stitch and this is probably why I dont have any serious addictions - it makes running uncomfortable!
Anyway, I wont run tomorrow because there will be more (much more) of the same tonight! People in Singapore, enjoy your long weekend. Its hot, the air thick, and you literally feel like your inhaling everyone else's sweat in this weather!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Essay on a long run
I've been so bad about updating. I still write after every single run in my log but sometimes just cant be bothered sharing it. My birthday came and went and I wrote this post just after my 29 miler. Yes, I turned 29 :-). Here goes:
I woke up this morning and like most mornings in my new life, it was one of those days when I would rather not be running. Rain threatens, the wind carries with the unmistakable and undescribable smell of it and I KNOW I am not fast enough to beat it. From the movement of the clouds and from the years of weather-watching (every runner is a weather watcher), I figure the rain should strike at the mid-point of my run. And when the rain begins to fall, it will not be pleasant. When mixed with the driving wind, in tropical South-East Asia, it will be physically painful. I also know full well that when I finish my run today, I will most likely resemble a drowned wet rat. Yes, It was one of those days when I would rather not run.
So you may ask: why am I here? The reason I am here, itching to run, is because of the promises I made. No one will know if I break it, for it is a promise to myself. But I will never break it. So long as I feel safe enough to run and well enough, I will run. Rain and wind are unpleasant, but not unsafe.
I keep hoo-ing and haw-ing standing at the underpass, really not wanting to start. I stare at purple shoes, straighten up, ease into the effortless trot of a distance runner and head down the path into the familiar brown ribbon of trees.
As I run underneath the trees that mercifully block the wind, I cant help but wonder if other runners have a place like this? A special place where they can retreat and go for a think, or if they prefer, not think? I hope so. A place this special deserves to be shared.
Here, by the sea where I live, I've found that running is great for thinking or not thinking. Although I run many trails around this city, this is my special place. I use to run here much more frequently and now I run like an occasional visitor. But I always *always* return. As a college student, I wrote entire papers during a run. I studied for tests on this trail. Hell, I even devised ways of breaking up with the boy during my runs. I dont know what makes running conducive to solving problems. I suppose it is the increase in blood circulation through your body that makes the brain sharper, more creative, more logical.
Paradoxically, running is just as good for not thinking. Here I discovered that I can simply lose myself in the cathartic primal act of running with its steady timeless rhythms and the continuous beating of the heart, the soft recurring sound of footfalls, even the whisper of the wind whistling past my ears. In the early days of my running, I rarely felt the need to lose myself in my running; my brain was fluttering around from topic to topic. In those early days, if I had nothing to think about, I would invent mind games, like counting cars, or counting numbers. My mind was always moving and active.
Lately however, running has taken on a new meaning and I learned to love running for its uncanny ability to let me forget things - providing an escape from a world that seemed to spinning out of my control at a dizzying pace.
With these thoughts in my head, I finished my 29 miles.
I woke up this morning and like most mornings in my new life, it was one of those days when I would rather not be running. Rain threatens, the wind carries with the unmistakable and undescribable smell of it and I KNOW I am not fast enough to beat it. From the movement of the clouds and from the years of weather-watching (every runner is a weather watcher), I figure the rain should strike at the mid-point of my run. And when the rain begins to fall, it will not be pleasant. When mixed with the driving wind, in tropical South-East Asia, it will be physically painful. I also know full well that when I finish my run today, I will most likely resemble a drowned wet rat. Yes, It was one of those days when I would rather not run.
So you may ask: why am I here? The reason I am here, itching to run, is because of the promises I made. No one will know if I break it, for it is a promise to myself. But I will never break it. So long as I feel safe enough to run and well enough, I will run. Rain and wind are unpleasant, but not unsafe.
I keep hoo-ing and haw-ing standing at the underpass, really not wanting to start. I stare at purple shoes, straighten up, ease into the effortless trot of a distance runner and head down the path into the familiar brown ribbon of trees.
As I run underneath the trees that mercifully block the wind, I cant help but wonder if other runners have a place like this? A special place where they can retreat and go for a think, or if they prefer, not think? I hope so. A place this special deserves to be shared.
Here, by the sea where I live, I've found that running is great for thinking or not thinking. Although I run many trails around this city, this is my special place. I use to run here much more frequently and now I run like an occasional visitor. But I always *always* return. As a college student, I wrote entire papers during a run. I studied for tests on this trail. Hell, I even devised ways of breaking up with the boy during my runs. I dont know what makes running conducive to solving problems. I suppose it is the increase in blood circulation through your body that makes the brain sharper, more creative, more logical.
Paradoxically, running is just as good for not thinking. Here I discovered that I can simply lose myself in the cathartic primal act of running with its steady timeless rhythms and the continuous beating of the heart, the soft recurring sound of footfalls, even the whisper of the wind whistling past my ears. In the early days of my running, I rarely felt the need to lose myself in my running; my brain was fluttering around from topic to topic. In those early days, if I had nothing to think about, I would invent mind games, like counting cars, or counting numbers. My mind was always moving and active.
Lately however, running has taken on a new meaning and I learned to love running for its uncanny ability to let me forget things - providing an escape from a world that seemed to spinning out of my control at a dizzying pace.
With these thoughts in my head, I finished my 29 miles.
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