Disappointing. I am down with sciatica. Seems I won't do the 21km Stanchart race this year. But as my friend and mentor Jack says, it's not failure but a chance to prepare for the next race.
My going to the race is not just for the heck of it but it is with the intention of improving my time; a result that would have been borne of hard work, of my pushing myself to limits I never knew existed. With the paining, often numb leg now and the lordosis I had two or so months ago, I wouldn't say I have managed any of those. So, I have no reason to gor for the race. I wil watch it on TV, I think.
Anyway, when the leg - the left one - gets better, I will be back, in more ways than one. It's a lifestyle now.
Cheers
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Day 7: 90min
What was I thinking jumping from 40min runs to a 90-min run? Never mind that the day before I rested?
So, Sunday I was up quite late - 6.30am - and almost dismissed the thought of going for the run...
One way or the other I dressed up, got out of the house to the road and to Naivasha road. I was not sure of running but had decided if worse came to worst, I'd just walk for two hours and come back home. It never happened.
A few minutes after I got on Naivasha Road some guy ran past me and I took that as the cue that I should run too. And running I did - for the next 90 minutes.
In a bid to move as close to the 2hr-20min run as possible, I went past the bridge then ran down to the main Uthiru-Town road for close to a kilometre, ran back, up the bridge, the roundabout, down Naivasha Road and a couple of inroads all the way back to Ndurarua road at which point I was more than glad to stop and walk home. The sun was up aso was my thirst...
I must have lost some pounds, if the pain and strain in my muscles are anything to go by (according to Jack, muscle pain=weight loss!).
In total there were 20 runners - still no sign of Jaymo.
Got home, out of breath and feeling like a truck had run over me. Some water and milk, a bath, breakfast then out of the blue sleep - two and a half hours of super sleep!
When I woke up I was feeling much better but the muscles were still weeping while my left heel was painful so walking was a bit difficult but by the end of the day, all was well.
No surprise then that I didn't run in the morning today. Tomorrow I start the 50-min runs but to compensate for today's no-show, I may do 60-70min on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Time to check how much weight I have lost.
PS: There was a story in the papers about this girl who went for army recruitment weighing in just right. After a 5km run, lo and behold, she was weighing less!!! Brought to mind John Irving, the writer. He is into wrestling and such. In his 'The imaginary girlfriend' bio, he talks of a time they went for a tournament and had to lose some weight to fit a certain weight category - a category they stood a chance of winning. To lose the weight, they resorted to to running up and down the stairs several times. It worked. Here I am: I run in the morning, I eat just a little ... I should be able to weigh in at 76-78kgs come October 27. Aluta continua.
So, Sunday I was up quite late - 6.30am - and almost dismissed the thought of going for the run...
One way or the other I dressed up, got out of the house to the road and to Naivasha road. I was not sure of running but had decided if worse came to worst, I'd just walk for two hours and come back home. It never happened.
A few minutes after I got on Naivasha Road some guy ran past me and I took that as the cue that I should run too. And running I did - for the next 90 minutes.
In a bid to move as close to the 2hr-20min run as possible, I went past the bridge then ran down to the main Uthiru-Town road for close to a kilometre, ran back, up the bridge, the roundabout, down Naivasha Road and a couple of inroads all the way back to Ndurarua road at which point I was more than glad to stop and walk home. The sun was up aso was my thirst...
I must have lost some pounds, if the pain and strain in my muscles are anything to go by (according to Jack, muscle pain=weight loss!).
In total there were 20 runners - still no sign of Jaymo.
Got home, out of breath and feeling like a truck had run over me. Some water and milk, a bath, breakfast then out of the blue sleep - two and a half hours of super sleep!
When I woke up I was feeling much better but the muscles were still weeping while my left heel was painful so walking was a bit difficult but by the end of the day, all was well.
No surprise then that I didn't run in the morning today. Tomorrow I start the 50-min runs but to compensate for today's no-show, I may do 60-70min on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Time to check how much weight I have lost.
PS: There was a story in the papers about this girl who went for army recruitment weighing in just right. After a 5km run, lo and behold, she was weighing less!!! Brought to mind John Irving, the writer. He is into wrestling and such. In his 'The imaginary girlfriend' bio, he talks of a time they went for a tournament and had to lose some weight to fit a certain weight category - a category they stood a chance of winning. To lose the weight, they resorted to to running up and down the stairs several times. It worked. Here I am: I run in the morning, I eat just a little ... I should be able to weigh in at 76-78kgs come October 27. Aluta continua.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Day 6: More of 40min and more ...
It's getting better by the morning - if today's waking up time and subsequent run are anything to go by.
Unlike previous mornings, I was up by 5am but didn't leave until after 5.20am. Even then, it was misty/foggy outside with visibility very much reduced. It is the kind of condition one can easily find their foot in a hole and even break it.
So, 5.30am I started my running. The weather was cool. Up Kawangware Road onto Naivasha Road, K-Rep, Precious Blood, down the river and up... I had planned to turn back at the river, run up Naivasha road (in the process do 20 min and avoid the hill) but somehow after I took the hill, I saw no reason to turn back...
As I said earlier, it is getting better. I did 41:16 on a longer distance and felt much, much better.
There were 20 runners today; just one lady.
My break is coming up tomorrow or Sunday; so is my long run, the two hour-plus run. Let me see how to go about it.
Poor Jack, he tried being a hero but the doc and his foot knew better so his foot is on ice. get well soon man.
Unlike previous mornings, I was up by 5am but didn't leave until after 5.20am. Even then, it was misty/foggy outside with visibility very much reduced. It is the kind of condition one can easily find their foot in a hole and even break it.
So, 5.30am I started my running. The weather was cool. Up Kawangware Road onto Naivasha Road, K-Rep, Precious Blood, down the river and up... I had planned to turn back at the river, run up Naivasha road (in the process do 20 min and avoid the hill) but somehow after I took the hill, I saw no reason to turn back...
As I said earlier, it is getting better. I did 41:16 on a longer distance and felt much, much better.
There were 20 runners today; just one lady.
My break is coming up tomorrow or Sunday; so is my long run, the two hour-plus run. Let me see how to go about it.
Poor Jack, he tried being a hero but the doc and his foot knew better so his foot is on ice. get well soon man.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Day 5: 40 min, and some more to spare
So far so good... I am into the 40-min runs and enjoying them.
So, today, I did the usual - up by 5.40am and running from 5.50am.
Jack admonished me for avoiding hills saying I should count myself lucky for having them for everyone is looking for them. I know, I know, but the damn hill kicks the air out of me and wears me out like crazy. Am with it though - I noticed my 20 min came up much later on the hill today than yesterday; I think that is progress.
That said, the run went well despite the cold that is creeping in. Two, day (light) seems to have broken earlier than yesterday meaning I should adjust my time. There goes my 5.30am alarm. May push the alarm back to 5.20am, start running by 5.30am and be back to the house by 6.30am depending on the time covered.
Mr Stopwatch? 42:23.36
Food, no shidas...
There were 20 runners and again, Jaymo was nowhere. I see him doing 10km, belaboured.
So, today, I did the usual - up by 5.40am and running from 5.50am.
Jack admonished me for avoiding hills saying I should count myself lucky for having them for everyone is looking for them. I know, I know, but the damn hill kicks the air out of me and wears me out like crazy. Am with it though - I noticed my 20 min came up much later on the hill today than yesterday; I think that is progress.
That said, the run went well despite the cold that is creeping in. Two, day (light) seems to have broken earlier than yesterday meaning I should adjust my time. There goes my 5.30am alarm. May push the alarm back to 5.20am, start running by 5.30am and be back to the house by 6.30am depending on the time covered.
Mr Stopwatch? 42:23.36
Food, no shidas...
There were 20 runners and again, Jaymo was nowhere. I see him doing 10km, belaboured.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Day 4: 40 min, and some to spare
Disappointment first: I didn't manage to do an evening run thanks to a downpour that had me seek shelter at my boy's school. Left office early to pick him up from school but the rain had other plans.
So, at 5.30am the alarm went off as usual and was out of the house 5.40-something to start running at 5.50am. Here I must admit, that looooooong, winded hill that leads o Uthiru gives me the creeps. The damn hill doesn't end in good time nor is it friendly for an easy run! I figured out a way of doing 20-min without taking that hill all the way: just after the river, I run back for about three minutes, saving me 6 minutes or so of the hill! In all, I did 41:16.38 (Stop watch!).
The pace was similar to yesterday's, faster and surer. I felt the muscles wail from a distance and assumed they need some good, focused stretching and they will be as good as new.
When I got back to the house, I did a few stretches and that was it.
In total, there were 17 runners; and Jaymo was not among them.
On the food and eating front, so far so good though I could not resist some junk last evening (a handful of crisps), some milk tea and a cob of maize. No worry about the ugali - took just enough and a lot of vegetables then a half an egg or so.
Cheers fellaz.
So, at 5.30am the alarm went off as usual and was out of the house 5.40-something to start running at 5.50am. Here I must admit, that looooooong, winded hill that leads o Uthiru gives me the creeps. The damn hill doesn't end in good time nor is it friendly for an easy run! I figured out a way of doing 20-min without taking that hill all the way: just after the river, I run back for about three minutes, saving me 6 minutes or so of the hill! In all, I did 41:16.38 (Stop watch!).
The pace was similar to yesterday's, faster and surer. I felt the muscles wail from a distance and assumed they need some good, focused stretching and they will be as good as new.
When I got back to the house, I did a few stretches and that was it.
In total, there were 17 runners; and Jaymo was not among them.
On the food and eating front, so far so good though I could not resist some junk last evening (a handful of crisps), some milk tea and a cob of maize. No worry about the ugali - took just enough and a lot of vegetables then a half an egg or so.
Cheers fellaz.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Day 3: 40 min pap
I am smiling as I write this. Two reasons: a) I am not 96kgs as I earlier thought but 91kgs as of last week; b) My friend and mentor Jack (find him at http://therunningwriter.blogspot.com) promised me ksh10,000 if I as much as drop my weight to 78kgs - not even the 76kgs I set out to achieve - by October 27th.
There is a third reason for my smile: I have managed to 'eat' well. Small, healthy portions and lots of water. I am happy, trust me.
After the two, 30-min runs, a break was forced on me for I had to travel upcountry for two burials (In Chavakali, to bury Caro Agosa's father and in Isuli/Sigalagala to bury Eric Shimoli's mother)and came back two days later. I could however not run yesterday for I was fatigued. In the evening, I did me a 30-min brisk walk, just to assuage my guilt. The burial and fatigue explain the four-day absence. Guess I am clear now - and forgiven, ;-).
But today at 5.40am, I was back on the road and did all of 40 min. I know this is nothing compared with Jack and his suicidal streak. The guy did 21km in 2hrs 12 min and on an injured foot. (http://therunningwriter.blogspot.com/2010/10/21k-lsr-in-215.html) Is he crazy? I need to talk to his significant other to find ways of slowing him down just in case he gets himself another injury and fails to complete the Stanchart half-marathon like he did last year.
So, 5.40am, I was up and 5.52am I was out running at a faster pace than yesterday's. very disciplined, too, I must add. At the strike of 20 minutes, I turned back and ran all the way to the 40-min mark, er, plus a couple of seconds on top - thank science/technology for the stop watch (read: 40:56.16).
In total I met 30 runners. Jaymo was runner No. 25.
I will be home early. I hope to grab me a 20-min or 30-min run in the evening.
Oh, and eating is measured. Drink water by the litres...
There is a third reason for my smile: I have managed to 'eat' well. Small, healthy portions and lots of water. I am happy, trust me.
After the two, 30-min runs, a break was forced on me for I had to travel upcountry for two burials (In Chavakali, to bury Caro Agosa's father and in Isuli/Sigalagala to bury Eric Shimoli's mother)and came back two days later. I could however not run yesterday for I was fatigued. In the evening, I did me a 30-min brisk walk, just to assuage my guilt. The burial and fatigue explain the four-day absence. Guess I am clear now - and forgiven, ;-).
But today at 5.40am, I was back on the road and did all of 40 min. I know this is nothing compared with Jack and his suicidal streak. The guy did 21km in 2hrs 12 min and on an injured foot. (http://therunningwriter.blogspot.com/2010/10/21k-lsr-in-215.html) Is he crazy? I need to talk to his significant other to find ways of slowing him down just in case he gets himself another injury and fails to complete the Stanchart half-marathon like he did last year.
So, 5.40am, I was up and 5.52am I was out running at a faster pace than yesterday's. very disciplined, too, I must add. At the strike of 20 minutes, I turned back and ran all the way to the 40-min mark, er, plus a couple of seconds on top - thank science/technology for the stop watch (read: 40:56.16).
In total I met 30 runners. Jaymo was runner No. 25.
I will be home early. I hope to grab me a 20-min or 30-min run in the evening.
Oh, and eating is measured. Drink water by the litres...
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