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.

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.

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.

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...

Day 2: 30min

I made it to the second consecutive day of running, another great 30min.
I went to bed a minute or two to 1am for I had quite a lot of private biasharas to clear but was up by 5.40am and started running at 5.52am. The pace was as friendly as yesterday's but the itchy-scratchy feeling was not there. Also, my starting point was much nearer that yesterday's. Good enough.
I met 19 other people running but Jaymo was not among them.
Over to the weigh-loss bit. I had numerous errands to run yesterday so I ended up not taking lunch. Was hungry as hell, even after drinking several mls of water. Somehow, I made it to the evening and had me a great ugali, sukuma and liver meal.
I can feel the effects of the walk home and the two 30-min morning runs... the legs are singing!

Day 1: 31 min run

Wah, I am in a bad shape, a really bad shape! That I confirmed with the morning run, 31 minutes and a few seconds on top. Two minutes into the run and I was itchy all over, so itchy and scratchy-feely that I was tempted to sit me down and scratch my legs and thighs silly! But I didn't - I just ran on...
Anyway, I took Jack's advise seriously: Start this week with an easy 30min run, every day and rest for just two days in a week. So I did an easy 31 min: 15 minutes, then 5 minutes of stretching and 16 minutes back. Tosha.
Waking up was not the easiest of things considering the fact that I turned in late, about 12.15am, but I did manage to leave the house by 5.43am, walked 12 minutes, then took off. Went quite well ... met about 18 runners among them Jaymo.
Good enough for day 1. Now where to get those weighing machines... I need to know if am still 96kgs ...

PS.
I am working on two fronts: a) Lose weight, a lot of it; b) Figure out the ways and means of doing 21km in under 2hours...

1hr 40min walk

I walked home, about 11km. I did a brisk pace but after 1hr 15 min, I was all drenched and gasping for breath so I took it easy the last bit.
I started off with a view to doing just 30 minutes of brisk walking but look where I ended up!
I am much better: the back is good and the psyche is up. I should run, shortly, as I prepare for the Stanchart race slated for end of October.
In the meantime, I have to lose about 16kgs by October 25. Any suggestions (just don't touch the food, eh)?

PS.
I need new running shoes, any idea? Also, shoes that I can wear to the office and walk home in them in the evening...