Sunday 17 February 2013

Running on Empty



Day 3 (17th Feb) : Wake up late – at 6am…unbelievable! I had planned to wake up at 5am and leave the house by 5:30am so as to avoid the morning scorching sun but alas, here I was late like never before. Another 20mins gone while dressing up and stretching. On the road at 6:30am feeling angry at myself…in low spirits which make me feel heavy both body and soul. My movements are laborious in the first 2kms and I feel like I will not even manage a 21km run.

Join Jogoo Road, a clear stretch and see another runner about 1.8 to 2 kms ahead – decide to chase him down despite my low morale. But as the saying goes ‘appetite comes with eating’ and my enthusiasm came to the fore a few paces thereafter. Catch up with the runner after 5kms – he can surely run too.  He leaves me breathless after City Stadium. He takes a turn back to Industrial Area as I proceed to town. My legs are gone already – at this rate I will not even make it back running. 

Tremendously slow down my pace just to catch my breath and have blood flow back to my feet. On passing Machakos country bus I get a small surge of energy which takes me through the small climb below the flyover. I am now completely out…I reach Railways roundabout in 44mins (which is a shock to me) despite my slow speed after City Stadium – it means I really chased down that runner in a high speed hence my lack of energy.
Thats exactly how it feels!

Should I make a turn towards Nyayo Stadium or go through upper hill?...to be or not to be? – I am not chickening out of Upper hill even if I am running on empty. Charge at that hill with renewed vigour. I am completely out again immediately after NHIF…walk for 30 seconds coz I was literally chocking. Dehydrated and yet I have no water. The morning sun is already out - burning as ever. Gather myself and proceed again – at City Mortuary by 61mins and take on Mbagathi route which gives me enough time to catch my breathe. At T.Mall in 75mins (15kms) and join Lungalunga in 1:45 (21kms) at Donholm in 2:05 (25kms) – the last 2kms are a complete drag, half run and half walk, completely dehydrated - stop at 27kms in 2:17. Fall short of my target by 2 mins which I could have easily managed if I set out early before the morning sun. Preparation is key! To make up for it in the next run. Keep running.

4 comments:

Running Writer said...

Congratulations! You did very well. I thought you wouldn't go sub 2:20. This is excellent! Keep it up!

Unknown said...

Thanks, I am hoping to go sub 2:10 before the end of Feb. - probably this weekend if my evening runs go as planned - have u healed yet?

Running Writer said...

I have healed. Thanks. Those are very ambitious goals. Very inspiring. Very. If we can do 27K in 2 flat hours by July, Ndakaini in sub 1:30 should be a walk in the park. I will do a 32K on Sato and set a baseline for myself.

Unknown said...

Its good to set up a baseline and then work downwards. Once I manage a sub 2:05 in 27kms then I will move to something more - an extra 5km.Hopefully before the end of March. Keep up with the long runs cz thats the only sure way of having strong legs and some serious endurance.