26th
May, 2013: After Jack’s record of 1:03 in 24 point something kilometers on the
route we had planned to have a run on, he did put the stakes higher by offering
1,000 bob to anyone who can slash his record by 6 minutes or more. This is a deal
I got to take now that I haven’t put challenges on my path for some time, this
was a good one that I just couldn’t let slide. The run was set to begin on
Sunday at six but the distance between the starting point and my house was an
issue.
Jack
gave the offer to pick me with a condition – I either do a sub 1:57 on the same
route or pay 1,000 bob for his fuel. I will take it coz that’s a good
challenge. He lacked sleep, woke up at 3am and by 5:20am he was at my gate
ready to drop me off at the starting point.
GK
(George Kamau) also joins us. The sky is clear. A bad sign, a very bad
sign…full moon and all. We do warm up runs and in a few minutes we start off
with Jack taking the lead. This is his yard! Follow suit with GK in pursuit.
The first kilometer do 4:41, the fourth kilometer we do 4:03, feel scared –
this is a very bad pace, a speed that thrills always kills but Jack is
breathing down my neck and I begin to wonder what his game plan is.
 |
| Quitting is not among the options! |
We
are still doing a downhill climb and hit 7kms in 30:31 mins despite that Jack
still passes me at around T – mall and leads all the way to City Stadium. Clear
the 9th kilometer in under 40mins. I mention to him that we are
going too fast, we might just burn out before we are even halfway through the
race. Switch lanes after City Stadium and cut down my speed. On reaching
Machakos Country Bus, take a quick glance behind for traffic before crossing
the road and notice that Jack has fallen behind.
This
is a morale killer, my rabbit is gone but he really gave me one hell of a push.
I can’t let this opportunity just go down the drain without making a meaningful
gain from it. Focus!
Do
the JIAM climb and get back to business. Come head to head with Upper hill and
it doesn’t wash me clean. The sun is now out and its rays have already increased
the temperature. The Mbagathi road descent is a fast paced one, chasing sub
1:36 in 21kms and actually achieve 1:36:02 coz the T-mall climb downs my speed,
shit! My new P.B.
Now
the dehydration really kicks in a notch higher. I can’t even afford to spit, my
throat is burning but my legs are pretty okay. Long for some cloud cover but
none is forthcoming. On the 22nd kilometer get a shock of a hill
that was not even on my mind. Get a major psychological defeat; my legs
suddenly become a ton of bricks and my breathing more labored. My tongue is on
my chest. Trudge uphill until I clear the climb and get a sigh of relief – 7
bloody minutes in one kilometer…preposterous! Realize I have a time to beat.
Recollect myself and my thoughts and re-focus again. Recheck my garmin and
realize I‘ve got less than 2 kilometers to the finish line. Begin to push on to
have a good finish…finish strong but dehydrated. My final time is 1:53:17 at an
average speed of 12.78km/hr. Do several sit ups and lunges and then press the
end button on my garmin – As per my garmin, 3 records crashed! Best 5km, 10km and
21 km at 21:24, 43:56 and 1:35:38 respectively. The run statistics
are as follows:-
| Kilometer | Time | Avg Pace |
| 1 | 4:41 | 4'41"/km |
| 2 | 9:15 | 4'34"/km |
| 3 | 13:26 | 4'11"/km |
| *Fastest | 17:29 | 4'03"/km |
| 5 | 21:53 | 4'24"/km |
| 6 | 26:18:00 | 4'25"/km |
| 7 | 30:39:00 | 4'21"/km |
| 8 | 35:05:00 | 4'26"/km |
| 9 | 39:32:00 | 4'27"/km |
| 10 | 44:04:00 | 4'32"/km |
| 11 | 48:37:00 | 4'33"/km |
| 12 | 53:23:00 | 4'46"/km |
| 13 | 58:03:00 | 4'40"/km |
| 14 | 1:02:58 | 4'55"/km |
| 15 | 1:08:18 | 5'20"/km |
| 16 | 1:12:59 | 4'41"/km |
| 17 | 1:17:23 | 4'24"/km |
| 18 | 1:21:33 | 4'10"/km |
| 19 | 1:26:26 | 4'53"/km |
| 20 | 1:31:02 | 4'36"/km |
| 21 | 1:36:02 | 5'00"/km |
| 22 | 1:43:03 | 7'01"/km |
| 23 | 1:48:16 | 5'13"/km |
| 24 | 1:52:34 | 4'18"/km |
Have
a hearty breakfast at Jack’s. He had prepared well for this race and I feel
very thankful, share the race experience and appreciate each other’s
observations and presence. Take a picture for before parting ways.
The next run
will be either on Kangundo Road to improve our performance on hilly terrain or
the 26km city mortuary route from my place. Whichever the group picks, I will
do justice to it. The race is on. Keep running!
My previous runs in the
same week before the group run were as follows:
23rd May,
2013: Take on Kagundo Road and have a more balanced run to avoid a repeat of
the previous week. 5kms in 23:15, 10kms in 46:20, 13kms in 1:00:34, 21 kms in
1:39:14 and stop at 1:43:33 in 22 kms.
24th May,
2013: Do a repeat of the same route despite my aching shins and I really pay
for not listening to my body. 5kms in 23:24, 10kms in 46:49, 13kms in 1:01:30
and make a stop at 1:22:47 in 17kms after pulling a 5:15 and 5:37 in the last
2kms. I realize I am simply punishing my body without making meaningful
progress. Save my legs for the group run and also cut down the risk of having
an injury after the all the gains I have already made.
