After
having a poor turnout in the last group run of 1st December, 2013
together with a foul weather (it had rained the previous night) I felt my
target had not been achieved. I reiterated that I will do a repeat of the same
route next Sunday (8th Dec) in case the weather will be better. Jack loves a good challenge and he didn’t hesitate
to take on this opportunity.
I did
an evening run during the week to check my physical form since I was still on
antibiotics because of the bacterial infection. I pulled some good statistics
which encouraged me despite the strong wind blowing against me – 5kms in 21:08,
7kms in 29:57, 10kms in 43:50, 13kms in 57:51 and stopped at 16kms in 1:12 –
average speed of 4’32” per kilometer.
I
returned to hospital to check the results of my blood test on Thursday 5th
and they were not good. My Free T4 was at 0.7 and yet the recommended levels
are between 0.8 to 2.0, my Free T3 was at 1.3 instead of the required margin of
1.4 to 4.2, my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which should stimulate the two
(T3 and T4) back to the recommended levels wasn’t up to the task either – it was
at 1.5 yet it could go up to 6.2 in order to regulate the two. The doctor
suggested a repeat of the test – the data was rather ambiguous therefore the
doctor could not make any concrete
decision on this result coupled with the fact that I was immediately diagnosed
with bacterial infection right after my blood was taken for the test. So let’s
wait for the new results. I finished my antibacterial drugs on Friday 6th
in readiness for the “final” run of the year.
Sunday
8th: Up early hoping that Jack will come as promised and he actually
doesn’t disappoint. We set off at about 5 mins past 6am after a good warm-up. Start
with a hard 4:06 in the 1st kilometer (can’t wait for the days we
will be starting with sub 4mins). I lead the way and Jack takes over even
before we join Jogoo road. I take over immediately after the Jogoo road hill
(after the bridge) and quicken the pace. Clear 5kms in 21:04, right on target
for the 90mins in 21kms run, City Stadium in 29:40 (7 kms – better than most),
Muthurwa climb gives me hell but avoid the long, wide strides coz they are definite
energy wasters when climbing hills. Take short quick steps – they really burn
my thighs!
Railways
roundabout in 38mins (9kms) and 10k in 42:47 – this is a good speed, slow down
to get some air in readiness of the Upper hill climb. Glance back and I don’t see
Jack. I realize that we had a very ambitious start – the thought of crashing
after Upper Hill dampens my spirit. The only comfort I have is that I have had much
worse days and it can’t get any worse on this day so I recollect my thoughts
and embrace the pain.
Short
brisk steps are key to the Upper Hill climb – it cleans me out but pull through
and work on immediate recovery so that I can properly take on the Mbagathi
descent. Hit 13kms in 57:01 and decide to attempt a 14k in an hour – go full
flight on the 14th kilometer (3:47) and manage a 1:00:48 – almost there
but not quite.
The
rest of the distance is a struggle. I realize that whenever I glance behind to
check on Jack I tend to mess my momentum so I decide to just focus on having a
new course record.
The Lunga lunga
(bridge) climb heading to Donhlom nearly grind me to a halt – at the 24th
kilometer pull a shocking 5’13”! Almost similar to upper hill but quickly
recover and clear 26km in 1:54:56 – average pace 13.57kms/hr (4’25” per km). My
ankle injury really throbbing and new sweat gushing out – a little drizzle is
welcome, cools me up fast. Jack finishes soon after.
Kilometer
|
Time
|
Avg Pace
|
1
|
4:06
|
4'06"/km
|
2
|
8:20
|
4'14"/km
|
3
|
12:37
|
4'17"/km
|
4
|
16:53
|
4'16"/km
|
5
|
21:04
|
4'11"/km
|
6
|
25:20:00
|
4'16"/km
|
7
|
29:40:00
|
4'20"/km
|
8
|
33:56:00
|
4'16"/km
|
9
|
38:28:00
|
4'32"/km
|
10
|
42:47:00
|
4'19"/km
|
11
|
48:02:00
|
5'15"/km
|
12
|
52:45:00
|
4'43"/km
|
13
|
57:01:00
|
4'16"/km
|
*Fastest
|
1:00:48
|
3'47"/km
|
15
|
1:05:00
|
4'12"/km
|
16
|
1:09:26
|
4'26"/km
|
17
|
1:13:54
|
4'28"/km
|
18
|
1:18:24
|
4'30"/km
|
19
|
1:22:43
|
4'19"/km
|
20
|
1:27:13
|
4'30"/km
|
21
|
1:31:38
|
4'25"/km
|
22
|
1:36:01
|
4'23"/km
|
23
|
1:40:31
|
4'30"/km
|
24
|
1:45:44
|
5'13"/km
|
25
|
1:50:24
|
4'40"/km
|
26
|
1:54:56
|
4'32"/km
|
I am not ready to take a break just yet but
with the festivities, travelling and all, why not. Let’s see how the holidays
go coz 2014 is almost here!
