Saved by the Rain

Correct!

2nd Dec, 2012: "I am not out for revenge because revenge is a confession of pain. I am not in pain...I am hungry!" - Ryback (WWE). This is what I woke up to at 5am. Have a glass of warm water to boost my electrolyte level and to warm up my body. Stretch and put on my gear. Adjust my ipod to HipHop Remixes of 90's and 2000 and set the right volume. I am out of my crib by 5:45am and get hit by the morning breeze on my face...its heavenly!

Feeling pretty light because my feet were well rested the previous day. I clear 6kms in 26 minutes - realize I am moving too fast for a 31km stretch at my level...tremendously slow down not to catch my breathe but to save some energy for the last 5km notorious Outer Ring road.

The Upper Hill climb still shocks me - remains untamed, pushes me to new boundaries still unexplored. At City Morgue in 58mins and T. Mall by 1:11 and suddenly it began pouring down. Reach Nyayo Stadium by 1:20 and make a mental decision on whether to run through the rain for another 90mins (Mombasa Road) or just cut through Industrial Area and clear my race in the next 45 mins. The rain is now relentless, shelve the Mombasa road route and decide to fight another day- divert into industrial area. The rain becomes more intense and I decide to seek shelter. That 'there is no such thing as bad weather' phrase doesn't cut on this one.

Sweat mixed with rain water - no one knows it but me. The rain subsides after about twenty minutes. My muscles are becoming stiff again. Begin running slowly to warm up my muscles but its such a drag because of the drizzle. The dirt roads are muddy so I divert back to Jogoo Road - its footpaths are tarmacked. Run with pain on my foot (it has never healed - maybe I should go for an x-ray or something) compounded with the boiling rage in my heart. That Mombasa Road / Outer Ring route got lucky again...this time saved by the rain. This beef ain't over...

Keep Running!

A Runners Nightmare!

Day 13: 25th November, 2012 - Pick up my water bottle at 5:45am and head out. Reflect on the last run with renewed determination. Nothing should stop me this time - not even dehydration. Get a fold-able water bottle with a cork which you just pull, press the stem and water gushes out and then you push the cork back in place. You can have a drink without tilting your head backwards. Its really something.

At City Stadium in 33 mins (7kms) at City Mortuary in 57mins (12kms) - the upper hill climb drains me out, feel heavy coupled with the water in my bottle. Its not a  motivation, in fact it distracts me far too often - it will take sometime before getting used to it. At T. Mall (15kms) in 1:13, my energy is almost out, At Panari (21kms) in 1:42 - running on empty.

My foot is purely on fire now. I didn't give it time to heal. The sun comes up at my 22nd Km - it quickly intensifies and drains me further. Cant bear the pain on my right foot anymore, stop for the last drop of water from my bottle at 25kms - 1:58 (City Cabanas). Its a nightmare that I am flat out and yet I still have a whole 6 kms to go - this is a nightmare!.Find myself limping, push myself and clear the Airport North Road and join Outer Ring Road. I am now a complete walker, limping...but for how long. Bow myself out, feeling leprous - my pride under the soles of my feet and wait for a matatu in front of the prying eyes of the inquisitive and idle passersby. I feel ashamed - but I console myself that they dont know me, besides my foot can't bear it anymore so there is no shame in this. I will live to fight another day.

Alight at Donholm and limp into Manyanja Road and back to the house...I am devastated. Embark on a serious massage with hot water and liniment. I will have to repeat this routine for the entire week.

Reasons behind my failure: (a) Failure to observe my diet during the week, I even ate junk food on the eve of my run. (b) I stayed on my feet for a substantial portion of the day on the eve of the run. I should've given my feet a break. (c ) Lack of discipline, I was up till late watching a movie. - A lesson learnt goes a long way.

Longest Yard

Day 12: 18th November, 2012: Leave the house late i.e. a few minutes to 6am. Dont feel up to the task this time but force myself out of the house and onto the road. Dont warm up properly either just do some small time stretching and I am off. At City Stadium by 32mins (7kms), City Mortuary in 57mins (12kms) the upper hill climb is still a challenge, T.Mall in 1: 11(15kms) the downhill run takes a toll on my cuboid bone (will research on it later cz it still hurts like hell). At Nyayo Stadium in 1:20 (17kms), Panari Sky Center (Mombasa Road) in 1:40 (21kms), City Cabanas in 1:58 (25kms). Really dehydrated and struggle through the remaining distance even lose my concentration because of the horrible outer ring road which has no running area. You either dogde around traffic or contend with the rocky, uneven paths with small pools from the recent short rains. Half walk and half run in the last two kms. Total time 2:38 in 31kms. Realize the need of carrying a bottle of water during the long runs. Met Jack at Mombasa Road and I noted he had a water bottle. To train myself on hydrating during the runs simultaneously so as to replace to lost electrolytes. To take a break for six days - allow my legs room to recuperate for a re-match of the same route.

New Route

Day 11-14^th November, 2012. Running  Kangundo road, a very good terrain with a considerable number of hills. Its all dirt which makes it better despite the occassionel smoke and dust left behind by traffic passing by. I realize there are several runners on this route. A good sign that this is where I belong. Leave the house at 6am with my marathon cap. The sun comes out early and strong. While the other runners are slowing down in the sweltering heat and sun rays, I just cruise by cz of my running cap. Go all the way to the by pass and back. Really de-hydrated and take a walk in the last two kms. I bet the route is about 24kms - time 2hrs 5mins. I will sit on google maps and establish the distance soon. The war continues…

New Beginings....

Day 10: 11th November, 2012: Decide to take on the City Morgue route to check whether I still have it in me. Leave the house at ten minutes to six (05:50am). Start slowly and accelerate as I progressed. Complete 7kms in 33mins, 12kms in 58mins, 15kms in 1:11, 21kms in 1:40 and 27kms in 2:09 - one minute slower than my P.B. is a nice starting point!

Day 9: 7th November, 2012: Kangundo Road - The weather is damn fine, I couldn't resist the urge of getting back to the road. Make a mental decision to just go exploration, see new routes, mark new points, find a new terrain. Do an easy run from Manyanja road to Kangundo road all the way to the Eastern By pass (about 24kms to and fro). My body paining all over because of such a simple exercise. Unable to complete the race and I am forced to take a walk after 110minutes. My back really hurts, cant accelerate!