35th training (38th) run of 2009

I think first time I started a run around 8:33pm and after dinner, albeit an early one at 6pm+.

7km loop. Completed in 55mins sharp (just under 8min/km). I went back to my old running style and did not use the Newton Running style. Much better. I wasn't so tired and exhausted. Less bouncing or jumping on my fore/mid-foot. My old style is more like sliding on my midfoot. See how next run. Happy the hamstrings were fine.

34th training (37th run) of 2009

9 days after AHM. Decided to just leave office earlier at 7:15pm so I can do a short 5km.

Started at 2005. Mentally told myself before start to go slow and relax, see if my knees, hamstrings and ankles have fully recovered. Otherwise should have waited for 2 weeks. But wanted to run. Sigh...

Don't know why la. Just went fast. 1km at 6:32. Much faster than my 8km average this year. Blame it on the Newton running of landing on midsole and pushing off. Less than 1/2km already chuan. By 1.75km, had to walk already. Slightly after 2km, the upper hamstring behind left knee felt a pull (like when it cramped after AHM). Had to walk again. So, on it goes. walk, jog, walk, jog. Decided not to do 5km loop, in case kena trapped too far from home. Didn't bring my arm pouch with cash and mrt card. Only watch and Road ID. Scared to collapse on the route.

Mapmyrun says my funny route is 4.47km. Completed in 33min 43 secs. (Avg 7:33).

Official AHM 2009 21k result

Results out. Confirmed time 3:10:12. (My watch was 3:10:14).

Praise God.

New Balance Real Run 2009 (8 Nov 09)

I signed up for 10km - Men's Open. S$33.80 after the $3 discount for online registration.

Knees still in pain but it's on 8 November 2009. Should have fully recovered by then.

Army Half Marathon 2009

I'm thankful I managed to completed my first AHM.

It was a painful experience. Stitch at 5-6km. Left hamstring cramp at 10-11km mark and when I tried to jog after the wide right turn to Mountbatten, my right leg cramped too and I pulled up in sharp pain. From there, it was a terrible walk in extreme pain, especially the last 5km. First time I can't even jog across the finishing mat!

The experience was otherwise priceless. I clocked 3:10 and am happy actually since it was within my 3:00 to 3:30 target and better than my only 21km training distance of 3:27.

Water point + isotonic drink layout was good, after ECP, the route was not so narrow, started 6 minutes early which is good for me but may have caught some still stretching by surprise, transformers at ECP was interesting though still dark, one guy stopped and took out a personal Sony videocam from his haversack when he saw the belly dancers who obliged him with more sexy moves & when I completed, Minister Teo Chee Hean was running to the finish on my rght while I was walking in extreme pain.

After the event, went to friends Oriental hotel room to shower. 9:24am I told them I will shower and meet them for breakfast. But after shower, I lay on the bed to elevate my leg and my 2 big toes automatically turned backwards and sharp pains in both hamstrings. I had to lie down. The pain was terrible. So, while they ate their buffet breakfast, I was watching EPL replay. Slept on the mrt train on the way back. Back of right knee is still very painful now but the hamstrings have cleared up. Pity I can't take leave tomorrow.

Personal thanks to Kayano for fetching me there and to my friends slow_runner & din_taz for the use of their hotel room to shower and rest (& grimace in pain in private).

AHM 21km route

21km AHM 2009 route. Thanks to Mok Ying Ren!

33rd training (35th) run of 2009

Well, I figure, this will be the last run before AHM. The risk of injury is too high. I felt strains and light pain in different leg and different places today. One reason is perhaps switching from the Newton Running style where the ankle and hamstring work harder to my midfoot shuffle where I use my bending knee to run.

The problem is once a running style or gait is changed, it's really hard to change back to the old style. The Newton method may be better, but it takes too much out of someone like me without the required baseline fitness. I would find myself huffing & puffing after 2km.

AHM is less than 1 week away. I was thinking of 14 km or 2/3 distance today. During the run, it was revised to 12km (7km + 5km loops). Then, I decided I wanted whatever sprains and aches to be able to heal before 16 Aug. So, I cut short to 7km without extensions. But I chiong the last 250m at 6min/km pace which left me really winded at the end. Time was 50:37 (Avg 7:14/km). Next run should be AHM.

32nd training (34th) run of 2009

Another 7km loop. I thought I was fairly fast. The 1st 2km but after that sort of tired out. This time I brought a little bottle with diluted H-Two-O which helped as I sipped when I was tired and walked or was stopped at traffic light.

Completed 7km in 53:45. Slower already. But it's okay. If I can finish average pace of 8min/km but lungs, heart and legs feel good, that would be better. AHM only slightly more than a week away.

31st training (33rd) training run of 2009

Woke up after 6am. Thought I would wake up before 5:30am cause I remember sleeping before 12am. Sniffles cause the kids had the aircon on after I slept.

Started run already 0630. I knew maximum 14km, if not 12km. Aiyah, I started running too fast again. 2km+ already punctured. :(

Anyway, walked some many times, jog-walk-jog-walk-jog-walk. Don't know how to switch back to my old style of running. I hope it won't be a problem in completing AHM.

So, I stopped after 1 loop of 7km. I knew I was also dehydrated cause the saliva was thick and lips were drying up. 7km in 52mins 7:26/km) which is even slower than my weekday run. Not sure good or not.

Anyway, next week is the race pack collection. Then 16 August AHM.