Running Log: Week 17

Week of Nov. 22 - Nov. 28
11/23: 6k, 35:33
11/24: 10k, 1:03:33
11/25: 5k, 25:33
11/27: 13k, 1:25:00

Total: 34k, 3:29:39
Average Pace: 06:10

I took it slow at the beginning of the week and decided to speed up my 5k run just for the heck of it. On Saturday, I was in Kyoto, and as I had no idea how far I was running, I just set a time for 1:25. I was imagining myself getting up early and running through parks surrounded by temples, but I somehow couldn't find my way out of the city and was treated with a normal view of concrete.

5 days to marathon.

Running Log: Week 16

Week of Nov. 15 - Nov. 21
11/16: 8k, 50:23
11/17: 13k, 1:23:18
11/18: 6k, 35:15
11/20: 19k, 2:05:04

Total: 46k, 4:54:00
Average Pace: 06:23

I spent this week trying to run slow, at around 07:00 per km. That proved extremely hard for my shorter runs, but for the 19k on Saturday, it was actually a very comfortable pace. Having done 32k the week before, I dare say running 19k was...easy.

Running Log: Week 15

Week of Nov. 8 - Nov. 14

11/09: 8k, 43:07

11/10: 16k, 1:29:03

11/11: 8k, 45:17

11/13: 32k, 3:49:49

Total: 64k, 6:47:16

Average Pace: 06:21

Hell Week is over. I have feared it since I began my training, not only because it is my peak week and I had to run 32k on Saturday, but I also had a half-marathon race the Sunday before. So from a Sunday-Saturday running week perspective, I ran 85.1k for 9:07:34.

That's a lot of running.

Overall, it went well, showing once again that what is hard is all a matter of perspective. My Tues-Thurs runs were good and I was pumped for Saturday, but as has been the trend recently, I cramped around the 19k mark. This was extremely frustrating because I felt great; the throbbing in my shins had gone away, I drank 4 liters of water the day before, I was ingesting gels (which taste like heaven) and didn't feel tired or hungry in anyway. I wanted to run, but I just couldn't.

So while I was walking, I was able to do a lot of thinking as to why this is happening, and I came to the conclusion that I am running to fast. For example, I ran my 16k on Wednesday at a pace of 05:33 per km. I was proud of that and I'm pretty sure I ran the first 19k on Saturday at a similar speed because I remember thinking that I will finish in a little over 3 hours. But when I cramped, I think it was my body telling me it cannot (yet) run 32k (let alone 42.2k) at a similar pace.

My goal for the full marathon since I started has been to just finish the race. I have stayed away from setting a time for myself, but I learned on Saturday I should try to pick a pace and stick to it.

If I can run the marathon in 5 hours, that would be about 07:10 per km. So for the rest of my training, my goal will be to run at a pace of 07:00 per km.

3 weeks to marathon.

Running Log: Week 14

Week of Nov. 1 - Nov. 7
11/02: 8k, 43:46
11/03: 14k, 1:20:31
11/04: 8k, 43:14
11/07: 21.1k (Shohashi Half-Marathon), 2:20:18

Total: 51.1k, 5:07:49
Average Pace: 06:01

Attendance for Shohashi was 8,942, making it the most crowded race I have run. I lined up near the back and once the race started, it took about 10 minutes to cross the start line. At first I didn't care, but then I realized it was hard to pass people.

I ran the first half in about an hour and 20 minutes, then sped up and ran the last half in an hour. The last two km were the hardest because I was hungry and tired. My runner friend Dave said I need to pick up some gels and ingest them every hour.

Running Log: Week 13

Week of Oct. 25 - Oct. 31
10/26: 6k, 34:18
10/27: 14k, 1:25:00
10/28: 8k, 47:00
10/30: 29k, 3:34:14

Total: 57k, 6:20:32
Average Pace: 06:40

Another typhoon caused another rainy week. My Wednesday and Thursday runs are estimates. It was a decent week until Saturday. Running 29k in terms of distance was a personal best, but...I only ran about 19k of it.

I cramped hard. Real hard. When I finally made it into my apartment, I felt sick to the point of nausea. If this had been marathon day, I would not have been able to finish. It was a good reminder that my goal for the Naha Marathon is to only complete the race.

I will be running the Shohashi Half-Marathon this coming Sunday. Next week is Hell Week. I'm going to try a new strategy of drinking 4-5 liters of water the day before my long run.

5 weeks to marathon.