Thursday, January 26, 2006

A two cent's worth of advice for Chlow


Hi Chlow,

It's an interesting question on how you can complete your first ever 21km race.

Let me share with you how I managed to complete my first ever 30km race recently. I am not in the best of health. Quite busy with work and had little rest in the past few days because my daughter slept late - sometimes up to 4.00 in the morning.

I only had a 8.4km run on Friday and an hour of swimming on Saturday(the last run was Siemens Run). I become sensitive to smells and tastes because my wife is pregnant. During the swimming session, I had a lot of stops because I felt like vomitting because of the chlorine smell. On race day, after stretching I threw up. However, it had never crossed my mind not to start the race. I started from the back knowing that I won't have the speed to match other runners. Have to be realistic with my condition mah. It was quite a terrible race for me in the first hour. I had to run away from runners with strong BO because the smell made me like throwing up - no offence please. I had a good run until about 2hours 10 minutes. I didn't feel that tired but very thirsty, probably due to the performance drink. It didn't quench my thirst, but made me thirsty. Then, I started to jog and walk I thought it was never ending until I saw the 3km mark from finishing. Still had 28 minutes to go. Therefore I was confident of beating the qualifying time because I knew I could walk at 9 minutes a km.

Most of the time, I lack mileage because of lack of training but I had always completed the 21km run. If you can run 10km thrice a week and do other kind of exercise when you don't run, there is no reason why you can't complete a 21km run withing 2 hours 30 minutes.

What works for me may not work for others (one man's meat is another man's poison). My captain's training menu is a dream for me. However, I put in extra effort when I have the time and those are the times when I become more competetive. Perhaps, next year I post a better timing.

Aiman Cheah Tiong Chap pm24

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Aiman,

Thanks for your advice, i have actually sign up for the KLIM 21km category. Maybe by signing up i will have the courage to attempt the distance. The fear that keep holding me back is the feeling i get each time i finish a 10km run (dead tired by then) The thought of going another 11km really give me the shivers. Another problem is i am very prone to getting cramps, that is why i am not confident. I guess its only doing it once and you will gather confidence from then. If i don't start i think i will never do it. I have been running about 8km to 9km about 3 to 4 times a week the past 2 weeks. Will attempt a 12km to 15 km in the next 1 or 2 weeks to see how it goes. If i feel o.k and don't suffer so much maybe i will attempt it. You guys are different cos even without training completing a run is not a problem.

As for Terence, i am sad to hear about his health problem. Even though i don't know him personally, its always sad to hear of such news. I would try to come over on the day you guys are organising the run.

Thanks, i really appreciate your advice and encouragement.