Getting Back On My Feet

It has been awhile since I last wrote a post. There was nothing exciting to report about, no rigorous training, no races. It's more like eat, work, watch tv & sleep. It quickly became a routine and fitness dropped to ground zero.

 

Of late, I tried to put in more runs into my schedule but somehow, I am getting more injuries than before. My plantar faciitis on my left foot is still affecting me and now I have a back lower back issue. I get a twitch in my knee at times too but nothing major (I hope). If I tell that to a non-running friend or hardly workout friends, first thing they will say is, I think it's because you are running too much. To be honest, that's just something I hate hearing especially of how little they know about running. Of course, running does affect my injury but why or how it happen should not be blame in running alone.  I never had any major injuries when I was training hard for my races before. I think I had all these injuries after a long lay off from running. Problem this time is I've gained weight which was a hard thing to do in the past. It may due to aging and slowing down of my metabolism. Practically eat out most of the time. My medical report will probably fail miserably if I do a check-up now. I do have a history of high cholestrol level, probably from genes and main contributor would be eating out!

 

Now, I am back to the drawing board in running. I still have an aim to go below sub-3 hours in a full marathon. Current PB is still stands at 3'05 (Berlin Marathon '10). Is it possible? I don't think it is that hard. Looking back at the training I did for Berlin, my weekly mileage averaging around 55km. The highest I went was only 85km/week. I'll try to target for a marathon race in 2014 to allow myself more time to get back into shape and also time to heal my injuries.

 

In the last week, I had the pleasure of running with Chan Yew, the national record holder in full marathon, 2'25. Although it was only a short run (for me), it was great feeling to be running with an elite. During our first run in Desa Park City, I asked him if he wanted to do a running clinic for runners which he agreed to. I invited the Dutamas Runners gang. The turn out for the event was better than I expected, with other runners from another group also joined in. I think everyone did enjoy the clinic, learning many running tips from Chan Yew. We did a lap around Metropolitan Park before we started on the clinic. It was more of a Q&A session, which Chan Yew patiently took his time to explain every detail. Questions on training, nutrition, preparation before raceday, breathing technique and many more secrets were revealed. The Q&A even went right through to our breakfast gathering.

 

 

Group photo credited to Andrew Hsien

Explaining in finer details of training over breakfast

Breakfast for champions - Mixed pork porridge

The run with Chan Yew and all the running knowledge he passed on can put a spring back into my running again. It was hard to find the motivation to run or train again for the past two years. I have been oblivious to the races happening during this period. I do miss competing at the highest level (although not at the level of the elites as yet) but I think I still have a lot of running in me to be competitive.

 

But for now, it's more of a healing time with my injuries. I was advised by my doctor to strengthen my core because of my lower back pain which sometimes can affect my upper left leg/butt. It was suspected as slipped disc but doctor couldn't see anything except for bone degeneration as he put it. It is a minor now but if I don't take care of it, it may turn our worse. Only time will tell how soon can I put in more runs.

 

I am also taking this opportunity to say a BIG THANKS to Chan Yew in spending time with us, sharing his knowledge in running. We wish him the best in his training as he leaves for the State ending his holiday back in Malaysia.

Dutamas Runners 2nd Handicap Race (13 Nov 2012)

It's been a while since I last updated this blog, but since Dutamas Runners had their long-awaited Handicap Race for only the 2nd time, I thought it will be a good time to get things started again.

There were numerous request to organise this handicap race again, but since the last time we had this was a long long time ago, that the time taken from that race is irrelevant now. So I had to get everyone to provide me their best timing for their recent races and I will work out their timing for the selected course.

This time around, we did it at Dutamas area itself, where we started the race right in front of Publika. Friends of Dutamas Runners also turned up this time around. Although the number of participants are low, but since this is no-frills race, having it in small number is good. 

Azri was kind enough to sponsor 2 cartons of 100-plus for our run. Thanks Azri!

Not forgetting, Kenny and Raymond who provided some goodies for the participants and winners. Kenny with his Nivea products while Raymond provided SD Card holders. Many thanks guys!

For the noob, handicap race is not about racing a with a crutch, or you being a handicap but it's about giving everyone an equal chances of winning with the slowest runners to start first, while the "elites" will give a handicap timing or you could say a headstart.With that, everyone should be able to compete competitively on level ground.

We had about 31 runners in the start list but only 19 completed the race. Many, including myself either DNF or DNS.

Race started at 6.30am with Kenny, Wilson, Geoff and David on the starting line. While the last runners took off half an hour later with Raymond, Dave, Ronnie and myself. 

In the end, David came back in first place, while Raymond and Ronnie took 2nd and 3rd respectively. Well done to all runners, while those who DNF, keep on training!

Please take note that the timings are a little inaccurate as being a no-frills race, no one was there to take down the timings of every runners. 

Position by handicap timings

Position by Actual Timing

Photos from DR 2nd Handicap Race

Race Reports

I got a backlog of race reports to write. I probably summarized the whole thing......

1. Race 1 - Standard Chartered KL Half Marathon (24 June 2012)

This is one race I shouldn't have done. Not so much for the race itself but for me particularly. I haven't been training much (as usual) and doing a distance longer than 10km will be a different league. I could finish the race comfortably if I don't push hard. However, I ended up with an injured left foot yet again after the race. Couldn't walk properly for the next 3 days after the race. Till today I can still feel the pain, although lesser now. I didn't do much running after that. It wasn't the same plantar faciistis injury I had on my same left foot but more of the outer left side of the foot. Getting old I guess....injury here and there. 

I took the race easily. Car pooled with Mr & Mrs Wong, then parked my car near Padang Merbok. It seems like I'm getting used to starting from the back of the field. Gone were the days where I try to squeeze myself to the front of the pack to get better placing and a good start.

As the gun went off, it took me more than 2 minutes before I reached the starting line. I went really really slow at the start. I caught up with Raymond Tan (my neighbour) and also fellow Dutamas Runners, Seng Chor and Chae Yin. We chatted a little, took some photos but as the sky was still dark, the photos came out blur.

Along the way, met many friends, chatted a bit before I up my tempo little by little. Well, my foot started to hurt a bit after couple of miles. After spme 11-12km I decided to go faster as I wanted to finish faster to rest my foot. I had to stop when I reached Kpg Pandan roundabout to stretch. Pain was bearable then, so I went ahead.

I followed one of the ekiden relay runner, who was running a 5km leg, as pacer. It felt nice to run side by side with another runner at a faster pace. Haven't done it for a while. Well my pace didn't last very long though.

As I approached the finish line, I met Azri who was carrying the 2:00 half marathon pace balloons. I crossed the line slight above 2:00, but minus the delayed start, I probably finished under 2:00. I felt okay at that time.

But the pain got worse by the day and the next morning, I found myself limping as I walked. Till today, I still feel it. 

Race 2 - The Intermark Charity Tower Run (7 July 2012) 

Going to cut this one short. I am happy that I took part in this event. Partly because the building is actually where I work and it is always nice to try out some new events. I started ok till I reached about 13-15 floors where I started feeling breathless. I started walking up the stairs and it just went round and round like no ending. Luckily I didn't pass out. Reached the finishing line at 59 floor and the officials took us up to 62 floor where the helipad is and took photos for finishers for their certificate.

Standing with the fast runners (from left): Raymond, Casey, Cecil and Don

Race 3 - BHP Orange Run (15 July 2012)
This was just a fun run so I started from the back and basically took photos along the way. It was good to take things easy and just run. Not being competitive once in a while is actually good to keep you motivated in running. Sometimes runners trained so hard they get burned out. Anyway the event was to unveil our new Dutamas Runners official Ts.

Race 4 - KPAC Trail Relays (21 July 2012)
I just thought of setting up a team for fun as we haven't had one for a long time. Team line-up was supposed to be me, Seng Chor, Paul and Wei Li. However, Paul was not able to make it to the event, so we had to SOS David and luckily he was available. Nevertheless, we did quite ok though not in the Top 10. It was certainly a challenging event with so many stairs/hill climbs! We finished in 1h26m21s.

Seng Chor, David, Wei Li and me

Displaying proudly our medals