18 is less than 16

I cannot believe it. It took me 10 mins less to run the 18 miler last Saturday than running the 16 miles at Hellyer. Yeah, that's the power of heat. It just saps the energy out of you. After the brutal 16 mile run at Hellyer, my main focus was to recover and be mentally ready for the heat as the 18 miler was going to be at the oracle trail. If you haven't been on it, it is very close to our apartment and goes right next to the bay. It has no shade, so a clear day would have been quite bad. However, we were lucky.

When we started from Oracle at 7:35ish, it was completely overcast and the temperature was comfortable with a very little breeze. It was ideal for running. I, and of course every one else, was so happy to have such a great weather. Besides, it was along the path which I have been on so many times. I had done parts of this whole trail at different times, so I knew the whole trail. That gave me confidence and I knew what to expect. With lots of people already on the way to San Diego for their marathon last Sunday, there were very few runners... but who cared. It was not hot so we kept on running. When I reached the Coyote Point, and saw the turn around mark, I was surprised that I had already done 9 miles, half way through, in about 1.5 hours. So, on my way back, I knew all I had to do was keep up the rhythm and I would finish strong. Also, since I was the last one running, I kept trying to catch up with the others in my wave. This target keeps you focused too as far as you are not in pain.

On my way back, I was running behind Caroline and she was doing 7-1 split. I finally caught up with her at the first (hence last) water stop after crossing two others in my wave. Ian, was doing 8 mins / mile so we couldn't even see him, so I told her, at least we can get silver and bronze. Right after that, she took off. I took little more time to stretch and fill up before the last 3.5 miles and started running. I couldn't catch up with her, but because I had a target in mind, it helped me run faster. At the end, Caroline also said that because I was trying to beat her, she kept running too. So, we both motivated each other and finished strongly. Of course, you can do this as far as there is no major pain bothering you.

The legs hurt as much as they always do but because the heat was less and mild sun came out only towards the end, I was not as dehydrated as I used to be in my previous runs. That means no headache that day. Yay!! So, after the ice bath, and usual rest, I felt much better. With little more practice and mental preparation, it looks like I just might be able to cross the finish line.

I just have to do all I can to recover from this and the next big run, the last big run which I will have to do on my own. If you are free on next Thursday morning, 11th June, and if you want to, you can help me with my run. Samir has graciously agreed to help. We are going to try and run at Sawyer camp trail as early as possible.

TNT Woodside Run 4-18-09

TNT Woodside Run 4-18-09
Originally uploaded by Shoutingboy

This is where the shin damage started. The 15 mile woodside run. I am stretching not realizing the shins are going to hurt even after a month.

Training in top gear

I took some time off from the mad 5 days a week workout schedule to recover from the shin injury that was bothering me. At last week's track workout, coach had said that its a good news that the bone and the muscles of right shin were not hurting when I touched them. It only hurt when I put weight on my right leg. So, after some massaging, icing, ibuprofen and prayer, I was ready (almost) to run the 16 miler at Hellyer park in South San Jose.

The incredible part about the run was an act of kindness by a stranger. I was running the first 5 mile on the trail prepared for the hot day. At 9 AM it was getting warm but the heat wasn't that bad. I crossed a lady on the trail and just asked her how she was doing. We started to chat a little and she asked me how close was I to my goal. She had raised funds and run an AIDS marathon so she knew. I told her I was still around 63% with about 3 weeks to the fund raising deadline. She asked me for my email address and said that she would donate. By the time I finished and got to my car, she had already sent me an email asking me for the donation website. She donated later that day to LLS through my event. I am sure she could have donated to LLS by other means, but donating through a stranger's event like this just made my day.

The trail was pretty and shaded at some places but very boring at other places. The first 9 miles were great. After the second water station, it was 1.5 miles out and back. Towards the turn around point, someone's dog was just hanging out on the trail. The dog approached me and started sniffing. It started to get a little scary but then the dog moved on. Weirrd...

Back at the second water station (now at 12 miles) people were taking a much needed break from the heat. Getting their hats and shirts wet for the heat. I kept myself hydrated throughout the run but still the last 4 miles were pretty tough. The heat was unrelenting at around 90+ degrees. I didn't feel like running after taking a break in the shade. So I developed a system of running around 5-10 mins and then taking a 2 min break. This got me closer and closer and I finished at 12:30 PM.

If it were 10 degrees cooler, I would have certainly finished it stronger than the last run, but you have good days and bad. These difficult days with rain, heat and cold prepare you, I guess, for anything on the day of the run. Hopefully Seattle will be just perfect.

I must say, the ice baths are painful, but boy they work. They help recover much faster.

14 miles in the rain equals 18 ?

The mile markings and the instructions could have made it 18, but I did better this time, and only did 14.5 instead. Oh these miscommunications...

From the start today morning, I wasn't feeling great and when I got to the start line, it wasn't raining and the temperature was comfortable so I just started running without the jacket. I started running with the 18 milers, so went around the lake merced in San Francisco, and ran on Sunset blvd all the way to the Golden Gate park. Usually, first 6-8 miles are no big deal, but today, they were so hard. For some reason, I just wasn't up to running at my usual pace. So, I just kept drinking water, kept stopping when I felt like. The rain was not coming down hard but it was a constant drizzle. It was much better than the hot woodside sun. On a regular day, I would have enjoyed this part but today was different. After about 6 miles, the first water stop at the entrance of Golden Gate Park was a much welcome relief.

We were told that after the second water stop at traverse and JFK, 14 milers were supposed to go a little bit out and back, and the 18 milers were supposed to run in the pan handle. I kept on running and asked some runners who were coming back, and they said, ya, the "turnaround" was about half a mile. After about 1 mile, still no sign of turn around. Then I see a group of our runners and someone shouting if you think you are running 10 then you are running 14, and if you think you are running 14 then you are running 18. Great. This is not what I was expecting. I felt pretty angry and demoralized, but now that I was close to the turnaround, I had to see it and then plan to cut back the distance.

Just then a coach/mentor came by running with the group of fast runners. He said, he would run back and after reaching the second water stop, we can call the coach and ask how much I have already run. If I have run enough, someone will come and pick me up. Phew. What a relief!! I pretty much ran all the way back, and finished strong in 2 hrs 55 mins. There were other mentors who gave us a ride back and on the way we picked up other 3 runners who had run much more than they were supposed to. If the markings were correct, I would have loved to run down JFK and ran next to the ocean beach. Well, that would have to wait for some other day.

I think the distances are getting to a point where I can't just show up and start running. I need to get a little more serious and actually make an effort to recover completely. If you have suggestions, please do send them along. Its 12 miles more, which right now feels almost impossible.

Fund raising wise also, I am much far from the target. Almost a month remaining and still at 37%. Time to change gears..