Marathon Training

The Runner's Rule Book by Mark Remy
& the editors of Runner's World

After the 30km run, I have reduced my training, just did 1 run on Monday this week. With the Indonesia jungle burning season here again (Enraged), we had PSI of more than 100 (unhealthy Level) on Thursday and Friday, I'm just finding excuses not to go out for a workout, even our professional soccer match was cancelled to protect the players' health. At the moment, I was reading the above book borrowed from library, the author Mark has run 5 Bostons, an interesting book poking at runners and at the same time with lots of insights.

At 6:20am this morning (Saturday) my running mates & I went for a 20km run, from our area to Mandai Zoo. Along the route, came across a squirrel, a large adult wild boar dashing across the road and a family of monkeys. Due to my long rest days, I was feeling strain on my right knee in the last 4-5km. It was a tough workout, and my knee pain is back again, will see how it goes, with 1 month more to the full marathon in December.

New Asics 1150 Gel purchased on Friday

On Friday, I purchase a new pair of running shoes and switched to Asics. My existing New Balance has covered more than 550km almost 600km it is time to replace it with another pair. For the first time I will be using asics, started off with New Balance and later Mizuno. Well I am sure this is a good shoe, good review, within budget and recommeded by my training mate.

Till the next post, hope my knee will be alright after resting for a few days.

Running

copyright by dictybloke

At the midpoint of my marathon training program, 2 weeks ago I read a book by Amby Burfoot, The Runner's Guide to the meaning of Life. Winner of 1968 Boston Marathon. This book is supposed to be one of the five best books on running.

A passage from the book, I would like to share with everyone...

We are meant to run, and we do so naturally when left to our own devices. Watch a group of children on the playground, in your backyard, or wherever they come together. When they play games like tag, they run for a while, with squeals of obvious delight, and then rest until they are recovered again. Run and rest, run and rest. It is the perfect exercise program because it is coded in our genes. It is what our forefathers did millions of years ago.


First we try to run faster. Then we try to run harder. Then we learn to accept ourselves and our limitations, and at last, we can appreciate the time joy and meaning of running.
- From the Runner's Guide to the meaning of life.

关于跑步 - About Running

Recently, finished reading a book in Chinese, 关于跑步, a runner friend lend me this book. In English translation - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. The author wrote this book between summer 2005 to autumn 2006.

The book was written by an award winning Japanese author by the name 村上春树. Haruki Murakami, winner of the Yomiuri Prize for Literature. The original book was published in Japan by Bungei Shunju Ltd, Japan. The Chinese translation is in complex/traditional character only. No problem with that, although we are using simplified character in Singapore.

In the book, the author talks about running his first marathon in Athens following the route of Phidippides, qualifiying for the prestigious Boston Marathon, ran in the Japan ultramarathon of 100 km without walking within a cutoff time of 11 hrs plus, and marathons both in US & Japan. After a long running career, he took part in the Ironman. He mentioned about his training program, from running 6 days a week (1o km per session) to running 7 days a week. Progressive monthly increament, covering a total distance of 260 km, 310 km, 350 km per month. Also thoughts on distance running and the mental & phyiscal aspects of running long distances.

In the last sentence, the author talked about the pride of running a marathon without walking a single step, he achieved that in all the marathons he finished, not walking a single step no matter how painful it was, even in the 100 km race.

This is what he wish to have on his tombstone.

至少到最後都沒有用走的

At least, till the end I didn't walk.

For experienced runners, this can be a goal to achieve in the 26.2 miles race. No walking (maybe just during drinking) and running the full distance. I'm certain to use this as a motivation in the coming race in a few months time.

the book has this quote (not from the author):
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.


Earlier post:
Marathon Medals