Sunday, May 09, 2010

Penultimate 40KM...

By Frank

It's finally banished! The Putrajaya jinx is finally gone as I ran a 40KM long run through the evening yesterday. And this will be my penultimate training for this year's Sundown Marathon 2010. After this, mileage will take a drop as I begin to taper.

After having done 17.5KM at Cyberjaya Perdana Lake View park the night before with a running nose, I know this is run will be going to be a tough one. And this will also be the run where I test out my race gear which except my socks, everything else is new. My 2XU sleeveless compression top, 2XU compression shorts, BV Sport Booster and most importantly, the K-Swiss K-Ona C. I even cut my hair early in the noon (I normally cut my hair 3 weeks before a big race)! Hehehe...

I started alone at 7.10pm using last year's first loop pace. Weather was really humid as it poured an hour ago. By 5KM, I was alrady drenched in my sweat. I was adapting to my race gear well, but there was this discomfort in my gut as I ran. Kept burping and had this sensation of throwing up. It was only after 15KM or so when I released a big "BURP" that I felt better.

More and more runners started to show with Lawrence first coming into the picture before I met up with Shukri and Yim back at the carpark. Keat Seong and Jennifer arrived about 9pm with Ezer being the last around 10pm. However, I was still running all alone.

It was only from 35KM till 37KM of my run that I joined Lawrence and Keat Seong for a while before I started with my warming down run. And at the end of the night, I had really a satisfying run. I wasn't really tired at all as legs weren't as sore as last week (no dumpling calves) and I adapted to my race gear really well. Could have continued longer but I guess my body deserves a rest. After all, it's Putrajaya.

And with 3 weeks to go, it's tapering and fitness maintanence as I look into any areas of improvement. Perhaps there is still hope...

3 comments:

Yimster said...

Good job Frank. Great bumping into you. All the best for the show down soon!

Anonymous said...

Frank, actually, how to taper?

Frank Chong said...

Yim: Thanks man. Nice of you to lead the big group too.

Haza: Just lower down the intensity and running mileage. For me, I'm back-tracking my mileage. The last weekend before Sundown, I just make sure nothing more than 15KM. Then it's 2 times 5KM run over the weekdays just to keep the legs fresh.