I was hoping to give some good news, that I had qualified for the 2 major ultras this year, but alas no. I cut my thumb pretty deep on the day before the race and had to go to hospital 5 stitches!
So education time, why does cutting thumb affect you from racing?
1st u have to understand the severity of the wound, the blood was the enough to fill 2 dish clothes. The wound was deep.
So the affect:
1) when racing your heart would be throbbing, the excess pressure on the thumb would result bleeding through the stitches
2)With the sweat and the slightly open wound the result could be a rather serious infection
3) When running your legs receive alot of trauma, and since your body will send healing reserves to your legs , the thumb will heal slower.
So there you have it, my race plans were de-railed by a cut thumb, now I will need to do some serious thinking in order to complete my next race. we'll just have to see:)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Race gear
I did the bronkhorstspruit 32 km race in an 3:30. It was a spur of the moment descision. At least I got to see how I perform under race conditions for a longer distance. The strategy of 35/5 paid off quite handsomely. It will leave me with 1:30 to complete 10km, definately doable.
I purchased a Gaumin 310XT, I got it pretty cheap considering the price range and if I had to invest in a polar with all the gagets would work out to the same price. What an awesome watch, I am fortunate that I will test it out at my 1st major event this year, the sasol 42.2km race in secunda.
My race kit, is a combination of scientific advanments, superstition and strategy.
Shoes- I run in a saucony Jazz, which I picked up pretty cheap and is suited to my running style, mostly neutral. I had this tested at my gear shop, running inn. When I put on my treads my feet sing, it just feels that good.
pants- I wear a new balance compression tights to race, for protection from muscle fatigue, sun effects, wicks away sweat and chaffing
shirt- I wear a heat gear top, which fits similar to a rash vest. This is primarily for protection from the sun and chaffing
vest- the vest displays my running club, running inn, my racing license and race number
cap- protection from the sun
watch- to give me time, splits and race. If you are aware of your performance then it is less stressful when you race.
small bag- to store my squeezies and car keys
squeezies- which I take for energy during my run. I know experts say that there is no difference between the brands but I have tried out USN and muscle science and they both didn't match up to the brand GU. Maybe its psycological but it certainly feel better
balance band- The jury is still out whether it works or not, and I am skeptical myself. I am fortunate that I received it for free from a rep, so if you have it why not use it.
Just a small note with respect to those who are against it, citing what happened in australia, it should be noted that there are people who have an effect on them that are opposite to what is described, in other words their flexibility and strenght reduces, they become weaker, please explain that effect in terms of "its all in the head".
on training runs I run with a maxed hydration pack, which is invaluable to longer distance training and you certainly up your performance on the shorter distances.
Next week I hope to bring good news from my marathon, hold thumbs!
I purchased a Gaumin 310XT, I got it pretty cheap considering the price range and if I had to invest in a polar with all the gagets would work out to the same price. What an awesome watch, I am fortunate that I will test it out at my 1st major event this year, the sasol 42.2km race in secunda.
My race kit, is a combination of scientific advanments, superstition and strategy.
Shoes- I run in a saucony Jazz, which I picked up pretty cheap and is suited to my running style, mostly neutral. I had this tested at my gear shop, running inn. When I put on my treads my feet sing, it just feels that good.
pants- I wear a new balance compression tights to race, for protection from muscle fatigue, sun effects, wicks away sweat and chaffing
shirt- I wear a heat gear top, which fits similar to a rash vest. This is primarily for protection from the sun and chaffing
vest- the vest displays my running club, running inn, my racing license and race number
cap- protection from the sun
watch- to give me time, splits and race. If you are aware of your performance then it is less stressful when you race.
small bag- to store my squeezies and car keys
squeezies- which I take for energy during my run. I know experts say that there is no difference between the brands but I have tried out USN and muscle science and they both didn't match up to the brand GU. Maybe its psycological but it certainly feel better
balance band- The jury is still out whether it works or not, and I am skeptical myself. I am fortunate that I received it for free from a rep, so if you have it why not use it.
Just a small note with respect to those who are against it, citing what happened in australia, it should be noted that there are people who have an effect on them that are opposite to what is described, in other words their flexibility and strenght reduces, they become weaker, please explain that effect in terms of "its all in the head".
on training runs I run with a maxed hydration pack, which is invaluable to longer distance training and you certainly up your performance on the shorter distances.
Next week I hope to bring good news from my marathon, hold thumbs!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Lantern bitter sweet
I completed the Irene 10km Lantern race and this race was real fun, only draw back that the start was abit congested. My time 59mins, yeah! I broke my PB by about 4mins and dipped under 1hr. The bitter part of this race was that I didn't follow my strategy, 35/5. Something in me reared its ugly head, PRIDE. This is quality that leads to arrogance and generally people like that just plugs.
Let me elaborate, I was too proud to walk the 5 mins that I was meant to. I just wanted to push through to "show off". I was also embarrassed cause I was there with all my gear and I was walking. This is something I need to be mindful off and stamp out of my personality.
The great thing about the night race is that my bubbles was at the finish, with a quality basil pesto and sun dried tomato pesto pastas. I know this is contrary to popular running culture that you carbo load before the race. We had a wonderful picnic after the race.
So with that I am going to push myself onto the 42.2km sasol marathon. Next blog up I will discuss my gear and what works for me.
Let me elaborate, I was too proud to walk the 5 mins that I was meant to. I just wanted to push through to "show off". I was also embarrassed cause I was there with all my gear and I was walking. This is something I need to be mindful off and stamp out of my personality.
The great thing about the night race is that my bubbles was at the finish, with a quality basil pesto and sun dried tomato pesto pastas. I know this is contrary to popular running culture that you carbo load before the race. We had a wonderful picnic after the race.
So with that I am going to push myself onto the 42.2km sasol marathon. Next blog up I will discuss my gear and what works for me.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Feeling the Mojo
Well since the Soweto marathon, i've been feeling abit hesitant with my running, not really motivated, but I was doing somw quality kilometers (average 40km per week). Come the pwc race in PTA, I completed the 21.1 km half marathon. I tried my strategy of 35/5 for the 2nd time on race day and not to stop within 3km of the finish. the Result: 2hr 10min 16sec for the race. WHOOO (F#$%ing)HOOO, to say that I am happy is an under-statement. I was so amped I hit my training runs with more vigour. This motivation is still in its infancy but it feels kind off good.
The next step is that I have to qualify for the comrades/2 oceans. I was thinking of doing the Pretoria marathon but on much advise and though I am giving this race a pass. The other option was some race in Petermaritzburg, but its a tad far. So I finally settled for the Sasol marathon in Secunda, the race advertisement said flat and fast, which played a huge role in my decision. Is that taking the easy way out. Maybe but I am not going to stress myself more than I have to.
So why does this half marathon make me feel better than the half that preceded the Soweto. A couple of reasons
1) I felt really good after the race, felt comfortable and didn't need much rest.
2) finished the race without niggles
3) I have alot more information on myself and the way I react to distance races
4) There is no other issues plaguing my mind before the race.
I was there both mentally and physically.
I think i'm going to do another 10km race to see if I can break the 60min mark. (set up a PB)
the half marathon that I downed, I crushed my PB by almost 5mins. I got one word......stoked!!
The next step is that I have to qualify for the comrades/2 oceans. I was thinking of doing the Pretoria marathon but on much advise and though I am giving this race a pass. The other option was some race in Petermaritzburg, but its a tad far. So I finally settled for the Sasol marathon in Secunda, the race advertisement said flat and fast, which played a huge role in my decision. Is that taking the easy way out. Maybe but I am not going to stress myself more than I have to.
So why does this half marathon make me feel better than the half that preceded the Soweto. A couple of reasons
1) I felt really good after the race, felt comfortable and didn't need much rest.
2) finished the race without niggles
3) I have alot more information on myself and the way I react to distance races
4) There is no other issues plaguing my mind before the race.
I was there both mentally and physically.
I think i'm going to do another 10km race to see if I can break the 60min mark. (set up a PB)
the half marathon that I downed, I crushed my PB by almost 5mins. I got one word......stoked!!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
lazy
well its been almost 2 months since my last update, which is really bad and shows no commitment to my goals.
Anyway I have been acquiring quite a few running goodies, and have been trying strategies to see how I fair.
I have outlined the Pretoria marathon at the end of february as my qualifying race. I hope I qualify. I can feel the stress.
Training is going well, I run twice a day, 4 days a week and hopefully by march I will achieve about 160km a week.
My weight training partner and partner for life, zakkiya, is the immovable stone of support and i am sure that I will triumph.
I did a 10km race on the 15January and to my surprise with an adjusted strategy was in line to complete 10km in under an hour......was...... then I took a wrong turn and I completed 11.5km on a 10km race. boy I am smart. However at least I am faster than my slowest 10km time.
anyway until next time, which will be soon, peace
Anyway I have been acquiring quite a few running goodies, and have been trying strategies to see how I fair.
I have outlined the Pretoria marathon at the end of february as my qualifying race. I hope I qualify. I can feel the stress.
Training is going well, I run twice a day, 4 days a week and hopefully by march I will achieve about 160km a week.
My weight training partner and partner for life, zakkiya, is the immovable stone of support and i am sure that I will triumph.
I did a 10km race on the 15January and to my surprise with an adjusted strategy was in line to complete 10km in under an hour......was...... then I took a wrong turn and I completed 11.5km on a 10km race. boy I am smart. However at least I am faster than my slowest 10km time.
anyway until next time, which will be soon, peace
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Full
I have completed the Soweto Marathon, a major south African race. The result I have a lot of training still left to do.
It started really nicely, I completed the 21 in about 2:15, so my time was in line for me to qualify for the big ultras. Sadly there was no water between kms 21 and 33, dehydration was experienced quite forcibly. It was terrible but at least I completed, time 5:20, and I know the pain and effort required to complete races of this magnitude.
Next race I hope to qualify with is the Pretoria marathon, I hope I can succeed.
The thing is that after such a bad race, my motivation has been knocked abit, and lovely wife tries her best to support me, but I have high demands of myself, so inevitably I feel abit depressed.
Next step I will need to train much harder, punish ourselves so that we can punish the race.
join a club, people with like minded goals can definitely help. Invest in water bladder so I have water during my training. Investigate the effect of gu and other carbohydrate gels on my energy levels.
If my Zak was not there to comfort me and drive me back home I could have been in worse off condition than the way I finished. She took really good care of me, and organised me ice cream and mochachoes, yeah :)
With her at my side I know I will be successful. What a great support structure I have.
My former training partner has pulled out of the challenge of completing the 2 oceans and comrades. He gave up because he did not want to get seriously injured. good luck to him and I hope he does eventually attempt a big race.
On another note Next year I am coming with a vengeance for the Soweto marathon, BEWARE!
Just a side note, I completed a marathon 1 yr and 7 months since I got knocked by a car. Yes you guessed it knocked by a car and I was on crutches for 3 months. I might ellaborate in the future.
It started really nicely, I completed the 21 in about 2:15, so my time was in line for me to qualify for the big ultras. Sadly there was no water between kms 21 and 33, dehydration was experienced quite forcibly. It was terrible but at least I completed, time 5:20, and I know the pain and effort required to complete races of this magnitude.
Next race I hope to qualify with is the Pretoria marathon, I hope I can succeed.
The thing is that after such a bad race, my motivation has been knocked abit, and lovely wife tries her best to support me, but I have high demands of myself, so inevitably I feel abit depressed.
Next step I will need to train much harder, punish ourselves so that we can punish the race.
join a club, people with like minded goals can definitely help. Invest in water bladder so I have water during my training. Investigate the effect of gu and other carbohydrate gels on my energy levels.
If my Zak was not there to comfort me and drive me back home I could have been in worse off condition than the way I finished. She took really good care of me, and organised me ice cream and mochachoes, yeah :)
With her at my side I know I will be successful. What a great support structure I have.
My former training partner has pulled out of the challenge of completing the 2 oceans and comrades. He gave up because he did not want to get seriously injured. good luck to him and I hope he does eventually attempt a big race.
On another note Next year I am coming with a vengeance for the Soweto marathon, BEWARE!
Just a side note, I completed a marathon 1 yr and 7 months since I got knocked by a car. Yes you guessed it knocked by a car and I was on crutches for 3 months. I might ellaborate in the future.
Friday, November 12, 2010
the half
Since my last post, I have done a 21.1 km race, a half marathon. This race is known as the woodlands boulevard enduro race on the 16th October 2010.
Lesson number 1 beware of races that are sponsored by groups with the name enduro. The 1st 2/3 kms is a uphill and we did this portion twice and beyond that there were about 12 hills on the course. It was a cranker. That being said my time was good, infact pleasant to me, I did the race in 2h 15min.
At every race I learn something new, something about myself, and in this race it was my mental strength, the ability to overcome pain and finish well. How i handle myself with a cold start.
How my body handles chaffing(a funny but very painful reality)
In the end I enjoyed the race, and that is what it comes down to, you will only succeed when you are having fun.
My training partner WMS has bought the book the lore of running, this is like the holy book of running and WMS being the responsible one is taking things to 1st principles and I am adding to my knowledge base with his help. In the future we will do some pretty awesome races!
Lesson number 1 beware of races that are sponsored by groups with the name enduro. The 1st 2/3 kms is a uphill and we did this portion twice and beyond that there were about 12 hills on the course. It was a cranker. That being said my time was good, infact pleasant to me, I did the race in 2h 15min.
At every race I learn something new, something about myself, and in this race it was my mental strength, the ability to overcome pain and finish well. How i handle myself with a cold start.
How my body handles chaffing(a funny but very painful reality)
In the end I enjoyed the race, and that is what it comes down to, you will only succeed when you are having fun.
My training partner WMS has bought the book the lore of running, this is like the holy book of running and WMS being the responsible one is taking things to 1st principles and I am adding to my knowledge base with his help. In the future we will do some pretty awesome races!
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