Week 7: Day 5: REST

I had a comfortable rest today. I have no pain either in my shoulders of legs. I am supposed to run 19.2 Km tomorrow but I have planned to take rest again tomorrow and instead do my run on Sunday replacing my Cross training session.

Week 7: Day 4

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 30 min and 55 sec           

Place: T.Nagar, Chennai

Today though I ran non-stop for most of the time I finished the 4.8 Km course one minute slower than my last personal best. I can realize that if I reduce my non-stop run and take a short walk whenever I needed I am finishing in a good time. But I am consciously trying to do a non-stop so that it will increase my stamina and also will give a good motivation.

I got exhausted too soon due to the humid climate of Chennai. I really hope I will increase my stamina in order to avoid this condition during race day.

Week 7: Day 3

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 9.6 Km           

Duration: 65 min and 55 sec           

Place: T.Nagar, Chennai

It was an extremely tiring and exhausting run today. I could not run in my usual speed. I ran bit slow than usual but still according to me I finished in a decent time. I did not have a water-break during the course which means I have the ability to run continuously at least for 10 Km during worst situations. My stamina has increased for sure but I need to work hard to increase my speed and thereby set a good personal record. The race day is nearing and I need to prepare well and be determined to finish the race in a competitive time.

Week 7: Day 2

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 29 min and 42 sec           

Place: T.Nagar, Chennai

Today’s run has been good in spite of the fact that I had pain in my shoulders. The pain has reduced a lot over the night. I did not feel much pain in the latter half of my run today. I finished 2 seconds ahead of previous run. But I felt very much exhausted today maybe due to the humid climate of Chennai.

I went through the previous course records for Kaveri Trail Marathon and there are lot of people who finish the HM in 90 minutes. For me with my current speed it will take little more than 120 minutes. I want to increase my speed bit more so that my run will be really competitive rather than just finishing in decent time. I will work hard a bit more to increase my speed.

Week 7: Day 1: REST

I felt extreme pain in my hands and shoulders due to the intense push-up exercises which I did yesterday after a long time. I expected this and I also know that this pain will go off in couple of days. Tomorrow’s run of 4.8 Km might be a bit difficult due to this pain. I hope this pain goes off soon.

Week 6: Day 7: Cross (Exercise)

Time: 6 am             

Duration: 120 min           

Place: Marina Beach, Chennai

Well the family run turned out to be different. The master taught us various exercises which will help us to run better. At the maximum I would have run for 3 Km with Aswin but it was really a very good experience. I felt more comfortably when running with Aswin. I think group running certainly has its advantages. If this is the case then I guess during the race day it will be really good for me.

The master taught us various exercises which was bit tough too. I did not feel much pain during the exercises but I felt it later in the evening. I did lot of push-ups today which caused pain in my hand muscles. I think if I start continuing these exercises every day I might feel even more fit than usual. I really hope this pain in hands does not cause any performance issues during my running sessions.

I have now completed 6 weeks of training. This last one week has not been a good one as lot of running sessions were missed due to several reasons. I would like to do a good job from next week without skipping or postponing my running sessions.

One good thing about today’s conversation with the master is that he said my endurance level is very good and that he pointed out few flaws in my running. He said I have to keep my shoulders loose and breathe out using mouth in that way I can get more out of my running.

I would like to carry forward all the learning and do a better job from next week.

Week 6: Day 6: REST

Since I need to do a long run tomorrow it’s a rest day for me today. Aswin’s running group has planned for a family run in which the group’s family members can run too along with them. So looking out for a good run for the first time with a group. I am hoping for a very good experience.

Week 6: Day 5

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 29 min and 44 sec           

Place: T.Nagar, Chennai

Since I have to do a long run in the weekend which is for 11.2 Km I have decided to skip the 8 km run and instead ran for 4.8 Km. I had set a personal best by finishing in 29 minutes. This is an improvement of nearly 3 minutes. I am really impressed with my run today. I really hope this continues further and finish my race in a decent time.

Week 6: Day 4: REST

Disappointment today. I had not set the alarm properly due to which my today’s session is cancelled. 

Week 6: Day 3: REST

I should have done a run of 8 Km but since I travelled in the night I was not in a condition to run in the morning. I planned to run tomorrow. I have prepared a very different route this time and eager for tomorrow’s run.

Week 6: Day 2

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 32 min and 30 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

I was hoping for setting my personal best for the 4.8 Km but it was not so. I finished it in almost the usual time. I think I am always struggling for the first 6 Km after which I get more energy and I am able to run faster.

I am practicing Pranayama and meditation everyday without fail. I am consuming good amount of water and having nutritious food and fruits nowadays. I am more conscious on my food-intake which is the only source of energy for my run.

Week 6: Day 1: REST

I still have slight pain in the knee but whenever I take rest it gets alright. I hope slowly it gets healed once and for all. I am now very enthusiastic to continue with my marathon sessions. I am very eagerly looking out for a good run in Kaveri Trail HM.

Week 5: Day 7

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 16 Km           

Duration: 96 min and 22 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

Yes! And that is called as MAGIC!!! I could not believe that I was able to finish the whole 16 Km course in just 96 minutes. On the first hand I was expecting a cancellation of the session due to knee pain. Else I was expecting a half-course schedule. Else I was expecting a very bad running time.

The unexpected had happened. I found it very difficult to run the first 2.4 Km which was non-stop. After that I started to run non-stop every 5 minutes and walk for half a minute. That actually did wonders. Every time I walk for half a minute it gave me immense energy to run in a very decent pace for the next 5 minutes. This way I finished the whole 16 Km course in 96 minutes. Which means it took on an average 6 minutes to cover 1 Km. Normally I take around 7.4 minutes on an average during long runs.

The first half of 8 km was bit tiring but the second half of 8 km was actually easy. I felt as if I wanted run more and more. I am totally impressed with today’s run.

Of course I had the knee pain a bit after the long-run but after taking rest it was back to normal. The key is to take rest which solves the knee pain.

After returning home the first thing which I did was to register for the Kaveri Trail HM. I successfully registered and now I am feeling very much motivated to do my training session better so that I can finish the race in a decent time. Also I read from its website that the Kaveri Trail HM is a very tough course and it is going to be very challenging.

Whatever, I am impressed with the 16 Km run and I am confident I can finish a HM somehow in a decent time. That is what is important to me right now which will motivate me to continue with Full Marathon practice.

I thank God for providing me the strength out of all the odds which I felt the previous night. The “Dream Run” is going to continue with even more josh!

Week 5: Day 6: REST

I woke this morning with negligible pain in my right knee which is a good sign. I felt slight pain sometimes while doing certain activities but when compared to yesterday night today is much better.

I am now very much determined to go for a long run tomorrow for 16 Km. I planned to take a water break only after first 8 km. I am still worried if my knee pain arises tomorrow again during the run.  I planned to take only one water-break so that I am making myself accustomed to tough situations during the race.

I really wish that I finish tomorrow’s run in a decent time and thereby I will go ahead for registering in the Kaveri Trail HM.

Week 5: Day 5

Time: 10:30 pm             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 35 min and 17 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

It was a tough running session. I was able to run non-stop for 2.4 Km. After which my right knee started to pain intensely. Somehow I managed to finish the course in 35 minutes which is not at all anywhere close to my normal finish time.

I am so disappointed. My knee pain has been the cause of misery. I was almost limping after the running session. Now I am so worried if I would be able to do a long run on Sunday for 16 Km. If I have to take a week long rest then it means I might have to forget about Kaveri Trail HM.

After doing warm-down and stretching exercises I felt a bit better. I prayed to God to help me get out of this disappointing situation and somehow give me the magic to continue my training session without any hindrances. Let me see how things go tomorrow during the rest day. If there is a good improvement in my knee then I shall continue further, else I planned to take a complete rest for one week to help my knee to heal quickly and thereby does not cause any serious internal injuries.

Week 5: Day 4

Time: 10:30 pm             

Distance: 8 Km           

Duration: 55 min and 21 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

I could not manage to run in the morning due to a very early business schedule. I was so worried that I missed the session in the morning. I was very determined to somehow finish the session today as I have already postponed a session due to personal reason. I do not want to give yet another reason and skip today’s schedule.

So I ran in the night at 10:30 pm. I feared lot of dust on the roads but luckily it rained a bit in the afternoon which made the dust stuck to the ground. I still had the pain near knee but I was determined to run as I know this pain is going to heal some day but it is just matter of time.

The first 2 Km I was fighting with my brain to help me do a non-stop. I was sweating so profusely. I started imagining of stopping this training program and instead just relax at home as usual. But I know that this thought is coming out due to pressure on the body. My body is not used to so much heavy usage. But I asked my mind to “Shut Up!” and finished my course of 8 km.

The final 4 Km I guess was more convenient than the first 4 Km. I did not have water during the entire course. During the final 2 Km I felt as if my knee pain had vanished and that I have more energy to run. I finished the course in 55 min and 21 seconds. This is an improvement of 2 minutes compared to the 8 km run which I did couple of weeks back.

I am glad that I finished the schedule with determination. Tomorrow too I have no choice but to run in the night. I will take rest on Saturday and run for 16 Km on Sunday. I have no other choice but to tweak the schedule a bit so that I can continue this training no matter what.

I thank God for giving me the power and determination to run today’s schedule and thereby keeping my “Dream Run" alive!

Week 5: Day 3: REST

Well, I am supposed to run 8 Km today but unfortunately yesterday I reached home pretty late due to which I missed to wake up at the right time. I was too tired to go for a run. Hence I decided to postpone the schedule for tomorrow.

In a way it is good that I took rest today as my knee was still paining in the morning. At the end of the day I feel that my knee pain has almost gone now. I hope tomorrow morning I would be able to run in my normal pace. I planned to do Pranayama before going to bed.

I am looking out for a good run tomorrow morning.

Week 5: Day 2

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 34 min and 9 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

I was able to do a non-stop for only 2.4 Km today. I finished the course today at 34 min and 9 sec. I still had the knee pain and hence did not run in my normal pace. I really hope my knee pain heals quickly. I am very much eager to participate in Kaveri Trail HM and I wish this knee pain does not play any spoil-sport.

Week 5: Day 1: REST

It is good to have this rest day to help heal my knee pain. There is lot of improvement in the knee today but still I am not comfortable enough for an easy run. Let me see tomorrow if I can overcome this pain and perform a 4.8 Km run.

Week 4: Day 7

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 14.4 Km           

Duration: 107 min and 26 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

Today’s long run went very well. I did the whole course in a pretty relaxed pace so that I do not hurt my knee more. I did non-stop 3.4 Km two times. Due to my slow pace I finished the first 4.8 Km in 36 minutes which is 4 minutes more than the usual time. I finished the next 4.8 Km in34 minutes. My stamina and strength improved tremendously.

I was very comfortable running non-stop for 3.4. I felt a feeling that my legs wanted to run more and more. I did not expect this non-stop mode with this knee pain.

After finishing the course I felt lot of pain in the knee which got reduced after warm-down and stretching. But the whole day I felt the pain. I know that this will get healed over a period of time but it is slightly irritating to spend the whole day with this slight pain.

I am very glad that I have finished 4 weeks of Marathon training successfully. I will judge myself by the end of next week and if I am lucky enough I shall book a place for the Kaveri Trail HM. I am really pumped up now after seeing my performance today.

Week 4: Day 6: REST

I took rest today to heal the knee pain as I have to go for a long run tomorrow. Hence today’s walking session is replaced by a rest day. There is a slight improvement in my knee pain. I prayed  to God to help me get out of this pain and successfully complete tomorrow long run of 14.4 Km.

Week 4: Day 5

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 4.8 Km           

Duration: 32 min and 22 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

Due to the pain near my knee I could not run with a good pace. I ran bit slowly. There was a slight improvement in my stamina today. I did not get exhausted soon. I ran non-stop for 2.4 Km. I finished the course in pretty much the same time as yesterday. I ran the final 1 Km with a good pace but it was hurting my knee.

I felt bit of difficulty while climbing stairs due to the knee pain. It is not exactly the knee but the bone beneath the knee. After doing warm-down and stretching I felt better. During the afternoon the pain was almost gone. But again right now in the night I am feeling bit of pain. But I am sure this pain will heal itself in couple of days.

I have planned tomorrow for a walking session and I will be doing my long run on Sunday due to the schedule which I missed earlier this week. Also it will be good time for my knee pain to heal and get ready for Sunday’s long run.

Sunday’s run is for 14.4 Km thinking of which I am very much scared. I am not sure how I am going to run keeping in mind the knee pain and the recent decrease in my stamina level. I started eating more and did Pranayama today. I pray to God to help me in finishing the 14.4 Km successfully in a decent time.

Week 4: Day 4

Time: 6 am             

Distance: 6.4 Km           

Duration: 44 min and 53 sec           

Place: Electronics City, Bangalore

Today I had really a tough time finishing the course. My exhaustion level was way too much than usual. I started to think about forgetting about my “Dream Run”. Such was the condition of my body. Somehow I managed to finish the first 4.8 Km in the same 32 min. I finished the course in a decent time though I felt extreme exhaustion. I have no idea why my stamina has decreased.

During the run I felt pain near my knee joint on the right leg. I felt the pain almost the whole day though it is very much tolerable. I am bit worried about completing tomorrow’s 4.8 Km. I prayed to God to help me in completing the training sessions successfully and do a marathon race. My fear is growing day by day but I am very much determined to run a marathon. I will do it no matter what.

Week 4: Day 3: REST

Since I ran in the night yesterday and decided not to run again during night I skipped today’s running session. I will run for 6.4 Km tomorrow instead.