Since I was shifting my long run from Monday to Sunday – it was a short week. Only 3 runs in total.

I was bringing 7 years in Tibet to a close. The interactions between the young Dalai Llama and Heinrich is beautiful. China invades Tibet in 1951 and the book ends on a very sad note – with an appeal for help to keep Tibet free.

This time for the long run I did not go to Aarey colony. Was back in the park behind my apartment complex.

I set 26km as goal and started running. It was drizzling and the rain clouds went away.

Did a 9km non stop run, before getting back to my Apartment Complex security where I had kept 2 water bottles and 2 bananas. After downing a liter and a banana, continued on the 2nd round.

At 18kms, I again got back to my pitstop and downed the 2nd water bottle and another banana. My legs were quite heavy and tired by now. Sat for quite some time, and pulled myself up and started running gingerly

I saw a long brownish black snake swiftly go into a few rocks near the running track -was quite scary – I continued running, and did not dare look back.

Around 10:00 AM, the park security shooed me out. I went back to running in the concrete parking lot – and it broke my running rhythm. Also the Tibetan book ended on a sad note, and I pulled up a podcast which was a bore. Should have prepared something earlier to distract myself.

Beyond 20kms I started feeling pain at 2 places.. somewhere above the left ankle and  behind my right knee – I think this is the lactic acid building up. I walked for sometime so the pain went away, and started running again but the pain kept coming back – after 5 minutes.

At 22.5 kms I stopped. I don’t know if this is where my limit is.

Since I did not run on the slopes I was able to stretch my legs properly and even though the legs hurt – it was not as bad like the last 2 times.

I started researching how else I can improve my running. If today was Marathon day, I still would have 20 kms to run 🙁  There are still 8 more weeks to go. Have to hack my body.

1. I have to start doing Fartleks – run fast and slow alternatively. Every material I read keeps harping on this.

2. I have to start adding more protein to my diet. Did a math – I should take 60gms of protein. Right now I am having an egg a day and some legumes as evening snack. Since I eat red rice for lunch, I am covered on Carbs. But protein I am falling way short. Planning to introduce tofu for a mid-morning snack – don’t like the taste that much but I don’t have a choice now.

The meat eaters in the family are tempting me – just a few bites of chicken and your daily protein requirement is met they tempt me.. grr.. not falling for it.

I am this close to hitting the panic button, will wait for the coming weeks run and attempt the 26kms one more time and then decide to panic or not.

God give me strength.

Torture plan for next week

Monday,Tuesday : Rest

Wednesday : 8kms
Thursday : 11kms – Fartlek

Friday : Rest

Saturday : 8kms
Sunday : 26kms.

The euphoria of running a half marathon died down rather quickly.

I actually cheated last week. My goal was 23kms, but I stopped after crossing the half marathon mark. Not meeting the long run target was a mistake.

The week was uneventful – it did not rain much and I clocked a few runs according to my plan.

Last week my long run was on Sunday. This time I pushed the long run to Monday – being an off-day ( Team ADDA works Tuesday thru Saturday – no Monday morning blues for us ).

I reached my running spot at Aarey colony and found it devoid of runners or walkers.  Today is a working day and all the poor unlucky folks are at their desk I thought.

I got to know the reason why there were no runners at around 8:30AM. The main road connected Western Express Highway (WEH) to Powai and is full of traffic during peak hours and is jammed. The Aarey colony road is the only alternative to the world famous JVLR road. Moment there is a jam, all the cars and bikes take a detour through my running trail – #)$$*$#))# – and they kept coming on and on in an endless procession.

When one of these vehicles whizzed past precariously close to me, or I had to get down from the asphalt to let the cars go – I plotted how I can get back on these guys. I even invented a portable nail device. When my mind oscillated to the angelic self – it thought of posters that can educate these drivers. Yeah right!

This time I decided to conquer the Aarey colony slopes – so I ran up the 2.5km incline – on both loops – one step at a time. First loop I ran the entire distance of 12kms. Second loop I had to take quite a few walking breaks.

When I was 22kms I closed shop. I was done.

I was kind of down after the run. I could not reach my goal of 26kms. My legs hurt like hell. I had only one thought in my mind – how am I supposed to run 20 more kms? I still have only 2 more months to train and looks like I have hit my limit.

Later when I was running through the run ( 🙂 )  in my mind – I realised. Here I am an ordinary runner – who had struggled to finish a half marathon 3 years back – had just completed 2 back to back half marathons. And I had run up the slope and not walked. And this could be the first run in a long time when I ran without songs or audio book – and so I could not disperse the dark moods that kept clouding my mind.

I should be happy with my performance today – of completing 22kms on a hostile environment.

But men are a greedy lot and so am I. Instead of basking in my achievement – I decided to sit depressed. Later I spoke myself out of it and was at peace.

I have to either move my runs back to Sunday – so other runners can join me in pelting a car – or – find an alternate place to run. Have to do it before the next run – and this time I will reach my target of 26kms – no one can stop me.

Runs for Week 6

Plan for next week

Tuesday,Wednesday : Sweet Rest

Thursday : 8kms

Friday : Rest

Saturday : 8Kms

Sunday : 26kms.

Monday, 29th June 

Rest Day. I took my bike and reconnoitred the Aarey colony area where runners go to train. I measured 5kms one way and was quite pleased. I make 4 trips and I can touch 20kms. The landmark there is New Zealand hostel – and there were quite  a few ups and downs. It is going to be hard.

Tuesday,30th June

8KM goal.

I continued with the Tibetan book. They have got asylum, and the book has become boring. It is an observation of life in Tibet.

When I had just crossed 5,  it started raining and I got back home. My mood also was off beat – lot of things going on and couldn’t focus on running.

Wednesday,1st July

8kms.

It was sunny and a nice beautiful day. Had a good run and I did not take any walk break. Towards the middle of the run felt like stopping for a walk break, but kept going. The less I stop the timing is better. I have made a run playlist now of my favourite songs and it helped.

Thursday, Friday 

Rest days – I am following my self made torture plan. I checked the Nike Running coach – it is asking me to run all days of the week. Nuts.

I had got hold of Prefontaine movie – about an American College athlete, a very good (mercurial) runner who breaks lot of records – and who goes to run 3Mile race in Munich Olympics at the young age of 21. There he witnesses the terrorists killing all the Jew athletes right in the Olympic village. He gets disturbed. The games continue, and he is up against a good runner from Finland. He has a chance of winning silver or bronze, but loses.

Then he gets involved in politics with the American Runners Association etc. and organises a meet against their wishes. He successfully pulls it off, but while preparing for the next Olympics in Montreal – unfortunately dies in a car crash.

His coach goes on to co-found Nike.

This movie is apparently a must watch movie for runners. I did not find that inspiring.

Saturday,4th July

8kms goal.

Last Sunday when I ran 19kms, I had not run the 8kms run the day prior. I did not feel quite happy about that. I think these warm up runs before a long run are important. I made sure I will not miss this run.

Tomorrow is a big day ( Sunday, 23kms ).

It was a good run – it was not raining. A strong runner was in the park today and man he runs fast. Typically only walkers are there, and even the few runners are there I over take them. Today I was shown the place in Kandivali Running circuit.

Sunday,5th July

7:30 AM I was at Aarey Colony. There were a few bikes at the beginning of the trail and I parked it there.

I carried 3 water bottles, a 10Rs little hearts biscuit packet, 200Rs cash and my license. The goal today is 23kms.

It was flat for a km and then I hit the slope – all the way to New Zealand Hostel – a gentle but steady 2km incline. I ran the entire stretch.

I was remembering the first and only half marathon I did in December 2011. I had never run in a slope before – the lake I used to run was flat – and on the marathon day it was the first time I encountered a slope – and it messed me up really bad.

I was quite happy when I saw New Zealand Hostel – and did not stop – continued running. After a while I checked the distance – 5.7kms. There was lot of traffic – bikes, cars, lorries – had to be on the lookout all the time – as the roads were quite narrow.

I retraced the way back, and this time I started walking on the upward slopes. Moment I hit a flat land, or a downward slope I will run.

Had covered 12kms. I got back to the bike, sat down and chugged 1Litre water in one go. Managed to take a photo of the bike and my legs while I was resting. No one had touched my bag – Mumbai is a honest city.

I took a half a litre bottle I had brought with me and started my 2nd iteration. This time I walked the entire 2.5km slope. Running with a water bottle in hand is a first, but it was not that bad.

I was in the last 3km stretch – and it was a downhill slope. I gently ran and found a new way to run in the slope – small steps and I could keep the speed in control.

21.3 kms. In 3 Hours and 8 minutes. A Half marathon done.

My legs were very tired by now. Sat down and chugged half a litre. I was quite hungry now and had the Little Hearts. Next time I will bring Parle biscuit. I tried stretching but my legs were hurting. Quickly got on my bike and got back home. All along the leg muscles were feeling very tight. Regretted not having stretched them. I have to do some minimal stretching no matter what.

After reaching home dipped them in warm water and felt better.

My body was tired. Tried sleeping but my mind was very alert. It was weird. I was recollecting my last half marathon – where I finished last and was in pain when I finished it – and had to limp for the next few days. And not to mention the drama I did before the marathon – eating curd rice for lunch and dinner in the name of carb loading. Also I was a meat eater that time.  This time I did not do any fuss and continued the regular vegetarian diet.

Some photos from this beautiful hidden lung space – 200ms from the congested Western Express Highway near Goregaon.

A few places they had laid good roads – also vehicles come very fast in these stretches

This is the treacherous slope – doesn’t look much in photo – bikes,cars switch to 2nd gear..

Here is my plan for the next week.

Monday,Tuesday July 6th,7th – Rest.

Wednesday, July 8th – 8kms
Thursday, July 9th – 11kms

Friday,July 10th – Rest.

Saturday, July 11th – 8kms
Sunday,July 12th – 26kms.