Dec 2009: In the beginning
Ok, so my wife has this crazy idea of going for Beijing Marathon in May 2010. The Pashens (American church friends who just stay behind us) are planning to go as well!
Of course, I have never ever ran longer than 10km at one go (and this was like 20 years ago during my fit army days). I can't even remember when was the last time I ran 1 km; and my only excercise is going to the TV room on 3rd floor of my house - yes, I'm not exactly in the pink of health and fitness.
Anyway, I think it's fantastic - never been to Beijing or the Great Wall of China, plus various doctors have been telling me I need to excercise over the last decade or so. A few friends tell me 5 months is enough to train.
So great! Kill a few birds with one stone, and hopefully not myself along with it.
AND, you have the option of half marathon or 10 km. Hmm... or was there a 1 km option? gotta go check the website again.
4 Jan 2010
Happy New Year!
Came back to HCMC, and decided to start on my training regime - always a perfect time to start a new resolution at the new year.
Woke up at 6am, and planned to run the AnPhu circle (supposed to be 4 miles or 6km according to Mark Pashen). Yes, it was him who told me 5 months is enuf to train. Right.
So I put on me running shoes, and headed out the door.
10min later, I'm starting to pant, and walk till I reached BIS secondary (abt 1 km or less...) and the streets are flooded! Hmm. High tide again. I see this guy running from the opposite direction right through the flooded street, but I didn't feel like splashing thru 10-15cm of water (u know, spoils my.... pedicured toes, which I tried for the 1st time abt 3 months ago).
So.... I turn back - not too reluctantly.
Not too bad, jog 10min, walk 5. Jogged another 3, before walking another 3.
Half hour later, I reach my gate, and ran past it (feeling a little proud of myself). Another 100m, and the thought of no particular destination, body is starting to itch (happens when I start excercising after too long a hiatus), and finally the sweat is starting to make its way out of my pores - I turn back (come to think of it, am not sure whether I would have made all 6 km - but I would have attempted to, if it wasn't flooded!).
SUCCESS! I made it home in 1 piece.
5 Jan 2010
Oh.... body is protesting. Why am I doing this again? Oh, to try to be fit, reduce cholesterol.... try not to die too young. ok.
I think I will try my jog starting every alternate day.
Perhaps I should try and get hold of some guidelines about training schedules, how to prep for a run - rather than just by gut feel (my gut is feeling a little heavy at the moment).
to be continued..... groan.
