Long Run 8
June was a good month. Rewind back to May 1st when I finished the first 5K training run of this season to today and it's like chalk and cheese. I'm almost 6 kilos lighter. That in itself is astounding. What is more satisfying is that I clocked 3 half-marathon training runs in the month of June. Now that's progress.
Around 10K into into the run, I had my music turned off (I've been doing that off late much to my own surprise - it helps me focus better and concentrate on form) and I could feel my legs and knees bouncing up and down the trail in a nice springy fashion. It felt like how a newly-serviced bike or car feels when all the springs are well-oiled and energy is being returned with every bounce. My body felt hard and yet light. I had to search back in time to remember that feeling because while it wasn't a new sensation, I hadn't experienced it in a while and then it came back to me.
I was 16 and a half years old and was coming off the best cricket season I'd ever had. I was overweight and a tad slow on the field no doubt. I was losing revs on the ball no doubt. My footwork could have improved if I lost weight no doubt. I went into the selection tournament and came up as one of the top wicket takers nonetheless in a tournament spanning more than 7 teams. I didn't even find myself in the state probables list of 35 boys for the U-19 team. I was told it was to teach me a lesson. That I had to see that I couldn't continue as an "unfit" cricketer. All the coaches and selectors I respected and held in admiration had let me down....to teach me a lesson. That's when it was suggested that I join an athletics and badminton training fitness coach. This was 1997. I joined V R Beedu and it changed my life. My cricketing fortunes fluctuated and once AIESEC happened, I altogether gave it up but 1.5 years with Beedu was a transformational experience for me. 5 AM gym times thrice a week and 6 AM cross fitness times 4 times a week left me lean, mean and hard.
The last time I experienced that hard, springy, bouncy sensation last was when I was 17 at what I consider the absolute peak of my fitness. I reclaimed some of that fitness when I ran my 1st Mumbai Marathon in 2008. That was a long time ago as well.
Anyhow, back to the present. I put in a decent run, completing 20K in 2 hrs 36 mins. What was great again was my recovery. Absolutely no aches or pains or calf soreness or tendon inflammation. Zilch. I was feeling solid. I put in a nice, easy 5K on Tuesday. I've reclaimed that state where 5Ks really don't do anything. I just wipe off the sweat and start my day or carry on with whatever else I'd planned. 5Ks are becoming literally a small workout now. I'm glad. I had planned on 25K for the next long run but that's not going to happen: I'm down with a bad cold and cough. Better to rest and tide this over than to push myself and risk something worse. I'll try and make up for it through the week with 2-3 medium length runs of 10 K each. I can't wait to go out there and experience that hard as a coiled spring feeling again.
Around 10K into into the run, I had my music turned off (I've been doing that off late much to my own surprise - it helps me focus better and concentrate on form) and I could feel my legs and knees bouncing up and down the trail in a nice springy fashion. It felt like how a newly-serviced bike or car feels when all the springs are well-oiled and energy is being returned with every bounce. My body felt hard and yet light. I had to search back in time to remember that feeling because while it wasn't a new sensation, I hadn't experienced it in a while and then it came back to me.
I was 16 and a half years old and was coming off the best cricket season I'd ever had. I was overweight and a tad slow on the field no doubt. I was losing revs on the ball no doubt. My footwork could have improved if I lost weight no doubt. I went into the selection tournament and came up as one of the top wicket takers nonetheless in a tournament spanning more than 7 teams. I didn't even find myself in the state probables list of 35 boys for the U-19 team. I was told it was to teach me a lesson. That I had to see that I couldn't continue as an "unfit" cricketer. All the coaches and selectors I respected and held in admiration had let me down....to teach me a lesson. That's when it was suggested that I join an athletics and badminton training fitness coach. This was 1997. I joined V R Beedu and it changed my life. My cricketing fortunes fluctuated and once AIESEC happened, I altogether gave it up but 1.5 years with Beedu was a transformational experience for me. 5 AM gym times thrice a week and 6 AM cross fitness times 4 times a week left me lean, mean and hard.
The last time I experienced that hard, springy, bouncy sensation last was when I was 17 at what I consider the absolute peak of my fitness. I reclaimed some of that fitness when I ran my 1st Mumbai Marathon in 2008. That was a long time ago as well.
Anyhow, back to the present. I put in a decent run, completing 20K in 2 hrs 36 mins. What was great again was my recovery. Absolutely no aches or pains or calf soreness or tendon inflammation. Zilch. I was feeling solid. I put in a nice, easy 5K on Tuesday. I've reclaimed that state where 5Ks really don't do anything. I just wipe off the sweat and start my day or carry on with whatever else I'd planned. 5Ks are becoming literally a small workout now. I'm glad. I had planned on 25K for the next long run but that's not going to happen: I'm down with a bad cold and cough. Better to rest and tide this over than to push myself and risk something worse. I'll try and make up for it through the week with 2-3 medium length runs of 10 K each. I can't wait to go out there and experience that hard as a coiled spring feeling again.
posted by Abs @ 5:34 PM
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