Injury

I was all set for my long run on Sunday 16th June. 15K in 2 hours was my goal and I was super pumped to get into it. The usual build up...woke up by 5:15 AM, reached my start spot at the tree park by 5:50, stretched and took off. I think I took off too fast. Into the 2nd km, I began to feel some pain in my lower hamstring and calf. At first I ignored it. I then slowed down. I stopped. Stretched. Took off again. But the pain became sharper. Then I felt that sinking feeling. I've never experienced a muscle pull of this sort ever. There's a first for everything I suppose. It's the most frustrating feeling. You feel great otherwise. But the moment you jog...jab jab jab. That pain. I quietly walked back to the car...angry at the world.

It's day 1 today after the pull. My training week now lies in tatters. Hoping for a quick recovery. 

10 weeks in

I really must resume the habit of writing down my experiences. It’s been 10 weeks or so into my stint in a structured training program for triathlon. Other than 1.5 years when I was with Beedu training with athletes and badminton players in Kanteerava, I have never worked with such discipline and dedication. 

Today was an example of that and I continue to surprise myself. The workouts now are two a day on 5 days of the week. Today was a swim + run. I was up at 5:15 AM and in the pool by 5:50. I completed my planned workout of 600 metres with a drill thrown in. Got in the car by 7 AM and was at work by 8ish. Today was a day long meeting that ended only by 7:45 pm. I ended up driving back with that gnawing and frustrated feeling of having to miss a workout. I was mentally all set to get home by 8 pm and hit the treadmill. I got home instead at 9:20 but didn’t blink and hit the treadmill by 9:40. Completed my run as planned and completed my post run stretch in surprisingly cool weather by the pool by 11 pm. 

Now I can’t recall when if ever I have approached anything with this level of dedication and drive. None of my marathon trainings ever approached this level of intensity because I always adjusted my workouts to suit my life and didn’t adjust my life to suit my goals. 

Today was an exceptional day. I am slowly regaining the sort of light, clean and airy sensations I experienced in Shanghai when I was running and on the south beach diet. That time saw me lose over 20 Kgs. I am down around 4 Kgs and 2 inches on my waist in 10-11 weeks. There’s still a long way to go and the hard yards are only just beginning. But this feeling is something I want to embrace and never let go of. Today was a great day.