Tapering

There are a lot of books and website speaking about tapering. As we choose the "right" tapering base on someone else experience or even by our gut feel, we have our own tapering ritual.

For me, i am still trying to feel what is the suitable for myself. Of course, unless we fall, then we learn. How do you get to know what is "ideal" for onself? By following the "expert" advise from books and website, we can only "minimise" the pitt fall. As the advise are mostly generalise and maybe not be most beneficial to onself, although it should not "burnt" you in the event.

Monday, we have another session of training at NIE. Xavier can't make it, so we do our normal 10km run. It was a bit fast as everyone just run their own comfortable pace, not worry about leaving other behind. A few new faces today. Most notable is Jonathon....FAT(Fast and Tall)

Tuesday, CBD run have a good turnout, total around 15 users. We have a few rare guests. Eg Alvo and Gentle. New runners like realrunner and nemo

Wednesday, another session of training at NIE. We tried a different route inside Botanic Garden. A bit dark and pretty fast. We break contact with a few runners as we twist and turned inside Botanic Garden. After the run we proceed to do some stairs at Farrer Road, quite a few users excused themselves on the climb. I proceed with the rest for the climb. I did 6 sets today as my knee abit aching and i dont want to stress it too much as marathon is looming increasing close.

Thursday, we for a swim at Clementi with Poh and Simon Er. We did our own swim first, before we meet up and have a good chat by the side of the pool. After 3 days of run, it is time for some rest of the legs.

Friday, a long wait for the rest(colleague) for a run. In fact only Poh, Anthony Loy and myself did the run. The rest just couldnt make it with one reason or another. We run at Ulu Pandan canel. We meet runalone and freddy there on their own training. I feel a bit of strain, and hopefully it is not much of an issue.

Saturday, last LSD before KL. I head towards East Coast. This time i parked at the carpark nearest to Ford Road, since it offer free bathing, whereas Macdonald area have to pay 50cents for it. Not much different anyway, since 21km is 21km, no matter where you start, you still gonna finished the same distance. I start off slightly after 7am. By then quite a few MR25 runners and super fast runner have just completed the run. The faces look familiar, in fact i saw Vivien Tang, sprinting back. Though a shortie, can see her opening up and chionging back.

I finished the small loop at Ford Road first then proceed towards Safra country club. The weather was good, but somehow today the engine doesnt wanna to kick start. Anyway, today just want to do a relax run, just endure abit and the engine should kick in sooner or later. MP3 songs seems to be not having much effect today, i think i am abit jaded. By halfway through, i feel i having blister on my left toe. I stop, put on plaster and continue again. This is the first time or rather i couldnt recall when i did that before I slowly push through the U-turn at Safra country club. I am taking more walk breaks now, as i know this is going to be a mental run. I was running along with 1 runner around midway back to the start point. He continue his steady pace, whereas i run and walk to keep pace with him. It is easy when you have target and focus.

When i reach Macdonald, i saw Sukami chatting with someone there. I called up and acknowledge each other. I didnt stop, i still have some distance to go and i dont want to lose sight of that runner. Soon, i was overtaken by a lady runner, i believe she is a Tri by looking at her body frame and apparels. I focus on distance landmark to give myself a target to run and rest/walk afterwards. As i reach my last stretch, i opened up and push forward. In fact, for some reasons, the runner and female runner push up the tempo as well, it is after the run that i realised conincidently our ending points are the same. Somehow i managed to out run both of them from behind before reaching the end. Okay, i still have quite a few reserve juices in the tank, but today i just want to finish.

It wasnt the ideal last LSD, i rather it happen now rather than on the day actual. Finished 2:27hr for 21km...very slow... Glad that it was over.

I rested and went for a wash up. Met up this runner(from Red Hawk) that also went for WHR 2005. He is going to KL Marathon as well, his group have 30+ runners. We exchange some discussions, bathed and parted thereafter.

Training Log

Monday: Gym(Cross), Gym(Weights), Run(10km)
Tue: Gym(Cycle), Gym(Weights), Run(6km)
Wed: Gym(Weights), Run(9.5km+1km+120floors+1km)
Thur: Gym(cycle), Gym(Weights), Swim
Fri: Gym(vertial climber/cycle), Gym(Weights), Run(5km)
Sat: Run(21km)
Sun: Rest

Total: 53.5km