Experiment

Today is the last weekend before SCSM09. Everyone that is doing this or IMWA09 will be tapering and prepare for a showdown come next weekend.

I have learned over the past few months that it doesn't pay to go tapering like the rest. I have no event, i don't need to taper. I should be working consistently towards gaining back my fitness. With this in mind those that are not tapering can follow me to start our LSD at 5am, whereas the rest startat 7am.

It was a rest day for me yesterday. For the first time in years that a public holiday that falls on weekday, there isn't any sort of workout for me! After Thursday extended workout, i just want to be cautious on my approach and decide to cut back just for a day. Although i am not feeling really that bad after Thursday events. :)

I was surprise to see Terence this morning at B1. He is doing 42km and what is he doing 30km with us(me and Aili)? Well, i better leave him to answer the question.

Last week LSD, i have sort of wake up call, when i ran and saw how far i am lagging behind everyone. I have been running with low intensity to be on any decent "pace" all these while. Therefore 2 days back, i ran with a target HR in mind and gain quite a fair bit of pace. I have the intent to do similar strategy to see how much i can do over the course of this run.

We started the run closely together. I try to keep pace at time with them when the gap getting further. Very strangely the HR is reading lower than norm for the effort. 120+ on 7min+ pace. I am puzzled. Has the HRM went bonkers? This is the first time i have experienced such low HR for LSD. It couldn't be!

Still felt good when i reached the U-turn point at fire station(14.5km). It is always the last portion that make or kill the run.

The return path, i manage to go with 140+ effort which is what i expected and willing to stay at this pace as long as body can take it. Reached NSRCC seafood and have a cold can of isotonic drink. Wow, that feels so good.

Fennel felt her shin is hurting and have to resort to walking, whereas Terence like just release out of capture and gallop happily away. I keep to my target HR and proceed carefully.

Saw Joanna, Yeo, WM and Regina around hawker area as i head to seafood toilet still feeling pretty good. Just as i about to reached the toilet, i felt familiar sensation and proceed to take a ban sai break. :) Another can of isotonic drink down and i feel much fresher and proceed to go at a harder effort since the end is about 4km away.

HR start to hover at 150+ and pace start to go up, with one gentleman chasing me from behind after i overtook him around C4 carpark. I stopped at skating ring area and have a chat with David Tay. It is always nice to get into conversation with him.

Have to push on before engine start to get cold. :) Another 2.5km more to go, decide to push up the pace till the end. Was running under 6min/km from there till the end. :)

29km in 3:38hr, which is one of the better run i did in months!

After a while sit down and HR went berserk! Damn! Chit chat with some of the runners from SAFRA and waited for the 7am group to come back before heading for breakfast.

It is something special about today. I haven't have this kind of feeling for a long time. I will need to find out what i did "right" today or did different from others.

Time to experiment. :)