April will fly past, as all exciting busy months with important events do. This is a month of collecting results from hard work and celebrating (or having fun) for me.
In summary, April updates:
Complete your first 10km race - ✅
Wrap up your volume training program - ✅
Test your max in preparation for a hybrid strength training program - TO DO
Get Dexa scans done - TO DO
Hike the Rees-Dart track in New Zealand - TO DO
On Sunday, I completed my first running race and wrapped up my volume training program. Run2Cure Neuroblastoma 10km. It was for a good cause and gave me experience participating in a race with hundreds of people. Having completed Run2Cure, I now understand why people join races; this was very fun to complete.
Morning of the Race
I am the most annoying amateur runner type ever — the “obsessed over the details” girl — the one who ties her “success” over the minor details/habits (that are not necessarily grounded in logic) and has a strict routine that must be repeated every Sunday.
I woke up at 6.30 am and packed my running vest (water bottle mixed with Powerade, guava dulce de leche paste and a napkin).
I once tried GU’s vanilla energy gel by accident during a hiking trip and felt disgusted by the taste for the following hour (almost traumatised). Ever since that day, I had no desire to give it a second chance. But if anyone knows a gel that tastes ok (I’m a sweet tooth), then please let me know. I may want to give it another chance in May/June when I push for further distances.
I prepped a sweet pre-run snack (Medjool date stuffed with creatine, almond butter and cacao powder).
Got a skim piccolo on the way to the run.
It was so chilly in the morning. I was a bit nervous; despite running 10km five times before, I was still not feeling confident. When we arrived at the Domain though, the vibes made me so happy and excited. There were lolly stands, music, and some family fun activities. Sydney City was invaded by a crowd of runners on the most quiet day of the week.
We joined the B wave. There was so much energy everywhere, so many colours and distractions, that time just passed so quickly on the first lap. I also enjoyed seeing the botanical gardens, the harbour, the Finger Wharf with all the boats and yachts, the birds and the flowers. I did not realise how fast I was going (literally running at David’s pace the whole time).
The realisation kicked in hard on the 2nd lap. That’s also when I knew it was time for my sugary snack. Between 7-10km, I was consistently slowing down, letting others push past me. It didn’t help the fact that I mysteriously began feeling sick with a tummy ache. Volunteers on water stations were yelling out, “you’re amazing!” I thought that I was amazingly suffering.
About 9km in, seeing a young boy (about 6-7 years old) run alongside cheered me up. His dad had a resigned face and the boy was having the best time ever — classic. He was running up on the grass, running back down, picking up sticks from the garden to fight off any monsters in case they pop up — that little man was sure he was winning the race.
My excitement kicked in the last 100 metres and miraculously I could run fast again. Running is a mental game. 1 hour 3 mins. Pretty good considering my regular Sunday runs are 1 hour 6 mins. They handed us a medal to wear around your necks. That made me so happy. I was glad, proud, overheated, dehydrated, glowing from salty sweat and sick in the tummy. That may actually be running in a nutshell.
We headed home for showers and drove straight to a nearby brunch place as we were starving. The following few hours was spent lazing on the bed.
Honestly, given our hiking trip to New Zealand, we only have 1 month of training to prep for the 1st of June half marathon race. That’s double the distance we raced today! So…not feeling confident about that race. I may have to see how the training in May goes.
How did I get started in running?
It wasn’t to lose weight. It wasn’t to be able to eat more (although, that’s a very satisfactory outcome of running). It wasn’t because I thought completing a marathon was cool. It wasn’t because I came from an active background, playing team sports as a teen. My upbringing was in fact very sedentary.
Mid-2023, I began forcing myself to run, thinking about hiking through the Western Arthurs Traverse. That was my main motivation. I hated it but had to build up cardiovascular endurance to be able to complete the magnificent and challenging routes around the world. My first run was 1 lap around the block which is about 1.3km. I consistently ran that 3x a week. Then 1 lap became 2, 3, 4, and so on.
The big question: does running help with going through Grade 5 hikes?
Yes. Trail running, running on routes that go up and down, or running on sand are better than running on clean flat surfaces.
Running builds cardiovascular endurance.
Running over time pressures feet, ankles, knees, calves — lower body — makes you more durable, strong and resilient.
Running barefoot (and on grass/sand/soil) strengthens the tiny muscles on your feet and the connective parts (i.e. your toes, ankles) — great for injury prevention.
Somehow, over time and consistency, I began to love running. The way it makes me feel is almost addicting — strong, healthy, confident, happy, and more energetic — so much so that I often wished my body could handle more volume so I could run more every week.
While running, I get to zoom out of everything that clutters my brain and zoom right into the present moment. It’s something that I used to rarely experience (prior to running) due to having a busy life, ADHD, and general day-to-day stresses.
Throughout this 20 month journey, I’ve been on 4 trips (approx 2 weeks each time), got a knee injury (which took 3 months to properly heal), 2 mild shoulder injuries (which took 1-2 weeks off my running schedule), and a minor foot injury (which took 1 week off my running schedule). That's a lot of distractions for a runner's routine.
By the end of 2024, I was running 4x a week (approx. 25km in total). This year, I decided that my body could not handle running 4x, especially with the volume training program that kicked-off in January (2 leg days in the gym).
I am also not running to enjoy tough hikes anymore but with the goal of completing a half-marathon. Then maybe I will attempt running the Coastal Track (Royal National Park) — yes, that hike we paced through in 2-days and came out injured. But it was that runner guy we saw on the trail who inspired me back in 2023.
Currently, I am running 3x a week. Here is my schedule and aims for August.
Monday late afternoon: 3.5km beach run (soft sand and wind — exhausting), then a quick dip in the ocean. This was a recommendation of a physiotherapist I’ve seen after my right foot injury early this year.
Aim to run 5km on the beach.
Thursday morning: 6km (focused on pace, laps around the block), then dip in the pool.
Aim to alternate this session with sprint training.
Aim to run 5 min a km (fastest I’ve ever been was 5.9 min a km).
Sunday morning: 10km (distance run, enjoying myself as I explore parks and rivers).
Aim to run 20km without exhaustion (the feeling of dying when I cannot do anything else for the following 6 hours but lay down).
Not sure how realistic these aims are, but I’ll give it a go and see.
Lastly, for those on a similar journey, my best running purchases have been…
Running vest; keeps my treats, water bottle, phone, keys and napkin — something cheap from Amazon will do the job.
Running shoes; stopped my right foot from hurting after long runs — a difference-maker.
Washable napkins; to blow your nose, wipe the sweat, clean your glasses — it always serves some purpose.
Creatine & Powerade powders; I was already taking them for the gym sessions but recently realised how much they help with long-distance runs (especially in the mornings when I wake up hungry).
Looking forward to the Dexa scans and drafting my next training program. Will keep you all updated.
Questions: as always, if you have any questions, drop a comment (or send a message) and I’ll reply.
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