The one valuable advice that made me run longer
“I’m slower than internet in the 90s but I run”
Back in 2010, I was trying to figure out a workout form that would work for me. One of the many things I tried was a run. The year of my first 5Km run at the Chennai Wipro Marathon. I signed up for 5K because no shorter distance was available. That’s also the day I heard about the Auroville run and the beauty of the trail and how people run there for “the joy of running”. I couldn’t join the Auroville run though as the minimum distance was 10Km and I was not trained for it. I told myself that I would run a full marathon once in my lifetime.
Over the course of the next few years, I tried different forms of fitness including aerobics, cycling, CrossFit and powerlifting. As my endurance got better, I got reminded of my marathon dream. However, even when my CrossFit workout included a 1km run, I didn’t enjoy it. Days with a run were the ones I found the toughest.
8 years later, I came across someone who loved to run and considered a run to be therapeutic. Just about the time, the registrations for the Auroville run came up. I decided to start with a 10K run and train for it. Do you know the sure shot way of sticking to a training plan? Find a training partner! When one person tends to fall out, the partner would pull them up. We, also, feel a lot more accountable and are more likely to stick to the plan.
Five of us signed up for the run. Four for 10K and one for the half.
We started training and reporting on our status to the group. Being in Chennai, the only time comfortable to run is early morning. Do you know the one main obstacle between me and my morning run? The Snooze Button
Half the battle is won (or, should I say run?) when you wear the shoes and step out of the house. I had a training partner and we used to run together, pushing each other to do a little more than the previous day. During training, I could run 5K in about 40 minutes but never would I say that I enjoyed it. We decided to stick to the plan anyway. While we didn’t train as planned, we were confident of finishing the run, since it was 10K.
On the race day, I started the run with a lot of joy and motivation. The trail was beautiful and it was a unique experience running through the forest. I was happy when I reached the 5km mark: Half way done! At the 7km mark, I felt a small pain near my left knee: a familiar one due to my tight quads. I slowed down a little but as I came to the 8th km, I got bored. It looked like I was running forever and there was no end. The last 2km seemed to last an eternity. I completed the run in 90 minutes.
At the finish line, the ecstatic group decided to upgrade ourselves for the half marathon next year. We have a year to plan and we can easily do it. Or, so we thought!
Let summer go and we’ll start. As part of a trek requirement, I had to be fit enough to run 5km in 35 minutes. That’s my short term goal. I started training for it in July. Come September, I did it! 5K in 35 minutes. But then, came the vacation, trek and the rainy season. By the time we realised it, we were in December when the registration for the run opens up.
No, I’m not ready! There’s no way I can run a half marathon. I’ll register for the 10K. I decided and told one of my fellow 10K runner. That’s when he pulled me up and said “C’mon! It was your idea to go for the half and we have 8 weeks to prep. Let’s go for it!”
We found a 6 week training plan and worked on it. A larger group signed up this time. 6 for half and 4 for 10K. As I trained, I realized I could not run longer than 5km.
That’s when my friend who loved running told me the secret: “Don’t focus on the time. Focus on the gait and the right pace that you are comfortable in.” That’s when I realised the problem I was dealing with. I was always trying to run fast: Finish 5km in 35 minutes and train for it. Finish 10K in 60 minutes. Train for it.
The next day I ran. Without a focus on the time. With the goal of running: As far as I can… as fast as I can. I ran 8km at a stretch: one of my firsts.
Race day came. I ran for the 18km and walked the most part of the last 3 kms with a few short stretches where I ran. I completed my first half marathon in 3 hours and 15 minutes. But most importantly, I ran… to the finish line.
The secret sauce for long distance running is to keep moving at a pace that we are comfortable in. As we run more and more and our endurance improves, timing will get better, distance will grow longer. But, the key is to keep at it.
What’s next? A half marathon in under 3 hours next year and run a full when I turn 42. :-)
