"Hey, Road Runner, are you afraid of the woods?"

it's October, it's Autumn....when the leaves Fall, the temparture drops, and time to slow down and enjoy successes of the gardening year , as well as calling a conclusion to the 'running season' for 2013??

Well...with no registered races in the pipeline - here's a long overdue update of another year of Farnham Pilgrim Half Marathon - and the 2nd medal in a week in the distant past of September.



The fun of the trails, and being in nature, faster than a hike, and those cakes! The lovely calendar sitting on my wall in 2013 - showing every month, the lovely scenery of the north downs way...where the pilgrims have been...and this is my 2nd time, so it's starting to feel like Wokingham Half, where the familiarity takes over, but this one never, is an attempt to slash one's 13.1 mile PB. My only target, with a truthful non-existent training (apart from the EMC run on the Wednesday before - still glowing in that '3rd fastest woman in the firm' glory :))- was to beat last year's time.

and I did. by around 2 minutes!

The half marathon itself felt easier than I remembered, the queues to pass the stiles (one here to illustrate) was shorter



the cakes smaller - to motivate myself to the finish I had imagined piles of really really big cakes - but the ones at the finishing line was marvellous as usual..
 

yes- I have learnt not to take big chunks of mars bars from grubby hands in front of the pub (after the 3 mile climb). I headed for a small piece at the 'authorised' nutrition station and ensure they melted on my molars for that slow release of sugar....

 the views were rewarding, and this year with all the hill runs (wimbledon, chobham, richmond and around my neighbourhood) some parts of this were not new to me at all....its watching where my feet were going and not slip...and enjoy the scenery - a faster way than a long hike through the English countryside! and there were a few pilgrims that we spotted - 'There's no discouragement.....I'll labour night and day, to be a Pilgrim'...I sang :)



This year - we have new mugs to bring home, and a 'scary' black t-shirt with the words -
"Hey Road Runner, are you afraid of the woods"?

 

after my 2nd Farnham Pilgrim - I'd say, NOPE :)
 
 now onto my other pursuits...while i work on the next opportunity to hit the road/trails again...

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The micro-marathon experience - and one of the top 5!

As a pledge to help the million makers team in EMC raise funds for the Prince's Trust, I signed up to this fun run at Gunnersbury park, just behind the office.
Having felt like I've done ultras this year at work - I didn't do much publicity for the fundraising , and it was a big drop in distance from last year's for the same charity. The organizers were great in helping out with the info to send out, and Thanks to some of my new and regular supporters (I will need to Thank you all personally too!) I exceeded my target easily.
The run itself - 3 time slots on a Wednesday from lunchtime. I picked the one at 6pm and was only making it in time if it weren't for a visiting colleague waiting downstairs!
It turns out to be 8 of us at the start, drizzling and wet, the starter horn went off pretty quickly after we assembled.
No trampling over each other , 3 of them went ahead in the distance , with me keeping my own company, and a few behind.
I'm familiar with the park but not the course charted as it meanders through buildings and focuses on the less open parts if the park where I tend to get lost. The cones marking the route had been slightly moved around by youths earlier, so it almost felt like an adventure race!
A mile in, I ran into some steps, and was promptly overtaken. In the near distance behind there were a few more running together. When it is such a small race one becomes conscious of where one lands - although this is just a much needed training run for Farnham Pilgrim tomorrow.
The rain continued, and I just love the organizers - cheered on at the one lap mark. Not long after that I passed the one who overtook me, who started walking. It is very easy to be distracted, but I pressed on - turning on my internal soundtrack , to the tune of 'in the mood', after a few encounters of such types recently ;) the riffs kept me focused - and the final downhill, past the pond, hearing the horn go off in the distance..

Job done. My watch said 37 minutes with 2secs to spare...I can't believe it! Then my runkeeper confirmed my doubts - it could've been a 3.7 mile instead of a 4 mile - but not UKA certified course, so ok!
But which run would there be when one runs through a finishing ribbon, has a full goody bag , and medal And a printed certificate all at the same time! I can only feel so loved.

We all stayed and cheered for the final finisher at 51 mins , and went home.
The day after, the times for the 3 slots of the fun run was published and I was the 3rd fastest female !
Never imagined a placing in any race at all...it is surely a record for record's sake!
It was fun all right, although I wasn't able to line up future running partners on the spot like some others that day, it was good to be out there again in the presence of active people outside the confines of the desk and laptop and the four walls.
Not too late to sponsor! Please click this link :)
http://www.justgiving.com/Bonnie-Wong1
Now less than 24 hours to go before the next race. A hilly and hopefully not too wet one! I look forward to the finishing table of good cakes :)
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Double digit growth!

It's been a while and not having done too much as have been pedaling hard in the office and out.
Sleep deprived, last thing I would want is dash out for a run, or cycle. 😔
When I had imagined going for early morning runs over the bank holiday long weekend trip in Sicily - the place was lots hillier than I thought, and it didn't happen - only a short dash in Marsala's city walls and seafront.
In the last few days I went into amendment mode...
A cycle to and from my car service garage. > 10 miles.
Richmond Parkrun (no barcode and a screenshot on iPhone doesn't work!) and then...around the outer loop. Just over 10 miles ...a small loop and a bigger loop, treading over familiar ground and not quite. It's noticeably cooler now, and our friends here are growing up, and unfortunately ready for the cull ...

I didn't have great amount of sleep and was totally able to 'run on fatigue' as a runner's world article states, being a time saver's way to train for a marathon.
The fooling technique worked... Save energy.. There are more hills coming...I kept on telling myself. Before long I had already arrived Faster than I thought.
But not advisable as it drained a lot out of me and I didn't realize at the time. From almost 0 miles to double digit mileage in a fortnight. Feels like I'm back to square one.
Another afternoon of working on my now exponential growth veggie batch (in 3 months) from this
to this..
- a constant reminder: constant investment reaps exponential rewards.

An increase in mileage in a week like this, only tires you out, burns you out. Am not young anymore.
A lack of consistent training has taken its toll - I am down with the cold.

And it's September. In a week's time, I have to use my legs again in that way...

Hmm, time flies. Not enough of it and summer is slipping away...

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Wimbledon Common Half Marathon

My 3rd Half Marathon this year, and my 3rd race in July.

Done. and potentially hanging my trainers up for the summer(?)
The level of training wasn't there for any breakthroughs so the result was expected.
Having done the 10k a bit more than a month ago in warm temperatures - i had a reasonable expectation of what wascoming. today, the trail was adorned with puddles from last night's much needed torrential rain so one had to dodge from time to time to avoid getting muddy shoes.
The course was made up of 2 laps, with the first 2 miles uphill and then the mile 6 and 11 being down. I did capitalise on the 6thmile doing an amazing 8:56 min/mile but tired me out for lap 2.
It was a typical trail - not closed off which means the occasional walker or dog or traffic could be in the way, but otherwise well marshaled.
Drink stations were available every 5 kilometres but I would say am glad I hedged my bets by bringing my own little bottle of lucozade - when water ran out at drink station #3,I could carry on my own...and on drink station #1..I lost a little time by waiting a little for the cups to be filled.
Is it a race where one can find runners with similar pace to pace yourself? In my13.1 today I kept on seeing, overtaking and be overtaken by an old man, and a woman with a pram. Eventually old man finished ahead of me with pram lady behind me (she slowed after the 2nd uphill lap).
My legs were feeling it - conscious of my painfully tight right heel and the 2 blisters on the inside of my left, waiting to burst. The playlist of my mind wasn't on a full stream of motivational tunes - mainly devoting focus on how not to twist an ankle and on how to forefoot strike, and be efficient.
I now know the consequences of stopping, of starting too fast. The pace still needs to be worked at on consistency, but the last few months have simply been testing on my body, and not having enough sleep, and recovering from a week on antibiotics can all be blamed.
The massage along the way to prevent a stitch (lesson from last Sunday's 10 miler) and the remedies...slowing down, breathing like blowing candles...
Am I on the verge of the group of people that should've given up doing this on a Sunday morning?
Runthrough operating these races as a business ? Did they calculate the demand for cups of water at drinks stations - so that the slower ones would miss out (when they need it most)? In contrast to the 10k, lucky that I arrived to the finish with another medal and tshirt to add to my collection.
Is a 2:08.44 (unconfirmed time) something to beat myself up about?
Every race is different. Compared to Shakespeare (my last one, in feb) 2:10.xx and Milton Keynes last year (July, trail), 2:09.xx - this isn't all that bad.
At least my hubby was there, to start, and to wait for me at the finish (another 16 minutes!) - saving me a finisher's orange that I would not have arrived to receive.
Next - time to hunt down a good Physio to get my poor ankle on the mend!
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Race for Life 10k + 3 royal parks run

My 2nd July race this week was another one in the intense heat.

An excuse really to bond with my girlfriends , I signed up for race for life 10k in Hyde park, donning a pink tutu.

Every reason to blame for that poor performance of 58:08 - on run keeper, unchipped.

Now I've always been skeptical about charity races, and having previously stepped into the foyer of Cancer Research's offices in islington , I'm not sure how much of it goes into the impact of research to 'get' cancer.

Intense marketing, free apples and brioches just like the VLM, minus a bag drop (insurance premiums?) - I traveled minimal. BUT with an excess of water bottles as the course map didn't make any mention of drink stations.



Now this is a race that makes you think. runners are encouraged to put on a back bib for the reason they were there today. I certainly knew why one of my friends here do this race year after year. it's touching to see those who posted pictures behind their back of loved ones they have lost.

My bib was for the fighters - those close to me who have fought and conquered, and those who are fighting.

For the 58 minutes that I took on this gloriously hot Sunday morning to do the 2 loops around London's green lungs - it was a struggle. Hot weather - do you stop and walk? (I did, briefly) what if you didn't press on to finish the race - or it being life's last moments before collapse?

What are your priorities? Do you wish you had spent more time elsewhere or with the people that you love, than toiling away and losing your days, nights and precious training time to make this and other journeys easier?


Life is short. Health is precious. To jeopardize maintaining fitness as what I've done in recent weeks has a price to pay. (I developed an allergy after several insect bites in this park that afternoon which lead to a week on antibiotics to cure a swollen itchy foot and leg).

One must fight. And make time to set things right.




Post Hyde park 10k - I had to loiter around London to wait for my city dwelling friends to freshen up- and I took to the Mall and Piccadilly , still freshly closed to traffic after the British 10k (another marketing super machine - the medal has quadrupled its size 5 years since I ran it! Makes some marathon medals look small for the effort taken) - and did some good laps - and ticked 3 royal parks in a day.

Few more days til the next race, and I have no aspirations as my training has been binned due to my long hours at a desk.

Currently doing some damage fatigue management by maintaining some light exercises- 5ks jog/cycles every day.
Let's hope the weather stays cool for Sunday so I can have a good stab at this half marathon!

[soundtrack]
After all that you put me through,
You think I'd despise you,
But in the end I wanna thank you,
'Cause you've made me that much stronger

Well I thought I knew you, thinkin' that you were true
Guess I, I couldn't trust called your bluff time is up
'Cause I've had enough
You were there by my side, always down for the ride
But your joy ride just came down in flames 'cause your greed sold me out in shame

After all of the stealing and cheating you probably think that I hold resentment for you
But uh uh, oh no, you're wrong
'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do, I wouldn't know
Just how capable I am to pull through
So I wanna say thank you
'Cause it


Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter


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JPM Corporate Challenge 2013 - a sunny and breezy one

I don't like to sign up for races I don't make to the starting line, and that almost happened today.

Ever being positive enough to leave at 5 to catch the 5:11 train, it didn't happened as planned (as expected ). Despite having ran to the train station and seeing the train pull in the platform..one thinks, there's another 1 in 20 mins time.

But the train was cancelled! Which means I had to take the 6:11 train, which was 8 mins late. With a 20min train journey and more than 10 minutes to the start....and pin the bib, and the chip...a slim chance I will make the starting gun of 6:45

I almost contemplated throwing in the towel and heading back to work (!) or home, but thought the better of the £10 entry fee and the future of the institute (should a merger go ahead with the kiwi's, this could be the last one we see of the logo?)
I waited patiently, and lean into the crowdedness of the now 6:18 train reading the book of the same title :) to queenstown road.

Calm at the station, I met another fellow working for Sky rushing to get to his blue bib start. I paced jogged with him for a bit until he took off after learning my target time was 33 mins! I was forced to do a warm up jog to the start as the closer exits were blocked with runners at the start. The gun had just gone off and surprisingly there were some corporate tshirt wearers strolling into battersea park, oblivious of the start time of the race. I had to dismiss them as 'walkers or cheerleaders' and made my way to my group - lucky the bib was the chip so off I went..to the green start that never was...and got to the start after a short wait.

Being the back of the pack was peaceful, less aggressive corporates trying to elbow you or stop and start walking. It was one of the nicest runs, sunny with a breeze. I relaxed and got into the rhythm of this course I know so well, seeing the Thames shimmering its reflections..how I miss the river!

Tried hard to maintain steady pace and gait, and not stop, even at drinks station. I was almost in the zone, thanks to the warm up jog earlier. Legs felt good, lots more lift compared to the last weekend

Given all factors I was thinking I be comfortable rather than going for It towards
the finish.

My watch said 31:4x , not too bad, given fatigue and lateness.



Another t shirt collected and lovely hospitality with the Aussie CA and the regulars. It was easier downing a bottle of water than a beer!

I have 2 texts from the organisers (after a faulty qr scan of the code on the bib!)
One said I finished 31:38 the other 47:12. Pace 13:30 (what rubbish)
Runkeeper says it was 9:17 min mile for 3.4 miles
Who to trust? Only my legs.

At least it's not a personal worst on the chip time! My expected on missing the train was 1:00:xx. Phew!

See you next year! As they all say...how will the game change? Who's got the snazziest t shirt, biggest and well equipped marquees.

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The same 10 miles, only 10 minutes faster.

Monday is a rest day. take it easy.
But last week was a 10 miler week!
Exactly that. Very low mileage.
If I didn't make myself ride in on Thursday 40 mins on the bike return, that's all I got up to.
What? No quick break...15 minute power jog? What happened?
.........I'm a dull girl.
Having said that and to through the week and into a sunny weekend, involving a full Saturday of walking from bond street to Camden town via primrose hill...




, yesterday's run was great along the canals. Very slow start...consistent 10:13 splits for 2nd and 3rd mile...then the typical slow down and the turn around point...popping a gel...




until the 2nd half ..I picked up speed...mile 9 at 9:56...with a shock almost trip over....lucky a few quick steps stopped me from going anywhere..
Average 10:39. Last week's attempt with a bit of exploration , was 11:16 min mile over the same distance. I wouldn't risk any longer.
A hot day...it didn't feel easy. My legs are still aching today even when climbing stairs. And always...even with generous Vaseline application..my blister returned :(

Well this week will be different. 2 races in the space of few days..that's my training done. and nights prepping and being in a gig! Many opportunities to be out of breath..

Better get some sleep.
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