Lasted 20km… October 21, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentAnother ordinary day at school, exhausted just like every other school day…BUT, I haven't been taking so many naps nowadays. So, as I said yesterday, I went for a 20km LSD run which was also my first attempt to run 20km. My impression of it…TIRING!!! I know I'll get used to it after a few times though, just like 10km runs. Although I've only done it 3times…
The run: Lap times 1st 10:36, 2nd 10:57, 3rd 10:41, 4th 10:58, 5th 11:09, 6th 10:54, 7th 11:06, 8th 11:05. Total of 1:27:48. So, I was able to easily achieve my goal of running every lap within 12:30. The pros…I ran!!! and my total time was better than expected, probably because it was more like a night run and the breeze was cool. The cons…I used up too much energy during the first half of the run which made me unable to lift my pace up on the 8th lap. The plan was to run at an even pace…
Tomorrow: I'll have another run, a recovery run, ofcourse. Atleast 5km, at the most…20km!?!? naaa, don't think so. I'll go for a swim after that and here's my prediction. The coach will focus on making us do some medley practices…Just hope my prediction's gonna be wrong…
Finally October 20, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentThe Math test is finally done!!! but I'll still study so I won't have to cut any workouts in the future. Let me see…I have some time to study on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. I'll try studying 1hour on Wed and Thurs, 2hours on Sat and Sun and I'll see how things go.
Workouts…I did a little bit of everything. I ran 5km, 1st 9:31 2nd 10:13, total 19:44.55. I was already exhausted before the run so I'll just say it was an okay run, except for that extra 42sec on the 2nd lap…It wasn't like I was too exhausted or anything, I noticed that I was going overpace during the first half of the lap so I dropped my pace….Then, I noticed that I was going way below my usual pace, I guess it'll take some time to run at a steady pace. I'll work something out before the half marathon.
After the run, I rode my MTB to the pool which just sooo normal. I ride the same course every week so I don't have anything to write about:-(
The swim…I thought I'll be doing flips and stuff like last week, drinking all that water again but I thought wrong. The coach taught us how to "catch" the water, which was really complicated. I know I did everything wrong but hey, everything takes time and effort, right?? Atleast I'll be better than me today a few months later but that doesn't mean I'll just swim without focusing on anything. For me, it's this "technique" thingy that's really making me have a hard time. I wonder how my coach went through this…I guess I'll just struggle as much as I can and wait till the day that I notice that I'm not struggling anymore.
Tomorrow: I think I'll run a longer distance than usual and then study 1hour ofcourse, that's my plan. I'd love to say 20km but the whole thing really depends on how my legs feel so I'll say more than 10km, LSD. I'll try to keep every lap withing 12:30.
Pace maker October 19, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentAnother day at school…I just couldn't wait until all the classes finish. When I got home, I sat down on my bed and fell asleep just like yesterday. No running today…man, what am I doing?? There's only 19days till the half marathon and I'm not running? I gotta get myself moving. Yes, tomorrow is Wednesday, my day off from run workouts but I will run, I don't care if it's only 2.5km, I'll run. I did have a nice swim though.
The swim: I swam a total of 2200m today…I think that's the most I've done in a day, cool!!! 100m*1, 1000m*1, 500m*1, 50m*4, 400m*1. I wasn't going that fast though…Gotta go back to the pool tomorrow to learn some technique again. The weird thing today…A LOT of swimmers were swimming behind me and the guy I swim with. I led the 1000m and "the guy" led the 500m, others just followed. The guy I swim with, called me "a good pace maker" which he called me that last week too. The good news is that most of the people couldn't chase after us the whole time:-) They could've but just didn't.
Plans: I really wanna have some speed training with my run. I just have a feeling that I could go 10km in 34min and I really wanna. I mean my new shoes and the foot drag method really boosted me and I don't feel like stopping. The problem is that there isn't a track field nearby, well there is but it's in the US air base and I don't have ID. This track field that they have on base is such a waste…It's all CLEAN and all but nobody uses it, why not let the civilians use it?? it's right by the fence too…what a waste. I'll see how things go with the second closest track.
Tomorrow: I'll wake up a little earlier than usual again to study. 20km on the MTB to the pool and back. I'll probably have another fun time drowning in the pool tomorrow, I always do on Wednesdays. Hopefully there will be a run before the swim…
What a swim… October 18, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentNo Math test today…What is it with these Math teachers, they keep on postponing the test….I wonder when I can get that feeling of finishing all the tests… Never, I have another test coming up at the end of November. We had our first swim class for PE today. Hey teachers, it's October…and it's coooold. I swam 400m and jumped out of the pool, we had a little test and I swam the whole thing!!! Our teacher says that we're gonna be having swimming lessons until midNovember…Yikes!!! After school, I was thinking of running 15km but when I noticed, I was already asleep and it was time to go to the pool. I've noticed one thing, I swim pretty bad when I take naps, wonder why…Only swam 1150m, medley training? I don't know but sure did a lot of butterflys and also drank some water on the way to the other side…yuck!!! I think my breast stroke is getting better…or is it another delusion? was I sleepy? naaa, think positive, I AM getting faster:-) My MTB ride home is getting easier…I ride up a 3km hill everytime I go to the pool, it's after swimming so a little tough…but easier because I've been riding it sooo many times.
Tomorrow: I'm gonna wake up earlier than usual to study and then have the usual day. I WILL get a run in, atleast 5km, 20km if my legs feel good, and then the usual swim…try to go 2000m again. I dunno, I'm beggining to love this running thing, all because the foot drag method that Libor sent me (Thanks!!) and the new shoes, too;-)
Brand new shoes, brand new PR…Yay!! October 17, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentSo I had my slow morning just like every other weekend and slept in until 10am. I studied a little…maybe about 2 or 3 hours and took a nap. My legs weren't in good condition but they weren't bad either, another normal day. 5pm, I woke up but was still lying down on my little chair for 15 minutes or so, I felt like going for a run so I could have a good night sleep.
The run: I finished tying my shoe laces and right when I took my first step, I woke up!! I knew my shoes were light but was it this light? I guess my old shoes were REALLY heavy. I went outside and started stretching, then I thought, 'I could go for a PR…' The breeze was cool, the sun was still shining but maybe, just maybe I could go for a PR. So the run starts…First lap, I run at an even pace to warm up a little, then brought my pace up after the first 1km and took it easy for the last 500m. Second lap, I held my pace steady throughout the whole lap although it was a little tough keeping it at the long but not so steep uphill that comes at the end of my little course. Third lap, something's different, my legs aren't tired…ahhh, the lightness of these shoes…I think today was my first attempt to bring my pace up during the third lap. Fourth lap, weird…I did bring my pace up on the third lap but my legs aren't tired…MORE!! I brought my pace up again, faster than my third lap, almost got a cramp but somehow managed to run and…FINISH!!! The fourth lap finally got me exhausted and I check my lap times…1st 9:37, 2nd 9:30, 3rd 9:22, 4th 9:09, total 37:39.13. Thanks to Adidas, I've made a PR. Oh yeah, thanks to Nike too, for weight training…hehe, I know they have better shoes;-)
It was an unbelievable run…my first lap was the same time as my fastest lap. 2nd, new LR, 3rd, new LR, 4th, new LR…wow!!! And my last 5km, again a PR…18:31.93. I'm in love with these shoes:-) Now, I gotta go back to Math…hope you have a nice run too!!!
The Store October 16, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentI went to "The Store" today, well it's called Sports Depot. I went in and saw these flashy Adidas shoes, adiZERO MANA, I didn't really care about it at first and just went straight to the bike store to see if they had any of those bottle cages that you put on the back of your saddle, nope they didn't have it…So, I went back to the running section of the store, where they had a LOT of shoes, clothes, etc…Couldn't find any shoes that I wanted so I went back to where they had the Adidas. I was looking at the shoes, checking how "cushiony" it is, that's really important for me. Then this one tall and attractive girl/lady (she looked pretty young) wearing a "Sports Depot" uniform came by and told me to try it on. So, I did as told….I asked her if they had any shoes that's light and "cushiony"…Then a lady comes, bringing another adiZERO shoe, which I liked…We were talking for a few minutes and then another girl/lady wearing the same uniform as the tall lady came by and tried the shoes that I liked…'Don't you work here?' I thought, but kept it in myself, I guess she likes running….Then a little presentation started…at this point, it was pretty obvious that the second lady works for Adidas because she surely had a passionate speech about the shoes they make…It was funny, the other two girls were just staring at her while she was saying her little speech, I'm guessing it was her 50th speech today….The look on their face…hehe. Anyway, I bought an adiZERO CS, a Nike hat and some other stuff.
These are my new shoes!!!
I got home, took a 20min nap and went for a short 5km run to test these shoes. My impression on these shoes…Really light and "cushiony"!!! It made me feel like my other shoes were for weight training or something. 1st 9:46, 2nd 10:32, total 20:18. Pretty good. I'm thinking I could go for a PR when the wind gets calm, there's another typhoon nearby. I need some running shorts…might go there again before the race with my MTB because I found out that it's only 12km away. Can't wait to run tomorrow….
Shopping list…HELP!!! October 15, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentWhat do I need for a half marathon?? hmm…some shoes, shorts, shirt and maybe an extra hat. What underwear do all runners wear? I have no idea…Someone, please help me!!! Do I need any other things? I'm gonna go to "The Store" tomorrow and get everything I need to run a half marathon.
Today's workout: I had a 5km run, 1st 10:24, 2nd 12:08, total 22:33. My legs weren't in good condition but I ran anyway. I noticed this when I was walking home, my left calf hurt a little. If I went for a PR, I was pretty sure that I would've stretched my calf. Why was the second lap slow? I don't know but I could say that it wasn't because I was tired, I felt really slow on the first lap too. I just listened to what my legs had to say. The best part of today's run was that I didn't run out of breath, all in all, it was just an easy run. I also had a swim today which went FINE. Good thing I went to the pool on Wednesday…I really felt some speed today. Today's interval training was a really slow going one, 50m*8 1min50sec cycle. So, I decided to go faster than usual. And my usual, was something like 1min05sec, 2weeks ago. Today, I was able to swim 50m in 50sec, which pretty much left me panting but here's the good news, I swam 50m in 55sec and I wasn't panting!!! It's all because this one little technique that my coach taught me on Wednesday. He said that when I breathe (I breathe on my right) my left arm sinks a little so it might be better if I slide it sideways, which worked well for me. Yes!!! I'm better than me, 2weeks ago. I also had a 10km MTB ride, to the pool and took the long way back.
The test: 3 subjects today too. Home economics, Biology and Classic literature. It was supposed to be 4 subjects with Math included but for some reason, it was postponed…A little disappointed because I couldn't get that feeling when I get when the test finishes. Home economics was HARD!!! Biology went better than I thought and Classic literature was okay. So, I guess I gotta study long hours again for Math…
Test day October 13, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentThe test has come!!! Three subjects today, Modern Literature, Japanese History and English. I spent most of my time studying on Japanese History and was confident in getting a higher score than usual. Right when I saw the test, I was like, 'umm…don't know, don't know…' The test was much harder than expected. There were like 10people in History who had similar names and I ended up getting most of them mixed up. I wasn't as confident on Modern Literature but I think I did pretty well. I remembered most of the kanjis that were written in the texts so, that probably got me about 15% of the questions right. English, as usual, I barely did anything and was surprised by the STUPID meaningless questions that were questioned…Reading the questions just gave me a lot of stress, 'We have 5hours of English class per week for this stuff? Might as well just go home 1hour earlier everyday…and have an extra 10km run workout' And my English teacher is sooo argumentative, he always has to be right, even when he's wrong. Well, if his mistake was a typo or something, he corrects it but other than that, it's hopeless trying to get my opinion (which is obviously CORRECT!!) through his mind. He just says no, as if he wasn't even listening to what I had to say…Sad, but that's him. He always tries to teach the whole class in English but it sounds sooo weird, the words that come out of his mouth are mostly fragments of a mistaken sentence or something…hehe. I'd love to let you hear how he pronounces "city hall" More like, "shi*ty hall" I guess that's hard for Japanese people to pronounce. He gets it right once in a while though…
I need to get back to my desk and study more, I think I'll have a hard workout after the test…No workouts today, gotta get 2days worth of workouts tomorrow:-)
It's been a long time…
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentIt's been a long time since I drank water from my nose…and today, I did…didn't want to but did. The coach told me to do a somersault in the water, which I never do because I don't know how to flip turn but I tried. The first one was okay, I wasn't able to do the somersault but no water went up my nose. The second attempt and on, I kept on getting water up my nose, just a little bit though. I don't think I swam 1000m today, just focused on form. The 20km MTB to the pool and back was sooo tiring, as usual…There isn't much to write about since I'm using most of my time studying, I guess I'll start studying a little bit everyday so that I won't have to cut off any workouts. The test is tomorrow and I have no workouts planned afterwards, more studying…
My startpoint October 12, 2005
Posted by clayton in : workout , add a commentEverything is getting so easy nowadays…and it's all because I started working out for the triathlon coming up around May, 2006. I had a 2000m swim today(50m*18, 100m*1, 1000m*1) and a 6km MTB ride. I was pretty much stressed out because swimming school was off last night…it's an addiction. I started swimming a little before last year's summer break and I'm a different person now:-) For the first 3 weeks, everytime I went to the pool I was like, "….So, I guess I'm gonna have to go drown a few times today…again…" For the next few weeks it was more like, "Okay, I'm gonna go drown a few times today!!!" with some excitement. Right now, it's more about form and how fast/ long I can swim. I never imagined that I'll come to this point when I started….My thoughts were more like, 'swimming is swimming, there isn't any good or bad as long as I know how to swim' And my thoughts now, 'Yes, swimming is swimming but I'm pretty sure that what I've done at first isn't called swimming…more like learning how to not drown? hehe..' My start was a really rough one…I started out putting my face in the water, I was kinda scared of the water but the pool was more like a big bathtub to me. That's probably the only thing that made me comfortable to start swimming. When 2 months passed, I finally was able to control myself for a short time. That same weekend, I woke up, turned on my TV and saw the Olympics…I saw these people swimming in the ocean?? I don't know but when they got out, they started running so I was like, "Whaaaa???" and then I was like, "Ohhhh, triathlon". I knew about the sport a little but had absolutely no interest in it….THEN, a triathlete started coming to the pool and then I thought, 'Maybe…' So I started:-)
I studied most of the day and the swim was much more refreshing than ever. 2days till the test, and it's looking pretty good so far. I'll study even more tomorrow.