Because I fell sick I've had to run 36 kilometers the last five days. All the runs have been great, and my legs, although a bit heavy now and then, are fine.
It is really hot and humid these days. Last Tuesday, on my first 11 kilometer run of the year, it was unusually hot and sticky and I was swearing and cursing half ways in. Covered in sweat I so badly wanted to rip of my t-shirt and run bare chested, but I know that around here that would offend the majority of people. Gotta respect that. After all, Cultural Studies is one of the subjects I am currently studying. When in Rome and all that... So I left it on, suffered and felt a tiny bit sorry for myself. That soon stopped however, when a fellow runner wearing a rain jacket, rain trousers and a woollen hat caught up with me and joined me for a kilometer or so. I have seen him before; we always greet each other - and because of his outfit I was pretty sure he was a boxer. This time he ran alongside me so we talked a bit. With a big smile he confirmed that he is a boxer. We chatted a bit about boxing and he was smiling throughout. Then we went each our separate ways. I promised myself that from now on, whenever I start feeling sorry for myself, I'll think of what it must feel like running in the tropics dressed up like that.
We're moving on Wednesday and that means a very sad goodbye to the hills and the people here in Ntinda. It is sad because I will miss every single suicidal boda boda driver, snotty kid, fellow runner, giant pot hole, awe inspiring boxer, smiley newspaper vendor, smelly goat, rabid dog and breathtaking sunset I have come across while running in the hills over the last couple of years. I guess that, as much as I have become part of street life around here, the street life has become a part of me too. It has been such a great way for me to experience and interact with the locals. If Bugolobi is just half as enjoyable, then I won't complain.
Marathon Madsen
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Sick!
My training week started with a great 8km run on Tuesday. Lesson learned, I took it very easy the first kilometers and only increased the pace once I had climbed the big hill half ways. 41 minutes and 28 seconds is still not anywhere near as fast as I want to be, but at least I completed without going through hell.
I then ran 5 kilometers on Wednesday morning and 6 kilometers Friday afternoon. Both runs went well and Friday I actually finished in 29 minutes and 59 seconds. This is equivalent to a pace of 12 kilometers per hour and that's the pace I hope I'll be able to muster when I run the Copenhagen Marathon in May. I might be aiming a bit high, but I am convinced that it is within my reach.
Sunday morning I had planned to run 11 kilometers. It never happened. The entire family was hit by some weird African virus late Saturday night and everyone from Oskar to me have had diarrhea mixed with waves of nausea, aching joints and extreme tiredness. At a point on Sunday, during a break from the toilet bowl, I briefly considered going for the run in the early evening regardless of how sick I felt. Just to prove to myself that I'm tough enough. A few moments later Oskar was screaming his head off. He had once again filled a nappy and this time it had leaked and soaked his trousers, socks and, somehow, also his t-shirt, with kaka. After cleaning him up it occurred to me that if I decided to run I would quite likely shit myself too. Plan abandoned.
Hopefully I'll be able to run Monday or Tuesday.
I then ran 5 kilometers on Wednesday morning and 6 kilometers Friday afternoon. Both runs went well and Friday I actually finished in 29 minutes and 59 seconds. This is equivalent to a pace of 12 kilometers per hour and that's the pace I hope I'll be able to muster when I run the Copenhagen Marathon in May. I might be aiming a bit high, but I am convinced that it is within my reach.
Sunday morning I had planned to run 11 kilometers. It never happened. The entire family was hit by some weird African virus late Saturday night and everyone from Oskar to me have had diarrhea mixed with waves of nausea, aching joints and extreme tiredness. At a point on Sunday, during a break from the toilet bowl, I briefly considered going for the run in the early evening regardless of how sick I felt. Just to prove to myself that I'm tough enough. A few moments later Oskar was screaming his head off. He had once again filled a nappy and this time it had leaked and soaked his trousers, socks and, somehow, also his t-shirt, with kaka. After cleaning him up it occurred to me that if I decided to run I would quite likely shit myself too. Plan abandoned.
Hopefully I'll be able to run Monday or Tuesday.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Take it easy!
"I'll be back in 41 minutes", I told the security guard as I left, confident that I'd effortlessly improve my time on this 8km run by at least a minute compared to the run last Tuesday.
I started out at a relatively high speed. 500 meters later my lungs were starting to hurt, but as I had my mind set on the 41 minute mark, I kept pushing the pace up. 2 kilometers in, my legs were heavy, the breathing uneasy and everything felt wrong. I was tired and I suddenly realized that today was only going to be about completing. There was no way in hell I was going to improve the time.
After about 4 kilometers there was a really steep hill with 600 meters of tarmac from the bottom to the top. I've been up and down it numerous times the last couple of years and today was one of the hardest. When I arrived at the bottom of it I still struggled with the breathing and the legs felt like they were made of concrete. I kept running though; concentrated on just keeping a steady and even pace, however slow and embarrassing it felt. 400 hundred meters up the hill a merciless side stitch added to the fun. I slowed down even further, trying to ignore the pain and kept running, refusing to walk.
I arrived at the top of the hill hunched over in pain from the side stitch and gasping for air. A bunch of kids called out "Mzee! Mzee!". Mzee means 'old man'. Marathon Madsen must have been a sorry sight.
A kilometer later the side stitch was gone and I started to feel more comfortable. After yet another kilometer I felt good and when I passed by the same kids I had enough energy to mumble 'little fuckers'. Towards the end I felt great and my running was smooth, breathing was easy, the pace was good and the legs were light.
I finished in 43 minutes and 6 seconds, which is a disgraceful time. I was furious with myself for not having taken it easy the first couple of kilometers. I know better. The first 3 kilometers are for warming up only and that has to be done at a relatively slow pace. Start too fast like I did and pain and suffering is guaranteed. The body simply needs a slow start, that way it performs much better.
Lesson learned: Take it easy in the beginning of a run!
Marathon Madsen
Monday, February 1, 2010
My marathon blog
Welcome to my blog!
For some time I have been thinking about running the Comrades Marathon. It takes place in South Africa every year in May and it is the most famous of the ultra marathons. The distance varies slightly from year to year, but is usually between 89 and 92 kilometers. I intend to run it in May 2011 which gives me 17 months to get ready! My hope is that I will be able to run the 90 kilometers in less than 9 hours.
So why this blog?
I think of it as my marathon diary. It will serve three purposes. Firstly, I hope that having publicly announced my intentions, it will help keep me motivated when the training gets tough. Giving up would be very embarrassing now that everybody will know about it! Secondly, I know that some of the people closest to me(and especially my wife) are likely to suffer from my undertaking. After all, A LOT of hours are going to spent on running in the coming year and a half. The least I can do is share my thoughts and experiences. Lastly, reading other's blogs and articles about running have helped me tremendously with my own running over the last two years. If anybody can use my experiences the same way, then I'd be very pleased.
But why run 90 kilometers?
I could come up with a number of reasons; but I think it all comes down to achievement. Having run 2 normal marathons I need to take it to the next level. I need to achieve. But not just anything. I need to achieve something that has value to me, something that I can be proud of. Completing a Comrades Marathon would be something I'd be very proud of. In essence, I do this for myself, by myself and to myself. In a way it is very selfish, but if anobody cares to join me, feel free to come along!
Can I do it?
When I decided to run my first marathon I had no idea what it would take. I simply downloaded a 16 week training program from the Internet and stuck to it rigorously, only missing 2 of the short runs. Race day turned out to be surprisingly easy and I enjoyed every minute of it. The following marathon I didn't prepare for that well and so I struggled the last 6 kilometers of it. What I've learned from those two runs is that it all boils down to training. And that in turn requires discipline, toughness and stubbornness. I think that most will agree that I am highly qualified when it comes to the stubbornness part of it. I think it makes up for what I lack in the other areas. So can I do it? Am I stubborn enough? OF COURSE I AM!!!
My training program starts tomorrow. 8 kilometers, afternoon run. I can't wait to get started!
Marathon Madsen
For some time I have been thinking about running the Comrades Marathon. It takes place in South Africa every year in May and it is the most famous of the ultra marathons. The distance varies slightly from year to year, but is usually between 89 and 92 kilometers. I intend to run it in May 2011 which gives me 17 months to get ready! My hope is that I will be able to run the 90 kilometers in less than 9 hours.
So why this blog?
I think of it as my marathon diary. It will serve three purposes. Firstly, I hope that having publicly announced my intentions, it will help keep me motivated when the training gets tough. Giving up would be very embarrassing now that everybody will know about it! Secondly, I know that some of the people closest to me(and especially my wife) are likely to suffer from my undertaking. After all, A LOT of hours are going to spent on running in the coming year and a half. The least I can do is share my thoughts and experiences. Lastly, reading other's blogs and articles about running have helped me tremendously with my own running over the last two years. If anybody can use my experiences the same way, then I'd be very pleased.
But why run 90 kilometers?
I could come up with a number of reasons; but I think it all comes down to achievement. Having run 2 normal marathons I need to take it to the next level. I need to achieve. But not just anything. I need to achieve something that has value to me, something that I can be proud of. Completing a Comrades Marathon would be something I'd be very proud of. In essence, I do this for myself, by myself and to myself. In a way it is very selfish, but if anobody cares to join me, feel free to come along!
Can I do it?
When I decided to run my first marathon I had no idea what it would take. I simply downloaded a 16 week training program from the Internet and stuck to it rigorously, only missing 2 of the short runs. Race day turned out to be surprisingly easy and I enjoyed every minute of it. The following marathon I didn't prepare for that well and so I struggled the last 6 kilometers of it. What I've learned from those two runs is that it all boils down to training. And that in turn requires discipline, toughness and stubbornness. I think that most will agree that I am highly qualified when it comes to the stubbornness part of it. I think it makes up for what I lack in the other areas. So can I do it? Am I stubborn enough? OF COURSE I AM!!!
My training program starts tomorrow. 8 kilometers, afternoon run. I can't wait to get started!
Marathon Madsen
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