Hal Higdon marathon training
Tokyo Marathon Training: Weeks 6 to 10

Tokyo Marathon Training: Weeks 6 to 10

Training Weeks 6 to 10 in a nutshell

  • The slew of holiday parties have begun! But training never stops
  • Half marathon in La Mesa Nature Reserve
  • No more post-run yoga
  • Can go faster without stressing my shins!
  • Training break because of travel

 

Hal Higdon marathon training
Hal Higdon marathon training

Sprints

Running in BGC - I do my sprints along the IS road
Running in BGC – I do my sprints along the IS road. Around 6pm.

I started doing sprints. I do it on my first run for the week. Here’s what I do:

10:00 warm-up
8 x 1:00 sprint
8 x 1:00 easy pace
10:00 cool down

For longer runs, I started extending my runs in BGC to the McKinley area. I’m learning to love the hills there.

Running in McKinley Hill
Running in McKinley Hill – 7 am.

Running in McKinley Hill - 7 am.
Running in McKinley Hill – 7 am.

Running in McKinley Hill - 7 am
Running in McKinley Hill – 7 am

Running in McKinley Hill - 7 am
Running in McKinley Hill – 7 am

Running in McKinley Hill - 7 am
Running in McKinley Hill – 7 am

Running in Makati
Running in Makati

I continued climbing 6a and 6b routes and doing indoor cycling as part of cross-training. I should be doing more running drills on cross-training days.

No more post-run yin yoga

Brooks Levitate 2
Brooks Levitate 2

Since my weekday runs were getting longer, I found that I didn’t have time to go to 334 Yoga studio to join the yin yoga classes. I used to be able to do it when my runs were shorter.  I’m normally hungry after my long runs and I so I have to eat right away. I can only run in the afternoons or early nights because that is the only time my work schedule allows it. I was sad to let go of yoga during weekdays, but it just wasn’t fitting my schedule.

Running in Taguig
Running in Taguig

I’m of the mindset that some things shouldn’t feel forced. Training is no exception. If there is no space to do yoga as part of training, then it is out! No use trying to make it happen. The more you want to make it happen, the more that it will feel like work you have to do. Then the fun in it is gone. Training is a commitment and you have to design your life around it. However selfish that may sound, that’s just how it is. Every second of your time is a conscious decision to support this commitment. One’s commitment shouldn’t falter, but the methods to honor this commitment should be flexible. Yoga is a method in this case. There are other methods to train.

Running in Makati
Running in Makati

Half marathon on trail

Week is when I’m supposed to do the half marathon. Thought it would be fun to do it on trail. Cali and I went to the La Mesa Nature Reserve (LMNR) one Sunday. It’s a bit of a drive from where we live but it was a welcome detour. It’s a nice change of scenery from my usual weekend long runs on road. LMNR is a hilly, forested area with a reservoir in the middle. I thought I could use some outdoor training for the Annapurna Basecamp Trek that we would be doing next week.

Trail running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Trail running in La Mesa Nature Reserve

It is required to hire a guide to run in the LMNR. We paid a total of PHP 1000 for guide services. We texted LMNR a few days before to let them know we were coming, and they assigned a guide to go running with us. On the day of the run, our assigned guide asked us what distance we wanted to do then off we went!

Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve

Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve

Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve

Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve
Running in La Mesa Nature Reserve

Weeks 9 to 10: No training

I took a scheduled break for two weeks. We went to Nepal to do the Annapurna Basecamp Trek, which took us 8 days total. It was a dream come true and I’ll write about it separately. I didn’t have time to continue my training runs there in Nepal.

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