10.24 … the day the world runs! I ran along with 8000+ people in Taipei and millions of others worldwide. It’ the biggest one-day race on the planet. 48th in 40.44, could actually have done it faster I think but I started out too slowly (my goal was just sub-45).
The winner ran it in 33 … next year? Maybe!
Water break near the finish.
This was the first time I had to travel a to another city for a race and I made a few mistakes. I stayed in a hotel in Taichung the night before. This meant that I had to take the train to Taichung on the Saturday (after coaching two soccer practices in the morning and teaching two hours in the afternoon) and a bus from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake at 3a.m. the next morning! I also didn’t pack my usual breakfast, assuming that 7-11 would have bananas … the only one I could find didn’t.
Anyway, it’s all a learning process at this stage I guess and I ran quite well in spite of my legs feeling like lead for most of the run. The course, which I knew nothing about beforehand, was exceptionally hilly. I managed the uphills better than most of the other runners and I was better on the downhills than in my first half.
The scenic aspect of the course was a bit of a downer. Sun Moon Lake is one of the most beautiful features of Taiwan, and yet we hardly glimpsed the lake during the run, just had a peek of it going round the one corner. Instead, we just wound up and down a mountain road that could have been any other in the country. I hope Taroko Gorge next month is better!
I ran the Knysna Forest Half Marathon on July 11, 2009. My training before the run had been patchy but I still think it went okay.
After starting out too slowly, I soon settled into a nice rhythm. There was a long downhill section which might sound easy, but I hadn’t done any hills practice and I don’t think I passed anyone going down, they all went by me!
I still felt quite fresh when I realised there were only a couple of ks left and I finished strongly. The race has motivated me to train harder than it did before and I would definitely recommend trying a couple of theseget into the sport … you’ll soon be hooked!
Becoming a Marathoner ... running and more. 