Conditioning to Perform

I am in training for my major running event March 2010.  It is a function that is seeking performance.  To get the best performance I must condition my body.   I have to see to it that I made it safely to the finish line.

Running would not be the only thing I would have to do on this run.  I will be walking, jogging, shuffling, and whatever else it will take to get to the finish line.   The condition is hard just thinking about it.   The weather is going to be hotter,  the hills are going to be steeper,  and the miles are going to be longer than usual.  We who signed up for the heavy category will have additional 35 lbs on our back. What we are to pack  are can food to be donate to the food bank after the race. “Oh, that’s relief.” I thought it’s going to be bricks or something like that.

For a couple of months I have been walking up, down, and around the Stone Mountain. I felt the difference. My core is getting stronger. The thing is this.   I have not weigh my backpack.   I thought I have packed it heavy enough though for the training.   I thought it’s more than 35 lbs which it is but when I pack  a 35 lbs dumb bell, it is actually heavier than the pack I have been towing around. This could be a problem. So Friday I decided to do two laps which is 10 miles to find out where I stand. The most I have done so far was 7 miles. I wondered what it would feel like with this new pack after 10th miles. .

On Friday I got out of work at 3:45.   I fueled up at Wendy’s value meal number 1 with a coke and arrived at the base camp (base of the mountain) at 5 to begin my test. The factors were, I was up at 4:45 and have worked all day. I was not really tire tire but I was a little weary thinking that I never had a good training day. Never mind that. I timed my self using my cell phone. It has a split timing feature. Too bad it got erased somehow. I didn’t keep an accurate record of my training.

I struggled a little struggle with the new pack. I don’t know why it was so heavy especially going up the hill. I had to jog down to make good time. The first lap I did good. I started out slow since I just had a value meal. Yeah, a value meal for my pocket book only. The first mile was tough with a full stomach. But I always train under the normal condition. Whatever is consider normal to me. In my case, just ate, just woke up, waking up in the middle of the night, stayed up all night, or had too much to drink. Just had food? No problem. That’s normal. As a soldier, I can’t ask my enemy to “shoot after I finish eating, ok?” If I can condition my self to train in any condition, I am good.

My split time was 16 minutes for the first miles. I know that was bad comparing the Bataan Memorial Death March winner who did a 14 minutes split. Two minutes off would put me about two hours after the guy that do 14 minutes one. Realized that, I sped up after the 3rd mile marker. That brought be up to 15 minutes split. Felt a little better then. After the 3rd mile marker I had a short moment of joy going down hill. After the 3 1/2 mile marker it was going up all the way to the 5th mile marker. At the 4th mile marker and 5th mile marker I hit the split button, it said 15 something. I was nervous so I dashed from 4 1/2 mile marker all the way. It was a tough 5 miles. I thought what about the rest of the 21.2 Amphone?

After I took 5 to 10 minutes break I loaded up and start again. My cell phone battery was low so I decided to just look at the clock and divide the number by 5 later. The next 5 miles was a problem because of the new pack, the 35 lbs dumb bell was kicking my rear end. I reminded myself to double check the weigh on the scale at home. The thought of having a full day already was of no help, ” I had a full day already. I am support to be tire.”

Every hills, every slopes, every cyclists, every passed by runners, and walkers I came across were friendlies but my back, legs, and shoulders were not. I made it to the finish with averaging at 16 minutes per mile. It is what I was expecting without a little to no running. Running is something I am avoiding right now. I will run more when my knees, joints, nerves, and muscles tell me to.

So I walked about uninjured, which is number one goal at this stage of training. I checked the weight when I got home. The backpack it self was more than 3 lbs. I had some water, a pillow to wrap around the dumb bell. All that and the dumb bell, hmm. Not bad after all. Although I feel the pain, “but the pain was a different kind of pain,” I am good. Training went well.

My lung is good. My mind is great. I tried to stay focus when I am on the road. My heart is good. It’s at a good place.

Why I am so Happy

Why I am so happy this morning I don’t know.   Perhaps it is because I woke up feeling great or may be it is because I did all I could yesterday.   Yesterday I went for another walk up the mountain with a backpack.   The walk really helped my legs.   After the walk I felt so good.   I felt that I walked lighter and faster.  It was amazing how this sort of thing works.    My weekend was filled with excitement, I drove all over the place starting since Friday night.  On Friday night I paid a visit to cousin Air’s.  She was preparing for a house’s tak baht (given of alms).  Her mom loves doing that at her house every now and then.  Tak Baht at the house is tum boon (build merit) by raising and giving money to the temple.  The monks were expected at her house Saturday morning.  I couldn’t possibly make it I got so many things I need to get done.  Dropping in giving money the night before was the right thing to do.   

At cousin Air’s, I felt at home.   They are the only relatives my mom has.  Air’s mom’s sister married to my uncle.  In America the two considered each other families.  So Air would then be my relative.  Her kids call me uncle.   I saw a few usual faces there.  They are her friends and her husband’s friends.  Air’s mom was making the money tree.  She sat next to it, waiting for people to come and donate.  I made my way to her and give my piece and received a blessing.  I always get a hard lecture everytime I see her.  It was more like an instruction to me.  But it was also a good luck wishes.  I took it to the heart and wish for them all to come true.  The men were outside hanging around the food table.  The meat was fresh from the farm.  I joined them for larb dip (beef salad) and sticky rice, B B Q and b sauce.  It was great eating with them again.  I took a shot of a whisky from Air’s husband as he handed over.  I had half a beer.   It was good seeing the tradition kept in such a manner.  Economy is bad.  People seem to keep a low profile.   Seeing people hosting such a gathering at home is a good sign.  A few people looked over and cast their judgement eyes.  I talked to a few I know.  I talked with Joy whom I know a long time but never hang out.  She was the one who got the beef for Air.  Ironic sometime, my people skip Kroger for mea.  She also make authentic Lao food to sell at the temple festival and what not.  I got the number so I will call to order cin savanh (sweet beef jerky) from her.  We’ll see.  Som pak cien (cien vegetable pickled) is always hard to find.   Joy practically can cook up anything your heart desire.

In the Lao community, you got to stay in and remain in.  If you stay out too long, you are out.  I felt that way that night.   Air and her friends have their little circle or group of friends that would always be there day and night, hot or cold.  No matter what the weather is, they are there for each other.  Those days are moving away fast.  The next generation do not operate that way.   It’s part of the degeneration I suppose.   I know this because it’s happening to my generation.  We bond very differently.  We mix and mingle very differently.   I know the old ways.  I can reconnect whenever I want.  I can go get those beef like Joy.  I can make that bitter b sauce.  Make that beef salad.  I can invite people over and host a good Laotian party.   I was lucky that I caught on to the Laotian tradition and custom.  If I was just a few years younger, I would have missed it all.   I love this dual culture stuff.  I enjoy the best of both world.   A few more years I might be lucky enough to get me that wife, that house so I can host a Laotian party, host  a tak baht at the house, and a baci ceremony when it’s due.  All this just like the way it has been carrying on for generations.

Racing Photos

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=45793&BIB=53578

Certainly have to order some.