Double Training: Midnight 12 K Run in MUTEKI

Jan. 25, 2021

12.05 K: 1:09:58

Seven hours after the park workout, I finished everything that I had wanted to accomplish for the day. To reward myself for the good job done, I went out for a night run. I ran the same course that I run for a 10 K tempo run.

All the roads were completely deserted. Not even a can was seen. I was the only soul breathing under the starry sky. It was freezing. But there was no wind. Nothing disturbed my lonely effort to become a stronger and more endurable version of myself. I love running in the still of the night...

I ran 8 K in the afternoon. Tonight I added 12.05 K more to it, which makes my daily total 20 K+. It's a good distance for a day about 12 weeks before the race. I want to gradually increase my daily training volume. First to 25 K. Then 30. Exactly one month prior to the race, I want to run more than the race distance of 42.195 K, not at one go of course, but in two sessions. I've done it before. I believe I can do it again. 

Midnight Jog in MUTEKI

Sept. 27, 2020

12.7 K: 1:12:01

It's my first run since I got yelled at by a driver while running on the roadway. I kept on the right side of the road, and remained on the sidewalk wherever one was available. The surface was often less smooth on the sidewalk than on the roadway, and the width was rather narrow most of the way, but it wasn't so hard to adjust myself to the new habit of running on the right side and running on the sidewalk. I'll stick to it so as not to piss off drivers, and also to avoid accidents. 

Midnight 12.6 K Run

April 15, 2020
11.6 K: 1:07:22
1 K: 3:56.78
Total 12.6 K: 1:11:18

Jogged for a little longer than an hour. It always feels good to hit a deserted road at midnight. Not a soul could be seen. Just me and the road. Carefully checked my running form as there was a slight stiffness in the right calf resulting from sprints on the previous afternoon. Ran a new 5.2 K loop that I had found on Google Map recently. It's a pretty treacherous course, rich in undulation and having some rough road surface in an area where street lamps are scarce.

Listened to commentaries from past Olympic races. Women's 10,000 M from the London Olympics, Men's 5000 M from the Athens Olympics, and so on. Visualized my favorite top athletes such as Hicham El Guerrouj, Eliud Kipchoge, and Kenenisa Bekele on the men's side, and Terunish Dibaba on the women's.  

In the last K as I often do, I put on spurt, identifying myself with those heroic middle-distance and long-distance athletes crossing the finish line for the gold medal in triumph!

Variety is the spice of life. This new course will hold my interest for a while for sure. It's got everything I want: a short steep uphill, long upward inclines, a short steep downhill, long downward inclines, flat straights, a U-turn, right angles, and bends. Will prepare me for all kinds of courses.