Well I am back on the mend already. Got some antibiotics in town and I have shook all but the last remnants of the cold, that had knocked me back over the weekend. I was even able to run the past two days.
Yesterday I ran for 45 minutes but felt significantly weaker and was only up for slogging through the run. Trying to tackle the terrain here at less than 100% is not very pleasant and I felt it the second that we finished. This is even after completing what was said to be an "easy" route, which contained to separate hills that took about 5 min each to climb.
Today was a bit better at 56 min and finishing at a nice clip. Although I am still hacking up gross stuff, thankfully in this rural area spitting/snot-rockets are not a frowned upon activity. I get so many children greeting me with "How are you?" on my runs that I have to save my breath and just wave. Pretty sure they do not understand that I am currently at a genetic disposition to breathing and talking at this altitude. For me I can barely do both while running!
No one really stretches here or does any sort of weight lifting. At first I thought, 'Hey this is great my kinda philosophy', but then a lot of these guys have nagging injuries that they can't explain. Most of them are hip or IT band issues, which would lead to believe that stretching is still beneficial. Once I feel better, I plan on engaging in some body weight exercises as well as my usual stretching routine.
I also have realized how gradual I must take my adjustment here. After being told by knowledgeable people in the US, that it takes about 4 weeks to adapt to the altitude then you start to benefit. Well as far as the adapting is concerning..... I believe you. So I doubt I will be stepping onto the track until the end of September range. Until then I plan on just doing long runs, fartleks, and hill workouts. I think that should fill my plate just fine.
Hope everyone is well! Great to see USA take 2 heat of the 5k last night!
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10 comments:
Glad you are feeling better! That weather sounds so nice! Bc of tropical storm Fay, we are a little cooler around here also. So running is just what they do? Like Americans here love to play soccer, running is just the Kenyan sport?
keep on hangin' in there dude - sounds like it'll be better pretty soon!
You might want to explain what a fartlek is to those who aren't runners.
Shannon Rowbury ran her 1500 semis this evening (Beijing time) - too bad it might not be on TV here or with much notice. I saw the results - but I won't spoil it for others
Glad you are feeling better. tonight is last of the daniel island 5k series.
Joe
Neil- I got caught up on your blog just now, and I am so jealous...I would love to be there...maybe not running like you, but just be there. Jeff and I are praying for you,and we love reading the blogs. You have a talent for writing.
We are glad things are going well!
Wondering how your meals have been and what you are eating there. Did you think about taking some erythropoetin prior to leaving to enhance your red blood cell count with the altitude change???? How are the soles of your shoes and your footwear holding up with all the altitude climbing? Would you like a care package with some USA goodies inside? Mailing address?? How about some B12 vitamins to help with your immunity, Just bite all the dogs ears first and they won't bother you anymore.
...we were wondering,what are the plumbing facilities like?
Watching Martin Lel run the Olympic marathon. It's so cool that you met him and that he's a good guy. It's so fun to read your blog; you crack me up. Know that we are back home thinking about and praying for you. How many days per week are you training?
Neil keep up all the hard work ur Awesome Man!!! Tracy ( did'nt think i knew how 2 type huh)
cool blog. add some pics of the locals, town, living quarters if you can. and hang in there...
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