Make that ran ran ran. I like things that repeat three times, especially when it has to do with running sets, because it’s simply easier on the mind.
Take this morning’s run for example. I did my usual hill-cum-long run route (76min — two minutes faster than usual today!) at 5.45am this morning, which involves three stops for some hill running, of which I run up each slope three times. The first rep usually breezes by quite easily, because the hill is all new and everything and you’re still getting used to it. The second rep usually goes pretty fast too, because you’re now adapted to the hill and charging up it hard. Then, by the time you get to the third and final rep, you know it’s the last one so that typically requires not much motivation. Ditto for having three stops.
Don’t know if you get what I mean, but if you consider doing nine reps of a hill all at once, I’m almost certain it will seem more daunting than doing three sets of three at three different places.
Anyway, at the end of all this babble, what I’m saying, is that variety is the king of enjoying your training. Find a different route, mix up the sets in your workout, try out new things. I think that’s how I don’t usually get bored of training.
On the topic of new, last Saturday, feeling a bit sluggish after the Aviva Ironman 70.3, I decided to join a bunch of friends for a technical trail run starting from Chestnut Avenue.
All Kenneth told me was it was a 6.5km route that felt more like 10km. But feeling all superwomanly I decided to run to the meeting point instead, which was an additional 10ish km. During that run there I was starting to regret it, as my legs were still fatigued from the 70.3. Remarkably I started feeling a little better after a short break before we hit the trail, but by the middle of that run I started getting really hungry and thirsty. I loved the route though, nothing of the sissy trail that MacRitchie has become. This one actually involves climbing over or going under fallen logs, navigating through shoulder-high grass, focusing on where you place each and every step. Pity I didn’t take any photos.
But, here is how I got to the trail:
Thankfully Kenneth gave three of us (Jasmine, Kah Shin and I) a lift home… I don’t think I’d been able to run home after that two-hour workout!