Category Archives: Training

04.22.12
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poised to swim

A swimmer performing the front crawl.

Yes, summer is setting in, days are getting longer and warmer. M loving it :), because I am swimming.

Yet not on the trails, but having started very small runs, I am still relying on cross training activities like swimming and biking for workouts. And swimming is turning out to be great. Having out of pool for around 6-8 months, it feels so good, and a complete body exercise.

To get the ball rolling, I went ahead an bought a new pair of swim shorts. Now after spending $40, I had no other option but to get them wet. My first 4-5 swim workouts were around 30-35 mins each. As I was gaining the strength, I last hit a 45 min workout.

Focus right now being solely on the strokes, and little speed. I am not counting the laps yet, rather the time spent swimming.

I will continue to post more, as I complete the laps.

10.02.11
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Run to kill cancer

It was such an awesome team to work with. The American Cancer Society, I ran the San Jose Rock N Roll this year with them. Awesome support, superb coach, and some great athletes.

Every thought of soreness in the heel kept me pushing – to kill cancer…. Damn Cancer!!

Moments of the day !!

All happy, goofy, running team… few virgin half-marathoners…

Heading to the start line

Alexis plans on running to the start line… to take a spot with the elite !! And Linda is the COACH

Linda is all serious, is it!! Its COACH’s style 🙂 !!

the ladybugs !! 🙂 No they were fantastic… Alexis, Rosa and Arikka (R to L)

This the team camaraderie !! 🙂

This is my blog, and ought to have my picture 🙂 !! heading for the finish line !!

Not possible without these two !!  Awesome Jenny and Jess ..

The Post Race .. Stan on the extreme right made sure that we all make to the finish line…

10.02.11
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Run on Pain 13.1 miles

I read somewhere ‘Training is a reward’ … but for me it wasn’t because training runs were becoming painful, and so had to scrap my runs for 2 months.. Seriously I did no running for last two months, and straight on into the San Jose Rock N Roll Half Marathon.

When I signed up for this race, I was aiming for my PR, this being a flat race course. But severe plantar fasciitis, has almost killed my running. It is one of the most common running injuries, and the one which needs complete rest. Hard to rest because it is on the foot.

Anyways, come the race day, I was thinking of taking the run easy for the first half, and then doing fartleks in between. My first half was pretty good , completing 7 miles in an hour, and I was running on pain :). It was beyond the 8th mile, where the killing started. Felt like my right heel was swelling up, and I was all the more making sure that my each foot strike was on the toe. This caused extreme pain in the calf muscles. Muscles were contracting, feet inside the shoe was contracting with pain. Never ever in my runs I have felt this extreme pain.

But rather than totally giving up, I thought to walk for a while. Rather than totally giving up, I walked most of the stretch between mile 11 and 12.

A little ahead mile 13, my team mates started pumping me, and as the adrenaline was gushing through for a strong

finish, I said, ‘FUCK’ the pain, ignore there is something going on in the right foot, and just RUN.

Do not know my official finish time yet, but this was the worst finish time ever- 2:10. SCRAP THIS!! BUT WILL REMEMBER THIS!!

1) Respect your body, if you don’t respect the wheels of your car, they are going to give up somewhere on the freeway.

2) Be mature in your decisions, a run in pain, will cost dearer to you than you think.

3) We all know the line ‘You are stronger than you think you are’ but be intelligent too- points 1&2.

09.18.11
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Sikh strides with Pride

So it was my first 5K. Running for one’s own identity and own pride is such an awesome feeling. The race was organized by SikhCoalition, a non-profit organisation who fights for the legal rights of the minority groups in US.

Since 9/11, there have been lot of hate crimes, and discrimination against the Sikhs, because of their identity. This was a fund-raising 5K race. Money raised through the effort, goes into running the SikhCoalition.

Now to the race part. This was a flat quick race. Challenged strongly by a bunch of high school kids, and freshmen, I believe I ran my fastest and strongest 5K ever. The kids were awesomely good, and paced hard throughout the distance. Coming back from a 13 mile run the previous day, and lot of icing, I maintained a constant speed throughout the run. Keeping a close tab on my strides, ensuring that the landing happens on the foot / mid-foot and the turnover remains quick.

Honestly, it was so exciting to be in the lead pack for around 4K, till I slowed down a bit, and two runners passed me. I enjoyed every moment of the crowd cheer, as I ran my way back from the half mark, being the fourth runner in the lead, rest all being high school kids and freshmen.

But it was so much fun to run a fast race. Overall, this was one of the best runs I ever experienced.

For details on SikhCoalition visit their website at SikhCoalition

09.17.11
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couch to 13 miles

Hola!! my readers..

So with a good feeling on my foot, heels responding great to the 3 mile run two days back. I did a 12.44 miles of long and easy run. Well, honestly it was being nuts to do this long run after being away from the trail and pavement for a month. I was instead planning to gradually bring it up to a 13 -15 mile distance.

But only a runner can get to know the excitement and anxiety to hit the trail. Adrianne and me signed up to do the distance on Friday morning. Started off well, with me focussing a lot on my stride, because I was very particular on hitting the road with either the foot or the mid-foot. So I kept the strides small.

Honestly, and after experimenting I found that, if you keep your strides small, your turnover is quick. Your foot leaves and hits the ground faster. This definitely helps you improve your pace. If you want to catch the guy ahead of you, try running with longer strides, you may or may not catch him, but you would have exhausted hell lot of fuel. The next time, catch the guy ahead of you with shorter and quick strides, you will definitely spend less energy and catch him.  

So that was my footwork, but at around 9 miles, I was feeling soreness in my heels. Nevertheless, at an easy pace, completed the distance. It was so much rejuvenating. Awesomeness was at its prime 🙂 …..

To avoid any inflammation of the Plantar fasciitis, I took my icing bottle to the office, and kept icing the entire day while sitting at my cube. Took ibuprofen. And gave ample rest to the foot.

The run was possible, because I was biking and swimming, while giving my heels the much needed rest.