William Chong

8 weeks of training.

48 times getting out the door in running shoes.

1,879 minutes spent traversing over 325 km of pavement, trail and road.

It all comes together at 6:30am, 2 November 2008, tomorrow when the marathon began.

In less than 24 hours, I’ll be running in the 2008 Auckland Marathon.

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How to start a run…

A friend of mine challenged me to give it a go. And I took up the challenge to not only improve my fitness, but to push my own boundaries and also use it as an opportunity to connect with my friends. The first time I went out on a run, my limbs screamed out in pain and my lungs struggled to shepherd in enough oxygen. An old lady was able to sprint past me with ease; the day after, persistent aching in my calves reminded me of how unfit I was.

… and not grow weary

Each week however, I’ve been encouraged by friends and family, colleagues and co-workers. Some give moral support, some put their trainers on and run with me. Some donate to the NZ Heart Foundation on my HeartRacer page. Some commit it to prayer. But everyone’s been supportive, and have made it so much easier to clock up the next kilometer, or the next half-hour during training. 

So despite the longer distances, I’ve given it a good go, fueled by the positivity of everyone significant in my life. I’ve enjoyed running in a host of different locations, like Howick, Albany, Pakuranga, even Sydney in the midst of my work commitments. It’s gradually gotten easier and easier, and I’m much more appreciative of the local surroundings. It’s been great.

… and spend time with God

When you’re a full-time worker in a family-flat situation, there’s little precious time to yourself. A big part of running for me has been the opportunity to clear my thoughts, meditate on Scripture, revisit church sermons, and pray and spend time with my Maker. Instead of writing a book on the run, I’ve had some quality devotional time.

It’s brought us closer together, no doubt.

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Generally the last week of preparation is spent winding down the intensity of your runs. Aside from a half-hour run on Monday and two 15-minute jogs, I haven’t done much else to let my body recover as much as it can for the race. 

I picked up my race pack on Thursday amid evening rush-hour traffic. It’s clear that I’m not the only one crazy enough to be running over the Harbour Bridge early Sunday morning – there’s over 8,000 other people doing it with me.

Alright, I’m off – wish me luck!

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“But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

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One great thing about running in the Bucklands Beach area is the amazing scenery you can find yourself part of. Vibrant shades of green, vivid hues of les bleus.

The photo on the right shows the earnest advertising of Lou Lou at the Beach, a tapas-style eatery perched on the speedbump-endowed Eastern Beach parade. I was particularly interested in their new menue [sic] and new chef, though one might suggest a newe schpellcheckre, or a neuw signwraiter…

Regarding marathon training, it’s been pretty good so far, even though this is the easy part (Week 1 is invariably very, very light compared to the weeks ahead). Regular 20 and 25 minute jogs and a 60 minute session on Saturday morning. One of my weak points that I’ll have to work on is my incline running – i’m very inclined to slow down and trot/walk up prolonged hills and slopes. Considering that half of the Auckland Harbour Bridge will essentially be a “prolonged hill”, it’s probably good to tighten that part of my running up.

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Week 1 Training Record:

12.8.08 – Route – 5:30pm – 24:38 – Jog
13.8.08 – Route – 5:30pm – 20:00 – Powerwalk
14.8.08 – Route – 5:39am – 24:37 – Jog
16.8.08 – Route – 8:22am – 57:33 – Jog, 10 min Powerwalk
17.8.08 – Route – 2:20pm – 20:00 – Jog with uphill component

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