William Chong

Some people have asked me if I’ve got a target time for the 21km run. To be honest, my initial thoughts at the start of my training programme (i.e. months ago) was really just appreciating the opportunity to take part. I’d do my best, it’d be no problems, I’d raise a sizeable amount for the Heart Foundation, and catch up and train with friends through the week.

But that was before I read the back cover of Newstalk ZB radio presenter Kerre Woodham‘s marathon memoir.

Granted, she’s way more pro (having done full marathons and getting the media accolades for it) so perhaps it’s not a fair comparison. But her half-marathon results are around the 2-hour mark (2:03:41).

So let’s go for that!

Provided I can keep my pace between 5 and 6 minutes per kilometer, and not tail off horrendously in the second half of the November 2nd road adventure… I think it’s a realistic aim for my athletic ability.

So. Let’s. Beat. Kerre! (Or at least be motivated by her to some degree…)

Enjoy the return of the sun, everyone!

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I’m fundraising for the Heart Foundation of New Zealand. Check out my HeartRacer page.

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Week 7: Training Record

22.9.08 – Route – 25 min – 5:41am – 4.6 km Jog
23.9.08 – Route – 28 min – 5:40am – 5.03 km Jog
25.9.08 – Route – 40 min – 5:45am – 7.32 km “Tea” Run
27.9.08 – Route – 33 min – 3:35pm – 5.97 km Jog
28.9.08 – Route – 66 min – 6:52am – 11.78 km “Lee” Run

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It’s always great to run with someone else.

For a start, a training run passes by so much quicker when you’re chatting away down the footpath. The soreness and breathlessness seem muted when you’re engaging in friendly banter. You pace each other (provided the other guy’s not a professional marathon runner) and cover more ground.

And it’s also quite fun.

For all those who’ve decided to show their support by actually walking the talk and joining me in training – that’s awesome. I love you guys. Rather than pleasantries and rhetoric, you guys make it so much more rewarding by joining the fray, and doing something. No matter how little or how often I get to run with you, I’m happy because we get to spend a small portion of our lives in comradeship (so to speak).

So thanks!

This week I’ve ramped up the running a little to make up for last time. As you can see (below), each run steps up in time and length. One highlight was tracking along Eastern Beach on Tuesday, with the near-full harvest moon casting a pale limelight for each step I took under the clear night sky.

I think a realistic aim is to try to maintain my current pace which is between 5 and 6 minutes per kilometre, across the duration of the race. So far I’m tailing off a bit, especially past the hour mark into previously uncharted territory – I’ll look to working on that!

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I’m fundraising for the Heart Foundation of New Zealand. Check out my HeartRacer page.

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Week 6: Training Record

15.9.08 - Route - 23 min – 4:48pm – 4.02 km Jog
16.9.08 – Route - 35 min – 8:14pm – 5.95 km Jog
17.9.08 – Route - 43 min – 5:35am – 7.66 km “Tea” Run
19.9.08 – Route – 75 min – 8:47am – 12.39 km Run 

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Mm.

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It’s been a bit hectic this past week – unfortunately it meant one less run as a result. I had to apply some creative tactics (i.e. wake up super early) to fit in a few runs.

Nevertheless, this week’s training did include by far the most picturesque running route. I took advantage of a work trip to Sydney to savour the pavement-pressing experience, running past many a unique photo op along the way. You don’t always get many opportunities to do calf stretches in front of views of the Sydney Opera House and associated cityscape, so I’m very grateful.

Just as I’m grateful for the donations that keep trickling in! I believe that if just 5 more people helped out with $1 per km I lug my frame along come November 2, there’s a good chance of making the fundraising target!

I’ll leave this post with a picture of a group of people struggling with a fitness “boot camp” – their instructor barked out orders for pushups, rope pulling, jogging and so on! The Botanical Gardens I ran through was definitely a hive of fitness-related activity! Swiss balls, practice cones, shuttle runs, pilates sessions, stair climbing…

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Want to help but haven’t yet? Help me reach the fundraising target by clicking through to my HeartRacer page!

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Week 5: Training Record

9.9.08 – Route – 34 min – Jog
11.9.08 – Route – 34 min – 5:11am – Jog
12.9.08 – Route – 30 min – 6:13am – 5.16 km Sydney run

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Hope you’re all doing well as the inclement spring weather introduces itself!

I put in some pretty good runs this week. The durations start gradually extending and I start building in the distances, as per the training programme.

Did my first night run on Tuesday…

… and there’s not too much that beats being in your own space running towards old Howick under a clear night sky, amber hues cast from various electrical monoliths that one takes in their running strides, those veritable progress markers.

And then there’s the dawn run (Thursday), where you bounce along the Eastern Beach esplanade as if the waves and the sand wake up to your footsteps – “and though the clouds may hide the sun”, on Thursday morning it peeked through just in time to usher in the working day.

Read more »

N.B.: This post will make no sense to you if you’re not a Christian, it’s just not that easy to explain in a snippet. (Just ask me.)

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So I’m running. Displacing the air around me, surging upward and onward, and I tell myself I’m in control. Renewed zeal, nothing to war with in my life. I’m desensitised to the world around me bar my iPod, and the cadence of my strides.

And then, through Mark Driscoll, I’m being rightfully rebuked from so many different angles while pacing like a wannabe-harrier, through suburban streets in the evening breeze. His Word pierces me inside, and my priorities in life are unceremoniously realigned, much like a bouncer realigns a drunken soul. Pick it up. Fling him into oblivion.

And just when I’m about to stop running and collapse on my knees (and that’s not because I’m tired)…

… it begins to pour down from the heavens.

Gentle, comforting rain. Rain shy of cats-and-dogs, more like that Laser Eye Surgery TV ad…

But rain so beautifully on cue.

And then this urbane tinfoil voice, a spokesperson reading from God’s Word, strikes a gentler tone and reassures this broken Christian wheezing along Sunderlands Rd…

… “And therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.” [Ro 8:1]

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Thank you.

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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