As in the past, focus has been to look possibilities of getting stronger and stronger. With my performances almost at the peak, any further improvements looked pretty challenging. Another challenge was to ensure keeping good health and being injury free.
Couple of key areas I focused was
1. Running efficient and being relaxed
2. Reduced # of intensity workouts to minimize recovery time and also keep myself strong
3. Continuous improvement in form of running and minimizing impact on feet
4. Running long distances over 30 kms was a mental barrier and hence increased weekday workout mileage without increasing the # of weekly runs
5. Primary focus to improve the form of running, minimize effort levels and hence minimize recovery time
6. Continued with my fitness workouts, but have lots of areas to improve on
7. Learning to breath easy and relaxed. Have to improve a lot on this, but am reasonably happy to have run over 70% of my workouts through nostril breathing. An area I believe that requires a lot more focus
8. Focused on a slight reduction in my food intake and dependency on hydration. Personally believe that food intake is a bit over rated. Now eating a lot more fruits than the previous years
9. Delivery of ChiRunning workshops has also been a great learning for self. Always a reminder to self on the concepts I preach, and keep practicing them in every training workout
10. Possibly increased my participation in races, but effort levels would vary. Tried my best to minimize recovery time and build up confidence levels through the races I would participate in
11. Continued with Deep Tissue Massage as an additional recovery mechanism
12. With a general interest on my personal workouts, started sharing them much more than time would ever permit
1. Running efficient and being relaxed
2. Reduced # of intensity workouts to minimize recovery time and also keep myself strong
3. Continuous improvement in form of running and minimizing impact on feet
4. Running long distances over 30 kms was a mental barrier and hence increased weekday workout mileage without increasing the # of weekly runs
5. Primary focus to improve the form of running, minimize effort levels and hence minimize recovery time
6. Continued with my fitness workouts, but have lots of areas to improve on
7. Learning to breath easy and relaxed. Have to improve a lot on this, but am reasonably happy to have run over 70% of my workouts through nostril breathing. An area I believe that requires a lot more focus
8. Focused on a slight reduction in my food intake and dependency on hydration. Personally believe that food intake is a bit over rated. Now eating a lot more fruits than the previous years
9. Delivery of ChiRunning workshops has also been a great learning for self. Always a reminder to self on the concepts I preach, and keep practicing them in every training workout
10. Possibly increased my participation in races, but effort levels would vary. Tried my best to minimize recovery time and build up confidence levels through the races I would participate in
11. Continued with Deep Tissue Massage as an additional recovery mechanism
12. With a general interest on my personal workouts, started sharing them much more than time would ever permit
At current performance levels, won a podium in almost every event I participated in.
Cannot finish this without stating a significant achievement of a 42.2 kms training run without hydration and completed in around 3hrs 24 mins which could get me Boston Qualified. This was possible only through a focus on efficient running. Not sure if I could repeat this again.
Have to thank my Coach Kothandapani Kc for his matured training and coaching, my sweetheart Susan Thomas for the pampering, the unbelievable PaceMakers family for my daily source of inspiration and our running community for the blessings and cheer.
Outlook towards the future
A. Might reduce mileage and focus on intensity. This will result in a reduction of monthly mileage atleast till August
B. Improve fitness levels
C. Attempt to maintain current performance across the 10k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon distance
D. Still not much interest towards Ultra distances
A. Might reduce mileage and focus on intensity. This will result in a reduction of monthly mileage atleast till August
B. Improve fitness levels
C. Attempt to maintain current performance across the 10k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon distance
D. Still not much interest towards Ultra distances
