Hitting the HIIT

As a mere mortal who keeps a day job and some, I sometimes hide my trainings for my runs, simply because I want to spare the questions like whether did I win any money, or what placing did I get, etc etc. To others who has yet to catch a running bug, 'training' is a word exclusively for the elites who actually won medals and prize money.

To some (in my profession), it is even frowned-upon to be doing this, and not spending 14-hours days in the office. Sad, huh!

Now, we all know the importance of these trainings to our 10ks, halfs and fulls, even more so to us mortals. At least I train and run, unlike my eldest brother who is a diehard fan of a gigantic team in red-whatever from Manchester, watches every games and screams 'GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL' like a madman on every score etc; but he himself never play any soccer (he plays volleyball instead). I am very sure some football fans are like that, although some are good. Irregardless of my speed and endurance level, trainings keeps me on track, gives me purpose to fulfill, and endless aims. At least I am not a prejudice.

So today, in my quest to cut 30 minutes off my 6:10 SCKLM in Singapore next month, I headed to KLCC Park again today. The sky had just cleared, and the park was packed with runners. Some Pacesetters and Ayam Runners were going at it at full speed, but we were missing the aerobics group today which usually hold a crowd of 50-odd amateur dancers/mortals grooving to the blast of Bollywood dance moves, and sometimes to the sound of dangdut reggae. hahahaha

I take most runners are training for their PBIM'09 which is coming soon. This is quite common when any big race approaches, and after that the park goes silent for a while. I expect the park will be more crowded soon as people train for Malakoff next month.

I had a good run today, doing HIIT of 4 minutes sprint, 1 minute walk tempo for a total of 6.5k. I was gasping for air most of the time, as my last HIIT was - geez, I cannot even recall. On the 3rd km, rain poured down and what heavenly feeling was that. Before I bitch about it, but now I'm not getting enough of it. Most runners were taking shelter under the many wakafs along the track, but I went on to share the tracks with only few. As earlier I was worried to wet my shoes, I now realise that the shoes will not be so wet if I keep on moving, and shuffling the water off my calves. Finished the run, cooled down, and rehydrate. That'll be a great boost for my good night's sleep later.

These training are inching me on a feel-good side of the oncoming SCSM, which is important to shake my nerves off at the starting line. The harder it gets, it also takes my head off my many worries. The remaining days for this week will see RPMs Wednesday, hills on Thursday (will attempt Bukit Antarabangsa if possible), easy 5k run Friday, Kiara trails 10k on Saturday, and easy recovery at Janda Baik on Sunday.