It’s been almost a month after recovering from the nasty flu which lasted 3 weeks in December, it is really hard to get back to running. The flu was playing havoc with my training and my races. So far, I am still unable to resume my pre-flu pace. My breathing is still not right because the flu has impaired my cardiovascular operation with my respiratory tract still irritable. I guess I just have to wait until this issue is resolved before I can re-build my strength again. Hopefully, time is a good healer. I will never attempt to “make-up” for all the training I have missed out and to jump ahead in a progressive training plan. If I do so, my flu would likely to come back.
I told myself I must take it easy in the Fred Hughes 10 miler this year. Last year I finished in 1:36’01”. This year, I wouldn’t feel bad if I went over this pace. I struggled with the uphill, but I always do regardless even when I was well. I just kept my rhythm when tackling the climbs. It was hard as I was unable to make my legs move. My sister Fidelia overtook me during the first big climb. Committed to listening to my body, I let her go and I just focused on putting my right foot in front of my left foot and vice versa. After the first big hill after mile 2, there was a breather for some flat and nice downhills before another big climb at mile 4. Since this was a 2-loop race, it meant that runners had to experienced 4 climbs. During the 2nd loop, my breathing became more difficult even on the flat surface. My legs were getting heavier. Although the last mile was mostly flat and decline, I was still on 10+ minute pace and I crossed the finish line in 1:44’48”.
My time this year was more than 8 minutes slower than last year. I felt very disappointed at first because this was even worse than my training times but then I realised the magnitude of impact the flu has done to my body. Lesson learnt, don’t mess with the flu. There’s another event next Sunday – The Hemel 10 miler, let’s see what happens then.
For full results, please visit:
http://results.eventchiptiming.com/results.aspx?CId=16202&RId=8196&fbclid=IwAR0aMZgcf2CEeDw3AeNO2srTdMkvz6U5TrMrZ_tr13zvrQUvCWEOd0f_Tpw
