In just under two short weeks I will be marathoning once again. Taking part in the Danang International Marathon 2016, down in beautiful Danang (funnily enough), and I am more than a little pumped. It's happening: I am officially in taper mode, as of two days ago, but shhhh, don't tell my body.... (I have had the uncanny knack of falling ill to viruses or rubbish sicknesses usually 2-3 weeks out from a big event that I am training towards or looking forward to - but not this time! I hope.... Turmeric being the reason, I am sure.)
Anyway, on Friday I ran my last LONG-long run of my marathon training: a 32km that saw me take in two laps of West Lake (in the same direction both times this week, boom - doubly tough, mentally speaking) plus two and fro from my humble abode. This was tough. REALLY tough. Oh boy, what a difference a week makes. A world away from the similar long-long run just a week before, and not sure why? I had fuelled appropriately , had similar amounts of sleep etc, but for some reason my legs were not cooperating and the whole 3 hours felt exceptionally tough. BUT, the up side it? I got through it and my legs were not too sore or stiff afterwards. Just fatigued and not fresh during the run.
I thought it would be a good idea for some serious rest and recovery post-long run anyway, as I don't want a repeat of that fatigued leg feeling come race day on 6th August, so the next day I took myself down to an amazing place a good friend has introduced me to recently, and took another friend with me: thus passing on this amazing secret local knowledge whilst having some quality girly time too. It is a spa where for about the equivalent of $15 you get a couple of hours of wonderful relaxation and luxury: being placed in various herbal baths and barrels of hot, scented water, ginger-infused steam rooms and showers, whilst being handed delicious hot ginger and then iced teas alternately, before being then given an hour long, extremely thorough massage. The experience is then capped off with FOOD (mmm, my favourite) and yet more delicious tea. Mmmmm, fruit platters and your choice of either fish rice porridge or what we think is duck egg rice porridge. Cue two very relaxed, chilled, happy women.
It definitely did the trick, as my legs are fine now, and back to normal. (I tested them out on a short 11km ish run late yesterday afternoon after a bit of teaching work - and even in the extremely hot, sweaty, humid afternoon, they felt fine and it was a great run.)
This week is shaping up to be a GREAT one already, and I hope yours is too. Wishing you all the best and a happy, healthy time!! Until next time, you beautiful folks.... xx
Anyway, on Friday I ran my last LONG-long run of my marathon training: a 32km that saw me take in two laps of West Lake (in the same direction both times this week, boom - doubly tough, mentally speaking) plus two and fro from my humble abode. This was tough. REALLY tough. Oh boy, what a difference a week makes. A world away from the similar long-long run just a week before, and not sure why? I had fuelled appropriately , had similar amounts of sleep etc, but for some reason my legs were not cooperating and the whole 3 hours felt exceptionally tough. BUT, the up side it? I got through it and my legs were not too sore or stiff afterwards. Just fatigued and not fresh during the run.
I thought it would be a good idea for some serious rest and recovery post-long run anyway, as I don't want a repeat of that fatigued leg feeling come race day on 6th August, so the next day I took myself down to an amazing place a good friend has introduced me to recently, and took another friend with me: thus passing on this amazing secret local knowledge whilst having some quality girly time too. It is a spa where for about the equivalent of $15 you get a couple of hours of wonderful relaxation and luxury: being placed in various herbal baths and barrels of hot, scented water, ginger-infused steam rooms and showers, whilst being handed delicious hot ginger and then iced teas alternately, before being then given an hour long, extremely thorough massage. The experience is then capped off with FOOD (mmm, my favourite) and yet more delicious tea. Mmmmm, fruit platters and your choice of either fish rice porridge or what we think is duck egg rice porridge. Cue two very relaxed, chilled, happy women.
It definitely did the trick, as my legs are fine now, and back to normal. (I tested them out on a short 11km ish run late yesterday afternoon after a bit of teaching work - and even in the extremely hot, sweaty, humid afternoon, they felt fine and it was a great run.)
This week is shaping up to be a GREAT one already, and I hope yours is too. Wishing you all the best and a happy, healthy time!! Until next time, you beautiful folks.... xx
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