One Week before the Marathon Race

I finished my official training today. All I can do now is to rest and recover my stamina for the real race.

I know that I couldn’t practice enough. The total mileage of my training plan was 655 miles but I could run only 70% of the original plan. It will not be easy for me to complete the course. But I will do my best and enjoy every moment of the race.

The Biggest Challenge During the Training

In July, August and September, I faced the wall. I felt dizziness especially when I lied down. Experienced a chest pain and painful coughing. Also, while I was sleeping, I perspired a lot and often woke up feeling fever in the middle of night. Then I couldn’t go back to sleep. I was in a serious condition.

I was considering to visit the doctor but when I stopped the training for 2 weeks, most of the symptoms disappeared. Then, I resumed the training. I had to compromise my training plan. Still when the training began, the symptoms were coming back. They felt more painful on the second time.

Out of desperation, I found the solution. The antidote for those symptoms was ice. The training built inflammation in my muscles and joints which caused the fever and dizziness later. As I increased my training during the summer, the inflammation was not recovered fast enough and was accumulated. As the situation was getting worse for a few weeks, those symptoms started to appear.

So, I bought a pack of 8 bottles of water and froze them. I rolled the iced bottles on my calves, feet, thighs, back, arms, neck, and face. I didn’t know that my body generated so much heat. Especially, before sleep, I melted a couple of bottles with my body heat every night. Since I used ice, I could sleep better and didn’t feel dizzy any more. No coughing and no chest pains. That’s how I resumed my training in September.

*One day, I had a chance to use a bathtub. I bought a small bag of ice cubes and used the whole bag for the ice bath. I was surprised by how much heat my body released. That night, I had a deep and sound sleep.

Running vs. 3,000 Bow Training

When I worked at the spiritual organization, one of the most intense training was the 3,000 bow training. Our bowing posture was bigger than that of the Buddhist. We raised both arms over the head and put the palms together and brought them down to the chest and bent the upper body and knees. Then, touched the hands and forehead on the ground. And lifted palms. That’s one bow.

It took 6 to 8 hours to finish the 3000 bow training. During the training, we practiced reflection, repentance, prayer or sought some answers.

Last week, I ran 16 miles. It was the longest run in my training plan. While I ran the long run, I practiced Ho’oponopono (Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness practiced by Hawaiian healers. Wiki). I reflected my life and I said “I’m sorry”, “Please forgive me”, “Thank you” and “I love you” to the people I hurt. My body felt heavy but my soul felt lighter after the run. It reminded me of the 3000 bow training.

Last Moment’s Preparation

A few weeks ago, I put the race course map next to my bed and I often visualized myself running the road passing each mile post. From the 16 mile point, I will need to summon all my strength to complete the course. On the race day, I will experience something that I’ve never experienced in my life. It scares me and makes me determined at the same time. I will go there no matter what.

I decided what to wear and carry for the run and hand-washed them. It was a small ritual for my mental preparation.

12/10 (Fri)

• Take a flight to Honolulu.
• Check in the hotel.
• Meet our friend, M and drive to Diamond Head to check the uphill course.
• Have the carbohydrate loaded dinner.
• Take the Epson salt bath in the evening.

12/11 (Sat)

• Pick up my bib number (timing chip) and packet at the Convention Center. (ID, Vaccine card & email for the bib #10267)
• Check out the event conference and vendors.
• Have a late lunch loaded with the carbohydrate.
• Buy banana, yogurt and bottled water.
• Sleep early. Before 8 pm.

12/12 (Sun)

• Wake up at 3:00am.
• Drink water. Drop a hydration pill (Nuun) in the water bottle and start to sip to fully hydrate the body.
• Eat banana and Cliff bar. Yogurt is optional.
• Use the bathroom.
• Apply Tiger balm on my body especially on calves and knees. Gentle stretching.
• Take 3 pills of Creatine (organic compound to help muscle cells produce energy).
• Carry on my FlipBelt: 1 Cliff bar, 3 energy gels (GU), band aid (in case of chafing and protecting toe nails)
• Find my start group and be there by 4:30am.

My First Marathon Race Strategy

• Start walking fast for a few second and then transit to jog smoothly.
• Jog as slow as possible until the aerobic system initiates (2 minutes).
• My target heart rate during the first half is 148 bpm. Try to stay under 148 bpm. When it goes over 150 bpm, run slower.
• Pass no runners. Only pass walkers.
• When I find any runner who runs in a stable and consistent pace, designate him/her as my personal pacemaker and just follow him/her. Depending on my condition, change the pacemaker.
• When I finish my first half, repeat the same strategy for the second half.
• At between mile 15 and mile 16, take a midpoint break. Use bathroom and the aid station. Take a Cliff bar.
• After running 25 miles, there will be no strategies. Just run to cross the finish line.

Honolulu Marathon Course Map for Simulation

What to pack in my suitcase

ID, Vaccine Card, Running wear (hat, shirts, shorts, socks), Extra wear for test running, Running Shoes, Compression Calf Sleeves, FlipBelt, Nuun, Gu (4 packets), 3 Cliff Bars, Tiger Balm, Supplement & Vitamin for 3 days, Creatine, Band Aid

Proof of Name Change

Wrapping up …

This is how I’m preparing my first marathon. Preparation and recovering are as important as the actual run. Now I need to focus on recovering my strength.