“My next race is a 10k in March and if I don’t collapse on the track, I’d be here to keep y’all posted. Even if I collapse, as long as I don’t give up the ghost—I’d be here to yap no matter what 😂”
I wrote that around two months ago in this post, and it feels like a lifetime ago. For record purposes, I went back in time to find the trigger that kickstarted my running journey. It was at work, and a colleague was calling for folks who wanted to run the 8k/16k DamToDam race. What’s crazy is that message went out on March 19th which is exactly a year today.
It’s wild how everything comes full circle. I showed interest in my very first race a year ago and here I am today, as promised, ready to yap about how I almost gave up the ghost in this one.
Training plan and varieties
In that same post, I wrote about how I got a training program and how that changed my life. It gave me a sense of direction and I felt I had something to look forward to. Every day I managed to tick off the schedule was a step forward into doing what I once thought was impossible.
This training program was beginner level so it had me running on average 3 times a week, which was fair. I had loads of interval-based training, long runs, varying intensities and my arch nemesis: Threshold runs. I enjoyed them all. I must say they were painful, but enjoyable nonetheless.
One thing I want to point out here is how I never managed to find a way around my intensity levels. I didn’t pay attention to it until someone saw me looking at my Garmin dashboard and said I was doing too much.
It was right there:
I was putting my body under a lot of stress, was I not recovering well? I couldn’t tell. The goal is to exercise smart, and ensure the workout is highly impacting, not overreaching that it causes injuries or makes it hard for me to recover.
I must say, when I slowed down, it got a bit easier. I took note of my pace and cadence, ensuring I was not pushing too hard and with time, I had more favorable results.
Time in the gym
This is a snippet of what a week looks like in my training program.
It’s a combination of cross training, actual runs and rest days. I could’ve done better with the cross training sessions, I was barely in the gym and that was a recipe for failure. The plans I have don’t reflect in the time I spent in the gym and it’s disappointing to even talk about.
This is something I really want to improve, else I will be stretchered off the tracks in no time if I continue at this pace.
It gets worse.
Consistency
Okay, maybe I wasn’t in the gym that much. It’s a running program, so at least I ran, right? Wrong. Oh yes, I did run but I definitely took more “rest days” than I deserved. I started the training program in December and for the most part, I ran every week except for reasons out of my control.
The weeks I could not get any runs in were when I was ill in early February, the week I was off work in January, the week my knees decided to work against me and the week I spent in the U.K. I was on holiday in the U.K, please, so I was just having fun. Ifeanyi kept asking why I wasn’t running and I can’t remember what my response was, I just didn’t.
I ran on most weeks though, else I wouldn’t have been confident enough to do this one. My point is, I’d have felt more confident if I followed my training schedule to the T.
Training while fasting
You’re probably thinking, what does this boy mean by: “Training while fasting”. Now, a bit of a backstory is needed here.
My plan was do one 10k in April (I’m still doing it) but after my friend learnt that I was going to be in Nigeria three weeks before the run in April, she was convinced I was not going to train in Nigeria. She was probably right, being my first 10k and not wanting the weird stares directed at me in rural Sango Ota if I did decide to run.
Her advice was to register for a 10k happening in March so that way I knew I’d run a 10k before I leave for Nigeria. So, if I did not train (at all) in Nigeria, I’d at least know I’d done a 10k before I left. I found reason in what she said, so I followed through and registered for the KPMG Lentemarathon happening in March.
What a fool.
What I did not realize at the time was that this was right in the middle of Ramadan. I figured this out about one month into my training and I was convinced it was going to be my first and last 10k since I was practically committing suicide.
How I got ready
Yes, the race was in Ramadan so it made training in Ramadan even more important. The reason being that race day shouldn’t be the first day I ran while fasting. If I wasn’t used to the feeling before the day, then it’s guaranteed that by the 3k mark, I’d have slumped and emergency folks would’ve fed me glucose and pints of water to revive me.
We don’t want that now, do we?
I had to train while fasting, so I could get used to the groove and that’s what I did. Everyone I spoke to about this called me stupid, and I agree, it’s a very unnecessary thing to do, but what you don’t know is it’s a very Fouad thing to do. I have to stick to my brand identity, please.
Training during Ramadan meant simulating race day as many times as I could, to run in the afternoon severely dehydrated so on the day, I’d know how to pace myself and not run out of breath.
The first time.
Day 3 of Ramadan saw me attempt an 8k. I almost did it but at the 6k mark, it felt impossible and I had to stop at 6.8k. This was the hardest one I had to do. I ran with someone on this day and I knew I was struggling when I stopped talking to him. I had to focus on not dying so speaking was out of it.
I was out here setting PRs though, and it’s funny that I left it till Ramadan to do so. I think this was partly because I felt if I did not train well enough, I’d end up failing so I probably pushed my self too hard.
The second time.
Second one was right after Iftar. I hadn’t even had a proper meal yet but this felt really good. I discovered a new route here on this day and now I’m glad.
The third time.
Third one was an 8k and I simulated race day on this day. I started at 1.15pm which was the same time the race was going to start and was able to run 6k without running out of breath. It was at this point I knew I’d began to get into the groove. Less than a week before this, I was dying at the 6k mark and there I was, feeling very confident this time around.
I paused though, and walked for a bit. This was because I knew I had to get to 8k and if I continued at that pace, the chances of doing an 8k were very slim. I got back on it and was able to do a 2k to close out my target. I felt super confident after this one, this was what made me believe I could do it on a fasting stomach.
The fourth time.
This was two days after the 8k and after this, I felt on top of the world. I did a 4k and did not even feel it. I felt ready and I could probably do the 10k if I had to. It was right before Iftar too so I put my all into it knowing I was going home to hydrate.
The fifth time.
Just a final run 2 days before race day to warm the knees up. Nothing too crazy.
All in all, it felt good to be able to prepare in this fashion. I wasn’t over-confident. I knew I still had to show up on the day and do the work. Sherifa said she wanted to come cheer at the event and I jumped at the offer. Why? I needed someone that could tell the organizers how to bury a Muslim after I slump and die. I can’t suffer before my death and also suffer in the grave, please.
Pre-run
I had goals for this run, some of which I had put to the side for obvious reasons. I could’ve attempted to run 10k under an hour or 50 mins but if I was going to be hydrated before and during the run, I might’ve tried that.
Since that wasn’t the case, my goal for this run was 1. To not die and 2. To finish it. No matter how many times I ran while fasting, I had a feeling race day was going to be different. I might wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe the sun would crank up the heat or something, you know. There’s always something.
It’s also supposed to be the first of 3 10ks so I was going to take it easy and go harder for the next ones.
Le Drip
Someone from the office once told me I was a fashion icon. Around the same time, a friend told me he had only seen me in neutral colors and that my dress sense didn't reflect a great deal of experimentation. To each their own, I suppose.
A fashion icon is definitely a stretch, so the jury is still out on that one. Fashion icon or not, I knew I had to show up looking athletic. Spoke to one of the best designers I know in my friend Simi, and he came up with this design.
My new favorite thing to do while planning for these races is the drip. I've already started planning for the next one (it's in three weeks).
How it came out.
It didn’t. The lead time for the shirt was 3-5 weeks and I didn’t have time so I just stuck to my Gymshark. We get it next time though.
Race day
I woke up feeling very normal on the day. I wasn’t pumped for the run, nor was I demotivated. I just wanted to get it over with. Seeing my friends though, made my entire day and that was wholesome. There’s not too much to talk about here, I don’t even have words to describe how I felt.
I started not too fast, I took it slow but I got into a groove and I could easily amp up the intensity if I wanted. I did, at times and it felt good. My knees starting giving me the BAT signal at around 7k but I persevered. It went better than I expected.
I finished the run in 01:05:11 recording 6:27 minutes per km. My goal was to finish it in less than 70 mins and I did just that.
Post run
After the run, I was filled with adrenaline and I told my friend I could do it again NOW if I wanted. That was a lie, my complete lower body started feeling like spaghetti about 10 minutes after I said that.
I saw someone at the train station struggling to walk and I asked if he did the half marathon and he said “No, I did the full marathon” and I understood. That’s going to be me in two years, inshaaAllah.
What I learnt
This run taught me a lot of things. In order of importance:
No more running while fasting, this was the first and last time.
It was fun while it lasted but the truth remains that this was as a result of improper planning. I did it anyways, and I have a medal to show for it. You’d have to shut me up for the rest of my life because you might’ve run a 10k but have you done it while fasting? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
It gets better. I broke my own records in this run.
I beat my previous 8k time by 6 mins and my practice 8k time by 10 mins. Finished an 8k in 51 minutes. Talk to me nice.
I did 8.9k in the same time I did an 8k. I don’t know how to explain it but I’m 900m faster.
I did it, I really did.
Thanks
I’m forever grateful to my friends that came out to see me, y’all contributed greatly to the bouts of energy that possessed me towards the end of my run. I love you all so much ❤️
What's next
1 out of 6 (for the year) done. It’s time to move on. My next one is on April 13th. Be there. My goal for the next one is to do it in under an hour. With water and refreshments along the way, I’m looking to shave 5 minutes off my time. Let’s see if it’s possible.
Leaderboard
I also decided to start a leaderboard against myself so I can track my progress.
Honourable mention - my medal.
Till next time.
You said you would and you did. Well done Fouad