It's tomorrow!

Activities/Actions:
Walk and get energy gels.

Stat:

Course condition:

walk with Wayne

Date: 12/20/2008
Start Time: 13:00:00
End Time: 16:00:00
Time Taken: 03:00:00
Route: ZhongXiaoFuxing 2 Taipei Main
Total Distance: 4.85 mi.
Burned: 390 (kcal)
Laps: 1
Pace: 37:07 (avg)
Speed: 1.62 (mi/hr) (avg)

Note and reflections:
Q: "where to get energy gels for runners in Taipei, Taiwan?" also see, [วิ่งไม่หยุด: Two days to go, ING... and วิ่งไม่หยุด: The last two miles in training]

After finishing a lunch with Wayne near ZhongXiao Fuxing, we walked to get the gels at Irun, a store on Minquan E. Rd, near Zhongshan Junior High School MRT station (but today Muzha line was not in service). We both discussed how our situation will be like tomorrow, but it will be fun as I assured Wayne. When we arrived at the store, we found Powerbar gels and other stuff. The store carries a good collection of endurance sport equipment (mostly for activities on land). I decided to take 3 packs of gels and 1 pack of the step one bar. Great!!!! Finally, I found them! The mission accomplished! Later, we walked down to Taipei Main Station as Wayne was getting a haircut there. I came home after that.

I came to the office and had dinner with Pei-Ling and Kaiyie; I told them how excited and nervous I was. :D Wann also dropped by to give me a dish.


Photos:

My food on the course! This is really first time I will use them.

I got them from Irun.

Continue reading the rest...

Two days to go, ING...

Activities/Actions:
Resting! Carbo-loading & Advice from J.J.

Note and reflections:

Race package pick-up & power gels!
On Thursday afternoon, Yu-Hsiang, DaTao (our navigator) and I were on our mission to get race packages at ING Cafe in Xinyi district and finding some packs of energy gels. On two scooters, we arrived at ING Cafe and got our race packages for our team "AS" Team [10 peoples: 2 9K-, 7 Half- and 1 Full- marathoners!). The first task was accomplished very easily. The second task, however, had some difficulties. We learned that California Fitness sells the gel, but they did not allow us to get inside to buy the gels because we were not their members. They suggested we went to another place nearby. That place did carry the gels of another brand, but they had already expired. So, this task was not accomplished. The next day during the lunch time, we (AZhong, Li-Ching, Yi-Ciao, Yu-Hsiang, Yian-chou, and I) stopped by 7-11 to check a "power-in" packs (Japanese brand), but this one was in a too-big package and was not what I wanted. Thanks to everyone for trying. Yu-Hsiang already found out that Irun carries the stuff.

The course map was displayed on Friday next to the wall of postcards for everyone to view.

Following J.J.'s advice:

After learned about my training routine, J.J. suggested me to pace my running during the race carefully. He suggested not to run too fast for the first half. Just run for a comfortable pace (slower than I can or normally run for my short/long runs) and determine to pace after the half and so on. This is a good suggestion, and I will following it. I think that I will do 8-9 min mile for the first half and adjust my pace after that.

A bet

At the lunch on Friday, I mentioned that I have primary and secondary goals: was the primary one is to cross the finish line and the secondary one is to finish under 4 hours. Li-Ching said that they would treat me if I can finish under 4 hours, but I will treat them if I cannot. It's a deal!!!

Photos:

My Taipei's ING Marathon Jersey & bib; No. 01431!

Close-up for the chip!

The official course map posted next to the Wall of Postcards for viewing.

Continue reading the rest...

The last two miles in training

Activities/Actions:
Ran 4 days of 8k, 3 miles, 4 miles and 2 miles

Course condition:
All runs on treadmill.


Note and reflections:

This last week of the training I did short runs. At these points, I have been missing many long runs, which are important. The runs of this week were also in the evening not in the morning as I wanted. Well, I am preparing mentally from now on and carbo-loading. Another mission of this week is to get some packs of energy gels [http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=6677&PageNum=4] before Saturday ends.

Continue reading the rest...

a glove has gone

I could not find the left side of the open finger gloves I owned. I remembered that I brought them back home with me on the ride home from the office. I stopped at TingHao before getting to the apartment. However, I could not find it anywhere... So, I will use this one with the left side of the other pair of gloves, whose the right side was lost in February.

Continue reading the rest...