24 Weeks Later: A running Saga
Tomorrow marks 24 weeks since I laced up my shoes and decided to run again—starting from early March. If you compare my first and most recent runs, the difference in conditioning is like comparing a rusty bicycle to a well-oiled machine. The Numbers: 6th March : 4 km non-stop | Avg pace: 7:00 min/km | Avg/Max HR: 161/176 27th March : 5 km non-stop | Avg pace: 7:25 min/km | Avg/Max HR: 146/152 15th August : 4 km non-stop | Avg pace: 6:29 min/km | Avg/Max HR: 145/152 That first run? Felt like jump-starting a tractor that had been abandoned in a field for months. My heart rate was screaming, “What are you doing to me?” But I was determined to make this comeback different. So I ditched pace obsession and embraced heart rate training—hello, Zone 2. By 27th March, I was running strictly within Zone 2, resulting in a leisurely 7:25 min/km pace. Fast forward to 15th August—24 weeks and 880 km later—and I cruised through 4 km at 6:29 min/km. My heart rate barely broke a sw...