Picture from Reykjavik Marathon

This is a picture that was taken by ASI, I ran the last 50 meters carrying my daughter... I was amazed to notice that my wife, mom, dad, father-in-law and friend in the background. Thank you Alex (my colleague) for pointing out the picture. Though I have to admit it was quite expensive (Euro 25) to get one picture.

4:16:18 Reykjavik Marathon 2007

It was a perfect day... bright and sunny, but cool with no wind. I was probably in the best of spirits and energy. Ari Danielsson a colleague of mine started the race with me and we stayed together for about 25 km, then I broke away feeling that I was slowing down. During the 25km, I had not put vaseline or bandaid over my chest to prevent my nipples from brasing, it started to bleed so I was a little distracted but I just accepted the fact that it was going to be the case and I cannot do anything about it. I found some vaseline at the 15th km and I found another colleague, Harald Haraldsson, who was watching the marathon and he had a bicycle and requested him to find some bandaid or tape... I got the tape around the 17th km... Thank you Halli, but the tape did not hold and I was bleeding badly, I just kept a positive mind that I can do nothing about it and I should just keep on.

I was feeling extremely strong and I was hardly tired, it was perfect until the 30th km... then my thigh muscle was tightening, by then Ari had caught up with me and he was feeling great. I was very proud that he was feeling strong and running well as he had a bad experience in NY Marathon last year. I stopped to stretch and Ari carried on... he finished in 4:01.

From 31st km to the end of the marathon it was horrible pain, every muscle in my leg was cramping.... especially my big muscles in my thigh and the muscles behind my knee and the calf muscle. I had to stop and stretch, walk and at times crawl the last 12km. It was very hard and I felt disappointed as I was going to break the 4 hour barrier this time. The first 30 km I ran at an average pace of 5 min and 19 seconds, if I had kept up the pace I would have finished the marathon in 3:44:19 even if I slowed down by another 25 seconds I would have finished the marathon in 3:59:08... but I finished the marathon in 4:16:18!

I think mentally I was quite strong to have finished the marathon because there were several instances when my body was screeming to stop but I kept on because I had a very positive outlook the entire way. I was running for a cause, to help build schools and bring learning and knowledge to girls who are shut out from everything positive and decent about the world.

I am looking forward to Berlin Marathon, and I am determined to beat the 4 hour barrier. I wanted to thank all those who contributed money towards Central Asia Institute and my running from the bottom of my heart. You made a difference and I hope we can make this world a better place to live in by our simple acts of kindness.

So thank you and your inspiration made me finish the marathon!

Marathon day

Getting ready to run the Reykjavik Marathon... it is very exciting although I have already run 3 marathons.



Food:

I had pasta and noodles last night and museli & granola with AB Lite milk.



Money raised so far:

235.500 ISK ~ US$3485.79



Statistics
I lost my statistics but I know I had run about 350 km

Reykjavik Marathon & Central Asia Institute

I decided to run the Reykjavik Marathon and the Berlin Marathon. The reason I decided to run the Reykjavik Marathon is to maximize the charity donation that I can contribute. My bank is donating US $ 45.75 per km to a charity of choice of the runner.

As I had mentioned in my previous posting, I am devoting all my fund raising activity to contribute towards the exceptional work that Greg Mortensen is doing in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is my Hero and I hope whoever is reading this post can contribute something to his effort to educate girls and women in place where there is very little value placed on women and girls!

Started my training for London Marathon

I woke up at 4:05 am as I could not sleep due to the anticipation of starting my training again. I guess that is a good thing. I ran 10.15 km in 1 hour and 12 minutes! it was pathetic and I was struggling half way.

My buddy Villi was going to run 10 km with the running group in the evening and I decided to join them, I have never run twice in a day, today was the first. The weather was nasty it was drizzling sideways and the temperature was 1 c but felt like -5 c. Anyway I completed running 10.28 km in 57 mintues 28 seconds... I am planning to average about 30 to 40 km a week for the next month and then I will gradually increase it to 60 to 70 km.

Oslo Marathon: 4:27:19

I finished the Oslo Marathon in 4 hours 27 minutes and 19 seconds. It was the toughest run that I have ever done as I was running with the Flu and I was cramping all over my legs. I am not going to use that as an excuse for my poor performance, so I have a lot to improve with regard to training, my diet and mental discipline. I have promised myself to work harder for the next marathon.

Here are the official results from the Oslo Marathon.

The Night of Oslo Marathon

Well, I am up at 3:30 am... I have been feeling awful, I don´t know how I got the cold. I was feeling funny when I woke up after my short nap around 4:45 pm yesterday and my throat was itching and my nose was running. I could not believe it, I have been so careful with water, trying to eat carefully and keep myself warm. I think it was the change in weather yesterday, everything was great until around 12pm and then it started raining cats and dogs.

I am really worried about tomorrow but I am positive and I am going to smile even if I feeling miserable. I woke up because of a dream or rather more like a nightmare! I was late to the start of the marathon and I was struggling after the 3rd kilometer :( anyway, I should be sleeping and I just cannot go back to sleep.)

But the night before I ate
1. Plain Pasta
2. Grilled Chicken
3. Green Salad

The dinner was great, almost everyone part of the Glitnir Marathon team was there with our CEO and it was a lot of fun. We shared a lot of funny stories and the mood was very positive. I like Oslo a lot... we had dinner at Brasserie located in Aker Brygge. We were also very close to Glitnir's new Norwegian headquarters. It is a great location in Aker Brygge and we had tour of that by Bjorn Richard our managing director of Corporate Communication.

1 week before Oslo Marathon

I cannot wait for the Oslo Marathon, I am really excited to run again and feed on the energy that everyone will exude there.
Some numbers
1. Total distance run from 8/20 to 9/24 = 165.22
2. Average Pace = 5 min 45 sec per kilometer
3. Average Heart Rate = 159 bpm
4. Average Speed = 10.44 kilometer per hour
5. Total Calories burnt = 19,873
6. Max Heart Rate during training = 190
7. Total Run Time = 15 hours 26 min 20 sec

Ultra Marathon Man -Dean Karnazes

I have started reading a book by Dean Karnazes titled Ultra Marathon Man. I never knew that a human being is capable of enduring such physical hardship. If he can do that I can at the very least be happy and maybe run the Reykjavik Marathon.
You see I have started thinking about running the marathon but have not started the preparation. Maybe I need to remind myself not to procastinate. Anyway, I am hooked... Be on the lookout for my running plan and progress. Reykjavik Marathon here I come :)