August challenge — 10k run

UPDATE: I completed the 10k on 24th Sept in 1hr 12 min at a pace of 7.27m! Yay! Here’s the obligatory photo — https://www.instagram.com/p/BZaMFq5AyXL/?taken-by=vernekard
30 day challenges are the best.
When trying to build a new habit, you start out with a lot of ambition. A couple of days down the line, you lose that initial momentum. That’s when it’s so crucial to keep going. And hence the 30 day challenge. If you can stick to it for 30 days, you can probably build a new habit. Ever since I came across this idea i’ve been obsessed with it, doing a cooking challenge, a reading challenge(more like an ongoing hack to read more but still) and a couple more challenges. So come August i thought it was time for a new challenge!
I’ve rarely challenged my physical fitness. In my last post I talked about my struggle with exercising regularly and how i finally found a method that works. So while it’s been going great and I get at least 4 days of exercise per week, i want to push myself harder.
I’m hardly a runner. I’m more of a bi-cycle person. I still remember the thrill of climbing up Nandi hills — a stretch of more than 45km for the first time. The only time I’ve ever run long distance was a 5k race on Bitsians day in Delhi, way back in Dec 14. A couple of days ago I went for a test run and could manage all of 2.2km at 7.23 m/km. But i guess it’s a start.

I signed up for the 5k segment of the Mumbai half marathon on 20th August. With about 25 odd days to go I thought 10km would be a stretch.
So what’s the plan?
I’ll start out small, running sub 3km distances for a couple of days with a rest day in between. Once i’m comfortable with the 3km, i’ll try to stretch it to 5km within the first 10 days. That leaves me with 20 days to prepare for the next 5km. I don’t have a time target for the 10km, though considering an avg speed on 8m/km I’m assuming i should be done within 1hr & 30 min max.
I’ll update my progress on this blog as i reach each successive time/km milestone. You can also follow me on Instagram, i love using stories!
10km is ambitious but i guess that’s the point. Wish me luck!

Some blogs and blokes that inspired me:
- http://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/sf-marathon/training/ The story of 7 runners preparing for the SF marathon.
- My colleague Vishal who runs 180km races!
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