Two personal bests in one week

So, last week turned out to be a great running week. I was able to log two personal bests. I ran my fastest 5K and also my fastest mile and I'm pretty happy about it.

I usually try to run every single day. There is this initiative called 100 days of running which is organized every year between april and august. The rules of the event are that one has to run a minimum of 2 Kms per day for 100 days straight. The runs can be logged using an app called strava in which case the run logs are automatically synced to the 100 days of running website or we can also manually enter the details using any other run logging apps like Nike Running Plus or Gamin Connect or any of the hundreds of other running apps available.

I personally use Strava because the watch I use, the Garmin Fenix 3 (long term review coming soon) and the underlying Garmin Connect app automatically syncs my runs to Strava and I find it extremely convenient to use this.

This 100 days of running event is a great motivation to start running and to prepare ourselves for all the running events which happen during the later part of the year. I've tried this for two consecutive years now and I found it to be very motivating and helpful. I couldn't run for all the 100 days but I did better than last year. Last year I could only run for around 50 of the 100 days but this time I did more than 70 days. I missed runs usually because I was travelling. I tried to push in a run in between my vacation as well which is why I was able to do 20 days more than last year.

These runs helped me a great deal in preparing myself for Hyderabads biggest running event, the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon. I had some very very hectic work weeks before the actual event and I couldn't practice much, but the running I did before helped me and I could finish the 10K easily. The lack of practice showed a little but overall it was pretty good.

Like I said in my previous blog, I recently enrolled into a fancy gym and my runs are getting a lot more consistent now. I paid relatively more as membership for this gym which is my motivation to go every single day and make the most of it. I am running in a controlled environment now on a treadmill which makes these runs relatively easier but it doesn't take away the fact that I still run for 25-40 mins straight maintaining a heart rate of about 160bpm.

A lot more events are coming up. My next event is going to be the Hyderabad 10K which will be held in November. I will do a few more events before that and in the process I hope to break a lot more of my personal records.

Running is very good for health and I personally would encourage everyone to run. It works as a stress buster and also helps keep your weight under control. It also increases your stamina making it easier to climb stairs and keeps you physically fit. It helps more if you keep a track of your runs and to see that there are improvements as time passes.

On to my next record now. Keep running!!