My love affair with the Mustlovehills run crew (or cult as my wife calls it) started back in 2021, when we use to do hill repeats at Lovers Walk (Rose Garden) and track at Woolsack field. I joined with my neighbour Mujahid, shortly after THAT dark year that depressed us all. As my previous run crew never really regrouped post covid, I was so happy when I found a
new one.
For context on just how much MLH has helped me improve my race times, I have to share a bit of my running background. I originally got into running through my sister, after a
sad few months for my family as I had just lost my dad to cancer. It was through this that I was reminded by her on the importance of looking after our health. Taking heed to this, there I was in 2016 at my very first run, Green Point Park Run. I finished with a time of 39mins, feeling like I was about to die.
Since then with the natural increase in mileage over the years, the race bug bit me and I entered a race nearly every week, purely out of fomo... At the time pushing for time was barely a thought, I mean it was somewhat there, but I never had the belief that I would ever hit those times. Even though I was giving it my all, it felt like that was my limit and this is as fast I can go. From 2017-2019 I ran almost every race on the calendar and my biggest improvements were probably distance rather than speed as I ran my first 21km and 30km in this time and the goal was just to complete it not feeling like shit.
I was thoroughly enjoying my running and even joined a local asa running club, as the temp licenses were starting to add up. And then 2020 happened and we all know what happened during that dark period. lost my fitness and picked up a few kg's. Eventually post lockdown when I got back into it, it felt like I was starting all over again.
Enter MLH... While I was no stranger to hill and speed work, this was just on a different level. Every session feels like a vomit session, but so worth it in the end. I complain week in and week out (sorry, it's my copping mechanism), but I enjoy every minute cause I know its making us stronger. Since joining in late 2021 I've been consistent and rarely miss a session, probably also cause of fomo. To understand just how much MLH has helped me improve, here are some previous pb's pre 2020:
5km - barely dipping under 27mins
10km - holding on for life on the sub 60 bus (managed a best of 57mins)
15km - same as 10km but sub 90 bus
21km - sub 2 was not even a dream, it felt impossible. Even though I was slowly improving, it felt difficult. My first 21km was completed in 2hrs 45mins, and no it was not easy at the time. I eventually worked my way to 2:10 through the years but that was all out feeling absolutely broken at the finish with week long break after lol
30km - finish and try not to die, if I recall my first bay to bay was completed in 4hrs
After a consistent training block with mlh in 2021, 2022 was one of my best years! The PB's just came flowing in.
First up was the hohenhort 15km, this is known to be tough one as its very hilly. But as you know, we do hard things! This is what all that hill training preped me for. Safe to
say, I ate up those hills. My official finish time was 1hr 17mins.
Then we had the 1st big one at the end of Jan, bay 2 bay. I didnt have a specific goal in my mind, but jumped on the sub 3 bus after first 3km and stuck with them. I obviously
got the sub 3 time but more importantly, what made me more happy than the time was how lekker I felt at the finish. Unlike races before, this was first 21+ race that I did not
feel broken at the finish.
The next big one was in Feb, peninsula 21km. This was probably the most anxious one, as I chose this as the make or break for sub 2. I don't why I pressured myself into deciding that if I dont make it here, I will hit sub 2. Felt even more nervous cause coach Mikey was on road support. Let me just say, when I crossed that finish line I was probably the happiest runner in Simons Town that day lol I would have accepted 1hr 59mins 59sec, offical race time was 1hr 54mins. Again, it was the more the feeling of the body than the time that got to me. Even during the race I was amazed at how I was gliding effortlessy.
Algamdullilah! From that point on sub 2 21km became pretty much standard. Another notable one was gugs 10km where I ran my first sub 50, and this also became my standard for a 10km. I also ran a 22min 5km TT. For the rest of that year the PB's flowed one after the other and still continue to flow to this day.
Fast forward to present day, and new goals have been set. I trust with consistency at MLH, I will hit them insha'Allah! The only monkey on my back is marathon time, but that's a story for another day...
I know there are beginners out there that feel intimidated when they see us train, but I'm here to say dont be scared to join us, and see how the results speak for themselves.
As always, thank you guys for coming! :)
コメント