This blog entry, really, is not as it says. In reality, what it means is that I have been very upset this week because I cared for a specific outcome, but yet, the beneficiaries of the outcome, has acted in ways I believe just undo all the work I did to help them, and probably not with that intent too.
But you know, I learned something, and from the land of happiness of Philippines. That talking about it helps, and at the heart of all matters, genuine intent always prevails.
Yes, it is the time of the year when I am philosophical again.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Manny Pacquiao - The best pound for pound fighter in the world
Also known as the 2nd richest athlete in the world, waiting for Tiger Woods to fall off his first perch.
This guy is modest, he is not so well known but all the filipinos love him. But when he fights, wow, he is a tiny dynamite in action. So my message for my client team building exercise is that, if you want to fight, you got to fight as a heavyweight and across all divisions - you have a local hero you can emulate, the challenge now is to step into the ring, and get knocked out a few times, but come out standing, and one day, you will be able to not just say I want to be, but I am.
Six months has passed
How time flies.. always when one starts writing again, it tends to be difficult, in tidal waves initially and then the same "I don't feel like blogging" happens.
Why have I not written for the last six months?
I am not sure. I am not sure if anyone reads my blog, or my intention was for no one to read my blog so that I can then move on to blog for people who really wants to know about me.
My last blog, I had suffered a ligament partial tear injury in my right ankle. Today the ankle still aches a little when I start jogging or running, and I continue to happily walk around in flat shoes. I've bought myself some heels for work, to appear more professional, but it has never come to me wearing them.
I am still in the Philippines more time then I am in Malaysia or any other country. I am going to be here for at least until mid of next year. I say at least, and I admit it now, no point of being in denial - because the project I partially oversee will be on until at least May next year, and not including post production support. The project is a series of implementation, and I strongly believe we will continue to be required to implement the following stages.
I have really gotten to like a lot the people of the Philippines. There are some days I feel frustrated because things cannot be changed, people cannot be changed, processes remains rigid, things do not get done, but my frustration has never been about the people, culture or the processes. My frustrations has always stemmed from me. The me is my emotional side who wants to do more more more, and is pushed to do more sometimes by my bosses, and a career in limbo does not help. I have to say, if and when I leave this country at the end of my "assignment" (the longest one in my career so far if you consider the point I step foot in Philippines as the beginning of the journey), there will be a part of me left behind here. I will write more about this in later blogs.
I wrote at the beginning of my blog this year, this will be year which I will achieve 1000kms of running. Running continues to be my passion because when I run, I am free of the aches, pains, stress, and all that is associated with who I am when I am working, etc. It also gives me a chance to interact with different people and people who like pain, speed, and who from all walks of life, champion a common cause of achievement of the most modest kind. Finishing a race with sweat!
I have at some point in the last few months, had a lot of headaches which caused me to question if I am well. I avoided going for a brain scan. I do not think I need a brain scan now. I believe I am well. Age and state of mind is indeed a factor of how much rest, relaxation and emotional and spiritual well being a person is. This may sound very philosophical, but I've always believed my interest in running and competing drives me to overcome many possible health and mental illness I would've probably succumbed to for a person with the type of challenges I consistently push myself to at work.
Friends alike, thanks for your patience and please welcome me back!
Why have I not written for the last six months?
I am not sure. I am not sure if anyone reads my blog, or my intention was for no one to read my blog so that I can then move on to blog for people who really wants to know about me.
My last blog, I had suffered a ligament partial tear injury in my right ankle. Today the ankle still aches a little when I start jogging or running, and I continue to happily walk around in flat shoes. I've bought myself some heels for work, to appear more professional, but it has never come to me wearing them.
I am still in the Philippines more time then I am in Malaysia or any other country. I am going to be here for at least until mid of next year. I say at least, and I admit it now, no point of being in denial - because the project I partially oversee will be on until at least May next year, and not including post production support. The project is a series of implementation, and I strongly believe we will continue to be required to implement the following stages.
I have really gotten to like a lot the people of the Philippines. There are some days I feel frustrated because things cannot be changed, people cannot be changed, processes remains rigid, things do not get done, but my frustration has never been about the people, culture or the processes. My frustrations has always stemmed from me. The me is my emotional side who wants to do more more more, and is pushed to do more sometimes by my bosses, and a career in limbo does not help. I have to say, if and when I leave this country at the end of my "assignment" (the longest one in my career so far if you consider the point I step foot in Philippines as the beginning of the journey), there will be a part of me left behind here. I will write more about this in later blogs.
I wrote at the beginning of my blog this year, this will be year which I will achieve 1000kms of running. Running continues to be my passion because when I run, I am free of the aches, pains, stress, and all that is associated with who I am when I am working, etc. It also gives me a chance to interact with different people and people who like pain, speed, and who from all walks of life, champion a common cause of achievement of the most modest kind. Finishing a race with sweat!
I have at some point in the last few months, had a lot of headaches which caused me to question if I am well. I avoided going for a brain scan. I do not think I need a brain scan now. I believe I am well. Age and state of mind is indeed a factor of how much rest, relaxation and emotional and spiritual well being a person is. This may sound very philosophical, but I've always believed my interest in running and competing drives me to overcome many possible health and mental illness I would've probably succumbed to for a person with the type of challenges I consistently push myself to at work.
Friends alike, thanks for your patience and please welcome me back!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Flowers from the land of Avatar
Avatar flowers!!! To all ironman competitors tomorrow, all the best. As for me, I need to learn how to walk again tomorrow... I am determined to try because it is so damn boring sitting in front of the computer and tv and eat and sleep.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
A humbling experience
My series of bad luck is visiting again - and all this probably to punish me for winning some small amount of $$ during the recent chinese new year break. During the first week fo chinese new year, on two occasions, the two visits to open houses has resulted in fair to good luck for me on the gambling table, albeit small amount of winnings only. This led me to believe.. wow, this is going to be my good luck year (fyi, I never win any money or get any free rides - all my gains has been really tough hard work - this over every aspect too!).
Yesterday morning, I had a bad fall, I slipped on a step in front of the client's back door entrance enroute to a contract negotiation meeting! On hindsight I blamed it on my shoes - this was a new pair of heels and the heels were smaller than the ones I was previously used to, perhaps it was just that, things on my mind or just forces preventing me from closing the deal!
Regardless, the moment I fell, it was excruciating pain on my right ankle. I really could not stand up, even with help, it took me a few minutes to edge my way to sit down on the ledge near the wall. This was early morning, when there were many people nearby. The kind souls who helped me onto the wall must've been surprised at my pained look.
I sprained my ankle - badly too. I sat down for a few minutes, the guard looking concerned and kept mumbling to me in Tagalog whether I wanted to go to the clinic, he was going to call the emergency medical services. I said, no, let me sit down first. I tried to get up, but I definitely had almost no feeling on my right ankle. I called my Filipino colleague who was at the nego meeting. Thankfully she answered, and she wisely asked the client's EA Rhoda to come down to look for me and bring me to the clinic.
I somehow magically managed to shuffle to the clinic which was 20 m away, on another client building, clutching to Rhoda's hands, whilst she carried my handbag and laptop bag. I had heard of this clinic, the client actually owns Makati Medical Center and was famous for employee care, they had a properly equipped clinic on the office building with even a small operating theatre. At the clinic, amazingly, Rhoda told me that the docter can see me even though I am not an employee.
After waiting for 5 mins, I limped into Dr Limjoco's office - he had an office, and was not in white like a docter. I showed him the golfball at my right ankle, and he promptly (smart docter!) asked an orderly to bring me to an xray room, in a wheelchair! That started my wheelchair experience. The orderly wheeled me to a xray place, the xray dude immediately xrayed my right ankle (err, where is my protecting sheet?) and then wheeled me to a operating theatre? Before I started to think the worst, the docter came in and applied some anti infection on my left scraped knee (which was fortunately not bleeding). Phew (I thought I was going to go into some big examination...) - the operating room was a small place anyway..
Anyway, there I go back to the good docter's room, and then he pronounced me ok "no fractures" smiled at me, and gave me cerebrex (I remember mum takes this for anti-inflammation), and a small prescription sheet and ok, sayonara. I was wondering - huh? The guy is not going to even bandage up my golf ball ankle and how the heck am I going to get home from Philippines to KL when I still could not feel my ankle ?
What then ensued was a series of getting back to my hotel, getting a wheelchair from the hotel to my room, making requests for wheelchair assistance for my flight back, and then wheelchair to taxi, shuffled in pain for 20 feet, wheelchair from entrance of airport to aircraft door. Kind help from kind strangers to get me food, and wheelchair from KLIA airport from aircraft door to the exit before I got on my transport home.
Safely back at my parent's home in KL, suffice to say I had indeed a humbling experience yesterday. God was telling me to slow down, and I am still going about in my bullet train speed. One day life stops and you wonder whether all you are doing on the side was living. I have not learnt that lesson still, and yet, it was indeed a humbling experience for me. During the race at putrajaya, I never wondered what would've happened if my knees were wiped out - I would be in a wheelchair for months - it is not a joke to have the ability to walk or run taken away from you in one instance, and with the same thought I really got to appreciate the courage of the disabled to be in such a situation all their lives. How thankful I am that I had not broken my ankle, my knee or anything.
When you have difficulty walking, you wonder why everything seems so far away, why people stared when you limp for a few steps, and why people just could not understand how difficult it was to walk two steps, but when you are seated, everyone could not prejudice you against your disabilities, because in the mind of the walking disabled, they are the same powerful individuals as all of us.
The ankle is swollen like a real hard puffy piece now, and walking is more inconvenient but at least the swelling is subsiding along.
I cannot wait to run again, but indeed I will look at wheelchair bound people with a different level of admiration the next time for their grittiness to tackle the challenges put in their way.
Yesterday morning, I had a bad fall, I slipped on a step in front of the client's back door entrance enroute to a contract negotiation meeting! On hindsight I blamed it on my shoes - this was a new pair of heels and the heels were smaller than the ones I was previously used to, perhaps it was just that, things on my mind or just forces preventing me from closing the deal!
Regardless, the moment I fell, it was excruciating pain on my right ankle. I really could not stand up, even with help, it took me a few minutes to edge my way to sit down on the ledge near the wall. This was early morning, when there were many people nearby. The kind souls who helped me onto the wall must've been surprised at my pained look.
I sprained my ankle - badly too. I sat down for a few minutes, the guard looking concerned and kept mumbling to me in Tagalog whether I wanted to go to the clinic, he was going to call the emergency medical services. I said, no, let me sit down first. I tried to get up, but I definitely had almost no feeling on my right ankle. I called my Filipino colleague who was at the nego meeting. Thankfully she answered, and she wisely asked the client's EA Rhoda to come down to look for me and bring me to the clinic.
I somehow magically managed to shuffle to the clinic which was 20 m away, on another client building, clutching to Rhoda's hands, whilst she carried my handbag and laptop bag. I had heard of this clinic, the client actually owns Makati Medical Center and was famous for employee care, they had a properly equipped clinic on the office building with even a small operating theatre. At the clinic, amazingly, Rhoda told me that the docter can see me even though I am not an employee.
After waiting for 5 mins, I limped into Dr Limjoco's office - he had an office, and was not in white like a docter. I showed him the golfball at my right ankle, and he promptly (smart docter!) asked an orderly to bring me to an xray room, in a wheelchair! That started my wheelchair experience. The orderly wheeled me to a xray place, the xray dude immediately xrayed my right ankle (err, where is my protecting sheet?) and then wheeled me to a operating theatre? Before I started to think the worst, the docter came in and applied some anti infection on my left scraped knee (which was fortunately not bleeding). Phew (I thought I was going to go into some big examination...) - the operating room was a small place anyway..
Anyway, there I go back to the good docter's room, and then he pronounced me ok "no fractures" smiled at me, and gave me cerebrex (I remember mum takes this for anti-inflammation), and a small prescription sheet and ok, sayonara. I was wondering - huh? The guy is not going to even bandage up my golf ball ankle and how the heck am I going to get home from Philippines to KL when I still could not feel my ankle ?
What then ensued was a series of getting back to my hotel, getting a wheelchair from the hotel to my room, making requests for wheelchair assistance for my flight back, and then wheelchair to taxi, shuffled in pain for 20 feet, wheelchair from entrance of airport to aircraft door. Kind help from kind strangers to get me food, and wheelchair from KLIA airport from aircraft door to the exit before I got on my transport home.
Safely back at my parent's home in KL, suffice to say I had indeed a humbling experience yesterday. God was telling me to slow down, and I am still going about in my bullet train speed. One day life stops and you wonder whether all you are doing on the side was living. I have not learnt that lesson still, and yet, it was indeed a humbling experience for me. During the race at putrajaya, I never wondered what would've happened if my knees were wiped out - I would be in a wheelchair for months - it is not a joke to have the ability to walk or run taken away from you in one instance, and with the same thought I really got to appreciate the courage of the disabled to be in such a situation all their lives. How thankful I am that I had not broken my ankle, my knee or anything.
When you have difficulty walking, you wonder why everything seems so far away, why people stared when you limp for a few steps, and why people just could not understand how difficult it was to walk two steps, but when you are seated, everyone could not prejudice you against your disabilities, because in the mind of the walking disabled, they are the same powerful individuals as all of us.
The ankle is swollen like a real hard puffy piece now, and walking is more inconvenient but at least the swelling is subsiding along.
I cannot wait to run again, but indeed I will look at wheelchair bound people with a different level of admiration the next time for their grittiness to tackle the challenges put in their way.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Congratulations...
.. to ML and Mick ... for your upcoming marriage registration. I thought it was a simple way for me to say how happy I am for both of you..
ML, my dear friend from university days - cold room, stairway 6, ski trips, d&ds, st kilda, games, work, shanghai, amsterdam, facebook, skype, your brothers, mum, dad, nephews and nieces, crushes, high standards, being angry, being at peace, finding michael, deciding ... a long long long way and maybe 20 years, more than half our lifetime till now. I wish you, the best life forward, and a lifetime of friendship, family (your own), and success in your own definition.
ML, congratulations once again.. marriages are happy occasions for everyone, and I am sorry I cannot be with you and Michael on this occasion. I will as promised stand by my word to be your organizer for your wedding reception (and will delegate effectively!)... regardless of where we will each be.
ML, my dear friend from university days - cold room, stairway 6, ski trips, d&ds, st kilda, games, work, shanghai, amsterdam, facebook, skype, your brothers, mum, dad, nephews and nieces, crushes, high standards, being angry, being at peace, finding michael, deciding ... a long long long way and maybe 20 years, more than half our lifetime till now. I wish you, the best life forward, and a lifetime of friendship, family (your own), and success in your own definition.
ML, congratulations once again.. marriages are happy occasions for everyone, and I am sorry I cannot be with you and Michael on this occasion. I will as promised stand by my word to be your organizer for your wedding reception (and will delegate effectively!)... regardless of where we will each be.
Flower Power
Happy Belated Valentine's Day, Happy Chinese New Year! (More flowers failed in loading process due to my being cut off from streamyx due to modem failure, ie... accidentally "POTONG", and full time using my P1 wiggy now!)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Bareno Run
I went shopping at Brooks @ Curve yesterday.. I signed up for Bareno run and bought a Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 pair of shoes..!
Today I found out Bareno sells toilet bowls (in addition to kitchen sinks, taps, etc)! So, should we expect...
a) Ample supply of jacuzzi baths at the end of the race
b) Lots of well equipped toilet bowls for toilet stops along the race
c) Tap water supply in a row at the refreshment station
d) Winner collects free supply of toilet bowls for house
e) Medal in the shape of a .... "toilet bowl"!...
Heheh.. no bad mouthing intended - I think it is great for a product company to sponsor a run - frankly people don't really care who organizes the run, it maybe even a great way to reach out to people... and introduce your product. It would be really cool, if they even attempted one of the five ideas I listed - they would definitely have won the "product marketing" award from a runner's perspective!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Today I found out Bareno sells toilet bowls (in addition to kitchen sinks, taps, etc)! So, should we expect...
a) Ample supply of jacuzzi baths at the end of the race
b) Lots of well equipped toilet bowls for toilet stops along the race
c) Tap water supply in a row at the refreshment station
d) Winner collects free supply of toilet bowls for house
e) Medal in the shape of a .... "toilet bowl"!...
Heheh.. no bad mouthing intended - I think it is great for a product company to sponsor a run - frankly people don't really care who organizes the run, it maybe even a great way to reach out to people... and introduce your product. It would be really cool, if they even attempted one of the five ideas I listed - they would definitely have won the "product marketing" award from a runner's perspective!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Announcing, runner number 34...
I am placed number 34 in my race category ... woopee!
But guess what, number 34 is 3rd from LAST!!!! ...
As a result of this dismal race, I have decided to punish myself with retail therapy, and bought myself a....
...
...
PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES...!!
There is something wrong with me.. I am slowly transforming to become a species known as hardcore social runners who cannot improve.
Anyway, hope everyone has a great break during the upcoming chinese new year, and practice RICE, and then we are back on the run. See you at the next race!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
The night eludes me..
Once again, the night eludes me.. the Putrajaya Night Marathon 6 Feb 2009.. this race was indeed one of my worst race in my marathon history.
Lots of people attempt marathons when they are adequately prepared and trained for it, and is willing to move onto the next stage. I attempt marathons because sometimes I just wished to challenge myself. Running can get pretty boring when you have no definitive milestones - yes, I do wish to better my time for 10km and 21km, but sometimes that additional planning and trying to achieve that plan a couple of months ahead can sometimes be a great test of determination and faith in the sport.
I knew I could not make a good time, and also doubted if I could make it about 10km + into the race. I felt sluggish, blame it on my poor psycho, the rest for two weeks when I found my right knee creaking and clicking when straightening - and a stoppage of "training" regime - all this put all my efforts since October to waste.
The most difficult part of the race was actually the humidity and the rolling hills. The humidity caused me to become very sluggish and heavy, I actually sweated so much in just the first 10km that the loss of fluid made me a bit dizzy and really fatigued.. despite gulping down lots of 100plus and water (thank god the organizers did a great job here!). The rolling hills physchologically killed me as well as physically - the stretch on the lebuhraya timur was never ending and it was never ending when I drove it during the day to check the course and on foot in the dark with streetlights as companions.. it was a long way home..
The most revealing part of this race was actually how mind over matter rules in races, besides the ample preparation. Not only did I need to have the ample preparation, my mind this round was dubious on my own performance, and even at the "pen" I saw only people who were going to be ahead. Every official I passed after the turnoff of 21km and 42km runners I wanted to ask if I was the last. Every refreshment station I felt urged to not only drink but also look for the famous "transport" bus.. this mentality I could not finish a race with. So when I finished, honestly I had a bit more left in the tank as physically I was fatigued, but mentally and legs wise, I could do a whole hour better I do believe.
The most thankful part of the race was that I was not injured further, in fact, I forgot my injured knee and gave it a go at times. It was also a great thing that the organizers did a great job to leave behind the water folks and the marshalls even for the last few. This has never happened before in history of malaysian races. One has to be careful about Malaysian races - the lack of participants especially in Marathon categories inevitably means you have to learn about how to be last or last few, and in this case, place faith in the organizers for supporting the last few.
The most enjoyable part of the race was indeed the fact that I finished a marathon, personal worst or not. I finished it, in the deserted midnite when only a few souls were around, I jogged past the finishing line, and I had a few foreigners clap for me, and Boon, Peter, Brion around waiting. Thanks guys - I had been rehearsing in my last 1km what kind of apology I could tell you guys for waiting so long for me, but I forgot those words when I saw the finishing line.
I could blame no one but myself for the disappointing time. Maybe in a couple of weeks time I could tell myself, at least I finished the race - and the amazing thing is that within a day I convinced myself I will run another marathon this year, possibly the one I have signed up for already.
Perhaps this year should be a year to enjoy and to push for consistency and also stamina. What I need is willpower, time, and good health, which thankfully all three despite the poor timing on yesterday's race, I still have some left.
The next race is a vengence on the night.. it will be me against the energizer bunny with 21km and a time factor in between. If I can crack this in a personal best, this will restore my faith in night races...
Footnote : I am so glad I was not last. After I finished, took my medal, banter with the gang, took some photos and finally hobbled to my car, changed shoes and drove off - and I ended up in the same last 1km stretch -there were still people walking the last 1km - amazing, tabik guys, and thanks for making my day that I knew I was not last.
Friday, February 05, 2010
I run to you ...
I bought this CD in Philippines last week, and just loaded it to prep my ipod shuffle before tomorrow's run. There was this song, called I run to you by Lady Antebellum - a grammy nominee.. I have no idea who it is, but the song and phrases were timely..
D-day tomorrow. First marathon in 2010. First time I am on verge of injury before a race. First time I am thinking of running with a knee support. I have almost stopped running for a week and slowed significantly last week - and bought a knee support, been on doses of glucosamine (wow I think this thing works...). I hope the knee support works, but more importantly, I hope to have a good race, and enjoy it.
Not the first time I am so nervous before a race...
I run to you....
I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run too late
I run my life
Or is it running me?
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems
D-day tomorrow. First marathon in 2010. First time I am on verge of injury before a race. First time I am thinking of running with a knee support. I have almost stopped running for a week and slowed significantly last week - and bought a knee support, been on doses of glucosamine (wow I think this thing works...). I hope the knee support works, but more importantly, I hope to have a good race, and enjoy it.
Not the first time I am so nervous before a race...
I run to you....
I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run too late
I run my life
Or is it running me?
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems
Monday, January 25, 2010
Serendipity
I discovered this word in the Astro Wah Lai Toi series - The Gem of Life. I did not understand the meaning as was expressed by one of the main characters - when she had met the man of her life but kept spurning him because her younger sister just married the man's father... well one of my greatest enjoyment of soap operas on Astro's chinese channel is its complexity :-) heheh.. anyway, it is a nice word. 5 syllable and meaningful, rarely used...
serendipity
–noun
1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
2. good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.
1754 (but rare before 20c.), coined by Horace Walpole (1717-92) in a letter to Mann (dated Jan. 28); he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of." The name is from Serendip, an old name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, from Skt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island." Serendipitous formed c.1950.
serendipity
–noun
1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
2. good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.
1754 (but rare before 20c.), coined by Horace Walpole (1717-92) in a letter to Mann (dated Jan. 28); he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of." The name is from Serendip, an old name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, from Skt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island." Serendipitous formed c.1950.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
1000km in 2010
This weekend, I finally broke my own momentum - every weekend I have been training at least 10-30km in either races or runs since October (a few weeks before Penang Half Marathon). This is the first weekend, I just felt too lethargic... anyway, it was no consolation that my feet were heavy and I had another long evening at a great wedding dinner of a lovely couple (congrats to Wes & Aor!!!) and was on those 3.5 inch heels again.
Training
2 x 5kms weekly gym
10km weekend
=36 weeks = 720km
(3 out of 4 weeks in a month!)
Races
17 Jan = NB 30km
7 Feb = Putrajaya 42km
27 Mar = Energizer 21km
25 Apr = Bidor 21km
16 May = Pacesetters 15km
29 May = Sundown 42km
13 Jun = Phuket 21km
27 Jun = KLIM 21km
21 Nov = Penang Bridge Marathon 42km
5 Dec = Singapore Marthon 21km
12 Dec = Malakoff 12km
=288 km
== 1008 km!!
I think it is a reasonable goal!!!
Summary
++1000km
==6hr marathon, 2hr 30 half marathon, 65mins 10km
++ 100hrs of strength training (8hrs + per mth of strength training)
--5kg of weight
In any case, I am still committed to doing the Putrajaya run, regardless of how ready I am...
Training
2 x 5kms weekly gym
10km weekend
=36 weeks = 720km
(3 out of 4 weeks in a month!)
Races
17 Jan = NB 30km
7 Feb = Putrajaya 42km
27 Mar = Energizer 21km
25 Apr = Bidor 21km
16 May = Pacesetters 15km
29 May = Sundown 42km
13 Jun = Phuket 21km
27 Jun = KLIM 21km
21 Nov = Penang Bridge Marathon 42km
5 Dec = Singapore Marthon 21km
12 Dec = Malakoff 12km
=288 km
== 1008 km!!
I think it is a reasonable goal!!!
Summary
++1000km
==6hr marathon, 2hr 30 half marathon, 65mins 10km
++ 100hrs of strength training (8hrs + per mth of strength training)
--5kg of weight
Sunday, January 17, 2010
NB 30km - my maiden 30km run ..
After approximately 4+ years of running races, and three "bad" marathons under the belt, I could not believe that I actually felt nervous on the eve of this race. Anything above 10km still makes me feel nervous..
Truth #1 - this was my first 30km race. 2006 when I first started joining the GE race, my first 20km race then, I clocked my best 20km time and then 2007, deteriorated (but still 20km), 2008 even further deteriorated (and still 20km), and 2009, DNS because too busy with work.
Truth #2 - this was really the most prepared longer distance race (longer than 20km) I had ever been - I had done a slew of end 2009 races - from Mizuno 11km, Klang 12km, Penang 21km, SCSM 21km, Malakoff 12km (hilly), Putrajaya 12 hr walk and at least 3-4 double hills and also last three weekends Hartamas 20km. In my history of running, I have never been so focussed.. and it was not even for this race. It is for the upcoming Putrajaya Night Marathon, and the "goal of the year", at least try to get under 6hr decently for a marathon. The only part in all these "training" was that I never made it past 20km.
Truth #3 - I even managed to sleep before 10pm the night before to get plenty of rest for this race, but I was nervous like hell - it was after all, almost 3/4 a marathon.
The day started pretty well - I managed to get a few good hours of sleep and woke up early as intended and drove to Bukit Aman at aroun 425am, getting there just in time to find a pretty good car park, it was almost full, another 10 more cars it would be full. Managed to walk to Padang Merbuk, had a chew of half a free Power Bar (this was probably a life saver also).. and made the loo before managing to at least meet Claire, who was running her first race after SCSM 21km.. thumbs up to her.
The route was horrendously hilly, but I had a newfound realisation - I actually sucked on downhills and did decently on uphills because of the increase in Hartamas runs meant my knee was sometimes more stressed during downhills and through the LSDs I also acquired a better appreciation of running up hills without walking. Because the route was a warped version of everything the Pacesetters team could throw at us, it was quite hard to determine the km distances.
For the first 10km, we ran through the palace through to Tugu back to Jalan Parlimen, and then the usual Pacesetters route to Hartamas took place. The first water stop was at the start of the Bukit Tunku hills, near the Arabic school, after Lanai Kijang / Bank Negara little hill. I'm glad I took some water at the first water stop, because it would be until almost 10km before the next water station. The next 2kms up to the crossover of Jalan Mahameru was very creepy as usual. I had only gone through this route in the dark with Per-li on one of the LSD runs when we were there before 7 and it was still dark. The thing about being dark was that this route was PITCH DARK. You could not see the runner probably 20feet away, and if you try to do so, to watch for the runners ahead, you will be straining your eye and it becomes dizzying after a while. The good thing was that all the way till Jalan Duta, it was like automation for me, because this was my regular training route (wow, I can actually say regular now!). With us having done about 2km upfront, the Jalan Duta point became approximately 7.5km, which was good news.
Meng ran past me at the istana, so I thought I was doing good, since the IM guys are all taking it slowly, but their slow is my really fast. Running through to Hartamas and at approximately 10km mark, Keat Seong said hi across the road. I was surprised because this meant I suspect they were about 5km ahead, which translated to me being very slow. By this time, I suspected that the water stations were not really ample, and actually contemplated stopping by Petronas for gatorade. It did not help that at least 4-5 people passed me with full bottles of gatorade on their hands, and I had to labor up to 10km to have a gel.
For 10-20km, it was rather uneventful, except that the 2km loop reversed did not deter me in circling hartamas, it was actually quite pleasant. At approximately near the new Istana, Boone overtook me and I joked to him this was sap sap sui compared to Klang Penembak run. The untaken route around the square was new, but relatively ok, so was the one around the lembaga peperiksaan. At the corner of the downhill from the loop, Chee Hon overtook me (he was running 20km) and nicely told me that the 30km route has additional loop .. heheh .. I chased him away ..
The first time I stopped to walk was really at the double hill, when I realised that in turning to the double hill route, there would be no water for a long long while and I was incredibly thirsty by then, having the last drink about 10km away. Displaying a lack of respect for double hill, I tried to run, but only managed to "slog" through up till the turning back down the hill, when again I got annoyed because the power bar guys gave away free gels , but there was NO WATER in sight. So in annoyance, I ran downhill a bit, every corner looking for the final merge and the water station.
So, down we went, got some excel isotonic, gulped my 2nd gel, and then felt an immediate stomach cramp so could not run for another 1km+.. which was ok because it was tijani 1 and then more hills..
To cut a long painful story short, I managed to jog the rest of the way there onwards, from 24km onwards.. I knew the race brings us back to Jalan Parlimen for another loop around bank negara.. and by then, I was just interested to come in before 4hrs 15mins qualifying..
Finished the race .. and guess what? No more finishers tee and no more milo. The no more milo annoyed me more because the 2nd loop around Jalan Parlimen I was dreaming of sugar boost of milo..
Halfway through the race, I was thinking of postphoning my first marathon for this year, Putrajaya Night Marathon. Finish of the race, Chee Hon reminded me via SMS that I could logically make it for a sub 6hr race if I could finish another 12km in under 1hr 50min. Which is indeed do-able...
Post race, I had the most amazing recovery - I was actually in more pain than 20km LSD runs, but recovered in less than 2hrs to feel really good, and up and about walking happily much less time than the LSD runs. What is the reason? I believe it was a few possible combination - having enough rest, a better dehydration the day before, and after the race (despite having little water during the race), my 2XU decompression shorts (maybe), the carbo load the night before, the power bar I ate before the race, and maybe even just adrenaline.
Whatever it is, I need to repeat this for another 12km in 3 weeks time or pull out...
PS - one interesting thing, I am beginning to appreciate the beauty of beautiful lights more during running. A few great photo-opps:
1) Bangunan Matrade - this building in the rising sun is just too pretty
2) The masjid up the first hill in route to Hartamas - this building is always awesome with the morning lights
3) Ray of sunshine along Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, between the crossover to the route through to Tugu. The sunshines through the three is usually split in rays, and if taken with a filter, it will come out magical
4) New- amazing leaves falling during the run just before tugu - the leaves being golden reflected the light nicely - just like those falling leaves in Avatar movie..
5) New- morning red clouds across the new istana negara, if only the construction can be avoided...
Truth #1 - this was my first 30km race. 2006 when I first started joining the GE race, my first 20km race then, I clocked my best 20km time and then 2007, deteriorated (but still 20km), 2008 even further deteriorated (and still 20km), and 2009, DNS because too busy with work.
Truth #2 - this was really the most prepared longer distance race (longer than 20km) I had ever been - I had done a slew of end 2009 races - from Mizuno 11km, Klang 12km, Penang 21km, SCSM 21km, Malakoff 12km (hilly), Putrajaya 12 hr walk and at least 3-4 double hills and also last three weekends Hartamas 20km. In my history of running, I have never been so focussed.. and it was not even for this race. It is for the upcoming Putrajaya Night Marathon, and the "goal of the year", at least try to get under 6hr decently for a marathon. The only part in all these "training" was that I never made it past 20km.
Truth #3 - I even managed to sleep before 10pm the night before to get plenty of rest for this race, but I was nervous like hell - it was after all, almost 3/4 a marathon.
The day started pretty well - I managed to get a few good hours of sleep and woke up early as intended and drove to Bukit Aman at aroun 425am, getting there just in time to find a pretty good car park, it was almost full, another 10 more cars it would be full. Managed to walk to Padang Merbuk, had a chew of half a free Power Bar (this was probably a life saver also).. and made the loo before managing to at least meet Claire, who was running her first race after SCSM 21km.. thumbs up to her.
The route was horrendously hilly, but I had a newfound realisation - I actually sucked on downhills and did decently on uphills because of the increase in Hartamas runs meant my knee was sometimes more stressed during downhills and through the LSDs I also acquired a better appreciation of running up hills without walking. Because the route was a warped version of everything the Pacesetters team could throw at us, it was quite hard to determine the km distances.
For the first 10km, we ran through the palace through to Tugu back to Jalan Parlimen, and then the usual Pacesetters route to Hartamas took place. The first water stop was at the start of the Bukit Tunku hills, near the Arabic school, after Lanai Kijang / Bank Negara little hill. I'm glad I took some water at the first water stop, because it would be until almost 10km before the next water station. The next 2kms up to the crossover of Jalan Mahameru was very creepy as usual. I had only gone through this route in the dark with Per-li on one of the LSD runs when we were there before 7 and it was still dark. The thing about being dark was that this route was PITCH DARK. You could not see the runner probably 20feet away, and if you try to do so, to watch for the runners ahead, you will be straining your eye and it becomes dizzying after a while. The good thing was that all the way till Jalan Duta, it was like automation for me, because this was my regular training route (wow, I can actually say regular now!). With us having done about 2km upfront, the Jalan Duta point became approximately 7.5km, which was good news.
Meng ran past me at the istana, so I thought I was doing good, since the IM guys are all taking it slowly, but their slow is my really fast. Running through to Hartamas and at approximately 10km mark, Keat Seong said hi across the road. I was surprised because this meant I suspect they were about 5km ahead, which translated to me being very slow. By this time, I suspected that the water stations were not really ample, and actually contemplated stopping by Petronas for gatorade. It did not help that at least 4-5 people passed me with full bottles of gatorade on their hands, and I had to labor up to 10km to have a gel.
For 10-20km, it was rather uneventful, except that the 2km loop reversed did not deter me in circling hartamas, it was actually quite pleasant. At approximately near the new Istana, Boone overtook me and I joked to him this was sap sap sui compared to Klang Penembak run. The untaken route around the square was new, but relatively ok, so was the one around the lembaga peperiksaan. At the corner of the downhill from the loop, Chee Hon overtook me (he was running 20km) and nicely told me that the 30km route has additional loop .. heheh .. I chased him away ..
The first time I stopped to walk was really at the double hill, when I realised that in turning to the double hill route, there would be no water for a long long while and I was incredibly thirsty by then, having the last drink about 10km away. Displaying a lack of respect for double hill, I tried to run, but only managed to "slog" through up till the turning back down the hill, when again I got annoyed because the power bar guys gave away free gels , but there was NO WATER in sight. So in annoyance, I ran downhill a bit, every corner looking for the final merge and the water station.
So, down we went, got some excel isotonic, gulped my 2nd gel, and then felt an immediate stomach cramp so could not run for another 1km+.. which was ok because it was tijani 1 and then more hills..
To cut a long painful story short, I managed to jog the rest of the way there onwards, from 24km onwards.. I knew the race brings us back to Jalan Parlimen for another loop around bank negara.. and by then, I was just interested to come in before 4hrs 15mins qualifying..
Finished the race .. and guess what? No more finishers tee and no more milo. The no more milo annoyed me more because the 2nd loop around Jalan Parlimen I was dreaming of sugar boost of milo..
Halfway through the race, I was thinking of postphoning my first marathon for this year, Putrajaya Night Marathon. Finish of the race, Chee Hon reminded me via SMS that I could logically make it for a sub 6hr race if I could finish another 12km in under 1hr 50min. Which is indeed do-able...
Post race, I had the most amazing recovery - I was actually in more pain than 20km LSD runs, but recovered in less than 2hrs to feel really good, and up and about walking happily much less time than the LSD runs. What is the reason? I believe it was a few possible combination - having enough rest, a better dehydration the day before, and after the race (despite having little water during the race), my 2XU decompression shorts (maybe), the carbo load the night before, the power bar I ate before the race, and maybe even just adrenaline.
Whatever it is, I need to repeat this for another 12km in 3 weeks time or pull out...
PS - one interesting thing, I am beginning to appreciate the beauty of beautiful lights more during running. A few great photo-opps:
1) Bangunan Matrade - this building in the rising sun is just too pretty
2) The masjid up the first hill in route to Hartamas - this building is always awesome with the morning lights
3) Ray of sunshine along Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, between the crossover to the route through to Tugu. The sunshines through the three is usually split in rays, and if taken with a filter, it will come out magical
4) New- amazing leaves falling during the run just before tugu - the leaves being golden reflected the light nicely - just like those falling leaves in Avatar movie..
5) New- morning red clouds across the new istana negara, if only the construction can be avoided...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Pretty Lights
Over the 20km route to Hartamas last weekend, my third consequetive weekend of LSD (and third different running partner!), I was huffing and puffing with SCH over camera's and the flash class he had attended.
An irony was that I had just come back from a great dinner the night before at a long time friend's house - mr gadget - and he had loaned me his DSLR flash - the SB900 .. "under utilized"...
So huffing and puffing up and down hills, SCH actually managed to update me on the greatest on lights, nikon classes, SB commander modes, and why he wanted to buy my friend's flash to have more flashes, to take great photos!!!
For me, I remember the one piece I read - to see and enjoy photography of pretty lights, one has to find the scene, wait for the right time, and be prepared.
But first, one has to have the right timing and the right opportunity to see the great light.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Twisted Fate - A wet day ends with a meeting with a new friend
Welcome to 2010 with a 20km run from Bukit Aman to Hartamas with Perli, luckily we started early at 630am (EARLY? this is late already!) - and pushed off in a rain respite. Halfway across at 5km mark, the rain drops started to pour and another km, we were fully drenched.
The rain however did not dampen my spirits - in fact, I actually loved it! Strange conditions but I do believe the rain separates the dedicated and committed from the safe players. Dedicated and committed meant that each person you pass by drenched to their toes deserves a nod of respect, especially along the Hartamas route.
Perli is a great pacer - she runs at her pace but slows to match mine when she needs to, and she does not push too hard if she sees I am slower than I need to be. In any case, we were rewarded with one 100plus at Hartamas drenched wet with a camaraderie of runners, and then back at Bukit Aman, when it finally stopped halfway, with a Tropicana Twister mixed with 100plus.
Incidentally, as fate would be I met with Ija and her husband the first time - Ija is the stranger I offered some cash near the heart of KL for a drink during the KL Marathon. Twisted fate or whatever, she called out to me in bukit aman today, she too had done the Hartamas route in the rain, and I was again carrying a Tropicana Twister (she remembered me with the twister in the KL Marathon).
My next runs will be a 25km, followed by a 30km in New Balance 30km race on 17 Jan - I need to push to meet the cutoff - what happens without the cutoff? I think I may not get the medal.. but 2010 - great start to running...
... and good meeting with the rest of friends today along the route.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy 2010
Simple resolutions. Headlines : 2010 = 20 races, 10 deals and 2010 kms.
Sub-headlines :
a) Enjoy blogging. Reactivating all of my blogs which is why I write.
b) Learn cooking to supplement my running (heheh~)
c) Photograph thoughts, emotions and sensuality. Photographs which brings meaning to photo tells a thousand words..
Photo - Photo Booth product - thinking of my new year resolutions (and still thinking) whilst waiting for the rain to stop so that I could run!
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