Stanchart '07 - 21.1k

I had aimed for 2 hr 15 min. But I guess this is the best I can do on 2 hours of sleep. So anxious I pee-ed all night. That aside I think there were other considerations, like the CROWD. It was pretty much a jostle for space all the way. If you want to overtake someone you have to zig zag. and the mileage signs were so small I could not spot many of them. Especially the first few and the last few km. So I felt I was pacing myself poorly. Or simply, too lazy. Of course it doesn't help that my legs felt like giving way 17 km onwards.

I was pleased to catch a glimpse of Henry Wanyoike and his guide. There was a guy in the 21.1km who ran with a tire big enough for a pickup truck. I heard he dragged it. On my way home I saw him running his last 500m carrying it. I shouted "Go Tire Man" at him. Whatever his cause it is always heartening to see people do things like that.

Besides that I didnt see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe the number of men peeing along the way. Some didnt bother going into the bushes. I can understand if they did that during a full marathon. But half? I thought men are better at holding it due to sheer mechanism.

I spent today eating without guilt. I told a friend about Marina Pier and he decided he wanted to see it. So we drove there, going past the entire Marina South route this morning. I did not remember seeing much of it this morning. But I was in awe how much distance I covered on foot.

I don't want to run for 1 month. I will swim instead. I am tired of counting calories and eating breast meat instead of tastier thigh. I'm also looking forward to more time for shopping and browsing for good book. For reading and for cooking sinful desserts and dishes.

Do I want to do the 42.2km full marathon? I would like to. At least once. But if I do it I want to be able to do it in 4.5 hours. So I have some way to go. So what next? The Phuket Marathon. 21.1km.

36 hours

Not a movie title, like 48 hours. 1303 and 1408 arent related movie titles either.

So although my ego was bruised because some stranger told me not to run with injury when himself walked 5 min on the treadmil and showed no indication of participating in this weekend's run, I took a pinch of salt and rested since. Its just restorative yoga tonight.

Hopefully Joey's hands has relaxed my legs. I dont realised how tight they are until she did her thing.

This morning I went onto the website which animates the route of the half marathon. It made my stomache turn and I had to go straight to the toilet. Of course I also had a plate of nasi lemak. But the thought of running distances have that kind of effect. You just want to pee and take a dump and you wonder where that all came from. Maybe the body is just anxious to "travel light". Just writing about this have the effect.

brb.

The good thing, if at all it helps, is that I am familiar with the entire route. I have run sections of it at some point when I jog to marina south or east coast. (The advantage of city living ... your jogging start point is never far from where major races do.) There was one section that my running buddy and I always conveniently skip however (because I think he says its too dark ... :p) But voila, today, to view the boat we will have our Chrismas Party on, we drove to Marina Pier and now I know now where that missing section is.

not that it matters much.

I'm looking forward to taking a break from counting calories for a while.

Runs

I have ambitiously signed up for two 10km runs. And .. a half marathon. ahaw ahaw.

I still have the same pains in the legs, but much more. This is my 3rd week of doing treadmill 3 times weekly. Most of the time 5 km without stopping, at a faster pace than I used to. 33 min. Not because I want to but because the pains on the lower leg tend to go away at a faster pace. Today I learnt there is an optimum speed. I went too fast and it was too uncomfortable. Or more likely I was tired and just could not sustain the speed. heh.

Nah, I think its the pain. I could here my left foot stomping while the right foot went ahead lightly.

Anyway, it was a good opportunity to do interval training, at least that's the way I'd make it out to be.

I used to think going slow and steady all the way would let me finish the race faster. But when I increased my pace (not out of choice) I found I could stop, walk, take a drink, then continue, feeling rather energised and I would still beat the slow and steady pace.

I think I should work on getting used to the burning feeling of a faster pace. Rather uncomfortable but I tell you it burns! I am 1 kg lighter and I know its not lucky freak day because its been 1 week now.

Of course, it also includes watching my diet. And possibly the result of several days of fasting in between. (Pay back, what, not some diet) I do not let myself go hungry but when I eat I try to take in good nutrition.

Like banana and strawberry milkshake. Why must a runner consider this sinful? Its packed with potassium, though I dont know for what, heh.

I have also been taking glucosamine and multivitamins for ladies. I think the glucosamine is helping my knees.

This weekend I am running outdoors. A first I tell you.With my hairdresser, who also signed up for the Shape Run.

New Camera

I bought a new digital camera. A Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10. Seems to have loads of functions only I havent fully explored it yet. Cant wait to be snapping in Beijing.

$399 at Best Denki. incl 2Gb + additional battery + case

And its purple. How fabulous darling!

How did I get it? I was set on a Sony W something. It comes in pink. The salesguy recommended a Lumix instead. Saying its better functions at a lower price. He recommended a high range lumix.

Oh, it doesnt come in pink. I said.

So he brought out the DMC-FX10.

Enough said

Finally on the treadmill again

Its been awhile. I guess I finally find it worthwhile saying something because it seems I have finally started running again.

Oh I dont know. I couldnt because the shin area burns after 1.5 km. Then yesterday my hairdresser suggested I land on my heel, in addition to not forgetting warm ups. Et voila.

6.8km today. After dancing for hour and a half including full stretches and walking from George Street to Cathay. I stopped because something else was hurting. Sharp stabs I cannot remember where. Anyhow my leg muscles feels a little pulled and wrong. I think its the yoga.

I think weights and treadmill shall be the order of the next few weeks. No yoga I think.

I seem to have lost 1 kg in the process. I have a tummy now, my appetite is huge and I have been eating unhealthily. All that buffets expanded my tums.

Quote

This was on Yoggafinity's toilet door:

"We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality - A Einstein"

Power Yoga

I decided I need to lay off dancing because my ankles have started to hurt. I dont want to tear ligament, its an awful experience my mum had to go through. So I suspended my gym membership for March and decided from now it shall be just yoga. Power yoga of course. It gives one the most beautiful arms.

I still have a month's worth of classes at Yogaffinity. The novelty of hot yoga wore off quite soon after I joined. The routine was the same every class and aren't challenging nor fun. But their power yoga sessions, though few, are great.

I have a vague desire to do a half marathon year end. I would at least like to do it without being a disgrace to myself. I think it is ambitious for someone who has done only 1 10k race outdoors in her life, and stays in the comfort of an air conditioned gym the rest of the time.

Ambitious but no less achievable. I have 10 months to prepare. To motivate myself I got this pair of NB shoes with cushion like pillows hoping to reduce impact on my 30s joints. Currently things are going slow. :-p

I am doing the treadmill max twice a week and cannot run longer than 6km before sharp uncomfortable sensations (read: pain) hit my knees. That is if shin splints don't come first. I have start slow @ 8km /hr. If at 2.4 km there are no signs of shin fatigue, it means I can probably go on.

But I can definitely dance and jump about non-stop for 2 hours, which hopefully means I may last 2 hours of running. So far this case hasn't been proven.