Hello My Darlings

On the last day of Adidas' Refresh Your Gear campaign, I finally got my new pair of running shoes which look like a cross-between Superman and Thomas the Tank Engine.

ClimaCool Modulate

Will rave/rant about them after I've put in several miles.

I know, so flashy, right?

Marathon Day

First order of business: a round of hearty congratulations to all!

Yu Li, Pei Ying, Snel, Claire, Jim, Kai Yee, Aldillah, Woan Yee : for finishing your run!

Because I run with the minimal amount of stuff, I don't have any shots of the start of the race, people on the road, the awesome sunrise...only after-run photos from a borrowed camera.

This being my first serious run, the Borneo International Marathon was an experience to me. I reckon marathons are not only a physical challenge, but a mental one at that too. And this is the first time I actually ran 10km.

The breakdown was constant running at the first 4km, and then an alternate of speed-walking and running faster than usual for the remaining 6km. I couldn't keep the pace because my toes were hurting from the chafing. Yes, I have blisters :( which means: TIME FOR NEW RUNNING SHOES!!!

Yu Li and I completed our 10km run in roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes, which personally, is quite an achievement. So am truly proud. For that and also for completing :) Up my next time target, perhaps? 1 hour 5minutes for 10km? LOL KL Marathon is coming up late next month *am tempted*

We have our proboscis monkey Finisher's medals :)

*oh yea*

There's a lesson to be learnt here: You'll never know what you are capable of doing until you've tried and done it. I wouldn't have thought I'd ever had the stamina to do long-distance running (all these while I thought I could only do sprints) but I proved myself wrong today. It is very satisfying though. Food for thought.

Self-satisfaction pride,

Pre-Marathon Day

The countdown has been going on since like ever.

And now it's less than 12 hours to my first serious run (7K Charity Run not counted, okay).

Am actually a tad nervous for goodness-knows-what reasons...and I'm only doing the 10km.

Things to do:

• stock up on pasta


• stock up on bananas


• sleep early


• update iPod
  

Dear Running God,

Please don't let my shoes, feet, legs, muscles fail on me. Also please don't let my iPod die on me.

I vow to finish my run within the appointed time (please please please).

Wish me luck you guys!

C25K

As always, because I like to share cool stuff.

Here's one for all the couch potatoes out there who really want to stick to the resolutions and get some calories burned, but just can't find the drive to do it: The Couch to 5K program.

I'm now in my 7th week of the 10K regime, however I realised that the regime is geared towards exactly 10 weeks to Run Day and since I'm not participating in any 10K soon, I thought I'd just repeat the 5th week plan (but it's getting boring).

So I found a new regime for the mean time and thought I'd try it out.

All you need is a pair of running shoes and a mp3 player -- things I never go without when I run.

And download the podcasts from HERE

Basically it spares you the time of creating playlist of power songs (although that is quite fun) and the hassle of timing yourself. All you have to do is play the respective podcast before you start and just listen to what Robert Ullrey tells you to do (run, walk, go on, you're doing great).

Google this running regime if you're interested to read more about it. All the best in sticking to the keeping fit resolution (I have a feeling most people have that in their list).

Happy running!

(NIKE) RED laces

Because I like to share cool stuff.

So irregardless of the fact that I'm succumbing to 'the system' and doing free publicity for them, I'll still post this up. Besides, I reckon they make good last minute Christmas presents at RM15 a pack.

And you all know me, I just cannot resist products that come with a cause (think The Body Shop campaign products, and their MTV-AIDS awareness stuff).

Ironic though, if you know the brand of my running shoes :)

So anyways, I was gonna write something a bit more here but somebody challenged me to MSN Minesweeper (which embarassingly I lost both times) hence I've completely forgotten what it was.

RED laces are cool,

Week 2 Training

I'm training for the Borneo International Marathon next year, with thoughts of entering the half marathon...but perhaps 21km is a bit too ambitious? Maybe I should only do the 10km?

Underachiever. LOL.

Let's see how I am by April 2010. In the meantime, second week of training means a new playlist for running :)

No One - Alicia Keys
Crazy In Love - Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy
Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
Stronger - Kanye West
Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
How Far We've Come - Matchbox Twenty
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
Let's Get Retarded - Black Eyed Peas
Beautiful Day - U2

It sounds like a good mix so I'm looking forward to trying it out!

* Just in case anyone's wondering: I've been running on and off but thought I'd start on a proper 10-week training regime beginning this month. Something along the lines of an early new-year resolution perhaps.

** I'm tempted to get another pair of running shoes. We'll see how the funds are doing first :)

Happy New Week,

Because I was up early today

Which is a very aptly thought up, 'original to the boot' title.

It's not like I went to bed at 9pm (which is highly unlikely, although I am reminding myself not to feed the insomniac-self by going to bed at 5am) but I guess it just wasn't a very good night for sleeping. Definitely not when one kept waking up and almost fell out the bed once.

So I decided to lug my lazy ass out of bed at 5.45am and went running instead.

Firstly, no, running at 6am is not crazy here because it is already bright. Running at 7am requires shades and running at 7.30am will bring about a sunburn (and carbon monoxide overdose).

Secondly, today I have trumped the unpredicatable weather which causes diabolically hot afternoons and insane stormy evenings. The park sucks though, but beggars can't be choosers.

Which kinda make me miss Vondelspark and Tiergarten.


Which leads to wishful thinking and a need for reality-check.


Good day to all,

7km in under an hour

Sutera Harbour 7k Sunset Charity Run today. My iPod and BEP's The E.N.D. were my best companions for most of the time.


I needed an excuse to run, and what better excuse than to give a bit to the Sabah Thalassemia Society? I reckon it's good to contribute something to someone. Getting to do something fun at the same time is a bonus.

I would say my personal time achieved today was satisfying. Especially when I haven't been running that regularly :)


Flying tomorrow, hoping my legs don't break
Li Ying