Doc On The Run

Apparently bullshitting works!!!

2012-02-12T20:45:00.002+08:00

I know I still owe the Hong Kong Marathon write up but I'm in the midst of some exam preparation and you know just how sleep-inducing studying can be......

*yawn*

(on the good side, I've fully recovered from sleep debt)

Dang...even the thought of re-hitting the books just makes my eyes well up from all the yawning.

*double yawn*

And since I did not make it to my usual Sunday morning run due to Dr. William Chan's class (yes...it's the only day he's not manning his sports medicine clinic in Subang....and no, I'm really not paid to do publicity for him on this blog....I'm just saying!), I met up with Emmy for an evening run at Kiara park, which coincidentally (thankfully!!) turned into a power walk session of 6.5km (we parked really far).

It's always nice to catch up with friends over power strolling and it's amazing the things we talk about during those endorphin-churning periods.

Anyway.....backtracking a little.....

During my birthday week (I'm so freakin "special" I actually need a whole month but with age, comes maturity and I figured I would be contented with only just a week....), Emmy and Leen took me out for dinner and Emmy brought along her neighbour, Aidi (I promise you this will not be one of those "my mother's neighbour's daughter's colleague's wife's uncle's father's" sorta story...bear with me) and since it was mine and Leen's first time getting acquainted with Aidi, obviously we talked alot....about a whole lot of nonsense.

Anyway along the conversational line, Leen and Emmy thought that it was very bright and knowledgeable of me with my "in-depth" knowing of the topics that Aidi was bringing up.

(but honestly if I was that bright, I wouldn't really need the auto-correct function on my computer and phone)

Emmy brought that up during our power-stroll....and that she was in a somewhat awe.....

She thinks that I am well-read and well-exposed.

So I told her my brutally honest opinion......

I just think that I'm really good at bullshitting.

So good that people around, for some reason or another, thinks that I'm really smart!!!!

......but it's mostly confabulations with minimal actual facts scattered around....really....

All I ever do is....read a few key books......watch plenty of documentaries......remember some salient points from those books/articles/documentaries......and wait for key moments in the conversation to throw those facts back out and confabulate the rest!!!!

And wait for your audience to gasp in awe of your supposed brilliance!!

I know....easy right!?!?!!?

So in a nutshell...it's all about bullshitting!!!

And someone will evidently think you're a genius.....

Unfortunately.....Emmy didn't quite buy my explanation.

So I told her what she wanted to hear....

I read a lot....A LOT a lot!!!!

I have book shelves filled to the rim with all kinds of books of various genres.

From fictional to non-fiction.....from crime...to psychology....to philosophy....to economy....and everything in between.

I have a collection of popular writers....bestsellers.....to the non-famous.

I pour over current issues via online articles.

I constantly keep myself updated with the who's who and the what's what.

I'm like a freakin nerd just waiting to expose my true self!!!!!

....she seemed a little more confident of the latter answer.

Oh well....people will always believe what they want to believe.

There you go....told ya bullshitting always works!!!

Alrighty...will head back to studying...

*yawn*

Damn those books....

Later!!!!!

First run post-HK

2012-02-10T20:15:00.002+08:00

I swear....Hong Kong Marathon was the most painful 42km ever!!!!

(this exclamation excludes all ultras and trail runs.....and confined to the definition of a road-race 42km only...erm, just in case you're wondering)

I spent the following few days in pain.

My quads literally beg for mercy each time I walked down some flight of stairs.

In fact, they were tender to on palpation just above the insertion onto the patella.

Sigh.

Which means I need days off....which I did get, due to work...(a very unfortunate way of attaining time off from exercise, mind you)

Just finish covering the Asian Cycling Championship 2012, the first 3 days of the track races, and while it was fun ogling at really expensive bikes that I could only dream of buying (bike porn alert!) and ogling at all those firm gluts, working form 8.30am until 10pm ain't exactly fun.

But in a way, I was forced to rest......which means no cycling...no swimming...no gym....and obviously no running.

(the 4 days of inactivity since post-marathon was really killing me mentally...)

The tenderness went away yesterday but I could still feel my quads being a little.....not like themselves.

I did do a little running (if you consider running towards a fallen rider during their competition as proper running), albeit really REALLY short burst here and there during the 3 days of medical cover.

But today I felt like I was ready!!!!

Yes....today would be THAT day!!!!

My quads have recovered their lost identity and somehow remembered that they were runner's quads!!

My body felt ready.....my mind was ready......I'm ready to hit the road!!!!

And since medical cover ended early today (you gotta love Friday long lunch breaks!!!), I decided today was gonna be the momentous day where I take my quads out for a short test run.

Plus...the weather was agreeable.....I swear it was a sign from higher powers that today's run was gonna be just awesome!!!!!

I pull on my regular running T and Nike tempo shorts.....put on my "Lizards".....strap on the Garmin.....press START.....and off I go!

Everything seemed perfect......

......except......the run wasn't as awesome as I've hoped it to be.

(big surprise there, right?)

The mind remembers how great it was to run....but the legs felt empty, and the quads were sulking like a spoilt 8-year old who was told there would not be any ice cream after dinner.

The heart was beating way too fast for the speed that I was going and I felt fatigued after 2km.

Ended up throwing some walking bits into the last 2km.

Argh...the disappointment....

But on the up side (there always must be!).....at least I ran.

At least I know how much I've "recovered" and that I still need more time off.

And that I need to cross train more!!!!

Oh right...I also need to blog about the HK marathon....which I'll get around to it....hopefully....tomorrow.

And if you're wondering, I completed it in 5:15.....

Later!!!!!

Guinea pigs wanted!!!

2012-02-01T21:35:00.004+08:00

OMG.....I'm leaving for Hong Kong in less than 24 hours time and I've yet to pack anything!!!!

*hyperventilates*

Calm down...calm down....quickly go grab something and shove it into the backpack.....

*palpitations*

Breathe.....breathe......OMG....OMG.....where's my passport!?!?!

Where's my hoodie!?!?!?!

Where's my travel wallet?!?!?!?! (don't ask...I just happen to have one!!!)

*hyperventilates and palpitations*

Shit shit shit.....

Think calm.....calm.....calm dammit(!!!).....breathe.....breathe......still have time.....ohm.....ohm.....

Damn it, it's not working.

Think positive.....

I've finally changed HK currency (gosh I hope it's enough!!!)......and found my Octopus travel card from last year.

Ok...so it ain't that bad.

Found the letter that the marathon peeps sent me.....ok ok, calming down.

Found my backpack.

Packed my shoes and flip flops.......heck, at least I've packed something!!!

Anyway, been busy busy busy!!!!!

I thought my CNY would be a chilled out week....but somehow I managed to not get anything done and felt completely worn out when that week ended.

Thankfully I didn't have to face work for the past 2 days as I was at the Equal Sports Massage Level 1 course on Monday and Tuesday.

And thankfully, I had the camaraderie of sitting through the course with Grace.

* Self practice!!!!

Well....very basic stuff.

Effleurage this.....knead that....broad-cross fibre this.....drainage that......basic.

Was told that I need to log in 60 hours of practical time before I could be awarded with my Level 1 cert.

And dammit I really want that cert!

So for a short time only, am trying to recruit as many interested/gullible/plain bored guinea pigs for my attempt at sports massaging.

No fancy shit....no joint cracking, reflexology-pain-inducing, that sorta crap.

Oh...and no happy ending....(I'm just saying!!!)

But so far I've tried it out on Grace, Rupert, Maybel, Emmy and Aidi......no one died, suffered any permanent nerve/muscle/anything damage or suddenly develop an issue with being unable to run/bike/swim.

Therefore I think I'm pretty safe......fingers crossed!!!

So....any takers?!?!?!

Get back to me after I'm done with Hong Kong.

....which come to think of it, is currently pretty freezing.....and am trying my darnest to think positive about my subcutaneous tissue being able to shield me from the cold.

There MUST be some good outcome about not being shit skinny!!!! (deluding self perpetuates my current state of bliss......)

And to all HK bound runners....best of luck and happy shopping!!! (oops, that would be me)

Later!!!

Ultimate resolution for 2012

2012-01-27T10:58:00.003+08:00

Turned 30 a couple of days back......

I had half a mind to expect a partial doom and gloom, and perhaps some epiphany of sorts....or some enlightenment that I would expect to be entitled to upon entering the new decade of life.

But instead.....it turned out to be mundanely normal.

Yes....no fireworks, no sudden appearance of fine lines, so sudden outburst of strands of white hair, no sudden realization of exponential decrement of functioning brain neurons.

Very eerily normal.

So...this is what turning 30 is all about.

I kinda blame Hollywood for my unrealistic expectations.

Sheesh.....and to think the anxiety of the week leading up to this "momentous" turning of age was nothing more than my own arrogant, self-important projections onto self.

Turning 30 was just another everyday occurrence.

Life really does just goes on.

I was recently asked by Mr. Anonymous about my resolutions for the new year....with entering a new age-group category and all.....and as I was about to regurgitate from my mental list of resolutions.....when I got past the number 1 and number 2 on my list, I paused.....

Mr. Anonymous asked if I was just starting to make up the list there and then.....

(I sometimes do have a tendency of doing that....)

It wasn't that.

I actually had a proper list made.

But as I was re-telling it, I realized that none of the resolutions in that list (I have 13, by the way) carried any weight of importance aside from, except maybe number 1 (yes, passing my first year post-graduate exam is of utmost importance!!!!), and I should really sit down and come up with just A FEW realistic resolutions that would, somehow, better my life in some way or another.

I thought about it the whole entire night.

(ok so that was a lie...I just thought about while I was stuck in traffic while driving back home after dinner)

I've decided aside from not failing the exam.....the only thing that I really want achieved before 2013 rolls around was to attain the virtue that is PATIENCE.

Simple...but true.

If you know me well enough, you would know that PATIENCE is never one of my strong points.

As a self-diagnosed Type A personality sort.....PATIENCE always seemed overrated.

I HATE waiting at the traffic lights (and thank goodness have not yet been stopped by traffic police for ignoring the red lights on a regular basis), I HATE waiting in queues, I HATE traffic jams...I HATE waiting for anything!!!!

Waiting and doing nothing is the worse human invention ever!!!!

(although I know many would gladly disagree to the above statement)

But since bidding adieu to my 20s, I figured I better get myself some of this PATIENCE before I head into mid-30s and REGRET starts being the regular occurring THEME in my life.

So....how do once attain PATIENCE?

Gosh I wish I knew.

I'm currently open to pointers....so feel free to feel that you can somehow contribute to the development of my PATIENCE.

But try not to take too long to come up with the advices.

I'm still very impatient in that sense!!!!

Later!!!!

Bring on the holidays!!!!

2012-01-22T20:28:00.004+08:00

It is Chinese New Year eve.....

Frankly I can't believe it is that time of the year again.

Didn't Christmas just like....pass!?

And dang.....I still have yet to post up anything about the Newton New Year challenge on the first day of 2012!!!!

Dude....someone should really tell God to slow down the time process.

I'm losing track of the days gone by!!!

Anyway it is also dawning on me that the Hong Kong Marathon is less than 2 weeks away.

I've neither been running consistently.....or been doing any weekend long runs....like, for the longest time ever!!!!

My last long-anything.....was the 25km that I felt obligated to run on the first day of the year.

And after that.....nothing.

(not entirely true if you consider rock climbing and cycling as something....)

Honestly, I still have yet to find my missing running mojo.

Anyhow.....received the weekly running email from Winnie about the current long weekend running menu.

Saturday: 16.88km

Sunday: 16.88km

Monday: 12.88km

Tuesday: 30km (it's my big 3-0.....I feel extremely obligated to log the mileage)

(mind you that Terence is HUGE on the lucky number 8 for the year of the Dragon)

With a full marathon looming, I figured it is high time I get my arse moving and log the necessary mileage.

Not that I'm worried about not being able to finish the 42km distance (I can easily make it by in 6 hours, more or less, with minimal training)......but more anxious about not making a decent timing...considering I managed to sub-5 it at this race last year.

It's kinda like pre-performance anxiety.

And I'm not too sure how much cycling and rock climbing are gonna help in my performance on the 5th of February (aka race day).

So at 5.30am Sunday, I found myself at the Bukit Aman car park with Terence.....to log 5km before the 16.88.

So managed a 20km total (according to Garmin) on Saturday...(I took a short cut which explains my total mileage for the day)

It feels kinda weird to be running long again.

It also feels kinda weird when your running group has expanded exponentially since you last participated in it.....and you vaguely know the names of most of the other runners in the group.

(I'm sure some of them are in my Facebook list by now)

And it sucks that I feel my gastrocnemius and quads aching after JUST a 20km run!!!!

An absolute disappointing discovery considering at one point in time last year, we were logging 30-40km/day on a Saturday AND on a Sunday with minimal issues!!!

Figured if mojo fails to return before the embarkment of race, I'll log my mileage by sheer will power.

And trust me on that.....trying to get up this morning for another long run was definitely digging deeper than I would normally like to.

I took a short cut again and managed a 15km.

Not too shabby.....

The first few kilometers....I had to ignore that stupid voice inside my head that told me I was an idiot for not sleeping in.

It got a little better about 5km in.....

That was when I found a glimmer of hope of ever re-discovering my running mojo.

Running with KD and gossiping the entire way definitely helped.

So did the rain during the last 3km.

Post-run.....gastroc and quads didn't ache as much as they did the day before.

* Photos for Foo.....Saturday's run.

* Photo by YKK.....a very wet and drenched Sunday run.

Well....I have two more days to go....let's hope by the end of it, I'll be somewhat as passionate about running like I was earlier last year.

And maybe once I regain my former glorious self.....I might consider taking up the challenge of another ultra.

Erm....TMBT?!?!?!?!

Sigh.....I kinda miss my old running-self.

Later!!!!!

Battered bike

2012-01-18T21:23:00.009+08:00

I knew Tobias is capable to an 80km ride to Port Dickson.

At least I secretly prayed that he was.

I am now thoroughly convinced of that capability....especially since he made it there and back.

However, the engine "failure" during long steep hill climbs during the last 20km on the journey back, well....that is a whole different story.

I am also thoroughly convinced that Tobias is capable of surviving a bike crash and still able to withstand the journey to PD.

Yup.....Tobias had another bike crash (his first was on our 2nd ride ever together.....like, a couple of days before our first ever tri together)......and this time around, only sustain minimal wonkiness to the front wheel.

Amazingly it didn't interfere with the front brakes so I figured he could still ride it out to PD.

(erm....we crashed within 5km of starting the ride. And I rather not discuss in length the incident. Just need to know that it involves turning to the left lane on a highway.....speeding black car......Ellya suddenly braking in front of me.....failure to brake in time......crashing into Ellya.....and then being hit from the back by Nyan......mechanism of injury unsure......cracked helmut and a very bruised back and right knee)

Otherwise, Tobias was pretty much unfazed.

I knew there must be some good points for owning a bike that weights a tonne!!!!

Anyway....had another fall on the return trip and made the front wheel even more wonky than before.

This time around, it was interfering with the front brakes and Ellya helped loosen the brakes so that I could still cycle back.

But enough about Tobias.

The ride to PD was Cyn's idea.....especially after we participated in Richard's birthday ride last month to Ijok.

We wanted to do something "memorable"......that includes some sort of training......like, by the way, to celebrate Syerol's, Cyn's, Rupert's and yours truly's birthday!!!

(there was also an open water swim and a 10km run which I happily sat out on both.....coz I was sane enough this year to not have signed up for any long distance/Ironman tri!!!!)

But in retrospect.....we ate a whole lot more than we actually cycled.

Oh what the heck........ain't that is what birthday celebrations are all about!?!?!

Friends.....holiday.....FOOD!!!!!

Photo-log:

(photos stolen off others.....you know who you are!!!!)

* Second pit-stop for the trip to PD.

* First "happy-birthday-to-us" cake cutting ceremony....

Cake courtesy of Pn. Liza of Petronas.

* Second "happy-birthday-to-us" cake cutting ceremony.....

Mind you we have yet to digest the first cake....

Cake courtesy of Syerol and his Petronas team.

* Third "happy-birthday-to-us" cake cutting ceremony.....

All within 5 hours from the first cake!!!!!

M-dot cake courtesy of Cyn....

* Fourth (and final!!! Phew....) "happy-birthday-to-us" cake cutting ceremony!!!

Tadonamo cake with M-dot lining at the side, courtesy of Ellya.

I have enough cake to last me for a couple of weeks!!!!

* Hershey's kisses courtesy of Yvonne....

* The ride back.....both bike and owner equally exhausted and sleep deprived!

*......yea yea.....will aim to get clip shoes before next birthday ride!!! (feel free to chip in monetarily!!!)

Anyway will be sending in Tobias to KSH for a fixer-upper....and hopefully he'll be back in action ASAP!!!!!

I don't care what people say but I *HEART* that bike!

Later!!!!

Updates!!!!!

2012-01-16T23:08:00.004+08:00

Don't have to remind me....I know I've been neglecting this blog tremendously.

I can't even remember the last time I had a blog entry.....(although I did check and I now know it was 3rd January)

But for your info......I've not done much running since the Newton New Year 25km Challenge.....and that 5km run that I did last Thursday, which I am happy to report that I could still get done within 30 minutes.

Phew...good to know I'm not aging at an exponential rate yet.

Been heading to the gym on off......rock climbing on off......dusting the fluff off Tobias on off......

And I'm happy to report that Tobias has been getting a bit of a workout....but no, he has not lost any weight still, FYI.

And yes....I'm very well aware that it would be much easier if the owner/rider just lose the excess baggage but I figured it would be so much more realistic for Tobias to lose the poundage instead considering the owner/rider loves to eat a tad too much.

I'm also very proud that Tobias made it to Port Dickson and back, over the previous weekend......despite having a crash within the first 5km of riding....(which caused my helmut to crack and Tobias' front wheel to be a bit off alignment....and I'm now parading around with multiple bruises over lower limbs and lower back)

* Joint birthday bash....

* The PD-contingent!!!!

And I'll blog about PD, the ride and the joint birthday bash......one of these days.

Hopefully.

Also.....with CNY looming, I'm hoping to be at a ready mind set to get back into running.

Mind you, Hong Kong Marathon is about a month from right now!!!!

By hook or by crook, I better get some long runs in.....

Oh....and I'm thinking I'll just quietly pretend that the Newton 25km didn't happen and therefore I don't have to blog about it!!!

Later!!!!

Dude....is it 2012 yet?!?!?!

2012-01-03T17:23:00.002+08:00

I swear I wasn't drunk, hungover or high on any illegal substances.....

But dammit.....I didn't realized 2011 had left the building!!!

I arrived at work, feeling absolutely still 2011 only to be rudely greeted by 2012.

What the hell happened?!?!

How did 2011 just ended without even acknowledging that I was still in fact very stuck in it?!?!?!

Argh....how inconsiderate indeed.

But seriously, the new year came without much of a bang.

Of course....I was in snooze-ville before the onset of the fireworks at the strike of midnight, but I would have thought 2012 would have felt a little bit more.....significant.

Ok...so I don't know how significant the new year is suppose to feel like....

And mostly I'm just annoyed that I spent the first day of new year awake way too early in the morning, while the whole neighbourhood was either out plastered and drunk, or fast asleep (which was much to my envy)......and I was running 25km with other determined runners and supporters (which several years ago, I would have labelled them as "no-life-ers") and spent the remaining day in bed, furiously trying to catch up on lost sleep.

But mostly...I'm annoyed....because 2011 seemed like such a momentous year....but yet again, I felt like I didn't achieve much.

Yea yea....ambivalence again. The recurring theme of my freakin life.

Sure....there was the whole training for Sundown 100km.....then the actual race.....then there was me trying my hand at OD tris......then got suckered into half IM distance......then more full marathons.......and a whole lot of other stupid things that I dabbled with.....(phew)

Yea I'm proud of those stuffs that I did....I guess.

Then again, I ended 2011 with my running mojo on the low and was desperately trying to regain it before 2012 only to have myself fail miserably.

Of course it ain't a such a bad thing to not be "feeling it" that much for running....but in comparative, I ended my 2010 on a running high, feeling I could run forever!!!

So you gotta understand why ending 2011 like this is upsetting me.

2011 was also the year that a lot of things changed....at least in my life, it felt that way.

(you do realized by now that I'm a semi-drama-queen and this blog is a pseudo-platform onto which I project my melodramatic self....if you don't, then most likely you're new to this blog)

I finally came home.....although I'm not too sure if that was much to the dismay or joy of my folks.

I finally went back into studying.....although I have my regular, intermittent doubts on my ability to return to hitting the books after much brain cell decay from being institutionalized.

I finally have some sort of direction in life amidst 5 years of "going with the flow" in terms of my career.

And with all these comes responsibilities which I've been frantically avoiding.

Also....with the arrival of January 2012, I'm constantly being reminded that my first year exams (major panic attack!!!!) is impending and I can no longer be in denial about it.

Oh....most importantly.....2012 ushers in my 3rd decade of life. Now bring on the bloody fireworks and champagne.

Now can you understand now why I want my 2011 back!?!?!?!

Anyway....whatever said and done, I'm still my delusional self and still somewhat optimistic about 2012......as long as my panic attacks regarding my upcoming exam is in check...and I keep telling myself that my 30s are gonna be awesome!!!

I want 2012 to be bigger....better.....and more memorable than 2011.

I want my running mojo to have a comeback that is outta the scale!!!

I wanna race more (after May 2012)......travel more......go hang out at the pool in a bikini more......experience life more......oh and go diving without perforating an ear drum at least once this year!!!!

I also wanna pray more....volunteer more....blog more.....read more......sleep more.....

I wanna LIVE more....so that when 2013 comes knocking (we're of course in agreement that the Mayan calenders were absolutely wrong and apocalypse ain't happening anytime soon), I'll know exactly where 2012 went.

Oh yes....I'll be blogging about the Newton 25km run, as soon as my internal body clock says its 2012.

In the words of Spock.....live well and prosper.

Later!!!!!

The case of the blues.....

2011-12-27T13:47:00.003+08:00

Wanna know something, I, myself find incredibly ironic?

Well.....did you know, that the symptoms of overtraining and depression are almost impossible to differentiate?

No....seriously!!!!

Let's just list down a few symptoms that most of us will think of when we utter the word overtrained.

Tiredness.....general feelings of fatigue.....poor appetite (and perhaps coupled with loss of weight)......loss of drive.....feeling empty....loss of focus.....disturbed sleeping patterns......irritability......loss of interest......feeling low in mood.....

(of course there's also high resting heart rate, poor immune system and the works depending on whether it's the sympathetic sort of the parasympathetic type of overtraining....but that's another topic all together)

Flip open the DSM-IV directory and scroll around to Depression.....and you'd probably find the same symptoms listed as well.

Are you surprised?!

Well.....I kinda was.

I mean here we're touting exercise as a natural remedy towards curing a mild case of the blues and you're telling me that too much of a good thing makes one depress!?!?!

Wow.......they weren't kidding about moderation.

So now the golden question.

How do you differentiate?

Well.....if only I knew!!

Here's the annoying bit about medicine that the general layman does not seem to understand.

Most of the things in medicine are never black and white.

There's a huge chuck of things left in the grey, unsure area and sometimes what you think is correct at the moment will indefinitely be proved wrong in a couple of years time?

In fact....the word diagnosis literally means "an educated guess".

(at least that much I understand why some people gravitate to orthopaedics.....you see a fracture, you fix the fracture, everyone goes home happy....)

So if you find yourself in such a fix, what are you gonna do about it?

(well...for one, don't message me on Facebook for an online consultation.....that would be good for starters!!)

Well....try talking to someone.

Someone with perspective. Someone who knows what he or she is talking about.

You could also try laying off your sport for a duration of time. That is after all the whole basis of the word, REST.

Fuel up properly......no more nonsense on getting to or maintaining "race weight" at this point.

It honestly won't help you score a PB if all you feel like doing is ending your freakin life.

If "conservative" management doesn't work.....well, there's no shame in admitting that you may have a problem.....even if that problem goes by the name of Depression.

And....if that's the case......seek help.

Trust me on that. It was the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Merry Christmas, and God bless.

Later!!!

Dang....

2011-12-23T10:13:00.006+08:00

I was told that I'm not blogging as much as I was previously.

Honestly I didn't think that I was slacking off in the blogging department....

But seriously....there ain't anything interesting to blog about lately especially all I have to look forward to in the past several weeks was exams and more exams.......

Not exactly news-worthy.

Anyway, in view that there's nothing much in the running front to talk about.....let me just put up another photo-log about one of the few things I hold dearly to my heart.....EATING.....

* I met up with Sumeet over a Wednesday night for dinner at Ben's General Food Store, located at Bangsar Village 1.

I've never heard of this place until Sumeet mentioned it.

She said the salad bar looked terrific.

I never cared much for salads even during my vegetarian days......(man, I don't miss those days!)

* The menu reads like a newspaper classified. The pizza list was almost endless. Needless to say, reading through the menu was kinda exhaustive, and I just picked the first thing that caught my fancy.

* It has a very quaint feel to this place....very food-court/cafeteria chic except the prices are triple (if not quadruple). Fancy sharing tables with complete strangers?

* Sumeet was adamant that we must take photos......

* Pina colada milkshake.....yea, I know...that combo is such an oxymoron. But surprisingly, I really like it!

* I LOVE mushrooms and I LOVE the Funghi pizza with mascarpone.

* Sumeet decided for what seemed like a Hawaiian pizza.....

* The portion was huge!!!! I recommended sharing but Sumeet didn't agree with mushrooms, and I wasn't too keen on pineapples.

Despite not being able to finish.....both pizzas were delicious!!!!

* Thankfully, they let us doggie-bag it home. It became my breakfast the following morning after gym session.

Anyway.....am looking forward to the Christmas celebrations.

Will be busy throughout.

Sigh......and I thought I'd have more time to sleep!!!!!

Later!!!

Thank goodness Monday is done and over with.....

2011-12-19T18:13:00.004+08:00

Ahhh.....finally....Monday is over!!!!!

I had a viva exam this morning that was stressing the hell outta me over the past one week and it didn't quite help that each time I think about the exam, I automatically feel extremely exhausted and sleepy.

Needless to say, I spent more time sleeping the whole of last week than I did studying.

Can't blame me exactly...ain't my fault that my natural defense against compounding stress is to snooze.

That or I have a case of undiagnosed narcolepsy.

(we doctors just LOVE to diagnose ourselves......)

Anyway in between the slumber, I did manage a few moments of being awake, enough to actually cramp in some useful facts and information.

Thankfully whatever that was cramped in in those short periods of time, worked.....and I don't think I did that badly in the exam.

Phew.

Just as my cortisol level starts to decline back to baseline, I'm reminded again that I will be having another similar exam with a lot more topics to read early next month.

Gosh...and suddenly I feel so so sleepy.......

Now....just why in the hell did I decide that I was still up for post-grad studies!?!?!?!

Anyway....over the weekend, Richard had decided to celebrate his birthday one week in advance.

Smart move too...considering if your birthday is on Christmas eve and most people are too busy at church/opening presents/holidaying overseas/in a state of drunken stupor somewhere in Bangsar.....to actually attend your birthday bash.

* Before heading off from Richard's place....

Richard, Syerol, Ellya, Rupert, David, Kevin......yours truly.

* Yes I know...I still have bad posture....and yes, I'll get those clip shoes....erm, soon!

* The entire group at Petronas, Ijok.

* Arrived back safely.....thank you GOD!!!!!

In true Ironman fashion, Richard decided to celebrate his x-th birthday (I figured it was kinda rude to ask) by organizing an "easy" ride from his house in Kota Damansara to Ijok (somewhere around Kuala Selangor.....but don't take my word for it. My sense of direction ain't as well developed as my sense of sarcasm) and then continuing with a pot-luck lunch at his place.

Although it was more of Claris cooking than it was pot-luck.

I was a little (ok...VERY!!!) hesitant to join this ride.

Here you have the line-up of the who's who in the local triathlete scene....and then, there's me.

I had my doubts that I was gonna be able to keep up.....(I was right...I wasn't able to)

And I wasn't very keen for an 80km "so-called-easy" ride as my first ride post-Powerman.

Yea...Tobias has been taking some down time for quite a while.

Anyway.....aside from getting chased by a pack of stray mutts and a couple of close calls with huge arse lorries driving way too near you for you to appreciate Bernoulli's Principle, I arrived back at Richard's place with limbs all in its rightful places and skin fully intact.

Note to self.....never believe when someone promises that they will ride with you no matter how slow you are.

Fact is that....once the ego takes over....and the need to out-ride another cyclist presents itself.....you'll find yourself riding alone all the way behind.

But in the spirit of Christmas....I'll just be thankful that I survived!!!

*yawn*

Sorry...I just had a brief thought about my upcoming exam.

Later!!!!!

TGIT!!!!!!

2011-12-14T18:07:00.002+08:00

Remember a couple of months back when I posted about the VO2 max machine...??

No??

Oh well...figured as well.

Anyway I took the initiative to dig through the archive of the blog to ease the search for you guys.

Click HERE.

Well...good news and bad news about the machine (as viewed in relation to me and my job scope...mostly just good news!!!!).

It's broken.

Not the treadmill....but the system that works the VO2 device.

Yea...I know.

Several weeks after fulfilling my job description as a guinea pig, we were using that machine as part of the exercise prescription program......and it started giving us a lot of problems.

The tech guy came in to try and fix it.....but the problems recurred.....

And so we deemed it faulty and no longer use it.

Phew....

What a relief!!!!!

The whole system was a pain in my gluteus to work with.

Well...I know some of you out there would be pretty bummed with this piece of news...(but in all honesty, I'm damn happy!!!!)

....so that's YOUR bad news.

Recently, we were loaned a stationary bike fitted with the system to test the Astrand protocol.

No...not speaking French...

Click HERE for more information......(word of caution: it's a tad bit wordy)

It's not exactly VO2 max....but rather it's testing for submaximal VO2.

It's more user friendly as one cycles for a mere 6 minutes at a RPM of 55-65 while only wearing a heart rate monitor.

The computer does everything else.

Of course we were made guinea pigs again......and this time I scored slightly higher than while on the Bruce protocol......my VO2 peak (not to be confused with VO2 max) was 52!!!!

And apparently, that piece of equipment at the back of our clinic is one of the 3 that is available in the whole of South East Asia.....

Although frankly I'm not sure if boss is saying that out of sheer pride or just stating the facts....

On another note, I just returned from my first sports biomechanics lecture.....and was aghast to find out that there is NO place in this whole entire country available for the regular Joe's to get their biomechanics checked out (if they wanted to).

Nope....not even one proper place to get their gait properly videotaped and analyzed.

Sigh.....

And my thoughts about barefoot running got shot down...again!!!

Double sigh......sometimes you really gotta hate conventional thinkers.

But on the good side, the lecturer did provide an idea on how to set up my own gait-analysis testing platform.......

Now I only have to wait to graduate....head my own sports medicine department....and bug someone up there in the administrative ranks for funding!!!!!

Heck....I can always dream, can't I?

Later!!!!

Singapore Marathon - 4th December 2011

2011-12-05T18:32:00.010+08:00

The alarm goes off at 3am.

I vaguely remembered just falling off into snoozeville a couple of hours ago.

In fact, I was trying not to think about work when trying to sleep, only to have dreamt about work for that few precious hours of shut eye.

It is amazing how ironic the mind can be.

The MRT system was working overtime for the race and thankfully, the Bedok MRT station was really near Nard's place.

We headed there just before 4 and arrived to Orchard MRT station, packed with runners and that was when the confusion started.

Runners, runners EVERYWHERE and no one quite knows where to go.

Everyone was assigned a end-time starting pen.

Mine and Nard's was sub-6:00.

Volunteers were giving obscure instructions and most likely were as confused about the whole situation as I was.

After being directed to the wrong pen and forced to walk half the Orchard Road twice, finally did find the right pen and nicely warmed up for the race.

Of course no one could find the entrance into the pen since the entire street seemed to be fenced off, we did what most Malaysians would have done in such situations.

We climbed over the barrier, totally ignoring the rules and regulations.

Of course it turned out that most other nationalities present on that morning were doing the same thing out of sheer frustration.

There you go....we aren't that bad after all.

* I forgot how crowded Singaporean races can get!!

* Thankfully met up with the usual suspects...here with Agnes, Vron and LeeYong.

* After climbing over the barricade, proceeded to walk to the starting line as the crowd moved forward at 5am.

Thankfully no baggage deposit this year as I heard it was more horrendous than the year before.

* Maybel who is recovering from Plantar Fasciitis, came to support!

* Finally...after a nice slow 5 minute walk, we reached the starting line....and now the race begins!

It was warm and humid.

I wasn't sure if it was the weather (likely) or the number of runners that could equate to the total population of Singaporeans all packed into Orchard (most likely!) that was contributing to the warmth and humidity.

The race started on time.

But of course it took quite a bit of time to walk to the starting line.

And then we're off!!!

The initial few kilometers were very slow.

It was difficult to run due to the perpetual wall of people in front of you, next to you, behind you....everywhere!!!!

.....and the narrow roads with its frequent bottle necks.

I've never felt to claustrophobic in my whole entire running life.

* Running through the tunnel....people, people, EVERYWHERE!!!!

* Found Daryl.....

* ......and the 5:30 pacers.......which Vron and I overtook and tried our darnest not to let them catch up with us!!!

* Teresa on her 70th birthday running her birthday marathon!

* Me and Vron...

The first few water stations, we gave it a go.

It was almost impossible to get any water.

You literally have to dive in, kicking and screaming to get near enough to the table to grab a quickly disappearing cup of water.

I decided I wasn't the kicking and screaming sort....at least not since after I was 3 years of age.

At the fourth water station, I helped myself (coz everyone else was!) to pour out some 100-plus from the large bottle into my water bottle since there weren't enough volunteers manning the station to distribute the fluids.

Turned out that the large bottle contained undiluted 100-plus solution, which to my dismay, only found out after taking my first swig from my bottle.

It was so sweet and concentrated that the instant wave of nausea almost made me puke out breakfast.

The gastrointestinal system didn't quite agree with the super-hypertonic solution in the stomach....and at 12th kilometer, just as we were making out way into the East Coast park (ECP), it made its way back up the oesophagus and out the mouth.

I was relieved.

Second time vomiting during a race.

I should have went and bought a lottery ticket.

ECP was a dry and boring stretch.

Thankfully, runners were now more spread out as the roads in ECP were kinda narrow.

It was just boring..boring...BORING!!!

* Mizni and Vron at 20km mark.

* Heading to the never-ending turnaround......

My feet started to hurt.

I tried ignoring it.

I've done that many times before and it usually works....except that there was nothing much to distract you at the ECP.....

I was also getting really tired.

Perhaps dreaming of work made me even more fatigued than completing a marathon.

I tried to keep up with Vron.

She's rather determined to get this race under her belt in 5:30.

I was rather determined to get this race over and done with in the least amount of self-inflicted pain.

In the end....I could no longer run at her pace and promptly lost her in the midst of other runners.

I knew the 5:30 pacers were right behind me.

I struggled to stay ahead.

But the fatigue was overwhelming...

I told myself.....forget it.....just walk and enjoy whatever that is left of the race.

...and I allowed myself to fully walk.

....and they overtook me.

Part of me wanted to keep up, at least with the 5:30 group.

The other part of me that concurred with my painful feet vetoed and decided that walking was what's best at the moment.

I walked.....

The only consolation was that other runners around me were now walking as well.

Oh...and the other good bit was that I was done with the ECP!!!!

Run/walked the remaining distance with EeWey and Roy whom I bumped into and who also decided that they'd be walking most of the way back.

I finally had people to walk and talk with.

Misery definitely loves company when it comes to marathons.

And.....we just walked....and walked....and walked...under the sweltering heat of the late morning sun.

None of us were keen to continue running much.

All of us were pretty much contented to walk all the back to the finishing line.

Anyway....in an anticlimax fashion, photo-log will tell the remaining story:

* Trying to keep up with Vron....who was trying to keep away from the 5:30 pacers.

She was aiming to 5:30 it (and eventually succeeded!!!) for her 3rd FM.

* In the end, I could no longer keep up at Vron's pace...and lost her just before 30km mark....and about 10 minutes later, was passed by the 5:30 group.

* Found EeWey right after the 5:30 group passed me.

Woohoo...someone to run/walk with!!!

* At around 32-33km, found Roy....

Woohoo....another person to run/walk with!!!!

* Found Nancy on the bridge to Marina Barrage.....reminiscing about the Sundown Ultra.

* At about 35-36km.....my Garmin died on me.....

Ok...so serve me right for not charging it the night before.

* At around 36-37km.....found Kash and Kak June dispensing Coke!!!!!

Here with Tey-da-man....

* Hot, dehydated and extremely tired......this can of Coke was a life saver!!!!

* EeWey and Roy loving the free deep heat rub.

* The heat becoming rather unbearable.....a lot of people walking...

* Finally...39km!!!

* ChooiWan overtaking us!!!!

* Terence caught up.....and made us 3 run!!!!

* Terence pacing LeeYong....

* Ok ok...so we started running a bit more...just to stay ahead of Terence

* But since he was perpetually behind us, that kinda kept up running for the last 2km...

* One more kilometer to go.

* The finishing stretch!!!!

* The finishing line!!!!!

It was such a huge relief to have that come into view....

* Terence and LeeYong

Finished sub-6 hours.

Someone remind me next year not to sign up for this race anymore!!!!!!

Now I gotta head off to catch up with my studying.....

Later!!!!!!

TGIT!!!!!!

2011-12-01T20:09:00.002+08:00

I am FINALLY packed!!!!

After what seems like eternal procrastination, I've finally gotten around to packing for my trip down Singapore.

And for once......(yes, breakthrough moment!!!).....I did not under-pack.

At least I don't think I did.

Oh well, so maybe just a bit under-packed than the average marathoning Joe but definitely over-packed as far as my standards go.

And after days of procrastinating, I finally gotten down to acquiring some Singapore Dollars that would definitely come in handy when IN Singapore.

(so what if mom was the acting money changer, just because I realized too late that I've yet to have changed any currency at dinner time and borderlining on a panic attack!?)

Will be taking the bus down tomorrow morning and am planning to catch up on my sleep during the 5-hour (more or less...although I'm seriously hoping it'll be less) ride.

Not that I'm on any sleep debt at the moment. Don't think so......

I'm just very tired lately.......although reasons behind my perpetual tiredness, remains unknown.

For the past one week, I've been regularly tucking tired self into bed before 9.30pm, having intermittent awakenings in between (but thankfully most of the time, return to sleep ensued) and by the time it's time to wake up, I'm still yearning for more shut eye.

Thus morning sessions at the gym have been missed for the whole week.

(I pacify anxious self with the lack of morning exercise by telling self that it is tapering week!)

Perhaps all those years of waking up early to run is finally catching up to me!!!

(although I seriously doubt it......I would have died of sleep deprivation one way or another years ago)

Anyway......

I'm feeling very ambivalent about this Sunday's race.

Last official race of the year always does that to me.

It is a terrible feeling knowing that I've nothing lined up for the next 3 weeks until the Newton 25km rolls around on the first day of 2012.

(I decided not to run MR25 this year for monetary and studying issues...although I LOVED that race last year)

Am already mentally preparing myself......bracing for the retributory dysthymia secondary to acute road-race withdrawal.

(if I start posting up nonsense and a barrage of woe-is-me shit, at least you know why.....)

Ok....I've said my peace.

Later!!!!!

Updates!!!!!

2011-11-29T17:52:00.006+08:00

Ok let's see.....

I finally gotten my bus tix down to Singapore for this Sunday's marathon settled despite the initial Oh-my-gawd-I-totally-forgot-to-buy-air-tix-and-how-the-hell-am-I-going-to-go-Singapore fiasco.

However in the same fiasco fashion, mom accidentally booked only the going-ticket....not the coming-back ones.....which again left me in a bit of a worrying state.....but thankfully was able to hitch a ride with David back to KL.....of course, he was more than happy to offer since I actually offered to drive him, his passengers and myself back.

Thankfully I like to drive long distance.

I'm sure David is pretty thankful for that as well since he's trying his darnest to sub-5, before his IM Melbourne early next year.

Having that settled.....(plus settling my leave from work).....I am definitely at a peace of mind.

Last Sunday's working at the Nike 10km Run didn't turn out as bad as initially thought....thanks to the power of POSITIVE THINKING (excuse me if I start to sound a little new-age-Rhonda-Byrne-NLP-shit, but I swear it works!).......

Not only was I stationed at the "easier" medic tent (we only got hassled for muscle cramps and blisters), my medic tent was situated right next to Auntie Jenny's volunteer tent and the ice cream van.

Aside from the medic peeps (GlobalDoctors) feeding me breakfast and steady supply of coffee, Auntie Jenny fed me Domino's pizza (don't ask me where these volunteers get them from) and my friends kept giving me free ice cream they've scored off the ice cream van (part of the sponsors, I suspect).

Oh...and I got paid! Hoorah!!

Work finished on time....and I was home in time for my late morning nap prior to lunch!

(hey...it's tapering week for my Singapore Marathon....I say I need more rest!)

Photo-log below courtesy of Elaine, Azri and Dannie.

* Caught eating ice cream while at work. Well...it wasn't busy and I thought it was awfully rude to reject free ice creams!!!!

* Met up with a lot of people...including long time "patient", Mo-maniac.....

Not been taking his meds, obviously....

* Everyone thought it was funny to come into the tent for analgesic creams and cold spray.

Anyway, I was sifting through the store room and found several pairs of running shoes that I no longer run in for reasons I rather not discuss on this blog, I decided to bring them to the Running Lab at Tropicana City Mall to donate them for the Project Love Sneakers that would benefit Karen's Run For Orang Asli.

Each pair (in wearable condition!!!) donated will receive a RM100 voucher for their next running shoe purchase (minus Asics) from Running Lab.

This program ends 11th December 2011. So if you have a pre-loved (or never been loved!) pair of running shoe still in good condition and you are looking to dispose of it, do drop by Running Lab and hopefully, your old shoes will be given new life (one way or another) by the Run For Orang Asli organization.

* My old Brooks Axiom and my Nike Triax. Hopefully they will find a better home than my store room could offer.....

* Get your old shoes in by 11th December 2011!!!

* Well....I kinda used one of the vouchers to purchase another pair of "Lizard"....this time in black. Hopefully Daryl will be nice enough to lengthen the second toe-sock to accommodate my Morton's toe....(coz I absolutely love what he did with my old blue "Lizard"!!)

* Say hi to Frank when you get there. Don't bother mentioning my name....you ain't getting any special treatment that way.....(and this ain't that kinda blog!!!)

On a more sombre note, last Sunday my friend Cyn was at Phuket participating in the Laguna Triathlon and was unfortunately involved in quite a major mishap that includes her....her Specialized bike....and a road divider.....and is now still in hospital admission in Phuket.

I'm praying for her speedy recovery and I do hope she'll be back well and able....and raring to go back in action.

* Picture courtesy of Nik.....yours truly and Cyn at Miri Tri....

On a less sombre note, I'm having major Chatime addiction and I'm up for any get-togethers that include a stop-over at Chatime!!!

5 days until my final (official) race of the year.

I'm gonna be SO depress after this....sigh.

Later!!!!!

Much ado about nothing much in particular.....

2011-11-26T18:48:00.004+08:00

I'm a little depress since yesterday over the fact that I won't be running tomorrow's Nike Run KL 10km run due to work commitments (and yes, I was reminded that I was a fool for being a bit too empathetic towards my colleagues and thus giving up running tomorrow's race to man the medical tent at the same said event), although in all honesty, I hate the word WORK and the word COMMITMENT and I hate it even more when they are used in the same sentence.

And I hate people rubbing my face in at the fact that I won't be running especially when said people are my so-called friends.

Anyway felt a little better after this morning's 10km run, dressed in what I would have been wearing if I were to race tomorrow (silly...I know, but heck....it does help!!!), despite receptors in the brain not yet fully saturated with endorphins......but I'll take whatever I can get.

What is getting me through is knowing I could run on Monday since it's a public holiday.

(you gotta love this country for its inexhaustible public holidays!!)

After this morning's run....I was reminded by someone that I still am in debt by 2 race reports for this blog....being the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon and the Miri Triathlon.

I did mention a few blog posts earlier that I was in no mood (then) to blog about those races since it's been quite a while and I'm kinda lacking in things to say about those races (which is kinda rare an occurrence for my situation coz I almost always have something to say about things)......but I guess I should at least try to post something (anything!?) about those events.

I guess they do deserve to be listed on this blog (although I'm not too sure who is actually interested in reading about a couple of races that I did a couple of months back).

But let me ease into blogging about past events by posting several pictures taken from my week off work in East Malaysia.

Mind you, these pictures were taken off Rupert's mobile phone camera.....(in the process of packing really light for the trip, I somehow decided that my camera was a tad too heavy to be brought along....yea yea I know, dumb idea)

Photo-log below are pictures taken when we were in Miri (several days after the Climbathon and a day before the tri).

* Flight from Kota Kinabalu to Miri on MAS Wings. It was a really tiny plane.

* First day in Miri, and since devoid of ideas of anything interesting to do, we cycled around in search of a decent beach. We still have not found it. Tobias above resting underneath a very sparse coconut tree.

* Since there was no way in hell we could be doing Mulu Caves with the time limitation we were facing, Niah Cave was the next best thing since it was a one-day trip.

* Ready for the caves....

* The pictures does the actual view and cave no justice. I guess nothing beats actually BEING there and experiencing it.

* Toying around....although I honestly cannot remember what the heck I was doing...

* Coming out form the pitch black darkness of the caves.......reeking of the aroma of bat excretions.

* Found some rare life form during our trek back.....and no, I do not mean us.

* Despite the guide repeatedly mentioning that it was very VERY rare a lizard to be found around in these parts of the national park, Rupert can't help but feel very hungry....

So now....have a little patience and I'll get around to my write up on the Climbathon and the tri.

I'm thinking super-positive (or at least trying my best to) about working tomorrow morning.

Perhaps (huge perhaps) I'll score some goodies from the organizers, get paid, no one gets injured......and I get to go home really early!!!!!

Yes....positive thinking......

Later!!!!

Penang Bridge Marathon - 20th November 2011

2011-11-24T21:39:00.002+08:00

Penang bridge marathon is always such a sleep deprived run.

A race that starts at 2am for a full marathon which requires me to get to the starting line by 12 midnight to avoid road closures, which means I have to be prepared by 11pm to go.

That doesn't leave me with much time for snoozing.

I keep telling myself I would never put myself through that sorta sleep deprivation again after last year's event....but found myself in Penang on race weekend, registered to run and all raring to go.

Sigh.

Sometimes I just never ever learn.

(who says doctors are a smart lot?!?! I reckon my IQ drops by 1% with every additional number to my chronological age)

Met up with the usual who's who in my immediate running circle.....ate a lot.....met more people....

The usual race routine...

Race kit collection went off without a hitch.

* Nope....not elite yet....but it is always good to have a dream.....well, more or less.

* KD came all the way from Kota Kinabalu just for this race.

Barely with any shut eye in our sleep-bank......Carol, Elaine, AP and I made our way to the starting line at around midnight.

It was amazing to see many other sleep-deprived people hanging around Queensbay Mall area waiting for the race to start.

Gosh I can't remember the last time I was up and about so late (or early!) in the day.

(I'm the type that sleeps early and probably snooze off during midnight movies, which honestly is such a waste of money to be sleeping in the cinema)

* Terence handing out salt tablets.

The full marathon started at 2am.

(probably just getting around to my REM sleep at the moment and having my cells regenerating and repairing itself......if I was actually in bed!)

Standing at the starting line.....I have absolutely no aim for this race whatsoever......except to finish before 6 hours.....with minimal blisters.....and hopefully no chafing.....oh, and preferably with some hot dude's phone number written on my forearm.

Despite not sleeping for the past God-knows-how-many-hours, it is always good to be optimistic and hopeful.

* At the starting line...

* Dannie and Mo-maniac with getting their whistles on!

Race started right on time.

I ran along side Winnie, Mo-maniac, Lawrence and Carol.

I didn't know what their aim was.....but I was too lazy to set my own pace and was quite happy to tag along someone else's.....at least until my muscles are warmed up enough and I'm fully awake.

* Chooiwan pacing the 6 hour group.

The initial 5km was very humid....very packed.....very tiring.

Breakfast (or supper) hadn't quite gone down well with the digestive tract yet and I'm sweating bucket loads and feeling super uncomfortable.

.....and then we got on the bridge.

The cool night breeze was very refreshing.

Running with the group was really fun......it was like an ultra-long LSD done in the middle of the night, far away from the comforts of KL.

......aside the fact that Mo-maniac did not permit us to walk up the incline on the bridge and my tympanic membrane had to endure his intermittent whistle blowing.

* Half of AP....Karen......someone......and Winnie.

* The turnaround for the half marathoners......

* Karen Siah (I wanna grow up to be just like her....then I realized that she's younger than me...hmmmm) with Mo-maniac.

Getting to the end of the bridge was alright.

I felt great (once I was awake!) and the pace felt pretty effortless.

I didn't wanna pull away......I didn't wanna lose the camaraderie......and I suspect I might have withdrawal symptoms if I lose the whistle blower too quickly.

Once across to the other side of the bridge.....I was starting to feel a little tired.

I told myself I was gonna walk up the incline this time around....regardless of what the whistle blower says.......

I was also starting to get a little hungry.

Passed the 20km mark....glanced down at the Garmin.....2:25.

A very typical timing at this point in time of a very typical full marathon race.

Ain't gonna be sub-5-ing it....but it'll be a comfortable sub-6 for sure.

Passed the top of the bridge going onto descent, I was praying very VERY hard for rain.

Rain could have presented itself as an uplifting motivator (I love running in the rain minus the probability of death by lightning strike).......and it was as good as a strong cup of coffee in perking me up at that point!

Alas.....someone else prayed a whole lot harder than me for a very dry race.

* Lawrence and Winnie...

* They served buns!!!! It was very bland...but I was very hungry and I didn't really care what it tasted like.

* Lee Yong, Mo-maniac and Winnie

I was starting to toy with fatigue at the end of the bridge, just as we were starting off into Jelutong Highway.

At that point, I was running with Karen, Winnie and Mo-maniac.....more or less.

I was so tired that at that point, I was doing intermittent-run-walk with Karen.

We kinda lost Winnie somewhere back there.

At the turn around further up the highway, we kinda lost Mo-maniac as well.

So run-walk-run-walk.....take pictures of people I know on the other side of the highway......continue run-walk-run-walk.......

Honestly, the run-walk-run-walk routine was a whole lot easier and broke the monotony of the endless road that is Jelutong Highway.

It made things more fun and time seemed to past a whole lot faster.

I don't care what people say about this technique....but I made a convert out of Karen.

* Yours truly and Karen....

Heading back to Queensbay....we could see the sun rising over the horizon.

Absolutely breath taking.

We merged with the 10km and the fun-runners.....and we knew we were THIS close to the finish line.

The last 3km was horrendous.

Literally running on empty.....my lower half of my body hurts.....I'm tired.....I'm sleepy......I'm hungry.....I'm in pain.....(someone remind me why the hell am I doing this again!?!?!)

And I just wanna get to the finish line and stop running!!!

2km more to go.

Everyone around me was running fast.

So yea....they were running a 10km......but it was shit annoying that everyone around me seemed to be happily overtaking me. And I seemed SO bloody slow!!!

I'm NOT gonna walk....and I'm gonna run all the way until the finish line!!!!

1km more to go.

I just want to stop running NOW!!!!

Karen was still beside me.

I didn't wanna walk coz I was encouraging her not to walk and I didn't wanna be so hypocritical about the whole thing.....so I kept on pushing through the pain.

I can see Queensbay Mall!!!!

Just a little further up.

I so wanna throw my running shoes away and soak my feet in ice cold water right NOW!!!

Gotta keep going.....

I can see the finish line!!!!

I always always ALWAYS sprint (or at least it seemed like a sprint to me) to the finish line.

Dig deep.....grit the teeth.....and run fast.

Once I cross the timing mat.....paused the Garmin.....and huge sigh of relief.

I'm done!!!!

* Queensbay Mall right ahead of us!

* With Lydia

* Jason and AP

So.....finished in less than 6 hours (checked!)......minimal blisters (checked!)......no chafing (failed!)......hot dude's number (epic fail....but that was because the field lacked potential!)

Now the pain is gone, the chafing healed and I'm back to "normal".....then I realize.....

.....I'm doing it all over again in 2 weeks time.

Sigh.

Later!!!

Powerman - 13th November 2011

2011-11-17T18:59:00.005+08:00

*Before I start, big thank you to all the contributors of the photos.....Victor, Tony, Winnie, Lydia, TKB, Azure, and Cyn. I'm sorry that I'm a tad lazy to carry my own camera*

The mind does great wonders when the body fails to live up to expectations.

Yea yea I know.....it's probably a proven fact by now but I just wanna nail the point home coz I succeeded in completing Powerman under 5 hours because the mind refused to give up when the body was ready to throw in the towel.

Last year, I did the sprint event. No worries about the timing there.

However, if my more or less accurate calculations of my usual running and cycling time are anything to go by, there was no way in hell I was gonna be completing the full distance of 11km run, 64km ride followed by another 10km run, within the stipulated cut off time of 5 hours.

Ok....perhaps by a slight narrow margin I might.

Let's put the numbers down. My usual 10km run would probably take 60-70 minutes....which if I'm a little optimistic, I could do the first 11km in 70-75 minutes.

I don't cycle like the wind and probably go about 25-28km/h on average and factoring in the steep bridge climb, the weather, stopping for water, what-nots.....I'd give myself 2.5 hours to complete comfortably.

And knowing that I wilt in the heat, my last 10km would probably take 80-90 minutes to complete....and that is an optimistic prediction!

.......which means, I'm barely cutting it with the time limit.

* Race briefing...with Winnie, Chooiwan, Maybel, Cyn, Agnes, yours truly, Winnie, Rupert and Patsy.

* Me and Tobias!

* With Maybel, Winnie and Winnie....oh and yours truly.

I showed up on race day questioning if I've actually done enough to complete this race less than 5 hours.

Probably not.

In fact, most likely not.

But I was reading something about race visualization and positive affirmations regarding to race (it is somewhere in my text book) and thought, ok.....positive thinking ain't gonna cost me anything so let's give it a try.

The sky looked clear which meant a damn hot weather was ensuing later on in the race.

Started the race right at the back.

I can't start fast and I usually pick up pace....eventually.....once I feel like I'm in the groove.

This is easy.

This ain't half as difficult as Double Hill.

This is no problem.

I can do this so much faster.

I feel superbly fantastic!!

This is shit easy!!

As I kept on repeating over and over the above affirmations to myself, my pace got faster.

Caught up to Terence.....caught up to David.......

Second loop.

Caught up to Cyn.....caught up to Nik.....caught up to Maybel (!!!).......

Turning into the stadium for T1.....glanced on my watch....60 minutes for the 11km!

(dang! I don't remember the last time I sub-1 hour for a 10km race)

Pushed Tobias out of T1 while downing a packet of Gu.

I'm doing great.

This is still so easy.

I'm totally owning this race.

About 5km into the cycle, I could feel my left calve muscles twitching.

Damn.......too early in the race to be getting a cramp!!!

I kept on cycling hoping the twitch would resolve and the cramp to never rear its ugly head.

.....except that the twitch did continue on off and while cycling over the 2nd bridge, my left calve muscles decided to cramp up.

I could not cycle on.

I had to stop.

I had to stretch it out.

This sucks!!!

I hate cramps and this is way too early in the race to be experiencing this sorta shit!!

Think positive.....think positive......

The race ain't over yet.

Once the pain and spasm resolved, I got back on Tobias.....turned to lighter gear and starting spinning.

Alternate between light gears and moderately heavier ones to avoid recurrence of the cramp.

It worked!

It's working.....I'm still doing great.

This is still easy.

I'm a freakin genius!!!

(ok ok...so some of my positive affirmations are a tad bit annoying to read, but take them with a huge pinch of salt!)

Cycling up the 3rd bridge with the steep incline didn't feel as difficult as it did last year when I was at it in the sprint.

At least I didn't curse and swear the entire way up!

The 2nd loop went off without a hitch.

No more cramping issues......no nothing.

I feel so lucky that my only issue during the bike was a minimal cramp.

No flat tires......no dropped water bottle......no running into traffic and getting myself killed......very very lucky indeed.

By the time I left T2, I glanced at my watch.....I have exactly 1.5 hours to complete my last 10km.

I have enough time.

The sun was an absolutely scorcher by that time.

I tried to run.

I tried to shuffle.

But damn it....it's so bloody hot out here!!!!

How can anybody run in this kinda heat?!?!

It's a recipe for heat-related injuries!!!!!

This is easy...really....it is!!

Oh screw you! This is damn difficult!!!

No really.....just keep on shuffling......keep moving.....it will get easier....

I wanna go home!!!!! I want this to stop right now!!!! I just want to walk!!!!

You can overcome the heat.....you can overcome the weather.....just keep moving.....keep running.....

I'm dying in the heat!!!!!

No....you're doing great! Keep shuffling.....it will get easier!!!!

Well....somewhere between the start of the first loop on the second run and the start of the 2nd loop......things did get easier.....

I carried with me my water bottle filled with isotonic when I started the run....which I quickly emptied and filled it with ice cold water to squirt on top of my head and my back.

The ice cold water dripping down the back of my body did wonders and was a great psychological aid to my now-defective positive affirmations.

Hey it ain't that bad......I can keep running.....I can do this.

The second loop......I was running more than I did in the first.

I kept on looking at my watch.

I have enough time.

I just have to keep running.

I will finish within 5 hours.

Gosh I really hope I finish within 5 hours!!!!

Kept on squeezing ice cold water on top of my head.

Kept on running.

Kept on trying to ignore that it was bloody hot day.

Kept on going.

I wanna finish within 5 hours.

I will finish within 5 hours.

At the final left turn.....I could see the stadium.

About a kilometer more.

Yes yes....I'm doing this!!! I'm so completing this in less than 5 hours!!!!

Keep going....keep going......you're gonna finish soon......

I pushed for a sprint to the finish.

Dig deep. Ignore the heat. Ignore the pain.

Almost there......

And I crossed the finish line with 13 minutes to spare.

Huge sigh of relief!

I'm done!!!!!!

* Starting the 2nd loop....thanks Azure for the ice cold Coke!

* Crossing the finishing line....

* Ahh...huge sigh of relief!!!

* Post race with Lydia and Wendy.

* Me with my champ of a bike!!! (prior to cycling back to the hotel)

Honestly...I'm super proud of myself.

And I'm very proud of all my friends who completed......especially Winnie AND Winnie who bagged first and second place position in their category!!!

After returning home.....Tobias announcing his semi-retirement until early next year, and the sunburn is now forgotten.....I started thinking to myself......

I wonder if I could do it faster NEXT year!!!

Later!!!!

Updates!!!!!

2011-11-15T17:52:00.002+08:00

I made it!!!

I completed Powerman less than the 5 hour cut-off time!!!!!

I'm super happy and ecstatic about it.

Yes...so I'm again, several shades darker than before......skin is kinda dry and in need a loads of moisturizing......and my legs are as sore as post-marathon......but still, I'm HAPPY!!!!

If you must know.....I crossed the finish line in 4:47......not exactly the fastest person on two feet, but definitely better than initially assumed I would be.

(I thought I'd DNF!!!)

Anyway....will post about the event.....erm, soon.

(yea yea yea....I know I always say that....but I really really cross my heart that I would this time around....like perhaps after the run that I was gonna go for now!)

Later!!!

This dysthymia is annoying the hell outta me!!!!

2011-11-08T18:40:00.005+08:00

Y'see......I've been trying to blog about the Miri tri for quite a while now.

I have...really!!!

I've been editing it over and over again but nothing inspirational seemed to conjure out whenever I try my darnest to focus on what actually happened during the race.

Trust me.....I've tried blogging about it before work....after work....after nap.....after workouts.....after food.....before food.....after dessert......(key word being TRIED)....but I was left pretty stumped in front of the computer, for once....lost for words.

(honestly.....have I EVER been lost for words before?!?!?!)

I'm in fact probably going through a writer's block (or more correctly, blogger's block) whenever I attempt to write about Miri tri.

Not that I didn't enjoy the race.....

I did....somewhat.

I actually won something from that race as well when I was placed top-10 in my category.

(so what if the field of contenders were really small?!)

But somehow when it was time to put the event into words.....my mind goes blank.....my fingers freeze at the keyboard......and I'm absolutely appalled at my lack of interesting things to say about it!

So I've come to a decision (a rather hard one) to NOT blog about the event.....and let the blog and I move on with life.

Perhaps eventually one day (God knows when!) I'd finally figure out what to write and then I'll complete what I've started.

(really....I've been clicking on EDIT.....staring at the computer screen....urging for the words...ANY word....to come to mind.....but none surfaced)

Anyway.....getting on with life, I'm pretty much on the lower end of the mood spectrum lately.

Well....not lately but for a while.

I didn't actually have the insight to realize it on my own.

I was really caught up with training...studying...making travel plans...(the works!!!) to realize it.

However today I encounter a patient who came in with a persistent back pain.

The history didn't quite fit a neuromuscular problem.

Coming from a psychiatric background, I inquire about depressive symptoms.

And what'dya know......the dude I suspect has depression.

The sleep disturbance and the appetite changes were pretty minor that I could discount it but it was his change in his attitude towards the things he used to like doing that really made alarm bells go off in my head.

He was anxious often.....easily worried.....low mood on most days......feels tired all the time.

Then it turned out that he did have history of depression 20 years ago that resolved and he didn't give his current situation much thought.

He thought he was happy....and he thought he had nothing to be depress about.

(frankly he didn't come off as depress at first glance)

Fair enough....

I referred him to psychiatry and explained that perhaps his back pain could be somatization of his illness.

Then I got to thinking.......

Gosh......it's like taking my own history.

I'm tired all the time.....I worry easily.....my mood is borderlining on being low.....

My sleep is better than it was......but not perfect.

I don't think my illness came back.

I thought I was pretty stable for the past 2 months or so.

But thats the thing with introspection.......the more you unearth, the more unsettling things become.

I realized that I've been masking it all by putting on a happy face.

Not think about it by getting myself really busy with everything around me.

I will be strong.....nothing is wrong with me.....everything is fine......no one would ever know.

Y'know...that kinda stuff.

But when I look deep down......I don't feel like how I felt when I'm really alright.

I remember how I was when I was alright.....not my outwardly appearance to the world....but to myself.

I know how I really am when I'm happy.

Not the "yay-someone-is-buying-me-dinner" sorta happy....but the real deal....the inner contentment and peace. That sorta happy.

I know when I'm there....and right now, or at least for the past 2-3 months......I'm barely making it.

Yea it sucks.

Dysthymic feeling really really sucks.

I'll probably have another look into my medication dosage and tinker around with it.

Anyway....on a lighter note, here are some photos from last Sunday's brunch with Jamie and Elaine:

* At Departure Lounge enjoying brunch even though Jamie was the ONLY one who actually did LSD that day. I was too tired and didn't have the mood to go run 30km that morning.

(I can't believe I just said that I didn't have the mood to go run long!!!)

* Must must MUST enjoy their great tasting lattes and hot chocolates.

* Jamie must have really liked the coffee. He bought himself a bag of home blend coffee!!!!

* Yup...I can put up a "everything-is-a-okay" face anytime!!! In fact I'm a real pro at that!!!!

Anyway....this weekend will be back in Perak for the Powerman event in Lumut.

Tobias is quite taken with traveling for races lately.

In fact, dare I say, he's really enjoying the traveling that we've been doing!!!

No.....he still hasn't lost any weight yet.

So here's so introspection and fat bikes!

Later!!!!

TGIT!!!!!!

2011-11-03T22:33:00.005+08:00

I know I still owe the write up for the climbathon and the tri at Miri.

But things have been pretty hectic since the premature end of a great holiday.

(but then again, when are holidays NEVER premature in its endings?!)

....and with an impending exam (which kept getting postponed...sigh) and stress of post-holiday weight gain (if you must know, it was only 1kg....but it annoyed the hell outta me!), it is of no surprise that my cortisol level skyrocketed to a perpetual high since Monday.

....which by the way, I have a sneaky feeling that this is causing me to break out in pruritic rash all over the body....and acne galore on the face that unfortunately growing older (especially out of adolescence) did not resolve my cyclical breakouts.

Its only been three days and whatever refresh feelings I've had is now drained out of me and I'm pretty much back at pre-holiday state of mind.

So it was great to spend some time (mid-week, no less)

with non-medical friends after a nice swim in between drifting rain clouds.

Photo-log:

* It was a very wet evening. After swim at Lakeview.....Emmy, Leen and I popped by to the Upstairs Cafe (just above Bawang Merah cafe) for some R&R.....and something nice and warm to fill my empty stomach.

* I was tempted to try the latte.....

* Unfortunately, it's nowhere as great as the latte from Departure Lounge.

* The menu is written on the chalk board hung on the wall.....

* Apparently, the only thing great was the mushroom soup.

* The tiramisu was an absolute let-down.......Lydia and Wendy makes better tiramisu than this!!!

* Chubs came after a while...

* We were hoping that the velvet cake would dissipate some of the disappointment from the tiramisu. It was alright. I reckon Coffee Bean has better velvet cakes.

* But Emmy loves this!

* My beef lasagna looked (and tasted) like it came from the freezer section of Cold Storage.

* But I can't argue that the ambience was great and the place was conducive for a catch-up with friends.

* Evidently, Leen agrees!

Anyway....I promise, promise, PROMISE I'll get all the write-ups done before I head off for Powerman next weekend.

(and I really hope my exam will be over by then!!!!)

Sigh.....I really need another holiday to get over my post-holiday stress!!!!

Later!!!!!

Updates!!!!!

2011-10-31T17:45:00.002+08:00

Hold your horses.......!!!!

I'm still alive and kicking.

Back from East Malaysia and a little bummed out that my one week hiatus from week had finally come to an end yesterday.

But I am glad to report that I'm 100% refreshed and ready to take on work and studies.....well, sort of.

Anyway, will be posting about the Climbathon, the tri and the what-nots in between......soon.

Later!!!!

Putrajaya Night Marathon - 15th October 2011

2011-10-17T18:23:00.007+08:00

Do you like hills?!?!?!

And what do you do when faced with one?!?!?!

Are the sort of runner who salivates and falls in love each time you see a daunting, steep inclined hill right in front of you......?

Or are you the sort who shivers and involuntarily tail goes between legs sort of runner when you face with one.......?

Or....are you the odd few who when face with a daunting task of getting oneself up the hill, smiles with glee and joy and proclaims, "YES!!!! A hill!!! Time to walk!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!"...??

Well.....if you have yet to discover yourself about how you feel in regards to hills, you should definitely run the Putrajaya Night Marathon.

6 hours of pure hill-intervention to let you discover your inner strength/disability/oddity when it comes to the dreaded "H" word.

Anyway.....this was the race that I was suppose to run with Hazel and Amelia, and rock a 7 hour 42km.

Yes I know the cut off is 6 hours.

Did I also mention before that my colleagues from the Sports Med unit were the medical coverage for this race?

They made me solemnly promise that I'd return before 6 hours so that they could go home on time.

I also solemnly pledged to hitch a ride on the ambulance if anything were to happen and I could not finish within 6 hours....(God forbid that would EVER happen!)

So.....there weren't a lot of people doing the full marathon.

Felt just like in BIM.

The numbers were small. It's usually the who's who in our local running scene (or rather people on my Facebook who were hardcore runners) that were gathering in the holding pen for full category. Everyone else was running a half or a 10k.

My nose was still blocked.

I had popped a non-sedative antihistamine prior to departure to Putrajaya.

So far it was only semi-effective.

Disclaimer: All photos are taken from the albums of Tey-da-man, Ah Weng, Hazel, Bobby, CP Tan, Daryl, ChooiWan and Foo's wife.

* Weng Woo and I pre race.

* EeWey, Amelia, Hazel, James and yours truly

* Self pose as thought by Mo-maniac....Amelia, Uncle Gary and Hazel....with Hazel's camera!

* Group photo

* Maybel and I in our bright yellow Nike shirt. Congratulations on Maybel's 3rd placing!

* Karen, Amelia, Yimmy, Foo and ME!

I started way behind.

With Hazel and Uncle Oliver.

We were the last few.

Then Jeff showed up. He had just ran the TNF100 duo with Frank earlier today and decided to join forces with the crazy duo Yimmy and Karen who did the same race, to run another marathon within 24 hours.

(they were doing it for a good cause.....but despite that, they didn't manage to win the prize for their charity. It was kinda a huge bummer for all of us)

Jeff was having a slight fever just before the race started and was going slower than his usual self.

I guess he was also feeling the effects of running too much in a day.

Anyway Hazel and I had fun while it lasted.....for like.....3km.....then I felt very bad, and Hazel told me not to feel bad...and told me to zoom off and do my usual pace.....which I did, and the feeling bad kinda went away after 5km or so......

Finally caught up with the mid pack of the full marathoners.

Water station was every 3km, which was almost to the dot in distance...(according to my Garmin).

First water station with isotonic, the next without....and repeat.

Caught up with Choi and Weng Woo.....ran with them for most of the first half of the race.

Chatted and laughed about absolute nonsense which made the distance go by a lot faster than say, by myself.

I sorta tore away after the half way distance........well, I can't remember why.

I guess I needed to fill my hydration bag and they ran off ahead.

(btw, I carried the hydration bag as an emergency kit. In it, aside from water, I had my phone to call in case I had bronchoconstriction and needed to be wheeled off in an ambulance for an emergency whatever.....and vaseline for terrible chafing.....and power gels/GU chomps/ camera/iPod and some deep heat rub. You never know....)

Then hills started...well.....I can't remember when there wasn't much of an incline anywhere throughout the race.

So it was present throughout.

It was up...and down....and up....and down.....repeated repeatedly....for 42km.

Somewhere in between 21km and the finishing line, I ran/walked with Karen....Chin Ann.....EeWey.....James.....Michelle (first marathon ever!!!!).

Every time I'm faced with the prospect of climbing another dreaded hill....I go into power walking mode.

And after every uphill there is an expected pleasant drop of a downhill which I gladly run.

So the entire race was like this......run the downhills and flats.....walk the uphills....repeat.

At around 26-28km, running was becoming a chore.

I discovered that my iPod battery is flat....(totally my fault....but let's not delve in my own mistakes any longer).....and thankfully I still had the brains to fully charge my iPhone which became my source of music, comfort and company through the lonely, dark stretches of the highways of Putrajaya.

Honestly, I wasn't sleepy at all through the entire 42km.

Either I'm now crap at having spontaneous sleep....or that 2x caffeine from my GU gel was really really strong!!!!!

We finally have a turnaround at 31km.......and that was the only stretch where you can see the runners running back.

This really was a one-loop route.....I kinda like routes like that as compared to out-and-back sort.

Paul was there cheering us on at 33th kilometer....where he offered me half a can of Coke. Bless that man's soul!!!!

At around 36km, I started having cramps at my gastronemius...bilaterally.

Thankfully it was pretty mild that walking made it go away.

By that time, I was running 3 lamp posts and walking 2.

(it keeps me focus and gives me something to count)

By 38km, I have blisters at both balls of my feet.

It was such reminiscence of my Sundown 100km where I had blisters at the same spot.

Each step was a painful memory of the ultra.

Except it wasn't that annoying when there weren't any of those park goers looking all happy and cheery at East Coast Park when you're suffering and drawing everything you've got from an empty tank inside.

This was better.

The last 2km......I wanted so much to run.

But the blisters were so painful.

I wanted to walk faster.

But the pain was limiting.

I trudged on.

Occasionally so, a runner overtakes me.......running from what I'd say, would be the coming of the second wind.

I just wish my blisters would popped so I could start running.

I felt like I still had it in me to run.

After all...it was only 2km left.

But trudged on I did.

1km more to go.

I'm gonna run.....

Damn it hurts so much!!! Damn you blisters!!!!! Damn you!!!!!!

Ok...I'll walk.

I'm already getting there.

I can't yet see the crowd....but I can hear the music.

I'm still very wide awake.

I'm still very much in pain.

Trudge on.

I can now see the crowd.

Probably about 500m more to go.

I can't let a photo of myself be taken while walking.

I have to run.

My epidermis may be thick....but my ego liked being its original size.

I forced myself to shuffle.

Slow jog.....tell myself the pain is bearable....at least for photo-op.

Shuffling progressed into a slow jog.

The music became louder.

The cheers became more vivid.

The runners around are running faster.

Everyone wants to cross the finishing line faster and get this stupid race done and over with.

I pick up pace.

I promise my feet that I'll popped the bloody blisters once I get home.

Flashes of lights from cameras all around.

I cross the finish line.

Pressed the Garmin.....recorded 5:51.

I made it!!!!

Sub-6!!!!

Big pat on the back.......woohoo!!!!

* Not even 10km in....still smiley!

* Last few hundred meters to go....

* Completed!!!! Woohoo!!!!!

* With ChooiWan....she got 17th placing and I was 20th!!!!

* With Maybel.....3rd placing, female veteran!

So finally....I've answered the question regarding my hill-question.

I walk it!!!!!

Later!!!!!!

I survived!!!!!

2011-10-16T03:51:00.003+08:00

Good news: I survived the 42km at Putrajaya Night Marathon!!!!!!!

Bad news: I'm stuck with chafings at the usual suspected areas and two huge blisters on the balls of both feet. Sigh.

Good news: I brought my camera for camwhoring and my iPod to keep me company through the lonely stretches after a certain kilometer.

Bad news: Camera battery died (despite charging it today!!!!) and so did my iPod battery (ok I deserved this coz I last charged it last week....but thankfully my iPhone was fully charged and songs aplenty)

Good news: I made it in 5:51 (self timed) and got 20th position, which I was told would receive some cash prize.

Bad news: When I made my way to the tent to collect my prize, they had already close shop and there was no one to be found!!!! (luckily I met someone who told me to email him and get this sorted out)

Good news: I didn't feel sleepy thanks to my already existing sleep problems, during the entire race!

Bad news: I'm still very wide awake.

Good news...bad news....whatever.

BTW.....congratulations to Yimmy and Karen aka 'the running momma' for completing TNF 100 duo earlier today and completing this marathon in pretty decent timing as well!!!!! You made us all inspired and proud......(and probably marked you two off as a little nutty)

Later!!!!!

Brain seriously going AWOL!!!!

2011-10-14T06:21:00.002+08:00

After several listless nights and many more early awakenings in the mornings, I seriously reckon that I am either extremely stressed out......or I need more meds.

Or it really needs to rain. LIke drizzle-the-whole-day-kinda-resemble-gloomy-England-sorta rain....coz it's so warm that I wake up soaked in own sweat!!!

Now on to some bad news.....

I honestly don't think I'm ready for this weekend's marathon both physically and mentally, and am prepared to DNF.......

I can't even believe I'm saying this before Saturday even pops around.

But I guess that is to the extend of what my mental state is about this race at the moment.

(although you'd never catch me proclaiming DNF-ing any other time.....not out loud anyway!)

I feel exhausted.

My nose is still blocked.

My fever has since bade farewell and I am no longer coughing.

But malaise never felt this bad until it really hits you.

And gosh it really hit me hard!!!!

And I can barely muster a proper run....not that I really attempted it.

And not since last Sunday's miserable attempt of a 10km.

Feeling sorry for myself?

Definitely.

DNF-ing at Putrajaya Night Marathon?

Most probably.

Gonna attempt 42km anyway?

DUH...OBVIOUSLY!!!!

At least I tried.

At least I started.

At least I've gotten a picture of myself at the race....(I've noticed my camwhoring behaviour is getting a tad out of control these days)

And....at least I got to do that I've promise I'd do.....run with Hazel and Amelia.

(or rather at this very point, power walk with Hazel and Amelia)

Anyway......I'm gonna rest-in until Saturday rolls in.

At least that is what I say now.

I'm itching to get back to training.....

I'm dying to get back to swim-bike-run.....which ever that is more convenient or that my body and mind is allowing me to do....(at the moment, none of the above)

I'm dying to do something...ANYTHING!!?!?!?!?!

.....and I realized that I just sounded like a crack addict on withdrawal.

Damn the endorphin-addiction.

Brain: C'mon c'mon.....we need endorphins!!!! Get your arse out there!!!!!

Body: No can do. We're tired and we're resting.

Brain: NO!!!!!!! You only rest when it's like......apocalypse is approaching!!!!!

Body: Well....at this point, we're pretty much IN apocalypse....

Brain: But we need endorphins!!!!

Body: Try a double fudge sundae instead.......

Sigh.....if only the body and brain could agree for once.

I'm still hoping for good weather for a swim later.

*please please please God, give me good weather!!!!!*

Later!!!!!!

Anyway.........sigh

2011-10-11T05:59:00.004+08:00

So I've figured out why my last Sunday's run was such a disappointment.

At least I felt the reason why after returning home from Jeff's wedding dinner.....with a sore throat, impending fever and persistently blocked nose.

Woke up on a glorious Monday (an oxymoron) to find myself in full blown fever, unable to breathe through nose and taste buds not working.

Managed a half day through work with the aid of Paracetamols and plenty of non sedative antihistamines.

At least my taste buds could still identify the Listerine which I consistently gurgle as I truly believe it helps the sore throat.

The malaise feeling was overwhelming.

The same exhaustive feeling when I tried running uphill on Sunday.

Also it was very disappointing to discover that the health care system for staff at the University Hospital sucked.

It made me miss my nuthouse a whole lot more.

Anyway, after loading my immune-challenged system with enough medication, I met up with my 'Subang Lake Runner' buddies (yes......have not used that term in quite a while) for a short swim.

(ok...so it was more of a play in the pool for kids sorta swim)

I think I managed like 500m and spent the remaining time doing absolutely nothing and feeling weightless in the pool.

I swear the short swim helped unblocked my nose.

(it's either that or the stupid antihistamines are finally working!!!!)

Anyhoo.......photo-log from sampling some weak coffee at this new coffee place at Tropicana City Mall with Sumeet, just before the onset of upper respiratory tract infection.

* Mbuji.....apparently pronounced as "boo-jee". I can't quite remember what it meant in whatever language it was supposed to be.

I noticed it a couple of weeks back when I last visited Runnerz Circle to pick up some Gu Chomps.

Well....you know me and lattes and I really wanted to try this place out.

* The place was suppose to resemble some African hut......or something along those lines.

Actually it was pretty cosy and I kinda like the set up......however....

* The food was disappointing.

Perhaps I should have ordered something else other than dessert.

The brownie and ice cream was a tad dry and my absolutely brilliant photo taking skills with my iPhone managed to make the topping ice cream looked absolutely humongous!

It made me really miss the brownie at The Hungry Hog.

* With Sumeet. I think she didn't quite like her truffle either.

* My latte smelled brilliant. But it was rather watered down.

Let's put it this way.....if I need to add the sugar into the latte, in my humble point of view, the latte sucks.

And I had to add the sugar in to save it from not being finished.

* Sumeet had the hot chocolate. Being a friend of hers for the past 10 years, I helped myself to it. It was weak and I honestly felt that a strong version of mamak Milo would have tasted so much better (and cheaper).

For good hot chocolate at a decent price, I absolutely recommend The Departure Lounge at Updown Damansara or Coffee Ritual at Section 14.

Sigh.

What I would give to be able to taste good coffee and some moist brownies at this very moment.

Later!!!!!

Desaru Tri - 24th September 2011

2011-10-09T14:35:00.011+08:00

FINALLY!!!!!!!

I know I procrastinate a lot but 2 weeks post race for the write up is a definite first for me.

Anyway we'll do it photo-log style coz I can hardly remember much of anything, let alone the pain and the sunburn. All I have as memories now are the photos....and pesky multi-tone tan lines.

Here it goes:

Travelled down with Rupert and David.

Terence, Bryan and Winnie were running late due to plane delays and car issues. Very long story and I'd rather not talk about it.

(I think they'd rather not talk about it either coz I'm sure it was rather trying at that very moment)

Bumped into like....EVERYBODY!!!!!!

After a while, races are kinda like weddings and funerals. You met anyone and everyone at the same venue.

I wasn't really paying attention to Uncle Chan's briefing.

I gathered that if something happens on race day.....then......oh well, it was God's plan to begin with and no point arguing with Him.

Besides......if I get lost on the bike route, I can always pray I took the shorter distance route so save my lady bits from more unnecessary torture.

* Ellya and Syerol......whom by the way promised me that I'd get one of those shirts they are sporting. I may be feather-brained at times....but I remember things like 'the shirt'!!!

* Pictures courtesy of Cyn.

At the briefing, totally not paying attention to what Uncle Chan was saying.

I think he mentioned something about no drafting.

But then again, I ain't fast enough to draft ANYBODY!!!!!!

Again...pointless information.

The Friday also turned out to be Nik's birthday.

(I rather not reveal her age but if you really wanna guess, I guess there's always the age group category since she was top 10 in hers.......*hint*)

By the way, she had like...the coolest birthday cake ever!!!!

No one was in the mood for cake so it was extra carbo-loading for me.

* The gang finally arrived!!!!! With Winnie.

* Agnes and Terence.......we're all singing a rather off-tune birthday song.

* Agnes, Bryan, Winnie, Nik (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!) and yours truly.

Terence was fantastic in letting me bunk with the gang.

I know....I'm pathetic. I'm gonna be 30 in 3 months and I still enjoy asking for favours such as free accommodations.

* Heading for body marking early in the morning.

Picture courtesy of Winnie.

I was told that my number didn't hit the jackpot for the next day's lottery.

How disappointing. Thankfully no money was wasted in trying.

* Terence, yours truly and Bryan posting with the huge-arse poster before breakfast, post body marking.

Picture courtesy of Winnie.

* Obligatory picture with a very anxious Tobias. Picture courtesy of Agnes.

I'm super pasty white due to extra sunscreen all over.

I'm too young to look like vintage leather handbag.....even if its Prada.
* Picture courtesy of Henry Wong. Everyone's ready for the swim leg.

* Picture courtesy of Grace.

The swim was pretty cool!!!

The waves were more suitable for body surfing than it was for swimming.

It really felt like being in a washing machine.

It was UP.....then DOWN.....then UP....then DOWN......then my breakfast regurgitated up my oesophagus. Thankfully no vomitus was produced in the process.

Swim one round of 1000m.....head to the beach....run down a stretch and back into the sea for another 1000m.

The run on the beach was the worst part of the whole entire swim.

* Picture courtesy of KeyPower International.

After the swim, I could barely run.

I walked into transition, took a leak at the showers and headed off to find an eager but yet fearful Tobias (yes I'm transferring my feelings onto my bike....but please be reminded this is my blog after all).

Half the bikes were off from T1.

Oh well....at least Tobias ain't the ONLY bike left on the rack.

For that, I'm very grateful.

The bike route wasn't as hilly as I'd anticipated.

But it was on and on and on and on........

I'm glad to report that I didn't stop (aside from the turnaround to fill my water bottles) to drink. Yup...I can finally drink on the fly now!!!!!

(it is a huge achievement for me, mind you)

The first loop I felt fine.

That was 46km.

The second loop.......I kinda fell apart.

I just wanted it to finish.

I just wanted to get off my bike.

My lower back started to hurt.

My lady bits...well, it was hurting since goodness knows when but I was just aiming to see the turnaround so I could get off the bike and stretch a little.

And the sun.....gosh who the hell turn up the thermostat!?!?!

The heat and the glare was unrelenting.

Each turnaround I poured water all over my head to cool down.

I really needed that.

No race is worth frying my brain cells for.

I was ecstatic when I found out I only had 5 more kilometers until I can chuck Tobias and hit the road.

T2 was fast for me.

I didn't have clip shoes and I was already in my runners.

Just pop off my helmut, the gloves and don my cap and off I go!

....except, I just could not quite run.

I was tired....exhausted......and terribly hot!!!!!

(not physically but temperature wise, although I'd like to think physically I was kinda hot too. Again, it's my blog and I can be as delusional as I want to!)

* Picture courtesy of A-bou. Just started my run and felt as empty physically as a crushed can of Diet Coke.

Bumped into Cynthia and started walking/running with her.

In the end it was more walking than running.....which then I shoo-ed Cynthia off coz I was merely walking ONLY!

* Picture again courtesy of A-bou. I have loads of pictures thanks to her!

After Cynthia ran off, I continued to walk.

I was tired, my hands were started to swell......probably body on the hyponatraemic side as water stations only gave out plain H2O, my feet hurts and morality was on the low end.

Thankfully......Rupert came around post-race and give support on his bike.....and I had Eugene and Sky Tung for company.

In the end, completed crossed the finish line with the 2 boys.

Happiest moment ever!!!!!! (at least until I showered where I screamed like a little girl when the chafing got the better of me.....oh hang on, I AM a little girl!)

* Cross finish line with Eugene and Sky. Picture thanks to Agnes.

* With Rupert. Picture courtesy of Agnes.

My cycling sifu had been of great help! Thanks for the isotonic drink and the humour.

* With Sofian...his last local race before being shipped off to Qatar (did I get the correct middle east country?!?!?!)

Picture courtesy of Tip.

* Picture courtesy of Cyn.

* Very tired and exhausted.

Picture courtesy of Agnes......with my ultra training buddy, David!!!! Good job dude!!!!

We were trying to draft each other during the ride but failed miserably........

* Winnie had issues with her bike and Terence followed her the entire way.

Picture from Winnie's album.

Thanks to Winnie and Terence for the tri support (in fact, any race support) as always.

* Picture from Winnie's album. With Eliza....who's scaling back on her tri races.

* With Bryan, Sofian, Terence, Nik and Winnie. Picture from Winnie's album.

* I LOVE this picture. A finisher congratulating another finisher. Nik and I gathering our bikes.

And Tobias looks really good here!!! Picture courtesy of Nik.

In a nutshell, I WOULD do this all over again.

I WOULD endure the pain, the exhaustion, the sunburn, the annoyance, the emotional lability and mostly the camaraderie all over again.

It has been a great experience and I would not give it up for anything in the world......except maybe several trillion USDs in the bank account.

(hey....one can always dream)

Alright.

It is done.

I've blogged about it.

One more thing off my to-do list.

Later!!!!!!!

Dejected & Deflated

2011-10-09T10:33:00.003+08:00

Thankfully it's not my upper body protrusions that the deflation is about.

(although come to think of it, they are kinda getting there....)

....but it's my run, most unfortunately.

Sigh.

After yesterday's super short tri simulation with Cyn and Rupert, I was keen to run a 20km this morninng.....to get my long run for the past 2 weeks, and also to break in the Launch just a little bit before the marathon next Saturday night.

I was amazed that I was able to spring out of bed at 5am this morning but true to yours truly fashion, I arrived at Bukit Aman car park just in the nick of time before the group left without me.

I do have a thing for being just on time....(or in my dad's opinion, perpetually unpunctual and LATE!)

I felt good. I felt ready. I felt itching to run.

....that is until I started running.

My legs felt heavy....my quads felt fatigued.....my mind, already in mutiny.

Unlike in the words of Charice, "My heart beats louder, speaks louder than my head" (btw, I LOVE that song), this just wasn't the case.

My heart wants the legs to keep moving.

It wants to feel the rhythm.

It wants to pump hard, with passion, with vigor, with life!!

My body however wants to go for brunch and my head was all in agreement for some good coffee and a nap.

I told Lawrence and Carol that I could not go on.

I was gonna turn back.

It was the most self-disappointing thing I've ever done.

To give up.

But I didn't want to walk all the way to Hartamas. Mostly I didn't want to hold back the two of them as they were waiting for me.

I reached 5km, in run walk (still mostly run) fashion.....told them I'd be fine, turn around and headed back to the car park in run walk (mostly walk) fashion, trying my best to not feel like shit.

* Dear Jamie Pang....I'm still better at the scrunchy face look! :)

Unfortunately in these kinda situation, feeling like shit is a given.

And to see more runners heading in opposite direction towards Hartamas was so heartbreaking.

I could feel my eyes welling up with warm tears.

Tried my freakin darnest to hold 'em back.

Turned to the usual technique of feeling better.....by greeting other runners with a smile.

I hated having to walk while others run past me in the opposite direction.

I hated having t0 tell others why I'm walking back alone (which reminds me I should also stop asking that question myself).

I hated myself for walking, to be honest.

But the body just would not cooperate.

The legs and the mind had already decided that today was gonna be a rest day.

.....which then got me really pissed off coz they could have decided that the night before so I could have slept in this morning instead!!!!!!!

But no......they had me fooled when I got up at 5am, all pumped up mentally and ready to hit the pavement, only for them to decide so 1km into the run.

Ok....fine......maybe I do need another week more of rest.

I've been resting since Desaru ended.

My tan lines are gradually starting to fade, which usually I take as a point in which I start training again.

So.....in a nutshell, I've been punked by my own body and mind.

Sucks.

(sucks even more when there was no Ashton Kutcher in the picture)

Oh well....but on the good side, I found out that my favourite brunch place in Uptown Damansara opens really really early (8am).

* The world's BEST latte.....and they (The Departure Lounge) have all the travel books you could ever want. I'm already thinking and pseudo-planning my end of the month holiday to Kota Kinabalu and Miri!!!!

Oh yea.....before I forget....I have committed myself to racing Miri Triathlon.

Thankfully it's only an OD distance and since it's part of my holiday (like how the Climbathon is), I don't have to worry about doing crap timing....(everyone is allowed to do crap timing during holidays)

And I'll get around to blogging about Desaru after my nap.

Later!!!!!

A little late for TGIT....

2011-10-07T14:25:00.005+08:00

Good news!!!

Exam is postponed!!!!

Which means I can bum around a little bit longer and procrastinate a wee bit more before getting into deep shit situation again.

(I know....it's a terrible cycle to be stuck in...but for some reason, I'm not that keen to escape)

Anyway.....realized rather late last night that today marks the start of the Putrajaya Night Marathon race kit collection which ends this Sunday.

So thank goodness for Friday super long lunch break!!!

Bump into a few familiar faces, collected race kit for myself and 3 others....donated my complimentary Powerbar to some dude hanging around the Powerbar stall hoping for free sample......and bought myself a new pair of Brooks Launch.

Yes I LOVE Brooks shoes.

My last Launch keeled over just in the nick of time of crossing the finishing line at Desaru.

My Green Silence was an absolute let-down....so we'll not talk about it.

My NB Trail Minimus....well, I'm not used to it for a 42km yet.

And I was ensured (pacified, actually...since I really really wanted a pair of Pure Connect which they couldn't sell to me) that this Launch was the same exact one like my deceased yellow pair (R.I.P.) and thus I would have no issues (I hope) getting it ready for Putrajaya Night Marathon.

Ok...to be honest, my colleagues from work were the ones who reminded me that the race is next week.

(btw.....our sports medicine unit is covering this race. I'm constantly reminded to finish running by 6 hours which is the official cut off time so that the team can go home sooner)

I am not prepared for it.

(or at least I'm not prepared for the 6 hour and less finishing)

Furthermore, none of my running shoes are prepared for a full marathon distance.

So that somewhat justified my buying the Launch.

Really pretty colour too, although I really miss that striking yellow of my old pair.

Anyway......this is pretty much a photo-log sorta posting.

* Pretty empty when I got to the OCM building. The staff were very eager to get me my race kits and three of them working on it stat! I am liking the efficiency.

* I gather that I'm one of the first few people who has collected. There were still piles and piles of race kits all over.

* The boys were all too happy for a photo op!!!! Love that sorta attitude!!!!

* See what I mean?!?!?!?! Empty.......

Probably can even hear the pin drop. Ok ok...so that is a little exaggerating.

* There were quite a lot of stuff to see compared to the usual race kit collection at OCM.

* Collected for Alexis, Maybel and Terence...

* Bumped into the all famous Jamie Pang, showing me (all green with envy) his new Brooks Pure Connect shoes.......I am this close to hating this dude.

* Pinn......who works for Brooks.

* Don't mind me...I'm in my work clothes.

* Bumped into Yen Erl as well!!! This is becoming quite a gathering!!!!

* Managed to persuade her to buy a pair of Brooks Launch as well. I should have considered a job in sales marketing......

* Our brand new shoes!!!! Love the smell right outta the brand new shoe box.

* Please.......don't call out my name on race day. I'm officially Ms BrainGoneAWOL!!!!

Can't wait to get some action in my brand new shoes tomorrow.

Yes yes...Desaru tri write up. Soon soon!!!!!

Later!!!!

Realization sucks.....

2011-10-04T19:44:00.002+08:00

I realize that today it the first time that I've run around my neighbourhood in a very long time.

So long that it could be quite possibly pre-ultra season.

I realize today that it is the first time that I've run 7km in quite a long time as well.

Please refer to above statement as to gauge the duration of absence in running.

I realize that I'm pathetically sleep deprived since last week and have yet to catch up. At the rate I'm going, I'm only gonna be able to reach sleep equilibrium when I'm officially racing in veteran category and in cougar-town when I start dating men 10 years younger than me.

And please....it's not called 'cradle-robber'.....it's called Demi Moore.

I realize that I'm in deep shit as the boss just dropped the bomb post-lunch that we're having exams (again!) next Monday. We don't know the topics and we're studying blindly......which leaves us in deeper shit than prior.

I realize that I've still yet to blog about my Desaru tri. I've already forgotten the tiredness, the exhaustion, the sunburn, the pain......EVEN the hot triathletes in their skin tight tri-suits. I'll get around to it....perhaps after surviving the deep shit that I've just mentioned above.

I realized that I'm now on more medication and loads more supplementations due to my uncontrollable urge to pop into the nearest pharmacy and aid the supposedly ailing economy by doing my best to donate hard earned tax payer's money (ie my salary) on vitamins and what-nots, that is suppose to increase my quality of life if not prolong it.

I also realize that I'm pretty much delusional after I re-read what I've just said in the above statement.

I realize that I've been pretty inactive (in comparison to self several weeks back......and not to the general Malaysian population, for crying out loud!) since the tri and in dire need for more endorphins. Then again my hypomanic state is compensating for the lack of feel good chemicals. Still....I'd like my daily dosage of endorphins regardless of current affective state.

I realize that I'm blogging to kill time so that it would be a little while longer before I actually have to open the medical text books. I am already feeling the pile of shit getting deeper with each realization that I am stating right now.

I realize that realizing all the above during my pathetic 7km run is not good at all for my mental state and despite the minute amount of endorphins procured, is simply just not worth it.

I realize that my mood stabilizing meds are still not working.

(what....you can't tell?!?!?!?!)

I realize that it is very high likely that I also have undiagnosed adult ADHD. I'm saying this as I stare suspiciously at the Ritalin that my buddies from psych gave me.

I realize most likely I'm never gonna find out if I really do have ADHD coz I ain't popping the pill.

And finally....I realize that I really need to get back to studying.

Realizations and 'enlightenments' suck....big time!!!!

Later!!!!!!

p/s: Promise to write up on the tri.....erm.......soon.

Updates!!!

2011-09-28T14:43:00.002+08:00

Ok...so it's a wee teeny update but still an update nonetheless.

I'm back from Desaru and since I'm blogging, it's bloody obvious I survived (albeit barely).

I'm now nursing a sore lower back, peeling sunburnt skin off the back of my shoulders (despite the SPF130 directly imported from Japan being slathered generously all over!!!!), feeling the dwindling euphoria from finishing the race.....and despite cursing my own stupidity over signing on for such a distance a tri despite not being well prepared (during the race)......I'm already wondering when I'm heading back for another go!

Yes, folks....I'm a masochist.
And a damn stubborn one at that as well!!!!

Things are a little busy lately in yours truly's delusional world, thus the post on the Desaru tri might take a while.
.....like next week sort of a while.

I'm currently on a manic-spree (damn those anti-depressants and my ability to switch), am sleep deprived, and missing an ATM card (the prospects of going to the bank for reapplication for a new card freaks the hell outta me)......and am extremely bummed about not being able to run the King of the Road race this weekend as I'll be stuck in Penang.

No...not flaunting my sunburnt bare skin in my Victoria's Secret bikini by the beach sorta Penang trip.......but stuck in a lecture hall learning all about Kinesio taping sorta weekend.

My KOTR bib was passed on to Vince's wife, who is super speedy and I'm hoping to return home on Monday to see that I've "PB-ed" when I log on to the official website.
Heck...at least there's a good side to things.

Sigh.
Did I mention somewhere before that I need a REAL ACTUAL HOLIDAY?!?!?!?!
Yeah.
Can't wait for my Kota Kinabalu trip.

Later!!!!!!

I NEED a holiday!!!!!!

2011-09-20T19:35:00.004+08:00

I need a REAL holiday.

One that takes me away from the anxiety that I face at work when I realize my inadequacy from not reading enough about....well, just about everything.

One that allows me to lay in bed in perpetual motionless state for hours on end without having to worry about being late for work.

One that takes me far far away from the haze and the traffic that is Klang Valley.

One that allows me to not think THINK......and be a figurative dumb blond for a few days.

(it is cool to be dumb...sometimes)

One that allows me to enjoy the freedom of my carefree youth.

(I swear I'll grow up by 35!!!)

One that doesn't involve running a marathon!

By the way...I totally blame Shanaz and Nana for my sudden need for a holiday.

Click HERE to see what I mean!!!!

And then I got to thinking......yes, I deserve a holiday.

In fact if I were God, every other day would be a holiday!!!!!!

But then human would be idle, lazy and complacent and probably will be up to more no good and they will all burn in hell.

Thankfully I ain't the Big Man up there.

And since I found out quite a few friends and acquaintances were heading off to Kota Kinabalu for the annual Climbathon, I figured why not head THERE for a holiday and double-up duty as cheer leader and supporter!?

I could bunk in with KD and drag her sorry behind up to Kundasang with me as well.

Nothing reeks of a 15 year friendship as driving all the way up to Kundasang together.

I could enjoy the fresh mountain air......

I could go island hopping......white water rafting........I could just chill and do absolutely NOTHING!!!!!

.......but........

........I then realized that it would be such a waste to BE at Mount KK on race weekend and NOT be one of the participants.

Yes, yes....I do remember how bad it was attempting the Climbathon last year.

For your sake, I took the liberty of searching last year's blog post on the event.

Click HERE.

After some thoughts put into it (well, actually not much. I pretty rash)....I figured, oh what the hell......I don't like sitting back and watching others suffer for the sake of enjoyment (absolutely an oxymoron, which lies the very essence of our much beloved endurance sports), so I shall attempt the Climbathon one more time!!!!

(again, I emphasize that I'm never smart at making these kinda decisions)

Of course I shall also regret when I'm stuck up the mountain half way and am unable to get back down due to my incredibly insane fear of heights....and the fact that I suck at trail footings.

.....but I'll deal with the regret and the fear.......in due time.

And in the mean time......I'M HEADING FOR A HOLIDAY!!!!!!

Ok...but lets get one thing straight.

I'm NOT aiming to get to the peak.

I'm NOT aiming to really compete.

Heck.....I'm NOT even aiming to get to Laban Rata!!!!

I honestly don't know what my aim is in joining the Climbathon this year.....besides the fact that I don't wanna lose out on the fun.

Besides.....getting loads of pictures and camwhoring the entire way are pretty decent aims for someone on a HOLIDAY!!!!

Sigh......see what 2 days of tapering made me do!!

Oh.....aside from 15 years of friendship, I still failed to persuade KD that joining the Climbathon on a lark was a brilliant idea.

Damn.....why does she always have to be so in check with reality!?!?!

Just a really cool Nike ad that I found online....somewhere.

(and no...still don't quite like Nike shoes.....)

Later!!!!!

zzzzzzz............

2011-09-18T22:39:00.009+08:00

Last long run before Desaru, just before the tapering period starts.

Well....can't quite say I'm a huge fan of taper.

And honestly, it's not much of a taper when the last long run is exactly 6 days prior to event.

Yeah...some taper I'm gonna be having.

*rolls eyes*

But since I crave the endorphin-high, to hell with caution and tapering......and 20km from Bukit Aman to Hartamas for me!

Also another reason why I wanted to run a 20km was that I wanted to get a better feel of my new shoes......

Yup.....I'm definitely a driving force to our ailing economy when I bought the New Balance Minimus trail shoes.

I actually took it out for a test drive of 10km last Saturday (btw, the pictures are from last week's test-run) and I'm happy to report that I *almost* fell in love with the shoes.

It was like running in my Komodosports VFF, minus the issue with the Morton's toe.

I feel the ground right beneath my feet but with just amount of rubber between the soft, delicate skin of my sole (try not to gag)....and the uneven surfaces, tiny rocks, pieces of broken glasses (from cars that drive too recklessly) and other unmentionables that litters the roads of this country.

Superbly flexible.....and I felt ultra nimble in them, just like I would running in VFFs.

But let me explain the *almost* before I go on any further.

The sizing of the Minimus trail was.....a little odd for me.

I usually wear size US8.5 for most of my running shoes.

The Minimus came in size US8....and the next size up was US9.

US8 fitted just right......without my usual socks on.

US9......my toes could run a marathon in them. They were huge!!!

The sales lady did say that the shoes were meant to be run in sock-less.

So I decided to go with size US8.

....issue was (and still is).....I rarely run sock-less....even in my VFFs.

The only times I ran sock-less.....were the times that I left the house late and forgot to pack socks.

And since being new shoes, I have my reservations about blisters and what-nots.

So I wore my toe-stockings that I usually wear with my VFFs.

* Brand new.....and super duper clean looking....still.

* I don't see how the sole is gonna hole up running trails......but I'm a road runner so who cares.

Unfortunately, my toe stockings did not cover the back of my heels........which means, MAJOR ABRASION!!!!!

*ouch*

* Raw skin.....sigh

I know.....can't help it if I was born with such soft and delicate skin, right?!

That was the only issue I had with the shoes.

(the fact they didn't have it in bright pink, I could ignore)

I figured if I could have worn socks (of course that would have been a bit tight for my feet to be in those shoes), the abrasion issue would be a none issue.

So today, I taped the back of my ankles where the abrasion would have been.

And voila!!!!!

20km and no issues whatsoever!!!!!!

.......so perhaps I should just shop around for much much thinner socks instead.

(I'm hoping to be able to run Putrajaya Night Marathon in these!!!)

Anyway....photo-log from a week ago:

* Ran with Khai Leng and Elaine through Double Hill a Saturday ago.

* Can you spot the raw area? I'm thinking I could actually be so cheap as to keep running through the abrasion (and the pain!) until the epidermis of the area thickens and adapts to the Minimus Trail.

....nah, I'll go get some thinner socks.

* Bumped into Jamie, sporting the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc shirt in my favourite colour!!!

I looked at him in bewilderment!!!!!

Turned out, it was given to him by a friend who actually DID run the race.

Literally green with envy....

Btw....if you didn't know what UTMB was (*gasp* you don't know?!?!?!), I did the hassle of Wikipedia-ing it for you.

Click HERE!!!

* Mr Jamie Pang was sporting a very colourful pair of pink Nikes......which I gather was from a previous seeding program. Lucky dude....

* Elaine and I at the BEST coffee place in Damansara, The Departure Lounge.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the latte!!!!

Next week......main aim.....to be lazy......and try my darnest not to gain any weight while lazing around.

Oh...and try my darnest not to have so many issues as well!

Sigh...the things I do in the name of tapering.

Later!!!!

Name me one person who doesn't love a public holiday......

2011-09-16T15:05:00.003+08:00

I'm sitting at home, on the couch, staring forlornly at my already packed bag filled with my swim stuff (packed it last night), intermittently staring out the window at the progressively dark skies outside and listening to the sounds of non stop thundering.

It sucks that I'm absolutely DYING to go for a swim but hesitated and unable to, due to the innate fear of getting strike by lightning while swimming in the pool.

I'm not ready for my 15 minutes of fame on the front pages of tomorrow's newspapesr......not yet.

So it is quite understandable for me to be sulking and in a shit of a mood at the moment.

So foul a mood that even the endorphins from this morning's 45km ride could not equalize.

But on the good side of things, the 'heat wave' from the past 2 weeks has finally ended (woohoo!!!) with the daily afternoon showers. And the haze issue is progressively getting better with the rain.

And with Desaru occurring in exactly 8 days time, I know I should be hibernating from much of my activities, all in the name of tapering.

(but of course, if you've been following this blog long enough, you'd know how I personally feel and do about tapering....)

But trust me, I've been more or less resting (at least it felt like rest to me!) since the start of this week.

......it is difficult to go cycling, swimming and running with heavy rains during the evenings on MOST days.

Regarding my back pain......well, it is kinda non existent without me hunching over Tobias so I'm really thinking it's the bike fit.

Actually I would not regard it as pain per se.....more of extreme numbness which eventually somewhat becomes pain.

(Well...I don't know about you, but it makes perfect sense to me)

Terence toyed around with Tobias and made the seat slightly higher.

I'm hoping that would resolve some of the numbness.

(but we'll see coz will be riding again tomorrow morning)

Anyway......mopping around ain't gonna make me feel any better right now.

So to maximize the cool weather of the moment (it's already pouring as I am typing this), I shall head to bed, and hopefully get some dreams that is NOT about DNF-ing at Desaru.

Later!!!

Salomon X-trail Run - 11th September 2011

2011-09-11T15:43:00.007+08:00

The run that coincided with Taiping Heritage Run........which I kinda told myself last year I'd run it THIS year.....but you gotta hand it to Terence and Maybel in persuasiveness.....coz suddenly I found myself registered for the Salomon X-trail.

Thankfully I persuaded them to pick me up for the race......coz there ain't no way I'm gonna drive down to UPM at five in the freakin morning, half awake and brain waves still resembling dream-like state.

* Terence and Maybel wanting to run loops around the stadium before the start of the race. All I wanted to do was snooze.....

* Chooi Wan and I....camwhorers unite!!!!

* Mo-maniac came down from SG for the weekend, Amelia and Lesley....

* With sifu Rupert.

* Amelia and Irwan......

The race was held at UPM, and flagged off from the varsity stadium.

It runs through the farming area of the university, and it delights the participants with the invigorating aroma of cow/horse/other-four-legged-animal dung.

(I'm sure there are some two-legged-animal-dung as well....but it's not quite my place to comment)

The weather that day was lovely......cloudy and cool.

Well...at least I think it is clouds......coz it's a bit hard to tell with the URTI-inducing haze situation at the moment.

(but if you want my opinion, NOW is the BEST time to fake a terrible sore throat and cough, then tell your boss you're calling in sick. But don't quote me!)

Runners are flagged off in 2 separate batches.

The female runners (all category) run first at 7.00am......and followed by the men 10 minutes after.

The initial 'game-plan' (or at least I thought it was a game plan) was to start right at the back and have a leisure stroll along the 10km 'trail' route.

Well...I thought everyone else was having the same game plan as well.

So when the horn (or was it a gun or something?!) went off, I followed behind several other runners whom I thought were also following the said game plan.

.....except they never did slow down......even at the uphills.

That was when I realized that I really was delusional most of the time.

* The 7.00am flag-off for female runners.

* Take a deep breath.......and enjoy the refreshing aroma of "nature".

* Kelvin being his usual loud self..... :)

* Malcalm and Nizam volunteering at the race.....and being made a buffet spread for unrelenting mosquitoes!

But since the run was really really enjoyable, I figured no point stopping (unless it was to take pictures) and to keep going without slowing down.

It wasn't as hilly as I thought it would be......and the downhills were FUN!!!!!

* Does this face say, "I'm hungry?!"

* Definitely great weather......minus the haze.

* I couldn't help myself but to pose with the moo-moo's.

Bet I stepped onto one of these fella's poo....

It was also shit fun (pun intended) to run and try to avoid stepping into a huge pile of animal poo. And the entire route was littered with small mole-hill of poo.....every few meters of so.

There were a total of 3 water stations which was sufficient for a 10km run.

....and thankfully the second and third stations had Gatorade......coz I was feeling kinda hungry at 2nd kilometer onwards.

(with gastric emptying time like this....it's no wonder I'm still at my current weight. I blame genetics!!!)

Since the UPM farm area ain't exactly the size of Sarawak state, the route looped all around, to and fro, back and forth......that sorta thing, around the area to make up 10km in distance.

You may run through a wrong path, which if unfortunate may be a longer distance, if you're running way ahead of the pack.....like what happened to Lai Chee (whom ended up placing 6th position in her category).

But if you're in the middle of the pack.....there would be nothing to be worried about.

.......well, maybe except looking hideously ugly in race photos. But there's always photo-shop.

(you've gotta love technology!)

The race ended the same place it started....the varsity stadium.

Apparently there were limited medals for each category.....100 pieces to be exact.

* Leaving the farm road...

* Heading back to the stadium....

* And onwards to the finish line....

* Woohoo...got a medal.....which mom says it will be adding to the clutter in my room!

I came back in 1:09 (which is kinda alright considering I stopped to take pictures, drink several cups of Gatorade, had a chat with some friends manning the water stations.....etc etc) and I did bag myself a medal!

Oooh....before I forget, congrats to Maybel for coming in 5th position in her category!!!!!

Anyway....one more weekend, and then Desaru.

I swear......it's like its creeping up on me and trying to scare the living daylights outta me!!!!!

I still haven't gotten anything done regarding bike fit.....I'm still going on prayer......and if all fails, there's always non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs!!!!

....and perhaps several days off from work.

Later!!!!!

Dear God......

2011-09-09T17:20:00.002+08:00

Disclaimer: No....I actually don't ever say this sort of prayer......ok, maybe sometimes.

Dear God,

I have a problem.

A huge one at that as well.

My lower back hurts.

Not just the regular-run-of-the-mill sorta back pain that I usually roll my eyes at when I get such cases at outpatient department previously.....but like a REAL, shiteously annoying, mood-altering, temper-inducing sorta back pain.

I know that You know that I've been cycling a lot more these days coz I'm shit worried about my Desaru Tri. And I know that You know that I've asked for some assistance coz Tobias wasn't doing much at home except staring into space and making friends with the spiders spinning cobwebs around him.

But I didn't know You'd send people who are (in their words) 'fast and furious' to train with.

And now I'm stuck with the most irritating, spine-numbing lower back pain ever.

Yes....I know You've given me the insight to get my bike properly fitted but You know me.....and my procrastination......(I still think You should have factored that bit in before answering my prayers)

Besides my lower back pain, my ankle pain has come back to haunt me.

Yes yes...I know You have also given me the insight to realize how stupid I was to not rest the right ankle of mine after injuring it.....like how I'd tell all my patients, but You should also have known that I'm a tad bit stubborn (ok, so I'm a whole LOT stubborn) to listen to rationales.

And I figured You should have also known that bit coz You've made me that way!!!!!

(I'm not blaming You...just stating the obvious....)

Also....I'm currently experiencing quite a fair bit of fatigue.

Yes I know I'm not resting as much as I should although I did pull back quite a bit compared to the previous week.

But I pray that I'll go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning feeling miraculously much better!!!

.....and then I can head back to training without a care in the world!!!!

Please....pretty pretty please, God.....heal me and make me well again.

And perhaps while healing me, You could make me a whole lot stronger so I can beat Andrew and Bryan at the cycling leg!!!!

Special note to mention to You......the weather these days suck.

Big time!!!

It's shit hot and now we're shrouded in a thickening blanket of haze.

(but of course, You knew that already.....)

Please put in as priority to send rain......especially at night......coz my sleep is kinda sucky as well and the rain might just do the trick, perhaps better than the clonazepam I'm keeping for my emergency insomnia-attack.

Anyway, big thank you God for listening to me whine.

I'd be really thankful if You'd put my request higher on Your to-do list.

....coz I really don't wanna come in last at Desaru!!!!!

I have faith that You will come through for me......coz after all, Jesus did say, "Ask and you shall receive".

Which by the way, just a gentle reminder, my prayer for me to go to sleep and wake up miraculously 10kg lighter (You are after all omnipotent, and all powerful!!) has not yet been answered. Well...just a reminder.

Alright then. Thanks God.

Amen!

.......and one wonders why some prayers don't get answered.......

So Tobias is a little squeaky...deal with it!!!!!

2011-09-05T18:58:00.004+08:00

Yes it is a known fact that Tobias squeaks....a lot......

And yes...it has been brought to my attention on countless occasions.

Frankly, if he likes squeaking...there isn't much I can do about it.

To each (bike) their own personality, I'd say.

(but reality being I'm a little ignorant that my bike needs to be oiled on a regular basis)

Anyway....the past week has been a very numbing experience.

Numbing for my nether-regions, that is.

(if you're queasy about the mere mention of anyone's nether-regions, you shouldn't be reading this blog, by the way)

My cycling mileage went from being almost-non-existent to more-than-almost-non-existent-but-still-not-Andrew/Bryan-standard.....but it's ok. I'm quite happy to be putting in the mileage anyway, despite it not being enough to actually properly 'race' Desaru.

Terence reckons that as long as we keep being able to cycle 30km per go....we'd be fine on race day.

Frankly, I still haven't quite grasp his logic behind his idea......but these were also the kind of people who believe that running a marathon on a weekly basis, is not only doable but a must-do on most weeks.

Unfortunately, I'm the naive sort and I tend to buy into these sorta crap and integrate it like it is my freakin religion.

(yes, I may have 'issues' but as long as I hang around the above said people, I'm the norm!!!!)

Fortunately for me......I've already left the nut house for a total of 3 months and counting......and so far, regained some sort of sanity.....and decided that I have to at least try a 'long' ride before heading off for an apparent suicide attempt at Desaru.

I called in the help of Mr. Anonymous (ok fine, we shall name him Rupert) and with David, they helped lead me into my first ever 'long' ride.

Again it's not a 'Richard-Tang/Sofian-Triathlete-approved' distance......but it's still something.

On Thursday, they lead Tobias and I off into the middle of nowhere and back....for a total of 89km.

My nether-region was never the same again after.

(but hell, I was so proud of my fat-boy-bike that we survived that distance!!!)

On Saturday, still high from Thursday's "success" and still numb at the appropriate places, went riding again with Rupert and his brother, David......somewhere in Hulu Langat.

50km down and I'm still as numb as numb can get.

It is as if numbness and I have intertwined at the core of our souls.

(you can tell that I've been dabbling in Paulo Coelho's works again)

Post ride, the dude wanted to run up Nuang until the waterfall.

* Photos courtesy of Rupert. Mind the finger.

Thanks to David for waiting.....and to the camera man for the invite....and the pictures!

* Yes I have terrible posture. I'll look into bike fit...erm....after Desaru!!!

* And yes....Tobias squeaked the entire way.....

I, being late, forgot my running shoes.

All I had in the car.....were my Vibrams.....(the Lizards, post-Daryl-intervention!)

Well....he ran up....I had 14km worth of 'reflexology'.

I still don't know how Mo-maniac does Macritchie runs with his VFFs.

Sigh....some things are just meant to be a mystery.

Sunday....I tagged along for Tony's Powerman simulation training.

Yea yea......I know it's like 2 months away......but no harm starting a little early.

It was a 5km run, 55km ride and another 5km run.....under the hot, glaring and unapologetic sun in Putrajaya.

Sun cancer risk, now up a few percent.

I was still tired after Saturday's ride/'reflexology' and sat out at 44km in the cycling leg.

* Tony Quay, briefing on the day's 'menu'.

Photos courtesy of Winnie Wong!!!

* The group....yes, mostly females and mostly newbies for the FULL Powerman!

* The first 5km run to Palace of Justice and back.

* Obligatory photo op at PoJ!!!! Life is definitely more fun with a camera around.....

* Thanks Tony for the ice cold orange juice and to Yee Tze for the delicious muffins!

And believe it or not.....that Sunday's run of a total of 10km was my FIRST run of the week!!!

That thought dawned on me while I was running the last 5km under torturous but ideal-for-Powerman-simulation weather, that for the first time in a very VERY long time, running took an absolute back seat.

Anyway.....I'm kinda sick of the current heat wave and am praying fervently for rain in the early afternoon when the heat is at its worst!!!!

Gosh....I'm already so exhausted and dehydrated thinking about the potential 8 hours and more I'd be spending under the hot sun at Desaru in a couple of weeks' time.

......which reminds me I need to stock up on more sunscreen!!!!

Later!!!!

Hail the hols!

2011-08-31T13:26:00.003+08:00

Working in the government sector does have its perks.

Unfortunately, receiving a ridiculous amount of 3-5 months worth of bonus, enough to purchase a brand new five-figure road bike is not one of them.

Very unfortunate indeed.

However, let's not dampen my holiday mood by focusing on that cons.

The obvious pro to the equation would be the holiday mood (and the days off!!!) that beckons with every festive season.....especially since now I'm not required to be on-call.

(I'm always thankful that I was not smart enough...or keen enough to pick up some surgical based or internal med program....and for that, I think I'm pretty smart!!!! Yea yea...I know, oxymoron)

In fact, the holiday mood has been pretty infectious amongst us at the clinic since a week ago.....and despite praying very very hard (and I even threw in a couple of Hail Mary's) for the announcement that this Friday would also be declared a public holiday, it was just not meant to be.

(Oh well....I guess it's evening swim session on Friday for me again!)

And Monday was totally non-productive at work after we've cleared off our exercise-program patients.

(staring at the clock, waiting for 1pm doesn't really count as hard work.....unless you're one of my previous psychotic patients in my previous hospitals, then by golly, you deserve a 3-5 months bonus!!!!!)

Anyway......with the three days off in a stretch (thanks to the coinciding Independence Day), lots of training can be fit in.

Well...not 'lots' as in the amount that I'd really like....but enough to ensure that I do fall asleep without needing benzodiazepines.

(yes....still having intermittent and early awakenings....but that needs another blog post on its own)

In fact, so far we've done 2 cycling sesh at the Gurthrie Corridor Expressway.

No.....we've not done any earth-shattering-mileage (or speed, for that matter) that would satisfy the Ironman-class-athlete.....say, Richard Tang or Sofian Triathlete......but adequate for nobody-athletes like us bunch.

In fact, in retrospect, our cycling mileage was actually kinda pathetic both days (48km and 45km respectively) but at least Tobias got to get outta the house.

Photo-log (take note that these super high quality photos were courtesy of Chooi Wan and her super Nokia phone....which by the way only can be operated by the owner herself):

* Tuesday's ride.......we had great weather throughout.....even through our mini brick session.

Tobias was as usual squeaky....but as long as no one mentions the obvious....we can continue being ignorant.

* Wednesday's ride.....we had even BETTER weather.....so good that it was reminiscent of Kenyir Tri.....rain and wind make great combination......to muffle the squeakiness.

* Yeah....I reckon POSITIVE thinking is gonna get us thru Desaru.....what'dya think!?!?!?!

In fact these days, I've managed to wean Tobias off his annoying hobby of collecting dust and cobwebs.

Actually it didn't really annoy me that much.....it was a rather adorable quirk of his.

Mom however found it a tad of an irk....to see dust....and cobwebs....in the house.

(yes folks...the reality of living with the folks again has hit home hard)

Anyway....the cold hard reality of the impending Desaru tri.....has surprisingly not hit me that hard yet.

Perhaps it's the holidays......or the antidepressant.

I'm expecting to be in extreme-panic mode by next Monday.

People around me....you have been warned!

Later!!!!!

TGIT!!!!!!

2011-08-25T23:42:00.003+08:00

Wednesday night, 11pm......

I'm rolling around in bed, eyes wide open, my thoughts going faster than Lance Armstrong at Tour De France.

I just took my antidepressant after a 3 full months of total hiatus from it.....and a benzodiazepine.

In fact, I took them both almost an hour plus ago.

On the good side, I'm no longer sobbing uncontrollably for no apparent reason......and I don't feel the doom and gloom that I was experiencing a couple of hours ago.

Backtracking several days back.....

Friday, 19th August 2011.....

I just got back from dinner with Chubie and had a massive Korean pig out....and then adjourned to some bubble tea place for dessert.

Nothing would particularly strike me as odd.

I got home....prepared for tomorrow morning's early run.

Washed up and jumped under the blanket by 11pm.

Late by usual standards but what the hell.

I lay in bed...eyes wide open.

Checked the phone....12am.

Damn....only 5 hours more to sleep.

C'mon Puisan....sleep sleep SLEEP!!!!

Check phone again.......1.30am.

This is not helping.

I was too lazy to get up to do anything.

Check phone one more time.....3am.

The last I remembered was the alarm going off at 5.30am.

Time to roll off the bed and prep for morning run.

I still felt fine.

Kinda like doing a shitty surgical houseman on-call and was given a luxurious 2 hours of sleep before presenting your cases to the specialists and getting fucked for it....you'll survive.

After the run (and Sofian's lil bash), headed home and got some shut eye for an hour or two.

Nothing particular wrong with this picture either.

Went out to paint Kota Damansara a faint hue of crimson with Elaine that night and helped our flailing economy by going shopping post-dinner.

Saturday, 20th August 2011....

By the time I got home, I was really tired.

Was under the blanket by 11.30pm.

But the mind was not ready to sleep.

I needed to sleep. I have a 20km run scheduled on Sunday.

But the mind was not having any of it.

Check phone.....1am.

Didn't realize time pass that fast when you're struggling to fall asleep.

Check phone....2.30am.

This is not good. Not good at all.

Try and sleep, for crying out loud!!!!!

Check phone.....3.30am.

There goes my Sunday's long run. Sigh.

Check phone.....4am.

I think the alarm was set for 5am.

Next thing I know.....my alarm rings.

I snoozed it.

Considered actually dragging my sorry sleep deprived arse out of bed.

Considered the consequences of not going for the run.

Oh well...I figured the right ankle needed more no-run time for FULL recovery.

(it amazes me the excuses I could come up with when sleep deprived)

Sunday, 21st August 2011....

Sleep was intermittent and fleeting.

I got out of bed, groggy.....tired.....and wondering what day it was.

Absolutely plastered and zombified.

I told myself no way I was gonna let myself nap today.

I was going to get myself out and about and only head back to my bed once fully exhausted.

Was a little short fused and impatient....but luckily no one bear the brunt of it.

Finally..it was time to hit the sack.

It's 1am....I have to go to work tomorrow.....and I'm tossing and turning.

I think (vaguely) I fell into some sort of slumber after only to be awaken at 4am.

More tossing and turning......

The next thing I know........my alarm rings.

Monday, 22nd August 2011.....

I still felt alright at work.

A little confused.....but alright.

A little irritable.....but alright.

A little moody.....but alright.

A little out of focus.....but alright.

In a nutshell.....I felt (or at least I thought I was ) alright.

Thankfully, Monday clinics ended after lunch and I headed home wondering if I should at least take a nap.

The weather was wet and gloomy.....the best kind to head for a swim.

Mr. Anonymous Whatsapp over that he's sick and dying.

I tend to take the dying part rather lightly in view that Mr. Anonymous is rather well known for his dramatic, narcissistic antics.

But I figured if in some turn of event, he really does keel over....then I'd have no one to go cycle with...(especially Andrew and Bryan are on their cycling 'high horse' and refuse to bring me along coz I'm ridiculously slow)

So after my swim, I popped over at Mr. Anonymous' place......to find him well and alive.

(big surprise there rite...)

I felt kinda bad as I was rather irritable with him but thought nothing of it.

(you have to understand that withstanding the traffic getting to USJ makes any normal person irritable)

As I was driving back home.....I got to thinking.......perhaps something isn't right.

I can't sleep......I'm a wee bit moody.......I'm a little bit more sensitive to negative remarks......I'm easily irritable......

I'm also 3 months minus medication.

Then....lightbulb moment.

Omigosh.....please say it's not returning......

That night, I slept. But I woke up again at 3am.

Tuesday, 24th August 2011.....

I woke up....and I felt like shit.

Worse than shit, actually.

I felt like shit ran over by a 2 tonne cement carrying truck, then got peed on by some stray flea infested mongrel.

Yes....I felt exactly like that.

I went to work.....I didn't feel as cheery as I usually am....(and if you've seen me at work in the morning, you'd wanna smack the cheeriness out of me!!!! I'm that happy in the morning!!!!!)

I was also literally dozing off at the table.

Went for tea break in between patients, me and a couple of my colleagues.

As I was recounting my weekend tales of fabulosity, I suddenly felt the urge to cry.

No reason. Nada.

I just wanted to cry.

I wanted to sob and force every single tear drop my lacrimal gland can produce out of my eyes!

I quickly change the subject and did my very best to subdue that urge.

Now I know I needed to talk to someone.

And I need to talk to that someone STAT!!!!!

I called up Aiza but she was busy at the psych clinic.

I didn't wanna be a bother.

I told my colleagues I'm not feeling that well and chucked home early.

I felt like a total mess back home.

I can't sit still. I can't focus...(not like watching E! entertainment channel needed much focusing and concentration)

I felt like screaming....but I don't know why.

In all desperation, I called Grandpa G (whom by the way is officially a 'consultoid' in the psych unit in one of KL's busiest hospitals).

I was sobbing and weeping and goo was leaking from both nostrils.

(I wasn't a pretty sight)

I told him I didn't know what was going on and I felt like my whole entire world was going upside down.

He asked how long I've been without my meds....and a bunch of other questions.

He concluded that I need to get back on them....and pop a benzodiazepine if available.

I have several Clonazepams, I told him.

He didn't even bother asking how I got my hands on them.

He said to just take them.....and speak to someone at the psych clinic tomorrow.....or drive down to KL to see him.

The prospects of not being able to find a decent parking slot put me off driving to his hospital...but the psych clinic at UMMC is just down the corner.

Wednesday, 24th August 2011....

Told the gang at work about my little issue.

Surprisingly very supportive.

And since the clinic was rather empty....(the holiday mood has finally taken its toll), I ran off to meet up with Nusrat...(Aiza was busy with something else)

I told her everything.

From the lack of sleep which I thought nothing off.....to the irritability....and to the suddenness of symptoms which scare the living daylights out of me.

She was reassuring.

Unlike Grandpa G, she didn't think I needed Aripiprazole at the moment.

(I didn't think I left the psych world for too long but apparently I did leave long enough for them to present a credible study stating Aripiprazole being helpful in preventing switching in Bipolar II....I really have to get that study checked out!!!)

She asked if I would like a few days off from work to erm.....sleep.

I said that would be lovely!!!!

Thursday, 25th August 2011....

Day 1 off work.

I really hated the Clonazepam.

It made it groggy the whole entire day....and I keep bumping into things.

I've multiple bruises over my knees and shins to show for it.

Anyway.....I'm glad I'm back on meds.

I'm not as labile as before......my affect is still a tad restricted......and so is my mood.

My appetite, for once in a very long time, seems to be retreating.....which I think is a damn good thing!!!!!

My sleep......still working on it.

And best of all....I don't cry over stupid things anymore!!!! (ok, so it's just D2 of meds, so it's still a bit early to tell.....but I'm hoping the loss of appetite will carry on its effect indefinitely!!!!)

My colleague just texted a while ago to see how I was. She asked what I did the entire day.

I replied...sleep...more sleep....and then I went cycling.

She was rather amused that exercise was still on the menu.

Frankly....if I no longer desire to run, bike or swim.....then for heaven's sake, someone drag me to the nearest psychiatric unit coz then, I'd be this close to being suicidal!!!!

Later!!!!!!

Updates!!!!!

2011-08-21T15:31:00.006+08:00

Take note, this is gonna be a VERY short and mashed-up update.

Minus the viva mock-exam earlier this Monday, the fiasco of realizing that I've lost my beloved KSOs, my pathetic attempt at the VO2 machine, being reminded that I sucked (a lot!!) at cycling, my right ankle still hurts and I'm still running through it with my KT tape in-situ, my impromptu discussions (or arguments, if you'd like) about the delusional term 'soul-mate', my near death brush while running during thunder storm AND the sudden weekend-nights insomnia that made me miss my Sunday long run.......this week had been remarkably uneventful.

Yeah.....I'm totally playing down my perceived drama in my so-called life.

Anyway, I've finally signed up for the Desaru Tri......and the sense if impending doom had been imperative.

Am trying hard to ignore it until a later date.

Yes...am ignoring the fact that I need more work at my cycling....running....everything!!!!

I figured that there are things that I need to deal with NOW....and then there are things that just kinda happen on their own.

I'm hoping the preparation for the tri is of the latter category.

(and now you can label me delusional by all means)

I've also signed up for Putrajaya Night Marathon for the 42km category.....and after much push and pull, have decided to NOT go for the OCBC cycle event.

Well, everyone was telling me that the event was gonna be super fast and furious....and I was more of the slow and happy sort, so it would make more sense to forego it altogether.

Let me impart some photos of yesterday's post-run get-together for Sofian's belated birthday (yes we know he's fasting but we're kinda promoting 1Malaysia...so....) and his super early farewell before the dude leaves for Qatar.

* Tip and Sofian....(she makes the BEST cakes ever!!!)

* The food all set up and ready for hungry runners...

* Sofian giving tri tips.....to a very interested crowd...

* Mo-maniac, Sofian, Winnie and yours truly...

* More runners...

* Karen presenting her famous home made cake to belated birthday boy!

* Meet Lawrence & family....he proved that this blog has readership!!!!

Also....I received an email from this dude, whom we shall call Ray (well, his name actually IS Ray) from the Philippines, who by the way has high regards for this blog and figured that I could somehow help garner more attention to some of his local long distance races (and when I say long....I really mean LONG!!!!).

So Ray is recommending for those super high mileage-junkies out there (I'm semi-retired, mind you), to please take note of:

The Warrior 50km race on September 10 and the Cebu Century Challenge (102km) on November 19.

(all I can say is to go Google it if you're interested)

Alright...since I've gotten this outta my system, this insomniac is now gonna go for her coffee break.

Later!!!!!

Guinea pig mode

2011-08-17T21:29:00.004+08:00

Earlier this week, the Sports Medicine Unit finally acquired the full system to assess VO2 max.

Before this, we were using VO2 peak instead for our exercise prescription.....which honestly despite being a lot easier to carry out, wasn't exactly too accurate.

It doesn't take into consideration the patient's height, weight and oxygen consumption.

But we were kinda lacking so VO2 peak just had to cut it.

However with the arrival of the new system requires a new learning curve...and a guinea pig.

I eagerly volunteered.

I mean, after all those years (actually, not that many come to think of it) of reading Runner's World and lately, Triathlete magazine (because I didn't know what on earth was a peloton).....all the hoohah about VO2 max.....given a chance to find out my own, I jumped at it!

And I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with the same mindset.

After all, with all those hours spent on training....who doesn't want to know how far off from superiority we are from say, Lance Armstrong (VO2 max: 75 mL/kg/min....if you're wondering).

So yesterday boss said to bring along my exercise gear.

The process of getting on the wires were horribly labour intensive.

The chest leads had to be on exactly as anatomically required (it's been a while since I last counted intercostal spaces) and the wires taped to my body just in case it comes off while running.

The limb leads wires were also taped to my arms and my hips.

The mask then goes onto face really tightly and at the tip of mask was inserted the device to detect oxygen/carbon dioxide differences.

Then comes the vest with 2 huge devices larger than my fist inserted into the two front pockets of the vest.

The wires then connect the 2 huge devices to the uncomfortable face mask.

Everyone thought it was hilarious and kept asking for Darth Vader impersonations.

There was only that much "I'm you're Father" before it kinda fell flat.

Boss keyed in my age, height and weight...then wait for all the other vital stats detectable by all those wires to show up on the computer screen.

He decided I'd be doing the Bruce protocol and I agreed...(totally bad judgement on my part. I should have gone for Modified Balke protocol instead of killing myself with Bruce)

After a bit of a lag, all my vital stats popped up on the screen.

At rest....my resting heart rate was elevated....(it showed 73!!! I must really hate the mask that much!!!!), my respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was at 0.7 (which meant I was using fat as fuel as oppose to a ratio of 1 which means purely fueling on carbohydrate), my current VO2 (oxygen consumption) and a bunch of other stuff which included a running cardiac tracing.

Waited the compulsory 5 minutes of being stationary....and then the treadmill started moving according to protocol.

(the shiteous thing about Bruce protocol was that both the increase in speed and inclination occurs at the SAME time every 3 minutes)

The first stage was at an easy speed and incline.

It was pretty alright. I was walking. Breathing was....annoying considering breathing through the mask made the air inside the mask really warm, humid and uncomfortable.

Initial Borg Scale was 7.

After 3 minutes, speed and inclination increased again.

Was still at a walking pace.

The face mask was getting a tad annoying.

My heart rate was climbing at a pretty fast rate.

My RER was increasing slowly but surely nearer to 1.

Borg Scale at the end of 2nd stage was a 9.

3 minutes up and the speed and inclination increased again.

Suddenly I find myself running really fast on a really steep hill.

My breathing became more laboured and the face mask was pissing the shit outta me!!!!

My RER was at 1....I was burning carbohydrate.

I really wanted to give up.

Everything was bothering me....my mask....those taped wires.....the heat (mind you, we were in an air conditioned room).....everything!!!!!

C'mon.....get through the 3 minutes and then reassess situation.

Just before the 3 minutes were up.....my Borg Scale was at a 15!

(in case you're wondering.....it goes all the way up to a maximum of 20)

My colleagues prepared me.....15 seconds more till the next stage.

I held on to the hand rails of the treadmill and braced myself.

3 minutes up.

The speed and inclination went up further.

I was now sprinting uphill.

I couldn't breathe. It felt so hot and horrible.

30 seconds in.....I called it quits.

I only made it to stage 4. Sigh.

Just before the end of it....my heart rate was at 178, my RER was 1.11 and my VO2 was recorded as 47 mL/kg/min.

I was disappointed that I didn't make it past the 50 mark.

I think my boss was also kinda disappointed that I pulled the plug before stage 6.....coz today at work, he told me that since I was now "conditioned" to the face mask and the entire process, I could re-do my VO2 max next week and aim to get to a higher stage on the protocol......

I on the other hand was not very keen to get back behind that mask and getting taped up with wires.

I seriously have no idea how we're gonna convince all our patients on the obesity program to go through this uncomfortable process. Sigh.

On the up side.....I found out later that a VO2 max of 47 mL/kg/min was actually pretty good!!!

Apparently the average population comes in at around 35.....and the terribly untrained (which come to think of it is the majority of the Malaysian urban population) would hover at around 20 and below.

But obviously comparing myself to Lance Armstrong is kinda far fetched (47 vs 75).

C'mon...that dude made it to Boston Marathon and his first full marathon debut timing put a lot of serious runners to shame.

(on the other hand, you get people like Mr. Anonymous proclaiming that his VO2 max was probably at around the 85 range....)

Anyhoo.....I'll be updating when AND if I ever do repeat my VO2 max next week.

*shudder*

Later!!!!!!

If you didn't already know how to tape your ankle.....

2011-08-12T18:06:00.007+08:00

Alright....here's the deal.

I'll tell you all I know (which by the way is severely limited) about the ankle taping that I've been doing post-ankle sprain...and YOU will stop questioning me about the colourful tape on my feet.....and try to be discreet when giving me the weird, "OMG-what-the-hell-is-she-thinking-and-honestly-is-she-fully-discharged-from-the-bloody-nuthouse" look.

(coz seriously, that is SO not ON!)

In fact, I'll even TEACH you (free of charge, coz obviously you can also Google it and learn it online for free) how to tape it.

However let it be known that whatever it is, like most things man-made and available in the market these days....it does have its limitations and the technique that I'm posting up is regarding the lateral aspect of the ankle.

(I'm heading for the taping course in Penang next month and probably/hopefully by then, I'd be a bit more knowledgeable about this topic!)

But like with everything that has gotta do with sprains.....we will start with a little anatomy.

(don't worry...I'm googling up the easiest to grasp diagram that I can find!!!)

Oh....and a fore-warning before we start. I'm gonna be a little narcissistic and will be using MYSELF (go on...roll your eyes...see if I care!) as example to explain the condition.

Ok.....

Referring to diagram above....this is the lateral view of the ankle...

In my case...I was running when I stepped into a pothole, introverted my ankle and feel.

(introversion meaning ankle goes inwards.....that is as lay a term as I can get)

Since the ankle was forced into introversion by the fall......the ligaments at the lateral aspect of the ankle are high risk of being injured.

Most commonly would be the ATFL, CFL, PTFL and peroneal ligaments (not shown on diagram).

Personally, I did an ultrasound scan on my foot and found that I had Grade I sprain of the ATFL and peroneal ligaments.

That was the cause of the pain, swelling and mild instability.

Usually, the standard directive that the doctor will prescribe to the patient of such injury would be to abstain from running for a bit.

Unfortunately, like most patients.....I was impatient and I needed to be well enough to race 5 days post injury.

I could deal with the pain....the swelling.....but the instability.....that could be quite a nuisance.

So taping was my answer.

(do take note that if my pain had persisted and the swelling not subsided after a couple of days, I would have done a x-ray and call off my Hatyai half marathon. But taking into consideration it was only the instability, I decided to risk it and run)

1. First....cut three strips of KT tape (we're using Kinesio Tex, btw) as shown above.

If you do not have outrageously small or large feet compared to mine (I wear running shoes size US8), just follow the large squares for approximation.

The above picture is the back portion of the tape, if you didn't already figure it out......

2. Dorsiflex ankle.....like above.

3. Use middle length tape. Tape at the middle part of dorsum of food (ie upper aspect of foot) without stretching the tape.

4. Remove the underlying paper adhering to the tape. Tape the shin, at around 2 inches from the ankle fold without stretching. The center of the tape should now be stretched out and there is empty space underneath.

5. Now smooth out the entire length of tape against foot. This automatically stretches the center portion of tape as it adheres to the skin. Give the tape a good rub as it activates the tape against the skin....and it also helps with adhesion.

6. Now....use the longest length tape.

Adhere the initial bit of the long tape at the medial aspect of foot, without stretching the tape.

I find that the highest point of arch is a good place to start. Also not to overlap with the first tape as the adhesiveness is better on bare skin. Give the initial taped bit a good rub to activate it.

7. Now give the tape a good stretch (about 70-100% stretch), go underneath the foot but tugging it a bit posteriorly, aiming for the lateral malleolus (erm....that would be the protrusion at the lateral side of ankle).

8. Pull the tape upwards pass the lateral malleolus and tape the end bit at the lateral aspect, in between shin and calve. Remember not keep last 1-2 inches of tape lax, not stretched. Give it a good rub for activation. Again, try not to overlap with the first adhered tape as the adhesiveness is better on skin as opposed to on tape.

9. Now...the shortest strip. Start at the medial malleolus....(erm, the protrusion at the medial aspect of ankle). As usual....keep the end bits lax, give it a good rub to maintain adhesiveness, then stretch it about 70-100% (it's totally up to you, really) across and tape it, if possible, just after the lateral malleolus.

I didn't stretch it that much which is why it didn't end after the second tape. But you get the jist, rite?

Again, give it a good rub over the entire length of tape.

And ta-daa!!!!! You're done!!!!!

Instantly, you'll feel the ankle being more secured and less "loose" feel.

Now who said that you can never learn anything from my blog?!?!?!

Later!!!!!

Hatyai Nature Run - 7th August 2011

2011-08-11T20:40:00.007+08:00

Alright...so I've been uber busy lately that it took me THIS long to blog about my race last Sunday.

I think the last I posted on the blog was regarding my sprained ankle and my worries about running a half marathon 5 days post-sprain.

But I'm glad to report that after some KT-taping for ankle stability, the race went on without a hitch......(especially since I regard my lack of placing in my category a non-hitch!)

In fact I'm so impressed by the taping method that was taught to me by one of the seniors at work, I'm considering doing a blog-tutorial on taping for ankle stability.....

Erm, I'd probably get around to blogging about that......once I actually make some time!!!!

Ok....so since I'm a little on the time constraint side and having a bit of a creativity mental block, I'm making up for the lack of interesting-ness in this blog post by putting up a lot more photos than usual.....(at least more than I would for a 21km race)

So we got into Hatyai on the one and only daily flight by Air Asia on Saturday afternoon, got to race site and got myself registered for this race, despite not doing anything online prior to my arrival.

In fact this race was that efficient that my previous details from last year's race was still in their computer system.

No forms to be filled. Just gave them my name, pull out the Baht.....and voila!!! Instant-race kit collection!!!!!

Best I've ever had in quite a while.

This race was extremely popular this year. I think the race participants almost doubled since 2010!

On race day, got up super early....did the usual prepping pre-race, and walked from our hotel (thanks to Dannie and Carrie for putting me up at their hotel room) to the pick up site.

The race organizers had arranged for busses to pick up participants that were staying around the town area.

The photos will tell a wee bit about the on-goings that morning.

* Winnie, Carrie, KA and Rich Chai

* Champion couple, Wai Mun and John!

* Kim Lai with his furry ears. Gotta love the Singaporeans for these sorta stuff...

* Yours truly and Alexis in our leopard skirt get-up. Karen later expressed her horror regarding my colour "dis-combination". I figured if there's any place in this world that I could get away with awkward colour combo, it would be in Thailand!!!

* Everyone hanging around waiting for the bus.

Unfortunately, the bus was a bit late.

Ok...so 'a-bit' was really giving a lot of leeway. It was REALLY really LATE!!!!

* KK and Geannie looking all ready for the race!

* Well....some runners weren't gonna wait around for the bus to come. Instead, a bunch of them decided to hop on the local tuk-tuk to head to race site.

Goodness knows when the bus will actually materialize!

But we were cheap....(actually I didn't bring any Baht with me, so tuk-tuk was out of the question....I shall instead rely on the bus as promised by the organizers.....)

So we continued waiting....

* When the first bus arrived, there was a mad dash to get on the bus!!!!

Suddenly friendly runners turn savage 'me-first' monsters!!!!!

The first bus load was sardine packed.

We waited in hopes of a second and third bus.

Thankfully there were....and we did get to the race site in time for camwhoring, mandatory toilet visit and pre-race pleasantries with people that we sorta know on Facebook.

(social networks definitely made the world a smaller, albeit less-intimate, place)

* Good to see the KRI uncles there.....

Suddenly I really really miss Ipoh.....

* We were all lined up at the starting line......like all the way at the back.

Take note of Winnie in her yellow get-up!

* More Ipoh peeps.....I really need to get my arse back to Ipoh soon!!!!

* The race was let off on time. Was really surprised to see Uncle Sonny running more or less the same pace with us.

Alexis was on a mission to break her PB and get herself on the podium......Winnie was high on Red Bull.....and thankfully I had Dannie and Carrie to pace me.

* Since it's debut at Phuket Laguna Marathon, I've yet to use my reusable water "thingy".

Yes...trying to pretend that I actually care about the environment.

(fine...I do care.....but I don't wanna come off as being too emo and unstable)

The first 5km of the race was by the housing area.

Then at around the 6th km, we turned off into pseudo-forrest area.

(in fact, rubber taping estate!)

Then someone threw in the hills.

Makes one really appreciate the "mild" inclination of the Double Hill route in KL.

* No...it's not the camera angle....the hill really is THAT steep!!!

* My 2 constant companions......

Yes I do realized that I was being a third wheel. In fact I think I WAS the third wheel for the entire trip!!!!!

(but I'm sure they enjoy my company and my nonsensical shit)

* The hills were definitely alive and rolling.

Dannie and Carrie walking up the second hill.

* The water station. They only have water and nothing else. Thankfully I sorta remembered this and brought my own energy gels.

* At the 11th km...the turn around was in sight.

Winnie still high on Red Bull on the returning side of the road.

Gotta catch up!!!!

I find that I run better after the initial 8km of what I'd usually call "race-warm-up-distance".

Well...that, or the caffeine from my energy gel finally kicked in.

Managed to catch up with Winnie.....and then overtook her.

Dannie and Carrie were more or less behind me.

Another 5km or so and we'll be back.

By this time....the sun was up and it was getting pretty warm and unfortunately rather sunny.

Kept on running.

Was very surprised that my right ankle did not hurt one bit.

In fact...I think I was on a roll!!!!!

Kept up with pace.

Finally.....I saw Yen Erl in front.....was trying to pace her for a few kilometers before heading back to the university (ie the race site).

Never believe Yen Erl when she says she was gonna run slow.

* Yen Erl...at her consistent pace.

* Running through town...the traffic was crap. I'm very glad I made it back ALIVE!!!!!

(especially since I'm beginning to think that I'm very accident-prone)

* Entering university compound. All the way up and I was done!!!!!

* I was SO glad to see the finishing line. The sun and the heat was killing me!!!!

I crossed the finish line in 2:15 (self timed).

Good news...I ran this faster than I did last year.....(I think I did a 2:30-ish)

Bad news....I didn't get a placing like I did last year.

(I was 4 months to getting myself into the 30-39 age category...which would have gotten me 8th position....oh well....there's always next year!!!)

* The medal as always was very interesting in appearance.

* Alexis got a placing!!!!! She did it in 2:08!!!! Great timing and great performance!!!!!!

Anyway.....since I really need to get back to the books for an upcoming exam, I'll just conclude that the race was awesome.....and I had great fun.....and definitely heading back for more hills next year (in a new age category, no less)!!!!!

Later!!!!!

TGIT!!!!!! (another non-halal edition)

2011-08-04T21:06:00.009+08:00

Since my last post about the twisted right ankle.....(I think I posted it yesterday)......so far so good.

Icing regularly.....and did some swelling-reducing taping which did help.

So it was no physical activities that involved the ankle joints yesterday...and without my regular dose of endorphins, I was like a junkie on withdrawal.

Not a pretty sight at all.

All those pent up energy used to get dissipated during exercise....and now it is causing me to have akathisia-like symptoms...which made it very difficult for me to sit still, focus and study.

So in between chapters of my anatomy books, I did the plank workout cum pathetic-attempt-at-meditation.

It didn't give me the high I sought, but it did sorta made me calm down the manic thoughts a bit. Just a wee bit.

* Taping to reduce the swelling at the right lateral malleolus region.

Anyway today things seemed better.

The pain was minimal and I could deal with some slight instability.

My temporary disfigured knees seemed to be functioning alright and range of movement for both were full.

I figured I was ready to go cycling (if not running).

So packed Tobias into back of car (actually he didn't quite leave the back seat since Tuesday. I wasn't in the mood to carry my obese bike out from the car), and was getting ready to leave for Putrajaya.

The weather was gloomy the entire day.

Rain, drizzle, gloom and doom, then more rain and drizzle.

(the kinda weather that made you wish that you were on semester break and snoozing through the entire day)

I was stuck in the initial traffic getting into the highway, when I figured I better text Mr. Anonymous to make sure the ride was still on.

The traffic flow was at snail pace and it could take forever!!!!

No reply.

I was already in the midst of the jam.....so continued waiting for any sort of reply while braving the massive automobile crawl.

Then he texted back saying that ride was cancelled.

If I wasn't in such an endorphin-withdrawal state, I might actually find the whole situation funny.

Hilarious even.....

(But at that very moment, I really wanted to kick Mr. Anonymous in the crotch......)

It was raining outside, the mess of a traffic wasn't seem to be clearing and I NEED endorphins!!!!!

Yes....terribly hilarious.

Well.....on the flip side, God had decided that my right ankle was in need of another day's rest.

Anyway, I was already in the highway....the next turn out was at Subang toll.

Figured will give my friends a call and go hang out at Yengzter's place for dinner.

Thank goodness for The Hungry Hog restaurant!

* Ordered the house-specialty.....which is 'The 3 Little Pigs' burger.

Pork patty, ham slice and bacon...all in one burger!!!!!

Literally death by pork overload.

* Another close up of the artery clogging, gastronomically sensational burger.

* Oh well....guess I'd call this carbo-loading for Hatyai run then!

* After dinner, Nard wanted us to try his apple crumble.....an experiment that hopefully will end up as a permanent fixture on the menu.

Dude, I didn't know you make such good apple crumble!!!!!

* The pictures didn't do any justice to it. I largely blame the Nokia camera. I do miss my iPhone, which by the way had come home!!!!

* Yengzter trying something new.

Folks....this is THE Bacon Ice cream.

Nope...not a typo. Real authentic bacon-fused ice cream.

According to the chef, he caramelized the bacon, chop it to teeny-weeny bits, mash it with plain vanilla ice cream....and serve it with a drizzle of honey.

My first spoonful was filled with caution. The initial taste was......odd. Different.

Second spoonful.....was slightly familiar. Invigorating, even.

By the third spoonful....I was a freakin convert!!!

Hands down best original tasting and tantalizing ice cream EVER!!! (even better than the wasabi ice cream I've had earlier this year)

I'm hoping for it to be a regular in the dessert menu soon.

My taste buds have fallen in love..... *gasp*

And when it was time to go, I realized that I was without my wallet.

I've been driving around WITHOUT my freakin identification card!!!!!!!!

Sigh.

Thank goodness I didn't have any crash in with the law while on the road.

I told Yengzter that I was crap as a kitchen help and he agreed to put it on tab until I go back, like...tomorrow for lunch to settle my bill.

So...anyone up for pork-fest for lunch tomorrow afternoon??

Later!!!!!

Running doc DOWN!!!!

2011-08-03T14:49:00.002+08:00

Since I've made it a rather personal mission to put Tobias on a crash diet in preparation for (possible) Desaru Tri, we've been going cycling a bit more often than the usual.

(the usual being NONE at ALL!!!!)

And I've been having issues with balance while cycling...(besides poor peripheral vision and proneness to getting run over by some reckless Malaysian drivers, other than myself) Mr. Anonymous reckoned it would be good to first learn to cycle with one hand...or at least to be able to do so while signaling my intentions to on coming cars.

Y'know, enough to reduce my being roadkill risk.

So yesterday I met up with Mr. Anonymous for a crash course in one-hand-cycling, before heading off to Putrajaya for a 40km ride, together with David.

To be on the safe side, I wore my RoadID......just in case the mortuary needed to get in contact with my next of kin to pick up the mangled body.

Well....I'm glad to say that the ride completed without needing anyone to call my mom.

After the ride, Mr. Anonymous wanted to get some brick workout.

I guess everyone is pretty psyched up for the next upcoming tri.

So the run was around the neighbourhood and it was kinda dark.

The government must be saving quite a bit off the electricity bill for the absence of the much needed streetlights.

Mr. Anonymous was running pretty fast and David and I were trying to catch up.

Suddenly, I felt a give underneath my right foot, a sharp pain on the lateral side of right foot....literally lost my footing and found myself falling forward on the road.

Next thing I know......I was on the floor, both my knees were in pain.....and I had a curious numbness over my entire right foot.

I knew I had torn some ligaments. Dammit!!!!!

Picked myself off the ground......dusted the dirt off me....looked down and found two bloody grazed knees.

After resting for a bit, decided I was ok enough to walk back to my car.

Initially, I figured that the right ankle was alright.....coz there wasn't much (if any) swelling seen.

The pain was minimal and I was still ambulating like normal.

(yes I did ice it...thanks to Mr. Anonymous' mom!)

My grazed knees.....well, that hurt but I'm pretty sure it was all superficial.

Then woke up this morning and had difficulty walking due to the pain at the right ankle.

I was actually rather surprised that I was experiencing pain upon weight loading on the right ankle joint considering last night was still alright.

By the time I got to work, a decent size swelling had emerged around the lateral malleolar region.

We did an ultrasound and found some hypoechoiec regions at where the ATFL (anterior talo-fibular ligament) and the peroneal ligaments were.

It never is a good thing for these structures to be hypoechoiec.

Possibly a Grade I sprain......(I'm being optimisitc, can't you tell...)

So...been icing it 2 hourly like we usually prescribed to patients.

Also......taking the day off....from exercise, not from work......

(and mind you, it is SO annoying coz I really really wanted to swim today and the weather looked lovely!!!!! Oh and it's not the ankle that I'm worry about during swim. It's my grazed knees that are kinda swollen and hurts when on flexion. The frustration is ever so familiar.....sigh)

Anyway......I'm praying....HARD....that it'll be alright by this Sunday for the Hatyai Nature Run.

I wonder if cycling can still be on the menu for tomorrow!!!!!

Unrelated, I should really give Mr. Anonymous a proper name.

Later!!!!