Input vs Output

So far, still no races planned for 2011. Was supposed to sign up for couple of runs in March, but i have missed the registration deadline in January, so i'm left races-less.

Once again, Chinese New Year is the season to overeat and spend all day visiting relatives. I'm glad i managed to eat only 2 meals a day (big meals nonetheless) and got a run in this afternoon.

But it's been really hard to stick to a firm training schedule. More often than not, i'm working til late during the weekdays, and sometimes missing meals. I can't remember how many times i've had snickers for lunch.

Yup, i even stocked up on snickers. That's bad it is.

With whatever remaining time i have left, i've been hanging out and meeting my babes and dudes cos i really miss them. With great company, comes great food...

Oh gosh, i really do need my peeps to just chillax and forget about the weekday grind. :) Mucho lurve to them.

But i guess there are consequences. Been 6 days since my last run and this is what happened...

Epic Fail. Hahaha...

I believe it can be done and it's definitely been done before. Juggling work, friends, family and training. I'm sure you know someone who is doing it. It's not easy, but it can be done.

I'm gonna learn, suck it up, get disciplined and do it all over again. Hopefully, i'll be one of those guys you know who can work, train and make time for all my awesome friends!

You win some, you lose some...

I said i'll not do it, but i did it..again. I ran.

It's been so long since i felt this way, running. Then the memories came rushing back when you're near exhaustion. Even after a long tiring day, i'm glad i did.

Cos sometimes, that 10km run does more than take your breath away (literally).. it makes you dig deep within yourself to find that one true desire you have inside you. It peels away all the peripherals and superfluous. It mercilessly throws away those feeble attempts to motivate yourself with petty anger and fears, and forces you to drag out the deepest demons and ride on them as if you force your body to limits you never thought you could reach.

Then the memories and emotions play like a movie...

I have forgiven, but i will never forget...

Everywhere i'm looking now...

Almost to the end of the 1st week of 2011. Wasn't the start i expected, but i guess some changes are good. Sometimes, it's best to just let things go out of plan, go thru that ride, experience the journey, have a story to tell others at dinners and just be surprised...

I still think about the aussie trip.. i must say the withdrawal for this trip is one of the worst i've had. It just felt like this coming back to spore is totally new and the life i should be living was back there in melb/syd.

of course, it would be a different feeling if not for these guys...

miss them loads.

I thought that i would start 2011 training again. I was really inspired during the road trip around beautiful australia - inspired to do a race there. The beaches are beautiful (despite the cold and merciless water and tide), sand is so smooth, and the roads are perfect for the bike and run.

Where the skies have no end, the heavens meet the earth... i really hope to be racing in such picturesque beauty someday..

Unfortunately, it's been 5 days now, and i'm still having menstrual cramps. Yes you heard me right - menstrual. The doctor gave me menstrual pills cos i have "abdominal cramps". FML.

So i haven't been training for a month. And i don't know if it's the bloatedness or just fats.. but my tummy is really bloated. It's freaky. I look like those starving african kids.

I just hope to recover quickly and get back to training again. I haven't signed up for any races this year, no Ironman, no biathlon, duathlon, OCBC cycle.. i'll just focus on the OSIM tri, Stan Chart marathon and maybe one more Olympic tri, maximum 3 races.

But then again, not everything goes according to plan, right?

Remember those walls i built?

Well, baby they're tumbling down...

New

Went on an awesome trip with the dudes to melbourne/sydney. Didn't do much touristy things cos most places were closed during the Christmas/New Year season, but having their company and alot of laughs were the best part of the trip.

I'm not looking back at 2010 and list the things that i've accomplished.. but looking forward to this new phase.

Ironically, i'm on MC on my second day. My table's not packed and everything is in a mess. Damn.

Well, not the perfect start to 2011, but it's a start nonetheless..

Time is Flying...

Third time's not a charm. Not only did I not do a PB 10 days ago for the 42, i was 3 minute slower than what i clocked last year.

But it wasn't an entirely disappointing race as i reached a new threshold of 35km, still feeling fresh and keeping pace. Training picked up well, (but still insufficient in my terms) and i've been running 20kms regularly. Experience also played a part as i was not bothered much about discomfort, blisters and hydration.

I managed to keep time til the 37km mark until the heat and humidity got the better of me and i was walking up the unsheltered and uncompromising ECP next to MBS. Saw many dropping out at the sides during this time and there was very little mental encouragement at that point of time.

I'm also very thankful that the knees held up. With both my knees and ankles taped up, there was surprisingly no ache. Well, at least not until the past 3 days when i've started running again!

All in all, the race went well and i know i've said that this could be my last. But how could i go out with timings slumping with each passing year? Even my triathlon hero, Chris McCormack proved that point. He came back to from 2007 to win the World Ironman Triathlon title in October.

It's a fantastic year for me with many memorable races. Going to end the year off with a bang! Looking forward to a couple of trips and then it's going to be a new year with a great new team, growing new friendships, maturing with the old ones and finding her!

At the meantime, i'll just keep running and chasing that lovely dream!

Back from the Dead

Yes, i did drag my lazy ass out of bed to run my third marathon. In summary, i did 5:25 in 2008, 5:55 in 2009 and 5:56 in 2010.

I'm not too disappointed though. I managed to run at a good pace til 35km when i started the run/walk cycle. Glad that most of my training paid off, but there's still so much to be desired to get my body more prepared for a longer race.

I shall give my customary race report in time to come. For now, i'm just glad to be back from the dead. Fell really ill on Monday evening and took the next couple of days to fully recover. So yes, i'm back!

And i can't wait to get to running again!

*
I see some photos of friends who ran on Sunday.. whether it's the 10, 21 or 42.. i feel inspired by each and every one of them.

The person who ran the 10, now feels inspired to run the 21. The person who overcame the odds and did the 21. The person who completed his goodness-knows how many gazillionth 42. Each and every one of them had an inspiration to run and i can't help but be inspired by these ordinary people with an 'ordinary' reason to do something extraordinary.

Thank you for your inspiration.

grumpy...

3 days to to race day and i've finally gotten down to planning the logistics. It sucks.

Consider the fact that you'll not only be on your feet for the next 5hours, you'll be running. And in my case, with a really bad knee. So you'll definitely want to plan well and get to the race and home safely, easily and in one piece.

It's going to be a challenge this year.

I'm not spoilt, i have done the marathon all by myself, without any support, before. But the biggest curveball here is that the start and finish line aren't at the same place. Let me lay it out for you.

Driving there? It won't help much because start and end are at different locations. Yes, there are shuttle buses to get you back to the start but with 2,000+ runners? Good luck with waiting.

I drove last year and at least i could dump my belongings in the car and just carry the carkeys. Since i'm not driving, where am i to put my barang barang? There are bag collection points. But once again, consider the crowds. Plus, the fact that the 42km baggage collection point will be at the F1 building; quite a distance from the finish line.

All that, and the fact that you just completed 42km?

Oh gawd... i might as well crawl my way home.

[ok, that was a really grumpy post. but don't worry, the writer is fine. He is looking forward to a long overdue break from work/technology; spending the final weeks of 2010 travelling!]