[[Sunday, November 15, 2009 ]]
I had noticed this the morning after we returned to Brisbane - there is already light at 0430hrs. So yes, it looks like summer will be upon us very shortly albeit we're already enjoying the summer weather. The days are surely going to get longer.
Well, the focus for this week past was about trying to cope with being back at work, and also trying to get back into the rhythm of training. The first part was more matter-of-factly (just deal with it!) but the latter was trickier due to the knee injury. That said, the knee is feeling better everyday and I am cautious about pushing it too hard in case of jeopardizing its recovery. Better to be safe than sorry.
Throughout this week, I've learned that pedaling when standing on the bike is what hurts my knee most. In fact, cycling is hurting my knee more than running does. When cycling, the knee keeps having to "click" and in the moments just before it "clicks" over, there is some pain and discomfort that disappears as soon as the "clicking" is done.
After this morning, I've discovered that my knee is not adverse to running. Although there was a moment of doubt at the beginning when the knee was feeling sore and I really thought I had to abandon the run. As I persisted, everything came good after warming up. The goal for this run was to be able to complete the distance regardless of the time it took and not cause extended damage to the knee. I'm encouraged that everything went well despite a slight soreness remains on the knee.
I used the
Fuelbelt for the first time this morning since I have not yet got a replacement for my camelbak and found the experience to be quite interesting. Firstly, I found the filling of the bottles cumbersome. As I was using a premixed drink, I had to first mix it up in a water bottle before pouring the contents into the four smaller bottles.
Then after putting it on around my waist, I stood in front of the mirror and decided that I look really funny with it - the belt with the four bottles look almost too big around waist! Once out on the road, true to its word, there was no bounce and it feels comfortable to wear.
I discovered quickly that the Fuelbelt is a two-hand operation device, which is something I am not used to. And because of this, I found myself sometimes delaying to drink when the urge came up. Nevertheless, the shape of the bottles made it easy to hold when drinking on the run and fits nicely even in my petite hands.
Overall, the Fuelbelt is a well-designed piece of gear. For me, there is probably a need to use it afew more times before deciding if it will partially replace the waterbag.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|08:43|
[[Tuesday, November 10, 2009 ]]
So now we’re into week 20 of my preparation for Port Mac and I’ve got a bung knee. Afew days before we left for Singapore, I started to suffer from pain in my right knee. The pain was familiar and felt exactly like an injury I had afew years ago on my left knee, which was a combination of ITB and Patellofemoral Syndrome.
I did no cycling or running but only some swimming whilst in Singapore for two main reasons. Firstly, I had signed up for the Genting Trailblazer race that was held on the 1st November and didn’t want to stuff that up especially when this was a team event. Secondly, I was in damage-control mode in the hope that the knee would get better in time for me to resume training when I got back to Brisbane.
Did a 5km run around the block yesterday evening just to see how the knee is holding up. Initially there was abit of discomfort but not much pain. After about 2km, I was surprised to find that it feels better than walking. How is this possible? It is crazy. But I’m happy with the performance of the knee for now.
First swim session back this morning and was struggling. In fact, back muscles are now sore from the swim. Cannot believe my muscles have such poor memory retention capabilities. How embarrassing.
Feels like I’ve caught a minor cold. Certainly not feeling the best that I can be.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|20:30|
[[Sunday, November 08, 2009 ]]
I'm not quite sure what to say now that our holiday is ended and we're back in Brisbane except that I'm feeling alittle bit blue. As always, it was good to catchup with family and friends. However, I can't help but feel that I should probably have made more of an effort to spend more time with my family instead. Anyway, no use crying over spilled milk.
Thanks to all who made time and effort to meet up and apologies to others whom despite our best efforts, seemed as if we were never fated to meet. Sigh. Well, life has to go on and I can only hope (with all my heart) that we get to see each other again in the near future when our paths next come together as one.
The trip to Genting Highlands with the family on the last weekend of October for the
Genting Trailblazer race on the 1st November was an enjoyable one. Gave me time to bond with my favourite niece and nephew who are now teenagers by their own rights. Wow, how time flies.
Special thanks to my partner, Tigger, for the
Trailblazer race. It was my first for this race and Tigger's second time and what a good experience it was. I had a blast and I think Tigger did too despite us both getting dirty (literally) over the course of the race. Had the pleasure of meeting Enver (Tigger's little boy) for the first time! So cute.
Unfortunately, realised too late that I had left my Camelbak bladder in the fridge of the hotel room back in Genting when we arrived home back in Singapore :( I had just bought a new fuelbelt and now misplaced my camelbak bladder :( Argh. Ok, now on the hunt for a new bladder.
I am missing Singapore already.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|17:53|
[[Wednesday, October 21, 2009 ]]
This is a week of reduced mileage and hence, time to rest the body and mind. I still have not got it all figured out on how I'm going to keep my training going seamlessly while in Singapore. No doubt, it'll be a massive challenge with so many distractions going on. Hell, I'll just have to give it a shot anyway.
Cannot believe I missed swim squad Monday past because I forgot to set the alarm clock! Woke up too late and in the end slept in. Can't say that i didn't enjoy that though.
Work has been crazy ass busy this week. Got to tough it out before I can enjoy the holidays.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|19:47|
[[Friday, October 16, 2009 ]]
My hrm and RPE told one story, but the time on my watch told a different story. I was left utterly confused! So I was doing a 10km time-trial run this evening. This course that I'm using is five loops of 2km. It is not an entirely flat course; it has some *tiny* undulations enough to create a challenge.
My strategy was to maintain a consistent pace for the first three loops (6km) and then speed up for the last 4km. The weather was again a hot 29 degrees and my motivation level was not much better than yesterday's. But that doesn't stop me from trying to do my best. So I started with a slow warm-up of 2km and then proceeded with the time-trial.
After the first loop, I looked at my time and was shocked to see that I was running at a pace in excess of six minutes per km. What the....? My comfortable pace on any given day is round about six minutes per km and this is also the yardstick by which I often use to measure my running performance. How could I be running this slow?
I checked my hr and my RPE and they both indicated that I should be running at a pace better than that. Bewildered, I considered if I should stop or keep going. I know that I haven't been feeling my best all week but still, I did not expect to perform so badly.
With my years of running experience, I'd like to think that I can trust my hr and RPE to predict my approximate running pace. I decided that I should keep going and check again after the second loop. To my dismay, it was the same story - hr and RPE said one thing whereas the stopwatch said something else.
Three more loops to go and I made up my mind to complete the run nonetheless. And if it was really true that I was running so badly, then so be it and it would also be good to know how it feels on a truly bad day. With my mind now made up, I plodded on and concentrated on completing the run. I will admit its not easy doing a time-trial run all alone with no one to push you. I would have loved some company today.
One more loop to go and I tried to up my pace so that I can finally finish this thing. At the finish, I stopped my watch and it read 1:00:52. That is a tad over six minutes per km.....hmmm, I was quite consistent :) Ok, now I can't wait to get home and map the distance on my computer.
Got home and mapped the run using
Google Earth and
Mapmyrun. Both indicated a distance closer to 2.2km per loop, which equates to a total distance of 11km. This in turn translates to a pace of about 5:53 m/km - not very fast I know, but I'm content with this for this week. Well, so much for my 10km time-trial which had just turned into an 11km time-trial ! Yet it was good to know my RPE was still reliable during a run.
I am happy now.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|19:32|
[[Thursday, October 15, 2009 ]]
Motivation is currently at an all time low, for this week. Why? I have absolutely no idea. I just can't seem to lift my game all week, feeling unmotivated and mentally drained although physically seems to be feeling fine. I wish for this strange feeling to go away soon.
Anyhow, hauled my ass out for that tempo run this afternoon in 30 degrees heat. Not favourable conditions but its something that has to be done so just grit my teeth and got on with it. Going out was hot, hot and hot. Coming home was when the sun was setting and it has become cooler.
I so needed my ipod with me on the run today that I contravened my own rule by using headphones during the run. Normally, I don't use headphones on runs done during peak hours due to the high volume of traffic. I use earphones but only in one ear - this is again, for the sake of safety. I love my music, but not so much as to become road kill.
This morning's swim squad was also a success. But I'd been in such a strange mood all week that for the first time, I had forgotten to bring my swim cap or goggles. Rummaged through my swim bag and was glad to find a spare swim cap and a spare pair of goggles. Phew.
There was another first at swim squad this morning. I got to lead the people in my lane during the swim sets. Ok, there were really only three of us in the lane - including me. But woo hoo, I got to lead two other people. Heheh, cheap thrill.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|19:54|
[[Sunday, October 11, 2009 ]]
Almost convinced myself this morning to stay in bed and forgo the long run. Didn't have a good sleep last night, was somehow restless. Woke up feeling alittle fatigued and then went to the toilet and got back into bed. Tossed and turned, trying to decide what I should do next - wake up and go for a run, or go back to bed and sleep for afew more hours?
At that point in time, the probability of going back to sleep for afew more hours was somehow improbable and so after all the procrastination, decided to wake up and go ahead with the run. The thought came to my mind that it was already later than usual and there would probably be more traffic on the roads, yet I was determined to enjoy the run no matter what.
As a result of my resolve to have an enjoyable run, I started at a slow pace and tried to maintain at aerobic pace throughout the run. I was relaxed and enjoyed the music from my ipod. Kept reminding myself to stay relax and enjoy the run and not to push too much. The strategy was a success.
Just under 18km for today's run. Weather was perfect - dark clouds but no rain and only abit of sun every now and then. I am glad I did this run.
baah...baah...blacksheep
|20:49|
