All The World Is But A Stage

Mt Glorious Trail Race 22k. Garmin Connect - Details

2012-02-05T20:36:00.001+10:00

Mt Glorious Trail Race 22k. Garmin Connect - Details

Mount Glorious Trail Race 22km.

2012-02-04T16:22:00.002+10:00

Finally arrived home, had a shower, washed the dirty shoes and clothes and plonked myself in bed. Aaahhhh! A well-deserved rest, even if I may say so myself. So I did my very first race this year. It was a 22k trail run on Mount Glorious. Distance is not too long but the course is hilly, which is to be expected when it has the word “Mount” written all over it.

I was excited to do this (trail) race mainly because I hadn’t run on trails since the Glasshouse 100 in September, and I really miss it. Secondly, I wanted to see where I am at currently as far as my physical and mental condition is concerned, as I prepare for the North Face 100 in May. It would be interesting because I know that I am not in good form at the moment, as I have just been back in training and have just recovered from my back injury.

So the race started and it took me 40 minutes to go through the first 2.4km. To be fair, we were negotiating the biggest hill on the course. At that point, I found myself to be the absolute last person on the course. I was made aware of this by the sweeper who overtook me and announced who he was and that he would be waiting at the top. Now I know that I wasn’t in my best form or strongest but admittedly, I was taken aback by the situation. How could I be this bad? My back was sore and my legs wouldn’t fire.

Once we got to the top of that first hill, I gulped down a gel. Then there was a very long downhill section and I knew that that was where I had to go off and try to make up for lost time. I then passed the two women who had passed me before and just kept going. I never let them pass me again and now, I know that I am no longer the last person out on the course. Suddenly, I had found my second wind.

Further up, I passed a couple and then I also passed a lady. I kept pushing on and passed a handful of others. I didn’t let any of them pass me until the end. The course was hilly but there was not another massive hill like that first one, though a few of them came close. Shoes were wet from the river crossings and felt heavy as well, with mud getting stuck to them.

Some parts of the course were very hot and humid and I stopped at one of the water point to douse myself with water in order to cool down. The last 2km was on a very nice and shady, single-track with some stairs carved out of rocks, reminiscent of the last part of the North Face course. I really enjoyed that. The finish was quite interesting in that from the single-track, it burst out into the park and across the finish line. There were people standing there just waiting for the runners to mysteriously emerge from the trails, like a lucky dip.

So reflections after the race? Tough course and I am glad it was only 22km. Physically, I have alot of room for improvement and I must do so before the race in May. Definitely need to get back to the gym for strength work as soon as possible. Mentally, I was there and in a way, this is good news to me because it is much easier to have to build on the physical than the mental side of things.

I felt a slight sense of frustration in this race because my physical could not match up with my mental and even though my head said to go, my body could not do enough to match. I know the remedy for this is more mileage in my legs, which would eventually come as I keep my training going. The second part of the fix is getting back to building strength in the gym, especially on core muscles to strengthen my back.

2012-02-02T21:21:00.000+10:00

Wow. January is gone. The first month of the year is done and dusted. How time really flies these days. Its just amazing. They weren’t kidding when they said time (and tide) wait for no man. So I spent the first month of the year trying to get back into a routine after my holidays in December. Starting to build my life again around work, training and family.

Work and run training has pretty much settled but swim and gym sessions needs to be integrated in the next fortnight. The wet weather conditions haven’t help much with my motivation to get back to swim squad. And gym sessions just need to be inserted in amongst the run training now that my back pain seems to be under control.

That said, I have been running in my VFFs and really like it more and more. They are so light and the muscles on my legs are beginning to get used to them. My feet have been feeling good while running in them too. My first goal training in VFFs is to strengthen my feet and legs and then ultimately to ditch these running shoes so that I can run in Luna sandals or the likes, either on the road or on trails. I will have to increase the distance slowly so as not to stress the structures of my feet and legs excessively or unnecessarily.

2012-01-26T20:46:00.000+10:00

I don’t remember how long I have had this Fuel Belt, its probably in the last 18 months or so. Yet it was only in the last fortnight that I had finally managed to figure out how to wear it such that it would stop moving and stay where it should be as I ran. Prior to that, I hadn’t used it that much, prefering the Camelbak as it was easier for it to just sit on my back without much movement.

There had been so much rainfall this week and this morning is the first all week, that I had not woken up to the sound of the falling rain. I went for a run last night and some roads around the neighbourhood have been closed due to flooding. As a result, I had to do detours and ended up decidig to run all the small back roads instead. It was like an exploration run of the local neighbourhood. Quite fun really- dark, quiet and very humid.

I thought my Garmin would be able to last for an hour with 20% of charge but I was wrong. It decided to give up on me halfway through the run. I suppose its something that would eventually happen to every Garmin owner and now that I have experienced it, I can tick it off my list.

2012-01-25T22:45:00.000+10:00

Just got off the phone with my mum and she informed me that the eldest brother of one of my long-time friend, had passed away yesterday. I am not quite sure what to say when it comes to such situations. Apparently, he had taken his own life by leaping from the window of his room.

On my last trip home, my friend had told me about his suffering from depression. As my friend and I had known each other since we were thirteen, I naturally had also become acquainted with the family over the years. Therefore, this sad news comes also as a shock to me.

Sometimes, I pondered about what would drive a person to take his/her own life. Sometimes, we can be plunged into an abyss of darkness and become unable to see the light at the end. Perhaps it is because we are so deep into the darkness that we are unable to obtain a different perspective from a different angle. We feel so enclosed by this darkness and am unable to see the exit sign. Then we become scared because… what if this never goes away? What if I get stuck here in this abyss of darkness forever and cannot negotiate a way out?

Fear always has a way of overcoming us. The fear of not succeeding, the fear of not making it to the other side; fear of anything and everything. But the truth is that fear only has its grasp over you if you give it permission to. To overcome it (instead of allowing it to overcome us), is to stand up to it and look it in its face. Focus and concentrate only in this very moment of your life and face up to it. Think nothing of the next moment after it.

My own life has been nothing short of eventful, yet I had been blessed in such a way that I was always able to glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel. Over the years, I have come to realise that this ability is a gift. Someone wise person once said, “We are only afraid of the things which we do not understand.”

RIP brother. One day, we shall all be reunited again at the right place at the right time. Till then, may the peace and love of the Almighty God be with you always. Amen.

2012-01-23T20:00:00.000+10:00

Work has been busy as today and it has been raining on and off all day. Just as well it is my rest day on Mondays, so there is no need to go running. Today is also the first day of Chinese New Year. I woke up and felt quite flustered in the morning. I kept thinking of what I would be doing if I were back home. I missed my friends sorely, and throughout the day, even felt a little sad at times. I just felt like being amongst family and friends.

Some of my closest friends sent me their wishes at the turn of midnight last night (while I was sleeping). As much as I truly appreciate that, I kind of wished that they didn't as they made me missed them more. Sigh. Not such a great day for me but the world does not revolve around me nor does it stop for me. In view of this, I think I had better suck it up and move on.

Tomorrow will be another day; a better day. Hopefully.

2012-01-22T19:39:00.000+10:00

Wow, its been long. Really long. At the end of November 2011, I left for Singapore and only touched back onto Ozzie soil on the very last day of the year. It was the first time in ten years that I had taken such a long trip home. It was really good to spend time with family and friends but ironically, I had been sick a couple of times over that one-month period in my home country; the place where I was born.

I had always been in relatively good health during my time here so I was caught off guard to have fallen ill while holidaying at home. I caught a stomach bug on the last day of our trip in Cambodia/Bangkok, which put me in bed for about three days before I slowly hot my energy back. Then I was down with a bad cough which produced so much phlegm all the time, that I was unable to go running. Next, three days prior to my departure, I did my back while coughing over a sink.

A day before I was to leave, I went to see an accupuncturist, thanks to A whom was very nice and took time off to drive me everywhere. I am indeed fortunate to have such friends. Unfortunately, I had to carry the back injury back with me to Oz. It made for a very uncomfortable flight but it was something I just had to endure.

I only started running again last week, and closely monitor my back on each of those runs. I am cautious about it and don’t think its unwarranted. So far so good.

2011-12-16T18:58:00.000+10:00

Sometimes, we just have to step through the door that is right infront of us before we can open the next door and step through it. Sometimes, we just have to let go of what we have been holding on to before we can have a free hand to reach infront, and grab hold of the next thing that floats before us. However, this is all easier said than done. Have you ever thought about it?

As we grow older, it becomes harder and harder to let go of the familiar and move on to something new. This presents a great danger whereby we are no longer able to feed our souls, to enrich it such that it may grow and soar to what it aspires to be and then go on to fulfil what it has come to do.

The soul grows with our human experiences. The more it experiences, the more it grows and as such, not moving forward and staying in one spot does not present it with a chance to expand. So then if the soul never dies, then it never ceases to grow. Its possibilities and opportunites are infinite.

Do you have the courage? Are you strong enough? Will you be ready?

2011-12-14T20:01:00.001+10:00

Started running again this morning, for the first time, after the run at Angkor Wat. Nothing fancy, I aimed for a distance of at least 8km but no more than 10km. Consistency is of utmost inportance at this point in time as I have been kind of slack as far as training goes, since completing my second 100k run in September at the Glasshouse. I just felt like I needed some time off.

The fact that I had chosen to do a half marathon, instead of some ultra-distance run to end the year, also complimented my decision to take time out. I had no reason to do big mileage. Funny thing though was that I hadn’t planned for it this way since the Cambodia trip was decided way back in April. So I guess things have a way of sorting themselves out in the end.

For the longest time, I thought the pain was the only thing that attracted me to distance running. Until one day, someone asked me what I think about during those hours out there by myself and I answered, “Nothing.” To which, the person replied that it was as if it was a meditation and the light bulb went on above my head.

What if…. just what if during those hours out there by myself, unbeknownst to me, I am actually meditating on my feet and had been transported to another world? So you see, it isn’t really the pain that I am addicted to, but the ability to be transported into that state of mind that right now, only distance running can induce in me? Supposedly meditating on my feet is a whole lot easier than just sitting still, for me?

So then the challenge would be if I would be capable of inducing this state of mind in myself in a different manner other than through distance running? In that state, there is nothingness but only the present moment and a certain calmness that accompanies it. There is no past and no future and nothing else matters except what lies before you, right here right now. I think it is what some called, ” being in the present.”

There is a certain attraction to being able to stay in that state. You are one but never alone. You experience everything and nothing all at the same time. It is a place I want to go to again and again; one I want to stay for a very long time.

2011-12-11T20:02:00.001+10:00

On this day last week, we ran the Angkor Wat half marathon. The day before the run, we went out and thrashed our legs visiting the ruins of Angkor and walking the whole day long. Nevertheless, the race went well and the story ended happily for all of us.

Admittedly, I was taken aback by how poor Cambodia is. Thank God for tourism. That said, it appears to me as if things are better in Phnom Pehn as compared to those in Siem Reap, but not by much though. Yet there is wifi available in almost every guesthouse, eatery under the sun. How ironical.

So now we are back in Sg. I must have caught a stomach bug on my way back, which promptly put me in bed for the next 2 days. I haven’t felt so weak in my physical form for the longest time. From here, it is time to start planning for the NF100 in May next year.

The training leading up to it would be the hardest, dare I say, the race itself a little less…. that is, if you have been as consistent as you can be during training. In any case, no guts no glory. Always have to try in order to know. Life ain’t no spectator sport, that is for sure.

Daniel Bedingfield- If You're Not The One (Uk Version)

2011-11-18T21:55:00.000+10:00

2011-11-06T09:40:00.001+10:00

I am not quite sure what it is and I just can’t nail it. But I haven’t been feeling myself in the last couple of weeks. Physically that is, more so than mentally. I refuse to believe that my body is actually taking this long to recover from the last race. God forbid, is age really catching up with me? They say that your body takes a longer time to recover from a race as one grows older. So is this what it feels like finally?

I have shifted my focus to some more specific training for the upcoming half-marathon. This entails numerous runs of shorter distances but with a specific time goal. Granted I haven’t done these sorts of runs for about 18 months now and admittedly, I am finding it tough. My body seems to be taking it particularly hard and maybe it is stressed from the change in routine? Whatever it is, the result is that I am left feeling quite fatigued from all these changes. And perhaps my being back to swim squad also has a part to play in all this?

It has always been my intention to cross-train and being in swim squad is just perfect for me. I am absolutely happy with that deicison. At the moment, it is slow-moving and I am just chugging along. I miss my usual weekend long runs and I just miss distance running. I woke up this morning and felt a strange pain on my left foot. Decided to skip the run to monitor the situation and if all feels well, I will go for a run in the afternoon instead.

2011-10-27T21:36:00.000+10:00

I finally made it to swim squad this morning. I was so scared prior, knowing how capable Coach is of flogging us. And even when I woke up in the morning, I was so close to changing my mind and crawling back into bed. Yes yes, its for our good that she dishes out these training sessions; I mean how else was I able to transform from a 1:57 swimmer (over 3.8km) to a 1:18 swimmer in just over a year? As far as I am concerned, that is a massive mammoth improvement.

Prior to swimming in her squad, I could only DREAM of swimming anywhere close to that. And if she could help me with my swimming, she would almost certainly be able to help just about anyone. I was really pretty bad when I started. So lucky to have found her and I can’t thank her enough. She is just the bestest (is there such a word?) swimming coach around.

Started to do some “faster” running in preparation for the coming half-marathon. Don’t get me wrong, not that I was ever much of a fast runner anyway. Its just that I had been concentrating on distance running in the last 18 months or so, and have never done much or any speedwork in that time. There was no need to, since its all slow running over a long distance. Learning how not to slow down (instead of how to run faster) was really more to the point I think.

Needless to say, it was quite painful as I had lost touch of the “feel” of speed running. I ended up running 30 seconds per kay quicker than I was supppsed to. Sigh. I will have to get it all back again quickly. No time to lose.

2011-10-13T16:45:00.000+10:00

Three days ago, my second pair of Vibram Fivefingers (VFF) Komodo Sport came in the mail. Almost a month ago, I bought my very first pair of VFF Sprint. Both are the same size but it is immediately clear to me that the Komodo Sport (as soon as I slipped it on) is far more superior as far as comfort is concerned. I was quietly pleased but at the same time, disappointed at how ill-fitting the Sprints are. For starters, the Sprints are very tight (even though its the same size as the Komodo). And when I took it out for my first run, it felt like they were ripping up both toenails on my pinkies. The pressure on the toenails was overwhelming, not to mention they also gave me blisters at the back of my feet. So, please let my pain be your gain: If you are looking to buy a pair of VFF Sprints, please go one size up.

I only went with the Sprint because I saw that they were on sale. So I thought to myself that I would buy the cheaper model at first and try it out. Should I like it (barefoot running that is), I can always “upgrade” at a later date. It turned out to be more of a painful experience than anything. And so much for saving money because I ended up shelling out for a second pair anyway. Duh! Should have just gone and bought the more expensive pair to begin with to save all this heartache. Now back to the Komodo, they are so comfortable and hug my feet nicely….a far cry from the Sprint. On the first run, I was so comfortable with it I could run seven kilometers in it with no pain or blister! I only stopped because I did not want to do too much too soon and risk an injury to my feet. In contrast, I had to stop at 2.5 kilometers with the Sprint on the first run because it felt like my nails were being ripped out. Blown away I was at the contrast between the two!

I have to be honest and say that I am a skeptic as far as barefoot running is concerned. I had been sitting back and watching everyone get on the bandwagon. The experience(s) of my last 100k race convinced me that it would not be such a bad idea to have stronger feet. So hence, with deliberation, I decided to jump onto the bandwagon too.

Well, part of my skeptism can be attributed to hearing how many newbies have fractured their metatarsals by doing too much too soon. As one who has fractured my metarsal (not from barefoot running), I am of course concerned. But fractures to the feet can occur at any time, so really, I just have to be careful and not be tempted to jump ahead too quickly. Self-control is the keyword to success.

VFF Newbie.

2011-10-13T11:55:00.000+10:00

2011-10-09T13:02:00.002+10:00

So the Mighty, mighty Brisbane ROAR won the season-opener last night against the Mariners! What a fantastic match to watch! Well done, boys, you all just looked awesome out there on the field! This afternoon, we have two matches taking place and Adelaide United would be one to watch out for.

This morning was kind of my very first training session after close to four weeks of sedentary lifestyle. Tried for a longer run than the other day and ended up doubling the distance. But at this stage, finishing the run in good form is of utmost importance than speed. Endurance is what I NEED. Round about an hour and forty minutes of time on my feet, and it wasn’t even ugly! Needless to say, I was surprised but pleased.

Left hammie started out feeling tight and I just went slow so as not to snap anything. However, the left side appeared the tighter of the two when it all ended. Go figure. I had felt good during the run, somewhat strong and a good pace considering I haven’t done much since after the race. I won’t be pushing my pace until I am back for a couple of weeks. Makes no sense to stress the body at this point; it just needs some time to get back into training mode.

Up until a few months ago, I had always thought about how to go faster. Then one day, I read an article in a magazine and the author said that for distance running, it was more about how not to slow down over the course instead of thinking about how to go faster. Wow! That for me was like a “light bulb” moment! The light bulb kind of just went on right above my head and “Bang!”

I have now done two 100k races and could comprehend and concur with those words. I wondered why I have never seen or thought of it that way though. Ah well, I suppose I am afterall a “baby” as far as ultrarunning is concerned. Now my perspective has changed and I think instead about how not to slow down over say, 20 hours, rather than how I can run faster during those 20 hours.

2011-10-08T14:02:00.000+10:00

First match of the A-League season tonight. So exciting! In fact, I don’t think there has been this much excitement and buzz around since the inception of the A-League in season one. Well, we’re now in season seven.

Last season, our team the Mighty Brisbane ROAR, ended on a high by clinching the championship in a nail-biting and sensational finals match against the Mariners. Who could forget that unforgettable night! It left us all on a high and wanting for more as the curtain fell right after that match-winning performance, signalling the end of the season.

Tonight’s match will be a reprisal of that finals match, with the Mighty ROAR playing against the Mariners again. Who will come out tops this time? Hopefully, we get a sea of orange at Suncorp again tonight and the rain stops well before then.

2011-10-07T17:01:00.000+10:00

Hopefully we have seen the last of all these trips for a while. Three weeks of travelling and about 2900km of driving. Phenomenal. Its no wonder my body is screaming out for a massage, which is way overdue as well since I haven’t had a rub-down after the race. Ouch.

So “Hello, world! I am back!” Went for a slow, short run this evening to gradually ease the body back into training. Fifty-two minutes of activity to awake it from it’s sweet slumber. My legs felt stiff but otherwise, everything felt good. Definitely need to get in some stretching in the next few days to loosen up the legs, glutes, hips etc. In any case, definitely a good start.

Time to slowly crawl back into training, with my focus set on next year’s North Face 100 in May. Next year’s goal is simple: to better this year’s time. Hope we can achieve this.

2011-10-02T19:00:00.000+10:00

Its been long. Too long, in fact. Have been incredibly busy, working away from home in the past two weeks. It ain’t over yet; next week will be in Bundaberg, and hopefully after that will wrap up these long trips for a while.

Too much driving, too little sleep and no running (or gym work) just drives me into the ground. I am just glad that all this madness started AFTER I had run the 100k race. And now, when the last trip is done, I can come home and start training again. So looking forward to that.

Swim squad is finally back in action again as of tomorrow. I really haven’t done ANY swimming since the pool closed just before winter. So that is a good three months me thinks? Could be even more as the pool was affected by the floods in January and then had to be shut for a while afterwards. It reopened for a short time before closing again for winter. In any case, it should remain open now till next winter.

2011-08-25T21:00:00.000+10:00

Haven’t taken the backpack out on a run for a while, actually not since I did the NF race in May. I decided to take it with me this morning, mainly because I had to use the two litres camelbak bladder and it was the only comfortable pack that could accomodate it.

Why did I have to use the two litres bladder instead of the usual 1.5 litres? Its because I needed to pack it away for my trip. How complicated. As I was saying, it felt heavy on my back as its been a few months since I had last worn it on a run. It gradually felt more comfortable as the run progresses.

By the last lap, it had felt heavy again. This was probably due to my body fatiguing towards the end of the run. For whatever reason, I actually enjoyed having the pack on the run. I noted quickly though, that the RPE felt higher even though my times were similar to when I hadn’t had a pack on.

Really should start training with the pack again, I mean, why not?

2011-08-25T18:59:00.001+10:00

Managed to put in just under 25k last Saturday and was looking to do a little bit more than that on the Sunday. Unfortunately, it started to rain when I had only ran 3km. I assessed the situation as I stopped to waterproof my ipod, aka put in ziploc bag.

I then decided that I would not do the extra loop that would take the distance to 30k, but just try to achieve the same distance as the day before. As I ran on, I got wetter and also colder. I started to worry about hypotermia. I hoped I would not succumb to it before arriving home.

At about 15k, I saw P driving into the corner and stopped. He had come to give me a ride home. I thought about if I should continue or hopped in the car, and in the end, decided to hop in the car and abandon the run as I was feeling cold. I had about 10k still to go from there.

It was nice and warm in the car but at the same time, I felt a tinge of regret for not having finished what I had set out to do. In the end, I felt that the decision was a right one though. Thanks to P for coming out to get me.

2011-08-14T18:33:00.000+10:00

I woke up a little earlier than I did yesterday and nearly crawled back into bed. Darn the chilly winter mornings. Fortunately, my will was strong *ahem* and I was able to head out the door for my run.

One kilometre longer than yesterday morning and not as sunny, which was the ideal weather to go. Armed with my Garmin and new runners, we pounded the pavement for more than two hours. The new runners were great. Its wide width providing me with relief from the two blisters I had picked up yesterday with the other pair of “not-so-wide” runners.

Not feeling the best though, with some lingering soreness still apparent. Had to stop for two toilet breaks and one of them includes a small massage to my lower back (left side), as it was sore for some reason. Luckily the soreness disspated after that and I was able to focus on the task at hand.

And what is it with New Balance runners and their shoe laces? They always seemed to have a knack of undoing themselves mid run; or at least all the NB runners that I have ever owned do that. This new paor was no different. After it came undone for the second time, I tied a knot on both to save me from further trouble.

We went geocaching after lunch and found two geocaches. Most successful outing ever!

2011-08-13T14:55:00.000+10:00

We went to the gym for a strength session after arriving home yesterday - first session in five days, and the replacement Garmin finally arrived after a long wait. Yayyyyy!! I had a good session at the gym and is feeling rather sore right now.

Set out for my weekend long run this morning. Not too long at 22.6km but felt otherwise as my body was tired from yesterday’s strength session. Of course, took the Garmin out with me to test its capabilities. Tomorrow, I will take my new runners out for a test run and see how it goes.

The run was chilly when I left but ended up being quite hot on my way back. I was probably a bit late when I left but I did not expect for the sun to be so strong towards the tail end of the run. Afterall, its still supposed to be winter! That said, we are nearing the end of this dreaded season (at least for some of us) and we shall be crossing over to Spring on the first of September. Bring on Spring!

2011-08-11T17:54:00.000+10:00

We are currently still about two hours drive away from home, after having worked all week away from our Brisbane office. Well, looks like this is how it will be for a while until we can employ a new person in Gladstone. Its back to driving six hours each way again, each time.

I haven’t done much during this trip as we have been on a tight schedule, and initial plans to at least visit the gym had to be abandoned. As always, with the lack of physical activity makes me pretty cranky. I am looking forward to a gym or a run sessiin when we get home.

Needless to say, my preparations for the coming race appears to be in peril. Obviously, this is not what I had in mind when I signed up but I will just do my best and learn along the way. There is no good or bad, just more suffering or less when the time comes. So I guess, just have to suck it up and HTFU.

Looking forward to the weekend before what looks set to be the beginning of another busy week to come. I want my bed back!!

2011-07-27T19:54:00.000+10:00

Rolled my left ankle on the run this evening. Ouchouchouchouch!! Am icing it as I am typing this. The pain was excruciating for the first five minutes, and afterwards, I was able to continue running. So I managed to complete two loops as planned.

Only thing was we were going to go to the gym after the run, but I decided against it at the last minute. I am now actually quite glad I decided to bail out as the pain seems to have returned. But I am confident that it should be mended within the week.

Now, let us see what happens in the morning.

2011-07-24T13:53:00.000+10:00

A really nice long run this morning to kick-start the day. A total of 23.39km and I really enjoyed the run. Had a session at the gym yesterday and was expecting the usual soreness to set in by this afternoon. So I thought I would quickly get in the run in the morning before the soreness took hold of my body. Yet to my surprise, the soreness I was expecting never came. And I am puzzled.

Could it be that the run actually helped to reduce the post-gym soreness? When I say “soreness”, I really meant muscle soreness that lasts about two days after each gym session. To my amazement, I feel a lot less sore today than I ever have after a gym session! What can I say, except that it is a very good thing for me!

So we went to watch Harry Potter in the afternoon and it was awesome! A fitting finale to the seven years of fighting and some tears were shed. We had a good time and I would buy the dvd when it becomes available and watch it again.

2011-07-22T19:52:00.001+10:00

Ah well, its been a crazy week. The last two days were just…..crazy?! Yesterday, I drove four hours to a customer’s and then hung around for three hours, before being told that they wanted nothing to be done. So, I turned around and drove another four hours home. Today was another weird one. Drove 45 minutes to a customer’s and by the time I arrived, the system had resetted itself of all faults. I am so tired of driving and just happy the weekend is now upon us.

Training has been haphazard due to all the travelling that needed to be done at work. The day just seemed to draw to a close as soon as we arrive home. Sometimes I think its not such a bad idea to have 48 hours in a day - means more time for sleep!! However, I feel much stronger this week than the last.

Awaiting my replacement Garmin to arrive from the US. I am glad it got all sorted out without too much fuss and that it was within the warranty period. Wish it would hurry up and get here. It was a good toy to have while on the run, literally. We are planning to watch Harry Potter this weekend. Had wanted to do so last weekend but P thought it might be too crowded as it was the first weekend of its opening. Looking forward to that.

Okay, let the weekend begin!

2011-07-15T11:35:00.003+10:00

Have been feeling out of whack since last Sunday, when it felt like I had ran into a tonne of bricks. I haven’t recovered since. Feeling listless and it bugs me to not know the reason why. I wonder if it has anything to do with my body still recovering from the 100k in May? Or perhaps, it is really my mind that which is weak? Wish I knew. I am disappointed….with myself. Ok, only time can solve this mystery. Wait and see, as they always seemed to say.

Returned the Garmin on Monday as it started to play up with black lines running down the screen, rendering it unreadable. Not very much can be done there, so might as well get it looked at as its well within it’s warranty period. So as you can see, not much happening on the running front. Saded :( Hopefully, things will pick up soon enough.

Work has been surprisingly quiet this week. But (!!) the replacement ipod nano arrived yesterday! Picked a green one this time around. Thanks so much to P, who graciously offered up his credit card points for me. Huggies :D So this is a replacement for the (orange) one I had misplaced on the trip to Sydney a few weeks ago. Attempts to try and recover it had been futile and it was only less than two months old. All thanks….(not!) to my carelessness. I will ensure this one stays around for much longer.

2011-07-10T19:34:00.000+10:00

Last week was our first week back from holidays and as expected, there was alot of catching up to do where work was concerned. Training restarted on Tuesday and I was happy to be back. Wasn’t expecting too much but I was knackered by Sunday.

Sunday, which was yesterday, was spent at the Laidley show in the morning. We left early and because of this, I was going to do my run in the afternoon when we got back. However, I felt so tired and completely devoid of energy that sleep was the only thing on my mind.

It had hit me like a tonne of bricks and caught me off-guard. I just promptly went to sleep after arriving home; I could do nothing even if I had wanted to. Two hours later, I woke up and was somewhat recharged - to a certain extent but still not fully. Still felt tired.

It wasn’t hard to decide to skip the run for the day. I would have suffered on the run should I have persisted and there was no sense in that. So then, that brings us to this week! Another chance to start over and try again!

2011-07-02T11:33:00.000+10:00

We are away. So it accounts for the lack of activity on every plane. Tomorrow, we will be transported back to the world of reality. Sigh. It has been a brilliant week of catching up with everyone back here and even the weather has been exceptional, save for a few cloudy days.

Where training is concerned, I have been slack in logging the miles. Only two beach runs this week, so I guess we will get to start over come Monday. Plenty of carbo-loading though, through the week! Hehehee.

2011-06-18T20:55:00.000+10:00

The Garmin 405cx arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and I had immediately taken it out for a test run that evening when I got home. I wanted to try out the different features of the watch and in particular, where the uploading of data onto the Garmin software is concerned. So far, it has been alot of fun with all the new features as compared to my old Polar, and being able to see all the graphs from the runs I have done is rather cool.

However, I must say that there is one point of discontentment to contend with. This would be the heart rate monitor- It has been constantly spitting out a higher than normal reading, especially during the first 40-50 minutes of the run. After which, it appears to settle back down and start reading normally.

Now, I know that the readings are wrong because I have been using my Polar for quite a few years now. In addition, I am sufficiently experienced to gauge my rate of perceived effort (RPE) during a run. On the further, it was a pace where I was able to sing my heart out as I ran, so that certainly ain’t very fast! Needless to say, I am not very happy with that and upon googling, found that others have experienced the same issue.

Some have said that wearing a synthetic shirt (who still wears a cotton shirt these days anyway??) causes the high readings and others said it needed to be tight enough against the chest. Ah, the latter. Admittedly, it feels slightly loose when I have it on as unlike the Polar, it appears that the hrm does not come in different sizes. Sigh.

Still, others have commented that once the electrodes on the hrm have had a chance to “wear in”, the issue would be compounded. Alright, let’s give it another week or so and also try a few different things to see how we go.

2011-06-14T20:32:00.000+10:00

Wow! Can’t believe I just met four runners while out for a run tonight! That is phenomenal considering that most nights, I seemed to be the only one out there - alone in the dark. So, imagine my pleasant surprise to see FOUR of them at one go. I just cannot believe me luck.

Last week was my first “official” week back at training but I must confess that it was not far from successful. I had felt sluggish and far from motivated on some days. As a result, I didn’t make the mileage as planned. Sigh. Its ok, another week with another chance to start over. A step at a time.

So we are already into June and this, of course, marks the beginning of winter. And each winter, I promise myself that I would take the next winter off training so that I would be able to sleep-in on those chilly winter weekend mornings. So why on Earth am I doing it again this winter?!!!

2011-06-09T22:22:00.000+10:00

Dark clouds all day and I waited for it to clear. Still dark after lunch and decided to just go for it. Did a small run two loops around the block and felt strong despite the post-gym soreness. And guess what? Still dark when I finished and still no rain. Pfftt.

Today was the first time I had on my road runners since the Sunday I frauctured my foot. So it has been what? Close to three months since I laced on a pair of road runners. Post recovery, trail runners had suited me better due to the stiffer platform, but now, it is time to wipe the slate clean and start over.

So, a new beginning; a new start….. always a good thing! I’d even bought a new gadget - Garmin 405cx. But come to think of it, I haven’t had that many gadgets in my years of running comparative to many of my fellow runners. Some even possessed a few different models of Garmin and Polar gadgets. Sure, I’ve had the fancy shoes and stuff but those are more of a neccesity kind of thing, if you know what I mean.

I had only bought a Polar RS200 heart rate monitor so far, which was kind of “top of the line” at the time but had since become obsolete. Its the one gadget I still use during every run. Yet its crazy to realise that I had paid almost the same price for the Garmin (last week) as I did for the Polar all those years ago. I guess that is what technology is all about.

Time for bed. Good night, world!

2011-06-07T20:21:00.000+10:00

First session back at the gym this evening, after a very long hiatus since I fractured my foot. I suppose its about time as well now that the foot is recovered and there’s no more excuse. Concentrating only on the lower body today, so I won’t have to deal with soreness all over in the morning.

Hmmmm, maybe I went slightly overboard as my legs are feeling rather jaded right now. Nothing a hot shower and some hot food can’t fix though. Speaking of which, I am absolutely starving. P and I are prowling the streets, looking to fill our stomachs.

2011-06-05T10:20:00.001+10:00

After a fortnight of contemplation, I have finally succumbed to temptation and bought the Garmin 405cx. Can’t wait for it to be delivered. So it is 14 weeks to the Glasshouse 100 race and I had planned for training to begin this coming week. I still needed to do some tinkering with my training shedule.

Having completed my massage session last week, my body had been feeling slightly bruised. And with that out of the way, we can now concentrate on getting back into training. We haven’t got much time, so better get going asap.

The North Face 100 Preview

2011-06-02T10:09:00.000+10:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V555cid0mjs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my iPhone

2011-05-29T22:20:00.000+10:00

I don’t know if this is how long it takes for the adrenalin rush to come back down to normal levels after the race, but I am feeling totally devoid of energy this weekend. I can’t really put my finger on anything else except that all that adrenalin from before, during and after the race have finally subsided and I feel like I have been run over by a car. Afterall, I haven’t really done all that much after the race.

Anyhow, let’s just wait and see how it is all going to pan out in the coming week. I had planned for us to be back at the gym this coming week, and abit more running. But “listening to your body” is certainly something not to be trifled with this coming week.

2011-05-25T21:19:00.000+10:00

Quite breezy out there today. P and I again went for our little run after work. P, buoyed by the success of yesterday’s run, was a little bit more confident today. P decided that he would do a 15 minute run, which is five minutes more as compared to yesterday. Woohoo!!

Another 30 minute effort for me this evening. Nothing hard, just slowly getting back into it and making sure the itb doesn’t play up. In a fortnight or so, we should be hitting the gym again to work on the strength component of our training regime.

2011-05-24T21:18:00.000+10:00

Started running again today after work. Nothing much, only a small 28 minutes run or one loop around the block. Managed to drag P along for the run. He is trying to get his fitness back after the knee operation, what, must be close to 12 months ago now me thinks.

We decided for him to get in 10 minutes of running and see how the knee will cope in the morning. As for myself, I didn’t feel the itb flare up, which is great. Hoping to do a longer run this weekend and we’ll go from there.

2011-05-22T09:17:00.000+10:00

At around this time last Sunday, I walked across the finishline of my very first 100k race. Then for 48 hours afterwards, I swore never to do another 100k race again. And so it was strange when 48 hours later, the soreness in the legs had just about disappeared and I had made up my mind that I would be back next year. Along with that decision, I even peciled in the Glasshouse 100k in September.

Some more planning needs to be done as to how to prevent my itb from playing up. I suppose some gym work needs to be done here. Perhaps I should solicit some professional opinion from the physio to help me with this. Also been lusting over a Garmin 405cx GPS-enabled watch. The only thing that is holding me back is its battery life of only eight to ten hours when in training mode. Sigh. My name is not Kilian Jornet Burgada, and I cannot run 100k in nine hours.

The other option is the Garmin 310xt, which purports to have a battery life of upto 20 hours when in training. This is awfully attractive if not for its physical size, which I may have to wear on my arm! I wonder it won’t be too much longer before Polar comes up with their first GPS-enabled watch. I mean they have to, won’t they, in order to expand their range and to catch up to the rest on the market. I mean even Nike has launched their first GPS-enabled watch.

Looks like a rainy Sunday today. Hanging and chilling like a lounge-room lizard is part of today’s timetable.

TNF 100 Race Report.

2011-05-19T20:50:00.003+10:00

What a race it was! It was a good thing it didn’t rain, as I would have probably registered my very first DNF (did not finish) in a race had that happened. Well, here are some statistics for those interested: 800 people registered for the race, but I do not know how many ended up starting though. Despite that, there were 502 finishers at the end. This means that another 298 either did not start or pulled out halfway. Of those 502 finishers, 396 were men and 106 were women.

The race is 100km altogether, and there are five checkpoints in between with specific cutoff times. The scenery was nothing short of spectacular, if only I had a camera and more time to enjoy it though. From the start point (at Fairmont Resort) to the first checkpoint (CP1) is 18km in distance. From the first (CP1) to the second checkpoint (CP2) is 20km. From the second (CP2) to the third (CP3) is 16km. From the third (CP3) to the fourth checkpoint (CP4) is 11km, from the fourth (CP4) to the last checkpoint (CP5) is the longest at 24km, and from there to the finishline (back at Fairmont Resort) is 11km. We had been asked to self-seed at the start and I placed myself in the last and final wave to start. I complimented myself many times over, for shelling out the money a fortnight ago on a pair on merino top and bottom which served me well throughout the race. The other vital piece of equipment was my buff. As for socks, at the last minute I went for the untested configuration of a pair of merino toesock and a pair of trail sock over it. I went with the merino sock because I was sure my shoes would be getting wet at some point, and merino is known to keep in the warmth even when wet - just what I needed. Kept my fingers crossed that this would work and won’t cause me any trouble. The race started and we were off on what was to be a long, long day…for most of us anyway.

From the start to CP1, we actually ran past our accomodation. The Golden Stairs towards the end of this section pretty much gave me an idea of how the rest of the course was going to be. TOUGH. After scrambling to the top of the Golden Stairs, it was a winding path up towards the first checkpoint. I remember it to be very windy and cold, I got going as soon as I had refilled my water supplies. CP1 to CP2 was quite smooth sailing. Descending Tarros Ladders was quite fun, I thought, and for some reason, I was suffering from heartburn. My left itb was also starting to play up due to the descends prior. At CP2, we had our gear-check done and I asked for Mylanta for my heartburn but they didn’t have any. I knew then that I had to make it to CP3 to get some and also to strap up my itb. From CP2 to CP3 was basically a race to get there before dark for a change of warmer clothes so as not to get too cold, since my fleece was waiting for me there with P. CP3 was the first CP that outside support was allowed. The feature on this leg was the turnaround point that had breathtaking views!

It was already dark when I got to CP3. I changed into warmer clothes and was shivering with cold. Here, I got my Mylanta from P and strapped up my left itb and also had a cup of noodles. It was so cold I did not stop shaking all the time I was there. I knew I needed to get going again as soon as possible. From here to CP4 was a killer hill towards the end of this leg. CP4 was the only CP that was indoors at the Katoomba Aquatic Centre and it was bright and warm. I didn’t see P there when I arrived and gave him a ring. He told me he was home because I was ahead of time. Waited for P, had some more Mylanta when he arrived and topped up gel supplies before heading out into the dark again. CP4 to CP5 was the longest leg with neverending descends, followed by neverending ascends. And it was freezing! It would be good if you could still run/shuffle by this stage as you could make up some time here. Unfotunately, my left itb was shot and the descends were just killing me and even shuffling was hard. I was resigned to walking. Two or three small rivers here that got my shoes wet but was surprisingly refreshing for my tired feet. Beautiful stars in the skies and a brightly-lit moon. Got to CP5 and it was so cold. I was shaking from the cold everytime I stopped. I had some cookies and a cup of tea before heading off onto the last leg.

This last leg just felt like going on forever, especially the last 5km! There were some muddy sections they made us go through and so many staircases!!! I must have been overtaken by a handful of people out on this leg, struggling because of my itb. But hey, a finish is still better than nothing, whatever it takes. I stopped to remove some clothing as day broke and the sun shone through. More self-talk than ever going on here and also more cursing and swearing went on in this leg as compared to the entire race! It felt like we were going around in circles just to make up for the distance. Joy was when I stepped out of the trail out onto the field at the rear of Fairmont Resort. I saw P, who walked towards me and took some pics. Afew people who were staying at Fairmont, opened their windows to clap and cheer me to the finish. I thankfully waved back at them and proceeded to cross the finishline in 26:00:10.

Some parting thoughts: Even though I did not qualify for a belt buckle this time around, this was more than a race. It was a journey of self-discovery right from 12 weeks before the race where I sustained a stress fracture to my right foot, to when I walked across the finishline. I learned many things about myself and about my body, and how your health and fitness should never be taken for granted. How each and every one standing at the start line is already a winner, as the training leading up to it is so long and strenuous that its so easy to pick up an injury at the last minute and not get to start, even after having put in all the hard yards.

Mountain Madness.

2011-05-17T19:46:00.001+10:00

A short feature of the North Face 100 Australia race on tv. Click on the link atop to watch.

The North Face 100 Australia.

2011-05-16T08:43:00.000+10:00

A newspaper article on the race. Click on the link atop to read.

Race Completed!

2011-05-15T17:40:00.000+10:00

Twenty-six hours later, I have finally completed my very first 100k run at Sydney’s Blue Mountains. Suffice to say that it was by far the toughest thing I have ever done in my life. It was so darn hard. The weather was freezing, the course was tough with its never- ending ascends and descends.

Right now, everything hurts from my waist down - a world of hurt. But they don’t just hurt, they hurt alot! Which makes every movement such a big effort. It almost feels like they have a mind of their own and just want to do their own stuff. I have lost control over them, in other words, completely smashed.

Would love to get my compression pants on, if only I could get my legs in the correct angle for that. Its just too hard right now. Slept for about three hours after I got back and seriously in need of more. Going back to bed soon as can’t seem to keep my eyes open any longer. I’ll be back with more soon.

Race Day.

2011-05-14T05:13:00.000+10:00

So this is it. Its the morning of my first 100k run and I am having my bowl of museli with milk at 0515hrs. Outside, I could hear the wind rage on all night. So this is a quick rundown of weather conditions for today: temperatures currently stand at 2.2 degrees celsius, but feels like -3.9 degrees (thanks to the wind). Minimum for the day would be 3 degrees and maximum 8 degrees. Looks set to be windy all day.

How do I feel? Nervous but oddly with a sense of calm. Feels abit like going into battle. I think this will be the hardest thing I have ever done, apart from my previous three Ironman triathlons. When this is over, I will be able to wipe my slate clean and start over again - minus a stress-fractured right foot this time hopefully.

Ok, have to go. Please send positive vibes my way, thanks!!

Arrived in Leura.

2011-05-12T21:38:00.000+10:00

Finally, after about 14 hours of driving, we arrived at our destination: Leura, Sydney’s Blue Mountains region. We started off at about 0400hrs in the morning and arrived round about 1800hrs. Our accomodation is a very cosy and well-located, self-contained apartment, which happened to be along the route out for the race.

One of the first things we noticed when we got out of the car was that its absolutely freezing!! A wind was blowing and temperatures were about two degrees or so. But with the wind, it would feel colder than that. The next thing we did was to fire up the heater in the apartment. Then we very quickly unloaded our gear from the vehicle. Next, we drove out to the nearby mall to get some dinner and supplies, in the freezing darkness. All the while, I was thinking of myself running out there. Brrrrrrr!

We got some chinese takeaway and after dinner, decided to just go to bed without a shower. We are both wrapped up in about three layers of clothing with the electric blanket at its max. I think this cold is somewhat of a shock to us as where we come from in Brisbane, you could still walk around in tshirt and shorts during the day. Time to reconsider what to wear on race morning.

2011-05-12T05:03:00.000+10:00

Here we are, out on the road for the last 45 minutes or so now. We are driving, on our way to Sydney’s Blue Mountains. Its still cold and dark outside and no doubt, I wish that I was still all wrapped up in the warmth of my own bed.

The back of the car is filled with stuff - clothes, shoes, food, blah blah. P appears to have picked up a cold last night, so I have to be careful not to catch it from him and hopefully I won’t. So the journey begins. Strangely, I feel calm, right now.

2011-05-10T20:36:00.002+10:00

I was in a world of pain lying atop my massage therapist’s bed, as she applied her elbow to my hip flexors. Ouchouchouch!! But I know that it most certainly did me a world of good as well.

So this is it, the week of my first 100k run. And how do I feel? Excited, very nervous, scared…not in any particular order. Alot of thoughts go through my head, but foremost is how best to keep my feet dry and warm, followed by how to keep myself warm. Reports filtering in from the field have been that the trails are wet and the nights are cold and cloudless.

It is almost certain that temperatures will be between two to twelve degrees, not taking the chill factor into account. It will no doubt be worse if it rains in the night so, please God, please give us good weather during the race.

I don’t know if I will finish or what will happen, but first I have to try to get those answers to my questions. Yea, I agree that this probably isn’t the easiest way to find out. But hey, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Strength in my legs, courage in my heart and here we go.

Tenth-Week Anniversary.

2011-05-02T20:57:00.000+10:00

Yesterday was the tenth-week anniversary of my stress fracture. It was a successful weekend, or rather, a successful week for that matter. Just over 82km in mileage for the week and two back-to-back 23km runs on Saturday and Sunday. Legs were feeling slightly jaded when I started on Sunday morning, which is not unexpected after Saturday’s run, but I had felt stronger than Saturday. Saturday turned out to be much warmer than expected and I struggled in the late stages of the run with the heat and crumbled under the weight of the backpack.

However, I guess what mattered most was that my foot was able to hold it all together. Had it not, there would be nothing to crow about. I was looking forward to having a rest day today. Legs are feeling a little stiff, in particular hammies and calves. So should probably do some walking and stretching to limber them up. Well, there is really only this week left and then it is time to taper for next week before the race on the weekend.

What can I say? There is not much else I can ask for…..oh, perhaps finishing the race in one piece would be nice! But right now, I am happy and content.

2011-04-28T16:26:00.001+10:00

Feeling very lazy today. Hate the weather for being so unpredictable - raining one minute and then sunshine the next, throughout the whole day. Argh. Been starting to prepare myself psychologically for the race. At the same time, I am trying very hard to exercise self-restraint to prevent myself from going out and overtraining at this last juncture so as not to pick up some silly injury as a result. Any sort of injury would surely mean "bye-bye" to the race which I had waited for the last eight weeks with bated breath, for the green light to go ahead. Yet, it is so easy to go wrong in these last few weeks, judging by all the last minute spots available for transfer from people who have picked up injuries in these final weeks as posted in the race forum.

Everyone is so caught up in these final weeks before the race and there is this fear of "have I done enough?", that compels people to get out there in a sort of a mad rush to get in that final loooooooong run or increase in mileage. This is often what leads to an injury of some kind and then having to pull out of the race because there is absolutely no time left for recovery. Everyone is feeling nervous and excited, and self-restraint is actually very hard to practise right now. I know because I am one of those, especially after having lost the past eight weeks to a stress-fracture. I have to constantly remind myself that I have only just made a comeback.

As this is such a long race, I have identified three components that will be crucial. Apart from the physical preparation (first third of the equation), the mental side of things (second third of the equation) is also equally critical. For me, the unknown comes after the third checkpoint at 54km. From thereon, it is unknown territory for me and I expect much groping about in the darkness. Another thing that I have identified to be as crucial as the mental and physical side of things is the nutrition for the race. I think it is important enough to be the last third of the equation.

mental + physical + nutrition = successful race!

As I wirte this, I am equally excited and scared. Yes, very scared in fact, as to what my body or mind will do to me during the race and of the pain I will have to endure. But no guts, no glory. And no pain, no gain. I know that the excitement and fear will only increase in these final weeks. Have I prepared myself enough for the pain, mentally and physically?

2011-04-25T15:46:00.000+10:00

As of today, we have three weeks of training left before the race. So back to beach running this morning after an off day yesterday, which somehow left me more lethargic than rested on all accounts. It caught me by surprise that my legs felt tired, especially my glutes which were feeling a little sore.

I didn’t think that I had done all that much running in the past few days. Then again, it was the best I had done in nine weeks - just under 40km for the week. I know that its paltry as compared to my pre-stress fracture days. But I needed to be careful not to do anything silly to get a shin splint or something along those lines which would effectively put me out of the race. Afterall, I have been away for nine weeks and really have to get the mileage back in cautiously.

Being cautious does not come easy to me. Being reckless, on the other hand, come alot easier. Knowing this means having to keep a rein on myself. In any case, one step at a time.

Beach Run - 24/4/11.

2011-04-24T11:53:00.000+10:00

Ninth-Week Anniversary.

2011-04-24T11:44:00.005+10:00

Happy Easter, everyone!!

Two consecutive days of beach running, so I thought I might give myself a day of rest today. Turns out it wasn’t as good a move as I had imagined as it left me feeling more dead than alive. Wish I had gone for that run instead.

Traditional Easter lunch today can only mean one thing: lots of food! This is a good thing for me to pile on the calories after all the beach running I have been doing. As it turns out, today is also the ninth-week anniversary of my stress fracture. I have indeed come a long way since two weeks ago when starting the race was still an uncertainty. Today, it is increasingly becoming a possibility.

So as of tomorrow, we have three weeks to go before the race. There won’t be much of a taper before this race, I don’t think. I can only do what I can with whatever time that I have left, which isn’t much. Will my self-belief be sufficient this time to see me through? I acknowledge the fact that I indeed have alot on my plate this time.

Raining outside now. Hope it clears up tomorrow morning in time for my run.

Beach Run - 22/4/11.

2011-04-22T11:52:00.000+10:00

2011-04-17T22:09:00.001+10:00

Today was like a dream come true, and I specifically refer to my run this morning. I now realise how I used to take running for granted. When you can just lace up your shoes and get out there for a run at anytime, you just tend to think that it is something you get to do forever. Until you get injured like I did, you begin to appreciate that just being able to be out there to feel the sun’s warmth on your skin and feel the gentle breeze on your face is such a joy.

So today’s run was not about speed. It was solely about the ability to be out there, to connect with nature once more. To be able to go the distance without inflicting anymore damage to my foot. I have been devoid of this experience for eight weeks and oh, how I miss it. Even the gloomy skies and sprinkling rain was not able to stop me getting out there. In fact, I was so excited I got all my gear ready last night - shirt, shorts, hat, socks, backpack, food, ipod. It felt like I was taking part in a race; like a kid with a new toy.

And who would have thought I would feel this way about a 15km run? Eight weeks ago, this would have been my appetizer, my warm up. Yet we do not live in the past, we live in the now. Life goes on, with or without you.

In the past eight weeks, I had managed to amass a new collection of running songs onto my ipod. When the first song from my Erasure album came on, I immediately got into the zone. It felt like I was weightless and flying even with the pack on my back, I was relaxed and ecstatic! Ecstatic to be out there and running, I could not wipe this silly smile off my face. Then I thought I should, lest people think I am mad or something.

Every now and again, I would assess my foot to ensure it isn’t hurting at the site of the fracture. When you haven’t done much running in eight weeks, your sense of pace and all things related get a bit haywired and require recalibrating. With a couple more runs under the belt, this should be achieved.

An hour and fifty minutes later, I had successfully accomplished what I had set out to do. A total of approximately 15.65km in distance and whats more, my foot felt good! There is nothing more I could have asked for. I was over the moon.

Moooooo!!

2011-04-14T21:53:00.000+10:00

2011-04-14T21:34:00.001+10:00

A couple of days ago I did a one hour run in my NB shoes and my foot hurt like crap. Of course, I was crestfallen. Yesterday, decided to try for another run and this time used the TNF shoes instead. Well, have to find out one way or another so no choice, have to try. To my pleasant surprise, the foot felt so much better! It even felt good this morning and I just cannot believe how much difference it felt in the span of afew days.

Was going to go for another try today but got stuck at work and didn't make it home till late. Its ok, will try again tomorrow. Work has just been so busy lately, but we have been catching up slowly but surely. At this point, I have still yet to decide if i will run in the race. This is truly one that will be left up till the very last moments. So many unknown, so little time.

2011-04-09T11:30:00.001+10:00

My right foot has been feeling pretty good in the last few days. No sign of any pain or uncomfort, almost as if it was never fractured before! Tomorrow will be the seven-week anniversary of the fracture. However, there is no real way of knowing except to take to the road and then find out afterwards. Yea, sounds like a suicide mission I know, but really I don't know of any other way to test it out.

Suffice to say that it has not been an easy seven-weeks. Yes, I did enjoy the extra rest time although alot of stuff goes through my mind each and everyday, for which I don't have answers to for most of them. I suppose alot really comes down to the fear of the unknown - not being here before and not knowing how it's all going to pan out or going to end. On the other hand, I guess that is the only way for one to learn and progress.

With all due respect, this makes running the marathon seems easy at the moment as compared to having to run your first 100km being thrown in this situation. If the marathon was my race, my decision would undoubtedly be to still line up at the start line come race day. Then all my problems would be little ones and I would have all my answers. But it is 100km we are talking about here and all of a sudden, the questions come flowing and there are no answers.

Hell yeah! I am so scared but we have to move forward.

2011-03-31T20:09:00.001+10:00

My stress-fractured right foot hurts sometimes and sometimes it feels good. To be honest, I am not sure what to feel. However, my expectations are more along the lines of that as time goes by - which would be six weeks come this Sunday, the pain would slowly but surely become a memory of the distant past. I mean, all injuries heal with time, right? So why should I be expecting anything different?

That said, I have to admit that I am quite disturbed by the fact that the pain does not seem to go away and then stay away. It seem to have a mind of its own, and come and go as it pleases. As a result of this phenomenon, I am unable to gauge my recovery and this just makes my comeback that much harder. Everything hangs by a thread from this point on. Sigh.

Not a day goes by that I do not think about what I should do for the upcoming race. Should I give it a go anyhow, albeit with a revised goal of just being able to complete the race? Should I just give up and not do the race? Questions upon questions like such circle my mind each day.

Someone please tell me….what should I do? I feel so lost.

2011-03-27T19:45:00.000+10:00

Today is the fifth-week anniversary of my stress fracture. The plan this morning was to run a total of two loops around the block and just in case something should go wrong, I am able to walk home easily. Other than the goal to complete the run with no pain at the foot, speed was the furtherst from my mind today.

Each and every step that I took with my right foot was carefully assessed as soon as it touched the ground. This was done throughout the run as I had to be careful and there is no room for any error at this stage. If anything goes wrong now, it would mean that I can pretty much forget about being in the race in May - I will have virtually no chance of recovering in time to be in it.

After the first loop, the foot felt good. I thought about if I should push on as planned and go for a second loop or if I should just be happy and call it a day. With some trepidation, I decided to try for a second loop any way. At the turnaround point, I assessed the foot and it still felt fine so I decided to run back instead of walk.

A total of 55 minutes of running on the road and I am ecstatic! Now fingers crossed the foot will be fine in the morning.

2011-03-26T11:14:00.000+10:00

The right foot is feeling just fine this morning. Managed to get to swim squad and did some barefoot running successfully. Previously, I hadn't been too confident of running without any footwear as it hurts too much. So hopefully this is a sign of better things to come.

Pancakes for breakkie afterwards with P. It was much, much swetter than I had remembered it to be. No more training for today. Tomorrow, I will try for a run again.

2011-03-25T21:55:00.000+10:00

Four weeks and five days later, I finally managed my first run! Yes, no matter if it was only for 22 minutes; no matter if it was at a slow slow pace of eight minutes per kilometer; no matter if it was on the treadmill, it was still a run! Yaaayyy to me!

My intention was initially to run for 30 minutes. But after about 20 minutes, I felt a sensation on the site of the fracture and thought it best not to push it. Perhaps I was paranoid, but its always better to err on the safe side. So I went on for an extra two minutes and decided to stop. Did some upper body strength work and some work on the leg press before calling it a day.

We had Thai for dinner, which was delicious. Now we have to wait and see how the foot will feel in the morning.

How Brisbane ROAR Won the Grand Final with 4 Minutes to Go!!

2011-03-19T10:57:00.000+10:00

Brisbane Roar -- Orange Sunday Stunt

2011-03-11T16:19:00.000+10:00

2011-03-07T22:18:00.000+10:00

So its been two weeks now, no running. Went to the specialist this morning with pictures from the MRI and its a confirmed stress fracture on the right foot. Sigh. Been asked not to run for the next four weeks and not to do anything "stupid" in case the fracture becomes a full break. Sigh.

Basically, I can do anything that does not cause my foot any pain. Aqua running and cycling comes highly recommended. Doc said that stress fractures affect 20-40% of people who clock close to 100k every week - WOW!! Didn't think its that common. Doc also said its easy to heal, only tricky part is the time factor that we have in this case, due to my race in May. So I guess its touch and go from hereon. One day at a time.

As of now, I can actually start to walk normally again with minimal to no pain. Here's hoping that it is possible to start running again in another two weeks. Fingers crossed I don't do anything "stupid" on impulse.

Brisbane Roar Does It the Hard Way!

2011-02-27T12:27:00.000+10:00

Dream Rangers

2011-02-23T21:22:00.000+10:00

2011-02-20T14:17:00.000+10:00

Its been long. The gaps in-between are filled with many significant and insignificant events equally. I had an "off-week", which also happened to coincide with the company's annual conference where I did nothing related to running as was the plan. In fact, I ended up with just swimming, which was great as it gave me a chance to learn to "feel the water" all over again.

So then, fast forward to this week. The buildup to this weekend has been good but unfortunately, the weekend itself failed to turn out the way I had hoped it would. I woke up early yesterday morning for the 38k lsd. The plan was to get out early so I wouldn't be caught in the deadly heat of the day. But as luck would have it, my ipod's screen started to play up just as I was ready to get out of the door at 0515hrs. I was unable to get my running music to play for me, and it was inconceivable to be out there by myself for at least four hours with no music. Sigh. Had to take out the extra ipod and spent some time to transfer the songs onto it....blahblahblah. By the time everything was ready, it was already 0545hrs and the sun was almost already blazing. Double sigh.

I was totally flustered when I got out of the door. And being flustered is the worst thing when going running. I went out fast and not sure why as nothing can save me from the heat now anyway. And so it was as expected, I got stuck in the heat but managed to finish the run five and a half hours later! Phew. Fortunately on the return, clouds had started to form and shielded the sun from screaming down at me. Otherwise it would be another "roasted" day.

With yesterday behind me, I started today fully pumped and ready. I was ready to make history by clocking 101km this week for the first time in my life by completing today's 30k lsd. I woke up early again and with no ipod issues, I was out of the door about 0515hrs in high spirits. I was inspired in part by the Brisbane ROAR's win last night against the CCM.

Alas, at about the 13k mark, I started to experience pain on the top of my right foot. The pain was excruciating every time I toed off, so it was impossible to run. So, I tried to walk and hoped that the pain would go away. It didn't. I walked/limped for the next 5k or so until the pain felt worse and I had enough. As I didn't have my mobile, I used the pay phone to ring P to come and get me. Completely devastated and upset that I was unable to make history :(

Got home in the car. The pain seemed to have got worse since and still not sure what caused it. Some sort of tendonitis maybe? Anyway, not a good weekend.

Today is a New Day!!!

2011-02-20T13:13:00.003+10:00

Today is a New Day!!!

2011-02-05T19:52:00.000+10:00

It was a reasonable buildup to the weekend. The intention is to do 33km both today and tomorrow. I woke up early this morning as the weather these days have been so hot and humid, not unlike that of Singapore. However, I discovered that it only started to get light at about 0530hrs and from there, the heat rapidly descends without mercy.

Today's run was suicidal. What was to be just another day of long run quickly became a survival run. The heat was so intense that I had to take off my shirt in order to continue, less than 10km in. My instincts told me that had I not done so, my body would probably not be able to dissipate the heat quick enough and that I would probably suffer heat stroke or the like. And so I did.

Running without a shirt on and with my Camelbak (no backpack again today) was not an ideal combination. As expected, I copped some chaffing at the top and bottom of my back. But which was more critical? To suffer the sting of the chaffing or to fall over by the side of the road from heat stroke? The answer was obvious and there was no compromise. In order to survive, one must do what one must to do. I just prayed that the chaffing wouldn't be too bad in the end.

At first, I chided myself for not bringing money so that I could buy myself a cold drink. Then as the run wore on, I reprimanded myself for not taking my mobile along. Not sure if the latter was a good thing or not, for if I had the mobile with me I would probably have rang P to come and pick me up and ended the run prematurely. So many times, I had wanted to throw in the towel.

I made more than a few stops to get some respite from the heat, to refill my water and go to the toilet etc. Each time I stopped, it got harder to go on. I had to dump a load on one of the toilet breaks and as I stared down into the toilet bowl, it didn't look pretty and I wondered if my body was trying to tell me something. Do I need more water or perhaps, do I need more electrolytes? I hope I can last the distance. With no money or phone, I need to hang on.

Thankfully, my body and mind were able to get me home in one piece. I had learned more about my body and mind today. Hopefully, we can put this knowledge to good use in the future.

2011-01-31T21:43:00.022+10:00

It was a weekend that didn't quite happen. I was feeling completely out on Sunday morning after the long run on Saturday. Totally tired, I felt this was more so physically than mentally. Confident that I could skip Sunday's long run and still not be affected much by the loss of one long run, I opted for more sleep instead. Wrapped the week up with just under 55km in mileage.

I am still not feeling 100% in my body. It just feels that there is something that it needs and I cannot quite define what exactly - and this is the headache! Scheduled for a massage tomorrow, hopefully body will react to this and come good after wards. Really wrecked my brains to try and pin down what is causing this. In short, there is just a peculiar feeling that there is nothing more that my body can give.

On a different note, got an email saying that the gym is back in business as of tomorrow. Could not be more timely. Really need to get the strength training back in action. I have missed those strength sessions.

2011-01-27T23:33:00.002+10:00

After the "mega weekend", I was on a high for a few days until I went for a run on Tuesday evening and fell down back to the ground. It was supposed to be a small run of about 6.5km and I decided to do two laps of the block. I didn't think much of it as it was supposedly a short one. I didn't even bother to fill up the camelbak and take the backpack along.

It started off well, but it wasn't long before my body was screaming. I, or rather my body, felt totally screwed. I was so tired I actually had to walk some parts to complete the session, and this was even without the backpack! I thought it was supposed to be easier, right, because there is no excess weight? Well, guess not.

The fatigue was incredible and I just felt so damn tired, completely devoid of energy. So it was with apprehension that I laced up this evening to try for another run, still haunted by the ~~memories~~ nightmare of Tuesday past. Goal was for at least 10km today and ended up doing 14km even though I started to slow down towards the last 4km or so. It felt a hell lot better than the last session though.

Gearing up for another big weekend coming up.

2011-01-26T12:13:00.001+10:00

2011-01-23T22:28:00.000+10:00

It has not been a highly successful week as far as training is concerned. For some reason, I just have trouble getting into a rhythm. Nevertheless, managed to crank out a total of 72km over the weekend, which takes the grand total for this week to 83 kilometers.

Yesterday was great but today's run was a bit of a struggle as the legs were sore from yesterday's run. I suspect the soreness is due to my lack of mileage in the past fornight - what do I expect? At the same time, I wonder if it could be due to my runners coming to their end of life. To be confirmed.

Well at least it was the physical element that was struggling and not the mental, which makes it a little easier to bear. One rest day tomorrow and hopefully things can get back to normal. By the way, the new backpack works a treat! Love it, absolutely LOVE IT!!!

2011-01-20T13:06:00.001+10:00

Finally had a chance to go for a run yesterday evening after work. Did a small one, probably between 10 to 11km and was happy that the body was up to it after having taken such a long break. Took out my new backpack (link) for a test run and am very satisfied with it.

Initially felt there was too much movement on my back. But after taking some time to tighten the two side straps, the load stabilized a great deal and the movement was minimized. It felt quite comfortable....for a distance of 10km anyway, so really need to take it out for a longer run to try it out. The backpack now contains almost all of the mandatory gear except for the compression bandage, mobile phone and food.

It should be an interesting weekend.

2011-01-16T22:38:00.000+10:00

Just a quick one as I am too buggered. No time for any training runs this weekend, though it was never far from my mind. We have been busy in the last two days with the big clean-up at work. Everyone worked really hard and we had to toss out approximately 90% of everything in the office. All our spirits were high throughout and we had complete strangers coming up to us, with offers of food and drinks as we laboured. Very, very appreciative of everyone's efforts.

By the end of the two days, the whole street was lined with piles of debris as if the war has just ended. It is definitely a "start all over again" scenario for a lot of businesses who have suffered the same fate. Not sure if that is a good thing or not. I suppose it will take me a few days before I get used to arriving at an office that was once familiar, but has now been stripped almost bare.

Good bye old, hello new.

2011-01-14T21:30:00.001+10:00

It has been a tense week, what with the Brisbane Flood of 2011. We are more fortunate than many, with no damage to property or human lives. However, our workplace was inundated with about two or three meters of water and now, the cleanup begins. Luckily it has stopped raining for a few days now, which allowed for the water to recede. We even got a message from our gym to say it has been inundated, and will now be closed until further notice. The same fate was suffered by the squad pool. Coach has sent a message around to all, saying that the pool will be closed until further notice as well. Sigh.

Many homes were destroyed even around the streets here where we live. At the last minute we even had to help one of our friend move his possessions as the water started to rise slowly. They were lucky too, to get away with just about half a meter of water under their house. The surrounding roads are still flooded in and now its all just a waiting game for the water to recede so they can reopen. With closed roads also mean that limited food supplies can get to supermarket shelves and indeed, most shelves are now empty. Milk and bread have become like prized possessions, as well as toilet paper and bottled water.

With so much going on, training was suddenly not on the top of my priority list this week. I guess its not so bad as this was supposed to be my "recover week" anyway, after last weekend's race. Hahahaaa! Self consolation at its best. The thing is, almost everyone had been affected by the flood in one way or another. And almost everyone knows someone who has been affected and we all have a story to tell. We are just glad that the worse is over, for now.

2011-01-09T22:10:00.001+10:00

It has been another week of epic rainfall and what a race it was at Woodford this morning! It had not stopped raining (and still has not!) in the days leading up to the race and I was slightly apprehensive. Apprehensive about what to wear for the race if it was raining but mostly apprehensive about how soggy the course would be if the rain continued.

For starters, I had no intention to taper for this race as my plan was just to use it as a weekend training run. However, thanks to the rain during the week, I was unable to get in much mileage. The only decent one I managed to do was 14.8km on the Thursday and one strength session a few days prior. I tried to get in some mileage on the Friday while the rain stopped temporarily, but our roads were flooded again! So I did some detours and then ran home, feeling my momentum has been disrupted and probably only ran 3km in the process. Sigh :(

I decided against another strength session later on in the week (which I normally would do especially since it was raining), as my body has the tendency to pull up quite sore for at least two days after each strength session. So naturally, I did not want to arrive with a sore body at the start of the race. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was "forced" to taper in the end.

We left for Woodford around noon time yesterday and it was just raining continuously when we got there. It stopped briefly during the night, and I thought there was a good chance the trails could dry up a little by the morning. Alas, it was not to be. It started to pour down again soon after. I woke up at 0200hrs to eat something and it was raining. Then got changed and we left close to 0300hrs.

Arrived at the start, registered and did all the other usual stuff. Decided at the last minute not to take the raincoat with me as it was not cold. Put on headlamp and off we went into the trails. With the headlamp, I could see the rain coming down on us looking as if like needles. Happy not to get my shoes wet at the first puddle but that was short-lived. Very soon, we had to do our first of many water crossings which continuously left us with wet shoes and socks. With wet shoes and socks also come heavy shoes and socks.

It was dark and really could not see if it was a "hill" or not, so just adjusted the pace accordingly as I ran.....which was good! The headlamp was great as it had a "floodlight" feature and I used this throughout rather than just the normal beam. I quite enjoyed running in the rain as it was cooling and refreshing. The course was not hilly (only undulating) in my opinion, save for one real hill that snaked up to the lookout. Parts of the course were completely soggy and muddy and every step taken was "slip-sliding away" as you can imagine. A true Slugfest!

Throughout the race, the rain was intermittent. At one point, the sun made a brief appearance and I really missed the rain then. To my joy, the intermittent rain commenced again. However, with that also meant that the water was rising at those previous water crossing which have now turned into rivers on our return trip. Some of them were now thigh deep and there was a strong current beneath which I almost got swept off my feet. I was more careful and ready after that.

Six of us got lost on the way back with less than 11km to go and ran off track. We could not see the signs/markings and one had just followed the other one in front (I was the last with no one insight behind me), ending with six of us in the group. After running some distance and still not seeing any markers/signs, we decided that we had gone the wrong way and back tracked. I reckon we did an extra three or four kilometers there. Once we were back on the track, I was demoralized to see that the people whom I have overtook previously were now in front of me. Sigh, time to start the chase again.

Once I got back on the right track, I was determined to finish the race off and really focused all my energy on getting to the last two checkpoints (checkpoints seven and finish). Upon arriving at checkpoint seven, I just called out my number as I ran past, so as they can tick me off the list and proceeded to hasten my pace to the finish. There was a last river crossing to make with the finish line about 500 meters in sight and people cheering/clapping for us as we came out of the trails. I made sure to cross carefully and not fall over in front of everyone. P was already there waiting for me to finish and cheered me across the finish line.

Finished in 6:06 in the downpour and I was on a high. That is about 20 minutes faster than the last 50k race. A PB...hahahaa! Chatting to the others at the finish, we discovered that we were not the only ones to have gotten lost. In fact, a few others also went the wrong way at the same intersection. We also found out that due to the rain, there were some last minute changes to the course and the distance was something like 48km instead of 50km. But because we were lost, we ran the extra distance and likely ended up with 50 or 51km.

2011-01-02T21:03:00.000+10:00

We conclude this week with just under 89km (88.95km) of mileage in total and one strength session. Man, running with a pack strapped to my back has opened up a whole new perspective to running for me. For one, you get tired prematurely as compared to running without one, on the same route. On the further, it engages your upper body's muscles as well as just your legs. So you really do get a full body workout :)

It was a 26km run yesterday followed by a 30km run this morning. Contrary to yesterday, I was feeling quite tired during today's run - I suspect more so physically than mentally though. However, I put my head in and slogged it out.....I knew I had to. I admitted to thinking about ditching the pack by the side of the road, more than once. Yet at the same time, at the back of my mind was the thought that I would get a rest day tomorrow when this run is done. Yes!!!

I did a bit more walking today as compared to yesterday. Was the fatigue a result of buildup from yesterday's run, is anyone's guess. But I know that when I did these two routes the last time consecutively without having to carry a pack, I didn't feel this bad. Hopefully, I will get stronger soon.

On a side note, I registered for a 55km trail race to be held on the 9/1 Sunday. The reason this race is of interest to me is because it starts at 0330hrs, and I intend to try out my headlamp as well as navigation. I am an atrocious navigator so I really should take this chance to see how I go. Hopefully, I don't get lost.

2011-01-01T21:20:00.001+10:00

2011-01-01T21:20:00.000+10:00

2011-01-01T17:38:00.000+10:00

First day of a brand new year and its a breakthrough! I tried my old Deuter backpack today for my lsd and am very happy to say that it felt so much better than the Camelbak pack! In fact, I felt the difference within the first minute of putting the pack on, loaded with the mandatory gear. It sits nicely on my back with minimal bounce and felt 100% better.

It was comfortable and I was even able to forget that it was there. Furthermore, there were no signs of any imminent chaffing at any point on the run. To say the least, I was absolutely blown away, ecstatic and overjoyed. But perhaps relief was the one word that accurately describe how I felt. I was so happy that my nightmare is finally over that I could hardly wipe that silly smile off my face. Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I CAN SEE IT!

I have not been able to enjoy any of my runs since donning the Camelbak pack for the first time, much less conceive about running anything more than 15km with it. Every run with that pack had been sheer agony trying to get it to sit right and to adjust it to make it feel comfortable enough with the load. Yes, it was THAT uncomfortable. But I have not been successful and thought that I had to be contented with that and attributed it in part due to my petite stature. I was totally apprehensive every time I had to go for a run.

So, there are many lessons to take away from this episode. Namely, keeping an open mind throughout the situation really does wonders. I have always believed that the Camelbak pack was superior to the Deuter because it was narrower in profile as compared to the Deuter which is wider, and therefore there would be less bounce. Also, the Camelbak has compression straps which the Deuter hasn't.

This has really given me a whole new perspective on hydration packs. In short, it isn't something you have to be contented with if it doesn't fit even if you're not that tall or big in stature. You just need to find one that does. And sometimes, things are just not what you think it is. Be open to try and accept different things. You might just be pleasantly surprised, like I did.

2010-12-29T22:07:00.000+10:00

No rain again today. So decided to try for a longer run with the Camelbak. Let's try for about 15km of distance today. The water has gone and the roads reopened, so this should no longer be such a problem.

A lot of traffic on the road, no doubt people going for the post-Christmas sales happening everywhere. Weather was humid and quite warm at some points. As the run went on, I could feel the weight of the pack decreasing due to my consumption of fluid from the bladder. But imagine that at this point, you refilled the bladder and ended up with the original weight that you've started when you're already starting to get used to the reduced weight of the pack....and not to mention fatigue settling in at that point. Wow. I really need to get used to this and the sooner the better.

By the end of the run, I ended up with chaffing on both shoulders with the right side somehow worse than the left for reasons unknown. I also noticed chaffing on my lower back. I will try a tee instead of a singlet next run to see how it goes. And also applying Bodyglide to help.

2010-12-28T22:20:00.002+10:00

Child - Freddie Aguilar

When you were born into this world
Your mom and dad saw a dream fulfilled
Dream come true
The answer to their prayers

You were to them a special child
Gave ‘em joy every time you smiled
Each time you cried
They’re at your side to care

Child, you don’t know
You’ll never know how far they’d go
To give you all their love can give
To see you through and God it’s true
They’d die for you, if they must, to see you live

How many seasons came and went
So many years have now been spent
For time ran fast
And now at last you’re strong

Now what has gotten over you
You seem to hate your parents too
Do speak out your mind
Why do you find them wrong

Child you don’t know
You’ll never know how far they’d go
To give you all their love can give
To see you through and God it’s true
They’d die for you, if they must, to see you live

And now your path has gone astray
Child you ain’t sure what to do or say
You’re so alone
No friends are on your side

And child you now break down in tears
Let them drive away your fears
Where must you go
Their arms stay open wide

Child you don’t know
You’ll never know how far they’d go
To give you all their love can give
To see you through and God it’s true
They’d die for you, if they must, to see you live

Child you don’t know
You’ll never know how far they’d go
To give you all their love can give
To see you through and God it’s true
They’d die for you, if they must, to see you live

2010-12-28T21:15:00.033+10:00

I woke up and the first thing I did was to listen out for the rain. Sounds quiet, no rain! Quickly got up and got dressed to try for a run. In recent days, I have more or less packed all my mandatory gear for the race into my Camelbak, save for a few missing items like the compression bandage, phone, spare batteries and still using my 1.5 liters bladder.

I wanted to do my usual loops around the block with the Camelbak, mainly to test out how it sits on my back and how the weight feels on my back. One thing is for sure though: its feels damn heavy! And this is with a 1.5 liters bladder and still a few missing items. Imagine my surprise when I found my usual route, which is about 3.7km each loop, being flooded in two places!

Yes, it is flooded-in and the roads are closed! No choice, had to do some detours and after running around for about 45 minutes, I came home. Definitely need to get used to the load on my back. And I am SO glad I have not waited till any later to do it.

2010-12-26T22:55:00.007+10:00

It has been raining for the last 72 hours. The forecast is that there is more to come all the way till New Year's Day and perhaps beyond. No, I have not been able to get in any runs save for my last run session on Christmas eve. Even then, I got rained on halfway through the session but I persisted to complete what I needed to do.

Saturday was Christmas Day. It was a wash out and I had waited the whole day for a chance that didn't arrive, to get away for a run. A futile day. Sigh. Today was pretty much the same as yesterday, but I had grew tired of waiting and went to the gym instead with P. Did an hour of strength session at the gym and felt better.

After wards, we made our way to Anaconda's Boxing Day sale where I picked up a eight liters dry sack (link) at 30% discount, for the mandatory gear that I have to carry for the race. After some browsing, I also got a small backup torch for the race at 60% discount!

Very pleased with our little shopping trip :)

2010-12-21T09:03:00.004+10:00

Toughness is essential - madness optional
Andrew Stevenson
May 17, 2010

ROB SCOINES is staggering, shaking, trembling uncontrollably. Thirteen hours after he set off from Leura on a 100 kilometre race, he wants desperately to run on, but his body is too cold to follow his mind's instructions.

''I've been better,'' admits the 52-year-old Central Coast executive. ''I'm freezing cold at the moment; it's extremely hard.

''I've been staggering up these last hills but my mind can handle it and I want to stagger on. I've come this far, 89 kilometres. I don't want to DNF [did not finish] but I don't want to get caught out there in the freezing cold either.''
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It's just after 9 pm, the temperature is down to 7 degrees and the last checkpoint on the North Face 100 is a hive of activity as worried partners and supporters try to nourish body and soul of the 650 entrants to finish one of Australia's most challenging runs: all day and half the night - all night for some - on trails, steps and ladders through the Blue Mountains National Park.

Wonderful scenery but there are other ways to enjoy it besides pushing your body to, and beyond, its natural limits. Mad? Perhaps, but if that's true then madness obviously loves company. The race was sold out weeks ago, part of a surge in participation in adventure sports which can range from two-hour events to extreme races that go for up to 10 days.

Today near Cairns, 50 teams of four set off on the 700-kilometre XPD adventure race, riding, running, paddling and rafting past tiredness into hallucinatory states for endless hours.

Competitors will start returning after five days; the course closes after 10. ''The winners will average between seven and nine hours' sleep in the whole five days,'' says race director Craig Bycroft. ''If they're sleeping more than five or six hours in a day, they won't make it back in time.''

The XPD is part of a world series of related extreme events for an elite - but still amateur - few. Alina McMaster, a former racer, organised this weekend's Blue Mountains run and says the shorter events allow competitors to fit adventure into their lives.

''Adventure racing has become a bit more fast and furious.

You're not really lost in the middle of nowhere for days any more. I think that's why these shorter races are so popular.

''They are the experience of adventure but you get to do it in a weekend. You can take your family, it's not too expensive, you don't have to train too much and have lots of gear. It's a really good compromise.''

Out on the track it's hard to imagine any compromise other than stopping. Many competitors reported vowing to give up running at some stage during their ordeal, but that's just the mind playing tricks and it's defeating the mind that gets you to the end.

Bodies were ready to pack it in hours earlier. Scoines, who took four hours to warm up at his last checkpoint, eventually shuffled on to finish just after 2 am yesterday: ''You just put your head down and do what you have to do to finish the damn thing off.''

Gary Farebrother, event director of the Kathmandu Adventure Series - shorter events include the Tough Bloke Challenge next month - says the mind rules the body.

''Even if you're not that fit, it's amazing what you can get yourself to do if you've got the right mental attitude. After 18 hours in a 24-hour race it's not fitness keeping you going, it is your mind and your will to push beyond the boundaries,'' he says.

But the other side of the equation also holds up. Exercise is good for your mind.

Gordon Parker, director of the Black Dog Institute, says individuals who recover from clinical depression frequently rate exercise as the single most important factor. Conversely, sportsmen retire and often go into depression. ''A lot of people say it's the old aphorism of rooster one day, feather duster the next but we're very suspicious that the furious exercise they're engaged in is actually keeping their mood state under control if they have the propensity for a mood disorder,'' he says.

At the finish of the North Face 100, as runners peeled off socks and war stories of the track, their eyes still shone and their eyes beamed like the head torches that had lit their way as they ran through the dark hours. Despite the exertion most were bounding about, outwardly unaffected by their ordeal, displaying an almost religious fervour.

Others proved beyond the recuperative powers of hot tea, energy snacks, barbecued sausages or beer. Pale and shivering with dehydration and hypothermia, they trembled and shook beneath a mountain of blankets.

One man barely had the strength to roll over and vomit into a bowl. More than 150 runners withdrew and at least a couple were taken to hospital.

''I don't know if you have to be mad but you need something going on in your head,'' says Grant Schofield, 29 - ''an engineer and office boy'' in his other life.

Like almost every competitor, Schofield will be back at work in Newcastle this morning and running again as soon as his body permits. ''I heard a couple of guys talking about taking Monday off work but I don't think it would be any longer than that,'' he says of his high-achieving competitors.

Outsiders would say you'd have to be mad to do it; insiders suggest they might be madder if they didn't. ''Life's much better when he's training - for everyone,'' says Schofield's wife Brooke. ''But for him, especially - I think it gives him a sense of pride and confidence and keeps him motivated

''I definitely notice a huge change in Grant and his mood when he's not training. He just loves to get out there and have a go at something every day.

''It keeps him more focused at work and at home. It's just a healthy way to be - a really positive thing.

2010-12-20T20:56:00.000+10:00

Monday, the start of a new week and it is also my rest day. Yaaaayyy! Monday is also steak night, which means no cooking (another yaaayyyyy! hehehe) and also getting that extra protein into the body after a weekend of running.

Slightly surprised this morning that there is no soreness in the legs after a somewhat "big" weekend. Everything feels good. This week's running mileage should be pretty much the same as last week's though. Need to try and get in the swim and gym sessions this week. Fingers crossed.

2010-12-19T18:58:00.000+10:00

A 30km run this morning pretty much wraps up an epic week for me. A grand total of 84km this week and its a new milestone for me as far as running is concerned. Weather spans between cloudy, to rainy, to sunny and back to cloudy again during the run. The air was not cold, so I kind of welcomed the rain.

I also managed two swim squad sessions this week. Yayyyyy! But on the flip side, I didn't do the two gym sessions due to various commitments and happenings at work. Sigh, an improvement in one area but then lacking in yet another :( Hopefully better to come next week.

In the past week, I have been looking around the house and collecting all the mandatory gear required for next year's event. I still have a few items on the list to find or buy (if unable to be found) but so far, the weight of the load is nothing to be sneezed at and this does not even yet include the two liters of water to be carried during the race.

Now, admittedly I have not weigh all the gear I have gathered so far. However, I have a feeling that once everything is in place, the load will come close to about six kilos. This is quite a heavy load to carry for all of twenty hours. Its best I get started with it asap!

2010-12-16T15:27:00.000+10:00

Last week, we made a trip down to Wollongong to spend some time with P's parents. As always, that place always relaxes us so much that all we want to do is eat and sleep - a place for recovery. First day after we arrived was rainy, so we didn't do much except for what we do best.......eat and sleep! Second day, I was more determined. After breakfast, I got ready and decided to try beach running for the first time in my life.

Where we were staying was only about 700m from the beach, so it made sense to give it a go. I had mapped the distance a few days prior and discovered that its approximately six and a half kilometers one way. But of course, running down one way to the other end would mean having to run back, so I would expect to cover about 12.5km all in all. The dilemma I had was whether to run with or without shoes. After much deliberation, I decided to try it with shoes.

Downed one gel and made my way to the beach with P. I had my fuel belt with me. Started the run down towards the nearest end just to see how I feel about the whole thing. To my surprise, it was much harder than I had imagined. In fact, it felt like running and doing weights at the same time. For one, there were no trees to duck in and out off when the sun gets serious. I ended up having to rationed my water supplies. Second, most of the sand was quite soft and loose (on this beach) and so there was quite a bit of give when running. This then forces your upper body to compensate in order to avoid falling over. Third, I found that it was relentless because the whole distance was on the same terrain of sand and the same muscles were being taxed throughout the run.

The sand was that loose in some parts that I just decided to walk because it was too tiring to run. Nevertheless, two more gels later and with not much water left, I completed the 12.5km in two hours and five minutes! Wow, had to be a "Personal Worse"....hahaha! Oh, and did I mention that I also earned some "raccoon eyes" with much thanks to the sun?

So after having now tried beach running, I actually feel it is more difficult than trail running. It is an excellent training "tool" to use if you can get easy access to the beach and I quite enjoy the challenge it provides. Would I do it again? Hell, yeah!

2010-12-05T18:35:00.000+10:00

After some teasing from the heavens in the last few days, the rain finally started to come and today was no exception. Scheduled for a 30k run this morning, I was expecting and prepared to be rained on. As its still a bit of humidity in the air, I knew it won't be cold even if I was rained on.

Floor was wet when I left, even though I had not realized the rain had started as I prepared for the run. Started slow and felt strong, even though hrm consistently showing a higher than average heart rate as compared to RPE. I know from experience this happens when the chest strap sometimes sits in the "wrong" way. Its ok, I will just use the numbers as a guide and use RPE to judge my effort instead.

It seems that there aren't that many people about and not even the cyclists, which is strange. Maybe everyone has gone to race in Busso? Anyway, no rain just dark skies until I got to FL. Not pouring but just a consistent shower and not cold either, so everything looks good. As the run was meant to be 30km, I could not remember if I was supposed to loop the lake and spent some time pondering this. In the end, I decided to do a loop of the lake anyway.

Well, even though I didn't feel cold, it appears that my body was feeling otherwise as I had to make three extra "detours" throughout the run. On the return trip home, the sun surprisingly made a brief appearance. I finished feeling strong and actually enjoyed running in the rain.

Total mileage of about 60.7km this week coupled with two strength sessions, which is comparable to last week. I suppose that is not too shabby considering we had two non-sanctioned rest days this week, thanks to the rain.

2010-12-04T19:51:00.002+10:00

I Choose…

to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not compete;
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice
not the random opinion of others
The higher you climb, the more you see.
The more you see, the less you know.
The less you know the more you learn
The more you learn, the higher you climb.
The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high
And we miss it, but it is too low and we reach it.

2010-12-03T16:41:00.000+10:00

Weather much the same today as yesterday. Heaven is just teasing us with the rain that does not come. So made a loop around the block before heading off to the gym, and all in all was a distance of about nine kilometers. Legs were feeling less tired than yesterday though.

The gym was almost empty when we arrived, save for one person on the elliptical trainer. But then it sort of started to fill up within 15 minutes of our arrival. Luckily I was able to do all the stuff that I had planned to do. We spent about 50 minutes there before heading off to do other stuff for the day.

On another note, we awoke to the news that Australia had failed in their bid to secure the World Cup 2022. Sigh. Although disappointed but I didn't think there was anything more that the FFA could have done, considering the circumstances involved (not saying in as many words). Good job anyhow, Team Australia!!

2010-12-02T17:29:00.000+10:00

Dark and heavy clouds throughout the skies today. I woke up and expected it to rain any minute, but nothing happened all morning. So I went about the house doing my chores and it still hasn't decided to rain. Tired of waiting, I decided instead for myself that I should seize the opportunity for a run before it changes it's mind.

Dark skies, no sun.....ideal for a run but it was quite humid. The goal for today is 13.5km, so at approximately 3.7km per loop, that means I needed to clock three and a half loops. No matter, I shall try for four loops.

Started the run and could feel legs are a bit tired. Slightly disappointed that legs are taking an extended period of time to recover from Tuesday's workout, considering yesterday was a non-sanctioned rest day thanks to the rain. I was glad I had worn my "Skins" tights.

As imagined, it was quite humid and about 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. But no sun! So, it was better than last week! Could especially feel the tired legs when going upwards. I thought it was good to teach the body to run on tired legs as this would almost certainly be a certainty during the race.

Two and a half loops and I was already feeling too tired to continue! Disaster! I stopped to top up my water bottle before continuing on the return leg to complete the third loop. Along the way, I thought hard about if I should try for a fourth loop, or call it a day after the third. Upon completing the third, I decided that I would push myself for another. I reminded myself again that this was good training for the body to be running on tired legs.

There was a "hilly" bit preceding the end point of each loop and I had wanted to walk it on the fourth loop. But upon reaching the foot of the said hill, I see a fairly heavyweight person walking up and so, I had no choice but to run up instead. Sigh. It was not fast or pretty, but in the end, I made it.

2010-12-01T17:53:00.001+10:00

First day of summer and it has been raining bucket-loads today. It just keeps alternating between raining and stopping and when it rains, it pours! So then, I guess this means no running today. Thinking if I should head to the gym instead.

This morning, I have made the jump and registered for the North Face 100k race at the Blue Mountains to be held next May. With the easiest part now done and dusted, it is time to put in the hard yards for the next few months and hopefully be able to keep injury-free, all the way leading up to the race.

I had signed up within 15 minutes of the registration opening. I am anticipating a huge response for this race and true enough, there was a message on the website this afternoon confirming that 52% of the 800 slots have been filled. Quite a number of us eager beavers out there!

Yesterday was a run to the gym again, followed by about 50 minutes of strength session. The place was quite crowded and I was unable to do some of the stuff I had planned to do. Substituted some other exercises for the ones that I was unable to get to. Still turned out to be a reasonable session in the end.

2010-11-28T18:43:00.000+10:00

Somehow, I woke up in time for swim squad yesterday morning but allowed myself to be coaxed back to sleep by P. Ultimately, I did give swimming a miss to stay in bed but regretted the decision later on that morning. Weak mind. I should have gone :(

Anyway, no use crying over something that cannot be undone. Let's just move on to other things that can be done, so we do not miss out on the chance again. This morning was a 24km run, about two kilometers more than last Sunday. Somehow, I started out feeling uncomfortable all over - My camelbak felt as if it wasn't sitting properly on my back, the straps didn't feel right on my shoulders, my clothes didn't feel right on me, everything and everything just didn't feel right and I wasn't sure why. I could not pin my finger to anything.

Nevertheless, off I went and I didn't feel comfortable for the first 40 minutes of the run. From there on, I got into a rhythm and felt more comfortable but still felt as if something was missing. I used GU Chomps for the first time today. As I ran, I was trying to compute in my head how many pieces there were in the pack and divided them by the remaining distance with which I still had to cover. After the calculations, I came up with a plan that I would chomp down one piece at a time at various points of the run. As you can see, running can be quite tactical at times....heheheee ;)

Initially, I found the chewing to be quite a chore as I have always used gels. And there, all you need is to squeeze the pack of gel into your mouth and wash it down with a mouthful of water - no hassle there. But chewing on the run was something I had to get used to. Towards the end, I think I finally got the hang of it and actually quite liked the taste of those pieces of chomps.

All up, we have a mileage of 60.8km this week and two strength sessions but no swim sessions. Argh. Its looking better than the end of last week though.

2010-11-26T17:51:00.000+10:00

Training is going better this week, as compared to the previous week. Yesterday was a 10k run to the gym, followed by an hour of decent strength session. My body is really feeling the effects today. With some luck, I managed to book in for a massage at the last minute this afternoon. My body just feels so tired and broken.

This morning was able to squeeze in an 11km run and was still two kilometers short of the required mileage, but my body felt like it could take no more and I then decided to call it a day. The RPE felt high, yet the hrm showed otherwise. Weather was hot at 30 degrees Celsius when I started and had risen to 32 by the time I decided to throw in the towel. So that was the end of that chapter.

Tuesday evening was a similar session to yesterday - a seven kilometer run to the gym followed by 50 minutes of strength training. The only disappointing thing so far this week, is my inability to get in any swim session. This I shall try to do tomorrow morning and hopefully, I will succeed.

2010-11-21T17:29:00.000+10:00

The week has ended and there is nothing much to show for as I crawl along at turtle speed. One swim session and a total of 34km in mileage for the week, yes, some what paltry I know. I won't deny that the mind is currently feeling weak and the body is slack. Hopefully, better to come next week.

This morning was a 22.8k lsd run. I had steeled myself for an ugly and painful outcome. Reason being my training has been haphazard of late and I am just not yet fit. Also it has been some time since I ran something this long. Anyway, I felt that I should give it a go and I should leave early to avoid people seeing my dogged face.

It unfortunately started to rain after I was ready to leave. I opened the door only to be greeted by the rain. Ok, waited for afew minutes and the rain disappeared as soon as it has arrived. Skies were dark and cloudy but decided to go anyway and it turned out to be a good decision in the end.

The first 10km was not feeling so good. I decided to take it slow and whatever happens, it was all about completing the distance (even if I needed to take walk breaks) but not to be concerned about the time. The next 10km was a whole lot better and I decided to push myself all the way home.

In the end, it was two hours and 34 for 22.8km including two walk breaks to consume two gels - happy with the time and even happier to have finished. Weather had been perfect and certainly a mental boost to have done this run.

2010-11-16T21:10:00.001+10:00

I made it to swim squad this morning. For some reason, a bunch of birds were chirping noisily outside our window and I awoke to their "songs". I tried to decide if I should get up and go swimming or slack for the day ;P And in the end was glad I decided to go. I think the noisy birds might have something to do with that decision.
Furthermore, I also noticed that it was already light when I opened my eyes.

I was away for only a week but promptly felt the effects of my absence early in the warm up. Coach asked us to swim 800m for our first warm up set and only after afew laps, my arms were feeling really sore! At the same time, I also had some lingering soreness on both my hammies from Sunday's run.....what a great combination! Not.

I found swim training really tough this morning. Not sure why but it just felt so. Anyway, another step moving forward towards consistency. Great.

2010-11-14T22:46:00.001+10:00

Have been away for a week for a business trip and just got back on Friday night. We received technical training on new products and it was well worth it. Very informative and insightful, picking up a few things here and there.

The trainer was RZ, whom I have known for about 10 years but we have not met each other for awhile. So no doubt, it was a good to be able to see RZ again but I was sorry we didn't spend more time catching up due to our tight schedules.

However, the trip was a slight disruption to my training plans. After returning from Singapore, I have been trying to get the momentum going and get back into a rhythm. Just when I thought I have done so, I had to go away. Sigh.

So I started with a run this morning to try and kick-start things abit, one step at a time. While away, I have had the time to formulate a plan for my training for my next event. The plan is to build mileage and do strength training from hereon until January, and then throw in speed-work and stair-work whilst continuing to build mileage do strength training. At the same time, I will begin training with the backpack that will carry all mandatory gear for the race and start getting used to it.

Hopefully no injuries and will see us through the race.