Sunday, September 6, 2009

Sunday 25km training run

Did 25.48km run this morning with total time of 2:52hr. Consider slow as it included waiting time for the rain to stop.

Wake up at 5:30am today. Drank a cup of coffee, ate 2 large banana s and 1 pack (2 bars) of energy grain bar. Started run at 6:24am. Wore 2 of my new running accessories : a 4-bottle Nathan fluid belt and a Halo head-band (to prevent sweat from reaching eyes).
It started to rain when I reach close to Lentor Avenue. Stop and waited for a short while at a bus stop. Saw another runner whom continue to run with a fluid backpack. Asked him if it is ok to run in the rain. I was concern about lightnings and shoe getting wet. So I started pacing behind him. Tried to cover the Mizuno new 16km route.

Took a pack of energy gel (GU) at around 14km point. After 500m the legs seems to be able to move smoothly and fairly fast at 10.4km/hr.
Overall a great run today. This is the longest single stretch that I have ever run... 25.48km.

Will continue to increase weekend distance until I am ready to join the Nov MR25 35km preparation for the Dec full marathon.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Quote

"A man of humanity is one who, in seeking to establish himself, finds a foothold for others and who, desiring attainment for himself, helps others to attain." - Confucius

Quote - Excellence

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle

Monday, August 31, 2009

明天重出江湖.......

决定了.......明天重出江湖.

Decided. Heading back into the industry.......

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Weekend 21.11km Long-Slow-Run around Seletar/YCK/AMK area

Current training plan for 6-Dec full marathon is to do 10km run twice on weekdays and a LSR (between 20km to 35km) on one weekend day.

Wake up at 6am today. Took a glass of coffee and 2 bananas. Started running at 6:30am today Sunday morning. Carried along a 750ml bottle of 100Plus+Ice+Water.

Completed 21.11km in 2:07hr. Overall average speed is 10.0km/hr. A 7 minutes improvement over recent SAFRA half-marathon run. Faster because of not stopping for water point for hydration. Only stop after 13km point to take a package of energy gel. Three minor stops at traffic light junctions.

Drank at 1km or 2km or 3km intervals along the route. Took a few (1 to 3) deep breath. Squeezed the water into my mouth and hold the water there and continue to run. Did deep breathing in through the nose. At exhaling moments, swallow the water bit by bit from the mouth. It took 3 to 4 swallows. Running speed was maintain at between 9.5km/hr to 10.0km/hr. This helped save some time.

Just realized that my comfortable cruising speed has improved from 9.5km/hr to about 10.0km/hr. Quite happy with today's run.


Friday, August 28, 2009

Quote

"The greatest discovery you'll ever make, is the potential of your own mind." — Jose Silva : a parapsychologist and author of the Silva Method

Thursday, August 27, 2009

10km training run at Seletar area

Did not do my planned run in Malaysia on Wed due to wanting to spend more time with mom and family members.
Arrived home in Singapore at 6:10pm. Changed to running attire immediately, make a few important phone calls and went straight to run 10km.

Did 10km in 57:23 minutes within my goal of less than 60:00 minutes.

The run was quite easy and just a little bit push above the cruising speed feeling. Heart rate mainly in Zone 2 and 3 which is good.

For the final 1km, speed up and the heart rate increased to Zone 4. Overall a good run and happy with it.

Did not drink nor walk during this 10km run. Running speed is mainly within 10km/hr to 11km/hr range.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The SAFRA Bay Run results are out! CONGRATULATIONS to all who have completed the race that one have set out to do.

Run for Health, Run for Fun, Run for Life.


21km Event
Name: TIM TEO, Net Finish: 01:36:49.45, Category: 21KM MEN'S OPEN
Name: MATTHEW ANDRE JOE, Net Finish: 01:59:01.45, Category: 21KM MEN'S CLOSED

Name: RICKY FUN, Net Finish: 02:01:42.35, Category: 21KM MEN'S VETERAN
Name: ONG BOK HUI, Net Finish: 02:03:21.90, Category: 21KM MEN'S OPEN
Name: KENNETH KUAN CHEE YIN, Net Finish: 02:07:09.45, Category: 21KM MEN'S OPEN
Name: GAN HOCK CHAI, Net Finish: 02:13:52.15, Category: 21KM MEN'S VETERAN

Name: EDWIN GOH, Net Finish: 02:15:52.85, Category: 21KM MEN'S CLOSED
Name: YUN YOW SENG, Net Finish: 02:16:52.95, Category: 21KM MEN'S VETERAN
Name: YUAN ZIJING, Net Finish: 02:17:10.50, Category: 21KM MEN'S OPEN

Name: NG HEI TONG, Net Finish: 02:41:45.55, Category: 21KM MEN'S VETERAN
Name: KUAN SUI TOH, Net Finish: 03:16:04.75, Category: 21KM MEN'S VETERAN
Name: YIP YEW SENG, Net Finish: 03:18:42.65, Category: 21KM MEN'S OPEN


Name: TAY KHENG HUA, Net Finish: 03:18:48.10, Category: 21KM MEN'S OPEN
Name: MARGARET LIM, Net Finish: 02:35:48.05, Category: 21KM WOMEN'S OPEN

10km Ev ent
Name: HONG SHAW C HIAT, Net Finish: 01:09:53.85, Category: 10KM MEN'S VETERAN
Name: LOW KOON POO, Net Finish: 01:14:56.35, Category: 10KM MEN'S VETERAN
Name: NG HAO TAT, Net Finish: 01:17:59.25, Category: 10KM MEN'S OPEN
Name: LIM ENG HUA, Net Finish: 01:08:35.50, Category: 10KM WOMEN'S VETERAN
Name: CATHERINE NEW LAY THENG, Net Finish: 01:09:58.75, Category: 10KM WOMEN'S OPEN

Name: YEAK CAI MUN, Net Finish: 01:12:13.20, Category: 10KM WOMEN'S OPEN
Name: Q IU BETTY, Net Finish: 01:11:39.60, Category: 10KM WOMEN'S OPEN

Discipline, Stamina, Endurance, Challenges, Joy. Courageous, Perseverance, Exhilarating, Energized, Triumphant.

Strong Determination...... 'Nothing is Impossible'.

Travelling to Malaysia to visit mom

Flight Itinerary - CONFIRMED
Departing - Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL)
Tuesday, 25 Aug 09 Flight TR 454 Depart Singapore (SIN) at 12:15 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) at 13:10
Returning - Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) to Singapore (SIN)
Thursday, 27 Aug 09 Flight TR 457 Depart Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) at 16:50 and arrive in Singapore (SIN) at 17:50
Cost me $70 for two-way.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Mon 24-Aug-09 training run 10km

Went to run around Seletar neighbourhood. Completed 10.2km in 1:04hr...which is not too bad. Though I have been telling myself that during my regular 10km training runs, to complete them below 1:00hr.

Feeling a bit tired and lethagic today eventhough the heart rate is mainly in Zone 1 and Zone 2 only! Not sure why. But definitely have been trying to do an easy run today at slow cruising speed of around 9.5km per hr.

Total distance ran together with my Garmin heart rate, speed and distance monitoring watch is about 602 km and 123 hours in about one year.

Quote => Money

"Money is a tool of exchange and nothing more; it is not a measure of value, nor a representative of property; it transfers property from one person to another as a wagon hauls goods from one place to another." - Professor Price

Money, then, may be simply defined as a medium of exchange.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Quote

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi

Saturday morning 17km run along last Mizuno Route

Have not been running since Tue. Decided last night that I should do at least a 10km run today. Plan to wake up at 5:45am but woke up at 6:45am with my phone (alarm clock) under my body and blanket.

Clocked in 1:47hr for 17km. Heart rate mainly in Zone 3 between 150 to 160 bpm.

Quite an easy and relaxing run for me. Just want to do a Long Slow Run (Long Slow Run). Was carrying with me a 750ml bottle of 100-Plus mixed equally with water+ice.

Have a dradft training plan for my 6-Dec Full Marathon i.e. For each week :-
On weekdays : 2 days. Each day about 10km or an hour at fairly good speed e.g. 10km/hr or higher. Target to do 10km in less than an hour.
On weekends : 1 day with a 20km or 30km run at slow speed (LSR : Long Slow Run).

Will have to do cross 32km (75% of full marathon distance) a few times during training.
To stop LSR distance 3 weeks prior to actual event and tapering down the distance for the body to rest.

Today's 17km route :-
Started from Seletar Rd. Turn right into Yio Chu Kang Rd. Turn right into Upper Thomson Rd. Turn right into AMK Ave 1. Turn right into AMK Ave 2. Turn right into AMK Ave 5. Turn left into Nanyang Polytechnic. Run passed its stadium and head to rear gate. Turn left into AMK Ave 9. Turn right into AMK St.63, St.64 and St.65. Turn right into Yio Chu Kang Rd. Turn right into Seletar Rd. Ended at Neram Crescent Park.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Make A Difference...

From 'Make A Difference..." website.


Inspirational Movies

Millions of people around the globe are being uplifted and inspired by our movies. Compelling mind-body-spirit research concludes music has the power to reduce stress, enhance cognitive functioning, and improve productivity and creativity. Music combined with inspired messages of hope, restores faith, renews the mind and opens the way for peaceful solutions. - Mary Robinson Reynolds


http://www.makeadifference.com/movies/index.htm

Quote

"...but often our greatest discoveries are born not in the flash of a brilliance. But in a crucible of a deliberate effort over time." - Barack Obama

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Quote : copied from TH Kuek

富贵从来未许求,几人骑鹤上扬州?

与其十事九如梦,不若三平两满休。

能自得时还自乐,到无心处便无忧。

而今看破循环理,笑倚栏杆暗点头。

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Did a 5km run today

Went to Nanyang Polytechnic running track. Was trying to see if I can do 5km in 25 minutes which is the criteria for joining the MR25 running group. That means 5 minutes per km or 12km/hr speed.

For the first 2km I was able to stay above 12km/hr speed but was very taxing. Was not able to maintain at that speed going into the 3rd km. So ended up running at my usual cruising speed around 9.6km/hr. At the last 400km, I speed up and only manage to hit max speed of 16.6km/hr.

Overall pace for this 5km run is 5.5 minute per km or 10.9km/hr speed which is way too low to qualify for the MR25 running group (not that I want to join this groujp but just want to have a feel of how difficult it is). Completed the 5km in 27:48 minutes.

Interesting to note that when I reduce my running speed after 2km to slow down my heart-rate, my cadence actually went up. Which means that when I run faster in the first 2km, I am not making full use of Pose method but was 'pushing' more instead of 'pulling' the legs. At the slower cruising speed eventhough my cadence went up, it is lighter and easy to run (pulling instead of pushing) leading to a drop in heart rate. Need to continue to improve on my running techinque.

Received my PAssion Run Certificate

Just received today the certificate for the 24-May-09 PAssion Run. Quite an interesting certificate.

Completed the 15km in 1:33:16 hours. Quite happy with this timing. Future goal will be to do it below 1:30hr. An excellent result will be 5 minutes per km i.e. 1:15hr.

Quote

"Dream as if you will live forever, Live as if you'll die today." James Dean

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Swam 600m today

Today's Hot-Runners' running session was canceled as most of the folks wanted a rest after last Sunday half marathon event. The weekly Tue and Thu runs will resume next Tuesday 25-Aug.

Thinking of going for a 10km run today but decided to let the body's running mechanism rest for another day. Went to SCC and swam 600m instead. Good choice as the body parts continue to exercise with different sets of muscle and also helps to continue to remove some of the unwanted wasted in the body accumulated over last Sunday's half marathon.

This is my current thought of training plan for the 6-Dec 42km full marathon event (5:30am. My very 1st full marathon).
On weekdays : Two days per week. Each day about 10km or an hour at fairly good speed e.g. 10km/hr or higher. Target to do 10km in less than an hour.
On weekends : One day with a 20km or 30km run at slow speed (LSR : Long Slow Run).

To get the motivation going thinking of joining the followings :-
06-Sep (7:00am) MR25 Progressive 30km run (not sure whether can do it or not)
13-Sep (7:30am) Mizuno 16km run
01-Nov (7:00am) MR25 Progressive 35km run (must do)

Also plan to cross a full 42km on my own 1 month before the actual race. Maybe will do it on the MR25 Proressive 35km run and add in another 7km on my own (1-Nov).

Goal is to complete the 42km full marathon in less than 5 hours.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

SAFRA Marina Bay Run 16-Aug-09

Was a busy Saturday yesterday. Went to bed around 12 midnight but was not able to sleep most of the time. Plan to leave my house at 4:10am and to reach Kuan's home by 4:30am to car-pool to event site. My alarm did not work and when I woke up it's already 4:45am !! My handphone has 4 missed calls from Kuan. Called him on the cellphone. He was already on the way to the site but gracious enough (a great friend) to turn back to pick me from home!

Brushed my teeth quickly. Drank a glass of coffee. Changed and get ready for Kuan's car. While in his car took 3 bananas and 1 biscuit bar. Upon arrival at the carpark drank a can of 100-plus. Before heading to the starting line, we went to the portable toilet to pee. OK, now we are all set to go.


The race started at 5:30am. Since we arrived late, we started only at about 5:45am. I ended the race at around 8:00am. So my run time for the 21km half marathon should be around 2:15hr or less.

My monitoring watch was not able to detect my foot pod. So ended up I can only monitor my heart rate but not my running speed.

Drink along the water points at about 3km interval, although the water stations are available more frequent than that. Took an energy gel at 10km and another one at 17km. Not sure whether it helps or not but just take lah.

Most of the time the heart rate was in Zone 4. My preference was to keep in more balance between Zone 3 and Zone 4. At the last 15 mintues, the heart rate was mostly in Zone 5 which is not too good. This may pose a problem if I do the full marathon of 42km. Did not know what speed I was running so was not able to moderate the speed to control the balance between heart rate and running speed.

Found that time are 'wasted' at water points to slow down to drink and then having to speed up again. This also consumes more energy. For my Dec full marathon I will likely carry water-bottles belt to minimize stoppages at water points.

About 32 from our hot-runners group signed up the run. The race was extremely crowded. The number of participants is at a record of 70,000 !!

All of us completed the race that we set out to do. Most of us are happy with the run time achieved. But there are a few who wish they could have done better... which is ok as there is always another race in future for them to break their own record time.

Actual results should be out next week.

Estimate Run Time
21km
Tim 1:35hr ?
HC 2:15hr
Kuan 3:00hr
HT 2:42hr
Bok Hui 1:57hr
Frank 1:50hr
Edwin 2:16hr
Margaret ??
Kenneth 2:07hr
Cecilia 2:45hr
ZiJin 2:16hr
YS Yun 2:17hr
Will ?
Safiq 3:17hr
Pak Loon ?
MJ 1:50hr
CS Chan ?

10km
Hong 1:08hr
Alena 1:07hr
Catherine 1:12hr (1st timer, wow!!)
Betty ??
William 1:25hr
Edmund 1:15hr (1st timer, wow!!)
Jimmy ??
Janto 1:02hr
KW Phang ?
PS Tan??

After the run some of us went to Lau Pa Sat to have breakfast today. The group share their running experiences.






Bok Hui shared his 'fore foot" running method which uses less energy, is fast, etc, etc.
Edwin followed HC's advice that to complete the full distance 21km, one must clear at least 75% of the distance during training. He manage to complete the whole race. However, the timing fall short of his expectation of less than 2:00hr. To do less than 2 hours he definitely need to train more and clear the 21km or during his training.

A lot more experiences were shared and the the group have a fun time together at breakfast.