"Running Journal" Personal Page by bkoon

I have been lazy for months. Have not moved my butt for a few months ever since I completed my first marathon. Currently, I am contemplating of whether I should run in this year's marathon again. Maybe I should, just for the fun of it. Objective is to complete it with a better timing. Not a very ambitious target though. As long as it is faster than last year's. He! He! He!

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EVENTS
I usually run in free events. I do not pay to participate. The most I gate crash. I have friends who ran in the marathon without registration. I am lucky enough to have "some connections" that I usually get the complimentary passes or discounted prices.

1. MILK Run 2006 - Completed 4km
2. SHAPE Run 2006 - Completed 10km
3. Mizuono Wave Run 2006 - It was a no-show.
4. New Balance Real Run 2006 - Another no-show.
5. Army Half Marathon 2006 - Completed 21km
6. Women's Day Out 2006 (Aerobics Marathon)
7. Great Eastern Women 10k 2006
8. Standard Chartered International Singapore Marathon 2006

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Last Saturday, on 2 Sep 06, I was browsing some books at Borders while waiting for Alan for dinner. I came across this title on marathon training in 4 months and completing the 42.195km in 4 hours. To me, completing in 6 hours is already an achievement, not to say 4 hours. As I was reading, the author mentioned many times "...Oprah Winfrey completed her first marathon in 4 hours..." It was unbelievable. In fact, Oprah Winfrey tried many ways to shed some weight and in the end, it was sports and exercise which help her achieve what she wanted. Anyway, I was kinda inspired by it. Maybe I should aim towards this goal. Well, not this year definitely. Maybe next of year after next.

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3 Apr 06 - It was a hot and humid day. I went out running during lunchtime with a thick coating of sunblock on my face and my already burnt and peeling shoulders. It was not an easy 5km run. I found it effortful to complete that short distance. It used to be so easy, even under the hot sun. I must really start running more regularly.

25 Apr 06 - I hope this will not be the last run for the month. Goodness, I have been running twice since the beginning of the month. Cannot believe how lazy I've become. The usually short 5km has now become a challenge. It used to be so easy doing 10km-15km but now, accomplishing 5km is such a great achievement. Time to really start gaining back that stamina. My motivation is no longer completing the marathon but to destress. I go for my runs when I am extremely stressed, and if time permits. Maybe I shouldn't arrange for lunch meetings anymore and should use my precious lunch time to do more running.

3 May 06 - Decided to go for a run during lunch time. It was a hot hot day. June and Nicole joined me. 3 of us ran the usual 7km route. Well, it was my first 7km after so so so long. I'm glad I completed it. Wanted to give up along the way but my pals pushed me on. "It is just 7km, think about the sense of satisfaction when you complete. This is nothing compared to the marathon lah!", my running kakis said. He! He! It was a nice run after all. Great! Slowly, I can increase the distance and the frequency of my runs.

8 May 06 - April pushed me to run. Well, inactivity is really no good. So, I changed and slipped into my running attire very quickly and argh, the sun was scorching hot and it was burning. Ran with June and Nicole too. 4 of us. Nicole and April were so fast. June and I only ran the usual 5km. I am glad I ran as I felt so so good after that. Guess my next run will be end next week when I come back from Japan.

12 - 18 Jun - I am not just lazy in running but also in recording in this journal. Duh! Anyway, for the last week, I tried to do something. I ran/ exercised 4 times. The longest was from my house in Yio Chu Kang to Bishan Park, 1 round of Park 2 and back home. It used to be so easy during those days when I was training for my marathon. I used to run from home to Bishan Park, do 1 round at Park 2, then Park 1 then back home. Nowadays, running that distance is really an achievement. Ok! I must be consistent and try my best to clock the distance.

21 Jun - It was a stressful day. Was cheered up by a bouquet of flowers. Anyway, during lunch time, I went out for a run. The usual 7+km run from office to the Esplanade. I was very slow. The weather was hot. I was all red when I came back to office. I enjoyed the after-sports feeling. :)

27 Jun - Went for my run in the evening. The usual route from the National Stadium to Esplanade Park Bridge and back. I tried to widen my stride. Consciously. So, I ended up running faster. As the distance was not too long, I guess it was still alright. A good workout as always.

30 Jun - Oh yes, my main motivation of moving my body - I FEEL FAT!!! I needed to do something after two days of good food (the lunch buffets and tea times at Copthorne Hotel where I was having my course). I came back to office to clear my work and at the same time, do my running, from office to Esplanade and back. The 7.5km route. Tried interval running for less than 50m. My heart was pumping real fast and my legs could hardly go fast. Anyway, I shall try again during my next run.

1 Jul - No. Intention was not to run. OSIM triathlon. Did a relay, the cycling leg only. Before that, I ran a bit at ECP, from MacDonalds to Hawker Centre, perhaps 2km. The cycling was only a mere 10km. Others were on racer bikes, I was on mountain bike. My butts and thighs hurt now. Cycling works on the other muscles I guess.

2 Jul - Signed up for the 4km Community Run in support for a charitable cause - for kids. Is known as the MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Run. I did not even know there is a 5km or 8km categories. Anyway, the route was packed with people. A very short run for me today. Not too bad too as I got my body to do some work.

7 Jul - I was darn busy at the office the entire week. Bee Lian, Diana and I decided to go for a run before we leave the office in the evening. We left office late for running. It was 6.45pm when we started. I ran the usual office to Esplanade route. It was 7.5-8km thereabout. A good way to destress for the weekend.

9 Jul - This Sunday morning. I joined my running kakis for a run at ECP. Maybe we should give our group a name. A few of us turned up. Bee Lian, Kay Min, Diana, Yvonne, Rakel, CJ, Wei Yong and I. My longest run this year, believe it or not and it was only, say, 13-14km and I ran from MacDonalds all the way to SAFRA country club and back. I think I must have exerted too much as my knees started to ache along the way. I should have picked up slowly and perhaps just do a 10km or so. Anyway, I felt so good after the run, despite the fact that I ran so slowly.

11 Jul - Hot and humid during lunch hour. I ran nevertheless. The usual 7km from office to Marina Promenade Bridge. I became breathless very fast. Completed it anyhow. I love the feeling after the run. A word to describe it is SHIOK!!!

13 Jul - I need to be more consistent in order to pick up the momentum. Although extremely busy at the office, at 1pm, I rushed off to change into my running attire and off I went, my 7km run. The weather was so much better than on Tuesday. I always like the fact that running is a good stress reliever. Under tremendous stress these days. Luckily, I have a regular sport like running for me to "fall back on".

14 Jul - Girlfirends. Yes, ran with my girlfriends after work. Great weather, great company. When running in a group, we chit-chat as we ran. A nice way to catch up with one another. Killing two birds with one stone. Shed weight + socialise. Ran from office down to Clark Quay. Perhaps 10km or so. Followed their pace and hence, it was a faster than normal run. Enjoyed it very much. So, I am all set for the leisure 10km run this Sunday at the first women-only run in Singapore. See you at the SHAPE Run 2006.

16 Jul - Ran in the SHAPE Run. It was a familiar route. It started from the Marina Promenade towards the National Stadium and back. It felt like more than 10km. The weather was fine. I was there with my MURC girlfriends. It was a great run. Many of us have decided to sign up for the marathon which will be happening on 3 Dec. We are setting aside our weekends for our long runs.

19 Jul - The usual 7km run during lunch time. Nice run as the weather was not too bad.

For few weeks between end Jul - beg Aug - I was lazy to update this journal and I was also lazy to run. I was recovering from throat infection and flu then. After I recovered, I kinda gave myself a lot of excuses. What a shame. Gees. I was running like once a week only and for very short distances.

15 Aug - I have not been moving for a long time and I felt kinda unfit. I must do something. It was raining cats and dogs outside during lunch hour, but fear not, I still can go to the gym. Yeah! Did a very short interval training on the treadmill. The fast and slow, fast and slow really made my heart pumped a lot.

16 Aug - I had a date with running buddy, Kevin to go running together at the ECP after work. Another buddy, Adeline was in Hong Kong for business and couldn't jon us. We started quite late at almost 8pm. Ran 12km from the first carpark at Fort Road to Bedok Jetty and back. My longest run the whole of this year. It was a very nice run.

17 Aug - I promised my good pal, Bee Lian that I would run with her during lunch. But I just ran last evening. Anyway, she managed to push me to do it. Kmin joined us. Ran the usual to 2nd Bridge under the hot scorching sun.

22 Aug - I signed up for the New Balance Real Run which happened last Sunday. Again, I did not show up. I was too lazy, or rather, I think my body need to rest as I've been going through mental and physical stress from all the things which are happening, at work, my course, etc. Anyway, I ran with Bee Lian to second bridge. It was a refreshing run after a few days break. It seemed long to me and I actually felt guilty that I did not run for so long. Goodness. Sports need to be part of my lifestyle, else, I really do not know what will I become.

27 Aug - My 2nd Half-Marathon at the Sheares Bridge Run and Army Half Marathon 2006. I did not train much but I still went for it. It was great, I always like the sense of satisfaction when I pass the finish line. The weather was fantastic and we started the race early at 5.30am, so by the time I finished, it was still before 8am. Just one complain. Runners had to stop at traffic junctions. Very irritating and disruptive. Just the day before, I bought my new pair of running shoes. I purchased a pair of stablity shoe from New Balance, model 901. I love the colour. It's pink. :) Hopefully it will be as comfortable as my Mizuono Wave Rider which I'm using now. I also took the opportunity to stock up my running singlets and shorts, all from New Balance. 40% discount using my staff card. Yahoo!

1 Sep - Shiok! Ran from office to GMAX Clark Quay. I was running this 10km route alone today. The weather was good. I felt that my knees were burning. Don't know what's happening. I was wearing my new pair of New Balance running shoes.

4 Sep - I had wanted to do my 15km yesterday but I was too lazy and ended up sleeping the whole day. I felt so "guilty" that immediately when I knock off, I put on my gear and off I went, the usual 10km route from office to GMAX Clark Quay. The weather was kind to me. It was cloudy and I thought it was going to rain. I am slowly getting used to my new pair of shoes. Again, I am feeling sooooooo gooooooood now. Yoo hoo!

6 Sep - I ran really slow today. The usual 10km route. Alone again as Bee Lian decided to work instead of going out for a run. Lots of people at the National Stadium where I work. There is a match between Singapore and China and I could hear the Singaporeans screaming and singing the National Anthem in support for their team. Guess what? I am discarding the supposedly good pair of New Balance shoes. They are not good and giving me knee problems. I am now looking for a new pair. Maybe ASICS this time. The Japs emphasize a lot on the technology when they design these shoes. Sigh! I wasted one pair of shoes. :(

8 Sep - It was a 10km run alone after work again. Somehow I felt very tired. I felt I was forcing myself to move. Refreshed after the run nevertheless. Should I join the girls this Sunday for the long run? I hope I can be up early in the morning.

12 Sep - The Management Meeting was at Sentosa. Hence, I took the opportunity to run in Sentosa during lunch time. The weather was terrible. Only 3km.

14 Sep - The usual 10km again. With Judith and Ah Seng. Shiok! After the few days lapse. I think I need to stop to be lazy and start to clock long distances as I need to get my body to learn how to burn fats. I shall try to do it this Sunday. Hope I won't be a lazy bum.

18 Sep - Again, I did not do my long run over the weekend. Anyway, my usual 10km fom office to GMAX and back. I ran with Wee Wee this evening. I wore my New Balance and I kinda got used to it. Another shiok run.

22 Sep - I did not really run. I was doing BellyBlitz during lunch time and after work, rushed to California Fitness for Body Combat before I ran a short 2.4km on the treadmill.

UPDATE - Due to the lack of training and motivation, I may just have to forgo the year end marathon. Perhaps next year or the year after. Have been busy with so many things happening.... I can still be my friends' runspirators though. :)

Oct - Went running a few times, swimming during lunch time but all without the stress from the marathon. Ha ha ha.

Checkpoint 1
0:57:55

Checkpoint 2
1:48:31

Checkpoint 3
2:12:00

Net Time
02:19:57.05
(Great improvement from last year.)

This is me on a mountain bike. FYI, most use racer bikes. I had a great time though.

3 Jan 07 - One of my resolutions for 2007 is to run more regularly. I have not been running for a long long time. I am going through the inertia phase again. The most difficult part actually. April asked me out for a run this afternoon but I declined. Sigh. Ok, I shall make it a point to run run run before I forget how to run.