Off for a week

I've not done any exercising since returning from Bali coz I've been having stomach cramps. Think I might have eaten something bad when I came back from Bali! haha. Anyway, I also caught some heat rash on my last day in Bali so I guess the last week was also time for the rash to heal properly.

Managed to do a run tonight after the week off and I completed a 7km distance from Bishan to Hougang. In some ways, I do prefer being able to run to somewhere instead of simply running in a circle. For example, I prefer running about 5km to my house in Serangoon rather than to run 2 rounds of 2.5km around Bishan. Only problem is, it's kinda hard to wash up after that since I am not home and it also means I have to pack some shirt to bring along with me on the jog.

I guess the bigger question is how am I going to keep up with my exercises now that the Stanchart marathon is on. I think Dr Chia had a point when he asked to sign up for the 10km Stanchart run because it did help me to keep up with my training. I seriously don't know if I want to train for a half-marathon or should I start taking up some other activity so that the exercising can remain fresh. But I know that I better decide soon so that I won't totally lose my momentum for exercising and start piling on the kgs.

Jogging Route - 5.4km

14 Dec 2009 - 38min 18sec

Just back from Bali after a one week post-marathon celebration and I kinda pushed myself to go on a 5.4km run. Actually, I was kinda hoping to be able to complete a 2.4km distance in under 14min30sec but still missed the target by 30sec. :(

25 Nov 2009 - 39min 0sec

A little demoralizing.

It's been two weeks since I last did a road run coz I was in Surabaya. During that two weeks, I managed some gym time but only did about 30min of interval training on the elliptical for about 4 times. On top of that, I didn't want to push myself too hard coz of my sprained toe. Well, all that has added to a demoralizing increase in timing for my 5.4km route. I was toying with doing about 8km but decided to take it one step at a time, since it had been 2 weeks since my last long run. I've definitely gotta get back to some momentum especially since my 10km StanChart Marathon is barely 11 days away. I think I should be able to work in at least 2 or 3 more runs leading up to the 10km next Sunday. I guess in some ways, I am also a little disappointed in myself for being pretty ill-disciplined with my food the last few days. I've really been indulging in all sorts of nonsense since my second last day in Surabaya till now. While a small part of it is due to the fact that I didn't want to offend my host, I think a large part of it is my own ill-discipline. When I weighed myself the morning after I returned from Surabaya, I was about 86kg. That's almost 2kg more then my last weigh-in. Sigh. How am I going to achieve my target BMI at this rate? Gotta pull my act together over the next few days. Sigh.

I decided to add another route because I usually do it on my 'relax' days after doing longer runs like the 8km one two days ago. One round of the route above is about 2.7km. I usually do two rounds so it's about 5.4km.

11 October 2009 - 38m 01sec

I was a little apprehensive with running tonight coz my knee was hurting a bit after my 8km run two nights ago. But since there wasn't any pain today, I decided to give it a try and make an effort not to strike too hard or push myself too hard. Wanted to see if my knees were ok. I'm glad to say that while there was slight discomfort during the run, my left knee isn't hurting and maybe the 8km run was a one-off strain. Hopefully my knee will adapt as I attempt the longer runs. I usually try to use the first 2.4km of the route to measure my own 2.4km pace. When I started doing proper 2.4km runs about 4 to 5 months ago, I was doing around 22mins. That timing has been improving slowly and tonight, I managed to do it in about 15mins. That's probably my fastest time so far! If I'm not wrong, for my age bracket, I am supposed to complete the 2.4km run in around 14mins... just 1 more minute to cut down! Wow.. can't imagine passing my 2.4km run... if you take army as the last time i passed, it's been about 16 years since I passed my 2.4km! The goal is close....

Back from Bali

After the 10km Stanchart Marathon, I decided to reward myself with a trip to Bali. This is actually my first real vacation since I started losing weight. Since I'm much fitter and much lighter, I found myself being able to take part in activities which I've previously not dared to attempt due to being so overweight. So for the first time, I went parasailing, river rafting and I even attempted my first ever diving! It's great to be able to 'qualify' for these activities and not feel tremendously winded/tired after doing them. For the parasailing, the weight limit was 90kg... for the first time ever, I qualified! haha...

My next trip, I intend to try a trek up to a Volcano peak and maybe do some mountain biking. :P

Enjoying a waterfall along the river

My Diving Instructor and Me

Parasailing

My First Ever 10km Run - 1h 17min 34sec

I'm extremely proud to be able to say that I have completed my first ever 10km run. I've never run 10km in my life before and this is really something I'm pretty proud of achieving. A year ago, I don't think I could ever have imagined finishing any run, let alone a 10km run. I really have to thank the team at the Singapore Sports Medicine Centre for their support and guidance. Right now, I'm only thinking of going for a nice relaxing celebratory vacation in Bali... tomorrow!

On the eve of my first ever 10km

In less than 12 hours, I will hopefully have succesfully completed my first ever 10km run. I think I've more or less fought off the flu/cold bug and do feel that I'm about 90% ready to take on the run. I am a little apprehensive because I have not gone beyond 9km in all my training runs. Why I went for my 5km run, I had already attempted it before, so tomorrow's 10km is going to be really the first time ever that I've run 10km. I'm not really gonna push myself too hard coz my main aim is to be able to run the entire route without stopping. However, if I'm able to complete it within 1 hr, it will be really the icing on the cake!

I hope the weather will be fine tomorrow and that I will be able to wake up on time!

Jogging Route - 7.0km

3 Dec 09 - 51min 44s

3 days more to the StanChart Marathon. I know the 10km run doesn't sound like much when compared to the full marathon of 42km or even the half marathon of 21km. But for me, 10km is like something I have never done before. I'm a little worried cause for the last few days, I have been fighting off a flu/cold bug. My body has been aching a little and I've been having a slight fever. So I've not run very much and only managed 2 runs since 27 Nov. I was actually hoping for at least 3. With the 10km run only 3 days away, I won't be doing anymore runs and will be resting up for the big day on Sunday morning. Tonight's 7km run timing wasn't too bad. It's definitely an improvement over the last time I did the 7km route but then again, that was in September. I'm not sure if I'm really ready to take on the 10km but for now, I'm only hoping that I will not succumb to the flu bug in the next few days.

24 Sep 09 - 58min 44sec

Was feeling kindy moody today so I decided to try the 7km run hoping for a healthy injection of endorphins. Thought that the combination of being aoping to ble to complete my first 7km run and the endorphin high would help me to get over my mood. Regardless, I've done it! And I'm one step closer to achieving my goal of completing my 10km run. :)

Jogging Route - 9.0km

27 Nov 2009 - 1h 15min 29sec

I decided to push myself and try the 9km route again. It's not too encouraging to see that my time has increased by 6mins even though this time I did not fall like the last time I tried this route. The last 2km were also quite a struggle and I really wanted to just give up and start walking. I managed to push through and completed the route. I admit I'm a little apprehensive about the 10km run next Sunday. I don't know if I can get back to my pre-Surabaya form. Gotta think about how to prepare for the coming week. Probably just attempt shorter runs around 6km and 8km before the actual run on Sunday. So close.. so apprehensive.. Also wondering what target I'm gonna set for myself once I complete the run next Sunday.

11 Nov 2009 - 1h 9min 35sec

The last week since I returned from Sydney has been a whirlwind of activities. It's the end of term and there was practically something happening every evening. On top of that, I had to prepare for my coming trip to Surabaya as well as the conclusion of the programme I am in charge of in school. So, my exercise regime has been pretty badly disrupted. Think I only managed to complete one 5km run before tonight's 9km attempt. Even when it came to tonight's attempt, I was actually not too sure if I wanted to do it. I've been feeling a little sick-ish and I've also not even started packing for my trip which departs in barely 15hrs. Well, I finally decided to try and keep to my original goal of completing one 9km run by the first week of Nov. It was kinda tough trying to push myself to complete the route but I'm glad that I managed to do it. On top of that... I received my first ever running injury! Around the 8km mark, I was looking ahead and missed a stupid tree root sticking through the pathway. So I tripped on it and sprawled on the ground.When I picked myself up, I was tempted to stop running and just take a bus back but it really felt like such a waste to give up with less than 2km to go. So, I tried taking a few steps and when I realized I was only suffering from some bruises, I decided to keep up with the running and complete my first 9km run. I'm very sure I'm going to feel the full brunt of the bruises tomorrow when I wake up. heh. Well, here are my 'trophies':

Well, I'm off to Surabaya tomorrow for 2 weeks for a school trip. Am a little worried because when I come back, I will barely have 2 weeks before the Stanchart 10km run and I don't know if I will be able to do any running in the 2 weeks that I am in Surabaya, Really hope that where I am staying will be conducive to some running. Let's see how things go.