Our home in KL

Our home in KL means many things to us. I've been telling Nisa for a while now that the trip up is like a mini holiday; a chance to get away from house work and the humdrum of life in Spore into a place where we are taken care off and we can rest. Jamie loves it here in KL, because he plays with his cousins and not alone. He's fine in Spore but really gets into the swing in KL. We arrives late last night and Jamie was upset that everyone was asleep; he sat around at the stairs just to be sure and in case his cousins decided to wake and he could start the festivities with them.

Me? I'm by myself this afternoon. Everyone had gone to see R's end of year concert. And this is where my KL comes in. Left alone (and sometimes when I'm not), I go to the old familiar places. The continuity brings comfort, and the familiarity, warmth. It's sometimes a refuge and a getaway. My first stop was for food. Even though we do not face food problems in KL, I went to my favorite nasi kandar place. It's always the same rice and dish combination and every time I pay for it, I mentally wonder why it is so expensive - RM14.50 (when it used to be just hovering at the RM10 mark).

Next stop was starbucks. This is more an indulgence then a habit because I always bulk at paying so much for coffee. Our neighbourhood starbucks has free wi-fi, cozy sofa chairs and is practically empty; when all of that gets priced into the coffee, it seems almost a steal if I do it once every 3 weeks. Starbucks is where a lot of surfing on the Internet gets done, and where this entry is being written. It is hard not to fall asleep in those sofa chairs.

This caps one lazy afternoon in KL. More surfing after this and then away to Kiara for a run within the hills. If only my job was this fun.

The swing from end to end

I don't know if this is real or perceived.  I discovered this after I conked at the NB real run.  There is a 10k arm swing, and an arm swing for a relaxed run. 

Forever the tinkerer, up till some 2 months ago, I have been experimenting with a changed arm swing.  This is where I envisage my arms are dislocated from my shoulder and swing free-ly.  My arms do not swing across my body but are turned in slight; nonetheless, they swing beside me and in a forward motion.  The legs naturally coordinate and I find I run faster this way.  It feels faster and it is faster because every hill workout remains tough.  This arm swing got me my PR at the Nike City run recently, when I did not think my fitness level would be up to the mark.

During the NB run, I held my arms slightly higher, and slightly more inclined inwards.  I still envisage my arms being dislocated from my shoulders though.  And with this, I seemed to go at an easier pace, with smaller stride lengths.  I tried this last night and came away fresh; the best I have felt on a run in recent times.

I just read something to augment the slow pace arm swing - focus on moving the elbows backwards because the arms swing is all about a back swing.  I'll give this a try when I do the Bedok Reservoir route tonight.

NB 15k Real Run

The Nike 10k took quite a bit out of me, so much so that I was feeling under the weather the next few days. It's the feeling of being in a state of general malaise, feeling sluggish and heavy, and probably came from Jamie being ill. Thank God Jamie has since recovered from his running nose and fever but it is likely it got passed on to Nisa and myself.

Going into the NB Real Run, I did little running as a prep. Did an easy 6k in the early week and then was felled by this general malaise. Didn't eat well too, and this contributed to the poor effort today.

Logistics-wise, everything went well. I scouted out the venue yesterday, and arrived well ahead of the crowds this morning. I found a nice parking lot and there out of my car some 75min before the start. This is something that never happens when we race in KL, we arriving there just in time to see the gun go off. It was crowded and the mood great. Except that I was still feeling under the weather; I could tell from my warmup jog.

The NB Real Run has three elements. It's "real" because ther is a trail leg (4.4k), road (10k) and a beach leg (600m). The trail was tough, it was more sandy than trail-like, and it wasn't even flattened by the runners ahead. Singapore runners start off fast, too fast. It's like a storm and everyone is caught up in it. The trail bit was in the beginning and I was knocking out km splits that would bring me to a PR for a 10k!! Too fast!! With this general malaise feeling, together with the fast start, I got killed at the 7k mark. From there, it was going to be a long race with walks interspersed with bouts of running. What was i feeling at this stage? Pain in every area of my body - my thighs hurt, my stomach hurt, i had a blister (this i know because of worn out socks). I limped to the end, piggy-backing on some personal trainer encouraging his ward through the 15k. Everyone has bad days and today was a bad day.

I actually entertained thoughts of doing a DNF.

As my running evolves, I want to remember the lessons learnt. Today, I learnt I cannot start off too fast, and to not get caught up with the pack. Form is important, and there is a 10k form, and a 21k form. Finally, I will eat well leading up to the race, carbs and all. After the race, I had 2 helpings of Nisa's duck pasta and after an afternoon snooze, I was well again.

RTA at km223 of the North-South Highway

The Nike 10k run in KL was marred by the horrific accident on the N-S Highway when we were returning home to Spore.  No, we were not involved and we did not know of the extent until later.

After the race, I fell ill - probably from having too much fat and cream in my post race celebratory coffee at Starbucks.  Jamie also woke with a fever that morning so things were already not going well.  It could have been a sign of the horror that would come on the highway.  I wanted to start off home early-ish but slept through and woke up late.  By the time we started our journey home, it was 8.30pm.

Somewhere at Rembau, traffic came to a standstill. Most of the time, the traffic would crawl but this time, it stopped.  We could even switch off the engine and wait.  Every 25min or so, there would an ambulance or police car coming down and traffic would have to make way.  There were more ambulances than anything.  Even the emergency lane on the highway was at a standstill.  After about 2-plus hrs, we crept through Rembau and traffic picked up.  Seems the jam was caused by traffic exiting the N-S Highway to get into the small roads at Rembau.  Within 2 min of driving, traffic came to a standstill again.

Nisa had been driving up to this point and she was tired.  We changed places.  I then drove for what must be close to 3 hrs before we came to the accident.  I could only see a little because I was driving and Nisa told me about the rest.  There was a bus whose's front had been smashed at the driver's cockpit.  The car in front of the bus waas smashed, totalled.  The Myvi in front of that was also wrecked.  Police and ambulances were everywhere.  Seeing the number of ambulances that had pasted us, and came back up the other way, we knew it must have been bad.  To be honest, I actually swore at being in the jam until I came to the cause; I felt bad but I now know I would feel worse later.

We were stuck in the jam for some 5 hours.  Never in the years travelling along the highway had I been in a jam this bad.  Traffic speed returned back to normal after the accident but we struggled to get home.  Nisa and I were tired and none of us could drive.  Jamie was ill.  On reaching Singapore, the customs chaps asked about the accident because returning cars must have brought back bits and pieces of information.  "Were any Spore cars involved?"  I said I did not know and again complained of the length of time I was stuck in the jam (I would now come to regret speaking so flippantly over something as trivial as this).

The next day, we read the true extent of the accident.  A bus travelling northwards lost control and came onto the south-bound lanes.  It hit another bus (the one we saw), and a few vehicles. 12 dead.  Over 50 injured.  Everytime I see an ambulance on the N-S Highway, I know someone is hurt; everytime I overtake an ambulance, I wished I could carry the injured, simply because I can travel quicker.  Waiting in a jam now seems so trivial, when compared to those hurt and dead.

Nike City 10k KL

All year, I have been looking on in envy at the runners who wear the Nike Run tee. It was (rightfully) such a big deal last year. The year before, Nike started the 10k run to be held on a worldwide basis – meaning that every participating city will hold a Nike organized 10k run on a designated date in October. Last year, it wasn’t done world-wide but the run in Singapore was unique in that no bibs were issued but your racing number was printed on the event tee-shirt. People were wearing the red Nike tee long after the race and I have looked on, regretting that we did not do that race.

This year, the Nike 10k run was different. The race tee continues to have your running number printed but the race was pitched as a Spore vs KL event. Total distances would be added to see which city emerged the winner. The KL race was held last Sunday and it was great.  Nisa and I ran it because we regard ourselves as being a part of the KL running community.

This time, we did a few things right.  We scouted the start the day before to see where we could park, and on the day of the race itself, we go there with some 30min to spare.  Enough time to find a spot to park, walk leisurely to the start and do a decent warm-up.  We even stood around waiting for the gun!  There were many many people and we did the Spore thing - we found a spot outside the corral at the front and when the gun went off, we duck-ed inside the corral and crossed the start with those right in front.  It helped quite a bit but like every start, every one ran off at top speed and things quickly got crowded.  I plodded along but must have been caught up with it all and did the 1km in 4:46.  There was some weaving involved but by the 3rd km, I was tired and had to slow.  It was discouraging too because this is where we separated from those running the 5k race as they turned off to head back.

I would have expected a city race to be pan-cake flat but we went up the KLCC highway, came down, and U-turned up again.  It wasn't easy and later, Nisa said that all those intervals at the hilly housing estate behind where we live in Spore must have help; I didn't feel it did but I am sure I would have struggled more if I had skipped the intervals.

The only part of the race that was badly planned was the bit going into the tunnel.  The tunnel must have been about 600m long, and because part of it was closed for the race, traffic was at a standstill, with fumes building up.  Driver and runners were not happy and no wonder.  Out of the tunnel, did a short U-turn again and the finish was suddenly in sight.  I crossed in a 10k PB, some 5min faster than my SCKLM2010

When you press "reset"

It works. When I'm sitting on the couch after a day at work, when I'm about to leave on a run to free my mind. It definitely did last night as I was about to leave to get in my last run before this sunday's Nike 10k. RW had said, in an article some time back, that one of the ways to de-stress was to do deep breathing; breathe in fully and feel the air going all the way into your belly before you breathe out. It's a mental and bodily "reset" mechanism. I've been feeling a little out of sorts these days and, well, it seems to work.

I pressed "reset" last night before heading out. The reset process also requires you to then do an appreciation of your surroundings, almost anything to free your mind and get back in touch with reality. This I did when I went on the newly discovered Lucky Heights route. That area is more than decent and if I had the dosh, I wouldn't mind living in the big houses there. Along the way, I discovered something about running shoes.

I had always craved the soft pillowy ride and have been seeking out shoes that provide this. I also would like to feel the ground as I run so it had not been easy finding something that comes soft, and is sufficiently thin - if its soft, its probably not thin. The only shoe that comes close are Asics but they cost serious money and they are never on sale. Recently, it's been a change of heart about the soft pillowy thingy.

Scientifically (and its difficult to be scientific on feel), its about energy return. A soft shoe will absorb energy because it provides cushioning when you land, and there is no energy return on the launch. All you get with a soft soled shoe is that sinking (into comfort) feeling. A harder sole will have some energy return. But, but, but, when you are at base training stage and really building up fitness and strength, I only need comfort because anything else will be too hard and jarring on the legs.

Time for another reset? I think so.

Young minds pt 2

Jamie: do you know that MBZ (his cousin) will grow?

Daddy (ie me): of course. And so will you if you continue to eat well and drink your milk.

Jamie: no! He will grow because he's human!

Daddy: err..ok. Who else is human?

Jamie: Mommy, myself, daddy, MRZ, MSZ

Daddy: ok, ok. So who is not human?

Jamie: Terminator. You know it, right??!!

Thread carefully..young minds ahead

Jamie asked me what was 1 + 1. He has started attending school and must have already covered v simple mathematics; like every proud parent, we all think simple mathematics are all within the natural ability of kids his age. I wanted him to arrive at the answer himself and decided to aid him.

Whilst not exactly sir Isaac Newton myself, I held up my left index finger, followed by my right index finger. I brought them together and asked him what was 1 + 1. My hands were held together, to symbolize addition, and he proudly and promptly gave the answer.

11

Never buy fake

To my colleague, AT, the entire family says thanks to your effort in doing this. We had a great time watching the movie, especially for Jamie who enjoyed it the most amongst us.

That said, never buy fake.

It's only recently that I have taken an interest on blu-ray disc and the quality of the picture and sound. The ads are true - if you are not watching blu-ray, your wonderful wide screen full HD TV is..just a TV. And I just learnt that most blu-rays deliver reference quality sound. Pair with proper speakers, cables and amp, I am literally able to hear glass shatter, one piece at a time. I think what little blu-ray discs that I have does deliver this level of audio and I will now be listening with more appreciation.

All of this is lost when you buy fake. I had doubted whether blu-ray discs could be faked and I now know it can. We all just finished watching a movie on a disc that was bought from a foreign Asian country and I initially marveled at how little it costs. When inserted into the machine, the reassuring symbols came on and we sat down for a nice time. There were also the appropriate marks on the cover that shouted out "reference quality audio". I actually fiddled around with our setup when the sound was just so-so. I could not hear the individual clang of the swords in the movie. And neither could we see every weave on the clothes, or would the face test pass muster. During a break, I popped in a disc that I knew to be genuine and the difference was as apparent as day. This fake was just as good as any other DVD. The show was so-so but the quality of the disc was enough for the entire family to be thrilled, but not enthralled (at least if and when we chose to be on the watch out for blu-ray quality).

So, never buy fake. The old adage that you get what you pay for rings true. I'm just glad we (in the family) do not have a culture of going for the least expensive; the emphasis has always been on getting the best bang for our dollar. And good thing fake running shoes are not prevalent over here - what with the amount of shoes that we buy.

Unwittingly, I have become..

As a runner, I am impartial to the make or colour of shoes. In fact, I take some pride in ignoring the colour of my shoes when I have to make a choice. Nisa has seen me, more than twice, told the store assistant that colour was not relevant when alternative colours were brought out for us to see (all in the same size). And this is how it's been this while. It was only the last pair that I brought that Nisa chose the colour for me.

But, but, I have never considered New Balance shoes because they were ugly..I hate the "N" on the side of the shoes. No doubt they are just as good as other premium running shoes, and certainly they are mentioned in the same breadth as Asics, Saucony, Brooks (and sometimes, Nike). The stupid "N" just bothers me. The fact that each model does not have a name but if differentiated by numbers also bug me; of course every runner knows NB refuses to use names because it wants to avoid a cult status on the name, losing the focus on the shoe but if you produce great shoes year after year, this will never happen! NB seems to have relented recently with their "minimus" line of shoes but this detracts from what I feel.

Money influences everything. Coupled with the fact that we change our shoes so frequently, we need to spend as little as possible on shoes, without compromising quality. Recently, we have (and will, in a few weeks) participated in NB badges runs. NB runs are the only events that give out discount vouchers for their products and on that, I bought the RT769 last year, and the 758 recently. One is the racing shoe, whilst the other is the trainer. In this stage of training, in the lead up to the half at the end of the year, I needed another trainer. I bought the 759 over the weekend and took it for a spin yesterday. A little stiff in the forefoot but I have been told the shoe needs some running-in time, as was the case with the 758. All the 3 NB shoes are working out decently and I am growing to like how they feel, fit and perform.

Unwittingly, I have become, a NB person. Even their apparel seem to appeal to me. Brooks will be upset since their only hold over me has been their apparel.

They did their job

Yesterday night was Formula 1 night, with the Singapore race being held. From a personal standpoint, I am very proud that my tiny country held and hosted a F1 event, what with there being a limited number per season. As with most things done by Singapore, it turned out well, as it has over the last 2 occassions.

I still remember the F1 last year. I had not moved in - we had not even bought our place yet so I had to camp out at Nasir's home to watch on his big-screen TV. It was all pretty impressive, watching it on a big-screen and I was telling myself then that I would have one by the next F1.

The TV was ready, as was the sound system. Full HD too, so everything came out stark and clear. It is not much fun watching it alone and the only person whom I could remember being an F1 fan is Uncle A, Nisa's uncle from her mother's side. He came over and we ordered pizzas for dinner whilst watching F1. The Tv really performed and everything was clear - especially the crashes. The only bit where I missed out on the full experience was the sound. The choice seat of the house was taken by Uncle A, whom arrived at and sat down without much aplumb. He got the best seat and all I got was "the speakers are really adjusted well because I can see the sound is coming from the centre, where the TV is".

Jamie wanted to get in on the experience. No doubt he found F1 boring and when the race was over, he quietly but insistently, wanted to put on the Avatar blu-ray. And he thereafter promptly described the action sequences to Uncle A, right in front of his proud parents.

Was there any running involved? I completed a 7k run right before, showered and was then all ready for F1.

A jog, a sprint and a race to the end

The season will end soon with the SCSM 2010. This is where we will attempt the half in some semi-decent fashion.

I feel I was actually spent half way through the season, running too many races and feeling fatigued from the training. Ramadan came and when and there was minimal training during then. It was difficult to build fitness when I was not eating, and more crucially, not sleeping well. I wanted to do short hill intervals but that was thrown out of the window as well.

I completed my first LSD after Raya just; more like a walk/run/walk/jog effort but it felt good to be out. Distance was not impressive but i got it done. Running too with a slight cold but it was nice to get moving instead of feeling lethargic from all the cakes and tarts. Sitting around with tarts, and tarts, and more tarts makes me feel that way - to the point I could feel the butter and jam in my body clogging up the veins.

The spore runners were preparing for SCSM as well. The legs and singlets were out and everyone was in impressive form. I could only keep up for a short distance before I had to walk and I will will myself to be like them. I drafted behind this pair of lady runners - the slimmer one was sympathetic to my efforts, whilst the chunkier one was irritated until the point she passed me. Anyhow, with training and no major interruption on the horizon, I will soon join the ranks of the runners along the ECP, God-willing.

I was a little scared too

All of us trooped to universal studios yesterday. It was my sister-inlaw and her family, my other sister-inlaw, and us. We wanted to arrive right after the gates opened but I was late trying to upload and organize photos on the Mac. After years of having been brought up on using Windows, it is not easy going about on the Mac. For starters, there is no "right" click on the mouse. I could go on and on but at this stage, I am really finding it difficult to see why the Mac is superior. And this from a family that has 2 iPhones and an iPad.

Anyway, we got there just a shade under 11am. Going in was a breeze and before long, we were queuing for rides. The old roundabout whilst riding on animals was mandatory and we opened with that. Then came the Shrek rollercoaster. Jamie refused to miss out since all were going, and probably because he did not know what was involved. He's never been on a roller coaster after all. As the car pulled out and got into it's first drop, Jamie said he was scared, and wanted to go home. He wanted to get out and stop the fear bit he could not; and my boy started to cry. I was sitting beside him but there was little else I could do except stretch over to hold him. Father and son disembarked quickly and got away. He calmed down after that and before long, he was back to his old cheery self - I have pictures to prove it!

We watched other performances as well and we then came to the next ride. Not a roller coaster but more like a ski-lift gone wild. Legs dangling over the seat, acceleration and turns. I was apprehensive about Jamie but he was certain he wanted to try. I brought him out to the open area where he could see others on this ride and he was certain he was ok. He even said (bravely) he was not scared. So away we went. Nisa held onto him throughout and at the end, he proudly proclaimed that he did not cry and was not scared. A little early to say he's come off age but that's what every parent will want to think too quickly.

I was scared too. I have never liked roller coasters and have only gotten on out of peer pressure. I didn't see much point in going on something to scare yourself; this is different from an adrenalin rush. So when Jamie said he was scared, I could see myself in him. I was scared too, many many years ago, and still am.

They're here.

It is difficult to top the feeling I get when my nephew, MSZ, quietly mumbles "Wah, nice" when he saw the garden in the airwell walking into the house when the entire troupe arrived in spore.

Difficult, but not impossible because it just happened. The best feeling is watching Jamie running, laughing, and playing his heart out.

My greatest fear

Up until the journey down, the true balik kampung, the Raya festivities have been going well. Got up early on Hari Raya itself and had my baju melayu on without much fuss. This is really a bigger deal than it seems because I always have problems getting the buttons on, and even bigger problems getting the sarong to roll nicely, securely and fall neatly. If there is anyone to emulate in wearing this traditional dress, it would be to look at the Agong, or the PM, and copy exactly what they do. The post prayers binge was also controlled and I had only what I wanted without going overboard.

So things were looking like they were moving as planned. The second day is always the trip down to Muar, to Dad's hometown. We decided to go in 3 cars instead of the usual 2. Everyone would travel in relative comfort to Muar, and then onto Spore.

On the journey down, Nisa's car fell behind because H wanted to go to the loo and that car stopped in Seremban rest stop. This was where Nisa felt the brakes almost fail. Her car stopped and waited for 2 hours for the resident mechanic there to do a look see. To his credit, he admitted that this particular European car was beyond his expertise but he said the car could go on. When Nisa reported back and the Muar people diagnosed that the brakes probably needed bleeding. But after 2hrs of rest, the brakes seemed to be back to normal and she drove on. They failed again at the outskirts of Muar and she pulled into a petrol station. By now, it was some 7hrs since leaving the KL home and everyone was tired. Short story is that a mechanic was located in Muar who seemed competent enough to sort this out, and the car was towed to his workshop. Everything in Nisa's car was distributed between the other 2 cars and we continued the journey down to Spore. We left KL 11am and got into Spore at 1am.

If there were better circumstances to experience a car problem, I could not imagine. The brakes problem was discovered at a large reststop. The second time it occurred was at a petrol station. All of this took place in the day (it would have been a disaster if it were the night). And Nisa had her sister and brother with her. On top of that, the family was in Muar and could find a friendly mechanic, because they have lived there for an age.

The greatest fear in the travels up and down KL is to have a breakdown and it happened.

A spark..and I'm back in the club

The last time I went running was when I made the last entry. Apart from when we were on holiday, I doubt I have stopped running for this long. I only have myself to blame, seeing that I did not wake up for my morning meals and hence went round the whole day feeling empty and weak; not that the daily routine was difficult to fulfill or that I was not able to think straight but running was out of the question. It's terrible to feel empty the whole day long.

The only think that I could do was to think about golf. And practice, since that takes little energy. I'm getting better, which is surprising as it has been almost 2 years since I played 18. So golf took up quite a bit of time, and the last few days was getting the home ready for the family coming down from kl. Throw in one night when R (our trusty contractor) came to sort out Jamie's step in his shower stall, and re-waterproof mine, and that brought me to the eve of Raya.

Yet there was a spark. Just last Monday, I somehow stumbled upon podcasts from RW. It's wasn't new stuff bur I downloaded in nonetheless. Just looking at the 1:43min podcast was the spark. I somehow wanted to run almost immediately and I got back into my running groove. Fast forward to just now and I found myself at Kiara. It was raining when I left the house but it had stopped when I got there. I was the only one going up the wet hills but no matter. As I trotted up, I felt I rediscovered running for the second time, and readmitted myself back into the community of the KL runners. So much so that as I was leaving to come home, a runner that was starting on his run waved - for this is what everyone in the KL community really is.

I may have the disease

I've thinking about it more often than not. Maybe because it's hard to go running during Ramadan. Not to say I don't enjoy my runs during this period. So as I sit on the couch, I think a little. Thinking gets me off my butt and I go into the posture.

I've been to the practice ground too. Both occasions very successful. What I have been thinking about actually works. I finally understand what the magazines have been talking about. I went to the shop yesterday, ostensibly just to browse but the reality was to see if I still had it, and had a go at the try area...and yes, I still did. Tried it too just now and, yes, I still had it. It even felt easy.

Made plans with DH at the office to play a round as well. Even felt excited about it. Nisa says I should pick it up again; she had actually seen how much I had enjoyed it and how dedicated I had been. I got up the night before to tinker with the instruments, wondering if a low tech change would render unnecessary the need to spend money.

I really am fighting off this golf disease. It's not that I was playing poorly when I "retired" but my life is about running now. If only it was cheaper, and took up less time, I could have 2 hobbies.

How to run during Ramadan

Here's how:

1. The torso has to be upright so the diaphragm is able to move and allow maximum lung capacity. Torso also slightly bent forward but just a smidgen.

2. Dislocate the shoulders. This means the arms are swinging freely, with the torso upright. The shoulders don't swing.

3. Same with the legs. They are distinct from the hips and swing back and forth, with hips stable and straight forward. If anything, the back swinging of the legs is slightly emphasized.

4. Run with all you've got. Use the calves, tights (even the butt) to push off forward. This will also prevent over striding..

5. Land with your feet under you, and not beyond.

And stop when you have stomach cramps. This is what happened just now and I took a walk break.

So this is what it feels like running on empty. It's like the last leg of a long race and it was tough. Everything just seems to be slower and I need to employ all these form tricks to get myself across the line. Short runs are now long runs, at least until Ramadan is over.

Disappointed

I'm bitterly disappointed - not because I've not gone for a run all of this week but a major furniture company did not deliver. And this organization had grown to have faith in them placed by all of Singapore, but not anymore by me.

We had decided to expand our storage in the ironing room and wanted to build another shelf on top of the existing ones. The existing ones had been bought from this store and I had spent an hour (and probably some) assembling them. This furniture store sells DIY stuff, with simple, workable designing and at a layman's price. It's all more than acceptable and my sofa is from ther as well. They keep saying their prices are low because it would add to the price if there's assembly so we get to do some DIY along the way. For a non-handyman, self assembly takes a long time but its all worth the while because it's for your home and it's good for your soul to be building something with your own hands.

We returned with the shelves and I started work. My colleague has been telling me to buy power tools because a powered screw driver will do an hour's work in 10min - this is really true but I'm not that much a handy man to be spending that sort of money. So away I went with the addition of the shelves. I had spend a good deal of time until I opened the last parcel. The part itself was there but there were no screws! How would you do a bloody DIY if there were no screws when they ought to be provided? I had actually cleared the present shelves because I had to drag them away from the wall and now the ironing room is stewed with stuff, and the extra shelf has remained unassembled.

Worse was that Nisa and Jamie are watching a movie without me. Jamie had been wanting to watch something and we got the blu-ray today. As I was assembling away, Jamie kept asking when I would end just so we could start the movie. They have started but if I had succeeded, there would have been something to show for missing the movie. Instead, I am left to write to record my thoughts.

This is all so disappointing. I have to go back tomorrow and ask for the screws. And to think just 8 bloody screws have caused me to lose faith in the furniture company, and yes, I really have.

The KL equivalent of a Singapore legend

I can still remember the Singapore legend, after all these years. I had first encountered it in the mid-80s and since then, whenever the guys get together for reservist, the topic comes up. The talk always centered around heroism, endurance, pain and (finally) victory. About how many times the ascend was made and then how everyone stumbled, fell, tripped our way down in the smooth stones and gravel.

In fact, Peng Kang hill is so famous we even joked that a memorial ought to be erected at its base, and thereafter station a military sentry to control the people going up and coming down. Its really hallowed ground with soldiers because many of us have gone up and down the steep hill. I still remember, a little hazy now with the passing of the years, that there are 3 turns; and on the third turn on the way up, the incline is so steep you see the sky. I don't remember having ran up Peng Kang hill without stopping, needing to stop at least once to catch my breath - and during army training, there is always someone barking at you whenever you stop.

I am just thinking back to the run up Bukit Kiara just now. The hill is paved, unlike Peng Kang hill so there is no slipping and falling. It is way longer than Peng Kang because the entire journey up, with a loop around at the top and back down is about 5k. But it has the same 3 turns, and it is steep. How does it compare with Peng Kang hill? I remember I had to expend the same effort, the same breathlessness. I have never, never, gone up Bkt Kiara without having to stop and the best I have done is to stop once during the ascend, and again somewhere within the loop (where the "broken road kerbs" are). Today, I had to stopped more than twice but it was a good clip throughout.

I daresay Bkt Kiara is just as famous at least amongst those who know. There is a drinks seller at the base, and monkeys all over. Within Bkt Kiara, I am told there are mountain bike trails. On a weekend, many many people walk up and down the hill, with only a few running. These runners are really fit; one of them stopped me when he saw I had donned on a singlet from another race to enquire if I had enjoyed that race and when I said it was my first half, he said he did the ultra! The conversation ended with him telling me that anyone that could go up and down Bkt Kiara for 90 minutes would be marathon fit.

Bkt Kiara is the Peng Kang hill for me now. That hill in Spore is within a restricted area and the public is not allowed in. Bkt Kiara is where memories are built now.

Achieved!

With a sigh of relief, we left PKNS in the mid-afternoon today.

This is an annual Ramadan story, and event. We would try to get out Raya outfits as early as possible into Ramadan and always, we fail miserably. In fact, on one Ramadan, I had left it to the last weekend (24hrs before Raya!) before I got my outfit. The one last year fitted so poorly - because I had just grabbed anything that was in sight. I brought it to the tailor to alter last week and when I wore it, he laughed; this is something he has never done but he actually did, making the remark that I looked like a Waiyang (Chinese opera) performer. So this is how I have come to dread the annual trip to purchase Raya outfits.

Like many past Ramadans, I have vowed to myself I will start the journey way in advance and if anything, on the first weekend of Ramadan. Today was not the first weekend but it was early enough. The traditional place to get outfits is this place called PKNS over in Shah Alam. The first thing that hits you when you arrive at the vicinity is the amount of cars, all looking for parking and ending up parking all over the roads, blocking traffic. The weather is always unrelenting, hot, which compunds the experience. PKNS looks like Lucky Plaza and Far East Plaza all rolled into one, with hugh crowds to boot. This occassion was no different from the last, and various Ramadans past, notwithstanding it was early days in Ramadan.

Where there are crowds, hot weather, and limited parking, the only way to do things is to be "surgical". Know what you want before, make a beeline for the product, and get out! With these mission parimeters, Nisa, Farah, Mom-inlaw and Jamie went in, zero-ed in on the outfits and quickly bought them. I bought my songkohk without much ado. I was a little worried I could not find my cuff-link type buttons for my baju Melayu but a few steps away from the songkohk shop was a vendor selling them. Price negotiations are common placed in PKNS but the wares were secured after a little haggling. Both vendor, and more importantly, the customer came away pleased with the outcome.

I found my intervals

I have been running my intervals along this 400m quiet road within the housing estate behind where we live. It is short and tough because it is a hill (and steep too). When hill intervals are overly tough, it is not much fun since I can only manage a few intervals before I get winded. Yet it's good training because it is instant fitness with minimal effort - this is after all, the benefit of running hill intervals.

I had chanced upon an alternative route within the same estate when I had to take a short cut to end a run. Up the same route but within 300m, take a left turn and this made all the difference. This new route became a slight flat and then a gradual slope, ending with a slightly greater incline with the last 30m downhill (for relief). All in, an 800m effort which is just perfect. Enough to be taxing but not debilitating, enough to be enjoyable to want to do more.

I have found my ideal hill intervals route! Best of all, the name of the roads all start with "Lucky"

Dumb irrational fear

I hAve to admit it - as I stumble out of bed for my morning meal, I am pretty groggy, more asleep than awake. The end of the meal does not turn this state around and in fact, I am almost wanting to go back to sleep immediately afterwards. Nonetheless, I make an effort to take in my multi vitamins.

The vitamins are pretty large tablets; and in order to keep them dry, there is the silica pack. It's bigger than the tablets and it's really a small pouch, at a size that is larger than a thumb nail - impossible to miss. Yet I have this dumb irrational fear that in my groggy state, I might swallow it by mistake! I actually hold the tablet in my hands and look to be sure!

We (well Nisa, actually) got it!!

I had wanted to do this properly. I wanted to buy it from the store like everyone else, and not wanting to put my name down on some list and have it delivered to the home without me being there. There is, to me at least, a big difference in bring home Nisa's birthday present from having it delivered by an anonymous postman. Even though Nisa already knew what it was that I would be getting.

It didn't really work out that way in the end. Dr R called today to say he had over-ordered one piece. Would I be interested in it? At cost? Otherwise, he would sell it on ebay at a 30% markup - such is the current demand for this. We drove to meet him immediately to pick it up and by the evening, this is the outcome:



And after warming up to it, this is what came next for Jamie:





Oh yes, photos taken with the new camera at night in the home. I'm pleased.

My new toy - it was justified

Firstly, here's the justification..

Our camera is some 7-8 years old; it is really falling apart. The open/shut mechanism is loose and one of the metal parts is threatening to separate from the body. Its a 4 mega pixel camera, and it was the best point and shoot in its time. Heavy too, by today's standard and poor Nisa had to lug is all over KL when we were courting because I had wanted to take photos of us to remember when I return to KL. It didn't feel heavy then because it was the best in its class. To its credit, it has lasted us all through our vacations and when Jamie was an infant - many many shots were taken and the camera was what made memories for us. Nisa recently remarked that we ought to get something since the camera was really falling apart. The choice was between a Canon S90 or a Lumix LX-3.

These cameras are head to head in its class, although I knew the LX-5 has been released. Internet opinions were divided, but were leaning towards the LX-3. The LX-3 had better ergonomics but when shut, it was not as compact as the S90. It was close but I got the S90 in the end, what swayed me was that our old camera before was a S40 and on trials at the shop, the S90 seemed to take better pics than the Lumix.

Now comes the fun (or not)..

I bought the S90 a few days back. There is a myraid of functions because this is more than a point-and-shoot; functions are fully adjustable and hence almost every aspect of photograpy may be manupilated. This means there is a lot to learn for me. It was the same for the S40 but as with every new toy, you want to try everything. There was just too much to play with and I have reserve all of Saturday morning to play and explore. I am really looking forward to this.

There goes another week

The running week is almost over and I'm fretting again for letting it slip. Hard runs were done last Sunday and Monday, Tuesday was enforced rest and Wednesday was off to KL on a day trip ending with a late night drive back with the family. Thursday is almost ending and the evening was done gardening and going all over town looking for an iPad. A new shipment had just arrived today and off I went to get the family one. Tomorrow evening will be spent on classes (it's the last session) but by then, the weekend is here and the only running I got in was the first two days of the week.

I'm so bumped by the lack of running that I am almost tempted to do hills right now. But it's late and I need to sleep.

Sleep is such a precious commodity during the fasting month. It's always been my pitfall and every year, I resolve to sleep early in order that I have enough when I get up early next morning for my meal. Every year, I'm stymied. The bightest spark this year is that my family is with me, and Nisa is cooking. That's such a treat.

The first day of Ramadan

The day before Ramadan has always been spent preparing for the month ahead. Every year past, it's been planning for what to eat for the morning meal. And drinking lots of water the days before to keep the body hydrated for as long as possible. Last year, i even told myself I'll go buy my Raya outfit the first weekend of Ramadan; every year had been a rush at the end, cramming with everyone (and their in-laws) just to find something suitable - of course last year was no different.

Ramadan sort of crept up on me this year. Oh, I was aware it was coming, and vaguely knew which day it would start. But there was hardly any planning involved. Maybe it's because I'm less spiritual these days, maybe it's because I've got my family next to me this time. Maybe it's also because I'm in a better state of health too.

Whatever it was, the first day did not go well. The fasting month is always characterized by a lack of sleep. I'll get up half groggy for the morning meal, and go back to sleep. Sleep interrupted is no sleep. The lack of sleep (without fail) would trigger a migraine attack. Today, the lack of sleep was amplified by my having to catch a morning flight to KL. Even though I crashed out on the plane, sleep interrupted is no sleep. The migraine came a calling in the afternoon; I'm glad for my fitness because the migraine's effect got blunted and it only became a horrible headache. Nisa says the travelling compounded the problem.

God tells you something everyday and today, God said I had to not rely on my fitness and give the holy month it's due. Sleep adequately and live the proper life. The headache is a sign that no matter the physical shape i'm in, it is not sufficient if the fasting month is not given it's due. And by observing the month, I renew, cleanse and re-establish communion.

Double Hills - my first!

There is a famed running route in KL. When I first started running within Lake Gardens, I had heard about it and when I ran just outside the gardens itself (round the avery, memorial, and along the National Mosque), I had though it was it - it wasn't. This route that was the training route of a KL running club was called the Double Hills route - going into Bkt Tunku

The NB15k this year was the first time I ran the full route. I had previously discovered part of it but we had to do this route during the race itself. I had always wanted to go back and do the full route, more so because I regard myself as being a part of the KL running community and hence had to claim the route as my own.

Well I did it today. I had to walk up a part of the journey but I completed it. I'll always remember the effort today because everyone I saw on the route waved at (or back at) me. Such is the community in KL.

I'm interested in ...

Hobbies, I think, are started out of interest. This one is probably started out of necessity.

Like many Singaporeans, we pay our way through rather than start from scratch and learn things the old fashion (ie hard) way. We have a space in the home that had a ton of potential. In fact, the space was one reason why we bought our home in the first place. It was unique and in a nice part of the house but on first glance, it had not been kept well. Seems the previous owner had haphazardly cobblered something together and it was not a job well done. There was some rudimentary landscaping but no attempt had been made to hide stuff.

We decided to turn it into a garden. And we laid down cash for it, getting someone to come in and have it done. Everything in land scarce Singapore is done upwards, instead of sideways; our garden is no different - it is a vertical garden.

Not long after the vertical garden was set up, some of the plants began to die. We have a few planter boxes at the sides as well and the plants there did not fare well too. To say we were annoyed would be putting it mildly; we had told the gardener-man the area did not enjoy direct sunlight (it was bright though) and that the area was humid - gardener-man even came for a recce to see for himself. He declared that as long as there was light (vs sunlight), everything would be fine. On the strength of his assessment, we had left him to select our plants for the garden. We specifically wanted flowers (to add colour) and a frangipani tree (to add, well, impact).

Gardener-man has since come back to replenish the plants that have died. They're not going so well too. There was no choice but for me to start looking into the garden myself. Gardening has never appealed to me but watching hard earned money being thrown away from neglect and negligence was far less enticing.

I spoke to P (our sis in-law) who told us to buy a book. I also learnt we were over watering and so the sprinkler system has now been shut off. It takes days for the soil to dry; yes, it's that damp in the garden. I bought insecticide, and quizzed the nursery lady who sold me the insecticide on the frequency of its use. To make sure I started off right, I cross-checked this knowledge checked with P. When you want to do something, I want to do it properly. Liquid fertilizer was bought to give food to the plants - never believe gardener-man when he said he had placed enough fertilizer to last for 4 months because on the second visit he conveniently forgot what he said and encouraged us to fertilize weekly!!

With the book, I took one big step today and bought plants which I think are suitable for our conditions. Came back, dug up the dying ixora and re-planted them with the plants I bought. Jamie got involved as well, happily scooping soil and in the end, he planted some seeds as well.

I've now acquired some rudimentary knowledge on gardening and am on my way to tending our own garden. New fertilizer, the type that encourages flowers to bloom was also just bought and insya-Allah, our garden will have flowers in a short time.

(Did not run the) Orange Run 2010

We arrived KL Friday night, late - as we almost always invariably do. I need to get home from work before we even begin our journey and then there is always that drive back home to KL. It is a 4hr effort, (3hr plus if I travel really fast) if there is no traffic. Now that Nisa is living here, we drive together and this makes it even more bearable, enjoyable. It is a fact of modern living that we hardly spend time together and I am always grateful for the time the family is all together in the car. Jamie would chat incessantly until he nods off and then husband and wife would just talk and be together.

The next morning, I got up early and ran Bkt Kiara. Jamie was already up, notwithstanding he slept late last night. Jamie was so excited to be back and wanted to spend every waking minute playing with his cousins; he even knew enough that he was sacrificing sleep. We can only watch as he grows up and make choices.

The Kiara run went well, surprisingly. The flu bug seemed to have been despatched away and I really enjoyed the effort. There were walk breaks, no doubt, but this is all part of recovery and getting into racing shape again. But I am not 100% and don't think I will be for a while more. It'll not be impressive distances for sure, at least not in the next month or so.

So I was far from 100% coming into the Orange Run 2010. On the morning of the run itself, I could hardly crawl out of bed. I was aching slightly and still felt under the weather - its the bloody bug lingering within. Nisa wanted to go but I didn't. In the end, we gave this a miss. The miss is pretty significant, as the Orange Run was the race that opened our season last year and we both enjoyed it tremendously. It was the start of our racing and we both agreed to do this same event next year (and the next, and next).

I had read that we should treat races with respect. Whilst some take them as training efforts, and I think legitimately so in order to gauge fitness, there is the other school of thought that feels every race should be an all out effort. This school thinks that for those who choose to race, there should be 2 running lanes - those what walk should keep to the left and let those who race pass. I am inclined to this school of thought because it does get frustrating when people walk the route, taking up the entire route. Its part of the racing experience, more so when races are well participated. The truth is I rather see people out, having a good time and getting into a healthy state as well, then to see a zoo of elites racing and not being part of the experience.

Feeling my way around (back)

This is a pretty resilient flu bug that landed on me. I went to see the doctor Monday, was on medical leave got 2 whole days and only went back to work yesterday. I'm not 100% yet but I'm recovered sufficiently. Now LHK, who sits immediately on the left in the office is ill and so is JC sitting opposite me.

I started running again last night, putting out tentative steps to feel my way around. It was a slow 6k effort, with a walk break in-between. There is the route that loops behind where I live, taking me into Bedok South and Chai Chee. I really dislike this route because the start is uninteresting, with a gentle incline that never fails to leave me winded. I take this route everytime when I want to punish myself a little, and later revelling in my little conquest of somthing I dislike. I took this route last night but did a small deviation to take out the opening incline. I came back feeling alive, well - as if the bug had been kicked out of my system.

Siemens run 2010

A few things went right for this but many went wrong. The fact that I'm sitting in the clinic waiting to see the doctor should be telling enough.

The race preparation went well. I ate properly, early and did not feel bloated with food. Also, I drank plenty right up to bedtime, and through the night so I was properly hydrated. No stomach problems in the morning pre-race and we got to Dataran Merdeka early enough to see the corral filled up. The announcer was counting down, we got there 10min before. Both Nisa and I went to the last one third of the corral. We wanted to squeeze in front because medals were limited but it was way too crowded - there were over 6000 runners in the event. I didn't think I would medal but there was hope anyway. The gun went off and it was downhill for me all the way.

Coming into the race, I had been seriously ill. It always starts with a running nose and a sore throat, with the phelgm stuck at the roof of my throat. The throat would start getting inflamed and it would then descend into flu. I know because this has occurred many times in the past - the last being prior to the Mizuno Wave Run 2009. By the time I ran Mizuno, the illness had gone away and I was hoping it would be the case this time.

I started well and by the 4k mark, I was on pace for a good one. In fact, all through going into Bukit Tunku, I was passing people. Coming out of Bukit Tunku, I could even see the start of the line of runners. Whilst I was doing well, the flu did not go away and I had difficulty breathing, and I was hurting. Reaching the 6k mark felt like having completed 10k. I was ready to stop and had started walking. I walked/jogged to the end, suffering sling the way. No wonder poor Jamie did not get a finisher's medal this time.

I did not like the route though. Coming out of Jln Parliament, we had to turn left and loop back. This was really demoralizing to see the end on sight but yet had to turn away.

Post race, I crashed out. The flu bug had hit full force and I couldn't get myself off the bed. Poor nisa did all the driving home.

We're finally home

At about 4pm, Nisa and Jamie received their immigration passes to remain here and with that, any doubt (or risk) was removed; we're all able to stay and set up a home. This journey started many years before, at the cusp of our marriage where I went to the authorities to ask if permission would be granted for Nisa to live in Spore. She is after all, a foreigner. Equally importantly was that my son was to have a father by his side, so he turns out proper and adjusted. Things going awry happen right before my eyes.

The authorities I spoke with said it was not the policy to break a family apart. On that informal assurance, we built our entire dreams and hopes. A house was bought, the family relocated, Nisa left her job and Jamie went to school. We sat around a little before putting on our application. Typical of authorities the world over, they only tell you what submission documents are required but don't tell you the qualifying criteria. We had to go back to KL to get some, have them translated at the High Court and furnished them altogether. There was doubt whether Nisa and Jamie could return to spore with the documents but we somehow did. After the submission, we were told we would hear back within 24hrs; one day became two, and it became four. Apparently, there was a problem and when I went to see them, the authorities refused to tell me what it was, only speaking in their code.

Many rejections can be handled via financial expenditure or physical burden. If Jamie had to pay the foreigner's rate for school, then so be it. If we can't buy a house and need to walk up stairs to our flat, that's ok, even in the long run. As long as we're all home together. But if the passes were rejected, they leave Spore and what becomes of our lives? Something so simple as a pass brings such dire consequences.

Well, the passes were granted and we're finally home.

Nice, soft, spongy shoes

I'm really fed up of my left feet hurting. Without any proper medical analysis, I am guessing the medial post is too hard. So much for wearing support shoes when now training for longer distances. It's true that people lose form as distances progress but the bloody medial post is really pushing my left feet outwards? Even the slight post / support found in the lunars are hurting me. I'm going back to neutral shoes.

And since we have the SCKLM NB discount voucher, I'm getting the 758s.

Father and son

The outcome wasn't what we all wanted but the experience was priceless. This was the first occasion where I felt Jamie and I did something together, as father and son. Not to say we've never done anything, and that I lead a life where I neglect him - far from it, I remember almost every occasion I spent with him. I even remember I picked him up from school last Friday, and we were both happy to see one another.

Today was different, special. I went to see the security guard to have him turn on the outside lights on the pathway into our home. Jamie wanted up come along, whether to tarry his bedtime, I don't know. But he saw how I conducted myself with the guard. The guard was evasive and tried to shrug matters off. And when he was unable, he had to concede he did not know. Jamie took all this in, learning that honesty is prized beyond any worldly gain, that it was acceptable to concede ignorance because no one could know everything, and that forgivness is quick and more readily dispensed than imagined. He followed the guard and I all over the estate, into the switch room and through it all, took in everything. He held my hand throughout, not in anxiety or fear, but we were together in this episode. I had never felt closer to him than just.

As I lie next to him in bed, I had just kissed him goodnight - but he's long asleep, readying himself for school tomorrow.

Such is the state of my sport

My sport suffers from a lack of public following, not just in Spore but worldwide. In fact, the truly fast runners are not accredited, or even widely known because they are not regularly hyped. Those from the western world, with big shoe contracts and famous coaches, are regularly featured on the web and in magazines.

To the point that some up and coming kid (and this one really shows promise) coming in 9th in an international meet is featured. So what if he PR?? What about writing about the winner?? Its a bit like the camera showing Tiger all the time, even when he's not leadng. What about the leader and the eventual champion??

Where's the start of the race?

So much has happened I'm not even sure where to start. It's like registering for the race but on arrival, I just can't find the start - just loads of people milling around.

The bigger thing that happened was my persistent injury on my left foot. It's gotten worse. It used to be just an ache for a minute or so the moment I got out of bed in the morning but it's now turned into this full day ache everytime after some long run or so. It happened again thus morning, like it did for the last month or so. I tried taking a break from running after SCKLM 2010 but it didn't seem to help much. I wanted a break anyway because I was feeling burnt out by all the distance so it was nice to get away from running for a while. But the bloody injury persisted.

So much so to the point that I think the stability shoes that I am wearing are probably causing this ailment. I'm neutral, with low arches, but I thought stability would do me some good in going longer. It's not working though because in addition to the ache, I am now feeling the medial posts. I'm now thinking of neutral shoes and with the discount voucher from SCKLM, I'm thinking of the NB 758

The ache in my foot is also a physical manifestation of my frustration. No matter how clever a person is, some things must be taught, not learnt. I'm no slacker and I think my career proves it but if I do not know something, someone ought to take me aside and tell me. Sitting all by myself will not help me learn my new craft - if I sm unable to type, then I ought to be taught how to type; certaintly typing is not intellectual. But such is life and how I am tested everyday. Everything has a reason.

Coming back to running, I'm going to try my NB RT769 tomorrow. It a stability shoe but I can hardly feel the post. And I think I'll be on gravel so it will be softer. We've signed up for the Siemens run, as well as the Orange run, so July is a full schedule; but it's going to be a fun run for me. I don't think I'm quite up to chasing PRs these days.

SCKLM 2010

Unlike the Sundown which we were well prepared on the logistics of getting there and settling in, we were hardly prepared for this and had to rely on our (well, Nisa's) experience from last year. She knew it would be crowded and that parking would be a problem. The start was at Dataran Medeka but we went straight to the spot behind Tugu Negara to park our car. We parked at practically the same spot as last year and walked quite a distance to the start. A little late, we had to jog/walk there but no matter. For the marque race of the KL calender, it was very very crowded; even though our race had started, it took us some 7min to clear the start.

This is the "problem" with running in the marque race. It really is the highlight of our season since we regard ourselves as Malaysian runners and we would not miss it for anything; apparently, this was what all runners felt as well and our category (10k) was full of runners, more so because there were the recreational runners and those that wanted to take in the atmoshpere as well. Nisa and I was joustling with the crowd right up to (I think) 3.5k into the race and it was hard to settle into our race pace. All hopes of a PR disappeared and we were left to just take in the atmosphere. If there is anything we learnt, it was to squeeze our way to as far front as possible, just so we get a good start (and let people overtake us, rather than we, them). Like Spore races, there were people who choose to run together and did so in a line, effectively taking up the entire width of the route.

But I did miss this race last year. It was to be my inaugural KL marathon but I was not permitted to travel anywhere because of the bloody H1N1 scare. I did get the racing tee last year but this year's is miles better!

As I plodded along for the first 3.5k or so, I had to zig-zag my way through the crowds. Nearing the first timing checkpoint (you need to run over the sensor in order that your split may be captured - and also to verify that you ran the course and therefore deserved your medal), I almost ran into a traffic cone! The route was funnelling from 4 lanes into 2 and I did not see the cone as I tried to avoid the crowds. This was not to be the last time because the route kept encountering bottlenecks and everyone slowed down at those points.

No route around Dataran Medeka would be complete without making a loop into Lake Gardens. The hills there that I once dreaded are now slopes; I took them with a slightly slowed pace but I kept going. Coming out of Lake Gardens, back down Jln Parliament, loop around Sogo and its back to Dataran Medeka to the finish.

The race was almost perfect, except for the crowds. The weather was cloudy and there was enough water all round. In fact, I added another component to my pre-race routine - reading RW the night before for inspiration and mood!

Retirement

So this is what retirement feels like.

You retire when you're done and I am done with golf. All through the time when I gave it up, it has been on mind. I have always been thinking how I can hit the ball longer. I'm lucky in my being able to hit the ball all the time, just that distance has always, always, been lacking. I was watching the US Open and they had a slow mo on someone hitting - ok, if he won, he'll no longer be just a "someone". The latest thought on how to hit it longer was to treat the club like a whip; this is not although strange because many golf swing concepts are built around this. And watching this slow mo, I saw something that made sense, consistent with the whipping of the club. I had a few practice swings within the house, it felt right. I sneaked off to the range just now in the night, it is always empty on a Sunday night. Got some balls and started copying what I saw. First shot, bladed a wedge - that's fine because the last time I hit a ball was some 6 months ago. Second shot was also another top; third shot travelled the same distance as I normally hit with this wedge. Fourth shot, I remedied with the proper follow through and the ball went further than it did the last 7 years or so!!

Same thing with the 8i, 5i. 3w needed some work because it's a difficult club but it was ok. Driver ok!!

So this is what the regular folk feel like, getting onto par 4s in 2, and hitting wedge into a par 5.

I'm done. The next time, and ever after, is strictly recreational.

I am such an idiot

I was looking forward to the recovery run today, and more so because I wanted to run in the opposite direction on the ECP. This time, instead of heading towards Changi, I would go down to Fort Rd and back.

I parked where the chalets are. Those who have live long in the East Coast would know them to be the holiday chalets, but they have now acquired quite a reputation for being past their prime and weathered. Anyway, parking is difficult to get and when I chanced upon a lot that was just right there, it was too good to be true.

It was only after I returned from the run that I noticed I had parked in a handicap lot - that was why it was there like a shiny pearl for the taking. I am such an idiot to have just reversed into the lot without seeing. Idiot! No wonder everyone who walked past looked at me in a funny way.

Here's the sign, partially hidden - but no excuse anyway

Hijau!

I met my brother today and he told me something that I knew but the extent really surprised me.

The aircon shouldn't be used if there was absolutely no need. The energy consumption of the aircon can be up to 10 times that of our ceiling fan.

The storage water heater only needs to be turned on for 5min to heat up the entire tank. The water in the tank stays hot for hours thereafter, losing warmth only gradually. I think I've known the water to remain hot for up to 6-7hrs.

Leaving the ceiling fan on the whole day will not consume a significant amount of energy.

In exchange, I told him compression tights really worked, but I think that was lost on him.

The shortcut

No, this is not about running tangents. That's legitimate. This is a real shortcut.

The beauty of running is that this is probably the only sport that has a shortcut to success. No doubt the miles will have to be banked in gradully and consistently and I'll like to think I've been diligent in this area. However when time is short, or the mind rebels against a long run, there is a quick way around it all. I run hills.

I've never really liked them but there is a conveniently gradient at the housing estate behind where we live in Spore. I've developed a routine along a stretch that I use now and then. It's a little bit over 300m, gradual at the beginning and in the last 80m or so, it turns into a steep incline. Nothing dramatic or punishing like Kiara but enough. Time is never recorded and it does not matter. I run each interval to the point where I am panting heavily at the top. The first interval is always tough, as is the last. Those in the middle are effectively strides. All in, steep enough to be brutal, building fitness and strength, yet short enough to allow concentration on form.

I did those hills last night. I got home late and was short on time. As I was going up, I started thinking of the circuit that Nisa and I started off with in KL. I remembered them because it was in a housing estate setting that was exactly like what I run on now and it had 2 hills. It really doesn't qualify as a hill, more like a slope, but when we started out running, they felt like hills. We even gave them names because we always struggled up them.

The first was called "Aileen's slope"; because Aileen's parents lived along that slope. Everytime when I struggled up, I would always glanced at their home, wondering if Aileen was in and could see me ambling up the hill. The second was "Please don't take my flowers hill". It got it's name because an owner was trying to develope a little garden outside his house along this hill. This garden was on public land and there a sign imploring those who passed by not to take her flowers.

These are the places where we started our running. The curcuit was short, not more than 1.1k and I remembered I could only do 3 rounds, one of which would be walked. I've come quite a bit since then, shortcuts and all.

Lost key

Most adventures these days start or involve running. Tonight's was no different.

I started off pretty promising - every recovery run starts and ends that way because the effort is minimal and all I need to do is .. well .. just run. I planned to run short as well and today's venue was bedok reservoir. A 4.3k jaunt, on gravel for a change. Parked the car, stuffed the spare key in the inside pocket and off I went. The pocket felt loose, no doubt because the shorts are old and weathered but I didn't care.

Some ways into the run, I felt for the key. It was almost instinctive, like a reflex, because I just want to be sure. Nisa will readily testify that I am anxious about these things; this is because I want to protect against carelessness, and things that are avoidable with a little extra diligence. The key was not there.

My thoughts immediately swung wildly; from where could the key have gone to, where along the trail it dropped, was it in the rough that I had to walk through, did I leave it on the door, to what if someone had found my key and drove my car away and used my house keys within to break into my house. I stopped running but my heart rate definitely increased notwithstanding. It was dark along the trail when I walked back to see if I could find it. I walked and went all the way back to the car and yet I could not find the key. The only bright spark was the car was still there.

A fellow runner let me used his phone and I called my parent's to ask them to come by. The runner even offerred to send me to my parent's but I declined, a small part due to shyness but a larger measure due to the fact that I was fretting inside and wanted some time to myself to collect my thoughts and plan next steps. And just after I made the call, I found my key in the silly-est place.

Total running distance - 1k (this was the point where I realised I had lost the key). But it must have felt like 10k going at my heart rate.

The fireflies at Kuala Selangor

We kicked off Nisa and jamie's 2-week holiday in the KL home with a family trip out to faraway Kuala Selangor to see the famour fireflies. I had never seen fireflies in my life and neither has Jamie - but somehow neither of us seemed excited about the event, Jamie because he probably did not know what they were and I because I have long given up the childhood belief that you could keep them in a jar and they will glow one whole night.

At the firefly park, we queued to get onto the boat!! We had to board a sampan, whom will then row us up and down the Selangor river, on the bank of which are the tree on which the fireflies feed on. A person behind us in line told us the wait and the sail would be well worth it, and that it would be like Christmas trees, only in real life. It was 4 persons to a sampan and all of us had to don lifejackets; Jamie had a baby one that was just right for him. He got into the sampan and when the sampan approached the fireflies, he pointed them out in wonderment. My sis-inlaw caught one in her palm and showed it to Jamie, it was literally like a pin of light in her hand.

To be frank, the drive to and back from the firefly park was more exciting than the fireflies. We were warned that the trip would take some 90 minutes and this was true because we were stuck in traffic on the way out. Outside of KL itself (and this is just maybe 20km out of the city), you actually see urbanisation receding awaying and it is back to Malaysia in the 70s. Roads are narrow-ish and there is dusty traffic. Not that I am complaining, as its good to be reminded of life once in a while, least I take the amenities for granted. The exciting bit came when we cleared the traffic and finally got on our way. The road was winding and fast; my tires and suspension held up to the mark and driving along these roads was fun.

We got back into KL late in the night, and went to bed even later.

Do you know what runners want?

This is yet another Sundown story, one of no doubt many already out on the web. It's a rant against the organizers but this is not like all of the others. For me, it goes into the heart of what runners want.

I ran on CCY's bib. No doubt that's not within the race rules and yet this is very commonly done. I'm not going to win any prizes and I'm absolutely willing to give up anything I may win. So there I went into the Sundown half and had a great time. Preparation is everything and I was fortunate enough not to have experienced the problems many others faced on that night. I had a great time. CCY only gave me his bib and he wanted to keep the racing singlet. I got to keep the finisher's medal.

Just last Friday, I called the organizers and asked if I could buy the racing singlet. They had extras and said I could have it for free! Could I come by and pick it up now? Of course! I arrived in 20min and I could see boxes on boxes of singlets. Of all sizes. I though the "M" looked a little small and settled on the "L". I was really pleased with the singlet, and myself.

I came home and tried on the singlet. It is quite common to get the size wrong, with newbies like me and it's happen more often than not - the singlet is too big. And guess what, when I called the organisers to ask if I could change my singlet for something smaller, they said "Yes". They have "M" as well. To be balanced, this is unheard off in the local racing scene - once you've made your choice, you're absolutely not allowed to change your tee.

So pleased was I when I went down to the organisers to change my singlet. When I got there, the person who attended to me asked if I wanted an "S"; she could not find the box where the M were kept and so she quickly said they were all out. Her search took all of 1 min because I could see her rummaging through the boxes before her; and after that, she was prepared to brush me away, blow me off. I asked that she checked again and after consulting her colleague, she found the "M" box - right under her nose, underneath the bloody "L"s.

Do you really know what runners want?

We run at races only for the bloody medal and the bragging rights that come with the tee. Nothing more. We're a bunch long used to sufferring and all we ask for are these 2 things. There is no point bragging to those that do not know and so only the small number of runners would recognise the tee for what its worth. To use "bragging" is really too big a word - every time we see another runner with a tee from an event, its more a recognition of the achievement of having participated in the race than a boast of performance. This is why the tee is so meaningful. To crown it all, the person who looked for my tee was a fellow runner herself (she was wearing her marathon finisher's tee).

So please do not be flippant and brush me off about my tee because it does mean something to me.

Julian's birthday party

We are not really into the kiddie party routine over here in Spore, and for that matter, over in KL as well. Weekends are already so filled with what-have-you but Julian's party just now was really good.

As far as I can remember, F (Julian's mom, ie my cousin in-law) always comes up with the best parties and goodie bag. This time, we had Ramli burgers for the brunch part of the party, and for tea, we had crepes. Yup - there are 2 parts to the party!!

The balloon-ist, in seeking adventure, asked Jamie what he wanted. He was pretty good with his work and had just completed an Elmo balloon for someone else.

Jamie : I want a dragon
Balloon-ist : Gulp..err, I try my best.

After labouring for 15min or so, this is what Jamie got:

You can't really tell its a dragon but in the flesh, it was - and it was really good!!

Least I forget

It's not (never) a show and tell ever. The reason why I am writing all of this down is so I can remember what I have experienced. Maybe when Jamie reads this, he'll know what I am going and feeling.

So least I forget,

1. Today's run was really poor, probably the worst I've ever done. I gave up after 5k and walked the rest of the distance home. The target was 15k so the disappointment was double. I thought the lunch I had some 2hrs ago would have been digested but it was not. When I met my cousin, B, this evening, I explained I had an indigestion problem; this is a fancy way of saying I had a bad case of "angin"!! How bad? It was like a round ball in my stomach and my diaphragm could not move and I could not breathe. I think beef rendang and sambal goreng will be removed from my diet until I get better. And I happen to like them a lot..

2. My other cousin, A's, wife is really funny!! She's "A" as well and more importantly, she a DIY specialist outside her day job. She was telling us funny stories on how she had to DIY all of her stuff around her clinic. All this in response to my moaning about me having to DIY it around our home. I even got ideas on where I can buy a ladder, and which too.

3. Jamie's into colouring now. In order to express himself and communicate how and what he needs to colour, he is forced to expand his vocabulary, which I see as the aim. He's also diligently learning the alphabet, writing everything down all through our visit to IKEA this afternoon.

4. Jamie just saw a flying cockroach and the roach killer has just despatched the insect to it's end.

Adidas Sundown 2010 (Half)

You run not to see whom you surpass but whom you are within.

Everything beyond 15k is new territory for me and I had to look within to recall what had been stored away to get myself to the end. Close to the line, I was stymied not by mental weakness but physical distress. If it's anything, I have re-learnt to lean forward a little, in order to get the run going. Here's how the race went.

Preparation is everything. I went to the site this afternoon to check out parking arrangements and road closures. How I behave on Malaysia cannot be applied here - it's parking strictly at designated lots and not along the curb. A race official assured me transportation to and fro would not be a problem if I got there about an hour early. This is what the start looked like before the on-slaught - all peace and quiet (and empty!):



Nisa and Jamie sent me, intending to get there early but Singapore being Singapore, there was heavy traffic all the way there. We got in with just some time to spare and I started the warmup. If anything, we must go to spore races early because there is always, always, traffic. This was how the season opener run got ruined. At the starting corral, I met my classmate from school and we ran together for the first 3k or so.

It was very very muggy. I typically skip the aid stations until 8k or so but I started drinking at 6k. The stations were fantastic - long and hence able to accomodate many runners at a go, and plentiful. Stories of stations running out of water or 100+, well, this doesn't happen in a Spore race. But all this early drinking was to be in vain.

I was steady, if not timely, up to the 10k mark. 10k is, after all, the distance where we had raced many occassion. Throughout the journey till here, I went past many people. The route was pancake flat and comprised the famed Changi Coastal Rd; this is the road that parallels the runway but from a runners standpoint, long and straight. All mental effort. In training runs past, I had learnt that getting through the mental barrier was to focus on form and glazed straight ahead; well, the lesson was well applied here and until the next stage of the race.

The 15k signboard came up, less slowly then the rest before; my pace had slowed. Every step beyond this was new ground to me. The form overcoming mental bit only worked for another km or so. The singlets and legs (ie the serious looking runners, their seriousness backed up by speed) started overtaking me as I stopped to walk some ways. I tried the "walk 200m after an aid station, and run to the next" style, but that only worked for one aid station. Thoughts of doing a DNF were erased when I saw the 17k sign because I was close. At 18+k, the race turned back into the long straight home; it was here that I started cramping up. Walk, hobble, run and I made it to the end. I dare say that if not for the cramps, I would have registered a much better time. Physically, I was ok and mentally as well.

Best thing was that Nisa and Jamie were there at the end gantry, and Jamie called out to me and saw me wave back. That itself was worth the bloody effort.


Post race 8.32pm on 30 May - I got into the compression tights immediately I got cleaned up after the race and slept in them. They really work - I woke up feeling as if I could run again. Nisa, Jamie and I drove Changi Coastal Rd again and I could not believe I actually was able to go up and down this road; it's long and straight and you can see one end from the other.

My road to the Sundown

I did something I never expected to do this evening .. I pinned on a bib for the Sundown!! You bet I'm excited, and a little apprehensive.

My road to the Sundown actually started this morning whilst I was lying in bed. In spore, we alternate our weekend morning runs and she was out for a 12k. I wrote to DK and CCY to wish them luck on their races tomorrow; DK didn't bother to reply but CCY quickly wrote back. He's feeling a little under the weather and did not want to risk the run. Mumbled something about we being at that age where the old ticker could just seize up etc etc. I quickly asked if he wanted his bib released to me. Yes, but he wanted the tee shirt. Oh well..

My plan was to do the half at the end of the year and my training plan was tailored to that. I wasn't prepared to do the Pacesetters NB 15K quite so early notwithstanding I've been doing the occassional long run at that distance. And now I will be attempting the half, half a year early. I'm a little apprehensive and am prepared for walk breaks. CCY reassured me that I would be fine, when he asked how was my training so far. I'm excited too, because the Malaysian runners would be there, whom I feel i am a part of that community. So much so I will be wearing my Mizuno Wave run tee from last year tomorrow night - it looks like the spore one but on a careful look, the decals will show Malaysian origins (..the race at UPM at Serdang), and hopefully pegging me as bring one from the community across the causeway.

I've just picked up the bib from CCY. I've changed the emergency info at the back and the bib has gone onto my tee. I'll be in the baby Sundown.

Our very own Gulf

Disasters in the west always seem do far away to the point it's not easy to feel sympathetic even though I know I should. Each one carries it's bitter lesson to and unless it happens in your backyard it does not really hit home. There was been much about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the attempts by BP to contain and clean. The oil is also fast approaching land and people who depend on the sea being clean are no doubt in anguish (economically as well). It's all nice to read until the experience occurs in your very own backyard where I can see, smell and hopefully not feel.

Singapore has been having it's oil spill. Granted it's minute compared to what has been discharged on a per day basis in the Gulf but nonetheless, it's a spill. 2 ships collided off the east coast resulting in the spill. All seem well because it all still seemed so far away.

Until, I came back 2 days ago and wondered if the estate had been fogged to rid it of insects. It was that kerosene smell that was all over the house. I didn't give it much thought notwithstanding it lingered. It was there again when I came back. When I when on a run, it was there, all over the ECP. I looked into the water and there were pontoons, and beyond that, the water was heavy
and sluggish; it was also opaqued. It was the spill and it had finally hit home in our backyard. All through the ECP there was the smell of kerosene and the water was terrible. If this was bad, the spill in the Gulf must be a million times worse.

I now know what it feels like, but their anguish and despair must be much much worse.

The best burger in the world

Pretty big boast, but it's all true.

I made my choice the one with 3 pattties. Ordinarily, this would not be enough for me, not for dinner at least. It was uncomplicated and arrived as an open burger. The bun was lightly butterred and my sides were mash potatoes and coleslaw. There were some onions and I think there was a piece of lettuce somewhere. The description on the menu did not speak of cheese but the photo did show cheese slices, melted on the burger. They were friendly enough to concede that the photo was misleading and took the burger back to add cheese. So far so so..nothing much to shout about. Until you chow down on the monster.

The beef patties were huge. But what made them the best were that they were juicy and sweet! Juicy not because of oil but just pure beef. And the pattie was not processed (and therefore packed hard) but more like minced beef in texture. It tasted like a steak but because it was a pattie, I just ate away instead of applying jaw strength.

All this from the urban legend that is Botak Jones; known amongst the heartland Singaporeans but otherwise unknown to those that do not venture into deep Singapore. This outlet has finally found it's way to Simpang Bedok and here is where the world's best burger makes it's home. Price-wise, it's probably 50% more than what you would pay for at a burger outlet but then again, the patties there are neither huge nor juicy nor tasty. Botak Jones is not air-conditioned but you wouldn't care less once you chow down. I was surprised that I could not finish the burger and I actually glanced back with fondness at the unfinished burger as we walked out. What an eat!

He's way too cool..

The blading lessons are coming to an end, and in fact they will end this weekend, seeing we’re going home to KL then and will be missing our lessons. Nisa and Jamie have really been progressing rapidly, especially so for Jamie once he made that breakthrough and was able to stand without assistance. He is able to move fairly quickly and steadily as well. Nisa is now learning to move like an Olympic speedskater!!

Nothing validates our pride in Jamie more than when the praise comes from someone outside the family. Before I go on, here is what Jamie looked like 2 weeks before (ie..he’s much better now!!!):



One of the pupils taking lessons for advanced skaters could really move around. I think he's there for the trick skaing module and he remarked that Jamie was rather stable on his blades. He said Jamie could move around pretty well and that he could turn, and stop with the proper technique. Quickly, the outpouring came and this had nothing to do with Jamie's skill level. One of the instructor's said he was "so cute" and his female assistant agreed. So much so that very soon at the end of the lesson, a few photos were taken of, and with him! Jamie smiled coyly throughout but I think he enjoyed all the attention he was getting so far. Nisa and I definitely did.

Its worth at least 2min..

I set off this morning in a light drizzle, a little annoying because i knew i would not be able to see through my glasses after long but otherwise it was a perfect day for running. Not many people were out at ECP because Sundown is around the corner, plus there is the Passion run this afternoon.

What I was surprised about was that a pretty large corporate held its run this morning. As far as I know, organizers tend not to clash their runs with other events in case it spoils participation levels. But here its was and there were some few hundreds of runners heading down the route that was the Passion run this afternoon. It was a race proper.

A colleague of mine, running today at Passion, had said that a race is worth at least 2min (for 10k) and maybe even 5min for the half. I tried to keep up with the last of the runners and it was not easy. In the last race, I wasn't near the end and I was confident I could catch him. Here he was at a pretty fast clip - I don't think the race was more than 5k but he was going as if there was a prize for being 2nd last! He was the last and he wanted to surge past the chappie in front of him. And here was Jamie's Daddy charging down but unable to catch up, even right up to the finishing line. Either he took his magic pill this morning or that he was caught up in the adrenalin of the event; he just would not give up, nor in.

I think its worth at least 5min..and a lifetime of satisfaction after that.

Something is clearly afoot!

I spent all of Sunday recovering from NB15k 2010. Eat modestly when I should have ate more, and drank even less, especially immediately after the race. Didn't even nap as well. It was only after the cup of coffee in sunday evening that I felt much better. The race took a lot out of me, no thanks to the hills, which made the distance longer than it was.

Something's afoot because I only experienced the post-race high on Monday morning, and I'm still unable to sleep. But we have an immigration problem that is more pressing and that will keep me up all night.

NB Pacesetters 15k 2010

Nisa: don't forget to bring some money, in case we want to get something to eat after the run.
Me: ok. What about our ID as well?
Nisa: you're not going to be coming in top 3 so I don't think there's a need.

It was already 6.05am when that bit of the conversation took place and we were off from our PJ home to the race. We arrived early(ish) because there was not much traffic at that time in the morning. Parking was also fairly easy, unlike other races. I think participation was limited to 2000+ so the pre-race logistics was pretty managable. We wanted to get there ahead of time so we could walk and take in the atmosphere, and to do a slight warm-up as well.

Being typical Sporeans (and Nisa is regaining her Spore inclinations after living with the people there), we had scouted out the route the day in advance. We had arrived KL Friday night and collected our race kits Saturday morning. The pleasant surprise was that we got to try on and choose our tee shirt sizes. This was inspite of having made a choice on the application - you'll never be allowed to change your choice on collection in a spore race. After that, we drove the route. We had walked a part of it some weeks past but with the map, together with the direction signs that had gone up, we did the recce. The hills were mighty and were every bit they were famed for. Worse were the bukit tunku hills, positioned right in the middle of the route.

The smaller the race, the more warm the atmosphere. There were the recreational and there were the serious, evidenced by their kit and the HRMs. I told myself at the start that I would walk the hills and let O'Newton help me on the downslopes. Here's how the race went for me:

The first 4k was ok. I ran slow and people were surging past me right from the start! My watch said I was going faster than my planned pace though. First major hill behind Tugu Negara was taken with advice from RW - short steps, bound up like a rabbit. No problem because the downslope to the highway came next. Breezed down to the turn at the highway into bkt tunku. If this was a 5k event, I would have placed top one third; meaning I was done st this stage.

The next bit was tough. I walked a little going into bkt tunku but kept up a decent clip until I came to the clock tower round-about. The next uphill was the killer and I walked some ways. By now I was pretty popped but I saw Nisa in the distance and that somehow imbued me with energy. Crested the killer slope on a slow jog and it was downhill and the flatlands all the way back till the last 3k. It wasn't as muggy on the way back and I maintained my pace pretty successfully.

The last waterpoint was at the 12k mark. Guess what, the running mom was there taking photos and I somehow found the energy to introduce myself as "Jamie's daddy", but beyond that, I failed to say anything intelligent - sheesh, what a way to meet one of the running personalities of Malaysia. Stopped for water and went on to the finish.

This was a tough race because there were multiple hills. There was not enough prep work on the hills for me and this was my undoing. The compression tights worked though; I wore them to recover after the race and all through the night; my legs feel decent today. The other thing that I learnt is that my coffee is my elixir; it was only after a cup in the evening that I felt well.

The races in Malaysia are much more enjoyable than those in Spore. The smaller they are, the more the running community comes out to play. Although I don't know anyone here in Malaysia, I feel I'm one of them. On my runs over here in KL, people wave! And during the races, every one is only as competitive as to give way to a faster runner. This is something I will miss when we run in spore.

We took almost the whole of yesterday to recover and during that time, Nisa said the half was within reach. Having survived this, I now think so too.

Husband duties

I couldn't think of a better word but it is certaintly not "duties" in that I dread them. They make me feel whole and a part of the family, that I'm providing for them and watching over my loves.

Nisa has been I'll since last night. Nothing untoward, just the bug that she didn't seem to be able to shake off. I think it's probably the weekend's worth of activity, topped off with her run in the afternoon and blading session last night. It was a practice session after dinner and we all descended onto the skateboard park at East Coast. Jamie was excited and he is now able to go faster, controlling balance better. He even gave instructions to Nisa on how to execute a turn! Before he felt off to sleep, he was still giving these instructions and had to emphasise the point with his finger tracing a U shape turn on the mattress.

By this time, nisa was already feeling ill and I was wondering if I should be going in to work tomorrow (ie today). It's going to be a struggle for her alone and ill, what with she having to watch over Jamie and not being able to lie down to rest. Plus, there will be someone coming over to fix a part of the house. MKL just approved my urgent leave this morning and Nisa will be able to rest all day to recover.