Brooks Glycerine 8

I think I have found a shoe that rivals the famed Asics gel system.

When we visited Brooks yesterday, Peter slyly told us the Glycerine 8 had arrived. Knowing nothing about the shoe except that our previous experience with Brooks trainers were not favourable, Nisa and I were hesitant. When I wore them, I felt like I was wearing a pair of platform shoes. But oh my, when I ran, the cushioning was superb. Currently researching this shoe now but everything sounds good so far.

They are not available at Queensway (ie Singapore). So the only place that sells them currently is Peter's shop at the Curve. He is offering a free tee, as well as shorts when the Glycerine gets bought.

Do you shop with a calculator?

I missed my morning run today. I actually planned to get up at dawn and do the Kiara or Lake Gardens route; the alarm rang, it got switched off and it was back to sleep. So much for the moniker "runaway2kiara"...

As I began pottering around the KL home just, I thought back to last night when I was shopping for groceries at Giant. It was a struggle before when comparing prices and at last, I brought along a pocket calculator (those on my phone are too cumbersome to use). It was a breeze comparing prices with the calculator, and doing conversions into SGD as well. Previously, this was all done in the head and no wonder I took so bloody long. I did look around and there were no one else punching into their calculators (no one seemed to have a calculator at all) and it made be wonder if I was the only one. Surely everyone was as price conscious as I and wanted to get the best deal for everything? Maybe I'm just miser-ly but what the heck. Things are already so costly anyway that I ought to be maximising my dollar.

So here's the SOP for dry grocery shopping from now on. Comfortable shoes are required because there will be endless trolling up and down the aisles (and the voyage includes looking and then making constant trips to the price-checker machine to ensure the bloody special offer is indeed recorded on the barcode as such - no point having a debate with the checkout person, with a long line of people behind you). The grocery list needs to be finalised. And the pocket calculator..

Unwittingly, I turned into a Brooks man..

I had always thought I would wear Asics for life. When I started running (and this really takes me back to my Uni days in the late 80s), I vaguely recalled someone telling me that there are no other running shoes save Asics. Asics were then the best and I believe still are, for those whom they have built their parameters to cater to. When I started running again Dec 09, the first pair of shoes I bought were my Asics 2130. The kickabout Asics that I had before was some 2-plus years old and the cushioning had long left the shoe.

What prompted this post was a diary entry that said it was now time to change "our shoes"! This was made one year back when Nisa bought her Asics shoes as well. That was also the time that marked the commencement of our running journey all through the year. I had thought one year ago that our shoes would last that long but as the year progressed, and so did our running, we have changed shoes many times over, either because the cushioning has worn out, the soles have worn out or we fell out of love with the shoes we had.

All during the year, we have been visiting Peter at the Brooks shops on the 3rd floor of the Curve. We've come to know each other to the point there is always friendly banter when we arrive and slowly I have become a Brooks man. The initial attraction of Brooks running shoes (at least in this part of the world) is that they are priced significantly below Asics - not much but significant enough for me given that we change our shoes frequently. Our first pair of Brooks shoes were not happy experiences. Both Nisa and I found the foam too much to the point we could not feel the ground. The shoes we bought were highly rated and I am guessing it is because we were not heavy enough to compress the foam enough to the point it was designed for. Nisa has remained with Asics.

I have looked towards their racing shoes because I believe they would have less foam. The Launch was also significantly foamed, but softer and it is my high mileage training shoe now. I just bought the Racer ST4 and I love it. The cushioning is just fine and it is light enough to feel absent on my feet. We're probably going to see Peter this weekend, after grocery shopping and I am hopping to check out the Green Silence. I probably shouldn't be buying anything now but let's see how this goes.

Still no breakthrough..but getting there..

Got out of the flat, when along Bayshore, down the underpass to the ECP. All throught to Carl's Junior at Big Splash and then back home.

12k! At my "easy" HR and more importantly, did not feel mentally deflated!

Reaching the corner and I will turn it soon for the breakthrough.

Better than most..

Ok – that was a golf commentary phase to describe a Tiger Woods putt that broke 3 ways on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass before it fell into the cup. And no, golf has not gotten back into my life although the challenge of hitting the ball longer does loom on the horizon.

This was the very phase that came into my mind a few minutes ago when I wanted to describe the dinner Nisa prepared last night. Fact of the matter is that it was the best I have ever had; even better than Mom-inlaw, which is saying a lot really. It was simple, yet bursting with flavours. The vegetables were sweet, slightly crunchy with the prawns providing a subtle blend of taste to garnish the dish. Flavourful too. Oh, and the main dish was just perfect!! Tasty, not too oily and every mouthful reminded me of the KL home. I actually shouted with surprised when I saw what was on the table last night and I could tell Nisa was quietly, contently, pleased. Even Jamie ate more than his usual portions (which is really small, but that’s something else we’ll be working on).

The home is where the family does everything together. For a long time, it was KL but with the meal the transition was complete. We sat together and eat a wonderful meal. After the meal, Jamie was all over the house, with his swimming costume wrapped around his neck, and the rest flapping behind him. When I asked what he was, he said he was “Sparta”!! Yes, he had watched the movie “300” in the afternoon and has been walking around like that, bare-bodied and all, all day. What a boy!!

Still no breakthrough

I ran a pretty good clip Saturday evening. Got out of the flat, went down Bayshore, through the underpass and onto the ECP in the direction of Changi. I wanted to go slow-ish; that’s the endurance building pace until April when the Orange Run comes along.

Somewhere 2k into the run, I saw this chap with water-bottles strapped onto the belt. These are the tri-athlon type so no messing around with this chappie. Form was good, pace was quick-ish and I decided to shadow him as a pacer. Nothing untoward or competitive, I’m just running slightly behind him to keep up. He must have seen my shadow because he picked up speed slight and when I drew even, we started chatting a little. Seems he was doing a 15k and I was silently surprised at the pace. We’re going at a pretty good clip for a 10k and I doubt I could maintain that for a 15k. In fact, I don’t even think I’ve gone 15k ever!

Anyway, after 2 sentences, I thought he looked familiar. Bloody Andy O, the investment banker actually recognised me from the moment I pulled alongside but he did not say thing, leaving me to wonder. Anyway, Andy was doing 15k and we ran together (I did 10k). Seems Andy’s pretty serious about his running. We chatted about gear, HRM, pace, races and everything else that came to mind all through the run and as a result, I did not feel the distance. At the end, I peeled off back home to the flat whilst he carried on the last remaining 5k. A shade under 60min for 10k and I felt pretty good, on a training run.

This last run really got me thinking as I was travelling in this morning. God-willing, 10k runs now seem manageable but I can’t seem to go any further. I’ve done a 12k but I’m really in danger of not making the half if I somehow am unable to make a breakthrough. I’ll be trying a 14k this evening, assuming housing chores will allow, and I do not feel too guilty leaving Nisa to go running. And more non-running stuff later because family–wise, it was a very very nice weekend.

I'm in love with Clorox

When you need something done, the best way is to do it yourself.

R, our contractor, was to have handed the flat back to us after a “chemical wash”. I’ve experienced this being done before and the whole place turns out clean and sparkly; you just know this when you walk on the floor barefoot. Seems a chemical wash involves a great deal of (diluted) acid which is thrown on the floor, to burn away the dirt, dust and whatever else is causing annoyance. Ok, I have no doubt the chemical wash was done before the flat was handed back to us but since then, many persons have arrived to examine and fix stuff. The flat no longer feels clean anymore and in fact, there seems to be a layer of dust that simply refuses to be vanquish.

No amount of sweeping has managed to get rid of the dust. No amount of mopping as well. We probably need to wash the bath mats because they trap dust and no doubt I will do so soon.

This is where Clorox comes in. I have heard about this product before but my parents have told me to avoid using it. Seems this bloody thing is toxic and could burn your fingers off with a single drop. Well, the thoroughfare part of the flat and the storeroom, a high traffic and habitually dusty area, was Clorox-ed!!! On Monday night!!! The bleach ate up all the dust and everything else and now the floor is so clean it is unbelievable. I swipe my finger against the floor and it feels good. The workmen came back to the house Tuesday and it felt dusty again but it will be Clorox time this weekend again. Obviously if my fingers and toes would be burnt right off if they went swimming in Clorox right out of the bottle and I took the precaution of rinsing my hands often in water as I was mopping with Clorox. Right now, I am thinking its going to be Clorox once every 5/6 weeks or so, in between the weekly moppings with Ajax. And its obviously Clorox time, right after we have high traffic.

And whilst we are on the subject, it bears knowing that I have turned into a cleanliness-type of guy. I don’t think I have been one in the past but being the owner of your own flat does these things to you. I also intensely dislike wet (and therefore dank) toilets; best if everything were kept bone-dry.

Even the lights look brighter

I was recounting to MKL the events of the weekend, or rather, the fact that Nisa and Jamie have moved down with their stuff. The home in Singapore is slowly taking form.

I have been staying there for a week or two now but it can best be described as just staying, not living there. Last night was the first time we lived there as a family, no one else. I felt good walking all over the flat, and no part felt lonely or far away. We had lights on, the TV was switched on for Jamie’s movie, and Nisa and I were busy cleaning. Jamie’s laughter and Nisa’s and my voice warmed everything up. The household chores brought life and energy to the flat as well.

My cousin and MKL have been saying, for years now, that we just must live together and be a family. All this time apart is never good. Our family was just over weekends, and now with Jamie, my time with him became shorter. He’s growing so quickly, learning so many new things and words that I am missing it all. But we were together last night, all by ourselves. We only had each other to fend for the other; but it was enough to brighten everything. Even the lights look brighter.

Nisa is determined to try cooking a meal tonight, and baking a cake sometime during the week. I am determine to thoroughly clean every nook and cranny. Insya-allah, we’ll be doing just fine from now.

Ridiculous!

I'm sitting quietly in my room, minding my own business when I over-hear this conversation going on outside:

Caller (from Indonesia) : Can you get the CEO to sign this docuemnt?
Secretary : She's busy in a meeting right now.
Caller : Its really important to have this signed, and I need it right away.
Secretary : In that case, I'll have to interrupt but you need to give me a very very good reason. And when I do, you must tell me where she needs to sign on the document.
Caller : Aiyah..just tell her to sign anywhere...

!!!!!!

After a shower..

My recent posts have sufferred the innuendo of my feeling a little stale from running. I have been filled with sorting out issues with the new home, instead of enjoying it. Also, the bid to increase training mileage has also left me tired and fighting off a threatened injury - in fact, my left ankle has been hurting. As a result, i have been running less. To crown it all, I bought a new pair of NB running shoes and they have inadequate cushioning.

All this blase feeling went away as I ran the Tugu Negara route just now. For starters, if you want to run hills, you have to get away from the pancake flat ECP and come to Malaysia. The hills here mean business but they do not suck the life out of you because there are always decent plateaus, for "rest".. There was a race going on at Lake Gardens as well and the Malaysian runners were all friendly enough to wave as I passed them. I trotted all over my old running route and felt good. In fact, i am still feeling good and this is why Nisa and I run!

Its almost like I've just emerged from the shower and suddenly now feel refreshed. No sleepy feeling, no slothful tendancies, and ready to go. More alert too.

So much so that Nisa and I are thinking of starting our season early. The initial plan is to start off with the Orange Run in April but we are now looking for something nearer to participate.

Pesky...

Running has taken a back seat in the last week or so. Am I worried that I will lose fitness? I am more worried about getting the home in order; and to crown in all, the police called me today!!!

I feel we have turned the corner and issues relating to the home are steadily being resolved. One of the things that had been bugging me was a supposedly termite problem in the toilet. It was persistent and I kept noticing it every time I went in, up to the point that I felt uncomfortable about it. The pest control guy came for a look-see this evening and declared that it was fungus. Not that this was better than termites but he did suggest a practical and cost effective solution. Nothing makes me feel better than when a practical solution, taking advantage of all available resources, is used to solved the problem - meaning I did not have to spend big money to get this resolved.

The water heater in Nisa's toilet will also be fixed over the weekend and she will have her toilet back. Slowly and surely, the house is turning into a home and I am loving it.

My parent's maid called today, sounding frantic. Seems the police wanted to speak with me. When I called back, the petrol station at Siglap claimed to have caught me on their CCTV not having paid for petrol. Impossible!

But after viewing the CCTV footage, it was indeed Nisa and I, and it was indeed our car. The credit card company also confirms no transaction occurred at that petrol station on that day. When you're right, you're right and in this case, I wasn't. Payment made in full immediately together with full apologies; police contacted by all parties thereafter and within 15min of my having stepped into the petrol station to view the tapes, the matter was satisfactorily resolved.

Yup..what a bloody day...

inbox empty!!!

Something magical happened today. It hardly happens at all, except on the first day at a new job. Sometime around the mid-afternoon, my inbox got emptied of stuff.

My inbox serves as my to-do list. So an unreplied email means a to-do. I managed to clear a chunk today and it got emptied, except for stuff that were notifications and the like. An empty inbox is quite a feat for me. Many many people send me emails and if only they would write better, using complete sentences, would I be able to respond effectively and promptly. Worse, there are the self-important people who only write something cryptic (and often mono-syllabic). So clearing my inbox becomes an ordeal. If only everyone appreciated and practised the old-world art of writing, which reflects on how you are and how you express yourself.

Upon clearing my inbox, I promptly planned my run for the evening and in fact arrived home in time. I even had time to attach a fixture to both shower stalls at home. All this inspite of being doubted by R, the contractor, that i could do it. He deserves credit nonetheless because he taught me on the phone how to get it done.

I went on my run and came back refreshed and feeling validated. This is the feeling i have been getting in the last 2 runs because i seemed to have gotten better. It must be about the HRM training, and the enforced 'easy' pace for LSD. Its working and God willing, this base building phase will work out well.

The Ikea assembly guys

We received some chairs and a sofa bed from Ikea just before Christmas. As I watched the team put it all together, it did not seem so difficult after all. Took them just 20 minutes (probably less), all in. The Ikea promise is always that the stuff would be simply enough to put together on our own. There's even the slogan that you do it yourself so Ikea does not need to pay someone in some factory to assemble the stuff (and build in the cost of doing so into the product).

Nisa and I bought some shelves for the store room today. Nothing fancy, and no need to be; it just had to be utilitarian and work enough to keep things neat in the store room. 4 rows of shelving, together with posts - all held together by screws (screws provided!). I never was a handyman and I can hardly change a light bulb but I thought I would give it a go anyway. Save some money along the way as well.

Took me some bloody 90 minutes to get just 2 rows up! Along the way, I discovered that I was missing a post for the shelves (I think Ikea did not calculate this in when we asked how we could combine products). I now have new-found respect for the Ikea assembly guys; and especially their power drill cum screw device!!!