Running at Forty One

Knocking 2012.

2012-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

Its 2012. New day,new year and new number. Some says,its going to be a good year,some says it not. Even some us says,its going to be the end of the wold. The armageddon. As for me,its going to be my other year. Added my age with another number and another year for me to enjoy life. In fitness,I want to gain more stamina,burn more fat,eat more food and most important thing of all,play hard. Because if you don't play hard enough,you will not enjoy the game.

I have a goal in this year,the Ironman title is in my list. For two years,I keep this goal alive. Working on my swimming and running for this goal. I have about 6 moth for me to improve my cycling which I haven't start training yet. I was about to cancel my dream to be an ironman when my knee and ankle give me a lot of problem in early 2011. Had severe constant pain at my right leg join. My physiologist advice me to undergo knee operation to fix my problematic ligament,but I refused. I wanted to try Chinese medicine. I went to local Chinese hospital,they give me a good acupuncture treatment. Its work on me. Within 3 moths, I was smiling again. No more ouuuch.. ouuuch during running or calling my driver to pick me up half way. I started to enjoy my life again,I started pushing myself again and I started enjoy endorphin again.

During my leg problem period,I was concentrate on swimming. No doubt,it added my upper body and core strength. My hand and my shoulder really work everytime I push them in the water. I swim in many difference way. From dog style,to freestyle,to butterfly. But the most I like,when my kids join me swimming. It was like a time machine. It turned me in to 10 years old boy again. I had no limit when I play with my kids. One of my favorite,donkey jump. We jump in to the pool while running into it. I cant describe it here,but if you try it,you'll be addicted to it. As the result from water exercise,more upper balance during running and sprinting. More enjoyable running.

I have obsession about running. I will give 1001 reason why I have to start running . I obsess about how I feel after running. The music during every step I take in my running shoe,the music during cooling down and how this habit can solve my daily dilemma. Its trim my good mood to excellent mood. I always in my own world,own island everytime I run.

No matter how I feel about it,this year,2012,I have to remember my limitation,my knee. I don't want it to be wrap again. Not for this year. I have to clock less millage,less hill. If there is a technology where I can replace this problematic right knee to artificial-intelligent-knee,I will invest on it. I want to make sure,I will get a better 2012 in my running shoe. Have a good year to all.

Running After Yoga.

2011-10-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yoga session today give the whole idea about breathing technique. Applying this breathing during streaching is not easy,its recuire the whole concentration and focus. When my legs touching my shoulder for one minute,its not easy to breath. And this position was repeated for more then 3 times.I was struggling looking for oxygen. At the same time,I need to maintain my position.

This whole idea,makes my running easier. After Yoga session, I was jumped straight to treadmills,try to apply breathing technique I learn from Yoga just. Its working. I can maintain my pace below 5 for more then 25 minute. As require in my training plan,I need to run for 40 minute at level 7 today,I manage to improve my time.

At average speed of ~15km/h and maintain my heart rate around 152bpm.

I haven't test this on tarmac yet,but I believe can improve my time from my average,9 to 10km/h. My next training,i will try to prolong this pace up to one hour,see,what will be happend to me.

This is the best feeling running I ever experience. Yes,Yoga help me a lot. I strongly recommend Yoga practice to runners. Now,I"m only aiming for finishing medal in my race,but I dare to put my target a little bit higher then that. Good luck to me,good luck to all....

Yoga For Runner.

2011-10-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

First time,and straight in to my heart. I fall in love with Yoga.! I never think that Yoga can bring me this big improvement start from my first session attended. I can feel my muscle moving to the right direction. I can fell how its mould myself to have this kind of feeling,"scary" good feeling. I feel "too" good after my first session. Concluded as funny good feeling.!

I don't know how its going to effect my sleep. But my head keep on remind me about sleep,even during this time,the time I type this sentence. Its kind of not sleepy,not tired but my body says,time to sleep and have a sweet beautiful dream. Weird huuh.. Never feel this kind of "want to sleep" since the day I made my first little step. Hopefully this kind of feeling will be last until tomorrow. No more bed side issue.

I want to make Yoga as part of my marathon training schedule. May be 3 times a week. I will consult my couch about it. He told me running alone will not give me improvement,I need alternation. Yoga is the one of the best. Peace of mind...... Good night everyone. Have a sweet little dream.

Back in running shoes.

2011-10-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Its take me a year plus to comeback seriously in running shoes. All this while,I was busy about loosing weight until my doctor advice me to regain back to my suitable weight. From 102kg to 61kg to my suitable weight,72 to 75kg.

From here

to here.

Start from today (1/10/2011),I will equip myself with full marathon training. My actual target is Itabishi City Marathon,Tokyo in March 2012. I will not hunt only for finisher medal this time. I will put myself somewhere in the rank,. Hopefully,with the schedule training planed by my coach,I will improve my time and my performance.

Dare to Run. (Part three:The people)

2010-08-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

The People.....

They are my true inspiration.

My wife Mona,

My good friend Aisan.

Rose who teach me how to start running.

Chia Kai.

Armin.

Amelda.

Untie Marry.

Cythia and Asha.

Nick and Abang Abu.

Shuhada.

Lum and Weng Woo.

Amran.

Wayne.

Gina.

Singapore Blade Runner.

They are my inspiration. Their determination inspired me day by day. Their mental ability keep going strong regardless their physical restriction. When I ask them how they start running,they said:

"Just put on my shoes and start running."

Sound simple......

Dare to Run. (Part two: The training)

2010-08-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Seven month ago,my alarm clock rang at 7am on weekdays and 9am on Saturday and Sunday. Seven month ago,I look at people who get sweat at 7am as a weird and abnormal. Things change when I start running.....

My alarm clock will ring at 5am. To make sure I start running that morning,I will sleep with shirt and short for running. Put my running shoes beside my bed or nearest to my front door. First ring from alarm clock wake me up. Immediately looking for my running and start my day without going to toilet first. If I need to go,I'll be looking for the outdoor,nature's way to disperse what ever I need to disperse. It's hard to discipline myself at the beginning. At this period,I drag my feet with my eyes closed,out from bed without brushing my teeth. At 5am,I f**k off myself for starting this weird habit. For 2 weeks I keep doing the same thing every night and curse myself every morning. Until one morning,my eyes open when I put on my sock and start running without any bad word. The next morning,I start using toilet before running. Good habit never come easy.

I realize that 9 years before half century is already in veteran category. In this category I need to be extra careful in most aspect, especially my heart. I don't want to loose my heart beat during running. My parent pass away because of heart problem. But I want to run at optimum heart rate where most of my calories burn. In this issue heart rate monitor become handy. It show me my heart rate during running as well as my timing. Timing.. some thing that always make me excited. I want to see my time improved..

To keep track on my improvement, I log my millage in Dailymiles,a site that allow runners and athletes to log their millage,timing and many useful information to keep track their training. This site give me friend who share the same passion from around the wold. We keep motivate each other to keep ourselves focus. It's work pretty well on me. Tips from experience runner who already run for many marathons,sharing their experience running in the Sahara desert,postnatal mother who can't stop herself running and many more in this site. It's keep me motivated to wakeup at odd hours and start clocking my millage.

I run anywhere,everywhere,any time when I feel running. It's keep me alive. It's give me strength to face human. The most important thing is,running keep me

HAPPY

Something not everybody have it.

So,start running....

Dare to Run. (Part one: The beginning)

2010-08-19T10:28:00.001-07:00

Some people says, when you reach 40,you have to slow down. Let the time pass by and wait for God's calling you back. When I reach 41,I start put on my shoes and start my first step in running addiction.

This is how I look when I run my first 5km. I was thinking that I'm a crazy old man,running around carry my fat tummy. Then i said to my self it's ok.. I only run once a week,on Sunday. Thats all.. But things not going according to plan. From once a week it's become twice and soon it was three times a week. Not as I thought on my first day running.

Then come febuary 2010, Busy month for me. It all started with an outdoor fitness programe, Original Bootcamp.

A bunch of crazy people simply do their workout at 5.45am to 6.45am 3 times a week Rain,hail or shine,they'll be in the middle of the field,push up,sit up doing fitness. Their dedication and discipline inspire me a lot. Bootcamp location is about 20km a way from my house. I signup for this program.

Another crazy thing I did. It never come across my mind: Signup for my very first official 10km run organize by Pacesetter in February 2010.

It's all because one of our bootcamper's friend that I called her Sifu, Rose Emini Pahamin. She is one of my running idol since then. She already finished many half marathons and full marathons. If not because of her,I will never dare to run in an organize running competition and clock my official timing. I have a full respect on her.

Then I got my first running vest,collected by Rose. She play a big roll in my running obsession.

His brother, Armin Baniaz Pahamin is my running idol. He is supperp. He is a leukemia surviver,a passionate long distance runner,a triathlete,an Ironman participant, so on and so on. Many achievement and credit that he received come from his determination and dedication.

My first medal I earn for my first running in 1hr 06min.

Many of bootcampers finished thier 30km and for a virgin runner like me,10km. With glory.

All bootcamper's runners who participate in 30km and 10km was invited by Armin to his residence for a celebration to mark our succession in completing our run.

We being treated with a barbecue party by our host, Armin.

It was a beautiful memory finished my first stage of running experience. I survive this running sensation with tones of encouragement from my bootcamper's friends. They are like a blood flow,pumping in my body by my heart everytime I participate in running competition. Even when I start my daily run I will feel the same blood flow running in my blood stream. Keep me carry on,step by step.. My running story will continue in part two.