Dancing in the rain

The sun was baking hot this afternoon. As I walk out of my office for lunch, I told my colleague that my evening run is going to be tough with such scorching heat.

It started raining in the late afternoon before my run. I thought luck was on my side, and I was wrong. Halfway into my run, it started raining cats and dogs. What a day!

As I run pass the Singapore Sport School, I saw the CISCO Traffic Warrants were still standing along the road in the rain with their luminous raincoat. For the passed days I can spot them at the crucial road junctions without fail, rain or shine. They must have been working very hard for the YOG, Bravo to them!

1ST 10KM B4 40

I have make history for myself last Sunday, the first time I ever run 10.5 km in my life. And although my timing of 1 hour 20 minute isn’t that fantastic, I am still very happy, since my family was there to give me the boost.

Running has never been interesting since my school days. Even in my army days, I have never thought I would be running this distance. My mentality was “I didn’t need to, I didn’t want to.” Then I changed my mind almost twenty years later.

This is a new beginning. I have a new vision for myself, I want to run a half-marathon, soon, hopefully by end of the year.

Writing And Running

It is been a long time since I last contribute to my blog, so much has happen in the last few months, I have even got a new job. Many time I wanted to start typing but it just don’t work out. I realize it is very much like running, when I stop running for a week or more, it become less enjoyable to start stepping out again. Nearly two year ago, I was busy looking for reasons to be excused from running i.e. IPPT. I was too tired after work, I need more time with my kids, and I have got asthma. Interestingly, after running for six month, I countered all the excuses myself, running actually improve my energy level, I got my wife and kids to run with me, and better fitness brings better health which help suppress my asthmatic condition. Anyway, I ran 8km in about one hour last night, I am happy I have made such progress. Next month, I will be doing a 10km run in the Saucony 100PLUS PAssion run 2008.

My Running Shoe

I went for a run on Tuesday night. I have pre-plan the route with MapMyRun, a distance of about 2.8 km, which I only walk for 50m during the run to regulate my breathing. I am quite happy with my progress due to the fact that I started my first run a month ago with only 800 meters of running. Interestingly this is also the longest route I have run voluntarily.

Technologies these days are really of great help to many people in many ways. On measurement of running distance alone, other than using the internet to plan the running route, one can also use watches, mini gadgets or shoes with GPS or pacing software, these devices also have extra functions to measuring other figures like the speed and calories burned, and software to gauge your performance. There are also shoes to fit all kinds of legs, including flat-footers, clothing that are light and remove sweat from your body, MP3s to help you to stay focus and enjoy your run. Medical information on injuries, diet, types of foots, ways of running can be found on the web easily. The list goes on.

What use to be very simple only a decade ago is now a science subject. In my army days, we just put on our vest and shorts, and any fitting pair of the multi-purpose shoe and there we goes. Today, choosing my pair of running shoe alone took me more than one hour, this is the first time it is happening to me, and I used to think that only girls do that, silly me. The sale person first measure my foot, length and width, then they let me walk and run on the treadmill when they determine the type of foot I have, and my walking and running style. Lastly, they narrow down a few models of shoes for me to try on. Along the process, the sale person would explain what and why they checking or doing. And at last, I pay $140 for this Asics GEL-CUMULUS® 9.

Healthy Living

While reading SgRunners few days back, I registered for a talk, as its title says “Fit for Running” the talk was meant to create awareness and prepare runners for the upcoming marathon event. I am not a marathon runner, but I still went on to attend the talk since I am almost 40 and have not been running for a long long time. Most of the subjects are quite dry, but I did the right thing to attend the talk. I learn to understand injuries, the preventions and managing them if it happens, I learn some techniques of strength training, and there are also what and how to eat and drink correctly for runners, lastly about the risk a runner face when running a marathon, why some runner died running. It was 3 hours well spend, at least I learn to run the right way, rather than sacrificing health for fitness.



Back home in the evening my wife suggested a family run, and so every member including my youngest daughter was at my usual running spot, and amazingly, she did 800 meters. Not bad for the first run of a 4 years old, really.

This is really one memorable Sunday in my life, not only did it motivate me to take a wider step in running towards my dream, it also marks a milestone in the family’s healthier lifestyle.