Not a bad month after all

Runs since last post:

Tues 30 Jan – The Tan – 7.8 kms

Mon 29 Jan Princes Park – 5 kms

Tu 23 Jan - Coast Path – 5 Kms

Thu 18 Jan –The Tan – 4 kms

Sat 13 Jan – Albert Park Lake – 5kms

This month: 81 kms

Incredible January went so quickly! Holy cow!

Although I started well the year in running terms, I have taking things easy since my run on Sat January 13^th when I ran around the Albert Park Lake. On that day I noticed that my left leg was not responding as well as expected. I had severe pain and was unable to run beyond the one lap. It was the same sort of pain I experienced last September when I was diagnosed with shin splints. Shin splints strikes again but this time on the other leg!

So what I have done instead is reduce running considerably – well, a good excuse to focus and do other things.

Recently I had lunch with an old pal of mine who ran 16 marathons and his wise advise was to forget running a marathon so soon (so GOR is out of question). Instead I will concentrate in running my first around June and then the MM in October. I will enter some of the fun runs in coming months.

And, the running fever continues with friends and other pals... another member of El Sindicato has decided that the MM is a goer!

Getting serious with... running

Today: 8 kms

This week: 27.5 kms

This month: 54 kms

Running

I returned to The Tan this evening for an easy 8 km run, which I truly enjoyed it. Besides, if I wish to return to the long runs sometime soon, I better keep going for those runs that help build towards the desired goal. I am beginning to find the runs easier to handle and, I am beginning to get used to slow starts and finish strong.

I bought today my first running book –The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon. I cannot wait any longer to get into reading it and putting into practice some of the principles outlined in the book.

Claypots

One of my favourite eateries in Melbourne is Claypots, specifically the St Kilda outlet. I had a nice meal there this evening with some friends, and whilst we waited for our table we had a drink at the bar. Yes, there is a bar now – an annex. The bar opened five weeks ago so I was told by the bar attendant. She recommended we tried the Czech beer, which was very appropriate for a hot summer evening. The wine selection is one full page and appears to be comprehensive. The wines are at good prices.

We ordered the usual stuff, a few tapas, the grilled calamari (this time prepared differently – it was served with peppers, onions and potatoes; all good flavours) and the snapper (very tasty and the herbs were just perfect).

Originally I was told therePublish was a waiting period of about an hour and a half. We got our tables within forty minutes or, in plain vernacular language – two beers later. Sometimes it feels it is easier to catch a fish than securing a table at this restaurant.

Just in case...

I usually post my stuff without edits - the thoughts appear as they emerge. Because, I tend to rush things around, I do not tend to review the text.

Reached a milestone – 12kms

Today: 12 kms

This week: 19.5 kms

This month: 46 kms

It is one of those things in life… you dare to get into your head to run 12 kms but you have done 4 or 5 kms and you start to despair. Ay! Carajo! said I a few times whilst I was going around and around The Tan this evening. But because I committed myself (oh yeah… me thinking that running is just easy!) to run today three laps and the extra bit to make 12 kms, I had to finish the bloody run as planned. The good thing is that I did the last kilometre running faster than the previous 11 kms. My previous longest distance in recent times was the 10kms on Christmas Day (just because a huge meal).

This is how I ran today: I started (just past the 3km mark) running slowly (sorry MAR, did not do the 5 min walk) then picked a little pace after one kilometre and sustained it for the first lap, including going up the hill in Anderson St, but as I progressed I increased it a bit more – just enough to feel comfortable and breath easily. As I completed my first lap I felt good but sweating a fair bit – I am now convinced that the Asics blue top I wear sometimes is not the right one for hot days – I prefer the white Adidas I have which makes me feel less sweaty. Going up the hill the second time was less joyful than anticipated but even less joyful the third time (I even tried to stay within distance to a nice young chic but she was going to slow for my like so I had to pass her). Because I prefer going up than going down, I usually stop to have a drink of water at the fountain (near the 1.5 km mark), from that point on I just picked pace and then ran fast the last kilometre… I had glimpses of enjoyment as I reached the 12 kms milestone… I hope and I pray to the Gods that I stay injury free for the next 18 weeks!

The Tan was full of runners today, many familiar faces – it looks like the regulars are back in town. I saw one my my neighbours, an old flame from years ago and the umistakable combat wonbat, having a new hair style. Guess, who do i said hello to? Combat wonbat !

I am resting tomorrow and I am running again on Thursday. If things continue to go right, I am hopeful that by early February I shall be able to run 20kms on a Sunday morning.

And another thing...
I forgot to say that on a lengthy telephone conversation with my bro in LA, I ruled out running the LA marathon in early March this year… I was looking forward to having a crack at the race there because this is a city I have visited so many times and I am very familiar with it. However, I shall make the trip later on the year so I can go to Hermosa Beach to eat the best lobster tacos you can find in the planet (okay in sunny California).

Now that I lost the fear to #1 - I am considering a complete shave, then I will go to long hair for winter.

Adios chicos y chicas!

Am I addicted …? Another run today

Today: 6.7 kms
This week: 27.5 kms
This month: 34 kms

This afternoon after changes around it happened I ended up having a couple of hours to spare, so I ended up going for a r-u-n. Instead of going to one of my usual running places I paired with David (who is training to walk the Kokoda Trail in July) and ran around Caulfield Park.

For a route of today’s course, see
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=624591

Caulfield Park is a very flat course, no hills and no major surprises at all. It is a 2kms course, a bit longer than the Duncan MacKinnon Reserve in Bentleigh. We ran anticlockwise and we initially expected to run 5 laps but David’s hummies were annoying him so we decided to cut short the run. It worked fine with me, because I have been running too frequently lately.

I am not becoming addicted to running; it is a matter of having some time now that later on will be scarce once we get back to the usual, mundane, daily routine of our lives. Isn’t that pathetic? Never mind, stop whingeing. Get on with life.

Casablanca
After years of willing to watch Casablanca, I have finally watched it. I started after Christmas but with so many things going on, I paused it and only returned to it today! What a film, what a passion…! I saw Casablanca when I was a kid and I always considered it to be one of my favourite films. Never knew why, but probably because it has the drama of love in difficult times, lasting passion and the impossibility of fulfilling that long life lasting love.

Pesto and Wine
I believe there is nothing more exciting than fulfilling the desire to have a good fresh pesto for dinner. Well, this morning I happened to visit my local fresh and veg shop and they had the last bunch of basil. The basil looked inconspicuous when I took it out of the shop’s container but as I was dissecting the leaves and placing them in the blender the full flavour was getting attached to my fingers and the smell overtook the kitchen’s summer stiffness. It penetrated through the olive oil as I mixed all the ingredients and in a matter of seconds it looked very appealing. Dinner was accompanied with a nice glass of Di Giorgio Emporio, which was I wine I tasted in my trip to Coonawarra last November. The Emporio is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc; it is a wine I liked it very much because of its complexity and relative soft structure.

Clipper #1
For the past few months I have been flirting with #2s and #1 and 1/2...
Do I need to say anything else? Finally:

A crazy day… but managed to run

Today: 4.5 kms

This week: 27.5 kms

Today was a crazy day… started with shopping at one of the DFOs, which I think are not the bargains people often think they are (same stuff can be purchased at even better prices at the retail stores – just know when they offer the big discounts!). After that I ended up in Rebel Sport checking the Polar range of watches / lap / HRM. It’s somewhat crazy that I am considering buying one – but this is because my casual watch – a Swiss Army – has the wristband broken and I think it will cost more money to get a new one than what it is worth. Then I had to drive to Cape Schanck to collect Izzy and Seb.

Later in the afternoon, unexpectedly I had an opportunity to go to out for a run – so I took the chance to go to The Botanical Gardens. Given the heat and the extreme windy conditions, I only managed to complete one lap and a bit, but happy that I have ran five times this week. Considering that I ran last night I decided to take this afternoon’s run easy; in fact my legs were not quite there to go for a fast run. I must say that I am very pleased with the new running top I am wearing – an Adidas, white one – it feels far more comfortable than the New Balance I have worn for the past two months. It feels Adidas fits me better than the New Balance.

If I compare today's run against yesterday's, I have to say that I felt more comfortable yesterday. Dont know why - I cannot say that the glass of Pinot I had at about 3 pm or the G&T at 5pm played a big role, but I would imagine that the windy conditions and the humidity made today's running somewhat unbearable. I am beginning to notice that my legs are getting firmer (needless to say that my calves are very muscular already).

Initially i thought I would manage to run 10kms at The Tan - since it is one of my favourite running places - compared to my little mileage I have accummulated running around Elwood 0 but it was not meant to be a long run yet. I am listening to my body - my legs really.

So I am very happy that this week has been a very good running week.

Gosh! Feeling Upbeat

Today: 7 kms

This week: 23 kms

I ran four times this week, thus being an exceptional week, given my work/life schedule. Invariably things will change in coming weeks but I will start building up mileage early in the year so it shall be not long when I get out on a Sunday morning (circumstances permitting) and run 20+ kms.

I would like to remain optimistic that this year I will consolidate running long distances relatively early leading to a race/competition. My particular interest resides in one long distance run per week, which I propose to use as a mechanism to review the week and sort out my thoughts and action plan.

For this week the territory I covered in my runs was pretty much the Brighton-St Kilda area. URL for this route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=620309.

This evening I started my run at 9pm from North Road and the temperature was 33 degrees Celsius! As I passed the Elwood beach, there were so many people having picnics and playing in the beach. It was as if there was a festival. Fortunately there were no many people with dogs obstructing the paths…! (by now it should be pretty clear that I am not a pet lover). Paradoxically as I progressed to St Kilda, the crowd changed… more couples and less family-oriented like in the Elwood area. On my return I stopped at Ormond Point to drink water and to stretch for five minutes. As I am returning to running after suffering from shin splints I have introduced a ‘stretch stop’ to minimise any potential injury. I have also become more disciplined in having ice pack on both of my legs for ten minutes after a run.

One thing I noticed this evening was that I did not start running so eagerly as I usually do and I think this helped me to stay really upbeat all the way to the finish. This is rather unusual because I frequently think of quitting running half way through. I also felt I was running more at ease than previous occasions – but it could mean that I have stayed away from having unnecessary biscuits and cakes when having coffee / tea in the office and drinking very little alcohol (although today I had a Bombay sapphire gin and tonic!).

I continue to walk five minutes prior and after the run. I am also doing religiously a set of stretches. Hope this is going to be a regular practice for weeks to come.

Depending on my activities this weekend I may have opportunity to go to The Tan for a run.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Today: 6 kms
This week: 16 kms

There was a miracle… I was not expecting to go out for a run today but it happened. I ran 6kms, starting at 6.30AM and it felt hot already. I felt suffocated and had to stop regularly to drink water. One thing that I have noticed is that there is not a visible water fountain between Ormond Point and St Kilda (unless these are hidden between the bushes). Anyone who runs regularly between Brighton to Ricketts Point will notice water fountain at different points, there are not many around St Kilda.

USA Politics: Democrats in Control of Congress

Following on the mid term elections in the USA last November 2006, the Democrats are now in control of the USA Congress. This means that there is going to be a shift in the USA foreign policy, with the most obvious change occurring in coming week, it is the way the USA will tackle the worsening situation in Iraq.

The new 110^th Congress convened on this date and the new democratic leadership has vowed to introduce a bill to raise the minimum wage to US$7.25 per hour. Why do I mention this…? It is because those dishwashers, fast food cooks, and other unskilled workers will benefit. Those people are usually migrants and they often use a fair amount of their meagre income to send remittances to their home countries. Republicans are expected to block the bill increasing minimum wages.

And another thing… John Negroponte (the Director of Intelligence and former Ambassador to Honduras during the years of conflict in Central America in the 1980s) has been appointed Deputy to Dr Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State.

John Negroponte was the USA Ambassador in Honduras between the years of 1981 and 1985. During one year of that period I lived in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras. I do remember that Negroponte was a name given to a number of a few new babies born during that period. The USA Ambassador usually plays an important role in the life of any small country. It is argued that John Negroponte down played human rights abuses in Honduras.

More information about the USA Congress:

http://www.house.gov/

Yepee! Running again today

Today: 5 kms
This week: 10 kms

Lucky me... running for a second consecutive day; 5kms again. Feel happy about it. Unfortunately I wont be running for a couple of days (due to social engagements; oh yeah! the social animal out again). I am not running mainly to catch up with some people I have not seen for a while.

Running again today made me good although I must say that the heat and humidity is somewhat hard to take right now, particularly when you are running along the beach. Today I started my run at about 8.40pm and there so many people out there in the beach...!

I am walking 5 mins prior to running, then I head off and tried to zig zag walkers, dogs, small children in tricycles. Gee! so many people and obstacles out there! Elwood is always so busy. After I stop running I walk for another five minutes and do stretching. I usually do my stretching anywhere between North Rd and Martin St.

Next week I shall start running around The Tan again. I may even consider running around Princess Park with some other people who are regulars around there.

Running has given me the discipline to work on other projects... so running is my creative incubator.

2007 events
I am indeed very keen in participating in running events this year (albeit to say that my schedule is somewhat tight) but if I am able to gain form relatively quickly and without injury I shall be making it to the start lane at the earliest possible.

Indeed the MM has been pencilled in (October). I am considering the 30th Traralgon marathon. I would like to consider a half GOR.

Pantry
Yesterday I had a good cleaned out of my pantry. I not only discovered I had a peanut better expired 15 months ago; a full jar of unopened packets of Twinning and Dilmah tea bags; 5 tins of tuna and salmon; far too many tins of coconut milk (when I hardly ever I cook Asian), but I have soo many different T2 teas: De tox (my morning fav drink), red chai, passion, botanica, bright night, gyokuro asahi and creme brulee... F! far too many... this is insane.
For obvious reasons I have to keep a number of different cereals (seven in total again!), a good pile and variety of biscuits.

Thinking about it... seven must be a magic number for me.

Adios.

First of January - First run!

I started well this year... I went for a 5 km run this evening, from North Rd Brighton to Glenhuntly Rd Elwood and back to North Rd. The conditions were not so good for a run because it was rather humid and opressive

After the MM and having taken 6 weeks to recover from injury, I still find difficult running. I feel I have lots fitness. My original plan was to have gained form by Christmas. What I mean by gaining form is that I would like to be able to do one weekly run of 20kms + and the longest I have managed so far wass 10kms (on Christmas day, I must say). So i have been forced to rethink about my plans to start fully training for another race. I think the earliest I could aim now is April.

Life
Went to see Happy Feet last week and I truly enjoyed it. I think that some of the scenes of the film are not apt for children under 6/7 years old. Having said that, today's children are - I think - more exposed to see stronger films than in my generation. The film has a strong political message in that preservation of the environment as well as endangered species of animals is critical .

I had ten days off and time disappeared...! I had a wonderful time with the family. I managed to read the dailies every morning... ah! what a pleasure!

I would be one of the very few suckers who returns to work on the 2nd of January...

Capital punishment
I do not condone taking the life of a guilty person as a way to deal with justice. I grew up in a country where capital punishment become a common practice at the height of the war and many innocent lives were lost this way. Death penalty should be abolished regardless of the crime and the individual.
I would rather see those responsibles for atrocities locked away and given a sentence of 30-40 years improsement.