Longest Run

I did my first 14km run since Sundown. It started off angsty, a very very angsty run. I was very slow and the runners were very fast. I was easily 50m behind them, then 100m, then out of sight. The cough was still there, every 4-5min or so and the throat would irritate. So the first 30min of the run was a lot of angst, frustration and self-reproach. But 30min later, the angst was gone, I had no more energy to be arguing with myself and I started to relax. The weather was cool, after a shower, the air was crisp. I started to enjoy the coolness and the quietness of the surroundings at Portsdown. I jogged slowly and evenly. By 50min, I realized that I was no longer coughing or wheezing. The heart had probably warmed up to the steady rhythm and I could jog unaffectedly. It took me a long time to return to Safra. But I didn't care. I encouraged myself that it was a blessing to be able to still run, the mere action of putting one foot in front of the other for more than an hour. It was my longest run since I can't remember when. But it was decent. For love of running. No speed. Why bother?

Swimming Fits

I tried to swim today. I left office early to escape that damn new ERP gantry right outside my office. Crumbs. Got to the Safra pool and Alber was already doing his laps. Well I tried to swim, but the phlegm and cough got in the way. So at the end of every lap, I could feel the phlegm building and had to clear my throat. It was start, stop, cough, start, stop, cough. Quite a strain to swim even a lap. In the end I could only manage 12 laps before I gave up.

My 1st Run

After resting for 5 days (!!! longest ever), I did my first run tonight. Shirley and I ran on our own because she had a sprained ankle, and I still had my coughing fits. The rest of the Safra group went to do hill runs. We took our leisurely pace, trotting along. We decided to run to Labrador, loop inside the park, and return to Telok Blangah Rise. It was a nice casual run, the chatty sort. We reached Labrador Park, and I brought Shirley over to the Dragon Tooth Gate, and we explored that new section of the park. There was a new seafood restaurant, but it was very empty. We jogged out of the park and slowly made our way towards Harbourfront. The runners should be back at the club by now. Turning into Telok Blangah Rise, we walked the way back so as to give Shirley's ankle a rest from the upslope. While strolling, she educated me on the business of blood donation, rather neat stuff.

Dying Throat

Woke up 3am. Throat was burning. It hurt so much just to swallow. Coughed and coughed the entire day. Still to go to office as there were meetings. Slightly feverish, bad throat, horrible cough. Oh groan, there goes my training plans for the weekend. :( Maybe all that lung-bursting cough would strengthen my lungs instead! :((

Bad Throat

Sore throat, very bad throat. Perhaps it was yesterday's spin. I was coughing the whole day, better skip the Safra run. Went home early and brought my bike to the shop for a check. Slept early.

RPM Hard Challenge

There was another trainer with KL today. A lady trainer from KL who had been posted to work in Singapore. So both of them shared the stage and put us through the routine. I cranked and cranked and puffed my way through, breathing really hard through the mouth. There was a flat track that seemed to go on forever and ever, and the pedalling endless. Even if it was kept at a constant cadence, after a while, my quads were burning, and there was still half a minute to go! I ended the class totally spent.

10km MF Run

Last minute change of training plans as the runners wanted to go for birthday celebratory dinner. We swapped the Tuesday & Thursday plans, and did a 10km MF loop instead. So tired, I had 3 meetings & discussions today. I planned to swim, but seeing that it was 10km instead of track work, I joined in the run. And also because Eddie convinced me that he would run slowly with me. So 3 of us - Alber, Eddie and I - started slightly after the group. To the guys' credit, they slowed down and jogged with me. I was still trying to run leisurely and rekindle the running lovebug. After reaching the top of MF, I had a stomach upset and went to the washroom while the guys continued. I saw Alan training his runners at MF loop, everyone looked bushed. I guess that was the difference between elite runners and recreational ones like me. I managed to finish the MF route in 1:06h. 3 min slower than my usual, and goodness knows how much slower than most of the club's female runners. I should retire pretty soon.....

Had dinner with Alvin, Karen, Eddie and Alber. They were funny people, cracked me up as usual. A great antidote to a long day of churning brain juices!