Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Paying Respect to MF
My first run up the MF slope tonight. 10km route. It took me almost 45min to warm up and barely made it up the Kg Bahru slope. And by the time my legs found their rhythm, the run was finishing. Fab... I think I need more hill runs and mileage to get in shape for the HK marathon 3 weeks away. *gosh*
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Low-Sugar on Carbon Wheels
I tried out my new carbon wheels today. I was suppose to ride with Henry and WH but I totally overslept. Oops. Alber had class and could not ride with me today. So I ended up cycling alone. I was a little hesitant because friends told me that a deep-section wheel catches more wind and is more wobbly. The brakes also take a little bit longer to be seasoned since carbon is 'slippery'. Great....
I headed for the only familiar route that I knew - Mandai. My aim was to complete 5 loops. The wheels were smooth and nice. Except that they were nice only above 30kmh. They picked up speed easily after that, but then I don't normally cruise at 30kmh so I did not benefit much from that. Uphill battle, downhill breeze. In fact the downs gathered speed so quickly, I was a little scared. The wheels had a nice zzzzzng sound when they free-wheeled. Ahhh... but that also meant I slacked off a lot. Oops. Ok, it's the rider's problem, not the wheels. My bike handling skill was not ace. And if the engine doesn't whoosh and zoom, the wheels couldn't whoosh and zoom....
The first three rounds were ok, but I started to feel hungry. Just as I pulled into the bus stop near Shell for a cereal bar, it started to drizzle. But it was a passing shower that stopped in 10 minutes. I only had one cereal bar, which was a mistake.
My fourth round was better, boosted by the cereal bar. I ambitiously thought perhaps I could complete 6 rounds. I saw Henry and Lucille jogging near the Mandai PCN. Wow, brick training, power!
Then trouble struck. I headed for the 5th round and just 6km after, I started to feel low sugar. Extremely low sugar. I felt cold, light-headed and could just go at a sustenance pace. I could feel the body shutting down, as if it was trying to conserve what little energy there was left. I had to fight to stay awake, and alert. To the extent that I stopped at the pedestrian path at the Woodlands-Mandai junction and stoned out for a while to recover.
I contemplated taking a cab home, but figured I should be able to last until the coffeeshop enroute home. So I skipped the rest of the loop and u-turned at the Crematorium junction and headed back. It was a lot of cruising and free-wheeling. I had another pit-stop at Shell, and recomposed myself for the last 5km to the coffeeshop.
That 5km never felt harder or longer. I had to stay focused and not drift off. Once at the coffeeshop, I polished off an iced milo, an iced lemon tea and a pau. It was another 5km home. Whew. Next time, I would bring more food on the ride.
I headed for the only familiar route that I knew - Mandai. My aim was to complete 5 loops. The wheels were smooth and nice. Except that they were nice only above 30kmh. They picked up speed easily after that, but then I don't normally cruise at 30kmh so I did not benefit much from that. Uphill battle, downhill breeze. In fact the downs gathered speed so quickly, I was a little scared. The wheels had a nice zzzzzng sound when they free-wheeled. Ahhh... but that also meant I slacked off a lot. Oops. Ok, it's the rider's problem, not the wheels. My bike handling skill was not ace. And if the engine doesn't whoosh and zoom, the wheels couldn't whoosh and zoom....
The first three rounds were ok, but I started to feel hungry. Just as I pulled into the bus stop near Shell for a cereal bar, it started to drizzle. But it was a passing shower that stopped in 10 minutes. I only had one cereal bar, which was a mistake.
My fourth round was better, boosted by the cereal bar. I ambitiously thought perhaps I could complete 6 rounds. I saw Henry and Lucille jogging near the Mandai PCN. Wow, brick training, power!
Then trouble struck. I headed for the 5th round and just 6km after, I started to feel low sugar. Extremely low sugar. I felt cold, light-headed and could just go at a sustenance pace. I could feel the body shutting down, as if it was trying to conserve what little energy there was left. I had to fight to stay awake, and alert. To the extent that I stopped at the pedestrian path at the Woodlands-Mandai junction and stoned out for a while to recover.
I contemplated taking a cab home, but figured I should be able to last until the coffeeshop enroute home. So I skipped the rest of the loop and u-turned at the Crematorium junction and headed back. It was a lot of cruising and free-wheeling. I had another pit-stop at Shell, and recomposed myself for the last 5km to the coffeeshop.
That 5km never felt harder or longer. I had to stay focused and not drift off. Once at the coffeeshop, I polished off an iced milo, an iced lemon tea and a pau. It was another 5km home. Whew. Next time, I would bring more food on the ride.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
New Wheels!
My first set of racing wheels - the Reynolds Assault. Ahhhh......
It was a decent set of carbon deep-section wheels. Friends had recommended them to me. So on a nice sunny afternoon, we all turned up at Cycleworkz,.... to buy wheels and gear! Or simply to gather and socialize. Between the 7-8 of us, we bought 3 sets of new wheels. :)
I shall try them out tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to get used to them and not fall off.
It was a decent set of carbon deep-section wheels. Friends had recommended them to me. So on a nice sunny afternoon, we all turned up at Cycleworkz,.... to buy wheels and gear! Or simply to gather and socialize. Between the 7-8 of us, we bought 3 sets of new wheels. :)
I shall try them out tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to get used to them and not fall off.
Happy Trails
My first trail run of the year. Happy happy trails. :) Until I discovered new cement steps inside the trail, horrors! I hope NParks doesn't keep 'repairing' the trail until it becomes a fake, sculptured trail.
My hamstrings were extremely tight. I don't feel the pull when I walk, only when I run. And my back, tensed ramrod. It had been a long and tiring week at work, little sleep, too much computer and mouse time that my right shoulder ached. Well ok, I was sore everywhere.
So my run was really really slow. I saw a number of friends in the trail while I shuffled along. Luckily I was still able to complete two rounds. Whew. Time for a massage!
My hamstrings were extremely tight. I don't feel the pull when I walk, only when I run. And my back, tensed ramrod. It had been a long and tiring week at work, little sleep, too much computer and mouse time that my right shoulder ached. Well ok, I was sore everywhere.
So my run was really really slow. I saw a number of friends in the trail while I shuffled along. Luckily I was still able to complete two rounds. Whew. Time for a massage!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Nice Long Run
I had a whole day of workshop facilitation today, so it was nice to be having a long run in the evening for the mind to tune out and reflect. We did the 14km Portsdown - MOE - Alexandra route. I was late and ran with Alber. It was an easy slow run, not that I was capable of anything faster either. We did not see any of the other runners until Depot Rd and nearing Safra.
I relished the time alone to think to myself. I had another workshop coming up and was cracking my brain on how to design it. The run was a perfect opportunity to mull over possible ideas.
A great session at work today, followed by a nice long run, that triggered more ideas for the upcoming workshop. Ended off with an entire plate of nai-bai (vegetables) all to myself! Ahh total bliss. :)
I relished the time alone to think to myself. I had another workshop coming up and was cracking my brain on how to design it. The run was a perfect opportunity to mull over possible ideas.
A great session at work today, followed by a nice long run, that triggered more ideas for the upcoming workshop. Ended off with an entire plate of nai-bai (vegetables) all to myself! Ahh total bliss. :)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
12km Only. 30km More
My first proper run since I got back. 12km full of upslopes.
(1) the zig-zag hort park route to kent ridge park
(2) south buona vista road
(3) kent ridge park
Obviously I was totally unconditioned for the run/ slopes. My knee ached a little and by the end of the run, my right toes were cramping.
My gosh, so cmi... and 30km more to a full marathon. I am so gone...
(1) the zig-zag hort park route to kent ridge park
(2) south buona vista road
(3) kent ridge park
Obviously I was totally unconditioned for the run/ slopes. My knee ached a little and by the end of the run, my right toes were cramping.
My gosh, so cmi... and 30km more to a full marathon. I am so gone...
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wetsuit for a Cold Day
It took me ten minutes to tug on my wetsuit, and I was already late for class to begin with. But it was a good evening to try out my newly bought wetsuit, because it was so cold after the rain. It was my first time swimming in the wetsuit. It was an Orca Sonar (mid-level), a third-hand piece and already seasoned after a few races. Last IMWA, I rented an Orca Equip (entry-level) and it fitted me ok. So I decided to get the Sonar when the opportunity arose as I knew the owners before me.
I could feel the water enter my back when I got into the pool. Was it suppose to? Then some water crept in through my sleeves too, but not much. W had the same problem too apparently. Perhaps we were not bulky enough to fill up the wetsuit snugly.
8x 50 easy swim - 1:12, 1:13, 1:09, 1:09, 1:09, 1:11, 1:14, 1:07
8x 100 @ 2:45 - 2:19, 2:23, 2:27, 2:20, 2:23, 2:21, 2:25, 2:23, 2:26
(by which time I started to feel the heat in the wetsuit)
Supposedly 10x 50 @ 1:05 - kidding??
1:16, 1:13, 1:07, 1:14, 1:20, 1:21 (skipped last 2 sets)
(felt the drag and heaviness now)
I could feel the water enter my back when I got into the pool. Was it suppose to? Then some water crept in through my sleeves too, but not much. W had the same problem too apparently. Perhaps we were not bulky enough to fill up the wetsuit snugly.
8x 50 easy swim - 1:12, 1:13, 1:09, 1:09, 1:09, 1:11, 1:14, 1:07
8x 100 @ 2:45 - 2:19, 2:23, 2:27, 2:20, 2:23, 2:21, 2:25, 2:23, 2:26
(by which time I started to feel the heat in the wetsuit)
Supposedly 10x 50 @ 1:05 - kidding??
1:16, 1:13, 1:07, 1:14, 1:20, 1:21 (skipped last 2 sets)
(felt the drag and heaviness now)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)