Haven't seen a snake for a while in the trails, and was surprised to spot one this morning. Luckily my reflexes were quick and I jumped over it, rather than onto it. Later, I found out that it was the Blue Malayaon Coral snake, eeeeeui!!
"... highly venomous..."
"Nocturnal in habits, it may sometimes be
encountered stretched across forest trails in the early morning."
http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/blue_malayan_coral_snake.htm
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday - no run. :(
Monday - no run. :((
Tuesday - Made it a special point to go down to MF Safra on Tuesday evening for a much needed run. I facilitated a corporate townhall session in the morning, and was all hyped and wired up to go. Needed a run to unwind, and especially so after two run-less days. I ran the 10km MF loop, it was months since I last went up the MF slope. Surprisingly it was not a pain and I was actually 5min faster than my usual MF loops. It was a while since I last ran on tarmac, and the pounding made itself known. It was certainly a lot stiffer and harder on the legs and knees!
Wednesday - Woke up early for a longer run this morning. The mere thought of hitting the trail sent a warm fuzzy feeling to me. :) Oh! For the freshness of air, the quietness of path, and the soft trodden mud. Somehwere in the midst of Durian Loop, there was a fallen tree trunk with branches everywhere. It took me a couple of minutes to stare and figure out how to climb-jump over it without falling into the ants trail that was on it. Then I ran to the ranger station toilet at MR, went out slightly to the barricaded part of the trail 'entrance' and u-turned. Would have happily (and automatically) gone on further if not for work. But all in, a nice sweat-drenched morning run. Mind all cleared up to face the day!
Monday - no run. :((
Tuesday - Made it a special point to go down to MF Safra on Tuesday evening for a much needed run. I facilitated a corporate townhall session in the morning, and was all hyped and wired up to go. Needed a run to unwind, and especially so after two run-less days. I ran the 10km MF loop, it was months since I last went up the MF slope. Surprisingly it was not a pain and I was actually 5min faster than my usual MF loops. It was a while since I last ran on tarmac, and the pounding made itself known. It was certainly a lot stiffer and harder on the legs and knees!
Wednesday - Woke up early for a longer run this morning. The mere thought of hitting the trail sent a warm fuzzy feeling to me. :) Oh! For the freshness of air, the quietness of path, and the soft trodden mud. Somehwere in the midst of Durian Loop, there was a fallen tree trunk with branches everywhere. It took me a couple of minutes to stare and figure out how to climb-jump over it without falling into the ants trail that was on it. Then I ran to the ranger station toilet at MR, went out slightly to the barricaded part of the trail 'entrance' and u-turned. Would have happily (and automatically) gone on further if not for work. But all in, a nice sweat-drenched morning run. Mind all cleared up to face the day!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
This Week's Run
Let's see, not much accomplished this week.
Ran twice in the mornings, both short distances just over an hour. It had been a crazy week of deadlines, assignments and the works. Sorely lacking sleep.... And it is not about to end any time soon.
But I managed to slot in a LSD this morning. 3:21h. 25-26km? Extremely tired now.
Ran twice in the mornings, both short distances just over an hour. It had been a crazy week of deadlines, assignments and the works. Sorely lacking sleep.... And it is not about to end any time soon.
But I managed to slot in a LSD this morning. 3:21h. 25-26km? Extremely tired now.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Low, Flat & Out of Sugar
Had a very good Javanese massage last night, which knocked me out totally until 10am this morning. Had almost 12h of blissful sleep. Must be the accumulated sleep deficit over the past weeks!
But anyhow, woke up somewhat panicky because I had tonnes of things to do today and still had to squeeze in a run. Fine. Got organised, drank some yoghurt and chomped a mini-Snickers, and headed out. It was hot this morning, the sun was blazing. It got cooler into the trail though. I ran my usual weekend long run route to MR and looped once. I contemplated running a second loop, but was starting to feel flat.
Ok, ridiculous me. For all my running experience and endurance sports and yada-yada, how could I screw up a run because of lack of food?! I normally only carried water and could go about 4h without feeling hungry or low sugar. But (and a huge qualifying 'but') I also normally would (a) have some breakfast before run, or (b) start early so that the body was not overly-deprived. Flouted both rules today. (a) no breakfast, and (b) started too late, plus had dinner too early last night, resulting in more than 12h of no food in the system. Brilliant recipe for failure.
Continuing on my flat plodding... I walked a couple of upslopes, ran the downslopes, strolled a little on Rifle Range Road, and admonishing myself along the way. Finally, finally got through all the obstacles without collapsing or anything dramatic. Took 20min longer than usual. Bumped into friends near home and must have looked like a disaster - totally drenched from sweat and dehydrated-looking from the sun, and just shuffling my feet along. Reached home and immediately downed some yoghurt drink, an apple and a piece of choc. Ahhh sugar replenished. Silly me...
But anyhow, woke up somewhat panicky because I had tonnes of things to do today and still had to squeeze in a run. Fine. Got organised, drank some yoghurt and chomped a mini-Snickers, and headed out. It was hot this morning, the sun was blazing. It got cooler into the trail though. I ran my usual weekend long run route to MR and looped once. I contemplated running a second loop, but was starting to feel flat.
Ok, ridiculous me. For all my running experience and endurance sports and yada-yada, how could I screw up a run because of lack of food?! I normally only carried water and could go about 4h without feeling hungry or low sugar. But (and a huge qualifying 'but') I also normally would (a) have some breakfast before run, or (b) start early so that the body was not overly-deprived. Flouted both rules today. (a) no breakfast, and (b) started too late, plus had dinner too early last night, resulting in more than 12h of no food in the system. Brilliant recipe for failure.
Continuing on my flat plodding... I walked a couple of upslopes, ran the downslopes, strolled a little on Rifle Range Road, and admonishing myself along the way. Finally, finally got through all the obstacles without collapsing or anything dramatic. Took 20min longer than usual. Bumped into friends near home and must have looked like a disaster - totally drenched from sweat and dehydrated-looking from the sun, and just shuffling my feet along. Reached home and immediately downed some yoghurt drink, an apple and a piece of choc. Ahhh sugar replenished. Silly me...
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Brilliant Trail Weather
Headed out close to 10am for a nice dose of slow trail run. The weather was perfect, cool after an early morning rain. The trails were damp but not soaking wet. The sun was hidden by the clouds and there was a nice calm to everything. :)
I had not run this route for a couple of weeks, but it still looked the same. Ran to MR, looped once, and back. The weather actually beckoned me to run more, but I guess 2:50h (approx 23km?) made a nice duration. I was a little lazy and in a chillax mode. Did not see the need to cover a longer distance, better to gently ease my legs back into the rut of long runs. Did not have breakfast and it was close to lunch time. I could feel the sugar draining away soon.
Cooled down with some lunges, push-ups and tricep dips.
The perfect weather continues..... :)
I had not run this route for a couple of weeks, but it still looked the same. Ran to MR, looped once, and back. The weather actually beckoned me to run more, but I guess 2:50h (approx 23km?) made a nice duration. I was a little lazy and in a chillax mode. Did not see the need to cover a longer distance, better to gently ease my legs back into the rut of long runs. Did not have breakfast and it was close to lunch time. I could feel the sugar draining away soon.
Cooled down with some lunges, push-ups and tricep dips.
The perfect weather continues..... :)
The Old TNF Shoes
I did manage to try my old TNF shoes this morning. Ran the exact same route as yesterday. The shoes were kinda narrow in the front (yes, remind me why I had blisters in the past) and snagged at my big toes. They were also very heavy (more so than my Salomons and Asics), though rugged. You probably would not mind kicking a couple of rocks along the way.
Verdict - I guess I could use them in the mornings for short runs in the trail. They would be too heavy on the tarmac.
Verdict - I guess I could use them in the mornings for short runs in the trail. They would be too heavy on the tarmac.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
First Run in Nine Days
The trauma of the HK100 race was followed immediately by a long work trip. My feet were swollen on the flight to Canada due to water retention and the soreness from the race. My body was not in the mood for more runs in Ottawa. The sub-zero temperature and early morning conferences reinforced the idea that I should rest and take a break for a week. :)
So here I am, back in hot-wave Singapore. Had my first run in 8-9 days (spent in a blurring mix of flights and airport transits). Headed for the trail this morning in my old Asics shoes. Recently, I had been digging out all my old trail shoes and testing which ones were still usable, at least for short morning runs. Last test of my other Salomon pair gave me arch pain before the HK100 event. Horrors!
This morning, the Asics worked ok, except that its glue was weakening and it might fall apart. Ran my usual 1:20h loop around DF and ZH. Legs were fresh and I was about 2min faster than my typical timing.
Tomorrow morning I will try again, this time with my old North Face shoes. I will need a constant supply of trail shoes if I keep wearing them out on the runs. :)
So here I am, back in hot-wave Singapore. Had my first run in 8-9 days (spent in a blurring mix of flights and airport transits). Headed for the trail this morning in my old Asics shoes. Recently, I had been digging out all my old trail shoes and testing which ones were still usable, at least for short morning runs. Last test of my other Salomon pair gave me arch pain before the HK100 event. Horrors!
This morning, the Asics worked ok, except that its glue was weakening and it might fall apart. Ran my usual 1:20h loop around DF and ZH. Legs were fresh and I was about 2min faster than my typical timing.
Tomorrow morning I will try again, this time with my old North Face shoes. I will need a constant supply of trail shoes if I keep wearing them out on the runs. :)
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