It was pouring like cats and dogs with strong wind blowing in all direction the moment I stepped out of my house this morning. I stood at the void deck for 5 mins deciding what am I supposed to do now. No matter how big the umbrella is, I'm going to get drenched. Shall I

a) take a cab

b) take a bus to the train station or

c) drench myself and walk to the train station

Option A would not help much because I am very reluctant to pay for peak hours + ERP + traffic jam. Option B will not help either seeing that the bus stop is cramp and I'll probably be drench just by standing at the bus stop. So I proceed to option C. As expected, knee level all the way down........The fact that I"m wearing a close toe shoe really didn't do me any good. It's disgusting, irritating with my feet soaking in a wet shoe and with a totally wet jeans.

Next, the train took much longer than usual to reach the station. Nvmd..doesn't matter. When it finally arrived, I took the corner seat and the rest are a norm, only to find out that the train suddenly stop half way thru. 15mins passed. The train moved a little then stops, jerk a little here and there, it reaches the next station but refuse to open the door. And it goes on and one like this on alternate stations. When it finally reached my destination, it is already 1hr 10mins from the time I board the train. Usually it took me barely 25mins. Doesn't matter.... I alighted, took a seat nearby and do some cleaning on my shoe and feet. Need to do another 10mins walk to office. Can't stand walking in such condition. Finally I'm at the underground floor abt to reach my office. To my horror, it is FLOODED!!!! Shoes and feet is wet again!!!

Nevermind....I hold on to it... Now, while I'm typing this, everyone in the office are given half day because of F1 starting their trial very soon.... Going to be noisy and probably crowded around this area EXCEPT my department!!! Because why? my lao pan say so......:( I'm demoralized. I can't wait to end the day........

As I re-visited Coastal Road yesterday on bike, I couldn't believe how I managed to complete that stretch on foot alone on two ocassions!! It is sooooo long the end point is no where to be seen. Then again, that stretch is getting livelier compare to where it was first constructed. So, this time round when I was cycling instead of running, it gives me a totally different feel. Simply therapeutic - perfect environment for me to do some reflection and go into deep thoughts :)

1:40hr run followed by 1:45hr of cycling along Coastal Rd - I went home feeling contented while indulging in my glass of homemade beetroot & carrot & celery & apply juice. Enuff said.....:)

Tanjung Rhu – My newly found running ground. First time running around Tanjung Rhu, no doubt, I’m going to list this as one of my favorite running spot. Nothing really exciting, just the surrounding that is so serene, peaceful, non crowded and some pleasant sights that you get to see.
Lots of tai-tai strolling around with their kids and maids. I’ve lost count of how many breeds of dogs I’ve seen. MANY!! In all shapes and sizes.

The run itself ----- another typical bad-run day. Feeling the lethargy since afternoon and sensing that something is not right to the body…hahaha…more reason to slack… 1.5hrs from start to end… I did nothing when I get home except from hitting the bed at 9pm and totally knocked off within 1 minute..Nice…….

The month of Sept is a bit unusual for me this year. I attended 1 funeral and 1 wedding within a week and another wedding coming up next week. 2 weddings & 1 funeral.

This wedding that I went to yesterday, was a friend of mine for xx years. Ya..can't remember exactly when we knew each other but it was more than 10 years for sure. Actually felt quite honored to be the first to know he's getting married lah but considering that I know him pretty well and knew quite a fair bit of his history, I still couldn't believe that he is getting/already married now..... Ha...I'm bad I know...... Maybe he has really grown up :)

Alarm rang at 5:45am. I turn it off and negotiating to myself to snooze another 10 mins. The next thing I know...it's 6:45am!! Haha.... I stare at the ceiling for a while and the only movitation that drag me out of bed -- All the rest of the gang are either doing their 70.3, MR Progressive or their usual LSD. I shall not slack. Drag that lazy bum out of bed and get ready for my 1st LSD since GCM.

Maybe I've not properly warmed up yet, maybe this and maybe that.... unless I'm 2 hours awake before doing a morning run, else most of the time I'll struggle for the first half an hour or so. This morning is no difference. Slowly making my way to CV, time checked when i reach Loyang junction. I'm 10mins slower than my usual pace!! Thankfully the download kinda help to kick in a bit of a momentum and lasted me till Changi Beach before my H2O break. Sigh....It takes month to built the stamina, it will take months ago to re-built that now. Anyway, no major hiccups on that knee and ITB. It's good news :) Did a few loops around CB and get my brekkie at CV. Auntie say today is the last day. The whole of CV hawker is closed tomorrow onwards till Oct for renovation.

Saturday was an outing with Thomson gang to Hortpark - alexander arch - henderson waves- lead by JC the "local snake" of that area.

Many of us, in fact the majority is visiting this place for the first time and something hilarious of these first timer.....

Susan - "I'm actually expecting to see waves with water" (when she saw the wooden made waves)

Derek - This place should be spelled "hotpark" because it is very hot (SUPER LAME)!!!

Albert - Got pulled by us to join in wasn't well prepared and was to smartly dressed for such outing

Pik Wan - Sole came off at Henderson Waves

Me - A bloody blister in between two toes. Serve me right for not wearing a proper shoe.

Ended the walk close to 8pm and proceed to dinner at ABC food center. I'm totally zonked out when I reached home, almost 11pm. It's a whole day activity starting from 9am at church... Slept for almost 11 hours..haha....Old liao old liao...

If there's one skill that I wish I could possess now, it will be speed reading.

Looking thru tonnes of resumes is no fun at all....Hmm.....Maybe I should shortlist by....looking at the pics? See who can give me a good "first impression"?? Evil me!!

Back, shoulder, quads aching after the 2 classes yesterday...Not much irritation on the knee...It's a good sign...I missed having such ache actually...ha...

On the other hand, my free-style sucks....really sucks... More of a rojak sytle than anything else. I dunno what I'm doing....OK..Enough said! Try harder.....

As far as I can remember, I think I had my best evening workout yesterday ever since GCM. That’s almost 2 months ago. Extremely cautious of my physical activities ever since the injury, I’m taking every single advice from everyone. As long as it won’t aggravate the condition further, it will prevent more injury, it will speed up recovery, I shall listen and take no risk :)

So, after a few sessions on the threadmill over the last few weeks, I decided to do it on a track. A 10min detour jog from home to Meridian JC at Pasir Ris where they open the track for public in the evening. That 10mins jog is pretty satisfying actually. Ya, first time out on road and still feeling comfortable after 10mins. I started the loop immediately. There’s this group of ang moh playing soccer at the JC soccer field. Looking at them from head to toe, left to right, doesn’t look like a JC student at all. Oh well, looking at their soccer game while doing the loop. Interestingly, I managed to do some experiment on myself although not an intention at all initially.

It was a comfortable pace throughout and I thought since I could not open up the stride or run fast at this point, maybe I’ll just focus on my posture and make it a habit to run with the right posture. I started to feel some signs coming up from ITB and at the same time, I happen to realized that my posture is out, I’m hunching a bit. Straighten my back and tucking in that 1 big mid pack of mine, the strain is gone!!!! Hmm…I thought I’m just being over-sensitive. And then, it happen for the 2nd and the 3rd time!!! Back straight + tummy suck in + arm relax = no strain…Haha….Luv it!! Completed 6 loops decided to go for another 6 loops on the opposite direction. This Mr. Aaron have been reminding me to go opposite direction when doing loops in the track. Couldn’t see what’s the logic and dunno if there’s any scientific proof, I still heed to his advice lah.. If the theory is true, at least I’m on the safer side. If it wasn’t, I have nothing to lose either except feeling a bit odd running against everyone’s direction..Ha….Even more surprising, the 2nd set of 6 loops seems to be faster than the first… Short, sweet, satisfied evening run :)

A bit slow but Desaru candid shot can be found at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chong.suetting/DesaruHIM2008

One year ago, it was my 1st attempt to participate in a semi-long distance race. The Army Half Marathon/Sheares Bridge Run/Singapore Bay Run….whatever you call it. Fall in love running that kind of distance as soon as I completed the race, mainly because it was my first, there was not a single expectation from myself. I did not push, I just soak myself in to the atmosphere.

1 year later, while I was so enthusiastic to train well for this, I decided to DNS because of some aggravating pain in the ITB and patella tendon. Running have been very minimum and mostly on track/threadmill. So anyway, I decided to make my way down to Padang to soak in the atmosphere. It does felt a little helpless seeing everyone running and you can’t but but but…… to rest is to run longer… I convinced myself.

Reached City Hall MRT and the moment I stepped out….oh my goodness!!! It is sooo crowded! I make my way to the padang and……$#*&^$(#*^%( it was disgustingly muddy. Even more $&^#*^&*#@, I’m wearing a almost brand new shoe. Ya..it was sparkling white. I just wore it once and it’s now soaking in the mud!!! No matter how I detour, I couldn’t get out of that muddy field. That place is getting so crowded with many many thousands of 10km runners waiting for their race to be flagged off. It gets even worst when everyone started returning from their 10/21km run. Not only my sparkling white shoe is no longer sparkling, I got stuck in between those “ah ping ge”. CROWDED! MUDDY!SWEATY! What a combination! And the need of having to find a few buddy among the 70,000 crowd, it’s really not getting any fun. And I missed out the group photo taking, because I’m lazy to move over to the other side and walk over the muddy fields again…haha…

And by the way, I didn’t run but I ended up having to ice my ITB when I get home…..The results of walking and standing for 5 hours :)

Ok..it’s slightly late than the rest…but here’s my thoughts:

Aug 15 2008 marked my virgin trip to Desaru!! Yea, never been to Desaru before. All that I spoke to are telling me the same – “there’s nothing much in Desaru”. I acknowledge and didn’t bother too much about the comment since it’s my first time. In addition to the Triathlon event that I’m going to witness and give my support, it’s going to be an exciting trip. A weekend getaway to laze around is probably a better definition of this trip. No stress, no need to keep checking on my list whether I’ve got all the powergel, bodyglide, plaster blah blah blah…Totally stress free :)

Reached Desaru on Friday late afternoon, checked in and as expected laze around till dinner time. Hmm…Desaru is really nothing much..haha…. The event on the following day was a long one. 2km swim, 90km bike and 20km run. I witness how strong the waves when the triathlete start their waves. Can never find the guts of doing it. At least not now. By the time the race ended, it’s about 6pm. Ya…truly a whole day event. I think I felt more tired than anyone else doing the race...haha..

I was being questioned “Am I tempted to do a tri event after seeing all this triathlete in action”. Hmm…..wait till I recover from my pai kah then think abt it. The biking also seems to be too technical for me at this point of time. Also my first time trying to ride on a racer, I felt a little bit wavy…… But ya…amazing seeing all sorts of expression on the face.

My 6 years old nephew in Australia and the one whom I've spent some time with while in GC called me yesterday. He said "I called you yesterday but you were not at home. Mum say maybe you are running in the olympic marathon"

Random thoughts again......

Worried/stress/upset/annoyed/ is what I have been feeling this couple of weeks over every single little thing at work/life/church. Hmm......Not really the usual me...but could it be the lack of endorphin and/or lack of quiet time with Him........

Ponder upon I will.............Meanwhile, cross train/min running plan is still progressing well at least :)

http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/AT.shtml

17 Aug / Womens Marathon/ 7.30am
Urgh!!! Not in town... Doubt we can catch it over there?

24 Aug /Mens Marathon / 7.30am
S*** It's AHM!! I'm not running but I'll be busy kepo-ing at the race site!

My running life is rather pathetic or almost non-existent (although given a clearance of 30mins on road) in the past few weeks. My initial plan of a short 5km run yesterday morning turned out to be a disaster again. I couldn't last for 1km. This is the 2nd time I'm doing the same route, same time and having the same pain struck on me at the same spot!!! What happen?? I thought I'm to the road of recovery. A 2.4km on the threadmill last week seems to be perfectly fine. Hmmm..maybe this route is a jinx?!?!?! Dissapointed ---- Yes I am but am admitting the fact. If you're injured, you ARE injured. Just need to be patience.

Got an sms from a running buddy that says "No run won't die. Use the time to do things that you have always wanted to do". Another says "this is a good time to pick up some cross training". So...I have all my cross-train cum minimal running planned on hand with different combination of gear - mainly shoes, knee guard, insoles :) *** plan is always a plan....whether it's executed as per plan.....ahem...a different story*** First of all, I think I really need to learn to luv the track and threadmill. Go soft and easy for my poorly injured knee for the time being.....

On the other hand, looking forward to this coming weekend outing...I shall get some inspiration from the gang!!!

After 12 days of a "semi-sedentary" lifestyle, 3 physio session, zero running/cycling/swimming, I finally got a clearance from doc to do a no more than 30 mins run on flat road with the following condition:

- start with 30mins, progressively add another 10mins for subsequent day
- new way of tying my shoe lace to provide better side support
- ice the itb/knee if feeling sore
- take anti-inflammation medication if pain arise

And so, the long awaited day comes..... Extremely conservative in the run but did try out different running method. Small/quick stride works the best. No major pain. Big stride, can feel the strain is coming. Sigh...... I'm starting as a baby once again :)

*****************
CBD gang is going up MF today!! wuahahahahaah.....I miss those hills :(

Vacuum and moping floor also strain the ITB????? ***Faint**** sian x 100 ^_^

Playing detective

A while ago over msn:

Linus says:
hi, what are you doing

**oh..linus is pinging me..must be something abt this sat**
ST says:
working...what else do you think?

Linus says:
haha, maybe you doing something else

Linussays:
some secretive

**Something is not right. Block the suspicious Linus and SMS-ed the real Linus. Ask if he's on msn and did he msn me 2 mins ago**

My sms: Hey, are you on msn now? did you just msn me?
Real Linus: Nope. I'm not on msn. Is the person using hotmail or live account?
My sms: Hotmail. I've blocked him. He sounds weird.
Real Linus: Hmm..that must be the person that hacked my account then. Talk to him lah. See if can find out who is he :)

^_^ Looking at another victim's blog, it seems that these hacker will ask "what are you doing" or similar question??

Ok people...LISTEN UP. I won't be so boh liao to msn you and ask "what are you doing" ok? If you see that from my msn acct, pls SMS me to confirm hor!!

The verdict is out! I have a right tendon inflamation and a right leg ITB syndrome. Yes, loud and clear. I have ITBS!!!

Strongly recommended by Roonz and some real positive remarks from forum, I called out The Clinics @ Cuppage to make an appt with Dr Low. To my suprise, I can see him today. He gave me a very good first impression which is very good. Anyway to cut the story short, he did some test and anlysis. This is what going to happen:

- no running for 10 days
- must finish the entire 1 week anti-inflammation medication even though there's no more pain
- no cycling, no lunges, no yoga, no knee lift, no eliptical training
- no swimming in breast stroke. Only can swim in front crawl which I do not know how. ha....

After all the analysis (somehow I enjoy the analysis process), I was then referred to Leslie at 1 Physiotherapy. Again, I made an appt with them on the spot and managed to get a slot today. So make my way from Cuppage to Capitol Building.

Some initial assessment done and Leslie started the deep tissue massage on the ITB. Wahhhhhh!!!!!!!! Now I know what the running kaki meant by "sweet sweet pain". It's not sweet to me at all!!! IT IS PAINFUL!!!!! VERY PAINFUL!!! Next is the ultra-sound treatment...Hmm..can't rmbr what's the ultra sound for..anyway, this was a relaxing one. Not struggle, no teeth biting like the massage.

So, with all the restriction for the next 10 days, what am I going to do now? I can't just rot at home, sleep work and eat. If this happen, I'm just going to end up being more grumpy, more temperamental for sure :)

Looks like I can't do anything that need to have my knee bended. Hmm...should I do something with that flabby arms and stubborn fats on the tummy???? Or...maybe it's time to learn front crawl? If and ONLY if I'm vigilant enough :)