All ready for Paris this Sun.

I am so psych about Paris this Sun. I have booked for the flight two weeks ago and would be traveling with Air France.

My race number is 24480, and the race is starting at 10.00am at Esplanade du Château de Vincennes. It ends there too. The route is pretty ok, not the nicest part of town. I would need to be there early to get my bib. French authorities are more 'kiasu' than the Singaporeans! Before they can give the bib to you, you would need to show them a medical certificate that you would fit enough to run the half, so that you won't sue them if you happen to collapse and die during the race!

Mostlikely I would meet up with Sandra, a friend of a friend from Singapore. Of course as usual I would be doing the tourisy stuff on the remaining of the tiem. It is my first time to Paris! Guess that's why I am so excited about it.

Well, wish me luck!




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Date: 15 Feb 2008 15:00
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Trip Plan for:
Kueh Jacqueline

Reservation Number:
Total fare for flight reservations: 111.20 GBP including tax
( total price shown is inclusive of 1 GBP service charge)


Flight reservations:

Flight: AF2671
From: Heathrow, London, UNITED KINGDOM - TERMINAL 2
Departing: 29 February 2008 08:45

To: Charles de Gaulle, Paris, FRANCE - TERMINAL 2F
Arriving: 29 February 2008 11:00


Status: Confirmed


Flight: AF1670
From: Charles de Gaulle, Paris, FRANCE - TERMINAL 2F
Departing: 3 March 2008 13:00

To: Heathrow, London, UNITED KINGDOM - TERMINAL 2
Arriving: 3 March 2008 13:15


Status: Confirmed

Down with Sore Throat

I guess last week stress from work and home is taking a toll on my body. To de-stress I ended up training harder in the gym. Hence, the sore throat!! We just got to listen to our body!!

I would take it easy this week and probably just do my Thursday easy run and Sunday long run.

Yesterday run was magnificent by the way! The view is just spectacular, ending at Westminster where Abbey and London Eye is. But as it was sunny, it was packed with tourists. We ended at 12.5-mile mark. Pretty good. Though my ITB was troubling me since mile 4, I kept on. Now I understand the difference between pain and sore, like how the trainers talk about. It hurt a lil, but it was bearable.

We will be doing this route again this week, probably start a few mile before Tower Hill to increase the mileage.

Massive resting this week!

After a long pause ...

Indelible pictures of the baby orang utans in the sylvan settings that Borneo can truly offer has never failed to pull me back to my goal of raising ££. Running on my 2nd year of PhD, the experimental work is demanding a whole lot more time and efforts from me than I thought.

Of course, this volunteering program has still very much in my agenda, but ineffectual attempts to rally fund-raising partners has not been helpful. But I am still trying. I have contacted the next restaurateur: Shiok at Tottemham Court Road, very near my work place. Singapore/Malaysia cuisine spread in their menu looks good and tastes good too!! It is a great setting for buffet and socializing and even a corner jazz jamming (if Grace is still interested!) But Kenny, the manager is slow (or more like never) in getting back to me, after every discussion. So far, we have managed to negotiate the proceed percentage and the menu for the night. Now it is his turn to propose this to the owners. I have to run in a few times just to get a follow-up " I will contact my investors about this idea!" But I will just keep on trying.

Well, not everything is on the gloomy side. Training for the London Marathon is great fun. After Cardiff Half, I continued my training a month later, with a regular weekend run. It got more frequent when I was back home and Singapore during the year-end holiday. I practically run short half hour everyday. Well I was on holiday and there is nothing better to do but to drink and eat, so might as well incorporate some training. Good way to get rid of the overnight calories from the booze.

Since coming back to London at mid Jan and after recovered from my severe flu, I have been training heavily as it leads up the marathon. I basically got my training program from SmartCoach. Essentially, I train on Tues & Thurs (short, tempo or easy or speedwork run) and Sundays are my long runs. This Sun, I would be running 13.1 miles, with Lau. We would be doing the last half of the London Marathon. It is my first time running the route, so I spent this afternoon just planning it out. It is looking great.

Otherwise I ran with Sarah and co on previous sundays. Sarah, Lindsay and co are from All Souls too. Sarah is super enthusiastic about this first London Flora of hers. She would even remember each mile mark on the route that she planned out. Total efficiency! It is really helpful as in long runs it is easy to fall into the mode of aimlessness. Mile marks gives you a sense of accomplishment and an aim going forward. Hope I can do the same for this Sun with Lau.

Unfortunately, I have this injury: ITB syndrome. Iliotibial Band, which surfaced two weeks again. Since then I have seen a physio-therapist that practises chinese medicine (so I did acupunture, though I am not very comfortable with needles), bought a new pairs of trainers and went for a injury clinic to get professional help on preventive measures and strengthening exercises. I have joined the gym, Bannatynes near my work place for cross-training work to reduce impact on my ITB. I can exercise on the cross-trainer machine and best of all, swim!

ITB occurs because of the weak glut (butts) muscle, that causes the ITB to compensate for it. It ends up rubbing against the quads and shin bones.

So what is coming up next? Well my Paris Half Marathon!

I have booked my flight to Paris for this coming 29 Feb to 3 Mar. Might meet up with a friend (Fabian)'s super marathon friend, Sandra. Sandra is aiming for sub three and half for next year marathon! She did her Paris last year at sub 3:45. WoW! Impression ya. But she sounded really nice over the email.

Unfortunately, as usual, Mehri my housemate backed out on me last minute. I was upset as I wouldn't have anyone there to support me at the end of the race. But hey a girl got to do what she got to do!

My hotel: Hotel Sully Saint Germain, Latin Quarter hotel with medieval Parisian theme, is at the great St Germain Well at least the hotel is nice and welcoming, something for me to celebrate with!

Well, do keep on coming back for more postings. I would be more diligent in updating this blog, now that the marathon is nearing.

I have 8 weeks more to go. Wishing me well!