Last Sun's 22 miles

It was like going through the four seasons three times. Weather was cold and extremely windy. Literally, the wind can carry you away with it! There was hail, wind and sun ... all in the mere four hours that we ran. Now we can truly call ourselves - marathon runners!

Other than the usual gang, we had Lau joining us this time round. Great that everyone finally meet everyone! We ran the marathon route starting from Greenwich to Tower Bridge. Can you believe this, we did 13 miles in 1:57:32 (compared to my Paris Half 2:00:14, and it was a slow pace. What a difference when running in a group!

It was yet again a great run! Despite the horrible weather, thanks to the surviving Nat and Lindsey, we were able to pull through the longest run that we ever need to do for this marathon - 22.5 miles. Unfortunately, Sarah still has her hips problems and Lau his crumps. They had to stop at ~ 13/15 miles into the run.

Just some candid shots that we took near Greenwich, when we passed our 1st hail rain.

A Great 19 miles today!

The week couldn't have ended with a higher note than this. I did it! I finished the 19 mile today with a good form, of course I was exhausted and trenched! Weather today in London is 10C, windy and rainy (feel like 7C).

The truth, guys, I have been feeling down this whole week. Last week's incomplete 19 miles set the tone for the rest of this week.

I was in such great pain last Sunday that Sarah had to literally put me on the bus to go back to hers. I was obstinated to finish it since I already did 17 miles! But my ITB, plantar fasciitis and a newfound injury - peroneal tendonitis - resulted from supination (underpronation) on my right feet were acting so much that my pain scale was still 8-9/10 even after popping two ibuprofen. Tuesday, I went to my physio, Harriat and did an ultrasound on that tendon. I have this suspicion it would my new trainer. While it corrected my overpronation on my left feet, it could might overcompensate for my right feet. On that day I had to swim instead of run. An insane 53 50m-lapses! As it turned out after my Thursday 8-mile run, the trainer proved to be culprit!

I was torn from the discovery: yes I knew what was causing the pain, yet it would mean I need to change my trainer ... so close to race date. Not ideal! That's why I bought the first pair a month and half ago.

So on Friday, I managed to get the Gel Foundation exchanged for a Asics Gel 2130 women, a less support and softer base (as I land pretty lightly). But I need to break it in slowly - two short 5-mile before any long runs.

Chagrined by all these injuries, the life-overtaking running schedules and my forever-inchoated PhD transfer report, I was irascible, moody and worn out. To add on to the hopelessness, Shiok was closed abruptly. There go the months of liaising and my fund-raising plan. Plus the collection for Paris Half was minimal! (but there again it could be still rolling in!)

The most discouraging moment was when I realized I am in this all on my own. Suddenly, the reality hits me that there isn't anyone there for me: no concern calls from friends or family. How I long for it? It can quite tough to carry on by myself sometime.

Hence, to be able to complete 19-miler today, with still physical and mental strength to do more, it was a copacetic achievement! I feels now I can go out there and do what needs to be done for the coming week! Special thanks to my running buddies: Sarah, Lindsay and Nat. Without your constant encouragement during these long runs, guys, I won't have do on my own! Of course, with a lil of a external help: the big G! Thanks!


Nat, me, Lindsay and Sarah.

Official Paris Half Marathon Picture

Here's me during the race. It was taken at km-19. Then I was actually in great pain. But for the picture taking you just have to put on your best ya! Hehe ...




The best official picture of me running, I ever have. I have to get it. It is EURO 15 though for this electronic copy and a 5'x 7' print copy. But all worth it.

Shiok! is closed!

Just a quick update, Shiok! is closed for busines, unfortunately. It is annoying as we have been going back and fro for a while and everything just comes to an abrupt end.

Will find another restaurant quickly. This time round, the theme would be different. Jazz night might not be possible as I have no one to sing as yet.

Maybe speed dating would be fun! ;-)

Keep a look out ok.

New Injury: Planar Fasciitis

I went for biweekly sport massage at Ambition Fitness yesterday and yes, we found out what was the cause of the flaming feet I got! Hehe... It is called Planar Fasciitis, which I knew in the morning, diagnosed by my colleague, Mie.

Basically, due to fatigue calf muscles (in my case, as I can feel how tight they are), and linkage of CT band (Gastrocnemius + Soleus + Achilles tendon + plantar fascia), tension was too much for plantar fascia (the weakest link) and therefore caused the the inflammatory effects - the burning sensation. This further aggravated with the collapsing of my arch (probably lack of insole support). As plantar fasciitis is also a form of repetitive stress injury, I caused too much damage (with the amount of running I did lately) and gave it insufficient time to repair itself.

My physio, Harrall (if I got it right) was just superb with her hands. Since I have been rolling on the firm roller to stretch the ITB muscle, she decided to focus on my calf and hamstring. Believe me, I couldn't stop mourning and burying my face on the pillow periodically. All my muscles were just so tight and knotted!

For the ITB, it is not as painful anymore, though the ache and pain do return once in a while, usually more painful after a long run. It would comes with a bang: acute sharp pain for like 2 mins. Ouch! It is like I cant bend my knee at all and have to limp. The only way is to do my routine rolling, until the pain fades away. another thing is to strengthen my glut muscle. Weak glut muscle causes the pain in ITB (I feel that's my case).

Because I cant stop training now, the only thing I can do now is stretch, stretch and stretch, even when I am not running. Harrall suggestion is to place a hot pat on the calf muscle before stretch to warm them up a little. Do long and slow stretches, instead of short dramatic ones.

Ambition fitness was in Queen Mother sport Center. I decided to go swim in the 25m pool instead of running 7 miles, just to give my foot a rest. Anyway I got a free pass to test out the gym. So to convert 7 miles of running to swimming, I need to do 1.75 miles, translated to 112 lapses in a 25m pool. I did 100 lapses ... I think. It is so easy to lose count, but I figured if I spent 60mins in the pool, and I was on the 'Fast and Furious' land (~25 seconds per lapse), give and take a few mins clearing my googles, I should have done at least 100 lapse. (BTW I was a swimmer during elementary school to early high school, representing my school.)

Swimming is definitely much better for my feet and I can feel that I am exercising my whole body. I would do it more often and maybe use it to replace my short runs until the marathon.

Fund-raising Effort for Paris Half Marathon 2008

Just before I left for Paris, I ran a fund-raising email out for most of my friends to raise money using this race.

Out of 100 odd emails I sent, I have gotten about 10 replies that were willing to donate. Out of these 10 donors, I sent them the donating process. I have yet to check if the donation is in. Finger crossed that it would be a good and fruitful effort.

Many thanks again for all that donate. You cant believe how grateful I am to your donation, as small as it may seem to you. It is definitely not for the me and the orang utans in Sepilok. Once again thank you.

Paris Half Marathon - 2 Mar 2008

My trip to Paris was magnificent. The city was just so charming and artistic. St Germain at the left bank where I stayed was just fabulous. One got the feel of a quotidian Paris neighborhood, where real Parisians lived in. I must say one thing, even the average Joe or I should say, average Arnaud was better-looking than the average-John you see here in London. Best thing, they were not superficially done-up like those you see in Avenue Des Champs-Elysées.

Here's some views from my hotel room: Sully St Germain at rue de Ecoles.





The night before the race, despite the light drizzling, I roamed around the city with a friend. One of the many shots - outside the Lourve,



Sunday, 2 March 2008 was the race day. I woke up 7.30am and took heaps of isotonic drinks and the high-energy snacks bar that I bought the night before at Au Vieux Camper. I could not believe my luck for at least five of these AVC shops were scattering around my hotel. My immediate supply for sport food.

By 9am, I took the metro from Chatelet on the right bank to the last station: Chateau de Vincennes on the yellow line. It was quite an amazing sight as the metro slowly got packed with runners every station it stopped till the last two stations. It seemed like the whole town was running the race! It is a great spirit to see that these city folks are so involved with such activities.



While walking to the main area to collect my bib ...



After all the struggling through the sea of people to the end of the hall to collect my bib,


these two frail but enthusiastic volunteers behind the counter insisted that I must show them my passport as an identity verification! I was like, GREAT! After all the hassle of coming to Paris and rushing a race, I could forget the one item that could make or break this: my passport! Brilliant, Jacque!! Like a chicken and a duck, we tried to explain to one another. But I was persistent that they gave me the bib in whatever limited French I got: 'we', 'non' and exaggerated body gestures. Finally they gave in and reluctantly passed me the bib, in spite of the clear rule indicated in the official letter (in ENGLISH) I brought with me to show them for collecting the bib! They smiled and waved when I took a picture of them. They must be thinking what a ignorant Chinese girl!



What can I say? I was relieved and elated that I would have my chip for official time recording and of course a running number bib to formalize the race!





A glimpse of the race point: Start and end point



Towards the start point, getting ready for the race ...



I guess maybe I was running late in the morning and had to rush for my bibs. Although I started the race with high spirit, I was not in a great form. I was not sure why or what, maybe I didn't hydrate myself well enough the last few days, maybe I forgot my vitamins throughout this trip, maybe I drank some alcohol during the last two nights, or maybe i was just all alone on this. My mind was playing tricks on me. Just 3 miles (6-7Km) into the race, I was ready to give up. I even talked myself into taking a toilet break at one of the brasserie along the way! It was not necessary at all! Sigh! I pressed on.

At the Km 9 mark, a dear friend, Alex came to support me. He managed to capture some quick glimpses of me near Chatelet (where I caught the train in the morning).





Then a few miles into the race, again I was very close in giving up. This time my ITB hurt a little, but mostly it was the bottom of my right foot that ached the most. Yape, a newfound injury! Irresistably, my mind just used that as an excuse to steal as much short walk as I could. Reason being, "I am in pain." I was indeed, but I knew I could endure that level of pain! Believe me, I has experienced some of it during training runs last week.

Somewhere along the way, my body started to feel weird. I was very uncomfortable with my outfit. I tried to disregard it, thinking this must be one of my mind tricks again. But after some self-motivating talk, it still didn't feel right! I zipped down my UnderArmor top. Suddenly, it felt breezy. My head was not aching as much. Then I took off my cap ... then my gloves. Instantaneously, it couldn't have felt more comfortable. Then it occurred to me that I was hyperthermic ... all this while! Now I understand what it means to be overdressed for a run. I used to tell my fellow runners I am that SE Asian that never get used to the cold. Guess I am no different, as I would still get overheated too.

By then, I was so sure that my time would be off by at least 10-15 mins from usual 10 mins-per-mile. But when I reached the 16 km(= 10miles), I checked my timer for the first time. It was 1:31:00. Ok, I was actually on time. I thought to myself, I might just be able to make it under 1:50:00 if I kept on running for the next 20 mins. And I tried. During the last 15 mins I felt like both my feet was on fire (literally), but it kinda masked the pain I had at the sole too. I ignored the ITB pain near my knee and sprinted on. At the 18-km, I was exhausted, this time, my body was failing me, not my mind. My mind was ready to attempt the sub 1:50. I started to walk, when an old French man (in his sixties) patted me on my lower back and encouraged me in French. I answered with hesitation,"We". Immediately, he replied in English," Throw that bottle and run!" He continued on with French, which con possibly mean pick up your speed, we are nearing the end of the race!

Then I just kept on running, possibly 5 mins per km till the end of race. I was out ... I didn't feel that I could run anymore. Obviously the sight of the medal was just rewarding.





I was disappointed with myself on how I performed at the beginning of the race. I could have done better. If only I stayed more positive, I think I would have made it under 2 hours at least. My official time is 2:00:14. My overall ranking is 12358 out of 18642, while my category (Seniors Femme) ranking is 907 out of 2338.

Guess what? I was so forgetful that I left my medal in the hotel. Hopefully the receptionist would send it to me as he said he would.

I need to train harder if I want to be sub 4:30 for the full marathon in April. It is week 11 btw. This week training is 6 miles on Tues, steady 10 miles on Thurs and slow 18 miles on Sun. Pray for me!