PJ Dawn 2012

Hi peeps...I hope it's not too late to wish "happy mother's day" to all of us mothers:)

Had a very busy mother's day..started as early 2am, getting ready for my dawn run at 4am, came back and stop by at Mamak's for a quick breakfast and reached home 6:30am. Then, took a nap for 1 hour before getting ready for Allysha's bff's birthday party at 11am, which I realized I haven't bought any present yet, so get hubby to drive me to MidValley to grab the present and rush back to the party at Bukit Jalil Golf club..stayed there for a while, then we went to a Thai restaurant with my in laws for Mother's day lunch treat by hubby...I brought along my sister and cousin and my niece..(since it's free lunch kan??) my twins came back on Friday with 2 bouquet of flowers (their school project for mother's day) and I left it at my mother-in-law's place..(should have taken pic of the bouquets)

Btw, the highlight of the day was my first run in 4 months and my very first 12KM, the last run was in January,as a ghost runner during Mizuno Run. This run, I registered last month when I suddenly realized I'm running out of time. my first ever half marathon is in June...less than 2 more months..I freaked out and started to look for running event....Helpp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To tell you the truth..I'm soooooo not ready for half marathon..what was I thinking when I registered myself then..too ambitious I must say:( isk..isk!!!

Mr hubs didn't join, he wants to concentrate on his squash this year..according to him, when he runs..his action in court affected...plus he just hurt both of his ankles last week..*sigh* that's my avid squash player hubby!

Unlike my previous runs I was so nervous, which something I never felt before.

All other runs..it's just like going for jog in the park..but this time I was afraid I may not be able to even finish my run..I was totally "unfit' for any long distance run. My only preparation started last week with 3 runs of 4KM each at KLCC park, that's all......it took me 3 days to complete 12KM where I'm supposed to finish in less than 2 hours.

I'm not kidding when I told hubby that I just need to complete the run..hell with timing..it was really hell for the first 3KM..I was huffing and puffing..trying to keep up with the rest of the runners..I was thinking to myself..I definitely not going to run half marathon anytime soon..to top it up..remember the girl from my bootcamp? She's there..not only fit as ever,she was jumping up and down...daaaannnng!!!!menyirap darah mak tengok!!! but this time around..I told myself..forget about trying to compete with her...isk..isk..isk...!! so, pathetically I ran at my own pace...like a kura-kura

and guess what???at KM9...I saw this "rabbit" walking and no longer jumping up and down like she did earlier on...so i gulped down the last few drops of 100plus..suddenly I feel the surge of energy....and I started running to overtake her...I feel like a scene in a movie with slow moving affect....like yeeeeehaaaaaaaaa!!! with my scarf waving left and right....:)

ok peeps...not that fast laa actually..I clocked 1hr 22mins for 10KM, and 1 hr 39mins for 12KM (that's according to my GPS) and the remaining 500 meters to the finishing line ..i just walked, and add 3 more minutes....My GPS showed 12.47KM total distance to the finishing line...my nett timing for the run 1hr 42mins.

Definitely not my best but also not my worst considering I have stopped for a while..thanks to Ms Rabbit:)

my next run in 2 weeks time, fun run standard chartered 8KM.

until next time...take care!!!

goodie bag and finisher medal

My last run for 2011-Malakoff 7KM &12KM 2011

Finally after series of runs we had since after raya, almost every weekends, Malakoff was the last one for 2011..somehow I feel that I have lost my momentum..I stopped going to the gym at all now.

It's like my obsession towards running is finally over.

The week before, my sister was admitted to the hospital, she has prolapse disc (disc dekat her tulang belakang) and it got worse last week, she couldn't move her leg and in excruciating pain, according to the doctor, the disc yang rosak tu poked her nerves..she couldnt walk and kena baring je all the time..nerves tu made her kaki in pain...she just had a baby 2 months ago, and years back she fell down kena snatched so I guess it had something to with that la kot?
She had to go for surgery to remove the small part of that particular disc, the one disturbing her nerves..we were quite scared to let he to do it, but I talked to the doctor and seek his opinion..and finally she went for surgey after few days in the hospital..Alhamdulillah everything went well..she can walk few hours after the surgery..

So, while my sister was in the hospital..I was't in the mood for exercise at all..keep going back and forth from my house to Sime Darby medical centre..took turn with her husband and my mom to be in the hospital with her...I thought of not running for Malakoff run, luckily after looking at how fine she was after the surgery, I decided to run..

This time around..one of the worst run ever..even Penang Run was better, I felt like vomitting after running for 1KM so I had to walk..and record breaking that I actually choose to walk most of the time..I only speed when I came down the hill..I ended up finishing 7KM in 58 minutes..I dont remember this bad when I did my Malakoff run last year...I guess, it's time for me to retire from running.
To make it worse..I actually took part in 7KM not even 12KM. However hubby did his 12KM but injured his knee quite badly and now he had to rest for a while.

Both of us ended our 2011 run badly:( I dont know how hubby plan to do with his 25Km this coming new year, Newton run 2012..most probably he wont be running looking at his injury this time..luckily I didnt sign up..

MPSJ run

After Penang Bridge Marathon, I'm supposed to run for We run10KM, NIKE with my husband, unfortunately that long weekend my daughter was admitted to the hospital due to Asthma attack..had to let go the run..hubby went running alone.

So, basically I stopped running or going to the gym since Penang Run...pasrah sungguh!!...I told myself after the exhausting Penang Run, I want to stop running...I had enough..I've got nothing to prove or anyone to impress, so I will complete all the RUNs I have registered which means I have 3 more NIKE, MPSJ and Malakoff.

Initially we were looking at our Run schedule...it seams in November and December we have our RUN almost every week...but after NIKE run there will be a long break before Malakoff.."Ba..I think we have to register MPSJ..I know it sounds not very interesting..but it's going to be a looong break..we will be bored!" so mr hubs asked me to register to fill our weekends...*memang a bit melampau that we never missed any runs*

This time..after 2 weeks break and patah semangat..I need to depend on the power gel...I didnt train at all..in fact I told my husband to wait for me at the finishing line when it closed to 2 hours.

BTW, I just discovered, Chocolate flavor under GU brand and it is so yummy!! you can find it at GNC. It's a bit too sweet but taste like a real chocolate so I had no problem to finish it..but you need to drink with water to wash off the sweet taste in ur throat.

It helps,...I finished the run in 1 hr 21, better than my Penang Run, thanks to my Chocolate Outrage gel ..hubby finished his in 55 mins.

my saviour ...you guys should try..it helps to sustain the energy

My next run..Malakoff..I plan to cut down on numbers of RUNs and very selective next year..this year a bit crazy as we run in all races that comes our way..too much I must say.

until then..take care peeps!

Penang Bridge Run

The view from the balcony at Equatorial Penang

The girls are having good time at the pool @Equatorial

Our finisher medals

When we finally finalized all the Run registration and hotels..we got to know our girls' school concert falls on the same day as our travelling date to Penang for our Penang Bridge International Marathon 2011, on top of that, my office team-building was also scheduled on that saturday 19th November...365 days a year..suddenly on that fateful day...everything nak kena buat same date...*sigh*

Office matters...I had to slow talk to my boss on the condition, and managed to escape..Alhamdulillah.

So we had to plan the trip carefully..called the Penang Bridge Run's organizer, we will be really late to pick up the race pack..(we registered late so the mail delivery service for race pack was no longer available)..called the hotel on our late check-in. All nearby hotel especially Eastin was overbooked..so the only nearby hotel available was Equatorial..thank god it's part of the event's hotel so they provided shuttle bus.

Btw..I love the hotel..we stayed at the new wing..and the view from the balcony was really breath-taking.

Rushed from Putrajaya (where the girls' concert was held) to Penang...reached there almost 7pm rushed to the Queensbay mall picked up the race pack. Me, being clumsy..didnt realize left my IC there, until the organizer called me after I came back to KL and posted it the next day..fuhhhhhh nasib baik betul..

Hubby's race started at 3am, so he had to drive to the race site at 1.30am to make sure he had a parking spot, while mine at 6am. I took the shuttle bus provided by the hotel to the race participants.

Overall race...according to hubby who ran 21KM, easy breazy..not to me..eventhough it was windy and scenic (sunrise on the bridge was breath-taking)

I was sick, down with flu and cough after raya haji..so didnt get to train at all plus I was on antibiotic.

On that race day I was not quite fit to run, being me I pushed myself hard. I refused to run more than 1 hour 30...through-out the race I kept thinking "why do I torture myself...!" "I dont want to run anymore...this should be the last or at least finished what I have registered" At around 2Km after the race started, I felt like I want to stop running and turn back...but I pujuk myself..try 1 more KM...luckily it gets easier eventhough I was really burnt out:(

seriously..it was not a good run for me:( hubby also injured his toe..finished his 21km in 2 hours 20mins..while I did my 10km in 1 hour 26mins, thought I exceeded 1 hour 30, thank god!!!

Unfortunately, unlike other races, hubby missed my finishing as he fell asleep in the car waiting. We checked-out at noon and headed to Hard Rock hotel where the kids were so excited..since Monday was their school's day off, we extended our stay 1 day to be at Batu Feringgi.

Until the next update..take care peeps!

PJ half Marathon

My 4th 10KM run after, Siemens, Adidas and Putrajaya Night Run.

All I can conclude ; you need to train at least a week before, after what had happened to me during Putrajaya night run, I really make sure I train this time around.

The whole of last week I trained at least 4 times..of total 17KM a week. Even with that I still couldn't get my target timing of 1 hr 15 mins. I only managed to complete in 1 hr 17 or 18 (haven't received the official timing from the organizer) according to my RUNKEEPER app it's 1hr 18.

Good thing, I received my finisher medal.!

I hope to beat this timing during Penang bridge, fingers crossed!!

Hubby did his first half marathon yesterday, completed his race in 2 hours 13 mins. Even with this timing he missed the finisher medal..so you can imagine those who joined half marathon...mostly the hardcore runners..they can easily complete in less than 2 hours..like crazzeeeeee!!, hubby a bit dissapointed yesterday. He said by 18KM, he was totally drained..he reached 12KM in 1 hour but took him 1 hour 13 mins to complete another 9KM.

Since I plan to do my first half marathon next year, I definitely need to train hard..really hard!!! but errr..my target timing is just 3 hours..perhaps not so hard aa?? well..Im not ambitious..but I need to tell my cucu in future that their nenek once ran for half marathon but i dont think I will ever ready for full marathon...like everrr!

RunKeeper -An apps for the runners!

A colleague who is an avid runner recommended me this apps..ever since my old Ipod's gone...I rely on my iphone solely nowadays.

This is an apps that helps to tell you how far you have ran, your pace and it links to your playlist..cool apps.

I have a folder for my running playlist..and this apps will play the song in your playlist..how convenient.

Besides running on a threadmill..I normally run at KLCC park as it has markers, so I know how far I've ran..most of the parks elsewhere does not tell you the distance. Now with this apps it will tell all the info you normally see on your threadmill..cool!!

It uses the GPS, it might not be as accurate as the threadmill..but at least you can gauge the distance and the pace of your running..

It's free apps..also available for android as well.

Happy running..!

RUN..run..run...!!!

My over-indulgence over the week has taken its toll on my running this time. I celebrated my birthday on the 13th, the day before, the 12th was my MIL's birthday..and the feast continued until saturday with my mom's around..I really forgot about my training...hoping I can just pick up where I last dropped my running...

Dang!!! Putrajaya Night run..hoping to improve my timing from 1 hr 20 to 1hr 15, became my angan-angan...I felt so heavy trying to move my body...I literally not running instead trying to lift my body...while my friend who just started joining all these races, finished hers in 1hr 20, I ended 6 minutes more

So..peeps, you need to train..especially if you race against time.

When running I really depend on my ipod..songs can really lift up mood..I love listening to Destiny Child's songs, Beyonce and a few other fast numbers to keep my mind off the road markers and counting down the KMs...that night..I decided to hang my ipod shuffle on my necklace..it ended drenched with sweat dripping from my neck, at KM7.......3KM shy from the finishing line...my long reliable source of adrenaline decided to die on me....R.I.P..sob..sob...

My first generation of ipod shuffle..R.I.P :(

Hubby on the other hand, over-trained himself ended up fall sick the whole week and couldn't make the recovery on time, at the end...he became my supporter..I could see how frustrated he was when the half marathoners were released that night.

Our next run will be PJ half marathon 2 weeks from now..until next time..take care!

Ipoh Roadrunner

nice view along the way

starting point at the race's venue

This is the 2nd year hubby joined the Ipoh roadrunner race. The kids and I tagged along as usual..they have been pastering us to go out of KL for holidays..so we take this opportunity to bring them out.

The event this year was held in Ipoh itself unlike last year in Bukit Kinding, according to hubby, last year so far was the toughest route he had ever ran, the uphill and downhill were so steep that he couldnt run downhill, instead he need to control his speed and ended up injurt his knee. Fortunately this year, it was so much easy and flat, just running around the city. For 12KM he completed in 1 hour 9 minutes. I should have signed up, but because earlier I dare not try to run more than 10KM, listening to his review on last year's run, giving me a 2nd thought of joining the race. Definitely I will run next year!

We stayed at Impiana Ipoh, the pool is quite small but overall service is good, and the kids enjoyed the trip very much.

Impiana Hotel, Ipoh

The kids and the sand art

Next run, would be Putrajaya night run. I will be running for 10KM and hubby is going for his first half marathon 21KM.

I'm getting better in my 10KM run

Finished the 2nd 10KM run yesterday in 1 hour 2o minutes...started off quite shaky...struggling with my first 1KM, luckily it gets better as soon as my adrenaline kicks in..so I just keep going forward.

Hubby, joined 16.8KM and he finished his run in 1 hr 41 mins, he has another run in Ipoh next weekend, which we will go there to support him.

Somehow, yesterday was slightly exceptional for me..there was this girl whom I knew from my previous bootcamp. She's a senior in the program and when I joined last time, she was assigned as my partner. I'm telling you...she's one of the snob that I've ever met. Considering myself as very friendly person.. even I couldn't tolerate her snobbishness. I was one of the weakest then, and having me assigned to her team had slowed down her timing:(

I noticed her in a few runs before, as always she's in front of me all the time, so I couldnt be bothered to compete with her, but last Siemens run I actually overtook her. Yesterday, we were running quite closely to each other I guess being competitive helps me to improve my timing. I definitely finished earlier that her...and I take that as an achievement:)

next run is Putrajaya night run which I will join 10KM and hubby has signed up for half marathon, 21KM

until next run, take care!

My first 10KM run!!

Finally, I ran for 10 KM. This is my first time ever running for 10KM. It took me 2 years to finally have the courage to run for 10KM. If you ask me...I would say..not bad at all..if you can run for 5KM, 6KM or 7KM..then 10 is just another few more KM to go. Seriously...I think everybody else can do it.

I just make sure I bring my 2 little bottles of 100plus and power gel to keep me energized...I didnt have much expectations in terms of timing..as long as within 2 hours (sangat tak ambitious) my aim is just to complete the run..unlike my 5 or 7KM which I always set the timing..but this one, I just want to complete the 10KM.

So, for the first time..I did it in 1 hour 25mins..hopefully the timing will get better as I run more and more 10KM in future:) Hubby did it in 52 minutes though!
So, when I was running towards the finishing line..i saw him cheering me up..but the actual motivation for me to keep running for the last 300 meters was my favorite song from Spy Myong Wol's soundtrack..I felt so high and out of the world experience during those last miles..hee..hee:)

next weekend..I'll be running for Adidas King of the road..for another 10KM..hopefully I can beat my timing for Siemens Run.

Shape Night Run 2011

That was my last run before Ramadhan...I only joined 5KM Fun Run, after what I've experienced in Energizer night run.. a bit sceptical of running more than 5KM at night.. hubby as usual joined the 12.3KM...he finished in 1 hour 14 minutes..not his best somehow.

Since it's just 5KM so I skipped the powerbar, I just ran with my 100plus..that's all I need. Finished in 32 minutes..an achievement for me as my last shape run 2009, I ran for 45minutes..that was my first running ever...so I can say I have improved after 2 yrs.

It was quite fun, the kids were there to cheer for mommy and Baba, they had fun as well. Somehow the ambience..I think it was a bit less cheerful compared to 2009. The lights were a bit dim...I remembered the whole place were so bright then in 2009, less lights were light on this time around..but it's still well organized.

The goodie bag..as expected, they have a lot to give away...so no complaint:) definitely looking forward to shape Night Run 2012 next year:)

Feel Good on Sunday morning

I've thing for running... (but I have to confess...I'm such a weak and slow runner...who just have the passion)
I'll sign up for any runs that come my way..both hubby and I love running...somehow last KL run we both signed up very early...I signed up for my first 10KM and hubby signed up for his first half marathon 21KM..

I screwed up as I forgot the date (since we signed up wayyyyyy earlier...and I booked my yearly Bandung trip with my girlfriends on the same date...dannggg!!!) so I was trying to stop hubby from running his first 21KM as I was worried he will push himself so hard and if anything happened I wont be there for him..but Allah knows better he fell sick 2 weeks before the marathon and on antibiotic for 1 whole week and until the last few days before the marathon he's still feeling weak...yeyyyyy!!!!! for me as he decided not to run!

Thank god...I still have NTV7 Feel Good run last weekend sebagai pengubat lara for missing my first 10KM run...but this is only 7KM...but ok la kan? Better than nothing..we brought the kids to Sri Pentas as early as 6.40am, they were all excited to cheer for mommy and Baba.

I finished in 50mins for 7KM while hubby finished his in 35 mins. For me, 50 minutes is my best time for 7KM so far..and I have to thank hubby for giving me Powerbar energy gel...it tasted yucky...extremely sweet that you need to wash it off your throat with large amount of water...:(

This energy gel really pushed me to run non-stop for 50 minutes and I was trully amazed on the energy it gave me:)