Training for my First Half Marathon: Week 2

Noraini called to wake me at 4:16am yesterday, we suppose to meet up at Stadium Likas parking lot at 5am. Usually, waking up in the early morning is one of the hardest thing to do, but amazingly I woke up, dressed up and drove to the meeting place without much procrastinate. On the way, I saw quiet a number of runners already on the road, running with the streetlight as their guidance. Note to self, for safety should not wear dark t-shirt (was wearing black t-shirt). 

Reached the meeting site just in time and after a brief introduction we started our run on 5:15am. This was my first time running this early and everything were naturally new to me. It was peaceful and a bit cold morning, not so much a morning person, I found this so refreshing. We didn't chat much this time, hard to jog side by side on the road shoulder, but it doesn't matter, the soft embrace of the wind and the sound of the sea really made me forgot that I am actually jogging! hehe.

Past 5km just after we made the U turn at Yayasan Sabah roundabout, I started to feel tired but keep pushing myself. Then after km 6, it's no longer dark and I could see clearly the surrounding and I no longer afraid walking alone without company, so I gave up and started to walk. Noraini and Farah were few km ahead. I completed the 10km distance in 2hrs. Suprisingly there were about 20 runners cooling down and hanging around in the parking lot, they even offered me cold drinks and fruits, which I thankfully accepted. Later Noraini explained to me that they are member of the KK running club, they are preparing for the Hong Kong Marathon which will take place this February (oh, gosh they ran so fast). All of them looks so healthy and the ladies all have the identical flat abs!

Now do I have the confidence to complete the half marathon in 3hrs? No, not yet, but I found out that I like running in the morning. 

Training for my First Half Marathon: Week 1

If you have read my previous entry, this is the first report of my training for the Brooks half marathon which is also will be my very first half marathon.

As scheduled, we (Noraini & I) ran at Taman Tun Fuad last Sunday. We suppose to be starting the run at 6am, but was delayed to 6.30am. The weather is good, and it's even a bit cold (rarely felt in KK), reminded me of the mornings in Ranau. Things I love about this Taman is there is not lack of joggers which of course gives you the sense of safety and I really love to see the sunrays penetrated through the leaves to the ground. I'll take photos next time.

We started the run at a slow pace (approx. 6.8km/hr) and finished 4.2km later in about 35mins. I was not even too tired yet, but got to attend a compulsory first aid training at 9am, so off I go. Noraini ran another 2 rounds after I left (8.4km in total). If you are running a long run, it is best to have a running partner, first to ensure your safety and secondly you forgot the time when you chats. While chatting and laughing the next thing you know you've already completed the route. I read somewhere that the best pace for running a marathon is with a pace where you still can chat.

Week 1 is done, will be running 10km this Sunday. On that same day I will also be attending an exam to qualify me as a first aider. How is your running guys, come on lets keep calm and run to our heart content!

Training for My First Half Marathon: Plan

We're a bit overexcited and overconfident last November after completing the 10km run in Penang that we (Juvi and I) immediately registered for the Brooks half marathon which will commence on the 3rd March. Back to reality, it is possible but not as easy. 10km is one thing but 21km? Anyway, the air ticket has been bought, so the game is on.

After discussion with my training partner (owh, with the athletic Noraini my dear colleague, she is also running Brooks half marathon) we agreed on a schedule. Since we are working full day Mon to Sat, we will go for the long run every Sunday and will train separately for the weekdays. I went to 1B Fitness gym, tried to hit the threadmill 3 times a week. I will narrate on the details of my weekdays training in another entry. So, here is the schedule;

1) Week 1: Tun Fuad Park (6km)

2) Week 2: Stadium Likas to Yayasan Sabah-return (approx. 10km)

3) Week 3: Stadium Likas to McD Kingfisher roundabout-return (approx. 12km)

4) Week 4: Stadium Likas to UMS-return (approx. 16km)

5) Week 5: Stadium Likas to 1Sulaman-return (approx. 21km) 

6) Week 6: Stadium Likas to Indah Permai traffic light-return (approx. 24km)

I will try to update on the actual progress whenever possible. This is the part of my life where I am running to my heart content. And believe it or not, I'm loving it! 

First 10KM

I checked the mailbox yesterday and found a letter waiting for me. It's contain makes me giddy with excitement. Yay! its the certificate of my first 10KM. I was ranked 1171/5209 and finished the race within 1hr and 29mins, not considered a good timing I mean Oprah once ran 8km in only 40mins (that is approx. 12km/hr! -really fast) but the point is I finished the race (thanks to the loyal supporters!) and that is all that matter to me.

Will be running again this March. Half marathon this time.

Tada! the cert!

Through the Tiny Window

It is not so bad working on Sunday. Apart from the sound of heavy machine humming from the construction site, the office is almost in silent which is a total opposite to the hectic normal workdays. The few colleagues who are also come to work are either bored at home or their name are in the duty rooster, in my case to compensate for the Christmas holiday that I will be taking next weekend. Whatever the reason we're here, I can tell that the work productivity is relatively low. To justify my working time, I had completed some review on materials to be submitted to the Consultant and completed the draft of a work method statement which  actually was halfway completed the day before, and now I am half dreaming pondering through the tiny window adjacent to my desk.

This tiny window is a close friend to me since I started work in this new site last April. It is a 1.0m x 0.5m opening with a black wooden frame. The lower part of the glass is roughly cleaned daily, however the upper part is left undusted. There are dust all over the frame with cigarette butts sometimes left on the frame. Obviously it is not a lovely window in any appearance, but this tiny window is special in its own way and I often feel blessed I'm sitting where I am, while some other colleagues are trapped in a windowless room. 

I love to see the green trees and white clouds and blue sky through it, when it rain the raindrops are looking so romantic and when its windy I can see the leaves dancing. At times you can also see birds resting on the window rod grille. Sometimes when the work seems hard I will stand closer to the window composing myself and looks down. There are few wooden houses just outside the site hoarding and being at the office's second floor, this window is not only offer me nice scenery but also glimpses of the villagers lives. I often watch an old lady in sarong hanging their laundry in the sun, sometimes watching half naked kids running and laughing. They grow vegetables at their backyard, and that too I love to see. Sometimes when there is thunder and lightning, that will scare me a bit, but knowing I am in a secured place, I will just continue with what I am doing.

Observing through this tiny window gives me delight, relaxing, and even melancholy sometimes. It's like browsing the FB walls. Peeping at other people's wall, observing their lives, watching whats going on with their lives. Made contact sometimes but not really attached, watching at distance. I watched my friends moved on, settled down and expand their family. Sometimes I feel like I am more an observant than really living in one, reluctant to leave my comfort. A married friend posted in her wall few months ago on how she thinks people should stop travelling and should settle down instead. Well, I think there are more jealousy in there compared to the sincere suggestion to settle down. By all mean settle down if you like and I believe that you are happy at where you are, but why would you think those who don't are less happier? I am not sure what makes it so difficult to believe that being single is not so bad and that I'm exactly where I want to be, just like Bilbo Baggins at his comfortable Bag End, contented and happy. I firmly believe that just like you there are adventures prepared for me. Someday Gandalf will be coming knocking at my door, and I wont be hesitated to go. May be it wont be a journey like yours, but I knew long ago to take the road less travelled.