So You Think You Can Run

Here's some good advice for new runners which I read in one of my fave blogs, "Secrets of a Running Mom". Posts like these are very helpful especially when no one else around you really cares about running and thinks you're just some crazy lunatic trying to relive your past glories.

3 Steps for Getting Started Simply:

Ok so you’re ready. You’re going to do it. You’re going to start running, but you have no idea where to begin and maybe you’re even feeling a little lost or overwhelmed. Here’s three steps to get you started running on the right foot (or left if you prefer. That’s not one of the tips ;-)

1. Get a pair of running shoes – They don’t have to be the newest, most expensive or hi tech model out there. But they should be a pair that is suited for your feet. Go to a running store. Not Dunham’s or Dick’s or whatever big sporting goods store you have near you. Go to an actual specialty running store. And PLEASE do not be intimidated to do this. Trust me, you are not going to be the first person to walk through their doors looking for your first pair of running shoes. Everybody was new once, including even the sales staff, which is usually Icomprised of runners.

Go to a running store because generally speaking they know a thing or two about feet, shoes and how they’re supposed to work together when running. They’ll measure your feet properly (be prepared for a recommendation of at least a half size or two up from your normal shoes. Your feet expand when you run. They’re not trying to insult you, only save the life of a toenail). They also might want to watch you walk, maybe run. Some stores even have hi tech machines to evaluate how you carry weight on each foot. All this to help you find a shoe that works for you because there are different types and the wrong type for your foot can definitely do more harm than good. At a general sporting goods store, they’re probably going to do a great job in finding your size in the shoe you tell them to go get, but that’s about it.

Whatever you do though, do not just randomly select a pair of shoes you already own (even if they are sort of sneakerish) and go run. They weren’t designed to properly support your foot while running and chances are you’ll wind up injured trying to make that pair work. As a matter of fact, don’t even run in a resurrected pair of old running shoes unless you bought them, set them aside and never touched them again. Running shoes are designed to last 3-500 miles on average. If you’ve been using them to walk around in, there’s a strong possibility you’ve worn them out already. Soles will wear out before treads, so don’t just flip them over and say “they look ok to me.” It’s what you can’t see that will cause your legs to rebel against you later.

Best bet is to just suck it up and spend the $50-$125 on a pair of new shoes and not take any chances. Once you know what sort of shoe you need, don’t hesitate to check around and see if you can find a good deal on it somewhere. There’s lots of sites online that offer free shipping and free returns on running shoes. And if money is a major concern opt for a discontinued model on clearance, you’ll save yourself a lot of cash.

2. Find a race – And I know what you’re thinking. You’ve got to be kidding me! I am in no condition to be racing people! Am I right? But you misunderstand why most people run races. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the vast majority of runners out there are not entering races to win them. Do they want to see how fast they can finish? Sure. But trust me, you will not be the only one entering the race just to see if you can finish it.

A race is a tangible goal. It’s a date on the calendar to work towards. When you pick a race (for our purposes a 5K or 3.1 Miles), you can’t just slough off a run with a “eh…I’ll do it next week” because you don’t have that kind of time to spare if you ARE going to hit your goal (and you totally are!). You’ve got to get up and do it now.

Don’t worry about having to perhaps walk some of it. Pick a race three months out. Follow your training plan and chances are pretty good you’re going to run the whole thing. But even if you do have to walk, so what? You certainly won’t be the only one. And even if you are the last place finisher (which you probably won’t be) there will be somebody watching on the sidelines, who will be wishing they could do what you just did. Guaranteed. The purpose of a race is to get from point A to point B as quickly as you can. Period. And quite frankly, I am often times more excited to watch the last guy cross the finish line, than I am the first. Chances are she’s had to overcome a lot more to cross that same finish line. I mean really, who wants to quit a race when you’re about to come in first?

So find a race and register for it right now. It won’t cost a ton of money. Some races are as little as $15-$20 (but at the same time that $15 or $20 might spur you on should thoughts of quitting creep up into your head. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve said to myself “well geez, I paid…I’ve got to do it.”). And besides almost all races give out a shirt and you know we’re all about the shirt right ;-)

3. Get a training plan – It doesn’t have to be mine. There’s lots of them out there. I’d suggest picking one you feel comfortable with. One that might look challenging at the end but doable to start off with and gradually working you up to the challenging in the middle.

Once you find one, print it off. Or hop on your computer yourself and transfer it to your own calendar, then print it off. But print it off and stick it on your refrigerator. I used to think this was only something my family and I did, but I recently read Rules for Runners by Mark Remy (hilarious book btw) and found it listed as one of the “rules.”

Put it on your refrigerator so you can see it and keep that goal of yours in front of you. And because when you go to grab that leftover can of mild cheddar cheese dip (mmmmmm…cheese… my weakness) or box of pepperoni pizza, you’ll think twice because you’ll remember you’ve got a run to do early the next day and that kind of food won’t sit well in the morning. And don’t underestimate that little sense of satisfaction you get from marking off, checking off or coloring in that little box on your calendar or running schedule when you complete a run. It seems like a silly little thing, but wait until you miss a run. That little uncheck, marked or colored box will haunt you. You’ll never want to leave one again.

So there you go. Three tips. All that’s left for you to do now is….GO RUN!

POSTED BY RUNMOM

People-Loving People

Every once in a while, I meet somebody who really loves people. They're the people who remember birthdays or who bring treats to the office just because it's Friday. They're the ones who make phone calls other people only think of making, who show up at a friend's door with a steaming dish instead of just saying, "Let me know if there's anything I can do."

I don't know how they got this way, these people. Maybe their hearts are bigger or their souls are wiser than everyone else's. But one thing's for sure.... YOU (no need to specify, you know who you are) are one of those PEOPLE-LOVING people, and knowing you makes me very lucky indeed.

Monday is a Good Day

Woke up this morning and went for a run at Tasek while waiting for Ah Moi to arrive. The traffic from her side of Brunei must've been quite heavy as I managed about 4km before she came (yes, I've been good and wore my pedometer this morning). Then we walked a few more rounds in there, the usual "catch-up" session for us busy mothers (ok, one busy mother!).

It usually starts out like this, a very active Monday then tapering down to some form of exercise sometime mid week and after that, just lazing around the house the rest of the week. Why, why, why can't I just break out of this cycle?!!? My Phillips Directlife coach said that I needed to work out really solidly, out-of-breath-nearing-cardiac-arrest-crazy for about 1 hour each day for the rest of my life if I wanted to attain and maintain my fitness level goal. In the last two weeks, the level has been somewhere between 80-90% of the target and to me, that is just NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Today I decided to step it up a notch and get started with Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred exercise program which I had downloaded onto my iPad oh.... a few weeks ago (hehe, baru kan start). I got straight onto Level 2 because that's where I thought I was at. Quickly, I found out how wrong I really was.

You wanna look like me, Flabbo? You'd better be prepared to go to Hell and back..

The whole circuit was only 20 minutes but OMG, it was 20 very intense minutes. For every second that we worked out (there were 2 other girls in the video, hence the we), crazy Jillian made us work the muscles in our bodies all at once! Our arms were lifting weights while our feet were doing front and back lunges, after that weights while crunching abs, then there were those ridiculously easy (killers actually) plank jacks and plank twists. If you've ever attended an exercise class before, you know these sets are plain torture! I think I sweated 2 big buckets before she showed mercy and stopped to cool down.

Behind Crazy JM: My exercise mates, Anita and Natasha. Small class, I liked it.

Hell, that woman can jump!

One more time, b**ch! You'll thank me later, just you see.

. 

Needless to say, at the end of the session, I felt shredded. Like shredded wheat. But high on life as I'm typing this. Going off to read a book and chill out now...

Crazy, Sexy, Beautiful

I was thinking of these three words while I was watching TV, no, not Desperate Housewives nor the hot vampires in True Blood, but those contestants on The Biggest Loser. I wondered how it is even earthly possible to coax their 400lbs bodies into doing jumping jacks or running up torturous inclines when I can't even do those in my way-less-much-much-way-less-than-400lbs body!?

So I thought, these people must be just plain crazy, sexy and beautiful because of their sheer will and determination to lose the pounds. And one day, at the end of the show most likely, they will not be crazy anymore. Just sexy and beautiful. Of course, it helps to have the toughest, hottest trainers around in the form of Jillian Michaels and Bob "am-I-gay-or-am-I-not?" Harper. Man, I'd lose that much weight just drooling at them!

Inspired by that precise thought, I decided to buy this DVD from the Apps Store. It's a series of exercise routines (in 3 Levels, depending on your current state of fitness, or lack of) by Jillian called the 30 Day Shred. The exercises are quite simple and take only 20-30 minutes of your time a day. She bases her workout on the 3-2-1 method: 3 mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1 min abs. If you religiously follow them every day for 30 days, you're supposed to lose something ridiculous like 20lbs! That's like, 9+ kilos, man. Crazy, sexy, beautiful you definitely will be.

Well, I'm pleased to report that I've actually viewed all of Jillian's exercise routines. However, before you jump to ask me the crucial "how much lost" question, may I just insert the disclaimer here that I watched her video in the comfort of my own BED. All wrapped up in warm blankies and well-worn, holey pyjamas. So no pounds lost yet. 

But hey, tomorrow's a new day and there's hope in there somewhere. I mean, I'd really, REALLY like to have abs like Jillian. Who'd be crazy not to??

SCB Charity Run 2010 - Brunei

I registered to join this event, and received my still-glossy donation card today. So, on 8 August 2010, hubby and I will be running in the 10km individual category, the reg fee of which is BND20 per pax. My friend, LAZsie wanted to join in the 10km Challenge where you can run blindfolded with a friend or partner (who's NOT blindfolded, btw, or else you two are doomed!). While she was enthusiastic, I was just worried that she might get preggers by August and who will be left holding my hand then?

Another fashionasti friend, who's fit enough to run a full marathon and back (I believe so), is still undecided whether he wants to run and help charities OR whether he wants to fit in one last getaway party weekend before Ramadhan rolls along (mana lagi yang banyak pahala?). Oooops, did I just say that? Heheh, you know who you are and I know you're not mad at me for saying this in public. In fact, I know you're used to it and will still be my friend.

Of course, with this intent having been made official, I now have to raise some funds. The causes are all good and legit, so I don't mind running for these:  Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Cacat (KACA) and Standard Chartered Bank’s Seeing Is Believing Programme.

Upon registration, these are what you'll get:
• Exclusive Standard Chartered Run Shirt
• Donation card to help raise funds for charity
• Chance to win great prizes in a lucky draw
• Chance to win fun prizes for fancy dress and Spot-the-Liverpool-shirt during the Run
• Certificate of completion when you complete the Run

Obviously there are cash prizes for the winners in each category, but I don't really care about all that because I'm definitely not going to win and besides, this is a charity event. We somehow have to be gracious and look past things like prize-money and such. Of course, if I was fit enough and think I have even a glimmer of winning, then I would publicise the prizes here! Haha, what a hypocrite.

Right, now's the time I find out who are my friends and who are really my friends. Don't forget to SPOONSURE me, y'all..... and sponsor me GOOD! It's all for a good cause, I repeat.

Never Stop Exploring: The North Face 100

About the North Face 100®

The North Face 100® wants you to run further than you ever have in 2010! Promoting the genuine spirit of exploration since its kick-start in 2008, The North Face 100® is growing into a regional trail running series of six Asia-Pacific countries in its third year: China, Australia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Whether you are an aspiring trail running beginner or a seasoned racer looking for new challenges, unparalleled experience is offered in each competition of this region's largest trail running series. Push your personal boundaries, and Never Stop Exploring.

Here's the website: http://thenorthface100.com.sg/

For those out there who are interested in running a trail race, you should be looking to register for this annual event scheduled to take place in Singapore on 9 October 2010. It's really a test of personal endurance and there are several categories depending on your level of fitness and wallet size, I suppose.

Early Bird registration Fees are valid till 1st August 2010.

I'd love to join this one day when I'm fitter and can run at least a half-marathon with ease. If I were to join this, I would probably sign up for the 50km Duo and then move up to the 100km Duo (running partners, anyone?). As for doing the 100km Solo along an unknown trail which could darken anytime (it's a race that spans up to 18 hours, after all), let's just safely say that I don't think the race organisers are ever going to invite me to be a participant of that one!

Schooze Schmoose

I haven’t updated this blog for over a week now due to several reasons:

On the fitness front, I’ve done pretty much shmutz-all last week and I wasn’t really motivated to write about the adventures of a fat-arse couch potato, interesting as that may sound to be.

When I connected my Phillips activity monitor to get my assessment plan, I found out that I had to UP my activity level from 590+units to 798 units per day if I wanted to reach my 3 topmost goals which are to stay fit & have more energy, look younger (if that’s at all possible at this stage in time!) and be happy. Ok, freaked out and froze out, basically!

Although I love to be fit and can be quite motivated about it most days, to be honest, I just don’t like doing it alone. It’s not fun, more like torture, and sigh, it’s downright boring to write about, let alone expect others to read about it! Geeesshhh….

So anyway, what I’ve been doing though, to fulfill my Wellness Points – a system I created within myself and only I can fully understand – is to clear up my clutter. I’m talking about physical clutter here, which in actual fact and in all honesty, is a reflection of the state of my mind over the period when I’ve accumulated all the things. And my gosh, I have soooo many THINGS!!

I started with my ‘study’ that had magically turned into a hoarder’s fantasy room over the last 6 months or so. In fact, the room had started to smell funny and I found out later when I managed to locate the floor that there was a dead lizard buried underneath all the stuff…. Yuckkzaa!

I thought the place had looked good when I last tidied it up, but oh how it filled up fast. And with such junk, it took me 3 large, black plastic bin liners to haul all the rubbish out. At least I know I’m not a clinical hoarder because it was so easy to throw out everything. No tearful clinging to things I don’t need (like my former work stuff…haha) and no anxiety pangs throughout the whole process. Just a feeling or relief and cleansing at the end of it.

Once I’ve reorganised the room, this is what it looks like. Pretty, kan?

This is where I get to lounge around in my free time, which nowadays is close to ALL the time… yeah, curse me!

My son came in and commented on how many shoes I currently have. I say ‘currently’ because unbelievable though it seems, I do give away or throw away my shoes at least twice a year. Yes, you read correctly….. I said TWICE. Tons at a time. For the life of me, I’m not sure how there still are plenty more pairs left, so I know this is definitely something that I’ve got to work on. (More Wellness Pts = Less Material Stuff = More Inner Fulfillment). Well you get the gist.

This is one corner of my Shoe Stash.

This is another corner….

Under my table.

…and another batch…

Finally, my perennial favourites – flip-flops.

PS. There are also my hiking shoes (at least 3 pairs) and my 5-inch heelers which I’ve refrained from showing here for censorship reasons. These are harder to get rid of and to get a feasible explanation of why that is, I’d probably need to see a therapist.