Saturday morning storm!

It been a magical morning. It changed from a calm, still, steamy Saturday; to windy, stormy and sultry by the time the sun was up.

I was 7.7 miles into my run before it started pouring - heavily!! It was one of those character-building runs thats asks - are you gonna be strong today or are you gonna wimp out? It helps that there were cute army boys doing their weekend drills - I *always* run faster with nice scenery :-) Anyway, as the rain started pouring, the faster I got. The only thing is - the water soaked into my clothes so much that I was carrying 2 kilos of dead weight by the end of it. Plus my shoes felt like weights!!

Anyway, a total of 15 miles in 2 hours!! I am very very happy with the speed.

On another note, it has been a melancholy end to the week. Oh well, the show *must* go on.

Recovery

One of the shortest runs I've had in awhile. 60 minutes of recovery - just 6.3 miles or just over 10km. Yes, very very slow - I hardly feel like I'm working or break a sweat at 10min/mile. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day - the legs need a break.

Blech!

With less than sub-optimal hydration, my run today suffered - alot! A recovery 7 miles turned into an ambitious 15 miles (making it 50 plus miles in 3 days!!), breaking into my new shoes - I wanted to "celebrate".

Anyway, it took 7 miles to properly warm up and get into the groove - I still finished the run - I hate bailing half-way.

Swam a gorgeous 30 laps afterwards in 25 minutes. SO humid!! Hating the weather!

Prayer

I have never hidden the fact that I use running as a sort of prayer. It leads to prayer because it is quiet, reflective time alone. Runners draw inward and become aware of their breathing, heart beating, energy level and strength. Since we are made up of more than cells and atoms, the quiet awareness also turns our thoughts to being aware of our spirit side.

When I am running, my spirit connects with my surroundings. My thoughts and reflections on nature lead towards thoughts of the One who created the beauty around me.

Often times, running leads to reflections on situations in my life...needs, goals, people, problems, among many others. Those situations also lead to prayer.

I dont have a set plan to go out there and "pray". It is just a natural thing that happens - a casual discourse with God who is with me. Inner spirit connecting with the Greater spirit.

Or not! :-)

An easy 13 miles this am - I am tired and starving!

Rainy Morning - my prayers have been answered!

Annoyingly, the haze is back. Thank you Indonesia! We also experienced three earthquakes in about 16 hours. The first one was around 6pm yesterday - I was on the 18th floor of the building doing my sprints. The other 2 happened, again, when I was doing stair sprints - interesting to say the least. Once again, thank you Indonesia!

Woke up to a thunderstorm this morning. I hauled myself to the 18th floor for some sprints. These felt pretty good. Here is it:
1195 stair sprints - 2hours
8 mile run - 60minutes.
10 laps in the pool - 8mins

I had to reschedule my long run until tomorrow morning. I still ran 8 fast miles in the thunderstorm - I love running in the rain and getting all muddy. However, South-East Asia is not the safest place for monsoon running - I have, on 2 occassions, been very close to be struck by lightning. Not funny at all! I have given up trying to challenge Mother Nature.

Blob!

I feel like a balloon and resemble Augustus Gloop.

Has anyone seen my willpower? I'd like it back thanks!

Mine!

There are a few things I'd like to think I own. I have all sorts of bake-ware, books and a cd collection that travel everywhere with me. I consider these my comforts in life, however, I am also always reminded of how much baggage we carry when it comes to moving from one place to another. This is not running related yet since I havent run yet. Its just after midnight and I once again cant sleep.

In the midst of all of this, I came across some stuff from Surfers Paradise 1999. I see a very different Aditi. I have, however, always been this way - pictures can be so deceptive. I think I mentioned a few posts ago that I look carefree in pictures. How wrong pictures can be! They are my most prized possession however, the one thing that chronicalize my adult years - from a shy 17 year old (you would never guess it if you met me) to a shy 26 year old. Nothing has changed at all. I carry with me the same insecurities, the exact same fears. However, what *has* changed, is that I hide it all pretty well. But dont we all?

Running has been an outlet for this shyness. I have never really cared much for anyone other than myself (and my family), and running has highlighted that aspect of my life more than anything else.

I will churn out 600 sprints this am. That would be all.

Sleepless night leads to an excellent morning!

After an excruciatingly long night last night, I finally fell asleep (if you can call it that) around 2am. Sleep is a relative term - I think I was just so exhausted of driving myself crazy, all in an effort to sleep. You see, I made a conscious effort to "relax" myself with an early night, tea and all that one is supposed to do to calm down. It.Did.Not.Work! Anyway, I gave up trying around 3:30 and finally left for a run around 5.

It is surprising how much a simple act of putting one foot in front of the other can help to relax and calm me down. I essentially ran a half marathon in 1hr 40minutes - a time I am very happy with. It was very comfortable and at no point I felt like I was out of my comfort zone. It has been very hot and humid for the last few days, and I suspect thats a familiar story in the rest of South-East Asia. The rains have been non-existent all of last month - an anomaly for February in Asia.

So, thank you for an excellent run despite a crappy night!
13 miles 100 minutes
12 times 60m strides - all-out (these are good at the end of the run to increase speed and leg-turnover)
16 fast laps in the pool.