Saturday morning Ramblings

What motivates you to run?

1) I love a challenge and we all know running challenges us to improve ourselves in many ways

2) Running is God's given gift, and without His grace I would not be able to run

3) I think about all the people in the world that cannot run because of a physical disability or serious illness. People who want to run/walk more than anything but physically cannot. I run with them in mind. Although I do not know them personally, their spirits lift me as I run

4) It is something that makes the people in my life proud of me. It is hopefully something I will pass on to my kids.

5) Running hard keeps me in better shape (hopefully) than the bad guys. I always want to be in better shape than the bad guys.

6) Other runners motivate and inspire me to run. I love hearing other runners' successes. It pumps me up!

7) I am a little kinder when I feel good - the world feels like a better place. This may sound silly, but it is so true in my heart.

Today's miles was my favorite distance - 13 gloriously easy miles @ 4.46 am. This was followed by a nice warm 30 laps in the pool.

Have a healthy weekend and God bless. I am off for my Saturday morning ritual of staring at the Sagachiku counter and buying all sorts of strange looking Japanese snacks.

Lack of sleep has totally caught up with me. Last night was slightly better than most of this week.

16 miles this am. 6 miles in stormy and windy weather. Last 4 totally unintentional miles @ MP.

So glad its over!

I will always be a runner. I am so happy to be a runner. I am so blessed to be a runner - to make use of God's gifts, my legs, my feet, my arms and to feel true joy from it. It is something I unequivocally LOVE. Running is in my heart, in my soul and is truly a part of who I am and my identity. Notice though that I did not say running if who I am, because it is not. It is a small part of who I am.

It has been the greatest metaphor in my life. It has taught me to never to take moments for granted. It has also taught me never to take myself seriously. I mean, its hard to think you are a superstar when you fall flat on your face atleast a few times a month. Running can bring you to your knees - I cannot tell you how many times I have been 10 miles away from home with no gas in the tank left to run back home. I have been in tears during a run, alot more than I have ever been in my life. I do leave every ounce of myself on the trail.

I have been dreading this morning - its a workout I call "triple-play" that I like to do a few times a week. However, I wanted to do an hour at full speed of all 3 workouts. Instead, I overloaded on the stairs and did not swim. I ran out of time and to be honest, the thought of spending 30mins washing my hair was more than a little daunting. I changed my t-shirt 3 times this morning - I was soaked to the bone. Have mercy on me - I wish it wasnt so hot!!

1000 stair sprints - this was pure torture, but the pain was worth it after I was done. 100 minutes
6.5 steady 8.40min/mile

I wish I had another 30mins - I cant cool off unless I get some laps in!

I am *so* Grumpy!!

Edit at 6:37 PM. I survived! I had my game face on - for someone who hates any sort of controlling device when it comes to something so natural and organic, for someone who *never* runs to music - I did both. With Maynard blaring in my ears, I couldnt really hear any of my surroundings - I mean, anything to block out that annoying techno of "boom boom boom boom".

I havent entered one of these places...in well, ever actually. I used to frequent a body building gym many years ago. I like these - there are no nonsense, no frills, and the boys mind their own business and very helpful.

Anyway, back to today. Thank God for Maynard!! 7 TOOL songs are all one needs to get in the zone. I stopped many times, since I have absolutely no sense of rhythm. You should see me in an aerobics class - oh yeah! I finished 7 miles @ 13km/hr speed and a 5% incline. I had a towel covering the display and I was playing air drums during the end of each song. Thats classic me!

Oh Dear Lord kill me now!!!!

You see, I am kicking and screaming - like a spoilt baby. This isnt because I have run out of food - oh no, that would be easy. This is because I think I'm going to have to buckle and go to a gym today. Dont ask!!

I cant work a treadmill. I am one of those people who would fall off - not ashamed of not knowing how to work those odd things that look like they belong in a set of the new transformer movies.

Blech! I hate being cooped up. Not sure how many miles I will get in - must take advantage of the fact that I can control speed. This-is-not-going-to-be-pretty!

Miles this Wednesday - TBD
I am, however, spending most of today fueling for the rest of the week - this means I eat to retain water every 2 hours. Oh, the joys of being a runner!

P.S I just realised - I have a pair of clean socks. However, its not the *same* pair. One is black and one is white. This is going to be funny. I live for moments like this - its quite easy to shock people in Asia!

Breakfast after triple play

I just wanted to rave about one of my favorite breakfasts when I have more than 15 minutes to spare in the mornings. Whip up 3 egg yolks (save the whites for a meringue or something), splash of double cream, as much parmesan as you want and toss it in hot freshly boiled spaghetti, then top it with large shavings of parmesan. Sometimes I add crisped bacon and rendered bacon fat, and to really gild the lily, a quivering soft boiled egg - this is truly food of the gods!

This was my 3-way workout this morning. It is SO hot!!
170 sprints
7 mile run
30 laps in the pool.

Gotta run! Have a great day! I cant wait for this evening!

Speed!

Life is actually really simple, its just our minds that complicate things.

Its because of our instinctual need to be different. We all want to stand out, thus even if 2 things are the same, our mind will try and argue that they are totally different, if someone else has said they are the same.

A rather annoying trait of humanity really.

300 sprints - 3 steps at a time
6.2 miles (10k) 42 minutes.
12 laps in the pool.

I burned the trails this morning. I love being this fit!!
My right hip is a bit sore from yesterday - but obviously not enough to go slow or step back. I thank my very fleshy South Indian genes for this!

A morning all over the place!

The last 2 days I have given my legs a much needed break. I also had a very restful Saturday which meant that I could indulge myself this morning all I wanted. There are few things as pleasurable as sweating the week away for a few hours on a Sunday. In other words, this morning, I was all pumped for 3-4 hours of running, swimming and generally playing around.

I started the day off with the most glorious 15 miles. Then I got greedy and decided to explore the back roads of where I live. One uneven pathway and I came crashing down. Quite literally. I scraped both my palms and my right knee. True to myself, the first thing I thought was, "darn it, I really want to swim and dad wont let me". Anyway, I got up straightaway, dusted myself off, took out a sweaty tissue I carry with me and walked/ran home another mile.

I came home to my Father's horrified face. I was ordered to go shower and under no circumstances was I going for a swim. I came out and was greeted with an entire doctor's office neatly laid out on the table. He then proceeded to dress my wounds (complete with plastic gloves). I love him :-)

Anyway, I am not complaining. 16 miles in 2:24. I left at 4:13am and was back at 6:37am. The time would have obviously been quicker had I not walked.

I love waking up to days like this. I am thankful every single day for my life, the people in it and the fact that I am blessed with a healthy body. It is also nice to be reminded now and then, that no matter how old I get, or where I am, I will always be daddy's little girl.