Gave it my all today and left it on the trail. The internal chatter just had to stop and the only way to do that is to run as fast as you can, for as long as you can, so that you are too tired to think and too nauseous to feel bad about anything.

13 miles this am in 100 minutes
20 slow laps after.

Have a good weekend!

Stair workout.

I came across a workout that the American olympian javelin thrower (player? I forget) performs for conditioning. Its basically a stair drill that he performs on stadium steps that goes like this: start by taking one step, then skip 2, then 3, then 1 again, jog down, repeat. Do this for 18 minutes continuously. I read it a few days ago and have been waiting till I feel confident enough to perform it. I *love* stairs and hills - somehow they kill you before/when you do them, but the feeling afterwards is totally worth it.

Since 18 minutes for an Olympian is equivalent to 60000 minutes for a mere mortal like myself, I decided to do it for double that time to see how it feels. It felt awesome!!

This is what I did: 30 single repeats 7 minutes, his workout of 1,2,3,2,1 repeated 200 times in 37 minutes, 30 repeats to cool off. It hurt but in a really good way.
3.5 mile tempo. 6kms or so in 24 minutes!
30 laps in the pool to cool off.

Singapore has the reputation of being one of the rudest cities in Asia - I dont agree at all. A place is what you make of it - I also hear the same thing of New York, and having spent alot of time there as well, I dont agree. There are no rude cities, just rude people and since you can only control your own behavior, if you want a city to be *nice* or people to be *nice*, please practice it yourself first.

Why do I say this? Case in point: this morning. I felt awful and sluggish as I left home this morning and as I went down the lift, all I thought was "ugh...I feel fat, today is gross...its too hot...blah blah...this isnt right, etc, etc"...You know the usual negative thought process that goes through our heads most mornings. As soon as I got outside though, I met the nicest man. We have what I call a "waving relationship". I have seen him on and off since I have lived here - since 1997. He started walking on my trail a few years ago and we always wave hello. Recently however, we are not that shy anymore and its become more of a "HELLO". I nearly ran into him this morning, he flashed me the nicest, kindest smile that took me by surprise - so I greeted him with a thumbs up hello.

Perhaps I overstate, but I cannot tell you how much little things like that lift my spirits. It inspires me to do the same for someone else. It makes me want to be nicer. He will never know how much he made my day. I said hello and smiled at everyone this morning, and had one of my happiest runs. Not too bad on the speed either.

This is my long-winded way of saying - please smile at someone today, you might just make their day :-)

8.5 miles 70 minutes (just under 15kms)

I felt brave this morning - brave enough to perform one of the toughest workouts for me. When I feel strong and confident, I tend to sprint up the stairs with the windows shut, directy followed by a tempo run. 6 miles of each with a 20 lap swim and I am good to go.

I decided to do it this morning - made me very very nervous. Started off nice and slow before picking it up after 10 or so minutes. I shut all the windows while climbing up and lmost immediately got my heart rate up.

420 repeats on the staircase 83 minutes
6.8 mile run 60 minutes.

I wanted to swim but nixed the pool because the thought of having wet hair all morning was just too much!

The issue with my left leg isnt my knee - I think I have a torn hamstring so I have been religiously icing it (with a bag of frozen peas mostly) - will be seeing a doctor on the 13th!

I am insane :-)

They say the definition of clinical insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. I must be insane! I did go out today because I think I suffer from 'restless leg syndrome'. I cannot function without working up a nice sweat. It isnt exercise I'm addicted to - going to a gym would never make me happy. It is running.

This morning, I was delirious after the first 5 minutes - also because I knew I was doing something that would make everyone around me mad (sorry mum). I think we are happiest when our soul meets body - whatever that may be for you. For me, it is definately the act of running. I started off a bit later than usual - around 5:40am and finished when the sun wrapped its arms around me.

Running is a wonderful thing. Dont ever take it for granted!!

10miles this am. Brett from Australia reads this blog and was kind enough to wait until I finished to say hi. He recognized me from the photos I put up from Sundown. Thanks for saying hi - people have *no* idea how much I am inspired by kind words. They lift my spirits as I run. Thank you, thank you!!

Injured :-(

Running is suspended till my knee feels better.

Ugh! Its making me want to slop and eat and never wake up!! Injuries are so depressing!

Grrrrr....

The stupid police patrolling car kept tailing me this morning - I dont think it meant to, but the faster I ran, the faster it went. When will people here realise that when a female runner speeds up to get away from you, you are NOT supposed to follow her?! The dude at the wheel was no more than in his mid 20's maximum and kept peeking out the window - seriously annoying and not cool! Anyway, this is my rant for this sunday.

I am tired of whining about the heat and humidity - serves me right for being stubborn and not running on a treadmill. It is seriously hot! It was windy this morning and felt like a blow-dryer on "cool" setting, definately not cool.

7 miles. I went out too fast because of the said car - My time for 2miles was less than 11 minutes - my legs were burning!! I paid for it by walking the last mile home.