Garmin FR 110

A very in-depth review of the Garmin FR110: DCRainmaker FR110 Review

29th training (34th) run of 2010

Decided to run today (Sat) instead of Sunday since not sure if it will rain tomorrow and got prayerwalk tomorrow afternoon. This afternoon was overcast but doesn't seem to be rainy.

Not sure whether I wanted to do 12km or 14km but with less than 1 1/2mths to AHM HM, I'm running out of time to get the training mileage in. Already last weekend my long run was rained out.

Anyway, it was nice weather, very little of sunshine, windy at times but humid. Still I was sweating away and dripping. I was slow. 1st km was 8min/km pace. 1st 7km loop completed after 2 pit stops. Really slow going. Anyway, I decided stamina and mileage was more important than time and speed.

At the 2nd loop, I discovered the NB 1225 doesn't have enough forefoot cushioning. I had shin splits on my left leg. The stabilicore was fine when I ran on my heels for a while and the shin pain lessened. But I find heel strike was tiring and my knees starting feeling the strain.

Completed 14km in 2:03:33 (Avg pace of 8:49min/km) which was faster than my 12km 2 weeks ago which was at 8:57min/km. So aside from my shin pain and knee discomfort, I am happy :)

It's raining again.....

So glad I clock some mileage last night. Tonight it rained, or rather it rained since afternoon. But I only left office after 9pm. Bizee.....

POSB Run For Kids 2010

Company sponsor 50 employees. So I signed up 4.5km fun run. I actually only signed by the 2 kids for Kids Run at $10 each on July 4th.

Didn't want to run since if I run, it would be the 8.5km competitive. But it's 1 week after AHM HM. Need time to recuperate. Now office pay and I get to select M tee shirt which my boy or wife can wear. Last year yellow tee quite nice. This year blue, remains to be seen. So, an unplanned run event.

28th training (33rd) run of 2010

Just had to run. Started 7:44pm. Completed 7km loop in 55min (Avg pace of 7:53min/km). It was hard run since I started slow but then speeded up and by 3rd km was out of breath. Did consider just doing 5km loop but then was a little irrational since I told myself no run >1week and my weekly mileage is really bad.

Rain rain go away. kc wants to run

Arrrggghhh.......6pm & still drizzling. :(

27th training (32nd) run of 2010

Another weekend.

So hot this afternoon especially from 3pm onwards. The sun like can bake your skin. Slept slightly more than 1 hour and woke up at 4pm. Slapped SPF 30 on. Didn't bring cap although that might have been useful.
Almost 5pm, I was a little unwilling to go out but knew than the longer I delayed, the later I finish.

When I started, I unexpectedly met my ex-colleague Shannon & wife. About a minute chat to catch up.
I did my 7km loop. Stopped too long at Prime Supermarket for my toilet stop & H-2-O. More than 10mins actually. By the time I started on my 5km loop, my lapsed time was 1:07. I completed the 12km in 1:47:23, just a shade under 9min/km average pace. A bit too slow but ok. Inner right knee still pain. Not sure why.

26th training (31st) run of 2010

July is here. 1st run of the month. Actually, very tired today. Slept at 2am, not because I watched the Germany vs. Argentina match and staying to try and catch the Spain match, but because I watched 钱不够用2 on Channel 8. It was from 10:30pm to 1am. This is not about running, but it is a movie that those of us like me with ageing parents in their 70s and 80s must watch. A movie with real issues about money and filial piety and how sometimes, we care more about ourselves and our children than our parents who sacrificed so much to give us a livelihood, education and a career. Very touching. Pity, I can't understand the hokkien songs but just see the English sub-titles.

Unlike Pst Dominic Yeo of TCC who said he watched both matches and only sleep 3-4hrs during soccer season, I was tired because of a local chinese production. I came home and slept >45mins till 4:40pm. Went out at 5pm +/-. Was still sleepy and heavy headed. Weather was nice and cool. Planned to up from previous weekend 7km to 10km.

Started at a steady comfy 8min/km pace and maintained that quite well for my 1st 5km loop. At my 4.5km mark, it started to rain lightly. Of course, regretted not bringing my cap. Was debating withn myself to continue past 5km loop or stop. I wanted to do 5km x 2. But so risky. So, when I finished, I started on the 2km loop opposite my place. The light rain continued, but thankfully got lighter. Still slow pace but slightly faster but had to stop and walk 1/2km. Next next 2km loop also walked, longer distance this time. Was getting tired. Top of my right hamstring felt a little like cramping and I laughed to myself how 4 months back, I only feel this early cramping at 12-14km instead of 7km mark. So, that's what happens after slacking for a month plus.

Anyway, I finished 10km in 1:19:50 which averaged out to 7min 59secs/km. Pretty good. A little cold due to the rain I think. But my right knee just below the knee cap down to the upper shin feels a little painful, even now. Not pain but ache or slight pain. So, I applied one of the free salonplas which expired Apr2010! :)

25th training (30th) run of 2010

So, 6 months to 30 June 2010: I've done 30 runs. A milestone I suppose. 1st Half year and already take part in 5 events. Also a record. Total annual mileage also headed for possible record.
Jan-Dec 2008: 451km
Jan-Dec 2009: 464km
Jan-Jun 2010: 319km

Today feel 'sian' drafting report. Wanted to leave office by 6:30pm but 6:45pm still not finish. So left office at 7pm, a bit upset because I wanted to run a little. Actually after the 7km run on Sunday which was 3 weeks after the previous run, my knee here and there, hamstring here and there, on & off feel discomfort or slight soreness. Irritating sia. 7km only on a Sunday. Before June, 2010 weekends were long runs >12km. Jialat........

Started tonight just before 8pm on my watch. Planned to do 4km. Finished 1st 2km loop and felt good. Only right knee some niggling pain. Did the 2nd 2km loop and felt tired. Decided to do one more 2km loop and total 20km for the entire month of June (LOL, right?). At 5km+ like last Sunday, I was out of breath and had to walk, walk. (Goes to show how fitness level and endurance had dropped after 3 weeks of eat, eat, eat and no jogging) Actually during the 2nd loop, my lower heart where the ventricles are felt some pain. Then when I was walking on my third loop, I felt numbness all the way down my left arm almost to my wrist. Astute readers will tell me that's sure symptoms of heart attack. Well, you might be right (especially with my chronic medical conditions). I basically walked and do stretches for 1/3 of my 3rd loop. From praying when jogging my 1st 2 loops, I was talking to God. Dying ain't something I fear but of course, I'm not running to commit suicide either by triggering a heart attack. Definitely not suicidal or anything like that. But definitely at peace and not in fear. Since 2004, I don't hold too tightly to temporal life on this earth. What's more important is the eternity beyond and we should all ensure we're at peace in our soul with God our Creator because after this earth, it's forever and ever and ever.

I jogged the balance 1.25km to complete my 6km in 45:20 (Avg pace of 7:33min/km which is faster pace than Sunday 7km avg. pace).

Get over common fears and become a better runner

Tips for Beginning Runners

MOVING FORWARD

By Jeff Galloway

From the August 2010 issue of Runner's World 

Chances are, when you started running, your goals were simple—run more, walk less. Inevitably, as you progress, you expect more out of yourself. But some runners avoid stepping up the intensity, citing a range of anxieties. Here's how to free yourself from your worries and enjoy the next phase of your life as a runner.

I WANT TO ENTER A RACE, BUT I'M AFRAID I'LL BE LAST Most community events attract recreational walkers, so sorry, the last-place position is already taken. Ask your runner friends or the staff at local running stores about which races are most fun for a beginner—meaning they attract runners of all abilities and have a supportive cheering section.

WHEN I RACE, EVERYONE SEEMS FASTER THAN ME There will always be runners that are faster than you. As long as you can finish within the allotted time, run and walk however you want.

I FEEL STUCK IN MY COMFORT ZONE. HOW WILL I EVER GET FASTER? Once a week, warm up, then run intervals. Pick up the pace for one minute (don't sprint), then walk for two minutes. Start with three or four of these accelerations. Add one or two intervals each week until you can do eight to 10 of them.

I'M WORRIED I'LL HURT MYSELF IF I GO FASTER If you gradually increase your speed and distance, and incorporate sufficient walk breaks and rest days, there's little chance you'll suffer an injury.

I THOUGHT I'D EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO RUN WITHOUT WALKING Running continuously doesn't have to be a goal. Most of the runners I've worked with find that taking walk breaks throughout their run results in faster times and more overall enjoyment. If your goal is to run faster and feel good, it's often best to use some form of run/walk strategy.