Core and Strength Development

As an active athlete in the past, I was more interested in spending every available training seconds clocking mileage on the tarmac rather than buidling up the foundation for enhanced perfomance. Core & strength development to me was not necessary as I had felt I did not have enough time to add them into my training programme.
What I had failed to realise was that moving continuously in one pattern of movement creates imbalances in our body that can result in weak performance or injuries.

Now that I have returned to the running track after a long period of recovery from injuries, core & strength development are very crucial in being part of the training plan so that I won't sustain more injuries. Phases of Core & Strength Development can also help strengthen and increase flexibility in different muscles on the body.
Strength training alone helps address muscular imbalances that lead to injuries, increases the ability to resist muscular fatigue, increase bone density and enhance joint stability by strengthening muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Vinyasa yoga today with Elaine made core workouts enjoyable. We did planks with variations. I found myself trying to co-ordinate my muscles in various strenous poses which pushed me further to feel the pain because only when I feel the soreness then I know my muscles are really activated. My shivering limbs were not encouraging though, but I tried to hang on a pose as long as possible. At times, I was glad when Elaine said "ok release". Then I'd chide myself for being a weakling. Overall, this session made me start to love planks. A lot of people hate doing planks....I think I dig it.
After the yoga session, I went on to the gym for a 6km spin. My under-utilized quad muscles were certainly elated. I'm sure there's gonna be more spinning to come.

For more info on Vinyasa Yoga taught by Elaine, check out www.yogabodywork.blogspot.com

2010 ahead.

I had no idea what I was going to write about when I clicked on "New Post". I thought I just had to do something about it since blogging is one of the things I need to put in more effort in 2010.
I just realised that i was blogging so little that I can read my older posts from last year on the same page.
I am actually contemplating on signing up for a run in March. The only thing that's holding me back is the self-disciplinary part. I'd seize every second in the morning to snooze before the actual time to get up for work so, morning runs are rare. I never used to have that major of a problem getting up to train - a couple of years ago. Beating the snooze mode is much tougher than getting my strength back.
It really boils down to how much i really want this. How much I want to get back to where I left off. There are more challenges than I had before.
The first thing I need to do is to set a training plan for myself and then get a few alarm clocks or anything that can catapult me off my bed in the morning if I have to train in the morning.
I think it's gonna be an exciting and awesome year.

first jog in 28mths

Looks like I have to say "I'm back!" to blogging for the umpteenth time.
I started jogging this week. The last time i went to the doctor's a few weeks ago he had said i should start jogging. That was because I asked if i could. Han got me new shoes for my birthday and i used them on the following Monday for a 2km with Apple who was really kind to come all the way from the North to "walk in the park" with me. Walk in the park for her but a tough jog for me though. Cement and tarmac were tough on my joints and barely 1km, i was aching all over which made me feel old(er).
On Wednesday I did another 2km at the track just across the street from where I live.
On Friday, I did 4km intervals of walk-jog at the tracks again.
Today, Han jogged alongside me for 4.3km at the reservoir and this time, i didn't stop to walk or take a breather. It's a good thing Han jogged with me. I didn't feel the urge to stop. With Han pacing me, it kept my legs going for as long as i want them to, mentally. As much as I was so determined to complete the distance, part of my was getting all phobic that my heart would stop pounding cos' it's been ages since it has worked so hard. I am proud of what I've done for myself this week.

It's the semester exams these few weeks and i'm really dreading trying to memorise formulaes and theories. 6 more months to graduation and i really can't wait.
I've thought about some plans for the future this month and i am still thinking how to materialise them.

I am back again.
Almost 4 months into the new job now and there's still nothing I can say about how I feel towards it.
I don't dread going to work but at the same time I don't enjoy going to work for five days a week.
I have been trekking almost every weekend, and I've enrolled myself in more hardcore physiotherapy at a physio place in town. After supporting Han at his races and watching people cross the Finish line triumphantly, I felt that I have been left behind too long. Far too long.
So far, trekking is the only source that connects me with endurance. I've had the most torturous distance so far yesterday trekking from Venus Drive @ MacRitchie to the end of Rifle Range. My buddy and I had ran out of hydration and the scorching sun had made every step a trudge. Apart from the lack of hydration, the walk was actually rather enjoyable. We discovered trails which we termed them "unchartered territories". I had wanted to put some music out loud from my mobile phone to muff out sudden rustling of leaves (which scare my sometimes), but felt that nature reserves go better with silence besides the chirping of birds.
Bumping into Han who was doing his progressive run was a motivation factor too.
Here are some pictures from one of our treks.

Oh well. I took an interest in photographing my friends as well.

I had been feasting on these...

John Mayer's performance @ MJ memorial service

I thought this was really great!

mid week

Two more days till end of the work week and I hope it's gonna be uneventful.

I promise myself I'd turn in early every night but somehow, it doesn't turn out how I'd really like myself to. When I can't tear myself away from bed the next morning, I wish I had kept my promise.
I'd like to work out on the stepper before bed tonight. That'll be a really nice treat after all the feasting the last few days. Fat-ism is drawing near.
I made promises to people that I'd get back to serious running some time. I'm still not sure how that's going to happen but I'm going to try (my best) to work towards it.
The other night I dreamt I was writing furiously on the Economics examination papers. I knew I didn't have any idea in mind what I was writing but I knew I was rushing for time.
I don't think that's how it's gonna be in real life though. I am counting down to the final papers now that I'm (finally) done and over with the project.

Assignments Saturday & Sunday

I decided to write a post even though I don't have anything in mind to write. I've been so uninterested in things for a long time now hence the lack of posts for...a long time now.
It's Sunday evening now, and as usual at this time of the weekend, i begin to think the weekend is too short. From tonight as with other normal Sunday nights, I will have to turn in early for the next 5 nights and struggle to wake up early for the next 5 mornings.
I spent the whole of yesterday working on an assignment related to Natural Gas. Besides this blog, that was probably the most intellectual essay I've ever written in my entire life (I think). I've never cared about the production and extraction, demand and supply of Natural Gas. And then I was compiling my research on that not because I was genuinely interested but because I had to. Not many people I know put much thought into stuff like that, really.
Today, I did an assignment on consumer behaviour, which is definitely on a more interesting note than Natural Gas.

Lately, I have been thinking about picking up a new hobby. I think I may want to buy a camera. Nope, not for candid use. I haven't done enough research to decide what I need and what I should get. I'm so out of touch with technology (even mobile phones) that I feel old. The Nikon D series produce results that look convincing. I won't be gettin me any of that anytime now tho, but I do lust for it in my heart. Maybe I should look into Canon too.

Goodbye MJ

Me, like everyone else, was shocked by the news of Michael Jackson's passing on the morning of 26th June (local time). The marquee on Channel NewsAsia stated he had died and my initial thought was probably suicide from OD. I was still trying to digest the fact that MJ had gone so soon. Too soon. I was sad but not devastated. I wasn't a massive fan but I couldn't deny that his music had carved some significance in different stages of my life.
My uncle had a LP of MJ's music videos which was the source of motivation for me to visit Grandma over the weekend. I was probably only 6 years old, really liked my Grandma but didn't enjoy her consistent chatter. I didn't mind it but there was absolutely nothing else for me to do there but watch sesame street and the MJ LP. My favourite video had to be "Thriller", which I watched it over and over again. I was fascinated by the story plot, the dance moves and of course, the creepy zombies. Actually, I still think that that was probably the best MTV i've ever seen.
During my teens, there were MJ songs which I'd play repeatedly and even sang along to them.
MJ's scandals didn't bother me. I felt more disturbed by how drastically he was transforming physically over the years. He was getting whiter, always potraying a pale and sad figure whenever he was photographed not trying to hide his face in any manner. He seemed tormented by what the world and media were talking about him. I was guilty of scoffing at the extent of plastic surgery he underwent and I had always wondered why did he have to do that. Would life had been better for him if he hadn't done anything to his physical self? His life probably wouldn't have to end this way.
A week has passed and nobody is certain how MJ died. I have become uninterested by now and really, it does not matter. It's not going to change how he has been perceived by the media. Maybe it would be better left unknown and let the King of Pop be remembered for the good he had done.

A post for now

I've recently just moved on to a new job and among the many things I had to get used to was taking the morning (note: peak hour) train to the Central Business District. I haven't worked in a place where I need to travel by the train in a long time so somehow it became something weird when I had to do so a few weeks ago.
The new office is not too bad, I actually have a window seat that has a great view of the GE building and then I wished I was in that nice building instead. The grass always seems greener on the other side.
I had bad sleep the first few nights I started on the new job due to the "newbie jitters". I suffered from mild low self-esteem for the next few days because of the nightmares that nearly convinced me that I suck at my new job.
I need to return with a better post. I promise.

sunday post

Yesterday I had a really nice walk at the trails with my best friends. They were having a conversation about some staff in their workplace when I randomly told them about my future plans.
I'm actually pretty worried about my future. Someone pointed out to me that I, like most people, don't actually have a plan for my future. A concrete plan. I'm either too busy preparing for one or I cannot be bothered with one. It irks me to think it's the latter. I probably haven't thought about what I want to do. I am not sure if I am actually going to apply what I am studying to my career. I would rather spend time healing and treating people than competing in the business world, really. I'll probably get over and done with this studies in another 15 months and meanwhile, start planning ahead for what I want to do.
Workload increased heaps the last week and reading up for my examination topics were reserved only for the nights. Han was busy too and we had no time for trivial fights. I met him for one day last week and most of the time, we sent our love over the phone or text.

random post

I am due for a visit with the Physiotherapist this week but I may give it a miss. I would prefer to have a physiotherapist do exercises with me rather an assessing how much I've improved. I think I know better than anyone else how much I have improved, or not. I would be stoked to have a personal trainer.

I haven't actually had a proper break since the Lunar New Year holidays and I'm feeling like I would really like to stay away from work at any chance I've got. Han shares the same sentiments too. We've been so overloaded with work individually, I am beginning to wonder if the recession is really as bad as it seems. My mailbox has gotten so large my in and outgoing mails were jammed all week. It was partially relieved on some days but eventually I have to get it fixed for good tomorrow.

Han said it would be a good to have a place in the East. I couldn't agree more. I've been here all my life and I can't think of staying anywhere else but here. It was really sweet of him to think about relocating to the East and not have me moved somewhere else. I had gone home today feeling like I haven't had enough of Han. The feeling is like a reminder why we really like hanging out with each other in the first place.

Life is changing...I have been thinking a lot about how to peel away all the extraneous shit in life and focus on the things that are important. I've also decided, that with the exception of working in an office and making a living, office politics and petty quarrels are a waste of my time.
Assuming the paycheck is steady and sufficient, I'd have a five-year plan laid out. The stuff that makes the list is marriage, family, mental health and physical health.

Simple Saturday

For once, I have nothing much to do at this time on a Saturday night. At this moment, I really like having nothing to do. I tried to read a book about the History of Hitler in political science but I couldn't figure out much. I had been frustrated with things at work all week. The first semester at school is ending in a month and I will have to do Economics next sem. Drats. Besides technology, I don't quite get along with figures.

I thought about getting a gym spinner and daydreamt about cycling with all my might at home. I have a thought about doing pilates as well but it's sure gonna hurt like hell.

speed trail...

I've begun some light jogging on a 13km trail recently, it's lesser impact on the joints and although I really hate getting mud on my shoes I have to admit it's the softer ground that I don't mind pounding on for now. I jogged, and walked when I got tired. It's something like jogging for 400m, brisk walked for 5 mins and jogged again. I did this the whole journey. It's really nice to feel myself moving faster now. I'm not up for speed, really. But it's so nice to feel the adrenalin getting back and it's really been too damned long since I last felt so free and so....tired, in a good way.