I'm up for Full.

I'm always grateful for I have friends around me when I work for my (life) goals.

Last year during PBIM, Gray, my first running buddy, said she's going to do Full next year. It's great to know friends are upgrading and getting more serious about what they are doing. I tried visualizing myself running for a 42km but all I see was a blurry vision of me running and panting and having major aching legs.

You see, when I'm into something (and I think most people with goals do), I visualize these goals and how to achieve them. If I am up for them, there's this surge of fire from within that starts to slowly rise and spark my entire being to stay motivated for the goals. So if I feel this fire, I know I am REALLY going for them. Well, I didn't feel this when I visualize running for Full Marathon. Not yet, I tell myself.

Thing is, this whole running for Full Marathon bugged me ever since. Especially knowing the other running buddies are also upgrading themselves. I mean, if they are up for it, why can't I?

"Kau pigi lari pun on and off, how are you going to run for a full? Baru Half pun kapus2," my consciousness tells me.

Okay lah, wait for the right time then.

This unsettling feeling, they never leave me. It's like I have decision still undecided despite telling myself I am not ready for it.

However yesterday... after some reflection routine I do when I'm into some life-changing and mind boggling matters, I decided to give it a go. It's funny how a decision to pursue my studies can trigger the spark to run for a 42km race.Ha!

I have not sign up for any 42 yet as I have already booked myself a Half Marathon for Borneo International Marathon in May, chasing for PB. The most apt run I have to do my Full will be PBIM. Besides, I think the PBIM 42km route is less harsh than the BIM. Hopefully.

So yeah, I am going for Full Marathon this year!!!

By the way, here are some photos during my first run in 2015. We ran 12km for the Alliance Bank Coastal Run 2015. Fun run indeed.

 

 

A different kick-off

Not really a New Year post eh?

I am still here. Still blog hopping whenever possible. Still browsing my blog once in a while. Just no intention to post anything. Life has been pretty busy on my other social networking sites i.e. Facebook, Instagram. Hence, the lack attention in here.

42 days had passed since New Year and proud to say that, I have not been sleeping past 9am anymore. On working days, it's inevitable to wake up at 5am because of work. But on weekends, it would be 6am. Why?

My first Yoga at the beach on the first Saturday of 2014.

If it isn't Yoga, I would turn to running to get my ass up in the morning.

I say, this is a different start to my 2014. Before, I always look forward weekends to wake up after 8am. Now, even though I am still depending on alarm clock, waking up isn't much of a problem anymore. Of course, there are times when I feel like cuddling under the blanket. Like those time in Jan when rain continuously pouring night and day. But, the thought of 'If I wake up late, I'll miss my morning yoga session' kind of bugged me.

And why do I love morning work out?

I've ran and do yoga in the evening. Most of the time actually. But, nothing beats the feeling of having to see the sun goes up while you run. Or doing the Downward Dog while listening to birds coming out of their nests. The quietness of morning before it turns to buzz due to day time activities. It just feel so refreshingly amazing. 

The great post-work out sensation plus the wonderful experience of nature very much affect my soul, my perception of life and how I would live it. This may sound cliche but yes, this whole working out thingy makes me feel content about living my life. I remember blogging about this end of last year; feeling unfinished. Somehow, the blockage that I was experiencing at that time kind of drifted away now. I feel... cleared.

Another great thing, my other half is on the bandwagon as well. And really determined about it too. He started his gym routine in Jan at 95kg. Fast forward a month and almost half, he is now 87kg. Almost 10kg! He is very disciplined on his work out regime that I am expecting he would soon turn to a work out junkie more than I.


So yeah... this year seems to be looking at fitness and health in our book in the hope that with such healthy life style will eventually bring more goodness and benefits into our lives. Whatever they are.

A toast to a healthy way of living!

*hugs*

Ticked off...

So, in my previous post I mentioned that I was going to join a 10KM marathon. I did.

I REALLY did it!

It was a  thrilling experience for a first time runner like me. I did my run training on a standard (boring) track where I only ran round and round until I reached my target distant. But running on a real marathon, on a road with cars passing by and runners next to you... the feeling is totally different from my training. Heck, I didn't even stop in the first 2km of the run cos everyone was running and I was not going to let my ego down and stop (like I used to do during my training ; 400m run 100m walk). It's amazing how I didn't feel tired and was rather enjoying my run. Well, not until I had passed the 7km distance lah. Seriously.

Initially, I jumped into the running fun cos I wanted to tick off 'ran a marathon' in my yearly list-to-do. So, I did tick if off. But, I didn't realize how the post-run effect could affect me this much.

I am already looking forward a longer distance run!!

Aside the first time experience, I am grateful I decided to join the run. Running gives another meaning to my life. To appreciate my body, inside out.

I have never done a constant long distant training run before. But joining the marathon, I had to kick my butt off the bed as early as 6am, thanks to two weeks of school holiday prior to the run. As I ran into my second week of intensive training, I felt so much energized to get up in the morning and go for a run. Not just because of the run date was closing near but I wanted to feel the sweat, the sore muscles and the good feeling of stretching my muscles with yoga practice after a run. And most of all, morning run and yoga keep me energetic throughout the day!

Now that the BIM 2013 is over, and after a week of rest, I am yearning to run the track again. So, I went running yesterday. I just couldn't explain in details how ecstatic I felt when my heart pumping vigorously during my run. Or how contented I was when sweat rolled down my face profusely. I guess, you have to be in my shoes to comprehend my feeling.

So, the run?
I clocked 1 hour 15 minutes to finish the 10 kilometres run.

It was way better than I had set on myself when I first registered.
Hoorah!

Eh, gambar?
Ada bah... Sikit lah.

 

Some friends I met during the event.

 

Noy, Maslight and I.

We met via blogging!

 

Daniel Chiam of room8five 

 And it wouldn't be complete without my fav Standing Bow pose.

BIM 2014 anyone?

^___^

After a week...

Update on my Yoga progress.

My favourite pose, Standing Bow Pose or the Dancer's Pose. I think I am progressing well with this pose.

 

And of course, some other poses I've been practicing. I even bought myself DVDs for Yoga beginner. I reckon that I need more insights to Yoga than just practicing the pose via images found on the Internet. I must say, I look forward to dig deeper. To understand the reason why I do all the poses and the benefits yielded from doing yoga daily.

 

Namaste.