HMOTD #66: Breaking that Record again!

OK OK OK! I know I shouldn't be so selfish to post my record-breaking-splendid-moment every time I broke one! But I'm happy you know! And I want to share that joy with the whole wide world!


Here's a breakdown of my running performance pre and post recovery period.

Pre-recovery 
Best 10K pre-pecovery: 0:52:00 (during training around home, at limit)
Best 21K pre-recovery: 2:00:00 (during training @ Ipoh Polo Ground)

12K in the month pre-pecovery: 1:17:00 (Men's Health Shape Run)
21K in the month pre-pecovery: 2:30:00 (Seremban Half Marathon)

2 1/2 months recovery period (skipping running altogether due to muscles wear and tear; did weight training 1 month after)

Post Recovery
1st run after break: Siemen's KL 10K @ 1:05:00
2nd run: 8K Training Run @ 1:00:00
3rd run (2nd Oct): Adidas KOTR 16.8K @ 1:47:00
4th run (15th Oct): 10K Training Run @ 0:54:00 (comfortable pace; before the break, I was always pushing hard to run a 10K @ 1:00:00)
5th run (22nd Oct): 10K Training Run @ 0:56:00 (walked 2 min, stopped 30s, not on form)
6th run (30th Oct): PJ Half Marathon (21K); 10K @ 0:50:00 (NEW PERSONAL RECORD!); 21K @ 2:03:00 (although I had a new record for 10K, but it's a bad strategy to run that fast on the first 10K, I could had run a 1:55:00 or below @ 21K and break another personal best if I had go slower, but I guess that's all part of training and gaining experiences; plus I admit I didn't had a strong will towards the end of the course)

HMOTD #65: Given the Same Locker Thrice within 10 Visits!

Isn't it an AWESOME COINCIDENCE to be assigned to the same locker no. 33  for 3 times within a 10-visits period to the gym?!

*hm..there must be something between that locker and me*

HMOTD #64: I'll call that an AWESOME moment of AWESTRUCK...

Ever had that just-on-time-for-coincidence-to-happen moment ever in your life? I'm sure some of you had, but most of you can't remember it. And it happened to me just this evening!

I was suppose to meet my friend in KJ LRT station at our agreed-upon time. She was going from KL Central LRT station while I'll head off from Taman Jaya LRT station. I went off to the station once I got her sms that she was boarding the train.

While I was at the station waiting for the next train, it seems that it took a long time for it to reach. And I wonder, will I be able to see her on the same train, if not at the same carriage? And I had a strong feeling that something good will happen. Three minutes wait for train was over, I saw the train coming from 1km away...I was thinking maybe she is in the train, but could only find her in the other carriages given some time. Well then, call it perfect timing, or fate, or wish-granted, I SEEM to had a glanced at her when the carriages passed by me before coming to a halt (not sure whether is her or not cause it's been a year since I last saw her; or that hallucinations of her is appearing since I was too desperate to meet her up).

 I walked into the 1st carriage, turn my head to the right, AND THERE SHE WAS!

Isn't that just an AWESOME MOMENT OF AWESTRUCK LUCK and FATE?! 

(I don't know whether this 2 words could be used together, but I don't care, it's still a positive adjective! or not? ><)

HMOTD #63: Getting A New Experience - Bouldering!

Compared to running marathons, cycling, and other wide range of sports activities that the majority of the public spent their time on, there are ones that only a small niche of people get interested in like surfing (well, not in Malaysia of course), base jumping, shooting, ice-skating, etc.

And to my convenience, there was this climbing gym @ Wangsa Maju - Mad Monkeyz that opened since...2 years ago I suppose? But today was the first time I visited it. Let alone participated in any wall climbing/bouldering experience (unless you count the one in Genting Highland's First World Emporium). Well, the price was above average, but for a one-time experience, it's worth it (membership will get you a lower price).

I spent almost 2 hours there with my partner and my brother, challenging each other on all sorts of stunts, with photographs as proof. It was fun, exciting and challenging. Though it wasn't what I want to do often, I'll definitely come back some time in the future as cross-training!

Now let the photos & videos do the talking!!!

 

and there goes one enjoying fruitful day!

AWESOME!

HMOTD #62: When You're Rolling Up the Car Window After the Toll...

...when it's raining cats and dogs, and no rain droplets dropped on your hand while doing that!

AWESOME!

HMOTD #61: When I was the Instructor...*drum rolls*

Yesterday while warming up for RPM in the gym, due to insufficient space (it was full), the instructor asked the lady who had no space to ride, whether she wants to join him on stage... And suddenly this awesome idea struck me - Could I be on stage too?! It'll be a cool, awesome experience! Motivating people to do their best, keeping the energy high, while doing the same myself!

So far in my RPM sessions, I could only keep up with 70-80%  of the instructor's intensity. Being on stage means not only I need to be at my 100%, I need to be able to keep up with the instructor! If not, no point being up there...hell, the next thing I know I would get "Boo-ed" by the trainees down the stage *silently*.

But with that burden on me, I'm sure I can live up to it.

So I took up the challenge to be on stage. First I'll need to get the permission to even be on-stage! So thanks a lot to Falcon - The Instructor, for giving me that once-in-a-lifetime permission (though the gym management didn't allowed me to do so at first). Then it's RPM TIME!

That's where I was cycling, beside the instructor, in front of an audience!

Owh, I was introduced to the trainees by Falcon - "And today we've Mr. Nicholas together with me on stage. He wants to be an instructor, so let's see what can he do!" and the next thing I know was the whole studio was filled with laughter *shy*


Track 1...
Track 2...
Track 3...
Track 4...
Track 5...

The hills workout was always killing me, it didn't before because I never follow the intensity used by the instructor, but now I have to! But I went through it like this was the last time I'll ever be in an RPM session, on the stage, in front of an audience, being a role model, and motivating them all the way towards the finish!

I went through that 45 minutes of awesome grueling experience!

Sometimes in life, throw yourself a challenge (a positive and lawful one of course), and work towards that short-goal, achieving it, and see how your life make a leap. Your life is never be the same again.

One hell daring-workout today! AWESOME!

HMOTD #60: When A Surprise was Too Good To Believe It's One!

I was all acting throwing tantrums over an online conversation with my owh-so-lovely-bestie this afternoon after lunch, which was rare, even for a conversation to happen as both of us are thousand miles away separated with time zones and both occupied with our life. But when we do chat-up, we appreciate those precious moments.

Halfway through, she just threw a message to me, "so guess must be a good surprise to tell you that i'm now in Malaysia".  It took me a moment to digest that message. To the extent that it's a surprise, it's also too good to be true! That sudden decision to be back here, with a last-minute-expensive-air-ticket, and that weird timing to tell me (so I guess I wouldn't know forever if you're back if I didn't struck up a conversation with you OR that you won't be coming to the city huh!). Totally dumbfounded for a few minutes, then I went into WA-DA-FAK mode, then got excited, and kept smiling till now (10pm, it was 3pm when I got the shock-of-a-lifetime).

I can't tell anyone as it should be a secret. But I told my colleague anyways (since they don't know each other) because I MUST share this joy before I was overloaded with excitement and euphoria! Then I got all nervous of what should I do? (HUH?) yeah...as in what should I buy her? When should I see her? How should I see her? blah blah blah, it's like re-uniting with a  long-lost-lover (well, sort of..XD). 


Now she is among the people I don't mind going into headaches and sufferings of what to get for her. It's worth those hassles. It took a long time for me to find her. But it didn't took long for us to know we're meant (now now don't get the wrong message, I highlighted it for a reason; It's referring to our friendship!)  for each other. As much as I treasure my family, I treasure her as such too...

"The best kind of friend is the one you can spend time with, never saying a word, & walk 

away feeling like that was the best conversation you've ever had. Thanks for being my friend."

Well, we're not at that level yet, but soon soon..XD

and without any effort, she made my day AWESOME!

HMOTD #59: Back to School!

It's been a while since I last attended academic classes. Been in work for more than a year. As stupid as it sounds, I missed the good ol' days of university...


The *ehem* girls *ehem*, the classes, lecturers, meetings, events, hang-overs, stay-overs, and of course, the assignments (WA-DA-FAK)!

Gaining knowledge had been part of my everyday routine since a year ago. 


As the famous Lance Armstrong always said, “Knowledge is power, community is strength and positive attitude is everything” . This believe was what made him 7x Tour De France Champion, and it'll surely bring me towards what I want too!


And thanks to cheap books which I could get from a bookstore near my office, gaining knowledge had never been easier! Though that's that. It's a different story learning in a classroom environment, where there're the teachers and the teachees.

Today was the 1st class of a series of training scheduled by my department, both on-work skills/knowledge, and developmental skills (A change of culture and structure thanks to the whole group of lovely colleagues who provided constructive feedback to the Director!). 


I didn't expect much from the presenters as they were colleagues to me and not trained to teach. I was more interested in indulging myself in that classroom experience, which brought back the university moments 2 years ago. But to my surprised, they explained their materials and slides well enough to the extent of the 3Ss (Short, Sweet, & Simple) and easily understood! There's only 2 reasons for silence during a Q&A session - 1. The presentation was clearly understood; 2. The presentation was a mess that we (the teachees) didn't even know what to ask. This was surely the former.


I had a great time absorbing all those information that was otherwise ignored by the management to us - the analyst (shall we never brought it up in the first place), which were very essential in both development and improvement of task efficiency and productivity! I had fun too acting like a judge for the presenters (bringing back memories of my Psych Research Colloqium!), though of course, keeping the comments to myself (nevertheless, all gained positive ones from me!).


I hope the trainings will maintain its standards set today, if not better. Am definitely anticipating for the one in December, where my mentor will be conducting it!

Remember folks, KNOWLEDGE is POWER!

AWESOME!

HMOTD #58: Watching CRAZILY AWESOME Actions done by AWESOMELY CRAZY People!

Spent a whole hour tonight watching crazy people doing awesome stuff. It gave me the adrenaline surge just by watching it! Here're some of those that I thought was just speechlessly-AWESOME!

An Insane First-Person BASE Jump into a Crowded City Street!

An Artist Magically Recreate Famous Paintings Without Ever Lefting His Pen!

Insane Mountain Biking Descent!

Snowboarding?! This's 1 extreme shit-downhill!

For the photography-wackos! Fancy for a Time-Lapse project after watching this*wink*

This is an AWESOMELY CUTE ELMO Conducting His AWESOMELY CUTE EXPERIMENT~!

And that's not all! Who said only HUMANS can do awesome stuff! WARNING: BEWARE OF BUGS!

That's to an AWESOME NIGHT!

HMOTD #57: PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!

Literally pushing your limits in things you do is what I meant here.

Yeah, it's never fun, nor anywhere near easy to even dare to have that thought of pushing your limits, getting out of your comfort zone, and stepping into a new horizon. Average Joes despised the process. It's uncomfortable, it's grueling, it's crazy!

Yeah whatever!

But I choose to push. Because by pushing myself to do my best, in work, life, sports, I will reap what I sow one day soon, very soon. I'm beginning to see results, and it's a matter of time and effort put in before I really achieve what I wanted all this while.

Today, I pushed myself during my gym session to do excess weights/reps, and +resistance during RPM sessions. So that I do not waste what I've paid for, and most importantly, to build up the strength I need for my marathon training soon - THE BASE!

Today too, I pushed myself to make sure 2 reports are flawless before QC by my Team Leader (hopefully it'll be flawless when it gets back to me XD), so that she  have no worries to pass over most task to me while she's going into maternity leave soon.

It's fun to push, you'll never know how m uch your potential is until you do so. And interestingly, limits keeps increasing, it doesn't stay where it is, not if you're a healthy men/women! Yeah it's hard, suffocating, stressful, but it's only for a while. Compared with the benefits that you'll get later, it's NOTHING!

START TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH PAIN AND SUFFERING!

START PUSHING!

START BEING AWESOME!

HMOTD #56: Finding that "KICK"!

Lai Liao EHHh, WALAO-ehHh, Aha Lai liAo Lai lIao, KICK LAI LIAO EH!!!

For those who watched Nasi Lemak 2.0, you know what the above GIBBERISH meant. For those who didn't, it doesn't matter as I'm not going to talk about the movie =p. I'm more interested to let you readers know how AWESOME it is to at last found the "kick" (aka not-really-c-l-i-m-a-x-but-somewhat-c-l-i-m-a-x) to a book authored by someone I've not being introduced before.

I'm a thriller-person, had enough of Dan Brown and David Baldacci (enough to the extent of - I've read all their books!), and looking for more similar code-breaking, secret-service, under-cover, covert-op type of thriller. And sadly, I do not have a good eye for great books, thus needing to risk buying a book from an author I have yet to know. Even if I know it, doesn't mean I would indulged in his/her style of writing.

Thanks to BigBadWolf Book Sales, I bought a few thrillers from authors like James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell to TRY...

After a few pages of reading, it got boring (as like any other books). It's always not until a quarter of the book read that I could really comprehend the meaning of what's written, or whether it's really my type of book!

THANKFULLY, James Patterson was one (again, after a quarter of book read) who gave me the "KICK"! Hopefully Patricia will be next!


AWESOME!

HMOTD #55: Want a Robotic Voice?

Head for the fan! 

Now some of you had tried this before during your childhood, whether you were told of it, or accidentally DISCOVERED such AWESOME PHENOMENON.

But for those who didn't, don't want to spend the time and effort searching on the net for voice-conversion-software, and buy a mic just for the sake of it, just speak towards a running-fan!

I-I-----I a'a'a'am... b---l-laaah..b---la---hhhh-bla..a.--aah

AWESOME!

HMOTD #54: Practice and Gain without Knowing it

A quote almost every living being in this world had heard before. But how many actually applied it in their daily life, missions, or goals to achieve? 

Many would be scared of wasting time, lazy, risking something that's not guaranteed...

Some say, "I can't run, I wouldn't be able to breath." or "I can't play badminton, I don't know how-to"

Now those are all excuses for to-be-failures

Did our proud Dt. Lee Chong Wei knew how to play badminton the first time he was given a racket?

Did David Beckham or Ronaldo had the skills to slide, tackle, aim accurately and kick the ball to where he wants to the first time he was exposed to soccer?

NO

Many, and I meant MANY researches had supported the fact that by PRACTICING an action/behavior for a time period (of course, lots of others factors like intensity, specificity, etc. included) will IMPROVE it definitely, regardless of how big the improvement it is.

It's a fact, feel it, believe it, and DO IT!

Now the AWESOME point is, isn't it great to know that no matter how small the improvement is, practicing that action I want will definitely make me better in it?!

I'd improved in my presentations skills, communication skills, bonding skills, negotiation skills, dating skills, IT-related skills, analytic skills, cycling speed, running pace, and most probably hundreds more that I'm not aware of but doing it everyday smoothly!

(update: 3 days later, I'd a comfortable 10K run @ 54min. And it's only a training run! 2nd one right after the last Adidas KOTR 16.8km which I ran 3:41:00!)

AWESOME!

HMOTD #53: When the Cramps didn't Occur During the Workout though There was a Sign!

You feel like your calf muscles is going to cramp, muscles contracting, and you think that the cramp is definitely going to come. But you're still continuing to workout on Les Mills Spin (or any other workouts) and do not want to stop. You did your best to keep your leg stretched. And the cramp just didn't happen in the end...and you did the whole workout!

AWESOME!

HMOTD #52: Books Buffet!

Paying only an estimated 10% of the books original price, I've over 30+ books to read now! Just like eating buffet...Pay RM50, EAT ALL YOU CAN! Thanks to the people at Big Bad Wolf Book Sales and BookXcess for this fantastic Book Fair. Book shopping had never been this fun! It's more tempting and satisfying than fashion/gadgets shopping in the mall! We don't use plastic bags, we use boxes or self-brought canvas bag/luggage bags that sized up to XXL!!! HOLY COW!

The bill

Me bookssss

33 Books altogether for me to read...how long will it take? XD

Doesn't matter as long as I'm continuously reading. Gaining knowledge is a lifelong attempt. 

There's no time limit, no starting point. 

I just...

READ

AWESOME!

HMOTD #51: 2 Strikes in A Row!

Long time since I touched a bowling ball, let alone playing it. 

And here I was, striking twice in a row, in 2 games played, when I least expected to strike, and wasn't serious with rolling the ball!

Luck or skill? Doesnt matter. For it's AWESOME! with a pinch of hoola dance...after every strike!

On 2nd view of score, I've striked a TURKEY!!!

(edited 5th October 2011 10:43pm)

AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEE!

HMOTD #50: 这路你爷爷的啊?!

There're lots of things to be happy of for participating in an endurance race. Be it a cycling race or a marathon, we are using public roads, which are closed and utilized by us participants and only us!

During my university days, I remembered hanging out with my friends who were crazily enough to dare each other on (during those times) wacko behaviors. One of it - photo shooting at locations-that-shouldn't-be-a-photo-shooting-location (not when it's not closed to motorcars at least). I lost those photos...but well remembered I was crazily getting off the car at lamp post, hugging traffic lights, sitting in the middle of a flyover, or with some other poses, risking for police to slap a summon onto me, or worse still, risking my life!

But now, running a marathon or cycling enables me to be on the road doing whatever I want to! Pose, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Run, Walk, you name it! Without worrying there'll be an oncoming car, or a police car!

Like what other people always said when you're being an obstacle on the road,

 "这路你爷爷的啊?! (Your grandfather road ah?!)" 

Now you can really say that, 

"对!这是我爷爷的路! (Yeah!This is my grandpa's road!)

AWESOME!


p/s: I got the idea to write this when I saw the above-mention quote on my friend's FB wall