Despite the title "Running in Sudan", I still haven't done any running in Sundan as I am still in Malaysia. I had to delay my journey and instead of Monday, I will be flying today.
I am staying at this hotel, Grand Holiday Villa in Khartoum. This hotel is part of a network of Malaysia hotels worldwide. If you noticed in the photos, there is an executive fitness centre. There are three treadmills in the corner. They dont remotely look like the big and sophisticated treadmills in my fitness club. I do hope they are motorised treadmills instead the cheap ones which have no motors. For the cheapest treadmills, you actually have to get track moving by the your own power (feet).
I hope I can post some blogs from Sudan. Stay tuned....
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Leaving for Sudan
I am going to Sudan in Africa for about 8 days. I don't think it is possible to run outdoor as the temperature in Khartoum (capital city) is about 11o to 116 deg F (43 to 46 deg C). I haven't been to a country where it is as hot as these temperatures.
I got three vaccination shots this morning for Yellow Fever, Meningitis and Typhoid. Hmm - I'll make sure I don't drink tap water, eat local food and I will kill every mosquito that gets near me.
I got three vaccination shots this morning for Yellow Fever, Meningitis and Typhoid. Hmm - I'll make sure I don't drink tap water, eat local food and I will kill every mosquito that gets near me.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
When?
I ran yesterday at KLCC park despite having a sore right knee for the past one week.
I started tentatively walking with Gan but after 400m, we started to run slowly for 1 lap(1.3km). At the 2nd lap, we ran faster, charging up the hills with our chests heaving from the efforts to take in more air. . Gan stopped running at the 800m mark. I discovered I had gotten into the "groove"and had to keep running. My knee was hurting but I couldn't stop; I was having a great time. Finally I decided to stop at the 3.5 km mark for fear of causing more damage to my knee. I saw Yong and I jogged with him back to the 3.9 km distance. We chatted for a while. I saw Newton who was on his way to run a 3 lap PR. Visit this website to see how he fared.
I really wanted to run more than 3 laps yesterday. My mind and heart was willing but alas my knee condition did not allow me to run further.
When will I be able to run more ?
Mr Rabbit is making a comeback run. He has started training outdoor again. Watch out wolves, in 2 months time, you won't be able to catch Mr Rabbit for dinner.
Books I am reading now: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
I started tentatively walking with Gan but after 400m, we started to run slowly for 1 lap(1.3km). At the 2nd lap, we ran faster, charging up the hills with our chests heaving from the efforts to take in more air. . Gan stopped running at the 800m mark. I discovered I had gotten into the "groove"and had to keep running. My knee was hurting but I couldn't stop; I was having a great time. Finally I decided to stop at the 3.5 km mark for fear of causing more damage to my knee. I saw Yong and I jogged with him back to the 3.9 km distance. We chatted for a while. I saw Newton who was on his way to run a 3 lap PR. Visit this website to see how he fared.
I really wanted to run more than 3 laps yesterday. My mind and heart was willing but alas my knee condition did not allow me to run further.
When will I be able to run more ?
Mr Rabbit is making a comeback run. He has started training outdoor again. Watch out wolves, in 2 months time, you won't be able to catch Mr Rabbit for dinner.
Books I am reading now: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Running Activity Update
I have been running more often over the past 2 weeks. This week on Tuesday ; about 2 km (Klang) and Wednesday about 4.3 km (KLCC). That is the good news - I am able to at least run some distance. The bad news : my injured knee have improved but not to a point where I can run more than 4 or 5 km and not everyday. Every time I run, the physical sensations (soreness and ustable knee) reminds me that I have a persistent an injuy even after 2 months of "rest".
I am keen to run in the Penang Bridge Run that is three and half months away. The PBR was the the first half marathon I've run, way back in year 2000. My time: 2 hrs 20 minutes. I endured leg cramps at the 15 km mark and it was an awfully hard race. Since then I've run about 15 half marathons but PBR remains my all time favourite race.
Hopefully I will continue to recover to a point where I can consistently run 8 km and be able to do some long runs.
I have already decided to skip the NB-Pacesetters 15 km run and the PJ half marathon.
I am keen to run in the Penang Bridge Run that is three and half months away. The PBR was the the first half marathon I've run, way back in year 2000. My time: 2 hrs 20 minutes. I endured leg cramps at the 15 km mark and it was an awfully hard race. Since then I've run about 15 half marathons but PBR remains my all time favourite race.
Hopefully I will continue to recover to a point where I can consistently run 8 km and be able to do some long runs.
I have already decided to skip the NB-Pacesetters 15 km run and the PJ half marathon.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Weekend Run
Yesterday I managed to run about 4 to 5 km. The Klang stadium was full of Punjabis holding a sports event. It was Vasakhi day (Sikh new year) yesterday. When I walked into the stadium, I saw the stand was full of Punjabis and the annoucer said "The Men's 41 to 50 years walk event is next, blah-blah". I took a quick look at the crowd; there was no Punjabi girl in sight. Nothing to see for me:-( . I don't what is it with Punjabi girls; I have never seen one involved in sports. I don't know if it a cultural or religous issue that deters them from partipating in sports.
Anyway I had to run somewhere else yesterday.
There was an exciting news on PM1's site; this year the International Penang Bridge Run (IPBR) may be held again after a 2 year absence. Hopefully I will be able to resume serious training by early May and be ready for the IPBR. It is really something special to run on a bridge while enjoying the sea breeze and watching the sun rise.
Anyway I had to run somewhere else yesterday.
There was an exciting news on PM1's site; this year the International Penang Bridge Run (IPBR) may be held again after a 2 year absence. Hopefully I will be able to resume serious training by early May and be ready for the IPBR. It is really something special to run on a bridge while enjoying the sea breeze and watching the sun rise.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
My Other Stuff : Thailand Part #1
This blog is getting a bit boring nowadays. I am always writing about my knee injury, recovering, my attempts to recover and run, blah-blah...
On CNN and the BBC tonight "Thaksin Shinwatra has resigned as PM". That suprised a lot of people including me at first but later I found out he had visited the Thai king, Bhumipol Adulyadej I am quite sure the King had advised or perhaps hinted for him to resign from the PM post despite his party (TRT) "winning" the election.
The Thai king has no constitutional power but he has something else more powerful; Respect and Trust from everyone in Thailand. In the past (twice I think- in 1972 and 1992) he has exercised these intangible powers to stabilise the political situation in Thailand.
I have to confess to be something of a Thailand affairs watcher. I keep up to date on what is happening in Thailand through various websites. Ever since my first visit to Thailand in 1989 (17 years ago), I found the happenings in Thailand fascinating.
In Thai society, there are two institutions that is well respected; the Buddhist monkhood and the monarchy. Over the past 10 years, the image of the Buddhist monkhood has taken a beating. There have been numerous scandals (sex and money) involving monks and abbots. In one of my trips in Thailand, I was surprised to observe some monks hanging out and smoking cigarettes.
In Thailand, many young men become monks for a short period of time (months). According to Buddhist belief they will bring merit or good karma to themselves and their parents. The problem is nowadays it has become more of a social obligation instead of a religious one. So some of them become "monks" without the proper motivations and intentions. In some cases, it is an economic necessity for some men to become monks. For example, education is freely provided and meals (in theory - only twice a day) by the monastery. So that is why you can see monks smoking cigarettes or involved in the occasional scandals.
On CNN and the BBC tonight "Thaksin Shinwatra has resigned as PM". That suprised a lot of people including me at first but later I found out he had visited the Thai king, Bhumipol Adulyadej I am quite sure the King had advised or perhaps hinted for him to resign from the PM post despite his party (TRT) "winning" the election.
The Thai king has no constitutional power but he has something else more powerful; Respect and Trust from everyone in Thailand. In the past (twice I think- in 1972 and 1992) he has exercised these intangible powers to stabilise the political situation in Thailand.
I have to confess to be something of a Thailand affairs watcher. I keep up to date on what is happening in Thailand through various websites. Ever since my first visit to Thailand in 1989 (17 years ago), I found the happenings in Thailand fascinating.
In Thai society, there are two institutions that is well respected; the Buddhist monkhood and the monarchy. Over the past 10 years, the image of the Buddhist monkhood has taken a beating. There have been numerous scandals (sex and money) involving monks and abbots. In one of my trips in Thailand, I was surprised to observe some monks hanging out and smoking cigarettes.
In Thailand, many young men become monks for a short period of time (months). According to Buddhist belief they will bring merit or good karma to themselves and their parents. The problem is nowadays it has become more of a social obligation instead of a religious one. So some of them become "monks" without the proper motivations and intentions. In some cases, it is an economic necessity for some men to become monks. For example, education is freely provided and meals (in theory - only twice a day) by the monastery. So that is why you can see monks smoking cigarettes or involved in the occasional scandals.
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