Penang Bridge Run 2010 report

This year's PBR is my 20th half marathon. The best I could hope in my current woeful state of fitness is to finish within 3.5 hrs and get a medal. The plan was to run for at least 10 km and walk/ run the next 11 km. I found out this was not going to happen 2.7km into the race. At this point, I had run for 20 minutes but suddenly I ran out of energy. I am still at a loss on why it happened but I was reduced to a brisk walk all the way to the highest point on the bridge.

On the downhill section, I mustered enough energy to run. Ominously, at the bottom of the downhill slope, I could see in the far distance, fingers of bluish lightning bolts arching towards the ground. A short while later, I felt drops of liquid on my face. A drizzle would be nice and cooling I thought but what followed can only described wrath or punishment from the rain gods.

Rain drops fell furiously and I could swear it sounded like bullets hitting the concrete surface. The water drops were large enough to sting and and there were several occasions when I had to simply close my eyes. Needless to say, I was in no mood to slosh through the water or run in my now soaked socks and shoes. I could honestly say it was a joyless slog walk to the finish line. Thankfully I did finish in 3 hrs 10 minutes which is 10 minutes slower than last year.

It is far cry from my previous times of 2 hours over the longer (22.3 km) route which started from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Boy, I miss those days a lot.

Just one more thing ; As indication of how heavy the rain was this morning, I saw a 5 hour pacer for the women's marathon with a balloon so water logged that it failed to float in the air. The balloon was on the ground trailing behind but still attached to her.

Good Session on the treadmill today

Nowadays I rarely run outdoors because the higher impact force will worsen my knee problem. Almost every run I do is on a treadmill at the gym. Sometimes it is quite boring and on most days I can't wait to finish the run. Yesterday I only managed 3.2 km in 22 minutes.

On rare occasions, I experience a runner's high when running seems effortless. I sort of become aware of running and nothing else. There is even a web site that gives a method to get a runner's high here. For me it takes a run of at least 4 km to be able to experience a runner's high. I did 4.5 km (32 minutes) today and experienced the runner's high. I think I could have continued running for another 2 km but decided to stop to spare my knee.

Advice no. 4 o on the website seems to be the key "Let your speed find you".

Poverty in Japan

When I was in Japan in December 2009, I saw several people wearing tattered clothes sitting on the park benches at Ueno park. I also came across a guy living in a cardboard box near under a bridge near the Imperial Palace. Since 1990, Japan's economy has been declining but I never saw much poverty during my 3 weeks travel in Japan.

Tonight, Al Jazeera had a documentary about poverty in Japan. To my surprise, the official figures last year stated that 16% of Japanese were living below the poverty line.

Other report about the homeless in Osaka, Japan's second largest city here.

Another Overseas Busness Trip

Barely 2 weeks before Hari Raya, I have to go overseas on another last minute business trip. This time I am going to Uzbekistan.

The hassle will start on Monday when I have to personally go to the consulate to apply for a visa. Normally the application is handled by the travel dept. but the visa will only be ready in five working days and I plan to fly next Thursday. I received the request from the project team in Uzbekistan on Thursday evening. I replied on Friday with a complaint on the last minute request (my actual e-mail was nastier than this). I am not even sure if I can get an a flight back by 8 Aug. to attend a meeting on 9 Aug. I would imagine the flights next week would be fully booked.

Business trips made to this date to these countries: Vietnam, France, United Arab Emirates and Sudan.

More trips expected by end of the year to the above countries and some more (Brazil).

I am still running occassionally during Ramadhan but limited to 3 km per session. Haven't run at KLCC park for two years.

Update for 2010

My first post for 2010.

Tomorrow I am going to my least favourite country; Sudan. It will be hot, dusty and it's much worse when there is a sand storm. Fortunately a new hotel has opened and I can avoid staying at the so called 5 star hotel Grand Holiday Villa. The "Grand" is located in a lovely English colonial building but reality does not match nostalgia.

The new hotel (Salam Khartoum) even has what I hope for, a modern fitness centre.

The bad news (other than having to go there) is I have to stay a weekend in Khartoum. It will be unimaginably boring and I have stayed a weekend in a previous trip. To maintain my sanity over the weekend I will bring along a reasonably thick book , an autobiography of Paul Dirac". The New York Times review of the book called it "a gift".

In case I finished the book before the weekend (Friday & Saturday), I will also bring along a DVD of Magnum PI, season 8.

I am still running on the treadmill regularly (4 to 6 km). I also registered for the Penang Bridge run that will take some dedicated and consistent training. Hopefully I won't be doing much traveling until the end of the year. To date, I already had to travel to Vietnam (twice in 2010), Dubai in June (it was hot) and Paris (I like Paris).