Compounding interest

 My current muse: The Looniness of a Long Distance Runner - Russell Taylor

RM5.00 only from the Big Bad Wolf Book fair. So worth it!

'Compounding interests':
I love this term. Makes you wanna cry every month :-P However, I am talking about the interest in running. My interest in running is compounded by reading several funny-ha-ha books such as the one above - "looniness of the long distance runner..." . I always ter-sleep when I read a book to bed, but not this book. I laugh hysterically every night reading this book (not good if you're my neighbour), and knowingly bearing the consequence of a mere 4 hour sleep nightly. You know how I hate British authors and style of writing since uni days: Dry! dry! dry! and leave you more confused at the end of your read. Once you've read American-authored books, you'll never lay hand on a Brit's shit ever. But this Brit (Russell Taylor) has been killing my sleep every night.....*smiles*

And I thought the first chapter that prints a huge title: "The History of Marathon" would be harshly mundane, wordy and only a greek kid would be compelled to follow it. This was different, surprisingly. I actually did enjoy this chapter the most. The modern history of marathon was the best-est part.

Who would've thought the infamous Murakami runs....and writes abt it! I would have to recommend this book to anyone who has compounding interest in running. The read has motivated and taught me so much too.  This was because I could relate to him and his experience in both is struggles in running and triathlon (swimming). Yes, I can lend you this book, but for once, please return to me after reading. None of my books were returned to me after I lent them to so many. Darn

I can never leave coffee out in anything I do. Caffeine is another 'compounding interest' of mine.

Topping up my reads with a brew of Choco-Cappuccino (from Marks & Spencers - Xmas'10 present fr Callie).

 ____________________________________________

 With all the natural disasters and pending-wars in this world, I am optimistic that the world is going to end relatively(?) soon (eh, relative to what?).

I truly believe, either:

1. 2012 is for real, ppl. Buy a property/land in South Africa's Cape of Good Hope. :-P

2. Climate change is for real, ppl. It has always been anyway.

3. Earthquakes can be human-triggered ;-) Many do know about this already but if you're in the oil/gas company, you will know exactly how and the science behind it. Small, small tremors may be human triggered. Don't bother if you're not a scientific person.

Google in the lines of: 'Human-triggered earthquakes'; 'secondary oil recovery and seismic activity', 'reinjection of water into well', etc.

4. Radiation clouds will arrive in Malaysia soon. Ppl think this is an overstatement, but I think otherwise. When it comes to radiation and eventhough ppl say: it's still far away from here lah, trust the Japanese ppl lah; Japanese ppl are damn modern and can handle this nuclear situation lah, whatever shit wind doesn't reach Malaysia lah, all government will say that to keep calm. I am not paranoid abt this. I barely have extra toilet paper at home and only one Maggi mee left :-P It is just that I have a bad feeling that even if the radiation has arrived in Malaysia, and Malaysia being Malaysia, will have their meteorological station play down their data!! I don't like information to elude me. I sgt benci data-scandal!

This is the same thing as GMO lah. You dunno meh...you've been eating GMO soy bean products for the past 12 years? I got data mar. Our gov can't even be bothered to label those GMO food. Same: you may already kena radiation or emitting some, but betcha our gov can't be bothered or can't handle the situation. We should be smart enough to not to play down the nuclear situation in Japan.

http://www.slate.com/id/2288618/?from=rss

Sigh. I also believed Japanese gov ( just as any gov would have) is really really undermining and playing down the effects of radiation in this region cause they don't want panic, panic-buying and economic meltdown or stuffs like that. But hey, which government wouldn't, eh?

But wait!!! Dah cakap membebel-bebel banyak ni. Let me see...radiation or not, I don't have a gym. So, you'll still see me in Bkt Jalil running under the rain. Any forms of radiation won't stop my compounding interest in running :-P

What I found out about Running:

A bit of history:

I started running since my first triathlon in 1998. I swam well, cycled like shit, but ran okay. That was in Desaru. After that I was in S'pore doing the SAFRA biathlon, where I swam at the oily waters of Sentosa and ran 10km. After that, I quit anything which had the suffix ***thlon. However, I continued my running stint with the Ipoh Roadrunner's 10km run which was the worst run in my entire life because there was ZERO water stations provided. That time, I knew the president of the RoadRunner's club in Ipoh - Mr. Chong, and I knew where he stayed; almost met him to murderlized him for giving me such a dreadful time. Since then, I 'quit'. It was a 6 year hiatus.

In this 6 years - it was swim swim swim swim. That's all I did. Oh ya, Aikido too.

Then I quit Aikido. Swimming was always part of me. Can never leave swimming. That aside, I took up running again which started with the Stan Chart 2009 in KL. My first 10km in 6 years! Since then I did not stop. Every few months there will be a run for me! It progressed to 21.1 km for me lately. This week is my inaugural Penang Bridge Marathon 2010. Next year is the Stan Chart Hong Kong 2011 Marathon.

You'll need training, that's for sure. With any sport, comes great reponsibility(read: Spidey's grandma). If not, especially 21.1km, you'll sure to pengsan. Practice and train.

So that's what I did. I practice and train my runs all the time. Just run regularly lah...But I'll give you a few of my own tips about running based on my own experience. I found this narcisstically farny but ini adalah Kisah Benar aku pasal ber-lari:


1. Don't makan curry/chilly dish before that!

My sweat burned me! BURN. My whole body itched is soo itchy like that. Wait, no, it's not literally itchy...it's more like your body feels like you've just rubbed cabai burung all over it. Or your bath spa contained chilly-extract, not roses/flowers. It happened to me twice.

2. Stray dogs love runners.

I know I don't have the luxury of a gym, but it's actually my choice to run outdoors. I love running outdoors as you get to experience lots of going-ons around you, smell the breeze (of Puchong? :P), curi makan some cendol, you get the luxury of ppl berwisel at u, or meet another runner or two who says: "good luck!" when u run pass them. Bliss!

But u also get to meet stray dogs! These dogs are very territorial. I pass that place three times, and three times it barked at me. It barked at motorcyclist too. Actually the third time, it chased me. Now I bring a rock with me whenever I run. Worst case scenario? Read this. Bring a rock or else, a gun and shoot it (except if you're in Ipoh since it's banned di).

3. Music works for running.

But don't blast the music too loud. It's important to know your surroundings, vehicles behind/in front of you, hear the horns, footsteps of (probably) thiefs, snatch thiefs, OR DOGS chasing you. Cause the dog was actually already chasing me from behind, but I didn't know as my music was max!! Thank God I FELT something behind me and threaten the dog by facing it and make as if I am throwing a rock at it. Our encounter was mere 3 feet apart.

4. The Fat lady sings ...then overtakes you.

During a race, you get reallly aggitated when a fat person (sorry, don't like to stereotype but can't help it!) overtakes you. Sorry, nothing you can do. You're just unfit. And FIT does not equal FAT/THIN. You may be fat, but actually a very fit person with a strong heart and good stamina, no?

  

5. Run w/o socks

I do that ALL THE TIME. It's okay when you've got cool shoes like my AdiZeros. No pain, no blisters. But, honestly...on a real race...and at 21.1km...pls wear socks! Esp for night runs as the tar roads can be hot at night. Thanks BK for the Nike socks. Amazing technology there.

6. Register early for a race.

If not you won't be able to race. Period. Beg and beg also cannot join the race. Examples of very-fast-finish-the-quota-for-runners: Standard Chartered HK marathon and SC Singapore marathon. I guess I scratched through the SC HK marathon 2011! HK here I come! 

7. Don't overload on your banana

It happened to me! Once bitten twice shy. Consume Powerbar and banana are always the two most talked about (beneficial) tips for runners. Yes, you can eat banana, but if you ate too much like I did before a race, u tend to feel like a No.2 and it ain't too comfortable running while holding your a*s at the same time

8. Don't 'shower' at the water station drinks:

...cause you'll never know it's your extra sweet Gatorade. Hey, drinks are meant for drinking, k! If it's an International race, usually there's sponge provided. If you pour a clear drink over your head to cool down(which looked like plain water anyway, so can't blame you), you could have ants running up your pants while running the rest of the race. One sweet run for you there!

9. Runing is the only time where Carbo-loading is 'beneficial'



Of all places, it's Penang this weekend. Where carboloading means: Har mee, CKT, cendol, laksa, mua chi, gurney, seafood. But you don't want to laosai before the race, get it?  



My PBIM race kit arrived by hand. Courier person stayed at Seri Tanjung as well.



 10. I am searching for a running FACE BRA...think: Ally McBeal

I always knew that running causes you to be fit but wrinkly. Not a very good sport for the skin. The sun, the movements, and the many hazards and injury that comes with running - you'll need a face bra :P Nah, forget it. I saw this TVseries years ago called Ally McBeal. I remembered that they wanted into invent a face bra? Why? Cause of RUNNING. Cause running cause saggy skin. There! http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/5-surprising-ways-youre-ruining-your-skin-2391719

You know what: Stick to swimming. Swimming won't alleviate your skin problem, but at least it's less wrinkly and you age slower! :P



This ain't Fishville.

You have a puppy dog; you have persian cat; you may have a ball python or probably a brood of chickens (which only applies to my mum).....

....the last time I had a pet was a tortoise that died in my captivity for 1 year...although theoretically it could live for 50 more years. I gave up.

Yes, that's how I got into rearing fishes as pet. And so you thought it was pretty 'simple': all you need was an aquarium, water, soil, stones, live weeds, filter. Done!

But noooooo.....life have to be difficult for you; easy is never in life's dictionary. There goes my blown filter (thank god my fishes weren't electrocuted). Then there goes 75% of my fishes lying dead a day or two after the initial aquarium set up. Then there goes my tame-turned-cannibalistic (hungry!) fishes which eats anything that is within the four walls of the aquarium. Plants got ripped off, fishes eating up their own dead friends. My only-female guppy was gang-banged/raped and died soon, I presumed, due to fatigue :P During the long CNY break, my only-female guppy died a horrible death due to extreme hunger of the other fishes.

It was a like a horror Zombie movie, but where the dead remained dead. My aquarium turned into a graveyard!

But that was 2 months back.

Today, after lots of professional help (thanks!) and some extra effort...I've got:

3 zebra fish, 6 baby guppies from my raped-but-dead female guppy (big big contribution by the female species), the 2 male rapists, and 6 cherry shrimp (although I can never see all 6 at a single time).

But 3 of the fishes need some dieting to do. Too fat.'

Next step: A siphon