3rd day

It's been three days he's in hospital. I slept here last nite to keep him company.

His temperature was 40C but now down to almost normal.

Initial assumptions of lung infection, dengue or partial pneumonia were unfounded true.

It's actually ear infection with some mild effects on nasal flow and itchy throat. That's good news to me.

Hopefully, Dr will allow my son to be discharged by end of today.

36

I had planned to join the rest for a swim session in Bukit Jalil for the 530-730pm slot but was bogged down with work.

By the time i left the office it was 8pm already and obviously the gang had left the pool as well.

Thus, not wanting to skip training, i decided to shoot straight to Bukit Jalil despite the traffic etc.

It was surprising to see that there were loads of people at the pool even at 845pm. From exercise and the sport point of view, this is a good sign. I was encouraged to see parents monitoring their children swimming in the pool and coaches giving instructions from the pool side. I bet some of them were around 10-12 years of age but their swimming skills are second to none.

Motivated what i saw, i started my swim training with strong adrenalin flow. The water was a bit colder than usual maybe because of the weather outside.

I didnt time myself because my water proof HRM had gone kaput. shishhhhh.. (had to look for a new one now). Thus, the training was more to see how far i can last. Distance. Distance. Distance.

My swimming is not as desirable to many and i am still struggling to correct my strokes rather than going for performance. But sometimes, when you're drown, you just have to pick-up and save yourself. No one will do it for you. You have to do it yourself.

I know my techniques are awful but i just have to hit the pool and make the best out of it using my half-cooked knowledge.

It's true when people were saying that swimming is the most technical discipline in SBR especially if you're not a natural swimmer or trained from young. It takes time to learn the techniques, more so to perfect it. I am far from achieving both.

In triahthlon, the saying goes further as 'swimming is not going to win you races. Running is. But swimming can loose you the race.' For me, the saying would be like 'swimming is not going to win me races, ever. Running too. But finishing the swim can make me finish the race, god willing.'

Thus, the only solitary solution is to train, hopefully get coached, train and train again.

For this year, swimming will be my top agenda. I may not be able to swim like a fish or the like of michael phelps but i wish I can swim without much fear, sufferings and technically adequate. At the moment, I can only do breaststroke but one day, i wish to do freestyle with ease.

Anyway, i did 36 x 50m yesterday. My longest ever swim. A good sign, stamina-wise. I felt that i still had some gas in the tank but night was getting a bit too late already. Motivation was sky high but i just had to pack up and go.

36, man. Last year, you wont believe - i was just floating and hanging on the pool wall.

I will remember this number. Just the kind of tonic i needed really badly.

Aching

After a nite of delicious satay feast with the IM finishers plus a miserable MU drubbing by the Kops, i just feel like i need to burn some calories.

Thus, on a bright Sunday morning, Jim, Bobo and me decided to take a stroll at the Alam Damai park.

The morning stroll gradually turned into slow jog/walk. We managed to squeeze running up the stairs and also did an intensive body weight circuit training. 5 routines, 3 sets with 20 seconds rest in between sets. Pecah dada beb.

Today, the biceps/triceps/glute/thighs are in pain. Good pain.

Muscles are repairing and building new cells. Had to practically walk like a monkey all day long.

The good thing is, we made our training counted.

I am still 'high'.....

BT 18 hujan tak? Takkk...

It's 615am..

It's pouring like cats and dogs...

And Shazly answered my SMS as above.

True enough, (this guy always gets it right). Upon reaching BT18, the rain really stopped. Haha... unbelievable.

IM Shazly, IM Adeline, Mac, Bandit and me waiting for IM Stupe. He got up late..!! Mentang2 lar IM dah habis, ikut suka hati engkau jer, ek? kalau tak, 530am dah jogging cam orang giler.

We rolled-out half past eight. Reached tekala one hour later. I did speed work intervals with IM Adeline. Best gak.

kat Tekala, IM Stupe whacked two nasi lemak. Mentang lar IM dah habis, ikut suka hati engkau jer, ek? kalau tak, minum pon tak nak sampai kencing berdarah.

By this time, it was splendid weather. The sun only came out at around 10am and blue sky all over.

We rolled-back and i remembered the uphill near the dam where i used to dropped and pushed my bike in my newbie days. Seksa. This time around, i paced myself and felt good on the legs. Kept grinding and mashing till the top without much pain. Clearly, the many hillwork and lower body resistance training sessions are working.

Anyway, we got back to the Simpang Tiga and regrouped. On the way back to BT18, did another round of speed intervals with Bandit. Best gak.

Kat BT18, we had another round of nasi lemak. Lauk tambah. Air sedap. Air Jambu wehhhhh...

I'm still high on endorphin.

High on drugs

I managed to squeeze a short 5.5km today. 35mins 43sec. Slow but i felt good.

Spent another 30mins on body weight circuit training at an explosive pace. Pain but satisfied.

I have started feeling the effects of drugs gushing through my body. Yes, a natural drug produced by our own body. Endorphin.

This is exactly what i've been working for - at least for the past two weeks. The sweetness of exercising. The after effects aka 'high' feeling upon ending an exercise programme. Raring to go on the next routine.

Unlike prescription, over-the-counter, and street drugs; endorphins are produced within the human body for free, and without all the icky side effects. There is no question that endorphins make us feel good. So how do we harness this feel good power?

The number one way to release endorphins is exercise. I will assume that everyone has heard of exercise by now and will not dwell on this point other than to say that it works and has many well known side benefits. Not only is exercise good for the body but it makes the body feel good.

Certain foods can release endorphins; usually these are stimulating foods such as hot peppers, horseradish and wasabi. Chocolate also releases a small amount of endorphins.

Stress is also a great producer of endorphins. Stress is a bucket kind of word that includes all types of emotional stimulation. Stress and pressure are positive or negative based upon circumstance and the individual's response to each circumstance.

When the body's fight or flight mechanism kicks in, an adrenaline response is guaranteed. This explains why so many people like scary movies, roller coasters, and extreme sports. We like getting excited. It feels good.

It has been shown that life is what we make of it. Endorphins are Nature's way of letting us know how life is supposed to feel. By choosing lifestyles and attitudes that carry opportunity for positive endorphin release we can bring more good feelings into our daily lives.

Feel good. Get out. Be active. Eat well. Have fun. Be happy.

Food : Today, 11/3/2009

Breakfast : Plain Rolled-oats (1 bowl)

In-between meal : Plain water

Lunch : 1 portion tempe, 1 portion kerabu mangga & 1 grilled fish

In-between meal : cekodok pisang 3 biji (salivating for more..!!)

Dinner : Oats

Easing in

It's been more than a week since the Ironman Langkawi 2009 had ended but the euphoria and the joy are stilll very much in the air. Much of the celebrations remain in a very specific minority group cum family but i felt privileged to be able to sit around these bravehearts and listen in awe to the many inspiring, courageous and heroic stories/videos/photos which the world out there has no clue at all.

Truly, The IM bravehearts deserve all the credits and my utmost respect, tabik spring for they have achieved in Langkawi.

Anyway, i am glad February is over now. Many things had happened (mostly good things) but i dont wish to share in here. I have gained 4kgs over the past two months. I take it as a sign of prosperity to start the year and not all is gloomy or bleak like the economy. At least i have something to cheer and look forward to each i come back home. The house is getting merrier, busier and happier.

After a long break, March 09 is where i will re-ignite the whole journey once again.

For the past two weeks, i have been taking a lot of small steps gauging my thirst and crave for conditioning, training and dieting. It's definintely hard to initiate the first few steps but it's the most important step of all.

It's hard to get up early and put on your shoes.
It's hard to refuse good food.
It's hard to pack the bike and shove in the car.
It's easy to skip training with current weather condition.
It's easy to wake-up late with the baby around.
It's easy to slack in training when you're drown at your desktop.

bla bla bla bla.... Yes. Excuses, excuses, excuses....

A lot of friends are taking post-IM break (the supporters too) and i guess this is the best time for me to start all over again. Myself and me. Best friends 4eva. In reality, no one will pick up the pieces until you do-it-yourself.

I have started watching my food intake.

- Yes, tofu is on my plate again.

I have started sleepin early.

- Yes, i dont even know that MU won 4-0 until two days later.

I have started hitting the tarmac.

- Yes, hill work. working on resistance training.

I have cycled the past two weekends.

- Yes, albeit leisurely.

I am running out of fresh socks.

- Yes, it's normal when i am active.

I woke up at 545am last Sunday.

- Yes, it's not as difficult as last Sunday.

I have a preliminary programme mentally.

- Yes, a well thought programme.


Basically, i am easing into my training mode. Reconditioning and mental acceptance that the work has just begun.

I have different targets this year. Yes, multiple targets.

I am inspired.