abdaziz

Beach Road Shops I passed by this row of shops on those morning when i park my car along Beach Road. See the shadows of the overhead bridge? I would climb this overhead bridge to cross over to the other side to take SBS Service 107 or 100 to work.

Beach Road The view from the bridge to the bus stop to take my bus.

Drills This was taken during one of the training sessions at CCAB track. For the past 2-3 months, I have been quite occupied with training for the Angkor Wat Half Marathon. Been training with Mileage under the coaching eyes of Kien Mau. I am amazed by the progress that I make over the 2 - 3 months. I am confident to say that I am in tip top shape for the race in 2 weeks time.

Junie, Brenda & Brandon It has been a while since i posted anything. I guess I was busy, lazy and perhaps just blank. Last Saturday, I met up with Brenda, Junie and their new born son Brandon. We had lunch at Tampines One and then I drove them to Changi to have some photos taken. Besides, it would be nice to do a family portrait.

After much contemplation, I decided to go to the Spectacle shop last week to make a pair of new glasses. Lasik sounds too risky at this time despite all the positive notes from those who went through the ops. I am still paranoid about not having perfect eyesight after the ops. Worst case, it is not reversible.

I must admit that it has been quite difficult with glasses especially at work. When I look at my computer screen or my notes, i had to remove my glasses. When I speak to my boss I have to put on my specs. The ritual of putting on and taking out is annoying. With contact lenses, it is not as bad. So when I have meetings or presentation in the office, I make sure that I wear my contact lenses.

But I find wearing contact lenses uncomfortable too. My eyes feels tired after prolong wear. When I went to the Spectacle Shop, i was prepared to get a bifocal lens. I didn't know about Multi Focal. So when I was told that the lens that I will be doing is a multi focal, I didn't understand what the optometrist was talking about. I had to ask him to explain. Thank goodness for Multi Focal, I don't have to 'look' like an 'old' man with a lowered spectacle to look close up.

With the new specs, I feel much better. The grip on the side is even better than the pervious one that I had, so I could even use it for sports. Oh yes, I've gotten a Swissflex frame. This time i choose brown. ;)

Watched the docu concert of MJ's'This is It' last nite at The Cathay Grand. I find it weird to watch a movie and have people clapping their hands at the end of each song segment. I thought the whole concept that MJ was trying to create in this concert is interesting. The use of videos, fireworks, lightings and special effects. I can imagine that certain segments of the concert would be quite spectacular.

I was expecting a full full dressed rehearsal of the entire concert but it turns out to be a collage of a few rehearsal in the making. Some of the rehearsals are almost near concert preparedness while others are quite bare minimum of just a stage and backup singers and dancers in their rehearsal outfit (eg. baggy pants and pullovers). The videos that was made for the final concert is the highlights of the movie especially the Thriller, Earth Song and Smooth Criminal.

You can tell that he is quite a perfectionist. I thought at some angle he looks like Kumar or is it the other way round? Ok.. i better not say anything more .. before all the MJ fans flame me. I like Beat it, Billy Jean and Man in the Mirror.. some of my favourites from the 80s. The new song 'This is It' is no where close to those songs.

Overall, it thought the movie should be named as 'The making of This is It'. I am sure a lot of songs are not covered in the movie. But they should consider releasing the videos done for this concert as the update Music Video of his songs. Otherwise, i thought it is Such a Waste!

It was a bad day for long run. Firstly I felt my legs were still sore from Wednesday's training. Next, I felt the knees felt stiff as I started my warm up. I tried to continue running despite the soreness and I completed 19km. I couldn't walk properly the whole day. The knees felt very sore that I couldn't climb up the stair or walk down the stairs without limping. Even after icing, my knees are still very sore. Even my calves muscles are sore. It felt aweful. I wish i could recover fast. Why the recovery is slow!!! *sigh* very upsetting.

What a combo! 'How do I remember where to stop on the track!', i complain. Definitely a challenge to remember. At some point during last week training of 12set of 1km, I can't remember where to stop after 6 or 7 rounds. I had to turn back and confirm with the girls. Its a miracle that my lazy brain is still able to remember where to stop for the whole workout this week.

Again the pace for this week interval is 30s. For my first set of 2km, I felt a bit tired after the first 1km but still able to maintain the speed throughout the set by glancing at my GARMIN every now and then. The pace setting on my GARMIN is fantastic for interval. I can't live without it. The next 2 sets of 1km seems like chicken feet. When I had to do the 2nd 2km, I feel better than the 1st set. I tried to focus on completing the run. But after the 4th round, I got distracted when Wendy stopped immediately. Its only 1 more round!!!! I started to question if i ran too fast forcing her to stop. But i managed to get my mind back to the track and finished the set.

The next 1km, Jan joined me for her last 2km set. The last set of 1km I did alone. As I run that set, I felt a twitch around my hip. I am a bit weary about injuries and try to stay in form for the rest of the run hoping that the twitch will not happen again. KC and Gabor help to pace me on the last 2km. Strangely I feel good throughout and felt that I could go fast. I know my pace was faster than 30s but decided to maintain throughout. On one of the rounds, I felt the same twitch again but I managed to continue running. As i hit the last 400m, i started to open up my pace and used up whatever energy left for the day. It was a good training. No doubt about that.

My split are:
2km - 9:55m
1km - 4:54m
1km - 4:51m
2km - 9:48m
1km - 4:51m
1km - 4:46m
2km - 9:27m

Last nite interval session with Mileage @ CCAB was perhaps one of my best session to date. When Coach suggest 5 mins pace for 1km interval on Monday, I was a doubtful if I can do it. When I saw the training program that I have to do 10sets, I was like WOAH! 

Haven't done such long intervals before in my life so I was skeptical. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to sustain 10 set at 5mins pace, but once I started on my first set, I know I can do it. After each set, I feel great. As I progress with each additional set, i feel even better. Strangely! 

After the run, my legs felt a bit sore but it is a good sore. Not the injured kind of sore. The last time I feel good after a workout was during those days that I do weight training. Its a great feeling. I find it difficult to articulate it but if there is a word to describe it, its simply SHIOK. haha... After my 10 sets, Jan (who started her 1st set only after Wendy, Chantelle and I did 3 set), suggested that i pace her for 2 more sets. I know that I can still do 2 more sets, so I agree to it. 

Below is my timing for each lap.

Lap	Timing
1	4.58
2	4:59
3	4:57
4	4:55
5	4:55
6	4:56
7	4:53
8	4:52
9	4:52
10	4:52
11	4:51
12	4:41

He is so funny!

Did 500m x 10 Interval training today. My legs was very sore before the training starts. But somehow, I managed to complete the 10 sets. I feel good after the training. I even did faster than the set pace of 26s. It was a good workout.

After yesterday's training, my legs and butt felt sore till now. In fact yesterdaay we only do drills. But the drills are the killer. Tommorrow is interval training. I hope i can survive the training. Feeling a bit tired and drain. I should get to bed early tonite.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for
Interval Training (400m x 12set) @ 26s pace

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I had my first Interval training today. I feels good. I hope to do better. This weekend, coach says do 4km + 8km @ MacRitchie.

Just completed 1 full week of training starting last Monday. Decided to signup for a run training with a coach. I know the coach as he is one of the MR25 runners. He has a program for his runners and apparently most of them did a PB in their races. The training was tough especially the workout to strengthen the core muscle group. My legs was aching till Wednesday after the Monday workout. I had to do a 3km trial run on Wednesday and my legs were still sore. I managed to complete the 3km somehow. Today, I did 11km+ at MacRitchie. it was ok but it is quite slow. Its my first long run since Prison Run (which I didn't do well either).

I am sure these trainings would be good for me. It is difficult to discipline myself to run and these trainings by a coach will ensure that I am on track with training for the next race (Angwat Half Marathon). My target for Half Marathon is 1hr 50mins. Hope it is achievable.

Blame it on the girls who know what to do
Blame it on the boys who keep hitting on you

Blame it on your mother for the things she said
Blame it on your father but you know he's dead

Blame it on the girls
Blame it on the boys

I love this song from Mika's new album - 'The boys who knows too much'. I thought this song is better than the first single - We are Golden. Amazing album.

My favourites from the album so far:

Blame it on the the Girl
Rain
I See You
Blue Eyes (of course)
Toy Boy

This year Hari Raya, my family has 4 babies. They are so cute that I couldn't stop snapping my shutter.







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Started the day with marketing at Geylang Serai. There were loads of people squeezing through to get from one point to the next. But I managed to get everything done in 1 hour. Thank god for that! I always get my stuff quickly and get out of that place. Then the next trip was Sheng Shiong where I get some of the dry stuff.

By the time i got back home, just in time for me to shower and get ready for Friday prayer. Went to the mosque at Bedok Reservoir. I have never been to that mosque before but i realised that it is quite small. After prayer, I had to rush home because the Kitchen Hob guy coming to check on the Hob which give whizzing sound whenever it is in use. Realised later that it is due to the oil build up around the hole where the gas came out. Problem solved after some scrapping.

Then I started getting my room cleaned up especially my table. I hate clearing my table as it contain a lot of stuff. But some how i managed to get it done. It was a great relieve. Next I clean up my cupboard of clothings. At least it is neater now. In fact I have another cupboard to clean up. I think i will do that tommorrow. Too tired already. At least I cleared the living room yesterday. So I can spend some time tommorrow afternoon to bake some cakes.

Woke up early this morning to bring my mom and aunt for their medical checkup at Toa Payoh Polyclinic. By the time I finished, it is almost noon. Then I make a trip to Isetan Scotts to shop. It is nice to shop at Isetan Sale without the crowd and long queue at 2 - 3pm. The luxury of shopping on a weekday afternoon. Initially i picked up 2 Daniel Hechter pants, then I was looking around for some nice shirts but couldn't find any. Then I saw this corner looking quite exclusive and not so crowded. I walked into Rossi. I saw the shirts and I instanteneously fall in love with the material and the cutting. They do tailor made shirts and pants but they were too costly. The one on sale is 40% to 50% of the tailor made ones.

I saw 2 shirts that I like, i tried them on and love the way it sits on me. It looks very tapered. I can imagine that it would look even more fabulous with made to order. I tried 2 pants and the cut were quite unusual. What i meant by unusual is not the usual boring straight pants. Its more like designer type of cutting. I thought for a while .... I need a new look. I am just too bored with how I look these days. I need to dress better. I used to dress better in my younger days. What had happened to that 'me'? They even offer to adjust the shirts and pants to suit me for free!! I decided to pick up another shirt and return one of the 2 Daniel Hechter pants and went to the counter to pay.

As i walked out, I realised that I was buying on impulse. That is the danger of shopping alone.

It is almost 3 months since the trip and I have 2 rolls of film taken during my UK trip which have not been scanned yet, so decided to get it scanned yesterday. All images were taken with Horizon and I did the B&W processing of the film myself. Am contemplating if I should do B&W printing of these images.