SHAPE yoga by the sea and run 2013

I wanted to draft this post before I left for Beijing, but I was so busy to pen it down. Time is never enough for me. I need like 48 hours a day.

Anyway, I went for 2 SHAPE events in the month of October – SHAPE yoga by the sea and SHAPE run.

I reckoned this is considered a good mix of the exercise I go for.

Although I must say, I really love yoga more. I have lost my passion in running. Le sigh.

I find tranquillity within myself and seek calm in my hectic life in the yoga practices I do every week. Because I cant run fast at all (I really cant get over the uncomfortable feeling of over-exerted my heart) I don’t see any change in myself in the past when I go running anyway. HAHAHAHAH. Therefore, I gave up totally. Not that yoga help in anyway, anyway. ROFL.

But it takes more than just determination to attend 5 yoga classes a week – Its passion. That’s how much I enjoy yoga. Although, truth is yoga didn’t help me in weight loss at all. I looked the same and that’s depressing. (Although I really do enjoy doing yoga from the bottom of my heart, but its just depressing there is not much of a physical change at all) With crazily attending too much yoga classes and doing too little cardio exercises, I only have myself to blame for the almost non-existence weight loss.

The only thing I managed to do is to maintain my weight despite all the nonsense I have eaten. But I went ahead and continued with attending my insane number of yoga classes. I seek joy when I find myself improving in my yoga poses. Whenever I see myself in the mirror knowing that I have stretched further, bend more and being more flexible, I smile. I am a very slow learner and I am not flexible at all. Yoga trains ppl to be patient.

But anyway, yoga is something I will foresee myself doing many years down the road (No, not running. Sadly. I don’t foresee myself doing that. T.T) While I spent an astronomical amt of money to sign for my lifelong membership card, I nv look back and regret my decision. (Even if it means less travelling.) I thought long and hard before I proceed to sign. Simply because, I love yoga as much as I love my XX. HAHAHA. Just ask me to go and die without my yoga practices.

I reckoned my membership per month is very value for money indeed with the number of classes I attend every week anyway. Chant to myself, my instalment plans will be over soon. Will be over. Will be over soon.

However, after 11 months of almost-zero-like-weight-loss, I know I have to do something. Currently, I am trying my best to include spinning lessons and bikram classes into my schedule (omit some hatha/ hot yoga practice instead) and see if the change in exercise regime will work in my weight loss. That will take more than just determination. It’s taking my endurance to another lvl. HAHAHA.

For the first time of my life, I woke up at 515am just for SHAPE yoga by the sea – I thought that was insane. I crazily reached the venue at 6am cause my papa had an appointment with another customer at 630am.


I was at ECP at 6am – I was so early, it was pitch dark. ROFL. I thought its insane to reach the venue so early, only to realise there are people who were even earlier.


It is amazing to see how the world wakes up. You have “gained” time cause you wake up so early, making an effort to see sth that happen every day but is oblivious to it. We have forgotten that sth which occurs every day can be so beautiful. We should all learn to appreciate things that were given to us, even if it is free. Nature at its best. (:


100 marks for effort. Well, more than half of the Singaporeans are still sleeping on the beautiful Sunday. But here I am, sitting down enjoying my sun rise. Well, I woke up at 515am to see that!


ROFL.

The event started promptly at 7am and it is a super hot day. The first part of the event start with some basic yoga poses followed by another 30 mins of fun yoga by Tarastiles. The event could be much more memorable and fun if the first part of the event were guided by Tarastiles. The first part were kind of monotonous and boring. (yawnssssssss) But Tara is so bubbly and full of joy, its pretty amazing. Its almost like she has got no worries in life at all. HAHA.


Even though its really hot doing yoga for 1.5 hours under the hot sun (soooooooo tiring) but its still a great workout on a beautiful weekend!



Listen to the birds chipping (and pray there are no bird droppings) and the waves hitting the shore – Nature yoga indeed.


Feels god to sweat and release toxins!


What a happy way to spend my weekend. (:

I am grateful to meet yingtian who brought me into the yoga world. Life is more calm and peaceful. Heh. (:

SHAPE RUN 2013:
I was wrong to think that 515am is gg to be the earliest I will ever wake up. I woke up at 440am for my shape yoga just to check my shuttle bus at 510am at Bishan. ROFL.

RUN RUN RUN. I am a runner on that Sunday.


Just for a run. Then again, this is not just any run. Its our anniversary run. Its our first run tgt!!!


I tell myself I cant skip this run. Anniversary run is of paramount importance.
SHAPE run 2012 blog post link here. (We have come sooooooooooooo far.)

HAHAHAHA.

Although I always ask myself when join runs now- Need to wake up so early. Siao is it. But I always seem to forget that and join for my next race. ROFL.

But the joy of crossing the line when I made it is magical.

“HOORAYYYYYYY. FINALLY COMPLETED LIAO. WOOTS.”

I have won the sleeping battle and completed a 10km today. I did, and you didn’t.

With that, I am proud of my healthy regime. HAHAHAHA.

And the last time I run was, I cant rmb. I told you I totally skipped running. But I do go for spinning class occasionally now. (struggling to even go twice a month!!! Trying v hard to increase the frequency) HAHAHA. My long last run which was more than 5km was 7 months ago, when I completed my half marathon for 2xu. I reckoned I am very daring indeed.


Its kind of amazing for me to complete the run in my usual timing anyway – 1 hour 10 minutes. I expected a longer run timing, cause I didn’t train for it at all. HAHAHA. So the results came as an happy surprise.


I shall be proud of maintaining my record. Either my stamina improved, or I just didn’t put in my best effort for my past run events/exercise. It is actually possible, I run at such a constant pace which is v comfortable for my heart. ROFL. HAHAHAHA. Hai. I just cant run faster without feeling like dying. That’s a major obstacle course.


But its okay. I am contented to have legs and able to run. HAHAHA. The recent sudden deaths of ppl who passed away during race events kind of freak me out even more.

So long I got exercise, my heart is beating. I did a workout.


Running aside, the happiest thing of the event is to cross the finishing line!! My ordeal is over. Fats, go and dieeeeeee.


Hooray to meeting my girls after that to celebrate!










Its funny how exercising brings us tgt. I shall just treat that as fate. There’s so many ppl who exercise in Singapore anyway. Takes effort to maintain our healthy relationship!!! HAHAHA. (:




I shall join SHAPE run every year. And take the exact same pose to commemorate our friendship. Heh.

In 2012.


In 2013.


Many more SHAPE run to come! (:

Next happiest thing, went to true fitness and bathe so that we can go for our breakfast tgt!!! WAHAHAHAHA.

2XU Compression run 2013; Unleash the you you never know.

Did my last half marathon on 31 March 2013. Dont ask me why i have the courage to do that. So i thought, my hkg experience of half marathon would be able to prepare my body for this.

Its so crumpled because, my eyes are very irritated with my sunblock used. Keep trying to use my shirt and rub my eyes.


But things dont always go the way we want it to be. 16.8km is sort of my limit. I really thought, a half marathon is just 4km more. Can one, 4km is just a short route from my house to the canal. Its really not that far. Can one, veron. Not that difficult.

I forgot, distance for half marathon is accumulative. The extra 4km is not a run alone distance. Its an add on from the 16.8km. For my current endurance, its really quite challenging. LOL.
But, skip all the talk. I brave through all the odds and completed my second half marathon safe and sound. My face haven turn green yet. LOL.


I feared for my race actually. Cause my first marathon was done in Hongkong, with a cooling temperature of 16 degrees. But with blessings, 2XU race is easier than I thought. I completed it slightly faster than my hkg race! So I guess that's an improvement, considering the difference in temperature. Its not 16 degrees here in singapore, but I made it anyway. Its ok I am slow. Slow and steady is my motto. Yup, hooray to my first local half marathon.


Brain intact. Heart still pumping. Legs still usable. Its really not that difficult. It anything, its really mind over body that keeps me going. Anyone who ever tell me half marathon is easy, its a short distance is insane. LOL. Seriously, who are you kidding. Stop all the crap okay.Travelling 21km in Singapore in a straight line brings you quite far alr. LOL. Unless you are a full timer regular in army where such trainings are just chicken feet for you, else a half marathon is actually of paramount significant distance to many. LOL. 21km leh.


But well, i used to swear, curse and hate 2.4km. The mere 2.4km that brings such horrific nightmares. LOL. If you are someone who is constantly in fitness club cause you are overweight, running is really the last thing in your mind. Just trying to pass 2.4km is really a hard task then. Who would have thought i would be able to complete a half marathon today?

Indeed, "Unleash the you you never know." From 2.4km, I challenged myself with a half marathon and survived from it. Who knows, in future I may be just a full marathon finisher. LOL.
No la, 42km is another 21km add on to the alr-very-severly-damaged-brain-and-heart-and-legs-body, I dont think will ever have the chance to complete it away. I may just sleep forever attempting to complete it. HAHAHA.

Many wonder with awe how I managed to run without music. To run a half marathon more than 2.5 hours in silence. Some thought I am amazing – to be able to withstand bored some running route.

Over 2.5 hours on just running. Nothing else. Truth is, i cant run with music. I cant concentrate. I dk to focus on my ears or my legs or the lyrics. I can only do one thing at a time.

Just concentrate with my breathing. Concentrate on my legs to keep me going. I count from 1 to 20 to keep me entertained. LOL. (more often not, I have difficulty counting from 1 to 20. Sometimes I start with a random no, like 67 or sth. Cause I am moody I cant keep on counting for long. Depends on my mood. LOL)

Usually, I think of happy thoughts. (thinking of sad scenarios makes me moody and time pass by slower)

50% of the time, I questioned myself why am I doing here, at the starting point 530am in the morning doing sth so crazy. Its gg to be another 21km to go in this perfect-weather-for-slping.

Why am I here, running under the sun when I should be doing sth else.

I wonder, if this is a right decision made afterall; to join for the race. Time after time, I wonder why I run.

And such interrogating-like thoughts for my brain actually occupies half the time I am running. Surprisingly, indeed.

I am glad i stopped and took these photos. It makes me smile that morning for such a sight. Its kind of rare to admire scenery in Singapore. LOL.

Saw the morning sun behind me. Cant help but take a break and chill. Halfway into my half marathon, the real test begin now. Jia you veron! 8km more to go! Run for yourself!

Took this photo when only god knows how many km are left till finishing pt. I am losing so much water, even my socks are wet.  I am actually amused that my socks are wet. HAHAHA. Running a half marathon really make you lose alot alot of water. Its almost incredible. Singapore, you have such nice cityscape.
Sometimes, I have this little devil in me that says, “veron needs to run cause she gained weight and being forced to go for the race means she has to clocked the distance.”

HAHAH. I brush it off by, “Well, that’s still running for myself, not for others. Explanation justified.”

Sometimes its purely, “I wanna run today! I wanna run cause I like to run!! Hello wind! I run because I think I am fortunate. I am so blessed with so many good things in life, yet sth simple like running many cant afford to do.”

But, this race, I run because I need the stamina for my trekking in Tasmania. HAHAHAHA.

p/s: wearing the calf guard helps a lot for your race. even though its really a fashion disaster.


If I stop running for a rest, I wonder why I stopped. I wonder why I stopped when I have the chance the run when others cant. I wonder why I need to wonder why so much. And then I sigh.

Sometimes I dont know why myself. I questioned and doubt myself, trying to find the answer. And every single race I go for, I asked myself back the same question. Simply because, I didn’t have the answer despite asking myself so long.

All my answers change with time.

Sometimes its happy thoughts of how I am blessed with all things nice. I know, I choose to believe in the good-of-many-things. Life is still beautiful because I choose to make it beautiful. I will say a little prayer in my all my races in times of difficulty (run half marathon really v mind demanding for me leh. don judge me whether I am a firm believer of its existence a not. I say it because I am grateful from within) I am grateful for many things I get to own.

My life is certainly not perfect in many eyes. Perfection actually varies from individual to individual. Life is perfect with happy ppl around me, for them to be safe and healthy. (even though I think my life will be even more perfect if I can buy/shop/travel anywhere I want. But I think that’s too greedy to ask for so many things. So I guess I still have to work hard in life) LOL.

Lately, I always questioned my need versus desire for a branded bag. Do i really need one. All that stress and thoughts just to own one. LOL. Why do I have to go through to much self reflection just to buy a bag?

Each run, I discover sth new. To learn abt sth. To appreciate abt sth. Sometimes, I clear thoughts with a race (probably because I think too much)

Every run I go to, its never abt timing. I have this fixed body mechanism that makes me run at the constant speed. I don’t think I can ever get over of running faster than what heart can take it just to clock to a PB.

As much as I hope to clock a PB, its really difficult for me to just run that bit faster without threatening to call the ambulance cause my heart is beating too fast for comfort. LOL. so I have grown to face facts.

Did you run today? What did you run for today? I run with my sis for half marathon that beautiful Sunday. Obviously, sis belong to the grp of ppl where a half marathon is easy like ABC. LOL.


Race is complete when I run with my close friends. It doesn’t matter if we dont cover the same distance or run at the same speed so that I have a partner throughout the race, its abt the effort in gg for one.


Tell me why we are all so cute. Credits to TC. HAHAHA.
Buddy's face is just too epic. LOL.

Regardless of all the interrogating questions I asked for myself, the truth is, I took the courage and made the effort to go for one. When many of you are still in pig mode on that beautiful Sunday. At least i burn fats, you all just sleep at home.

No one ever thought our friendship could actually cover so many things. LOL. Sometimes, I am purely amazed and perplexed by how things turn out this way. HAHAHA.

Healthcare, consultations of everything-under-the-sun, yoga, running, shopping, spree-ing, travelling à we have everything covered.

Best deal of all, we share same aim and goals when it comes to exercise. We are all gg to live long. Toast towards good health! (:

Free Erdinger for everyone who went for the race!! HAHA. YUM-SHENG, cause we all worked hard that day.

Standard Chartered HK Marathon 2013

I enjoyed myself tremendously in Hong kong. I counted and ashamedly visited hkg for 6 times in the last 10 yrs. LOL. I ONLY returned this yr (i am not a spoilt brat okay. Its just that hkg is a cheaper country to fly to with budget airlines as compared to other countries i have in mind to go)

Once, i told myself i wont visit hkg there again. (Conclusion: nv say nv) Money should be spent travelling elsewhere to see and learn new things abt their envt and culture. But this is different. (Nope, its not an excuse) I went for Hong Kong for my first half marathon. I did it, completed it and i return Singapore with pride and glory cause i did it. The feeling is exquisite; Its fucking good. HAHAHA. Nope, i am not kidding. Its really that good.

I am gg to tell that to my grandchildren!  
Hey, grandma ever crazily go hongkong to run a half marathon in 16 degrees! Thats cool isn’t it! 

Completing the race before the official cut off time shall be my life greatest achievement.That itself is a milestone. I am gg to rmb it for life, the first of many to come. Lets do this, it's now or never. My truly amazing experience of completing the race overseas. It's sth so extraordinary, we made ourselves proud, just for signing up. Regardless of whether we complete the race a not, it's the belief and passion we have in us. Run for a reason.  

And its my first half marathon, XX feared for anything bad that could happen to me so he joined in the fun. HAHAHA. or should I say i forced him to all these?


He hate joining for races cause its a waste of money and he nv believe in spending money to exercise.

Meiho, my other race companion for the half marathon ahead! ^^


A jump shot at the 6km mark for toilet break. LOL.


I love the fact that its a massive-big event in hongkong. At my 16km mark, there is one long stream line of police/medical officers on standby with muscle ache lotions on hand. I see ambulance on standby. I see alot of ppl cheering for one another on the pavements. I see banners. I heard encouragements. Its heart warming to see and hear. Especially when you are in midst of the race that is physically taxing.

My furthest distance clocked is 16.8km last yr during my Adidas King Of The Road race. A half marathon is another 4 km more. T.T The difference is actually alot.

At approx my 16km mark! Nope, I am still not that tired yet. LOL. I always have that hidden source sudden burst of energy waiting to explode. HAHAHA. This photo is priceless.

1) The busy cross harbour tunnel is closed just for the race. Its a race route for the half/full marathon racers.

2) I highly doubt anyone reading this will ever have the chance to run through the 1.8 km long tunnel. I literally scream (just like how the others did) when i first stepped into the tunnel and my bf thought i went mad. LOL.

3) The thought of running through the underwater tunnel is purely exhilarating.

We are finally entering the tunnel! I dont think I will ever forget how EVERYONE screamed when they entered the tunnel.

Its like, how many times will you be able to run across the tunnel? HAHAHA. Its truly an amazing experience.





And standard chartered Hong kong marathon has a STRICT cut off time to prevent participants from joining the race for fun. LOL. Truth is, i didn’t even clocked enough mileage prior to the race. I only run a grand total of 30km odd for the mth of January. Thats not a very proud training period to say. LOL.
 

So the fact that i can complete the race within the specific time, i am so fucking proud of myself! I ought to be, given the circumstances. I can sit down at one corner and cry cause its so overwhelming. Its yet another milestone in my life, an achievement i nv thought i can complete. Really. As i think back, i dk how i completed it. LOL. You see, my body is not accustomed to such long distances. And to push for it is literally testing its limit. I am not a fast runner cause i really can’t. LOL. My heart gets uncomfortable with all the crazy beating and i really think i will collapse anytime soon.

And the no of ppl joining the race is OMG.


Honestly 21km is really daunting for my heart and brain just by mentioning it. But, i must admit that i nv once doubt or regret my spur of the moment to join a half marathon instead of my usual 10km. I wanted to try sth new, to have sth really memorable to look back upon. So i decided to heck and join the half marathon and not thinking of the consequences. LOL. The worse that can happen is, i am disqualified for the race cause i didn’t complete it in 3 hours. LOL. I FUCKING MADE IT. Wtf. Hahaha. Memorable mmt need to have certain words just to emphasize on that.

I don’t care if you are a ultra marathon runner for 100km and this 21km is chicken feet to you. 21km is a big thing for me. LOL. I was running at my usual pace of abt 700m every 5 mins. I calculated and that is sufficient to finish the race on time. For the first 15km, it was a breeze. No ache anywhere, no erratic heart rates and i am doing good. Certainly not a fast pace, I just need to maintain it for the next 6 km. And then, after XX and i crossed the tunnel. All hell break loose. SHIT. I made my XX suffered from severe muscle aches cause he has been trying to accommodate my slow tortoise running speed. LOL. NOT A GOOD SIGN. He cant run anymore cause i am too slow for him and he has a blue face.

SHIT. So we started walking. And then i know what is gg to happen next. Halleluiah. Its my turn to ache next. I am person not able to take long breaks in a run. Lactic acid starts to build and my hell started. LOL. Now i know. 16.8 km is the limit. Anything after that is really nt that simple. 4km is a far and long distance more to cover. LOL. So we walked, talked, play phone, and run that few steps occasionally.

Made the final run only at the last 500m or so cause nightmare is ending and HOORAY!!! I CAN SEE MY ENDING LINE!!! Thats the happiest moment in the entire race. I made it for the official cut off despite all the walking and playing. I will die with peace smiling when i am 100 yrs old. LOL. Can you all sense my joy!!!
 

OMG. There is no best timing cause its my first time participating in the race. I am ecstatic!






The weather is super good. Donned in heat tech sleeveless tops and long compression pants for the long run ahead (which i am thankful for) cause its really cold that Sunday morning. Have you ever tried running in 16 degrees. LOL. And the occasional chilly winds that swipe your face cold. Any form of extra clothing for the race is needed before i catch a flu. Its a cloudy-sunless-good-awesome weather for a marathon. My sweat was dry almost instantly. Perfect.

Run for a reason; I run for myself. Run for what I believe in. To believe in yourself, because I can. I shouted jiayou (insert a peace sign for yeah) to every single visually impaired runner I see that Sunday morning. They cant see my peace sign, but all greeted me w a smile and replied a thank you for your encouragement. That warms me. They are way way older than me, at least half a century old. But they run for a reason, because they believe they can. They may be visually challenged, but they did it. They completed their half marathon and I look at them w absolute admiration.
 
To believe in whatever you do, nth is impossible. I just completed my life most awesome and memorable race. I learnt alot. You may be blind, but nth will stop you from doing sth that seems impossible. Its nt easy for someone in their with pepper gray hair to complete a half marathon, let alone being blind. I attended an impt class today. Be contended w whatever we have. We are blessed and fortunate. Lets smile for everything we enjoy today. :)

Our first photo taken after my first Standard Chartered Marathon 2013 We completed it, in one piece. Safe and sound. Brain still working, heart still intact, legs still working. I don know how i made it, but i did. And i am grateful for completing my life's most awesome and memorable race with my partner tgt, stepping over the finishing line.


Honestly, i completed my life most awesome chapter. (This is just as good as graduation from NUS. LOL.) I am not sure how many of you completed a half marathon before, overseas. In fact, it takes alot of courage just to sign up for one.

Esp for someone who nv tried running that far, or to train for it. But everything is made even more memorable because i have a brunch of girls who shared the same ideal as i do, to complete the same aim we have in mind tgt. We all did it. Regardless of the distance clocked, its abt the fact we completed what we thought was crazy; to do a marathon overseas.

 We only live once, lets all lead a meaningful one. Run for a reason, run for yourself.
 To run in what you believe in. (: Say YEAH!

So yup, this post shall end there. I am gg to do what i believe in; To go for my night run.
Have a blessed Monday!