Project 1: Training for a Marathon

Today is week 5.  Yes I am able to convince myself to train for a marathon.  I have not registered for a particular event yet but If all goes well with my training, I am hoping to do the Canberra marathon.

That’s the most reasonable one measured to how much time I have in preparation.  Should my body think its not ready for it, well I guess starting this new year for a training on this is a good start at least to catch one marathon for the year of 2009.  Maybe the Gold coast (July) or the Sydney marathon (September) or the Macleay river marathon (June).

I realized that the training itself is as hard as running the distance.  Keeping up with the mileage every week and careful to more or less at least stick to the 10% rule specially that I have injured myself last year for doing too much too soon.

Balancing it with cross training at the gym, trainer bike and recovery swim laps is tough to keep up putting a good mileage per week.  And working 7.5 hours a day, socializing, my passion for traveling and domestic chores! I’m glad I’m still single, I can’t imagine how mothers doing a full time job and training for a marathon do it.  (I maybe pushing myself too much? I don’t think there’s wrong if you want to feel competitive, as long as you keep it in moderation and not feel so obsessed and frustrated if its going to fail)

On this 5th week, I am feeling really physically exhausted even with enough sleep and enough food.  I have been looking for running/training mates who would like to do a marathon or half and run with me on my schedule.  It’s half successful some did not reply, but I am glad to have Tomi and Stephen and now Belinda, motivating and encouraging me to do a morning run at least once in two weeks, one interval training led by Brendan and the Woodstock Weekend run on Saturdays.  The rest is independent running and planning on which route to run.

I did not want to expose this project supposedly as I do not want to jinx it, but I started telling the secret to my Woodie mates then my family and my colleagues, including my big boss (as it gives them an idea to give me a bit of slack time leaving early at work for my “training”).  And just like when you are emotionally exhausted it helps when you vent out.  I am not running a marathon for the sake of saying I did run one and finish it.

I was speaking to Brendan yesterday after the Woodstock Runners Thursday Night Trainings, he said it is good not to set a time for the first time marathon and see how it goes for the next one (If ever I will run one again!).

Not that I am tired of the training, I just wanted to say that it is indeed hard work aside from 1st goal to finish the marathon without walking, I am wanting to finish a decent time on a marathon and finish with dignity.

Profile 3: Being Fit and weight loss – Tiffin Solis-Parco

When i came back for the first time of me being an “OFW” last December to the Philippines, I was surprised to see the first people that i will see in the airport are the Parco couple, Mark and Tiffany. First, I did not recognize them, but they do look familiar, Mark does look familiar, and the first word i said was “uy!” I can’t even remember his name! Not that I forgot his name, but they looked so fit and lost weight (both of them) since the last time i saw them.

We did not know we were on the same flight back from Singapore to Manila, and they were just coming back from the Singapore Marathon for Tiffin’s first half marathon.Anyway, because of this, I thought i wanted to write bout both of them on how they lost their weight, they do not awfully look overweight but they were fitter now. But Mark told me he do not keep track of his weight but Tiffin does.Well most of the females do keep track of their weight.

So here’s my “interview” with Tiffin, also one of the h@ppy feet runners. And just wanted everyone know that she is a mother of two cute kids, so it does not mean that if you are already a mother, you should not care bout how you look and weigh and your wellness.

me: What is your heaviest weight: Tiffin: 130 lbs
me: What is your current weight: Tiffin: 112 lbs
me: Lightest weight: Tiffin: 102 lbs
me: What made you realize you need to get back on track and being fit and healthy? Tiffin: the passion of running
me: Do you have a special diet? Tiffin: What is it? none
me: What are the current sports you do aside from running Tiffin: - badminton
me: What got you into running? Tiffin: Here’s a short history how I started running…
After I gave birth to our first born, Cassie, I had hypertension. It was not normal for my age that time ( I was 34 years old then ) that I would be a candidate for a hypertensive. Before we went back to Singapore, I had a hypertension work up and as per my Endocrinologist, I had Conn’s Syndrome. Just to give you a brief background about Conn’s syndrome, it is a one in a million case that’s why Mark was joking me that I hit the jackpot!! There was a nodule found on my left adrenal gland which caused the hypertension.

In Singapore, I was hoping that the nodule is just a post pregnancy situation and my blood pressure would improve but it didn’t. So, I consulted a Cardiologist and Urologist so I was into medication for a year.

We were planning to have another child. My Cardiologist gave me medicines that would not affect the baby( in case I get pregnant).. but my blood pressure got high. We told her that if that would be the case, it would be too risky both for me and the baby. And so, she referred me to an Endocrinologist. It was again confirmed that I had Conn’s syndrome thru blood tests and CT scan.

I used to going to the gym when I was single to release stress from work. I went back when Cassie was 6 months old. I had an injury in my arms in the dance class so I had to stop.. I asked Mark why I don’t loose my post pregnancy fats eventhough I was going to the gym. He encouraged me to run instead..

Mark instructed me to walk and run first then I ran with him by the river which I enjoy seeing Clark Quay, Boat Quay up to Padang Bridge.. He also taught me to do speed training..Running really helped me lower down my blood pressure then. After 4-5 months of running, my weight went down at 102 lbs which is my lowest weight but still had hypertension.

I had a laparascopic surgery in 2005. My left adrenal gland was removed and there were 3 nodules that were found. It was a blessing that my blood pressure got back to normal and I already stopped my medication. After about 3 months, I went back to running.

We came back to Manila in 2006 and still continued my passion for running.

We had our second baby, Carissa on July 2007 and got back into running after 3 months.. I gained a lot of weight since when I was pregnant, I was conscious about gaining but after I gave birth, I just let go and ate a lot. I was 130 lbs then. Because of the support of my coach/husband Mark and his encouragement to join the races, I became a Running A**ict! I joined my 1st half marathon in the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon last December 7, 2008 which I never ever imagined! I just used to watch Mark do the half marathons then and take pictures of him!

I get depressed when I can’t run or when I’m injured..

Thanks to my coach/husband Mark, who gave me all the encouragement, patience and support to run.. now, I’m a happy feet

Thanks Tiffin for sharing, hm it seem that she do not have any secrets on lossing her weight but from what I’ve heard she was bitten by the running bug and she is also doing serious coached trainings and that is paying off she is getting faster on every race . Good work Tiffin!

Before

After

Chosed Menai Fun Run on Ozzie day

So I chose the Menai Fun Run to run on Australia Day.

Two days before the run, I did not join the Saturday Woodstock run since I was running consecutive run on a Thursday and Friday, my Physio will kill me, or my legs will fail me sooner if i abuse it. So just went for a 17KM Stationary bike at the air-con gym escaping from the 37 degree sweltering heat. Had a recovery dip at the outdoor pool and got invited to go clubbing for a birthday party. Was dancing on a 2 and a half inch heels for 6 hours or more, I swear my feet and legs will go on strike if i do a race the following day. I am glad Sunday I had a rest for this race at Menai.

John D rang me and said he was already at the complex and I must have not heard it as I was in the shower, and they called me again when it was 4 minutes past 620 which is the time we agreed to be picked up. I woke up late and so i have to rush, getting dressed.

So we were joined by Tomi this time who is racing after not doin a race in 4 years. Reached the event area 40 minutes before the race starts after dropping by our usual maccas capuccinos on the way, managed our registration and we were joined by Brendan and Dottie in a short while.

The course of the races is hilly. So 5 days of the event I already started pyshing mysef up. Its helps when you know what to expect than getting there surprised and unprepared!

I was expecting for 45 mins finish if this is hilly. The day is perfect with very cloudy and not so warm and not so cold and not so humid weather. Start comes, first accident of the day, a kid stumbled at the front and a few runners got tripped by this kid who has fallen over. Marshall’s and runners helped to get the kid up . I was doing well for the 8.2km with a 45 min target from the start line. I was doing a negative split of planned at start, it was to fast for a start and i am not even half way through the race that i needed to pace myself knowing i even have not reached the steepest hill at 6 Km.

Brendan was right there were lots of downhill, as much as the number of hills so the course was well compensated and balanced. 1st hill was too steep that you need to be careful not to get knocked over and being gentle on your knees.

I was doing alright, not until i probably have reached the hill before 6KM that i was feeling my legs overheating from climbing the hills, so tempted to walk although seeing runners in front of me continuing to do the run, so i did not stop and never walked.

From the start till the end, we were doing a tight race with this tall girl and Fumi, a fellow Woodie. Fumi, a fitness instructor, is definitely faster than me in hills, and I try to always overtake her on hills. It was good to have Fumi in front or behind me as it pushed and encourage me to do my best and not get beaten by her! He reckons the same after the race that she wanted to go slower but I did just kept encouraging her to go faster.

First time since I had an injury last year, I never felt any pain, even was expecting soreness from the past two days before the race for tiring myself too much. I am guessing the injury has slowly gone away. And I think I had done a good particular cross training that week that helped me recover.

Few more meters after the walk way bridge I know the finish line is somewhere to be seen soon, I was expecting to finish at the big finish banner where the 3KM runners finished so I was waiting for it for at least a sprint finish, it was just like the one in Central Coast where the finish was just there and you’ll know that was it when they are already are clapping and cheering. I’m glad with my time considering it was hilly and my first time, a bit frustrated not to have done better at the end. I’m glad too to have pushed a fellow Woodie Fumi to have done better and finished 4 seconds after me. And finishing with 5 other runners in almost seconds difference.

We did not finish the ceremonies already since awarding anyway in my age category belongs to the open category knowing there were more females ahead of me (of older age category) who finished ahead of me.

I think the speed trainings too with the club is paying off.

After the run we went to the Woodie breakfast run at Maree and Kevin’s (fellow Woodstockers) at Haberfield, and not catching anyone else other than Paul, their in law who is also a Woodie and themselves. Had a good aussie breakfast on the aussie day, and a beer on tap straight from the fridge. Headed home then a recovery swim/snorkle at Clovelly Bay/beach after.

BTW this is my first race for the year and its a good way to start the (Chinese New year) .  Kung Hei fat choy!

Event: Menai Fun Run
Distance: 8.2 Km
Time: (from my Polar RS200) 41:16
Official Time: 41.02

Results 8 KM
Results 3 KM

Profile 2: Being fit and Weight loss – Brendan Davies

Brendan has been an inspiration to me eversince I have met him and I am sure a number of the Woodstock, non-Woodstock runners too and his fitness friends! He is so fit and runs so fast, and does lead and organized the Woodstock’s Thursday Night Training interval/speed run’s. Never have I thought, that once in his life he was overweight. I remember some days he was telling us bout it but i don’t really believe him not until I saw pictures of him in Facebook. Amazing! So I am writing bout his weight experience on this piece.

me: What was your heaviest weight? Brendan: My weight peaked at around 86kg from memory. Although I was very overweight, I was still reasonably fit…in saying that, I couldn’t run 10km in 35 minutes like I can now, but I could plod around in under an hour. I was playing squash 2-3 nights a week, but struggling through it!

In March 2007 I decided to take up running again. I have run on and off in my life, some competitive stuff but mostly just to keep the weight down and to stay (reasonably) fit. But these patches always seemed to dwindle out, or I lost interest. In my mid 20s I did run for about 6 months and was very fit and probably weighed around 73kg. Between 2003 – 2007 I would have put on about 15kg to that 86kg.

I am not tall either, 170cm, so very overweight for my height! (Short people get fat quicker and unfortunately more obvious too)

My main reason and motivation was that I turned 30 and looked at myself and realised that I was not a healthy person! I wanted to be healthier. I also happened to choose a sport where the weight just came off so quickly. People at my work thought I was sick, eg cancer etc so I had to explain to them all one day that I’m OK, it’s just that I have taken up running as part of my new goal! I didn’t start taking running all that seriously until I joined Woodstock. I wasn’t too concerned about the body shape, eg being fat, but I was concerned about the health aspect, so that was definitely my main motivation. The new body shape is a bonus!

me:so What is your lightest weight or Current weight? Brendan: My current weight is 62kg, it has mostly stayed around this since March this year. So in other words, in one year I went from 86 to 62kg in a year.

I think the lightest I have ever been is just before the M7 marathon this year (July) were I got down to 59kg. I was really trying to find my ideal racing weight. I think that was too light as my body put that weight back on quite easily after that just eating normally but decreasing the training.

me: Is there a certain diet you are in?Brendan: How??? Lots and lots of discipline to diet and exercise. I ran most days, started small and worked my way up to first marathon in September 07. Lost a lot of weight very quickly! I not only ran, but lots of mountain biking and squash. When it came to diet, I was very strict, no junk food, no chocolate, just good fresh food and lots of fruit and veg. I watched my portion sizes and made sure I never overate. It’s amazing that even now, I have relaxed a little on my diet but I still stay clear of take away or soft drink or anything that has little nutritional value. A normal days eating for me will be:

Breakfast: large bowl of cereal, usually weetbix and muesli, banana with skim milk and honey. Coffee and water.
Morning Tea: 2 pieces of fruit, muesli bar
Lunch: Large ham and salad sandwich on multi grain bread, water
Arvo (me, comments: arvo is evening in oz slang) tea: don’t usually have this
Tea: Various meat and 3 veg, pasta (spag bog), fish, chicken salad, etc, but I watch how big the serving size is.

I also take some vitamin supplements, glucosamine, iron, mulit vit

So it is not really a special diet as such. The biggest thing I cut back on was junk food and alcohol. I hardly drink now, I used to drink a lot more!

me:Is there any other sports you do aside from running? Brendan: Current sports, I try to run everyday at least 10km, mountain bike, pilates at the gym and rockclimbing sometimes. During squash season I play 2 nights a week for about an hour.

-end-

Mind you, eversince his first Marathon, Brendan seem to have been bitten by the Marathon bug, and he did number of marathons last year too since his first on 2007. And did adventure races and six foot track races. Just last January 10, 2009, he registered for his first Ultra Marathon in Narabeen, only having the 6-foot track as his longest races, running 100KM overnight was his first. So amazing for a first timer to have won the 1st place in the event, averaging below 5min/km pace and a max pace of of 5min/KM all through out the race.

Reading bout that one, well yes he is still human, talked to him Thursday after the TNT sessions and he says he do have tendonitis currently from the ultra. Yet that has not stopped him from doing his fitness routines.  More bout his story on his ultra here.

Thanks Brendan for sharing!

heavier Brendan

very fit Brendan

Full On! Ozzie Day Fun Runs

On January 26, aside that it being the new Lunar moon year and when the Chinese New Year starts, Australia celebrates is birthday too!

So most of the orient get their long weekend, blokes and jennies get their own long weekend holiday as well. I was planning to go to Brisbane to celebrate the long weekend, but always the case long weekends are expensive on air fares and so I thought and tried to search what races are on this day. And whoa! have 4 runs, 3 scheduled races on the day.

Until now I am still deciding which run to do, I haven’t had any race since the year started and I am keen to do one again! So tell me which of these will you be running?

City of Canterbury Fun Run

Menai Fun Run

Route

Penrith Fun Run

Woodstock club run

Profile 1: Being fit and Weight loss – Vima Mendoza

In a few posts, i will be writing profile of people who amazingly lost weight on the will to get fit and be on a healthy weight, or just to have a healthy lifestyle in relation to healthy physique.

Sometimes, we just see the before and after in Tele or newspaper ads of people who shed huge amount of body weight, and sometimes we think that looking at how they look, it is very unrealistic and it can be an edited photo. And it makes us more depressed seeing them on TV or at the magazines dreaming when will I ever get that kind of body?

So for more than a year, i’ve met real people who told me how much weight they’ve lost and i actually have seen them now and some old pictures of them. I hope to inspire the people who have the other way around, so fit before and got unfit as the time passed by. Or keep on inspiring people who are trying their best to get fitter.

So this is the interview with Vima Mendoza, a fellow h@ppy feet runner.

me: What is your Heaviest weight? Vimma: 135 lbs ( i think i reached a waistline of 34 or more!)
me: What is your Current weight Vimma: 115 lbs (i gained during the holidays, hehe)
me: What is your Lightest weight Vimma: 110 lbs
me: What made you realize you need to get back on track and being fit and healthy?
Vimma: I always have difficulty breathing, was hypertensive most of the time, i have difficulty buying clothes. then i saw my kids and realized i wanted to see them grow until they have a family of their own. in other words i was afraid to die young. and most of all, i wanted to feel good about myself. seeing my unflattering, naked figure lowers my self-esteem. i realized i wanted to have a lifestyle change and it is time.
me: Do you have a special diet? What is it?
no special diet. i just follow the 5-meals a day. balanced diet wherein i only eat rice once our of the 5 meals and also i try to not go over my 1600 cal per day limit. BUT if i do, i make sure that i have a physical activity to compensate for it. i try to shy away from softdrinks and chips/junk foods not because of my wanting to stay slim but because it causes my blood pressure to rise.

Attached is my nutritionist personally created for me before. if you will notice, it lists normal filipino food that you can almost find everywhere. this is what i have followed during the early part of my “transformation”. hehe. there are no really starving episodes involved. i have since created my own meal combinations but i see to it that i try to go within the 1600 cal limit pa rin. and when i am with running peeps, i eat what they eat. kasi nga di ba we lose it din naman through running pa rin. hehe.

(me, comments: Surprisingly, looking at the nutritionist prescribed food, it still does look you need not to starve yourself! so below is Vimma’s diet)

Dietary Rx 1600kcal/day

ONE WEEK MENU

DAY ONE
BREAKFAST: ½ cup plain rice, 4 matchbox size Tocino (without fat), 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
AM SNACK: 1 medium size banana, 1 cup yogurt
LUNCH: ½ cup plain rice, ½ cup vegetable from Chicken Tinola, 2 pieces chicken breast (pitso), 1 slice watermelon
PM SNACK: 1 small cup noodles, 1 Spanish bread
DINNER: 1 medium size banana, 2 slices bread, 6 tbsp Corned Beef

DAY TWO
BREAKFAST: 1 cup Champorado
AM SNACK: Peanut Butter sandwich(2 slices bread, 2 tsp peanut butter), 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
LUNCH: ½ cup plain rice, ½ cup Ginisang Repolyo, 1 big size Fried Tilapia, 1 ponkan
PM SNACK: 2 pieces banana cue,
DINNER: ½ cup plain rice, 2 slices Inihaw na Bangus

DAY THREE
BREAKFAST: 2 slices bread, 1 fried egg, 1 glass non fat milk, 1 piece hotdog
AM SNACK: 1 slice kakanin, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
LUNCH:½ cup plain rice, 1 cup Ginisang Munggo, 1 piece Fried Fish, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
PM SNACK: 4 pieces Soda Crackers, 1 ponkan
DINNER: ½ cup plain rice, 4 matchbox size lean Chicken Meat (Afritada) plus 1 chicken wing

DAY FOUR
BREAKFAST: 1 ½ cup Champorado with milk
AM SNACK: 1 big apple, 1 slice pizza
LUNCH: ½ cup plain rice, ½ cup vegetable from Beef Nilaga, 2 matchbox lean beef, 2 pieces medium size pulvoron
PM SNACK: 1 cup yogurt, 3 pieces Mamon Tostado
DINNER: ½ cup plain rice, 1 cup Pinakbet, 1 slice Mango

DAY FIVE
BREAKFAST: 1 slices toasted bread with 2 tsp margarine, 1 glass non-fat milk
AM SNACK: 1 slice kakanin, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
LUNCH: 1 cup spaghetti, 1 big Fried Chicken leg, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
PM SNACK: 1 ponkan, 2 pieces banana cue
DINNER: ½ plain cup rice, 1 cup Chopsuey, 1 small size Fried Fish, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened

DAY SIX
BREAKFAST: 1 cup cooked oatmeal (thick consistency), 1 medium sized banana
AM SNACK: 1 cup yogurt
LUNCH: 1 cup plain rice, 4 matchbox size lean meat (Lechon Paksiw)
PM SNACK: 2 slices watermelon
DINNER: ½ cup plain rice, 1 cup vegetable from Sinigang na Hipon, 4 pieces Shrimps

DAY SEVEN
BREAKFAST: 2 slices Bread, 6 tbsp Corned Beef, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
AM SNACK: 1 cup yogurt
LUNCH: ½ cup plain rice, 2 slices Rellenong Bangus, 1 cup ensaladang talong, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
PM SNACK: 1 slice pizza, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened
DINNER: 2 slices bread, 2 tbsp Chiz Wiz, 1 glass canned fruit juice, unsweetened

Current sports you do: I do running and mountain biking.

Vimma at 135 lbs

Vimma at 110 lbs

If you want to share your weight loss and being fit experience, I would be glad to do a write-up about you. I think its a good way of encouraging people that they can still loose weight, get fit/fitter and feel good about themselves.

Hello babies!

It’s a new year and in days time Chinese New year is due, I’m not Chinese but i believe of feng shui of it.

One of the things of practice on a start of a year is new things aside from the resolutions. I said good bye to my NB 390, and since last week I have been try trying to find a replacement. I did some window shopping for shoes in Rebel Sports hoping they still do have their sale, unfortunately not anymore and the shoes i wanted were not available. I did take not of the prices tho.

This Saturday, I went to check my neighbor Running Science shop. To see and check their options on shoes. I was gauged the first time visited them to have a neutral pronation. I really like the assistants in this shop, they are very friendly and enthusiastic in what they do. So they got my foot size, which i am surprised that feet most of the time differ in sizes on left and right. my right foot is half inch bigger than my left one.

So the assistant gave me options on the right shoes for my feet. Asics, Nike and Mizuno. It took me almost an hour to choose. It is difficult to choose if you have 3 pairs that you really like and fits your fit well. I did settle with the Nike Lunar (200AUD) and a Mizuno Wave Rider which I am happy is on sale at 70AUD. I also got discount having been a Woodstock Runner member for 10% so I only paid 250AUD for two pairs! I am happy. The average price in rebel Sports for these shoes was 239AUD. So officially i got my new babies at last!

Sunday, since i did not go race at the Sydney marathon clinic, I decided to give one of my babies a break-in. I gave my Lunars a trip at my Blackwattle-iron cove route. The shoes is great. It is light and snug like my Nike free. But it is more cushioned than my Nike free. It is like running on marshmallows. So my legs are happy with it. I am a bit warry of the color. Not the neon swoosh, or the rubber-ducky-kind-space-astronaut-like soles but the white mesh canvass it will get dirty/soiled easily. I don’t think I will wear them on a rainy race/run.

Today, I did give my Mizuno waverider 11 a run around the bay.  This shoes is so snug and a bit lighter for a slight bulky shoes.  I was running faster with it though.  I just think i will not run with it too much on down hill courses.

They are now an additional member to the “imeldific” collection of shoes I have.  No i do not run with 4 pairs of legs, but it is actually healthier for your legs to at least have an alternate shoes to avoid injuries.

Reviews:

Nike Lunar:
- Run with it first time on a long run, with thick socks – i felt invincible and fast and comfortable and knees are protected
- Run with it again with a thin socks on a long run – comfortable but I got blisters in my big toes, both feet and my the part where your tendon is on the right foot (I asked Martin, Woodie mate, if he experienced the same as he have the same shoes and he said yes)
- I don’t think the principle of wearing half size bigger running shoes apply to me.  My New Balance sis half inch bigger my size and i did have to wear double socks on my right to feel comfy.  I definitely will wear thicker and longer socks if I run with this.
- Have to give it another try i am still not comfortable racing with this shoes

Mizuno Wave Rider11:
- Since it is just right on my shoe size, I tried wearing thick socks on short run – no, too snug
- Thin socks, short run – yes
- Still have to go running with it on thin socks, long run
- I am already comfortable to race with this shoes

Goodbye …

Some people believe that during new year, old stuff should be given/thrown away and new year means new life, new leaf.

From my other post another thing which I will be missing that is included in my “2008 Things I am grateful but I am chucking them out” is my New Balance Running shoes. This one has actually be overdue and thought of giving them away first to Sydney Marathon Clinic Shoe donation program, then I thought and read Bald Runner’s Donate a Shoe Program in Manila, timely when I went back for the holidays.

Although I thought of donating them and having a good heart, when I got home, I saw my mom’s walking shoe almost broken so I handed them down to mom instead who is loving it.

I like this shoe specially during long distance runs, and it did bring number of good time and awards for me too. It’s time I gave it away …

I haven’t gotten a new pair yet, I need soon to get one as I do not want to batter my Nike immediately.

Buggered and Rundown

Before I did go for my holidays last December, I did visit the physiotherapist since the last pain I was feeling was really bugging me and I know it is not right to keep on doing exercise if you feel extreme pain of any sort. The Retinaculum injury became a bone stress injury to the postero-medial border of the tibia. It was not that bad since it is not an actual fracture yet so I am glad i did had it corrected and had consultations.

Stress Injury in the tibia is better understood as frequently overuse injury or Repetitive stress injury (RSI) of bone, or stress reaction. This is due to too much compression or pressure a bone can handle when there is excessive amount of stress or repetitive stress is occurring without the bone having adequate rest to allow for adaptation to the stress. In essence, the stress that creates these injuries is too much,too soon for the bone. more

I think that my therapist, was aware about a runner’s withdrawal syndrome when told to rest. She did not tell me to stop running for weeks, instead recommended to do cross-training with my running. Do weights, bike, swim and the like.

So I did follow her advice and reduced my running from 6 days a week to 4-5 days a week. It was going on holiday moon anyway that December.

Before I left Sydney I did have my last check up and she told me I am getting better and I am fit to do the half marathon (Central coast) and see her if the pain still persists when i get back this new year. Guess what? of course I was stubborn, what’s new? While on vacation i was still doing running at least 7-10KM a day at the athletic oval. I think I did get the injury track athletes get for running one way, although i did try to change my direction, i still can feel that one of my legs is putting more effort that the oter one. So I rested for 2 weeks a good excuse since its the Christmas day and New year’s day and I was traveling back.

I am convinced i needed a therapy as the pain did not leave me since last week with my first run for the year. Finally yesterday I am able to schedule another session next week.

Since Monday, I also did cut down on running due to colds and fluish feeling. Maybe because i was rundown, and buggered from New year’s celebration and withdrawal syndrome of going back to work from holidays. I stubbornly ran last Monday, Wednesday which it did worsen my condition, surprisingly yesterday I just did half kilometer lap at the pool and a rest in the sauna made me feel better from my colds. I know that I shouldn’t be doing any exercise when your sick since when you get tired your immune system does go down, maybe it also does the opposite, exercise strengthens and builds your immune system. I do not know I am not a doctor. :p But I am glad I am feeling better now, hoping to do the Saturday runs with the Woodies.

Happy 2009!

I’m finally back in Ozzie land. And did have at least a week and a half of rest since 22 of December from running.

I missed the Twighlight series at Iron cove, as I was catching up with friends after 22 days of Holidays in Philippines.

I’m glad to have had my first run for the year in my turf for 7KMs last Saturday. I still am sure can feel the pain in my left leg. I’m sure something is wrong but the physio will only be back on the 10th from her holidays.

I am missing my family again after being used to having them around for almost a month with the pets and cable TV and doing nothing, yet i am glad to still have my desk and job despite the global economic crisis and job cuts all over.

Happy new year to everybody and good tidings to all of us!

Cheers to 2009!

P.s. To all who sent me new year’s greetings thank you. Thanks for Barangay Tumapang for adopting me in their family and have joinde them for New Year’s Eve Dinner, to Adrian and Tomomi who took care of my mails while i was away, Sissi and Martin for the wonderful NY day lunch and late tea/dinner and Swim at Manly, and the cricket game invitation yesterday at SCG. I’m starting to catch up my Oz life again.

our view of the cricket game at SCG