A one-live cat’s life

It has been a busy month and i fail to write updates on my blog.

Weekend March 28-29

Had lunch on the around the corner neighbor new cafe called “Grapes” at Balmain shores.  Just a few steps from my flat.  Ordered pasta (carbo-loading for the Sunday race) which was beautiful.
Went towatchDuplicity at Greater Union at George Street using up my last promo tickets.  Good movie and unexpected twist in the end.

Waking up on my regular Sunday race and did the SriChinmoy Race at Centennial Park.

Planned to go to LePerouse after, but did a stop-over and good picnic at Little Bay.  Then went to Le Perouse and watched a a reptile show after which proceeded to do some sunbasking.  The day was filled with eating ice cream and coffee!

Blue bottle jelly fish

Weekend Apr-4-5

Was working evening shifts as well with my regular day shift lately and Friday was one of the days.  I am glad it is my Taper week before the marathon and no races for the next weekends.  Had sleeped in.

Sunday was the start of the end of Day-light savings and my body clock was still set on the dayloght savings.  Woke up early, had breakfast at Bowan’s bakery walked to and from the house which is crossing the Iron cover bridge maybe which is a kilometer away.  This is where the Woodstock Runners cafe stop after te Saturday runs this is located at Drummoyne.  they absolutely serve the bestest! muffins iv’e ever tasted and good coffee.

Then shopped for fishing rods that we plan to use on Easter weekend.  I bought my first rod, a beginner’s female pink fishing rod.

Went to little Bay, even it was already cold from autumn winds hoping could go snorkling.  It was really cold I tried to snorkle but it was too cold for me even with my rashies.

And on the way home, guess what? found a Filo grocery.  I was told that its already 20 years in that location!  It was Pinoy frenzie food shopping, well for mixes anyway.  Bought sinigang, adobo, karekcare, and palabok mix! So with a hot and spicy nagaraya and salted red eggs.   The red eggs was for dinner and it was not as good as the original red eggs.

Went to chruch and attended the palm Sunday at St. Patrick at Grosvenor road, Sydney.  Palm Sunday was celebrated differently, compared to palms being sold at church doors with very arty and crafted designs, the church gave us palms at the end of the mass which were cut nicely and simply straight from a palm plant.

Tuesday as a gift for having my anniversary, I took myself to te dentist, yea if you think im crazy for thinking it as a gift! I maxed out my 2000AUD dental care! altho they did numb my left side mouth and driven those drills like thousan f1 drivers running around my mouth, I think they are the best Dentists I have been to in my life, seriuosly! The fish tank, and the entertainment where you watch MTVs with the headphones while they treat you. It is so cool.  And it is just at the building where I work so convinient!  I went to Pyrmont Dental Health.

This Sunday also commemorates my anniversary of coming to Sydney as a transfer location on my work.  I remember I left Philippines April 4 and arrived in Sydney, twas an overcasti day i was tired and waking up the following day which was end of Daylight savings, and it was raining.

Its going to be Easter weekend 4 day holiday and be going up central coast to fish, relax maybe to the beach if its not too cold.  its a week more before my first marathon event.

Happy Easter everyone!

Yes, I did finally decide to do the half marathon 2 weeks ago for the Sydney Blackmore’s Marathon Running Festival, a day before the event organizers raised the registration fee for non-early birds. I chose running a half over 1) staying in Singapore for holidays and watch the 1st ever F1 night race 2) take days off and go home to Philippines for a week. The Sydney Bridge Run is on September 21, 2008 with walker and runners for the 9kms, and a half and a full marathon.

Unprepared, if that’s how i will call it. Cramming! I have been lazy the past two weeks when I registered, no long runs longer than 20KMs and to top on that is traveling to Singapore meaning i might be stuck at the Hotel gym, for shorter limited time. Although fortunately i was able to fit 3 runs outdoors and 1 run at the treadmill during the business trip.

recap:
Sunday: 10KM Race
Monday: 10KM Singapore (5xpark)

Tuesday: 4KM Treadmill, Singapore
Wednesday: 7KM Singapore

Thursday: Rest
Friday: 7KM Singapore (with colleague KweeChuan @ Alexandra towards the canopy walk and no idea it was up hill!, although it was )
Total pw:38KMs

It will be my first half marathon. So i am nervous, unpsyched and worried i might be too tired to run because of my trip. To add that, flying do get you dehydrated. I did only drank 1 cup red wine as it is health and kept on drinking water in the flight. Always asking for two cups instead of default 1. Lucky it was pasta for tea so i was also starting to carbo load aside from the chicken rice i have been having on that week!

Race packets needed to be picked up from that week, but i am in Singapore, so i asked my roomie to pick it up for me.Thanks Aileen! It did include my bib, magazine and information phamplet and my chip.

Arriving “home” past 7pmish of 20th of September at home from a trip from Singapore (I’ve done this before, going home for a weekend to race but for 10KMs not half!!) and on my way home I rang John as I arranged to pick up my Woodstock Cap. So I dropped my bags off and literally jogging to John’s place to get the cap so i get enough rest after. Why the cap? I decided to wear both colors of my club back my home country Philippines, h@ppy feet, and my Oz running club Woodstock. (Thanks John and Dot for arranging this for me!) I headed home with a box of pizza for dinner (carbo and high calorie loading).

Slept 1130pm, booked a cab for 510am of the 21st. Set my alarm at 420am.

I did have good rest but not enough sleep, since my body is still running at Singapore time and 420 means 220am. Finally got up by 435am. Had my shower, changed to my gear and did some good stretching. Cab arrived on time and reached the starting line 30 minutes before the race start at 620am. Continued on Part 2.

Just like any of my races, I was looking forward to this run, well i call it still a race. Unlike in the Philippines if my schedule permits i run races every week. But since i am very immobile that races are not really near each other i have limited chances of joining races lately, just like when i missed the pub to pub race.

Anyway, the Handicap run is a quarterly run the Woodstock running club hold for its club members and interested visitors. Its a friendly 7 KM competition amongst the members around the bay. The rule is nominate your estimated time and should be able to keep up with that time, staggered start so everybody finishes at the same time. And whoever finishes the line wins. If you finish your run more than a minute of your nominated time you are disqualified in winning any prize.

From that week, i only had 3 runs and missed 3 days of running because i was feeling not well for having fever. I wasnt really feeling well but i did want to run and i feel i am going to feel more sick if i don’t run. So i went. I emailed our current committee leader Colin Townsend my time prior to the race even before i was feeling sick, estimated it at 35 mins. But then i am not feeling well and i was having doubts of finishing it at 5min/km. Still pushed through with my nominated time. So this is my first Handicap with the group eversince i joined them last June.

I was running well not until in the middle of the route i felt sicking feverish and stomach pain! which slowed me down. i told myself to keep on running as i will finish the route, thinking it would be 2 minutes more of my estimate. their were 5 of us in this group, and three of my mates went ahead of me, Daniel, Rick, and Dierdre whom i went ahead of before them! So i say if Jeff goes ahead of me im doomed! (exaggeration!)

Seeing the Iron cove bridge i know its just a few more meters to the finish. Still able to see Rick and Dierdre’s back i finished seconds after them. To my surprise i did well. 34.58. 2 seconds lesser of my estimate. Not bad! Although i did not win any movie ticket or wine, i am happy. Since this is my first Handicap with the group i get 15 points.

My mates are really fast! (attached are the results). What’s good after the Handicap run the club holds free barbi breakfast for the members and is open to whoever is interested to join at Brett park . We had sausages and buns, cake, bananas and licorice. It was yum! And after which we went to the Bower’s bakery, where the group usually go after the Saturday runs.

Event: Woodstock Running Club Handicap run
Distance: 7KM
Where: Bay Run
Time: 34.58

===
Lately Runlogs

Week 34
Friday: 10KM - threadmill

Week 35
Sunday: 14KM - bayrunx2
Monday: 7KM - Bayrun
Tuesday: 10.4 KM threadmill
Saturday: 7KM Handicap run

Week 35
Tuesday: 10.4 Km - Threadmill, Glenwaverly, Victoria
Saturday: Balmain Shores - 9Km
… ive been missing my runs! and i registered myself for a half marathon! uh-oh! its difficult to juggle work(ing until late to early mornings), travel and running