Filed under: Uncategorized
I have much to write about, and have much intention of actually spelling it all out, but so much has happened–an injured knee, a car accident, and all kinds of busy work that is keeping me from jotting down all the thoughts running through my achy head. I will be back (Arnold-style).
Filed under: Running | Tags: 26.2, 6@6 Club, marathon pacing, marathon training, Marathon Training Plan
Marathon training has officially begun, two weeks ago. Our goal this year is to PR, beating the 4:30 time. To do so, we need to run about a 10:07 pace for the entire 26.2. Our speedwork pace felt easy to me, I was still able to talk so it is probably time to speed up a bit. What concerns me about this training plan that we are following is that it has us running at 10:58 pace even up to the last training long run but all of a sudden expects a 10:07 pace on race day. Is that realistic? Can adrenaline sustain 26 miles?
I need to consult a running coach on this. It shall be tweaked. But here it is:
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Filed under: Running, babble | Tags: coconut water, high potassium sports drink, natural sports drink, O.N.E.
An entire open refrigerator in Whole Foods neatly packed with this product caught my eye. A sucker to advertising, I bought one to try after one of my runs. It’s called O.N.E. (One Natural Experience)–100% Coconut Water–marketed as the “natural sports drink.” The comparison on the box shows that O.N.E. has over 15 times the amount of potassium, 2/3 the calories, three times the magnesium, less sodium, and less sugar than the popular G sports drink. Not bad.
Today’s run kind of kicked my butt–my lower back hurt mid run, my legs feel more tired than usual post run even at just a 9:30 pace. It was the perfect time to try out the new drink. The taste is good–if you’ve ever tried drinking fresh coconut juice, you would know that it’s a very mild, almost non-existent flavor; nothing like coconut milk or coconut flakes. And the taste is exactly that.
30 minutes after consuming the earth-friendly box of natural juice, I do feel more replenished and my muscles less sore. I have no idea if it is simply a psychological effect, but I definitely feel less depleted now than I did before the drink. Perhaps a better test is to drink the conventional sports drink next time to compare the after effects. It is, by ounce, more expensive than the widely available sports drinks, but for now, I would recommend it unless you have fresh coconuts growing in your backyard.
I’m in a bit of post-Italia withdrawal. Good thing I am in the midst of family, and that makes things better.
Everyone asks, “what are you going to do next?”
“Get back to work,” I’d say.
“I mean your next big step,” they’d query.
I ask myself the same thing. There are some thoughts and new plans in the works, and I’m excited to set things into motion, but this momentary withdrawal feeling needs to be addressed. Thus running I went.
While I was able to log in a few runs in Italy, they were not at my usual pace or distance. And while those runs were all hill work, they were more scenic runs that training ones, so I still feel as if my legs are rusty from the month-long hiatus.
One never knows how the first run back after a break will feel. Sometimes the run begins heavily, and it takes a mile or two before all body parts coordinate themselves. Sometimes the whole body is on strike and the run is simply exhausting and weary. There are times, however, when the first steps promises an energetic, exuberant run. This was this case today.
I just went for a 3-miler back at my usual pace of about 9:20. The summer Texas air was heavy with humidity and nearly suffocating, but I was exhilarated with a thumping heart and big sweaty drops rolling down my face and chest.
Needless to say, I was tired afterward, but the exhaustion put me in sprightly mood. Next time you need a pick-me-upper, don’t reach for the tiramisu but go out and exhaust yourself. I promise you a cheery return.
Filed under: Running | Tags: eating before running, post run fueling, pre run meal
During my half marathon race last week, I was asked the most enlightening question on any run:
“So what did you eat for breakfast this morning?” asked Rosie.
“uhhh…,” I replied in mild shock at the question, “I don’t eat before I run, you do?”
“What? You didn’t eat before running 13 miles?” Rosie questioned in matching amazement.
After giving my lengthy reasoning on why I don’t eat before running, which are mainly the lack of habit, rolling out of bed ten minutes before I get picked up does not give me time to eat, and fear of GI issues if I ate before running, Rosie drops another edifying line:
“or maybe if you eat before you run, you’ll be running three hour marathons.”
I have honestly NEVER thought of fueling my runs; I only think about refueling my body afterward. And even then, I never follow the within-the-hour post run rule of replenishing my muscles.
Maybe I will try eating before my next run. But it means I would have to either wake up earlier (uggh!) or just stuff quick food in my mouth…but I like to enjoy my food. What to do??
Runners, do you all eat before you run?
Filed under: just life | Tags: flower on left ear, JoyKin IV, obi, sock monkey
The reemergence of JoyKin II reminded me of the custom I once practiced, and since I have a friend moving away next week, what perfect timing it is to restore the good tradition. I got crafty this past week with JoyKin IV, a girl monkey (monkette?) this time. 
Realizing that she has no real womanly attributes other than my deeming it to be female, I gave her what girls love most–accessories. Since her guardian-t0-be is part Japanese who has lived in Hawaii and is engaged to be married, I reflected those traits on JoyKin IV with a plumeria on the left ear (signifying that she’s taken) and an obi around her body. 
I had so much fun creating JoyKin IV that I want to make another, but I don’t want another good friend to move away…it’s a dilemma.
Years ago, I bore (with my crafty, dexterous hands) a sock monkey that I gave to a dear friend moving away for school. A mutual friend named the monkey JoyKin, an uncommon but accurate phonetic translation of ‘goodbye’ or ‘to see again’ in Chinese (Cantonese). In sewing up the last seam of the monkey (which I believe to have been the crotch), I inserted a written note inside as a game to see if it will ever be discovered.
Some time later, another good friend was moving away. I made JoyKin II. The idea was to disseminate kins of JoyKin around the world as a representation of my global network. To this day, there are a total of three JoyKins. I have since been the one moving around, leaving places.
I never expected my friends to remember their adoption of the memento. In fact, I assumed JoyKins are either still sitting inside the same moving box they were transported in, or, worse yet, have been recycled into another, more functional, sock.
But…
Jeremy, guardian of JoyKin II, made my WEEK when he sent me a picture of JoyKin II this week. To my surprise, JoyKin II still looks in tact. Aside from his tattooed name peeling off his left arm, his left eyebrow gone, and his left ear starting to fall off his head, he looks great! After all, it has been a good ten years if not more. Admittedly, of the three keepers of JoyKins, Jeremy is the last one I expected to still have his. I stand corrected, and am deeply embarrassed by how little credit I gave him!
Here posing with Jeremy’s cat, Miles, who is so obviously enamored with JoyKin II, is my almost forgotten handchild. I cannot recall if there is a note inside JoyKin II, but gauging the friendliness displayed on Miles’ face, I would not be shocked if he will reveal the answer soon. 
One of the most unique things about Hawaii is the convergence of diverse cultures. We’ve got the Hawaiians, the Samoans, the Japanese, the Chinese, the Filipinos, the Koreans, the Caucasians, the Portuguese, just to name a few. And then, of course, there is the amalgamation of some or all of those–the locals. Here racial jokes are funny, and people actually laugh at them.
Throughout the year, there are various festivals or celebrations of specific ethnic groups. And on this Memorial Day in Honolulu, there was the 10th anniversary of Lantern Floating, a celebration hosted by the Shinnyo-en temple, a Japanese Buddhist denomination, during which lanterns are sent floating along the shore of the Pacific Ocean in remembrance of loved ones who have died in conflict and dedication of peace for future generations.
I knew about the event in years past, but has never made it down until this year when I was hired to sing in the chorus for the event. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, the view was gorgeous as dusk turned into night and the lanterns lit up the shore once again. I’m no Buddhist (deja vu of a previous post), but it was a beautiful ceremony that reminded me how blessed I am to be in this unique place.
Photos courtesy of T.C.
…as the kid says in the NBA commercial.
Today I have to remind myself of that as I am experiencing, once again, that sunken feeling from my team’s elimination, one so familiar during this time of the year. But at least this time around, that feeling came seven games later than the last few years. It was a tall order to beat L.A. in game 7 in their glitzy, star-filled arena without our star players and our tallest player on the floor being a foot shorter than our opponent’s. It was expected even if I felt guilty having that expectation.
I have some counseling work to do on myself when I am possibly feeling it more than the players themselves. My body physically aches, I have no appetite the whole day, I am in withdrawal from the company of others.
I feel like Jimmy Fallon in Fever Pitch, except my loyalty to the team has no effects on another right now. Ugh…I will stop now. I’m going to curl up and take a nap.
Filed under: Life | Tags: Akaka Falls, Bali House, Big Island, black sand beach, Champagne Pond, Kehena Beach, Kilauea, Queen's Bath, volcano
Big Island, Hawaii–the island that keeps getting bigger– has just been crowned my favorite island in the Hawaiian chain. I was there for 5 days for work with a quite a bit of down time to play. And it helps when there is someone in the group who also likes to explore the amazing sites the island has to offer. I’ve been there once about 12 years ago, and have nearly no recollection of it. Thus in my mind, the Big Island was boring. Boy, was I in for a surprise!
The first day on tour, we were done by 10:30 a.m., so the choice was either go back to our rooms to sleep, or head out to play. It was a very voggy day (vog=volcanic smog; click here for explanation) and I have allergic reactions to vog, but I opted to play, of course.
We were on Kona (northwest) side of the island so our first stop was Kiholo Bay–Mile Marker #82 off Highway 19. To get to the water, you have to hike from the highway down a 20-minute path to the ocean. The rocky beach epitomizes the best character of this island–ruggedness.
Along the beach, in search of the famed Queen’s Bath, an underground lava tube filled with icy fresh water, we first came by the Bali House.
A house built by the owner of the Paul Mitchell company for which all materials were imported from Bali (talk about eco-friendly!) and laborers were grossly underpaid (a whopping $1.50 a day for two years). It is nonetheless a gorgeous house.
Keep walking, we encountered Mr. sea turtle sun (or vog) bathing.
Twenty minutes of fantastic distractions later, we finally ended our treasure hunt–Queen’s Bath.
That glistening, icy, fresh water! I respectfully (as instructed) frolicked in that well of crystal clear water until my jaw started shaking from the decrease in body temperature. Had I more insulation (i.e., body fat), I would have stayed in there much longer.
More gorgeous views from this side of the island
The next three days of our trip were spent on Hilo side of the island, that is the northeastern part of this ever-expanding rock. We visited Champagne Pond, the eastern most tip of the island where the “virgin” air from the Pacific is used as standard against which air quality all around the globe is compared. The pond itself is naturally heated by lava rocks beneath. My immediate reaction to the warm water was not so favorable because it was reminiscent of going to the community swimming pool in which tepid water only comes from one source–that kid who just swam away from you. But I grew to love the relaxing temperature of the pond, and treading from rock to rock, you can find spots that have more heat radiating from below.
We then hit Kehena Beach, a famed black sand, nudist beach filled with hippies and their dogs.
Lastly, LAVA!
If this photo is of Santa Barbara, it would have a much different mood to it. The white smoke, however, indicates that it is no longer burning. This is the site of the Big Island expansion–live lava flowing into the ocean from the great Kilauea Volcano, forming more cliffs and eventually ‘land’. There is no surface lava flow at this moment. And we were only allowed to view the flowing lava (not actually visible) from about a mile plus out.
My task now is to track surface lava. When and if it happens, I am hopping over so I can, hopefully, be up close to it. I can’t even imagine what that would feel like or how close one can really get to it.
I love the robustness of this island. It is like none others.
