:: Day 113 - Summary ::

Activities: Recovery... I might go for some yoga at some point.
I cooked up a storm today, literally 2 hours in the kitchen. Menu includes: green stem soup, cauliflower and cabbage soup, vegetables in barley and brown rice medley, chicken tomatoes stew, porkchop fried rice topped with grilled eggplants, zuchinni and mushrooms.
have a few people on my meal plan this week! how exciting!


8am: ABC Juice, shared with mikee and raman

12pm: sample of raman's jackfruit sabzi and a bowl of cauliflower squash soup

Main meal @ home
brown rice and barley vege medley, jackfruit sabzi, pita bread, veges, carrot sticks

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:: Race Report - SJ Rock & Roll 1/2 ::

I had an issue of the nerves that morning. Woke up at 5am even though the alarm was set for 545am. Got ready in about 5 minutes and started chewing my fingernails nervously. We carpooled with both Ruey and Derek to get to the start line, and hopefully secure a good parking spot. We did - so that was nice.

We got geared up and head over to the start line. When I first signed up for the race, back in spring, I was not a runner at all. When asked to pick my estimated finish time, I selected the last corral 13 - which also meant i expect to finish in 4 hours. What I found out later was that i wasnt as slow as I thought, should be expecting to finish around 2:45 on our current pace. When we started moving, I realized I had to do alot of lateral over-taking to move up front and meet up with the people in the same pace as us. That took alot of effort actually, and within 4 miles, I started to feel it on the side of my knees. Not to mention we were mostly overtaking on the sides of the road, which were sloping, and again affected the knees.

It took us about 6-7 miles actually to get to the people who were running at the same pace as us but by that time, my knees felt totally destroyed. Everything else felt good though... breathing was strong, feeling hydrated, legs strong, ankles OK... just the darn knees. I tried to reduce over-taking but I couldnt. Big lesson learnt about how important it is to pick the right corral.

The course itself was totally flat - which was nice for a beginner 1/2 marathoner - and totally easy. Not scenic by any means though. Around mile 11, things started to get really tough on my knees and mikee's legs. Our pace slowed down considerably even though we were maintaining 11:30-12 on the first 10 miles. Yikes. We finally rolled across the finish line at 2:42. I'm happy that we completed it together - very emotional moment. :)

Now that I've started to reflect on the race, a competitive part of me is kicking in. I really want to race again and this time I want to have a target time. Not sure when it'll happen but it will happen for sure. There was a time when the most I could run was 3 miles and to be able to complete 13 yesterday - wow. I did it. Goals are great, arent they? Especially when you get there! LOL

Thanks everyone for all your support and encouragement!
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:: Day 112 - Race Day ::

I'm officially a half-marathon finisher! Gosh, it feels good!

Activities: 13.1 miles, 2:42:00, 1958 cal burnt

10+am: Snacks at the finish line
12pm: Lunch at Harvest Restaurant
Calamari(shared), spaghetti meatballs


BBQ celebration at MIL's place
Insalata caprese, bbq ribs, pork chops, chow mein, green beans, ice cream cake
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:: Day 111 - Summary ::

Activities:7am - 25 mins, Ladder double swings with 12kg. 50swings/10 burpees -6 sets-> 100 swings/0 burpees
I kinda forgot what it's like to REALLY sweat. Damn, this feels good and tough.

9am: Freshly squeezed blood orange juice at the Farmer's Market
10am: Random sampling of granola, yogurt, drinks etc. at the health & expo fair


11am: Carbo-loading meal (chinese-style) @ Saigon Hong Kong
Various dimsum items including the highly-coveted "Snowcap buns".


Due to our diligence, we were able to score 4 servings of this through the battling for the buns. What's in it? ... it's crack, as my friend mr. hamachi would say.


Main meal @ home
vege soup, leftover veges + some brown rice, salad with tomatoes


Also, made more chicken stock!

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:: Day 110 - Summary ::

Each morning i hop out of bed (by gentle nudging from the husband) ready to face the day! Most days we do some kind of run because of the 1/2 marathon. i really enjoy those morning runs even though we barely say a word to each other during that time - but it is time just "being" together. My favorite activity of the week is actually our shopping for produce on saturday morning at the farmer's market. It's so therapeutic as we work our way through the crowds and fill up our canvas bags with goodies. So thankful for such regular, mundane but meaningful events. 2 days to the 1/2!

8am: ABC Juice + flaxseed + 1/2 cup soy milk (All blended together, shared by mikee)

Lunch with Karena @ Dish Dash
Argh... i had this filo chicken pastry thing. While I didnt regret it while i was eating it I am totally regretting it now. I can barely keep my eyes open and i feel sssooooo sluggish. Not good... Not good....

Main meal @ tomatina's
It's date night! We're watching eagle eye! I love movies! We may end up eating out because in Mikee's own words "I need more protein". Poor guy!
--> 1 beet salad, 1 light lasagne, 1 olive oil spaghetti, shared with mikee
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:: evidence for soup ::

Got this in the papers today - 7 scientific weight-loss tactics. I actually do 5 of the 7 things recommended (food diary, cut sugar, have soup, eat slowly, drink water) but disagree with one of them(eating cereal). The soup might be a reason why the weight loss is more drastic lately. I do feel that I am eating less after consuming the soup.

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:: corn smut... scarred for life ::

I opened up some corn yesterday for my soup, which i bought from whole foods btw, and i see this:

SSSOOOOOOOOOO gross. I was going to puke and i still feel like puking when I think about it. never seen mold that looked so bad. But according to this article... it's a delicacy in mexican cuisine??? if anyone wants to try this "delicacy" next time, i'd be happy to save it for you. argh so gross... shudder.
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