Update

Hi.

'Twas my birthday yesterday. Mum gave me my presents early in the morning (circa 4.30 a.m.) when we got up for Sahur. A collection of poems in this really nice, huge thick and beautifully illustrated book, another book (one of those gift books for daughters), and a credit card. Haha! Dangerous stuff, me being the shopper I am.

Had a really short birthday run, but quite satisfying. Last week's mileage was 63km, not bad considering the fact that I'm fasting. But I've stopped RPM, for the time being anyway, until my fascia lata feels a bit better.

Today I went for the Merdekaton thing at the gym, and it was quite fun I must say, although for some reason I was particularly thirsty, and my mouth was feeling funny so I skipped the weights bit. When we were doing the treadmill session (everyone was supposed to start off with 7.5kmph, increase it to 9 after 10 minutes, and then finally to 10 for the last ten minutes but I went straight to 12kmph because that's like 5 minutes a km which is pretty slow anyway and my normal warm up speed), after a couple of kms I increased it to 12.8kmph (which, seriously, isn't that fast! But I told myself not to push too hard on account of the thirst, and I was getting a really bad stitch on the left side of my stomach) and David went around saying "FASTER! FASTER! YOU SEE SARAH? 12.8! 12.8!" Walauweh pai seh OMGWTF? Anyway I had already done a run (albeit really short 4km one in the morning) and double runs just don't seem to work for me. But yeah. It was pretty good. I wish I hadn't been fasting then I would have been able to do it properly. o Lord I should slap myself for saying that. Such blasphemous thoughts.

I'm reading this really, really good book called "Calculating God" and it's about an alien who lands on Earth, convinced of the existence of God and the alien tries to prove it scientifically to a paleontologist (who is also an athiest), Tom Jericho. It's so bloody fascinating.

Alien: "The suggestion that essentially a scientist created our current universe would explain the long-standing philosophical conundrum of why this universe is indeed comprehensible to the scientific mind; why human abstractions such as mathematics and induction and aesthetics are applicable to the nature of reality. Our universe is scientifically understandable because it was created by a vastly advanced intelligence who used the tools of science."

"We grow up to realise that theft is wrong, and yet.. yet why do we feel it's wrong? If it increases reproductive success, shouldn't evolution have favoured it? For that matter, we think infidelity is wrong, but I could obviously increase my reproductive success by impregnating multiple females. If theft is advantageous for everyone who succeeds at it, and adultery is a good strategy, at least for males, for increasing presence in the gene pool, why do we feel they are wrong? Shouldn't the only morality that evolution produces be the kind Bill Clinton had - being sorry you got caught?"

Nice. :)

Oh ya, Happy Merdeka, Malaysia, sad though you may be, I still love you. You're home.

P.S: Thank you Jasryn Ng, for the lovely present.

French

Ca fait longtemps depuis que j'ai ecrit en francais

J'ai perdu l'abilite a parler couramment en cette langue magnifique

o Lordy it really has deteriorated hasn't it! And to think I could write such lovely long essays!!!!! Must start revising again.

Wednesday

Pain like I've never felt before, pain searing up the sides of my thighs; aching, throbbing, burning, hurting, screaming PAIN, with every step I can feel the impact of the ground reverberating along my thudding limbs, one, two, thud, thud, PAIN. My poor, tense, strained fascia lata.

On the other hand, 16km in under 80 minutes isn't that bad. All I had to do was repeat to myself "I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL NO PAIN I AM A ROBOT I FEEL...."

.. and so on. Managed to sustain me 10 small rounds + 3 big rounds of the Gardens and to and from the car park. I was also mentally listening to DJ Dean in my head since I know the songs and the beat so well, it was like having my own silent trance radio station. I could practically hear the music, even though my iPod was at home in my room.

It's only 9 a.m. and I am already hungry and thirsty because this is normally my second breakfast time. Even though this morning at 4 a.m. I ate enough to make a glutton proud, I am already conditioned to post-run meals.. I want :( I will probably be severely dehydrated by later, so I shall carry lighter weights in Body Pump. Should I even go? Mum will kill me when I get back.

As I was running this morning, a group of those old Chinese men who talk very loudly, laugh non-stop and block the road kept clapping when they saw me and saying "WAAAHHH HO LIAO!". Thank you but O little man-dudes, you don't have to do it for 5 rounds. It gets a little awkward. Plus, if you want to allow me to run properly, you should KINDLY NOT BLOCK THE ROAD THANK YOU PLEASE MOVE THREE AND A HALF INCHES TO YOUR RIGHT. I showed them a thumbs up on the third round thinking they'd accept my acknowledgement and get on with their walk but Oh, No, We Must Cheer For The Crazy Little Girl Who Runs Like A Maniac Non Stop Every Time We See Her!

O my poor little leggies. Instantaneous gratification VS. permanent damage????? Choose O Wise One.

I finally finished all 647 pages of Midnight's Children, which I must say, is one of the worst books I have ever read. Salman Rushdie is blasphemous. I only stuck with it because I paid a whole lot for the damn thing, and once I start a book I make it a point to finish. Perseverance and all that.

BLOODY LEGS, I CAN FEEL THE ACHE EVEN NOW. IT ONLY SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR WHEN I AM RUNNING UPHILL. DOWNHILL, IT'S TERRIBLE. STANDING UP, IT'S TERRIBLE. SITTING DOWN, IT'S EVEN WORSE. DOES THIS CALL FOR SUSTAINED UPHILL MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY? NO, I AM MAD ENOUGH ALREADY.

I feel like reading a Psychology textbook. Ciao. Will rant more later.

MY LEGS

HURT. WHY DO THEY HURT?

It's like this dull, persistent ache and spans the whole length of my femur.

But resting is inconceivable.

Not that I'm doing much anyway

Pathetic person I am

Third Day

of fasting.

Running has become a pathetic lumbering along.

I am very frustrated

Why is that when my air conditioner is 22 degrees, it's freezing but when it's 23 degrees, I sweat?

Insane.

HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW HOWHOWHOWHOWHOW

How much can one's fitness dwindle in a month?

And my sleep has gone haywire since I'm up the whole night stuffing my face

My arm hair fascinates me. It's like constantly static.

This is such a random and incoherent post.

Sorry

HI GOD

IT'S ME

Fasting month starts tomorrow, and all I can think about is how I'm going to keep up my weekly 60km. I hate my selfish self. Why do I not appreciate the holiness of this sacred month of Ramadhan, where people bond and find themselves spiritually through the act of fasting and of prayer? I really used to be able to - it would come easily, the search for solitude, the self-complacency after a whole day of denying food and drink. And now, now what? All I can think of is _____ and ______.

=(

God please let me find you again.. I know you are waiting.

My 19th Birthday Party

So the morning sucked because it rained and I missed my routine 20km but all my lovely friends more than made up for it, you guys really really made my birthday party very special for me and it's something I will remember for a long long time.

Dad, Kakak and I spent most of the morning and post-lunch period preparing the food. There was a humungous tuna salad (tuna, lettuce, apples, oranges, pears, prunes, Portabello mushrooms), vegetable kebabs, corn on the cob, cheese crackers + cheese dip, rockmelon + grapes + strawberries + chocolate dip (Which was conveniently in front of Ada and Sheril the whole time), Bruschetta (tomatoes + onions + garlic + parsley), pasta (with basil seasoning and Parmesan cheese), and chocolate macadamias (from Sammie and Wai Kit, thanks guys!).

Note: 1.38 p.m. Message from Priya. "For the record, there's no such thing as a party without me ok!" ;)

So we makan-ed and chatted and took pictures under the rambutan tree. Thanks Sammie and Wai Kit again for grilling all the stuff, hehe! Wei Yun was fascinated by my cat, and gave her a hand orgy. The entertainment of the day was my electric pepper grinder. Upon demonstration, everyone went "Woaaaaah". Wei Yun then proceeded to put it back on the table, only the wrong way round. LOL! I could hear snippets of different stories being told around the table, and it just suddenly struck me how all these little things make us who we are; the accumulation of these seemingly tiny things comes to define the lines of our mad world. I felt lucky and blessed, to be surrounded by all these beautiful people who took the trouble to come and share today with me. Thank you.

Luckily it didn't rain while we were eating but it soon got dark so we took everything inside. Then I proceeded to open the presents.

Wahhhhh board game hand made by Mr. Sweaty Darren. So chun lar. Brilliant idea. And meticulously done too. Deck of cards, tokens, even a dice! My card is the best. Lol. Darren, thank you. Like I said, beyond words. :)

Can't wait to read this book from Jing Min. And thanks for the seaweed! I'll be eating a lot of seaweed for the next few weeks.... :P

Always wanted to try, but never got round to buying :) Thanks Sammie and Wai Kit! Shall taste it tomorrow.

Lolok... Contents beyond description :)

Yeah it's PURPLE. Thanks Sara and Evan.

Pretty pretty hairbands and belt + strawberries and nuts in jars from Panit and Su. So thoughtful guys, thanks. :)

Handmade by Ada with my picture inside. Lol.

And Wei Yun's lovely squishy strawberry which both Benjamin and Peter absolutely love.. Now there is some excitement in their life! Lol. It can also be used as a very fashionable hat:

(or perhaps Jasryn just makes it look fashionable as she does to everything :P)

Guys, thank you so much for making it happen, for making today so wonderful, for the letters, cards, hugs, smiles, laughter, for your presence - for taking the trouble to come. I hope you guys had fun and enjoyed yourselves. All of you really mean a lot to me. I couldn't ask for more.

How cute!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Yj93CHmq0

Haha! Babies! I like.

Pearl Hill is such a lovely place to run. The muscle burn is just about right; just enough.

:)

Official Announcement

I LOVE MY NEW BIKE!!!!!!

It is just so freaking awesome.

I went for a 10 minute cycle around the neighbourhood.

I heard forks and knives clinking against plates; the warm chatter around dinner tables, I heard televisions blasting at full volume, I smelt fish frying in oil, I heard people singing, I heard people laughing, I saw the sparkling gravel beneath my feet and the headlights of oncoming cars, I heard the low rumble of prayers from the mosque, I felt the wind in my hair and on my face and between my fingers, I sensed infinite companionship in the families living around me.

I love my new bike!

Question

we sit under the

blanket of night,

watching the stars like

droplets of glittering

diamond tears on the

black canvas.

you hold your open palm

and look at me,

(an offering) your

eyes as wide and questioning

as the expanse of the open sea.

what innocence

lies in your bosom, your

slightly parted lips that

draw in each gentle

breath,

you extend your outstretched arm

and look at me,

(an offering)

but somehow, i

don't have the voice

to give an answer.

2303 120809

Quote

"Tennis, per se, isn't the ultimate sport. But tennis the way Rafael Nadal plays it could be."

- Michael Miner in the chicagoreader.com

Lovemaking

O tell me what

it felt like, the

tremors that ran through

your fingers as

you laid your head so

softly on her breast.

and how the fluttering

wings of her butterfly

eye-

lashes brushed

gently across your cheek.

O how did it feel to

know that you

were sharing your

body and limbs

with another?

was it a desperately-

kept secret, or

will i hear the

smile in your voice when

you tell me all about it?

1133 100809

My Life According to Michael Jackson! Grabbed from E-Quine's Blog.. Again.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions.
You can't use the band I used.
Try not to repeat a song title.
It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)"

Pick your Artist:
Michael Jackson

Are you a male or female:

I am a Dirty Diana

Describe yourself:

I am Dangerous

How do you feel:

I feel Bad.. Leave Me Alone

Describe where you currently live:

In the Closet

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

Back to HIStory

Your favourite form of transportation:

Rockin' Robin

Your best friend is:

A Pretty Young Thing..

You and your best friends are:

Invincible

What's the weather like:

It's Bad

Favourite time of day:

Morning Glow

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:

Greatest Show on Earth

What is life to you:

We've Got a Good Thing Going

Your last relationship:

He Beat It

Your fear:

Ghosts, and Blood on the Dancefloor

What is the best advice you have to give:

What Goes Around Comes Around

Thought for the Day:

Touch the One You Love

How I would like to die:

By a Smooth Criminal

My soul's present condition:

Euphoria

My motto:

Don't Let it Get You Down

O sweet spontaneous by E. E. Cummings

O sweet spontaneous
earth how often have
the doting


fingers of
prurient philosophies pinched
and poked


thee
has the naughty thumb
of science prodded
thy


beauty how
often have religions taken
thee upon their scraggy
knees squeezing and


buffeting thee that thou mightest conceive
gods
but
true


to the incomparable
couch of death thy
rhythmic
lover


thou answerest


them only with


spring

Mon Vélo

MY NEW BICYCLE! I'm not one of those crazy professional racing cyclists. I just like feeling the wind in my hair. But hey, who can resist buying such a nice, sexy red bike? =D

And the helmet is my Dad's because he got all excited about me buying a bike so now he wants to cycle too. I think he just bought the helmet so that he'd look all pro. Haha!

Can't wait to try it.

And I bought cycling shoes too! Finally I'll be using the right muscles in RPM :P

Lalala

Morning!

10km done; Sculpt later.

:)

Happy birthday Niresh.

Friday Morning; 070809

This morning, did 8km while listening to Linkin Park. I actually managed to almost finish their whole Meteora album, which just goes to show how very slow I was running (i.e. it took me 40 minutes). My muscles are still super tight from all that work I did on my ass yesterday in the gym (My mum would say: "What ass? You have no bum!" Har har, Mum). I like this ache. This kind of ache is very nice. The post-workout ache. I also quite enjoy the during-workout pain. Tis lovely. It feels like your muscles are on fire.

This morning I woke up and hated Sally with an insistent and intense vehemence that alarmed me. I know, embrace one's flaws, etc, etc. But Sally is annoying. She's the only thing I can't seem to get rid of. Or maybe she's just my imaginary friend (foe?).

Any attempt at creating a piece of artistic or meaningful poetry seems to be thwarted by the severe drying up of my shrivelled, underused and understimulated brain. Where is the flow of words being channelled to? FREUD, TELL ME, YOU OLD FART. WHAT DOES MY SAD PREDICAMENT COME TO SIGNIFY? HUH? HUH!? (An incomplete childhood and overinvestment of libido at the anal stage resulting in developmental arrestation at that particular point of life, thus causing residual anal behaviours to be carried forward to adulthood). I just made that sentence up by the way. Seems like all that info is swimming around somewhere. I am definitely anal-retentive. And to a certain extent, oral-aggressive. Maybe a mixure of 70%/30%?

Why the hell am I writing all this crap down? I honestly have nothing to think of. My intellectual capacity is being insulted. I need something to focus on; a goal.

Thought of the day: Challenge yourself everyday, try something new.

Things I Should Do:

1. Stop peeling my toenails

2. Stock up on glycogen reserves before fasting month

3. Give my mother hugs more often

4. Read the Quran every night

5. Stop spending so much money on unnecessary things (Why the hell did I buy an RM27 Rubik's cube?)

6. Allocate more time and attention for my lovely man and future husband Rafael Nadal who will be returning to play in the Roger's Cup in Montreal

7. Start getting fitter Goddammit

8. Stop buying any more jackets (19 IS ENOUGH! ENOUGH!)

9. Donate some money and things to charity

10. Trim the back hedge

11. Wear gloves and long sleeves when I'm trimming the back hedge so I don't get cuts all over my arms like the other time

12. Stop consuming as much vegetable and fruit matter as a hippopotamus (the 30 apples that my Dad bought are diminishing very quickly. I think there are only 14 left). My dad said I remind him of the hippopotamuses (hippopotami?) at the zoo: During meal times a bucket of fruits is thrown into their happily gaping mouths. Nice to know, Dad.

I've already wasted unnecessary time on this unnecessary post. See you later.

Boredom

I was so freaking bored that I actually read the first 3 units of Exercise Physiology in the Biology textbook and made notes. -.-

Ventilation:

1. Air flow is tidal (enters and leaves via same route) - Therefore there is always a mixture between residual air and incoming air that dilutes it.

2. Tidal volume = Amount of air inhaled/exhaled

3. Vital capacity = Volume of air expelled after maximum inhalation

4. Total lung capacity = Volume of air in lungs after maximum inhalation (Vital capacity + Residual volume)

During exercise:

1. Sub-maximal exercise: Ventilation rate increases and then steadies - Plateaus out whereby ventilation rate is enough to sustain level of exercise (Supplies enough energy to contracting muscles)

2. Maximal exercise: Ventilation rate increases continuously until exercise ends

Effects of Training and Exercise:

1. Aim: Achieve long term favourable physiological adaptation; body can cope better with stresses imposed when doing the sport

2. Sub-maximal exercise for several weeks reduces oxygen consumption by pulmonary system's muscles (diaphragm and intercostal muscles), therefore less oxygen is consumed by ventilatory muscles, leaving more available for locomotory muscles.

3. Tidal volumes increase and ventilation rates decrease with sub-maximal exercise training.

4. Percentage oxygen in trained people's exhaled breaths: 14-15% compared with 18% in untrained people

5. No effect on lung volume (unchanged vital capacity), but maximum ventilation rate increases.

6. Stroke volume: Volume of blood pumped out of heart with each contraction (difference in volume of blood before and after ventricular contraction)

7. Cardiac output: Volume of blood pumped out by heart per minute (stroke volume x heart rate = cardiac output)

8. Entire volume of our blood flows through pulmonary and systemic circulations while physically inactive.

9. Venous return: Volume of blood returning to heart via veins per minute.

10. When venous return increases, so does cardiac output (as there is more blood to pump out).

11. About 70% of our total blood is in veins.

12. Women have about 25% lower cardiac output than men (due to smaller body size).

13. Blood movement in veins depends partly on pressure from surrounding tissues, hence strenous activity (which causes active skeletal muscle contraction) increases venous return.

14. Cardiac muscle is slightly elastic. Ventricle walls are stretched during exercise. Also, ventricle walls are progressively thickened. This results in cardiac hypertrophy (increased ventricular capacity and thicker walls = larger heart).

15. Two independent antagonistic nerves run from cardiac control centre to pacemaker. With increased training, parasympathetic nerve has more influence (more impulses) than sympathetic nerve, so at rest, heart rate is steadily lowered. This phenomenon is known as bradycardia.

16. For trained athletes: At rest, increased ventricular cavities allows heart to be filled with more blood, and also strengthened cardiac muscles increases volume of blood pumped out i.e. stroke volume increases. This means that an cardiac output of an athlete is the same as a normal person but with less strokes per minute.

17. During physical activity, heart rate is raised and is similar in both trained and untrained people. However, stroke volume is more in athletes - therefore cardiac output will be more for athletes.

Blood Redistribution during Exercise:

1. If all veins were fully dilated, they would be able to hold about 20 litres of blood. However, our blood circulations hold merely 5-6 litres (males) and 4-5 litres (females) of blood.

2. Circulation of blood is controlled by vasodilation and vasoconstriction.

3. During physical activity, the pre-capillary sphincter contracts (vasoconstriction), reducing blood flow to capillaries and corresponding body tissues (tissues are 'by-passed').

4. However, blood flow to the brain, lungs and kidney do not vary.

It was quite enlightening I must say. Now I shall recommence reading Map of the Invisible World.

Content

8.5 km + Power Jump + ABT + Freaking enormous lunch = Me feeling a lot better :)

Discontent Part II

What is this? Rain turns all plans to dust. DUST I TELL YOU. So instead of sweating it out I am now stuffing my face. This is complete injustice. INJUSTICE I TELL YOU. Nonsense is nonsense is nonsense. BEH SYIOK.

Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid

I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like I don't like

Discontent

Skipped 300 X 8 times

Body Pump

But I still feel like crap

ARGHHHHHH

MY APRICOT CASHEW MUFFINS

Sorry for the noob photo taking skills.

I didn't follow the recipe cos' I never follow recipes. In fact, it was supposed to be banana walnut muffins. But I like improvising.

Nah, Ibu. Hadiah untukmu. Tapi saya ingat lebih kurang 4 sudah dimakan oleh ahli keluarga saya yang greedy (what's greedy in Malay?!?!)

Very Pissed Off

Bloody haze, and if there's no bloody haze there's bloody pouring rain, and on the days when there are neither, there's always something else.

ARGH!

20km in 100 minutes is absolute nonsense

And now my toes are bleeding

Fuel

is absolutely necessary for performance.

My Lifeline Has Left

Ms. Priya Vythinathan

is gone

and

this is

painful.