Lazy * Saturday * Afternoon

Screw the Scale!

2008-07-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

I had read this everywhere but I refused to believe it, but ladies and gentlemen, it’s true – running will NOT make you lose weight (or at least not the way you may have hoped). Here, I said it.

After a couple great runs on the weekend (although I was intoxicated on one), I was feeling well enough to hop on the scale to see the progress. Mind you, I don’t like scales much (I’m a believer in tape measures) but once in a blue moon, I feel good enough to go for it. Today felt like that kind of a day.

Before my afternoon yoga class, I got on the scale (making sure that there was nobody around, of course), and my jaw dropped at what I just witnessed. The evil three-digit number was the exact same number that haunted me three months ago, when I decided to get serious about regaining my well being because my weight had gotten way out of control. Many hours of yoga and mile and miles of running later, I was still at the same, sorry ass place!

But f#%$ the scale. The fact is, I’m NOT at the same place I was before. Although my weight may not have changed, I feel gazillion times better than I did a few months ago before I took up yoga and running. My clothes fit much better and I feel more energized throughout the day. I’m so much happier now than when I was at 120 lbs (well, that was a long time ago, but I did weight that much once in my life), and that is what’s more important than what the stupid scale tells me how to feel.

If there’s anyone out there discouraged by the lack of weight loss, don’t be. Muscle weights a lot more than fat so you’re actually getting leaner and stronger – which is more healthy than losing a few vanity pounds. I kept telling myself that during the 4-mile run around Balboa Park after work tonight, and I was on fire, baby (and the Eyes of Tiger was playing loudly in my mind)!

Running Under the Influence

2008-07-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

I experienced my first “drink and run” last week. The family got together for the fourth of July BBQ on Friday where we feasted on great food and wine. I think I had a total of three glasses of wine in about a three hour span, which isn’t much, I suppose, but was definitely a little on the excessive side in my book since I usually get buzzed after a glass. It must have been the steak I had (I haven’t had meat in more than five months) that put me over the edge, but around 9:30 p.m., I got the crazy urge to go running. I convinced my boyfriend to put on his roller blades to accompany me as I ran my usual, 3-mile route around the neighborhood.

I guess the RUI (Running Under the Influence) routine is not something your doctor would recommend, but I must say that I had the best workout that night in weeks. I was able to do some speed work (a several 100 meter dash) and I ran faster than I ever have. When we got home after about 30 minutes, we jumped into the pool and did laps. Even I was amazed at the amount of energy I had that night.

I am convinced that the New York steak I had was laced with cocaine.

Awaken the Runner Within

2008-07-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

I successfully convinced my friend and colleague Tiffany into running the Portland Marathon with me and I’m super excited about it (woot)! She says that she’s not a runner but she’s totally fit and athletic so it’s only a matter of time that she’s running a mile in, like, five minutes! Seriously. I was so excited that I even watched her register for it!

It’s not that I’m on a one-woman mission to turn everyone around me into a marathon runner or anything (although it’s a tempting thought), but I’m noticing that I’ve been doing a lot of “hey-do-you-wanna-run-a-marathon-with-me” talk lately. I’m afraid I’m annoying the heck out of my friends when the first words that come out of my mouth every day are, “I really think you should run with me,” and “bring your running shoes tomorrow so we can run during lunch," but it hasn't stopped me yet.

I admit that my intension is not completely unselfish (I want to run with as many people as possible, darn it), but I really believe that training and running a marathon becomes much more meaningful when you get to share the experience with friends and love ones.

When I ask people if they would consider running a marathon with me, their initial reaction is, “what the fu%# is this crazy girl talking about?" But after mentioning it a couple of times (or three, or seven), the reaction changes to, “I don’t think I’m ready yet,” then to, “maybe the next one.” I can see the little seed I planted slowing growing every time I talk about it, as if my encouragements are a sprinkle of water helping it mature into something – whether that “something” be a marathon, a 10k race, or even a jog around a neighborhood. I know that my garden of hope will be filled with many happy runners someday.

P.S. It's so nice to be home.

The Great Morning Run

2008-06-30T23:22:00.000-07:00

I’m in the Silicon Valley again for business, as if I never left (the hotel staff even remembered me from the last trip -- yikes). Although frequent travel doesn’t bother me anymore, it still makes it a little difficult to stick to my running schedule. After work hours are usually reserved for dinner with friends and colleagues so morning is the only time I can squeeze in the mileage to keep my training on track.

After battling with the lazy part of me (which is about 85%) that begged to stay in bed, I managed to get myself out of bed at 6:30 a.m. to run around the hotel for a total of 4 miles (about 45 minutes). It was really tough to motivate myself to get up at first but once I did, I was ready to go! I never knew that a morning run can be so amazing. It was still chilly outside which made it perfect for a run, I had the road all to myself, and I was energized for the rest of the day. Hooray!

My First Solo Double-Digit Run

2008-06-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

I was good last night. I knew that I had a big, 10-mile run the following morning, so I didn’t go out, refrained from popping the cork of my favorite bottle of wine, and tucked in bed before midnight. I set my alarm for 5:00 a.m. and even had my running gear picked out. But despite all the preparation, I still managed to oversleep.

I’ll be honest, I actually did open my eyes when the alarm went off at 5:00 a.m., but I just kept on sleeping, choosing to ignore the fact that I needed to get up. But reminding myself that this is how I got myself to be overweight, I peeled myself off of bed and got ready to hit the road. I still put in a couple more hours of sleep, but I suppose it’s better late than never.

Since I was obviously too late to make the 6:30 a.m. start time with the Leggers, I decided to drive to Balboa Park to run the 10 miler there. I was concerned at first to run solo because I have never really done a double-digit distance by myself, and wasn’t too sure if I was able to stay disciplined without the guidance of a pace leader, but it wasn’t so bad. I was surprised that I was able to keep running at a comfortable 12:00 minute/mile pace for most of the run, and I only stopped to walk for about five minutes out of the entire two-hour run. I ended up doing 11 miles total (although I think my NikePlus gives me a little extra which I’ll happily take) and felt strong even at the end.

The long runs are what make or break the marathon, and I’m happy to find that I’m building my strength with every mile I put in. I'm also pleased that I'm buidling up my willpower to get my lazy ass out of bed -- even if it's two hours later.

Place: Balboa Park
Distance: 11.02 miles
Duration: 2:08'07
Pace: 11:37 / minute
Calories burned: 1,396 (which was replaced immediately with fried potatoes for breakfast)
Days left until Portland Marathon: 98

Running in Silicon Valley

2008-06-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

I had to go to San Jose for a few days for business this week but I made sure to pack a pair of running shoes in my overnight bag to get at least one run in during the trip (Portland Marathon is only 100 days away!). I successfully talked my friend and colleague Gabriel into running with me after work, and we did a quick and easy 3.5 miles around the hotel before we hit the road for dinner. While we ran, all I could think about was the Indian food we were going to devour after the run, and the craving for those airy naan and creamy Tikka Masala made me run a little faster than usual!

The Second Time Around

2008-06-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

After careful consideration, I decided to run the Portland Marathon in October! This decision didn’t come easy because I wasn’t really sure if I could get myself ready to tackle the 26.2-mile monster in less than four months, but something inside me kept insisting that it was time. And what better place to run than in Portland, one of my favorite cities.

My last marathon was a complete disaster. I completed it, which I am still very proud of, but the experience wasn’t all that great. It was the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 2005. I ran with American Heart Association’s Train to End Stroke team where, in addition to training, I raised almost $2,000 for the worthy cause. The fundraising was the easy part, believe it or not. I luckily worked for a company that matched donations so I only needed to work half as hard. But training … what training?

Looking back, I have NO idea how I was able to finish the marathon (and finish it injury free). Not only did I procrastinate on weekly long runs (showing up to only a quarter of Saturday long runs), I barely trained during the week. Out of the 16 weeks, I think I only ran, like, 7 times total (this is bad). AND I was smoking a pack of cigarette a day. I was in serious bad shape. But I finished. It was a miracle. But after I was done (after more than 6- ½ hours on the road, alone), I promised myself that this was the last time that I would inflict that much pain on myself!

And three years later, I’m doing it again.

Only this time, I’m determined to do it the right way. I train about three times during the week now and run the long runs every Saturday with the Leggers. I no longer smoke, I practice yoga regularly, and although I still have access 30 pounds, I feel like I have more stamina and endurance. I don’t care about how long it takes me to cross that finish line. I just want to cross it, cross it strong and actually enjoy it.

Flip of a Coin

2008-06-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

I now know why this casual footwear is called a “flip flop.” Every step I take wearing a pair of this summertime staple is accompanied by a playful orchestra, announcing my every move, like, “flip, flop, look I’m waking to the lady’s room,” or “flip, flop, look, I’m leaving 10 minutes early from work,” or “flip, flop, look, I just took a two-hour lunch and sneaking back in when nobody’s watching.” Well, I’m actually not much of a flip flop girl, despite my So Cal upbringing. Instead, my footwear of choice is a “click-click,” compensating my lack of vertical presence with those super high heels. But summer is finally here, so why not?

My sister and I took Kimberly Fowler’s yoga class at YAS in Venice last week. While I was doing the Seated Forward Bend pose (Paschimottanasana), Kimberly approached me and corrected the positioning of my feet. She bent my toes more toward my body and told me to push my heels forward, and I felt the difference immediately. As she walked away, she said, smiling, “someone really loves her high heels.” (she's such a charming lady!)

YAS is an interesting place, in my opinion. As the name implies (YAS stands for Yoga and Spinning), this gym/studio hybrid specializes in those two things, and it approaches yoga as a fitness workout as opposed to the traditional, “mind, body and spirit” practice. The sign at the reception area wittingly states, “No chanting, no Sanskrit.” (This is not to say that those things are discouraged, of course.) The class was challenging and Kimberly was incredibly inspirational (despite her celebrity-like status in the yoga world, she was very personable, offering personal attention), but this unorthodox take on the traditional practice got me thinking about why people practice yoga, or specifically why I practice yoga.

I started practicing yoga about two months ago as a way to shed the excess poundage I’ve accumulated over the years. I’ve always admired yogis’ svelte physique and wanted my walrus-like figure to resemble theirs. It was only when I began attending David’s yoga class at the gym at work regularly that I started to rethink my intention for the practice. Unlike the power yoga that I have learned to enjoy (and still do), his class focused more on breathing techniques and the “small stuff” that makes a difference. As I kept going back, I noticed the slight changes in my mood and attitude. I felt like the more I put into the practice (mentally or physically), the more I got back – on and off the matt. Trust me, I’m not someone who will travel to India and spend months in an Ashram (even after reading this), but for me, yoga became a serene place where I can make peace with all my insecurities, fatigue and uncertainty of the day, even for just an hour … barefoot.

Music to My Ears

2008-06-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

There are some things many Japanese girls have in common. Please excuse my stereotype here but I haven’t been wrong on this yet. Japanese girls can, or at least have in the past, played the violin, the piano, or played basketball. And many have done all of the above. (She may, or may not be good in math, but I’ll quit with the generalization now, thank you very much.) I can cross two from the list myself, although I never excelled in playing the piano. I hated everything about the experience and even after taking lessons on and off for more than five years, I still can’t read a sheet music or stretch my fingers wide enough to reach an octave.

Playing basketball, however, was a different story. The sport became my passion during my adolescent and I became fairly good at it. I played all throughout high school and even contemplated playing in some small college who would take me (I was embarrassingly clueless then), until everyone started towering over my 5’2” self around my junior year. I realized then that I have tapped out on my potential to compete in this sport and decided to hung up for my pair of Nike (or was it Converse?) upon graduation. That was the last time I played sports of any kind.

In addition to playing basketball, I also ran track. I think I joined the team just so that I can avoid wearing those lame PE shorts, or skip fifth period every Friday for the track meet, I don’t remember, but it sure wasn’t because I liked running. I ran 800 meters because it seemed like it was the perfect distance for me. It didn’t require the speed of the 400 meters dash or the endurance of a mile race, and this “in between” distance seemed ideal, or so I thought. It was only later, while gasping for air like fish out of water, I learned this ½ mile was the trickiest to run, for the exact reasons why I selected it in the first place.

For some reason, I think about my high school days often lately, which feel a bit odd since I don’t recall having that many fond memories (I was a big dork). But when I’m running, my mind suddenly warps back in time and takes me to the track field or the wooden basketball court. When I’m running in the park, the smell of grass takes me back to the hot summer day at a track meet where I'm anxiously waiting for the sound of the air gun at the starting line. When beads of sweat roll down my face, I can hear my coach screaming at me after missing an easy lay up. I wondered if this was my mind playing a joke on me to run faster (I was always a little scared of my coach) or simply that the NBA finals between the Lakers and the Celtics are brining back the nostalgia in me (god bless those short shorts).

And it dawned on me that this mysterious “jog” down the memory lane was my body’s way of remembering what it’s like to be active again, after more than 15 years of dormant lifestyle. It’s like visiting the old house you grew up in, or walking through the neighborhood you left behind years ago. Everything is new now – with new residents and new houses – but there’s something very familiar about the air, the smell, and the feel ... as if you never left. My legs have forgotten what it was like to put one foot in front of the other, or what it feels like to bend over to touch the floor with the palms of my hand, but every run takes it closer to the familiar place, and in doing so, have awaken the “me” of the yesteryears.

I talk to the youthful, vibrant, and a 30 pounds lighter version of me during the run (in my mind, of course). I didn’t like “her” too much back then, but I kind of like her now. She's pretty interesting. And our conversation is something I look forward to every time I hit the pavement ... like a rythmical music in my ears.

A Little Moment of Joy

2008-06-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

This week calls for a celebration. No, it’s not because the evil Red Wings and their bandwagon fans are celebrating the Stanley Cup win, oh god no. It’s because when I was doing laundry yesterday, I noticed that I had more sweaty workout clothes in the basket than my regular clothes. This is a momentous occasion. I don’t think that happened since I was 14.

My "Mini" Me

2008-06-03T15:11:00.001-07:00

Please meet my Nike+ “Mini,” my tiny virtual alter ego I created here. I think she’s a slight upgrade from the Nintendo Mii I created the other day, don't you think (although Nike totally ripped this one off from Wii)? She’s a lot more friendly-looking, that’s for sure. This is a new feature available at the Nike+ site to help make your daily run a little more enjoyable.

My favorite part about the “Mini” is that she’s actually a reflection of my activity level. When I run, she gets hyper. When I procrastinate and don’t put in a run, her energy level decreases. Because I ran five miles yesterday, she’s jumping around like one of those crazy jumping beans.

Back in the Saddle

2008-06-02T23:06:00.001-07:00

I bid farewell to the sedentary, sorry-ass self and finally got back in the saddle. I took my running shoes out of the gym bag and placed them where they belonged -- on my feet. I stopped by Balboa Park in Encino on the way home from work today and jogged a comfortable five miles, as ducks and squirrels (and swans!) cheered me on. It was only 3.5 miles around the park but I was somehow determined to run at least for an hour today (to make up for the lost time, perhaps), so I went back and jogged halfway around the lake for another 1.5 miles. I’m really loving summer, especially for its longer days which allows me put in a good hour or two for a run before it gets dark.

In addition to the run, I practiced yoga at lunch today. David is definitely taking this class to a next level, and challenged us to do some pretty advanced poses in class today, like Scale Pose (Tolasana) ...

... and Crane Pose (Bakasana). Yikes.

I could neither do the scale nor the crane poses but that’s okay because I was able to do an Upward Bow (Urdhva Dhanurasana) with the help of David. I’m still not able to lift myself up on my own, but he let me to grab onto his ankles as I lifted my hips and arched the back. It felt incredible as if I were flying!

It’s so nice to be back and moving again for sure. And it was great to see the Penguins win in three overtimes tonight. Osgood, you friggin suuuuuuck! Go Pens!

Is This Really Mii?

2008-05-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

I experienced Nintendo Wii Fit for the first time at Kevin’s last night. And I call it an experience because it truly was an out of body, I’m-gonna-pee-in-my-pants-because-this-is-too-much-fun quantum of adventure. Nintendo is genius for coming up with this.

The weight-in was the only part I didn't look forward to. I didn’t want Kevin to see the very private three-digit number displayed on the TV screen so I had him close his eyes while I got on the scale, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he was peaking. Oh, and what’s equally humiliating was that my Mii had a beer belly bulging out of my shirt to reflect my true body size!

I did the strength training and yoga for a total of 30 minutes, while Kevin did yoga and … ah .. a hoola hoop. He beat my ass in hoola hoop but I think I did better on yoga! It looks like all the practices are starting to pay off.

(What you see on top is not the fat Mii, but I created one online just for fun.)

Bitter Sweet Homecoming

2008-05-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

After a very productive weekend in Portland, I took a 180 degree turn and returned to a very familiar place of sitting on my ass and doing absolutely nothing. It’s amazing how someone can go from “I just looove running!” to “I need to wash my hair so I can’t go running” in a blink of an eye, but that’s exactly what happened. I spent the last few days coming up with reasons why I didn't need to run and actually convinced myself that they were legitimate ideas.

It’s so strange how human minds work – or maybe just mine – but I tend to obsess more about exercising when I’m not exercising. For instance, although I haven’t put on my running shoes in the last three days, all I could think about (between coming up with excuses, that is) is which races to enter next. And in the span of 30 minutes, I signed up for not only one, but two half marathons (Nike + Women’s Half Marathon in October and Pasadena Half Marathon in November) and am STILL contemplating if I should run 26.2 miles in Portland this fall. Signing up for the half marathons somehow made me feel like I’m being productive. How delusional am I? Maybe this is the exact reason why so many people spend insane amount of money on silly weight-loss gadgets they see on Infomercials. They feel like they've just taken a positive step toward their well being by placing that order, although in reality, it only pushed them into a deeper and darker emotional and financial void.

I must get off the couch before I turn into one of those scary people.

"Running My First Marathon" Vidoe

2008-05-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

I love this video. It is so inspiring. If this doesn't make you want to run a marathon, I don't know what will.

The Yoga Space, Portland

2008-05-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

After the morning run on Saturday, Maya and I went to The Yoga Space in Downtown Portland, to take what we thought was a beginner yoga class. Maya had done yoga before but has never taken an actual class so I thought it was a great opportunity for us to do it together and humiliate each other on the yoga mat.

There were about eight very limber yogis stretching on the mat when we walked in to this tiny but cozy studio. We were greeted by a tall, svelte Michelle, an instructor who also happened to be the owner of the studio. She knew everyone by name which showed that these were devoted students of hers.

I like going to different studios and take classes from different teachers. Michelle was very different from David and Tom – even in the way she did Sun Salutations. The flow was the same but I can see a little difference in her style.

After doing the vinyase flows, she decided to pair us up in twos to do some inversions. I guess this was the beginner’s class but all the students have been with her for a while so she now considered it an intermediate class. Maya and I looked at each other in fear after watching her demonstrate that we had to do Salamba Sirsasana, a supported headstand.

With the help of Maya and Michelle (and a little bit of screaming), I was able to do the inversion, and it felt really great. I felt like I was going to fall forward but it was comforting to know that someone was holding my legs (and pulling up my shirt, thank goodness!).

The class was great and I’m glad we made the effort to go. And special thanks to Maya's sister for letting me use her brand new pink Nike yoga mat! After we were done with yoga, we went to late lunch and eat like there’s no tomorrow at Jake’s Seafood (aah, it was heaven).

Morning 10k in Portland

2008-05-27T11:59:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, I snuck out of Maya's house at 7:00 a.m. while the family slept, and went for a morning run. It was a typical gloomy Portland morning, but the air was fresh and delicious, as if I were taking a huge bite of a crisp apple. There’s no better weather to run than the clean and cool climate of the Pacific Northwest.

I wasn’t sure my way around the neighborhood so I ran around small, residential streets at first but decided to go down one of the main streets (Laidlaw), which turned out to be pleasantly challenging with alternating inclines and declines. I made a loop when I reached Bethany Road, another main street, approximately 2 miles. When I got back to the starting point, I realized that I had ran about 5 miles but I was still full of energy so I jogged around the neighborhood for another 1.5 miles to make it an even 10k. I passed by so many runners and walkers (dog walkers too) with big, happy grins. I love this town.

This run made me toy with the idea of running the Portland Marathon in October.

Greetings from Portland

2008-05-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

I’m in Portland, Oregon, for a few days for business. Well, it’s half business and half pleasure as I’ll be spending this weekend with my best friend, Maya and her family, who recently relocated here.

As much as I’m enjoying my stay here (as always), I’m missing my lunchtime yoga classes. I didn’t get to exercise much this week because I was suffering from a sore throat that prevented me from even speaking for a few days (Jamba Juice didn’t work!) so I decided to squeeze in a quick run after work yesterday to refresh my body and mind.

It was cloudy all day but the sun came out in the afternoon, which I took as a sign to put on my running shoes and hit the road. The air was fresh and crisp, and I really enjoyed the run. I ran an easy 3.5 miles (about 12 minute pace) around the neighborhood and exchanged smiles with several fellow runners I met along the way. What a great feeling it was to run in a cute neighborhood where people are kind and the weather is cool. No wonder so many great runners emerge from this area.

Test Run: New Asics and Amphipods Belt

2008-05-21T21:43:00.001-07:00

I bought a new pair of running shoes last weekend at my favorite running shoe store, Phidippides, in Encino. This pair is my third Asics and a new pair is called Gel-Foundation 7. I’m not really into the whole shoe technologies but Asics have always been good to me so I wanted to stick with what has always worked. I took my new baby for an easy 4-mile run tonight and loved every step.

I also took my new water bottle with me on the journey. For some reason, I never felt comfortable wearing those scary water bottle belts. Perhaps because I felt like it made my already enormous butts look even bigger or I just didn’t like the feeling of having something around my waist, but I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable Amphipod’s full-tilt Velocity felt. I think I had it too loose at first so the belt was jiggling uncontrollably but after tightening the belt a little (even to a point where it was a bit snug around me), it felt alright. I felt so much better not having to carry a water bottle in my hand, and I think I was able to swing my arms better for more speed (or at least I felt like I was going faster, with better posture).

Running has been surprisingly fun for me lately – maybe the weather (with excpetions of the last few days when it was just too hot to run outside), or the NikePlus, I don’t know – but I can’t wait to hit the pavement again.

Coldbuster?

2008-05-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

I stopped by Jamba Juice on the way home from work yesterday to pick up Coldbuster to prevent my sore throat from escalating from bad to worst. I know that Jamba Juice is not exactly a bowl of chicken soup but the idea of overdosing on vitamin C somehow makes me feel like I’m taking a proactive steps to wellness. But then again, who am I kidding? The 94 grams of sugar that’s in the drink is pretty nauseating. I think looking at this numbers alone will make me collapse in high fever.

So I’m drinking C Monster from Odwalla today. At least it only has 72 grams of sugar.

The Natural Remedy

2008-05-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

I didn’t feel well yesterday morning (with sore throat and aching joints) and contemplated going home, but something told me to go to David's yoga class at lunch, so I did. I kept asking myself why I’m here on the yoga mat instead of overdosing on Jamba Juice and sleeping in my bed, but after a while, I started to feel better. My mind cleared up and my body felt less tense. I ended up finishing up the day, feeling much better than I had in the morning.

But then again, sore throats are nothing compared to these poses we practiced in class. They are a lot more difficult than they may appear.

Dolphin Plank Pose

Dolphine Pose

A Confession of a Medal Whore

2008-05-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Just so that I can keep track, here are the races that I've participated in thus far. And yes, I'm aware that I'm slow. I only do these things for the medals.

Palos Verdes Half Marathon, May 14, 2005
3:06:07 (14:00 pace)

2005 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, June 8, 2005
6:52:07 (15:44 pace)

12th Annual Keep LA Running 10k Run, July 10, 2005
1:14:14 (11:59 pace)

29th Santa Barbara Half Marathon, November 5, 2005
2:57:44 (13:34 pace)

NIKE Run Hit Wonder Los Angeles 10K, September 24, 2005
1:13:37 (11:46 pace)

Santa Clarita 5k Run, November 5, 2006
36:00 (11:36 pace)

City of Los Angeles Half, December 3, 2006
3:05:20 (14:09 pace)

9th Annual Ovarian Cancer 5k Run, September 9, 2007
33:18 (10:45 pace)

NIKE Run Hit Remix Los Angeles (5 miles), September 15, 2007
00:59:24 (11:52 pace)

30th Annual Chinatown Firecracker 10k, February 2, 2008
1:22:09 (13:15 pace)

Santa Monica Classic 10K Run, May 4, 2008
1:12:57 (11:46 pace)

Torture

2008-05-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

I must be a masochist. I don’t know how else to explain my motivation to keep going back to the Cardio Pump class on Tuesday nights. The instructor, Jenny, is really bubbly and cute on the outside, but is a total drill sergeant in the inside. She seriously kicks my ass, almost to the point of tears. She brings out all kinds of scary devices every week. This week’s torture device was the Steps, which I thought were banned in the 90's along with spandex and leotards.

Give and Take

2008-05-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

My need for instant gratification made me fat and poor, and I’m now determined to reverse the damage by incorporating some discipline back into my life.

I created a rule that I shall live by, which states that when I want something, I need to earn it by giving up something in return -- whether it be time, effort, or a good old hard work. If I want to buy a new piece of clothing (or a book, or a cd, or whatever), I must give up (or donate) something I have in a closet first. If I want a dessert after dinner, I need to offset it by cutting down the food intake elsewhere or burn that calories by working out. This will give me a chance to fully evaluate if the yearning is based on a need or a want, and how much I’m willing to (literally) work for it.

Downward Peeing Dog?

2008-05-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

What saves me from the Monday blues every week is the lunchtime yoga I attend with my colleagues/friends Renee and Alex. I’m thankful that there is a gym in our office facility where we get to use for free. And it’s not one of those tiny gyms with a few treadmills lined up against the wall; this is a real, state-of-the-art facility with great equipments and wonderful classes. I attend David’s yoga classes on Mondays and Thursdays, and Tom’s Power Yoga on Fridays.

David is all about breathing and he mixes vinyase with single-pose asana work very effectively. I enjoy his class because his style allows me to really think about what I’m doing, and adjust the efforts based on how I’m feeling that day.

I thought today’s practice was one of the most satisfying ones I’ve had in a while. I'm beginning to feel a slight improvement on my flexibility. The only issue I had, however, was when he introduced a new pose which resembled a dog peeing on a fire hydrant. The pose was so funny and unreal, I started laughing out loud in the middle of the class. What made it even worse was when he told us that this was called a “hydrant” pose. I totally lost it. I thought he was fucking with us (no offense to David, it was just too good to be true) so I conducted a research afterward and found that he was indeed telling the truth.

Who knew that yoga had such a sick sense of humor?