Updates

Completed my first sprint duathlon in Hong Kong April 14, 2007.
(375m swim & 2.5km run): without any real training....it was grueling to say the least. Swimming in the ocean was much different than swimming in a pool!

5km Scotia Bank Run for Heart & Stroke Foundation June 24, 2007.
Was pouring rain and for the first time I ran it without any music....which made it a painful 5km. No training at all.

10 km HBC Canada Day Run July1, 2007.
Ran it with my mom, auntie alicia, & her brazilian student amanda. Was perfect weather. Again no training except for the 5 km run wkend before. There were hills like u wouldnt believe-was hard on my knees and ankles...walked most hills.



Recap:
1998 Nike 8 km Run - Time 49:15
1999 Vancouver Sun Run - Can no longer access results
1999 Nike 8 km Run - Time 50:46 (Mother/Daughter Team-Liz 50:46+Mom 51:28=1:42:14) 1999 MS Bike Tour 55 km - No results
1999 WARR 5 km Run - Can no longer access results
2000 Vancouver Sun Run 10 km - Can no longer access results
2001 MS Bike Tour 55 km - No results
2001 CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km - No results
2002 CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km - No results
2002 Fall Classic 5 km Run - Time 31:28
2003 Fall Classic 10 km Run - Time 1:05:47
2004 Vancouver Sun Run 10 km - Time 1:02:58
2004 Fall Classic 5 km Run - Time 39:26
2005 Shaughnessy 8 km - Time 55:11
2005 Danskin Run for Heart 5 km - Time 36:28
2005 Fila Spanish Banks 8 km - Time 51:45
2007 Splash N' Dash Hong Kong Sprint Duathlon (375m swim & 2.5km run) - Time 25:05
2007 Scotia Bank 5 km - No results (40 mins?? we started late)
2007 HBC Canada Day 10 km run - 1:09:48

Fast forward into the future...

Haven't touched this blog for over a yr....training for the tri was put on the back burner because of the pursuance of my clothing line. Also, because I was in HK for the most part of the last year, I stopped going to TMD. Over 8 years of non-stop training and then to stop it completely was something that was hard to deal with. I miss training everyday that I'm not training....if it weren't for discovering Body Combat in Hong Kong I don't think I'd be sane over here. I now weigh 122 lbs. and I don't know my body fat percentage right now but i'm sure its lower than 23%!!! I can't believe i weighed 133 before. And I still think that I have some more fat that I could still get rid of and not be anorexic or unhealthy looking. My cardio is pretty good from the body combat and i'd like to train for the upcoming Western Canadian Martial Arts Challenge on Oct. 21. I'll start sparring when I get back to Vancouver and see how rusty I am. I just want to feel some contact. Punching and kicking in the air is not satisfying enough at all. It minght sound weird but I have the constant urge to punch something....where this comes from i really dunno!

When i returned to vancouver end of may, i started training at my brothers studio 5th Element Martial Arts which was really exciting and new. It was really nice to get back into it and cool to have my bro teach the class. Him and I also tried out some boxing cardio classes downtown called Infighting which was pretty intense too. We also came across a gym called Universal that had BJJ classes. We watched the warmup of a class and got invited to join but were too tired from the boxing cardio classes. Their warmup looked pretty crazy. When i get back maybe i'll drop in with my bro.

I did the Fila Spanish Banks 8 km Race today. Yes, it was only 8km but it felt like hell...this had to be one of the hardest runs I've had to endure. The sun really beat down and it felt like my face was on fire and I'm not sure why but the soles of my feet felt like they too were on fire. I don't know if it had anything to do with the orthotic heal pads I was wearing. My parents decided to come along and run/walk around Spanish Banks while I was doing the run. They took occasional pictures and cheered me on which was sweet. My mom would run beside me at certain points though and I know she meant well but she would make me lose my concentration by telling me to breathe and all that stuff. I tried the deep breathing techniques I read about last time and this time I didn't have any sharp pains in my side. I felt one coming on so I slowed down a bit and kept with the deep breathing. Concentrating on that makes the run more mechanical and less enjoyable though. Atleast my time was better than the Shaughnessy run this year:

Recap:

1998 Nike 8 km Run - Time 49:15
1999 Vancouver Sun Run - Can no longer access results
1999 Nike 8 km Run - Time 50:46 (Mother/Daughter Team-Liz 50:46+Mom 51:28=1:42:14)
1999 MS Bike Tour 55 km - No results
1999 WARR 5 km Run - Can no longer access results
2000 Vancouver Sun Run 10 km - Can no longer access results
2001 MS Bike Tour 55 km - No results
2001 CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km - No results
2002 CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km - No results
2002 Fall Classic 5 km Run - Time 31:28
2003 Fall Classic 10 km Run - Time 1:05:47
2004 Vancouver Sun Run 10 km - Time 1:02:58
2004 Fall Classic 5 km Run - Time 39:26
2005 Shaughnessy 8 km - Time 55:11
2005 Danskin Run for Heart 5 km - Time 36:28
2005 Fila Spanish Banks 8 km - Time 51:45

TMD:
Warm up was running for 30 secs, push-ups for 30 secs, sit-ups for 30 secs, then did everything for 20 secs, and then 10 secs.
Worked on curriculum for half the class.
Partnered up and used the big kick pads and did roundhouses, double jumping roundhouses, 360 round house....I was really tired at the end of class.....felt like I had no energy....it must be because I haven't been eating that much this week.

Electro-Acupuncture

Today, in addition to cupping and moxibustion, I tried for the first time: Electro-acupuncture. She attached electrodes to the needles and electrical currents caused my muscles to twitch....it wasn't painful. This is supposed to be more effective than just putting needles in because there is more manipulation involved....I'm starting to really like this stuff!

Danskin Run for Heart

Woke up at 7am to do the Danskin Run for Heart today...I'm so proud of myself that I was 1/2 hour early to pick up the race package and not late for the start of the race! Scenery wise, this is by far my most favourite run! The course was along the Jericho Beach sea wall...I made it a point to enjoy the view while I was running and it was also nice that part of the run went into the trees so we were able to run in the shade for a bit. I was really disappointed that I got cramps in my lower right side during the run though. I just looked it up on the internet....it's called side stitches and it's from my diaphragm muscle cramping up from not getting enough oxygen. I wasn't sure why I got this until now....it always seems to happen when I run too fast. I thought it was because I don't usually train for runs. I'm still not clear on whether or not the amount of training affects this......one website says that I need to practice deep breathing when I run. Expand my stomach when inhaling....this is not easy to do!
I took 36 mins. to finish the 5 km run....TOO SLOW!

~Today was a tiring day, we also filmed some scenes for Priorities 3 with Master Joe today. I had to wear a turtleneck sweater in this heat since Priorities 2 was filmed in October a couple of years ago and this was to be a continuation of a scene. It was way too hot for the running and falling scenes...

Recap:

1998 Nike 8 km Run - Time 49:15
1999 Vancouver Sun Run - Can no longer access results
1999 Nike 8 km Run - Time 50:46 (Mother/Daughter Team-Liz 50:46+Mom 51:28=1:42:14)
1999 MS Bike Tour 55 km - No results
1999 WARR 5 km Run - Can no longer access results
2000 Vancouver Sun Run 10 km - Can no longer access results
2001 MS Bike Tour 55 km - No results
2001 CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km - No results
2002 CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km - No results
2002 Fall Classic 5 km Run - Time 31:28
2003 Fall Classic 10 km Run - Time 1:05:47
2004 Vancouver Sun Run 10 km - Time 1:02:58
2004 Fall Classic 5 km Run - Time 39:26
2005 Shaughnessy 8 km - Time 55:11
2005 Danskin Run for Heart 5 km - Time 36:28

Horrible Dream

Last night I dreamt a horrible dream and the feeling hasn't gone away yet....I dreamt that someone was after me and I somehow killed him but I don't remember how. But to rid of the evidence, I backed up my car over him to flatten him and then got out of the car and tried to smear his body over the road under my shoes. His body was rubbery and not at all human like...and also he was in a small neat pile. I remember feeling concerned that I might get caught for this. I don't know how 'normal' these types of dreams that I have are??? But anyway, the theme is reoccurant....I have such dreams every now and then.... Usually, I'm being chased and I always have to do whatever it takes in order to stay alive. Quite often it is very violent and I end up killing my attacker and to ensure that they are dead and not able to come back to attack me, I have to stab or strike them many times.........maybe I shouldn't be posting this????

I have a run tomorrow...it's past 2am and I have to wake up at 7am.....I'm dead...........