Archive for ◊ 2005 ◊
What a year it’s been! I’ve raced more than ever, rediscovered the thrill of the short races, ran in 2 other countries, trained twice a day, ran at 10pm, made plenty of friends and for the first time didn’t start a race I registered. Rather exciting! Read the full article here.
After cussing the weather for the last 4 days, I finally had a chance to work out my frustration a bit yesterday at the KLCC track. Started steadily and worked down the time to 6:15 for the final lap. Some bands were doing soundchecks on the stage setup at the EXXON carpark, so we had some not-my-type music to accompany my run. Then joined Au, Yong, Rohaizad, Rachel and Ronnie (R&R) at Der Open Space to chat about this Sunday’s New Year Run. The bibs look fantastic, a true collectible to be framed. Everyone was geared and Ronnie looked “kan cheong” enough to “lausai” in anticipation of the big day.
It’s the last working day of the year today and I’m looking forward to ridding this year. It’s been a challenging year. Running wise very gratifying, family wise good, work wise sucks, opportunities wise hopeful. Can’t wait for better things to come. The clan will be watching our first movie together Curse Of The Were-Rabbit – at the cinema tonight. The movie is going to be a riot – Carbokid and I thoroughly enjoy Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit’s mini episodes on DVD (A Grand Day Out, Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave). While not many appreciate British humour, I think Nick Park and his team at Aardman are geniuses.
So to you and your loved ones and family, A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Heheh, this time it’s not a pair of running shoes but loafers for the office. Rockport baby! Picked it up today at the Isetan Sale at 10%. Still paid RM296 for it, which is still cheaper than the pair of beaten up Hush Puppies I’m wearing now. Shoes (working or running) nowadays are really overpriced, so might as well get a pair that’s really good, comfy and durable. My Hush Puppies lasted 3 years and still stuttering along and I hope this Rockports will go the distance too.
It’s damn soft – as soft as the Pegasus! I shit you not. It’s waterproof and the cushioning is due to Reebok’s DMX technology. Heck I could run in them!
Another thing. Until Dec 31st, Isetan is selling a few good Mizuno models at 50% off. The Maverick 4, Atlantis and Mustang 3 are all going at amazing prices. Hurry!
Now on the bosses: They seem to take pleasure in heaping misery on their staff. Mine just told me not to hope for anything (ie promotion) next year as the recipients have already been earmarked. He also said that he can’t see any significant project that I’ve contributed this year that is known all over the bank. The phrase “known all over the bank” is subjective but in my place of work, it means one has not trumpeted the accolades enough. The worst comment he made was “If you can run a marathon, I don’t see why you can’t deliver greater things in 2006″. An answer immediately came up on my mind but I bit my tongue and just shook my head. The fact of the matter is running and working while sharing some traits (in that we torture ourselves to no end) are different. The difference? PASSION. What sets a great job apart from an average one is the level of passion the executor put in. I’ve great passion for running and all that it stands for and I’ll gladly do anything associated with it – from volunteering, training and racing, teaching and spreading the running movement and more. I’d run 7 days a week if there’s no such thing as a rest day. And being a smoker and non-exerciser, who is he to comment about running? What does he know about training and running a marathon? Indeed greater things beckon in 2006 and I hope a greater percentage of the success will not be office-work related.I’ve harboured this nagging question for years: How the heck did the construction crane rise with the building it’s constructing? Take a look at it the next time you spot one. The cranes that I’m talking about here are those that sticks out from the centre of the building (usually out of the lift shaft) and transports materiel from the base to the level/floor that’s being worked on. It’s damn precarious and if you look closely it sways as it rotates carrying the loads. The operator sits in a small cabin attached precariously on the side and can navigate the equipment even without line of sight and purely by radio com. They’re that skilled. Have you ever wondered as the building rises over the months of construction how does the crane rise along with it? How do they add the steel “rungs” to it? How do they take them down when it reaches a dizzying height of 80 storeys for example? If you know the answer, please email me!
I got over being upset the moment I stepped out of the office but I can’t help but question my passion for my work. It’s diminished. It’s not that I don’t care for it anymore but I just don’t have the desire to go the extra mile. Just do what needs to be done and get out of the office.
This is certainly a good piece of marketing from Mazda, in conjunction with Runner’s World. Encourages the corporate types to get out there. Having Dean Karnazes as the poster boy helps too I guess.
Spotted these snippets in the RW site.
Flora London Marathon Is More Stacked Than Ever: We already knew the April 23 Flora London Marathon was going to be quite the contest with Paul Tergat, Haile Gebrselassie and Hendrick Ramaala all signed up and gunning for one another. But now with the addition of Italy’s Stefano Baldini (Athens Marathon gold medalist), Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib (a two-time world champion), Khalid Khannouchi, Kenya’s Martin Lel, Felix Limo, & Evans Rutto (all major marathon winners over the last several years) it’s a must-see event.
Anyone running London next year?
I was right! I mentioned in my post below that I thought I saw Howard Shore conducting the orchestra in King Kong. It was Howard Shore! Peter Jackson gave him that cameo after not agreeing with his scoring of King Kong (which was eventually given to another fine composer James Newton Howard) Read about it here and here.
In the second link there’s a part on Munich (initially titled Vengeance), the trailer was shown before King Kong played. Going to be a fantastic watch and guarantees to raise a few eyebrows, which means this will not make it to Malaysia. Thank goodness for the pirates! I managed to locate this gripping journal which I suggest you read before viewing this movie. Read also this thesis paper on the incident.