Its All Jamie Oliver's Fault

Latest on the Fat Chancer.

Further update

Latest on the Fat Chancer's quest to get fit.

Lectures started last week and it was good to get into the swing of things. Like a muscle that rapidly atrophies and deteriorates after prolonged lack of use (see for example, patients who have been in coma for an extended period of time- they need to re-learn to walk again, because they haven't used their muscles for a long time), I felt that way with my brain. So it was good to attend lectures and start studying again.

I haven't been able to run much during the last week due to a variety of reasons, but I was still able to put clock in spinning sessions every day, bar Tuesday when I ran. So I should think that my level of fitness is still there, although I would need to loosen and lighten the muscles when I run again. I think some strides, bounding drills and massaging the arches of my feet should help.

Anyway, the Lunar New Year is coming up and this year will be no different- I'll be heading to my grandparents' place in a little village off Kluang, Johor. The only difference is that I am not returning to KL. I've spent 2 months back and I should concentrate on my course here in Singapore.

The course this term is no walk in the park- unlike last term, we are being graded for class participation, course work, presentation and examinations, which means a great deal of preparation beforehand and more consistent studying, instead of the usual waiting-till-last-minute-and-cramming-everything-in approach I admittedly used last term for my exams. So it seems that I can't "sail" through this term as easily as I would have liked- that would mean less trips back to KL too. Aside from a brief 10 days back in KL during the term break from 20th February onwards, I don't see myself returning to KL at least until after my exams are over in the 1st week of May, unless there are any public holidays during that period, making it a long weekend. We'll see.

Not the best of years and experts predict a gloomier year than 2008, but I'd like to wish all celebrants Happy Chinese New Year, and happy holidays. Take care.

Click on this link for a hilarious take on a dude trying to get back in shape by running. He was a former 1:40 half-marathoner.

I have resurrected my Buckeye Outdoors training log after a long period of inactivity- I just didn't have the time to log in my daily mileage. Hopefully I will be more disciplined this time around. For those interested my login name is live2run.

He wants to run faster than 2:03.59!

Der Kok runner is at it again- this time attempting an "assault" on his world record in the marathon. Please visit IAAF's link to see what he says. Race is today, but I doubt if it'll be televised.

So lectures began today. I am quite happy the term has started, because it means that I am another day closer towards my examinations in end-April/early-May and passing this obligatory course. I am quite tired of being a student already. Despite experiencing the daily grind of work for the last 10 years (I didn't enjoy it much of the time), it did bring some meaning and purpose to my life. And of course, receiving my salary at the end of the month meant that I was able to live the lifestyle that I desired (at least to a certain extent- my needs are modest, if I may say so myself).

I have to be more focused this term as the subjects I'm studying, though fairly familiar as I have studied them at degree level some 13 years ago, are heavier in reading volume and more technical to my lil' brain. I would need some time to re-familiarise myself with Criminal Law, Evidence and International Trusts. There has been little use for Criminal Law and Evidence in legal practice as I'm neither a criminal lawyer nor a litigator. On the other hand I have been involved in certain aspects of trust work, so the subject of International Trusts can only serve to add to my limited knowledge of that area, especially in Real Estate Investment Trusts (known as REITs), and also to a certain extent, unit trusts.

Mia has taken some time to settle and has been waking up twice a night. She had stomach ache yesterday, with some bouts causing her to cry at volumes that were glass-shattering. Luckily they didn't last too long. A quick rub of that special Chinese oil for "stomach wind" on the palms, then placed on her belly, produced even louder cries (if that is even possible) but she stopped crying soon after. I can assume then that the oil had its desired effect. She's better already.

On the running front, I strained my outer right Achilles tendon and felt pain each time I toed off. I took 3 days off running and furiously hit the stationary bike on Saturday, Sunday and yesterday, for about 1.5 hours per session, maintaining a heart rate of approximately 77% of my maximum heart rate (so the bike says, anyway). The workouts were excellent as I completed each session with major puddles of sweat on the floor. I started running in earnest again Tuesday evening, running 1 hour 25 minutes. The Achilles felt fine.

The GE 30k is this Sunday and many of my friends will be running it. Good luck- the route is tough, and if you can run a decent time, chances are that you will be prepared to run a decent time in the full marathon of KLIM as well, if that is what you're aiming for.

Till my next entry, adios.

Rambling

I didn't think much about what I've done in 2008 but when Runnez left a comment on my blog recently, it got me thinking. Not to blow my own trumpet, but I did have a pretty eventful (though not dramatic) 2008. In fact, the last 2 years have been life-changing. Since graduating in 1996, my life (outside of running) is probably best described as mediocre. I did pass the Certificate of Legal Practice exam (which passing rate is in the region of 25% every year) but other than that, I just muddled along with little sense of purpose and meaning. Career-wise I wasn't really going anywhere, but I wasn't exactly making any concerted effort to improve it either. I wasn't living in hardship, but I wasn't living it up either. Harsh, but true.

All it took was a simple advertisement in a local newspaper around December 2006, in which a Singaporean legal firm was looking for lawyers to join them. I decided to test the waters by sending in my application and to my surprise, they responded. I went for an interview in January 2007 and was promptly offered on the spot; but due to some difficulties I only managed to obtain my Employment Permit sometime in late April. After tendering my resignation and serving out my notice period, I started my 1st day in the 1st week of June 2007.

Since then, my career, dare I say, has been in an upward progression. It was a fresh start, with no excess baggage, or encumbrances from the past. I found that I was competent in what I did, and I regained the confidence and self-belief that I lost somewhere along the line during my legal practice years in KL. Money was pretty good too- no matter how one puts it, money is important. Only snag is that before I can be admitted to the Bar here, I had to, inter alia, take 8 months off to study this particular course on a full time basis. No 2 ways about it. So I took a sabbatical from August 2008. Not an easy decision, but I felt that my long-term future would be further secured once I passed the course.

I believe that Mrs Rabbit and I became even closer too now that we're here. Released from the shackles of our obligations to our respective parents, we were free to live our own lives. When we were in KL, it was always shuttling between both sets of parents, leaving little time to ourselves as husband and wife.

So here I am now, at this point, about to start the 2nd term of my course, having passed my exams for the 1st term. As I said before, short-term sacrifice for loooong term again. Still, it is by no means easy. The grass is always greener on the other side and I feel like a slacker, not being part of the work force.

Mind you its not as if I've been very free either. It was difficult getting into the study mode again after 10 whole years. Additionally, taking care of the baby is a 24 hour undertaking, especially when I'm not working. We are yet to resolve the issue of how to take care of her once we both are working again.

The baby has been crying plenty since we returned. Putting her to sleep is taking longer than expected. Even if we carry her, it takes a fair amount of placating before she finally stops. Her cries have become louder too. Physically, there's nothing wrong with her- she has no temperature, and I checked every part of her body to ensure that she had no bruises, cuts, or (heaven forbid) broken or sprained bones of any kind. Her stools are fine too. So, with our very limited knowledge, we can only conclude that she is not used to the new surroundings. Maybe its the air, or the smell that she doesn't like, and it is obviously something she cannot articulate any other way than to cry.

At the moment, I can foresee the next 6 months to be filled with the following:-
- attending lectures (every Tuesdays and Thursdays);
- taking time to study;
- even more fatherly responsibilities once Mrs Rabbit completes her maternity (in March);
- exams. End April to 1st week of May.
- doing all miscellaneous (but no less important) matters related to the household. I don't know what they are as yet.

Once the lectures begin next week, I will have a better feel of how best to manage my time and throw in a minimum of an hour's worth of running. Ideally I would like to run twice a day of an hour's each, but we will have to see.

With the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon tentatively set for 28th June (2 days before my birthday), I am seriously considering running the full distance. That means that training cannot be haphazard, and must be highly structured, and most importantly, I need to get my head around the long runs, and doing at least 6 35k runs.

Managed to run 11k yesterday at an easy aerobic pace. Was on course to repeat the same today but at around the 8k mark, I was hit with a massive stomach ache. Thinking I needed to hit the loo, I ran to a nearby petrol station but the ache stopped by then. When I started to run, the ache returned again. After stopping and starting a few more times, I decided to call it a day and took the bus back to my apartment, where, in the comfort of my bathroom, I proceeded to finally do the deed.

Well, that's it for now. The next term break is 21st February, and I expect to be back in KL from the 20th of February onwards, until 1st March. KL-ites, see you then...

2009

1st run for the new year was the race organised by Der Pacemakers in the form of a 6-looper around Lake Gardens. I completed the course in 1:09, which was alright under the circumstances.

Thanks to Lee Yin Fook for the photo.

So my long holiday in Malaysia has come to an end. So long 2008, hello 2009. 2008 has been an interesting year for me, among the highlights (in no particular order)-
- being a father. Mia Emmeline arrived on 30th October;

- obtained my Permanent Resident-ship;

- gaining ever more experience at work, and a better understanding of what makes them tick;

- got a bike and a trainer;

- taking the bold (but necessary) step in taking a sabbatical from work to take the Diploma in Singapore Law course at the National University of Singapore (very important step to being admitted to the Bar);

- generally I've been able to maintain a decent level of fitness despite the busy schedule. Work was extremely hectic until June (and I don't have a job that allows me to leave at 530pm or 6pm SHARP everyday); my course began in August 2008 and I had expected to be extremely free since I only had 9 hours of lectures in a week, but it turned out to be a rather hectic period.

- moved apartment.

- passed my exams, which grades turned out to be C, C, and B, by the way.

- my eyesight is restored because I went for LASIK. No more contact lenses/spectacles! Woo hoooo

- running-wise, nothing to shout about. I'm happy to have been able to put in some decent workouts from September onwards when my arches stopped acting up on a regular basis. With most of my running done solo in Singapore, and my inability to find a "proper" running route, I ran the 21k in Singapore Marathon in 1:41.

Back in Singapore already. Lectures begin on 13th January. This time, I have resolved to attend more lectures. The timetable states that lectures are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which appears to leave me with a considerable amount of free time, but we shall see.

I won’t be coming back to KL during the Chinese New Year, simply because we want to stay in Singapore for an extended period of time. Our lives, our schedules, our systems are in Singapore and leading the nomadic lifestyle, trying to balance our obligations to both sets of parents, driving to and fro Damansara Heights and Subang Jaya has been exhausting and draining.

Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone, here’s to a good fruitful, fit year to everyone!