One down, many to go

One of my new year's resolutions was to complete a 10k run in under 90 minutes. I know 90 minutes is a fairly relaxed goal, but I just needed a goal to get me started on endurance training. So after my exams last month, I signed up for a 10k training clinic with Running Room. The format consists of a clinic night (where various speakers come in to educate us on a topic for 20, 30 mins) followed by a short run, and open practice runs on Wed evenings and Sun mornings.

When I showed up on the first day, I discovered I'd unknowingly signed up for the Advanced 10k clinic (vs. a Beginner 10k), which is intended to condition 10k runners and prepare them for moving onto a half-marathon. And I'd find out in the following weeks that the other runners in the group either worked their way through the clinics (Learn to Run, 5K, then Beginner 10k), or had already been running 10k or halves. So I came in last *every* time, 3 runs a week, for 5 weeks straight. But at least new (and proper) shoes solved my knee pains. The runs have been getting easier (and less torturous) each time, and I enjoy running with the group.

This morning, we ran our first 10k route (actually it came out to 9.7k). Despite a sore hip flexor and IT band, I made it back to the store in 1:12:47. Not toooo shabby! Now I just have to work on finishing pain-free. :D

I've already signed up for 2 races:

• Golden Ears Bridge Run (7km)
  The grand opening of a new bridge in the Lower Mainland. Open to pedestrians in mid-June. Just a little taster for races, and to check it out. Later next month, the bridge will open to cars. I believe that the first month will be free, but afterward a toll of $2.85 will be charged.
  [Editor's notes:
  - Turned out to be 8.6km. Finished in 55:31. :)
  - News article about the GEB.
  - Pictures from the GEB run.]


• Canada Day ROCK Run (10km)
  This is the race this clinic is geared for. The race will take place in White Rock (hence the name), aaaand, there are 3 chances to win... a ROCK! Yep, a diamond! (But it's more like ONE chance, for the Average Joe.)

There are also the Squamish Days and the Terry Fox runs that I might be interested in running, but we'll see how this body holds up! :)

我今年的新年決心之一是 90 分鐘以內跑完十公里。 我知道 90 分鐘不是一個很炫燿的目標，但我主要是要有個目標給我一點動力開始運動，鍛鍊耐力。 所以上個月考完試之後，我就報名加入 Running Room 的十公里的跑步訓練班。 它的格式是每週請不同的講師來談某個話題，然後去跑步；週三和週日練習跑步。

我第一天去的時候發現我不意中加入了 10k 進階訓練班，給 10k 賽跑者加強訓練，讓他們能順利接著半馬拉松的訓練！ 然後經過幾週，發現他們大部分都有照著訓練班練起來 (新跑步者，5k，然後 10k 基礎)，或他們曾經已經跑過 10k 或半馬。 於是我過去五週，每週跑三次，每次都跑最後一名。 但至少買了新布鞋 (專業店員幫我挑的)，膝蓋不會痛了。 每次跑步越來越順了，跟第一次比起來好很多，然後也蠻喜歡跟一群人一起跑步 (當然都會散開)。

今天早上，我們第一次出去跑十公里 (其實跑了 9.7k)。 雖然髖屈肌和大腿外部的肌肉有點痠疼，但 1:12:47　跑完，回到跑步店。 不賴吧！ 接著要繼續訓練才能無疼痛地完成它。 :D

我已經報名了兩個比賽：

• 金穗大橋 (Golden Ears Bridge) 賽跑 (7公里)
  大溫區的一座新橋，六月中正式開幕，開放給行人。 用來嚐試一下比賽的感覺。 下個月底會開放給汽車；聽說第一個月免費，但之後要收 $2.85。
  [編輯註解:
  - 結果賽跑距離 8.6公里。 55分 31秒鐘完成。 :)
  - 金穗大橋開幕的新聞報告.
  - 當天拍的照片。]


• Canada Day ROCK Run (10公里)
  我們的訓練班就是針對這個比賽的。 比賽地點在大溫區的 White Rock (才會如此稱呼)。 還有，有三個機會能贏．．． 一顆鑽石！ 酷吧！ (一般人可能只有一個機會吧。)

之後，我對 Squamish Days 和 Terry Fox 的比賽也有興趣，不過先看看這臭皮囊能不能撐得了！ :)

A nice quiet bday

I'm afraid that I went through a bit of a cranky mood last night. A couple friends were asking how I was going to celebrate my birthday, and I got a little frustrated and let the pessimist take over. Everything that made me happy, I'd lost in the past year. There was nothing to celebrate.

[As a side note, though, my friend came over and helped me reset my whole wireless network, getting me a step closer to setting up an FTP site. That was the bestest present. :)]

Anyway, I woke up early and in a more neutral, non-murderous mood. I just wanted some quiet me time, so I decided to go to Deep Cove. It was gloomy, so I dawdled leaving the house, but by the time I arrived, the sun was out.

I love that the walk itself seems different every time. Benefits of a failing memory, haha. I just enjoyed the smell of the wet trail, the trees, the creeks along the way.

As I was nearing the end of the trail, I became aware of a tapping sound. I thought it might be sounds of construction that got carried into the forest, but I started scanning the trees. Sure enough, I saw a woodpecker tapping away at a tree! I could only see its red mohawk and a bit of white neck, so I'm guessing it's a pileated woodpecker. I tried moving to snap a picture, but then it was gone. :(

I stood quietly to see if the woodpecker might reappear, and while waiting, I heard a low drone. Flitting around a couple trees away was a hummingbird! It was a plump little thing, not very tiny (but still smaller than my fist). It wasn't bright aqua, green and red, like you often see in pictures, more like a female Mallard duck. But it was still a wondrous sight to see. :) It's just too bad I didn't get a pic of it, either! Bugger.

Anyhow, after the trail, I wandered a neat shop at Deep Cove (had fun ice cube trays and party ware, among other fun stuff), then tried out a what-I-thought-was-new sushi place near home.

But the woodpecker and the hummingbird were what made everything okay. :)

昨晚心情有點差。 有幾位朋友問我要如何慶祝我生日 我就開始frustrated，開始悲觀。 在過去的這一年，我失去了所有使我快樂的。 根本沒有什麼好慶祝的。

[不過，我朋友昨晚有來我家，重新設了我的無線網路，讓我更進一步設 FTP站。 這可是最棒的禮物。 :)]

今天早上起床的時候，心情就比較正常了，沒那麼兇殘。 想要自己安靜一下，所以決定去 Deep Cove。 天氣陰陰的，有點拖著出門，但我到了那邊的時候，太陽就已經出來了。

每次去那邊走走，感覺都不一樣，我很喜歡。 可能是年紀大了，記憶力變差的好處吧，哈哈。 我就慢慢享受 Deep Cove 下過雨的小道，的樹，小溪。

快到重點的時候，我聽見輕敲的聲音。 本來以為是附近施工的聲音，但仔細看附近的樹。 結果，的確有一隻啄木鳥敲敲敲著樹！ 只看得到牠的紅色摩霍克髮型和白色的頸子，但我猜是大啄木鳥。 我試著走近一點拍照，但牠就不見了。 :(

我靜靜地等著，看牠會不會再出現。 然後就聽到一個低沈的嗡嗡響聲。在前方輕快地飛有一隻蜂鳥！ 牠肥嘟嘟的，小小的 (雖然不是及小，但還是比拳頭小)。 牠沒有顯眼的色彩，不像常看到的照片裡的藍，水綠，綠，紅色。 不過，還是覺得很驚奇。 但還是沒拍到！ 真可惜！

走完之後就去逛那邊附近的小店，然後去我家附近的壽司店吃午餐。

能見到啄木鳥和蜂鳥真是我的福氣，讓我很開心。

9 for '09

I'm not usually one for New Year's resolutions, but I figured that with my life where it is right now, it wouldn't be bad to have some. So here we go, 9 for '09.

1. Lose 5 pounds
   Through exercise and a proper diet, not starvation. The goal is more to re-establish an exercise routine than to lose the pounds.


2. Learn to use my camera settings properly
   For a camera with limited settings, I should really figure out why my pictures turn out like crap. With all my education and geekiness, this really shouldn't be so hard. Really now.


3. Grouse Grind under 90
   Er, to match the '9' theme, yeah. After 12 years since my last climb, it took me nearly 2 hours to do the Grind last fall. Pathetic. They say that the Grouse Grind is roughly your time for a 10k run, so let's do that, too: 10k run.


4. Volunteering
   I've been thinking about volunteer work, so I'd like to find a good cause to which to donate my time. Maybe Canadian Blood Services or Canadian National Institute for the Blind.


5. Learn to meditate
   I tried this when I was in Taiwan, and with the long work hours (and me always going to the climbing gym), I'd always fall asleep when meditating. I need to find a relaxation technique that will help me relax and clear my mind.


6. Mind my temper
   I'm usually pretty tolerant, but my temper has a short fuse. Need to either mitigate a situation earlier on, or learn to hold my temper before I say something I'll regret. Hopefully this and the previous one will help me take the high road, too.


7. Be less late, or late less
   Been working on this one for a couple of years, and it's slowly improving, but I'm still late sometimes. Need to allot more time for commute (i.e. no rushing traffic!) and... make-up.


8. Try yoga
   I used to scoff at yoga ("soft sports" :P), but a lot of people swear by it, saying it vastly improves flexibility. I'm not the 3-way splitter I was back in high school, but I'd like to regain a bit of it!


9. Clutter cleanup
   This is probably the hardest one, haha. It's like a disease, spreading throughout the house. :P I need to get organised.

Alright! We'll see how well I do!

The big 3-0

Well. I turn 30 tomorrow.

I can't say that I've had any particular anxiety [so far] about this completion of a decade, at least not directly related to turning 30. I've had a lot of things on my mind the past half year or even whole year, so turning 30 is nothing.

Anyhow, it just happens that I'll be hiking this weekend, so I get to spend my birthday atop a mountain with friends, breathing fresh air, and - most importantly - being away from the office.

Of course, the flip side is... it's all downhill from there.