Monday, February 28, 2011 0 b*tchin

Zigtech Treadmill Challenge

Dear bloggie,

Burnt some calories today for the Reebok Treadmill Zigtech Challenge...

824 calories to be exact...

After run, ate a pasta I estimate to be 500+ calories and nite time ate buffet steamboat, another 500 calories... So plus and minus, I gained 200+ calories... -_-'

Ran a negative split ran. Started 6.4kmph, slowly ram up to 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11 and 12... A bit surprised I can sustain the ram up with not too much difficulty. And to think a few months back (6 months) I had trouble maintaining 10kmph pace on the treadmill. Miscalculated the ram up rate, I think should have ram up faster as by the end of the challenge, still got gas left...

Anyway, alot freebies... But the main thing I want aka "Reebok Bag" not entitled since they kick me to the afternoon time slot coz too many people. *Sigh*
Saturday, February 26, 2011 0 b*tchin

C00l quote

Dear bloggie,

Listen to me, listen to me!
Why should I waste my time listening to you?
Cause I have a voice!

Wow... Awesome scene from "The King's Speech"....
Thursday, February 24, 2011 0 b*tchin

Case maker training

Dear bloggie,

"Programmers are people that are constantly striving to improve themselves."

Hard to imagine this line actually won me a praise from a presentation trainer to be a really attention grabbing presentation opener.

Yes, I been attending a 2 days crash course on making a presentation (Case Maker). This course mainly involved training the trainees how to link together their ideas to deliver a better presentation. Too bad they don't cover presentation skill, ie: talking in front of the crowd which is my real problem.

But 2 days off work, not a bad deal... So I thought... Damn mafan to think of presentation points for the training, harder than my work to be honest. I had the urge to go to work instead of attend this training. At the end of the training, all trainee were required to present a summarize version of their case. I was sweating when I heard this. Lucky, the presentation is just follow the point written in the presentation circuit. My line above got tag as the good thing in my presentation and my overall case was said to be a solid one (Case: Asking my team lead to ask management to conduct more in house training and knowledge sharing on the in house framework). He however remarked my presentation skill sux, and that I should try to relax and don't go like a train when making my presentation.

Expected la... I was actually shivering during the presentation. Lame, I know...
Sunday, February 20, 2011 0 b*tchin

;)

Dear bloggie,

Quite sometime since I last posted a song clip, so here, enjoy:



Hakao, Suga Shikao

[English Translation]

Having grown too used to always watching but pretending not to,
I lost sight of you
Today, without a pattern, I was severely ashamed of myself
Over your kind words

The sky doesn't have even a single cloud in it, so clear
That it's like I can peek across to the other side of the horizon

Someone defiled me, so I, too
Betrayed people
I sniggered off the concept of love
As a stupid construct

The light on the waves shimmers far away
I don't want to be forced to trample down
The sad things or the wonderful things anymore

The moment I shut my eyes against a sudden wind
I floated in a dark ocean
I hurriedly opened my eyes, praying there was a light
Bright enough to dazzle me...
Saturday, February 19, 2011 0 b*tchin

Finale

Dear bloggie,

Yes, with a BIG stroke of luck, I was the last @$$hole standing that couldn't even stand anymore after the challenge. The muscle guy was MIA (he no MIA, confirm he win la), hence 2 male onli (including me). Some more 3 of gals. Still was pushed to max by "the iron lady", almost lost at burpees, managed to draw with her... But at sit up manage to outlast her, really lucky win. If need do burpee, squat or jumping squat, sure lose...

[To blog later...]
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 0 b*tchin

272 steps of faith...

Dear bloggie,

272 x 2 x 5

That's 2,720... Ok, for those who are wondering wtf I'm b*tchin about, one needs to know a few things...

1. Batu Caves stair case consist of 272 steps
2. Boot camp #5 was held in Batu Caves, campers were required to jog + walk up and down the stairs 5 times
3. I attend and completed the Boot camp #5

So, it doesn't take someone with an IQ of 180 to deduce wat 2,720 means now. Yea, I humped conquer Batu Caves stair case 5 times over. I'd pay tribute to the Gods of Running by jog + walk up those bloody stairs, those stairs are stained in blood I tell u... I gave it all I had, till my leg was trembling from the shock.

I will be the first to admit, how I underestimated those stairs. 272 onli mah... Wat a humbling experience it was for me, when I onli managed to jog up less than 1/4 of the way up on my 1st attempt. I was stunned by how hard it was to jog on those stairs. For starters, the steps are small, smaller than my foot be be exact. Hence it's hard to not feel fear of miss stepping when I jog at a rather fast pace up this steps. I had to walk most of the way as I'm unable to conquer my fear of falling. Despite walking 3/4 of the way up, my stamina was already pushed to overdrive when I reached the top the temple. Coming down however was far easier. Just make sure u land correctly on the steps.

My 2nd lap was better. I observed how the trainer jog on this stairs. 1/2 foot landing only on the steps. I mimic it. Managed to jog almost 1/2 way up. Then I suddenly felt a soreness in my quads. I try pushing through it, but my leg was limping already. I was stunned by how hard it was to take those tiny steps. I walked remaining of the way up. On top, my breathing was already in ravaged mode and I discovered I was OSIMed (Whole body was shaking like those people standing/sitting/riding on a OSIM machine, when I stand straight due to quads trembling). I try pumping some life back into my quads by doing some leg stretches. Helped a bit, but I jog down the stairs with these trembling quads.

Round 3, the short run on flat surface below (make a 50m u turn back to the stairs) restored some of my spirit to continue tis crazy pilgrimage. Again I started up jog up the stairs. This time around, I made a slight adjustment to my leg hop. I try reducing the leaping strength I used. I deduce I was using way too much strength on the previous lap for each step hence accumulating too much acid lactic too soon. My adjustment worked as I made it way pass the 1/2 way point but didn't quite made it to the 3/4 point. On the top, I continue to OSIMed and feel giddy. A brief walking around the top of the temple to recover before jogging down.

My 4th, I was pretty much already in agony. I already had the "Hate this f*ckin training", "Can't do this", "OMG WTF! Gimme a flat running route pls!" feel. Some minor adjustment on strength used for each step, I managed to reach the 3/4 point. At this point, I was OSIMed, tired, breathing like a vacuum cleaner and THIRSTY. I wanted to kicked myself on the head for being so conceited for no bringing along my water when the trainer asked if we needed to bring along the water for the pilgrimage (None boot campers bought along their water, all underestimated this challenge). "Just ignore the trembling and jog on" the trainer advice when I jog down. The trainers seem immune to the OSIMed effect these steps have on normal people.

The final lap, despite all the humbling experience I endured, the desire to complete the pilgrimage was still burning hot. I gave it all I had for the last jog up. I tried tailing my trainer pace (still obvious he's still holding back), and managed to somehow follow it most of the way. With around 50+- steps left, my leg just stop responding. Too much acid lactic in my quads. I could see the top, and I wanted to push through it, I didn't care about the pain... but my leg just won't respond... I walked up the few remaining steps in agony, not physical one but rather in spirit for failing to complete even 1 full jog up. On the top, the gerai was already open, so I bought a bottle of mineral water and drown myself in disappointment. The trainer decided to give us a breather by giving us a tour guide into Batu Caves. 1st time I visited Batu Caves, so quite amusing to see the temple inside the cave. The jog down was nothing much to write about as the tough part was already over. But on the way down, the trainer pointed to us a guy whom was holding 3-4 box of can drinks on his head while heading upward. Kowtow...

A short breather, and we finished off with the routine drills. Push up, Sit up, Burpee, Squat, Jumping Squat and Step up for 3 sets, set 1 for 30 seconds, set 2 for 45 seconds and final set 60 seconds. At set 2, my shoulder strength gave up during push up (overdone it in set 1). Leg loss strength at 2nd set jumping squat, couldn't even jumped. 3rd set was a really painful one. Felt like puking while doing the final set. Had no shoulder strength hence struggle in push up and step up. Quad were toasted, struggle to do burpee and jumping squat. When the trainer said "stop" at the final drill exercise, I crashed to the floor. Really breakdown, physical and mental.

I have to say, the whole experience was a really satisfying one (despite all the pain, OSIM, humbling, breakdown, etc). This was what I signed up for. To push myself to and beyond my limit both physically and mentally. I think this round, I really exceeded my limit, the steps really busted my quads making the drill harder than it already was. I promised myself, I would one day again attempt this pilgrimage again.
Monday, February 14, 2011 1 b*tchin

Valentine Days

Dear bloggie,

They say somebody's trash is someone else treasure. How true, especially for this particular day.

A very lonely day today...Office was 1/2 empty coz most sick... Love sick...
Monday, February 7, 2011 0 b*tchin

Kick some ice

Dear bloggie,

Yea... Went to Suke to Sunway Piramid today to do some post CNY shopping. Too bad the clothes I wanted to buy got some pulled thread, so I didn't buy it, tomolo will got Mid Valley hunt for this cloth.

However, I broke the monk tradition of doing absolutely nothing on shopping mall trips by doing something quite unexpected... Skating. Yea, Suke suggested we try skating, and the next thing we know, we already in the ice ring hanging to the side of the wall for our dear life.

As I already expected, skating looks so easy, but when u get into the ice ring with those skates, F*CK... Fear! My first few steps, I was glued to the wall, fearing I would flip and fall overhead... I swing my leg backwards to get some momentum so I can move forward, instead one skate pull me backward, another pull me forward... Panic... It was baby steps for Suke and me, as we try to learn how to walk on skates with the aid of the wall. After making 3/4 circle around the ring, we were faced with a blocker, 1/4 corner of the ring was close for "pro" to practice. So we had 2 options, 1 walk back opposite direction against the flow (but have the wall for aid) or take a leap of faith and walk across the center of the ring to the other side of the ring. Suke almost took the later options but chicken out after unable to balance on the skate without the wall. I didn't even consider the latter options as I knew I would sink. So we both made our way back to the other side against the flow. Slowly, I managed to learn how to walk without the wall. Painful process for my foot I tell u. We managed to make it back to the exit and took a timeout at the bench.

Discouraged by pathetic effort to skate, I almost wanted to just call it quit. But somehow, I feel an urge to atleast take a blind leap of faith and try to cross the center of the ice ring without the aid of the wall. So I jumped back into the ring and try to walk near the wall without holding to the wall. Soon, as the fear of falling slowly subside, I was able to walk without the wall with some random almost fall moments. Soon I reach the 3/4 dead end again. Here, seeing so many people crossing the ring without the aid of the wall, some falling on their bum trying... I took a leap of faith and walk across. Was a very frightening moment, especially when the thought of falling in the middle of the ring with no one to aid you up again. How will I drag myself up on the slippery ice? But lucky for me, I managed to walk across with no incident... -_-"

The fear of falling was soon replaced by the desire to learn how to glide. Try a few things, but never really managed to glide forward, not sure why. Tried observing a few pro skaters, but not sure why they can gain momentum by pushing their leg back. I tried pushing my leg back and not only no momentum but almost fall. Still had fun circling the ring a few times with no aid from the wall. Suke soon joined me too and attempted to cross the ring too. Since I can walk on the ice de, he use me as support. Both almost fell when he lost his balance and pulled me, resulting me also almost lose balance. But soon he also managed to walk on the ice.

I had a few more rounds walking on the ring, but still didn't managed to skate. Probably wrong technique. Anyway, alot of mui mui chai and chicks on the ring. One mui mui chai (college age I think) grabbed onto my elbow from my behind when she almost fell. Also saw a dude do a frontal ramming into a gal from the side... Wow, next time I also wanna try tis de la...

Too bad my left foot near the ankle was in pain, so I had to stop "walking" and rest at the bench. I pulled the socks out and wow... skin peel a few layers... No blood but I think the way I walk on ice is wrong hence the boot chipped into my leg. I decided to call it a day and hit the road with Suke. Overall, an enjoyable experience... Look forward the next skating session. Maybe will take up some classes on skating too... See how...
Sunday, February 6, 2011 0 b*tchin

F*CKIN CNY

Dear bloggie,

Damn f*cked up CNY. First, whole family sick. Eve mother, 1st day father, 2nd day sister. My immune managed to drag to today still no sick, but got headache.

Been trying to organize gambling session, on Friday nite with spelly and acapan. Acapan suddenly wan to go Station 1 yumcha, play chor dai di there lor for awhile, lose a couple of rounds de, Acapan dun wan play de. So balik Spelly house to play chia kut, CB... reach de Acapan say wan to go home sleep.

Yesterday, I setup another session. Acapan suddenly suggest go Genting instead. I cincai lor. So drive the whole way to highway de, midway... got lost coz dun wan follow signboard. Follow GPS lor, take us use backroute to Genting. No lights, no car, no house, small initial D road uphill in the forest at midnight. After 30 minutes of driving in this route, connect back to highway but pass the junction to Genting de. Make u turn at perhentian lor, signboard show need use ghost road again. Acapan at this point say wan balik la. I asked him to stop at the petrol station ask ppl how to turn to Genting as we a already just at the bottom of the hill, ignored (His car wat to do). So drive back whole way to Klang go mamak for another silent session. Drink and eat de, bla... Acapan set this Friday go again... By the way he complaining last nite bout "never wan to drive to Genting again" I "highly" doubt it.... Yet again, who am I to complain since I not willing to drive the monks up.

Today, no car... Sister took it go lepak. Ask monks if wan sing K, MFR dun wan. Not enuff kaki. So here I'm pondering "Why" tis CNY so f*cked up? A bunch of old frens since high school, but the mood like sh*t...

This group energy is really bad la. I dunno wat is wrong. If can sit in mamak in silence, something is seriously wrong. Maybe we talk till nothing to talk anymore, is that even possible? Yet again, maybe it's me... Maybe I changed, feel older de so feel time slipping by, we're already at the half way mark, maybe more... I rather go lepak alone than to slack at home doing nothing. Doing nothing changes nothing, doing something changes thing, or maybe Lao Tze was right... I dunno de la