PBIM 2012 Prep Updates and Adidas Adipure Motion Quick Review!

Penang Bridge Internation Marathon 2012 - 10km run prep updates

So yeah the most anticipated Penang Bridge Run (PBIM 2012) ever ( at least for me) is going to happen in 2 days time. My prep so far has been absolutely crappy. Yay!

Asides from hiking (twice) and maybe about 2 jogging/walking activities and let's not forget to mention the frigging unintended 6 hours hiking trip (20km return trip) up a hill some weekends ago, so that's pretty  much my prep for my 10km run this coming Sunday. I could come up with thousands of excuses to not going all out for this run unlike how I prep myself for the 10km SCKLM 2011 or was it 2010? I can't even remember when was the last time I actually really ran. :)

Penang Bridge International Marathon Singlet Women 2012

The best part about joining Penang Bridge Marathon for this year is because it is the final year everyone gets to run on this 'old' bridge as they are going to change the marathon to the newer bridge for next year. I used to just lived like almost literally right across the bridge for a couple of years and yeah it was part of the 'dream' to run the bridge some day. Hence, that some day is going to happen pretty soon and I am  simply excited for just registering and I already got my race pack and all. So this is something big alright. To top it up again, it's all happening in November - like my favourite month of the year. Yeah, it's going to be so much fun running with 2 other friends who have done not much of a training what so ever, so we are just going to enjoy maybe doing some fast walk together. :)

Adidas Adipure Motion Women - Quick Review

Adidas Adipure Motion Women Shoe

Oh, I also got myself a new running shoe - Adidas Adipure Motion,  specifically for this marathon or was it because I was just being tempted with shopping for the sake of using a 50% discount voucher ( final price down to MYR300 instead of MYR399 ) that my friend got and at that time it made perfect sense to get a shoe that you will not really run much on it. A quick review on this Adidas Adipure Motion, the one I got is of course the purple color women shoe. Truthfully, it was a bit of a pain on my toes (both feet and later on only on the left foot, I think) for the first few weeks wearing the shoes. So the reviews are true when they say you will need a bit of a longer time to get used to wearing this Adipure Motion mainly because the front of the shoe keeps on pulling on the big toe and that can be painful at least for me although it wasn't even an issue for my friend who got herself the same shoes too. Then again, it will all depends on each individuals.

After weeks of getting used to wearing things simply just got better with the feet. No more issues on big toes getting pull up because maybe the shoes has stretched up a little bit following the shape of my feet. This Adipure Motios is really great, comfy and very light just wearing it without the socks on. I even tried running once without the socks, although the feeling was great but after about 4km my smaller foot, the left one started to rub a bit too frequently with the shoe and I ended up with a tiny blister. Otherwise, I think it's a really cool and great running shoe.

I'm going to end off here before I'm going through more of a running prep rant rather than updates. Off to bed now and maybe I can dream about some last minute training to get me through the 10km. All the best to me and I hope we will have great fun, nice weather, safe run and travel.

Penang Bridge International Marathon 18 Nov 2012 (PBIM) - Coming Soon!

Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) on 18 November 2012 - here I come, Insya Allah :)

Finally, I had paid and registered for yet another 10km event this time around for PBIM which is going to be held on November 18, 2012. For the time being, I am really excited that I actually made the attempt to at least register for this event because only God knows how long I've been saying to myself that I should run at PBIM.And I'm doubly happy because I managed to encourage a few of my friends  to join the 10km event as well. So double yay to that!

It's still a long way to go for the event day and I'm thinking to only start with proper training right after Ramadhan which will be somewhere in September. My last 10km run at SCKLM 2011, I "ran" the 10.6km course in 1:25:45 which was a fairly okay timing for someone who only trained for a month before the event and only ran 10km once before the big day.

 My net time

When I did the 10k, I was doing a mix of jogging, fast walk, big step fast walk and a final sprint towards the finishing line. So that was my definition of a 'run'.

However, this time around I'm targeting to finish in about an hour or less. So my plan is to train a 5 km course for the first month, set a good timing for that around 30 minutes and continue the next month, gradually increasing the km until I reach the 10km mark with a good timing. With that said, I may need to get a proper running shoes since the one I'm using is a trail running shoe which is more suitable for trekking or off-roads. I'm really excited to get back my running stamina and simply enjoy running.

Oh the best part about running in PBIM is that we get to run on Penang's Bridge! Like isn't that a load of fun. For anyone who is interested to join up the event you can choose from these different categories : Fun Run, 10KM, Half Marathon, Full Marathon. I did the registration and payment via online and do visit www.penangmarathon.gov.my, click here for more information and to sign up for the event. The last day for registration will be on the 15 October 2012 with a late registration fee which is going to cost you more than if you do it now. Hurry up, do sign up and Penang Bridge Marathon here we go!

My Running Playlist : Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera

Do you want to know what is the perfect song to add on your current running playlist or jogging list of songs? At least right now for me, "Moves Like Jagger" is at the top of my list. Everybody loves this song and who wouldn't right? Seriously, I wouldn't mind spinning this tune on repeat for the gazillion times and I'll still be all pumped up throughout my run.

Listen up, download it and have an awesome run people!

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suRsxpoAc5w

Click below to purchase from Amazon.com :



 

 

Running Playlist - Barbra Streisand : Duck Sauce

This Barbra Streisand song by Duck Sauce is my current craze! It pumps you up real good and it can be an incredible music companion while you are running. This song can boost up your energy and motivation in a beat. If you have never heard of this song before, you really SHOULD right now.

To download from Amazon , click here : Barbra Streisand by Duck Sauce MP3 Download

FYI, the AJ Hackett crew at Nevis Bungy got this Barbra Streisand tune pumping on full blast at the bungy platform. This song really helped to boost up the adrenaline in my blood just a little bit before I had my moment of free-falling at the Nevis Bungy. Otherwise, you can still count on Duck Sauce with their Barbra Streisand song while you are running.

This is yet another must have tune in your running playlist - Barbra Streisand, so go listen and load it on your mp3 now!

My Jogging Playlist - High BPM Tracks From The Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack

My jogging playlist is currently spinning some crazily high BPM (beats per minute) tracks from The Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack. The Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack Album consists of tunes by the following bands :

• Linkin Park


• Marilyn Manson


• Rob Zombie


• Rob Dougan


• Oakenfold


• Don Davis


• P.O.D


• Unloco


• Rage Against The Machine


• Juno Reactor

If you are into any of these genres above, you will love having added this whole Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack album in your jogging playlist. It is simply amazing on how energized you can get on every play of these awesomely high in energy music. Imagine yourself literally being transmitted with a sudden surge of energy at every vibrations of the BPM. You will tend to jog or run faster at every beat and yes, you will be amazed at how simply you can control your jogging or running momentum by having the correct type of jogging playlist pulsating as you jog.

To have a listen on the over the top, high grade BPM tracks from The Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack : The Album, click HERE. You will love them if energy is what you crave for in achieving that momentum in your jogging or running.

My kind of Running Playlist : Dance & Electronic - Paul Oakenfold

I have written about my favorite running playlist before which is the Funktion Won from Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Vegas album. By far, I would really think that Dance-Electronic or Club music is probably one of the best running music that you can have playing in your MP3/iPod playlist. Personally I just love any genre that has  Dance, Electronic and Club tunes. The effect of having great vibrating music pumping next to your ears is liberating, energetic and powerful. It gives away just about the right amount of energy boost to motivate you to stride and run.

Besides Funktion Won, here are a couple of songs that you may want to add on to your running playlist mix :

Left Alone - really good morning run music. The beat intensify gradually as the song goes.

Awaken (Torin Schmitt Remix) - it has fast beat starting from the start of the song and have lots of lyrics to 'wake you up'.

Ultimately, anything from the Perfecto Vegas Album by Paul Oakenfold is worth to have in your running playlist. I can guarantee  you a great running experience when you have a real spectacular running music playlist to accompany you with. If you have never checked out on any of Oakenfold's awesome, energetic music, you must have a go at it. Try out listening here and have a feel on their great tunes. Oakenfold simply kicks ass!

My kind of Running Music: Funktion Won - Kenneth Thomas & Shawn Michaels | Perfecto Vegas Album

Running is a one man, solo game. It is just you running and the next thing after yourself to keep the running momentum going is your running music playlist. My kind of music can be anything from trance, dance, electronica and pretty much anything similar to those kind of genre. All about pure beats and rhythm.

You have to give Funktion Won - Kenneth Thomas & Shawn Michaels a listen if you don't mind listening to cool, vibrating beats and it is yet another must have music in my running music playlist. So what do you have playing in your running playlist?

Funktion Won - Kenneth Thomas & Shawn Michaels (Paul Oakenfold : Perfecto Vegas Album)



You can also have a listen of Funktion Won (The Junkies Remix)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuX9TXZQWso

Lastly, Keep on Running, Yo!

Are you going to run for the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2010?

So are you going to run for the Penang Bridge Marathon? If you ask me, my answer is most probably No! Haha.

In case you haven't known already, the Penang Bridge International Marathon a.k.a PBIM for this year 2010 is going to be held on the 21st November, which is roughly about one month from now. Registration is still open until the 31st of this month with no increase of price for every categories. However, the courier service option for your race pack will no longer be available now and you have to personally get your pack at the counter.

Click here to read more about Penang Bridge International Marathon this 21st November 2010

Oh, you may probably want to know why I won't be participating in this run, right? Oh well it's going to be another list of excuses really. Hihi. The fact is I love to run. I even ran almost all the way down from Low's Peak, Mount Kinabalu to Gunting Lagadan. Heck I love running. The reason for not participating this time around like every other time really ( you know I always wanted to run in a marathon) is just because of the timing. I don't think I can spend the next 30 days going through some intensive running practice and the last time I ran a near 5km, was last month and the timing was absolutely pathetic. I think it was more of a walking rather than running.

Anyhow, to my friend, Zue who is going to run on her first marathon which is the 10km category, I wish you a lot of luck and I hope you'll have a great time running. Oh my, am I really sure I'm going to miss out on this? *contemplating probably until the last day of registration ends. :)

Breathing techniques while running or hiking

If you are finding yourself gasping for air after a short time of running or ascending hiking, you may want to try out the proper breathing technique for your run or hike. So, how is it done?

It works simply by following the standard 3:2 ratio of breathing where it is a 3 deep inhale for the first 3 steps and 2 slow exhale for the next 2 steps and repeat. As you get used to this 3:2 breathing technique, you can see yourself running or hiking steadily but most importantly you will be relaxed and are able to keep a constant pace or momentum throughout your run or hike.

Do note that the way you breathe differs from one individual to the other and following the 3:2 breathing ratio may be difficult for first timers. I know that very well because initially, I did find it hard to get used to the 3 deep breathe with 2 exhale and at the end found myself gasping and panting even harder than before. If that is the case with you, you can vary your breathing to 3:3 breathing ratio and alternately changing to 3:2 ratio later on during your run. For fast running or sprint, most runners implement the 2:1 breathing ratio while most elite long distance runners do the 2:2 breathing ratio throughout their miles of running.

It is also vital to know that good breathing techniques particularly as I have recommended which is deep breathing may help your body to function well and efficiently. It works quite simply by making your body more oxygenated. Enough oxygen in your blood cells help to process more energy for your body to function better especially during strenuous long run or hill/mountain ascent. Moreover, deep breathing can give you a calming effect during your run or even your daily life and it is the easiest fix for stress.

Keep on practicing and working on your breathing techniques to build your overall stamina and performance. It is also very much recommended to breathe (inhale and exhale) using your nose instead of using your mouth and nose because nose breathing helps to filter impurities from the air and regulate the body temperature. Will that all said, never take your breathing technique for granted because if you get the technique right, it will do wonders in your running or ascending hiking performance.