Optimizing my travels

Wait no, I'm not going on holiday soon. But in the midst of planning for one in July.

Where to? Cousin's wedding in London and this will be my 1st time back there after I graduated more than 10 years ago. So this will be UK-revisit and of course a stopover in Leeds in compulsory.

Now, what am I trying to optimize? My interest in running started when I was in UK. It was also then I unearthed my ability to swim consecutively many laps in the pool (yeah, trying to swim my sorrows away after a bad break-up, seriously) but that wasn't the begining of my interest in endurance sports/ multi-sports yet. All I did was just individually. And that was it.

Managed to swim 20 laps I think at that point of time and I think about 10 rounds of Hyde Park (in Leeds). Can't really remember the numbers.

And upon starting work and subsequently my post-grad studies, it was during the post-grad studies that I had time to gain weight and of course my counter measures were to 'indulge' more in endurance sports. And so it began. I ran...half marathons....included biking and then went for swimming lessons specifically for free-style (I was a breast-stroker only person then). And so my first triathlon was in 2000 in Melaka (A-formosa Tri).

Anyway, I digressed. So now that I am returning to UK, I'd like to at least do a run there. Triathlon will be too challenging logistically. I was excited when I realised London Marathon was quite close to my travel dates, but there are certain criterias to be met before participating. So now I've resorted to 10k runs within the time frame of my travel. Found York 10k run about a week within my travel range, so I think that will be my event to look forward to. York is a quaint city not too far from Leeds. A 20+ minute bus ride from Leeds and it was where more 'entertainment' was back then compared to Leeds.

That being said, I may look for another event within that time too. One before and one after perhaps. Since it is summer anyway....surely there will be lots of events.

*keeping fingers crossed*

Planter project

Nothing very grand but a few weeks ago, I decided to teach my kids about how the plant grows from a seed. So there goes the 'taugeh' plant. This is his second round of the project done in his grandma's house. He wanted to see how tall it would grow, but by the time we left after a week, it was still very much alive and very tall. So he learnt about the plant's lifecycle. Or so I hope he did. :)

Encounters

Today I had an interesting encounter....

Technical meeting in client's office where my ex-boss was also present. Talk about awkwardness on the decade.  I was expecting my ex-colleague but ended up it was my ex-boss present. Hah! So much for thinking of a gossip session :P

But all in all, it ended up not too bad. We were preoccupied with presentations after presentations so it didn't leave much opportunity for interaction!

oh well!

TRX Rip Trainer Certification

I have 'invested' in getting myself certified as a TRX Rip Trainer!

TRX Rip is different from the Suspension Training. This is alot more technical and works the core tremendously.  Rip Training utilizes a lever bar and resistance cord to provide a unique mix of rotation, core stability, control, power, strength, mobility, metabolic conditioning, balance and coordination challenges. TRX has developed a wide assortment of unique, leverage-variable resistance exercise movements, coaching cues, and programming and educational principles using the Rip Trainer, the collection of which comprises Rip Training.

Check http://www.trxtraining.com/rip-training for more information.

Unlike the suspension training which was developed for the US Navy Seals, this was developed for the US Taekwondo team.

I've only been using the suspension trainer and decided to plunge into getting myself certified for the Rip. Boy, I was in for a surprise, but I was very delighted. It was definitely very very very good! And now I am hooked. Now, I need to improve myself before I can teach! I can't wait!!

When I Grow Up, I wanna be....

Typical 'what do you want to be?' question, right? But not for this AIR1.

One weekend, we dropped by a petshop. We will take them for a look-around if its in the mall we're at. So this time, he saw some hamsters and was very interested. He has never asked me for a pet before but somehow that day he did. I tink he was more fascinated by the hamster's cage than anything.

'Mummy can I have one?'

'No, not now. Next time when you are older'

'But I want, Mummy. Then buy this also', pointing to the hamster cages. My mum asked if I still had mine, but told her that she gave them to my cousins who have now given those away too. So, I guess the option to own a hamster won't be so soon. IF I did still have the cage, I would consider sooner, but now its going to be a larger investment, so no way! :P

Then that night, out of the blue I told AIR1 'Next time, when you are older Mummy will buy you the hamster, ok?'
'No, I don't want!' I was surprised, but glad in a way, but I probbed further.
'Puppy?' 'No!'
'Cat?' 'No!'
'Mickey Mouse?' 'No!'
'Rabbit?' 'No!'
'Chipmunk?' 'No!'

Exasperated, I asked....'but just now u wanted a hamster, now what do you want?'

'I want to be a BIG BOY!'

And we all burst out laughing in the car!! :)

Suspension Yoga

Photo Credit to google.com

That was what I did yesterday, and although there were a few other inversion exercises done before, this was the ultimate. It was the coolest thing ever. Right after that 'blood rush' to the head, my scalp was soooooo itchy :) But of course it is quite difficult to get it upright in the begining. I wanna do it again!!

Go search images of 'suspension yoga' and see all the different poses that can be done. Looks really tricky but actually not, unless you are really very very stiff, otherwise it is generally do-able.

Now lets get the upside-down moves going :)

S26 PE Challenge

Now, guess what's that?

Yeah, a crate-ful of milk...S26 PE.

And...it was free!

Long story which I never got to it until now.

Sometime during Ramadhan 2012, I received an SMS asking me to reply to that SMS if interested to participate in the S26 PE challenge. *PE means Picky Eater*...Well, truthfully AIR1 is not really picky but he only eats certain things. Other than that, he doesn't really want to eat and on certain occassions, he can go just the whole day having milk. So I thought I'd just give it a try.

A week later (or so), a lady called to congratulate me for being one of the chosen ones. (According to the SMS, there will be 500) so oklah, at least I'm part of the 500. And the SMS was sent to those who previously registered with them. Yup, once upon a time, I did try S26 for AIR2.

And anyway, the supply was supposed to be for 2 months, and now (today), approximately 6 weeks into it, I'm down to 2 boxes left. :) So much for 2 months! Buuuuuutttt, thank God for the chance to have this for 12 boxes of milk! :)

Last week, the 'counsellor' called to check if there was any improvement or change...but nah, I didn't really think so. He still eats the same stuff but is somewhat more willing to try others. Only thing is that his definition of try - take a small bite and that's it. I think its the age..he seem to be 'outgrowing' his wanting to only take milk the whole day and is willing to have meals. But his meals can be quite sad, from a parents' point of view. Rice only. Ane he means it. Anything he tastes hiding behind the rice will be carefully picked out or irritatedly thrown out, with a scream!

Now let's hope he will definitely outgrow this weird eating habit....