A one-live cat's life

Reviving Virtual Runs

Virtual running is running with runners wherever in world in a synched time.

I started doing VRs last August of 2007 and that the VR buddies got tied up with work (and lazing in the bed longer-- that's me) and travel so it just died down.

The HF did some efforts in reviving the the VRs again! I did sign up on joining the group BUT i failed as i had to travel down, down under Melbourne so i did my VR on the same DAY (not time) @ the treadmill.

Here are the VR buddies:

Banggi
Eric
o.0
b3n
bench
TBR
Marga

28/7/08: Treadmill, 920PM, Glen Waverly, Victoria: 6 KMs 30mins
29/7/08: Treadmill, 930PM, Glen Waverly, Victoria:4 KMs 20 mins
30/7/08: Treadmill, 830PM, Rozelle, NSW, 8 KMs 40 mins
31/7/08: rest day
01/8/08: Treadmill, 830PM, Rozelle, NSW, 12 KMs 1 hour
02/08/08: Bay Run (2x), 630AM,730AM w Woodstock: 14KMs
Weeks Mileage: 56 Kms

03/08/08:Rozelle Bay, Balmain,Bay run 730AM 23 KMs

Bay Run 08

Last Saturday, I miscalculated the dates and i was too excited and thought that the bay run was 20th of July, just remembered the Saturday i woke up, its on 28th of July, 2008! I did plan not to run with the Woodies as i dont run the day before a race.  Although Steve from Woodstock says its alright if i am training for a half marathon to run a day before a race. 

Anyway, so I did run with the group last Saturday at Timbrell Park.  And missed the interval speed training with Steve :(.   Again this Saturday which i planned to run really early on the bay and meet the group on time slowly not to compromise my performance a day before the race, i was late yet I still did the run at the bay, speeding at the end not wanting to miss the coffee.

So I did meet the group maybe 5 minutes after everybody arrived, just in time! They did run the Five docks at 7KM and I did the bay at 7Km.  After the nice usual coffee and breakfast, went home and did a lot of stretching and free light weights.

I was aiming for a time of 35 mins for the 7KM.  Alarm set off at 620, and slept through it until 650.  Still plenty of time to prepare, as race starts at 815 for females, and the venue is 15 minutes walk from my flat, which will be a 7 mins jog warm up for me.  Reckon the weather agency says its going to be 6 degrees today.  Went out with my sunnies and cap, long sleeved singlet, and my skins + jumper on. 

Arrived the venue 30 minutes early, checked in my bag, got my race kit.  There was a fair number of runners, walkers and their dogs.  So we organizers lead some warm up excercises.  Then at 8 the male runners set off, we followed at 815. Whoa! they were really fast! i tried to make a good head start and pace on the course, but well i did, but i dont think I am still fully aclimitized with the Sydney weather.  Chilly breeze from the bay kissing your face, i did rub petroleum jelly on legs and arms to keep me warm as I left my jumper with my bag.  My feet is freezing, i missed putting jelly on it.  i Think i was struggling to keep my body warm, it was not a bad start, until the hill which i need to catch my breath, then regained at the iron cove bridge.  Up the hill to victoria road toward Drummoyne down back to the bay route.  I can remember pacing with this little girl on her elementary days. darn! she runs faster than me! we were just like alternatingly overtaking each other and another female runner.

Did a steady pace around the bay, with feet starting to ache with the temperature.  I can feel myself kicking in on some parts, i think it was the Gu (thanks to Woodie mate, Thalia.  Yes i just tried what gu's effect, on a short run as i planned to go a long run after the race) . 

Well as soon as I saw La Montage, i added more speed then saw the finish shoot and just sprinted my way to it.  Finished at 337 overall out of 1215 participants, at 28th place for category for 15-29 yo females and ranked 55 out of 593 females. See results.

The even was good, with some barb after and head home to leave my goodie bag and ran to Rozelle bay and another round at the bay for another 1 hour and 40 minutes approximately taking in one more gu.  Drank thrice for water stops and only drank my gatorade at the end of my training run.  I think I am improving although i am not yet fast enough like the ozzies, ill keep on trying :).

The Bay Run was for the benifit of Dobroyd Point Public School.

That afternoon I also decided to pass the Running Science Store to check on some long sleeved singlets, and i got one and the manager threw in some Endurance packet with it for free as i was asking how is it different with Gatorade.  I also was able to have my pronation checked (aside from the attendant noticing my bunion! embarassing!) she says the pins and needles on my toes might be caused by wrong shoe and i should be wearing a shoe for stability.  I asked her if she did run the race earlier this morning and she said yes, after her asking my time which i proudly told her, i regrettingly said mine, as she run through the course at 29 mins placing 2nd! and she is slight taller than me! wow! anyway ...

race:
Distance: 7km
Location: Bay Run, Innerwest NSW
Pace: 4.8985
Time: 34.29

Training:
Distance:15.0829 Km
Location: Rozelle bay + Bay Run
Time: 1:40 approx
past 2 weeks:
mileage: 64 Kms/pw

Us and the World Youth Day

Been 2 months ago when you feel the World Youth Day fever going around the city. It’s a good feeling you know. A year ago, February of last year, is when I learned that the WYD will be held in Sydney.

That was the period I first came to Sydney, Australia. Which at that moment I did like the country at first sight. Because of I, when I saw the countdown at St. Mary's Cathedral, I told myself, I will come back to Australia no matter what to see the WYD. Same thing I told myself I am coming back to this huge country/continent to discover the place and backpack. Maybe that was a prophecy on my own which led on subliminal way on myself to come here.

Anyway going back to the WYD event. Weeks ago I was thinking of joining the volunteer program for the event. I sent an email but they only accept volunteers fulltime on all days of the event. So I thought of sponsoring a homestay. A few also requested on my Couchsurfing account and suddenly the agreement I had with a colleague to temporarily host her while she looks for a home was more reasonable/on my own opinion to be a Christian and standing on my own promise. So I appologized and at least sent emails to those who requested. Until now I am thinking what can I do to become a contributor in this world event which is happening in Sydney.

Last Sunday the Pope Benedict arrived in Sydney for the week long event. Buses were delayed and there were road closure since then. Tomorrow will be his parade.

In the papers, there were a lot of news regarding this event. Some still puzzles me. Like the priests who are sex offenders, the Pope did make a public appology. Aside from that in the paper, a man was hosting 5 pilgrims, and during the course of their stay the host did introduce his partner another Man and they turned out to be gay couples. So the guests did left the host's home, condemn him and his partner that they will burn in hell. That I can not understand.

So that was read aloud by my colleague while we were eating at the pantry reading papers and he commented on a picture of young couple making out/kissing, he said that should be the one that will burn to hell. Now I am confused!

The world and society makes its own rule. I wonder what were the rules during Jesus, the prophet's days? I wonder in Jesus' time if kissing was bad, or it is a mere not display but a extension of affection to one person? Maybe if it is lust then that is bad.

I am not religiuos and I do not know the bible by the back of my hand. But I did complete and did get high marks on my religion subject at school. In the Bible it mentions Jesus/God being compassionate. It mentions on focus on the poor in spirit, heart, physically. Don't this people do belong to the group mentioned in the Bible? It says all of us belong to the Kingdom of God. Those who Believe, ok ok… butthen those who believe…why do they act/condemn people who need guidance morally/spiritually? I myself I agree should be condemned therefore I have no right saying to someone that he/she will burned to hell.

It’s the same question I have in mind. Organ donation. Doing good and donating your organs when you accidentally die is a good thing (on my own opinion) as you help others, YET it is socially questionable? Or religiosly questionable of why extend a life of a person whom God/Life is already telling that is over? Or why donate your organ to a person dying and you might not know that he/she is a criminal.

This is not for discussion on religion or morals. I do not know if some of you guys reading this do have specific answers to this questions and you think the answers and beliefs you have are RIGHT in the eyes of the SUPERBEING.

So I may not be able to attend any of the WYD events even if I wanted to, and its not an excuse not to either, but on my thinking its better to treat your neighbors with good deed and continue living as a Christian than being a hypocrite of attending the WYD event and yet you do have a selective heart and a judgemental mind.

Underconstruction

I am semi-migrating my blog to One-Live Cat's LIfe and is still a work on progress.

I will still be maintaining this, but maybe not the MySpace anymore as i get too many strangers in MySpace.

I will be just generally copy-pasting my blog although wordpress will allow me to be free in design.

Caring for the environment

3 weeks ago, I got this little green plastic thingy waiting beside my apartment door.  As I look around the level, everybody have it.  hmm i wonder what it is. i carried it in and looked at it. hah! its a bin for biodegradeable refuse.

It contains the info sheets and a roll of biodegradeable plastic/garbage bag.  Yes, you read that right.  biodegradeable plastic, one of the newest inventions.  Its a plastic ade of starch. 

So a week after i received it i started using it.  All kitchen refuse, including paper towels, tea bags and cofee filters/grinds.  I feel good about it.  And the collection is once a week and they do the compost somewhere, which will be used for the community parks and gardens.

So some of other things i do: i shut off my pc everynight, use electricity as possible, shower the quickest possible time, and walk to and fro the grocery and use the public transpo.  Well it might be too late as we are already experiencing the global change but at least i try to be good to mother nature.

1 year anniversary of running races

July 11 a year ago was my first race.  That was the Fun run sponsored by the Mandarin Oriental.  And whoa! i never imagined, i will get hooked this way. this far, this long and i never felt the time so fast that its been year that i have been seriuosly doing runs for fun/hobby.  so what have i been doing the past few weeks related to running?

Weekend ago, i went overboard and spent more almost 200bucks for leggings and socks :D.  I needed leggings as it the winter even above 0 is too cold for me.  At last i got myself skins. well guess what i got a size L from the Youth department.  yea because the smallest for the female is too long for me.  Aside from that another leggings and socks.  Cant find a long sleeved shirt of my size :(.

Coming this weekend will be the Bay run.  Its not that long distance for 7K but I am not sure as usual how i would perform.  I will have fun, that's what's important and finish the race. 

And last Friday, I just got my race bib, #10051, my timing chip and race information from post for the City2Surf. I am not yet done psyching myself on this on the hellavalu hills, plus entered myself in the group category so its a bit of a pressure, despite of this, I will try to have fun and not caught up behind a lot of runners as this would be ran by 60K or more people. I got a green bib, :) despite of my first entry to the event as it says runners who joined previuos years with a pace of 70-100.  Glad the organizers considered my Philippine races.

Still thinking there are three races i came accross i want to join.  The Pub to Pub race, which is 2 weeks after c2s.

And the Woodtsock's 3rd Handicap run. which i will defenitely join as long as i am in NSW on August 30, 2008

And the Bridge to Bridge race, which is co-organized by Woodstock Running club and a week before the Sydney Bridge Marathon.

Not as busy running races every Sunday just like when i was back in Manila, but my legs are sore from doing the hills and my first speed training, so there haas been a step forward in this love of mine.

Ranting on work …

Strange as I had loved and wanting to stay in Sydney/Australia as their lifestyle is more laid back compared to Asia.  Although I miss the night life in Asia Malls and restaurants closing really late, I mean here, they value recreation after office hours which 5pm.

So I am suppose to be not stressed here compared when I was back in my home country office.  I feel work is still lighter here BUT my face is breaking out and im kinda pimple-faced as of the moment, and some skin irritation which I am guessing (and went to the doctor) that this is caused by stress.

I am a junkie for being busy at work, workaholic in short.  Not that I am complaining of too much work as I find these things blessing,  and I've been through to this stress since 6 years ago working for another company.  Anyway, strange but I get more stressed if I am idle, to the point that you do not know which website to browse!  Well I think that being the new kid in the team, its better to show your visibility on doing stuff than doing nothing and feeling it has not been worth shipping me from Asia to down under.

So now, I am under a manager who does more of managing me administratively AND! Reporting to 3 project manager and one technical manager. It does feel good to be needed.  Some days I only have a fourth of my plate full sometimes nothing but most of the time its more than full.  I am a happy worker.  I am happy working and helping projects and the colleagues I have been interacting since.  But just lately, things are starting to irritate me.

Rant 1.  There's this EXTERNAL/Contractor guy who is called a Solutions Architect for the project.  They are suppose to do a reporting application.  The project lacks resource to do the documentation for testing.  I was volunteered as there is no choice but me! So I created the document they wanted NOT KNOWING anything about the project! Yes I am able to produce the document.  Now comes this Architect telling me it has to be changed blah blah and I told him that of  course his inputs are needed as I am doing the document like a blind chicken.  And I told him to just edit what needed to be done (as It was always done with other architects I have been working with) and suddenly he reverts back and say "oh no no, because if I do that I am already doing your work and your work is done!" Like duh!! I am doing this document in your favor! And I am not even suppose to be a fix resource for this project.  And plus! I don't work for him! Not even he is more senior (age wise and length of tenure) he is a contractor of the ex- acquired company.  And I hate him always saying, actually most of these EX- acquired company colleagues  always complain bout during their time during their time! Which sucks as I do not hear any of my ex-N colleagues complain being merged with this company and we suffer of not getting much salary raise because of we have to "leverage" with them! I find this guy too arrogant! He does not want to do the deployment at Sydney, because they do not want to Travel! I don’t think he even should be in this company as this company requires traveling to do work. I can not believe to be working with these kind of lazy (incompetent) people!! (aside of him asking me what are my skills … duh!! They wouldn't bring me over here if I don’t know anything!-- such an insult.. Just because I am Asian and a female.. dammit! --- okey end of rant 1..i am glad he just left Sydney today, I would still be dealing with him on the phone and email though)

Rant 2.  This guy I have been working since I was way back my home country office.  Been with him in a project in Indonesia.  Had training with him in Finland.  I started hating him when I was in Finland.  Me and another of my colleague ran out of accomodation since there this Presidents coming to Finlandia.  So all hotels are booked.  One of our other colleagues volunteered that I can stay in his room and our youngest colleague stay in this Guy's room.  Instead of being kind-hearted and being a so-called-Christian himself, he said No he is not comfortable doing that.  And the guy who volunteered to accommodate me can only get one.  So we just decided to travel 1 train hour away Helsinki for accommodation :).. Out of nowhere.  Looking at the silver lining of it, we were able to travel to a very different town of Finland.

2nd time I hated him, is @ Jakarta's project.  We were all working at the customer site/data center.  On a weekend.  And its past 7pm and Im hungry and decided to go back to the hotel.  To find out that they already have left, since they are working one level below where I was working!  Left the only female team mate at night time. How gentleman is that!

3rd time, he emails me yesterday and today asking for advice/consulting me on product expertise with a bunch of colleagues on copy furnished.  I replied what I have which I think is with substance, oh guess what? Not even a reply to me (reply all not needed) to thank me is received.

You must be thinking I must be stupid to have been being a good colleague to him despite the things he has done.  I prolly just forgot everything what he have done not until again earlier. Grr! Engrata! jerk @#%#@%!!

Oh well that's all :)  going home now as it is 6 pm.  I will just go run this off at the treadmill. ;->