3/1/11

First workout of the year = BENCHMARK.

What is benchmark? As you know, I am with Rebel Bootcamp, and benchmark is an "assesment" we do for every first session of the month. This assesment tells the trainer, and yourself, your fitness level. It also helps place the recruits in their respective ranks; Delta, Seal or Ranger.

Benchmark consists of two rounds. 

Round One:

• 2x200m track
• Push ups (10 reps on toes, 15 reps on knees)
• Grunts (10 reps)
• Sit ups (15 reps w/o assistance, 20 reps with assistance)

Repeat all of the above, 3 times.

There are no breaks, and it's a timed workout. Your job is to push yourself as hard and fast as you can.

Round Two:

• 1 mile run (1.6km) [8x200m]

Round two is done, right after round one, which means the faster you do round one, the more time you have to catch a breath/rest for round two. You're also timed for this section.

Honestly, this is the hardest session of the entire month. It reallys gives you a perspective of where your fitness level is and shows how much you've improved in the next benchmark.
I received a D.N.F. (did not finish) for both rounds on my first benchmark, and you cannot imagine the state of euphoria I was in when I completed my second benchmark in 13+ mins for both rounds. I was thrilled, for the first time, I made myself so GODDAMN proud. 

Now, it's just a matter of pushing myself faster, harder and lowering my time. I didn't do as well this month, clocking in at 12.01 mins for the first round and 10.18 mins (I think I missed a lap, so time does not count) for the second round. Normally I clock in at 11+ mins each.

I think it's due to my brief hiatus in December. I'm actually pretty sad about it, seeing my stamina go down.

No matter, I'll train harder this month, work on my diet *shudders*, and kick some ass the next benchmark. I owe myself that.

New Year, New Me.

3rd Jan, 2011

Let the change begin.

Malakoff 2010

Malakoff 12km run, oh how I would never forget you. I was the hardest thing I've done since benchmark. I did not know that there was slopes/hills involved in this running event, my own fault for not checking the map. Though it was pretty obvious since it was held in BUKIT DAMANSARA.

Ayenita and I signed up for the 12km whereas the rest of my bootybuddies signed up for the 7km. How I wished I signed up for the 7km as well.
Those running the 12km basically had to do two loops wheras the 7km, one.
The route was HARD! It was a Bukit/Hill, so obviously it was hilly and constant slopes here, there, and everywhere. While climbing uphill, I thought to myself "Fuck, I have to do this again.".

This was the closest I've ever been to giving up, but I am so glad I didn't. The worse part of all was all the taxis that drove around while I was climbing/running uphill, I was so tempted to just wave one down and get it to bring me back to the finish line.
At one point, I saw a car resembling one of my bootybuddy that was doing the 7km, and I thought "Omg, is she here to pick me up?".
I was also distracted by the array of bungalows and while climbing uphill, I was day dreaming away about my fantasy home.

I think this run was extremely hard for me because, I took a month off RBC, and I didn't really workout in December, so my stamina and everything was just BLAH. Finishing time was 1hr 40 mins. I think I was among the last few that came in. Although so, I'm proud of myself for finishing the run and getting back within the time limit.

My running kakis ;D

Penang Bridge 10km.

My first official* run, and all the way in Penang. It was not a well planned out trip (read: last minute transport and accomodation), but we winged it quite well and had tons of fun. 
Let me clarify this, Josephine Gan, has never in her life run, or walk, that distance before.
The month before the run, I was like, "Hell yeah!! I can do this and another 10km!". Then 21st November came too close for comfort, and my mind slowly slipped into the realm of negativity. I was scared shitless, fearing that I wouldn't finish in time, or embarassing myself by being the last one to finish. 
Despite my running buddy's, Ayenita,  best effort in assuring me that I will do fine, I was still having second thoughts, but the thought of already paying RM50 for it made me do it. Yes, I am very Chinese, money is a very important! 

Before the run! :D

When we got to the venue, it was still raining, but not as heavy as before. Those who participated in the 42km and 21 km had to run in quite a heavy downpour. Both my friends who joined the 21km said that their iPods K.O-ed. 

Luckilly we were well trained for the weather (thanks RBC), so the rain was no big deal. It was quite funny, some people wanted to run with their umbrellas. I found that quite dumb, it's just rain not like you're being pelted with spit or whatever. 

My shoes, in it's dire condition.

Funnier story, I ran with a full bladder. What happened was that I needed to pee before the race, but the queue was insane. So I decided to hold it in. NEVER do that. Running with a full bladder was hard. Everytime I took a deep breath, I felt like peeing, making breathing extremely difficult. It got better though after a while, I guess because I was sweating and you get how it works. 

I learned that shoes are REALLY important. I was using my cheap-o boot camp shoes, because I am dumb like that. Halfway on the bridge, I could feel blisters growing on my little toe and the sole of both my feet.
Basically, I wanted to pee, my feet were hurting and I was just halfway through. Oh and it was also COLD. I think about halfway through the run only did my body started to warm up. 

The Finish!

 It was poorly organized. They switched the starting line for the 10km, last minute. What pissed me off most was the stupid balloon arch that looked like the finish line. I sprinted towards it, only to realize that it was the starting line for the fun run category and I had 2km to go. I was dead tired and pissed off.  I gave it all I had in the final strech and I still remember the song they were playing at the finishing line. It was "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cindy Lauper, for those in RBC, you'd know why I found it so funny.



Apart from all of that, I was pretty happy at how the race turned out. My time was 1:17 and for a first run, with blisters and the need to pee, I'd say it's pretty good :)

Finishers medal!

*Official by having to use a timing chip.
** I took the pictures off the rebel boot camp page :P

My first run.

I'll be honest, I hated running. When I first started with RBC not only did I hate running, I sucked at it too. It was just terrible. 

We do tabata's, which is a timed interval training. Eg. 40 seconds of push ups followed by 20 seconds of running etc. It's extremely draining if your stamina is really low. 

Oh and we don't just run in RBC, we sprint, pushing ourselves as hard as we can. I guess that is where my, then, hatred for running started.

On the 10th October 2010, my bootybuddies and I joined the HooHaa 101010 run. It was a 5km run. Needless to say, I was not really excited. I agreed because I thought I'd walk most of the way with some of my mates. 

Instead of walking, I started running, and I continued to run all the way, without stopping. Rookie's mistake was running fast from the start hence I started slowing down in the later bit. 

Nevertheless, I kept running, and I LOVED it. Running at my own pace was liberating. 

When I got to that finish line, I felt great. It was like, I've accomplished something and I was damn proud of myself. I wasn't sure about my time, but it probably was under 30 minutes. And for my first run, I was told it was pretty good. And you know what? It felt pretty damn good. 

Me and my finishers medal!