.... the jackal rides and run....

What a month! Completed about 698km in total which is the highest so far for this year (don't compare with last year where I did a full 900km coverage on a bike within a month!). Bike : 435km (not bad at all for dual activity) Run : 263km (10+km more than my monthly running distance record which was March). I was shocked as well to see 2 days back that for this month, I only had 5 days of non-activity....typically, I have 8-10 days. No wonder I'm getting slower and it seems like the long distance runs really kills momentum and tougher to recover from them. At this rate I will be happy to complete the marathon under 5hrs! Seriously! Today's run was quite bad. I woke with diarrhea and decide to go ahead....although the long distance plan had to be scrapped as nature called again at 6km. It also rained big time from the start. 15km covered only and speed was modest. I basically finished my 1l water bottle which is highly unusual for this distance. Must be dehydrate...

2 days of solids 80km rides with the FRZs and so far so good. Speedwise, for my application, I guess they do not lose out to the HEDs (though I do believe that going 40+km/h and into headwind is probably the HED's biggest advantage but I'm not that 'pro' to take full adv of that!) but bling-wise the deep section carbon look melds better with the entire bike. So as with everything else, there are compromises and since the speed is ok, I've no complaints since I'm getting alloy braking as opposed to crummy carbon braking. Saturday : 80km West Loop with KL. Met KL at 5.45am at AML, as usual and I think we took it rather relaxed. I started to push after Mandai into Neo Tiew, averaging 33-34km/h and there was some headwind..pretty much spent after that but we managed to hit ave 30km/h prior to LCK. Picked up speed at Jalan Buroh and into West Coast highway but it started to rain very heavily as we got into the viaduct. A huge truck was in front of us doing like...

The Fulcrum Racing Zeroes arrived yesterday morning. Looks to be of good build quality. Each wheel actually has a 'builders cert'. I installed the wheels, tyres, brake pads and got about packing up the HEDs properly (still remain my absolute favourite wheel!) last night. No problems with the Di2 - no adjustments required. On this morning's short 17km ride on wet roads, I guess they felt ok. Could just be my imagination, but its seemingly bumpier than the HEDs but it also could be because I filled up the 25C with 110PSI (!). Its not as light as the tubulars but by only a tad. The look of course, does not satisfy as much as a deep section wheel would. Anyway, looks ok, feels ok, rides quite good (but need more testing) based on today's short spin.

Got a pair of these for SGD3.30 at Japan Home, West Coast Plaza. Free size and seem to work pretty well. I've been wearing them this past week on and off after workout (to sleep and to office) and no sore calves. Its pretty amazing and at this price a no-brainer. Probably a bit shorter than the branded ones but those are at least 40-50 bucks a pop. When I have the chance I'll get their thigh and knee sleeves as well for similar money.

Chia Seeds - The Aztec Superfood. Really looks like sesame seeds but is tasteless. Supposedly helps to fill up the stomach (it grows 3x in size in water, forming a gello like, frog eggs thick mush) has high fibre, protein and omega 3 content. I just got this and am mixing it with my coffee, even in my sandwiches. They have no taste at all so you can mix it with anything liquid or wet. Not sure where to get this in Singapore but they come pretty reasonably priced online (actually I got this to max out my supplement order from overseas). Had this for lunch yesterday.....a fitting one after the 21km suffering stint in the morning. This was as Ssikek Korean Buffet Restaurant @ Novenaville. Very good selection and very reasonably priced. Fast service as well. I will definitely be going there soon. My wife's cheesecake for our niece's birthday. Pure Philadelphia cheese heaven. Perhaps having this prior to the 21km destroyed me.....worth thinking about. ...

21km Run Monday's run was good and rather 'fulfilling' as its a PB and by over a minute so leaves me with a very positive vibe. Now the mind was elated and pumped and it deceived me on the bodily condition. Well, this deception came with a price as I tried to achieve another PB on Tuesday with the 21km. I even employed the help of Ryo to come in at km11 to supplement my pain with inspiration and correct pace. It was not to be. Started out quite promisingly for the first 2km but really that was it. Pace began to falter, HR refused to get pumped up. What started out at a "go for under 2hrs" went gradually to "go for 2hr 2mins" and then to "go for 2hr 4mins" and by the time I reached the meeting point where Ryo was waiting eagerly....it was "Ryo, can't make it....just try for my PB". He pushed at 5:40 pace for a while but it was killing me already and as we passed my underpass area at 16km, I really wanted to give up (I think...

10km PB Decided to go for a 10km 'go for it' run! After some weeks of not doing speed training (eg. trying to better my 10k), I went for it today. Took (reluctantly) the Kinvara's out as I feel its the right shoe for the occasion or I just being pussy and needed the pads below my feet. Let's just see if my speed has suffered after all these long distances. On the go, I just went at the fastest I could do 'comfortably' ...... stride was lengthened a bit, focus on a natural relaxed forefoot strike, which I do anyway. Strangely, the Kinvara did not feel as squishy as before...perhaps after 100km it has broken in (?). Managed to keep good pace till 5km. No niggles on the legs as well...they felt ok throughout. Breathing was consistent and HR was steadily moving up, as expected, over the distance. At 5km point, it was not even the best time but its still under 26m and I felt relatively better compared to other attempts....the 2nd 5km was only slightly worse and t...