This is the last week leading to the Shamrock half

The last long training run completed yesterday. Only thing left this week are runs to keep me limber and motivated - should be an easy week.

Emails are starting to come in about the race - waivers, packet pickups, freebie coupons, etc.

Plans to get to VA Beach are arranged...I'll just have to do a checklist of things to pack so as not to forget and have anxiety over forgetting something that most likely will not really help me run the race any faster. Nevertheless, it's better to have taken it rather than mull over if I'm going to need it.

I'm getting excited...

4 weeks to Shamrock half

It's a bit fascinating that I am still the same weight considering all the running and calorie watching these last few weeks.

As far as running, finding my strength and resolve back. I felt pretty good running a 9:46 pace in the Sweetheart 4-mile race last Sunday. Confidence booster.

Today is 5 miles, followed by a 2-hour or 13 miles tomorrow (MCM Half course which is tough).

Looking forward to rest on Monday.

Two days in a row of running...

yesterday 6.5 miles;

today 90 min - zone 2 - ~8 miles.

Food - I need to start recording my food consumption again with Lose It.

Starting again....

2 beers and a glass of wine

...and a big prosciutto pizza, chips and nuts - calories from this afternoon. I was doing well given it's a Friday, until 5:30 came and at this time everyone assembles at a place called the Sports Centre in our office in La Hulpe. The sports center is just that - a gym with a restaurant and a bar. It's the happening place, and yes I indulged - my favorite Hoegaarden Rose!

No exercise on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday is redeem day. Here's sticking to the plan tomorrow.

Cheers!

I have lost nothing!

I'm losing it with LoseIt. It just got so confused when I changed the time on my computer to EST to Brussels time. Now I have to reenter 2 days worth of data and be reminded that I have been over calories for 2 days in a row.

I really could exercise more discipline in ordering less food - I have to stay away from ordering food combos that are tempting but with many more calories.

It is now 2 weeks - and not a pound lost.

God help me!

Week 2 Summary and start of Week 3

Week 2 ended with a big bowl of Spaghetti Bolognese and a glass of red wine. So it can be interpreted as either good or bad. Good because this is my favorite (of all favs) food combination and it was like an exclamation point to end the week; or additional calories that I could have lost down the road. Did I need Spaghetti Bolognese? Calorie-wise - no; and yes-since I am all by my lonesome. It felt like getting a hug.

Start of Week 3:

Monday, 17 Jan in La Hulpe, BE

15 min - walk / run

30 min - stretch and strengthen

Not too bad. Now off to get ready for work and ah before that breakfast buffet at downstairs (of hotel at Dolce La Hulpe).

Off I go....

Week 2 of Shamrock half-marathon training starts

Monday, 10 Jan - I was very good. Calories under the goal level. Even attended a very interesting yoga/pilates class.

Tuesday, 11 Jan - Bad day.over by 240 calories. Missed the 3 mile run. It must have been the 1-11-11 - oh well, had to blame it on something. As soon as I got home tonight, I was excited to make a shrimp thai curry dish. The dish was yummy, and we have left overs for tomorrow.

Wednesday - I redeemed myself. Still having hard getting up in the morning to begin my run, but I did start my day with a 30-min meditation. As soon as I got home, got on the treadmill for a 30 min tempo run. I ran a 9:13 pace for only 8 min instead of 15. The night is still young and I still have 53 calories more I can spend.

Week 1 Shamrock Half marathon training completed!

I have been doing very well I must say, thanks mostly for the exercise.

Exercise:

This week - Mon-Sun, I ran a total of 23 miles. All but 8 were on the treadmill. Today, I actually ran 8 miles/1.5 hours at Chancellor battlefield with my running buddies and had a blast. A bit windy and cold but so refreshing to be running outside. This is the longest run and first outdoor run since October 2010. So this is a good milestone to have.

Diet:

I am now on Day 3 recording my food intake in an app called Lose It. The goal is to stay at 1222 calorie per day. It is really cool how the calorie intake count is adjusted to give points to the exercise so technically I can consume more food.

On Fri, my intake was over the calorie goal for the day and that was such a big eye-opener. Yesterday was pretty good and today is looking even better. I already calculated how much dinner I will eat and because of the run this morning I can actually have a glass of red wine with dinner.

I am totally psyched!

getting into a routine

Wednesday, Jan 5.

It still is very hard to wake up every morning to get going for work. Thus, late waking up meant no workout in the morning. I have to get the routine in place or Shamrock half is a bust.

One of my running partners, Irene, emailed me her password to get the training plan in TrainingPeaks. She pays for this training plan and she shared it with so we can support each other (she says she needs me for this run, and yet I think it might be the other way around). I have yet to download the plan. I did download the Intermediate Half marathon Hal Higdon plan. I will need to modify that a bit to fit in 10 weeks vs. a 12 week plan and the beginning weeks would have to be slightly easier as I ease into running again.

I have 10 days to get going before the trip to Brussels. The routine should at least be set so that during the trip, I would still do the work-outs.

I am inspired by my 2 gal pals at work who are also on a quest for a healthier lifestyle.

and oh, the treadmill is here. I no longer have an excuse for not having an early morning run.

ok, time to get going on the treadmill for 30 min or 3 miles tonight.

First post of 2011

It's a brand new year. Time to make new year's resolutions or whatever one may want to call them. I am not much the type who makes new year resolutions, but am the type who keeps a bucket list of things that I would love to do before I pass on to the next life.

This year is an exception. I will make some resolutions. I hope that with making a public commitment that I may actually have a chance to fulfill these resolutions.

So let's begin:

1) Run the Shamrock half marathon mid-March in under 2 hours.

2) I will have strong core - lose most if not all of the belly fat by mid-2011.

3) which leads to the third resolution, get my dress size back to a 2 by mid-2011

I know, these resolutions sound a little vain - all about me getting in shape. Honestly though, when I am strong and healthy, I feel that I can give more and do more for the people around me. I am a much better person.

So, let's get a move on it.

Today:

1) 3 miles on the treadmill, with incline set to 1 - 33 min. - Not bad for a start!

28 June 2010 - can't remember Day #

It has been a while since I blogged. Very busy. Got into my old habit of updating my profile in Facebook.

While I've been having new eperiences here, I've been missing out on important events back in the States. Missed Mom's retirement party (although Sherine said mom loved my sappy love note to her), missed Sherine's bday, Sean's bday, Noah is getting chubbier, Victoria's bday and the soon to be birth of another baby de Leon courtesy of RAmy. I have a lot of making up to do when I get back in the fall.

So here are some new things from here:
1) First dragon boat festival (pictures in FB)
2) Shanghai world expo (pictures to come)
3) Lantau island humoungous Buddha (pictures to come)
4) Lamma island (see FB)
5) Food, food and more food (tripe, bbq ox tongue, bamboo clams, chicken feet, and all kinds of fungus that Chinese people are so fond of)
6) Rain, rain and more rain. It's been raining here for days...thunderstorm warnings (yellow rain- a category of heavy downpour) for 2 days over the weekend...
7) working on 31st floor of One Ifc (remember Batman movie - he jumps from Two Ifc to One Ifc) right outside the 31st floor which is the SWIFT floor. Google map these buildings. Well, another cool thing about the floor I'm at is that on a cloudy day, you see clouds hovering outside the wall glass of the conference rooms where sit - it makes for an awesome view.

Well, what is not new is the late hours of work. Just got home a 10pm tonight.

Talk to you all tomorrow....

First time

I think I was overly excited so I literally was awake around 5:30 this morning. Checked my email, FB and whatever else, until I decided to work out. Got to the gym downstairs before 6 and outta there before 7.

Thought I'd scribble some notes on the blog before I get going for the day.

Let's see what's in store today:
1) First ride on the Hong Kong MTR
2) First time at SWIFT office
3) First time working in Asia !!!

Lots of firsts...

I'm super optimistic about today...

Day 3

Sights, smell and sounds in HK:

When I first arrived at the airport, I was alarmed by a group of people that sounded like they were having disagreements in public - they were speaking loudly, almost shouting if not. I continued to observe this yesterday as well. I'm wondering if they really are.

Although most people speak English, there is still a lot that don't. I have a bit of a hard time understanding what they are saying even in English. And most speak to me in Chinese, until I shake my head and open my mouth to blurt 'I don't understand'. I felt like a fool for not being able to unsderstand, and all the more it made me stand out; and expats that I've asked for help were left wondering where I came from.

Smell:

Yesterday was hot and humid, and a bit crowded outside, and it smelled bad. There is an odor that was not sitting well in my stomach. I think it's the spice used in the roast pork and duck (lots of them hanging from the window of small restaurants), and the smell of gutter combined. It almost made me hurl. I'm suddenly left wondering what is wrong with me. I used to be more adventurous than this.

Taste:

Well, I will have more to say about this next time, especially after I eat the longans I just bought at the store yesterday. So far I haven't been blown away with the food. Let's see tonight.

Sights: see for yourself.

First morning in HK: Day 2

22 May

Saturday

Good morning Hong Kong. Got up about 6am. Since I could not sleep anyway. Tossed and turned last night, got up several times - must not have been tired.

So what is the order of the day:

1) Get my suitcase emptied. Done. It was pretty quick in fact. I'm starting to be a pro at unpacking.

2) Find breakfast. Done. Ventured out to find a grocery store, well the store called "Welcome" was still closed at 7:30. 7-11 across from it did not really have anything healthy. Amazingly, I found a fruit stand. Cost me about 50 HKD to get a small papaya, 3 mangoes, 5 mangosteen, and a bunch of small bananas. I priced an avocado but that was a bit expensive - 10 HKD for a small avocado which is almost 1.3o USD. A little pricey so I passed it up.

3) Checked out the gym and pool - A bit disappointing but hey at least there is a place for me to workout in the building. Surrounding the pool were buildings that could use some maintenance - not very relaxing to look at. In fact, it is depressing.

4) Fill out paper work for apartment - inventory list, etc.

5) Work for an hour. Log on work computer.

6) Find lunch.

7) Work out.

8) Go across the street to research travel options for the kids.

9) I think that's enough.

I've arrived in Hong Kong

Arrival 21 May at 5:30ish pm HK time. It was a long flight that started at 4:30 am US EST. Yup, very early in the morning. I was picked up by the car service around 4:40. Arrived at the airport around 6, checked-in, got through security at was at the United lounge by 7 for coffee, cereal and yogurt. At 7:45 the plane boarded and at 8:20 head to San Francisco, an hour layover, and boarded my flight to Hong Kong at 12:30 PST.

Hong Kong airport seems to be pretty efficient. Going through immigration did not take very long. Baggage claim took a bit of time waiting for th 2nd luggage. Other than that, off to Airport express MTR, a train that takes you to the city. Then taxi to get to my new apartment: Frasier Suite, 74-80 Johnston Road, Wanchai.

At the MTR, sat next to an Indian gentleman who recently relocated in Dubai from London. He is in the shipping business. He helped me with my luggage and shared a cab. I got invited to dinner and we agreed to meet up at 8:30 which I eventually cancelled preferring to stay in and catch my family online.

After freshening up, I decided to venture out to get some take out. This is around 10pm. The concierge recommended a place next door called Hey-hey. I picked out a pork bbq with rice and soup. When i got back to my apartment, I was hungry but disappointed with the food. When I poured the soup in a bowl, it had some fatty stuff I wasn't quite keen to try. The pork roast was ok considering how hungry I was. Overall score for my first meal in HK: 4 thumbs down.

Start counting down:

Snow day

I was a bit appehensive of being snowed in today when woke up as I was very much looking forward to my almost regular Saturday 8am morning run followed by coffee, and the much awaited Stony Man concert in the evening. Both were cancelled. Instead, the morning was spent at the grocery store to replenish much needed essentials - bread, milk and eggs. Wegman's was so enjoyable to be in that shopping did not seem to be a chore.

The snow day turned out to be alright. Feeling cozy and warm, my tummy filled with homemade potato-leek soup and naan; what more can I ask?

Life is good.

Seven days to Boston Marathon

Woke up this morning and was informed by the youngest daughter that it is only 7 days till Boston.
In 7 days, this will be all over with! I've prepared, trained, and done pretty much all that I can to be ready.

pictures to share

of Thadito and myself (taken by Nerissa) from this morning's 8k race in Richmond. It was a fun race...

...almost Thanksgiving

hard to believe it is time for the big ol' turkey feast. Now that the kids are older and are no longer into Halloween costumes or trick or treat, I somehow missed the transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving. I find myself feeling urgent all of a sudden to get ready for this family get together. In addition to planning a feast, this year, there is also planning for Rachael's trip back home from college. I can not wait to see my big pumpkin. She'll be bringing home lots of artwork so that is very exciting too.

This year, for 2 years in a row now, we will again miss the deLeon-Klefbom family, and Frank and Faith; and for the first year, we will not have Mimi with us. On a happy note, Amy Joy will be joining us for the first time this year. So on Thanksgiving, we will start our day with a 5k Fredericksburg Turkey Trot; with Meghan (Rache's friend) joining us also. Lots of exciting new things. I am again thankful for all the family and friends that will be here. I cannot wait for all the wonderful chaos.

Cross your fingers, the well doesn't run dry!

Rose's homecoming 18Oct2008