Knock On Wood

We have been together for years if not decades. We get along quite well because; he hardly say any words, he doesn't mind if I bend or twist him any which way I want, I always have him in the palm of my hands, and he is crazy about my drawings. I recently learned that he can teach my friends to swim! That moment when you think you know someone, then they delighted you in ways you never thought they could. LOL

A Laughing Matter

Urban myth says children laugh about 300 to 400 times a day. Which mean a child would be laughing at least once every 1-2 minutes from sunrise until sunset! Studies shows that laughter helps lower blood pressure, boost immune systems, reduce stress hormones, burn calories and triggers endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. On the contrary an adult laugh an average of 17.5 times per day. Go figure. Laughter is the best medicine.

Dr. Lily

Senin pagi di klinik umum RSPI. First she turned off the air condition when she saw me warming up my bare arms when I came in. When I told her that I'm not sick she said, "Oh? You need another health reference for your marathon?" She remembered! When I told her that I need pil kina for my trip she first called her colleague who specialized in tropical diseases to find more information. Next she called the pharmacy to check which medicines are in stock. Finally she said, "Leave your mobile with the nurse, I will contact you if I find more information," before giving me a thorough physical check up. 

Tri Love

"I left my heart in San Fransisco Bintan. High on rolling hills, it calls to me. To be where little cable cars triathletes climb halfway to the stars. The morning fog sun may chill burn the air, I don't care. My love waits there in San Fransisco  Bintan. Above the blue and windy sea. When I come home to you, San Fransisco  Bintan. Your golden sun will shine for me." :-)

Iron Strength

Anima Sana In Corpore Sano. A sound mind in a sound body. Training your mind is as important as training your physique. Do whatever activities that can put your mind at ease. What do you do to keep your mind cool, calm and collected? :-)

Space Invader

Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me. So not true. One fine Sunday in a tiny sauna. I was just contemplating how good a sauna after a long run when a Japanese lady went in and sat next to me. Then she started talking complaining about the hygiene of the sauna. Nothing good came out of her mouth. I came out stressful instead of restful. I need to master selective hearing. Masuk telinga kiri keluar telinga kanan. :-)

Pro Bono

Amazing people @doctorShare. Dedicated. Passionate. Servant leaders. An epitome of Galatians 5:13 For you, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. It's an honor! 

Land Of PB

There is something magical about Bali. There is something about the air, the wind, the sea, the clouds, the sun, the sand, the sky, the moon, the stars and the trees in Bali. They bring out the best in me. Bali Marathon | 2014. Bali Triathlon | 2016. Mother nature. A force to be reckoned with. "Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth." Henry David Thoreau

Test The Water

"I listen to the silence and yearn to be more me, swimming in the sea of myself, learning eternally - finding out where the rocks are and smoothing them into sand." Jay Woodman

Over The Hill

Incredible Saturday ride from Cibubur to Bandung with inspiring cyclists. They say after an uphill there is always a downhill. Unless you are riding the never-ending hills of Cariu or Citatah. There is something compelling about riding hills. Yes, there is pain but there is also joy in pain. Yesterday I learned that when I fight and resist pain, eventually pain will run me over. But when I embrace and welcome pain, eventually and strangely it become somehow less agonizing. And when the pain just become too unmanageable, just get off your bike. Walk and push your bike if you have to. Get in the evacuation car if you must. There is no shame in that. Then try again, and again, and again, and again, again and again. Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option. In riding or in living. 

Keladi

Selesai century ride sepiring keladi Papua rebus dicampur kelapa & tumis bunga pepaya never taste so good! Katanya keladi mengandung air 76 gram, protein 2.2 gram, karbohidrat 17.5g, kalsium, fosfor, zat besi, vitamin B1 & B2 dan lemaknya cuma 0.1g! All the good stuff for you! Jadi kenapa reputasinya jelek di dunia peri bahasa? :-))

Over The Moon

You fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars!

You've Got Mail!

Getting updates of Aristo through World Vision Indonesia is always a guaranteed highlight of any kind of day. When was the last time you receive something good through snail mail other than subscriptions, bills or junk mails?

On Point

Everyone who knows me will tell you that I'm quiet, reserved and introvert-ish. It's very unlikely of me to approach a stranger and say hi. But for all the greetings I got from other cyclists the other day I thought today I paid it forward to any cyclist that cross my path. A cyclist waiting for a traffic light in front of Fairmont hotel. "Pagi!" I said. And just like that we had a friendly conversation about cycling, Sungailiat, Bali, Bintan at 10km/hr all the way to GBK. I should throw selamat pagi more often ;-)

Honestly

Sungailiat Triathlon 2016. Bike leg. Tanjakan gila sebelum vihara. While I was recovering from my unfortunate fall, I saw a male triathlete being pushed by a guy on a motorcycle. And guess what the lady on its passenger side carry? A wheel set.

Filthy Rich

Senin yang menyenangkan itu latihan interval & minum jamu sambil ngobrol dengan mbak Sri di GBK. Topik hari ini: masak & belanja. "Aku sih sepuluh ribu sehari udah lebih dari cukup mbak. Sayurnya kacang panjang, lauknya tahu atau tempe," kata mbak Sri. Tidak ada nada getir atau mengeluh dalam kalimatnya, malah terasa ada nada bangga bisa mencukupi kebutuhan dasar keluarganya. Mbak Sri idolaku. Wanita paling kaya di dunia. 

Catch Of The Day #40

Every Little Thing You Do

One fine morning in a traffic jam. Feeling rather meh when I saw a  couple just got off their motorcycle. A young lady and a guy. Probably mid twenty-ish. She took his hand and put it on her forehead. Then he gently and lovingly stroke her very pregnant belly for merely five seconds or so. You should've seen her beaming face.  

 

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Muscles are like work animals that are quick on the uptake. If you carefully increase the load, step by step, they learn to take it. As long as you explain your expectations to them by actually showing them examples of the amount of work they have to endure, your muscles will comply and gradually get stronger. It doesn't happen overnight, of course. But as long as you take your time and do it in stages, they won't complain - aside from the occasional long face - and they'll very patiently and obediently grow stronger. If however the load halts for a few days, the muscles automatically assume they don't have to work that hard anymore, and they lower their limits. Haruki Murakami

Oh Joy!

Senin penuh suka cita itu latihan interval lalu ke GBK minum kunyit & beras kencurnya mbak Sri sambil mendengarkan ceritanya, "Mbak, sepatu yang dari teman mbak itu ahirnya dipakai anakku yang di Undip. Kemarin itu pulang kampung sama bapaknya aku dilapori: anakmu jogging tiap hari selama di Wonogiri!" Senangnya bisa memicu orang untuk berlari itu jauh lebih gegap gempita dari pada menerima medali finisher di garis finish atau membuat PB jarak apapun. Life is short. Run for your life!