Pain Killer

If I can endure pain in a marathon I can endure anything. So I thought. Beads of cold sweat trickling down my forehead as the guy needled my wing on both of my ankle. Twenty minutes of excruciating pain. This is worse than pain from marathon. This is pain with capital P, a stubborn and loud one that wouldn't go away just by concentrating on my breath. But I'm glad I met Pain. Agony from marathon seem friendlier now. I'm definitely going to do another marathon!

Haruki Murakami

Finally! A writer who understand what I go through during a run. It's not about running technique, strategy, or the latest running technology. Just anecdotes of a mind through running. I found myself smiling and nodding from start to end of this book because Murakami put these running experiences eloquently to words. Felt like talking to a best friend who knows me too well. "Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor of life."

It's Nuts!

What is it about performing art that gives one such a self-assurance and a can-do attitude? Two awesome ladies from Chance To Dance shared their passion and talents with KDM children. Within two and a half months I witnessed a shy and nervous child blossom into a self-confident person. She was beaming with pride when she performed in The Nutcracker. I hardly recognized her. I should have more drama and dance in life. 

Life Marathoner

After one month and one week contemplating about my first marathon experience, I think I know the answer to a why-do-you-run-a-marathon question. Pain & Joy. Pain is a funny thing. The more I resist it the more it hurts. But when I embrace it eventually it will go away. That's why I'm addicted to running. I learn to befriend pain. And without Pain I wouldn't know how to appreciate Joy. A life time reminder.

Catch Of The Day #25

"If you can't say something nice. Don't say nothing at all." ~Thumper

Drawing Dad

Meet David LaFerriere, a dad who draw on his two boy's lunch bag everyday just because he wants to brighten their days. Little things that can light up a child's face. A dad who is not afraid to show his love through lines. My kind of dad. 

Art Run #2: Chicken

So I was excited with this Art Run thing. I ditched Sunday's car free day route for my long run in attempt to draw a chicken's head. I didn't have any distance or pace as a goal which was quite refreshing. My target was a chicken's head! I was so busy thinking about my chicken, my brain totally forgot to tell my body parts to quit on me during this run. 12K went so fast. I had such an adrenalin rush at the end of the run I went up and down some stairs for another fifteen minutes and ran back all the way home because I can't wait to see my chicken in Garmin Connect. A very nervous chicken or bird or duck. LOL

Garmin Connect: Chicken Run

Plan C

I love drawing in lines. I rarely use color because I'm an impatient person. But then I got this Bamboo drawing tablet and it comes with a stylus that allow me to color in a quick way. Then I found that I can load all kind of brushes in Photoshop that gives my color a sketchy effect. Love the effect but I think I will use color on special occasion only. It took me forever just to pick the right shades of blues. An impatient person who is extremely picky about colors. I'm doomed!

Poor Thing

Lovely afternoon in a restaurant. A mom with her boy. I would say he is about twelve or thirteen. Almost as tall as his mom. She was so attentive. She kept engaging him in a conversation and occasionally added food on his plate. Clearly he was the center of her universe. How sweet. Then at the end of their meal she held his face on one hand and used a toothpick to clean his teeth with her other hand. And he even let her! I assumed this was a normal routine. I imagined in the future he would have a hard time finding a wife who is willing to do that. The thing mothers do for their kids! 

Art Run

Run. Draw. Both are in the top five of my favorite things list. Who would've thought I can do both at the same time? I can draw with my running track! Why didn't I think of this before? It will require a lot of planning and a little of imagination but this makes running amusing & delightful! On my way to GBK a security guy said, "It's raining, Bu!" I replied with a big smile, "Yup! That's why I'm making a sun today!" He looked at me like I'm some kind of a crazy lady.

Garmin Connect: Sun Run