Daily Log 1 June 2011 - Can't stop training to rest because of paranoia

DAILY LOG 1 JUNE 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS

Training is a combination of workouts and rest. Why. Any exercise or workouts is actually a process of damaging the body (particularly the muscles). The more intense a workout is, the more damage it will cause to the body. This may sound scary but the wonderful thing is that once the workout is done, the body immediately begins the process of healing itself and in the process making the body much stronger than before, provided you give the body the time it needs to heal i.e. rest.

This sounds logical and it makes a lot of sense. But sometimes, no amount of logic or common sense can overcome the paranoia of not training and I think I am slowly succumbing to that paranoia. Mondays are supposed to be my rest days but I hardly takes mondays off from working out. Yesterday and today is also a good example.

Daily Log 31 May 2011 - 'If I had to do 10 curls which one do I want to do the least? Number 10. Which gives 90% of the growth? Number 11' - Anthony Robbins

DAILY LOG 31 MAY 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS


It's been 24 hours since yesterday's triathlon swim workout and my body is still recovering from it. My shoulders are sore, my forearms are sore, I'm sore under my arm, my legs are sore. I mean, seriously, my whole body is sore and I was questioning the wisdom of going through this.

I't been about 4 months since I learnt how to do the freestyle. Endless hours and laps and drills in the pool has brought me to a certain proficiency in my swimming. The question is whether it's enough. There's a part of me that says 'NO' and there's a part of me that says 'HECK YES'.

Since I saw the ATM Triathlon on sunday, the 'NO' has been ringing quite loudly in my mind and I find myself thinking I have to do more, much more. Last night's triathlon swim workout was part of doing more. The only question is, whether my body and my mind can handle it.

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 - Last day to register

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 will be held on 26 June 2011. It's the premier running event in the country.

Today is the last day to register. Don't miss out. If you haven't participated in a running event before, this is a cool first event. It's the first time I'm doing it too.

First timers can enter the 5km fun run.

Go here for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 registration website.

About Reza Ali

Reza Ali Reactivated tells of the journey of Reza Ali as he embarks on transforming himself from a 120kg (35kg overweight) 46 inch waist unhealthy and unfit person to someone who can compete in a triathlon. Don't be afraid to dream. Take action. Correct your mistakes. Learn from failures. Bit by bit, you will get closer to your dream.

If I Can Do It, So Can You.....

Come and support Reza by joining the Reza Ali Reactivated Fan Page on Facebook

Daily Log 20 May 2011 - What do you do when you are at your absolute limit? Do you quit or do you push on?

DAILY LOG 30 MAY 2011


SWIM

I went to my first monday triathlon workout tonight. Mondays are known to be a medium intensity workout (the highest intensity being wednesday's workout which, needless to say, I've never been to). If I thought the thursday's session was hard, I don't have any words to give justice to tonight's workout.

Watching the ATM Triathlon was a huge wake up call for me and I wanted to push myself hard during training so that my swimming improves. I used to go to 1 triathlon workout a week with 3 other spent on my own. After watching the ATM Triathlon I committed myself to all 3 workouts at the National Aquatic Centre. It's the only way I can think of to improve and improve fast.

This was the workout for tonight:

See photos taken by Reza Ali Photography during the ATM Triathlon on 29 May 2011

Here are the photos taken during the recent ATM Triathlon 2011 held on May 29. Congratulations to winners and finishers and thanks to the organisers.

You can see the pictures at the link below.

Swim and T1 Part 1
Swim and T1 Part 2
Bike Leg Part 1
Bike Leg Part 2
Run Leg Part 1
Run Leg Part 2

Have fun.

Daily Log 29 May 2011 - We can be in 1 of 3 zones: Comfort zone, panic zone and the best zone of all, the learning zone

DAILY LOG 29 MAY 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS

I went to see Malaysia's Armed Forces - Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) Triathlon today. I had registered for it earlier but decided not to do it for fear of the swim portion. Nevertheless I went to see and to learn as part of my preparation for the PD Triathlon which is a few days over 50 days from today.

It was quite an experience and I did learn a lot. The swim portion is by far the weakest of the disciplines for me. I think the idea of swimming non-stop without any rest kinda got to me. The swim portion was 1.5km today and it looked so far. Quite a few swimmers got stung by jellyfish and had to drop out. A few others suffered from cramps and also had to drop out.

GULP!

Daily Log 28 May 2011 - So this is what a triathlon looks like

DAILY LOG 28 MAY 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS

I'm at Melaka for the weekend, to watch the ATM Triathlon which will be held in a little over 7 hours. I'm getting excited as I see people on bikes riding and testing the course. I had registered myself for this event but decided not to do it as I'm not feeling the confidence for the swim portion.

The sea looks very choppy when I went to visit the swim and transition area and I'm not sure how people are able to swim through the waves.

Even I'm getting nervous and I'm not even participating. I wonder what it'll be like when it's my turn.

Daily Log 27 May 2011 - The results we achieve are determined by what we believe we are capable of achieving

DAILY LOG 27 MAY 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS

What do you want out of life? Of course all of us want to be successful in whatever terms we deem success to be. Nobody should be judged by how they define success. We can define success through material means such as by the numbers in our bank account, how fast our car can go or how many rooms are in our house. We can also define success by the impact we have on society in terms of how many people we help or a cause we devote to. Some of us define success in spiritual terms such as how we adhere to the commandments our particular religion lays down as a way of life.

Daily Log 26 May 2011 - If you have an idea take action on it

DAILY LOG 26 MAY 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS

I've been sitting on an idea for the last 3 years. My work as a trainer/coach/instructor for corporate training is going very well but I've always toyed with the idea of venturing into the world of public programmes which is a different world altogether. One of the reason I hesitate to do so is because I know I would lose a certain amount of anonymity. To be successful in public programmes one would have to have a strong identity and brand but I didn't want to be 'out there'. Isn't that strange? As a trainer, all limelight would fall on me when I conduct the programmes but I would rather be someone who had a low profile.

Daily Log 25 May 2011 - Failure comes from thinking that life is 90% what happens to you and 10% how you handle it. Success come with the belief that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you handle it...

DAILY LOG 25 MAY 2011


MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS

Training almost every day for my triathlon has given me a different perspective towards life. The kind of training that is required for the triathlon is measured in months (and sometimes years when it comes to the Ironman Triathlons). There is no shortcut. There is no easy way out. It's just pure and plain effort. Train for 5 hours a week and you'll get a 5 hour a week level of performance. Train for 40 hours a week and you'll get a 40 hour a week level of performance. At the moment I am training about 10 hours a week and that's a far cry from the zero hour per week a year ago.

I have good days and bad days. Sometimes I think 'what on earth am I doing this for'? whilst other times I think 'I'm born to do this. Can I do this forever'?

Race Results - Larian Hari Keputeraan Sultan Azlan Shah 2011

The preliminary race results for the Larian Hari Keputeraan Sultan Azlan Shah has been released. Congratulations to all the winners and finishers and many thanks again to the Organisers, Pacesetters as well as to the volunteers.

Larian Hari Keputeraan Sultan Azlan Shah 2011 14km preliminary results

Also read my Race Report for the Larian Hari Keputeraan Sultan Azlan Shah 2011

About Reza Ali

Reza Ali Reactivated tells of the journey of Reza Ali as he embarks on transforming himself from a 120kg (35kg overweight) 46 inch waist unhealthy and unfit person to someone who can compete in a triathlon. Don't be afraid to dream. Take action. Correct your mistakes. Learn from failures. Bit by bit, you will get closer to your dream.

If I Can Do It, So Can You.....

Come and support Reza by joining the Reza Ali Reactivated Fan Page on Facebook