Test new camera

I bought a new camera from Walmart.com It's a Kodak 10MP with 3X optical zoom + stabilizer. Even with 2GB SD included only sell for $99. So cheap! This is my test photo that Elva is playing making phone call. She said to me: " I am on phone call, please don't disturb!"

And the other one, you can see her hand prints on glass panel easily.

My next run (and post run photo)

Pacifica trail run 21KM
They also have 50km route, but I am not trained for another long distance run yet and there are a colleague at work and his friend will also run. Although it's just another half marathon distance (which I do almost weekly or bi-weekly). But this trail has 3000ft elevation difference, so it could be another challenge. And it has very few aid station, so I have to carry my own water/sport drink, lucky i have Camelbak. Here are two different maps.


(Post-run update) Ok, I did it this weekend, The trail is narrow at most of places. For 4/5 of course, if anyone want to pass, we have to make arrangement (like one stop at side). And the uphills are steep and long. I managed to run all the uphill at first part, but I lost my strength at second course when encounter uphill, However, I still manage to run all the not so uphill and downhills. My total time is 2 hrs 50 mins, not very great but I did it. Two photo are taken after the run, see how dirty my shoes and legs are? I am not so tired after the run. Oh, I think I definitely need to lose weight, most of runners are much lighter than me. That's why they can run uphills.

Love Mizuno more than Brooks

I don't know why running evolution didn't recommend Mizuno to me before? I love them. I goit a pair of Mizuno's Wave Rider 11 (last year's product and I got them online for $59.99) when I try them on the first time, I know they are for me. After certain running, I am even more sure about that. It's light weight and they provide enough cushion. I also determine to lose weight so I would run better with less pressure on my knees.
If anyone want to buy me gift, I can always use another pair of these. (a pair will only last 3 months or so on my training schedule)
My size is 10EE (wide),

My knee pain is gone (miraculously)

I had this knee pain before I ran marathon, worsen after I ran. Rest for more than a week and it still won't go away. I ran few times 3-4 miles after the big race and it became unbearable pain. I was limping these couple of days. Today I went online to research running related knee pain and found there is a name for this kind of knee pain. It's called runner's knee. On the webpage, it has explaination about how this can happen and a way to test if my pain is caused by runner's knee. Above all, there are treatment and exercise I should use. As a matter of fact, the exercise itself marked as treatment. Huh? I did that simple 3 steps exercise include how to twist my foot and tighten my thigh muscle. . . After that simple exercise, I notice the pain is gone when I walk. It just leave a feeling there as if something is not completely right. But at least I can walk, run a little. I beleive I would be able to run after some more test. Isn't it wonderful?


And I registered my next marathon at Oct 25, 2009 Silicon valley marathon

My Big Sur Marathon frame

I use some of real thing from the Marathon and made myself a frame. There are my number bib. (3844. Yes and my 44th birthday is coming in few days) My medallion, and my D-tag. there are also my photo at run, and my certtificate of completion ... All stack up in this 3-D frame.

More Marathon photos

A company took photo of runners, here are couple of mine. and the shoes I wore for this run. (DYAD 5)

Finished Big Sur Internaltion Marathon

I woke up at 2AM and spent an hour and half drove to Monterey; got on and bus and another one hour trip to be taken to start line. Morning was cold today. In fact the whole day is cold like below 60F. And had 15mph wind all day. The race started at 6:45AM and I started running too fast and zig zag through people(I paid a price later at race). Any way, when the combination of head wind and up hill hits me, I had to struggle to move forward. After hurrican peak, I was exhausted. I ran the first half like few minutes more than 2 hours. Yet after 16miles, I really slowed down to walk. Walked for at least 5 miles, my feet and ankles herted. However, at 23 miles, after a big woman offered a free hug. I decided I must run to complete the race. The last 3 miles were mostly flat, but there was a more than hlaf mile up hill. I struggled to get pass there and ran all the way to finish line. I did the whole thing in 4 hrs 49minutes. 1922 out of whole 5000+ marathon runners and 174 out of my age group. Not too bad.

Elva at Gilory Gardens

Elva loves car and fishe rides, she loves to take train ride as well. We spent a wonderful day at Gilory Garden park.

We are sick this weekend

Unfortunately, both Elva and I are sick this week, stuffy nose plug coughing. Taking some medicine, we still going out to park and play with lots cloths on, of course. Weiqi and her mom, on the other hand, are health

I ran 22 miles this week

I ran 22 miles this Monday morning. take 3 hours and 8 minutes. With help from my secret weapon Roctane energy gel which is design for enduring sport and two bottles of sport drink. (and some water from water fountain here and there) I have a picture of it. This will be the longest run of my Marathon training; next time will be the real thing.

Also some pictures of my new family.