I've been working so hard lately and have been so stressed. During the last 2 weeks, I've done more experiments per time (so scientific) than I have ever done and wrote up my poster presentation as well as submitted two more abstracts for future conferences. I've been working in the lab during the day and staying up till midnight at home to write everything up. I literally finished doing the experiment for the poster the night before I sent the poster for printing. SO last minute!!! But then again, I'm generally quite lazy, there is nothing like deadlines to push me to do work. I was constantly stressed and worry so much, that I checked to see if I have any white hair...
I received an email from AACR a few days ago saying that my submitted abstract and thus poster is selected as been highly rated. It's in the top 2.5% and will be highlighted in the online proceedings and itinerary planner. As well, I'm supposed to pick up a rosette and put it next to my poster :D When I received it, I thought they sent it to the wrong person. I didn't think my abstract was that spectacular. So if I was stressed 100%, after seeing this, it was up to 110% cos at that point, I didn't even have all the data! Now I'm all good, and looking forward to my presentation. I'm debating on whether I should tie my hair up or just let it down - such are the things I think about :)
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Ride to Baldy Lifts
Yesterday I wasn't planning on going for the group ride from Encanto Park-GMR-GRR-Baldy (with option of Baldy Lifts)-GRR-Efork-39 because my knee was still a bit swollen and I wasn't feeling very well. But there was SAG support and I haven't been on Glendora Ridge Road before and so I really wanted to go. Of course, being the last minute person that I am, I didn't make any room for traffic and arrived just as the group was rolling out. Luckily my awesome friend saw me and asked the SAG support person to take me in his car so that I won't be dropped behind. I was thinking that we'd stop at the intersection of Sierra Madre and GMR and then I'd get off and join in the ride. But the SAG support guy who is also very nice wanted to drive me to the intersection of GMR and GRR. I saw how hard people were climbing up GMR and having already done it multiple times before, I guiltily but gladly rode in the car :)
At the intersection, we waited for the group to arrive and when they did everyone was thirsty, hungry, tired and telling tales about their ride while I didn't even break a sweat ascending GMR and I felt so bad that I cheated. I thought that I need to make this up to myself somehow. And that happened when we arrived at Baldy Village....Not in a million years would I have thought that I'd do the ride from Baldy Village to Baldy Lifts. The thought of attempting such a difficult climb with an average grade of 9% for 5miles just never crossed my mind. But with some encouragement and the option of turning back if I can't make it I went ahead and thought I'd give it a try.
As we were climbing, a couple of folks were singing songs and saying how crazy it was to do such a climb and there was a motorist going down the opposite direction giving us thumbs up. I was surprised to see that some of the fast cyclists were not that much ahead of me and it seemed that everyone was having a hard time. After awhile, I was even more surprised that we only had 2miles to go! But the last 2miles were harder and felt a lot longer. For some reason, when I stand up to pedal, after just 2 strokes (if I'm already tired) then my legs would hurt because I could feel the lactic acid. So I never attempted to stand up pedaling during this climb. At the insane bends (why do they make these so steep?!) I pedaled harder and leaned more forward fearing that if I didn't, I'd roll backwards. During the climb, some cyclists gave up and turned around, another got off his bike and pushed it up a very steep section. I wanted to do that too but I know that it's cheating and I'd surely be disappointed in myself later. So I cycled on. My saddle was hurting so much and in general my whole body was exhausted. I think I was hearing ringing in my ears. I seriously thought that I was going to die of exhaustion. But giving up wasn't an option. The last 0.5miles was the most insane, I really had to do S shapes because otherwise I would not have gone anywhere except onto the ground. But end is in sight. And I made it to the top!!!
After having done this, I don't think that it was THAT hard because it was definitely doable. If even I can do it - who have in total being cycling for 6 months then I'm sure so can most other cyclists. At some point, I think it's extremely hard for everyone and it's simply the motivation to go to the finish line that carries people forward.
The descent from Baldy Lifts was a test as well. I was braking so hard that my hands were nearly numb and I had to pull my elbow outwards to get some more force. I descended quite fast, at similar speed to the experienced riders although it was not my intention to descend this fast :) We then rode back onto GRR and then onto 39. On 39, I was so tired from the ride that I nearly fell asleep at the bar ('wheel')....
All in all, a pretty awesome ride :)
At the intersection, we waited for the group to arrive and when they did everyone was thirsty, hungry, tired and telling tales about their ride while I didn't even break a sweat ascending GMR and I felt so bad that I cheated. I thought that I need to make this up to myself somehow. And that happened when we arrived at Baldy Village....Not in a million years would I have thought that I'd do the ride from Baldy Village to Baldy Lifts. The thought of attempting such a difficult climb with an average grade of 9% for 5miles just never crossed my mind. But with some encouragement and the option of turning back if I can't make it I went ahead and thought I'd give it a try.
As we were climbing, a couple of folks were singing songs and saying how crazy it was to do such a climb and there was a motorist going down the opposite direction giving us thumbs up. I was surprised to see that some of the fast cyclists were not that much ahead of me and it seemed that everyone was having a hard time. After awhile, I was even more surprised that we only had 2miles to go! But the last 2miles were harder and felt a lot longer. For some reason, when I stand up to pedal, after just 2 strokes (if I'm already tired) then my legs would hurt because I could feel the lactic acid. So I never attempted to stand up pedaling during this climb. At the insane bends (why do they make these so steep?!) I pedaled harder and leaned more forward fearing that if I didn't, I'd roll backwards. During the climb, some cyclists gave up and turned around, another got off his bike and pushed it up a very steep section. I wanted to do that too but I know that it's cheating and I'd surely be disappointed in myself later. So I cycled on. My saddle was hurting so much and in general my whole body was exhausted. I think I was hearing ringing in my ears. I seriously thought that I was going to die of exhaustion. But giving up wasn't an option. The last 0.5miles was the most insane, I really had to do S shapes because otherwise I would not have gone anywhere except onto the ground. But end is in sight. And I made it to the top!!!
After having done this, I don't think that it was THAT hard because it was definitely doable. If even I can do it - who have in total being cycling for 6 months then I'm sure so can most other cyclists. At some point, I think it's extremely hard for everyone and it's simply the motivation to go to the finish line that carries people forward.
The descent from Baldy Lifts was a test as well. I was braking so hard that my hands were nearly numb and I had to pull my elbow outwards to get some more force. I descended quite fast, at similar speed to the experienced riders although it was not my intention to descend this fast :) We then rode back onto GRR and then onto 39. On 39, I was so tired from the ride that I nearly fell asleep at the bar ('wheel')....
All in all, a pretty awesome ride :)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Running, Swimming, Shoes and Conference
It has been settled. I'm going to do a half marathon and a triathlon! I'd never have imagined myself running let alone doing a triathlon a month ago.
The longest I've ran so far is 6miles. A half marathon is 13.2miles and people say that you run slower as you go along. But for me, I run faster with time (at least in a 6miles run). It's more the pain from the impact than being tired that is stopping me from going faster although I do sweat SO much! I'm currently doing just slightly above 10min/mile. I'd be satisfied to finish below 2hours. But very happy to do it in 1h40min. I set high reaching goals most of the time.
I went swimming in a lap pool for the first time in a long time. It's a drag that I could only swim breast stroke 'well'. So I have to refine my crude and almost non-existent freestyle techniques. I was uncomfortable in the pool and was conscious that I'd make a fool of myself but that was the last thing on my mind...I was doing several strokes before I'd take a breath, and when I did I discovered that I was out of air and then I'd start panicking and stop swimming. After awhile, I realized that it was because I didn't let go of the previous breath and so there was no room for more air - so stupid! It took me pretty much the whole swim to realize this so it wasn't a very productive session and I was quite disappointed in myself. Oh well, on the bright side I have another challenge that I will overcome!! :)
I'm wearing barefoot running shoes which scientifically is supposed to result in less running injuries, still my knee is giving me some problems and my shins feel stiff. I realized while running that if I bend my knees a bit when I land, then the landing is much softer and so much more comfortable. I want to use shoes that are good for me in the long term, even if it means pain now, it's better than running in the wrong form (landing on my heels) and have chronic problems later on. So I'll be patient. Right now I'm icing my left knee since it's swollen (again). I think I spend more time in recovering mode than in the minimal training that I do.
hehe I'm going to a conference in Berlin! So excited even though it's many months from now. Speaking of which, I should really do some German. At the end of the month, I'll go to a conference in Chicago. I'm happy that finally I'm going to conferences. It's going to be so awesome to present research that I've worked on for so long, meet new people, go to different places and in general just experience new things.
The longest I've ran so far is 6miles. A half marathon is 13.2miles and people say that you run slower as you go along. But for me, I run faster with time (at least in a 6miles run). It's more the pain from the impact than being tired that is stopping me from going faster although I do sweat SO much! I'm currently doing just slightly above 10min/mile. I'd be satisfied to finish below 2hours. But very happy to do it in 1h40min. I set high reaching goals most of the time.
I went swimming in a lap pool for the first time in a long time. It's a drag that I could only swim breast stroke 'well'. So I have to refine my crude and almost non-existent freestyle techniques. I was uncomfortable in the pool and was conscious that I'd make a fool of myself but that was the last thing on my mind...I was doing several strokes before I'd take a breath, and when I did I discovered that I was out of air and then I'd start panicking and stop swimming. After awhile, I realized that it was because I didn't let go of the previous breath and so there was no room for more air - so stupid! It took me pretty much the whole swim to realize this so it wasn't a very productive session and I was quite disappointed in myself. Oh well, on the bright side I have another challenge that I will overcome!! :)
I'm wearing barefoot running shoes which scientifically is supposed to result in less running injuries, still my knee is giving me some problems and my shins feel stiff. I realized while running that if I bend my knees a bit when I land, then the landing is much softer and so much more comfortable. I want to use shoes that are good for me in the long term, even if it means pain now, it's better than running in the wrong form (landing on my heels) and have chronic problems later on. So I'll be patient. Right now I'm icing my left knee since it's swollen (again). I think I spend more time in recovering mode than in the minimal training that I do.
hehe I'm going to a conference in Berlin! So excited even though it's many months from now. Speaking of which, I should really do some German. At the end of the month, I'll go to a conference in Chicago. I'm happy that finally I'm going to conferences. It's going to be so awesome to present research that I've worked on for so long, meet new people, go to different places and in general just experience new things.
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