The 2011 Running Calendar .This is how the first half of 2011 looks like. Still recovering from my calf injury i picked up on Nov 7th (“where the world comes to run”) but I hope to go out soon!  As usual most the runs are in London. Will update the list as I add more events/races.

CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta interviews the legend, the ultramarathoner Scott Jurek.

“Running a ultramarthon is 90% mental and other 10% is mental too” ah!

Here are some of the books on running I’ve read.

1) Born to Run by Christopher McDougall – The best book ever written about running. Period.

2) Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald – I lost almost 10 kilo’s just by reading the book (pun intended). If you’re serious about your diet and want to train/eat like a pro.. then this book is the one!

3) A Race Like No Other – Running the New York City Marathon? then this is the must read. Liz Robbins runs 26.2 miles through the streets of New York without hitting the wall. If you don’t plan on running the New York City Marathon than this book will make you run one.

4) Runners Rule Book – A good humorous read. Mark Remy makes you laugh.. on the run!

5) Survival of the Fittest Mike Stroud gives an in depth understanding of  why and how our body perform in given conditions. More facination are his explorations to Antartica and running marathons around the world and gruelling cross-country endurance races.

6) The Runners Field Manual by Mark Remy – Not as fun as Runners Rule Book

Reading next Once A Runner and My Life on the Run

This seems to be an annual update, list of my top running songs. (See my 2009 list)

Here’s my current 2010 Top 20 25 Running Songs, again in no particular order. I’ll be updating the list as the year goes on. Links are to song videos.

1) Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

2) Running on Empty – Jackson Browne

3) Lose Yourself – Eminem

4) Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti (Rocky Theme Song)

5) Aint No Stopping Us Now – Mcfadden and Whitehead

6) Till I Collapse – Eminem

7) No Apologies – Eminem

8) Empire State of Mind – Jay- Z feat Alicia Keys

9) Not Afraid – Eminem

10) Stronger – Kayne West

11) Run This Town – Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kayne West

12) Break Your Heart – Taio Cruz

13) Cinderella Man – Eminem (This is looking more and more like a Eminem list!)

14) Dynamite – Taio Cruz

15) Pump It – Black Eyed Peas

16) Orinico Flow (Remix) – Enya

17) It’s My Life – Bon Jovi

18) Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5

19) Shine – Shannon Noll

20) Numb – Linkin Park

I’ve added 5 more tracks, some extra motivation!

21) Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (bringing tiger back!)

22) The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin

23) 8 Mile Road – Eminem

24) Going On – Gnarls Barkley

25) Beat It – Michael Jackson

Bonus track : An mp3 of this adidas ad :)

Happy Running!

This is how my 2010 running calendar looks like. As usual most of my runs are in London. There are few more events which I’ll add once my attendance is confirmed. No Half Marathons this year, unlike my 2009 running calendar. Though I would love to do Royal Parks but I have to give it a miss!

This is how my 2009 Running Calendar looks. All the races take place in London (UK). I’ve selected the races carefully, starting off with a warm up event – The British Heart Foundation Jog (which is the only free event) then going on to two 10k runs, then the London Duathlon (I’m not sure about this – yet to register) and finishing off 2009 with two Half Marathons!

So its time to get back in shape. No more wine & dine! I’ve shed few kilos in last 6 months but haven’t trained much. So the long training sessions will commence. With my ipod on and listening to my top running songs.

Last year I was plagued by injuries, specially before my races. I ran The Nike Human Race with a strapped right ankle and had to pull out of Royal Parks Half Marathon. Hopefully 2009 should be a better.

Happy Running!

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you’d better be running!

(Update – 2010 running list)

Here’s my current Top 10 20 Running Songs, in no particular order. These are great if you are training for an event. Links are to song videos.

1) Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

2) La Copa de la Vida/The Cup Of Life – Ricky Martin

3) Lose Yourself – Eminem

4) 8 Mile Road – Eminem

5) Sing For The Moment – Eminem

6) Till I Collapse – Eminem

7) Shine – Shannon Noll (Love to hate this song as its my morning alarm;) )

8) In The End – Linkin Park

9) Breaking The Habit – Linkin Park

10) Numb – Linkin Park

11) Papercut – Linkin Park

12) Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5

13) Fighter – Christina Aguilera

14) Pump It – Black Eyed Peas

15) Mausum & Escape – Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack

16) Jai Ho – Pussycat Dolls (Slumdog Millionaire Remix)

17) It’s My Life – Bon Jovi

18) Sexyback – Justin Timberlake

19) Crazy In Love – Beyonce feat. Jay-Z

20) Takin’ Back My Love (Remix) – Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara
(Remix video on available online)

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( From my blogger acct – posted on Jan 2007)

We have been hearing from ages that tobacco ( chewing/smoking) causes all sort of health hazards, yet we see millions of people continue to do so. We all know that it’s bad but t1he most common excuse one gives is ” I have been smoking for years and I am addicted to this and I cant leave it “.

Truth be told, at one point of my life I used to smoke cigarettes. It started of as trying as I go by the following – All things in life need to be tried at least once – but don’t get addicted. I had enough of it and needed to quit badly. You need to be disciplined and determined to quit, no matter what. There are plenty of aid avaible in the market to help one quit tabbo – like anit smoking pills, patche & co. But above all you need a stong will power.

Quitting was not as easy as I expected it to be. So I decided to take it one day at a time without any external help. I followed a 5 day rule, and it worked. The theory being, if you curb your urge for smoking for first 5 days – you have won half battle. Because its the initial days when you would be dieing for a smoke or even a puff. Control that and you are on the right track.So anyone who’s trying to quit tobacco, just try the 5 day rule. I am sure it will work.

People talk about withdrawal symptoms ,yes there are – you look and feel fresh, more energetic, not to mention white teeth’s(after a while) :), more stamina – which I guess is better than the various sort of cancer and heart/lung troubles caused by tobacco.

People say they smoke under stress/pressure. Well the best way to release stress is working out – exercising. Go out and jog or hit the gym. They are the best stress busters, not that bloody cigarette. And Girls, smoking does not burn calories.

” Cigarette does the smoking, you are just a sucker”

You all know the effect of smoking and the benefits of quitting, a simple search on Google will give you 1000’s of websites giving information on this. All I want you to do is just try for 5 days – I am sure you can do it – your famlily and freinds wellbeing lies in your wellbeing. Think about it.