elusivek | Random life bits (Reply)

It's my childhood idol Okui Masami 奥井雅美's birthday today, and last night she did a live broadcast introducing her new album. I've only ever attended one other live broadcast before (freaking 3am my time, Tom Felton Home Party or whatnot), since this one was just at my 10pm I figured I'd give it a go. We had a countdown to her birthday. The people were bombard-messaging her that I just caught my happy birthday message (elusivekat, fading on the top) LOL. I felt young at that moment, fangirling like I did back in my teens LOL

So it's watching the broadcast on the iPhone and on the iPad chatting with other fans in the Facebook group thing. She's a Japanese artist and us English speakers make a small group... so we chat apart from the Japanese fan base.

This morning, after walking and feeding the dogs, and another failed attempt at booking a badminton court for a game of badminton for next week, I decided to go running, as it was overcast and had a bit of wind. I figured it would be nice to run even after 9am as the sun would not come out anyway. I was right on that part. Weather-wise, it was a pleasant run. The only stupid thing I did was not research well the guided runs on the Nike running app. I just clicked on any 5km run, and apparently I chose a 5km tempo run. I should have researched what a tempo run is. A tempo run is running so you maintain your speed in the preset milestones, or not go any slower than the previous milestone. I also chose the wrong route to run. I was trying to be like Forrest Gump and decided to just "run ahead where there is a road" LOL

So I had to run through some poorly maintained roads/pedestrians/construction areas, LOL!! Not only that. Despite the run being filed under 5km, it had a 1.5km warm-up and a 1.5km cool-down, meaning it would be an 8km run. Of course, I could have just stopped that run and started a new guided run, but I figured why not. I need to train for my 10km race in April anyway. In case anyone is interested, this is the course I have to run (the 10km one. The "fun run" is a 5km race). I only found out now that we'll need to run over the bridge to Taipa, which is so cool, as the Sai Van Bridge is for vehicle only and usually only closed off for runners during the marathon races. We get this on a 10km race. Cooooool.

At least, after I left the construction area, I got back to some better-maintained routes. It's China just across the water on that photo on the left. I'm also perplexed why there isn't like better security or a wall to stop people from jumping and swimming across. Oh, I also didn't realize that the Navy Yard got turned into an Art Centre. It sounds interesting. I will have to go in one day.

So I said I watched that live stream last night, and I was still feeling a bit hyper, so I actually took the towel from that artist I mentioned, I got this towel from one of the live concerts I went to before. Also chose a playlist with just her songs for the run. It's her birthday today, as an ex-fanatic fan, I think I'm allowed to go overboard for a day LOL. It was too warm to wear the t-shirts from the concerts though. It had to be something sleeveless today.

So for the 10km run, I have 1hour 40minutes to run that. If I managed the 8km today in an hour, I guess the remaining 2km should be fine. I don't think I need an extra 40minutes to run a 2km. But I will need to continue training because of the bridge. That means I will need to run uphill! I need to train a run or two on that. I need to think which hill in Macau has a similar inclination to the bridge's. Hm..... I also usually have a better average pace, but it was a whole month since I last ran, and I just jumped into this freaking 8km tempo thing. I'll research better before a run next time, will aim to improve my average pace.

Random shots from today! Apparently, English painter George Chinnery liked Macau enough. He stayed a while here, up to his death. Wiki info for your pleasure reading. I wasn't aware he's still buried in Macau, I thought the grave/headstone in the Protestant cemetery was just a memorial. I'll swing by another day. Anyway, I digressed. Here's a street named after him, Rua George Chinnery. I wonder if it's because he lived here? It's just a 2-minute walk from my home.

I posted a photo of The Fountain the other day. Today, the fountain WORKS!

The reason I had to go out at all today was to pick up some stuff I ordered from a group-order shop (something like Groupon I think?) The shop finds certain products, posts on Facebook saying they found this, then people place orders. If they reach the minimum order required, they will order the goods. If minimum order not reached, then they will not order the goods. One of the items was this organic brownie brittle thing from Australia. When I saw the post I just thought "sounds good!' And I picked it up today, went home, had a bite, and OMG it's goooooooooood! It's also dangerous! "120 calories per serving", and ok, a serving is 28 grams. I did not weight it, but I'll assume 28 grams is one piece. My question now is, HOW DO YOU STOP AT JUST ONE PIECE!????????? This is dangerous stuff!