Archive for the ‘lifestyle’ Category

Adidas Mountain Shoes

This is my trustworthy Adidas Mountain Shoes ( I’ve even forgot the exact model name). Bought it about a year ago, extremely comfortable, waterproof, and pretty good grip. Been through two easy hiking expeditions (one Curug Cilember in Indonesia the other Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia), and about to get another one early next year.

Have you ever fall in love with one sport or activities because of the because of the equipment ? For me this is one of it. The enjoyment of tracking up the wild path, and climbing down the rocks, knowing that comfortable feeling that your shoes, gloves, jackets and stuffs protects you, is kinda buildup the confidence that you can do more and more. Oh and by the way, climbing up the Mount Kinabalu early this year is one of my turning point in my life (I’ll tell the story later on)

What about you, have you ever falling in with one sport because of its equipment and not in spite ?

Brooks Ravenna 2

Here is my official 2nd pair of running shoes. Just got it a month ago, right after realizing that my 1st pair have gone through almost 800km over 9 month period. The purchasing process went through a lot of thought, considering runner’s world review, my orthotics, history of injury, and recent changes in my running stride. To date, it has went almost 50km, and I’m enormously happy with how it fits and confide with my feet. I’m seriously thinking of using it for my first marathon next week, what do you think ?

Me and the rest of the band

Me and Andre, off the Padang Bei Coast

Me and my friends, off the Padang Bei Coast, East Bali. We were on the 4 days trip, with 1 day dive and 1 day snorkeling in the midst. It was a good day, the water was clear, and the weather, as you can witnessed, is absolutely a gem. Can’t wait to get back for another dive soon !!!

Right step, pull, left step, push, right step, pull, left step, push and on and on and on…and thats how the rhythm goes in my brain, one step at a time, as I jogged on the ever hectic Sudirman road – this time with hordes of bicycle- on Sunday morning.

Running has become one my new hobby, along with hiking, surfing, gold, and few other stuffs. And just like any hobbies, it comes with price (they usually does). And you’ll asked, what does it cost ?

For one, the shoes. Sure you can run for free, that is you only need both of your feet to get started. But in order to run faster and efficient you’ll need a good shoes, and good shoes doesn’t usually come cheap. Of course there is no stopping for you to run barefooted, but good shoes, do not only buys you protection, but also comfort and in some case confidence. This experience is not a generic one, but its true for me.

The shoe in question is the esteemed Nike’s Lunar Glide 2, in black. Especially suitable for flat footed being like me. The glide (that’s how I call it) provided nice support for the ankle and keeping my stride consistent along the course.

But the shoe aside, running, like any other sports running pretty much about mental preparedness. It requires consistent approach in every aspect of it, and it requires you to be prepared. My story is one example.

At first, I can barely run 2 minutes over 10 minutes of treadmill time. Next time I add few minutes extra, which after a week, it mounted to 5 minutes extra. Next run, I adder another 5 minutes, 5 minutes and another 5 minutes, until I can run 30 minutes, non stop with a speed of 7k/h.

Next run, I tried to to be faster, and make the last 10 minutes a 8k/h jogs. It goes to another last 15 minutes, 20 and finally I can run to a full 8k/h in 30 minutes. Not satisfied enough, I use the same steps to get myself faster and run 9k/h. By this time, I’m able to run 4 point something k. I set my target higher, 5k, 7k and finally 10k, which is inaugurated in the the Jakarta 10k International Race few weeks back.

If you ask me, what keeps me going ? My answer will be a determination to better and better, the euphoria feeling that I can get from running, enormous satisfaction from achieving my target, a few kilo loss here and there, and a hell of an iPod playlist.

So now, I can run 10k, I set my self to complete a Marathon.

Run Rihan Run.

Remember that I had a Parker Jotter fountain pen ? The one that has faithfully accompany me for the last one year or so ? I lost it. It was with me in the morning, and wasn’t anymore by the afternoon. It was sad affair, for I lost a great pen who have had contribution in promoting my career. One way or another.

Anyway, ever since the day I lost it, I’ve been looking my replacement. And for that I’ve been roaming various Gramedia store around the city, to no avail, until a week a go, and its not Gramedia. It’s in fact Office 2000, at Setiabudi, not far from my place. And it’s a Vector.

Vector, is a pen with more than 20 years of history, and of all the Parker line, its one of the cheapest, second only to Jotter. Anyway, cut the history short, I acquired the pen, have it engraved with my name (with the hope that I can retrieved, or have it returned if I misplaced it), and commissioned it to my office needs, replacing my Jotter.

It is, with all respect of its limitation, is a good pen. Like my old Jotten, it’s a stainless steel, but unlike my Jotter, it came with fine nib (tip), and slighly heavier. It doesn’t exude the look of luxury (or snobbery) unlike the Mont Blanc,  yet still have some uniqueness and personality.

Anyway, I manage to grab a couple of pics of it. Have a look and let me know what you think.

My working pen. Notice the "R. Rachman" engraved at the cap of the pen ?

The Pen Nib. It looks cheap, simple and fairly straight forward. It foot print is thin. Personally, I would prefer a bold medium nib instead.