My first half marathon, and my second and last triathlon

After the operation on the last day of march, I resumed my running practice 3 weeks later. Yes, everyone must have thought that I am crazy, but I really wanted to challenge myself to this, I have no confidence in cycling competitively but I feel that I can still run. My first run was at 6.53km per hour for 9km. I gradually increased my distance as I continue with training, clocking in a 12 km in May, 15km in June, 18km in July and finally a 20km a week before the half marathon. I guess i have to train in order to complete it. Thanks to my twin, he makes sure we are hydrated during our runs together with his water bag. During my 20km, I made sure I had honey slingers ready so that I have the energy to carry on. Let me divert abit, 10years ago when I join the great eastern run of 10km, I was like thinking no way I am going to torture myself again. Now 10 years later, my backside must be itchy and with peer pressure, I joined in too. Training does make a difference, after increasing distance to 15, I actually thought 10km is too easy for me.

The day comes on 26th July when we go for the zoot trifactor run. I have this competitive streak in me during running, I cannot stand it when there are too many people running around, so it's either I overtake them or be far away behind them. There was once during training, there is this lady running beside me and I can hear her deep breathing, my natural instinct was to dash to the front and be far away. Ya that is me, the anti social runner. But wait, I try my best not to do that when I am running with the twin!

For this run, I also tell myself must smile at the camera or pose. I always look very stress when I run and I thought this will be one of my targets. The view in the morning around marina bay area was awesome, there were otters playing along the route as well. There were sufficient water stations too. Everything go on smoothly for me and I completed the 24km with much ease.

Some things to note ( these are all advised by my running friends)
1.keep the posture straight, I try to run straight and not slouch when I am tired.
2. To keep the knees from further injury, try to run in small steps instead of big steps to the front, I roughly get it but still need more practise
3. Make sure you had a heavy lunch if you are running in the evening or eat something 2 hours before
4. Be well hydrated! Carry a water bag, if not plan your route around the marina and east coast areas where there are water coolers .

Triathlon 23rd August.
Don't ask me why I join. Have been practising free style in the swimming pool and using the gliding method to conserve energy. I thought I can get through the open sea but the moment I enter, with the strong waves, I forgot how to swim free style. During my first round, I hanged onto the rope halfway after the seawater hit on my face n i panic! Thanks to the lifeguards there who passed me the float to let me catch my breath. One main lifeguard even asked the volunteer lifeguard to pull me back. I was like noooo, I want to continue.I held onto the ropes to catch my breath many times. It's just 200m!!! And then nevermind, after getting through 100m,i still have to go through another round. So I finished the first round n unwillingly went for the second,I needed the float to catch my breath again... yes super 丢脸 cos it's just 200 metres... but I completed it n am really thankful to the volunteers and lifeguards there. 
My final conclusion: I am better off swimming in the pool instead. The cycling and running to me is nothing...its the swim that scares me.
The cycle was quite smooth, the u turn was wider this year and I just go at my own pace...I was told not to cheong la....Have to protect my face...

And running...2.4 km can easily be completed in less than 13 mins.

Yes i completed the triathlon, with a poorer placing than last year ( cos of the swim ) BUT WHO CARES right, I complete it and that is what matters.

But i am sure i would not join a triathlon again, i can't really swim in the open sea like that. Joining another run, maybe...a run overseas perhaps.

To cycling with love

Ever since i returned from the long travelling break. I cycled more often than usual. I enjoy the sport and the views along the way. However, right now, if you ask me to chiong like the pros on the roads, i am still very far from it, still quite afraid of the cars on the roads and cannot help putting my hands on the handle bars without leaving them off. I really do not understand why the pros can cycle and drink water or take photo at the same time. I can scratch my nose during cycling for 2 seconds, i very happy already! Of course, i am still practising la. Talking about the cars on the roads, there are a number of inconsiderate and impatient drivers on the roads, me myself once came across a taxi driver who sounded the horn at me and cut right in front of me impatiently, just to turn left. That incident was really quite scary as that taxi was very close to me. Sometimes i really wish our country has a designated lane for cyclists, like Taiwan. This way, we promote healthy living, less cars, less pollution...

Last year, with the foldie, I have ventured routes using the PCNs along the Punggol Connector and ECP to Changi Village route. Another route, the MBS route should be ventured at night as the city views are really awesome, and by entering the Gardens by the Bay from Tanjong Rhu area, you can turn into MBS area already. (the route from ECP to MBS area direct is currently in construction and i am really looking forward to it) 

These are the casual cycling photos. The picture on the left was taken along Punggol connector in Nov 2013. It has this rustic feel and i quite like it. However, that area is cemented and made into a proper pathway already. Actually there are alot of people along that park connector especially on weekend mornings. I have to be really careful there, especially when there are kids cycling in front, tell them to keep left, they will sway all the way to the right...SWEAT MANZZZ...

My casual photos

ECP area is also extremely crowded on weekend nights, but we usually will try cycle from ECP to Changi village, would be about near to 40km to and fro. The stretch along the runway area is very long, but that stretch would be quite good to chiong as there is usually lesser people.

And thanx to my twin who knew some cycling enthusiasts from PK aka Painkillers, we knew a friend from there who took for us super cool cycling shots. Thanx Jimmy!

My pro look alike cycling photos :)

I never knew i can pose like that...it is hard not to smile though :)

Right now, i try to join PK in their rides to practise and train up my stamina, hopefully to be in time for my 35km event in May. Oh...and to scratch my nose longer!
Jiayou Jadebottle! 

First mini triathlon

Wow, the last time i blog was in August 2014...

I was preoccupied with quite a number of things, with mainly completing my ACTA certification, from Sept - November, doing some contract curriculum writing and tutoring part time in an established tuition centre. Ever since i resigned last year in Dec, my income flow has stopped for 6months. I have been searching for a job in the corporate world since July, however the job market does not seem to be very good. It was pretty discouraging at times and sometimes i felt really demoralised. Some friends told me to venture into tuition full time, which is something i am pretty confident of delivering. But me, 屁股痒咯，i still want to try something different in another area. I mean if i never try something else, i would never know if i can excel in that too right? And i know, if i wanna do something, i can be quite persistent...Anyway, i am still sending resumes, i took up ACTA as i thought i would like to go into training in the L and D departments, and i am sure that there are definitely transferable skills that i have acquired during my 9 years in school which i can contribute to the next company that employs me. Just need to be patient and wait for God's timing. :) and meanwhile just keep sending...

Ok a recap of what has happened in Sept...i joined my first triathlon organised by trifactor.
It was a mini one, not the iron man/ woman kind. It sounded very easy to me at first, 200m swim, 10km bike and 2.4km run. I mean it is "sup sup sui" if you do all 3 separately but if you are to combine all 3...it is not so easy after all.

The segment that i am most afraid of is swimming, and it is an open water swim, that is you have to be able to swim with the waves or against the waves. As it was my first time, i joined their open water swim trial...

I was the last few to enter the water and i held on twice onto the floats during the trial. I felt so breathless during the swim but i managed to complete it being the last few reaching the shore.

As i am afraid of the sea, the day before the triathlon, my twin accompanied me to ECP lagoon to practice again. I just dipped into the sea water and try swimming with the waves, till i felt more confident supposingly. Slow, nevermind, just swim my usual "frogstyle" and complete it...

On the day of triathlon, there were alot of people. We went to get our arms stamped, and placed all our bikes and barangs.

See how happy and excited i was before everything. :)

The men's events started first, my twin and his friends went ahead while i waited for my turn. I felt very nervous lo, kept on breathing deeply before i enter the sea and doing alot of "auto suggestions", that "it is not scary, just enjoy and have fun". And when it is time for my event, i waited for the rest to go in first while i swam the first 100m. Before i enter the sea for the second 100m, i held on at the side to catch my breath for almost a minute, and they sent in the next batch of swimmers behind me. I was being forced to continue... During the swim, i can feel the hands of swimmers as most of them swam free style, and once in a while, i may have kicked someone behind too. Argh...whatever la. 

After the swim,the legs felt like jelly but i still have to walk or run quickly to the holding area to get my Dahon foldie bike. Anyway, the whole ride was ok, just that the turning point was quite narrow, i almost knocked into the cones after i turned during the first time, got a little cut and bruise while trying to slow down the turn. At that moment, i could not feel any pain, just carried on, till i get down from the bike to push it to the holding area and prepare for the run. At that time, i could not run straight, ended up getting back my composure by walking back slowly.  

The run is the only one i can chiong. That is the segment i can use to improve my timing. BUT.. half way through, i got stitch...ARGH...(look at the picture above, you know already) I look extremely ugly and unglam la!!! From the sign of relief after the swim, to my face looking like i was having a painful stitch! That on and off stitch is just IRRITATING! Thanx for the photos on Running Shots though :)

However, i knew i must complete it, so just RUN. 
And i completed the whole triathlon, feeling pleased and satisfied, with the timing stated in the certificate below and my category place 30/66 and gender place 42/84. Average score and not too bad for a first timer :)

After everything, did i realise the slight pain in the wound. At that time, i was like thinking, i shall not join again!

BUT just last month, i registered for it again, this time with 3 more additional individual events, 200m swim (like again...), 38km cycle and 24km run... but this year, i set a target, to pose and smile at all the cameras along the way...And ENJOY and HAVE FUN

what's up this weekend?

Chilling at Catalunya Singapore

Thanx for F, we enjoyed ourselves a good deal at Catalunya Singapore, this little floating restaurant and bar next to One Fullerton. We went up to the second floor where it was supposed to have a bar, it was closed but it was open to people. The place has a scenic view of the MBS hotel. The restaurant serves Spanish food, we had some bites, and one was this olive with some kind of oil inside. I cannot describe the taste.      ( Just like some people love durians, some people hates them ) It is my problem, i think i am still more into Asian cuisine.

In the restaurant, the dinner area overlooks the same scenic view, the place has a very nice ambience for dinner, I would love to have one of the main course there one day, perhaps it would change my perception for Spanish food.

Trail Run at Dairy Farm Nature Park

I promised S to join this group of runners for some trail run at Dairy Farm Nature Park. In the end, i was so late i did not meet up with them. At first i thought ok i shall run alone but after that i got to know another lady who was also late and we ended up running together. Thanx to her, i had a good workout and an enjoyable time being in touch with nature.

A few times, we had to stop because one of the trails was the mountain bike trails and some paths were very narrow. The bikes has the right of way. We had to stand at the side and wait for them to pass. Most of the people were friendly in the morning and often we greet each other with a good morning. Some paths were very uneven, there was once i twisted my ankle because of a little hole covered by the brown leaves, and certain paths were steep and slippery, i had to be extremely careful. It was very challenging! And btw, my friend told me, normal running shoes are not very suitable for such trail runs, you need those with lost of "spikes" at the soles to tackle those rocks and stones during the trail.

Wolverine

Finally get to watched Wolverine. As usual, the muscular Hugh Jackman amazes me with his great built. There was quite a desirable amount of action, enough to keep me awake after an early morning run. There is quite a large number of scenes in Japan which was an eye opener for me since i have never been to Japan before. The "scratching" of those claws against metal never fail to make me cringe in my seat. Oh! Please do not leave immediately when it shows some of the ending credits, an important character would appear after that.

Thats all folks, have a restful week during the coming National Day Holidays and Selamat Hari Raya Adilfiltri to all my Muslim friends!

Wakeboarding + Spooky trail at nite

Wakeboarding

Yesterday was a very very exciting day. I tried wakeboarding for the first time...and really had alot of fun....Though i tink i am terribly lousy...couldn manage to stand and balance...the moment i tried to stand, i fall...and not only that i strained my arm muscles. When i went home,i still need to prepare to go for the Spooky trail organised by API and Punggol CC.

Here are some photos...Before wakeboarding
During wake boarding, i 'm damm tired...cant climb up...so paisehAll of us...we planned to go again next month...

Posing with Raymond's board...with Duncan and Raymond
After everything...So tired but enjoyable.

Spooky Trail
After that went to join Ivy in this spooky trail in the evening. First we went o Labrador Park where there are 2 tunnels...They say some people saw things in the 2nd tunnel...well...i din see anything and i dun wanna see also...For someone who always freak out at horror shows, i thought i just wanna test if i am daringThis is the first tunnel...it is more lit up....Did not really take any photos in the 2nd tunnel...after that we went to Grange Road to see 3 deserted big houses. No photos though
Taken on the bus while the rest went for a break...The next stop was coffee hill which i got pretty scared...cos the forest trail is very dark and i keep having shivers...while walkin, i only looked at the ground, it was to make sure i din step onto any muddy ground but i am just preventing myself from seeing anything i not supposed to see. Last stop was CCK cemetary, it was pretty crowded......dun worry its all humans...i supposed... cos there are priests doing rituals.Its quite an interesting tour, i learnt quite alot of things.The API leader was telling us alot of stories on our way back but i was so tired i fell asleep.Hey whole day out leh...but fulfilling!