First Tri Club

Signed up for the First Tri Club.
It may have cost a bomb, but looking at the entitlements, I find that it is worthwhile.
I can make use of most of the freebies, except the Cannondale voucher.
I am pretty sure some of the freebies are available for all finishers, they just plonked that to the list to make it look nicer.

Here are its entitlements

Race entry for Sprint Triathlon category for OSIM Singapore Triathlon 2007.
Basic Medical Screening provided by Changi Sports Medicine Centre. - COOL!!!
Eight (8) training sessions to be conducted by Synergy Multisport. - COOL!!!
OSIM goodies. - Hopefully, it is something good.
One pair of New Balance's shoes. COOL!!!
One Exclusive First Tri Club New Balance T-Shirt - Cool!
One New Balance Shoe Bag - Cool!
One-year TAS membership.
$400 Cannondale Bike Voucher
Entry to Gala Dinner to celebrate your first Triathlon
Finisher medal
Finisher T-Shirt

Now just have to wait for more details.

Just hope that the training sessions does not clash with my other schedules.

AMK-Bishan Run

A first Northern area run in a long time.

Started our run from AMK MRT Tunnel with austrias105 and robertang at 7.15pm.
Ran toward AMKSS to join up with LadyLuck for our run.

Hehe, everyone is aware of our lady runner's speed, so it was of no surprise that she and austrias105 pulled away from us pretty quick.

Ran along Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 towards Thomson Road.

As it was pretty dark in Bishan Park, we proceed to Sin Ming Ave before making our way back to Ang Mo Kio MRT.

I did not feel any ache from the Mount Faber Run, thus find this run very satisfying.

Or maybe it is the Nike Running Tights that does the trick.

Now I only need a pair of WrightSocks to complete my running outfit. Hope to get it before I proceed for another long run.

Mizuno-MR25 Mount Faber Run

Most ppl have been waiting for this day for quite some time.
Singapore did not have a competitive running event since Singapore Marathon 2006. ie. Not counting the 2 Biathlons in March.

Met up with the group at 7.15am. Not hard to find them lor, with Mr Landmark around, how to get lost?
Sorry if I miss some of you, but here goes.
Sotong, Mrs Sotong, Ripley, Brokie, Vincent, IMD, BalaSing, BoSe, Seal Boon, Sywog. Juwatin, AeroselCan, Gugugaga, TLR, Ronnie, Bee, Balasing, CFred, LoneShark, Cookiee.
BalaSing still have his 1-star certification kayaking course at 10am. Kudos to you.
Did not get a chance to meet up with my old battalion mate, Bug. Some other time bah.

The run starts at 7.30am.
Think I am taking it slow and easy, so did not have so much complaints about the whole route.

Went along Henderson Road , did a loop within Henderson Industrial Park. Out towards SAFRA Mount Faber before we reach Morse Road.

AeroselCan ran past me during this stretch and shown me his trusty Nike running tights.

Had expected a water point at Morse Road, so was pretty surprised there was none. Can't expect the same standards as SCSM hor, where the first water point appears as early as 3km.

Hehe, took one look up Pender Road and I started my walk run Mount Faber.
No point jog up and DNF later.

Reach the water point at Mount Faber loop, while enjoying the walk/jog up.
Helped myself to 2 cups of water.
The water tasted nice, but strangely does not feel like mineral water.
Took a look inside the cup. OMG, there is a piece of chewing gum inside.
WTF, they recycled the cups. Sigh, no point fuming over the cups, so I continue on my jog-a-walk.

Reached the foot of Mount Faber. Almost fainted when I see Telok Blangah Rise.
I am mentally prepared to challenge Mount Faber, but never expect another hill immediately after Mount Faber.

Oh well, the show must go on, so I trotted along Telok Blangah Rise and slowly make my way back to the finishing point.

Completed the run in a slow 1:35:25. Oh well, baby steps for me right now.
Hopefully can improve on this timing next year. Hmm, make it must improve.

Haha, one interesting recollection of the run is rear-looking Roonz look-alike. She is never far ahead of me, although I overtook her during the last 500m.
From the rear, I believe most of the SGRunners would have misktaken her for Roonz.
How I wish I have taken along my camera phone to take a shot.

After the run, we took a group photo and the team start dispersing.
Most of the guys got other appointments to attend, while the rest of us just stayed back for the lucky draw.

After the event ended, I drove to Queensway SC.

Intended to get a pair of running tights after I kena abrasion again during the run.

Reach there at 10:30. Sigh, none of the shops are open.
Went to McDonalds for my brunch, while waiting for the shops to open.

After brunch, proceed to the only shop that open at 11am. Looked around the shop for running tights but found only women running tights.
Luckily the salesperson manage to get me a pair of the Nike Running tights that fits me.

Armed with the knowledge that I got the correct running tights at the correct price from the SGRunners forum, I paid for the merchandise.

Being the kpo, I proceed to other shops which are starting to open to check on the Nike running tights. Was surprised most of them does not carry any running tights at all. I must be damn lucky to found my needle within the haystack on my first try.

Hehe, will try out the pair of running tights in tomorrow's inaurgual AMK-Bishan Run to see how it feels.

Am pretty confident that Nike will not let me down.

A NEW Beginning

After 35 years laced with mishaps and unhappiness, I am determined to make changes starting today.

No point getting stuck in the past for so long. Should be happy with what I have right now and forget about the past.

A toast to me and the rest of the world.

Let's start the day anew!!!

Bitten by the Flu Bug.....AGAIN!!!

Sigh, after staying sick free for the year 2006, this year does not seems so kind.

I got flu again yesterday.

Taking care not to bath late at night, no tea during early morning or night, still does not help.

Sometimes, just blessed that my better half is make of stronger genes.

Else our kids will suffer.

Weekday Runs

My wife noticed that my runs are becoming irregular.
She does understands that it is not so easy to pick myself up early in the morning to run on a regular basis.

As age catches up, one finds the need to get regular sleep to get through the day.
To think that I used to get around with 4 hours of sleep daily.

Thus I have been given the go ahead to mark out Monday or Tuesday to do a group run.
Used to have only one option available, now I have three.
And 2 of them are really close to home.

CBD Runs, Velocity Runs and AMK Runs. Hopefully you will be able to see me around more often.

Reflections

On leave today.
Went to AMK to sort out banking matters.

With AMK Hub up and running, a number of banks have re-located to this spanking new building.
Citibank, UOB, DBS.
POSB and Maybank are also nearby.
Looks like mini CBD hor.
Oh, to open a kid's account these days not easy.
They tempted you to open an account with $3,000 to get free insurance coverage, or minimum amount of $500 to have a kid's account.
Really not for ordinary folks like me.

Wanted to buy a tri tights or running tights. Seems like neighhourhood shops dun carry such stuff.
CW-X looks like a good one, just dunno where to get or where to ask.
Other brands I heard are Zoot and 2XU?
Recommendations, anyone?

Not wanting to be hiao, it is just that without these tights, groin abrasion keep coming and going. Vaseline does not seems to help.

Pop by Chapter 2 (C2), saw quite a bit of cycling stuff.
Wanted to get a cyclometer and helmet, but din hv my bike with me.
Next time lor.
Tempted to get a headlight and rearlight.
Think I need to bring an expert with me.
So many choices till I blur.

While having lunch, there was this bunch of aunties sitting beside me.
Make me think of my mum looking after my kids and my sister's kids.
THANK YOU, MUM!!! You are the greatest!!!

Notice something interesting on the train.
Is it a fashion fad right now?
Boys' school shorts are longer than girls' skirts?
The boys' shorts are just above the knee, while the girls' hem are 2 inches above the knee.

Khatib City

Hardly out of the house this late.

Went to KC to get something at 11pm. Was surprised at what I see.

CineNow kiosk was packed with ppl. Hehe, just like the POSB ATMs...

The coffeeshops are full of drinkers.

A lot of girls in pairs ard KC. Dunno where are the guys.

Lethargic

Not too sure what happen last night.
Was having sore shoulders before the run, thought the run will remove the ache.
After my run, I took my dinner and am completely bushed.
Took a healthy 9 hours of sleep but could hardly wake up.

Hmm, I can go for 5km Morning Run and is re-energised after the run.
But 2.4km Run sapped my energy more?

Stadium Run

Too lazy to go for a morning run.
But on the way home after work, felt guilty.
Thus went for a short run.
Proceed to Yishun Stadium to do 2.4km
Had wanted to calibrate the iPod and Suunto T3 but was not successful.
Sigh, the pace is always the same, no matter how far the distance.
Another bad thing happen today, I lost my house key during the run!!!
Luckily I manage to find it, else will hv a hard time replacing it.

Blood Sweat Tears Heart

AthleteMovie. Interesting Trailer.

I like the slogan though. "Crossing the finish 2008"

Probably trying to tell me something. :p

Oh well, see how it goes.

Probably 21km max for me this year. Unless something amazing happens.

Milestones - A New Beginning

Had this feeling for a couple of years.The feeling that this year will be a turning point for me.

But this morning does not start off too good leh.3 incidents happen within a space of 5 minutes.
1) My car "kissed" the post at the carpark
2) Bag strap got caught in the brakes.
3) Crashed into the locked Swing door

But I am still happy. Probably cos I got more Birthday Wishes today, and I love them all.

Humble Pie?

Should I eat the humble pie and not register for the City Duathlon?
After reviewing my Good Friday Run, I felt very demoralised liao.
Is it my stamina or purely just a lack of fluids or both?

I cannot believe that I am now having second thoughts about the World Harmony Run and the MILK Run too.

*****
Woke up super duper early today, wanted to go for a YRR Run.
Will give myself a break today. :p

Running Errands

Put a whole new meaning to the phrase "Running Errands"

Intend to work up early for a Yishun Ring Road Run. But snooze for 40 minutes after the alarm went off. :p

Since I was hoping to get things done at Chong Pang, I think that it could be a fine way to do so.

Today's run was short, but fulfilling.

Thought my pace was quick, but a check with Nike+ still reads back 6:27min/km as the fastest pace.

Will seriously have to do something about it.

Heart Warming

Had this conversation with my daughter a few days ago.
Thought I post it here.

Daddy : Shannon enjoy today?
Shannon : Shannon enjoy everyday.

I was at a complete loss of words.
How many of us can say that to ourselves?

In our pursuit of happiness, we always seems to overlook a lot of simple things that make our lives more enriching.

Good Friday Run

Met the guys at Yishun Stadium at 7am.
Run started pretty soon after that.

Quite a large turnout. Was pretty surprised. James the organiser led us through Yishun Park, Khatib Bongsu Park Connector , Simpang Kiri Park Connector, Canberra Estate before proceeding toward the Hot Springs.

I started walking soon after we enter the Yishun Industrial Estate. Walked the entire distance to Hot Springs.

Hmm, Simpang Kiri Park Connector feels and smells like Track 11 , Track 13. Hehe, missed my Reservist liao.

Have expected the guys to have gone for brunch when I was walking along Sembawang Road. Was surprised when all of them passed me near Cheap John.

The guys and gals had a fun time at the Hot Springs. It is rewarding after the 15km run.
Burnt my polyster vest and shorts while sitting on the floor outside the pump house.
(After a short nap in the afternoon, realised that my bum got burned as well. Ouch.....)

Went for lunch at Chong Pang with a few of them trying out the famous bee hoon and chicken wings.

Quite a good run although I walked half the distance.

Thanks Taz for the kind advice with regards to LSD. Appreciate it. :)

Lazy Bones Run

After slacking for 2 weeks and a wake up call later, finally pick up those lazy bones and make it go for a run.

Had wanted another hour of sleep, but.....

Still a bunch of lazy bones as I did the same route that I have done so many times, the Reverse Yishun Ring Road Run. (A distance that I knew will be at least 5km)

Always thought of running to Simpang Kiri Park Connector, but I guess that will have to wait.

Hopefully will get to do that this Friday at the Good Friday Run. That is provided I dun pan-chet first. :P

Lesson learnt. Slack too much and u lose your pace. Did a 7.03min/km run today. Very disappointed with myself. :(

Happy Birthday, Shannon

My little girl is 3 years old today. :)

A Bizarre Dream

Blew my mind away. But dreams can't always be reality, can they?

Something to add

My life has changed dramatically since I joined SGRunners.

A dull lifestyle suddenly become full of life.

Reading up on blogs on ppl I know are more meaningful than reading blogs of "famous" bloggers.
On my Ironman posting, in case anyone thought I am out of my mind, I need to clarify that it is a do-able target.

All I need is a good training base. Right now I need to manage my see-saw balance between training and family life.

Self Medication goes Awry

Just be careful what kind of medication you take.

I took the correct medicine for my cold, but according to my kind doctor, I took too much of it.

Woke up last night with a super dry throat, terrible headache, sore shoulders and pain at the base of the skull.

My cold was getting better, but in my anxiety to get well soon, I actually made it worse.
Priton was meant to dry up the mucus , thus without much mucus to dry up, it start drying up my internal system. Thus kena sort of dehydrated lor.

Right now, I am still feeling the pain in base of the skull. Sianz.....

Ironman

My mind must have grown too big for my head now.

I still remember the first time I heard the word "Ironman" is way back in the late 90s.

It was the Escape from Alcatraz race that pip my interest. But my reaction at that time was "Wow, these triathletes are like Supermen".

Now, as I look forward, the impossible looks more and more possible.

I guess it all boils down to hard work and training.

With a few years more to go before I am officially a Golden Boy, let's see if I can complete at least a half-Ironman race.

Ah-Choo....

This week does not looks good.

Had not run at all. So I had wanted to do so today. But what happen....

Soon after 3pm yesterday, my body must have detected the oncoming thunderstorm, as I start sneezing non-stop. Sigh, my body is always so fragile, cannot handle sudden temperature changes.

Excuses lah, if I had run at all, these problems does not surface at all.

Priton was always a good remedy, but somehow it does not help these 2 days. I am still feeling very bad.

March review. 30km clocked... very very very bad. Break that down to 5km per run, i only did 6 runs....urgh.....

Must start to pick up my momentum again. Else my big plan for SCSM 2007 is going to fail big time.