While You Are Sleeping

Woke up this morning and lie in bed waiting for the alarm clock to go off.
After waiting for a long time, I figured that something is wrong and took a glance at the alarm clock.
Gosh! 5:37AM liao!!!

Haiz, have to miss today's ride again.
Tried to went back to sleep, but couldn't.

What can I do?
Hang on, I just need to do the LongHouse loop and reach LongHouse by 7am, right?
Achievable? Why not? =)

Quickly wash up, gulp down a snack size Snickers and off I go.
Along Mandai Road, saw half a snake with its guts spilt all over the road.
Wonder what happen to the other half *?!

Passing Mandai Hill Camp, I am elated.
Not being swarmed by crazy spinners means that I can ride at my own pace. Yeah!

Along Lornie Road, 2 riders started to pull away from me.
This normally dun bug me, but somehow the word "proficiency" keep coming up and I decided to gave chase.
From 300m, I manage to make it a respectable 30m before we hit LongHouse. =p
(Wah, a look at my training log... I clocked an average speed of 39km/h just chasing the 2 buggers 0_o)

Reached LongHouse at 7:01am. Haha, what more can you ask for. =)
ANZA is still there, so there is no JoyRiders clearance yet.

After ANZA moves off around 7:10am, the train is still not moving.
Everyone is waiting for someone to start the ball rolling. =/
Without Joyce around, there is no deputy to call the shots.
(Err... actually there is. WildCat should be the de-facto deputy, but he is just starting on his breakfast. 0_o)

When the train starts its engine at 7:20am, I start off at the back of the pack and got dropped. =9
Turning right into Yio Chu Kang Road, I notice that there is a 2nd pack of cyclists coming out from OUTR.
Ohh...so that are really practicing the safer option of crossing this crazy traffic junction.

After the Lentor Avenue junction, the real hard work begins.
These jokers are crazy.
We are averaging 34-37 km/h for much of the distance.

Stuck at the traffic junction on the Punggol Flyover, I lose the group.
Cycling along Punggol Road, I am like a lost sheep.
Out of nowhere, I heard a "Turn right ahead!"

It is WildCat. Thanks, mate.
I got no idea why he is behind me, but I am just glad that he is there.
The next command is "Take my draft!", which I gladly obliged.

Through Punggol, Sengkang and Hougang, I stay in his slipstream.
We din manage to catch the faster group, so I guess it is just the 2 of us all the way to East Coast Park.

Along Old Tampines Road, the whole gang caught up with us.
No clue as to why we are faster than the other riders, but I know my drafting days are over.
The ride kicked into high gear again.
I was able to keep a constant cadence, but the inconsistent speed of the last 2 cyclists is really affecting my performance.
Into Tampines Industrial Park Lane 5, I finally give up and decide to go at my own pace.

As I am reaching the Tampines-Pasir Ris crossing under the TPE Flyover, I got caught by the red traffic light and I knew it is end game for me.
There is no way I can catch the guys anymore.
Choose my own route through the Loyang Industrial Park shortcut and onto Changi Coastal Road.
Was reflecting on the sweet and sour memories of Sundown Marathon when a plane overhead disrupt my thoughts.
It is definitely nice to sit there and watch the planes fly overhead.
When the kids are older, I will bring them here to enjoy the scenery and atmosphere.

With just 2 snack size Snickers bar for breakfast, my legs are starting to cramp.
The speed strips are only making matters worse.
With all the pavements to the Park Connector locked, I have no choice but to stay on the road.
Halfway along Changi Coastal Road, I got lucky and onto the Park Connector I go. =)

Took the route directly to East Coast Park.
Cycling past CarPark F2, I was impressed by the way Tribob conducted the OSIM Triathlon training clinic.
It is a far cry from the one conducted by Synergy Performance last year.
I would say that it is definitely worth the $9-$12 that the participants are paying for.
They have proper tentage and bike racks. In fact, the layout looks like an actual triathlon event.
way to go, Tribob.

Cycling towards Carpark E2, TAS is already setting up the transistion area.
Spotted our poster gal, Roonz along the way.

Reaching the food center, I slowed down and start to unclip, while peering into the food center.
Un-clip right, look left. It is a disaster waiting to happen.
No prize for guessing what happen next.
Other than a scratched left shifter, everything else is pretty much okay.

The food center is pretty empty.
I am worried that the guys have left already.
Ahh... there they are. In a corner of the food center.
Most of them had their drinks already and are just staying on to rest those tired legs.

Had 2 soya bean drinks and nasi lemak, while chatting with Cookie and JK_Han.
Had wanted to go back and checked out the Tribob training clinic, but got jio-ed to do the ride home instead.

Took Fort Road-Lavender-Novena to Joyce's house to collect JK_Han's JoyRiders jersey.
Winnie and a few other guys are already there. Haha, Joyce was not ready for the whole group of us.
She has expected a quiet morning. But I guess it is always nice to have some vistors while you are "in jail". =p
Chatted for a while before JK_Han and I made our way home.

This is where things started to get nasty.
While I am still pretty much in control and very alert, the cramps are hitting me all over the body.
Up Prata Hill, I had a hard time breathing.
Every breathe I took, my entire torso starts to hurt.
It is as though someone has tied a cloth around my torso and tightening it with every breathe.
Laboured my way till SLE Flyover and things started getting better.

Spoke to JK_Han about it and both of us are pretty relieved that we are reaching home soon.
The torso cramps come again while we are ascending Sembawang Hills and I ask JK_Han to go ahead.
He waited for me at the Mandai-Yishun junction before we continued on our way home. Thanks, JK.