27th May 2012 Musings

When an image keep appearing in your thoughts, I guess it is worth mentioning.
Twice in my dreams and on a third consecutive day when I am watching over my kids at the playground.

Race is Mega Tri 2011.
I was struggling (walking) towards the Finishing Line.
There is a large group of Mega Tri Finishers relaxing at the Beach Bar along Changi Beach.
I am ready to face the digusted looks on the faces of the 'elite' triathletes.
The response I got truly warmed my heart.
The group were all cheering me on! =)

What is the thought trying to tell me?

22nd May 2012 Running

5km run in Botanical Gardens.
Despite my plea for my colleague not to wait for me, one of them did.
Thus I did the disgusted but necessary step of shaking off the colleague.
It is easy to get 'lost' in Botanical Gardens. =)
Hope he get the message and let me run on my own next time.

21st May 2012 Gym

A simple gym session focused on weight training and 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer.
Happy camper. =)

20th May 2012 Tri Factor Swim 3km

With my last 2 swims being IMWA 2011 and Singapore Biathlon 2012 respectively, I am not going to expect miracles today.

I am prepared if I were to DNF again just like what happened in Tri Factor Swim 2010.

Gosh, the walk to the Race Area is seriously darn far.
Pre-race jitters...

Surprised to see ONLY a few familiar faces.
A lot of fellow friends are skipping this race.

Realised minutes before the race that I forgot to apply BodyGlide!
Great!!! This is going to be a painful affair...

The swim started well.
My freestyle is going well.
Got shoved and kicked too much, I decided to switch to breaststroke.
Time to enjoy my swim. Muhaha...

Gosh, the U-turn sure feels darn far!
And my thighs and calves are hurting...
That is what you get for not training.
Am sure I am not the last one, so was glad to see a few red caps after the U-turn.

Got some isotonic drink on the way out.
In for the second loop, the legs are hurting like mad.
Thoughts of quitting are in the cards.
I dun think I am going to survive this.
Flashback to the lonely time at Busselton Jetty.
The thoughts of seeing the sea bottom...
Hmm... is that the sea bottom I am seeing here too through the murky waters?
Is it really so shallow at this enclosed beach area?
Thoughts of the emergence of the "Special Forces" at the Swim Exit bring on a smile.
Ahh... 1km done.
Spent Wasted a lot of time trying to figure out how much is 3 laps?
Answer is straight-forward, 2.25km. But I just cannot figure out why is it a 2 digit sum???
After 750m, I finally got my answer! 750m is 0.75km
1.5 + 0.75 = 2.25km!
Wahaha...

Going in for my 3rd loop after a dismal water break (Where the hell is the isotonic???), I got my second wind and went out on freestyle till the first buoy! =D
After that, I decided to take it easy... Leisurely swim, I keep reminding myself.
I sure am taking it extremely easy.
Hmm.... the aches are gone...

Another round of plain water... Yucks...
I am going to do this...
This is definitely going to be my slowest lap.
Noticed that almost everyone still in the water is going at a leisurely pace too.
3km is really a test of endurance. =)

Glad to complete.
1:33:31...
Not too sure if it is my slowest time, but this is definitely way slower than the 1:20 I clocked last year.
Looking at the results, it is showing that most of my friends are going 10 minutes slower!
Either the actual swim is longer, or everyone is slower? Take your pick.

Haha, for the next 2 years, I will be less adventurous and sign up for just the bike and the tri.
No point torturing myself on my 2 weaker discipline till I get the hang of it. =p

12th May 2012 Cycling

Reaching Mandai Shell at 5:32am, I thought I missed the train after waiting for 6 minutes.
Resigned to riding alone, I made a U-turn.
Less than 200m away from Mandai Shell, the train zoomed past!
Made a quick U-turn again. Lol! =D
Quite a sizeable group today with a notable difference.
BFG is taking a break!

Out of Mandai Shell, I was surprised to be in the lead till the last kilometer before we hit Old Lim Chu Kang Road.
Why did the group let me take the lead, I had no idea.
I am supposed to be drafting. =p
Once Joe step on the accelerator, I am dropped like a hot potato.
Together with Sean and Ivan, they disappeared into the distance.
Regrouping at Jalan Bahar, we were surprised that the peloton is nowhere in sight after 10 minutes.
Turned out that Chris and Jon both had punctures.
There was an incident at the junction of Old Lim Chu Kang Road and Neo Tiew Road.
A truck came too close to a group of riders forcing them to abandon ship.
Luckily no FOTR is involved or hurt.

Once the entire group arrived, we are on our way again.
A testosterone charged sprint happened somewhere along West Coast Highway. Lol! =D
That was the last I saw the group till the next re-group point at Fuji Xerox Tower.

The organiser had planned a 130km route, which mean U-turn at the FXT, but somehow the train zoomed in on Amoy Street. Lol.
After a fulfilling brekkie, we rode home. =)

With such a happening morning, I decided to take the safer route home through Thomson Road.
Chris and Jon's punctures.
Neo Tiew' incident.
Greg almost got swiped by a car turning left into a side road.
A bus almost hit a car who turned left from the second lane without slowing down!!!
Two cars almost hit each other. One is turning out onto the main road, while the other is making a U-turn.
Hair raising moments, truly hair raising.
Are drivers these days getting truly impatient?

Flashback : The 5 of us (sans the usual no-shows) seated at the dinner table after the swim were the entire FOTR group travelling Down Under! Took me 6 months to realise that. O_o

8th May 2012 Cycling

Tango with the newbies at Mandai Shell.
Was waiting for the rest of the folks when a cyclist rode past and informed us that there is an accident along Mandai Road.

A few of us quickly U-turn, urging the rest to continue on the journey.

When I reached the location, the ambulance has just arrived and is already checking on Adeline.
Soon after, the whole group arrived.
Nobody is keen to continue after hearing about the accident.
Mark followed her to the hospital while a kind gentleman drove Jennifer and Aik to pick up their cars at Longhouse.
Daphne and Aik performed admirably as Ride Leaders. True leaders! =)
Once the dust has settled, I rode back home.

4th May 2012 Cycling

The Ipoh Nightmare has definitely got to me.
Jerked me up from my sleep again.
Too slow to join the JR train, I did a solo Mandai loop.
Stopping at 33 Sembawang Eating House for morning chow, I witness some heart warming sights.
Parent(s) with Son, Girlfriend with Boyfriend, Wife with Hubby, all of them are having brekkie prior to booking in.
Will I be doing this when Sean is doing NS? Time will tell.

3rd May 2012 Running

Sick of the treadmills, I followed my colleagues for a 5km BG run. =)

We startled some staff who were surprised to see four lunch hour runners. =D

Told the colleagues specifically not to wait for me, but they persisted to wait for the entire 5km.
Thanks, guys!

Happy Running. =)

2nd May 2012 Cycling

Thoughts of Ipoh jerked me up from my sleep. =p

I could sleep no more.
Time to cycle.
I can no longer bother if there will be a yawn-fest later in the day.
More caffeine should fix the problem.

Haha, felt like a Night Stalker.
We attack the slopes in the pre-dawn. =p

Saw a familiar silhouette.
It can't be, but it is! =D
Had a chat with Joyce before the train caught us.
The fast train did not re-group at Mandai Shell.
Hmm... is that why I never see the fast group? ;p

The ride leader got a "scolding" from Joyce for not regrouping at Bukit Panjang Junction.
The pace was fast and I am glad when we finally broke off at Jalan Anak Bukit.

Had a chat with Winnie before she broke off for Lornie while I accompany Joyce towards Newton.

Broke off at Newton and had a nice slow ride home. =)