26th June 2012 - Cycling

The quirky weather robbed me of a run last week.
Resort to simple gym workout. That was all I did last week! =(

*****
It is really tough getting out of the house.
For most of my mornings this year, I have been waking up at 4am, had brekkie and plonked right back to bed.
Got to do something about the motivation department, I guess. =(

In recent days, some events has inspired me.
1) Rachel See's comment about her legs feeling sore everyday.
2) A recent blog entry by Vijch GK where he mentioned about IM Finishers being an inspiration to others.
3) David Goggins's interview where he live not to regret a day.

*****
Woke up at 3:30am and plonked back to bed after brekkie and reading the papers.
"Dun live to regret the day", the phrase kept ringing in my mind.
I decided that there is no more reason for me to 'nua' at home.
Prep and out of the house well before 5am.

The peloton (which turned out to be the front pack) caught up along Mandai Shell and I gave chase with 3 other riders.
I think my HR was in the 100% zone for a few minutes before my heart and legs decided to slow.

Reached Mandai Shell to find that the front pack has left.
Was surprised to see the peloton rolling in!
Wow, a huge group!
Decided to tag along with the Newbies.

With Daphne in the lead, Aik sweeping, we did a nice ride to LongHouse.
Stopover for coffee before proceeding home. =)

*****
Hehe, it is still very hard for ppl to accept that I have completed 226k. =D
When Daphne told the group that I did the IM, the guys were looking at each other.
"Aviva HIM?", Ivan commented.
"Western Australia", I replied.
"Oh, okay"
"How long is the swim? 2km?" "3.8km"
"Bike 100km?" "180km followed by a full marathon"
"Oh, wow"

17th June 2012 Mizuno Passion Mount Faber Run

13th June 2012 - 5km Run

14th June 2012 - 5km Run
15th June 2012 -  Too shag to run. =p
16th June 2012 - Back in office at 4am. How cool is life. =)

***

Arrived at race site nice and early.
Was surprised by the low turnout for the race.
No wonder the Mizuno Wave Duo is still available on Race Kit Collection. =p
But with so many races to choose from the race calendar, I am not surprised that athletes are being more selective. =)

The race start off well with the AETOS blocking off road lanes for the runners.
Rather than the messy co-ordination I experienced a few years ago, it was a lot more well managed this year.

When we hit Morse Road, the runners has already stretch out into manageable packs.
Everyone has lot of space to run.
Walk and run up Morse Road.
Simply running 50m meant overtaking 20+ runners. =)

I was reaching the peak of the hill when the the horrific memory came to mind.
((The last time I ran Mizuno Mount Faber Run, I had a cup of water which taste sweet.
There was a piece of consumed chewing gum in the cup!!! Eeeks!!!
If my memory din not fail me, they ran out of cups during that run and re-uses the cups!!!
At least that is what I gather after I saw a volunteer picking up the cups after the drink station.
For everyone's benefit, I crushed that cup so that it can no longer be re-used.))

First drink station at 3km.
Second drink station at 6km.
Distance is a bit too far apart for the drink station.
But after a disappointing water-only first drink station, we had 100-Plus as a reward for completing our climb. Lol.
Will there be a third drink station?
Turned out the third drink station is at 7km!
Given the tightness of the running route, we cannot really blame them.
There isn't much locations to set up drink stations.

Although we were stopped at all the major road junctions, no runners felt agitated.
We were out for a leisurely Sunday Morning Run. =)

Completed the run in 1:21 which surprised me. =)
This is my flat course 10km run timing. =)

12th June 2012 Cycling

Got out of the house at 5:09am.
Am really terrified of straight roads that I took the pavement to the next cross junction.

Gosh, the legs are really feeling the effect of Sunday's ride.
A Cannondale overtook me with ease.
I tried my best to keep him in my sights, but it was tough.

Reached Mandai Shell at 5:31am.
Was surprised to see BFG, Greg, Mike, Kenneth and Gerald rolling in.
The guys are planning to do Lorong Sensuai today.
I have no idea where it is, just that it is near the Bukit Timah Fire Station, home of the Cycling Group FS7.

Decided to drop back to inform the trailing JRs that some of us are going to do some hills training near the Fire Station. The hill climb is not on the agenda. ;)
Irregardless, a few riders still follow Mike before turning left towards Bukit Timah. ;p

I can feel the tension in Greg before the climb.
He was careful to set the correct gears before the climb.
I switched to the largest set of gears available and started climbing.
This looks a lot better than the Mount Faber slope, just longer.
I am ready to give up after 100m.
Is it true that the climb is 400m? It looks a lot shorter.
I persisted for another 200m before jumping off the bike.
The heart is ready to pop out from my mouth.
I will attempt to go all the way the next time round.

While the guys roll down the hill smoothly, I maintain a tight grip on my brakes.
The moment I loosen the grip on the brakes, I froze and jumped off the bike.
Took me a moment before I discovered how to roll off the slope again.
Just have to let go of the brakes initially and apply them once the bike start rolling.

This is for your entertainment. =)
I go down the slope slower than I can climb! >o<

Lorong Sesuai 0.4km 42m 5.2km/h
Bukit Batok 0.4km 53m 4.5km/h


The guys have to wait quite a while for me to reach the bottom.
Thanks, guys!
While BFG rode another 20+km home via Clementi, Mike, Greg, Kenneth and I took Bukit Timah, Mount Pleasant Road home. =)

Thanks for the ride, guys!

10th June 2012 Tri Factor Bike 60km

OMG! I cannot fit into the long sleeved jersey that I wore during IMWA!!!
The jersey that fit so nicely only 6 months ago. =(

Luckily the larger sized FOTR jersey still fits snugly.

***

With only 4 of us (BFG, Sam, Peter and me) taking part in the 60km Ride, our plan was to stick together for the first few loops.

When the horn sounds, the group were out in a flash.
Sam took the lead and waited for us to hook up.
I tried to, but there were 2 OCBC cyclists drafting him.
They hang on so tight that there were no way to shake them loose.

I could not hang on with the group which just keep on spinning faster and faster.
I am recording an average of 38kmh for the first 5km! Faintz...
At the U-turn, I can see that BFG and Peter are not too far behind.

I feel the hunger pangs at the 6km mark and quickly chomp down one gel.
Months of non-exercise and a bigger appetite meant that I get hungry easier. Just that I never realised that it would be that early!!!

At the 11km mark, BFG rode past and ask me to draft him.
The selfless leader rode in the lead for the remaining part of the race.

At the third U-turn, I was surprised when BFG slowed down tremendously.
Unclipping one shoe, then the next!
This happen at all the U-turns that eventually I just pull ahead before the U-turn to make the U-turn earlier.
The few times that I tried to take the lead, I am simply too slow. =(
I just cannot go beyond 31kmh.
BFG seems to have the speed programmed into his legs.
He just kept going at the same pace throughout.

We traded palce with Iaan a couple of times.
Gosh. The older they are the better they are!
Then I realised that BFG is much older than me and he doing all the hard work.
I really need to dig a hole and hide. =(

Was drafting BFG when something tell me to look left.
It was Adri running along CCR in striking blue top and shorts.
Dangerous Distraction. =D
Will shout out to her when we past her the next round.
Just that I forgot that she can do 2.5km in 12 mins or less while we need about 20 min to clear 12km. LOL! =D

At 30km, I am ready to call it a day.
Tired is me. No wonder I failed so badly at Kuantan Century Ride.
I just do not have the stamina. =(
1 month to go till CCM. Hope something happen soon.
I won't stress myself anymore, just see how things go.

By the 45km, I am feeling a tinge of regret.
The race is about to end soon.
I am having too much fun.
Can we go longer? =p
I plead with BFG to go ahead.
But he would not have any of it.
Had my 2nd gel and finish the bottle of electrolytes.
Once I am done, we picked up speed again.
Thanks, Dear Leader! =)

We finished the race on a high note.
Had a hearty brunch before procceding home. =)

***

Just realised that Kristen Koh is the 2009 Female Overall TRI-FACTOR Series Champion!
Gutsy gal!

***

Did a simple 1.6km run on 3rd June 2012
Did another 6km run on 5th June 2012. =)

5th June 2012 Musings

Digusted by my appearance in the mirror.
The moobs are back.
The waistline is still acceptable, but the weighing scale dun lie. =(

Realised that if I do not sign up for races, I do not run.
My races are my training logs.
Has been the case and I guess it will stay that way for a long time to come =(
After signing up for only Singapore Biathlon, Kuantan Century Ride, Ipoh Century Ride and Tri Factor Series, I began to sign up for numerous races over the past week.
See you guys on the roads soon.

I am thinking of IM Cairns 2014.
YKK is keen too, so we may both be heading Down Under come June 2014. =)
Maybe there is still hope of me slimming down to my IMWA shape.

2nd June 2012 Musings Part 2

Met Sebastian from Singapore Biathlon at the Tri Bike Race Pack Collection.
He was surprised that I did IMWA.
His parting words  "If you can DO it, I can DO it!"
Sure bring on a smile. =)

****

Completing IMWA does have its advantages.
Before the race, the word "fat" does not fail to float over to me.
After the race, I hardly hear it from the regular source. =)

2nd June 2012 Musings

I have not been training for a while again. =(
My Strava has yet to log anything =(

While I intend to ride on Friday, I look in amusement at how fast the Rain Animation is changing.
I was about to step out of the house when I get this severe headache. Not sure what it is but this is the second time it strikes.
Back of the head.
Decided to sleep it off, as it worked the first time.
The moment I hit the pillow, the thunderstorm started.
Phew...

Sleeping at 12pm on Friday night, I know my Saturday Ride is off.

I seems to be able to find tons of excuses for not exercising. =(

Got told off by Mike on FB for playing FB games instead of cycling.
(Not too sure if u guys can see the posts, cos I cannot see it on the Wall! But I got it in my email notification.)

Haha, while I went to collect my Tri-Bike Race Pack, I started thinking.
I am positive that my whole non-training issue kinda started when I start my current job.
Pretty intense, but satisfying work.
But my training regime took a huge hit.

It snowballed into a training woe just before IMWA, so I am pretty happy and feeling lucky that I scrapped through the race. With time to spare. =p

In more ways than one, I am glad that I completed IMWA.
A Dream Accomplished.
Seriously speaking, I would not have imagine what would have happen if I did not complete. Major Bouts of Depression?
Truth be told, 80% of the people thought that I may not complete but praying for me to complete.
I wish to thank all of you for keeping me in your prayers.
You all were all too kind to keep the negative thoughts from reaching me. I thanked you!

By completing IMWA, I did not know what impact it did.
But slowly I realised that I have Inspired quite a number of individuals to step up to the plate and try to accomplish their own Dream.
I gave them that Glimmer of Hope that once you work towards a goal, Anything is Possible.
I never know that I can be an Inspiration, but hellya! =)

The downside of that one single race is that I started have knee pains that just won't go away.
I have not have bad knee pains for quite a while, so for the pain to surface right after the race meant that I have truly torture the knees.
For a month after the race, there are times where I walk and my knees suddenly buckled.
What a price to pay for one race =(

If I dun exercise, I dun feel it.
If I do, it come back to haunt you in varying degrees.
Again I believe that this is one of my many excuses for not exercising.

The recent incident of reckless drivers does take a bit out of me too.
Especially so cos Kristen Koh
s accident happen in my own backyard!
(I will write more about Kristen at the end of this post.)

Maybe the Real Cause could be the Lack of Motivation.
After the DREAM, it seems like what is next?
I am not one who target for Personal Best.
For the better half of the last 5 years, my focus was on completing an Ironman.
Now that I have done that, I dunno what to do next.

I thought my failure at Kuantan Century Ride would have woke me up, but it did nothing much to turn things around. =(

My wife keep asking me to sign up for races to keep myself motivated, so we shall see how things go.
Enuff said. Let us all just pray for the best...
Either I get back into sports enthusiastically or maybe I may just turn lethargic as what this picture suggested.

More on Kirsten.
Local Papers have turned her into a sensation, but I truly think she is an inspiration to anyone who wanna piece their lives back together again.
I saw her after the Tri Factor Swim and she was grimacing while putting on her socks.
I was wondering how she is going to complete SunDown Marathon a week away in this condition.
I am glad she did. =)
Maybe SunDown Marathon to her now is just like what IMWA was to me.
I am pretty sure that one of these days, she will set her goal on completing an Ironman, if she has not done so yet.
Her Tri Factor Swim timing is better than me!!!
OMG!!! I need to find a hole and hide. LOL

P.S. Finally saw and realised what happen to my blog postings.
Hope you guys din have a terrible time reading the previous posts which does not have paragraphing.