31st July 2012 Cycling

What I hated most every morning? Weighing myself.
A grim reminder that I have much weight to lose.

***

A bike is like a car, it definitely needs servicing.
It felt so much better than it was for the past few months.

Riding along Mandai Road, the first thing that I noticed distinctively is the absence of Mr Stubbles.
They have been an annoyance whenever I place my hands the handlebars.
I truly appreciate how OwlEye provide different kinds of attachments at a reasonable price.

Today, I was not expecting to be passed. ;)
Reached Mandai Shell at 5:20am and did a mini loop.
Halfway through the loop, the fast train literally zoom past sans the sonic boom.

Completed the mini loop at 5:27am.
Waited for 2 minutes and was surprised when the 2nd train did not arrive.
Did another mini loop.
Dun tell me there is no 2nd train today.
My plans are in disarray. I got no train today.
Halfway through the loop, the 2nd train came!
Hooked onto to the train happily.

Along Woodlands Road, the few of us riding at the rear of the peloton got a mild heart attack when a red jerseyed JR veered out onto the 2nd lane followed by the rider behind him.
The van almost hit them head-on.

At the traffic light, I rode forward to give them a piece of my mind.
Was surprised to see Joyce already lecturing them.
Joyce ordered the rider to ride rear and the rider meekly followed instructions.

While we stopped at Newton Hawker Center for a drink, Joyce continued on home as she has a plane to catch.
I decided to do an Orchard Loop before riding home. ;)

25th July 2012 Cycling

Leaving the house early, I decided to do a Old Mandai loop.
Was caught by the fast train going up the slope.
Who is leading the pack? Eugene. =)
Lost them all even before we hit Old Mandai Road. Lol...

Rest with Chek at Mandai Shell for a bit waiting for the 2nd group, which never appear?
Rode off at 5:30am.
Riding along Woodlands Road, I was surprised to see that Woodlands Road is not entirely flat!
Why am I able to see the gradient today after 5 years of riding, I got no idea!!!
My energy came in spasms today.
One moment, I am feeling downright tired.
Next moment I will be dashing up a slope?!?!?!

Hitting Newton Food Center and not seeing any NU riders, I decided to take a little tour around town. ;)
Meet up with KH and Winnie along Little India and we cycled together till they peel off along Mandai Road.

Contiune on a nice pace home. =)

23rd July 2012 Musings

Century Ride Malaysia (CRM), Ipoh results are out.
Official cut-off time is 8 hours.
My official timing is 8:04:56h.
That triggers a spate of memories and thoughts.
The lady who missed Ironman Kona 2011 by 4 seconds.
Esther who missed IMWA 2011 by 4 minutes.
We all ended up on the wrong side of the clock.
How does it affect me?
Hmm... strangely nothing.
I am grateful that the organisers allow me to collect my precious medal.
My thoughts are similar to the Kona lady.
The timing does not matter as long as you have the medal. =p

I do remember what I said in IMWA.
If those seconds matters, I am in deep shit.
I am just grateful that this is not a race per se.

Where could I have save those 4 minutes?
Plenty!!!
Instead of filling up bidons, they should have swapp-able bidons.
The two breaks that I had to help FOTR and JR with their wheels.
The chain dropping.
The break that I took around 135km.
The traffic lights thgat I stopped at riding into town.
Of all the breaks that I had, the one was the JR was the most beneficial.
I was really suffering then and that pit stop really freshen me up!

Other than Jeremy, all the FOTR and JR riders that I know finish within 7 hours!
You guys are awesome.

Right now, I am looking forward to Trengganu Century Ride.
The only problem is that with the Race Day on 16th September, there isn't much details yet.
No cut-off time, no race map.
Last check, only 91 riders signed up.
Most Singaporeans are waiting for more details before signing up, I guess.

*****

Got a shock today when I chart my weight.
I have stepped into O Class 2!
How did it happen?
I gain quite a fair bit of weight after IMWA.
In fact, I guess I have always been gaining weight, just that exercise negates the weigh gain.
Without exercise, the weight just crept up north.

Strangely enough, I am stil wearing the same pants that I have wore 8 months ago.
Five years ago, I was 4 inches larger.
I managed to drop to my current size along the way, only to gain another 2 inches.
I lose those 2 inches during the IMWA journey.
How did I gain so much weight while keeping to the same pant size???

I did become very conscious of my weight a few weeks ago.
This current weight classification really tip the scales.
I do have a truly safe weight losing plan.
Gotta execute it soon. No, immediately!!!

Century Ride Malaysia 2012 (Ipoh, Perak)

The Short -
Completed my First Official Century Ride! Yeah!

****

Watching Ironman Kona 2010 and 2011 the day before the race help plenty. =p
Two great phrases that carry me through the race.

P 4:13  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Your greatest enemy is self doubt.

The dinner had to be reserved two months in advance.
Gotta show you the popularity of the dinner venue.
I din wanna risk it, thus I opt out of it. =(
It could be mental, but the food intake the day before the race is one factor which helps me during the ride. =)

****

The Long -

Best thing that happened to me during the ride?
My Garmin screwed up!
First I am riding without any speed indicator.
Last quarter of the ride, I was riding without the current time of the day when the Garmin shuts down!
I am literally riding blind! =)

The Race Start is at our doorstep. =)
Given that the race has more than 1800 riders as compared to 700 at Kuantan, I was expecting a chaotic start.
All went well as we pratically cleat-walk our bikes to the Start Point.
Without a ceremonial ride around town, the riders broke into their own group relatively fast.

We managed to tag along in a good pack till I shamelessly left the group after leaving town.
I cannot climb hills and the guys will overtake me eventually.
Rather than staying with the group, it is better for me to punch ahead and let the group overtake me on the hills.

Rode with Ping from Lizards, whom I drafted in order to breach the gap of the peloton ahead of me. Thanks, Ping!
Ping eventually dropped me at the first slope we came up to. Lol.

That was when I had time to finally take a look at my speedometer and was surprised to see it 'dead'. Speed shows 0.00kmh
Having sync it successfully with my speed/cadence sensor and getting GPS locked-on before I join the group, that was the last thing I have expected.
With only time, I can only guess-timate my pace. Probably in the high 20s?
(Later during dinner, we found out that most Garmin 310XTs faced the same problem during the race, while the Garmin Edges escaped unscathed.)

While climbing one 10% slope, I was surprised when Rynn shouted out to me!
It was on the same slope that Maya-A380 and the entire FOTR group overtook me.
(Pardon if I remember wrongly, my memory got clouded over the distance. Lol.)

Stopped and U-turned when I saw WL and KO at the roadside.
It helped cos I learnt how to use the bike pump at a later stage. ;)
KO's rear wheel is leaking again.

Saw 3 JoyRiders fixing a flat.
Took the opportunity to take a break. =p
After going through two tubes,
- the stem of the first one was too short!
- the second tube punctured when we hit 100 psi.
Looking at the first punctured tube, we noticed that the puncture occured at a spoke point.
Turned out the entire rim tape is koyak!!!
There were three spoke locations which has fallen apart!
We can fix one spoke point with the patch kit that TL carry.
But that proves futile.
After struggling for all those fifteen minutes, we have to call it quits. =(

There was a dad suppporting his teenage son.
Much was I appreciate the support the dad gives, I just cannot condone the fact that the son cheated during the ride.
What values does the dad impart to the son?
How the son cheated you wonder?
The son was hanging onto the winded-down window with the dad driving the car along.

Saw three guys unloading their bikes along the bike route.

At the end of the day, does the Finisher Medal meant any value to those that cheated?

I will only end my race cos of a mechanical failure.
During parts of the race, I did hope feebly for a mechanical failure.

Crossing the 2nd Checkpoint, while descending a slope, I was surprised that my chain dropped!!!
I have K-Edge Chain Catcher installed. That is the last thing I expect to happen.
Went to the nearest shade to fix back the chain.
The chain could not move past up the aluminium chain catcher. =(
I was getting really frustrated... Is this how the race going to end?
Cos of a mechanical failure? =(
Decided to take a break and out came Salonpas.
After 5 minutes passed, my mind cleared and I tried to move the chain catcher.
It moved! I am able to re-position the chain and back onto the race I went. Yipee! =D

Crossing the 100km mark was probably the hardest part of the entire ride.
"I am dying out here" I heard myself talking.
Without a single rider in front or behind you, fears of being mugged are becoming a reality.
Was so glad when I finally see a rider ahead of me when nearing Checkpoint 3.

The volunteers are awesome and water and 100-Plus are aplenty.
Definitely a far cry from Kuantan Support.

Although I know it is totally un-necessary, I still decide to rode with a full tank. ;)
Weight training, I told myself. =D

Checkpoint 3 to 4 is pretty uneventful.
I was looking to the next water point 25km away.
That is why I say ignorance is bliss.
The 25km is actually 30km and I completed it unknowingly.
The Mount Faber climb never materialise.
Stopped once to apply tons on Salonpas on literally every part of my body. =p
Twice on the climbs I got cramps attack but I spin in the lowest gear and it went away.

I learnt a lot during the ride.
All these precious lessons will help me in my future rides.

Reached Checkpoint 4.
Finally meet up with the NeilPryde car whom I have noticed since CheckPoint 2.
Andrew and gang from Velocipede Works, KL were the people behind the wheel. =D
Had a quick chat before we continue on the next 14km...
We were warned that there is a small climb, a flyover.
We were also warned of the many many traffic lights.
(I learnt later that the earlier riders get full police support during the traffic junctions!)
The 14km turned out to be 18km and I was truly surprised when I see the Finish Line!

Haha, it is an epic feeling, but just like my IMWA Finish, the question immediately pops up "This is it?"
I guess you always get that feeling cos you are having too much fun. =D

Collect my Finisher Medal and proceed to have a good rest and dinner. =)

Looking forward to Ipoh Century Ride 2013! =D

13th July 2012 Cycling

Last ditch effort to deposit some miles into the bank.

Was surprised when I reached Mandai Hill Camp and the JR are nowhere in sight.
Things are better left unspoken, cos less than 5 seconds later, the fast group overtook me! =D

I carried onto Woodlands Road without stopping at Mandai Shell.
The group will catch me anyway.
Road with a small group of 4 all the way towards Clementi.

The rain started coming down hard and I decided to make a detour at Ulu Pandan Road.
Hitting Sixth Avenue, the rain all but disappear.
The roads are dry here.
Decided to ride to Tanglin and onto Newton Food Center for a breather.

Met up with the Newbies United (NU) riders.
After a cup of coffee, we continue on our journey.
I have a hard time keeping up with them.
 Took a peek at my cyclometer. 33kmh!!!
This new age of newbies are frightening fast!

Completed 45km. Better than nothing at all...

12th July 2012 Musings

I am acutely aware that I have little miles in the bank.
Yet I am unable to peel myself off the bed.
I will be in for a lot of pain this weekend. =(

9th July 2012 Running

After some nice previous runs, I was surprised that my speed dropped dramatically.
Could it be the humid weather or was it the warm Tee?

On the way back, we came across two stranded ladies looking for directions.
Although I do not have a clue either, given the numerous car park areas available throughout the park, I tried my best to help them.
Just after I went to the nearest signpost and tried to guide the ladies in the general direction, a NPB golfcart drove past.
I let out a shout, stopping everyone within a 50meter radius in their tracks. Lol.
With much reluctance, they finally gave the two ladies a lift to their car. =)

Continue on my run with a bounce in the stride. ;)

7th July 2012 Cycling

Joined the NeilPryde ASG Team for a short ride today.
Other than the organisers, I knew no one there. =p
Dogma2, Tarmac SL3, wow... the attendees are no newcomers!

Onto Punggol Islands, the speed picked up dramatically.
I lost the peloton and only caught up with them at the traffic light. =p
Managed to keep up with them till the U-turn where the group slow down but the gap was too huge for me to close. =(

Was surprised when I was the first one to reach back OCC.
Turned out the group went for another 8km along Seletar Drive.
Cool! I will need to explore the area soon to get myself familiarise. ;)

After a hearty Subway brunch, I proceed home. =)

4th July 2012 Running

I run not because I want to, but because I need to. =(

******

The darken sky did not stop me from going to BG for a run.
It turned out to be the best afternoon run to date.
I truly prefer to be a lone runner.

Reaching BG MRT, I took a left turn and went back via Tyersall Road - Ridley Park. =)

3rd July 2012 Cycling

1st July 2012 - Did a simple 2.5km Run under 17:00 mins. Happy. Been a long time since I clock below 18mins for 2.4km. =p

========

Out at 4:55am, I hope to complete at least one mini Mandai Loop.
Reached Mandai Shell with no one in sight.
Did a short Mandai Loop only to catch sight of the fast train outside Mandai Hill Camp.

Reached Mandai Shell @ 5:25am!
Insane! That is 16km in 25mins!
The train is reaching lightspeed!
Meet Sean, who gave me some well-needed advice. Thanks, bro! =)

Waited for the 2nd train.
Half the train went Mandai, while I followed the train along Woodlands Road.
Turned out there was no Clementi riders!
All the left turners are from Newbies United. Lol.
Swept Spencer while the group rides ahead.
Spencer is having ITB and is riding using only his lightest gear.
Gosh... not sure if that is the best thing to do if u hv ITB.
I guess as a Sports Coach, he should know better.

Met the group at Newton Hawker Center for a drink before we peeled off for home.

1st July 2012 Musings

I am coming to terms with my sedentary lifestyle.
The alarm clock is still set to go off at 4am every morning, but even if I dun make it out of bed or bed, I am cool with it.
Exercise should be a pleasure to do NOT pressure to do.

Saturday morning, din hear the alarm go off. Found my son sleeping on my alarm clock!!!
Sunday morning, turn off the alarm, looked at the incoming SMS and the next thing I know, it is 6:15am! OMG!

====

In 2006, it all started with a simple cause. To keep fit.
I enjoyed every run, although it is just a weekly run.

In the following 4 years, I probably sign up for almost all the races available on the Race Calendar! Be it a swim, bike or run, or a combination of two/three disciplines.

By 2010, I was pretty much "burnt out".
But I still went ahead to sign up for the BIGGEST race of my life.

Thanks to the ever positive encouragement from my peers, we manage to suck it up and complete the penultimate race.

I always thought life will stay the same after WA.
That I will be back to riding as usual after the race.
But it does not really felt that way.
A lot of people looked at you in a different light.
I truly hate to hear the phrase "Ah, this (event/race) is "chicken feet" for you.
IT IS NOT!!! Without training, nothing comes easy.
After my spectacular failure at Kuantan, I thought it would have motivate me to train hard for Ipoh.
Sadly it did not.
I valued my sleep more this year as compared to the last five years.
Somehow I just do not wanna be caught yawning while working, although I know it is a pretty normal thing that everyone does.
Kinda hate the thought of drowning myself in coffee just to make it through the day.
I know I will get used to it after a short period of time.
In 2008, my body took less than 2 weeks to get used to the morning rides without requiring further caffeine intake for the rest of the day.
Fast forward 4 years, it is a lot harder...
Having said that, I have no reason to skip weekend rides.
But I do notice one important aspect of the whole exercise lifestyle missing.

MOTIVATION.
I have no motivation to step out of the house.
I pen all these thoughts down to see if it will motivate me to go out and exercise.
I am seeing that it is not helping as of now.