Singapore Biathlon ‘09…totally awesome

I have been training for the past few months just to get myself prepared for this race…and it paid off.  In fact, it was even better than i’d expected.

The night before the race, I was still feeling jittery.  My last training before the actual race was on Wednesday where Jerry and I did a 5km run followed by endurance laps swim.  After that, he advised that I should rest and just wait for the race day.  At that moment, I felt that 2 days of rest is just too extravagant…but then, I heeded his advice anyway. And that was why I felt nervous the day before the race.  I felt I had not done enough…

When I reached the race site, I felt good…the whole ambience and atmosphere was great and that sets my adrenalin pumping.  I was praying hard that I won’t get stitches or cramps while doing the swim or run and I was glad that HE answered my prayers!! Praise the Lord

I was being flagged off at 8am and there you have it…the start of a 1.5km swim followed by a 10km run. 

The first lap of the swim was pretty tough as everyone was being clustered up and that makes it very difficult to swim.  I was being kicked and slapped and well, its very normal lah. 

I was very lucky as I managed to swim close to the line markings.  With the first turn, I was pretty ahead of the rest and that makes it easier for me to swim.  I felt strong while doing the swim and it feels good.  After the second turn, I felt I had to conserve some of my energy for the run and so I tried to draft.  Jerry has taught me well cos I felt the effect when I drafted.  The swim was so much easier!  I was still feeling strong (and thank God, no stitches and cramps).

Knowing that I am reaching shore soon, I gave it all out and yes, I completed the swimming leg.  I pulled out my swim cap and goggles and ran towards the transition area…damn, went to the wrong site and lost some valuable time…took me some time to get orientated and yep, found my area.

No time to lose, took a sip of isotonic drink and began my run.  Was still struggling with my top.  Damn, it was all rolled up and I think I looked comical…running and trying to pull down my vest at the same time. 

I was pretty surprised that I was still feeling strong when I began the run.  Best of all, no stitches!!  I thanked God and kept my fingers crossed that it will maintain in that manner throughout the running leg.  I regulated my breathing and hydrated myself at all the drink stations.  It was the best run I ever had in a race.  My pace was constant and I felt comfortable.  I knew I was still well within my own target.  I was pretty sure that I will complete the race in under 1hr30min…

At the 6km mark, there was this guy that was running side by side with me.  Initially I thought he wanted to “challenge” me but then realised he was actually following my pace.  Well, I was in fact, using him as a pacer as well.  So in a way, we were each other’s pacer.  It was quite a nice feeling as it makes my run not that monotonous and boring…

We ran neck to neck and it was only at the last 0.5km that I sprinted to the finishing line cos I wanted to do it in under 1hr30min…and yes, I did it!!  Unoffical timing was 1hr27min…Well done!

Again, I tasted the sweet satisfaction of finishing the race…the feeling of having conquered and achieved something.  Its a feeling that is beyond words..you really have to do it and experience that feeling for yourself.

Having done a triathlon, quadthlon and now a biathlon, we are setting our target to another triathlon (Olympic distance) this year and by next year, do a Half Ironman! Looks like there is just no turning back for us..our ultimate goal - Full Ironman!

OCBC Cycle Challenge…What A Ride!

The adrenalin was pumping and the whole atmosphere was simply great.  I felt good to be one of the participants for the first inaugural OCBC Cycle Challenge 2009. 

Joe and I were at the starting point and there was a good half an hour more to the start time but trust me, the waiting time was never boring.  We were treated to music and more music (by Rod Monterio of 91.3FM) and like I said, the whole atmosphere was simply…GREAT!

Rod was able to lift up everyone’s spirit and the music he played was carefully chosen for the event…for instance “The Final Countdown”.  That song can never go wrong for any sporting event.  Guess by then, everyone’s adrenalin was pumping and can’t wait to start. 

Just before the start time, participants for the 50km race are cycling at breakneck speed to the finishing point.  All of us cheered and clapped…that has further pumped up all our adrenalin.  

I was soaking myself in the atmosphere and with the safety precautions being briefed via the PA system, nothing went inside my head…I was just too blown away with all the sight and sound.  The word “great” is an understatement.

Now comes the real thing…though I was not paying attention to the safety briefing, it just slapped me to my senses when I heard “are you ready….3,2,1…” and the sound of the air horn was heard. There you have it…the start of the gruelling 40km ride.

I was feeling strong for the first 5km…6km, 7km, no problem.  My average speed was between 30 and 31 and I tried to maintain at 30.  My kadence was quite constant (memories of those training days with joe and jerry flashed past me and I remembered jerry will shout in the front “Stan, follow close…”) haha, those were the painful yet fond memories.

Was reaching Fort Road and was kind of dehydrated..luckily (that’s what I thought then) I had my hydration pack with me…what the f**k?!  Apparently, the tube was bent and water cannot flow through..tough luck!

Knowing I still have quite a distance to go, now is the time I have to rely on strong mind power…I tried to tell myself I am not thirsty and damn, those drink stops that I passed by are indeed a test of my will power.  Luckily I was not tempted (well, I almost just gave in and stop for a drink…)

Along the way, I would say the marshallers played a very important role.  They cheered and clapped and that has spurred me to go on strong.  But I know I was getting slow.  My average speed dropped to between 28 and 29.  The wind was pretty strong and I was riding against it.  WIth the sorching sun right above me and was DANGEROUSLY THIRSTY…I perserved and ride on strong.

I even tried to draft…there was this big ang moh in front of me and I tried to draft behind him..damn, he was just too fast for me and I can’t catch up..hehe. No choice, I have to depend on myself.  The thought that I was carrying a 1.5litres of isotonic drink with me and yet can’t drink it was the greatest joke of the day…I was VERY thirsty!!

Time was ticking away and from far, I saw the Singapore Flyer.  Ha!! Reaching the finishing point soon…I looked at my cyclocomputer and the timing was 1:12…my target was anytime below 1:30 and I have a feeling I will achieve that.  Jerry told me that a decent timing for a 40km will be below 1:30…and hey, I didn’t draft.  That makes it even more commendable.

Then I saw it….the sign that read “2km”.  Yes, seeing that sign was far more satisfying than giving me a bottle of isotonic drink then.  I sprinted all the way and I really gave it all out and finally, I clocked in at 1:27..(unoffical timing)…Cool!

The feeling of crossing that finish line brought utmost satisfaction to me…all the pain and sweat in exchange for that feeling is indeed all worth it.  This is merely my first endurance race for year 2009…ha, two weeks from now, I am looking at the Safra Biathlon and let me tell you, I am soooo looking forward to it…

My thighs, arms and back is all sore and aching but that has not deterred me from training on that afternoon itself…ya, sounds crazy but I have to do it…I felt so strong, both mentally and physically.  It gives me the feeling that there is nothing that I cannot overcome.  That is the kind of feeling I am hungry for.

Year 2008 - A year to be grateful for

Seems like it was not very long that I wrote a blog looking back to year 2007.  Now I am blogging and looking back at year 2008 already…boy, time DOES FLY!!!

Well, as I look back to year 2008 and to sum it all up, I can only say it was a year that I ought to be grateful for.  Grateful to certain people and from certain people, I’d learnt to be grateful. 

My THANK YOU list for year 2008 is as follow:

Joseph Goh…my section head in Cost Control when I was with FCC.  He is someone who placed much trust in me.  Someone who is never selfish in imparting his knowledge and skills to me.   He has given me room to grow and has placed high hopes that should he leave the company, I will be the next in line to take over his position.  He is someone who will protect and defend his staff and not leave his staff in the lurch.    Somehow I feel indebted to him in one way or another… Frankly speaking, it has been a pleasure working with him.  Joseph is someone who does not play rank…he treats all his staff as friends and with that, he’d earned my respect.

Angie…my XO friend.  She is my listening ears when I needed to vent out inner frustrations and complaints, my pillar of strength when I feel down and wanted to give up, an advice giver when I am lost and do not know what to do.  All in all, she is always there when I am in need and never fails to say things that knock sense back to my head.  When I feel troubled, talking to her and by listening to her point of view, somehow, it just makes me feel so much better.  Her positive attitude to almost everything is what I truly admire her for…most impressionable was when I sms her complaining to her that I’d lost a newly bought watch.  Instead of replying things like “never mind, just buy a new one” or “so sorry to hear that…really cannot find?” her ‘out-of-the-norm’ reply really made me feel good instantly.  She said “maybe it was our Father from above wanted to give your watch to someone who needed it more than you and that He wanted to give you a new watch in return…” Really, her reply made me ashamed of myself because prior to receiving her reply, I was still cursing at the one who is to pick up my watch.  Well that’s Angie…a friend that made me to think out of the box.

Jerry…truly an amazing friend.  There are indeed many things I’d learnt from him.  His positive outlook in life and his righteous traits.  When things are not going his way, instead of complaining or giving up, he is able to pick himself up and will try to resolve it.  It was through him that I managed to do triathlon and thereafter, gave me the confidence to sign up for more endurance races like Quadathlon and the upcoming Biathlon…and more that is to come next.  I started the sport with nothing.  No knowledge, no gears and most important of all, no will power.  Jerry was the one who taught us what we need to know about doing this sport.  Unselfishly, he lent us VCDs on Ironman, emailed us info on how to get started.  Gears…he was generous enough to lend me his “first wife”.  With that, I was able to do bike training and to sign up for my first ever Triathlon.  He also supplied us with many stuff that will be required for the race.  Frankly, the training was kind of “siong” but I have to admit that I do enjoy the session and each session made me stronger both physically and mentally.   Apart from cardio training, we did gym together as well.  There you have it, Jerry…a friend, a coach, a gym buddy and a brother all rolled into one.

Joe…my sporting compatriot.  Together, we trained and sweat.  And together, we did our first Tri and Quad in year 2008.  Joe is never hesitant to help.  Whenever we have bike training in ECP, he will always take the initiative to come over my place to ferry me and my bike over.  The training we had has indeed made him to be my sports buddy.  There were a couple of times when I can no longer “tahan” and almost gave up during the midst of our training.  But seeing how Joe has endured and carry on the training has spurred me to carry on as well.  So there you have it…Joe, my silent motivator.

Year 2008, an eventful year for me.  I resigned my job as an Assistant Cost Controller…I did my first ever Triathlon…and Quadathlon…took up yet another new sport, Dragon Boating and I became a volunteer with CDC looking after HIV patients.  Being a volunteer was the next proudest thing that came next to doing the tri.

I was surprised with myself that I actually enjoyed the volunteer sessions.  Meeting the HIV patients and talking to them has made me learnt to be grateful with what I have now…most of the patients that I met were either being rejected by their own families or had been keeping his/her illness under wraps for fear of being rejected.  As such, they do not have family support and have to bear all pain and sorrow to himself/herself.

No one to turn to…how painful can that be…I can empathise with that but the actual pain they must have felt is definitely much much more.  Having spent time with the patients, I could sensed that each one of them has a common wish…they would want to turn back the clock.  Back to the day when they have yet to contract this disease.

When some of the patients share their life stories and experiences, it made me realised just how lucky I am.  Through them, I’d learnt to be grateful…grateful to all the people I know and love and to be grateful to all that I have and posses now.

The Joy of Bringing Joy To Others

When you complain of hungry, there are people who are starving.  When you complain you have not enough to spend, there are people who scrimp and save to make ends meet .  When you complain that your 32″ plasma TV is still too small, there are people who are yearning for just a normal 21″ TV.

The above are merely my own illustrations on how people are being discontented with their life despite having all the basic luxuries and necessities.  One will not know just how blessed him/her is until they see some others who are worst off.

Kudos to Channel 8 once again for its reality program, Life Transformer.  A show depiciting families and people who have to face life’s adversity.  But instead of complaining that life’s unfair, they willingly accepted what God has given them and they carry on with their lives as normal as they can.  What can’t break them makes them stronger.  These are the people that I respect and salute….

The episode that I’d watched was about a family of 7.  The flat they are staying was considered “unfit for human” and yet, they have been living in that flat for 10 over years.  The mum was not working (though she would really hope to) due to her poor health conditions and her husband, the breadwinner, brings home only about $800 every month.

It gave me utmost comfort and was really heart-warming to see that the student volunteers, together with the host, did up their whole house making it to be in a “fit for human” living condition.  Seeing the happiness on everyone’s face is truly the best mode of payment at the end of the day.

Just last Saturday, Jerry and I popped over to visit our good friend while doing our volunteer work.  The four of us, including his mum had a long and good chat.  His mum then mentioned something about the ceiling in her flat and that brought us to the topic of doing the painting work at her house.

We volunteered to paint her place and instantly, her face lited up with joy and she gave a wide smile.  She was very grateful that we offer to do that.  Just by looking at her smile, I know then it is something that I will definitely do my best for her.

Having watched the reality TV show, I can’t wait to do the painting for her.  It gives me utmost happiness to know that my limited strength and ability can bring unlimited joy to others.  I have been hoping that I can do more for all these people (HIV patients) and thank God, He makes that possible for me now.

The act of giving is indeed much more fulfiling and satisfying than receiving.  When I receive something, I’m not giving anything in return.  But when I give, I will receive many things in return…one of which is True Happiness.

The show - By My Side

For the past month (13/10 - 11/11), I was away in Guangzhou China.  It sure feels good to be back in Singapore, feels even better to be back at home. 

Has been missing out on Channel 8’s 9pm serial…well, not that I am an avid fan, but must admit that they do have good works so far.  I was pleasantly surprised by this currently showing serial, By My Side. 

A serial that depicited just how badly AIDS patients are being discriminated and stigmatised.  It also reflected how ignorant the general public (still) are.  I have no idea which episode they are at now, but today’s episode did touch me.

As a volunteer worker for AIDS patients, I can relate to the show and the AIDS patients really needed our acceptance back into the society.  They have no one to confide to…they simply cannot take chances as it may jeopardize a relationship or put an end to a career.  Even the person you thought is your closest, may just leave you upon knowing.

Their main worry is the heavy financial burden that follows.  Medications is not cheap and it must be taken regularly.  With that, they cannot afford to lose their job.  They live in constant fear of being found out about their illness and the feeling of not having anyone that can be trusted and confided upon is definitely painful…a feeling that words cannot be described.

Its good that Ch 8 comes up with this storyline as it serves as an educational material to viewers.  It also creates awareness that AIDS patients are not as ”scary” as what we’d thought them to be.  They are just as normal as us…with proper medication and by leading a healthy lifestyle, they are just as healthy like you and me.  

I am so looking forward for the day to come when one can openly tell others that he/she is an AIDS patient and will not get discriminated.  People will feel sorry or feel sad when one says that he/she is having cancer or suffering from kidney failures….but when one says that he/she is suffering from AIDS, people shun away.  They associate the illness as being “having an indecent lifestyle”, “dirty” and “promiscuious”..they relate the illness to the person’s lifestyle, character and personality.   They are being judged unfairly.  Sad but true….

The illness itself is already a long-term suffering for the patients…lets not make them suffer more by rejecting them or shunning away from them.   They have already lost a lot…family, friends, health, career. Let’s not make them lose the will to live.

H.A.P.P.Y

I thought I am a happy person but it took me 30 years to realise that I am not.  I am beginning to realise that, back then, my so-called happiness are all material-related.  There might be, not many I guess, days or moments that I am truly happy….happy for no reason.  But if you were to ask me to cite what those moments were, frankly I cannot answer you.  Back then, this issue did not hit on me, thats why.

It is not easy to be truly happy.  Well, probably a lot of people may beg to differ.  Whats so difficult??  True, its not difficult if you associate being HAPPY with material gains.  But then again, how long will that HAPPY feeling sustain?  1 month? 1 year?  All those are merely short-lived happiness and once gone or used up, same goes to your HAPPY feelings. 

I never realise just how a not-happy person I am till I did a “Happy For No Reason” questionaire.  I scored a low of 39 out of 100.  I tried to dismiss the results and assured myself that a mere questionaire shouldn’t be used to gauge my happiness level.  But then, a fact remains a fact.  I did some thinking and soul-searching….true, I am indeed not a happy person.

For the past few weeks, my mood has not been good and naturally, I felt unhappy.  I don’t know why but I just felt lousy….I felt I can’t accomplish anything (Damn, seems like I am suffering from some kind of depression…ha) and my confidence level hit rock bottom.  Everything was just not going my way! 

I thought of the book “The Secret” and tried to apply what I’d read from it -think positive and hope to send positive signals to the universe (you’ll understand what I’m trying to say if you’d read the book) but instead, things turned the other way round.  This happened not once, twice but many times.  I tried to hold on to the belief of the Law of Attraction but I’m losing confidence in this theory. 

It has a ripple effect….when things did not turn out the way I hope it will, I lose confidence.  When I lose confidence, I turned moody.  When I turned moody, I become unhappy.  I cannot explain why I am feeling this way.  Mid-life crisis? Maybe….

I guess I really need to do something that I like, hang out with with people that I enjoy and go to places that can unwind me.  Sounds easy but actual doing it, its not.  I sure hope its a passing phase and I can pick myself up soon.  Been reading the “Happy For No Reason” book and it was written that “complaining” is a happiness robber.  Guess I’d been complaining too much and that’s why, my happiness has been robbed off!!

I am not hoping a book can turn me happy overnight.  But at least, it brought light to many “wrong” things I’d done and its high time I change those bad habits.  The very first thing has got to be “complaining”.  Stop complaining and start to be be grateful of all that I have and possess now.

Jerry sent me a sms on my first day of work ”see we still have a job, a pay, and aircon with shelter over our head.  Many people are out in the sun….” he wanted me to be grateful with I have and to make the best out of everything despite the conditions and environment I am facing at that moment. 

Really, being truly happy (for no reason) is no mean feat.   Difficult to acheive doesn’t mean impossible…I’ll try to reach that level.  To be happy for no reason.

Gone without saying Goodbye

I met him once…talked to him once…and I thought I can get to see and talk to him again.  I was deprived of that chance. 

Just last Saturday (26/7), we (with Jerry and Sabrina) met up with this patient while doing our volunteering work.  Though he was kind of confused (the virus has attacked his brain), we did had a happy and good chat. 

He had no visitors, no TV nor radio and really, I can empathise with the kind of boredom he was experiencing and so I told him I’ll bring along a portable radio on my next visit.  I did…on a Tuesday afternoon…

I don’t know why Tuesday…probably our Father from above arranged for me to go on that day.  Maybe He wanted me to witness something…Should I feel happy or sorrow? 

His condition deteriorated and it was pretty bad.  He was half conscious and by the time I was there, the nurses were trying to make him respond to the surroundings but he was not responsive.  He was breathing heavily and I know it was no good…

All this while, I was standing outside his ward and watching him through the window.  When the nurses left the room, I went in, left the radio on the table and I wrote him a note "Listen to the radio when you feel bored.  Have a good rest".  I left when the nurse told me they have to do some tests and checks on him.  I stood outside the ward and the nurses drawn all the curtains…I said to myself "come saturday must ask him what happened to him today…."

Saturday came and Albert broke the news of his death to me when we were doing our volunteering work.  He passed away on Tuesday…that day when I brought him the radio…my heart sank. 

There, should I feel happy or sorrow??  I guess I felt both emotions…Sorrow when I witnessed how his conditions had deteriorated.  Happy when I managed to see him for the last time on Tuesday.  Angie once told me that our Father sees thing ahead…indeed He does. 

Just for you, partner!

In this lifetime, I’d met many people and has made many friends.  I consider myself lucky as I’d indeed met many worthy friends and frankly, some has changed my life (in one way or another) and with that, I am truly grateful to all these worthy friends.

Angie sent me this sms and I thought it to be very true.  She wrote “There are grade “F” friends - Fun friends for merry making.  “C” friends - Cheer you when you succeed.  Few but there’ll be, “XO” friends - not there all the time, just usually moments where they’ll be first to share burdens , shed tears, share experiences, clean up wounds and help to heal.  True friends don’t get the best deal cos they are family.  Reckon just like our DADDY above, one we always forget when we are jolly.  Good to have self time, get re-charged and “XO” friends are there to knock sense back into us.  Remember, all these are God sent.”

True enough, our DADDY above has really sent many “XO” friends to me.  This partner of mine (if you are reading this, yes I’m referring to you partner…ha!) has to be one of them.  She is a bubbly, active and sporty girl by day.  An attractive, pretty and glam young lady by night.  Very contrasting and maybe that’s what make her so special….

She is the one who lent me the book “Its Not About My Bike” by Lance Armstrong (just to add, it is really a greeeeaaaat book!) and thanks to the book (and her, of course) that I was truly inspired by the life of Lance Armstrong.  I became more or less a go-getter and it was then that I realised there were so many things I would like to do and achieve and yet, so little time.

Guess that was also the time that I set my mind in doing triathlon.  I wanted to do it as a self challenge.  A test and a dare with myself.  With the help and guidance of another God-sent friend, I managed to do it and has fallen for the sports ever since.

I blog on what I’d done, what i’d achieved and what has been going on around me not to show-off to people but hoping to inspire friends and also, for my own remembrance.

To you partner, instead of saying that my life is getting more and more exciting, I would rather say my life is getting more and more fulfilled…hehe.  And still to you partner….I am still quite the same old me whom you’d met in Sentosa some few years back. Don’t know to feel happy or sad when I know that you’d been getting to know all my happenings via my blog.

Guess we are all too tied up with our own work and sports that we seemed to be living in our own world.  Friendster has in a way, enable us to keep in contact (the cyber way) but that has also made us more distant as I’d mentioned, kept in contact “the cyber way”….

I like to hear from you as much as you like writing to me.  Feel free to pen down your thoughts….happy or sad and send it to me.  My ears are always open.  To answer your questions, no doubt I’m meeting new people and making new friends…but really, that’s about it.  Friends.  I guess its all fated and I’d already learnt to take things slow.  Like the childhood song “Que Sarah Sarah, whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see..”

I’m keeping myself occupied with my sports and volunteerism work and hopefully, can meet my other half in the process.  But the comforting thing is, its not a complete blank paper….don’t want to count my eggs before they hatch and so…..stay tuned to my blog. Hahaha….with that, take care and stay healthy

I did it….again!!

Had a good run with Jerry on Thursday.  Did a 45-min run round Queenstown stadium and that was the best run I had so far.  Good pacing, comfortable speed and funny to admit, I really enjoyed the run.

The Thursday’s run has made me confident in doing the trilympics.  Not being overly contented or being smug, but I feel my stamina has indeed improved and I feel so much fitter than before.  That’s a good sign.

With that, I set my own target of 50 laps (20km) and I did it…with a timing of 2:03:40.  Before the rain, I managed 27 laps at a timing of 1:04:40 and I was so proud of myself.  After the rain which lasted for about half an hour, I did the remaining 23 laps at a timing of about 57:00.  The kind of satisfaction I got was beyond words and happy was an understatement. 

It dawned on me that we are the one that’ll determine our own success or failure.  Its all in our mind. While I was doing the run, I kept reminding myself that my target is 50 laps….I kept telling myself to keep on running and I also encouraged myself saying how well I’d done so far, keep it up Stanley, you can do it.  I just kept on encouraging myself….and it worked. 

It was a good run on Saturday and happy to know that my comrade, Joe has managed 50 laps too!! Well done!  Jerry called the next day and he was happy to know that both of us managed to complete 50 laps.  He then told me for endurance sports, its 50% mental, 30% physical and 20% others (eg, weather)

See I was right.  Our mind does plays an important role.  With the right mindset and determination, we’d already won half the race.  Tell yourself that you CAN DO IT and that you WANT TO DO IT and trust me, you will be able to do it.

Somehow, I feel my confidence level has sore to a greater height after I managed to complete my first triathlon.  That was indeed a confidence booster.  It has never crossed my mind that, me, a bummer cum smoker is now, an endurance sports enthusiast.

Right now, I am eagerly looking forward to the upcoming Safra quadthalon and OSIM corporate triathlon.  The sweet taste of crossing the finishing line is what I’m hungry for.  As I’d mentioned before, we are our own worst enemy.  Overcome your own doubts and fears and you’ll be able to overcome almost anything.

Finally, I did it!!

Swim 750m, Bike 20km, Run 5km… I was known as No. 1792.  That was the Sprint Distance that I’d signed up (with Joe) for the OSIM Triathlon 2008. That was my very first triathlon and definitely NOT my last.

12th of July 2008 (Saturday) was the day that I can proudly declare myself to be a Triathlete…hehehe.  Frankly, I wouldn’t be able to have done it without the support of friends.  These friends woke up as early as 6am, drove all the way to East Coast (some stay as far as Chua Chu Kang and Teban Gardens) just to support us. They stayed on, from sunny to heavy downfall and back to sunny again…they stayed throughout till we finished the whole race.  I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

I was on the 20th wave and my race will start only at 1050hr (we reached there before 0800hr).  Prior to that, all of us went to cheer on fellow comrade, Chin Hock.  He signed up for the Mini Distance and thereafter, he also stayed on to cheer for us…deeply appreciated that.

Joe and I went to the transition area, lay our stuff and did some warming exercises.  Just 15 min before the race, we took a pack of Power Gel and we headed to the Swim Start area.  By then, I was kind of nervous…. 

The swim distance looked far….and indeed, it WAS far!!  I started to have doubt that I’ll be able to do it but knowing that my friends had made the effort to come support me, I have to give my best.

All the participants for the 20th wave were assembled at the Swim Start area and before I can really enjoy the feeling of being in the crowd, I heard "3-2-1" and the sound of the horn…..I was running towards the water and doing my swim.

I did what Jerry has told us…to swim as near to the parameter as possible.  I tried and with great effort, I managed to do it.  The swim was fine initially but after the first turn (250m) I started to receive kicks and punches from other swimmers…Damn!!

No more Mr Nice Guy while doing the swim and I have to "retaliate" in order to "survive".  I was feeling strong while doing the swim and sorry to all the swimmers that I’d kicked and punched, that’s how its supposed to be.

I think I’d done a fairly good timing for my swim and when I reached shore, I heard Jerry and Chin Hock shouting my name but I can’t figure out where they were.  Then I saw Eileen and Angie and they were cheering for me as well.  All these and more made me go on strong.   

I ran to the transition area, grab my bike, put on my helmet, shades, shoes and number bibs.  I quickly took another pack of Power Gel and ran to the "Mount Bike" area….(I was ahead of Joe that time).  I cycled as strong as my legs could go. After my first turn for the first 10km, I saw Joe at the opposite direction and we cheered on each other…I did my first 10km relatively well.  However, I started to feel thirsty and my mouth was very dry….I have another 10km to go.  Damn, I need water desperately!!

By then, I was in a way, struggling to complete the biking.  I started to slow cos I was really thirsty and I do not want to get dehydrated.  I practically licked my sweat that had flowed down from my head to my lips.  I pushed myself hard.  When I did that turn again, I saw Joe on the opposite direction again…this time round, he was much closer and I know I had really slowed down a fair bit. 

I dismounted my bike, ran into the transition area and I lost some precious time as I was kind of lost…I can’t find my spot and when I finally found it, I saw Joe parking his bike and getting ready for the run…there, we cheered on each other again.  It was a friendly competition between us anyway…I tried to use him as my pacer but the impact from the bike does not allow me to do so.

My thigh muscle was  tight and so was my chest.  I started slow and tried to regulate my breathing.  Jerry was there and he wants me to follow the pace of Joe who was just up in front.  I tried and after running for some time, I got the momentum and the run started to get a bit easier.  Halfway running, Chin Hock cycled past me, cheered on me and told me to endure…great friend right? 

My running was the weakest among the 3 events but I actually cheered on a girl who was walking to start running.  I ran past her, clapped my hands and looked at her saying "come on, you can do it…"  She gave me a sweet smile and started to run….that’s the good thing about this kind of endurance sports.  People encouraged each other along the way.

My last dash to the finishing line was something that I would like to remember for the rest of my life.  I know I was feeling proud and happy while dashing to the end point.  I was telling myself "I’d finally did it!! I’d completed a Triathlon, Sprint Distance!!" and my timing was clocked in…I finished the race.  My very first medal….with the word "Finisher" in-scripted onto the medal.  I managed a timing of 1:37:07 (ranked 91st out of 359 participants.  Quite a decent timing and position)

Angie, Eileen, Jerry and of course, my comrade Joe were all there.  They congratulated us and said we’d did well.  Plans to do the Corporate Tri was being discussed and I know we are going to do it. 

For the past couple of months, Jerry had offered his time to train up Joe and I in Sentosa.  We did numerous pool swims and stadium runs just to get us prepared for this day.  On top of that, he lent me his bicycle, helmet and lots of other stuff.  Shared experiences and knowledge to us and that makes us more prepared and know what to expect on the actual race day.  Without his help and coaching, I guess I would have never been able to fulfil my wish of doing a Tri.

Angie offered to be our "chauffuer" for the day and she really was.  She drove both Jerry and I to East Coast, early in the morning, and I was really grateful to her.  After the event, she drove Jerry and I to CDC for our volunteer work and came to pick us up cos we’d agreed to have a mini celebration.  She came down from Plaza Singapura and picked us up from CDC…from there, we went to IMM Jurong!!  Ha!  It was indeed a great weekend.  Come 10pm, she sent Jerry back followed by me.  Well, what can I say about this friend??  GREAT!

Been long since I had such an action-packed and fun-filled weekend.  It feels real good to have been able to finish the whole race.  I am beginning to enjoy this sport…it is very dynamic and is a test of my own will-power and determination.  I will not stop here and get contented.  Training will still go on and I believe this sport will eventually become part of my life.