| July 31, 2007. Tuesday |
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| July 29, 2007. Sunday |
I've been so busy it's not funny. Finished work at about 11.20pm last night and rushed home to get ready for this morning's Osim Singapore International Triathlon. By the time I slept, it was 1am. Obviously, I wasn't expecting much of for the race after just six hours of sleep... Cycled to the race site at East Coast Park from home, about a 10km ride. The sky along the way looked perfectly overcast, not really hinting rain or anything. By the time I reached the transition area, it was about 9am. After yesterday's kids, mini and sprint races, the transition zone was truly a sludge and mud-fest any pig would revel in. But not triathletes, especially if equipped with a Pinarello on Zipp ZedTech wheels. Gross. Anyway, after setting up my transition area, I met up with J and we walked over to the swim start for the 10.10am flag-off. My wave consisted of women aged 19-35, so there were many familiar faces around -- Vicky, Andrea, Sumiko, Patricia, Jac, Melissa, Elvia.... (can't remember all). We joked and chatted while waiting for the start... and then.. we were off! Swim was pretty much uneventful. With three months of no swimming I couldn't expect anything much. Not even sure how I placed among the wave... anyway, was a tad choppy and the current was kept pushing me towards the lane rope on the way back to shore. But other than that... the swim went ok. Hopped on the bike and took the first stretch bit easier. After the turnaround, though, the skies suddenly turned really dark as a cross-wind howled in from the sea. Oh my gosh. I was going sideways for a bit I swear. The only consolation was after the end of the lap, the stretch down to the turnaround again was extremly fast. I was pushing at 36, 37 km/h easily. The wind died down by the third lap after heavy rain started to fall. I was feeling great and looking forward to a good run. Heading in from the third lap and gearing myself up for one last fast final lap... the race was called off! Officials ushered everyone back into the transition area and told us that a mini duathlon would be held instead -- a 400m run from the beach to transition, 20km bike and a 5km run. I had about 40 minutes till the 12.35pm start of my wave, during which time I got extremely cold. Some people had left for home in disappointment they could not complete the OD. I decided to do the mini duathlon for training and fun. The mini duathlon was more painful than the OD. By the time I got on the bike, I was cramping up because my muscles were way too cold. I actually felt like calling it a day, but decided I might as well finish it strong for training's sake. Was happy to get on the run and I found my legs fast and was able to finish pretty strong. Cycled home after it all, by which time it was 4pm! Lunch was a chicken pie from Piper's Pies. Yum. So that completes my trio of races in three weeks... time to start rebuilding again and keep my fingers crossed for the SEA Games nomination. In the meantime, some images from earlier in the really busy week:
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| July 23, 2007. Monday |
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| July 22, 2007. Sunday |
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Uhhuh, boring pictures from a coach ride home from Malaysia. Pirated Die Hard 4.0 VCD playing on the two tv screens, Raphael talking incessantly to his HK girlfriend of three weeks, and Sunny and I taking silly shots. You could tell we couldn't wait to get home. Got back from Port Dickson not long ago, and my eyes are nearly shut as I write this. It has been a tiring weekend, mos def. Left yesterday morning 630am from Jalan Sultan, where a bunch of about 20 triathletes/supporters/officials took a TAS-chartered coach to Port Dickson, Malaysia, for the Port Dickson International Triathlon cum ASTC Asian Cup race. The initial program was that the Elites (Junior Sprint and Elite Olympic Distance) would be racing on Saturday -- 2pm for the sprint, and 4pm for the OD. Four of us -- Mansheng, Raphael, Sunny and I -- were the Singapore reps for the Elite events, the earlier two youngsters doing the sprint, and Sunny and I, OD. Unfortunately, just as we finished our warm-up at about 3.20pm, the drizzle turned into a heavy downpour, and the Elite race had to be postponed till today, 8am, together with the age-groupers. Lucky Mansheng and Raphael, though. Their sprint went ahead as planned, and thus so did their party plans that night. Sunny and I went for a quick 20min run with Malaysia's Chan Wai Yong to get the blood flowing. After the carbo-loading dinner, I went to bed early. This morning, the sky was overcast. The Elites started the race first, with the age-groupers five minutes behind. I hadn't been swimming for nearly two to three months, so I was just hoping to get through the 1.5k without too much trouble. Turns out, I managed to get on the feet of one Hong Kong triathlete and we stayed together for the whole swim. She led me out into transition and onto the bike, but I promptly caught her as she was still fiddling with her bike shoes. We rode the 40k rolling course together all the way, and my legs felt nearly as fresh when it was over as when I began the bike! We chatted along the way, dodged cows and cow dung,... enjoyed the fine, cool weather. I had no expectations of this race, except to enjoy myself, coming a week out from a hard SEA Games trial. So when she asked me, "Who's in front of us?", I replied: "I don't know? I'm just doing this for fun!". We came into T2 together, but she had the faster trasition and was off running as I was still fiddling with my lace locks. Think I better get elastic laces. Anyway, my goal was to run a steady pace and enjoy myself. Started conservatively and slowly picked up... the weather picked up too. A light drizzle turned into big rain drops as I neared the 5k turnaround -- just the way I like it (I'm only happy when it rains..). Sunny and I had prayed for this kind of weather yesterday, where it would only rain once we got to the run (calling it dream race weather). So, really, it was a dream come true. I ran into the finishing chute feeling strong for a 2:29 finish and made it to the podium in fifth place in the Elite Women category. Best of all, I'm 690 ringer jingers richer! Yaye! (Bought myself a Pearl Izumi jersey using some of that moolah!). OSIM next week.. all of a sudden, I'm looking forward to it!
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| July 19, 2007. Thursday |
Sunday's SEA Games time trial didn't go as planned. I felt really good for the first 2.5k of the 10k run, and then I suddenly felt like I couldn't run anymore. Close to the worst run I've ever had. On the bike I felt better, although before mounting it I had half the mind to quit the race. The last 5k run was ok, nothing spectacular. Overall, a crappy performance. But they've still put my name up for nomination to the SEA Games... so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If I do get picked, I'm hoping to train full-time in the Gold Coast for a bit, on my own expense... An experienced coach, R, told me I probably could not run cos 1. I was too burnt out from three Ironmans and one marathon in six months, 2. Did not have enough speed training in my legs. I hope to believe the latter reason, which can be fixed, albeit through painful sessions. Meanwhile, a former top swimmer, D, told me: "Don't worry so much about the time trials - sorry to hear. It's how you pick yourself up that makes you a real winner." You bet, D. Well, got another race this weekend, the Port Dickson Int'l Tri, and then OSIM Singapore Int'l Tri next weekend. At least, equipment wise, I'm all set...
Zipp 303s at the front, 404s at the rear. Ceramic bearings, dimpled rims. Zipp aerobar. New Zipp brake pads. Nicely polished Pinarello Paris frame. New pink Deda handlebar tape. :)
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| July 12, 2007. Thursday |
So my beemer baby is not really the heavy drinker I thought he was. Pretty lightweight if you ask me. Travelled about 250k on half a tank, or 20 litres. Not bad, aye? On Sunday, J made me drive all the way to his house in Woodlands after work, only to find him eagerly waiting to test drive my car. So he took to the wheel and drove us all the way back to (almost) where I started, at Upper Thomson Road's Hong Kong Cafe, where we had dinner. All the way there, he had an enormous grin on his face and kept going, "very nice"... and that grin lasted throughout dinner, where I had white fungus and lotus seed sans red dates for dessert, and he, some pork chop noodle soup with egg and extra soup, which came up to this:
Yesterday, I took beemer baby for his virgin carwash at the new Esso petrol station near the office, which is offering my office staff with the green car labels $3.50 car washes instead of the usual $6. What a steal!
And, something not related to the car... was at Sentosa Golf Club's beautiful Tanjong Course on Monday for the HSBC Golf Challenge. Nope, no one won the four Maseratis. But the weather was fabulous and the view, superb. Had a tiring but good day there.
Training has been rather light this week. Monday was a rest day, Tuesday did a 45 minute run at ECP with 3x3min hard thrown in, Wednesday did a 45 minute run on the treadmill with 3x1min hard, and did a 65minute bike today with 3x1min hard. Going to take tomorrow off -- as I always do, take a rest two days before a race -- and then do a short bike-run brick on Saturday just to get the blood flowing. Am off both tomorrow and Saturday, so finally, I will be able to get some good rest before Sunday's SEA Games duathlon trial.
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| July 8, 2007. Sunday |
Dear B, From the moment I set my eyes on you, I knew I was in love. There's something about older species like yourself that I'm attracted to. Your curve-less, boxy physique is to die for. I'm so thankful to have a wonderful travelling companion in you. Words cannot express how much you mean to me. I'm so glad I've finally found you... the one. Although you're quite a drinker, I'm willing to overlook that minute flaw because of the awesome drive you display. I promise to care for you forever. My dear beemer, you complete me. Love, Ps. Here is our first picture together:
Well, other than finally getting my BMW on Thursday... training has been going pretty good. Just got back from a brick sesh with the national team at Coastal Road. We did a 2km run-14km bike-2km run-14km bike brick, with a 1km jog cool down. Altogether, I covered about 60km on the bike and 5km on the run. Short and snappy training sesh. Legs felt dead when I woke up but it gradually got better, although I was generally feeling tired today. One more week to the SEA Games duathlon trial... gonna start my taper tomorrow. The trial on Sunday will kick off three weekends in a row of races. The following week will be the Port Dickson tri, and after that it's the Osim Singapore International Triathlon. On a random note, dad and I went for a 'celebratory' lunch after sorting out the paperwork for the car on Thursday. The place was called 'Mustard' and I think it was along racecourse road. Great food, great service, price was ok. If you like Indian, check it out.
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| July 2, 2007. Monday |
Woke up nice and early this morning for a 5.30am, 18k run at East Coast Park. T'was my day off, but I still rose at unearthly hours. I have to be insane. Anyway, had quite a few errands to run today. Went to get my car loan done... went to the TeePee at Ubi and replaced my driver's license I had lost at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March last year... had a smoked salmon and cheese sandwich at my fave joint, The Food Barn (ok, not an errand)... bought some toiletries... walked around at Club Street and Ann Siang Hill and bought some Dean & Deluca tea bags for J... oh yeah, and I dropped by Oakley for some lovin', in the form of the women's Flak Jacket in pink. Schweeeeet!
Training has been going pretty good. Have not swum in over a month, just focussing on my bike and run. Saturday's 125k bike with the Cycleworx dudes was fast and fun amidst perfect overcast and cool weather. Did some speedwork on the office treadmill yesterday and then some core work. And I'm off tomorrow too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Can I hide my joy any worse?)
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| July 1, 2007. Sunday |
It's July? Damn, it can't be. Where did half the year go? Well. Today, in the middle of work, I crossed over to the 7-eleven to get parking coupons and a cashcard. What a surreal feeling, I never thought I'd be doing it so soon. The lady at the counter was like, "Did you just buy a new car?". Why, do I have it written all over my face? Oh wait, yah, I bought coupons and a cashcard. Heh. Anyway... four more days till I'm mobile. In the meantime, I have drawn up a "to do" list of what I need to prepare for my car. Among that list includes a gym bag and toiletry kit. Looks like my beemer is going to be a Big Mobile Wardrobe. At a lost of what to write here because there's a lot of things running through my mind now. Yah I know, just contradicted myself. Whatever.
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