Most painful run this season...

My farthest distance this season (Stanchart training).  Ran with Kah Hoe & Simon and so had to keep pace with the 2 guys - pushed me to a faster pace than my usual lazy pace. 

First 10km - 1.14
Second 10km - 1.12
Last 10km - 1.25

Running with these 2 wasn't too bad.  Pushed me onto a good training session.  And there were perks : Kahhoe gave me a banana before the start while, Simon was a true gentlemen.  Gamely cleared the way with the aunty contingent near the Treetop walk sections & chivalrously ran ahead of me when there were monkeys in our path.

And I love Macritchie this time of year.  It's soooo cool and the air smells fantastic.  Some stretches were so picture perfect, I wanted to stop to give thanks to God.

That last 5km was painful.  My calves and shoulders ached like hell, yet amazingly my ITB was perfectly fine.  I need to visit Big John again, sometime this week.

Washing up at the Visitor Center afterwards, I was absolutely knackered and overheard some veterans chatting (I assume MR25 runners) about some of them still on their 100km run.  My wobbly legs almost gave way... 100km means 10 loops of Macritchie hills/rocky terrain and upslopes.  I am impressed.  姜还是老的辣！

Omigoodinuts - that really hurts!

Followed Zi to a sports masseur called Big John.

Innocently, I sat there and said, I have 1. ITB & 2. my lower back right-side hurts. 

After that, it was all a blur of pain.  I don't recall too much other than the fact that he made me scream "stop" more than once.  Before John, I have probably only ever stopped a masseur perhaps once ever (excellent & very strong masseur in Taipei). 

Big John found "waste crystals" deposits in my shin muscles - then rubbed very hard to "pop" them... Ow, ow!

Hopefully the pain goes away by Sunday morning cos I need to clock 32km under my revised plan.  (I felt the version 1 didn't build up and taper well enough towards the later weeks).

Question is where to run this Sunday? 
Macritchie - been rainy, so it'll be messy inside. 
East Coast - entire Fort Road to NSRCC unavailable due to Newton Run
Changi Beach Park - CV to end of Coastal Road loop ~ 19km but, uncertain of water points/toilets. 

Drawn...

Like Pied Piper of Hamelin's tune, I have been listening to the CEO talk and totally blown away by the brains.  In fact, the entire company.

I pray and surrender to Christ's overall plan.  But still excited by being around so many smart people.  It has been a while.  Sadly...

Starting off the week on a good note

Returned from a Batam cycling weekend sore and sunburnt - but it was really fun. 

On that note, I started Monday morning driving mom to Ian/Michelle's place where she resumes her grandma duties after being on holiday in Europe the last 2 weeks.

Mich had made marble cake over the weekend (while clutching Matty to her hip - skillful mummy skills!).  I had a big slice and coffee while holding a rather squirmy Matty.

Very nice.  Love the kid

My old job

Just saw on Monster.com the job I had while at Motorolo.  I wonder what happened in the almost 1 year since I left.  Did Panda (codename for the 2way radio I was preparing for launch) ship on time with the new ODM?

I have been back in Singapore 1 year and 3 months.  Sitting here and thinking back, I do have a list of blessings.  And if I nit-pick and skip counting the material things then I still have family & friendships, and Matty. 

I miss Matty, been 3 days since I last saw him...

Some calming words

Copied this off a link from Alex "hur hur hur" Ang's Facebook account this morning :

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
— Mother Teresa

Serves as a good reminder for me because I've been increasingly annoyed with the running program leading up to the year end marathon.  It's hard enough as it is to motivate yourself to do those long runs.  When people around you hold you back or keep you from doing what you need to do - it's got me flustered.  So yeah, good reminder, that "in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway".  I will let it all go.  Ommmssss....

Everyday I'm Shuffling...

The global economy is starting to head south... Companies are freezing headcounts.  Suddenly no more interviews.  It's harder to keep going mentally, feeling the toil take effect increasingly.

Now on the Cervelo.  After the cheapskate in me realized that I had already paid $250 in GST non-refundable, I decided to keep the bike.  Eventually I accepted the 150pounds Evans Bikes gave me as compensation.  To add mistake upon mistake, I trusted Soon Watt to remedy my missing hub cap problem.  Mave at Soon Watt (probably on seeing the Cervelo) took the opportunity to sharpen his knives and sold me high end hubs - a pair of it, when all I needed was front hub.  And I paid labour of almost $100 to prepare the bike (adjust brakes/align the gears) and he did not even do a good job.  I've now placed a bunch of components on Togoparts, hopefully God blesses me with ready demand so I can recoup the $ lost.

SO, the question everyone wants to know.  How does it feel on the Cervelo?  I must say it is very responsive, quick acceleration is something I now can do, climbs are also easier - all due to 650c wheels.  Yet, I can't maintain speed on the straights.  Not sure why.  The minute I ease off the gas (e.g. air pedal), it decclerate rapidly.  Strange.  On my last ride, I actually slowed to 25-28km/h returning along Coastal Road.  A big drop from my usual at least 31-33km/h on my old clunky Rodalink.

I've only done 2 rides on the Cervelo.  But it's now been bike-fitted and all, not sure why there is no speed increment.  Or have I been expecting too much?

It's lunch.  Turned my colleagues down for lunch - not in mood for small talk.  Will just grab a quick bite in solitude. 

Typical.  It's always a dog's life.  Why does fortune not smile on me?  天啊!