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!

Inactivity & inability

I have not cycled nor run all week!

And I have yet to please my boss with a positioning slide she wanted. I'm still unsure of the intended audience & purpose of it. I'm going to cover EVERYTHING now. Do it up covering every damn angle. She can pick & choose.

Most of all, my Cervelo is in pieces literally.

Arghh! What a horrid week.

Lessons From Geese on team work

Lessons From Geese was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and was based on the work of Milton Olson.

Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of each other.

Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3: When the lead bird tires, it rotates back into the formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.

Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and to encourage the heart and core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense of geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we’re strong.

Vroom! Formula One is a huge rush!

I attended last year's Formula One race thanks to Vivi.

This year, thanks to Zi, I got to experince the huge VROOOM of the F1 cars up close and personal.

We even had dinner (she bought!) before the race started.

Thank you Zi.  Fantastic tickets : Pandang grandstands, just by the the concert area, and the tickets comes with free food/drinks!  Awesome!

She's somewhat knowledgeable about F1, so I can ask my duh questions (need to endure the 'Fel!' yells and the dramatized roll of eyeballs though).  And Zi - Toyota used to race in Formula One!  Right until 2009! 

To top off a fantastic night, Linkin Park played right after the race ended with Sebastian Vittel winning this year's race.

Unbelievably awesome night.

Elephantic Epiphany

It was a dark cloudy night.

We just turned out onto Coastal Road, I settled into a steady 32km/h with my best friends behind me. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw the shadow of an elephant.

I accelerate to 34km/h, definitely an elephant's shadow.

I dig in, 35km/h, elephant comes into view on my right.

The entire elephant, trunk triumphantly up, appears.  Prooot!

I was eating elephant dust.

Disappointed with self, I descended back to an earthly 32km/h.

A thought forms...

Just what does it takes to keep up with a flying elephant?  Is it technology or is it me?

Only 1 way to find out.

Stay tuned.

Good weekend

Saturday

Morning - nice climb with the gals.  Also nice that Belle is back climbing cos we get to use her sui-sui black rope to lead on :)  And I mustered up the blue route without hang-dogging.  Can't ask for more.

Afternoon - half hour nap then met up with Garin & Vinny.  Would've been just like old times, except Garin brought his wife and kid in tow.

Then I swung around to the 6pm Novena.  And that was really good.  I had not been going to Saturday Novenas in a long time. The church was very crowded, yet, some folks left midway through and I managed to get a seat next to a very nice lady who shared her booklet (forgot to take mine out of car) so I didn't have to strain my brains to recall the words to the hymns.  

Evening - bought Popeye's fried chicken & 贡茶bubble tea, then popped by Ian/Michelle's for dinner.  I love Matty - he's so cute!

Sunday

Woke up at 2am thinking it's already 6am.  Blasted bubble tea!  By the time I had to wake up for our usual morning run, I probably slept 3 hours - groan!  Peter picked us both up and we did 16km of Macritchie hills.  Today, Peter ran faster than both Zi & I!  I know - what happened right?  I created a monster.  Yeah - proud of it too :)  Franken-Peter.

It was not a particularly fast run, I felt tired towards the end and could not do the sprint to the finish with Zi (sigh!) but since it's my first long run since the AHM, it was a great start.

Getting home, I managed a short nap before rushing out to mass (sorry Lord, a little late) at St Mary of the Angels.  Afterwards, I dropped by Pa's niche for a bit.  Sorry Pa, it's been a while.  I lit 6 candles from the family including Matty for the grandpa he never had a chance to know.  Sob!  One day in heaven, we will all be reunited.

I'm now very full!  I ate lunch & dinner within 6 hours with just a nap in between!  

As I sit down to prepare the messenging matrix Katherine wanted, I notice that the show-off Danny did it up for China - and it is so different from what I had in mind.  And she replied to say yes, but repeat the same for all the other countries.  Eh?  Should not our messenging be same through Asia Pac (hell, worldwide ideally!).  This is so hard.  I can't predict what's in my boss's head.

Perhaps I should've gone cycling after all.  Feel so frustrated every time I think of work : my inability to predict what's in my boss's head is killing me.

I want a husband/driver

Recently a friend wrote on her FB wall that she wanted a wife/cook to prepare her recovery foods from her crazy racing schedule.  You rock, Manly - 3rd place at Megatri! 

So I want a husband/driver so I can read/think in the car.  I find I think best in the car, unfortunately, it occasionally interferes in the tedium like watching out for traffic or needing to stop at traffic lights.  To that grey car who I had to cut in front of abruptly to make my turn, sorry!

Yes, either implement those self-driving highways that the Germans and Californians have been testing forever (now even Google has jumped in these tests)  ; Or, a driver will be nice so I can safely ponder my game plan on how to find market size for a restore/recovery software intended to boost hard drive sales.  Hmm...

After the AHM, comes the....

And as always, the AHM marks the beginning of training for the Stanchart marathon. 

My motivation in doing Stanchart marathon was to stay fit & have fun at it, since I already did the Sundown marathon - which satisfied the whole rigamole of training and then running to a plan.

I did not even intended to do up a training plan, until Peter pressed me for the plan last night.  He wanted to know what my plan since he intended to run with me.

Now that I have the plan mapped out, the mileage intimidates me.

So as requested, I sent this plan to Peter via FB message and he replied with 3 simple words "ok, no problem.". 

Really?  I wish I had the same confidence.  I think I'll skip the opener run, and do 20km this Sunday.

Emotions & Jesus

Matt 14:22 to 33 - The Walking on the Water.

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.  Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

This was a passage given to us during last weekend's retreat by Father Vaz.  I feel too much of late, insecurities, work frustrations, anxiety, nervousness... I have let fear overcome me - much as the disciples did, to the extent of failing to recognize Jesus (it is a ghost, they had exclaimed) & sinking into the water.

Refocus I must.  My peace and calm is in the Lord.  Deep breaths!

Implications of HP selling of it's PC business

My initial thoughts was wow, Taiwan & Singapore economies are going to be affected...

Here's the expert's analysis:
http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800649877_499489_NT_e6a6bc24.HTM

Currently I am wondering how this affects Seagate drives and how I can push this as good news...  Hmm..

Change - the only real constant

First Google (who denied ever wanting to be in the hardware business forever) suddenly acquired Motorola mobile.

Next HP's CEO (who was asked to leave from SAP due to poor performance) announced plans to sell off/spin off PSG and to kill off tablets running WebOS (which was purchased at a ridiculously high price from the Palm acquisition).

And today, Steve Jobs retires from Apple.

What a week!

Overnight, Motorola is hip again, HP steps towards impending doom and Apple could run dry of ideas soon?

I love the IT industry, woot!  (not).

A daily struggle

Romans 7:15

What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.

Now if I do what I do not want, I concur that the law is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.

For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.  Now if [I] do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 

So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.

What do you need in a job?

What do you ask for in a job? $, a good & fair manager (a mentor), a role you enjoy, nice teammates, good company.

I am now aware of what I want in an ideal state.

Counting my blessings on a Monday morning

Been feeling "yeesh" for quite a while.  The last 3 Sunday sermons were really good at SFX, really like Fr Bosco and yesterday we had Fr Eugene Vaz himself.  Wow!

So I will take their advice and focus on the good things I have, to be grateful for the blessings I have been given.

In no special order
- family.  Being back and with family I can appear before in 10mins for dinner is really nice.  Matty is a bonus.  Cousins gave me some recycled clothes last night.  I love family - especially when you stand to gain.

- sports.  Was a little deprived in Taiwan.  Now I have so much sporting events, it's throwing my life out of control.  I recall sitting at a weekday mass and thinking to myself to have to tone down a little.  I love all the opportunities I have, but just need to regain a little more control.  The more important part is having hard-core friends.  Friends equally crazy, possibly more!

- church.  I miss aspects like reading at mass & Fr Cary's fantastic sermons in Taipei.  But today I have my old ministry which forces me to sit and talk/think/dwell on my faith once a week, there's daily masses I can attend within easy access, multiple Sunday masses to attend giving me huge flexibility.

- job.  When I was without, it was really awkward.  Now, while it's not the perfect role, the company is pretty ok and I love that I am 10mins drive away from Ian's house - so I can tabao lunch over and play with Matty for a while.

- Singapore.  There was a time I didn't care whether I lived in the country or not.  Now I have to admit this place is pretty darn liveable, except for the weather and possibly too many foreigners.  On the cusp of national day, I must say this, Majulah Singapura!