fever

thought i had it under control, but this afternoon it got out of hand at 38.4. Which is already high, and considering my normal temp is only 35.5. blood pressure taken at the clinic was 127! record high also

very strange, first time i had only fever, no other symptoms. Doc says it's severe dehydration, and gave me a bunch of rehydration salts. Lol i figured it's not cos i don't drink enough water, but rather cos i don't take in enough salt! so much for cutting salt intake yea.

and you can't pick a worse time to see a doc than 12pm-2pm; they're all out for lunch!!

so this morning was testing. Felt i could have done much better, since this fever gave me a dull ache all over. yea, i know i'm better than that. So next time around i will prove it to myself.

leaving for Hungary on wednesday, will be back 4th Jan.

well, singapore withdrew its hosting rights for the 2013 sea games

the last time something similar happend was back in 1973, where we withdrew our bid for the asian games. (1973 is a landmark year in singapore's sport history, with the opening of the national stadium, establishment of singapore sports council, and the sport-for-all policy)

yea, but that doesn't change the plan for 2011

friends, i'll be leaving on 16 Dec for a winter training camp in Hungary. Will be back on 4th Jan.

so what do you do to go faster

"so what do you do to go faster?"

this morning it seemed like i forgot how to go fast

but i didn't

so i went back in the afternoon to prove it... to myself

and my true answer to that question, i think i'm back in rjc13, rowing steamy together with ketupat (: enjoyed my afternoon session today, the water was just right and guess what it's a wednesday, our usual training day (aka the midweek highlight of school). today i really felt i was back; was a nice feeling.

can't wait for friday. but first, a 2k timetrial awaits tmr.

btw, met up with dr nick for a 'consulatation'. was pretty interesting, i know i'm going to savour every moment of the exam tmr.

"just like we have many times before, let's make it a great one and enjoy ourselves"

What if you believe?

two-wheels-for-a-change

http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2009/12/1/two-wheels-for-a-change

interesting

was just about to blog on that topic

four wheels good, two wheels better!

been cycling to training (and back) an average of twice a week since september

and it's great (: today i officially declare that to get from the doorsteps of my home to my second home, cycling beats public transport aka bus hands down!

made a wrong move today though, when cycling home at around 8am, it was super congested on the roads. dangerous yea

but the morning commute is nice and cool and breezy

(oh btw my aircon gave way and started making ICE!! and it turns out i could do w/o the aircon at night, so that's my new resolution. oh, since last august when we stopped hiring a maid and started being more concern about the saving the earth, or rather, saving money from the utilities bills, we have managed to reduce our bill by 50%)

yup, and i save $2.80 for a to-and-fro journey, plus burn up 300 calories, and learn to use my legs more! so it's good (:

wheeeee

5 things about cycling in the morning:
1. you'll be amazed at the no. of fellow singaporeans who are up and awake
2. we really own a great deal to all our foreign friends working at the mrt sites and our mega projects.
3. night shift taxi and small lorry drivers are surprisingly patient.
4. but not drivers of big cars!
5. the earlier you cycle, the better. cos there won't be buses! (you'll have to be really early though, i've only managed this feat once, out of necessity)

nice (:

cycled to training again early this morning

i like it when the reservoir is nice and quiet

was just me and the water and my boat

focused on technique

and it worked (:

What if you believe?

what's happening

my training performance seems to mirror that of Liverpool. Last year when they had a brilliant start to the season, the wins over arch rivals man u and the comeback, things went well for me too.

I can't explain it either.

Hope things get better yea

What if you believe?

well i'm glad the day is over

both papers done! anatomy and public administration, two of my heavier modules

finally can get my head back in training

did 2 x 5k timetrial

i still need to figure out how to go much faster

What if you believe?

trying something new

http://sites.google.com/site/muddizer/home/healthy-eating

wheee (:

redeemed myself a little i guess

11k run 1:01:25 (Actually it was :20 on Coach's watch)

then followed by 1:30, 1:00, :30 weights

the run felt good (: Start was frenzy as usual, but paced myself, ran the way i run (: was a good run throughout, lol think i could have gone much faster! wasn't particularly tired at the end, so yea. much thanks to the good weather.

exams next week!

What if you believe?

long distance has messed up my strokes. finished round ubin this yr, 2mins to a medal. but not important, wasn't a very good row

Training at Kallang now, it's good, keeps getting cleaner everytime i train there.

must re-learn my technique. I know i am much better than this.

"It's complicated... but once you learn it, you will never forget"

What if you believe?

please rain now

like now

so it won't rain tmr (:

tuesday was an exciting day, haha, actually i didn't realise it was the 3rd, but yea, was a bit incoherent waking up at 4am so i could be on my bike by 4.25am. Managed to finish the program at 8.30 (: then followed by class, a 3k swim, back to macritchie to get my bike to cycle home. ah, and i think i've pushed past one of the pain frontiers, cos after being severely ggxx-ed from saturday's weights, it's taking more to reigster as pain. which is good, since this sunday is round ubin. my aim is to row a good race.

and thanks for all the well wishes, was nice hearing from old pals that i've haven't caught up with for awhile. I'm finally 20! wheeeeee

minor issues cropping up, nothing that i can't resolve eventually anyway. yup, when you take a step back and see the big picture, these small things don't matter.

just something random, thankful that i've found this dream to pursue. It's pretty exciting, waking up each morning knowing there is a great sense of purpose in your life. How much can one person's efforts change the world? won't know until we try rite?

hm.. and i guess for me, with age comes a greater gratitude to the people and appreciation of the things around me. Quite a contrast to the stereotype that one gets cranky as one ages.

yea, and the training camp to hungary is mostly confirmed (: part of the grand conspiracy (:

to reiterate an old concept, my principle is that before i win, i must be worthy to win. so gotta put in the hours and mileage and a whole dose of blood, sweat and tears (: Otherwise, that would be discounting the competition yea? quite interesting, since this oft-unspoken dimension of respect happens to be my lecturer's favourite definition of 'respect' as one of the three olympic values.

exams are going to be a blast (:

What if you believe?

wheeee

as the hours ticked away last night to happy hallowean, i was beginning to experience DOoM, or rather delayed onset of muscle soreness.

yea this morning i woke up i was totally owned. then there was the ~10k worth of running including a 4-2-1 charge up the treetop walk. the ~4k 'warmup' felt quite good, then it was the horror. I have never felt so winded in my life from running. I thought kent ridge hill was real man, but this one was even more challenging cos of the competition! (and coach telling you to 'come on' and 'faster'). thanks jori for the 1min set.

ok looks like i can't run my 7.5k homerun tmr. but the next time i do it, i'll include a run up kent ridge!

now to plan out my schedule for the week

it's going to be fun and exciting (:

What if you believe?

survived the week

4 x 20k, 1 x 30k. tuesday was super exciting cos i cycled to training and back in the evening. haha, guess what time i left the house. thursday was another exciting cycle to training day, but mum picked me up in the evening. yup, 2 x 3k swims on those days too (: gym today was real man, but didn't die as much as i thought i would.

another week of long dist, onward (:

What if you believe?

wheee (:

yay, added more links (:

Talked to the team on saturday, hope they'll get their act together. One can always hope yea. met one of the j2, james, while walking out from rj. It's interesting how trivial sports can be, yet how important it can also be. As this batch of raffles canoeists take on the A levels, i hope their efforts will show in the results. Looking back, especially for the guys, this was really the best batch i've seen. As always, it was a shame that things didn't work out the way we wanted (and trained) for it to be, but i hope when they think of their time in raffles canoeing, they'll hold their heads up with pride, for it was a battle well fought to the end.

less than 6 months to the 2010 nationals. If we work hard, this team will make it. At least it's heartening to note that the current team realises they fall short of their potential, and that they could be so much more. was particularly impressed with, how shall i say, the maturity of thought of some of the boys (i spent most of the time with them; girls was just a short session). Let's go raffles!

on a personal note, there is progress in training. yesterday was 11k run. 1:04:30 (: finally a breakthrough, and the best part is i know i can go faster. would have loved to keep pace with belle, but she was at nike human race. hm.. and yea, i didn't suddenly get faster. was bursting my lungs during my 'winter training'. so probably it's true, "For every finish-line tape a runner breaks--complete with the cheers of the crowd and the clicking of hundreds of cameras--there are the hours of hard and often lonely work that rarely gets talked about." - Grete Waltz

and that marks the end of the 2 week technical-only phase. Tomorrow begins a 4 week focus on long distance. The national team will be at Kallang but i've decided to stay at Macritchie (once again). mainly because i need some stability with regards to my schedule and also i'll be able to drop by rj once or twice to see what i can help with land training, and cycle to water training too. still considering my options if i should move there 2 weeks laster, after round ubin. that's when classes end, and just before the exams start.

next year jan/feb we're going to do swimming training! now is quite exciting cos this week we have 2 x 2k as supplementary (: and... my schedule looks fun and exciting!

What if you believe?

what a great day

this morning i flipped open the newspapers and guess what i saw? gary is going to the SEA games (: i'm excited for her!

and,

today was a real man day of training but it was good. cycled to training, did about 70% of the technical program, then had to go to school. Afternoon went back to do the program again, then cycled home. new battleplan yea (: can feel my technique improving, thanks coach. I'm fortunate to be in the company of the best coaches around, and if i'm ever going to coach, i'll want to be like them in spending much time and effort on each person, doesn't matter whether they're good or better, but so long they are here to train.

and MM lee's comment was interesting. Someone asked him, what values do you think we need? his response: the values your father and grandfather had. food for thought

yes, thanks gary, we will work hard together. haha, you know what, you're the first person i actually talked to about wanting to make the national team back then. something special yea

What if you believe?

...the idea of competition, of effort opposing effort for the love of effort itself... this was the Olympic spirit in its purest form (Pierre de Coubertin)

wheeee

i'm feeling really tired, from sleeping at 12 the past 3 days. yes, i know it's not good. need to plan my time better. had a good PA discussion for our group research project, and sport management class was interesting. Lots of brainstorming work today! I like thinking hard (:

mon: technical in the morning, afternoon 7k run
tue: technical, technical, 15min gym
wed: technical, 6k run (which i made 7k)
thur: technical, 3k swim

yea, by tuesday i was ggxx already. wed= owned. today was uber tired, but glad i did the 3k swim. was quite exciting, swam till it started raining, like really pouring! Last few laps were frenzy, and it was nice being out in the rain for awhile (:

tomorrow awaits!

What if you believe?

good stuff

back to training this week

coach's dad is here! he's a coach too, so it's pretty cool. been working on my technique and keeping up 'winter training', or rather, supplementary training.

and today, i am feeling totally ggxx my entire back and abs (i could name the muscles, but no, i need to finish up the sport management assignment) are aching like mad. we've been doing pretty cool resistance training, dragging a 1.5 (i use the meiji 2l) bottle behind your boat. sure beats lifejacket resistance, cos there is no way you can use your arms. at all.

it's been a long time since i felt like this, that muscles are rapidly growing! RAWR

wheeeee

wheee

ok sick and back

tuesday woke up to run, but was raining like mad! then at 7am it stopped raining but i was at home! so decided to run around the neighbourhood instead, 7k run. and good thing i did that, cos phlegm kept building up, and my heart rate was going up insanely fast. then went to school, swam 3k (: oh, took 49 mins for the run (and i stopped for 3 x 2mins). the last time i did 48mins as compared to my usual 54mins+, so permanent improvement (:

did the same today, but morning run was 11k at macritchie (: wheeeee it looks quite max 95 avg 87 mode 91% HR, but it didn't feel that bad. the swim was tough, was drizzling a bit, but i glad i finished the swim anw

so gearing up for going back to training (:

school's been cool, things are under control... my control. i like (:

so tmr is errand running day

ah something random, it feels good to move. run, swim, bike and... row (:

What if you believe?

nice (:

sense of accomplishment after writing a brilliant (or so i think) piece of assignment.

been very studious the past 4 days. lol i realised what was lacking in ABA 101. tutorials! so i've eaten like 4 chapters of the anatomy text and done 4 tutorials (yea, the exercises in the textbook are like 30 questions long, and that's excluding the 10-15 MCQs).

Ok so even if it's not required, not asked to do, i promise to do all the exercises for the future chapters as well.

everything kind of makes sense; i even learnt how to sketch a diagram of the heart, with 4 chambers, 3 layers of heart wall, 4 sets of valves, major blood vessels.

patience

What if you believe?

YAY

body worlds is here again!

the last time was 2003, and i was in sec2 when we went to s'pore expo for the exhibition!

this year, Singapore Science Centre will host it from 23 Oct to March 2010

http://www.bodyworlds.com.sg/

exciting!

i'm definitely going!

rawr

after yesterday's cycle i could feel my throat acting up.

ah, now the sneezing is starting

yes, it's my annual fall sick time. glad it's recess week though.

went to see 2 doctors in the last week. first was ntu doctor, then got a second opinion at a clementi clinic. just to reassure myself i guess. taking anti-inflammation pills now, and lol it's working on my old (hardly visible) wounds/scars too

been at my com the whole day, mashing up 100+ ppt slides into nicely compacted 20+ slides, or less (: was at my com last night too, thanks uncle les from redsports for the F1 live commentary over the web.

you know, time seems to be passing so slowly. just last wednesday the national team left for Iran, but it feels like they've been there forever.

which also means my winter training feels like forever.

hm.. yesterday's cycle wasn't really fun, too humid, too many cars. oh, an interestingly the calluses and marks on my hands and feet aren't going off!

Winter training week 1: 3x water (yea, the last ones, then busted my butt), 3x 11k runs, 2 x swim (1.5k, 3k)
week 2: 2x water (after which i decided to take coach's advice), 2x 11k run, 2x 3k swim, 1x 25k cycle

as you can see, i've decided to build up my aerobic engine.

back to work

What if you believe?

winter training

exciting

i'm not injured; i'm just doing winter training! i have a strong aversion to that 7 letter i word. so now we shall hanceforth call it winter training!

yay, winter training week 2/4.

run swim cycle

and you would think paddling an avg of 10 times a week is boring

haha

today's sociology lesson was good! saved by the olympic video on guess who? tim brabants

so there, winter training here i come!

It doesn’t matter how high you are aiming, commitment and passion for what you are trying to achieve are the two most important qualities to have. It is easy to simply go through the motions and pretend to yourself you are committed to training etc. The people who are achieving what they want to achieve are not necessarily those with the most talent, they are those who want to win the most and are willing to put the effort in that is required to win. - tim brabants

this has been my longest training break since don't know when

it's my 4th day of not canoeing. feeling very restless so yesterday i revamped my room again. Shifted the shelves and reorganised so i can work in my room, in anticipation of the brother returning back from his 6 weeks out at sea (:

so tuesday was 11k run, 3k swim (or 120x 25m)
wed 11k run, 1.5k swim. pool was super crowded in the evening, got rather irritated. haha, i can't stand it when people try to race me when i'm cruising; usually i'll let them swim the next lap like till the half way mark, then start and overtake them.
thur: ko-ed. my legs died i couldn't walk properly, in addition to not being able to sit down

so there, i figured i'll clear all my work and study way in advance during this rest period. Today i can sit, though it's still bruised.

sport management lecture yesterday was interesting, could see Dr Do Young was trying his best. Don't like it when the LT is noisy though, and i felt we could have been a little more respectful. anw got 2 more assignments, one is optional, it's a CV writing exercise for 5 bonus credits! interesting (:

HA101 on public admin is really interesting, much thanks to the lecturer Dr Yu and a great bunch of tutorial mates. anw was so motivated to find out more, well check this out, it's interesting. I lean towards... communism lol
http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

Yup, the email came before the letter. Got the E. W. Barker scholarship, so school fees settled (: also the white PESS shirt came yesterday! I am beginning to grow to like it very much (:

ok back to work. Steve Jobs said: Stay hungry, stay foolish

ok so i've officially busted my butt; won't be canoeing for a couple of days

so here's what i did today:

morning: 11k run at 75% (using the polar heart rate monitor)
afternoon: 3k swim, or 120 laps in the 25m pool. 60 laps were freestyle arms only. messed around with a couple (10 laps) of kicking, dolphin kick, butterfly arms only and 2 x 1 really deep breath lap.

This morning was running the 11k in the dark, as it gradually got brighter and i was at the golf course overlooking the water, i realised how much i wanted to be there. and also i've come to appreciate how important the whole body coordination thing works, just for a single stroke. I do admit i was getting a bit complacent, not with my standard, but with the priviledge to train. I began to see it as a given, as my right, just because i have chosen this life. But training, for that matter, is never a right, it is always a priviledge. Guess that's why when asked in Sociology class what sport meant to me, i said "A celebration of movement".

Ok so back to today's topic about feeling restless and a general unease from the lack of training. Afternoon i wanted to swim say only 50 x 25m. But once i started, it felt really good and i just kept going. so 10 laps warmup, 10 laps kicking, then 10 laps pull buoy.... that 10 laps of pull buoy soon became 60. ah btw did i mention i was swimming at 12.45pm? in the full glory of the sun, which didn't seem that hot anyway.

so finished my swim, went to bathe and to canteen for a really late lunch, was almost 3pm. Went to my favourite stall again, had rice with peanuts and chicken wings (leftovers basically). Then just as i was paying, someone at the yong tau foo stall said "Hey, you were swimming just now right?" I turned around and i see this... stranger?

"Hi, nice to meet you, what's your name?" "Cheryl"
"I'm Sumiko"

Sumiko? Sumiko! I've read so much about her through redsports (just re-read the article, lol she was from nan hua primary too!). When i started my swim, there was this person running rounds and rounds of the hockey pitch. She kinda reminded me of Ms Lim and the various crossers. So wow, we sat down for lunch together and guess what the first thing we talked about was?

As it turns out, she's having some minor injury too so this was more of a recovery run for her. She was telling me just some random stuff, and she spoke of her dream of 2013 sea games. now that's an ambition (: and along the way came her coursemate, whose sister is the renowned esther tan, only female naval diver! in good company here!

So a blessing in disguise. going to run a lot, swim a lot, tchoukball, touch and hopefully some other games.

Oh, i was using the polar heart rate monitor test that day, got a 62 for VO2 max. that's like elite male athlete 19-26 years old (or the highest on the chart. I will earn my right to win

Why we run

Why we run

May 12, 2009 Tuesday, 06:15 AM

Jeanette Wang on why more Singaporeans love to run.

---

A COLLECTIVE runner’s high has permeated Singapore, with more races and more participants than ever this year.

This month's Adidas Sundown Marathon, for example, one of over 20 running events this year, has over 10,000 sign-ups, nearly double last year’s 6,088.

Last December’s Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon had 50,000 runners, up from 6,000 in 2002.

But, while united in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other, runners’ motivation differ, from sheer pleasure to staving off the weight.

Curious, I asked running friends and running friends of running friends for their reasons. Here are 30 of them.

It seems there is no excuse not to hit the road.

1. CJ, 36, works in banking industry
"I started running in 2002 when my son was diagnosed as autistic. It was a way for me to relieve stress. I started doing marathons, which I dedicate to him."

2. Sumiko Tan, 24, PE teacher
"Running enables me to feel the wind in my face, hear my own footsteps and enjoy the serenity of the world around me."

3. Tham Chen Munn, 33, engineer
"Running keeps my health in check – if a 30min run feels uncomfortable, then it's probably muscle strain or I need to lose some weight!"

4. Alan Law, 37, senior graphic designer
"It gives me time to think. Sometimes life can get rather busy. On my long runs I have some time just for me."

5. David Tay, 50, life coach
"It's a form of meditation where I'm in touch with my inner self."

6. Elaine Chan, 21, undergraduate
"I feel invincible when I run."

7. Ho Chor Yin, 37, executive administrator
"Doing marathons is like one's journey in life – there are ups and downs. Some days you finish a race better than others."

8. Jeremy Kang, 24, student
"So that I can drink copious amounts of beer and not end up looking like Moses Lim."

9. Ngoh Seh Suan, 29, insurance agent
"Just because studying the movements of top runners made running a physical science and a graceful art."

10. Dominic Loh, 32, brand manager
"It's spiritual, it's my quiet moment to talk to God and to re-align myself to make each day more meaningful."

11. Teo Ser Luck, 40, senior parliamentary secretary (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports)
"To get to know myself better."

12. Mok Ying Rong, 15, student
"Because I like the feeling of going fast. I'm always in a hurry to get from one place to another."

13. David Cawley, 29, software engineer
"My friends told me I couldn’t do a marathon so I wanted to prove them wrong."

14. Randall Tan, 35, artiste and former national sprinter
"It gives me the chance to relive my glory days and to prove to myself that I still have what it takes to do it."

15. Pamela Qiu, 25, civil servant
"It's the next most reliable way of getting high, after alcohol. And it's cheaper. Also, so that I can eat chocolate."

16. Yeo Jia Chyang, 33, IT consultant, Special Olympics Singapore volunteer coach
"I run to help others in need."

17. David Lawrence, 36, company director
"It's all about doing enough training to ensure that one day I'll be able to finish a race knowing that I've given everything I possibly could and have found my limit."

18. Clifford Lee, 41, SAF officer
"I have no other choice – running is part of doing Ironman races!"

19. Terence Lew, 30, art director and hearing impaired athlete
"It gives me a new lease of hope and a tinge of achievement when I run with my courage and determination."

20. Eric Koa, 42, senior staff at a sports store who ran his first marathon in 1992
"In 1987 I did a 30km race and got injured and could not walk for more than a week. I got a lashing from my mum. But I was determined to prove her wrong."

21. Derek Leong, 25, doctor
"Usually when I need to make an important decision, I go for a long long run, and by the time I finish the run, I would have made the decision."

22. Wong Ching Yee, 30, brand person
"I love the simplicity of running... It's about the adrenaline rush from feeling alive, two steps at a time."

23. Leong Chee Mun, 45, teacher
"I get to find myself and lose the world for a while."

24. Dierdre Morgan, 18, student
"I relish the pain, the satisfaction and the runners' high derived."

25. Melody Chen, 31, artiste
"It's faster than walking and I suck at swimming."

26. Michael Mendoza, 31, IT executive
"To prove to myself that even if I'm not an athletic person, I can excel at something."

27. Pamela Chia, 24, Singaporean student in Australia
"To live a full and healthy life, to experience breathtaking sights, and to meet my favourite wildlife."

28. Julian Loh, 33, real estate agent
"So that I can eat whatever I want and not feel so guilty about it."

29. Anne MacFadden, 51, homemaker and mother of six children
"It keeps me sane."

30. Chiam Li Li, 36, HR manager
"Because it’s a gift from God."

Why do you run?

everything's been good

got started on some assignments, group mates turned out to be pretty nice and friendly people (:

played frisbee for sociology class today, was super fun, somehow all my frisbee skills decided to come together! managed forehands and backhands with both hands! thanks mervyn for organising (: was good running around, dr nick joined in too. saw a different side of my course mates, mostly good

anatomy class was as usual. the same old... exciting thing! (haha, thought i was going to say boring?) super exciting i like this class the best (: but then again all my classes are interesting. public admin was quite cool also, when (not if) things go as planned, this will be my anchor to philosophy, anthropology, sociology and the likes, basically everything outside the realm of pure sciences.

but crap, i think i've busted my butt from training. Hurts like mad now, i can't even sit. today's training ggxx butt was dying. well, the price to pay for a good start to sunday's 200m timetrial, and coach saying 'Cheryl with this technique you can win the world champs' for the lifejacket resistance sprints.

so there

http://www.ecofont.eu/ecofont_en.html

check this out, Ecofont that uses 20% less ink while printing

interesting (:

been a long long week of training, sunday morning after 7 sets of 4" box pull/ball twist and 2x 1k, was feeling owned. decided to rest for the afternoon. this morning woke up was aching like mad, went down to macritchie to pick up my paddle, then to kallang for training.

my second time using the grey regatta, got rather owned for training today; i know my own boat is rather uncomfortable and suppose to be less stable, but i like it better. well, one last training in grey regatta to go! I can do this, i will keep up with the second pack.

this evening went for a run with the polar heart rate monitor (sans GPS cos it was too chunky). The last time i think i took 58mins, today was 48mins, including getting 'jammed' for 3+mins. and up the three slopes of kent ridge bus terminal, business school and prince george's park didn't kill me, in fact it was manageable. so i guess that's the training effect yea. and if the heart rate monitor is accurate, running at 76% is ok, 83% is still ok, above 90% is when it starts to burn. did till 93% only cos i didn't want to enter the post 95% zone. quite interesting, this heart rate monitor (only problem, when i breathe in and out deeply, it'll start slipping!)

so looking forward to more trainings with my new (loaned) toy (: i'll find a way to sub 10.

oh school's been cool, especially anatomy classes cos it makes so much sense. Today was on respiration. do you know when you breathe in, your diaphragm actually pushes out and down? Or when your ribs hurt the day after a tough training, it's actually the intercostal muscles that were overworked? I don't know how true this is, but i read somewhere that a rower once suffered a rib fracture... from rowing. yea, but i know ribs can hurt, especially after a 100 pullups day which, guess what? will be tomorrow!

every week i embark on an exciting task- planning my schedule for the week

It's a great logic test each time. Let me quote what i learnt in HA 101 on Public Administration.

Rational Comprehensive Approach (Harold D Lasswell)
A rational man/woman (1) can always make a decision when presented with a range of alt; (2) knows the probable consequences of choosing each alt; (3) ranks all alt in an order of preference; (4) always choose the highest-ranked alt; and (5) always makes the same decision each time the same alt are available.

and when that doesn't work, I use Incrementalism (Charles E. Lindblom)

•decision making through a series of limited, successive comparisons with a relatively narrow range of alternatives rather than a comprehensive range; it uses the status quo as the key point of reference for decision and focus on short term rather than LT effects

i know it's late, but i need to think this thru

weekend has been exciting, 4 trainings.

won the 10k timetrial, wasn't 100% though, but still it's my first proper 10k timetrial. did k2 with nanfeng today, quite fun (:

this afternoon's 10 x 500 rowed until gg. suppose to be 80, 90%. i was probably going at 90, 95%. was a painful trng but it's good trng.

overall training has been rather fragmented in terms of the pple i row with; so in a way glad that i'm not too affected as i usually row alone. world juniors, world champs, world db champs, and it's going to be ACC soon.

yea, i know as a country we're very far behind in terms of standard, heck, i've still got lots to catch up too. We once said canoeing is a sport for dreamers, and i'll do what it takes to make this dream come through. I'm not the best, but i'm improving towards being the best. so make it happen yea

"When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the
key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be
when I grew up. I wrote down "happy". They told me I didn't understand
the assignment and I told them they didn't understand life."

gg

this is freaking nerve-racking

i've just changed my module again

after convincing myself that economics stats is as good as it gets, I see a slot for public admin HA101. I eye it for awhile, not believing my eyes. Then i open up the STARS planner, and still watching that one slot suspiciously.

and suddenly i make a series of abrupt clicks with my mouse. DROPPED HE104B. confirm? YES CONFIRM LAH. ADD HA101. Confirm? YES YES!

and in 1s it was over.

now i have 2 exams on one day, but i'm on my way to a minor in public admin (:

and no sch on friday and i get off 1hr earlier on monday (instead of tue) YAY

people keep asking, so what are you going to do (as in work as) after you graduate?

thought i'll just post my thoughts

1. The so-called 'backup' plan is to work at SSC. It's a good and safe option. But probably not what i'm looking for if not i would have applied for their scholarship.
2. Go to NIE to train to be PE teacher. Possible. but definitely not my first choice
3. Work at Gryphon Sports Institute. Doing sports testing, nutrition, coaching etc. sounds good? Only one thing, it does not exist yet!
4. Ditto for the Singapore Sports Institute. I would prefer no.3 as i'll get to work with young people and yea, it's back at RJC (and did i mention it's next to macritchie (:
   
5. Set up a sports science centre. doing what? good question. Providing fitness solutions to people, and dabbling in some sports science research funded by whatever profits the former brings. Feasibility wise, i think this is the way to go, as more people realise the importance of lifestyle as a prevention to future health issues.
   

On a general note, knowing that a good diet, exercise etc is beneficial for you, but not actually doing it, simply means you don't know enough- don't know enough to be convinced of the benefits. I think this is the thing about Singaporeans with regards to their health.

hm... the sport industry is heating up. all the $$ flowing in. But strangely, that's precisely what i don't like about it. Sport is good, clean fun to me and well, i guess i don't like the idea of that tainted with money. of course i'm not talking about some non-profit thing here; i still need to eat. and train. and buy boat (: but excesses should be kept in check. and i'll rather sport for all and sport excellence then sport industry. But of course there must be a balance, I fully acknowledge that without sport industry there won't be funds for the others.

So there

ahh

and today, i did 30km at macritchie. 31k actually. 3h 23min. i never thought i'll make it; not my arms or upper body though, it's the sitting down that kills. this week most afternoons i rested, cos the abrasions were owning me. luckily today was just a very bad pain, but no abrasions yay.

exciting week ahead!

glad to be back training (:

water felt exceptionally good this morning (:

school's been cool

hm... just something random, life is really what you make out of it. So carpe diem, seize the day!

now to draw up my timetable for the week (:

school started (:

it has been fun (: i think my classmates are nice people, we're the ones who keep quiet in the LTs and arrive for lectures early... more than 15mins before class. More importantly, we all love sport

Yes, that's sport without an 's'. One thing we learnt in class, sports is a collection of well, sports, like basketball, track and field, swimming etc, while sport is a more global, all-encompassing concept.

The sports science classes have been a blast (: Both three hour lectures we had felt like an hour. In contrast, the bio module we were signed up for felt like 6 hours. haha. ok i haven't fixed my timetable because of the brilliant STARS system (that is making me see stars). Got a week to get it fixed.

Ah, and back to class. It has been a long time since i was thoroughly engaged throughout the whole lecture, not a dull moment (: and it's wonderful when the lecturer and people around you are guess what, talking about the things that you talk about! Like on Tuesday's sociology class, we got to 'interview' each other on questions like "Does sport run in your family?" "What do you hope to achieve in sport as a participant?" "What do you hope to achieve in other areas of sport?" "Are you a fan of any athlete/team?" "Do you watch sport on TV?" "Who is your role model in sport?" "Which is your favourite sport?" "Why is sport important to you?" "Why is sport important to Singapore?" I particularly like the last question as it links to nation building! interesting yea?

btw i wanted to list a few qns, and i managed to recall all 8 off hand!

then the management lect we had. For me a really good lecture is one where i get to give my opinion, have the opportunity to fire away questions at the lecturer, and one where i'm inspired enough to jot down not notes, but brilliant ideas that come across me. (and it helps if we're watching good videos where i'm similarly motivated to write down what strikes me) Probably the last time i felt like this was in rgs upper sec geog with mrs koh, and during the options period, in particular the philosophy course on democracy. So yea, it was cool (:

hm.. other miscellaneous things. the NIE library has the kind of books i want to read! Section GV= paradise of sport books. I've finished 5 books, including one of my course text. The new personal copy is sitting untouched (: I can get used to the canteen too, a bit dingy looking, but there's passable food and space. Also gotten used to walking around campus from admin blk to blk 5 and the library, but i will still try to avoid the 108 steps from blk 4 carpark to level 1. Campus is really big, i'll say i never got lost, just um.. had lots of fun exploring the northern spine acad blk looking for LTs.

Rushed down for training that day after ending class at 5.30pm. It is possible to train as much as i would like to, but for now i must have faith that the great conspiracy theory will work STARS for me.

Great things await, onward!

ndp

exciting (:

attended ms see tho's wedding (: was nice just gathering with the pe teachers again

today is national day (:

as part of my celebrations i went cycling (:

at 5.30am!

Testing out the GPS that belle lent me. But the bike handlebar was too small so the GPS couldn't stay at a good enough position for me to see it. anw it's pretty accurate, but the heart rate monitor didn't seem to work. Mr leong's going to lend me one of his five so that'll be quite fun

ok so on to the adventure

helmet check. Lights check. Gatorade check. House keys check. GPS check. and i'm off! took a nice cycle to guess where?

of course, macritchie!

was cycling rather conservatively in terms of speed. First quarter of the full journey did on gear 5, but eventually used gear 7 even for cruising. The terrain is ok, but some uphill parts were really treacherous, especially coming back. stopped to glance at the gps occassionally, and it was a pleasant surprise when it managed to record my top speed.

Lap 1 (to macritchie my home)
Time: 46mins
Distance: 12.5km
Avg speed: 16.2km/h
Top speed: 33.6km/h

Lap 2 (to my home, the real home)
Time: 49mins
Distance: 12.6km
Avg speed: 15.4km/h
Top speed: 36.3km/h

was kind of cool cycling early, but i think i'll start even earlier next time. It's safer as there are less cars around. hardly broke a sweat, very cool weather, in fact my hands were freezing. It's a liberating experience, on pedal power, at one with the surroundings and Nature. It's about survival instincts, about challenging limits... about liberation. and you know something? I go through that great experience every time i row (:

Since it's national day, an ode to Singapore.

I can't say how grateful I am to be Singaporean. We are 4 million out of 6.7 billion, how special is that? A very interesting article in the straits times got me pondering, about how our first August 9 was a day we dreaded, something that wasn't suppose to happen- when the merger broke down. I think as a nation we stand for resilience, for surviving against the odds, for being determined to succeed. From third world to first in 30 years- that's our Singapore Story. Too much to say here, go read about our story written in all the NDP songs. Perhaps nowadays it's cool to be well, cool about patriotism, but i proudly wear my heart on my sleeve- I love Singapore and for all that we stand for. If you work hard you will make it. Thank you to our forefathers for giving us this Singapore, and now it's our duty and honour to protect our homeland for our future generations.

and i know what i want to do for Singapore.

which brings me to my next point. Was looking at the training schedule and school timetable for next week. and i've lost count of the no. of times i thought- this is crazy. but make it happen yea. This will be the best challenge for me yet and i will seize the moment. With a dream, impossible is nothing.

Majulah Singapura

orientation ceremony was worth it, just for mr lee wung yew's speech. and the food, yea (: the waiting was rather long.

anw looks like i'm neither in NIE or NTU, but i'm in both! how interesting (: school is really huge, and i will have to relook at the battleplan. free access to all the sports equipment and facilities, plus the library has the kind of books i want to read (sports books lah), can't wait!

sunday got grand plans, i'm going to cycle to training (:

wheeeeeeeee

hi friends if you have time pls read this and help out

http://redsports.sg/2009/08/07/road-safety-cycling/

just do a quick survey on cycling yea (:

ahhh

anw

2k timetrial that day

10.07

and i know i can go much faster

went back to rj to collect the recommendation letter. was nice being back at the pe dept (:

wheee, orientation tmr. a prelude to the exciting schedule ahead (:

and my bro is setting off on a ship tmr for 6 weeks. life of an nsf oct in mids wing. (wow that's alot of acronyms)

training tmr (: and tmr, and tmr, and tmr... (:

What if you believe?

interesting

after training was going home as usual, then met someone at the bus stop, and what a great conversation it turned out to be.

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one." ~ C.S. Lewis

I thought i was the only one. Then i found someone else who took a year off to paddle, in the hopes of making the national team. Started in JC, rowed k2. Came back knowing that we'll make the team somehow. Love the sport, love the fact that if you work really really hard you might get something. Long hours at macritchie. Endless mileage. Paddling alone. Learning how to balance in a k1, pretty much like learning to row all over again. Hung around the national team trying to pick up pointers. Eventually tag along with the team for training, though not yet in the team...

'and it's ok to be slow. it's ok. what is most important is that you are improving. It's when you stop improving, that's a problem. Then you have to dig deeper"

then we talked about a great teacher, coach and mentor that we never had the priviledge to know personally. What he did for the boys is real education yea. and yes, he helped me stabilise my boat during launching at round ubin.

"When you do your sprints... Remember, as tired as you get after a 100m all out run. YOU RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. You don't run and 'okay, i finish my work already what' NO! If you have never run for your life before in the past... alright... why not try it now. Although i hope for your sake in the future you don't need to run for your life... But if you need to, you have done it before. YOU RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, YOU PADDLE FOR YOUR LIFE. Understand that gentlemen? Do I make myself clear?... You see, all the sporting events that we have, they are all actually substitutes for MURDER, do you all know that? For WAR and MURDER, for WAR and KILLING...."

wow

2 x 500m time trial today. first race was ok, not expecting a very fast time so 2.16 was welcomed (: did staggered starts so i went 10s after the first boat, 15s before the k2, and a total of 30s before the k4. was pushing to catch the k1, but somehow for the first many many metres/buoys it seemed distant. then suddenly towards 200m i felt myself catching up. whoa then the k4 appeared out of nowhere.

second set, start was interrupted by the nj alumni boats crossing. and did with another k1 this time. start was determined to pull away quickly, then let the momentum carry through. I felt myself gaining quickly on the other boat, and i didn't want to let the k2 catch me so it was all instincts all the way. last 100m though think i got distracted by the k4 creeping up. thought the timing would be ok, but 2.11 is a nice surprise. I know i can go even faster.

the training was good, not just for the timings, but because the 500m felt like what a 500m should be. the lung-busting effort was exciting. looking forward to more training (:

it was also enjoyable training with the other senior women. It was fun and inspiring just hearing them banter, and the champions' mindset is admirable. "Not if, but must. MUST do. If you're going to give yourself options then it won't be 100%. Let's go (:"

school's going to start and the schedule might not be 100% conducive for training. anw thinking of getting a GPS/ heart rate monitor in the event i have to do program alone. (seniors going to world champs for 2 weeks plus) Also, maybe that would help me figure out the 2k timetrials.

2.11

What if you believe?

Battle plan

now it's looking ahead

one year ago i asked myself where i wanted to be, and i got here. The gold medal was luck; i know in an all out race against everyone it won't be a gold medal for me. But the aim of 08/09 was to be the most improved. and i think i did just that. From 2.38 to 2.14. 5.28 to 4.49. 12.10 to 10.28. and i know i can go even faster

currently not fast enough so i won't be going for world champs or ACC. but that just means more time to train yea (: i know i can do this

now i need to ask myself again, 1 year from now, where would i want to be?

btw i was just looking at my whole year's worth of training logs. haha, can't believe i slogged through all those trainings, sometimes lonely, most times painful, always worth it.

saw my timetable, not perfect, but i know i can make it work.

anw another happy thought, my favourite celebration is coming up. national day! nice to see all the flags (:

"Training is principally an act of faith"

What if you believe?

was talking to jiaolian today. interesting.

training felt good today

found an even better technique (: think i barely mastered 20% of it, but had a decent row for the sprint program.

i know i can go much much faster, and it's a really exciting thought (: I really look forward to each training, to get stronger, better, faster (: wheeee

ahhh

will sanity prevail this time?

standard chartered loyal runners early bird ends today

nwkc over the weekend

yes, friday was a well... bad training. somehow things didn't click. went home, had a long rest. fri evening driving, sat morning driving (so couldn't race the 1k), then it was time for k1 200m open.

heats was ok, a bit shaky trying to find my stroke. won my heat. then straight finals, started quite slow, coach says i didn't start paddling until 100m. yup, then from there started catching up, but wasn't enough, anw it was my first individual medal- bronze. great job to suzie and julienne.

today was k1 500m. "Cheryl, you are my only hope. You must win by alot ok?" Ok. Competition wasn't strong, was the only one from national team. anw a nice surprise, joohui and xinmiao came down to watch me race (: thanks teammates

heats wasn't planning to go all out, suppose to practise technique, but decided to try a start burst. After half a buoy couldn't see anyone else (: very strong tailwind, so towards the end was probably a 60, 70 % row. 2.17. matched my PB. didn't feel fast at all but was an ok row. next few boats were clustered at 2.27.

straight finals. "You must do 100% ok" Ok. Same start, felt a bit weird, but still shook them off by half a buoy. After the race was talking to Coach, then found out that it was consistently tailwind, only during my race then it suddenly became crosswind. Wasn't able to use all my strength cos i felt the crosswind, plus there was some wash from the speedboat on the left! Didn't feel very good, but i won the race. my first individual gold medal, though it comes with a disclaimer. still, winning feels good, and i intend to make it a habit. was a bit surprised at the timing. 2.14. pb (: and now i'm officially faster than my k2! wheeee. next boat was 2.21, then the rest aroudn 2.23.

overall it was a good experience, and i'm happy cos i know i can go much faster. ahhh and i almost got a chance to paddle with the senior women for k4. great job to all competitors and my national team teammates. both the seniors and juniors did really well (:

juniors going off to moscow tmr night, all the best (:

and national day is coming up yay (:

one thing at a time, focus

Ok Cheryl, if you must do 200% to stay with them, then you must do 200% ok? Ok

READY?.... GO!!

EVERYBODY YOU MUST TRY TO WIN, LET'S GO GO GO!!!

COME ON, HUNDRED PERCENT

FASTER FASTER

ALL THE WAY

LAST 100 METRES, LET'S GO!

EASY!

Very good Cheryl, just do it like this ok? Ok (:

exciting day again (:

bursting felt good, thanks (:

went for driving after a really long hiatus. when i sat in front of the wheel, was feeling a little nervous, but just whack. and guess what? the next 1.5 hours were the smoothest i've ever driven, including the circuit! touched the kerb once during the s-curve, other than that it was perfect!

it was that same nice feeling i felt while bursting (:

interesting (:

training's been great and fun

6 x 300m today (: thanks (:

going to apply for the e.w. barker scholarship for my course. when it gets thru (not if but when), then it'll be quite cool.

anw macritchie will be hosting the asian uni games this weekend. yup, i'm not racing cos haven't matriculate yet. saw the japan and korea teams today, going to catch some action tmr!

What if you believe?

ah afternoon training at 6.30pm today (:

there was some wind during the 2k

i was just focusing on my srokes, didn't burst out as usual. surprisingly the other boat dropped back before the 500, so i had no one to pace.

felt like an 80% row.

then the timing

10.27

nowhere near the best, but it's my pb

What if you believe?

focus

last saturday, went back rgs for an nie group interview re the RP. It was great fun catching up with old friends (: and it's nice to know that there are others who think and feel like you. "I wouldn't trade this for anything else" (: so yes, as we venture forth and find our places in this whole new world, it's heartening to know that we're guided by the same values. I'm really proud to belong to the rgs class of '05. That sense of camaraderie forged, that pioneering "sink or swim, we're together" and that ever hopeful "We'll make it through" were really unforgettable. Despite the uncertainties, challenges and obstacles, those 4 years were really a blast. In fact, life for me has always been a blast. Most people take the entire lives to find out (realise) what they really want to do, but i think the empowerment we were given has changed that for us. Live the life you love, love the life you live (:

ahh and prior to that i was at training. and after that i went back for training. well, how do i put this positively. saturday's training was a really trying one. It was cold, windy (it was tailwind and i much prefer headwind), hot and choppy all at once. I think i will need to learn to overcome the environmental factors better but i know the solution is definitely not just whack. It has thus far been hindering me. I find i get distracted when faced with such conditions. The race sets i did on saturday were less than satisfactory, with the 200m relay being well.. a disappointment. But it's okay i live to fight another day. Focus. One thing at a time. That's what i'm going to practise.

In terms of performance, i've been rather erratic. just the last week alone, i found myself swinging from can't-make-it standard to my best standard, not once, but thrice. It's a bit frustrating but the harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph. Coach has been very reassuring and i am really grateful for that, mindful of the fact that he has to focus his energies on the teams going to world juniors and world champs. Btw he managed to point out something in my technique to correct, that eventually enabled me to give that unbelievable performance.

hm... on a side note i have cleaned up my room and i'm all prepared for war! That is, when school starts. The road ahead will only get tougher (so what?). I know i can be better than what i am now and i will continue to seek and fulfill my true potential.

What if you believe?

the horrors

today i received mail

RUN YOUR OWN RACE STANDARD CHARTERED SINGAPORE MARATHON 2009!!!

and you can only know what that means...

ahhhhh

i have till 26 july to decide if i want to a 'loyal runner' and "relive the inspiring moments".

ggxx

I didn't think that was possible, but i managed to do it (: i'll train even harder (:

What if you believe?

training has been interesting (: slowly getting faster (: yay

correcting my technique bit by bit, it'll take a while but it's worth it.

today did a sprint program in the morning... sometimes i surprise myself (: afternoon was a 4k timetrial. timing was not fantastic but it was a good row (:

school is starting soon, timetable faster arrive! got to figure out how to fit things in (:

onward!

well, did 2 x 2k today. the second one was really slow 11.08, must push harder.

the first 2k was interesting. had to start in lane 4 and dodge all the oncoming boats, but guess what 10.28 (:

technical exercise is tiring but it's good (:

women's open dates changed from 11-12 jul to 25-26 jul. there's c1 200m race! i'm definitely going to race k1 200, the rest depends.

school's starting soon (: 6 more weeks. haven't figured out if i want to stay hall, will come to a conclusion this weekend. got the students' union pack on orientation camps, haha, i shall not go for any of them. must keep things in perspective yea

speaking about that, my life works around my training schedule, and more often than not i find myself having to prioritise. not really prioritise though, cos i know i must do what i must do. but yea...

can't wait for training tmr (:

What if you believe?

this is starting to make sense (:

wheeee

post ncc

training today was fun (:

total 20k of technical exercise

feels good

NCC is over, was a good learning experience. Took part in 6 events. Yes i know it's crazy, but that's the plan. For once i could really test whether my warmup routine was good (it was) and how well the post-race recovery plan was (could be better)

the standings are not quite accurate cos most of the better paddlers were in team boats only. Still i know i've improved compared to 48 weeks ago, but there's still much to work on

in short:

saturday:
k1 10k 4th. 200m away from a medal. overall race was decent, wasn't pushing hard, just practising strokes actually.

k1 1k: heats 2nd. semis 2nd. finals 5th. heats and semis was quite easy row, didn't know i was so tired. finals was not good, too tired.

k4 1k: our third time rowing together and we got a medal! 3rd! can't complain cos we didn't train

k1 200: heats 1st. last race of the day and the easiest. probably rowing at 80% only.

sunday:
k1 500: heats 2nd. semis 4th. this event needs to be worked on. was aiming for straight finals in the heats but got beaten. not fast enough during semis.

k4 200: 4th. not a good race. but again can't complain cos we didn't train

k1 200: 5th. disappointing. must find a way to be able to do my 100% whenever i want to.

overall it was an enjoyable experience. Thanks to all my competitors. so now i've got a couple of weeks to work on technique. and it will be okay for women's open (:

All it takes is all you've got

this weekend marks the 46th week

national canoeing championships 2009

i'm racing in k1 200, 500, 1000 and 10,000

and k4 200, 1000

going to be a packed schedule, and i know it's going to be fun (:

ahhh was just typing about my canoeing experience (since the first time i picked up a paddle in P5), but decided to keep the long story for another day.

What is your deepest fear? Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -Marianne Williamson

For the past 46 weeks, I have given my best effort to become a better canoeist by training to what i perceive to be my physical and mental limits, yet be mindful of rest and recovery, and without sickness or injury. Still I know i have much to learn (easily 7000 hours more) and must go faster than i think i can. Tomorrow is a chance for me to test myself, to see how fast i can go. I may not be the fastest, and I will fight till the last buoy. So may the best boat win.

What if you believe?

timetrial today. one of the senior women did an amazing 2.01. some of the juniors were faster than me, but it was a decent row (like heats kind of timing). came in 2/5 in my heat; btw the other 2 stronger competitors were in the other heats.

2.17 (:

What if you believe?

k4 in the morning (: interesting i think i got back my team boat stroke

another 2k today, slightly better than saturday and sunday's but still far from what i know i can do. not easy, but that's the point yea

watching happy szegad video (:

today was a disgusting day at training

i also don't know what went wrong, well, actually i have my theories

so i did the usual routine, opened the sheds, got my boat, walked briskly to the scf shed and reached at 7am. program was 3 x 2k so i thought we were going to start early before anyone else came. Coach prefers us to do warmup, so i did, turned the engine on. Then waited

and warmed up

and waited.

and warmed up

and waited

7.30am still waiting. finally at 7.40am we started paddling. Coach assigned the pairs, and it meant more waiting. The row wasn't good, to say the least. 11.13. then waited 15mins, plus even more, before starting the next set. then some boat capped, had to go save. needless to say, the last set involved even more waiting. By the time we finished, it was already 9.15am. 11.08 and 11.28 i think.

i think i'm a stickler for time. speed, punctuality, sense of urgency, they all go together yea? i need to find a new plan. been double training for the past 5 days, immediately after today's training rushed home to rest. think i shall go earlier to row. btw friday evening's do-anything-you-want program was nice. it was quiet, few boats around, no wind, and good space for me to focus on my strokes.

yes, and on thursday, wanted to go back to sch to join the odacians for some pool session with the playboats. 10.30am. i waited. by 10.52am, it was enough, decided to leave. packed my table... and finally left raffles junior college. though some part of me will always be there. brought home the lego set (: wheeeee, its in pieces now, but maybe whoever might come over to my place next time can see it (:

just when i was feeling not so good today, decided to pack my stuff. chanced upon this "Do not judge the day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you sow". Right now i might not see it, but i guess all these will fit perfectly in the grand scheme of things. So what to do now? Believe. keep training, don't lose heart.

ahhh and during the 8 x 500 that day, i was lagging behind the last boat by at least a buoy and easily 2.5 buoys behind the first person. then for the 7th set, i didn't know what happened, but when i recovered (it feels like suddenly awakening to the surroundings), i was perhaps 1 feet away from the first boat, and more than 1 buoy ahead of everyone.

Coach says that's how it is. and yea, that's what i want to believe in. I can run 11k in 1:06, do 23 pullups and during weights that day, 150 x 50%, 100 x 60%, 50 x 70 %, bench pressed 70 x 45kg, 50 x 55, 20 x 65, and 10 x 75kg on another day, making my estimated 1 RM 93.5kg. (and i weight <55kg). so RAWR, i can do this, i just need my own time, own target and i will find that.

live to fight another day

today marks the first day of proper double training (: wheee

need to find something better than tights, bike shorts? too much abrasion.

will go down to adidas this week. was suppose to go on sunday, but did a 2h k4 session. which well, after 2 years of paddling in a k1 only, suddenly did k2 and k4 within a short span of 2 weeks. was feeling unstable, yea, so thanks for putting up with me. will do my best

ok, my mind is still on getting new shorts.

onward

creature of habit

routine routine

got to start a new one for the next 10 weeks.

to the old one, thanks for pulling me through the last 5 months. training hasn't been smooth, but that's how it should be yea. i know i can do this.

new experiences yea. if things go, i'll get to try k4 for the first time (:

and it's really unlikely, the places/people one can find inspiration. it's pretty strange but i guess this is what is meant by the great conspiracy. I've got to know a couple of elderly folks along the way, and yea, guess what they all tell me? Follow your heart. Chase your dreams. Do what you love. (Or some variation of this theme)

From TIME,

"... Which is why that night, the women leaders reassembled at the White House for a dinner with more than 100 students from schools across the city to celebrate Women's History Month. Tonight is your night, Michelle told the girls. So don't be shy. "Poke and prod and figure out how [these women] got to be where they are and what you can do in your lives to get yourselves ready for that next step. Tonight we just want to say, Go for it! Don't hesitate. Don't act with fear. Just for for it." Because all the women in the room, she told the girls, see a little bit of ourselves in you."

This is why i'm here.

onward!

need to offload, too many thoughts

Everest (: the girls did it! Why do you want to climb Everest? Because it's there. My utmost respect and admiration to the ladies (:

1 more week of relief teaching. then it's finally over, out of the safe haven of RJC that has sheltered me for 2 extra years. i wouldn't have known what to do without this place i call home. a bit premature, but to my teacher/colleagues, thank you for your guidance and support. Some plans didn't quite unfold the way i wanted it to, but things worked out in the end and really, thanks for being there for me. i'll remember your words, "It's not exactly world class. But i know you'll find a way to make it world class"

hm.. and even without asking around, i know 3 others who will be my classmates! there's just 40 of us

bball girls finals against hci. we lost, 58-61, but that's only so much the scoreline can tell you. the first 3 quarters, it really seemed like we were giving it to hwachong, play wasn't very good. then something happened in the last quarter. we were down by some 16 points, a massive gap considering hwachong was at only 50 points. then we fought back like mad. with one minute to go, think we were 8 points down. seemed like it was over for us. then we made a shot. and with 10+s to go, our hero of the day jolyn, threw in a stunning 3 point shot that momentarily stunned the hc supporters. I thought that was the defining moment of the game, and of this sports season for us. one can just imagine all the thoughts, all that pressure, but she took her chance. we called for one last timeout, but sadly, with 1.9s on the board, a pass was made to no.9 our key player, and well, things didn't work out.

despite the loss, i believe that comeback by the girls taught us a very important lesson. It differs across individuals, but to me, it was the idea of seizing the moment that was inspiring. thank you no.5 (:

and today i rowed k2. a proper k2 row after... 2 years? despite feeling a bit unstable, it was stable! amazing. wasn't even 100% but it felt passable, mainly cos the boat was slippery, even the heel contact! and i finally understood what jiaolian meant. k2 back ftw and meanwhile i'm going to keep working on my k1. thanks

then after that back to training at macritchie. maybe it was cos of all the screaming (not by me of couse) that was making me feel disoriented. after 9k i couldn't take it so i decided to go home earlier to rest. Left the water around 5.55pm, up at 6pm. so well, this morning i head out for my pre-training training, finished, got up and ready for gym. set up the weights as usual, and just while waiting for everyone to get ready, noticed some people kept asking Coach if we were paddling after gym. Then i asked my gym partner what happened

"ee tuck drowned"

many accounts as to what happened, but the thign we know for sure, he capsized, declined help for rescue, started swimming back. some time later the girls realised he was still 'swimming', then it was too late... (the report is in today's today btw)

i know everytime something like this happens, the media will be out probing for newsbites and stuff. but i don't know, the thing is, i could have been there. Usually on weekdays at 6+pm, it'll just be njc and me and recently crescent and acjc. i'll train till 6.30pm, but it just so happened i left early yesterday. and guess what, rugby finals yesterday rj vs acjc so the whole of acjc had compulsory match support.

"For all the words of Man, the saddest are these 'It could have been'."

thoughts from a 19.5 year old

updates first, then some thoughts

shortly after the brilliant 20 pullups on monday, 21 on tuesday, guess what. saturday was a 23-pullups-after-water-training day (:

wheeeeeee

now for the next magic number

and that 11k run? I did it again on thursday afternoon with the blazing sun shining from everywhere. Again i reached terap hut at 18:36. and finished the run in a marginally faster time of 1:06:42. this is addictive btw. ahhh, i got owned at the downhills again, but uphills are fun comrade. It's like i know if i push myself, i can go faster on the uphills but downhills are a different story. It feels more like skill than a combination of endurace and brute strength alone. haha (:

team dinner on wednesday (: it was fun meeting up with the canoobs, happy birthday javine (and elisa) (: next up, harry's with noisan

anw in case you're wondering, due to my highly planned day-to-day life, i'll only be able to blog on weekends when i switch on my com, or at least for the next 3 weeks till relief teaching ends. speaking of which, ccal camp is cancelled due to H1N1. so i guess no 4 in a row then. oh btw comrade, the pictures you posted of ccal camp 07 brought back nice memories; we all looked so happy (:

"But days come and go. sometimes, i even wonder if it was all just a dream."

the new canoeing exco has been announced. but it seems like they're not ready to takeover yet, can't fault them cos they've barely joined the cca. it will be another uphill battle, and still, it's up to them how much of a fight they'll be willing to give. I hope they'll come together quick, no time to lose.

well, it's been an interesting week at work/play. the soccer boys were eliminated in the 2nd round and it's even hard to be around mr low for a moment without sensing that immense disappointment. like what cunzhi used to say, mr low is raffles soccer.

We all thought this year would be the year. We believed it had to be this year. We dreamed that if it were to be any year, it had to be this year. sounds familiar eh. but sadly, things were not meant to be (once again), and the better team out there won.

so what now?

that's probably the toughest question one can be asked after a disappointment. i know i took more than a year to figure out an answer to that, on a personal level. Already people are writing the soccer boys off for next year, but what the heck, in the championship year, people did that too, and raffles proved them otherwise. so let's go raffles

i'm writing in detail about this, because i'll just like to share how much inspiration i drew from the 07 soccer boys. individual skills wise, they definitely couldn't match up to their opponenets, but they didn't let that deter them. Instead, they trained extra hard to build up their fitness and most importantly, played like a team. or what a friend says "their skills not as good. but when they play, they really cover each others' butts". it's alwyas nice to believe that miracles do happen, but rmb, first must come the preparation.

training has been ok, figuring out a new stroke. haven't sprinted in quite awhile, but the water sense feels better. only 3 more weeks in this routine, then it's time to work out another one for 'the rest of the days before school' and finally a battle plan for school. can't wait for school, or rather, i can't wait to matriculate and receive my timetable, then i can figure out training times. At least i know morning training is sitll possible (: ahh, and probably i won't stay hall, unless jurong lake is open for training, then it would make sense.

was talking to mr seah this afternoon. real conversations with him are always very insightful. today we were talking about fighting a losing battle, in terms of trying to teach students the 'right thing'. to quote redsports, even if we fail, at least we know we have tried and did our part". It might be a losing battle, but that doesn't mean we don't fight. Instead, we'll fight even harder. We might have lost the battle, but we will win the war. and it's always nice to know that someone shares your philosophy on things. sounds big, but in this case, we'll just use the context of pe. over the last 2 days, i've taught modified lacrosse to 4 different classes, 3 of which i was covering, and only under special circumstances would i have the chance to take them again. the strange thing is, despite having to repeat everything 4 times, it was fun (: in particular, that moment when the kids manage to make a catch or good pass or spectacular shot, and the thing is, they surprised themselves. it's like some eureka moment and it is fascinating, both for the doer (that's them) and the observer (me)

if that's a difference i can make, no matter how small, i'll do it (:

wheeee

11k run today (:

timing was 1:07:03. below the 1:12 target coach set, but could have been much better. got lost 3 times lol.

and i know i took a really really long time for the downhills. the northern trail downhill was already slow (there were 2 long ones, plus one really major one) but that's nothing compared to the one after the golf course. That was real man. i recall myself pausing before a really steep step, wondering if i should just jump off or how. thoroughly enjoyed the uphills though

the run felt good, was rather easy. it didn't feel as painful as the great eastern women's 10k. in fact it wasn't painful on the legs at all. maybe it's the terrain, suppose to be tougher but i prefer this. the usual stumbles and near-misses along the way, but generally each step felt good. after the run felt like i could go for another. but well, 59 minutes is real man and for now i know i'm not fast enough to hit that timing.

looking forward to the next run (:

a quick one

on monday i hit 20!

not 20th birthday, but 20th pullup lah. a breakthrough, considering the previous pb of 19 was since jul 07. so the 6 most recent sets from mon-tues: 20, 16, 19, 17, 16, 12 (unlimited rest inbetween)

then guess what happened yesterday.

21

(:

and it was after training and muscles felt pretty worked out from the previous days.

ok, new ambitious target: 30. yes, and soon enough i'll do 100 pullups in 4 sets (:

but one pull at a time yea (: btw the muscle plan is working out pretty well. strokes wise still need to improve alot, and i believe i can do this.

What if you believe?

i can't wait for school to start (:

thinking about it makes me excited.

going to restart the train-study-eat-sleep cycle again (:

can't wait!

wheee

i'm finally going back to school (:

i got an offer from NTU sport science and management. term starts in august

things are going according to the great conspiracy

training has been ok, wind is really strong in the afternoon and so is the sun/heat. On wednesday i made an interesting discovery, as to how this kicking and rotation thing actually work! it was quite cool (: now to get the feeling each time

yay, can't wait for school to start, then i can double train properly (i.e. 1.5hours+ of water x 2 + land ). i do enjoy rowing alone most times actually. and it's a bonus when it's quiet too. today was strange. training was suppose to be 'fun', like we were having this relay thing. but it didn't feel fun to me, and yea, i don't like the waiting around too. hm.. must strike a balance.

anw i don't really watch tv, save for spongebob. but the 9 o clock show on channel 8 is interesting. too much to say here, but it has a great storyline (:

and congrats to RJ. so far we've double-gold for cross, track, table tennis, waterpolo, (and probably swimming next week). interesting year

now to get my driving license

Nationals 2009

I don't know what to say.

Well, actually i do. In short, the results were disappointing. Girls got 5th, guys got 6th. Just like that year when we didn't manage to bring home a team plaque. To compound things, CJ girls got 3rd. Good for them, but yea, it's going to be a struggle to regain jiaolian's favour.

Before Nationals, i said we'll wear our jerseys with pride. And yes, win or win, post-Nats I'll be wearing mine with pride. It was a very strange ending. For as long as i've been at MacRitchie and from old photos, this is probably the first Nats team photo without Jiaolian or the teachers. Somehow i feel like i've shortchanged the team, but there wasn't anything i could do.

The results might speak otherwise of the team's efforts, but in all honesty it was a good fight, to the end, and i'm proud of this team. One year ago, I asked them for one year of their life. I asked if they were willing to pour their lives into canoeing, knowing there might not be a shiny piece of metal to show for all their efforts. I asked if they were willing to do this together as a team. No one gave them a chance, but i thought, why not? I believe in every batch there is hope. If they were determined to give it a shot, i thought the least i could do was well, do everything within my power for them.

You might ask me, why bother. Probably it's because i know if they choose to carry on the fight to uphold the name of Raffles Canoeing, this will be a life-changing experience for many of them, just like it was for us.

I've never expected anything in return, but this team gave me so much more. I've made it to training with the national team, my dreams still lie ahead, but i'll say it here, i'll never even have gone here without the team of 0809. It isn't just about having people to train with; you guys made me feel a part of something great. Thank you for slugging it out at all the 2ks with me, for reminding me how fun canoeing can be, and for showing me what it means to be a raffles canoeist.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

Oscar Wilde

Having witnessed a 4th interschool canoeing nationals, i conclude this is a blood sport. All year(s) long, these student athletes train with that one final showdown in mind. And i would say the A div year is the epitomy of brutality, there is just so much at stake; most of them never to pick up a paddle again after this last burst. You won't see this array of emotions at natioanl juniors or elsewhere, because simply, this is it. When you see those uncontrollable tears these tough-as-nails, muscled, won't-flinch-at-3249328659 pullups canoeists shed, then perhaps you might understand how this works.

I saw that fire and intensity in your eyes as you took each stroke. (I watched all the races life/on tape). You fought till the end, all the way for Raffles. That instant you crossed the finishing buoys, the smiles, the tears, they are as real as it can get. Was that two/five minutes worth a year of blood, sweat and tears (literally)?

When you look back on your canoeing days, i hope you'll remember this race for what it was, no more no less. One year ago, it might have puzzled and angered you as to why I said we must fight for 3rd/1st. Now that you've finally crossed over to the other side, I hope you'll understand, for without a destination, there could never have been the journey.

Again we lost to the better boats. Congratulations to the girls of NJC, ACJC, CJC, SAJC and the boys of NJC, ACSI, HCI, SAJC and MJC and thanks for showing us what it would take to bring home a title next year.

To the team of 0809, I hope this was the best year of your life.

Susan Boyle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

You need to watch this

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent

Inspiring (:

YAY

REST DAY TOMORROW

after 27 days

exciting (: wheeeeeeee

ok, story telling time. friday did 8k in the morning, strokes felt very good. Afternoon program: 10 x 1k. and it also means 1k paddling up to the start each time. So that's 20k. Finished the program at 7.15pm, but training still wasn't over. did the box and medicine ball 4min, 2 min twice. then ko-ed. training ended at 8.25pm. ggxx, that's the latest latest ever, even later than ll those monster land trainings.

then this morning was guess what, 2k time trial at 7am. tried out my new strokes, was a decent row, so quite disappointed when i thought i heard coach say 10.41. then went to ask him again, 10.31! PB. i seem to pb in less-than-ideal conditions

and i know i can go even faster

did the 3hour weights program again today. Throughout the last 10x 1 min, somehow i kept thinking of joohui, and the time she read us the letter her friend wrote to her. didn't stop, kept fighting on, for my dream, for my team, and all who believe in me. It helped that coach kept shouting "Suffer now, then you won't suffer in the race.", "Last 30seconds, if you stop now, you're never going to be an internationalist.", and something about world champs.

World champs and international races are still far from where i am. but i know i'll get there.

It's one week to school nationals... more thoughts about this tmr. ahh anw, i got myself a pair of tights today, enough of abrasions and cuts.

The line in the letter goes

What if you believe?

exciting

interesting week. double champs for cross country, canoe camp, and 2 weeks to nationals.

today's 2k timings left much to be desired, maybe it's a sign i need some rest. I'm still trying to time my rest day, it's been 21 days on water, with the rest day not in sight. well, at least i got to chill at home for the afternoon today.

Training with the national team has been different from the last 34 weeks. Lots more weights training and runs, compared to what i would have done. Perhaps the greatest change for me is the degree of control i have over my training program, previously it was lone ranger, own time own target 60% of the time, with rj about 40%. Now it's 20% on my own, 60% nat team, 20% with rj. Will need to make adjustments, must make more time to train on my own (: i do learn different things while training alone, versus with the team, or nat team, so yes, i will make more time for myself.

Nationals coming up, double gold is far-fetched by any standards, but i hope this team will set out to achieve what they've dreamt of for the last 1.5 years. Now's not the time for nostalgia, but i just want to say how thankful i am to be here to watch this team on its journey.

let's go raffles

6 x 2k

exciting

6 x 2k 100%

it was a very strange training, to say the least. start in lane 4, come back in 6. staggered starts (of 30s intervals i think), was the first to start out of the 4 of us.

first 2k 10.36. was using a substantial amount of brute force. managed to sneak a look at my watch (plus minus 5s), at 500 was 2.20, after turning was 4.50. so it means my second 1k needs to improve. timing was ok for me. prior to training was deliberating whether to conserve some energy for the full 6 sets, but well, 100% just whack. and besides, i can't control my speed at will yet. first thing coach said, yesterday's conditions were better, no wind.

then the next 4 were rather horrible, ranging from 11.03-11.15. was rowing like mad, strokes felt weird, and the timing cmi, got owned by the second boat.

so last set. coach said 'we'll all start together. (The two of you) can go first, 30s headstart"

this time we could pick any lane we wanted, so long we went out to 1k mark and back. Took lane zero (: "Ready? GO!" Right from the first stroke something felt different. Actually i just wanted to figure out where i lost out to the other boat, was it frequency or catch or fatigue, so i totally didn't expect this. It was a very comfortable feeling, a confidence knowing i have done this before, and could do this. I never once saw the boat next to me. At 500 mark, it felt good, i imagined the C2 a boat length ahead, and i was catching up. Around 700, imagined the aqua marin2 k2 on my left, and me matching them stroke by stroke. Soon, it was down to the last 500. Heard the other 2 boats pushing each other on, ' come on, all the way', and that's what i did, whack the last 500 like some 200m set. then it was over. 6 x 2k completed

10.35. my fastest out of the 6 sets. even coach couldn't explain, he said he was wondering who that fast boat was (relative, since my range was... 40s?)

Training with the national team is really great, lots of sparring partners. Hope we get to do more neck-to-neck sets/training instead of staggered starts. gets the andrenaline pumping.

anw, the other two national team easily did under 10.30 for all 6 sets, and yesterday, one of the senior women did a monstrous 9.45. beating at least 1 senior men for 3 sets.

room for improvement. and if the last set is anything to go by, i think i'm barely at 40%

What if you believe?

tomorrow will be the 14th day, and also the end of week 35.

first week training with the national team. still trying to feel my way around but this is good. thursday's training was a little disappointing, i don't like that feeling, but thanks, i'll remember it. I know i'm much better than. anw school training later made things better. i await tomorrow's training with great anticipation.

This is my most 'supplemented' training week. and i can just feel all the muscles building rapidly.

my mum made cheesecake for the first time yesterday
bro got into ocs, reporting on monday
dad. well, my dad is my number one supporter (:

i wonder what training is going to be like next week

exciting exciting

training has been cool

yesterday's 20k hurt though, had to rush off to ccab so started 6k on my own, then managed to pace the senior ladies for 8k successfully, then after that ko-ed, so did the last 6k on my own. When i joined them, it seriously felt like 2k timing, but only this time, it was suppose to be 14k. Though overall the 20k was painful, i realise how pleasant it is to hear the washing-machine like sounds from each stroke and surge of the boat (:

today's program got rained out after we did 6 1ks at 80%. You know what, i think i'm so grateful for this opportunity that this whole sufferring business is enjoyable.

just something random, was talking to mr gopi yesterday. about luck/chance/fate/destiny, whichever you prefer. Couple years back he wanted to leave his old workplace, got an offer from another place. It wasn't his dream job but he applied anyway. On his weekly trip to the temple at the start of the year, a fortune teller told him it's not the time yet, had to wait 6 months, not now. Then guess what the application messed up. He called to check after 2 months, but they never received it. Next thing he knew, he got a call from mr koh about vacancy at RJ. Came down for what was supposed to be an 'interview', but it was more like a briefing on the job scope!

If you set your heart on doing something, the whole universe will conspire to help you.

anw it's really great training with the national team. I think the way some of the seniors train is really admirable. They are the fastest and most experienced, and they still pay attention to the smallest details

ok, off to finish the last 60/150 pullups for the day.

all grown up

Just over one weekend, you guys became a full-fledged canoeing team. Many first times here... first race as a J2 team, first competitive experience, and most importantly, first time the responsibility of upholding RJC's name rested solely on your shoulders. Each race was fought to the end; it's true you might not have been good enough for the gold medal or finals, but again, each race was fought, to the end.

So what now? Someone said nationals is a matter of luck. Some of it depends on your lane draws, the weather and stuff like that. Then again, someone else said, the harder i worked, the luckier i got. Your 100% might not be a match for that other boat's 100%, but if every single race you're able to row at your 100% effort and speed, now that's something different.

proud of you guys. 1 more month. Keep your promise. Let's go raffles

njcc tmr (: would be interesting (: let's go raffles

What is your deepest fear? Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am i to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

Talking about deepest fear,

"Coach wants to talk to you"

-8.5k, 2 500s, 6 250s and 1 cat I lightning risk later-

"Would you like to join us for training?"

was suppose to start on monday because today is a 'very hard' gym session, last one before the real rest. Muddy being muddy, went today. (say, did you realise today was a holiday so i could go for morning training? Must be part of the grand conspiracy) 3 hours weights session. It was scary to say the least; for one, i almost dropped the weight on myself not once, but thrice. Felt this sharp whole body pain twice, and countless times head felt like exploding. I have never done weights like that before, this owns even ultimate weights. but you know what? Like the national team coach said "If by now you're not sufferring, you're going to suffer in the race"

Today i learnt 3min45s is an eternity and relatively speaking, my lats/pecs/abs are much stronger than my triceps/biceps/delts, and things like 200 reps or 100 leg lifts are doable. sometimes i surprise myself. and i managed to take a look at what i've always wanted to, not quite what i expected.

with weights like this, i'm going to hit 20 pullups in no time. but before that, DOMS is settling in, goodnight.

wheeeeeee

exciting

finally got my hands on a copy of flatwater racing canoeing 2. I need to study that book, plus a leadership by john c maxwell.

hopefully would have time next week to do that; the crazy week of napfa + keying in 1200 scores is over. and there's njcc next weekend, all the best raffles row, may your efforts reap the results you want.

so things to do this week:

• train
• train
• train
• apply for psc, ssc and ntu scholarships
• study flatwater racing canoeing 2 and john c maxwell's book

exciting (:

you won't know how much you can be until you try

i've always thought my fastest 400m was 1.43 or something

then i decided to run intervals with ms see tho's class for fun. target time was 1.45. first round, vanessa and joanne flew off, so i followed behind, 100m to go i felt like exploding, made it though, 1.31 (: after a work rest ratio of 1:1, got ready for second round. legs quite soft, 1.47. final round, 1.39. at least for now, it's a big deal for me, and i didn't even have a proper start. so yea... then part 2 was today, 1 round warmup, then 3-2-1 laps with mr o's class. good pace, could have been easily under 2 mins but during 2/3 of the first set, fell back to push some of them, then kept up with a 2 min round. last 400m did 1.47.

interesting. i wonder how fast i can run 2.4 now

weather past few days have been less than ideal, due to the rain. well, but it's good too, need some rain time and again. 2k timing was at (i hope) the slowest end of the range, amidst the conditions. will find a way to use my strength in water

today while waiting for the lightning risk to be over, did some pullups. managed 5 x 12 with lots of rest but yea, another first time, and the strangest thing is it didn't even feel ike 5 x 5, much less 5 x 12. so yay (:

read the poem about success, a good reminder.

What if you believe?

work life balance

"When your work is your life, it is balanced" Mr Low

interesting week

for 2 weeks didn't row well, couldn't catch the water.

thursday decided to do something for a change. monster training (: ko-ed after the first round of 25, ggxx just after 1 set of 15. ipus, twists, 5k run and discovered it's easier to do 5 x 10 pullups rather than 10 x 5, having tried the latter.

friday was aching like siao. felt like mr leong's fractured rib. laughing/coughing was painful and in his words, the first sneeze was super exciting. friday was a good row though, got the feel. evening tried just one starting burst. with the first stroke pain exploded.

so was a bit apprehensive about today's training. started off with a good 9k warmup. couldn't really feel after that, so did 2 x 2k. 10.40, 10.40. (estimated based on the k2 since jiaolian didn't see me). 2 x 500, 2 x 1k and 10 x 40 starting bursts were thrilling, thanks. happy to see you all improving

so i guess that means monster training worked (:

What if you believe?

our defence must be total

hi everyone

for those who are interested to know

i got the letter from Western Ontario.

Not Accepted

don't worry about me. actually, strangely enough, i didn't feel the slightest hint of disappointment

so anw time to make new plans, like compete at Laos SEA games, thinking about it, will probably post more on my blog over the next few days

This week has been rough, 2ks been quite crappy. but overall things are going according to the grand plan. last saturday i did 10.33. which ko-ed me till monday morning so i didn't go for the timetrial, but it's ok, i'll be even faster the next time.

yea, so...

What if you believe?

wheee

today's training was exciting

the past week's training has been trying. Stronger wind conditions this week and rain in the evenings. Yesterday's row in the rain was good though, practised my strokes and i didn't even feel the rain.

i've not rowed bow to bow with another boat in a long while. Usually 2ks are painful, but today was a whole new level, which i'm glad for, though it really hurt. For 1.925km, i could just see/feel the k2 next to me.

Hovered around the starting buoys, waiting for more boats. Lined up in between 2 k2s.

Ready? Go! Burst out, good feel. The last few times the k2 would lose me after a few buoys (and i'll get washed) while i'll lose the other k2. today was strange, cos i was flanked by both k2s, who were just slightly in front of me. If i had gotten washed, it'll be ggxx. So just row, all the way to the 500m mark, still the 5 of us (3 boats) were just within touching distance of each other.

After 500, only left with one k2 next to me. You know what, i don't think i had a transition at all, just kept going. After the turn, carried on, with 600m to go, everywhere started burning. Strangely again, each time i felt i was going to fall back, somehow something won't let that happen. With 4 buoys to go, decided to make one last burst away from the k2, 3 buoys, now or never, finally crossed the finishing buoys, exhausted.

The NO moment (By ketupat Javine)

from one of the more exhilarating 500s muddy and i did during training today:
the NO moment arrives when another boat is uncomfortably close to yours nearing the end. nope, it does not happen when everyone is preparing at the start line when all eyes are glued to the race lines. that's for prayer. nope, it does not even begin to happen when you burst off, flying past the first 2-3 buoys in a blur. that's for yelling for strength from God. the ultimate NO moment arrives when you're at the last 3rd buoy when another boat is dangerously close to yours. uncomfortably close, in fact. when the tip of the next boat refuses to move out from the front rower's peripheral vision.[that would be mine]

then in your head [preferably in sync with your partner] a loud shout goes,
"NO! I WONT LET THEM! NOT TODAY!"

you sit up a little straighter, your shoulders relax a tad further, your arms reach out a little more and your torso twists a little harder. the burning lactic sensation in your lower body dissolves, your eyes narrow, zoomed in on the last two finishing buoys. you pull a little harder [in fact, at this point, with all that you've got], you recover a little faster, you pant a little louder. the yelling for strength from God becomes a full time shriek in your head.

And then you're off.

Thanks to both k2s plus the guys' k2 for the row.

On another note, congrats to weiyang and junyong for making the senior team. and your generosity with teaching me how to start properly.

10.33

What if you believe?