Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Wearing Smith now...
I've been an Oakley fan for qtuie a long time now (the M-Frame Sweep being my personal fav'). But Jameson was kind enough to have me use a pair of Smith Optics Reactor Max sunglasses ...
... as part of his company's athlete support work. Needless to say, i'm very grateful for his effort and contribution. The glasses look great and i can't wait to field-test them over the next few days and escpecially this coming weekend!
... as part of his company's athlete support work. Needless to say, i'm very grateful for his effort and contribution. The glasses look great and i can't wait to field-test them over the next few days and escpecially this coming weekend!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
One of those days... =/
Today went well task-wise, but somehow my mental state wasn't very good. I had a pretty productive day at work - swimmingly, in fact. The evening workout (tempo 30x400s with easy turnover 200s in between) went wonderful too. Even met Lien at the track and Yong Kim for a last hurrah before he heads back to Norfolk.
And yet, i wasn't happy... more exactly, my mood got worse as soon as i had to head home, spent and probably more than a little tired.
Probably getting fatigued from the grind, and i took it out on the people who matter to me when they pissed me off. I feel better now after letting go of my ego, but i've realized i got to be more aware of keeping my self in check. It's frustration, tiredness, irritation, impatience, and a hint of angst all mixed together, but to ignore it would be just denying the fact that my ego needs to be humbled every now and again.
One of those days....
And yet, i wasn't happy... more exactly, my mood got worse as soon as i had to head home, spent and probably more than a little tired.
Probably getting fatigued from the grind, and i took it out on the people who matter to me when they pissed me off. I feel better now after letting go of my ego, but i've realized i got to be more aware of keeping my self in check. It's frustration, tiredness, irritation, impatience, and a hint of angst all mixed together, but to ignore it would be just denying the fact that my ego needs to be humbled every now and again.
One of those days....
Sunday, August 24, 2008
It's not time yet...
Thanks to James for the bib (N1985) today so that i coud run in the half-marathon. IT was a great opportunity to put in a bit of a time trial, albeit without much of a taper going. Had a two hour bike ride on the Friday, followed by 20 minutes of inhaling city fumes while running. Slacked on Saturday, so it was quite an OK short-taper.
A for the run itself, the first 2 kms of the entire 21km was slow-as. 4:20 for the first km was not a good look, and the 2nd km did not go much faster due to me starting quite far back in the seething mass of runners. Unsure of the kms going past (sigh, the km markers were not the best!) i found out that my time read 41or so minutes at the 10km mark. Clearly i was not going to make a PB, although the rear 11km of the race was done in 42 minutes (an ideal negative split in any case).
I am just typing this over two hours after i crossed the finish line. Still got a brick in the afternoon (which i'll take at a very recreational/recovery pace) with the TBB crew.
I'll look for some pictures i can put up for today.
Cheers and out!
A for the run itself, the first 2 kms of the entire 21km was slow-as. 4:20 for the first km was not a good look, and the 2nd km did not go much faster due to me starting quite far back in the seething mass of runners. Unsure of the kms going past (sigh, the km markers were not the best!) i found out that my time read 41or so minutes at the 10km mark. Clearly i was not going to make a PB, although the rear 11km of the race was done in 42 minutes (an ideal negative split in any case).
I am just typing this over two hours after i crossed the finish line. Still got a brick in the afternoon (which i'll take at a very recreational/recovery pace) with the TBB crew.
I'll look for some pictures i can put up for today.
Cheers and out!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tomorrow running AHM aka SBR aka SAFRA SBR aka I-got-no-choice-my-CO-ask-me-go-run Run
The title says it all. Going to bed now so i can be up bright and sparky tomorrow! Hopefully i'll be done in time for breakfast at a Macca's (as seen served to Olympic athletes) not too far from the finish line.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A little prompting from a friend has set me on the path to updating this blog... bit of a rut here as the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity...
...
...
And the two weeks have magically, pathetically, (procrastinating-ly) become two months.
I've really had a busy two months tryo to fit in all the fun stuff, but here's the list of what went down:
- 22 June: Run Melbourne (21.1km)
- 26 June: Farewell dinner by Melbourne Adventure
- 27-29 June: Uber-cool mountain trip to Falls Creek and Mt. Neauty (snow-boarding, hiking, running and mountain biking)
- 2 July: Fly back to Sillypore
- 7 July: Lake Kenyir Triathlon (1.5/40/10km)
- 12-13 July: Volunteering as kayak safety for OSIM Singapore Triathlon
- 20 July: Port Dickson Triathlon (1.5/40/10km)
- 30 July: Night off-road ride #1 (dust off the bike lights and dormant MTB skillz)!
- 3 August: SINGFEST (outdoor music festival)
- 6 August: Night off-road ride #2!
- 9-10 August: National Day weekend... quicky play on the beach and test-paddle of surf ski, but still the tri' training goes on
- 16 August: Had an enjoyable play on the Kent Ridge trails (daytime MTB for a change)
- 18 August: Started work at The Bike Boutique Singapore
- 19 August: Started background work for coaching for Republic Polytechnic adventure racing interest group
Also, lots of savouring of good food that i've been missing out on. Sure, there've been late nights out drinking, socialising, and generally making a fool of myself (i think!), but it's all good.
To quote the ACS peeps... the best is yet to be!
...
...
And the two weeks have magically, pathetically, (procrastinating-ly) become two months.
I've really had a busy two months tryo to fit in all the fun stuff, but here's the list of what went down:
- 22 June: Run Melbourne (21.1km)
- 26 June: Farewell dinner by Melbourne Adventure
- 27-29 June: Uber-cool mountain trip to Falls Creek and Mt. Neauty (snow-boarding, hiking, running and mountain biking)
- 2 July: Fly back to Sillypore
- 7 July: Lake Kenyir Triathlon (1.5/40/10km)
- 12-13 July: Volunteering as kayak safety for OSIM Singapore Triathlon
- 20 July: Port Dickson Triathlon (1.5/40/10km)
- 30 July: Night off-road ride #1 (dust off the bike lights and dormant MTB skillz)!
- 3 August: SINGFEST (outdoor music festival)
- 6 August: Night off-road ride #2!
- 9-10 August: National Day weekend... quicky play on the beach and test-paddle of surf ski, but still the tri' training goes on
- 16 August: Had an enjoyable play on the Kent Ridge trails (daytime MTB for a change)
- 18 August: Started work at The Bike Boutique Singapore
- 19 August: Started background work for coaching for Republic Polytechnic adventure racing interest group
Also, lots of savouring of good food that i've been missing out on. Sure, there've been late nights out drinking, socialising, and generally making a fool of myself (i think!), but it's all good.
To quote the ACS peeps... the best is yet to be!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Freedom... and the real work begins...
I am now offcially a gentleman of leisure! =D hahahaha
Of course, the really crucial stuff starts happening now. Many many things on many many fronts, so i hope i don't bore you too much as i attempt to tell you all about these and other happenings over subsequent posts on this blog. Stay tuned!
Of course, the really crucial stuff starts happening now. Many many things on many many fronts, so i hope i don't bore you too much as i attempt to tell you all about these and other happenings over subsequent posts on this blog. Stay tuned!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday's epic
Damn i knew Saturday would be one of those days.
with Simon staying at home, and only Keith and Paul turning up for a 3-hour ride some time after 9am (the sleep-inners!), i had a feeling that i would be toughing it out alone again. How fitting, since this would be my last big-ass weekend ride in Melbourne for the next seven months at least.
So the three of us set off from INCC and did the Mt. Pleasant loop. Some good climbs, but when it came time to part ways, they turned left; i turned right to find my way towards Mt. Dandenong.
Clocked a new max speed on the road: 76.59 km/h - somewhere between Warrandyte and Ringwood... and this was without pedalling. For safety reasons, this was done using the Graeme Obree tucked-in position (with my hands covering the brake levers). What a rush!
Lovely weather by the way: cool temperatures, overcast skies, rain-slicked roads and a constant drizzle to maintain the consistency of the road grime as i picked my way towards the Mountain Highway.
Upon reaching the base of the 1-in-20, i proceeded on the first of three hill repeats. This was interesting as the cloud was really low. Took my time coasting on the descents - no point smashing myself into an oncoming car or falling off the hillside.
On the last one, i kept going through Sassafras, eased it off, then toodled up to Skyhigh on Mt. Dandy. On the way, i dropped my energy bar on the road - so numb were my hands from the cold. Picked it up and ate it anyway, for i knew i would be seriously f***ed on the way home if i did not keep up the energy intake. I had to get to Skyhigh, since i had never been there before despite my three years living in Melbourne. Hah.
Skyhigh was nothing much to crow about that day, given the atrocious weather and poor visibility, but i could imagine how nice it would be in summer or on a clear day. Just a handful of wandering families taking in the bleak view. I was soon out of the teeth of the wind and cold, coasting serenely down the long descent into Montrose singing songs to myself - strangely i don't remember a single car passing me as i did so.
Toodled home via Canterbury Road, then Riversdale Road (and i felt every undulation on this road for sure!), then my favourite: Burke Rd and its mother of a last climb into Malvern. Overall, i did feel i over-reached a bit on this day, but i was also glad i did the quality training where most others would have packed up and gone home long ago. The weather did contribute to overall fatigue, but the tough conditions just made it all the more worthwhile for me!
with Simon staying at home, and only Keith and Paul turning up for a 3-hour ride some time after 9am (the sleep-inners!), i had a feeling that i would be toughing it out alone again. How fitting, since this would be my last big-ass weekend ride in Melbourne for the next seven months at least.
So the three of us set off from INCC and did the Mt. Pleasant loop. Some good climbs, but when it came time to part ways, they turned left; i turned right to find my way towards Mt. Dandenong.
Clocked a new max speed on the road: 76.59 km/h - somewhere between Warrandyte and Ringwood... and this was without pedalling. For safety reasons, this was done using the Graeme Obree tucked-in position (with my hands covering the brake levers). What a rush!
Lovely weather by the way: cool temperatures, overcast skies, rain-slicked roads and a constant drizzle to maintain the consistency of the road grime as i picked my way towards the Mountain Highway.
Upon reaching the base of the 1-in-20, i proceeded on the first of three hill repeats. This was interesting as the cloud was really low. Took my time coasting on the descents - no point smashing myself into an oncoming car or falling off the hillside.
On the last one, i kept going through Sassafras, eased it off, then toodled up to Skyhigh on Mt. Dandy. On the way, i dropped my energy bar on the road - so numb were my hands from the cold. Picked it up and ate it anyway, for i knew i would be seriously f***ed on the way home if i did not keep up the energy intake. I had to get to Skyhigh, since i had never been there before despite my three years living in Melbourne. Hah.
Skyhigh was nothing much to crow about that day, given the atrocious weather and poor visibility, but i could imagine how nice it would be in summer or on a clear day. Just a handful of wandering families taking in the bleak view. I was soon out of the teeth of the wind and cold, coasting serenely down the long descent into Montrose singing songs to myself - strangely i don't remember a single car passing me as i did so.
Toodled home via Canterbury Road, then Riversdale Road (and i felt every undulation on this road for sure!), then my favourite: Burke Rd and its mother of a last climb into Malvern. Overall, i did feel i over-reached a bit on this day, but i was also glad i did the quality training where most others would have packed up and gone home long ago. The weather did contribute to overall fatigue, but the tough conditions just made it all the more worthwhile for me!
