Isolation

Finding serenity in isolation. I've been sticking close to my training and diet, mostly due to this Sunday's race at ECP. But i'm absolutely loving the effects.

Been running and swimming every other day. The diet is good, enough carbs for training, no alcohol. And with enough rest (no late nights), i'm physically and mentally satisfied.

To give myself a pat on the back...

i got me the new shuffle!

And, I'm planning to go get a new pair of racing shoes tonight! I'm eagerly waiting for my blue shuffle. It should be coming any day now. Finally gonna put some music into my runs, which should be getting longer.

More importantly, i feel very much contented doing these 'simple' things. The past ten days have been quiet but this simplicity has been sweet. No more crazy sh*t, no more schoolboy emo-ness and even though the circumstances may sway every now and then, they become irrelevant when you've got your head screwed on the right place.

Ha. I think i've finally grown up. It's time to go live life to the fullest... the REAL life.

Glad my training's back on track. So. Very. Glad.

Stomache

"Oooo...i don't feel so gooood"

I got myself carbon pills, i hope my tummy gets better so i can be ready for next weeks' race. It sure looks like this weekend will be a quiet one for me.

I have to make sure there's a toilet (stocked with toilet paper!) within a 500 metre radius. Other than my errands, i think i'll just stay at home and watch the F1. Was planning to chill with friends, shop for tech/clothes and finish up my training before tapering. Looks highly unlikely now.

Sigh, there goes the weekend. I feel really shitty now. No pun intended.

I just had to share this

Breaking away from tradition, today's message was really powerful and i needed to share it.

Don’t Let Your Past Rob You

Philippians 3:13–14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Are you living a life of regrets thinking, “If only…”? “If only I had that college education… If only I had married the right girl… If only I had taken up the other job… If only I had not made that stupid mistake…”

Is your past robbing you of the joy of today?

Then forget your past!

You might say, “But Pastor Prince, you do not know what I have done in the past!”

Consider Paul. If the devil had anything to bring against Paul, it would be reminders of how he had persecuted the early church and caused the deaths of many, including Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Paul had done horrendous things that were hard for him to forget. But he had such a revelation of God’s awesome forgiveness that he could say, “forgetting those things which are behind… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.

Beloved, God has forgiven you of all your sins. He has completely forgiven you and declared, “Your sins and lawless deeds, I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)

Like Paul, you can forget your past, the wrongs you have done and the hurts you have caused others or been through yourself. God can take the tears of yesterday and transform them into the miracles of tomorrow. He can restore to you in all abundance what you have lost. He can cause all things, even the painful events of your past, to work together for your good. (Romans 8:28)

God’s Word says, “The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:8) His glory will cover your past. Wherever you go, His glory covers your past. It is no longer the same past that you know of because His glory has descended on it. Your past is past. It has been wiped out. It is gone! So don’t let your past rob you of today’s joy any longer!

© Copyright Joseph Prince, 2006. All rights reserved.

Ding Dong

Less than two to weeks to my first Olympic triathlon since May. Not satisfied with training to do a personal best, but i'll enjoy the race anyway. Training during these last weeks (before tapering) were going good. Not until the past weekend!

Blooie's!

Diet was totally out the window. Had Dim Sum to celebrate Grandma's birthday, had couple of beers, burgers, popcorn, chicken rice, belgium waffles with ice-cream and prata! [don't worry, i still managed to avoid pork/beef..the burger is chicken]

After a commendable attempt at climbing back up the fitness ladder, i'm now having diarrhea probably from the sudden overdose of oily junk food during the last two days.

I'm still going to run tonight, swim tomorrow, run again, run somemore then swim. Even if i have to poop in my pants!

...i am determined to.

Motivate

There's no secret to it - stagnate and perish. If i don't continue training, i'll backslide. And it's very painful to climb back up to a reasonable fitness level.

Last night's swim was painful. My arms were sore in the middle of the swim, when the aches usually come the next day. So you can imagine my arms, neck and back today at work. Sigh.

You would have thought that after all this training, it should be getting easier. I've accepted the fact that it never will. If it does, that would mean stagnating. Even champions don't remain status quo, you keep going until you can't go on anymore.

I've said before that if i had the choice and more importantly - the talent, to become a professional athlete, i would. I guess it's OK to complain every now and then (training is tiring, so sian, etc) but at the end of it all, it's the passion of 'doing' that will drive me to keep going.

I read in the papers that an Australian runner is planning to run from North to South pole for the Red Cross. It's these little bits that help remind me why i'm risking my knees, wasting my evenings in solitude and spending most of my salary on equipment/events to 'torture' myself.

But just for tonight... i take my motivation from UFC fighter, Tito Ortiz's comeback.

Today is just today. Tomorrow is another matter altogether. Tonight's run is just tonight's run.

Eid Mubarak

It's been a long month, but i've not eaten pork and had alcohol during this time. I doubt i'll be at peak performance in 3 weeks' time, but at least my training is slowly picking up.

This week marks the end.When ramadan comes to an end, and the holy month of fasting is over.When all the incense paper is burnt, the hungry ghosts return to the underworld...

...all except the ghost of Mambo.

"waddarp yo! gao says it's time to partayy!"

No hangover the following morning, but it was one of the most uncomfortable day at work. Not to mention the next run i had. alcohol and training definitely don't go together.

Well, it was a fun night nonetheless...but it's back to training! 1 oly triathlon and 1 full marathon for 2010!

"Full steam for HP-Trifactor triathlon"

Full-steam-your-head la. Yeah, that was written in my diary couple of months back when i was charting my training for October's race.

I'm still feeling slack and i've less than 4 weeks to race day. I've never been this unprepared, ever. I've not touched chlorine water for 10 days. My bike tyres have gone flat. I've not ran more than 18 km during the past 10 days.

It'll be a miracle if i can finish in a decent time. If this laziness keeps up, it'll be a miracle if i can even finish the race.

Worst part is, i have the motivation of a couch potato.

... i can't even be bothered to bend over and pick up that book.

Haunting

Sweet disposition
Never too soon
Oh reckless abandon,
Like no one's watching you

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh

Just stay there
Cause I'll be comin' over
While our bloods still young
It's so young, it runs
Won't stop til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

Songs of desperation
I played them for you
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh

Just stay there
Cause I'll be comin' over
While our bloods still young
It's so young, it runs
Won't stop til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A moment, a love
A moment, a love (won't stop to surrender)

-Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap

i wet myself...

Ok, suddenly i feel anxious. IPPT is in couple of days' time and i've been eating well...too well. Going to have a feast on Friday night with the colleagues, a buffet tonight with the ex-colleagues, and had a food tasting session at the Shang last night...

That's three consecutive nights of stuffing myself. And then IPPT on Saturday morning. The thing is, i still feel the same as i did 5 years ago when i was at my fitness-worst. Knowing i do Ironman triathlons, you must be thinking 'wtf la.. IPPT is what compared to your races, still scared for what? then people like me so fat and never exercise can just go and die la'.

Wait, wait, wait...

Let me explain. You see, it doesn't matter whether i'm a couch potato or an olympic champion. IPPT is still a test, it is still a form of 'race' in which i am expected to perform. So naturally, i would want to perform well. I do agree that if i'm the latter, perhaps i wouldn't be as as anxious, knowing that i can probably get the gold incentive... (but then again, if i'm the former, i wouldn't be anxious at all and just screw the test altogether and sign up for Remedial Training immediately...cue *FML*)

So you see, i believe that feeling anxious is inevitable. And i guess that applies to everything in life as well; especially at work, like meeting deadlines, clients, appraisals. Perhaps this even applies to when you're going out on your 14,724th date.. you still feel that anxiousness?

If it's unavoidable, might as well embrace it. After all, it's this anxiousness can help spur us psychologically (if contained at the right level). At least i know for sure that it does povide the adrenalin to push the body beyond its normal limits. Just that as of now, i'm trying to contain it to a good level...

Can't be helped that i don't feel as prepared as i should with so much feasting just before the test, and this week basically derailed the training schedule for October's triathlon and December's marathon. Sigh.

Oh well, as for saturday's IPPT, even if i don't get the gold incentive of $400, at least the gahmen is giving me $10,500 for the National Service Recognition Award. So i should learn to just chillax!

Thank you la, Mr. Lee..*wee weet* So hamsum!