Panic Attack...

I'm having a panic attack. It's effectively one more week to race day (taking taper period into consideration) and i haven't been on my bike since...last year's race.


Physically, i was prepared to wing it - longer runs and swims should improve my overall stamina. Yes, agreed - but when i was going through the race route in my mind, i realised i could be really rusty in handling my bike now. Especially the steep upward turn 50m in front of the Bike Out.







I've seen people crashing at that turn. I personally think it's the dumbest idea to have a sharp turn so close to the transition area and where earlier waves of bikers are coming in hard and fast from a long (overtaking) lap. Stupid.


But excuses aside, i should have, could have done more to train. Oh well.. as race day approaches, physical training always tapers down, while mental preparation ramps up.


Whether i've done enough, it's too late to debate that now. I'll just trust in whatever i've done and use whatever i've got to swim/bike/run an injury-free, fun and fulfilling race come Sunday after next.


So help me, God. :)

OCBC Cycle 2010

1 event down, 2 more to go. I couldn't qualify for the 50k super challenge, so i did the 40km challenge. Actually, i'm really blessed that i did. Amidst the grumbles that the startoff timing got changed to 6am in the morning, it was definitely alot cooler to ride at dawn then at 10.30am in the sweltering heat...

Mike and Felicia (the lovely Felt S32).

I only saw one other tri-bike throughout the entire event!

Oh, but i didn't mount Felicia until 6.45am cos it took rather long for each wave to start.

They played Queen's 'Bicycle Race' for every damn wave start.

Too bad (or thank goodness) there weren't any nude fat-bottomed girls to promote the race, ala 1978.

No complains there, i heard there's a record number of riders for this year's edition and safety is first. But being as modest as i can, most other riders were on mountain bikes, even cute foldable ones. They were there for an enjoyable family, community event so i didn't feel like it was a good tune up for the Ironman in 2 weeks.

I couldn't pick up speed for most of the race and was a tad frustrated at slowing down on many counts and yelling "watch your right!". I felt bad that i scared some riders, but i also encountered a fair share of riders who plugged into their ipods and totally ignored my calls. Seriously...

...Damn.

Well, time for Sing Bi on Saturday and it's the Aviva Ironman 70.3 the Sunday after!

Tri*Factor Triathlon

My second Oly Triathlon and best yet! I'm happy i did 2 hour 35minutes!

Competition Photos

Truth is, competition photos are a form of inspiration. It plays on pride (or vanity as i say...come on, admit it!) and a fulfilling sense of accomplishment.

That moment of anguish or even pain, when you feel like you cannot not go on, but managed to victoriously pull through; is forever etched in your history. Now, you live to agree with Lance Armstrong - that pain is only temporary, and pride is forever!

Today, while going through the OSIM triathlon website (reading the E-briefing), i stumbled on a link for sports photos. And i was surprised to see that they have earlier event photos i took part in! Being proud (or vain) as i am, i searched my name and found photos of myself i never knew was taken! Woooot!

Pictures from Singapore Biathlon 2009...

Fresh out of transition zone...still can 'pose'.

And after 5km.. The real Chicken Run.

And bike/run pics from Tribob Sprint Triathlon 2009...

Macho Bike Pose #1

Macho Bike Pose #2

And lastly, Macho ...Eh!! What the!?

What a Difference a Day Makes...

I came, I saw, I conquered. Maybe not so dramatic. But i am fairly pleased to say that i managed to swim, run and cycle today!

Swam my usual 2.5k after work. It was was an awesome swim. Perfect weather to boot, and i am quite sure i'll be sunburnt in the morning. (My arms look lobster-red).

Did an evenly-paced 10k run in the evening. I'm feeling the benefits of doing static station and interval training. Keeping a consistent pace was a breeze to say the least. I'm very sure i can complete the Olympic distance in 4 weeks, but of course, doing a good timing would be another matter altogether. 

The tricky thing about it being my first Olympic distance is my lack of confidence in deciding what my pace should be, or how much i should push? Should i remain conservative? Or risk burning out? I guess that's why athletes need coaches. 

Anyway, after the run, i'll be honest to say that i was tempted to rest. Well, i guess that's why i'm glad that i managed to push on and went to my usual riding route to do an hours' ride. Err.. i gave my legs a lactic bath. I could have believed my legs were filled with lead.

Overall, an awesome day of training!..

... and now i'm paying the price.

I Don't Need A Girlfriend

Love is a tricky thing. I've had several relationships since i was 16, some good, some not so good. I still believe in love, and i do know what perfect love is. Unfortunately, i've got just enough love for a couple of important things in my life right now, and loving another human being in a romantic way just does not seem to cut it for me.

(Easy for me to say all that when nobody's interested in me, huh?)

Yes, whatever. No girl will want to fall in love with me right? I'm too obsessed with triathlons to even care about girls anyway. (cue: sour grape)

Unless she's into triathlons? Yummy.

On a seperate note, training has been good this week. After recovering from the flu, i've swam 3km, cycled 21km and ran 22km in total, over the last three days. I'm more cautious now as i'm starting to see how diet plays a more important role as training gets tougher. I'm pushing my body more but eating less. That has caused some giddy spells at work. Last thing i want is to fall sick again.

I also need to manage my expectations as i don't want to risk injuries while i'm trying to achieve some unrealistic goal. Like i've said before, i want to achieve my physical best, although i may not swim, cycle or run faster than most others, the only person i'm competing against is me, myself and i.

I thank God for keeping me safe and healthy; that blessing comes from the Lord and the Lord alone. Even the fittest of athletes can just drop and die. I can train this body to be fitter, but i believe 'health' comes only from God.

And it's time i also matured in my thinking that i got to be a man and face my weaknesses. Cycling is my weakest leg of the race, and its training is also the most time-consuming. I got to face it and double up training on the bike.

Let's ride.