Death Wish

Many of the people in the endurance sport community seem to have a death wish or maybe they are just enjoying living life on the edge.

I was astonished when I read in one of the forum that some participants of triathlon actually do not know how to tread water! To simple me, surely that must be the first thing one should know before going out into the deep blue sea. I mean, if we run or cycle and become tire, we can simply stop but for swimming, the only stop is to thread water and if one cannot thread water and there is no safety ropes or buoy to hold on it, then how?

Also, some people seems to enjoy pushing themselves right to the limit. Some people with some medical problems, may be flu or some thing or worse heart problems - they continue to train hard and compete in events. While the attitude is admirable, unless one is aiming for podium finish, if not, is there really any need to push so hard? Even the pro knows when to quit - take Chris McCormack when he dropped out of the China Ironman recently even though he was in 2nd position at that point in time!

And then there are the cyclists. Just looking at them ride along Changi Coastal, Loyang Ave and Mandai Road gives me nightmare. It is bad enough that our motorists regards cyclists as road kill but for the cyclists to contribute to the statistics themselves...

I think while we enjoyed the challenge, we have to be responsible to our loved ones, our family and owe it to them to take care of ourselves when we train and participate in such events. Even if not married and with no children to worry about, there is always the parents.

So to all my friends, please take care. Whether you are doing a short race/bike or swim, a triathlon or an ironman, think of all those who depend on you and need you. There is nothing to gain or prove by completing in such events if one is not adequately trained for it or is sick or not feeling well.

There will always be another race, another day!

Aviva Ironman 70.3 2010 Singapore Photos

All the photos I took at the Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore



Send me an email or pm me via facebook or sgrunners if anybody wants the high res version.

Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore

The Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore. An event that I will likely never be able or want to do. But still that does not stop me from going down and pay this photo tribute to all these brave souls.

Hats off to these group of physically challenged particpants

Nothing can stop them, not even a flat tire

Or an out of control iron horse

This guy went all the way sans footwear

Hot! Hot! Hot! 2 cups of water to cool down

2 cups not enough? How about a whole bottle?

A sight for sore eyes and all the shacked guys!

Agony or Ecstasy?

It's a pleasure for this young lady!

More like agony for this poor chap

Finishing with Mummy!

All the Way!

No! This Way!

All prepared for the hot hot weather!

Nobody ain't going to block my view of Daddy!

Finished at last and a TLC moment from the Mrs

Aiyoh now got to brave the traffic to go back!

Mummy, it's over!

NTUC 350

It never rains but it pours! Just like February was destined to be the hottest month, looks like March will be the wettest month. It started pouring in the middle of the night and the rain did not look like stopping.

I was like shit!@$ I had paid nearly a hundred bucks for the 4 of us to take part in this run and I be dammned freaking mad if the rain wash it out. I was so looking forward to this. The last time I was in Pulau Ubin was like a decade ago and I have always wanted to run there for the longest time. Also, this was the first time the whole family was going to run together in an event and I wanted very much for this family outing to be a success and enjoyable one. Not one where we will end up like miserable wet dogs!

Fortunately the rain eased off a bit by mid afternoon when we boarded the ferry for the island. My first impression of the place was that nothing much had changed there except that there were more seafood restaurants now. The wayang stage was still there as was the thousand of bicycles although due to the rain, there wasn't that many cyclists around.

We were early and walked around in the light drizzle before the Kid and I started off at 3.50pm in the 10 km run. The run was sounded (no flag) off by 'Brother'(?) Lim Swee Sway. Sounded like a church event. Wondered why the MC called him that? Shouldn't it be comrades?

Anyway, because it was a run and not a race, there were very few participants - probably about 1000. No elites too and best of all, no human jam! Anyway, like the MC said, it was a run not a race so we took our time. I stopped every now and then to take photographs (see the complete set on facebook) but reckoned I was still running in the first quarter of the field. Met an old schoolmate. Good to see friends from the past. Also, one of the volunteers at a water point called out my name and I was like who? but waved hi, cracked a joke and left still clueless who he was! Completed the run in slightly under 1 hour. Thought the distance was a tad long based on my pace but maybe it was the small slopes here and there that made it seemed so. Anyway who's counting?

The rain was by then just a very light drizzle, humidity was almost non-existent and there was no sun and heat. It was the perfect condition for a run and I totally enjoyed it! The Kid came in almost on the hour mark. Complained of stitch at around 8km. Still need some work on the mileage. The Princess and MOHA did the 5km. The Princess is using this run as a final tune up for the national school cross country next week. Hopefully, this run will help her get the feel of the pace.

All in all, a wonderful run nevermind that there was no goodie bag. It was for a good cause and it didn't get rained out and I had fun. That's all that matters.