Really burnt now - well, at least it's still red.  Cycled 16km to WTC and reached there early then found F already there so we sat at the closed CoffeeBeans while waiting for the rest to turn up, and when HM did, we went to get the tickets.  Later checked in our bikes (in nick of time) and then were on our way to Batam.  Managed to clock in some good ride before I wondered where F and HM were and turned back to find them.  A few to and fro done in heavy crosswind before I realize they are really far before so I headed back because HM was feeling unwell.  Still I managed to do about 130km of hard training and also the hot sun was getting to me.  Dehydration will be a major problem for me, plus the sun.  Thoughts of giving up Ironman went through my mind all the while in the hot sun, alone.

Things of course changed once I got back to aircon.

Slept after I came back and went for dinner, watched Mona Lisa Smile.  It's a good show, and I needed the aircon.  Body is burning up.  Like third degree burns   Anyway the movie was really good and I had wanted to watch it and surprised to kept awake for it.  It's like Dead Poets Society, except the students were not supportive of the teacher, and the ending was kinda similar but prob happier (no one died, but there's a divorce, which was a happy thingie).

Home.  So tired.  So burnt.  Super chao tar.  175km total but a lot of stops especially for water and breaks.  Eyes pain now.  Cannot stay too long.  Zzzz.

Good night world.  See you tomorrow.

I'm up early but still sleepy.  Got about an hour more to sleep before time for me to really wake up and travel to Batam for a few hours of torture.

You are a ray of sunshine; a glorious combination of hilarious humour and heartfelt tenderness. Although your lighthearted comments may be misunderstood, you are still a favourite amongst your friends. What Kind Of Anime/Manga Are You?

ANGRY EYES

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I rest my case  (actually I did the above quiz to look at all the rest of the hentai girls in the quiz).

Wed ride

I led a group of Togoparts riders going through a slow base riding pace from Thomson to Mandai through Lim Chu Kang and down Jalan Bahar to go to West Coast Rd, not stopping except for two water breaks.  Finally stopped at West Coast for Nasi Lemak/Prata.  Then the group became smaller except for four of us, with one MTBer still with us.  Travelled through East Coast Parkway but traffic suddenly got bad just when I started getting faster.  Things got better as we head up Coastals Rd but I was getting restless.  Finally stopped at Changi Village where we all had really big meals then head back via Pasir Ris to Tampines Rd and Braddell as I sent the MTBer back home via Lornie Rd.  Up Braddell we went up an overpass bridge where S was quite far up and I decided to drop the MTBer and ride hard up, then S was surprised when he slowed and I passed him at speed, then when I looked back it was the MTBer who was still with me but we dropped S.  Amazing guy.  We went at a very steady pace along Lornie which I think might have taken the MTBer out coz he said he knows the way from Bukit Timah.  Still, I was amazed he managed to draft me all the way along Lornie Rd, even going downhill at the same speed as me (50kmh) which must have been pretty unnerving on a mountainbike.

Thu ride

Right from the start I got dropped and was playing catching up to the main first group, which was completely packed, including guys like Kenneth Tan and all the other national riders.  Up Upper Seletar reservoir I lost them and passed Sarah Lim, then suddenly she came from the right side, pushed up by a guy on motorcycle up back to the first group.  Wa lao.  Curse and swear.  Later I found out that was her coach.  So good arh?  Got coach to help push one back to the main group when dropped.

Okay Xangarians - I'm looking for support crew to "push" me back to main group when I get dropped too.  Kanasai

In any case I kept playing catch up to the main group, barely catching up to them at traffic lights and stuffs, but not quite there.  Up to Neo Tiew I was still playing catchup, not quite getting dropped and keep having glimpses of them but up Neo Tiew I knew I'd be dropped coz there were no cars to "push" the wind and I was going like 30kmh only (group should be going at least 40kmh), and true enough I never caught sight of them again.  Still I pushed on at my own pace but seems like no one else got dropped (apparently later I found out Esther got dropped after she took the front and pulled too hard) and I didn't pass any riders.  Meanwhile I struggled against a very tired body and kept pushing but could keep only a meagre speed.  After that got called from Joyce who left her phone at home, to contact KK whom she didn't know if he was coming or went back... a lot of confusion.  At this time I had pushed past my limits and it was a great feeling, that I was just pushing till I couldn't yet still feeling good.  The pain eats into the bones but I still move at a reasonable speed, but after her call and some booboo with my phone, lost 10-15mins and the incentive to continue riding hard.  One rider past me.  Finally went through Bukit Timah where I picked up speed again with lots of cars to draft, and went at 40kmh up to Newton Circus to meet the rest of the riders.

It was a day where our group were really splitted up, with Esther going with the first group, me trying to chase the first group, Joyce behind me with the West Coast group, KK and Irving way behind Joyce and then Esther waited at Joyce's place while Joyce was at Adams Rd Hawker Centre, then KK arrived at Joyce's place but after Esther left and Joyce still was having her drink while I was still at Newton and ... yeah.  Lots of confusions and no meetups.

Later had lunch at Dan Ryans at Tanglin with Joyce's family and KK, got recalled back to office but still managed to settle the stuff and go for Spinning class, recovery ride - don't understand how my shirt reeks of ammonia when it's a recovery ride.  hmmm much check this out - then went to Joyce's place to fix PC and had spaghetti.  Mmmmmm... hooked onto oysters now!

Nine months on the bike.  Hmm... so I'm still counting the days.  Two months swimming... hmm...

Wanna share some traits and characteristics of what makes guys like us tick.  This was after a comment by a very good friend about her racing, and I know it myself.  I've seen that look in very nice people like Cynthia Craig and Mika Kume when I pass them in a race, whom I believe are genuinely very nice people.  I myself am one of the super sociables, except when I'm shy, but generally really, I think of myself as one of the nice people around.  Sylvester Stallone made a mention of it in that movie Over The Top, when he says he twists his cap around and then he's like "transformed" and he becomes the machine.  Lance Armstrong gives that look all the time, right from the moment he gives the "look" against his competitors and all the way up the Alps or whichever mountain he climbs and flies away from his competitors.

When we are in a race, we become what we really are.  Well that part is debateable.  But in any case when we race that ruthlessness, the killer instinct, the killer look, the touch-me-and-I'll-kill-ya, and yes, I have that I'll-kill-ya-if-I-haf-to-but-I'm-gonna-win-this-thing.  You can see it in me when I prepare for a hard Spinning class ride.

Hard to believe it but most of us actually become worse psychopaths than Candy when we are in a race, yet become more docile than Ang Moh Gui in our every day lives.  But it's true.

Apparently it's just a natural thing in us.  If you have it, you'll have it.  If you don't, well, you can try to have it.  It's not about the bike, it's about that killer inside you.  I've always thought I was alone in this, until the friend shared that with me.  Then I thought back and remember that "look" in the other top riders.  Sooo... no Woodbridge for me yet.  Kekeke.

Oh well, quiz time:

obsessive compulsive

Which Personality Disorder Do You Have?
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  57 DAYS TO GO: Ironman Langkawi

Computer is up.  Blog later, going to Joyce's place earlier to fix her computer - can't find the extra SD Cards for her kids; dunno dump where liao.  Yesterday really really tired as I went for my swim - 50 laps but much slower than my usual as I took extra 15mins and didn't feel too good.  After that went straight back home and got on bike to go with Togoparts people to ride, from 5pm to 11.30pm.  Bike reads 4hr35mins on road with 129km covered.  Slow paced as I tried to keep it to a steady pace, also had two Mountain-Bikers with us.  One of the MTBers went the full length with us, and keeping up.  Amazing.  Later peeps.

Hello New Year.

Kinda feeling stone-walled here.  Not a nice feeling.  Dunno but I'm being left out of swim trainings, bike trainings, etc. from the team training for Ironman.  Have to actively call people then find out there's something going on.  There's a mailing list which I was supposed to be included in but have not, despite quite a number of time passing my emails to the right people.  There's a ride this Sat which I found out, from all people, Joyce who isn't training for Ironman nor training with them.  Anyway I'm already committed to going to Batam, so be it.

Just talked to Joseph, the guy in charge of communications.  Seems like he now knows I know Andrina from SynergyMultiSport, and pushes the buck of swim training together to Andrina, who on the other hand, is either too busy or just waiting for Eugene to come back from SEA Games.  Esther will be riding with them on Sat to Desaru, invited by Adrian, but she will still join me on Thu morning with Thomson.

Anyway I'm glad Adrian did help me with one advise - do whatever it takes to get you there.  Which got me started on the breaststroke.  If not I might still be like Eric, not into triathlons because he can't swim free-style for long enough a distance.  But I will help him out with breaststroke as spoken last week.  I think this is the way to go, for people who really really cannot make it with the front crawl.  I mean why bother wasting away a good opportunity just because one cannot do the front crawl?  KB, my cycling buddy, also does breaststroke because he can't do front crawl long distance.  And he's done tri, and he's good in his running (don't ask about his cycling - he eats me up on the hills!).  I'm going to help Eric till he gets to 1.5km, 30laps in the pool, going fast enough in a glide to get him a respectable timing into the bike leg and finally onto his specialty - the run.

I've checked the Desaru Half-Ironman timings; Joseph did a 41mins breaststroke swim.  I'm going to test myself out again in the pool, without kicking, but with tri-pants and swim cap and see if I can still do 100 laps in 100 mins.  That might be a problem with three rides coming my way this week - Wed eve long base training, Thu mor long base training followed by Thomson group followed by more base training and Sat to ride at Batam.  This evening going for double Spinning class, and prob tomorrow morning too.

One problem with swimming and cycling long distance is time.  It takes 70laps before training even starts - because the first 70 laps just gets you to the "tired" stage and I feel that's where training starts.  If I had an hour, I am not motivated to go for a swim, because I really don't see the point.  Might as well rest to do a longer better and more qualitative swim.  But then most mornings I only have an hour - the pool opens at 6.30am and I most likely have to leave by 7.30am.  It's the same with cycling.  The first 120km is just to get you "ready" for the true long-distance workout.  It's the last 40-60km after the first 120 that one is really beneficial.

I think I should be able to fit in a 100lap swim on Sun only.  But will try to do at least 60 laps on Wed afternoon, before my ride.

Done more cycling speed calculations: I should be able to hold 30-33kmh even after my swim, which means my time for Ironman will be between five and half to six hours excluding my normally super-long transitions.

Heck, why am I even worried about my cycling.  I've just compared the results of triathlons and half ironman.  Okay, I'll admit it.  I AM fast.

Bah.  Just feeling pissed at getting stone-walled here.

Home computer is down.  ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!
Can't stand it.  Wonder if our computer's karma are related but everytime Joyce's goes down, mine will go too.

So I ended up sleeping early after reading triathlon book.  Woke up at midnight.  Peed.  Woke up at 3am plus.  Couldn't sleep again.  Decided to go cycling.  Took out bike.  Washed bottles and filled up with drinks.  Put on jersey and shorts.  Missing helmet... found it outside.  Then URGH!  I haven't collected my shoes from Sembawang MRT yet!  ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

I went back to reading and sleep.  Some stuffs I read from the tri book.  Apparently the base required for an Ironman is normally two to three years of doing triathlon... or the ability to:
1.  finish a half ironman in 8 hours
2.  swim 3000m
3.  cycle for 5 hrs
4.  run for 3 hrs
individually, means not all of the above but any of the above.  Guess I qualify, if not training more than sufficiently.  Still it's better to be well prepared than to be unprepared.  It's not called Ironman for fun.

Duty and Loyalty: You serve your purpose and do
what you must do. People would consider you
someone to rely on, and one who keeps his/her
word when he/she gives it.

Which Characteristic From the Samurai Code Matches You Best? (You may find out your best trait)
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Oh yeah, I'm not a samurai either.  I'm a katana-wielding ronin.  Without the baby and cart.  I will never be able to subject a loved one to the kind of torture required to make them stronger.  Too protective until it becomes irritating, but I can't help it.

 

Who's Chibi and why did going to her site remind me of The Ring?
We live at 1°17'N 104°34'E apparently.  I am just totally fascinated by the view of the Earth too.  Not to mention the map of Singapore now stuck on the wall...

Okay, back to training stuffs.  I just sniffed the shirt I wore to workout on Sun and it reeks very very badly of ammonia.  Surprisingly I didn't feel the effects of the muscles being broken down to be used as fuel, and I didn't mind it now either.  I now know first hand, the importance of nutrition especially in the first two hours after a hard workout.  For the past two weeks I've been doing some pretty long distances but have not been feeling the effects due to the hydration using Endurox and G-Push.  It's a nice combination, and I think the recovery effects comes more from Endurox although G-Push plays a major part too.  Amazing, these stuffs.  I think I am going to stock up on these.  Haven't been using the super concentrated 400kcal Ultra Fuel even.

The names have not been changed to protect the innocent

Event: Xanga meeting.

Guests of honor: Ang_moh_gui, Boowookc, Candyfeehily, Crackedpot, Cyphercat, Elanesse, Petrewon, abalone caught by Peter. (names in alphabet order)

Location: Lau Pa Sat, Singapore, Earth. 

Activities: Met, talked, tried singapore food, waited for abalone to b cooked, walked around, watched movie, took photos...

The rest have been cut off because Candy didn't write generically (else I'd plagarise her whole blog).  No eprops for you!

Anyway it was nice, although we had to wait a long while for the abalone to be cooked; arrived at LPS about 4.30pm and didn't get to taste the nice nice abalone until 6.30pm.  Had some negotiations going on regarding the cooking of the abalone brought in fresh from Australia by Ang_Moh_Gui.  Had lots of satay, and me was too hungry, or rather overestimated my capabilities to devour food, went to get an extra spaghetti (which wasn't too nice either, so I didn't share it - HOR!).  THEN the food from the zhi char store came and it was A LOT!!!  I wanted Hot Plate Beancurds and got that.  Elanesse wanted Fried Rice but she wasn't eating!  Candy ordered the la-la.  Still got fried prawns (with very nice pork floss toppings).  Not to mention we had free flow of coconut, some soya beans, green tea, and (very nice) teh cino!

Because the girls didn't eat much, we pretty much stuffed ourselves silly with the food and still didn't manage to finish.  At last the abalone came - shrunken!  Apparently that's normal and they're like the size of those I ate at Ah Yat Marina Sq before... so I kinda know their original size now.  Wow, those that come in cans must be gigantic before they're shrunk!

Oh yeah, Simon got ice cream too, and they didn't have peach so I ended up eating banana split like the girls too.  Fortunately neither of the naughty girls attempted anything funny with their bananas (although Elanesse was holding a hard plastic one later at Millenia Walk) but Candy managed to tie a knot with her tongue on the stem of the cherry!  Great work - one eprop for a job well done!

Elanesse surfed through her err.. phone to check cinema showtimes and nothing for School Of Rock at the right timing but we decided to go for Anna In KungFu Land.  Crackedpot left then (eh, not RA show leh) then the movie was too late for Candy also so she'd leave when we go in for the movie.  Walked all the way from Marina Sq to Suntec to get drinks from Carre Four and had them besides a tiny fountain (tempting to jump in) at the Sky Garden.

Movie was alright but not the kind to sacrifice sleep over and I was kinda starting to hurt from recovery already - lactic acid hitting hard; anyway managed to catch the last train back the AMG and Elanesse went off with Simon on the east bound train.

Back home... stared at map of Singapore again which I got earlier today from Takashimaya.  Nice to know the roads.  Fell asleep.  Morning woke up and didn't feel like getting up but urgh... am in office now.

:: edit ::

Okay time to put in comments about the other Xangarians (in order of meetup):

AMG - nice sweet guy, looks like Neo, could have been Neo, is probably Neo (in disguise).  Very shy for an ang moh.
CrackedPot - is definitely not a crack pot, can hold her drink (she brought her own Vodka) and likes hot plate toufu, like me!
Petrewon - eats almost as much as me, amazing!  I thought I was the biggest eater of them all (but then I've cut down in recent years already, age catching up).
Elanesse - late as usual, gone shopping with (what else do they do?) Candy.  Shy at first but warms up later.  Sweet smile.  Likes taking pictures of food.  Dunno why.  Oh yeah, threatens with eprops - not quite the extortionist Candy is.
Candy - sweet as candy, shy at first but reveals the darker side with a bit of vodka... err I mean coconut juice.  Very soft spoken (either that or I'm getting deaf, which is true also) and can see her eyes going ga-ga every time she thinks of Flea.
Boowookc - Strong quiet type.  Looks like the kind to down a Baron Strong Brew in one gulp.