I am so freaking BOOOOOOORED today.  Arrgh!!! 

I am a normal human being, no different from the guy next to me.  I was not born bigger, smaller, thinner, fatter, smarter, dumber, richer, poorer, luckier, holier, nor weirder (at least I hope not) than any average Joe.

I just wanna do the best I can, find the limits of my genes, and in the process, try not to get myself killed.

I think the world just needs a bit more pushing.  4 million people, and there are probably less than a thousand competitive cyclists or triathletes.  That's a meagre 0.025% of the population.  Assuming that 1% of our population cycles, forty thousand people.  2.5% of the cycling population.  Where's the rest of the 97.5%??!

I've been cycling more than six months now.  I think I cannot go any faster any more.  But I will continue to race regardless.  I will applaud those who race on MTBs in triathlons.  I will applaud those who finish their races in spite of whatever difficulties they face.  I applaud myself, for going to Powerman Malaysia, with a hurt shoulder blade and "just finishing" it.  I applaud the fat guys who race and finish (or do not finish, but try to) close to cut-off time.

I try to understand why people who keep giving excuses for avoiding races, but it's difficult, knowing how an average Joe and those below averages, are just willing to put their all on the line.  It's not about winning, it's not about the bike, it's about who you are.

I'm thinking of changing job writing inspirational books.  Hahaha.

Sluggish Strength with Dylan

Spinning class starts off badly.  Feels very difficult to keep the heart rate up, and the legs feel tired too.  I struggle on, mentally forcing myself to keep going.  In the end, managed a satisfactory  162bpm average fo 37mins, with a final 30 secs sprint leading to  179bpm.  Only managed that because I didn't stop for any breaks at all.

Arrgh.  Just discovered that the six bridges is over at Batam, not Bintan.  For ref http://user.chollian.net/~hwayon/sing/bintan.htm so that tomorrow I can pick that up and plan out our Bintan trip.

Strength Training

Did two sets of Spin class this evening, running on 164bpm avg, 178bpm max for the first set (48 mins with Christina) and 159bpm avg, 176bpm max for the second set (41 mins with Liz).

Did most of my climbs standing.  Feels great.  On my way to training for NTU hill climbs.

Got a call from Hairul after class.  Apparently he has this friend who needs a relay cyclist.  Interruption for NTU training but apparently my entry fees (my main reason for skipping this) will be paid for.  Okay lor.  I did mention to him I will not be peaking for this event.  He's alright with that.

I weigh in tonight at 68.9kh, 22.1% body fat.  Trying to drop it further before the week ends.

Oh yeah.  Kim Hong is not Kim Hong.  I think it's Ee Pin.  Kim Hong is a guy I think.  =P  Ee Pin should be Alvin's gf... the other Iron Lady I know.  Esther Tan of course is the main Iron Lady

Sun Ride (contd)

Rode to the old abandoned Shell station where we waited for the rest of the people, then proceeded down towards LCK where we stopped for someone who had a puncture.  We took turns pulling and reached Bukit Timah.  Noted that our group had stronger climbers and Pat kept asking us to wait for the rest after the climbs.  Turning into Bukit Timah Rd, the five of us were still together - Pat, Kit, two others and myself - when a bus decided that we were invisible and pulled out of the buslane directly into our path.  I slowed, and looked back.  The others started shouting at the driver and he didn't finish moving onto the road.  Cleared, we got through safely but it was a close one as we were moving above 35kmh.  We finally caught up with Christina and hubby again.  Chatted with her then as the group was pulling away, I accelerated to follow.... only to feel my front tires feeling weird.  I looked down.  It looked like a flat but I didn't feel the rims ... yet.  Even as I slowed down, the rims of the wheels started kronking (that's not a word, it's a sound) against the road.  I pulled off to the side and got off as safely as possible.

Went to Caltex and had a drink, then waited for cab.  Saw Wendy and group passed by.  Finally got a cab back home.

Later went down to Trek3 to get some tubes - Taiwan made ones with long valves - but they were apparently not as long as the Michelin ones and won't fit the Hed wheels.  Ordered a 11-21 Ultegra cassette also but didn't end on too happy a note with Nurul regarding his pricings.  After that head down to Borders where I was getting the Every Second Counts by Lance Armstrong - Seh Suan had earlier told me it was available there already.  Bumped into Christina and hubby again at the cycling section.  Hmm.

End up going to Spin class with Collin to end the week of training.  Mon will be a rest day for me.

Completed Every Second Counts by Mon evening.  Not too impressed with the book.  Too many repeats from It's Not About The Bike and just a few more additions.  Then again what do we really expect from a man who spends most of his time on the bike.  If you are a hardcore Lance Armstrong fan like me, then get the hardcover but otherwise wait or borrow a copy.

Have to plan my week carefully.  Thu evening going for ride?  Fri morning will be busy, starting with Joyce and Esther following through a Easternly ride before we join up with Thomson 8.30am and then heading down to NTU to recce the race course.  Sun will be heading to Bintan for rides, Mon repeat of Sun and Tue most likely too tired to do any more rides, just hope to reach back home.  This evening will be going for double Spin class and planned Thu morning too so that leaves Wed and Sat to play with, depending on my condition.

Spinning on Wednesday was fun though scary.  I chickened off.  Running a HR of up to 181 on the first interval (I wasn't doing intervals, I was just doing a no-thought, no-fixed-programme spin) I still felt great.  Was holding above 161HR with no problems.  I went for a second round and just didn't bother thinking about recoveries, anything.  Hit another 181.  Backed it off... then went for a third interval.  I didn't really push it, but the heart just went from 160s to 170s slowly and then I push a bit harder and it went from 170s to 181.  I held 181 without feeling any discomfort at all.  It was scary.  Thoughts of me suddenly having a heart failure went through the mind all the time.  Thoughts of people dying from Ecstacy and not knowing their limits, dying from overdancing, popped through my mind.  I decided to cool it off, more from being scared than actually feeling it.

Thursday Spinning was with Dylan, and though I had planned a low intensity ride, that was not to be the case as my competitive spirit overcame what I knew was supposed to be better for me.  So I rode a 145-155 endurance ride.  In the last five mins, I started upping the pace and once again hit the 181HR through a gradual increase.

Thursday evening was on my way out to join cycling kakis at Mt Faber when I flatted over at Adams Rd.  Too far to reach Bike Haus to get a tube, I went home instead by cab.  Still can't find my spare tube.

Friday morning was a rush as I woke up earlier to go to Joyce's place and get a tube and rush back home, only to find that the place where my tire punctured had a broken rim tape.  So I rode with ANZA with Joyce on my race wheels and (sob sob) race tires.  Came back and found the tires really a bit worn out.  These are not everyday training tires and they wear out very fast!

Fri evening got to Joyce's place and picked up rim tape which she bought for me.  Changed into tubes Joyce gave me earlier in the morning and POOOM! exploded.  I don't know whether it was a pinch but I did manage to pump up to 120+psi already, had checked properly before that, and in fact had stopped pumping already.  Could be the tires didn't hold onto the wheels.  Found my spare tires!!!  Changed into that and made sure this time everything is ok, and it was.  This time I managed to get it up to pressure and hold it.

Saturday morning was fun again as Esther and Refik joined up with us (Joyce and me) to go out at 5am, rode the usual Joyce/Marc loop.  As usual Esther went faster and faster even with me pulling in front of her, then slowing down (she will just cut through on the right and start pulling again).  I complained verbally.  She took the hint and stayed behind when I went in front.  We passed a few ANZA riders whom we met again at 7am Thomson OCBC.  Reached back at Joyce's place about 6.10am having covered more than 30km.  Passed cake, celebrated, then we were out again at 6.50am with the ANZA group.  The group breaks into two at the end of Upper Seletar Reservoir, left one heads to Changi, right one heads to LCK.  We follow the group going LCK.  Joyce and Refik already went ahead and while as usual, the rest of ANZA were formally speed-limited, except for the fact that Esther was going full steam ahead of group and pulling like nobody's business so we still went faster than usual; think it was about 35+kmh.  Finally caught up with Joyce but Refik had gone ahead on a one-man breakaway which was not caught until almost the end of Kranji Road.  We were together again through Lim Chu Kang Rd.  Finally rode through Boon Lay and reached Holland Village where we had coffee and breakfast at Coffee Beans.  Went home, but found out it was the wrong one as we were going for massage and had to bathe and change first.  Went home and slept on the bed, forgot I had hp on silent mode and missed a few of Joyce's call, bathed then got ready for massage at Thomson Rd which was really really good.  Then we went Bishan Junction 8 for Seabiscuit - very nice and touching movie - and shopping (can't believe how much groceries the two women can buy) then home (Joyce's) dinner and back home.

Sunday morning woke up early and didn't really know whether was going riding or not.  In the end managed to chat with kit and yes, joining Thomson 8.30am ride.  I was going out early and glad I did because I found my front tires were FLAAAAT!!!  Arrgh.  Yesterday bought another spare tube but just one, from Cycleworx which was just next to the massage place, and just one because it was so expensive.  I tried to pump it up and surprisingly... it pumped!  Went up to almost 120psi, as I didn't want to push my luck, and lost some more air as the valve came out, but it held on.  Went out to meet the group, HM was not there but Pat and Kit were there.  Don't know what happened but seems like the group in front had disappeared.  Kept overtaking people but just couldn't find group.  I grew impatient, kept overtaking more people, but still no group.  Finally caught up with Wendy Chan slightly after coming Old Upper Thomson Rd and with Pat's group just turning into old Mandai Rd.  Pat climbs up the short hill past Upper Seletar Reservoir like a pro.  I get besides him.  There's another old guy ahead and we pull together to get to him.  Then realize Pat is dropped and it was just me and the old guy who seems to be going strong but slight weaving already told me he was up to limits.  I didn't wanna push and drop Pat and group further so didn't pull but I didn't wanna lose the old man either so I just let him pull as hard as he wanted to while sitting on his wheel.  We caught up with two riders and they join us from behind.  The old man is still pulling hard to reach another group further up front.  I decided to help.  Pulled him up to the group, thought we will sit in but no... the old man started pulling again after a short rest!  Had to get on his back again.

After that stopped at traffic lights, saw Kim Hong (not difficult to notice - ponytail).  Then realize the whole Spinning group was there too - Christina and husband, think it was Adrian Mok also in front.  Stopped at the Shell station and waited for the group.

(cont later)

Friendsters is addictive.  I just found Jeanette thru Sehsuan thru Kit-Bird.  Amazing.  Wondering who else I can find if I look hard enough.

Home early because I flatted out at Adams Rd.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.  Remembered that left HR monitor watch at work, so there will be no HR monitoring this evening.  Then I couldn't get the speedo to work still.  I guess I was really blessed during the race that I could get it to work.  Finally rush to pump up tires (they were around 60psi before pump) and out I went.  Bike feels a bit wobbly.  I dunno if it's me, the bike (aluminum?) or tires.  I didn't pump beyond the normal 120++ psi, and these tires could take up to 150psi (although it does say normal is 110psi).  Along a slow downslope along Adams Rd, the bike went extreme wobbly, sliding left and right.  I look back and tires look ok, but when I tried going, it slided again.  I came off the bike and check.  Yup, got a flat.

So here I am.  Home.  Blogging again.  Will continue after dinner.  Maybe after changing tires even.  I need to get them ready for tomorrow morning ride.

Too tired to blog the past few days, thus the backlog.  I still haven't finished bloggin in for Powerman but figure nothing much important to add (it is supposed to be a training journal, not so much as a daily account of what I do).  On Monday I was on leave, approved since Aug when I already planned to be going for Powerman.  Went to see doctor, couldn't decide between a normal doc or sports doc but in the end went for Dr Chook, 4th floor of Orchard Building - an expensive sports doc.  Got the problem identified after he moved arm, press here, press there.  Something about intercorsoid muscles... after that sent me for physiotheraphy.  Got asked same questions again by physio - for some reason, soft touch doesn't quite go with me.  Physio says to let her know if too painful.  I replied can take much harder.  She said using different technique, not painful one.  I dunno.  If it doesn't feel like anything I somehow get the impression it's not doing anything.  In any case it's good that things are done sloooowly.  Maybe that's why.  During a normal massage, it could get very painful when done too fast.  That's why I do my own self massages especially for the legs where I can take less pain (I use Johnson Baby Oil Lite).

After that met up with Pat my cycling team boss, went for lunch at Pasta Mania, chatted a while then I met up with Joyce and KK to go view condominiums for KK (still single - any ladies interested?), had nasi lemak and walked to Standard Chartered to register for Marathon but was closed already.  Finally went to Bishan and watched Underworld together, bar of chocolate in hand.