I've been pretty cranky.  Reason is probably due to overtraining.  Legs are totally solid, either because I didn't stretch after yesterday's ride or I've been limping around (which I didn't realize).  Wounds don't really hurt the whole day, but I realize that my hip which has been feeling uncomfortable, has turned into a huge blob of black and blue.  And I mean HUGE.  I try to massage it and by now it's even blacker, bigger, badder.

Removed the bandages just now.  Had a bit of problems as the gauze is stuck to the wound but pulling it slowly got it out.  Alcohol didn't hurt as much as I thought, so I applied more.  The worst part were the hair; getting the plasters out of the hairy parts took at least five times longer than getting the gauze out of the wound, and just about that much as painful.

I wonder how women wax.

Met up with Pat for dinner and getting a pair of aero wheels for stand-by.  I prob won't be using them till next year but the offer was too good to refuse.  Might not be able to get it again so just stock up in the meantime.

As such, one of my other wheels will most likely have to go, and it's most likely the Bontrager too.  I will miss it.  I'm still wondering why my Bontrager feels lighter than the Ksyriums.  It's pretty amazing.  I will most likely use the Bontrager for my last race this year, at NTU Oct 26, while KL Tri and Powerman, I will stick to the Ksyriums (unless I get the HED wheels ready in time).

Okay, at the risk of being accused of being too cycling orientated (and the increasing number of readers), shall include more details about my own life.  Talked to my ex yesterday.  Had a short conversation (I'm not good at talking over the phone) but found out she's still at Paya Lebar Airbase, albeit changed to a Quality Assurance Officer, and she has been going to this church at Wesley Methodist, for about six months already, following her boyfriend, whom she met in SDU.  Oookay.  Maybe I should be more active in SDU also. :p  Haha, no way!

Today I took a lift from one of the sales manager and conversation revolved around BGR too.  Her comments struck some interesting points into my head, especially regarding the younger girls, who apparently according to her are most expensive and not worth the while.  My other colleague in the car who has been after this girl for the longest time, though we know it's not really going to happen... well, we talked about it after he was dropped off too.  She too shed some light which I had not noticed before.  It's interesting.  I must make it a point to talk to her again, to find out more about "things".

21 Sept
First Crash

Today feeling very tired, almost skipping ride but decided to still go ahead in the end.  Gave myself a good rub with oil and then moved out.  Very late so I sms Greg and Pat.  I reached OCBC at 8.40am and someone tells me Greg has left already.  I try to chase them down but in the end rode with the two guys who were still at OCBC.  The guy in red jersey at OCBC is Beanoboy82.  Later, the group was found waiting at the old Shell station end of Mandai Rd.  Catching up to them took out my recovery (went at 140bpm) but after that we went very slow - HR 112-118.  Saw Alvin and Kim Hong along the way.  Now that I've seen them at Desaru, I'm sure I have met them before also along the roads.

Stopped by Newton Circus and the rest of the Thomson groups were there.  Soon everyone has left and we were the last group.  It was raining and the four of us riding back together stopped.  When it drizzled, I decided to go for it and rode back alone.  Just before Thomson Medical Centre, I spotted a car was slowing down and intending to turn left.  No signal and it was sudden.  I e-braked but in the wet, the rear brakes are not working well.  Ended up hitting the sides of the taxi, and endo.  It wasn't sudden, as I knew I was going to hit already.  On thinking back, the endo was probably due to overbraking on the front brakes - and later checks revealed the rear brakes are almost non-existent.  I lie there for a while waiting for the driver (who apparently was not in a hurry to get out of the car).  It was a lady, and another old man who came and tried to help me.  Everything was still okay but he was quite worried, while the lady was quite defensive.  In the end I just told them to go but the old man was still around.  I told him it was alright.

Managed to cycle back before checking the damages.  What I thought was the major damage in the leg is bad but not as bad as the arms.  On my sides are some abrasions and the hip feels a bit sore but it's okay.  Bike has zero scratches on it, but the aerobars are bent out of position.  Top of it is also scrapped.

By now I have taken lunch and bought Panadol and gauge and plasters.  Things are bundled up with antiseptic cream.  Looking good.  The adhesives were very expensive though and small.  I had to use all five of them for two wounds.

Semi naked pictures of myself can be found at http://community.webshots.com/photo/90755799/91258830mvtZzt and http://community.webshots.com/photo/90755799/91259040qrDZRe after I cleaned them with alcohol.

20 Sept
Motivator Liz

Early 9am Strength class with Liz.  She manages to motivate, somehow.  Did the first part of class, holding some pretty serious high gears with high HR, then went for a 90s faster paced which brough the heart all the way to 174bpm.  Cooling off a little, I decided to call it off and rested.

Then I decided to go again.  There was a second 90s faster paced thingie again, and this time it was going to be a standing climb.  I pulled and held 170 for a minute.  Then standing I manage to pull up to 177, down to 174 for another two and half mins.

Called it a day.

The Desaru International Long Distance & Sprint Triathlon 2003 results are out at http://www.triathlonmalaysia.com/TriMsia/DESARU/race_result.htm

For some weird reason, the swimming times can't be seen unless you cut and paste it into Excel.

For some weirder reason, I've got a timing in the Sprint event.  They even printed the certificate for it.  I wonder how that happened, considering I didn't even register for the event, nor did I ride my bike around on that day either.  ??!

20 Sept
Skipped Riding With Joyce

Supposed to be out riding with Joyce.  Forced myself up, brushed teeth, ate breakfast, then took HR because muscles feels too tired.

Lowest I could go is 160.  I called her and said not going. :p

19 Sept
Spinning with Dean

Relatively hardride.  I'm still feeling sluggish.  Push right up to 150 and never looked back.  Avg 158bpm with a max 172bpm.  Mostly seated climbs, and pulling a lot on handlebars.  Sat next to Geraldine; so happens she was in class again.  This is the lady who used to attend at least one Spin class a day, thin as a stick, has a 40bpm resting HR (okay, so I'm there already too), and finally got doctors orders to stop coz of hip and knee problems.  Apparently she's bought a Spinner bike herself too and doing it at home.  Just happened to be in class because she went for hi-tea.

After class talked to Dean.  Girl's name was born on 12 Sept and named Trinity (yeah, after the Matrix) Elizabeth err... I dunno Dean's surname.  Serene was waiting for him at the carpark so me and Geraldine went down to see her.  Looking good, and she said she can start exercising again in a week's time.  They have a dog called Red too, black tiny one.

19 Sept
Spinning with Barry

Dean didn't turn up for class.  I was late.  Barry came by three times, to check if I was ok.  Err... okay.

Hope I'm not overly sensitive.  Anyway Barry's a really nice guy, whose kindness is abused by Dean and Selene constantly just because he lives near town so they call him when they can't make it for class.

Strength ride, but I don't feel strong.  Still I make my standing climbs, with a final 15 sec sprint up to 174bpm.  Average is 154bpm over 16mins only.  Hills feel a bit long.  I think I need to get back to doing more Spin classes.

18 Sept
Endurance With Dylan

Very steady spinning with medium gear, pushing a bit past what I can sustain at 141bpm HR, then pushing a bit past what I can sustain at 148bpm, then pushing a bit past what I can sustain at 154bpm, then still pushing a bit sustain what I can push at 162bpm.  Apparently one can push just a bit past what one thinks one can sustain and still give a little bit more.  Ended session with avg HR of 155bpm, max 166bpm.  Relatively high for an Endurance ride.

Evening Ride To NUS Satellite

Covered 45km from home to Thomson Long House then to NUS via Adams Rd, turning off to Holland Village, then I turn INTO Holland Village and then to Bourna Vista, ala opposite ANZA ride home.  I go up the road and hope it doesn't turn into highway.  It doesn't but I make a turn too quick, and ended up at NUH instead of NUS.  Made a loop inside and realize was deadend.  Came out, then realize it's the usual NUS loop, so I did one loop, before going up to the satellite, then doing three more loops, and heading home.

Met Slithersurf and Hamsterchick's bro at Long House and had dinner, also saw SACA guy there.  Cycled home on full stomach - don't try this at home!

Total distance 45km.  Covered 43.2km in 1hr 29mins.  HR hovering between 150plus to 170 at the peak of satellite.  It's really cool to be able to compare HR with altitude.  I can see all the slopes and timings and then changes in the HR.
Weight is measuring at 68.7kg with 21.5% bodyfat at 12am.

I am really blur.  I should have expected something when kai ma invited me over for dinner.  Didn't expect birthday cake.  Dinner was very good but I ate too much.  Regret now but the food was too good to resist at that time, and I forgot about cake so didn't leave space.  Am very touched.  I got a very nice photo from her too (not too flattering but as good as my slightly plumpish body will be in any case) plus mooncakes (*groan*), a smuggled poster of Lance Armstrong Shimano Advert (way cool).

It's been way too long since I've had to blow a candle.  Luckily I had help from Jade (elder dotter) while Jasmine (younger dotter) took picture.  Glad I posted the stuff about bestest earlier *phew*

In other notes, preparation for KL Tri will be starting tomorrow.  Depending on condition of body, will work as hard as possible till Sun, rest Mon, medium Tue, rest Wed n Thu, short hard Fri and maybe a bit on Sat even.  It all depends on how the body is feeling next week.

This is my buddy http://community.webshots.com/photo/90755799/90755916ZuuDrt

Absolutely bestest.  No wonder Esther keeps talking about him like he's the bestest, coz he is.  And I know it now too.  A lot of people who know him will say he is the bestest also.  So while I can call him my buddy, he can call almost the whole rock climbing, kayak, adventure racers, triathletes, cyclists, amongst others, buddies.

I need to find a picture of me and my kai ma also.  She's the bestest also.  But no picture yet.