The pleasure of being Last…

We’d like to think that it doesn’t matter – it’s the effort that counts. In advanced/gracious societies (of the future), we will all be patting each others’ back for such efforts and no one is really the ‘loser’ in any form of healthy competition. In the country that I live in where scholars are ‘blemish-free’ since birth and success is measure on how young you can do anything, it really to be doing it right the first time .. and creates an impression that ‘hey if you are not going to be first .. don’t try … it leaves a bad record’…

That’s the thing I like about tri-athletes and triathlon in general. If we hold true to the ‘kiasu kiasi’ (scared lose, scared of death) attitude that most people in the country have, this form of endurance multi-sport won’t even take shape. I for one am glad that I made quite a few friends and acquaintances while being the back-marker for most competitions.

Where else would you see a balding 50-60 plus year old man who chats with you like he know you for ages and share with you his many years of experience in the sport even though he knows that you are looking hopeless inadequate and overwhelmed by the fitter folks around you. Never once was I made to feel like an outsider. They may have six packs at their old age and speed that can same a person 30-40 years their junior; they nevertheless know that we all have to start somewhere in life and make mistakes to get to their level. The interesting thing is … everyone has a story where they were passed by someone older or found themselves at the back of the field in their first years of the sport. They just took it as a learning experience and fine-tuned their training to do better in the next race. That to me is what life is really about. As what Chris McCormack said (the winner of the 2007 Ironman Championship at Kona, Hawaii), if he’d won the event first time round, he won’t appreciate the enormous sacrifice it takes to win it now (it was on his fifth try – I think – that he made it to 1st place).

Oh and back to my ‘race’ in Malaysia … it’s the Powerman Malaysia 2007, part of the Powerman series (world series)… it’s the closest to home (no prizes for guessing where is home).. and it’s the first time I went up for a race like that… read in the forum that it’s a tough race and its hard for a newbie swine like me to try it …. But I thought to myself…’if I don’t try I’ll never know’… so that how I got there…

Am pleasantly surprised that the field was so strong … normally races in my country .. you’ll see some nicely kitted up men and women that are just there for the fun and you’d see them disappearing midway through the race. .. but no way… everyone seems experienced and ready to go .. oh… one thing to take note… Malaysian ladies who do mutlisports look pretty good too …
(note to self.. must do more Malaysian races) … heehehehe

The race started pretty well . .even though I was suffering from a flu two days before the event… tried to load up with as much Vit-C as possible and sleep as much on the bus ride up and on the day before the event … it sorta helped… cos during the first 11km of the run .. I felt no pain … was running pretty decently (slower than usual to see if my flu acts up)… its all good so far… then the first transition … went pretty well …slipped on my bike shoes and off I went …
The first loop was really fun .. first time I rode with so many people and the view was quite good …. Then near to the end of the first u-turn .. saw this pretty long inclined …. Dang .. the dreaded 3rd bridge…. It went pretty well for the first 30km … managed to do another loop …. Before the cramps start to set in on the return loop to the bridge… had to get off my bike and ‘stone’ for a while … nice people who passed me asked if I needed a CO2 canister (They thought I had a puncture) … but I was rather ‘stoned’ by then . and said I am okie .. just cramps …. In the end I managed to limp back to the transition area (this time for T2) … and by then there were only three to four of us returning the bike for transit to the last 10 km run ….

By then I was pretty much wasted …my legs was stiffed with the occasional mind numbing cramps … and even during my stop and push my bike up the slope fiasco at the third bridge on my 2nd loop … I was closed to giving up and registering as a DNF (did not finish) participant … but .. I thought to myself. .. this isn’t what multi-sports is about … its good that I can finish better with more races and training under my belt … but its also about not giving up and finishing what you’ve started…. If its just for the ‘glory’ of finishing strong … it will just be like any other sport …. I told myself that I would never want a DNF … so I found another friend who is also struggling with cramps and we soldiered on …. The last 10 km we actually walked …..and by about 1pm … there was really a ‘sweeper’ vehicle pulling up next to us to ask us if we want to finish the race on our own power or get in the van … we said its okie .. we’d rather finished it on our own … the driver smiled and drove back to inform the organizers that we are on our way back to the finish….

When we returned. . we were like 1 hr off the cut off mark … and they have already dismantled most of the stuff there .. (the finishers’ chute included)… but the organizers were still glad to see us .. and told us they were quite worried for a while but was glad that we completed and didn’t give up …

That was probably a sweet moment… as I thought I didn’t deserved the congratulations and that finishing is just part of the spirit of the sport … and I am glad the organizers shared the same sentiments … that said … even with my super disappointing race … I’ve learnt many valuable lessons .. on humility, perseverance and the most cliché bit … how the human spirit can and will motivate us to better ourselves…. I will definitely return next year to earn my finishers’ medal and polo shirt and will do way better (if all things go well) … thanks everyone for the encouragement … training tips and friendship ….

I guess I am really hooked … the sport is not only about physical fitness (porn stars are fit too!!).. but has given me a whole new perspective in life (that is something porn can’t do)…
And yes …. Bet you didn’t know coming in Last can bring such sweetness …. (at least i Tri-ed and didn’t give up!! )