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!! )

the perfect example would be to “win” in a war

 for so many years media have villainised people, groups and even countries when engaging in armed conflict … but does any politician think there could be any notion of a “winner” in war? …

To me … to engage in war is already morally wrong and hence there can be no victors or no glory from such engagement … yeah you may think its a hippy concept and i must have smoked on joint too many in the 70s .. but if you really consider it throughly … nobody wins in a war … war is a clash of political ego that is magnifested not by the politicans themsevles but their armed forces … wars are fought for a variety of reasons .. and even recently in his book … the well respected and world renowned Economist, Alan Greenspan said that the only reason why America went to war with Iraq is due to war and we’d be really naive to think otherwise … it takes alot of courage to admit that … and he can never say it during office … but to write it in his book is a revelation to the absolute stupidity of engaging in war … you don’t even need a cow to tell you that … surely….

 With the next ‘target’ being Iran … i just hope that world leaders would think about it before making bold statements to wage war … yes … terrorism is wrong .. no doubt about it … but terrorism fundamentally a clash of mindset and convictions …. war would never solve deeply ingrain hatred and anamosity … dialog and a deeper understand of religion, education, poverty and the eradition of poverty should be more important …. after all … do you think people would willing become suicide bombers if they are well fed and are not promised that their family will be better (with cash payment) after being blown apart? …

so … do take stock and really take some time to understand …

in war there are no winners … only uncessary and death without honour

to hear this from a cow is something else isn’t it?

Ah… transportation… the lifeblood of any civilisation … its not so long ago .. we have to feed our own horse … avoid horse crap on the floor while we make our way to the next town to trade our produce/look for a fight (if you are a swordsman)/look for a fark (if you are a geisha)/ look for a fark and a fight (if you are a horny swordsman) … but i digress…

fast forward 600 – 900 years … we have a myriad of technologies that keep us moving faster… in greater comfort… and some say in style…
the rich can afford their personal transport … while the masses have a variety of public transportation to choose from (buses, rail, taxis etc)… surely a far cry from the old days where the masses walk … and the rich content with a bumpy sedan chair ride … surely we’ve progressed don’t you think …

but being a typically anal-retentive cow that i am … i don’t agree…. i long romanticise about the days where we can walk vast distances and choose from a variety of environmentally friendly alternatives to move overselves from Pt A to B (yes horse manure is a fertisers for you city folks) …
when you live in a city that is really small and is highly regulated (in my opinion… the most regulated in South East Asia) … you are somehow deemed to be a ‘lucky person’ who do not need to starve/be part of a genocide/beaten up/experience natural disasters like our more unfortunate counterparts… hence it is also assumed (at least by the relevant authorities) since we are so lucky.. we should also be thankful of the public transportation that is ‘provided’ for our ‘convenience’ at ‘first world’ standards.

stop right there … but why do i and my fellow cows living in your country doesn’t share the same sentiment?
Are we:
- chewing on too much curd
- smoking something we are not supposd to
- not ‘scholarly’ enough
- does not possess the ‘mandate of heaven’ to justify any form of feedback
- just a number to be ‘milked’

one thing for sure … public transport around these parts are deemed public but have the following features:
- they consistently make multi million dollar profits
- they justify ‘upgrades’ to their services in the most thinly disguised way of commercialism (do we really need TV screen on buses?)
- employees who ‘captains’ the buses suffer from leg spasms … thus causing rocking motion for additional pleasure (wrong business models anyone?)
- public service is deemed as taking additional funds from consumers and then using a ‘special fund’ to give back to the needed who may not be able to afford ‘public transport’
- none of the top executives have ever taken public transport before but are authorised to plan it for the future of millions …

Strangely… even the most ah beng economist will tell you that:
- public services are provided sometimes at a loss because the responsiblities generally fall to the government (henceforth known as ‘gahmen’) as the private sector may not provide adequate service to encourage economic growth
- gahmen generally supply such services because they are interested in economic growth and general wellbeing of their citizens

however the truth is that:
- public service need to make enough money (sorry .. correction … they need to grow their profits .. just making money is not enough)
- public service must be run like the private sector if not it’ll be inefficient (wow have you tried to look for a gahmen person at 4.45pm ? they don’t exist i tell you)
- they think they are doing you a favour if not you can jolly well set up your own gahmen sonny boy!!!

oh well … since we can’t do much about it .. i have the following suggestions to help improve the bus service in our tiny nation
- since we are so into integrated resorts … we should retrain bus captains as gondola captains .. if it works in Las Vegas .. it’ll work here babe!
- we can tie in with the need to increase our population with the driving habits of public transport …. “love buses” or “love trains” with super tinted windows should be use occasionally … after all … lots of teenagers are already doing it anyway
- people who can’t pay for public transport (yes … poor people) … can offer alternative payment .. such as deposits of blood or other bodily fluids in place of real money

After all … we all need to ‘sacrifice’ for the progress

There is no ‘free lunch’ ladies and gentlemen …
(then again what do you call VIPs who attend conferences who give such quotes? …. hmmm i must be too underpaid to know.. hey what do i know.. i am a cow …. moooooo )

Hi Folks …

been a while … nothing jolts my writing ‘juices’ more than a local celebrity saying the most inappropriate things…
maybe now that i am older and somewhat wiser (i like to think that i am okie … ) … i would dwell more deeply into people’s words…
for example when a ‘international celebrity’ who just did a few b grade movies says that she would strip if the script was good and if so and so director is involved … alarm bells seem to ring in my head….

haven’t i heard that so many times before? (its an age thing) …

some how i came to the following conclusion:

‘i am willing to strip’
Decoded: My career is going no where, wonder if people will pay to see my privates

‘only for a good script’
Decoded: My plastic surgeon says his best work is behind him and he can’t do no more

‘if so and so director is doing it’
Decoded: Director means there is a chance i’ll get paid

Reflecting on the age thing … looking younger with lots of ‘work’ somehow kill brain cells i think
that makes me pretty glad i look older than my age….

at least dun have to go all ‘brookback mountain’ to be famous …

woo hoo

if anyone is interested …
i am willing to strip for:
- a new triathlon bike (cervelo P3C, Orbea Ordu, Specialized Transition … anyone will do)
- nasi lemak from changi village (lifetime supply)
- a slot in Ironman Kona
- a body and endurance to finish Ironman Kona

so there there …

being a closet beng cow myself … i do understand the need to be seen driving around in a red colour 2 door civic (COE type) and forgetting that there are others on the road … however being a closet ah beng … i do not let my inner beng (as my friends called it) .. hinder with my ability to function as normal member of the society…

it is therefore somewhat sad that i was nearly mowed down by an ah beng who is clearly road challenged (ie. the inability to look left and right while negotiating a right turn while in the presence of an ah lian in his car) … as the cow (me) is minding his own beeswax and doing my morning cycling training along ECP service road…

This genius of a young ah beng … was nudging his red two door honda COE civic into the path of the main service road while trying to negotiate a right turn … without realising yours truely (a truely huge cow on a red bike mind you) is approaching at a relatively normal road bike speed… i am thinking that there is no need to stop as i am in the main road while this guy will surely see me as i am in the right of way… but NOOOOOO …. he had to nudge his damn red “spot” car onto my path and nearly causing me to do an E-brake on my road bike …. a near miss i might add …. i did what a normal cow would have done …. which is to made my point clear to that beng kia (little beng in hokkien) what i felt about his driving skill … in my very own shakespearian hokkien phrase book way … i bet he can’t hear me through his VegaBoys or the Best of Hokkien pop hits over his radio set … or maybe blood has ceased to flow to his real head and is pooling at his “little ah beng” while the ah lian is sitting next to him…. but hey .. its the morning damn it .. . i am sure your hide the small joystick game can wait till sunset my friend …

so if anyone out there care to listen …

if you know you are driving into an area where people are clearly training to embetter themselves in some small or big way… try not to kill cows or human beings … even thought your loins are clearly thinking instead of your brain …

we cows clearly have better things to do than to plan to haunt you in our after life after you splatter us all over the road in your haste to get some ah lian action (or at least thats what you hope) ….

so please .. think with your head (that one on top of your head) when you drive …
you have a car … so does alot of other people … so dun think you are a special breed …
and wake up your frigging idea man ….

peace … (okie maybe not to you .. you red civic driving little twat)
oh yeah .. and the picture is what i think about you … if you don’t understand it … go ask someone who can put two visuals together …

i am not only doing it for the good of cows .. but for everyone who is training so hard for Osim Triathlon and other sports… the world is a better place w/o drivers like you man …

 to cut the crap story (hmmm nice way to put it) .. the hokkien mee was super shiok.. especially with the combination of chili padi and some chili concoction they had on the side… but one big mistake was … my stomach ain’t agreeing man … and guess what…  i had to participate in the Singapore Passion Run the next day….

 After “going for a couple of times” … i felt super lousy during the run … and clocked a person  worst time of 1hr 10mins plus (Even a pregnant lady can run faster than that i reckoned) … in relative terms … a kenyan could have ran it in 30 mins … smoked a joint … have breakfast… drank coffee.. take a crap .. and wait for me at the finish line …

 yes it was really a day of shame ….

oh well we live n learn … till my next 10 km run … or maybe the army half marathon to redeem myself…

Damn you hokkien mee …. haahaha

 yes .. casinos are fun … (my years as an undergraduate has been wasted in a “donation” drive to slot machines too) … but that is just a minimal distraction … casinos make money…. but we can always make the distinction that gambling is essentially a vice …. but in business talk this vice is always welcomed but should never be encouraged … after all …. profit motivated entities will always do what is in demand … but we always seem to look at authorities (especially in Asia) as the vanguards of social responsiblity …. but why are they embracing such “progress” …

i am fine with theme parks … after all they still make lots of money (disneyland and movie world can’t be doing that badly) … we may even start our own brand of “kiasu” park .. or something like that… with no need to resort to vice … hey …. if we are actively doing casinos … why not let sammyboy have a go at running our famous Geylang and turn it into a theme park for adults (idea idea…. hehee) ….

but i digress… i always admire the tenacity of our malaysian friends … they have the right stuff when it comes to the “never say die” attitude …. for example … we were probably laughing our arses off when they built their F1 circuit at really high prices .. but now when they are reaping their just rewards for persistency …. we are doing the same (yeah … most of my friends would be horrified if our little land isn’t first to beat the malaysians in anything we do) …. but … they are very the “can” … hence the “malaysia boleh” … slogan… and besides… hey … we’ve never had a problem with them on a friendship basis … most of my best friends are from across the border … so why not applaud their successes… instead of doing the one-up-manship that we have been doing for eons ….

yes i may sound like a gay cow with way too much time on my hands …. thats how i feel at the moment ….

we may be seriously running out of ideas… we may need help … but are we too proud to admit it? … dunno … i may think so …but hey.. what do i know…. i am just a cow … i just hope everyone will work together… forget about their differences and share new ideas … after all … one can only gamble so much … sit on a ever BIGGER faris wheel… or watch so much racing on TV …

have a good weekend everyone

been a while since i’ve posted… well … hardly have time to do other things other than to work (two jobs) … and try to make a living for my other non-work related activities … (such as multi-sports, martial arts and saving for old age) …

training on a bike makes me more aware of the road situations and somehow make me a more forgiving driver (Yes i drive slower these days and look out for people on the road more) … which brings me back to the realisation that i’ve witnessed like 4 road accidents (nothing major but still a shock) in the past two weeks … yes … they involved taxis … but regularity of minor accidents in an increasingly congested singapore really suprises me … coupled with the occurance of really fast reckless drivers who seemed to owned soup-ed up cars (i used the word seemed cos some of them are bought by their parents) … well my buddhist-like rational (i am very into compassion these days) …. will put it in the way that even if we cannot do away with suffering … we can at least not let others suffer by our actions …

one such action that really gets on my nerves as a human being and as a person who is trying to be more compassionate is the case of the warehouse supervisor who took a convertible to test drive and as a result killed an innocent and a woman full of life that just happens to be serving him (as a car salesman) … clearly she does not deserve to die for his mishandling of the car … though he claim it to be no fault of his own … i personaly never drive above the speed limit at that stretch of road … knowing full well that even under ideal conditions … the wheels squeal under the steel plated surface…. they put there for a reason … the place is dangerous and is always under construction ….

oh yes … the papers wrote he felt remorseful … and yes .. all religions teach us to forgive… and the general public has been accused of wanting his blood for his rash act … but one does ponder why did he choose this path ? … was a sports car really necessary for his abilities? i do strongly believe that your peers (such as your friends) know very well how much you earn .. how much you can afford … what social status you are …. the fact that his first car was bought using his parents money and his lack of remorse somehow made it hard for people to forgive and forget …. yes … its takes a strong person to admit his mistakes and make ammends for it …. but the public has failed to see this …. and don’t let them get started on the slow action of the authorities to process this case …

my blog entries are normally funny and witty… so this is quite out of the norm …
i just feel that even a cow without sense need to talk some sense … about things like:

- living within our means
- that there isn’t a need to flaunt what you don’t have (true friends don’t find that important)
- we all make mistakes, what we do after our mistakes determine who we are
- power as much as wealth is a responsiblity, we should learn to use it wisely
- all life is precious, you social status doesn’t make you any different

in any case, i hope this case does not happen again .. and my heart goes out to those that are involved, especially to that gir’s family ( she was trying so hard to give them a better life )

Take care everyone and drive safely

That may not be news to most ppl .. but to me its great news …
my involvement in the singapore marathon … in 2006 has motivated me to move into the realm of multi-sports…
and its an expensive “hobby” mind you … but hey its good for the mind (helps me focus and relax) and the body (lose weight, get more buff perhaps?) and a chance to meet Miss Laura Lycra (i know you are out there somewhere…)

the first day on my new marvel of aero aluminum and carbon fibre was rather comical … and yes i had my first “stationary fall” on my wonder bike… no thanks to clipless pedal and my inability to remember that i bought them …

but hey .. we live n learn … by the end of the next 3 months or so … when u see a swine flying by you at 45km/h or more … it should be me … and lets all hope that it is not me as a hood ornament to some ah beng civic who can’t seem to notice me on the road …

yes … we can only hope…

as Mr Pointy Ears from Star Trek would say.. “live long and prosper!”

but as i always say… its all good man … the 42.195 km route teaches me alot of things …

They are:
- you cannot predict the weather
- you WILL have abrasion at places you never thought were “abrase-able”
- there is No shame in brisk walking
- wearing a Polar footpod can save u the agony of guaging your pace
- No women will think you are sexy when you are running the entire distance
- No you don’t get a “reward” from the opposite sex for finishing

However on the flipside doing the marthon has more positives than negatives, they are:

- You don’t have to be an African to run a marathon (Though it helps to win the prize money)
- You are not as old as you think (esp when i see a few retirees finishing before me)
- Marathons are the best way to practise goal setting (you won’t believe how many times you have to chant .. “you can do it” before you finish)
- Sometimes you can give youself a “reward” (wth no particular reference to the previous points)
- Satay never tastes so good

I am quite glad that i took up my personal challenge of finishing my 1st marathon… i guess running is already in my blood … so 2007 will be a year where i will be:

- doing another marathon in Dec
- doing a few more half marathons
- trying a duathlon
- giving myself an excuse to buy a Triathlon bicycle
- re-testing the “reward” system from the opposite sex
- remove another 10-15 kg off my body (not surgically)

Till then … i hobble along for another few days

and yes … i didn’t managed to find much miss lycra to look at this year … dang