Update... hopefully a sustainable restart to my active and healthy lifestyle

Since the post below (aka A Farmosa Sprint Triathlon 2008), my sports activities has been pretty much... inactive. I've gained lots of weight, indulged in what my father remarked as.... expensive food... and memorises the programme schedule on Starhub cable TV.

1) Ok, events/race wise, i've done:

• A Farmosa Triathlon 2008 Olympic Distance: Came out of water 2nd last and was comfortable on the bike leg, only to get a puncture of rear tyre at KM17. Tough luck. This was the only ride where i did not equipped myself with a spare tube and pump.
• New Balance Pacesetters 2008 in KL, Malaysia: I decided to go to KL for the food, rather than the race. Completed the run anyway, so slow that i managed a nice pose for IMD the cameraman at the finishing line.
• Bintan Triathlon 2008 Olympic Distance: Woohoo... completed my maiden OD in 3:45. I was again.. 2nd last out of water with the whole senior management of Bintan Resorts and Nirwana waiting by the beach (i hope not for me) but managed to overtake many (about 20) racers during bike and run leg.
• Powerman Duathlon Malaysia 2008 in Lumut, Perak: Thanks to Alvin, managed to get seats on bus and hotel for this race. Tough as hell (maybe) but completed in 5:30. Had an excuse though; Scotty's rear D jammed up leaving me with 2 speeds to play with for the 64km ride.
• Bintan Triathlon 2009 Sprint Race: Played coach to the company's ladies relay team. Was slow but not strolling and completed the race in 2:15. Then visited the medic station for a bad case of cramp.
• Tons of DNS since. 2009 was the year of DNS for me. So my KPI for 2010 is... no DNS.
  

2) Life and material wealth:

• Followed the average married man's route towards inactivity, tummy growing and weekend slacking.
• Based in Bintan, food and training opportunities are very different from Singapore. No more of post 7pm/pre 7am runs/rides, and the food.... don't get me started.... too good. Limited to 5 to 10km of climbs on the Fire station/pump station/Utilities office route, gym work and once-in-a-blue-moon 50km rides on weekends.
  
• Having a car and a vespa means less familiarity with public transport and even lesser walking. Looking for parking lots is the sport i'm better at now.
  
• Ed gave up her Helios 500. I took over and swapped the Ultegra gruppos and Aksium wheels from Scotty, who i gave to Ed's brother.
• Got a Cannondale F5 for my 32nd hatchday. Though under-riden, i have clocked some quality KMs of offroad dirt on it so far.

Now the rot stops here. It will be slightly more than 2 weeks til Pacesetters 15km run. I hope with the old practice of recording my training in this blog will 2010 not be another year of DNS.

Summary for the week of 28 Apr - 4 May 08

Picking up the pace.

Monday, 28 Apr: Swim lessons.
Tuesday, 29 Apr: No training.
Wednesday, 30 Apr: No training.
Thursday, 1 May: Bintan on Bike.
Friday, 2 May: No training.
Saturday, 3 May: No training. Sent bike to Rodalink for half-yearly servicing and repair of rear wheel.
Sunday, 4 May: Singapore Sprint Series Duathlon.

Summary for the week of 21 - 27 Apr 08

Swim and ride.

Monday, 21 Apr: Re-started my swim lesson. SeaMonster commented that i can float and swim better now cos of my aero-haircut. Received bad news when i got to work. Days are numbered, i don't belong there anymore. Time to start thinking for myself.
Tuesday, 22 Apr: No training.
Wednesday, 23 Apr: L&T ride.
Thursday, 24 Apr: No training.
Friday, 25 Apr: L&T ride.
Saturday, 26 Apr: No training. Too bonked from the long ride.
Sunday, 27 Apr: Rest.

Summary for week of 14 - 20 Apr 08

First event for the year!!

Monday, 14Apr: In Bintan, no training.
Tuesday, 15 Apr: In Jakarta for meeting on school.
Wednesday, 16 Apr: Still in Jakarta. Hotel had a good gym and pool. Didn't bring sports attire though.
Thursday, 17 Apr: Returned to SG too late for any training.
Friday, 18 Apr: No training.
Saturday, 19 Apr: Spent S$225 on a new 2XU tritop and tights from Kobe at Queensway. Still didn't understand why i decided to buy.
Sunday, 20 Apr: Singapore Sprint Series Biathlon.

Summary for week of 7 - 13 Apr 08

ICT week.

Monday, 7 Apr: First day of ICT.
Tuesday, 8 Apr: IPPT. Managed to do 5 chin ups... enough for a S$100 incentive.
Wednesday, 9 Apr: Had a terrible time at the range. Enough said.
Thursday, 10 Apr: Standby day. Expected to spend 2 hours max at the office, ended up staying till 8pm.
Friday, 11 Apr: Ops day. Classified.
Saturday, 12 Apr: Another standby day. Hospitality institute agreement signed. Milestone for me.
Sunday, 13 Apr: In Bintan to follow up on the agreement signed. Did a 40km ride from Tampines-Pasir Ris-Changi-Tanah Merah-Simpang Bedok-Tampines with Ed on her new Helios 500.

Summary for week of 31 Mar to 6 Apr 08

Monday, 31 Mar: No training. Ed was sick.

Tuesday, 1 Apr: No training. IPPT in a week time and i was so unfit.

Wednesday, 2 Apr: No training.

Thursday, 3 Apr: No training.

Friday, 4 Apr: Wanted to do a slow and short run at stadium so that i can be fresh for Saturday's sea swim at Sentosa with Stazla and gang but L & T ride was too tempting to resist. Thought ride was only for 60km but ended doing 99km instead. Route taken was Tampines Ave 9, Ave 10, Old Tampines Rd, Upper Serangoon Rod, Hougang Aves 2 and 6, Compassvale, Anchorvale, FernVale, Jalan Kayu, Seletar estate, Seletar Dam, Yishun, Admiralty, Woodlands, Upper Bukit Timah rd, Dunearn Rd, Lavender Street, Kallang Rd, Guillemard Rd, ECP, Coastal Rd, Loyang Way, Tampines. Too bonked out when reached home at 3am.

Saturday, 5 Apr: Got up too late to join Stazla swim session. Spent the day slacking in front of the TV and packing for ICT instead.

Sunday, 6 Apr: Slacked all day. No training.

Summary for week of 24 - 30 Mar 08

Monday, 24 Mar: No training

Tuesday, 25 Mar: No training.

Wednesday, 26 Mar: Short run + swim + run session.

Thursday, 27 Mar: No training

Friday, 28 Mar: No training, in Bintan.

Saturday, 29 Mar: No training

Sunday, 30 Mar: No training

Summary for week of 17 - 23 Mar 08

• Monday, 17 Mar: 16km run at dawn followed by swim lessons after work.
• Tuesday, 18 Mar: Travel day.
• Wednesday, 19 May: Heavy rain spoiled my plan for 13km run. No training. Watched Ed's badminton match. My babe won her doubles match with ease.
• Thursday, 20 Mar: 120km round the island ride with L & T riders.
• Friday, 21 Mar: Good Friday. Butt and thigh hurt big time from the long ride.
• Saturday, 22 Mar: Went around Singapore for food feast. Started at Little India for thosai and battura for lunch, Tanglin Mall for the best soy latte, Changi Village for chicken soup and satay for dinner and Siglap for cheesecake supper.
• Sunday, 23 Mar: Dreamt i was running 34km. No training, other than bringing Ed for a 10km test ride on her new Polygon Helios 500.

Summary for week of 10 - 16 Mar 08

Sick and travel.

• Monday, 10 Mar: Swim session.
• Tuesday, 11 Mar: ENR cancelled due to rain.
• Wednesday, 12 Mar: No training. Had high fever at night.
• Thursday, 13 Mar: On MC, Doc gave me some tablets for flu and fever and syrup for cough.
• Friday, 14 Mar: Still down with flu and cough, fever's gone. 16.8km run after work.
• Saturday, 15 Mar: Has' wedding at Shah Alam.
• Sunday, 16 Mar: Still at Shah Alam. Took the night bus back to Singapore.

Summary for period of 3 - 9 Mar 07

Monday, 3 Mar: Swim lessons

Tuesday, 4 Mar: Strained triceps, shoulders and back. Rest day.

Wednesday, 5 Mar: Travel day. Down with flu and cough. Physio Jai did his stuff, commenting that i seemed bigger now. Got a shock when i weighed myself at Coach Suhaimi's room; 10kg above my ideal weight. HHmm... good? bad? ugly?

Thursday, 6 Mar: Travel day again. Still suffering from flu and cough. Had a craving for Chillis.. the mexican kind... so got home, toasted then pounded some cumin, browned some minced beef, threw in onions, garlic, tomatoes and paste, roasted some potatoes and toasted bread for a nice dinner.

Friday, 7 Mar: Travelled again. Had a nice facial treatment before meeting IAS for boys-nite-out dinner.

Saturday, 8 Mar: Dreamt that i was riding at Coastal Rd. No training, still coughing. Went to Rodalink, Ed bought a Helios 500. This 10-speed bike is fitted with Shimano 105s. Guessed her bike will be better than mine? Nah.. its not the machine that matters, its the engine. Continued our shopping spree at Sim Lim. Got her a PSP for her birthday. Bad move? Verdict to be out in 2 months....

Sunday, 9 Mar: Dreamt that i was striding along ECP, waving at fellow runners coming from opposite direction, stopping at NSRCC for the sunrise. No training, still coughing. Ed's birthday, so had a family dinner, her family, after watering plants at my dad's place. About the dinner...?? Nevermind.... need some getting used to... all of us that is. Managed to end the night with a surprise for Ed. How can a birthday be a birthday without a birthday cake? That's actually just my excuse to eat a cake. The surprise...... nah.... not sharing my ideas.

Summary for the period 25 Feb - 2 Mar

Monday, 25 Feb: Swim lessons

Tuesday, 26 Feb: CBD Run

Wednesday, 27 Feb: Vertical marathon training.

Thursday, 28 Feb: No training.

Friday, 29 Feb: No training.

Saturday, 1 Mar: On duty at NATAS Fair.

Sunday, 2 Mar: Got up late for National Vertical Marathon, hence missed it. I didn't feel like going anyway.

Summary for period of 18-24 Feb 08

Week 2 of jumpstart training:

Monday, 18 Feb: Swim training.

Tuesday, 19 Feb: CBD Run.

Wednesday, 20 Feb: Wednesday run.

Thursday, 21 Feb: Slight flu, no training.

Friday, 22 Feb: Slow LD Swim.

Saturday, 23 Feb: Totally forgot about the Sundown Fam Run. Lepak at home instead.

Sunday, 24 Feb: Another lepak day. Watched a very touching show in "Just like Heaven". Lovely.

Good training week, though could have been better. Need to keep my enthusiasm, and sometimes the lack of it, in check.

Summary for the period 10-17 Feb 08

Easing my way back to fitness:

Sunday, 10 Feb 08: BG Run.

Monday, 11 Feb 08: Swim class.

Tuesday, 12 Feb 08: CBD Run.

Wednesday, 13 Feb 08: Wed 5pm run.

Thursday, 14 Feb 08: Swim.

Friday, 15 Feb 08: No training.

Saturday, 16 Feb 08: East West East Ride.

Sunday, 17 Feb 08: 2.4km IPPT Training with AK04.

Summary for the period 4 - 9 Feb

Easing my way back to fitness.

4 Feb: swim training with Coach Alex Tung.

5 Feb: Rushed to ECP F2 to join Trifam's ENR's ride but ride got cancelled when i arrived. Showers over PA half of ECP. After a drink at Lagoon's food centre, left for a slow ride to Changi Village via Coastal Rd. Road was all dried, no sign of rain. Distance covered: 20km.

6-7 Feb: Chinese New Year Eve and Day, most places closed, including stadium and pool. No training.

8 Feb: Dragged Ed and myself out of bed at 7am for a walk to Bedok Reservoir and back. Distance covered about 7km. Surprised to find swimming pool opened. Did a revision of what was taught at Alex's lessons and then did 20laps of breaststroke without rest.

9 Feb: No training.

Good re-start.

Summary for period of 19 Jan - 3 Feb

Life after marriage. Wedding, honeymoon and settling down before starting training again.

19-20 Jan: Solemnisation and wedding reception.
21-22 Jan: Cleared outstanding bills from wedding.
23-28 Jan: Honeymoon. Stucked in traffice at Johor Causeway checkpoint, so had to miss Alex's lesson.
29 Jan - 3 Feb: No training. Adapting back to working life.

Summary for period of 1 - 18 Jan 08

Final preparations for wedding, managed to squeeze some work-out.

1 - 5 Jan: No training.
6 Jan: did a 6km run round the neighbourhood.
7 Jan: Got home early so did 20 laps at Tampines pool, with rest.
8 Jan: CBD Run. SGRunners CBD wing organised a Wedding run for IMD and Yeehua, Ed and me. Ed couldn't make unfortunately.
9-13 Jan: No training.
14 Jan: Started swim training with the legendary Alex Tung. Hope i can swim forward crawl before May comes.
15-18 Jan: Busy with wedding preparations, no training.

Summary for the period 2 - 31 Dec 07

Injured and stressed out for most of this month.

2 Dec 07: SCSM 07
3 - 30 Dec: No runs, no training. Instead, i spent this period screaming at my renovation contractor, carrying heavy junks from Dad's to my new place, heated arguments and discussion with parents etc.

But 2007 ended with a physical note nonetheless. Managed to lift my lazy butt to Tampines pool where i did 20 sets of 50m breast-stroke swim. Note: 20 sets and not 20 laps, difference lies in the rests in between laps.

So goodbye 2007 and hello 2008.

Summary for the period 18 Nov to 1 Dec

Not the best preparation for a marathon, nowhere near.

18 Nov 2007: Demoralising run.

19 Nov - 1 Dec 2007: No runs, no training.

Summary for the period of 3 - 17 Dec 07

Ok..... lots of reasons why i have not been running.. but the fact remains... i have not been running as regularly as i should.

3 Nov 07: Tigger's Family Run
4 - 17 Nov 07: No runs, no training, unless you talking about patience.

Summary for the period 24 Oct - 2 Nov

Slow build up for SCSM... too slow.

Wednesday, 24 Oct 2007: Wednesday run, Marina Promenade-Kim Seng-Marina Promenade.

25 Oct - 2 Nov 2007: No runs. Many excuses, mainly revolves around monitoring of renovation works at the new place.