It was pouring again..2 hours before the intended long night ahead. Mentally prepared (not sure about physically) and getting a little anxious on how the night is going to turn out - yet I can't wait to see the outcome.

The 4 of us started 7.25pm at ECP F2 with xz giving instruction on the next checkpoint to meet up/water/toilet/walk break. Nice pace I would say with a buddy pacing me all the way to Changi point. Thanks Yankee!!... With Tao as the support vehicle waiting for us, time to re-fuel with bananas, swiss roll, H20! Distance checked ~14.5k according to Garmin. Physical condition checked - all good, no blister, no discomfort.

Ready to make our way back to F2, for whatever reason, the 'engine' wasn't that smooth. Strides was a lot shorter. I'm mostly on my own on the 2nd half..with the other 3 slowly dissapering from my sight...wohoo!!! Ok.. it wasn't really that bad with my trusted and all time favourite 93.3 accompanying me. I think it was somewhere along the 20k-ish.... I'm feeling really sore on the knees. Upper body was still perfectly fine. Gotta switch to run-walk cuz the 'run' was as 'fast' as a brisk walk :) The never ending coastal road finally come to an end and morale was a little high knowing that F2 is not that far away.

Happily munching on a bar of kit kat and stride the way to F2. Job Done! Time check: 4:30hr including water/toilet/walk break. Distance covered: 29.7km. The legs..... sore!!! but the endorphin kick and sense of satisfcation outweigh the soreness :) I think I'm beginning to like....LSD...hahahah..

Thanks XZ, Fennel, Yankee and Tao for a good nightout and TCSS under the stars.....

The sky was gloomy when I change to my swim gear. Looking at the sky the moment I step out from the changing room, the uncle in front was doing exactly the same. Just that he's still in his working attire. He looked at me and smile... "got lightning over there, dunno can swim or not". I pondered a while but was still having the "JUZ DO IT" mentality. I jump in to the pool while uncle walk out and say he'll give it a miss. Another uncle who has already done many many laps teach me how to tell if the lightning is near us. Count to 10 blah blah blah... and he concluded that it's still far away..safe to swim.....

So I went...... 1 lap...stop.. check out the sky. Darrkkkkk.........Another lap back. Stop. Check out... Lagi darkkk.....I chicken out, went for shower and watch DVD :)

Oh btw...it's a wise choice to chicken out cuz it pours like no tomorrow after that......

What am I thinking......I must be out of my mind yesterday. Trying to squeeze in a few 'first time' in a long run.

First, it was my longest run (distance / time spent) in 2010. Next, it was my first time wearing a new pair of shoe (with barely 1km mileage on it) and then it was also my first time using a hydration bag. I'm being exposed to all kinda of risk - abrasion by the hydration bag? will the new shoe gives problem? will I be able to surive that 'long' distance in the first place. Will I DNF?

Thankfully thankfully...... it turn out to be pretty well:

the shoe : amazed me that it gives me no blister at all. I need at least 4 plaster even on my seasoned shoe. With this, I have none. Simply love the light weight though it gives me a little numbness on my sole. :)

the hydration bag: wasn't as heavy as I have imagine. No bouncy feeling. Simply love the drink as and when I want without the need to look around for vending machine/7-11.

the long run: well... I initially intend to target a 3 hour run but it ended up as 3.30hr. And I finally..... finally managed to hit the 2xkm after donkey months!!! My legs were pretty sore after hitting the 3hr mark but I'm amazed yet again that I'm not feeling any discomfort aka ITB,knee,PF problem. Hmm..... maybe the shoe really helps?? I need a few more round to confirm the fact :)

Just do not understand how the body works at time. Last Sunday 12km 2XU at Sentosa really drained me off for whatever reason (it's hilly but it's not really that bad) and the next day I'm aching all over as if I've just completed a marathon. Today, after a 3.30hr session, I'm feeling perfectly fine. Just that little bit of soreness..... **scratch head*** oh well...I guess that's a good thing....

While leaving this blog untouch and getting rusty, I should probably start making some effort to keep it alive.... with some new random thoughts and while I'm available to spent time on blogging...haha :)

It still amazed me without fail, how much Facebook can offer to us. To a certain extent, I find it rather scary.... For people whom I've not met for many many many years...maybe at least 15 years or more? Just today, I suddenly saw their faces in FB and I don't think I would have known this person until I saw their name and their 'friends' in FB. Where's that handsome and young xxx that I knew when I was in secondary school? How come they've put on so much weight? How come they are having lesser hair? Reality sunk in when I too realized..that we (me) are all getting..... 'matured' each day...hahaha.....

And before you knew it.....a quarter of 2010 is gone...... :)

Everysince I came back from the business trip, my body clock has gone a bit haywire...It's been more than a week, I'm geting there but not really back to norm yet. Firstly, the jetlag was terrible, I can be tossing in bed in the middle of the night till the wee hours. And since then, I have not been able to go to bed and wake up at my usual timing. Yeah... I have problems..BIG one waking up on time for work and for morning workout on Sunday. So bad..that I woke up totally forgot if the alarm clock has ever rang... I ended up late at work and paying 2 ERPs of more than $4 on several occasions in comparison with $0 if I can wake up on time!!!!

And so...it was back to swim class after 1 week of absense. The menu was rather simple..In fact the simplest combination I ever had. BUT simple does not equate to easy. Started off with 20laps with buoy and paddle. Then....... 3 sets of 10 x 50m. I hate 50m aka speed work! Both swimming and running! The pant-till-lung-burst kinda feeling.... 10 laps maybe...but 30?? Killer loh!!! Needless to say...I tried my best for 2 sets...and half way through the 3rd set... it ended up as a cool down....haha......

Sometimes I really wonder what sort of mentality that some people out there is having - declaring, well...indirectly boasting about their performance. Yes, I'm refering to the context of the forum and facebook in particular. Yes it's their choice, say whatever they want. I can choose not to read them if it irritates me. Still....it irritates me and I am just ranting this out in my own blog......Typical example can be:

1) I did slightly under 40mins for 10km. Very slow lah...
Common lah... be sensitive to others ok

2) I swam 4k under 1.30hr
What are you trying to say or expect fellow readers to respond? WAHHH you so fast ah?? happy?

3) Barely 45km - I'm so fat!
Nothing to say.....

4) I'm not fast as xxx lah... did sub 3:45hr last SCM only
I wish I could use an anonymous to respond. Ya so slow..can't even qualify for BQ

Oh..and not forgetting the all time favourite "I AM SLOW".

I had a totally different kind of irritation at work and my colleague was telling me that she is very 'zen' nowadays and will neutralize everything she sees/read. Good idea I thought. I should probably do the same - need to teach the brain to neutralize the unnecessary irritation :)

1 day to Friday!!!!!!

London - 6C' Cold......

My 3rd time touching down at this marvelous city since Uni days - which also marks the time where I start to go for an independant life. It never fails to bring back fonds memories.

I was arranged to stay in Maidenhead this time instead of Windsor since this is where the office is located. Now I know.... Windsor is such a luxury including the hotel I'm staying, with the castle right in front and streets of shops and shopping center within walking distance. Holiday Inn Maidenhead, all I see was a petrol kiosk with minimart and residential area. Yet to explore in an hours time to find my way to the train station.

The room..... I was given a pigeon size room that can only fit me and myself. Nevermind about that. I'm not too bothered. Longing for a warm shower after 14 hours travelling, I was greeted by luke warm/cold water. To cut the story short, it took me 3 phone calls before I have someone appearing in my room to take a look. I doubt they can do anything.

Then I was given a free upgrade to an executive room! Bigger room, bigger bed of course - but still..nothing compare to Windsor..haha....

London shopping spree starting in 2 hours time :)