The Race.

This is one of my main event of the year and I somehow decided to give it only a 80% effort race so I can enjoy Every single moment without having to pant like I'm gonna die anytime of the next seconds.. FYI, i've always been doing that for the past don't know how many years ever since I started doing sports.. doing my best and doing Too Much.

However, I'm starting to grasp the real intention and meaning of doing long distance races and however short this Singapore Biathlon is to many of you old birds out there, it will be a good start for me to learn how to Enjoy the Endurance game. :D

So, I spent 2 hrs last nite preparing for everything I need...
Tri suit - Checked
Goggles (Clear, red tinted, clear tinted) - Checked
Vaseline - Checked
Anti fog - Checked (thanks Fred)
Water - Checked
Shoes and Socks - Checked
Number belt - Checked
Shades - Checked
Time table - Checked
Race venue address - Checked
Extra clothes - Checked
Warm up gears - Checked
Watch - Checked
Bottle of honey drink (better than powergel to some extent) - Checked
Money - Checked
Phone - Checked
Race confirmation slip - Checked
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Then I meditated and I visualized every single possible detail that I can think of from the moment I wake up until I finish the race.

So reached there at 7.15 sharp... everyone reaching was in super mini running shorts and running tops.. All long and slender bodies.. I look kinda out of place.. all have friends to go with but I'm there alone.. I look at myself, and I learned the first thing in endurance race (learn to back down your ego, and laugh at yourself for the sake of fun and enjoy :)).. I laughed at the way I look, way too muscular and quite bulky to be a swimmer or runner... But yes, I'm indeed, both combined. :)

The weather looked bad.. lightning clouds everywhere.. and it drizzled when me and this new friend Lawrence went for warmup swim after our registration, changing into tri suit and also crapping for the one final time, hoping we'll crap the butterflies in our stomach out.. :D It worked! haha..

Anyway, after the warmup, we went back for a drink and lawrence told me to try to slow down my swim a little bit and my run will benefit alot more! So I tried.. I started right at the first line of swimmers and in the middle too.. hopefully my pictures turn out nice. haha.. and when I swam towards the first buoy, it was clear traffic! hehe.. in fact, most of the time it was clear traffic except for the 2 to 3 turns... got quite messy.. but yeah, was able to maintain composure through self talk and also the visualizations i did...

When I finish the swim, i was surprised to find that i am 3 mins faster than previous year's timing.. and the best thign is because i held back, i am still damn fresh!

haha.. so, took my time in transition, soaking into the atmosphere before beginning my long lonely run.

So, 10k, here we go! The first 2k felt a little hard on the breathing but forced myself to control and did ok... then after 2k, my muscles FINALLY adapted to the transition (so slow.. lack of transition/brick training)... and it got into quite a good slow pace..

met this super ego pti guy.. started chatting abt fitness without knowing he's a PTI and qualified fitness instructor.. so i said I teach swimming and also do abit of personal training la.. then the chat went fine.. and then guess what.. when i mentioned abt learning from Mr chan.. and i wanna recommend him cos chan's really good.. he goes like "I'M A PTI U NOE??? I GOT MY FI CERT 10 YEARS AGO!!"

i was like oh.. ok ok... good (so thats how outdated you are..)... haha.. then i say PTI also can learn wat.. never hurt to learn.. then he say "I GOT A LOT OF CERTS ALREADY!"... then i ask did you get NSCA ? and he said oh.. strength and conditioning ar.. SAF only got 2 ppl have.. then I say oh.. good la.. then i should join to make it THREE. :Ppp HAHAHHA... He jit tao DIAM DIAO LOR...

HAHAHAHA...

so we reached the 5km mark and i just went on faster cos we're going way too slow... and surprisingly, i was able to push all the way to the end and finish DAMN STRONGLY with a SMILE! :D

Timing was the same as last yr.. but i remember finishing the race last yr like a dog panting for his last breathe.. but this yr.. the current was stronger and I managed to finish my swim faster! and when i finish my run, even though its slower than last yr by 2 mins.. i never felt difficulty even though i pushed thru the last 3km... absolute victory to myself!!!

am very very very happy with my performance... went home and still can cycle to teach swimming... not enuff!!! i want more!!!!

I love the atmosphere.. i'm sure triathlons will be much more cooler.. and in time to come.. HIM, IM AND DECA IM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hereby, I thank Dear, Buddy, Mr chan and Jingfu, Chong, Fred and all the rest who has been supporting me!!! :)

Love,
Sinner

To those who think i'm arrogant, fuck off. I am just passionate about what I do and I say things in a "straight in your fuck face" manner. I know I have a lot to learn, and those who are sincere in teaching me and who has taught me, would have seen how I am willing to listen and change as long as its for the better. So, those who read this post and don't like it, don't judge, for you are Not qualified once you have the intention to judge. :D