My "Grand Slam"

I made it.

I had officially raced every distance in the Olympic Games. 100m to 42.195km, track, road, mud, beach, gravel, stone, forest trail.

It was like earning the "grand slam".

It was 50% physical, 50% mental.

I mentally conquered it, there wasn't a single moment I felt like quitting, I knew I'll finish it anyway.

I need to work on my physique. I was just too unfit after missing 2 marathon opportunity and left with 3 weeks to prepare.

Way forward. Although it's my first marathon, it was my #106 registered race. I'm learning from every race and my experience has made me self-motivated. If I were to improve my time, I need to prescript a better training system.

Counting down to the finish line

It's finally here, isn't it?

The final start line to the final finish line that I started 13 years.

I could envisage that the journey will challenge me to the verge of break down.
It's time to raise your ability to a higher level.

The finish line will be the start line to another journey which is in my wish list since I was 12.

And it is time.

500 July

In February, I twisted my right ankle 90 degree inward and was forced to put away my running shoes for 3 weeks. It was one of the worst injury in recent years and I know that recovery is the key. I performed all the recovery strategy and the decision was right. I recovered faster than my estimation and the dilemma if I am able to run my first marathon in June was gone. My right ankle is good to go after 1 month. Unfortunately the marathon is postponed to September due to the haze.

Today, I went to hike my favourite forest trail as usual. As I was sitting on this rock, I have managed 499km since this year, something which I only managed to reach in October last year. Just one more kilometer back home to hit 500.

After each hike, I like to sit on the highest rock on the hill, feel the breeze, watch the sunset and recharge. I mean, who doesn't enjoy the scenery after a busy day.

Energized, recharged and keep running. Since the marathon is postponed to later, I can restructure my routine to finish stronger. I am a science person, even when it comes to sports. For me, sports are science, your technique is bio-mechanics and physics, your diet is chemistry, pain is bio-indicator. To be fit, you need to know the science of your body.

Yes, and I won't be the first to be caught by zombies.

Weekend at Kiasu-land

I was out of the country and I didn't feel that I was in a foreign land. I was surrounded by Malay, Chinese, Indians...but wait, there were no banglas. Singapore is a very organised and well-managed country, perhaps too organized. I won't comment much on this as I was there for only 2 days.

Back to the main point. I was here for a gathering which I anticipated for one and a half year. The only setback was that we couldn't keep in touch well because there's no wifi outside Changi Airport. Anyway, I made full use of my time there at Sentosa Island and Marina Bay. I didn't take any pictures there but Gardens by the Bay is a nice piece of artificial beauty.

Well, about the wedding. I wondered if Marco is the son to the richest man in Singapore but a wedding dinner in the Flower Dome is very $$$!!! It was a romantic and grand wedding (Probably the most 'eye-opening' I've ever attended). But the most important thing is the reunion with my HYLI friends. It's glad to see each other again. A night of laughter, teasing and laughing at our differences, appreciating the wonderful chemistry and camaraderie. (Where can you find  a bunch of friends who are willing to travel all the way to you wedding despite having to know them for just one week). We discussed about our next reunion in Malaysia and they were busy learning the Malaysian's way of speaking. The conclusion is you just simply add "lah" at the end of every sentence then you will be very much a Malaysian.

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people, my Singaporean friend (who is half a Penangite) fetched me to my friend's place after the wedding. I had a wonderful breakfast and good chitchat with Ivy and headed over to meet the Doctors. They force-fed me. Being a doctor, they should be merciful!!! =DDD

I rushed to the airport as I was a bit late. Dr. Cheng refused to let go off my arms at the MRT. But still I managed to reach on time.

This is my first time travelling to a foreign place alone without feeling lonely, not a single moment.

I am missing my friends badly. I don't really miss Singapore. The next round will be Malaysia and I am all ready to become a good host for my friends. =)

Till we meet again.

Bruised Yi, not Bruce Lee

This is the diary of an athlete.

Athlete, always share their best times.

Have you ever seen athlete showing their bad times? Except LCW No, RIGHT?

Here's the thing. Being a track athlete for many years, I like to go around the track and play with javelin, triple jumps after finishing my routine. When I retired from the track, road race is my only choice. It's kinda bored sometimes when the route is not as scenic as I want. Ahem...one day I decided to add some spice into my regular training (apart from hiking).

This is my souvenir from the Viper Challenge.

hmmm...it doesn't ache, but the bruise is quite obvious.

If you cannot feel it, it's not an injury because it should be painful.

Those scene in the movie aren't that real but I do respect actors who never use stuntman in action.

Tabik!

Ultra Fine Dining Experience

It's not my first time attending fine dinner. But this was a spectacular one.

Appetizer :
A piece of cracker, a thin slice of fish dressed with a few petals and leaves served on a plate at a size of a steering wheel.
In short, a bird feed. This is not cool at all.

Main course :
The name of the dish is so long that even the acronym goes like this "GHFACCFPMSYVALSASSS".
In short, a fish dish. The portion was as much as the wording that I had hard time finishing the dish. But in the end I did because Hake fish is not the kind of fish which you get to eat anytime.

Presented a Toast in a non-Toastmaster event. Couldn't be counted as a project speech because there's no evaluation but I was complimented by Datuk Dr Rebecca. =D *delighted

Dessert : Gelato perfecto! *double delight

Overall : A night of camaraderie.

The comfort zone

The truth is I never like to speak in the public. I prefer small groups where idea exchange and information sharing is easier. Since I join the Toastmasters, I begin to feel comfortable speaking to different people at different occasion.

Five years ago when I joined UM Toastmasters, my comfort zone was the piece of chair which I was seated until president Kimmy pushed me to do my ice breaker speech.

Three years later after I have done 10 speeches, I was no longer a seated person in the room, juggling with multiple roles, smiling wide as I was no longer the shy girl. One of the important lessons learnt from K. Logandran, to become a real learner, you need to put your ego aside.

Two years ago, I actively participated in other Toastmasters Club activities, club contests, as test speaker, being evaluated openly. Soon I realised that I no longer fear of making mistakes. Yes, the reason why I fear of public speaking is the fear of looking bad in front of the public. K. Logandran's word replays everytime I speak.

Now, I can easily give a 5 minutes speech of the cuff. When HYLI called me to present a toast for the upcoming send off dinner, I said 'yes' without thinking twice. I mean why waste time thinking over something which you will do in the end, i.e. if you feeling like farting now, why wait till tomorrow.

I would say it is my first time to give a toast, moreover in front of VIPs, reporters and many professionals. So I'm all prepared to give my first public speech outside my Toastmasters zone. A new comfort zone to discover.

OK, just do it, then freak out later.