never doubt myself again

The words printed on every banner as i lifted my head "Run Your Own Race"

I was thinking to myself. Different people run for different purposes. therefore, that saying is true in every sense because you are running to achieve. your goal.

i completed the marathon of 42.195km on 2nd Dec 2007 with a timing of 04:43:45:95! it is not exactly fabulous but i am proud of it. My target was under 5 hours.

starting off at the starting line with me at 0530 (crazy timing i know, but it's pretty cool to be in the town area running so early) was Zihao and Weiyang. Zihao was super high while i seemed a bit tense. haha. afterall the long preparation was all for this ultimate run. we were standing in the sub 4 hours box (act zai a bit) and at 0530 sharp, the horn went off and off we go. on our 42 km!

1st stretch was Marina area. wind was great, no sun, i know my pace was good. i lost track of the two of them. i was thinking they went to the toilet or something. found them and lose them again. so i just decided to follow the race slogan of running my own race. and i believe they will want me to go ahead too.

i am beginning to go past area i have never been to. there was this building at this marina south pier and it is pretty. like a glass house. i swear i will be there someday to really see what it is. heard some runners say the food there is not bad! o ya, and i spotted the kenyans running past on the opposite road (yeah they are that fast!)

so it was a big round back to the starting point at esplanade bridge and off we go towards ECP. sun is coming out now but it is still pretty cooling at this point of time. supporters make my day. their cheering really pushed me on. at the bridge, people offered bananas and water (out of their own pockets!). u see, that's the spirit of keeping everything fun and cool the way they are doing it.

it was up Nicoll Highway and then Kallang. just as i was going to turn into ECP at Fort Road, i saw Sharon (weiyang's girlfriend). then next, it was a super amazing moment. the first runner (Kenyan i suppose) was on the other side. meaning he has completed his whole ECP and running back to the finishing line!! i was stunned. i looked at the big timer on top of this car and it reads somewhere 1 hour 40 - 50 minutes plus.

alright, a left turn into ECP and this is the playground for runners! it's just one straight stretch of road with the turning at the 26km mark. i was super motivated at this point of time because i know i am going to go into my longest distance ever ran (furthest was 21km). as i was indulged in that thought, the 21km mark appeared and i checked my watch. 2 hours 10 minutes. unknowingly, i broke my own personal record (was 2hour 14 minutes) and my next thought was fear of over exertion on the 1st half stretch.

"aiya, heck la, just run" that's what i was thinking when i shook away that fear. just run man! ECP was fun. a lot of supporters and they were great. more free bananas! drinks were plentiful at the drinks station. as some of my practice runs were in ECP, it was actually a pretty good stretch. the view and wind were great but the sun was coming on and the heat is turning up.

at 27km, the fatigue and pain is catching up with me. 6km more than my longest distance ever. i have to stop for the first time in the race. i begin to walk and swallow my fourth power gel pack. then i saw hao and wei yang. seeing them just makes me wanna go again. and yeah off i go. didn't last long, stopped at 30km and subsequently almost at every 1.5km.

sun was coming down hard on us. burning skin, aching calves, tired quads, funny ankles, abrasions on underarms. at 35 - 36km, it was the most torturous moment of the race. took up 2 cups and pour water over my head and drank half a cup. glup down the last powergel. looked at my watch. wonder whether i can really make it under 5 hours. and i was just thinking, every step forward is one step closer to the finishing line. so i went.

last 3 km. somewhere near esplanade. supporters were there. and they were cheering so hard that if you don't run, you seem to be letting them down. picked up my fatigue body and pounded the concrete with heavy steps. but as i move closer to the line, cheers get louder and it just gives me more motivation to run faster. so i unknowingly picked up speed. and for that last 3 km, i didn't stop a single step. i just ran.

beep. i pressed my watch and it says 4 hr 43 mins. and i smiled to myself. i did it. =)i shall never doubt myself again.


PS: Hao, the cramps were really most unfortunate but i am real proud of you completing the race even under such undesirable condition. seriously, you're the man.

Weiyang, good job in the race! try again next year and we shall aim higher.

Wee Ling, great effort!! this is the first of many to come right.pick up more tips from work and i am sure we will go to greater heights

Ling Xiu: Fantastic. 4th in age group among the girls! so are u migrating to Kenya soon?

Fana: Thanks for the loud shout at the last stretch. it really works! a pity u cant run due to your flu. next year. see ya with the black tee!

also to those familiar faces during the race. yun kay, amy, sharon and wei bin etc. you all contributed to me finishing the race. thank you!

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008. here i come!

but let me rest my legs for at least a week first! deep heat, here i come!


biting my way through.we are all real tired


that's us. finished!


the finisher's tee.

Hectic!

woooh, yesterday mark a gruesome 34 hours of work with only 1.5 hours of sleep.

fri morning 0730, hao and i went back to SAJC to check out an Amazing Race organised by the very CCA we set up 2 years ago, Saints Sports Club. She is now under its fourth batch of leaders! what a nostalgic feeling when we were back there seeing what they were doing. the passion and energy they exude while in work is just a reflection of what the four of us (Hao, Teresa, Mei Ling and me) were like. doing everything we can in our limits to go for success and victory.

It is an Amazing Race organised for St Hilda's Secondary School. it's an event for a leadership camp for the student counsellors in St Hilda's. the current president, Chloe, is the ex president of the student counsel which explains the co-operation between the two schools. hao and i were attached to two different teams. mine was H (hotcakes). these kids are just incredible. their drive to win is amazing. They literally run everytime they get a chance to do it, off the bus, in the linkway, off the train, in the shopping centre and more! i have a hard time catching up with the huge bag (which i will explain why) i am carrying. went to places like Esplanade linkway, Bugis Junction, Harboutfront and more. i must say the task they have to do are very creative (well done SSC!) and i can see the counsellors have lots of fun doing it. well my team didn't come in first but well seriously, they did a great job and the team leader ,Geneieve and Zi Sheng, who are first time leaders are like old time experienced veteran in their roles.

all in all, i'm proud of SSC and how they still kept up the spirit we intended them to have. the energy and gun-ho-ness of performing the best. keep it up guys, keep us proud!

the whole thing ends around 7+. and we have to report to Sentosa at 8! hahaha, having no choice, hao called ziwan to told her we will be late for half an hour. the long commute finally ends at Siloso beach at 9! haha. we were surprise to see that it was such a big event. they have huge blow-ups, things like the human sphere in which one person goes into and rolls around, huge dinning area and many food stalls. we prepared the various logistics till about 4+! and the worst thing came next!

just as we were preparing to walk to collect our costume (theme is nautical, pirates and sailing) from Glenn (boss). the storms sets in. extremely chilly wind, torrential downpour and simultaneous lightnings. we were all trapped under a small shelter which did not prove very useful against the strong chilly wind. i have a jacket which i lend to one of the girls who was only wearing spag and shorts!. so we were trapped there and the chill is just bad. real bad. hao and i were kind of exhibiting signs of "hypo-thermia". shivering, unclear speech, mind is not thinking right, suicide thoughts. hahaa. u name it, we have it. sat down and surprisingly, we fell asleep. next thing i know, we were about to make a dash to the chalet which is like a 5 minutes walk!

reached the chalet. wet cold and hungry. went to take a bath. we were told that there was hot water but to our dismay, it was only a normal showerhead. nevertheless, drenched in sweat, sand and rain, we proceed to bath. the water may not be warm but it's still accceptable because i think the temp of the water is higher than the temp outside (with the storm and the wind). the chalet is like a conglomeration of 4 attap houses, each with 4 beds within. very small, not much facilities. just beds, lights and aircon. it's now 5.30am. being extremely exhausted, we slept. for 1.5 hr to wake up at 7am.

smae routine, wash up, change to the clothes we were intending to wear. went down to the beach to help out. we went around, salvaging what the storm did to the site. fallen barricade, boundaries, flooded blow-ups and more. with group effort, we make it just in time before the event. went to put on the costume. it's just a vest (shiny! mine is golden!), a badana and a red sash. used camo cream to put two lines under my eyes and a pirate sword made out of balloons! haha. wearing costume is always fun. and all the instructors were dressed up in various pirates and sailor costume. we even have jack sparrow, elizabeth and davie jones! the event was fun and my job is to be the stallkeeper of this little pinball game. u know, a lot of pins along the board and 7 lanes in the end, the marble has to manuever through the various paths and go to the lanes. i let the particpants choose 3 lanes and total of 4 tries to get into each individual lane. there were a lot of people and i didn't have chance to even sit down. i must say the company is really big to organise such a family day (should pay us more!). the whole thing ended in a bang with the lucky draw and all the instructors were so crazy at the end. shouting cheering and dancing. real great. by the time the whole thing ends, it is at 2pm alr. packing up, wash up took us 2 hours and we were reaedy to leave at 4.30. took the bus to harbout front and went home.


what a tiring 34 hours! but it's fun =)

Apologise

You know how sometimes you can just go and download some songs like they are any other songs.

you won't realise the meaning and how nice it really is unless you open up yourself to it when you listen.

today, i was on the bus with my ipod. then this song came on and simply took my soul away.

Enjoy guys... =)


Apologise

by: Timbaland ft Onerepublic

I’m holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground
And I’m hearing what you say
But I just can’t make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down
But wait...
You tell me that you’re sorry
Didn’t think I’d turn around and say..

That it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late

I’d take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
(But that's nothing new)
Yeah yeah

I loved you with a fire red, now it’s turning blue
And you say
Sorry like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I’m afraid

It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
Woahooo woah

It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, yeah yeah
I said it’s too late to apologize, a yeah

I’m holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground...

Sleep on it

We, humans, can get over confident of yourself. you thought you can do it.. but it turns out you can't. you just can't fool yourself or deceive everyone around you. sometimes you will realise all that time used to prepare and build your fort is just pure useless. if it is going to get you, it will get you. it just knows its ways to.

sleep on it. just sleep on it, divert all your focus away from this troubling thought. Go for a run, go for a swim, go to work, go out with your friends, go for class.

but from experience, no matter how much you numb yourself, it just comes right back in that single second when your mind is idle.

Love can do this to you.

*sometimes you just wish for a shoulder to be there for you.. sometimes..*

Cars & Driving License!

Ever since i turned 18, i've been thinking of getting my license! yet it's only till now (20 years old) that i'm going for my first TP (Traffic Police Driving Test). i guess we just have to postpone some plans ya? haha

Woo.. scary.. my TP is this coming Friday.. 17th at 1545 (so if you happen to be or know any reckless drivers around Bukit Batok, CCK, Teck Whye & Jurong area, please ask them to avoid driving out between 1545 to 1700 ok? thanks!).

A lot of people asked me whether i can pass on my first attempt. i don't really know how to answer them. haha because it really depends. my instructor told me there are 5 elements to consider in the whole test which are driving skills, courtesy, luck, weather and the testor himself. i guess my driving skills are ok (given the fact i have not bump into any car SO FAR.. haha)and i am definitely courteous! so.. out of 5, i can only control 2 elements! so tell me the odds.. it really depends man. but.. you can wish me luck! i need lots of that!

I made my dad to promise to lend me his car this weekend if i pass ( of course he has to orientate me first and his car is rather huge compare to the one i am learning in!) . seriously, i kind of have a phobia driving his car (Toyota Picnic: see below). Esp during turning and steering. haha! well well.. guess that's always insurance (touch wood)!!


Toyota Picnic.. his is light blue though

of course, like every other typical guy, i will fantasize on the cars i will own in the future (maybe 5 or 6 years down the road). nevertheless, there is short term,mid term and long term goals.

Short term means something small and sporty which leads me to the Suzuki Swift Sports. It is not exactly very fuel economic because practical consumption is about 9-10km per litre (from my many hear-says and read up). But i like its chic and sport design. Its bright yellow attracts me the most, like a little spit fire. cost about $62k at current COE prices. Quick survey of the car tells me the backseat is rather small but still able to house 3 mid size adults.


Overall View


Chic eh? =)


Driver's 'cockpit' and dashboard


Stylish and Sporty red and black combi..

Mid term target. Just thinking bout the next car makes me excited. This is a rather new model which is imported from Europe. So far i've not seen one on the road yet. Its design is perfected from many generations of ascendants.

The Honda Civic Type R (shortnamed CTR) is one hot hatchback automobile. Its three door design and sleek streamline somehow makes it look like a bullet wheezing past all vehicles on the road. Bearing the badge with an 'H' with a deep red background, it proves itself to be one of the hottest and newest kid in the Japanese sports car arena.


Overview..


Backview..pay attn to the exhaust. they're streamlined in and not sticking out in an ugly way


Side profile..


Driver's cockpit and dashboard (Spore version will be on the Right side)


Cool seats eh.. i just love the combination of red and black.

~WAKE UP~.. pass TP first!!

wish me luck k!

Family Day 290707

Family day was great! in case you don't know, i (along with Zihao) are volunteers with the Singapore Children Society (SCS). we are involved in a program call Sunbeam friends which we go down to the centre in Redhill to interact and teach the kids there certain important values and also help organise outing/activites for them.

SO....we were given the task of organising this family day for the kids and their family. we started planning around june (if i didn't remember wrongly!) and trust me, it was a lot of hard work put in! there are 5 of us in the planning committee! Chai Ling (events ic), Sabrina (logistics ic), Kenneth (team coordinators ic), Zihao (games ic) and me (the main event ic)! they were a great team to work with and i really look forward to working with them again. as we are all working adults, we have to sacrifice our leisure time for the planning and discussion. but as we all said, it's worthwhile as long as the families enjoyed it!

alright, let me bring you through the Family day.

we assembled at Redhill around 815. zihao and his team was already there. the families poured in at 830. the stores were asssembled and groups organised by around 845. we hop onto the bus and off we go to the beautiful Botanic Gardens!

well, everything must start with a warm up right. so zihao, who was the games ic, exhibit his 'inborn' talent of cheering and led the family into ' warm up exercise'!


With the help of our beloved Wenhui!


the kids are starting to sweat it out! and enjoying in the meanwhile!


alright, that marks the ending of warm-up and the start of the main event

warm-up was great and from the face of the families, i can predict that they are going to enjoy this fun and exciting day! following on is our 1st games which we named "Disappearing Island". simply (i guess a lot of us played it before), there is a mat which the groups will have to stand on and it will get smaller and smaller. therefore along the way, teams who CANNOT get everyone to stand on the mat will be eliminated until only 1 winner is left!


Weili ain't going to make things easy for this group!!


Renjie kept his cool!!


Smile!! No matter how 'tight' the situation is!


We have a WINNER!!


sidenote: he is super cute ain't he??

Alright! of course, we do give them a break after every game (though at that time, the sky looks threatening!!) 2nd game is Aqua Shoes. basically there is a starting and endling line. and his team member will have a cup with a hole underneath tied to his feet with a rubber band. so he/she would have to balance the cup with water and walk towards a bucket about 6 metres away and without using his/her hands, pour the water into the bucket! or.. did i mention that there is a hole at the bottom of the cup? *evil grin*


our station ics are briefing the families. there!! those two in green lo. Fion & Yongjia!


Yongjia preparing for a demonstration of the game!


off we go~!!


Wenhui: "i don't get it.. u can definitely move faster than that!!"


we have Fareez showing off soccer skills and using it in the game


Chao Rui: "come on, squeeze somemore. can one!1"


the judges are trying to find the winner..

well, thanks to zihao for not doing his "no rain dance". it starts to drizzle and of course, as planned as part of wet weather, we moved to the nearby shelters. YET, the spirit was not dampened as we start playing games and shouting cheers louder than before!


hold hands and play the hula hoops!


what a nice shot of jiewen trapped in hoops.. =p


take a break now so as to gear up for what's coming up!!


Boon Wei and his mickey mouse hat!ps:he can really drive u mad!

Finally, the sky cleared and the rain stopped! the sun was out again and Sunbeam is ready to get on with the activities. our original plan was to play 2 additional field games. however we have to abolish it because of the time constraint and the muddy condition of the field. well, the most exciting part of the day, the Amazing Race starts with 5 teams playing 6 stations. the first one to reach the end point (which is also the start point) will be the champion for amazing race!


Rachel: "come on, faster!! cross the line"


enjoy the atmosphere of winning!


it's the spirit that counts! not the prize not the positions!

all in all, the family day was a great success. i really want to thank everyone who is involved or indirectly contributed to this wonderful day

Jiewen
Rozanne
Chun Shan
Auntie Judy
Zihao
Chai Ling
Sabrina
Kenneth Chia
Chao Rui
Ren Jie
Yong Chun
Wen Hui
Wei Li
Hui Ling
Fion
Yong Jia
Hui Min
Anna
Kenneth Lim
Cheryl
Si Ying
Xiang Yi
Wen Yi
Pang Si Ying
all the kids and parents who participated in this event~!

lastly, a tribute to the mickey mouse hats and those who wore them:









ONCE AGAIN, A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED!

i'm back!!

Hey peeps, i'm back!

whoah! my last entry was in April? haha. that's like.....3 MONTHS!! i guess people who used to read this must have stop visiting long time ago!

i rmb my blog because i was just chatting to a buddy about blog. and then i remember i HAVE a blog. well go ahead and laugh!!

so many months alr..so many things happen!!

firstly... i'm still under conscription! but well, it's closer to the end!! 7th April 2008!!

secondly... my driving lessons are ongoing. changed my instructor because my previous instructor really cannot make it (sleep while i drive, pay him to sleep!!). the current one is much better (at least he don't sleep while i drive!). the previous one don't even care whether i crash into a tree or not. should have try!! teach him a lesson!
haha

thirdly.. i'm a volunteer with Children Society (Sunbeam Programme). basically every saturday, we will go down to the centre at Bukit Merah to have a fun filled and educational session with the kids (usually about 20, though max is 40). it may mean nothing much, just 2 - 3 hours a week. but they (and us volunteers) learn a lot of things.

o ya! i'm in the committee which will organise a family day for about 100 (parents and children) on 29th July. which means, i gotta go work on the proposal now!!


will be back with updates soon =)

long break is over

woohoo. about 9 days of break since last friday! it was real good. anyway i took off so as to study for my exams at mdis.it can be consider a good break too i guess =)

well, two modules down and boy, it sure ain't easy. Human Resource Management (HRM) and Marketing Management (MM). HRM was ok but MM is real hard. use real life examples in the questions and expect us to know about it!! haha. if you diligently scrutinize everyday's newspaper, you might stand a chance. but it's over! just hope at least a B-. expecting at least a B+ for HRM (afterall i did well in the assignment ok!)

next two modules will be Operations and Supply Management and Business Economics. there goes my mon and thurs! class will start on 7th may. so i am still relax for a while before mugging.

people always say it is not easy to handle work and study part time. i finally realise it after these few months. it's like you have to work 8 to 5 and then rush for classes at 7 to 10 at night. it's super tiring and also the fact that you have to read up constantly, not only the given text but external ones like newspaper and newsweek, economics. wish me luck people!

well, i hope i can say all i did for the long off was study but no. haha. sleep till very late and slack around before starting. watch tv, chill here and chill there.
went gym 2 times (build those muscles!)

i guess i will sign out now. got work tomorrow.it's back to being a NSF. ORD soon pls

For my best buddy and his love!

On 25th September 2005, a guy and a girl got together as a couple.

Rated: Corny content below. Please bear with it!

The guy was and still is my best friend since our JC days. During our JC days, we did a lot of stupid things together. We also did what i believe, was what both of us would reckon as one of our greatest achievements in life so far. That is setting up Saint Sports Club together from scratch (with Teresa and Meiling too). I've seen all sides of him (trust me, i hate the naked side!haha. joking!) and it's really memorable to recall times when he's happy, sad, overjoyed, troubled and uncertain.

One thing i was proud of about him is that he finally found a beacon he was searching for after a long time of internal struggling. That is finding of his love whom is also one of my good friend.

She is also someone who has been through a lot. I've seen her go through a lot of difficult days before she became what she is today. Although on the outside, she is still the same bubbly cheerful person. i know that throughout the period that i've know her, she has mature a lot in terms of thinking and behaviour. and i'm truly proud of her.

to Zihao and Weijie,
i'm really happy for the both of u and it has not been a easy road since the beginning. and i believe you two can continue this journey together and don't forget your promise, i'll be the best man on your wedding!

Happy 18th month!

everything is just.. other things

when was the last time you were in the middle of a rain?

when was the last time when rainwater starts dripping down your hair and you are not bothered at all?

when was the last time you were soaked inside out and yet you still stroll through the rain?

i just did.
as stupid as it sounds, it was rather enjoyable.
the rain washes away your thoughts and leave nothing behind

i was carefree
....for that few minutes..

as soon as the shadow comes over me, the thoughts returned..

she is happy. and that's all that matters.
i was jealous. but it doesn't affect me anymore
and it was a confirmation for me...

it's time to let go and move on..
and i shall..


why do we always have to see so clearly? ain't this a beautiful scene too?

Tribute with photos!

This was Jielin and Me. Look at that. me with that brown-golden hair. Jielin with that vampire smile! haha. hey she really is a nice girl to start with.. and hang out with of course=)



Two Botaks out for lunch! haha! along with JieLin and BiShi then



remember the days? me,hao and bernard



S91 back in 2004..



Francis Hung! She bangs!



NEOPRINTS?! corny!



nerdy us.....



blowjobs!!



nice pee that zihao!



o man,Stella was so good..... in the photo i mean!




Zihao and Weijie... then =)