Tuesday, May 22, 2007

How running is like a boxing match

I've just discovered an inspiring fact. Especially in contact sports, an attack or a defence move is simple and can be easily defined. Boxing is about exchanging blows. Judo is about slamming. Wrestling is about pinning down your opponents.

But there are some sports in which an attack or defence move involves no contact at all.

Picture a 1500m race. When a runner takes the lead, he is launching an attack on the rest of the runners. They see him going faster and farther and risk losing if they don't keep the gap to a minimum. Hence they are forced to go faster. And what happpens when they need to go faster? They breathe harder. Their leg muscles work harder. Blood gushes faster. And the mind is challenged with many thoughts. Can I sustain? Will I have enough energy for later? Why does it seem too hard?

A defence move is equally or more beautiful. Some will react by overtaking the one trying to get the lead. This is aggressive. And great to watch. Some will just try to close the gap. And then wait at the right time to take the lead and hopefully maintain to the finish line. But there are those who could only close the gap but they are still behind. That's when it's important to be able to "attack" in order to win races.

So running is also like a boxing match. The runners "attack" one another.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Falling trees

Recently a spate of incidents has happened in the most puzzling and strangest manner. In less than two weeks, three people have died due to falling trees. Even the latter sentence sounds funny. But the truth is it really happened. And the families have lost their loved ones. And another bizarre fact is that already a second death is reported in Mount Ophir in less than two weeks. That's where I was four weeks ago. I want to ask why the incidents happened back- to- back. All within two weeks. It's dramatic. Have you seen how uncertain the weather is nowadays? One day it's dry and hot. Tomorrow rains like never before. I think it does something to the trees.

These events made me realize how vulnerable we humans are. We are not talking about prowling hungry tigers and lions or fatal motorcycle accidents. Who would have guessed that the innocent tree could kill? Hence it is easy for human beings to die. I'm scared.