Ideas across

Education

2011-02-14T13:21:00.003+08:00

So how have you spent your education years? What was school like? Did you make lots of friends? How were your grades? Did you become a better person? School has got to be a significant phase in life. People lament how things learnt in school are not related to what they do afterwards from graduation ever since. But has it got to be exactly related to what you do for a living later on?

The fact is, school does prepare for work. For integration into society. Because at school, we learn to work with others. Interact. Manage social circles. Demonstrate professionalism. Develop confidence. And find true friends. And academic preparation is a test of discipline, punctuality, focus and so on. Just like work which as a simple example, requires puncuality at least. Think about coming to work on time. And turning up for lectures on time. There is a correlation.

The rat race in Singapore is pretty brutal. It's like and up- for- grabs race, with immigrants fighting together with the locals to make money. Immigrants have already shown they are capable of excelling in the service sector. And some have even settled down here in Singapore to get the best education the country can offer. Education in Singapore is big in the region. It has attained such a status as a result of decades of building reputation.

One young marriage

2011-02-01T22:38:00.002+08:00

Marriage is an institution. Marriage is bliss. Marriage is civilisation. Marriage is pure.

Hence it is no mistake to say that a young marriage, which means marriage of young individuals, can bring a great amount of happiness and contentment. It is based on the fact that the time spent together then would be greater. That equals greater happiness if the time spent was full of good things, even if there was occasional friction. But how could things go wrong, like what we've seen in society? Being too young to marry is out of question. But being able to be a husband or wife at a young age can be trying if either or both is not ready to commit.

There is a lot to ponder in marriage. It means getting to know your in- laws. Getting accepted into a wider family. Being faithful to your spouse. Being there always for each other. Sharing the same dreams and ideals. Sharing a goal. Making a living for one's self, another and the whole family.

Speed

2011-01-28T18:30:00.002+08:00

In what can be as simple as displacement can be a serious form of thrill. How exciting can speed be on the roads? Not until an accident or a meet- up with the police. But speed on the roads has its thrills based on what the engines can do and the unique landscape it can bring. What about speed round the bend? An even greater dare promising more excitement. Not to forget, a greater danger and risk. So this speed on the road is much like a dare, like dodging a bullet or skydiving or swimming shark- infested waters.

Speed is spectacular in sport. World- class 100m sprinters take every technical aspect and detail seriously. Biomechanics, reaction time and ability and running form are some of the aspects that decide if it is possible to go under 10 seconds or not. Once again the 100m has always been the most popular event in contention every Olympics. Football, too, is speed. The English Premier League is the most fast- paced game around that it so much can be a form of short, sudden and impromptu sprinting competitions. The most lethal forwards are the speedy ones, leaving the defenders in despair and gasping for air. Because these forwards are taught repeatedly to put the ball in the goal in the least time possible. It just makes the beautiful game thrilling.

Speed has been put equal to technology. Get something done in a faster time than before and it could become a new discovery, a new gadget. Who in the 1900s would have guessed what e- mailing could do? Man has always been trying to fight against time to as far as imagining teleportation.

Hari Raya 2010

2010-09-11T02:12:00.002+08:00

I could remember of another Hari Raya in the past which fell on a Friday. I was reminscing being in the mosque twice in a day. One for the Hari Raya prayers and another, the Friday prayers.

I could remember the streets i would pass by every year. Haig Rd. Tampines Rd. Hougang Ave 3.

Times have really changed. I've seen little boys grown up into teenagers, teenagers grown up into adults getting married next month.

And grandma. She raised me up till I was two. She had never scolded or shouted at me till i was at the point of breaking. She knew what i liked to eat. I could see in her eyes how much she cared for me.

"So have you found a job?" asked grandpa. It was only recently that i think i got closer to grandpa. I think we understood each other in some terms. He is jovial, humorous and good- natured.

I also met my uncle who was hospitalised for a lymph node complication. How could a misfortune be a blessing in disguise?

My cousin in National Service said about a confinement order and i asked him if that was for getting caught smoking in restricted premises. He said it was part of a routine.

And i wished another cousin of mine good luck in her exams. Which is, kinda my exams too.

Warna keeps airing well- wishers who break down at the end of their dedications on live radio. For every person, in this Hari Raya, there is surely something nostalgic to think about. Something that could probably stir emotions.

Where are all the others whom I have yet to meet today?

Art gallery

2010-09-09T01:22:00.005+08:00

Can someone explain what is the use of art galleries and museums? It is not exactly the best in generating revenues and entrepreneurial aspirations, but it still exists, standing tall in cities. It's like you need the phone and television, but you also want that lanscape picture hanging in the living room.

People buy Toyota Camrys, BMW 700 series and Land Rovers. But the Volkswagen Beetle, the Mini Cooper and Harley Davidson's is just as pricey, if not, greater.

So art still sells.

Jordan 2 Singapore 1

2010-03-04T11:10:00.002+08:00

A windy and cold Amman was the setting for the Asian Cup qualifier between the Middle East nation Jordan and one of the better Southeast Asian football countries Singapore. Jordan, backed by an amazing home crowd drew first blood by their most lethal forward in the match who resembles French attacking midfielder Karim Benzema.

Jordan executed multiple split- second moves. They used whatever spaces they could find. Their moves were fast, instantaneous, effective, accurate and stylish. On top of it all, they were more composed than Singapore. They attacked from all angles. The Jordanian midfield team kept the balls sent in from now and then. They were consistently on the prowl.

Singapore needs to improve. We played slow. We moved slow. We lacked rythm. If we were to analyse what needs to be done, there are a few aspects to look into. We have a fitness gap we need to bridge. We need to play with a lion's heart. We need to be more confident. We still lack the technical skills. We need to, as a team, be stronger.

Some of the notable performances by Singapore were of custodian Lionel Lewis, forward Noh Alam Shah, Jia Yi and the promising youngster, Harris.

We are out of the Asian Cup.

My attempt at photography

2010-03-03T22:32:00.005+08:00

No it is not anything about aperture effects, macro/ micro lens nor lugging the tripod around. It was just a pink Canon pocket camera and my attempt to capture.

The set above probably has a familiar theme: People. The theme interests me because we could see what emotions are. Wonder. Awe. Anticipation.

Children is another interesting theme. What could be more adorable?

I fancy scenes with great lighting effect. Such as the one of swirling waves basking in the bright sun rays. Totally amazing. There is something serene about the sea and I don't know what it is.

800m

2010-03-02T13:32:00.002+08:00

Recently, the track and field event 800m has really got me very fascinated. It is fascinating because of the lactic challenge involved.

Lactic build- up is a funny feeling. It's a bit like medicine. It's not nice. But it's good. A definite paradox.

Above is the picture of a true world champion. He is the Canadian record- holder over 800m, arguably the most gruelling, tactically and physically event in track and field. Before the Osaka world championships a few years ago, the Canadian team stopped over Singapore. I literally saw Gary Reed doing 200m repeats at 22- 23 seconds. He was doing it multiple times. He didn't sweat. That was one of the most amazing things I saw at Gombak. For an amazing standard he has reached he definitely has aerobic capacities and lactic threshold levels far far superior than any of us.

To run 2 laps in 1:43 is crazy. You will know it when you realize it on the running track.

My sister and me

2009-12-27T22:45:00.002+08:00

Bowling alley.

Stance.

"Put in more strength!"

She smiled. She laughed. She hopped and tiptoed. I laughed. I chuckled. I didn't talk much. At one time I wanted to see how stronger I could swing and see how hard the ball can crash. More strength does makes sense. It'll hit more.

She was good at keying in. She had her own style. No strength but style. I think she got a spare before.

"You need to drop it at the centre. See the line? Find the centre, the middle. In that way you could hit the middle duck."

"Why are you dreaming? I waited so long."

"No I was looking how good they were bowling.", she reasoned.

"Why do I always have to wait? I've finished paying and you were supposed to follow me."

She was looking at some pens at the counter.

How is work?

2009-11-08T22:24:00.002+08:00

The last few weeks have seen design and brand engineering, some mathematics and the occasional issues of personal ambitions and upbringing. There have been attempts at very technical computerised drawing too. Electronics has a odd lecturer, mechanics with a friendly and funny tutor and the electronics prac was interesting. Other than that the canteen and eateries are always choked, filled to the brim. My wheels would love to go but the rain is a factor.

Hong Yi said that he wanted to be a politician. Cool.

Real Run 2009 aftermath

2009-11-08T22:06:00.002+08:00

History repeats itself again. At the 9km mark, I dropped. After a wide lead, i dropped. At that stage when victory was almost certain, i dropped. When just a few efforts of what my buddy said around 4 mins or so could have saved my fate, i dropped. I dropped for the wrong reason.

This sport is a lot about tactics, tactics of the mind, strength of the mind, focus clarity of the mind. The mind aspect is as intriguing as the human brain.

Before i started, i thought that adequate form was there as i have been in race- ready mode till then.

But my assumption could be wrong.

For probably what i have done so far, have not really put me in race- ready mode.

Victory in the future is made sweeter i guess.

Exams

2009-09-02T22:14:00.000+08:00

Is it that way to know how we measure up the talk of the town again? It is big thing, over here in our homeland. It's been repeated and repeated till it's become a cliche. "You are not going anywhere if you don't study hard". How many million times has it been heard? No matter what, it's quite true in a way.

Everyone knows anything starts from an idea, a thought. A thought is a possible intellectual product. An intellectual product can go far. Youtube started from a small idea. Microsoft started from an impulse. The Wright brothers came up with an idea of a plane after seeing how the bird flew. It all starts from thinking. Thinking well is a great start.

The brain has been studied as a phenomenal organ of the human body. There are infinite connections and millions of static movement per second. The brain can store, it keeps the heart beating and it works with the nervous system. We know that supercomputers can trounce the brain in some feats. But can the brain beat machines in any way?

So we have seen our great reliance on this phenomenon, the thinking organ. At home, it is a battle of the brains. Good papers ensure you at the top of the ladder. Good papers can be achieved if you can think well. How far can intellectual resource go? Microsoft is the 8th biggest company in the world today.

New facelift

2009-08-10T00:31:00.000+08:00

The best thing about the new facelift is the shower facilities which has an open- air concept and unique mechanism. The switch to the shower is like a pulling action, a hanging handle which lets the shower flow continuously for about a lengthy 5- 8 seconds. It is a great joy to shower after a tough workout. Adding to that main highlight are the basic but commendable facilities such as systematic parking lots and the ease of getting a 100-plus bottle. Other than that the new MacRitchie also has a new internal landscape. It's new but just normal.

So I have left it for quite some time till today when I revisited it again. The terrain seems more punishing this time. I probably need a new shoe just for MacRitchie.

But today was particularly tough. I probably overdid the weights yesterday.

Ugly side of bad economy

2009-08-05T23:41:00.000+08:00

When the economy becomes bad, the ugly side can show itself. People resort to cost- cutting measures. It's not about cost- cutting is wrong. It's fine. The way to do it is the issue.

Hiring staff which costs less is a cost- cutting measure. For example, hiring a foreigner to be a receptionist in your store. It sure cuts costs. But i've come across a number of instances when business can be a problem when these foreigners are hired. One, i don't get what they mean sometimes. Two, it's a bad business deal experience. Three, i might not get the correct product, correct product information.

Another cost- cutting measure is reduced train operations. It is said that the trains will be more frequent at peak hours. But still, at peak hours, the congestion is existent. What has the authorities done to justify the high prices of public transport? The trains are still congested at peak hours.

A typical cost- cutting measure is reducing wages. This is really bad. Ask them, who are hit.

The journey

2009-07-04T23:53:00.000+08:00

How do you keep focused in 16 minutes? How do you increase aerobic threshold? How to put up a killer finish? How to kill from the start? How to lay a solid core? How do you sustain interest? How to tolerate early offensives? How to tolerate late offensives? How to take middle- of - the- race offensives?

Answering all these is a journey.

You never know

2009-06-29T23:38:00.000+08:00

Have you ever thought of a past that hurts? It hurts because it makes you hate yourself. That was you in the past. That's why they say, time heals.

Now it's time for the present, the future. I love the future. Because it brings anything. Anything. Any possibility. Many possibilities. This. That.

You never know.

Such mysteries that we all love.

Swift Open 5000m 09

2009-06-10T21:19:00.000+08:00

The line- up wasn't really much of a star- studded lot. But the main star was there, and he was on sub- 16 form. How many of us have gone below 16? How many below 17?

So the gun goes and like a flock dispersing, the runners make their way to 12 and a half. Mok sprinted front, a tactic unusual of him. I trailed closely behind and wanted to keep to my targetted splits.

First 200: 37 seconds- too fast. I felt it was quite usual except the heat and I was actually braving a slight flu.

A few laps turned and I was starting to feel the pressure. It was just too hot and my mental picture of the torture I was braving on the rubber track sort of called the game over. I probably couldn't do anything left to break the so- called 'barrier'. Dave and Sharon and Christian comprised the panel of moral support for us with their never- ending cheers and motivation but I still could not find a faster gear.

The third runner at that time was keeping his toes close to my heels like waiting to take on me at the right time. He got the right time and cut me with 3 laps to go. I couldn't summon the response. My body felt very weak. My mind was weaker. I was over and done and I even contemplated on dropping out.

But I felt not so much of a need to drop out with a couple of laps to go.

And I reached the finish with 45 seconds off my previous.

If it was the heat then we have to train for the heat. If it was the flu then adequate rest is needed. If it's the mental component then probably we gotta work on the mind aspect.

Devastated

2009-06-07T23:33:00.000+08:00

Is it the end? Is it over?

It is if you say it so.

So he rode on me for first six. And, after all the work I have done, he slayed me for the next half. In a way, I was used.

But if my core speed was certain, if it was solid, if it was great, if it was stinging, this would not have been possible. It would not have been possible for him.

I have a theoretical advantage. I have experience. But that day I failed in the mental part. Perhaps I was not physically 100% ready too with a running nose.

I am only human. As he widens the gap, so is my opportunity to improve.

Amazed

2009-06-04T22:57:00.000+08:00

It has come this far. Undoubtedly amazing. To know how much stress you've placed upon your own body and it responded in this way. There is a very long list of amazing facts about the human body that I always take for granted. But I am amazed by every single fact in it. I am thankful for every single fact. This is a gift.

I have an issue on the coming Saturday. At this stage, it has come to about breaking a barrier. I cannot imagine the ecstasy, the fever and the pride if I break it.

For as long as I have been in the sport, it is really a lot about patience and dedication. But now I have discovered the passion. It is really wonderful when I learn new things everyday. I have tried and tested many mental strategies. I have seen many kinds of training. I know of many attitudes.

So what has brought me this far? I believe that health is an investment. And I am still calculating it's equivalent in dollars and cents.

Try it

2009-04-20T23:27:00.000+08:00

It's bad. Two deaths and many casualties. It all resulted from bacterial contamination of seafood. The question is if it's avoidable. If good hygiene is practised? If you have a good sense of cleanliness?

It could just happen to anyone. Food consumption is daily, 24/ 7, per- second business which needs high hygiene standards. The food provider too has a very high liability towards the consumers. But then again you can never know what's being put in the food you eat. It could be bad but doesn't seem bad because it doesn't taste bad. Try it.

Review on the movie Knowing

2009-04-11T14:40:00.000+08:00

The movie started very well, questioning the existence of Earth and us. It was big philosophy. Like some things that you can never explain in life. Can somebody give me a 100% accurate answer why we exist in this world and why there is planet Earth? Definite no. If anyone dared to you can inform me in the chat box at the corner of this page.

Nicolas Cage is a subtle comedian. Astro- physics is an intriguing field. And MIT is a giant institute full of all kinds of big telescopic instruments encased in glasshouses within the overlooking vast skies. The sky is wide. Just as wide as the subject of this movie which is the existence of Earth and the universe.

Then a plane crashes down, a train overshots and one could see an inferno happening in the woods. The disaster scenes are magnificent.

However the movie had a weak ending. The two kids escaped the world catastrophe and were running around freely on the fields instead. They were in another world. These parts of the movie had no clear explanation. In this case, no explanation is a bad idea.

The reason of fate in social life

2009-03-31T14:48:00.000+08:00

Do you have people in your life who hate you? Or like you? I've come across a personal observation that in life, you will be liked by some and hated by some not because of your attitude, looks or whatsoever. It's just that they like or hate you. They like or hate you because of who you are. Not because you are pretty, clever or rich.

I've come across many instances that make me conclude such. Recently I met my store manager to work for her store. She greeted me with such radiance and friendliness. As days of working go by, I found she was nice to me, always understanding, forgiving and never failing to smile and laugh. She made working at her store a happy experience. But she was not all that nice and friendly to some of the other store personnel. She didn't give them the priveleges I had. She didn't smile much to them. It's fate. Maybe she just didn't like them?

And I have also met a colleague at the store who seem to always go against my ways. He had conflicting ideas. Contrasting principles. We were probably born to hate each other. He seemed to be friendly. He seemed to give positive comments.

It's fate. In this life of love and hate, you either like or hate.

Every training has a different story

2009-03-29T23:02:00.000+08:00

At first I tried to have a fixed perspective every each day. Like maybe a good stride tempo or positive thinking. But that just became a past idea. And it made my runs quite dull.

So I started to not think at all when training.

And so every training has a different story, different things to learn and discover.

Sometimes when you choke to much stuff in your head, it can be a bad thing. Especially when you are in a race. It might just distract.

Sports itself is an education. That's why CCA exists.

Peaking

2009-03-04T00:04:00.000+08:00

It happened last year. And this year, again. I peaked early in the year. Of course it means a lot. It is very good news! It means a lot.

Keep up

2009-01-24T01:40:00.000+08:00

The problem of the Saturday tragedy could be because of not keeping up from the start. After the gun fire, I was trailing behind the leading back. After 5 mins, I was still trailing. My race was sort of over.

So the issue here is to keep up, no matter what. No matter what the stakes are. Because that has become some sort of a fundamental tactic.

So step number one is to keep up. And after keeping up is the work of surviving. Which has become the most current agenda now.

Jack of all trade and none

2009-01-19T22:58:00.000+08:00

I realised tt being able to secure a good job in the future depends on an important factor: being unique. The more unique a job is, the greater the pay it commands. If you have a skill many others have, your pay will be moderate or even low.

There are many kinds of skills available. Linguistic skill, mathematical skill, organizational skill, social skill, leadership skill, persuasive skill and many many others.

It is a paradox that to survive in this new world, you need to be a Jack of all trades and not one too. Because it is an advantage that you have a wide spectrum of skills and at the same time specialises in a few.

Cross- country nationals 2009

2009-01-19T22:37:00.000+08:00

Many times we think we've realized our mistakes, we thought we've got certain formulae and ways right and we hoped to get just better only to face the harsh reality which sends us back to square one. I got that last Saturday, the cross- country nationals of 2009.

It was one of the most fantastic competition fields i have ever encountered. Sunny, Mok, Feroz, Dave, Darsha, Kannan, Madan, Marc, Rui Yong and the Gurkhas. It was like almost all the entire superstars were on show. I said almost cos Kien Mau was loitering easy beside the podium.

The start was a crazy- speed bottleneck frenzy. It was like a stampede. It was a rush. It's survival. Of the fittest, strongest, fastest.

The drawback of the competition is how it lived up to its name. I prefer cross- country to be in the pristine evergreen forests, not on acrid, barren Bedok Reservoir.

Thinking of you

2009-01-02T23:06:00.000+08:00

There are many reasons that keep you in the game. Reasons that keep you going on. Factors which make you still wanna train hard.

One good reason is to stay in the game. To be ahead. To be relevant. Even though you trailed last season, you still wanna make it next season. There is enough energy, both in mental and physical terms. You do not wanna be in the game over zone.

If you take a look around there's still a lot of work to be done unless you are the best.

And the road to being the best is special.

Reality & movies

2008-12-18T11:10:00.000+08:00

I love stories which are real. Or at least virtually realistic. Close to reality. Very close. If we are an audience and we hear a good story, a story which is real or almost real, we can easily relate to it and say, "Gosh this can happen man. It is possible." Then we can go like, "Wow." "Yeah tt's something serious to consider man." The impact is there.

That's why I hate The Day The Earth Stood Still. Once the part when the alien landed came, I knew I'm not gonna enjoy the movie. I'm not some 8-year-old kid fascinated by aliens. Even if they wanna talk about aliens, it should be shown in a realistic way. Maybe I dun buy the alien idea anymore. The last time extra- terrestial matters really mattered to me was Sightings which was in 1995? God that's like been a decade.

Body Of Lies is good. It's realistic. Terrorism and unexpected explosions here and there. The thing that it is unexpected sounds scary. The fact that it is real really scares. Now that is a good movie.

Race experience

2008-12-13T23:31:00.000+08:00

Jo called. There's an MR25 time- trial tomorrow. But Marcus initially wanted a long run and swim at East Coast. I too thought that the long run is appropriate. But then I gave a second thought. The time- trial will give me good experience. Good race experience.

So I said yes to the time- trial and my mind started to prepare for it. Who will be running? What mental strategy to use? Will it kill me?

This is the thing about race experience. The more you race, the more you know. Your knowledge base about racing somehow grows. A specific kind of knowledge base. I raced in the Standard Chartered 10k 2008. Will the formulae and mental strategies work again tomorrow?

It pays to push

2008-12-13T11:16:00.000+08:00

Many times in races we will realize what could have happened, what we should've done. Or if it was a success, we would be satisfied without a doubt. So i guess it's worth suffering like hell before the result- and after the result it's heaven.

Standard Chartered 10k

2008-12-09T09:40:00.000+08:00

The Standard Chartered 10k is arguably the most prestigious 10k race in Singapore because it boasts one of the toughest competition field and one of the widest commercial and media coverage. It is also well- planned and provides great welfare for the runners, for example, the many drink stations that lined the route. The route is historical, memorable, symbolic and scenic. The race is a favourite for many, both elite and recreational runners.

2008 took a bit of a turn from the convention in the previous years. This year there's a slope up Sheares Bridge just after the 5k mark. And there's not much of a clash with the other categories runners. And the end turn is a bit different too.

2008 is won by a Gurkha policeman, followed closely by Singapore running sensation Rui Yong.

Kill from the start. And to the end.

2008-12-07T21:04:00.000+08:00

7 December 2008. End of season. Last race of season. And it ended nicely. Neat. Right. Well. A testimony. A self- redemption. It's more than self- redemption.

It just brought this whole desire back to life again. And I've found life in interest. I've found life in enthusiasm. I've found life in energy. Mental and physical synergy. Responsiveness. Grit. And vigour.

It's back.

The race was great. When I needed the energy, it came. Thank God. When I needed 1st gear, it helped. When I needed mental endurance, it's present. Though I'm left shattered, i think it played like Shattered by The Rolling Stones. Through and through. I didn't think back.

It brought up that i'm a real 5k runner. Kill from the start. And to the end.

Private transport vs public transport

2008-11-19T23:08:00.000+08:00

Private transportation in Singapore would definitely chalk up more costs than public transportation. At least in the case of owning cars. But for some, the ease that private transportation provides is an investment worth paying for. In public transportation, you have to travel through different points before reaching the destination. Take the feeder bus to the train station. Wait for the train. And oh ya before that wait for the bus. At peak hours, good luck to you. In the train journey, there are a number of transfers. East- west and North- south lines of that sort. The list goes on and on. That's how big a hassle public transportation is. And ya you may have to stand throughout the journey. Hmm one plus point is you can read a book?

Private transport is, simply, convenient, convenient and convenient. No detours. No beat around the bush. No transits. No standing. No waiting. No wasting time. Just plain direct transportation. To the destination. In the fastest time possible. As soon as you fasten the seatbelt and press the accelerator, you're on the run.

It really is a difference.

The job

2008-11-16T22:48:00.000+08:00

"My job is my life". "My life is my job". Which way makes more sense? The former seems connected with deep feelings of passion and pure energy. While the latter, as it seems, sounds like a boring life. Cause we all know life is not all about making money. But it is about money. This is how crazy the world is. Hahah.

What are the factors that determine the kind of job you choose? First of all, money. That's a total no- brainer. Then the interest. Then working hours. Private/ government. Family- friendly? Whether it can last. Health- friendly? And more. But those I can think of right now may be, could be, the most pressing and significant at press time.

I hate this intense thinking for some reason but if there is one job that can keep me well- occupied and save my life, that'll be great.

On- road combat

2008-10-24T23:30:00.000+08:00

I guess I need to respond next time. When one overtakes you, it means you're slowing down and if you're in that race then you jolly well keep up. That's the point of racing. If you can't keep up then quit. Don't be in a race if you dun want to. So if you're overtaken, respond and overtake back. Then maintain pace. Let that change of gears play on. Play with the opponent till he's flat.

I guess running is not all about going forward. It's about on- road and on- track combat too. Yeah you and the other opponents are just running forward but it's also a game of expending energy. And to see who's the toughest, who's the mentally strongest. Of course how physically tough you are is based on the training you put in all these while.

This running is no ordinary sport. It's more complicated than how simple you think it is.

Real Run 2008

2008-10-24T23:22:00.000+08:00

I juz let myself down.

Whatever. The heat. Inadequate training. The distance. Whatever. All those are excuses. But the point is, you lost. You lost, dear you. Dear me. Yes speaking.

I dun know why. I dun know how. Science says it should be all right. Pre- race preparation was systematic like clockwork. And though I missed Changi Coast Road, I still got there in time. So what's missing?

What's missing? It's supposed to be like this. Supposed to turn out like this. But it didn't. You can see the emotional wreckage I'm in now. It hurts. When something just slipped out of your hands. I lost the money, I lost the dignity. This year it's 15km. 5 more. But that's supposed to be to your advantage. I guess it's just not my share this time. I've tried to win but couldn't. I can try harder next year.

Back

2008-10-12T01:09:00.000+08:00

It's been a real long time. I'm back. I've been through a lot. I've somewhat changed. Small changes. Some things just remain. The kids came over for Hari Raya today. They're great. But I still have a lot to learn. If this is gonna be a career for life. Then it better be a serious committment. Serious thoughts have to be put into it. I'm willing to learn, anytime. It will be alright, it will be fine.

I have an important race next week. Can I repeat it again this year?

Next week I will screen the movie Rogue for them to see. Hope they like it.

Peace of mind

2008-05-23T21:45:00.000+08:00

It has got to be one of the best moments. After doing 12 reps of 400 metres averaging about 75 seconds, i felt quite satisfied and sort of refreshed. It's the endorphins maybe? Though i din even hit 72 seconds as targetted by coach, i still felt happy. Because the workout isn't easy but nevertheless it was still done. So that's a consolation.

Is there some kind of a theory behind inducing happiness through hardship? Is there some kind of a correlation between happiness and overcoming a hardship? I felt a post- workout satisfaction that day.

Reminder

2008-05-10T23:19:00.000+08:00

This serves as both a post and reminder. Of what I need to do on Sunday, 18 May. It's about tactics. Over the years of experience, there is no one method of tactics that is un- arguably the most effective, most powerful, most popular. Some kill from the start, some kill at the last lap. Some are impressively very very consistent.

Over the years I've learnt I'm not a 1500 runner- yet. It requires careful training of course, and patience is very essential. But I've made better improvement in the 5000. I love 5000 as it is less hurting than 1500. So this Sunday I really need to coast. I've run more and more 5000s. It's about tactics and I'm learning everytime.

Fish tank

2008-05-07T09:32:00.000+08:00

I'd like to talk about the new fish tank in my room. It's big- more than two arm's length. It's nice- the water is clear and it looks like a habitat on the river bed. And the fishes inside gives meaning to what life is all about in the rectangular tank. A week ago I bought four tetra fishes and my brother seemed fascinated. This craze about fishes started from my brother and I can never start it due to my busy schedule. I'd never care about this cold- blooded animal until only recently now. Maybe I care a bit. The underwater display is simply nice. It's beautiful- the colours, the clarity and the visual effect of zero gravity. There's a lot about the aquarium- the art of the underwater environment and buying and discovering new species.

New commodity

2008-05-07T09:18:00.000+08:00

Everything seems precious, and everyone wants a share. I wanted to throw some stacks of waste paper. But was stopped by the auntie. She needs it. I dunno for what but she seemed to regard it like something of real value. And if you sit around the coffeeshops there's these folks who go around collecting used drink cans. They are desperate. I'm having dinner and they keep a watchful eye on me- not me but the piece of shiny can on my table. It looks crazy. If people go after money that's understandable. But now in this new era, we have a new commodity- trash, scrap and reusable and recyclable items. These new generation of junk- collecting community is helping to save the Earth. But they are amusing too.

Trash is becoming a commodity. A train about to move off is as precious as gold. The bus about to move off too. The society's become so fast- paced, so competitive. It's weird to think about the things people go after these days.

Road accident

2008-04-28T11:43:00.000+08:00

Every time we step out of our house and head for work, school or the shopping mall, we walk through death risk zones and technical hazards. These death risk zones and technical hazards come in many ways and are inevitable. One common death risk zone is the long stretch of tarmalt we call the road. The road seems harmless when it's empty. A heavy fast- moving expressway traffic is a big death risk zone. Why can deaths occur on the road? One reason is careless pedestrians. Another reason is vehicles going too fast that they can't react and stop on time. Road accidents have to be the most common form of deadly accident in Singapore, compared to drownings and work accidents. It is ironic that the road, an invention by man to facilitate transport can also be a threat to his own life. A car at 80km/h can kill. It will just ram any human being and kill on the spot.

After Mas Selamat

2008-04-23T11:42:00.000+08:00

This whole Mas Selamat issue is really funny. Not that I want to have a good old pure happy-go-lucky laugh. But the escape. And the buzz over it. I saw the picture of the toilet where the prisoner escaped from. It's just like one of those schools' toilets. And yesterday in the bus I saw on Mobile TV how the government is trying to arrange words to put a report on the whole matter. Do we need a report? If the wanted man is still at large then just forget him and move on. Mr Wong Kan Seng may be sacked. I don't know. Someone just said that he should resign. I think he should do that to send a message across of how serious the issue is. If he is sacked, he can still get a decent job after that.

The incident is pretty serious. It just goes to show the standard of security of the state. They probably have to think of ways to tighten up security. Should we revise the training for security officers? Should we use computers? Should we pay the security officers more?

The Sun

2008-04-22T12:14:00.000+08:00

We use energy everyday. Electricity, petroleum and lunch. Life will be a standstill without any of these. This web of energy transfer and transmission is very very complex and systematic. Am I contradicting myself? Well complex because there are an infinite number of interconnections of the energy transfers. Systematic because the interconnections enable each need to meet it's fulfillment. Food is obtained from plants. Food is for lunch. Lunch gives energy for you to survive another day's work. And plants rely on water, air and sunlight to grow. That's the interconnection of energy transfer.

It makes me realize how important the Sun is. It's amazing what the rays of the Sun can do. It caused the weather. It caused rain. Water rushes through the dam gates. And so we have hydroelectric power to keep the lights on in homes at night.

It's pretty scary to imagine life without the Sun. The visual imagination is quite scary. Then Earth will be illuminated by lights. We'll need many many lights. Across the streets and anywhere possible. Then we'll realise the lighting power of the Sun. When the Sun lights up the Earth, it is almost everywhere. Across and throughout the sky. Lighting the Earth on our own will be nothing compared to what the Sun can do. So we'll need the power stations to give energy to light up. We need to burn fuel to generate the energy. And fuel can deplete, sooner or later.

That leaves us to plunge into total darkness, sooner or later, without the Sun. At first when there is no Sun, we could still light up from our power stations. But not for long.

The Sun is an enormous ball of fire great enough to lead some people to worshipping it. But a god in that property seems furious all the time, engulfing whatever existent. Is that God? Or is God the One who created the Sun?

Earth Day

2008-04-22T11:44:00.000+08:00

It's Earth Day and the buzz to save our planet is big. We talk about conservation, saving energy and cutting down waste. I've always thought that despite all the desperate efforts to save our dear Earth, the globe is actually ageing and wearing off. The green patches that you see on planet Earth are slowly and subtly turning grey and dark yellow. I'm sure there's a rate for that. The rate of deforestation. The rate at which the planet's resources are used up. The rate at which we the inhabitants of planet Earth destroy the only place all living things and creatures call home. Pollution is inevitable. As long as mankind exists, Earth is going to be conquered and have its resources used up. If man didn't modernize, the Earth will be at the virgin state it was millions of years ago. Now that we're using tractors, cranes and excavators, we emit toxic gases and continue to redevelop, reurbanize and build. That is the 180km expressway spanning the green forest. This is the new harbour on what used to be a thriving giant coral ecosystem. Here is a new golf range on the plot of marshland used to house 46 species of thrushes and many many other wildlife. This is a dilemma that we all face. We love the natural habitats and the education and aesthetic appeal it offers but we also face the pressures of redevelopment.

In Singapore it is a balance of both redevelopment and conservation. Thank God there is still nature left although the redevelopment rate continues to increase albeit subtly. The aesthetic value of natural mangrove swamps, forests and nature parks is irreplaceable. I do not want to live in a future where all that surround me are big tall buildings, roads and concrete. I like the smell of trees and grass. The smell of the green forest. It reminds me of my scouting days that remain etched in my mind timelessly. We should all treasure Sungei Buloh Nature Park, MacRitchie Reservoir, Central Catchment Reserve, Pulau Ubin and the Southern Islands.

Anan called to say hello

2008-04-22T09:28:00.000+08:00

Joe called me to give a surprising piece of update. Anan squashed the field on Sunday to win in 4 mins 13 seconds. I went like, "Wow." Honestly i felt green too. Things are just gonna get harder, I thought. Anan is a close rival. Almost like arch- rival. I've always wanted to beat him in 5000 metres. But now, very obviously, he is getting stronger. Bigger. Faster. He's totally revolutionised. He's just outran Marcus. 2.01 mins for 800m. Pretty mindblowing. And now he has just killed Feroz. I just don't know what he did, but he sure rocketted up there in the sky. All I can do is be amazed.

Well, Anan's victory means a lot also. It means shaving off 15 seconds in the 1500m within a season is possible. Or at least a difference of 15 seconds in between two consecutive 1500 metres is possible. And that gives us a reason to just go out there and fight till we can shave off 15 seconds. I have this thinking about what happens when you see your rivals performing well and intending to leave you. It is that when they are getting better, the chance for you to get better gets bigger. You will get better if you catch them.

I know sometimes the road is tough. But patience and determination can lead to greater things.

Too much of a thing is bad

2008-04-19T22:22:00.000+08:00

I can see the logic in the saying, "Too much of something is not good". I was at coach's house doing strength training this morning. And i had to admit i felt pretty bored with the mundanity in training for 5000 metres. Like it's all been the same thing. Not so interesting. Well, maybe i should skip for 1 and a half mins non- stop next week. I didn't just now because I'm in pretty bad shape after over- racing and that 2 hour long run.

I bet apart from just running, life can be more interesting if there are other aspects as well. Like a date later in the evening. Time spent on self- study. And many others. The human mind likes variety. However multi- tasking can be a disaster for some.

Too much of a variety is also not so good.

A deduction is always only a deduction

2008-04-18T10:30:00.000+08:00

I recently engaged in a thoughtful discussion with a highly- experienced senior educator. She talked about how she desired to die peacefully, to die on the bed with her loved ones all around her bidding a special farewell. Yeah, i thought that's pretty normal. Heard that before.

But is that really peaceful? She compared with another scenario of dying in a brutal traffic accident. I beg your pardon. What she said may not be true at all. Who says dying in a traffic accident is painful? It may not necessarily be. If the force of impact totally disconnects the nervous system that detects the pain sensation in an accident, the accident victim wouldn't feel a pinch. Yeah he's lying there in a pool of blood, his body broken into two but his broken neck ensured that he doesn't feel anything. A stark contrast to the person in coma on the bed surrounded by her loved ones. Mind you, she's in a coma. Struggling with her breath. You think there's no pain? Not really. She is literally dying. All other body dysfunctions will strike one by one until the final one, which is the halt of the heartbeat. That's terrible. You could feel tingling, numbness and pain at the same time. And you're struggling to breathe.

What I'm saying is, we could make so many deductions. But age- old beliefs may not necessarily be always true.

Happy

2008-04-18T09:39:00.001+08:00

Something funny was in the papers today. Straits Times. They talk about a man who is claimed to be the happiest man in Singapore. Right. How do you measure happiness? Is there some kind of a scale machine that can gauge your level of happiness? Is there a special SI unit for happiness? This article is ****. I've observed this obsession has become stranger and stranger, weirder and less familiar. It has become irrecognizable. And not too far ago, on Yahoo news they rated Singapore people as one of the happpiest people on Earth, also citing the fact because it has good governance. I find that Yahoo article a bit political. I mean what it's trying to say is not about genuinely rating and researching about happiness but trying to talk about governments.

I don't deny that of course anybody is looking for happiness. But this happiness is not like some kind of an easy thing that you can measure and rate. There is a best sportsman award. A most- intelligent person award. A most- successful actor award. But most happiest? How do I prove i'm happier than you right now? By how wide my smile is?

Happiness is reliant on your expectations. Happiness depends on how positive and negative your thinking is. Happiness can be affected by your health. Your financial status. But none of these factors can give definite guarantee of pure never- ending happiness. Because there are other factors as well.

This brings me to another issue: Can you be happy forever?

Gender revolution

2008-04-17T09:10:00.000+08:00

I stopped in front of my mailbox yesterday for a pleasant surprise. The government is giving away monetary tokens. And based on my brief calculations, the GST credits can really cushion the impact of the GST hike. I was skeptical at first. But now i'm assured. What if the government just gave away money like that without putting it across as GST credits? That they don't increase the GST rate but just give away monetay tokens. That can make the people complacent. The government is right.

Yesterday night I was supposed to sleep early but was not disciplined enough to get to bed. Then I came across this passage by Chan Wai Leong titled Gender Revolution. It was quite abstract. But interesting. Interesting to question why some things the way they are: Why are there families? Why are there two different kinds of sexes? Well, i can see the importance of the two sexes because they complement each other, need each other. They're different to complement each other. Beautiful isn't it? In the world's greatest religions, Islam and Christianity, the woman is created to be the companion for man. I couldn't agree more.

Then the essay talked about women demanding equal rights as men. Is that possible? We've seen laws that were designed to protect women. We've seen sports races categorized into Men Open and Women Open categories. We've seen National Service that is compulsory only for men. I'd not like to sound chauvinistic but these are facts. So what is men supposed to learn? It's humility. The importance of being down- to- earth. Genuine humility.

Human biological experience

2008-04-14T15:49:00.000+08:00

I've learnt that human biological experience yesterday. My blood glucose was very low and i could feel it. Feels great to experience it. When you try to search your human limitations and you just made a significant achievement, that's how great it feels. You put a challenge for yourself right in front of you and you survived it. You can try. It can go well. It can go bad.

I've never clocked 2 hours for a very long time and when i had to set myself upon this task as instructed by my coach, i just knew it's gonna be a tough nut to crack. An uphill task. It was an experience, indeed. Just after quite some time i looked at the watch and it said 37 mins. Oh my God, i thought. Only 37 mins? Okay.

At 1 hour i was at the end of East Coast where it meets the park connector. So I u- turned and trudged back home. Thump. And thump. Thump. And thump. Foot after foot. Breath after breath. Thought after thought. People after people. Skater after skater. Cycle after cycle. Bedok Jetty came and went. I counted down my distance. I felt like stopping. But i never did. Never ever, for the record. For the record, don't shame yourself, I thought. I've always been a firm believer of completing workouts. I thought about Nate Brannen and Alan Webb and Kevin Sullivan. I wanna be a sportsman like them.

Last Saturday was the cross country nationals. It was okay. But a lot of work needs to be done, i've seen. I've been beaten by the same people, same suspects, same names. I will have to get them soon.

My second 5000m and. . .

2008-04-09T16:39:00.000+08:00

Some days aren't just too good. You take some, lose some. You have bad days, good days. That Sunday my 5000m didn't unfold well. First 200m didn't go as planned. Instead of 42, it was 37 for the first 200m. Ignore bad starts and don't give excuses. I think as a whole I wasn't in the mental state as i should in this kind of races. No fighting spirit. That's apparent.

Another thing, Darsha lapped me. Yes. I hate to conceive that. Well, I just have quite a long way to go before I get to match him. The emphasis here is: I do have a way to go. Not that there is no way.

Before i reached 17:31 i didn't know that i could reach 17:31. So the show must go on.

I thought that 5000m would be pretty exciting. It was not nice, that Sunday. So what makes it exciting?

The fact that it's challenging and something not so easy to master. Doing a PB is elusive. And exclusive.

KL was for the upcoming 5000m

2008-04-01T12:04:00.000+08:00

The trip to KL was a great eye- opener. How different can KL be from the other states of Malaysia? I think it's quite crowded and cosmopolitan in comparison with the other states. And I got to see how business is done there. At Petaling Street is the black market. Some peddlers are downright rude. The most polite would just keep quiet while you check out the goods and deals. And when you ask them the price of something they would ask you back "How much you want?". It's totally hilarious.

The race was quite an experience. Fought with this lanky HCI guy. He's somewhat like Jim Ryun. Rode behind him twice. Tried to cut him twice. He came back all the time. And the last time he came back, he gave a deep gash. Wide cut. It was just great. I wanna do something like that next time. Ok, time to try that the next time. This is the thing about racing overseas. Good things to learn. Experience will make you sharper the next time round. My second 5ooom will be this Sunday morning. These 5000ms are getting easier and easier and more fun. Not to forget, more interesting too. I'm looking at 5000m from a totally new perspective now.

It's a 1 kilometer today

2008-03-27T10:05:00.000+08:00

I've never been more fascinated with distance. In emotional terms, distance keeps a longing in one's heart. In science, distance is just some space apart. In running, distance is itself. It's a joy of movement. Feeds your ego. Like you've achieved something. but very simply, running distance keeps your health in check.

I was tearing down the asphalt tracks at East Coast last Sunday. It was a usual long run at 5pm. Except that I started with some stabilisation strengthening which I always does religiously. I'm just thankful and happy with the progress I'm making. It's getting better.

Later today is the 1km time- trial. I might wanna use a different game plan. But the constant is a kill finish. A kill finish is a must.

Yesterday's dinner was great

2008-03-21T22:56:00.000+08:00

Training was great. I chased after Joe in every lap. Felt an achievement. Could see some girls playing soccer on the field. Bend it like Beckham. Haha. Joe bought a new Nissan Sunny (Just kidding).

Well well the highlight of the day was the splendid seafood at west coast. how was the seafood? Almost literally like eating the sea. I and Karthik had mussels and stingray. Wohoh. Power ar!Haha. simply said, a taste of the sea. you know that distict taste and smell of the sea? I don't know what are the chemicals. One of them should be sodium. Hmm. Er.

And today was Good Friday. Exactly last year i went to Gunung ledang and the trip was excellent. Hopefully can go for more such trips.

Emotions

2008-03-19T13:58:00.000+08:00

What is this phenomena called emotion? We do not know why it exists and we cannot evade from it. Can you stop being angry when someone hits you? Okay if you don't feel angry, you will feel somewhat shocked, right? That is what i'm talking about. Shock is an emotion. when you are taken aback by something not expected of. This thing called emotion that exists in all human beings makes us humbled by our limitations. I am trying to say how vulnerable we humans are. We are vulnerable. Say you get a piece of sad news. Really very sad news. For example, someone very close passed away. How does that feel? Yes, that is what I'm talking about. It's not so much of a physical pain. It could be mental pain slightly. But it's emotional pain. And it just proves how weak and vulnerable we humans are. Can you avoid emotion? It's in us.

The hills of Turf City

2008-03-18T11:57:00.000+08:00

Running at Turf City is just breathtaking. Lush greenery surrounds you and you can feel the quietness and peace of the place. It is just fantastic for sports activities due to the ample space available. There is grass everywhere but anybody nowhere. Wide green fields contribute to the tranquility of the place as an embodiment to the idea of space bringing about peace. And as i run ard a bend across the undulating sea of grass with the gentle breeze, i could see the backdrop of tall trees in front slowly and subtly expanding into the white and blue sky. This whole thing is just enchanting. I couldn't think of a greater creation. It's a piece of art in front of my very eyes. Have you seen the blue sky and white clouds and put a thought into it? It sort of induces a unique sense of awe and amazement.

Do i sound crazy? Tell me.

We want to win the relay this Saturday

2008-03-18T09:50:00.000+08:00

It's been great training together. We're all improving. Yesterday was another one of those Turf City days. Yesterday's meant to be quite fun and not as taxing as Thursday's. Marcus and Joe ran behind me on deliberation. I wonder why when both of them already killed me in 1500m the day before. This time wanna run behind me. Haha.

I can say i'm ready for cross- country. Looking forward to it. I'm hoping we can win it.

Yesterday after training, thought about something. Which is recalling what you've done and achieved in a day. . .

When the wind blows, and all i can hear is the trees sway and leaves rustle

2008-03-17T11:05:00.000+08:00

I'm 23. All 23. All alone. Now is the time. But it doesn't seem like it. What is wrong? I don't know. Well i really do not wanna waste time. So i stick to my decisions. I stick to my choices. I just stick to them.

I will need a future. A bright future. I will need income. Good income. I will need education. What's education for? For work, of course. And behind all these complex worldly issues, it's faith. Because you need to have good answers for such questions: What am i on Earth for? Where will i go after i die?

I will think of more important questions.

For now as the wind blows and the leaves rustle, and 1 door closes and another opens. . . i shall end with and excerpt from Tom Hanks in Cast Away:

"I gotta keep living. Keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise again. Who knows what the tide brings. . .

Good news

2008-03-17T10:47:00.000+08:00

Good news came in the form of 2 personal bests and it's still the start of the season!!! Omg how better can that be?? 17:31 & 3:36. I seriously feel like shedding a tear. Feels like achieving something you never dreamt possible before. Seems like. . . I'm entering a new world. A new world of new boundaries. I thank God, first and foremost.

This new coach really rocks man! Guy advocates balance in training. Not all-the-time whack-like-hell kind of training. No no. That don't work. And Guy taught me abt stabilization. Which is fantastic. It made me feel like Kevin Sullivan, the Canadian legendary miler. What's good abt this Kevin? He is hardworking and focused and i idolize him in that!

Sports school and ITE Simei. For now, they're etched in my hall-of-fame history. For they are venues of yet more personal bests. . . The last time was in floodlit in Gombak.

I wanna carry running throughout my whole life. There's no better feeling than feeling fit and healthy and the wonders it does to life. . . Let's say the mental aspect. So what motivates me now? My goal. My long-term goal. 5000m is my pet event. But darn i wanna beat Joe in 1500m. I've yet to. He's so fast.

Today and now

2008-03-17T10:46:00.000+08:00

Today and now will mark a distinct change in my blog.

Rambo 4

2008-01-29T12:10:00.000+08:00

The latest Rambo blockbuster is truly a hit. It is action- packed, defined in today's era. John Rambo is, well, a war veteran who just gets better though age is catching up with him. His vast experience and sheer determination and courage makes up for his lack of physical agility and endurance.

This time, it's in the remote dense jungle of Myanmar. Rambo is against the notorious rebels. It's another one- against- army battle. As ridiculous as it may sound, Rambo wins again. I know it's not real, of course. But still it's thrilling. Like all the destroy- the- helicopters and planes scenes. Is it because I'm a guy? I don't know. But these movies sure get me off my seat and excited.

John Rambo can be inspiring. His determination should be something soldiers can learn of. Is it possible for a real Rambo in this world? Definitely.

What gay?

2007-10-25T10:36:00.000+08:00

When I read in the papers of a representative of the gay community in Singapore saying he is pleased with the government's call not to discriminate gays, I nearly laughed my head off. He also added that it is the start of a continuous dialogue. I laughed again. Well, you think gender is nothing? You can freely choose what you want to be? Be a guy today and a girl tomorrow? As you wish? If you are re- writing the laws of nature, why not I also re- write another law of nature which is the right to live? So I can shoot you gays' heads off to get rid of you guys.

It is disgusting to go against nature. We already know in science and by history of mankind that generations and generations are replaced by growth of families. And humans reproduce by sexual reproduction. A baby can only be produced by a man and a woman. So what is sexual between a man and another man?

Okay. Perhaps my tone was coarse in the first paragraph. But accepting the gay community is possibly the start of more things to come. More strange phenomena.

Penalty goal

2007-10-24T10:23:00.000+08:00

On the way to work, I caught a piece of sports news on the TV Mobile. It was an EPL match result. Manchester United won by a big margin. Two goals from Ronaldo. Then something opened up an issue on my mind. One of the goals was converted through a penalty.

I was thinking if informing that the goal was converted through a penalty would affect the nature of the win. Was it an easy win? A trouncing? Or an edged- out one?

So maybe if one of the goals scored in the win is through a penalty the win would be deemed easy.

No. I think scoring in a penalty is not exactly easy. Especially on an EPL level of professional football.

Hari Raya

2007-10-12T08:58:00.000+08:00

It's the time of the year again when we get to see our relatives and catch up with life after maybe one year? Maybe some beg to differ because they do spend a lot of time with their cousins, aunts and uncles.

But i'm sure there are some who only see their relatives annually. And it's on Hari Raya.

One reason to account for this is the fact that families today do not live together under one roof. After marriage, a couple will move out of the house and build a new family there. It's not like in the past when a big family would live together under one roof.

I guess things have changed. I would not be able to feel what it means to live in a big family together with my many cousins, my aunts and uncles and my grandparents.

This is a consequence of urbanisation.

And it would take more than a day to do the house- to- house Hari Raya visits today. Probably much longer than yesterday when you could see all members of the one big family in one place.

Track and field

2007-10-11T10:22:00.000+08:00

Track and field is a sport that tests a wide range of physical abilities. From the 100m dash to the 3000m steeplechase and up to the gruelling marathon, different physical attributes such as speed, agility and endurance are tested. However, every event will test a particular or a few main physical abilities.

The 100m dash is purely a speed event. Reaction time is no more greater in importance than in any other events. It is also the most psychologically pressurizing event over a short period of time. Any mistake can cost greatly. There is no time to rectify any mistake during the dash. It measures explosive speed and power.

As the events progress in distance, for example, the 200m and 400m runs, speed is no more the prime physical prerequisite. Another major component is introduced. It's endurance.

200m and 400m runners will also show distinct different body structures from the 100m sprinters. They are leaner and less stocky. This is to accomodate the need to go fast over a greater distance.

And near the end of the distance spectrum lies the 1500m, 5000m and 10000m events. The 5000m and 10000m are distance events. The 5000m event tests more of speed than the 10000m. The 1500m will naturally require greater speed ability than the 5000m and 10000m.

Finally the most unique of the running events is the 3000m steeplechase. Runners need not only have good endurance but also the agility and strength to hurdle 28 9.14cm barriers. In addition, one of the four barriers placed on the track is put behind a pit of water for the runners to land on.

EZ- Link

2007-10-08T11:26:00.000+08:00

I suspect something amiss in the EZ- Link sensors we tap on every morning. Have you heard people complaining how their EZ- Link fare card value can go incredibly low after a number of trips to and fro? It's not a rumour anymore. It's true. Transportation is really costly here.

But i'd like to point out that the new EZ- Link system can put us, the customers at a disadvantage. When we dropped coins into the box about 15 years ago, it was very clear how much money you paid for the fare.

But now it isn't so clear.

You can top up your fare card and the charges deducted are made known through the digital display. And is the digital display a reliable form of receipt? Definite no. You have to hurry to the back of the bus, the bus driver says. So you can only glance at some strange digits for maybe a second or two. Because others want to board too. Fair enough. But SMRT being accountable for practising fair trade? Certainly not fair.

And I have not come into the topic of possible computer glitches. Which can really cost us, customers greatly.

Am I being paranoid? Maybe. But you wouldn't deny the possiblity of over- billing from the EZ- Link sensors right?

Blog

2007-10-08T11:06:00.000+08:00

There are many reasons to why people blog. Some feel better after blogging. Some blog to air their views. Others may want to hone their writing.

I think writing reflects yourself in a certain way. It may not be accurate. But it sure gives some hint of how you think.

The things talked about and the opinions expressed tells what kind of a personality one has.

But all these are guesswork. Because what's discovered or observed is still subject to certain possibilities.

Can he or she write differently from how he or she thinks? Maybe.

Photograph

2007-10-03T13:03:00.000+08:00

These days, we have seen great growth in the imaging industry. Have a camera and you can snap anything anywhere at any time. Photographs are used to prove. Schools splash their annuals with more photographs and less words. At least that's what an editor told me when she explained the concept of the school's annual this year. And yes not forgetting Friendster. Personal albums have now become online. It's amazing what technology has got us into over a short period of time.

But a picture can mislead. Because a photograph is a perspective from someone else.

Some uses of maths

2007-08-30T09:45:00.000+08:00

One practical use of mathematics is to define order and system. Without mathematics, life would be chaotic. We'd worry over imbalances in pricing of goods, how much time we have in a day and food that can taste differently everyday. Mathematics helps define quantity. And the importance of defining quantity cannot be over- emphasized. Take, for example, building a stadium. If we do not know exactly the length and breadth of a rectangular stadium and its capacity before building it, how are we going to find the number of concrete pillars, metal framework sets and amount of cement needed for the construction?

Mathematics can also be a mind game and the practical use in this case is to keep the human mind sharp and active. Counting fast is a useful skill. Mathematics is deeply connected to memory of the mind and how the brain captures and processes information. When a certain formula is learnt and applied in mathematical problems, what the mind actually does is memorising and putting into effective use of an order learnt.

Mathematics is simply counting. And I believe that all the things around us exist in its different positions and manner according to formulae that can be calculated out.

Safe city

2007-08-28T09:46:00.000+08:00

The other day I was buying dinner and something set me thinking. I realized that we live in a blessed country. I'm talking about how safe our streets are.

Not long ago a vicious robbery attack happened across the Causeway. It was horrendous. Not only was it a gruesome attack, it also came from nowhere. Without warning. Imagine thinking you are living just another day. You think it's going to be just as planned. And something unimaginable just struck.

I was seated facing the seafood stall. A man in a smart blue shirt came to the stall. I saw his fingers slide open his black wallet. Big purple notes. And a few shiny brown ones. I could see them in small stacks. If he was in JB, he'd be in trouble. The clothes he's wearing send a message. A prime target. He could just be overpowered by a few men and get robbed easily.

Fortunately it's Singapore. Many factors contribute to the great state of security in Singapore. The police is efficient, reliable and respectable. The community is civic- minded. And the poor gets adequate help from the government.

But I still do not know what prompted the vicious attack. It was not human.

New technology

2007-08-25T23:02:00.000+08:00

As a country modernize, it will be harder to protect the environment from pollution. Technology is about improving lives. It's about speed. It's about computers. Globalisation. But there can be a drawback from technology. It can hurt the environment. It can hurt us. This is something any modern country will face. So how can a country progress in technology and still care for the environment?

Minimising pollution itself can be a technology. Hence, industries and companies should seriously think about environment- friendly technology. At least change the way of manufacturing so that pollution can be minimised. History has shown that we can advance in this new technology. Biodegradeable plastic is a good example. By empowering this new technology, technological progress can be in tandem with protection of the Earth.

A clear format

2007-08-23T10:02:00.000+08:00

I suspect something amiss in our phone bills. As much as the likelihood of human error, are we always billed correctly? Human error is inevitable. So are computers. Telcos can generate a lot of money through over- billing. I suspect that is a business strategy.

There has to be a clear format for how the telcos report to customers the billing details. Starhub's report is a style of it's own. So is Singtel's. And M1's. These companies collectively profit in confusing customers. A clear format is a good transparency initiative. It benefits the customers. And stop telcos from earning through unscrupulous ways. Telcos should earn honestly. Before talking about innovative ideas, please get your moral principles right first. I wonder why the telcos CEOs can't think of the clear format for billing? A clear format that the layman can read and comprehend.

Canada's no. 1

2007-08-17T10:43:00.000+08:00

I'm excited. It's not everyday you get to see face- to- face with a world- class athlete. A world- class Olympic runner. He was in the 2003 1500m Men's Gaz De France international meet finals. He was alongside the greatest runner of the era, Hicham El Gerrouj. He is simply world- class. He is in the top ten 1500m runners on Earth. Can you imagine how good is that? I'm not exaggerating.

Kevin Sullivan. 33. 1500m personal best: 3: 31. Top 1500m runner in Canada. Holding both 1500m and 3000m indoor records in Canada. And this season, he's currently the best white in 1500m. 3: 31 is not world- class. It's in the better league of the world class.

A few days ago the Canadian Olympic team came to Gombak. And I saw Canada's top 1500m runner training. High knee lifts. Powerful strides. And that no- nonsense, serious and world- class competitive aura. Do you know how big is Canada? That guy beat anybody else in the entire Canada in running. And he's here now in Singapore. Running around while i'm training with my buddies.

Kevin's an exceptional athlete of great intense focus. He must have a strong mind to go that far.

I might meet him tomorrow on the track. Might run against him.

Healthy food?

2007-08-16T13:56:00.000+08:00

It's really amusing. Can the Cheeseburger be healthy food? What's calculating and telling me the number of calories and energy it provides for? And they talk about the fresh ingredients they work hard to put in the meals. I just find it amusing. And mildly disgusting.

McDonald's markets well. The 'M' sign is global and ubiquitous. They even want to sponsor the Olympics. Which is supposed to be a sport event. Which really has something to do with health. Ridiculous.

When I bite into the Cheeseburger, oil oozed out and I could feel it on my lips. It was nothing like what I cook at home. It's just sinful. How much oil is there? Very much. Now that's cholesterol which could possibly do something to your body. I'm sure there's an effect.

McDonald's shouldn't lie. Even if they want to claim their food healthy, at least do something to them. I bite on the same Cheeseburger five years ago.

And stop advocating that 'balanced diet' idea that has now become a cliche. A disgusting one.

Clothes maketh the man

2007-07-23T11:12:00.000+08:00

The way you dress tells something about yourself. You can be neat, clean and have a good sense of matching colours. Or you can come across as lazy, ignorant or dirty. Clothes are the material that we wear on our body. It existed as early as humanity existed. Clothes give a visual impression of a person. It defines the attitude, neatness and style of a person.

What you wear tells something about your attitude. If you care to dress up very well for an interview, you will show a positive attitude as soon as you step into the room. Because it takes effort, good thinking and earnestness to dress up. When you dress up well for a meeting, you tell others of how committed you are to it.

Being neat is important in special occasions. You will give a negative impression if you dress shabbily or untidily. And visual impression can matter a lot. Once again being neat comes across as one who is caring, mindful and reliable.

Dressing up defines your own style. Dressing up is an art. That's why fashion runaways can be interesting to watch.

In pursuit of happiness

2007-07-08T18:28:00.000+08:00

Firstly, I must thank God. Whatever happened is in His will. I broke the 18- minute barrier. Yes, I worked for it. I trained for it. Speedwork. It was very consistent. I was mentally prepared also. I knew why I choose to run. I knew well. I knew what I wanted. Alhamdulillah. It paid off.

There is a miracle in this. I can train so hard but it could go the other way. A year ago, I trained hard. But the results didn't come well. And I was training with Kilian. Kilian can run 5000m in about 16 minutes. That's how good he is. Now, I still train hard. I enjoyed it. It's part of my life. 18: 22 is history. This year would be memorable. My training has produced results. My thinking has changed. 12 and a half laps has taken a new definition to me personally.

I am blessed. That is making me so happy.

What makes a good holiday trip?

2007-06-08T10:19:00.000+08:00

A trip to the Caribbean sounds like a good holiday trip. But location isn't everything. Because if you go with good friends, find your own adventure and get plenty of rest, the trip can be a great one. A great trip is made up of many enriching and unique experiences that will remain as unforgettable memories.

A holiday with good friends is simply great. Long rides won't be a problem. It is safer to travel in a group than alone. Laughing with friends can make you forget some worries. And you can have someone to rely on when you need a hand.

Adventure is everywhere and anywhere. Especially in a holiday trip. Climb a mountain. Explore the jungle. Snorkel past big garoupas and barracudas in the sea. Find your way through a rural town. How do you make your own adventure? Just do something risky. It may sound foolish. Especially if the risk promises a definite mishap. Jumping off a tall building is a risk. But the chances of survival or injury- free is near very near to zero. Make a calculated risk. A safe risk. Take on the risk bit by bit. That way you can stop and not be too late.

A good rest does wonders during a holiday trip. It is physically, mentally and psychologically refreshing. You can do more if you are physically fit and healthy. So there is no point in watching television late at night.

Projects

2007-06-04T15:33:00.000+08:00

When I was fourteen, working on projects in school was personally enjoyable and interesting. Then, it was about constructing model buildings and houses. I remembered setting up lighting in a boxed specimen. In class it was quite a unique project done by my group. We were very united as a group. We would meet almost everyday during the vacation to work on the project. Well, we played football at the HDB void deck more often than work on the project. But that is a team- bonding initiative I must stress.

Now I begin to think that working on projects is highly significant and powerful. If you have many good projects in work and they all turn out to be excellent ideas or systems, your portfolio is well- built. You win million- dollar deals through past successful projects. A project can become a powerful marketing tool. A well- organized project can generate good results. Because it can be seen as reliable. Efficient. Promising.

So it made me think about surviving the workplace. What's wrong with branding your work? What's wrong with doing it in your own style? A project keeps you focused. And competitive in the game.

A project tells you the deadline. A project breaks down your tasks into simple terms. A project directs you to the goals. A project is your work.

It's objective

2007-06-04T14:46:00.000+08:00

Have you seen other blogs? They talk about personal lives. One will tell what the writer did from the moment he woke up to the time he turns in. Is that great? Another will be about the all- too- common relationship problems, some crushes here and there and the insidious gossiping. Gossiping is clearly bad. We have seen what is common. And what stands out. You decide.

What is the point of blogging? To pass time? As a pastime? We have heard that writing can be a therapeutic process. That explains how writing a personal diary helps for many people. I believe that blogging is a good way to express your opinions.

I try to make Spectrum 360 different. I try to make it simple yet wide. I try to generate wide ideas. New ideas. New insights. I am not trying to break free from the norm for no particular reason. You have to know something about pop culture. It is not always right. Spectrum 360 captures that. In new ways.

There is a beauty in putting complex ideas into simple words. There is a beauty in understanding between various cultures. Expressing in a concise and accurate way is a skill. How are you supposed to reach a global audience without adhering to the rules of a unified language?

Spectrum 360 wears a new attitude. It's objective.

How running is like a boxing match

2007-05-22T14:56:00.000+08:00

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.

Falling trees

2007-05-21T15:02:00.000+08:00

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.

This is pool

2007-03-31T18:29:00.000+08:00

I just love pool. It's a game of style, technique, accuracy, confidence and posture. The satisfaction from hitting a ball in is simply a pleasure. I always check a few points before hitting a ball. Alignment accuracy, power, posture, body positioning and cue hit zone. Pool is largely about ball physics too. It is all calculated according to physics laws. A particular force will give a particular effect. The direction will guide the effect of the force. Even the cue hit zone is important. Pool's a beautiful game. It's a game of precision and focus. If you want to relax with some friends, a game of pool is a good idea. That's provided that your friends appreciate the beauty of ball physics.

Promise and deliver

2007-03-28T08:38:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered why some companies are successful while others are not? I think it simply points to a few good old principles and policies. The working ethics and practices these successful companies adopt are nothing complex and confidential.

It's simply "promise and deliver".

Good companies make big promises. Customers like their promises. And the important part is, these companies deliver.

The outstanding companies make big promises too. But they deliver more than what they promised.

I think companies which want to succeed should do so with integrity. Don't fake a smile. Make a fair deal. Try serve everyone's interests. Don't force people to buy your products.

It is simply delivering to what's promised. I think there shouldn't be any trying. Just do or don't.

Stress

2007-03-16T08:35:00.000+08:00

What a calm morning! There was time to make coffee in the library and it's so quiet and peaceful. There's virtually no one in school. I think i love the term break.

So i guess life isn't too tough being a teacher. The working hours are not so long and when term breaks come, there is chance for a short respite. Yes i do not deny the stress of handling problematic students. But that is part and parcel of any career. Stress is inevitable.

I've seen and heard much about how the problem of stress is discussed. Everyone knows how you approach the problem of stress results in the effect of stress on you. In other words, react positively and you will improve. Or if you react negatively, it could lead to bigger problems.

But i'd like to see stress as a phenomenon. Stress is inevitable in the life of a human being. And there is no such thing as stress to the higher being.

Pre- race analysis

2007-03-15T22:59:00.000+08:00

This Sunday is important. It's my first 5000m race of the season. It'll be inspiring if I can better my personal best. If I can't better it, it only means I have to keep working harder. I feel that performance is not reliant only on training. Lifestyle too has an impact on performance. How much sleep taken and the daily diet are lifestyle factors.

I just love the team. The camaraderie is great. Teamwork is strong. We take on the Speedwork together. The team never loses inspiration and motivation. And Zhi Yong is a wonderful mentor to the young aspiring lads. I take note of every tip he tells us. He is always ranked among the top five nationwide. We are indeed fortunate to have him in the team.

It's only a few days to the race and I think i'm ready for it. I will know about my form this Sunday.

Near- death experience on 10 March 2007

2007-03-14T12:11:00.000+08:00

I just can't believe it. It's a twist. Just one quick thinking lead me to what I am today- alive! And what made me think of that way? I do not know. It's a mystery.

I was on the thin line between life and death. It was very thin.

I struggled to keep afloat.

The waves were overwhelming and the current was very strong.

I was choking and gasping for air. I panicked.

I felt trapped. I tried very hard to keep myself afloat by pushing myself above the surface with my limbs. That sapped my energy and only God knows how I'm gonna swim back to the shore about 200 metres away.

Then in an instant I tried something else. Try swim breaststroke to the near rock. That way i'll still get to breathe and move near the rock at the same time.

It's a miracle. A twist. One moment my chances of survival was close to zero and next I was clinging to the rock in deep relief.

It made me realize how fragile life is. It made me realize the limitations of man. In one way or another, everyone has to go one day. And it happened I was not to go that day. Though it was very close.

It could have been a freak accident death. But that did not happen.

I am still trying to come to terms with this. No i'm not deeply traumatized. But it's something I can't stop thinking about. It's not an everyday thing. I've come close to death a number of times. To date, it's the third time. I need to learn something from these.

The truth about insurance companies

2007-03-07T12:54:00.001+08:00

You can never gain when you sign up for an insurance coverage plan. It doesn't matter whether it's from AIA, Prudential or the local NTUC Income. If you've paid and nothing bad happens, you lose money. If something happens, you get the money. But how do you feel with the mishap in your life? Can a permanent injury be compensated with money? Full compensation? If you lose a limb, what's the real compensation? Money or another real limb?

This is the truth about insurance companies. The moral line is somewhat blurred. The business is questionable. The ethics is debatable. To date, the insurance industry is expanding and making profits. One wonders how the insurance companies have manipulated its customers to be able to still generate profits when they also have to provide monetary compensation when the circumstances arise.

The best choice is to not sign up for any insurance plan. Your fate is better that way. Until the moment you sign up for one. Because even if you don't encounter any mishap, you will still lose money. And that's a mishap, isn't it?

The principal

2007-03-06T12:57:00.001+08:00

What do you conjure up of a school principal? A highly experienced mentor? A no- nonsense persona? To the teachers, he's the boss and when he recommends or writes you off, it matters a lot.

I've never worked with a principal before. Until the year 2007 comes. Work has been fine. The principal is kind and friendly. It helps that I know his daughter personally. She is one of the best runners in Singapore.

My boss does give me many tasks to undertake. He wanted a new projector screen. He asked me to shift the book shelves. Once I had yet to complete a task he told me to do. He found out. I thought he was going to be mad at me. But no. He just said, "Oh, you haven't ah?" I thought that was a good virtue in a leader. It's patience. And understanding.

I don't always hear of nice comments about him. In fact, many felt that his style is that of an iron hand rule.

It is impossible to only fetch good reviews when you are a leader. Those whose ideals may actually be wrong will disagree. And you think they're correct to say you're wrong? Not at all. This is one of the challenges a leader have to face. He has to make the right decisions. Not popular decisions.

The return of the Long Run

2007-03-05T22:37:00.000+08:00

It's about six in the evening. I checked the sky and it was divided into two different colours by the axis through the Jurong Lake. It's a strange sight. There was a risk of getting trapped in the rain. But it didn't rain. And my Long Run went smooth.

What was I thinking in the run? I just needed to improvise my stride to prepare for the 1500 metres. I know the mileage can do wonders. It makes you ready for anything the coach throws at you. It's like homework. On the track.

The best thing I can do now is to sleep and have a great rest. Before that I shall not forget something I need to do everyday.

It's currently 8: 07. The only way is down. The time, of course.

The weather's been erratic

2007-03-03T22:09:00.000+08:00

Last week was like a drought. Today it rained heavily at seven. The weather's been unexplainable these days. Or is it these years? Some say the weather reflects a response to what human beings have done on Earth. Some say it's global warming. But I do like cold weather. The chill is refreshing and you feel like in another country. It feels like London.

In tropical Singapore the weather is humid and sometimes punishingly dry.

But I love the sun and showers because both keep the rainforest island fresh and clean.