Singapore Bay Run 2008 - Half Marathon

The Singapore Bay Run for 2008 will begin at 6.00 am Sunday 24th August. I have signed up for it (Competitive) and so have my colleagues and friends in Singapore. It starts at the Esplanade Drive (the road outside the 'Durian') and takes us down the Shenton Way, turn left and up Sheares Bridge and towards East Coast Park, turn back around Fort Road and head back towards the Floating Platform where the National Day Parade is held.My target time : 2 hours 5 minutes or below.
It is a great warm-up to getting used to the long distances such as the marathon. Rest Well, Hydrate Yourself,Smile and Enjoy the Run ! Oh and the medal is quite nice too (see picture). Its made of shiny bronze.

Team Building - SnowCity Singapore

On Tuesday 22nd July, my colleagues from Malaysia and Thailand came to Singapore for a visit to our head office.I decided to arrange for a introductory lesson in skow skiing at Snow City at Jurong Town Hall Road, just 5 minutes from our office. The
instructress Emmeline is a Certified Ski Instructor from Snowline, the one and only skishop in Singapore.As it was a first time
for all of our colleagues, much fun was had as we struggled to fit into the firemen- jumpsuit looking ski clothes.Safe to say that everyone enjoyed themselves.

I want to issue a challenge to our Team QRA ; Kannan,Rufus,Tawatchai,Sebastian, Rick and Faizol.

Secure a total of S$ 1.5 M Sales Orders by December '08 ; I will arrange another Memorable Company Activity for
3 days/ 2 nights. Take up the Challenge and Sieze the Orders !!

Running Shoes for your Foot Type

There are basically 4 ranges of shoes for runners :
1. Motion Control
2. Stability
3. Neutral - Cushioned
4. Performance Trainers

1. Motion Control - These are for those with moderate to severe flat feet; that is moderate to severe overpronators.
These shoes have support on the arch (midsole) side of their shoes. Good for larger build runners.

2. Stability - These shoes are for those with mild to moderate flat feet.These shoes have good support and midsole
cushioning.

3. Neutral Cushioned- For maximum midsole cushioning, that is runners who are bioechanically efficient and run
with their midsole or forefoot hitting the ground first

4. Performance - If you are a racer,and are biomechanically efficient runner,this shoe is for you. It is lightweight.

These are my current 3 pairs ;

1. (Left) Nike Triax - Neutral Cushioned Shoe ; Price S$ 165 at Nike Bird ; Wonderful support and feeld good after each run.

2. (Centre) Asics Kayano - Motion Control Shoe ; Price S$ 196 at Queensway SC ;
I love this shoe as it provides great support for my midsole plus it
protects my heel and forefoot. Best shoe for me so far, I have 6 pairs !

3. (Right) New Balance 1223 - Stability Shoe ; Price S$ 168 from Velocity NB Store ;
Good midsole cushioning but forefoot cushioning not very good. Only for short runs.

Best Shoe in the World by Runners World 2007

1. Asics Gel Nimbus 9 - Price : S$ 180 from Queensway SC ;
Neutral Cushioned Shoe with proprietary Impact Guidance System (Gel) which permeates upon
footstrike

So which shoe for you ? If you are normal arched any of the 3 shoes I have would be OK.

Rave Run - Chatuchak Park,Bangkok,Thailand

This is the Chatuchak Park,just a stone's throw from the world famous JJ (Jatujak) Fake Goods Market which sells all kinds of stuff to tourists and residents in Bangkok Thailand. The easiest way to get there is by the MRT, take the train heading towards Bang Sue (from Veronica hotel its only 4 stops,Sutthisan,Lad Phrao,Phahon Yothin and then Chatuchak Park).
My run started relatively late, at 8.30 am, overslept a little. I ran for a total of 48 minutes or approximately 8 km
which is 2 and 1/2 loops round the whole park. 1 round is approx. 3.8 km. It was hot but there were ample trees and
water sprinklers to cool me down. Great run !

Sights to see (on the MRT) :
a) Bangkok students and residents all dressed up to work
Sights to see and Do :
a) Exercise Uncles and Aunties - whatever they are doing they are dedicated
b) Musclemen - a small time Gym is there
c) Feed the pigeons and fish (for 20 baht, you get 3 packets of bread and fish food) - see picture
d) Chill out -see picture

What's Your Foot Type ? Try the Wet Test

To get the best protection and value from my running shoes, after all they are designed for various types of feet,I decided to try the Runner's World Wet Test. The steps are as shown below :

1. Place a heavy dry piece of drawing block paper on the floor outside your shower cubicle.
2. Wet your feet by showering on them or stand in your bathtub while completely immersing your foot in water.
3. Place your foot normally onto the dry piece of drawing block for 10 - 20 seconds
4. Step off and Look Down
5. Observe the shape of your foot

1. Picture on Top : Flat Arch - If you see the line drawn, where you see almost your entire imprint. You are an overpronator.
That is,a microsecond after your footstrike,your arch collapses inward too much and resulting
in excessive foot motion and increasing your risk of injuries.

2. Picture Below : Normal (Medium) Arch - If you see half your arch (like my imprint),then you are a normal pronator, that is
when your foot lands on the floor, it will pronate or 'roll' a little inwards and
absorbs some of the impact shock. This is the most common foot type.

3. Picture on Top : High Arch - If you see your heel, your ball of your foot and a thin line on the outside of your foot (I have
drawn a line to illustrate this footprint), you have a high arch. This is the least common foot
type.You are likely an underpronator, or supinator which can result in too much shock
travelling through your body since your arch doesn't collapse enough to absorb the shock on
foot impact.

So, what shoe for what foot type ? See my next Post.

Common Singapore English Phrases 2008

As there will be a great number of foreign tourists visiting Singapore due to F1 season and the upcoming Casinos,I decided to draft a simple list of Common Singapore English so that the visitor can understand what the hell we Singaporeans are muttering about. I put them into 2 categories ; the below 20 years of age and the 20 - 60 years. After 60 either we speak proper English or none at all. There is no middle ground. Its dealing with people below 60 years you have to understand !!

Below 20 years of age
1. Sup Man : Hi there
2. Nuffin : I'm cool
3. Slack : To take the easy way out
4. Noob : Beginner (especially for gamers)
5. Stoner : Somone who is in a daze.

20 to 60
1. How ah ? : Hi
2. Lai Dat Lor : I'm good
3. On: OK
4. Wah Lau : Oh my goodness
5. Can I Help Chew ? : Can I help you ? (Normally applies to many Sales Assistants in Shopping Centre boutique shops)
6. Xian : State of boredom
7. Aunty : Anyone over 40,marital status irrelevant (female)
8. Uncle : Anyone over 40, marital status irrelevant (male)
9. Bapok,Bengkok : Gay
10. Siam : Get out of here
11.Far Queue : Very long queue.
12. Ang Mor : White People


Ah Seng : How ah ?
Muthu : Lai Dat Lor, damn xian. Must work on Saturday, only can go Orchard in afternoon. Wanna go ?
Ah Seng : On

1.30 pm at Takashimaya Plaza Main Atrium ; There is a Line Dance Presentation by Senior Citizens

Muthu : Wah Lau, So many people
Ah Seng : Yah Lor, and see all those Uncles and Aunties Line dancing !
Muthu : Eh you see who is coming ? That Michael from HR. He the Bengkok one, always wear tight T shirt with nipples
showing
Ah Seng : Lets siam, go inside.
Muthu : A lot of people going this way. Just Follow Law
Ah Seng : U hungry ? Go to Sanur Restaurant

At Sanur Restaurant

Muthu : Wah, Far Queue ah !
Ah Seng : Eh, not happy ah ? %$#@@!

The rest is unprintable.
Advice : One should use Phrase 11 with extreme caution.