Running - Geting the Right Start (written first in 2002) - Part 1

           It is such a simple sport, you would think that it would be easy to get started. Not so, at least 50% of all men and women who attempt to start a running program fail. Why ? The reason is simply this : Too much to accomplish too soon. As a result they injure themselves or become frustrated and defeated,  

           Why should you (or I) start running ? There are many reasons and according to Bob Glover, author of The Runner's Handbook, here are 12 of them (the first 6 are listed below) 

1. Health : Its pretty obvious ins't it ? Much research around the world has indicated that running and other forms of areobic exercise reduce the risks of heart disease and some forms of cancer. Running improves the good blood cholesterol levels , increases immunity to illness and  and helps control high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and many other health problems. For me personally, I use it as a tool to keep my weight under control. 

Most importantly those who follow a regular exercise program are more likely to change other health habits like change in sleeping patterns - early to bed and early to rise ; better health choices in terms of food. The results of the Gallup poll taken then showed :

 64% started eating healthier diets
 45% lost weight (keeping that weight down is another challenge altogether)

2. Fitness - Running strengthens your cardiorespiratory, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems giving you more energy to carry on daily tasks and leisure activities. Our galloping Gallup survey also shows 

  62% feel that they have more energy than they did before they started exercising

3. Weight Management - Runners on average burn off 60 to 80 calories per km of running.This will not only control your weight but also reduce your percentage of body fat a you build firmer, leaner muscle.

4. Longevity - It is scientifically proven that those who exercise regularly and vigorously on a regular basis will live longer. Importantly you will live a better quality of life with fewer disabilities - unless of course you get hit by a car during one of your runs. I have had almost 18 years of road running without any issue !  (I started serious running in 2000).   

My 10th marathon Dec 2015 

5. Aging - We must all age. Exercise will help slow down the aging process so that we have more quality years. I fully believe and endorse that opinion. Exercise can and will slow the loss of stamina, flexibility, bone density, metabolic rate and general enthusiasm for being active.  It is proven that rigorous exexcise releases endorphins - the bodies natural feel good morphine and many runners experience the Runners HIgh after a long run. I do, normally after 1 hour of non-stop running, which translates to about 10km. 

6. Women's Health - Exercise helps prevent osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and health problems associated with menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. There is also research - Aug 2001 in the annals of Rheumatic Disease, USA which states explicitly that for the long term, regular running does NOT increase your risk of osteoarthritis in the knees.

I should know. I have been running for 18 yeas solid. Things are still working fine in the lower limb department.  

                                               10 m to go at the 2014 marathon

ShinPa

I have been training for the last 15 years (wow has it been that long ?) under the tutelage of Shihan Sensei Chia Kwek Fah (8th Dan) practising the ancient art of Shitroryu Karate. Originating from Okinawa, Shitroryu karate has spread its schools and popularity worldwide to every far flung corner of the globe.

Here is one of the more popular katas (form of practice) from the Shito style ; Shinpa.

Classes are at every Sunday from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm at the Tanglin Community Club along Whitley Road, just off the PIE exit no. 19 (either way to Airport or to Tuas) ; across the Caltex Petrol Station, and postcode 297827. 

Enjoy this kata. 

Lets Take things in a Calm, Rational Manner ; do not Jump to Conclusions

         

         By now the social media is abuzz with the video and pictures of the well dressed couple who literally bumped off an elderly 'uncle' at the hawker center at Toa Payoh Lorong 8. The trolls are giving the couple a field day, I wish to just respectfully say that yes, is appeared that the altercation was too much. The young man had no right body slamming the old man so much that he almost keeled over and had to hold on to the table for dear life.

        It is sad and shameful to see Singapore, with all its years of development, GDP growth and high standard (together with the cost of living) of living, there are people who do not even have the basic graciousness to accept to share some thing as basic as a hawker table ?  It reflects really badly on our society. The elderly man was not belligerent, nor rude nor obnoxious. He obviously wanted to take a seat and probably did not see the objects placed by the side of the table. The lady was foul mouthed and her companion was acting like a thug.  

      Singapore has many plus points to its name ; however graciousness in society is still lacking. I wonder if it is because we are too cloistered up in a small island and the lack of living 'space' has made us a pent -up society ; wanting to fight tooth and nail over every small thing which 'belongs' to us. Like lift space, table space and toilet cubicles.  Queueing has been accepted in our society and I try to be as gracious and giving to the elderly whether they are grumpy or entitled minded or not.  

     The Government had originally set a 6.9 million number for people to live in Singapore. It is in my humble opinion, just too many for us to live in such close proximity. Lets learn to live graciously as good neighbours and share whatever we come upon. 

     Lets just take things in a calm and rational manner ; there were some angry words said. The young man was totally in the wrong to body check the old man regardless of what he said to the woman. We are after all, a developed society. Time and again, we need a courtesy campaign ?? The 2 young people should look themselves in the mirror. 30 years from now, if they were treated like what they did to the old man, how would they feel and react ?  The keyboard junkies and all the name calling must stop. 

    Ashamed. Thats what I feel.  

Lovely Afternoon in Sydney by the Harbour - 20th April 2017

20th April at the Rocks, Sydney Opera House in the Background

       My colleague and I first arrived on 19th April at Sydney and took a connecting flight to Canberra. Its been 13 years since we were last in Australia (my family had 2 weeks in the Gold Coast in 2004) and 15 in Sydney. I must say that this short visit to Sydney really gave me a good feel of the weather in Australia, although it can fluctuate quite a lot in the day and dip by almost 10 deg C by evening time. 

      My colleague and I arrived in Canberra on 19th and had a day visit. After that, we checked out the beautiful city and the surroundings by car. Canberra is  the capital city of Australia and the Federal Government has its parliament located at - you guessed it - in Canberra. More about that in a later post.

                                          Sydney Opera House in the Background 

         

       20th April was a fine sunny day in Sydney. Upon arrival at Kingsford airport, we took the Airport Express down to Circular Quays, and finally, Wynard  station. Our hotel was conveniently located at Pitt Street and literally just 2 minutes walk from the Wynard station. Upon checkin, we proceeded to the Rocks and Harbour Bridge. The afternoon was just as what the brochures and postcards displayed, picture perfect. There were lots of tourists visiting Circular Quays and the Harbour - many of them from within Australia and many parts of Asia too.

One for the Memories 

We spent a good hour just wandering around the harbour area taking in the sights, sounds and colours. I must say, the fine mild weather (4 seasons), the variety of foods and the free wheeling democracy has attracted many migrants from Asia to Australia in the last 20 odd years. Some friends and classmates of mine have migrated since the mid 80s and while I am tempted, my heart is set on Singapore. It has so much convenience and accessibility to the other parts of Asia, which has seen almost 4 decades of economic growth with some years experiencing 1 maybe 2 years of recession (negative 2 quarters of economic growth).

        There had been not alot of development since I was last in Sydney, although that can be debated to no end. The Sydney metro is prompt, clean and on time. The Aussie young seem to be working hard now with the influx of Asian immigrants and competing for their jobs.Home prices in Sydney have doubled in the last 7 years - surely not a good sign for the young, as affordability of housing is critical for a stable and happy society.

360 Panoramic View of the Sydney Harbour 20 April 2017 

       Food prices, such as dining in restaurants are quite on par in price with Singapore and service standard is quite abysmal, about the same as in Singapore. So globalisation has many drawbacks and many threats to the millenials from Sydney to Singapore. HIgh paying jobs are few and far between, many top ranked foriegners are working and earning a good income, locals (as in Singapore) are finding it tougher and harder to remain relevant in this disruptive new economy.

      Well. I hope my business in Australia gets a foothold. I would love to return here on a regular basis and observe the social standards and local aspirations from afar. It is indeed the 'Lucky Country'.  

Rave Run - Nassim Road 5.45 am ; Mark's Marathon Training Plan

      






These are the pictures of Nassim Road Singapore, where I used to run 10 years ago, in 2007. The distance is 4km for a loop from the Evans Road entrance all the way down to Orchard Road entrance,including a small detour at Lermit Road. Its wide,car free most of the time and I wish I could wake up more times at 5.20am to run this loop !

     This training route is one which I had been religiously training 10 years ago when I was on fire to finish as many marathons as I could in 1 year (sadly or happily, it was only 1 per year). I was normally there at 5.30 to 5.45am to run 2 sets of loops,a total distance of 8km.This was my initial training for the marathon sometime later part of this year. Later in the training program I would add on more loops and until maybe 1 month or 2 weeks before the main marathon, I would be doing as many as 7 loops, 4 x 5km and 3 x 4km. A real workhorse way of getting the body accustomed to the 40 km terror which was called the marathon. 

      My plan then : every 1,3,5 and 6. Starting week : 6 -13 June. Start Time : 5.45 am. Except every 3rd week where its my turn to take the carpool for the boys to school (30th - 4th July) ; this was when my elder boy Noel was in ACS Independent and I had a rotational thing with 2 other parents to fetch our children to the school which was some 30 minute drive away from our housing estate. 

     I plan to restart the old 'engine' for 1 or 2 more hurrahs. The overseas marathons are beckoning me. Beautiful and scenic routes with friendly and jovial supporters. Paris, Berlin and Gold Coast marathons await.

    Join me anyone ?

Mark

Jay Chou - Ai Wo Bie Zou

I like the younger set of Chinese xinyao singers. Jay Chou is one such singer. His rather laid back aproach to the camera and his easy going vocals make us want to follow his renditions. 

Oh United ; What a Massive PR Disaster !

Even Joan of Arc could not stop the hordes of angry people on social media ; especially the Asian travellers 

     By now, this world wide event whereby one poor passenger from United Flight UE 4711 from Chicago to Louisville was singled out and literally dragged out from his seat, and out of the plane has made the headlines from Kentucky (USA) to Kilimanjaroo (Tanzania) - thanks to the newest and most powerful media, the social media platform where billions of ordinary people like you and I are potentially brand ambassadors, critics and market movers for so many consumer products, services, food and travel experiences

     The worldwide technology revolution led by the smartphone in the last 20 years and its myriad of features like High Definition Camera, Digitial Camera, Voice Recorder, Internet access to games, cashless payments, movie and restaurants reviews, bookings and takeouts of food, household products, electronic goods have totally remade the way ordinary people eat, shop, and even find a potential life partner. So many paradigm shifts have occured in such a short time, max 1 generation (25 years) it is shocking for the older generation people like me (Baby Boomers - those born from 1946 till 1970), yet it is deemed so normal for the Millenials or people born in the late '90s till now. 

     Last Sunday 9th evening, United Airlines UE 4711, was scheduled to depart from Chicago to Louisville Kentucky, on time. However, as the plane was full (even overbooked), and there were 4 United employees who were  special passengers (crew or employees) needing to go to Louisville. As such, the airline employed firstly, the option of offering people to volunteer up their seats for (UA) cash rebates, the amount was $400 and then bumped up to $800.  After 3 people were "re-accomodated" by offering them free United money points, they were asked to de-plane (thank you Oscar Munoz). The 4th, a doctor from Kentucky (birthplace was Vietnam), Dr David Dao, who objected to leaving the plane. Well first, the flight attendant made very clear that 4 priority United passengers (read employees) needed to get on the plane and "the plane was not going anywhere until we have 4 people off".

     What crass. What gall. What a shambolic display of supposed customer 'service'. It harks back to the day when the economy class was called the 'cattle class' whereby hordes of bodies were transported from Point A to Point B in the cheapest way possible and wham, bam ; get off my plane ! 

     Dr Dao objected to being ejected, and then the United crew called in Chicago Airport Security ; so the situation was spiralling downhill. Unyielding customer who was aware of his rights (or so he thought) ; the airline - in its fine print of sale of tickets, has the right not to fly him to his destination apparently, based on several factors ; then again, conventional wisdom is always based on trial and error. Who (except a minority 2%) reads the fine print on anything ?          

    So after much talk, the situation became quite untenable ; the good doctor unyielding, and the airport security had to do their job ; so one staff manhandled the doctor, (he apparently hit his head on the seatreast), and dragged him out in full view of the rest of the shocked passengers. 

    I must say the bystander effect was indeed shameful ; if you see a gross indignity being inflicted on another human being, don't just stand there, do something, compassion calls for acting  when necessary even at the expense of your personal dignity and safety. It is your human right as citizens of a free country.

   Within the same day, the United CEO came out on twitter and defended his people's actions citing the passenger as being 'angry and belligerent'. He doubled down and stated that the airline did no wrong. The social media clip of the doctor being dragged out like some drunk from a bar, sent people from China or many people of Chinese origin into sending nasty and mostly negative comments on how the US treats Chinese people. 

   So now, the battle lines are being drawn up. Its sad that such a simple act of negotiation to entice a paying passenger to reschedule to another day was messed up BIG TIME by morons acting in the capacity of employees.

   United ; Your Time has Come to Face the Music.