Thoughts at 35 km Nassim Road - A Repost of my 2008 May 8 Post - A Reflection with Edits

A funny thing happened to me at the 35 km mark of my 36 km run several Sundays ago.Yes,this happened and I thought there would be some people "out there" who have similar experiences and can share your views with me.

I am out running at 5.15am at Nassim Road,alternating with Dalvey Road,White House Lane and Dalvey Estate Road,readying for my upcoming marathon (end 2008). I have been training for the past 6 months with my route all mapped out,as this was the last "serious" training before the upcoming marathon. My planned route was to take me for 3 circuits of Dalvey-Dalvey Estate- White House Lane (5km long each)and 5 circuits of Nassim (4 km long each) through the picturescue part of  Singapore. I love the wide dual carriageway roads and the huge trees plus massive bungalows and the High Commissions of Russia,Japan,Philippines  with their wide frontage beside Nassim Road. I can't find anything similar to this in Singapore with the exception of perhaps Namly area in Upper Bukit Timah.

I am armed with my Gatorade bottles (hidden at strategic sports every 5km or so),Power Gels,and had my Running Belt on to simulate the Real Run ie. the weight of the water which I was going to carry with me during my marathon at the end of the year.

Things were going smoothly,and I managed the first 18km in about  2 hours or 9km per hour. Definitely not my marathon pace what with no cheerleaders,other runners and supporters to give me that extra 'push'. Nonetheless,I was in a state of "no-mindedness" (from Bruce Lee's  Jeet Koon Do) and sleep-running is well and good,because you shut out all pain and boredom.I was using my "hot-stretching "technique which is stretching every 5 km or so to prevent cramps or so I thought.

"Hot stretching" - after exercising mid way, I stop to do some leg stretches as the tendons are already warmed up and more pliant and stretchable.

At the 23 km mark,I felt a tightening in my left thigh,"Oh,Oh!"my left leg was not lifting much and I could feel the effort.Not good,but I carried on. "Its way too early to cramp out", and reminded myself to drink those Gatorades the night before to stock up on the sodium. 

At the 28km mark, I popped in my 2nd Power Gel (first was at the 18 km mark) and was just trying to keep going.I had the 4 hr 30 minute timing in sight.The leg did not feel too good but I kept pushing myself 'Come on man, Just 2 more Rounds" and kept going.

Its always good to have a goal, a target as far as distance or preferred timing when you start your marathon adventure.

Its about 8.15am, on a bright Sunday morning,here I am the crazy guy who's been up 3 hours ago punishing himself,sweat himself buckets, dried out and sweated again and its going to be lovely day. My leg was stiff and hurting every few strides as I hobble past the big  houses with the maids washing their Boss's cars, or walking the dog and some other like-minded mad people like me, just putting it together and running in the early Sunday morning  (2008 !) 

At the 32km mark,I was hit like a bolt from the sky  :  "Why ??",

the "Why ??" imponderable question every runner asks. Another common phrase is called "Hitting the Wall" where you are questioning everything everything from your sanity,your place in the World, your faith,your very existence.

"Why..am I doing this stupid thing and punishing myself ?"

"The real thing is only 1 week away,why torture yourself,

" Your'e a a dumb ass to be doing this ! You could be waking up slowly and having a lovely bacon sandwich by the patio."   (I've since given up eating bacon) 

(C'mon admit it, we have all been there before !!)

Anyway, I couldn't answer the "Why" question,neither could I figure out the Meaning of Life so I decided to rant and rave  at every father,mother,son who had done me wrong (rightly or not)  in the last 5 years of my life.So there I was cursing and swearing at 8.15 am on a lovely Sunday morning at :

> The gutless ex-Sales Manager who refused to join me  Yap, you know who you are.  He opted for the easy way out when I left my previous company and started QRA all alone.

> It turned out to be a blessing in disguise  A pivotal decision actually. 

> My ex-partner who basically was a pain in the ass (well Don, here we are in 2021) 

> My ex-running partner who often overslept and made me run all alone at times. He is now a successful musician/actor/ IT specialist Brisbane Australia.Good for you Suresh !

It was really funny when you look at it.

A cleansing  of the mind and spirit of sorts !

So, at 35km mark, I am smiling and trying to make my mind  wander and dull out the pain, fatigue, sweaty discomfort and there is this bunch of runners, in the opposite direction, happily running and waving to me.

There I was, running on empty, alternating on testosterone, spewing my bile, cursing and what else. 

Finally, at the last 500 m, I can see the end, I am yelling in my head as I reach the end point.

"TO HELL WITH IT !, NOTHING  OF  THIS HERE MATTERS,THIS IS MY MARATHON, MY PAIN AND MY VICTORY !"

IT DOSEN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS.

at the finish line after 42.195 km Words cannot aptly describe my emotions 

I'm Back to Running after a 2 and half week break due to injury

At start of 10 K run with Running Kaki Filipe Cunha at B1 carpark ECP (31 Dec 2020)

 

10 K Done and Dusted 

I'm very pleased to report that I have resumed running after an almost 3 week break, after I strained my Illiotibial Band Tendon on the outer part of my left knee. I was doing a hard 10 K run (mid January) on  Saturday at around 10.30 am and after I had reached the Ski360 waterski park, 5km mid point, I decided to turn back.

Shortly around the 6 km mark (between the Ski360 and the Bikestation), I felt a sharp pain on the outer left  part of my knee. It had pulled, and I ground to a stop. The pain while not excruciating, was enough for me to stop my complete run, and even putting some weight on the left leg was a challenge. Later, I found out that I had strained my Illiotibial Band, a tendon running on the side of each leg and the pain is felt on the outer rim of either knee.

The next few nights were a strain as my knee was hurting, alternately throbbing and receding in pain - ranked at a scale of 5 upon 10 ; 10 being eyes tearing pain, 0 being practically no pain.

I can ignore pain levels of 0 to 4 I estimate. But from 5 onwards, its best I use ice or some Counterpain gel to numb the affected part.

Well I can pat myself on the back for an achievement of sorts. Getting back to my running routine with a new lease of life.

Chinatown in New York is Hurting

This video is heartbreaking, yet so heartwarming. People are coming together to help each other when they themselves are at the brink of despair.

Partick Mock is a 3rd Generation Chinese young man, who is an example of what a Hero is like in these tough times. A fighter who shows love and care for his community. 

Amazing what we can do when we stand up and be counted. 

To make a difference in the society we live in

The spirit of survival will see us through even the toughest of days.

What can't kill us will eventually make us stronger.

Keep Going Patrick ! A hero in our midst of despair. 

Carpe Diem my readers.

Tough Times bring out the Best in Teams. Go Wolves !!!

 

In an extraordinary season, No Fans, Injuries Aplenty, Nuno's Dream is severely Tested

The EPL season 20 - 21 is a really 'blah' one for me. Two of my favorite players have been sold ; Diogo Jota to Liverpool, and Matt Doherty to Tottenham. There have been injuries aplenty to many key players. They are :

a) Raul Jiminez (head injury)

b) Jonny Otto (Ankle injury)

c) Michael Podence (Adductor injury)

d) Ryan Ait Nouri

e) Leander Dendonker (Thigh)

Several are also underperforming :

a) Conor Coady 

b) Reuben Neves

c) Adama Traore 

We really need the new strikers like Jose and the established ones like Neto, Traore to step up their games. The youngster Fabio Silva is a flop. 

Tonight they face 3rd place Leicester in a MUST WIN game. 

Go the Wolves ! 

 

The Social Place ; 6 Feb 2021 Forum Shopping Centre

Crispy Crackling Seafood Soup with Rice 

Yesterday we went to try out this new 'Fusion' Dim Dum restaurant at Forum Shopping Center. Called the Social Place, it originated in Hong Kong 2 Floor, Queens Road. It did so well they opened an outlet in Singapore at the Forum Shopping Mall. Here are some of the dishes we tried, and my review is below.

Top 3 dishes  

1. DouFu with Century Egg and Sesame Sauce Seasoning. The DouFu is cold, smooth, thin in slice, with the fusion of Century Egg, and a dash of spring onions. Its an excellent 'cold dish' and great for starters.  

2. Crackling Mala Chicken with Mango PuddingAnother superb twist to the tale, the chicken is fragrant, fried to a crisp like Popcorn Chicken. The mango pudding looks exactly like an egg yolk, the viscosity, the texture,the color everything. Amazing taste.

Chinese Vegetable with Wine 

3. Crackling Seafood Soup

For comfort food, this is a must eat. I will bet my last Ren Ming Bi, this will taste even better in the cold climates up in North Asia. However, as it is in sultry humid Singapore, this dish is 98% out of 100% comforting and tasty. The crackling taste of the shallots / small carckers gives it a unique twist to the seafood rice soup. 

Service 

Pefunctory, nothing to write home and tell Grandma about how warm and friendly the place is.  The wait staff are rather curt, like in Hong Kong, and it is best to reserve the restaurant at least a couple of days in advance.

Price 

Pricey for Chinese food. Most dishes are above S$25 and the soft drinks (we had Pear Juice) are $3 to $4 

Review 

Social Place Singapore

FORUM The Shopping Mall

#01-22. 583 Orchard Road

Singapore 238884 

Food : 4.8 out of 5 

Ambience : 3.5 out of 5 (chop chop eat and go ; no cosy dining)

Service     : 3.5 out of 5

Price         : Above Average 

Total : 11.8 out of 15. 

            3.9  * out of 5 *

Good for : Company 'goodbye' dinners ; casual friends gatherings, ex-

                  colleagues  

Debates '86 - My teammates

 

from left : Me,Richard Pereira, Philip Lim, Reserve Sukhdeep, Jaspal Sidhu 

This is the victorious NTI debating team which garnered 1st Runner Up at the 1986 Tertiary Institutions Televised Debates (on SBC channel 12) . We had triumphed in the QuaterFinals, beating the National Institute of Education (NIE, now the teachers faculty of NUS). In the Semi-Finals, we beat the NUS Team 1 debating team (comprising of 4 law undergraduates) and we faced the NUS Team 2, the 'star' team of the National University of Singapore - again featuring 4 star undergraduate lawyers.

Our team comprised of yours truly, Richard Pereira, Philip Lim Feng, and Jaspal Singh Sidhu.

For the record, we were the First Runner Up in the entire series, and Philip Lim was the Best Speaker of the Night and Jaspal Singh, the best speaker of the entire series !. 

Recently I had a check on how my ex-team mates were doing and I was pleasantly surprised that they are all very successful in their own spheres. I am considered the 'underperformer" !

Richard Pereira - he was an SAF Air Force Scholar, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General and now runs a vibrant consultancy firm advising the aerospace industry.     

Philip Lim Feng - he also was an SAF scholar, rose to the rank of Brigadier General, became the head of Singapore Foods Industry and is now CEO of Exploit Teachnologies, an AStar company dedicated to commercialising AStar developed pantented products.

Jaspal Singh Sidhu - he is currently the CEO of SIS International School in Jakarta, and the largest private International School in whole of Indonesia.

My heartiest congratulations to my ex-debating mates !

I am so motivated to make a name for myself too ! I hope I am not too late.  

Basic Military Training 1981 Charlie Company Platoon 4

 A good friend of mine Dr Chan Yue Meng, sent me this photo today. This was taken 40 years ago ! 

This is Section 3 of Platoon 4, led by LTA Chua Tee, 2LT Phua in Terror Barracks, in Marsiling area.

At the back L - R : Lau Wing Tai, Dr Chan Yew Meg, Sasi Kumar (those I can remember anyways)

At the front : Yeo Lay Wee (extreme left), Wee Liang Chee and myself. 

I wish I could remember the names of the gentlemen those 40 years ago.

This was such a long time ago. The guy next to me is a Dr Wee Liang Chee, who is a really established gentleman who has settled in the USA (Iowa I believe).

My friend reminded me of the days, when I was reed thin, had Nana Mouskouri spectacles and could run sub 9 minute 2.4 km runs !

Oh, the memories !