Swim: 49:02
T1: 4:34
Bike: 3:10:39 (28.4 kph)
T2: 4:41
Run: 2:40:42 (7:37 pace)
Overall: 6:49:38
Rank: 677 (17/35 in 50-54 division)
Race report to follow...
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Too much of a good thing?
Saturday was supposed to be my first foray into the Singapore Biathlon, and I was looking forward to it. But I came down with severe stomach cramps on Friday night - possibly due to some food I took during dinner. I have a weak stomach, so I was anticipating a bout of diarrhea and vomiting. Suffice it to say, I decided not to take part in the biathlon. Disappointed to say the least, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Thankfully, I was well after resting on Saturday, and today I set out to do the bike-run-bike-run session. Similar to last week's - just that coach wanted me to go faster. First 57k at ave speed of 28.5kph. 8k run at ave 6:33 pace. 20k @ 30.3 kph, and last 1k at 4:54 pace. The timings were a little better than last week's. Partly due to the rest on Sat, or perhaps the SIS energy drink I took before the session?
This week's long run of 18km went well. Averaged 7:00 for 16km - I think the rain this week helped cooled things down. The last 2 km was at 5:36 and 5:28.
Overall, a pretty good training week, notwithstanding the hiccups.
Thankfully, I was well after resting on Saturday, and today I set out to do the bike-run-bike-run session. Similar to last week's - just that coach wanted me to go faster. First 57k at ave speed of 28.5kph. 8k run at ave 6:33 pace. 20k @ 30.3 kph, and last 1k at 4:54 pace. The timings were a little better than last week's. Partly due to the rest on Sat, or perhaps the SIS energy drink I took before the session?
This week's long run of 18km went well. Averaged 7:00 for 16km - I think the rain this week helped cooled things down. The last 2 km was at 5:36 and 5:28.
Overall, a pretty good training week, notwithstanding the hiccups.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
OCBC cycle 2010 race report
There's a certain joy parenthood in watching our children enjoy the same sports as we do. That's how we felt as we watch D&E cycled two loops in the OCBC cycle Mighty Savers 5 km event on Saturday.
Getting to the F1 pit was a hassle, with the poor ingress and egress, traffic and construction. However, that did not deter more than 700 children from participating in this event.
Both D&E enjoyed their ride, and came back with several "war stories". Turned out that they were very impressed with the winners who zipped past in road bikes with high profile wheels!
As for the 40km challenge on Sunday, all I could say was that it was a recovery ride for me as I was too zoned out. I gave the excuse that I accompanied WL on his maiden cycling race, but I didn't want to go hard with the crowd and many narrow stretches and sharp turns. I thought that the route was quite unexciting, and there were just too many errant cyclists to watch out for to make it fun for me.
The congestion at the F1 pit was appalling - we had to join the riders to get out of the race venue. There were just insufficient thought given to moving participants to and from the race venue. The poor choice of F1 pit was a major factor. And the route was only 36 km in total.
Nevertheless, it was good to ride with the FOTR gang, although we miss our regulars - PK, SY and IN. JN, SC, WL and HC were there, as were I and I, who did the 20km community ride.
Congratulations to friends who completed Ironman Malaysia 2010
I am constantly amazed and impressed by the few friends whom I met at Bintan triathlon last year. They had gone on to complete the Desaru long distance and Putrajaya 70.3. Now, a new feather in their cap - Ironman Malaysia last month!
A-sifu completed in under 15 hours with ITB and all!
Great stuff!
A-sifu completed in under 15 hours with ITB and all!
Great stuff!
Tough two weeks
The past two weeks had been an escalation in training. Two long runs under the hot late morning/early afternoon sun, long swims, more fast bike sessions on the trainer and bike-run brick sessions.
The first demanding bike-run-bike-run session last weekend was disrupted by the unfortunately accident. So yesterday was another attempt - this time a 50k bike - 8k run - 20k bike and 1k run. IN joined me for this workout (SC joined the ride as well). By my miscalculation, we rode 60k instead. The run was at my race pace - a very slow 7:00 min/km. Then with a 5 minute rest, it was another 20k bike. However, we ran into strong headwinds along the coastal road, and I struggled to keep above 30 kph. The return leg was a little better. I could only garner 5:13 for the final 1k run.
The day before was a 21k long run with a long swim in the evening. These two workouts took their toll.
The first demanding bike-run-bike-run session last weekend was disrupted by the unfortunately accident. So yesterday was another attempt - this time a 50k bike - 8k run - 20k bike and 1k run. IN joined me for this workout (SC joined the ride as well). By my miscalculation, we rode 60k instead. The run was at my race pace - a very slow 7:00 min/km. Then with a 5 minute rest, it was another 20k bike. However, we ran into strong headwinds along the coastal road, and I struggled to keep above 30 kph. The return leg was a little better. I could only garner 5:13 for the final 1k run.
The day before was a 21k long run with a long swim in the evening. These two workouts took their toll.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Letter to the press
One of our regular FOTR-ers wrote this letter to the press. The event referred to in the article occurred last Saturday.
Educate road users on cyclists' rights
Well put indeed!
Road users should appreciate that cyclists have the right to use the roads as well. Many times we encountered inconsiderate drivers who would not give way to us, even though we had the right of way; honk at us for no good reason; cut into our lane recklessly expecting us to brake and give way; and coming so close as to force us off the road!
There has been a good number of articles of late focusing on the problems with riding on the roads. That this should come before a major cycling event - OCBC cycle - is testament to the need to overhaul the public attitude towards cyclists' rights.
Educate road users on cyclists' rights
Well put indeed!
Road users should appreciate that cyclists have the right to use the roads as well. Many times we encountered inconsiderate drivers who would not give way to us, even though we had the right of way; honk at us for no good reason; cut into our lane recklessly expecting us to brake and give way; and coming so close as to force us off the road!
There has been a good number of articles of late focusing on the problems with riding on the roads. That this should come before a major cycling event - OCBC cycle - is testament to the need to overhaul the public attitude towards cyclists' rights.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Recovering from a crash
It is not easy to see your friends hurt and in pain. Especially good friends who have been through good and tough times together - both in sports and in life. Which makes this post a hard one to write.
I am talking about our crash (we all fall down) last Saturday. It was a 100km round island ride. We were doing good times with only two breaks - Punggol point and Mandai Shell. The accident occurred at the 84km mark along Nicoll Highway. IN was at point on aero when he swerved to avoid the curb, hit something and went down sideways. PK was drafting close behind, couldn't brake and flipped over IN. I was at the end, saw the accident, tried to brake, wobbled and couldn't get my cleats out in time before going down. Thank God there were no vehicles behind us.
IN suffered quite a few abrasions on his hands, shoulder and legs. PK broke his left collar bone and was in considerable pain. The x-ray confirmed our fear. PK's had a collar bone fracture and was advised to adopt a conservative approach to allow the bone to heal naturally with close monitoring.
IN went on to do the sprint aquathlon on Sunday in spite of a swollen hand and wrist. Good thing an x-ray showed that there was no fracture.
As for me, I had a small abrasion on my left shoulder and my left wrist and palm hurt on twisting motion. Nothing serious.
The crash put some of our races in jeopardy. But that is the least of our problems. As HW says, there will always be other races.
More significantly, the crash is a test of our determination to push through this wall - the wall of physical set-backs. There will be challenges ahead for us, but we will overcome.
To quote Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche: "Was ihn nicht umbringt, macht ihn stärker." “What does not kill me makes me stronger.”
I am talking about our crash (we all fall down) last Saturday. It was a 100km round island ride. We were doing good times with only two breaks - Punggol point and Mandai Shell. The accident occurred at the 84km mark along Nicoll Highway. IN was at point on aero when he swerved to avoid the curb, hit something and went down sideways. PK was drafting close behind, couldn't brake and flipped over IN. I was at the end, saw the accident, tried to brake, wobbled and couldn't get my cleats out in time before going down. Thank God there were no vehicles behind us.
IN suffered quite a few abrasions on his hands, shoulder and legs. PK broke his left collar bone and was in considerable pain. The x-ray confirmed our fear. PK's had a collar bone fracture and was advised to adopt a conservative approach to allow the bone to heal naturally with close monitoring.
IN went on to do the sprint aquathlon on Sunday in spite of a swollen hand and wrist. Good thing an x-ray showed that there was no fracture.
As for me, I had a small abrasion on my left shoulder and my left wrist and palm hurt on twisting motion. Nothing serious.
The crash put some of our races in jeopardy. But that is the least of our problems. As HW says, there will always be other races.
More significantly, the crash is a test of our determination to push through this wall - the wall of physical set-backs. There will be challenges ahead for us, but we will overcome.
To quote Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche: "Was ihn nicht umbringt, macht ihn stärker." “What does not kill me makes me stronger.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)