The Fellowship of the Ride and Run

Never one for team sports (or any sports, for that matter), the most significant development this year was what I termed the Fellowship of the Ride and Run.

For different reasons, three of us in our small group bought bikes mid last year. Of course, it was only logical to ride together, first with SY and JN along the park connector, and earlier this year, to ride on the roads. It was the Tri-Factor ride that JN and I first ventured on the roads. Quite an experience that was. Our first encounter with the slopes of Thomson and our first tire puncture. That puncture was to be the first of many eventful landmarks in our Fellowship of the Ride together.

Yes, I am talking about our Sunday 5 am cycling fellowship. At one ride, the group had 11 cyclists (and that was the Thomson corner incident), but about four or five of us are the mainstay regulars.

Group riding taught me many valuable lessons. The main lesson was to look out for one another. It could simply by being responsible - calling out "car back!" to pointing out road hazards, to pulling the train, to waiting for one another. At our last ride, we said a short prayer before the ride, out of responsibility to our beloved ones back home - who might fear receiving an early morning call from her spouse's phone, but hearing someone other than the spouse's voice.

Riding is the most exciting of the three sports - but possibly the most hazardous. Recent news about another accomplished triathlete and friend who had a nasty fall reinforced this perspective. Yet, there's the lure of ever-faster speed and surmounting the next slope and the ensuing thrill of the downhill ride thereafter. Responsible riding. We ride, but being accountable to our loved ones, we ride responsibly and look out for one another. No heroics, please.

Then there's the breakfast fellowship. I recall the time when we had to shorten our ride on account of the heavy downpour, and had to make a beeline for my place. Wet though we might be, we had a hearty laugh at ourselves and a good breakfast. It was a good ride, even if we were a pathetic lot.

What do we talk about? All sort of things, from sharing riding tips, to fanciful flights of fantasy about future rides, to the latest gadgets and gears, and to common ministry work that we find ourselves committed to. Bike4COSI - our riding team for next year's OCBC cycle is one manifestation of this ministry work.

It's through these times that I feel that our group has grown closer and more intimate. Nothing like common adversity (and interests) to build bonds.

The same has to be said for the Fellowship of the Run. This year marked the launch of the running community at PMC. We had the privilege of encouraging fellow runners to run for a cause (run4COSI) and for some to achieve their running aspirations. Recently, TH and DA ran the SCSM together - the first for TH!

I had the chance to join them for a 32k long run in the lead up to SCSM, and on another occasion with DW on a 15km long run. It was these runs that allowed me to gain insights into their lives and aspirations. Yes, 3 to 4 hours of running together is a long time to talk and share.

Then there was the 9.5 hours painfest that was TNF. It was a journey of shared pain and joy with PK. Others may think we are nuts, but there're no words to express the grueling treks through rainforest and hills, through heat, humidity and rain, through sweat and tears. No, I stand corrected. The words are "Let's do it again!" --- the journey makes us sign up for two more endurance events next year - the 84km ultra and another go at TNF100 duo.

To the uninitiated, it may seem somewhat baffling and crazy for guys in their forties to don tights and sacrifice previous sleep to do the things we do. But I for one am glad that I did. For what appears to be craziness on the surface is actually a deeper spiritual work that is within us.

The Fellowship of the Ride and Run fosters accountability and discipline. We demonstrate commitment by showing up when we say we would. In so doing, we are accountable for one another in our faith journey. We demonstrate discipline in our riding, running and training. These are desirable traits to cultivate, to say the least.

In our fellowship, we confront and conquer our deepest fears. Perhaps not immediately, but we work at it, baby-steps at times, but slowly and surely we surmount our doubts and fears. Completing our first 42km, our first 60km ride, overcoming our fear of falling or that hill-that-is-our-Archilles-heel.

Perhaps more significantly there’s the issue of vulnerability. That inner vulnerable place within that we guard ever so jealously, through years of practice, not to reveal, is often brought to the altar of inadequacy when we put it all on the line. And we recognize and respect the deeper forces that are at work within us and among us.

Yes, it is this vulnerability that draws and binds us closer as brothers of the fellowship.

God willing, this fellowship may be part of the legacy we leave for our children.