Triumphant at the finish line

It was a job well done.

At 5.30am, the 21km Army Half-Marathon Men's Open kicked off, from the Esplanade bridge.

I had arrived at the Esplanade at 5.15am, sharing a taxi with CJ, a friend of mine who lives in the next block. He was taking part in the 21km non-competitive event, which started slightly later at 5.45am. Before I headed for the start line, we wished each other all the best and I promised that I would wait for him at the finish line with a drink for him.

The route included Shenton Way, East Coast Parkway (including up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge with its sweeping picturesque view of the city), East Coast beach jogging path, Mountabatten Road, Nicoll Highway, Middle Road (past Bugis), Orchard Road, Clemenceau Avenue, Havelock Road, Outram Road, Neil Road, South Bridge Road, and ended at the Padang.

All in all, I took 2:25 hours, based on my wristwatch timing.

I felt good throughout the race, and the early morning air was refreshingly cool.

As dawn broke, I maintained my pace, and hit the 10km mark at just over an hour.

My personal targets for the race was simple. Firstly, I targeted a finish time of 2:30 or faster; secondly, non-stop running, NO walking; and finally, I've got to enjoy the race.

At the 20km mark, insidious cramps crept up my left thigh muscle, threatening to derail my targets.

But I could not even contemplate stopping to stretch and ease the cramps, not when the finish line was well within my grasp.

I prayed, and mentally ordered the cramp to get lost.

I continued my relentless pace, pushing on, oblivious to the nagging cramp.

Within a minute or two, the cramp dissipated. Once this was overcome, within a matter of minutes, I turned into the road and there it was, the finish line, right ahead of me.

My fatigued legs were briefly overwhelmed by a surge of exuberence and pride, as I skipped over the end point.

Elated, I slowly got my breath back, and gulped down a can of 100-Plus which I had purchased from the makeshift drink stall at the side of the road. All this while, I remembered the promise I had made, and got another can of 100-Plus.

I moved near the finish line, scanning at the numberless faces of runners zipping past me, hoping to spot CJ.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and there he was. We gave each other a firm high-five and passed him the drink.

"Hey you remembered," he told me, half in jest, with a tinge of gratitude.

After a warm-down, we headed to the taxi stand, hopped into a cab, and headed for home.

As I bid farewell to him and went our separate ways, I wondered where could I have lunch with my lovely wife, who was waiting at home for me.

To my delight, my wife had prepared a beautiful meal of noodle soup for me, complete with greens and plenty of bee hoon.

Man, I feel so blessed.

Enthusiasm that inspires

Kudos to the girls and boys that turned up for the West Zone Sports Carnival training cum selection trials.

My ever-reliable Zhi Cheng, Shuan and Derek ably trained 4 Sec 1 boys and led them through a series of basketball drills and games. I knew these juniors would be in good hands.

Thanks to the dependable Prakash and Azzrul, who led the Sec 2 Soccer boys through their paces and I could see that you both did a fantastic job.

Concurrently, I was at the parade square, and I was pleased to see a good number of enthusiastic Sec 1 and 2 ladies, who could not wait to get onto the court and have a go at Captain's Ball.

My objective was simple: I had to select 2 teams, each team consisting of 10 Sec 1 and Sec 2 players. I needed to spot players who knew how to run into space to receive the pass, and players who could catch and pass the ball well.

It wasn't very easy. Many of the girls, especially the Sec 2s, tried their best, and little separated one from the other in terms of skill.

I could not fault them for lack of effort. In fact, I was proud of them, every single one of them who turned up.

They came on time, were splendid examples of sportswomen (they helped each other up, shook hands, and played the game well), and were very cooperative.

More significantly, they played on, in spite of the merciless rays of the sun, which bore down upon us without any respite.

Through a series of games with each other, I identified those who not only possessed the qualities I was looking for, but also exhibited greater speed, quicker movement, accurate passing, and keen awareness of space and opponents.

Throughout the selection trial, I was capably assisted by Sandra and Cailing, who helped me to take down the particulars of the players and monitored the time. I was very thankful for their help, and meant that I could fully concentrate on my task.

Once the 2 teams had been finalised, I felt it was necessary, first and foremost, to express my thanks for these girls' tremendous energy and effervesence.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. They were really excellent students.

Keep up that sporty spirit, whereever you go!



Even as the girls were dismissed, I was still not done yet. My basketball boys were having training at the basketball court. Now, it wasn't just a routine training. In fact, it was a special 'farewell' training session for the coach.

Over a year and a half ago, I had engaged Hui Soon to do full-time coaching for our Fajar basketball team.

He brought with him a strong sense of discipline, effective communication, and an uncompromising emphasis on mental resilience and physical fitness - qualities which aligned with my beliefs and vision for the Basketball team.

It is of utmost importance that I find a coach who meets the needs of the School and is able to work under my guidance and management of the Basketball CCA. I am not necessarily looking for a tried-and-tested coach who might have won accolades before; nor a coach with extensive coaching credentials.

Nay.

My eye is on coaches who are positive role models and living examples of good sportsmen, who believe in character building and living a balanced lifestyle between studies and sports.

It is that simple.

If a coach doesn't meet those criteria, I won't employ him.

But over time, Hui Soon has proven that he is a no-nonsense coach, who commands the attention of the boys. Above all, he has shown committment to the School and has gone beyond the call of duty to assist the School when we approached him.

So, a big 'Thank you' to you, Hui Soon.

I hope you found the farewell training session special and memorable. I am sure that you have left an indelible and positive memory in the memories of the boys whom you've coached.


By the time I dismissed the boys, it was already past 5. Only then, when the frenetic pace of the afternoon's activities had at last died down, did I feel the groans of my physical body. I felt the waves of fatigue rushing through me.

I lumbered back to the Staff Room. I sank onto my chair and rested a while.

My colleague, Ms Adelene Lee, who sits next to me, looked at me and said,

"Ken, you're burnt!"

Right.

Sweet bitter sweet Sunday

I was spent.

The 1.6km stretch of beach in Sentosa took the wind out of me. Amidst the straggling runners, I did my utmost to overtake them, avoiding the pits and crevasses of the trampled sand.

It took all of my effort just to keep on jogging on the sand.

Before the REAL Run began, I reminded myself to take it slow and treat it as a warm-up run. Who was I kidding. Running 10km, even at a slow pace, was going to sap my strength.

And I had to save my strength for the Pesta Sukan Netball Carnival, that was due to commence immediately after the run.

In spite of the heat and, I must say, inadequate physical preparation, I am quite simply overjoyed to finish the race, in slightly over an hour.

It means I can get home, take a quick shower, get rid of the sand in my shoes, and hurry down to Kallang Netball Centre, where my wife and my team mates were.

Which was precisely what I did.

In spite of the refreshing bath, I still felt weary.

As I walked past the courts, and glanced at the teams shooting and passing the balls, I felt like I might have made a mistake. Should I have run at all? How am I going to answer to my teammates if I perform poorly?

Our first game started in ten minutes. As the GK, the man I marked was truly a giant. Almost my height, and twice my width.

At my physical 100%, I would have given him a run for his money.

But I was virtually exhausted, and not enough time had lapsed for my strength and stamina to return.

My team played nervously, unable to penetrate and provide much of an attacking threat. Our opponents were competent and passed the ball at will.

The first game was lost.

Sober now, our team got together and we exchanged ideas to improve our play. There was a good half hour before game two and it was useful for me to regain my strength.

Game two was certainly better. We were more cohesive and more shots were scored. I felt stronger, but still far from my best.

And we won the game.

The third game saw me pitting my skills against the same giant I had mentioned in my earlier blog entry.

This time, we exchanged warm smiles and a firm handshake.

As the match progressed, it became abundantly clear that our opponents were different compared to the last time we played.

Some players were unfamiliar. The new faces were very good. The team we played today was far superior.

Physically, I had recovered most of my stamina, and even got the spring in my jump back. Just in time, I thought.

But it was not enough. Our opponents' superior movement and clinical finishing meant that we did not stand a chance.



Our first foray into this mixed netball competition has been a bittersweet experience. Well, certainly the friendship between us has grown stronger. It is always special when the team is made up of husband-and-wife pairs and good friends.

On the other hand, our actual match performances today were shadows of our effortless wins during our earlier training sessions. We realised that we needed more match practice and we had to learn to keep the ball better.

After securing victory in our fourth and last match, we headed to the MacDonald's opposite the Netball Centre and had a bite there.

In the midst of the easy banter, jokes and incessant complaints (about the queer umpires and scorching heat), someone uttered, "Let's play again next year!"

I'm game!

Super Sunday

Our eyes met.

I trooped up onto the court and took up position as Goal Keeper. The player I had to mark, playing as Goal Shooter, was a towering man, who stood eye-to-eye with me. I smiled and shook hands with him.

We were both similar in physical stature: equally tall, lean, and certainly quick off the foot.

I knew I would be playing a tough game.

I had been warned, five minutes earlier, that this player I'm up against is a current national netball player.

I shrugged it off. It doesn't matter. He is tall, yes. He is the tallest player I have played against in netball all year. But size doesn't count for anything. It's the competitive spirit that matters.

It's our second training session at Netball Singapore. It's a sticky and warm evening. I'm already drenched through and through after some warm-up passing and movement drills and we had already played against some teams as part of our training earlier. Our team captain then approached this team, who was resting on the sidelines, if they would be keen on playing with us.

My team consists of a core group of ladies who have played netball extensively and are good friends with each other. Then they decided to participate in the Pesta Sukan Netball Mixed Carnival where we had to send in a team of 12 (7 females and 5 males).

So naturally these ladies (which included my lovely wife) roped in their husbands/ boyfriends.

For some strange reason, the lads in our team all share a common inclination for sports. Of the 5 men in the team, 3 are PE teachers (including myself), 1 is an ex-long distance runner, and the other is an army officer.

The umpire blew the whistle, signalling the start of the friendly game.

Against my lanky opponent, my strategy is simple: do not let him get the ball.

I stuck close to him, keeping an eye on his movements and the ball at the same time.

Inevitably, some passes reached his hands. Pivoting on his foot, he turned to face the net, and shot the ball into the basket effortlessly.

There were a couple of times where he surged forward to catch hold of a pass. Sensing his movement, I sprinted with him, seeking to at least intercept the pass. But he got the ball nonetheless, and I clattered into him, such was the force of my momentum.

But there were times I succeeded in forcing the opposing players to pass impossibly lofty balls to him, where the ball whizzed past his grasping hands and out of play, as I restricted him time and space to get to those passes.

The umpire blew again, signalling the end of the ten-minute friendly. Our team went down 7-8, a close score by any standards.

I shook hands with the fellow giant, and wished him all the best.


Tomorrow (Sunday) will be a huge day on my calendar. I have the New Balance REAL Run in the morning. The 10 km race kicks off at 7.45am at Sentosa Gateway carpark and roads, off-road tracks and the sandy beaches make up the running route.

Once this race is over, I will have to make my way immediately to Kallang Netball Centre, and join my teammates and do battle with other mixed teams in the Pesta Sukan Netball Mixed Carnival under the scorching sun.

I expect to be pushed to the very limits physically and mentally.

Running a 10 km race, and playing consecutive netball matches after that, is no mean feat.

But physically, I am feeling fine. This 10 km REAL Run is but a precursor to a bigger race: next Sunday's Army Half-Marathon.

The distance of this race?

21km.

The Half-Marathon race starts at 5.30am at Esplanade Bridge.

But even this race is not the biggest in my running calender this year. There's the Standard Chartered Singapore International Marathon, happening on the first Sunday of December 2006.

And I've signed up for this one. It will be my 4th marathon, having taken part in this race in the past 3 years. It's 42 km of sheer physical punishment. Yep. That's right. I'm no longer talking about the domain of physical stamina. It goes beyond the physical. It's simply the triumph of the indefatigable mind over the finite body, if you finish the race.

But that's months ahead.

Come tomorrow, I shall relish the experience of completing the REAL Run and performing up to expectations in the Netball carnival.

And yes, I certainly expect to play against the tall and lean opponent again.

I shall be ready for his challenge.

Weighing heavily on my heart

One thing I can never ever condone is verbal and emotional abuse in any relationship.

Abuse of any nature is abominable and deleterious towards a healthy and wholesome bonding between two people.

Recently, someone shared with me about her relationship woes.

What is normal is that the occasional quarrel does happen in many relationships. That is typical, since differences in opinions, impatience or stress can trigger off a tiff. That's fine as long as both sides can cool down and learn something from it and come to a compromise.

But when there are abhorrent words involved and when the guy seeks to enslave the other through blatant domination of the other person's life, I think it is clear that you can no longer call it a meaningful relationship.

I say this simply because being in a relationship should allow both parties breathing space to live their own lives, to flourish, to pursue their interests. This is what I believe in.

Being in a relationship with a lady is all about treating her like a princess, honouring her, romancing her. You are comfortable when you are together, yet trusting when she is away, at school, at work, or out with friends.

For if you treat her as the most beautiful woman in your life, why would she want to look for any other guy?



For my friend, I dearly hope you that you realise this: that you are deserving of great love. Thank you for sharing with me. May your heart be warmed that you do have many steadfast friends who stand beside you.

It's not about the hair, really.

It wasn't that difficult.

Something deep inside told me that it was only the right thing to do.

And if I can make a difference to somebody, I would do it.

And so, on Sunday, I allowed my head to be shaved at the Children's Cancer Foundation's charity event that was held at Suntec City's basement, right next to the Fountain of Wealth.

I have to be frank, I could not wait to head to the nearest mirror to see my shaven head once the shave was done!

And that was what I did. I could hardly stifle an outburst of laughter when I caught myself at the mirror. Memories of my National Service days came surging back into my mind.

Nevertheless, my heart goes out to the children afflicted with the terrible disease. I know that my gesture can and will mean a lot - because to change the world and make it better, it starts with myself.

And I will do it again, to support the needy.

On a more recent note, I think the Peer Leaders have put in a solid and reliable performance at yesterday's West Zone Schools Sports Meeting.

It was reassuring when I saw Zi Hui, Hawa and Faridah steadfastly greeting every guest that walked past them; while I felt admiration for the hard work put in by Edward, Aslam, Teck Sheng and Faizal, who personally welcomed every drive-in and walk-in guest who entered our school, in spite of the withering heat.

I knew the Meeting would run well with Jiahao ever-ready to work with urgent instructions; I felt confident when Azzrul looked at me, as I walked past, with a thumbs-up and a grin.

I knew the guests would feel right at home with Amanda and her lovely smile. I knew every guest would not lack their all-important Meeting notes with Liyana, Carlyn, Farhan and Jasmine feverishly and effectively arranging the notes for over 50 schools.

I knew the guests would have the memory of a pleasant conversation with a Peer Leader, when Hazimah shared with me about her conversation with one of them. I was filled with inspiration at the sight of Jasman and Huiying managing the buffet table and the drink counter, servicing the guests like seasoned operators.

My heartfelt appreciation goes out to Vivien and Terence, whose sound management of the PA system meant that the Meeting could be conducted without any hitches.

Finally, for lack of words, I can only say 'Thank you' to Mrs Lim Chee Chin and Mr Koh who expertly handled the technical aspect of the Meeting.

Every act, no matter how little, doesn't go unnoticed. Every little act of warmth or a word of kindness touches hearts and the goodness multiplies.

Doing things to serve ourselves is both short-sighted and ultimately meaningless.

Serving others faithfully and sincerely, on the other hand, benefits both the giver and the recipient, and allows the giver to thrive and be enriched even more.

Through this Meeting, I have seen how our School is blessed with a group of dedicated teachers and enthusiastic Peer Leaders who serve our alma mater with a willing heart, and I am comforted.