Nothing feels more alive... than the cool early morning breeze against your face as you cycling against the breeze. The sun has yet to rise.. and already some of those early birds and chirping and flying around.. as if to wake to sun up..
Another morning, another chance to cycle and add the kilometres to my cycling log. As the kilometres begin to pile on my odometer, I could feel a sense of pride and joy, simultaneously, as my legs pounded on my pedals to spin the crank... revolution after revolution, as I strain my ears to hear the sound of my whirling wheels and the wind against the straps on my helmet.
Down the stretch of Cecil street.. it was quiet but brightly lit. In the afternoons, the street will be feel with hundreds of people walking around and cars and buses zipping by.. but at 5am in the morning... I have the road all to myself... pass Cecil street and towards the Esplanade, a quick glance to my right, and I am always capivated by the sight of the Singapore river... 20 revolutions of my pedals and I see myself entering Nicholl highway... here is where my turbo boosters come alive.. keep my head low.. shoulders still... I imagined my legs to be large and animated pistons as I powered across the Medeka bridge.... stride for stride.. the wind starts to howl pass my ears as I start to pick up speed...
Its been a couple of months, cycling down this stretch.. but it never fails to bring so much joy. I believe only a joy that can only be enjoyed while we are still capable to cycle... I dredge to think what would have happen to me as age starts to claim my abilities.. times when I think about those thoughts, all the more I find myself, wanting to be stronger and healthier... I guess, there will come a time, when I am no longer able to spin the crank like I am spinning em now.. but as long as I try them now... at least when the time comes to relinguish my capabilities, I still have my memories...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Iran.. again... hahaha
Iran.. more aptly.... I ran.... I really hate running now. I hate it, when I start the slow jogging.. and I hate it when the pace seems to quicken by itself.. I hate the feeling that legs pounding the tarmac.. I hate it, absolutely loathe it, it irks me... I want to stop running and just go home...
this evening, it was slightly different.. we were late for ballet class, 15 mins late.. and I knew I have to complete my run in less than 40 mins. Perhaps that would help me put some life into those dead steps of mine...
Not having enough time to do my usual stretching left me wondering if I will actually cramp up... I was apprehensive, therefore, I was delibrate in my slow jog. I watched the foot pod anxiously, not wanted to go overly fast and thus destroy the chance of completing this run....
Its been several months now. And I have not been able to get back to the times when I could actually love or like running... I remember.. not too long again, completely this route was not a problem.. yet today, strong as I was.. I still surrendered to the gradient of the slope. I just could not plod on... it was too exhausting.. too hard... I wanted and I did.. gave up.... it's just so darn hard! The slope gets steeper, the feet gets heavier, the knees protest, the heart screams and pounds like mad.. the mind gets muddled and age catches up and wraps its tentacles so tightly around your will.. that I slow down to a trot.. and then to a walk... a stroll... body agrees with that... body likes that and begs the mind to continue strolling like that...
Like a drill sergent, sneaking from behind on unwary trainee soldiers, the mind send turbo messages to the legs... it fires for a while.. but the stroll was just so much more comfortable.. less lift threatening... and I strolled again....
I hate running.. someone suggested golf... HAH! I was the club's champion... and I have a gold medallion to prove that.. and golf is not much easier.. may be easier on the legs.. but definitely not on the mind, if you were golf with those wolves and vultures that I used to golf with... enuff said... I just couldnt understand why i am still doing this... I am sad.. that the passion for running has died... I really really cannot go on...
I tell myself.. that this year.. will be my last year for wanting to run... as I am spending more and more of my time riding.... and I love riding.. riding doesnt hurt me like running does... yet... I will try only 2 events this year then....
The Army half marathon and the Stand Chart half marathon... and after that... I will retire.. truly retire...
this evening, it was slightly different.. we were late for ballet class, 15 mins late.. and I knew I have to complete my run in less than 40 mins. Perhaps that would help me put some life into those dead steps of mine...
Not having enough time to do my usual stretching left me wondering if I will actually cramp up... I was apprehensive, therefore, I was delibrate in my slow jog. I watched the foot pod anxiously, not wanted to go overly fast and thus destroy the chance of completing this run....
Its been several months now. And I have not been able to get back to the times when I could actually love or like running... I remember.. not too long again, completely this route was not a problem.. yet today, strong as I was.. I still surrendered to the gradient of the slope. I just could not plod on... it was too exhausting.. too hard... I wanted and I did.. gave up.... it's just so darn hard! The slope gets steeper, the feet gets heavier, the knees protest, the heart screams and pounds like mad.. the mind gets muddled and age catches up and wraps its tentacles so tightly around your will.. that I slow down to a trot.. and then to a walk... a stroll... body agrees with that... body likes that and begs the mind to continue strolling like that...
Like a drill sergent, sneaking from behind on unwary trainee soldiers, the mind send turbo messages to the legs... it fires for a while.. but the stroll was just so much more comfortable.. less lift threatening... and I strolled again....
I hate running.. someone suggested golf... HAH! I was the club's champion... and I have a gold medallion to prove that.. and golf is not much easier.. may be easier on the legs.. but definitely not on the mind, if you were golf with those wolves and vultures that I used to golf with... enuff said... I just couldnt understand why i am still doing this... I am sad.. that the passion for running has died... I really really cannot go on...
I tell myself.. that this year.. will be my last year for wanting to run... as I am spending more and more of my time riding.... and I love riding.. riding doesnt hurt me like running does... yet... I will try only 2 events this year then....
The Army half marathon and the Stand Chart half marathon... and after that... I will retire.. truly retire...
Monday, April 20, 2009
The hardest run...
Do you know actually know when you are going to have the hardest run ? I can't really tell.. because.. every darn run seems to be the hardest?!?! The last couple of runs have been horrendous.. is it my age? And is it my bulge?
Its really getting harder and harder to run.. I can almost sense the disgust and the contempt of my body.. when it came to preparing for the run.. and during the run.. it was most chaotic, between the legs, lungs, brain and heart.
Its really getting harder and harder to run.. I can almost sense the disgust and the contempt of my body.. when it came to preparing for the run.. and during the run.. it was most chaotic, between the legs, lungs, brain and heart.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
pushing 40... int
pushing 40 has a new meaning to me...
and that new meaning comes in the form of stretching and warmups.
I remembered not too long ago, how I could just hop on my bicycle and ride all day, or hang on to my badminton or squash racket and swing all day long.. hour after hour.. such was the pleasure, power and joy of youth.
But at 40.. the body in general has lost so much of its suppleness, its strength and stamina.. or has it?
Incorrectly, many middle aged men feel that they have come of age and that so many times, a little muscle strain here or a little muscle cramp there, the pain itself was amplified by the psychology of the man, where his psyched into believing that perhaps its time to slow down.
For the last couple of months, and since turning 40, it has indeed been harder. But as I looked back at my achievement, I know for a fact, that I am fitter than I ever was, and I am stronger and alot faster on my feet and on my bike.
Its not difficult to understand, that with age, it takes alittle bit more effort to hone our bodies to fitness peak. But its a worthwhile task. I enjoy training hard. I enjoy stretching and warming up, getting myself ready, either for a ride or a run. Regular stretching allows oneself to be in-tune with the limits of his muscles, his limbs and his body. Stretching should be done with a little being of meditation, alot like yoga.. and stretching is the only way for the old men to feel young again!
As with fitness level, all it takes is consistency. Fitness is like a shy lover, you need to court it with all your passion and you must be fiercely protective of her, if you lose sight of her just for a moment, its take plenty of efforts to have her back again, but being persistent, is key to win her back.
and that new meaning comes in the form of stretching and warmups.
I remembered not too long ago, how I could just hop on my bicycle and ride all day, or hang on to my badminton or squash racket and swing all day long.. hour after hour.. such was the pleasure, power and joy of youth.
But at 40.. the body in general has lost so much of its suppleness, its strength and stamina.. or has it?
Incorrectly, many middle aged men feel that they have come of age and that so many times, a little muscle strain here or a little muscle cramp there, the pain itself was amplified by the psychology of the man, where his psyched into believing that perhaps its time to slow down.
For the last couple of months, and since turning 40, it has indeed been harder. But as I looked back at my achievement, I know for a fact, that I am fitter than I ever was, and I am stronger and alot faster on my feet and on my bike.
Its not difficult to understand, that with age, it takes alittle bit more effort to hone our bodies to fitness peak. But its a worthwhile task. I enjoy training hard. I enjoy stretching and warming up, getting myself ready, either for a ride or a run. Regular stretching allows oneself to be in-tune with the limits of his muscles, his limbs and his body. Stretching should be done with a little being of meditation, alot like yoga.. and stretching is the only way for the old men to feel young again!
As with fitness level, all it takes is consistency. Fitness is like a shy lover, you need to court it with all your passion and you must be fiercely protective of her, if you lose sight of her just for a moment, its take plenty of efforts to have her back again, but being persistent, is key to win her back.
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