Team Charlene

My finishing face... Most attractive!

On Saturday morning when I start thinking about quitting – and trust me, this will happen – I’m going to keep myself going thinking of Team Charlene.

It’s a motley crew this year, everyone from my niece to new friends, a dog and even my newly returned buddy has been called on for support.

So here’s the roll call of honour… [Warning: This gets a little gushy...]

Simon 'Stubby' Davis

The man who inspired me to get into triathlons in the first place. My man… I blame you BUT I thank you for being a boulder of support and leading me to this new way of life!

Shuen 'Gummy Bear' Chan

My long suffering niece who has been ‘forced’ into running with me whenever I’ve called.

Sunita 'You're My Inspiration' Mudeliar

My best friend… Running was how we met 18 years ago, who knew it would re-enter our lives again? Sweetie, thank you for whipping me into shape.

Billy 'The Best Pacer Ever' Mudeliar-Bett

The running partner who never complains and never (well rarely) stops.

Simei 'Who Will Be Joining 2-Oct' Ng

Ever the trooper, I’m glad you’re coming swimming with me and attempting to tri… Looking forward to the S-P-AH! on Sunday.

Dora 'The Explorer' DaSilva

For reminding me that I should always be putting in some gym time and for being a FAB cheerleader.

Erik 'Elmo' Wee

I love that you live up the hill from me and that you’re cool about me gatecrashing the pool

Pat 'Ironwoman' Lee and Janice 'Miss Legs' Gan

For getting me to run 5km without stopping – up some hills no less – early in the morning and even lending me her precious bike.

There are others but I don’t have your pictures:

Idran: For lending me his precious bike and trusting it with me.
Olivier: My weekend exercise buddy.
Antoine: For swimming with me and chanting ‘don’t quit!’

Guys, if i have never said this before, THANK YOU, I wouldn’t be able to do this without you and your support!

Getting back on the bike

If there is one (of many) regret(s) that I have leading up to this tri, it is that I have not spent enough time on the bike. I’ve had no excuse, thanks to a very generous friend [that's you Idran!] I’ve become the temporary caretaker of this little beauty and she’s served me very well.

Riding home tonight, when i wasn’t squealing at the passing traffic, i ‘listened’ to the bike, like really listened.
I clicked up and down as I tackled straights and (tiny) slopes, taking care to regulate my breathing so I didn’t end up panting and kept my legs going, going, going.

A few more rides and I think Little Red – that’s my name for her – and I would be more in sync but it looks like I’m going to have to make do with maybe two more (?) before the big day. Consolation: At least this year I know how to ride a road bike, last year, I had to be ‘steadied’ riding round the carpark 12 hours before the race. Yeah… Big L!

Wanna know something else funny? 48 hours ago, I didn’t realise that I should be monitoring my tyre air. Bimbo here thought it was okay that the tyres were a little soft to the touch… yeah, NO. Apparently, this is one of the reasons I’ve been so out of breath (that and my cardio sucks). On the up side, I’ve just ‘trained’ harder without realising it. So yay! Everyone wins!

Right, I think i smell… time to have a shower!

Feeling motivated?

Right now I’m supposed to kicking off my dry run for next week’s big event but instead I’m on my couch watching a DVD.
My excuse? It’s a little sunny right now.
Yeah, yeah, excuses excuses… I’ll get there at some point of today but I tell you what, I am dreading it.
Anyone ever feel like that?

Meantime, I’m going to kill some time/get some motivation plotting out a 20km bike route, one that comes across as little traffic as possible.

Happy Saturday!

You are what you eat

Growing up, i never quite got the phrase, ‘You are what you eat’, raised in a Peranakan Chinese family, you learn never to turn down food and you grow used to being ordered to finish whatever is put on your plate, no excuses.

So while it seems common sense that running/training on a lunch of nasi padang is going to be a lot harder than a bowl of salad or a healthy wrap, I’ve had to find this out the hard way. Call me stupid but I always saw salads as ‘diet food’ not a full meal, and certainly not one that could give me a real burst of energy.

The re-angling of my diet has been one of the more interesting changes of the past year. Favourites like bar chor mee, nasi padang and burgers are now a special treat, while big healthy salads form 25% of weekly food intake. Funnily enough, I’m not really complaining, I do like my greens and I whip up a mean mixed green salad with grilled chicken and chunks of avocado.

That said, nothing quite beats a salad or a wrap from Salad Stop!

You could say I have an addiction but this addiction is working for me.

Need a jolt of energy? It’s got to be the Jai Ho!

The Cheaper Than A Facial salad is for days when I’m feeling a little weak.

And if I feel really greedy, the Hail Caesar usually does the trick.
.

It’s 12.30am on a Saturday but I’m already looking forward to my Monday Salad Stop! fix.

Photo credits: Salad Stop!

I lied…

I said i would never do one of these again… I lied!

I’m a week away from attempting the Bintan Tri (Sprint Distance) again and I’m starting to really feel the nerves. And while I’m in better shape than this time last year, I suspect I don’t have the same ‘fire’ i had 53 weeks ago. What’s my goal this round? I’m keeping it really simple:
1) To make it out of the BOTTOM 10.
2) Go under 2:00 / 2:10…

I’m not sure this is doable but I’m going tri. I’m certainly feeling a lot more confident now that I know my fellow rockstar buddy Simon ‘Stubby’ Davis will be joining me on the course.

Looking forward to that cocktail by the pool mate!
Stay tuned…

The race…

For some a mini-triathlon is too easy, but for me it was about the hardest thing I’ve done in recent memory.
Two months of training culminated in a race completed in 2hrs and 23 mins.
It was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. No regrets at all, jellyfish sting, vomiting and all.
I’ll let the pictures tell the tale…

Prepping my gear the night before

Getting stamped with my race number

Hydrating before the swim... am trying to ignore a queasy stomach

Sttreeetch.... Don't want to cramp up!

Choosing the right position in The Pen is key!

And we're off!

750m down, only 25km left to go (and I'm not last!)

Getting the bike out of the transition area, have taken far to long to get dressed!

The first hill, I'm seriously struggling here but can't get off and push the bike, people are watching!

Done with the bike leg, my ass hurts like hell, but time to make like Forrest Gump

Doing the Gummi Bear bounce (ie I'm not really running)

Getting ready to high five Stubby... the last bit of the run, I'm starting to cheer up

And it's over!

How to survive the race - COLD SPONGES!

I can't believe it is over.... What an experience

I finished!

I got a medal !

Yup, yup… I did it!

I actually crossed the finish line despite a few stumbling blocks:

1) Having the onsets of the flu for 36hrs prior to the race

2) Never ridden a road bike till the night before

Trying to balance it out!

3) Being stung by a jellyfish during the swim

4) Bringing up my pre-race brekky a number of times during the race

This experience was definitely one for the memory books.

I certainly didn’t do great but i did cross the line at 2:23 – and was not last!

I’m keeping this post short as I don’t have pictures just yet but watch this space over the next few days.

And yes, I am keeping to my promise of donating my entry fee ($110) and ‘penalty’ ($74) to www.painforgain.com

So for those of you who said you would donate… show me [actually more like Pain For Gain] the moola!

Put your money where your mouth is…

One of the biggest push factors that got me to agree to take part in the Bintan Triathlon was that my entry fee would be waived by the Tribob
people [thanks guys!].
I figured why the hell not, what did I have to lose? As it turns out, I’ve lost nothing (except some weight – ya!) and gained a lot in return. Not to gloat, but over the years I’ve received a lot of job-related freebies – champagne, clothes, bags, hotel rooms – but this freebie has been particularly rewarding and definitely life changing.

Keeping with this sentiment, I’ve decided to use this race to make a small difference in someone else’s life. Back in January 2008, I was challenged by the TOS team to use public transport and not take a taxi for two weeks. I did it and the money I saved, I donated towards Pain For Gain which ending up buying someone a sewing machine.
It felt good to be able to do something for someone.

This time round I’m donating my entry fee and as I am not super confident I’ll make it within the three hour mark, I’m going to motivate myself further: I’ll donate $2 for every minute that i make it under the three hour mark and $10 for every minute over. That should get me moving…

If you’re reading this and interested in finding out more about Pain For Gain and if you’re in the position to donate I know it will be greatly appreciated.

Wish me luck!

The dry run

If I had to do this mini-tri all over again I probably would do things a little differently.

For the most part – and this is totally my fault – I’ve been navigating through this like a blind person.

I am three days from this event and i have NO idea what to eat, how to carb load or even what in the world to wear on Saturday!

And in about 30 minutes time i am going to attempt to ride home from work on a racing/road bike…. never been on one before, wish me luck!

However, i did attempt to do a dry run on Sunday. I roped in my long suffering niece Sarah to run with me, while my vacationing buddy Simei came for the swim with me.

Shiny, happy (exhausted) people

I didn’t do the full distances but I now have a rough idea of how hard it is going to be on the day itself. My legs really felt like jello going from the swim to bike, and after run (and subsequent bike home) I was laid up on my couch feeling rather sorry for myself. But interestingly, while my body was tired, my mind was racing.

All this exercising has had quite a few advantages. I’m amazed at the changes I’ve seen happening with my fitness. At the start of the year I was barely able to make it pass 1km on the treadmill. Last week, I went for a 45 minute run two times after work with Lyn – see photo! – and even combined one run with a cycle home. Amazing.

Keeping a sense of humour is important!

While I will probably never be super duper fit… I love that I am fitter, and relieved that it didn’t take as long as I thought it would.

Now, I just need to cross that finish line within the three hour mark. Here’s hoping.

And if hope is not on my side, I’ve told everyone I know who will be there (and now you) to HURL ABUSE at me should they see me flagging or looking like i want to give up.

Trust me, it is the only way I’ll keep going!

So if you see me on Saturday – race number (S370) – please unleash your inner sailor and curse at me!

Making sacrifices

I’m the sort of person who heads right for the bar the moment I walk into a party. In fact, i don’t actually remember the last time i was at a party and did the no booze thing. So, tonight was a first… at a farewell party where the booze – and it was good stuff too! – and food flowed. And what did i have? OJ.

Did i mention i didn’t have a puff either? 4 days and counting.…

This mini-tri has been challenging in many ways, funnily enough, I’m not totally hating it.

I find myself looking forward to jumping into a swimming pool at 730am in the morning, not grumbling through a 3.5km (just a little), and actually smiling – even though my ass hurts like hell! – while biking up a hill.

It has been an interesting two months. I have NO idea how I’m going to do on the day itself and in a way I don’t really care. I’ve had a lot of memorable moments thus far, and that’s the important thing.

Not long now…