Training at east coast was great..
it was the first time we had so many of us from the team running together.
Scotts will be leaving us soon.. to Melborne... for good.. sad but happy for him:)

We did a simple 10km... first 5km at easy 5 mins pace.. and the last 5km at our own race pace...
I tried a 4min 20-25secs pace for the last 5 km..
seems comfortable...

okok.. angkor wat seems a breeze now:)

my idol, Vivian Tang... my running partner Joe and me...
Look at Vivian's abs.. i managed to convince myself that I will have such good figure and abs next year Nov... let's wait and see hahaha!
tired after run.. with scotts...ladies rulezzthe guys.and me and vivian..thanks for organising this run... we look forward to more of such runs once the standard chartered and angkor wat race is done... will be back to running long distance and clocking mileage...

the training after that was amazing.
I trained with the hall 3 polo team in CSC...
Ke Wei coached us.
Did swims, drills, passing and stuff...
and I had my first polo match of my life... played with the guys against a group of students...:)

it was fun but tiring. I learnt a lot...
was asked whether I am interested to join the Ladies Polo Team for Toa Payoh....
hmm.. considering... should I try a session and see how it goes?...

started training at 630am for run and ended training at 1pm... I was so tired and famished that I slept all the way home:)

counting down... 4 more days

It's can be pretty frustrating for people to judge you without knowing the facts.

For one girl who has been in the sports scene for some time, training with guys... some people will assume otherwise.

but for me, I do agree that my close friends are guys and that I am surrounded by guys in sports.
but that does not mean that I am loose or in what sense.

I do have close friends... First and foremost Sunny...
then Jonathan who me family and me known for 13 years...
and my god pa... who has been my emotional support to replace my dad ever since he was not around..
and a few close friends.

People who dun noe me at a personal level tend to judge me.
I dun understand why judgemental people who dun get their facts right.

Please, having many guy friends as a girl dun necessary mean that the girl is loose or too easy going. Neither does it mean that she needs attention.

It just so happens when you are born and grew up having sports as ur life and ur sports revolve ard guys, then your life will revolve ard guys.

i dun see a major problem with that.

Hopefully people who dunno me at a personal level, dun judge me:(

Thanks to friends who know me and have been very supportive.

To my friends ard me: It's not a poem... but some pointers...

The More U try to act happy,
At the end of the day,
When you are alone,
You feel even more unhappy....
Because you know your happiness is made up..
and not truly from ur heart...
Why do people cry?
Why do people weep?
Who do people say hurtful things?
Why do people push you away?
It's because they care..
For you and for themselves...
For the benefit of u and him/her...

It's always a learning lesson..
a learning journey...
When you make a mistake.
Stand up and admit it.
When you have gotten over it.
Remember the faults and try to turn them into positive pointers.

Dun try to act happy.
Because the more u try,
the more it hurts.
Just be yourself...
You know who loves u the most...

Found this from a friend n from the net:) Nice poems:)

I'll Wait:

Trapped in a world filled with confusion,
Living a life confined to unrequited emotions,
Getting myself tangled in someone else's web,
Can't help it, But to make myself feel sad.

So near, yet so far
So different but yet on par,
Smiling but inside crying,
Coupled with feelings, but yet denying

Spending my life living on the edge
Regretting each moment, but keeping faith
That one day ,she might just discover
That i'm the one and there's no other
No one to come between us two,
Before and after she says.."I Do"..

And for Hui Wen:) my good friends...

Would you Just Listen?

Would you just listen and please don't say a word, just yet,
I'd like you to think back to the very first time we met,
How you felt around me? The memories we shared,
And just remember that once upon a time, you really cared.

Now think about how we parted, and how much I cried,
But please don't speak, remember that I never ever lied,
That I told you the honest truth about why we were to split,
But now I'd like you to know that my heart broke bit by bit.

The pain was deep, unbearable and painful, for so many years,
I'll never forget all the sadness, all the uncontrollable tears,
Slowly I am rebuilding my life, I am content with what I've got,
And although it is hard I am beginning to forget what I have not.

You were a special part of my life that I will never forget,
A part of my life that broke my heart, but that I don't regret,
You gave me some happy memories that I'll keep in my heart,
Although sometimes I wish that you and I didn't have to part.

You were my first love and my true love, that will always be so,
After all of the heartache, sadness and never ending pain, I know,
You and I had something special and that will never change,
Because I love you and loving someone else will always seem strange.

Would you just listen and please don't say a word, not ever,
I'd like you to remember that once upon a time, we said forever,
That I had hopes and dreams, that I was the one who threw them away,
And this is something I will always regret until my dying day.

Lying to Forget...

This lie's become a part of me
For months, I've played this game
Acting like it doesn't hurt
Each time I hear his name

Ignoring what's inside of me
Pretending I've moved on
As if the feelings I once had
For him are somehow gone

Spending each and every day
With happiness and laughs
Forgetting all our memories
Avoiding photographs

But last night when I saw him
For the first time since he left
My heart stopped for a moment...
I couldn't catch my breath

When suddenly it hit me
As the tears started to flow
That even after all this time...
I just can't let him go

Just Friends?

I love you more every day,
My name I long for you to say.
Do you know just how I feel?
Do you know this love is real?
Sometimes I wonder what you think.
When you hear my name, do your cheeks turn pink?
Do you dream about me every night?
Wish to hug me and hold me tight?
Do you think we're meant to be?
Together forever, you and me?
These are the questions that run through my mind,
Your way into my heart, you did find.
It drives me crazy as to what I should do,
Should I risk a friendship and confess to you?
Or should I keep my feelings inside,
Keep them locked up, let them hide?
I just don't know what to do anymore,
My heart it aches, my heart it's sore.
I love you more than you could know,
And I don't want to ever let you go.
So even if I'm just a friend,
I'll always love you until the end.

My Love

My love for u is real
my love for you is true
my life without u has no point of view

i cant never tell u or show u wants inside
I'm afraid you would walk away and leave all this behind

then again i don't know how u feel
Wat if you love me ? Wat if this is real?

sometimes i wonder if we are meant to be
like romeo and Juliet living their dream

but i don't want a sad story , or an expected end
i only want you and me , its not hard to comprehend

maybe i should wait till u come to me
but Wat if your afraid of how things would be?

although if i wait u may never find out the truth
Wat if u feel the same way , and i loose my chance with u

maybe if i tell u , things will be OK
we would be happy together and never be afraid
of loosing one another because our love is true
i don want just a could be , i want you

HOW

How do i move on, when your packed and gone?
How do i heal, when you bend down to kneel?
How do i stay away, when you've gone astray?
How do i show you i'm hurt, when it's your name i blurt?
How do i love you, when i hate you too?

You've made me weak, you've made me sad.
I was vunerable and you were mad.
You opened my heart, and you tore it apart.
I let you tear down that wall, only for you to let me fall.
Trying to move on, like you don't exist.
Trying to not look, but i can't resist.
You've made such an impact, i'm suprised im still intact.

How do i tell you i can't move on?
How do i tell you i'm dead and gone?
How do i say, i want you to stay?
How do i tell you, i'm holding my feelings at bay?

Attempting to move forward,
only to fall backward.
I gave you my heart, i gave you my loving soul,
now i can see it growing to mold.
I can no longer feel that touch,
i swear-it was too much.
Hurting everyone in my path,
hoping i don't feel that wrath.
Forgiveness has come and gone,

Hey My dear Hui Wen, hope you are feeling better now:)

NIKE SINGAPORE OUTLET OPEN!

NIKE Singapore... finally a shop of our NIKE from Singapore outlet has officially opened today... please visit it.. WISMA ... used to be the same location as the NIKE women's stall... now it's very much nicer!! Visit and grab great deals!

Went out with Junko again:)
brought her to collect my prize from Hivelocity:)

We went for a chill out session at starbucks at west coast plaza...and both of us ended up sleeping there:)

worried for her because her leg is aching in pain due to the sprain and she is doing the relay for 10km next Sunday and I won't be in Singapore"(bought her a pair of Sunglasses which she liked it a lot:)and she took a very artistic picture of me while we were waiting at the bus stop:)

a route to a quiet day:)
and ended up at Clementi Swim pool for a long chat and swim:)I love the scenery of this place.... it's very calm.. i feel very at home here... whenever I come here for training, I feel it's part of my life and very much part of me:)

The lifeguards here are nice and friendly and they have known me since I was about 9 years old?
I guess time flies... they look the same though! haha...
Lifeguards dun seem to age...
same goes for my good friend Alvin, dun seem to age at all:)

I looked through some hotel rooms.
and I am amazed at the look of some rooms...

I love the one at FXSHB:)

FOR THE ANGKOR WAT RACE:

This is where we are going to stay... Not a hotel though:)
but good enough for us to stay at a cheap price:)

It's the first time I am going to be staying in a place alone.. seems scary:(and its called Two Dragons... what an adorable name:
its webbie:

http://twodragons-asia.com/information.html

Details abt Angkor Wat race:

Our race has been taking place in one of famous world heritage, designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO, the legendary Angkor Wat whose autistics and archeological intention and visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids (Egypt), Machu Picchu (Peru), and Taj Mahal (India). Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are as yet unspoiled by over-development¹⁾. And you will run around the main area of Angkor Wat ruins.

Race Details:

Course:
Specially established in Angkor Wat Ruins in front of the Central Sanctuary of Angkor Wat (Start & Finish Line). Passing Prasat Kravan - Prasat Bat Chun - Banteay Kdey - Ta Prohm - Baphoun - Bayon - South Gate - Basie Cham Krong - Phom Bakheng - Ta Phrom Kei - and back to the front of the Central Sanctuary of Angkor Wat (Finish Line). See Course Map (Acknowledged by AIMS and IAAF). Running course will be marked the number of kilometre. ChampionChip Check Point will be at Angkor Thom (Bayon Temple).

Start & Finish Line:
In front of the Central Sanctuary of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. From town to the Angkor Wat Temple (Start Line) takes 25 minutes by Tuk Tuk or 20 minutes by taxi or bus. All participants of Angkor Wat International Half Marathon 2008 must arrive at the venue at least 20 minutes before starting time. All categories will start and finish in front of the Angkor Wat Temple.

Weather:
The temperature on the race day is expected at around 24 - 27 celsius

Drink:
Water will be provided during the race (every 2.5 km) and sport drinks will be provided at the Finish line

MY GOD PA

Someone whom I met year ago.. someone who believed in me... someone who replaced my dad when he was not around..
he is more to me than a friend, a god pa... but a pal too:)

Trusting in me to be able to finish my NIE bond, he guarantor for me my bond...
Believing in me that I will sore one day... and i guess I did, in his sense at least...
Never had any doubts about me from J1 even though I did badly in exams and was on the verge of repeating my J1 year...

He is who he is, as dear to me...
A teacher whom I admired, someone who gave me the inspiration to become a teacher too...
Someone whom I looked up to...
Someone who has always been there, whether I am down in deep trouble or whether I am soaring great heights.

Someone who has seen me grow.. from the childish and immature me.. into a lady full of confidence ...

Someone who never gave up in me..

His words seemed to sink in me...
"it is the imperfection that make the person beautiful"

thanks God Pa... your believe for me has lead me to greater heights and I know that You love me like a dad, like a friend and will always be there for me...

Glad to have u in my life, my lovely God father...my father....
my friend... my pal... utmost respect..

anyway this is the transformation from many year... long time ago...and now...i DIn used to have such heavy eye bags...
I grew, grown and aged...
with stressed and sadness,
My face aged and eye bags and wrinkles can be seen...

Sometimes I wonder.. can i ever stay at 21!

Din feel so good about today's time trial initially:( legs felt sore... guess was due to the slope training on Tues...

However, thanks to JOE who kindly picked me up for training today.
Officially, I am back ... and there was no banner (JOE said there will be!).... no party... no need for those.
I just needed to be back for training.. to be in good hands with Coach Guy...

Met everyone!! everyone was there..

time trial was aimed at 6.40 mins for 4 sets of 1.6km with 90secs rest...

I did a terrible mistake by starting the first set too fast. Way too fast.
Guess I had been off from running on the track with a specific time pace set for me...

I did 6.26min, 6.32min, 6.35min and 6.46 mins...
Was eunduring a stitch at the 3rd and 4th set.
My legs and mind were moving along.. but the stitch kept me back. But I am contented that all sets were finished.

Total timing has come down to a 20min 30 seconds 5km...
Coach mentioned i improved a total of 35seconds from my previous 5 km timing:)

Thanks coach, thanks JOE for pacing me every sunday and thanks to all Athlon people who have been really supportive of me all this while.

It's great to be back.
Looking forward to Monday training at CCAB plus farewell dinner:)

Suddenly, I had the urge to write a poem:)

I wished upon the stars,
and looked beyond the seas...
holding on to my clear blue necklance,
I pray beneath my wees...

My beady bracelet,
My chocolatey wallet.
My jadey hP chain,
My heart is still in pain...

I lost my heart and soul,
to things i can't control.
To all that I have had,
To those who I have met.

I wished hardly for good sleep.
Tossed and turned till i weep.
Why do good things come to an end?
I wished some things never began.

I wished for good luck,
and luck for all my friends.
upon each and everyone of them,
there lies a special trend.

If things were to turn back,
I would have made it a fact.
That to cherish what has came,
In all and all your name:)

Many people are asking me the same question
" Sumiko, what is your aim for this year's standard chartered 42km marathon?"

Sadly to say... I am not taking part...

My coach din really approve of me taking part because I had done 2 marathons this year...KL and Gold Coast... as well as a few half marathons... Army Half, Aviva Half Ironman,Powerman Malaysia...

Look at the report I found :

Most coaches recommend running no more than two marathons per year, simply because of the wear and tear the race puts on your body. Elite runners usually follow this advice, too, although they may enter shorter races every 1 to 4 weeks in between each marathon.

After your first marathon, don't race another for 6 months. After that, decide whether running marathons more frequently works for you. Perhaps you want to do three or four per year and are willing to make sacrifices in your personal life to do that. If you enjoy this schedule and don't get injured doing it, keep it up.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/picking-and-choosing-your-marathon.html

Thats why I am not racing 42km on 7th dec...
though I really want to go for the marathon, I am contented with doing another half marathon overseas...
It gives me an opportunity to experience a new climate, a new running route, new atmosphere, new scene of runners as well as for me to better perform in my 21km:)

Running a marathon is not only about how fast you can run, but it's also about how well you have ran as compared to what you can actually do:)

Marathon running at a high level is a no joke thing... in order to improve, you got to sacrifice things like time, weight, outside activities and to put in commitment and effort.

And also to give up small races... that is a challenge for me beginning from 1 dec 08... but I promised myself and everyone in the Athlon team that I am ready for the next phase of training...:) they know what I mean:)

today's outing with a sec sch track senior was fabulous:)
8 years of lost contact...

it was a great meet up:)
Talked about running,house system and stuff:)


Training was easy today: 20 laps of swimming...
Mood was not that great and I did not have the eagerness to complete more than that.

Waiting for time trial tomorrow:)
1.6km x 4 sets:)

Feeling sorry for Huiwen :) I believe she can pull through...

Love is a Universal emotion, the goal we all seek, the prize that can make our lives complete and whole. Love is both timeless and, in too many instances, transient.

We all believe, if only because we must, that love can be found. Some of us - maybe most of us - have discovered it can also be lost.

Some Peoms for my friend,Hui Wen...

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
admit impediments. Love is not love
which alters when it alteration finds,
or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! It is an ever-fixed mark
that looks on tempests and is never shaken;
it is the star to every wandering bark,
whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
within his bending sickle's compass come:
love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
but bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.

Love does not come to an end.

Saying Goodbye

by Anthony West

So soft the brief touch of your lips on my cheek. Was I almost intruding? "Look after yourself " should have been "I love you!" Then the Jumbo flew over my head and I shouted my love above the roar and thundering thrust . . . as if you'd hear. Through the clouds in my eyes I watched you fly away and wished I'd been born with wings.

From me to my dear Hui Wen...

Life is short... life is precious... life is amazing...

I realised that you can't have everything in life...
The more you want it, the lesser you will get.

Unless you really want to put in the extra mile to make it work...

Why do people complain about the quality of life when they could be just contented with whatever they have...

Why do people feel that they dun have enough when others are just trying to get a bowl of rice for survival...

Why do people always look into the mistakes of people when they know that they could jolly well look into the positive side of people..

Expectations change as you grow, demands increases and feelings rule the head most of the time.
But when you look back at all the mistakes you have committed, is it supposed to be a learning lesson and you move on greater, or do you pinch and stay on the mistake and keeps harping on them?

It seems that the former is a better choice.

Nobody is perfect and everybody loses their wisdom thinking and does foolish stuff when they are not thinking properly.

But deep down inside, do you lose yourself or did you lose to the rest of the world?
The world revolves around you and you can't just stay put over there...

Many cherish you...
Yes, do cherish the people around you because when you realise you can't have them in your life, that's when you regret the most.

When you wanna say something important to the person but have no chance to say at all...
When you say/do something wrong and can never revert the mistake...
When you see something going on so wrong but it is too late to stop it...
When you cherish something so much that you are unwilling to give it up...

Life is full of changes...
It is in your hands,
make it or fail it...
It depends on you alone...

No one person can ever experience all that life has to offer. It is only through sharing - experiences, feelings, insights - that we can hope to grow beyond our own meager lifetime. Are you ready to grow today?

Just remember that, you are not alone:)

Winter's Roads

by Ron Carnell

I cannot speak for all who stem 'Long roads less traveled as their way, Nor question choices made by them In days long past or nights long dim by words they spoke and did not say. Each road is long, though short it seems, And credence gives each road a name Of fantasies sun-drenched in beams Or choices turned to darkened dreams, To where each road wends just the same. From North to South, then back again, I followed birds like all the rest Escaping nature's snowy den On roads I've seen and places been, Forsaking roads that traveled West. This journey grows now to its end, As road reflections lined in chrome Give way to roads with greater bend And empty signs that still pretend They point the way to home sweet home. But all roads lead to where we go And where we go is where we've been, So home is just a word we know, That space in time most apropos For where we want to be again. For even home, it seems to me, Is still a choice we all must face From day to day and endlessly, To choose if home is going to be Another road - or just a place.

THE PERFECT FORM

Running better, from head to toe.

By Jane Unger Hahn

From the August 2004 issue of Runner's World

Head Tilt How you hold your head is key to overall posture, which determines how efficiently you run. Let your gaze guide you. Look ahead naturally, not down at your feet, and scan the horizon. This will straighten your neck and back, and bring them into alignment. Don't allow your chin to jut out.

Shoulders Shoulders play an important role in keeping your upper body relaxed while you run, which is critical to maintaining efficient running posture. For optimum performance, your shoulders should be low and loose, not high and tight. As you tire on a run, don't let them creep up toward your ears. If they do, shake them out to release the tension. Your shoulders also need to remain level and shouldn't dip from side to side with each stride.

Arms Even though running is primarily a lower-body activity, your arms aren't just along for the ride. Your hands control the tension in your upper body, while your arm swing works in conjunction with your leg stride to drive you forward. Keep your hands in an unclenched fist, with your fingers lightly touching your palms. Imagine yourself trying to carry a potato chip in each hand without crushing it. Your arms should swing mostly forward and back, not across your body,between waist and lower-chest level. Your elbows should be bent at about a 90-degree angle. When you feel your fists clenching or your forearms tensing, drop your arms to your sides and shake them out for a few seconds to release the tension.

Torso The position of your torso while running is affected by the position of your head and shoulders. With your head up and looking ahead and your shoulders low and loose, your torso and back naturally straighten to allow you to run in an efficient, upright position that promotes optimal lung capacity and stride length. Many track coaches describe this ideal torso position as "running tall" and it means you need to stretch yourself up to your full height with your back comfortably straight. If you start to slouch during a run take a deep breath and feel yourself naturally straighten. As you exhale simply maintain that upright position.

Hips Your hips are your center of gravity, so they're key to good running posture. The proper position of your torso while running helps to ensure your hips will also be in the ideal position. With your torso and back comfortably upright and straight, your hips naturally fall into proper alignment--pointing you straight ahead. If you allow your torso to hunch over or lean too far forward during a run, your pelvis will tilt forward as well, which can put pressure on your lower back and throw the rest of your lower body out of alignment. When trying to gauge the position of your hips, think of your pelvis as a bowl filled with marbles, then try not to spill the marbles by tilting the bowl.

Legs/Stride While sprinters need to lift their knees high to achieve maximum leg power, distance runners don't need such an exaggerated knee lift--it's simply too hard to sustain for any length of time. Instead, efficient endurance running requires just a slight knee lift, a quick leg turnover, and a short stride. Together, these will facilitate fluid forward movement instead of diverting (and wasting) energy. When running with the proper stride length, your feet should land directly underneath your body. As your foot strikes the ground, your knee should be slightly flexed so that it can bend naturally on impact. If your lower leg (below the knee) extends out in front of your body, your stride is too long.

Ankles/Feet To run well, you need to push off the ground with maximum force. With each step, your foot should hit the ground lightly--landing between your heel and midfoot--then quickly roll forward. Keep your ankle flexed as your foot rolls forward to create more force for push-off. As you roll onto your toes, try to spring off the ground. You should feel your calf muscles propelling you forward on each step. Your feet should not slap loudly as they hit the ground. Good running is springy and quiet.

Training on Wed:
rest and relax...
Swim perhaps

Waiting for the time trial on Thursday.
Finally can be back a CCAB.

Teacher training usually takes place when the school closes")
and this year, ours was at Holiday Inn Hotel at orchard road.

Spent the whole day discussing from 9 and 5 pm... and i must say I have gotten greater insights to the school and other areas...

Glad I was there:)

A picture with my 07 supervisor who has taught me a lot.. thru her guidance , i started to grow and glow:) tonight's training was great.

DId not join the elite training from MF today because I fear I might injure my knees with the stairs climbing.

Put on my favourite NIKE lunar trainer and head off to Labrador park with the other MF members.

We did 8 x 1.5 km loops round the park. It was pitch dark and sloppy at the start...

I managed to maintain a standard of around 6-7 minutes plus per round...
Finished it within 55 mins:)

I was so tired with only 2 hours of sleep the previous day that I just sat on the ground after shower at MF and slept...till friends woke me for dinner...

It was a job well done with great support. As usual, PS, Alber, Eddie, Alvin, Karen and Chin Yeh were there...

Looking forward to the upcoming race...
But I wished I had better emotional support:(

I pray and wished for strength:)

Sue Ann is getting married!!!

Today was a happy occasion day! met up with sec sch friends...

Thing first thing that caught our eyes was the diamond ring that was on Sue Ann's hand!!! oh my gosh... she is getting married soon!!! so happy for her...

She says she found the guy that she can really be who she is in front of him... haha her fiancee is an Italian... but really nice guy:) i guess time is not the factor... 1 yr 10mths together with her lovely bf has blossomed into a fruitful relationship and we are all really glad for her:)

So happy for her... but sad because she will be leaving to Italy for 6 months soon:( Not going to see her for at least half a year!!!

But the meet up has also lead to a new learning journey for each of us:)
Thanks to Juliana, Mabel, Pam and Sue Ann...

We must all start saving up for Sue Ann's wedding in Italy next year:) ahaha she will have to pay for our accomodation and living expenses there!!! haha... oh my.. its exciting...

Photos will be up soon:)
we took many photos which will leave great memories:)

Sue Ann, thanks for being a great friend back in Crescent Girls:) You have shine... and now, your diamond ring shines much much more hahaah!!!

She was so happy and we can all feel her bliss:) COngrats my dear!!

Looking forward to the last meet up on 12th dec:) the last time we going to meet up before you leave us for 6 months!!!

My weight is back to the previous weight. lost all the unnecessary weight ...
Coach says I look like my arms and overall is toner now...

But look a little like lighter than my usual...
Happy to be back to my usual weight:)

I can't find the article that happened 13 years ago... I googled it but can't seem to find it at all...

Disappeared into thin air...

Somehow i missed the beach, sentosa beach, east coast park, the big and colourful cloth I brought with me to the beaches to lie on...

I miss everything...

I am feeling so lost on a Monday, knowing that it is a holiday is worst.
I laid on my bed, tossed and turned around, trying to find peace in sleeping. I just can't seem to do it at all...

I can't sleep. I tried to sleep since 10am this morning and now it's already 4pm... I haven got a wink at all...

Is training so tough? Or is life so tough?

It's will be a good catch up session with all my girlies:) Finally it's holiday and holiday means catch up time.

I am feeling tired, stressed, pressured and conjested in the chest.
Please give me energy and peace to sleep properly.

what happens to a person who trains hard, works hard but can't sleep well or have insomnia...

she comes down with a fever:( thats me now..
recover fast please....

As i am writing out my schedule for the next 10 days... I realised I am counting down closer to my race...

As a looked through my flight Itinerary, oh my gosh... I realised my flight is at 6am...on Thursday 4th dec... oh my gosh....
this means I have to reach the airport at 4am...

Wonder how I am going to wake up at 3am and be there in time:) ahaha....

The race is going to be tough. I heard about the race conditions, the weather is dusty... and the waterpoints are not adequate.. though it is a flat and fast race..

I looked through past years results.. and realised the winner for last year's race was MIKA .. who is my teammate now.. she ran a 1.34hour.. and thinking that coach wants me to run in 1.34hour this race.. does that mean he wants me to win the race?

its going to be tough...
6 days there without much to do.. think i probably going to bring a book and read it..
the place we are staying at is called Two Dragons and there is no swimming pool there! oh no... guess my only relaxation is going to be running.
will pull Scotts and Christian as well as Fab out to run with me...

Angkor wat, wait for me... I will be there soon... time flies...

Yaopeng massed emailed some stuff to us.. and these are some pics which are nice:)

Sunday: 23 nov 08

This morning's long run was done at a relatively fast pace. Coach had instructed for 3 paces to be set at for the whole 15km...
luckily for me, Joe was there to pace me... it was painful but achieving and satisfying...
Thanks JOe... soon soon. You have to train up for a 4min per km pace soon... i a few years time, You will have to pace me at that pace I hope!!

after the run, we had an amazing talk with Vivian.. she guided us on some principles of running...

She said "to want to achieve results at a high level, your level of commitment must be on par and you must be able to give up certain things in life for it...it's not like studying where we can burn midnight oil and do last minute work... You CANNOT do last minute work for running..."

she mentioned that when you are lazing around, other people are training and that's where you lose out..
I totally agree with that.

That's why during several occasions at training previously, when it was heavy downpour, coach still insisted on us running in the rain. I can clearly remember the track work at SP and also the interval training at turf city where coach made us run under the really heavy down pour...

He said this too "when others are resting, you are training, this is where you stand an advantage..."

So dun be surprised if you see me running along the road in drizzle, rain or raining cats and dogs with lightning...
because to me, running plays a large role in my life and for it, everything else can go... except for one..

to me, running is a love, a passion, a dream. If you want something, work hard for it.
Beneath the thorns, there lies a beautiful rose .. you just have to go through the thorns and pick up that rose underneath it...

Life is full of ups and downs. training too.. you suffer, but in the end, the magic of training is, not only do you see your body conform into a nice and lean body, you learn to appreciate many more things in life too:)

today my youngest sister asked me this question..
what kept me running till now..
it's because she has just grad from sec 4...
and because she dun find the motivation to continue training and running.

she asked me to look back on what happened to me last time and what kept me running till now ...

I remember being only a high jumper in my primary school days... and when I was going to break a record at the track meet, i broke BOTH the record and my ankle... from then on, i could no longer jump.. high jump or long jump.. phobia...

I said, if you want to do something. no one can stop you. seriously, when i look back, i guess I am the only person in my pri school track team and sec sch team who continued to run till now.

When i was in my sch days.. pri and sec, I was not the best runner. But I wanted badly to prove to myself that I was worth of something greater.. and in JC i began to shine a little... being a big fish in a small pond, PJC... i managed to find my worth.

And i guess its my coach, SIM ANN ENG at that time, who managed to make my running life worthwhile. as well as my teammate, Xiao Chun who made me find life in running. Through them, my love for running just kept accelerating. Now i look back, it's really the coach who made a difference in me... and in most people. i guess after I stopped training with Sim, I found joy in working but yet at the same time, during that 2 years, Macritchie Runners 25 was a great motivation.

Everybody has their own different motivation. For me, at every stage of my life its different...

At 3 years old- given a chance to learn swimming
At11 years old- given a chance to rep sch in 800m race
At 13 years old- given a chance to rep sch in 3.2km
At 15 years old- given a chance to rep sch at biathlon
At 17 years old-given a chance to own my own road bike
At 20 years old- Given at chance to be part of a good running club-MR25, train with the National Triathlon team and got to know my best friend and bro- Sunny

At 21 years old- given a chance to be on the podium
At 21 years old- Given a chance to be able to race and train with someone special

At 22 years old- given a chance to know my current coach and thus able to perform better

At 23 years old- given a chance to go to Aussie to race under Singapore recognition, given a chance to be s sponsored athlete under Smith Optics
At 23 years old- Given many chances in parts and parts of my life but din cherish it much...
At 24 years old- Will I be given a chance to go Gold Coast Marathon, Rotterdam Marathon and Berlin marathon?
At 26 years old--- will i be ready to rep singapore in the marathon
At 28 years old--- Will I be able to hit 2.45hour for marathon??and rep Singapore in the Sea Games which is going to be held in Singapore
At 30 years old--- where will I be? I dunno... seems so far away...but yet, its just a mere few years down the road

In your life, your fate is in your hands...things happen for a reason. Your fate lies in your own hands...

When a mistake is done, nothing can turn it back. It's whether you are willing to accept that mistake again.

No one is perfect... years down the road in my life... Am I able to look back and say that I regret the things that I have done and have not done.. I hope I dun...

Running is a great form of relaxation but hopefully I dun run away from problems and reality....

swimming with Junko at Clementi Pool was surprisingly achieving.. i was surprised by her bad habits in breaststroke and gave her a lesson on breaststroke pulling... swam 20 laps with her...next stop west coast plaza

West coast plaza is a nice place to be at... used to be called Ginza Plaza but has since changed its name:)

It is now a place filled with small little shops. i was a little taken aback by the minimal space each shop has...
should visit it again when the real opening commence... my sister called it a soft opening.. not all the shops are up working...why is there empty space?? and this is the space for one shop... amazingly smallok and during dinner.. we were bored ... started out to make funny faces:) we imitated each other.. haha...ok enough ... hahaah we took many many many more photos... we had a great laugh!no i am not wearing a ring because I am getting married.. but the ring is written with "Marathoner Sumiko" ahahah...

eye bags getting worst... not sleeping well these days...