Physiotherapy continued at home... more challenging than before

Today, I started with new sets of physiotherapy to build the strength on my leg even more. This was instructed by the physiotherapist after the surgeon allowed me to put on my whole weight on my fractured leg.

Today's exercises:

> warm up 10mins on my road bike mounted on trainer (ave. spd: 25km/h; max spd: 31km/h; cadence ave: 75rpm)

> bridging: 3 x 8 x 5secs

> single leg stand: 3 x 20sec

> Wall slide: 3 x 8 x 3secs

> Wall sit: 3 x 20sec

SPINNING ON BIKE TRAINER, AFTER 2 MONTHS

After injury on 28 Oct 10, for the first time I got onto the bike trainer. When I went for my physiotherapy at KTPH, the nice Ang Mo Physio told me, "We will get you on the bike to warm up for 10 minutes ok?" Guess what was my reply? OF COURSE!!! She started me on resistant 1, but as we go on, I went up to resistant 6 maintaining at 95-100rpm. Wow, what a great feeling....

Time to wake up!!!

It have been awhile since I wrote anything here. Eversince coming back from overseas assignment, I have taken part in several events, Tribob, Sundown Marathon, Bintan Triathlon and Port Dickson (PD) Triathlon. PD was memorable. Not only I got PB, but also my whole family was there. We drove up and had a jolly good time there together. But then, something happened that pulled down my morale. I skidded from my bike on a wet road, and fractured my neck of femur (thigh bone near the ball joining to the hip). After 2hrs of emergency surgery to place 3 screws to stabilise the fracture, 3 days stay in hospital, and now, have been resting at home for 1 1/2mths.

Not being able to do anything, restricted by moving around with crutches, really bring down a man. Someone who had been active since school, really bore me to stay at home. Nevertheless, the ever supportive wife, and kids helped me to pull through till now. It even got sweeter with the addition of a new girl in the house, MY FIRST GRANDAUGHTER!!!

Unable to do the Standard Chartered Marathon 2010, which I had registered for, really makes me just want to get up and start walking without the crutches. But I think patience is the essence to speedy recovery.

I do hope that I will be able to quickly get up and start swimming, biking and running soonest. Need to get back the strength on the left leg. Had not been utilizing it for a while now, and it seems much smaller that my right. Wahhhhhh..... really need to get back my fitness once can return back to exercising.

Wish me luck!!!

Many Races Missed....

I have been overseas for many months now, and because of this, I have missed out on many races that I would love to take part. Singapore Biathlon (I have been doing this for 5 yrs, and this will be my 6th, if I am back in Singapore), OSIM International Triathlon (why must they shift it to the week I am suppose to fly back home... no time to train :-[), and of course Aviva 70.3 (this would be my first... aiyah)

Now I am looking forward to mostly Malaysia races. Port Dickson and Putrajaya 70.3 in July, Desaru Long Distance in October, and hopefully the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, Phuket, Thailand in December.

Training while overseas have not been too bad. There is a great gym here (don't expect it to be like California Fitness or one of those nice gym in Singapore). Well, I am 1300+meters high surrounded by desert, what do one expect. At lease we can do runs, and spinning on stationary bike. Also did weight trainings and also brick training in betweens. But sadly, cannot do any swim training here. I will need to catch up on this when I get back home.

Looking forward to go home, see my beutiful and loving wife and kids, start some serious training (including swimming... ha ha ha) and take part in races. First one to warm myself up and to relieve the "Gianness" in doing Triathlon will be the Singapore Sprint Triathlon by Tribob. Will give the Bintan Triathlon a miss as it is getting more expensive.

Hopefully my aspiration and dream of being an Ironman, even Half IM this year, will be fulfilled.

Another Biathlon Completed

Yesterday, Saturday 7th Mar 09, I completed my 5th Singapore Biathlon. Forgot to time my swim but i think it should be good timing. Got to wait for the official time. Started the run with ease, and the sky start to open up. Shoes and socks are wet. When I got to transition, 50% of my wave (Wave 1 @0730hrs) still have their gear in transition. Good for me, means I am somewhere middle of the pack.

I did a slow run. Overtook some slower runners but got taken over by many faster runner. Saw Uncle Chan of Kobe 2000 flying past, also Victor Chan, as usual put many younger participants to shame.

Run Time: 1:06 (unofficial)

My firsrt full marathon

On Dec 7, 2008, I was with pan 3, for those who are going to run above 5 hours for a 42km marathon. It was my first attempt. After flagged off, I ran with a good and comfortable pace. I reached the 21km mark in 2:45hrs. After that, I felt that the end will never come. I said to myself that this will be my first, and last running not only the Standard Chartered Marathon, but any marathon for that matter.

Most of the time I was walking and running, walking mostly. Drained and with my muscles aching. Once I saw the 40km mark, my energy returned and I ran slowly, and once my muscle got warmed up again, I ran a comfortable pace to the end point.

THE SWEETEST MOMENT OF ANY RACE... IS AT THE END POINT...

I tried... I completed... I want more...

The future is never certain. We will never be able to predict what we will be doing tomorrow, in a week time, a month or next year. Or when the grey hair on our head... becomes no hair...

I was a person who dislike sports. Dreaded the moment in Recruit days in Pulau Tekong during BMT and hoping that it will rain in the afternoon, when the training program says ... PT, SOC, circuit training...

It was in 2004 that I was "attracted" (conned into doing) to my first biathlon, and I did the OD Singapore Biathlon after successfully passed the swim-trial. This became a passion as the joy of crossing the finish line is one that cannot be explained... it must be experianced.

I am never a good swimmer or runner. Never had gone for swimming lesson before. Swimming was self-taught at age 12 at Queenstown Swimming Complex. Also, can never achieve a Gold award as my running sucks, my chin-up also the same, nothing to be proud of. The only 5 pointer in IPPT was in sit-up and shuttle-run.

After about 4 years doing Biathlon, I did my first Triathlon. I signed up for the TRIBOB Sprint Series Triathlon.