Part 2 - Helping Hands

January 21st, 2009
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And help, I got… in the form of a much-needed push up the slope, when I find myself lagging behind as the others zip past.

Let’s just put it this way… Cycling with the pack is no ride in the park.

Every ride is a lung-exploding, muscle-burning experience… as I heave and pant to keep those legs moving (as fast as I can!) just so I can hang on to the group. And more often than not, that effort is just not good enough to keep up with them!

So, when a hand comes up from behind me to give me that extra boost of power… I welcome it with great relief.

Although it might not seem like much (to you)… but it helped me in a BIG way to take the pressure off cycling such a long distance (when what I really want is to take a cab home!), allay my fear of not being able to keep up, and give me that extra boost of confidence in my ability.

Most of all,  I’m touched that people are willing to help without being asked.

And so, I just want to say THANK YOU… to all those who helped push & pull me on the rides - Yusoff, Antonio, Chee Kian, Robert Tattoo, Gino (whom I didn’t even know then!), and some others whom I only know by face!  And the girls - Poh Lin, Juliana & Siew Hua- who took turns to pull me on those short-cut groupie rides, when I have no energy to pull my weight up in front.

And, of course, not forgetting the good company of the rest of the pack.

I couldn’t have done it without all your help!

Thoughts, Training , ,

Part 1 - Fighting Inertia

January 20th, 2009
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It’s been 5 long months…

… since a freak accident/injury to my left pinky caused all my activities (almost) to come to a stand-still last year. And I was forced to pull out of the 2008 Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore race.

Inertia has set in.  And the body’s engine is slow to start.

70.3?  Suddenly, that seems to be a goal in the far distance past.  I just didn’t feel as motivated anymore.

Yet, subconsciously, I knew I still wanted to do it.

So, with the new year approaching, I decided to plunge head-on into cycling - the most important link in the swim/bike/run triathlon sequence (I think!). Starting with the “kiddy” ride on the last Sunday of 2008.

It was a bad start.

Make no mistake about it.  They may be “kids”, but they are nothing less than F-A-S-T! I was dropped less than 10k into the ride, strained the muscle in my left knee, and rode the remaining 25k alone. It was absolutely demoralising.

It would be so easy to just give up… and shelf my cycling pursuits for another time.  And trust me, that thought did go through my mind.

However, not wanting to be daunted by yet ANOTHER injury, I decided to take the bull by its horns… Sought treatment with a physiotherapist the next day, and with his blessing, was back riding with the pack in that same week! This time, attempting more than double the distance of that first ride.

It was pure madness. And, a miracle that I survived the ride… and the rides to follow… without hurting my knee again.

But not without some help…

Thoughts, Training ,

Brave new world

January 18th, 2009
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Welcome to the not-so-secret world of the Little Superhero Girl!

I love sports.  All kinds of sports.  And when I’m not out saving the world, you can find me swimming (this is my current struggle), biking (still quite a newbie) and running (my first love!)… I’m also dabbling in windsurfing & golf.  Oh, and did I mention I love skiing too? *smiles*

This space chronicles the highs & lows in my sporting life.  My aspirations, and anything that inspires me to daily to live the active life.

Thoughts