Ironman 70.3 Singapore

An incredibly belated race update on the hours spent competing in the 2nd annual Ironman 70.3 Singapore...

My bike fitness was good, run fitness average and swim fitness was N/E (as in non-existent).  Long story short was a swim that brought me out in the second half of my age group (in what ended up being my last race in the age group).   My bike was a good 15 minutes faster than my previous PR at the distance.   The run was a steady (slow) 2 hours, that had me crossing the finish line in 5:28 (slow, but OK for the conditions)..   They're running the 2009 race in late March, so I'm already planning ahead to hopefully go under 5 hours in what will be my first race as the young buck in the 40-44 age group.

Things I liked about the course:    The bike route was nice and fast.   Mirroring much of our usual Monday and Friday morning ride, I can't help but think that was an advantage.   Almost no turns save the one at the far end of the course and then one when you came back through the hot "corner" for the 2nd and 3rd loops.  I also ended up liking the 3-loop half marathon.   

Things I didn't like about the course:  The swim was horrible!   A double loop with all this ocean we have is just inexcusable.  Also, what I will call the wussy rule - where the organizers allow anyone who can't finish the second loop of the swim to continue on with both the bike and run to experience the "thrill" of the unique Singapore course...  PLEASE!!!!!

Re-trial for 13-year-old flasher

From time to time, the Singapore Sling highlights a local interest story.  Here is a well-written piece from today's "Weekend Today"; a free paper (I'm assuming) that gets dropped on our wet carport every morning...   This story gets going right out of the gate, so hold onto your seat.

October 18-19

Leong Wee Keat

weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg

WHEN he was 11, he pinched a teenage girl's buttocks.  Seven months later, he pulled down his pants and showed his private parts to another woman.  When she screamed, he pulled her hair.

On Friday, the High Court sent the boy's case back to the Juvenile Court after it was revealed he was suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the time of his offences.

Last October the Juvenile Court had ordered that he be sent to the Singapore Boy's Home for 30 months.

Appealing against the order, the boy's lawyer Sunil Sudheesan said the offences were committed out of "mischief" rather than sexual perversion.

A psychiatric report earlier this month added that the juvenile, now 13, committed the offences due to "his poor control of his adolescent sexual impulses".

Mr Sudheesan said the medical condition could have precipitated the boy's need to deal with his restlessness.  But he has not run afoul of the law since going on medication and being warned by the authorities, added the lawyer.

In June 2006, the boy followed a 17-year-old girl out of a lift and squeezed her buttocks.  In January last year, he exposed himself to a housewife.  When she shrieked, he yanked her hair before fleeing.  He was diagnosed with ADHD in August this year.

WORST cycling magazine EVER ! ! !

While waiting for my wife last night, I picked up a local bike magazine to kill some time.

Flipping through the pages, I saw some pictures of a race I did a few months back and to my surprise, there were two of me! Well, one and a half.  One clearly showed me at the bike turnaround; the other was a shot of my ear and right shoulder. - ok.. Let's call it one and an eighth of a picture..  The S$2.00 cover price wasn't so much of a barrier to ownership, so I stood in line and bought it.  

When I got home, I read the story about the race and quickly realized WHY the magazine only costs S$2.00.   In their defense, as this is only the second issue of the first volume, they may still be working out a few kinks, but....  well.. I'll let it speak for itself.   The next post in this blog contains the full text (take note that at no time do they mention the winner, the winning time and pretty much every line has some fatal flaw).   

Enjoy!

WORST race review EVER

Editor's note:   This race review was copied word for word from (what I believe to be) the worst cycling magazine on earth... Read on and decide for yourself.   By the way, the guy in blue in the photo is me.

SPIN Asia Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 2, Page 38/39:  It is the wee hours of Saturday morning where the first light of dawn splashed a reflection of light across the calm water of Upper Seletar Reservoir.  Competitors and supporters alike walked along the pathway with a scenic view of the forestry that line the outskirts of the peaceful water catchment area to the registration tents.  It was the second of three races in Singapore Sprint Series and TRIBOB was the organizer for the event.  Consisting of a 3km run, 15km cycling, 3km run respectively. It is a Duathlon introduction leading to TRIBOB's Triathlon race held in June.

The Duathlon race as with the other two races consists of both individual and team relay entries.  It is a fun way for many to take part in the race with their friends and colleagues, while fighting for a Spring Series Team Cup as the ultimate prize.  Any three entries in a race can form a Sprint Series Team and a Team can consist of a combination of relays and individual entries, male or female.  The Team with the most points wins the race; on top of that, entries are still eligible for individual or relay rankings as well.

Many competitors that took part in the Race 1: Biathlon was also taking part in the Duathlon.  You can see a varied choice of bikes used by the participants as they lined them up in the docking area.  Along the registration tents are the many sponsor booths displaying their sports merchandise for purchase.  For the hungry, a Mexican Taco Bar is also available.  There is a tent set up by Rodalink to provide free service and repairs to the competitor's bikes before or during the race.

Soon enough, the preparations and final registration process are completed.  The first category of competitors began to file to the starting line for the run off.  It was a surge of people as they push off on Mandai Road.  The racecourse takes them on a loop around a country club golf course before heading back along Upper Seletar Reservoir to the transition pit for their bikes.  There was a scene of mad rush as those who ran back fumbled with the change of footwear from running shoes to cycling clip-ons.  Jumping onto their bikes, they pumped their leg muscles down the other end of Mandai Road leading to BKE before turning back again in a succession of two laps.  The last transition into running has decidedly split the leaders away from the main group as the competitors do a final run along the reservoir to the finishing gateway.

With an electronic tag strapped onto each participant, a sensor at the finishing line recorded timing systematically and without any doubt or confusion.  There was even a digital counter mounted on the finishing gateway to display the timing of the race.  After crossing the finishing line, each competitor got a completion of race medal by the officials.  There was even an additional complimentary of sports drinks for hydration and a choice of bananas or apples to replenish their lost carbohydrates.

As the last competitor complete the racecourse, the organizers began to prepare the prize award on the stage.  The prizes are arranged according to the category of entry and the top three finishers of each age-group category will receive a trophy.  After all the prizes were given out, there was even a Star Awards given to a participant that truly stands out in terms of best dressed, best finisher or just being the most photogenic person in the race.

The third and last race in the series will be the Triathlon on 14th June at Changi Beach Park.  It will consist of a 750m swim, 20km cycling and 5km of running proving to be a definite challenge to those new to this sport.  So, do watch out for it and check out TRIBOB website www.tribob.com for more details on the racecourse and results from previous races.

And now a word from our sponsor...

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is calling on his country's youth to get married younger and have more children.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wants young people to have more children.

Lee says the city-state's fertility rate is only 1.29 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed to replace the population.

Lee blames some men for having conservative attitudes and expecting wives to be obedient. Women must also value marriage more, and not just focus on a work career, Lee says in a televised speech.

Lee encourages parents to attempt to match their children with possible spouses.

Lessons learned

This isn't so much a 'Singapore' topic as it is a life topic...



Dr. Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University who recently died of pancreatic cancer. In his "last lecture", he talks about how to live your childhood dreams. Needless to say, it was a real wake-up call for me. If nothing else, please watch the lecture and take one thing away from it...

• To watch the last lecture [click here]
• To watch his charge to graduates at Carnegie Mellon University [click here]
• To watch him speak before Congress [click here]
• To purchase the book [click here]

First Flat

Expect the best, plan for the worst....

For whatever reason, the urge to (for once) pack a spare tube, bring the tire levers, AND something to inflate the tire with, won out and my Fast Kranji was cut short by a little bobble that nearly cost me my life (not really...) and blew what (up to now) had been THE PERFECT TUBE.

On a day when we are all saddened by the passing of Professor Randy Pauch, let us think back on the life that was - THE PERFECT TUBE...

The TUBE met her (only a "her" would have stayed by my side for this long) un-timely demise 10 kilometers in to a fast Kranji loop. I hit a grate in the road while pulling the bunch at about 40km/hr (24 mi/hr).. BANG BANG.... followed by another BANG! A swerve and a $#!^ later, I came to a stop.. Alas.. she was dead..

The TUBE was born 1 year ago.. somewhere far, far away. She came with a new set of Corima wheels that I purchased in advance of the Hawaii Ironman in 2007 (and a few other races here and there).. I never changed it out and she promised... I swear... PROMISED! never to pop.. Alas...

RIP July 26, 2008..