Joining in the commotion

Aw man I spent $110 today on Pokemon White and StanChart FM. And I'm gonna spent $70 more for the nintendo DS later.

Planned to queue for the $800 goodie bag yesterday night (first 100 registrants only) but oh my gosh are Singaporeans Kiasu. Originally I had intended to reach around 10pm but word had it that the queue already met 100 by 7pm!! Crazy man. And news reported that the first person in line started queuing at 11am yesterday WHAT the hell! I totally had no chance. So instead I wanted to try for the $400 voucher (101-1000th registrant) but guess what, I woke up too late. In the end I gave up. But I am helluva relived to know that the actual contents of the goodie bag sucked. It is really something to LOL and right smack a tight slap in the face of those who queued up overnight and faced the unforgiving rain and dirt.

Despite not being eligible for the freebie I decided to join in the official launch anyway. Made my way to Qishan @ Far East Shopping Centre to hoot my Pokemon White version (...Finally) at only $40. I guess if we total the transport fees it's still around $45 (?) but who cares. After tearing the wrap unceremoniously like a vulture I quickly ply out the cartridge and STARTED cheonging.

Then I made my way to raffles place. Out the exit, WHAM* I was greeted by hundreds of people organised into a long stretch of seemingly endless line. Out I went, tracing the line to the last person. Of course, along the way I get diao-ed by different kinds of people but that's just how runner's check other runner's out. But wow, was the queue long. It basically stretched from the inner and outer circumference of the CBD in a maze-like pattern. Finally, I found the last guy after walking like 5 minutes later and joined in the wait...

Had I known I would have to wait almost THREE hours the register...I might not have queue up. Or I might have. But I must register this year, so in the end the wait is worth it. I got a slot YEA. The wait was long man. But luckily for most of the time I was busy cheonging my newly bought Pokemon White like a xin jiao! That almost distracted me from the blistering hot sun. Almost. But when I reached the last few hundred people the freaking DS battery went flat on me and I basically had to endure the heat and wait for around a good 1 hour with no entertainment. Thankfully, as we near the application booths things got better as we were handed out some freebies and THIS I must mention -- 100 PLUS drink!!! Wow I was freaking dying of thirst out there standing under the sun for hours and I'm sure the others feel the same too and PROPS to StanChart organisers for being thoughtful enough to put "100 plus boys" to roam around and give us free 100 Plus! And it was chilled somemore! I believe this is the first time I've actually seen muscular men wearing 100 plus skin tight shirts, carrying a mini 100PLUS water tank (backpack style) and flushing out 100 plus from a hose connected to the tank itself! It is a very creative concept and visually appealing. Anyway, I kept on refilling and the sight of me gulping down the drink greedily is quite awkward but I was T-H-I-R-S-T-Y. Thumbs up for the well organisation.

Ok so I managed to reach home at 5pm but "our time is running out", like Muse's lyrics. Gotta book in early for SAF Day rehearsal tomorrow...so yea, I'm heading for dinner now.

It was a good day!

QOTD: "It gets better as we get nearer" --random guy from the queue

Read more »

Monotonous June

You can see how busy I am.

Right now the schedule is ridiculous! 4 days stay in 1 day break has become the norm. STAY IN. Because of SAF day and duties oh my god. Life has become so robotic and predictable. I feel so damn stupid now. Right now, I really feel the burn of 2 years serving NS. All I'm doing is rotting away, that's the truth. No lessons, no school, no social life, NOTHING. Just 'MPIA', SAF DAY, Standing Istana duty, EAT, SLEEP, watch videos. I feel worse than a caveman. The world is evolving, while we are retarding. Say you love it.

But on the positive side, it's already 2/3 of the month and after SAF day this bleak period is gonna end. Then at least we can be back to normal and put the emphasis on MY stuff, like running, preparing for uni, wisdom tooth, etc. MY life.

Anyway, right now just focus on being professional and play my part in SAF day. That's all folks.

QOTD: Evolution has passed you by...

Read more »

Pain Pain PAIN!

What the hell is going on?!

Just...what the hell?!

Supposedly my left foot healed miraculously after two days, but suddenly when I woke up yesterday morning my RIGHT foot started to hurt like hell! It was a sharp kind of pain, quite persistent. I did not know how the hell it got injured?! Did I bang onto something during my sleep? Or someone ankle lock me?? Or maybe even some spirit purposely wanna play prank on me? My bunk sucks! I already got bad experiences in the damn bunk!

Then I went to stand Istana duty anyway. Two shift! Needless to say it worsen the pain x1000 and by the time I returned to camp the pain was so intolerable I couldn't walk! I was in a very low point yesterday. But worst of all I did not know what caused the pain!

So I skipped rehearsal today and went to see MO. The pain became considerably better today, and the MO said my tendon was sore. Oh tendon, that's a new one. I thought it was my muscle. Anyway I got excused L/L and some pills. But right now, the pain is almost totally gone so I'm damn relieved.

But damn, am I cursed or what? First ITBs. After I found a way to suppress it my left foot kena flying shin. After it healed my right foot kena unknown tendon pain. Now I have minor cough. What is happening to me? I'm living in a world of hurt!

Oh how much I yearn for a 100% injury free body now....

Read more »

The Violent Game

Soccer is known as the beautiful game. Only if you are playing in Brazil. When you play soccer in somewhere like the cage @ kallang with army guys, well, it turns out to be violent. Real violent. And I found on the painful way, 15 minutes into the game today when Mr Melvin rammed his flying shin (?) against my foot. Resulting in a bump on my foot right now which is damn irritating and painful of course. But the big picture is...

Damn...

My road back to running is stopped in its tracks again. I probably can't run for the next few days. I don't even know if I can walk properly tomorrow when I wake up! Worst of all I have duty tomorrow and Monday and if i can't march, I'm screwed. It is just a bump but these tend to last for days. Well, I had prayed not to get injured but I had chosen to play, and I knew the risks, and this is what I got.

It's finally June, and we are nearer and nearer to my ORD...This month is gonna be tough because of SAF day training, but it's passing ridiculously quickly =D. I love the speed. I'm looking forward to SAF day on 1 July...will be a good show. Then after that YEA ORD mood.

The races are coming soon also. I hope after SAF day I will fully go back to training again. It's gonna be so awesome, especially after NDP. Gonna finally utilize my privileges in SAF, ie wisdom tooth extraction MC, spam my countless off, use my untouched 13 days leave etc. I can't wait, I can't wait until July!

But now, it's still gonna be rough, but in time we will make it.

QOTD: laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Read more »

Full Battle Order

Damn, I wanted to go FBO today for CPFA (with my running gear) but just like always, when I'm prepared for something, the outcome is not what I expect. Because it rained. And so my chance to do 9K was cancelled.

So it was pretty much a wasted afternoon. Went scrambling for afternoon off, then left camp as soon as I could.

However with my spare time at home I managed to squeeze in a short 7K run in the evening. Actually I just came back. Well, so far so good, I can more or less do 7-9K without any problems of ITBS at jogging pace. I cannot confirm if I am good also at race pace, and I must say, I'm really scared to go a race pace. Somehow I am satisfied just to be running already, and right now I really don't want to push my limit and injure my leg again. I am still doing this midfoot/forefoot strike, but I must say, starting out is really difficult. First, it takes a toll on my calves, especially my right one because they are not seasoned enough for this running style. My left calf is ok, maybe it's stronger. The right calf muscle is really tight and sore though. I dare not run for the next few days, don't want to get it inflamed. The ITB strap is working ok, I don't really know if it helps but I can definitely feel a good compression, more effective that compression tights and more concentrated. Well, just wear it as a fancy accessory now.

Gotta stay in for SAF day rehearsal tonight, sad.

But it feels good to be running consistently again!

Read more »

Reaching full throttle

I am certainly looking forward to joining races again. Now that I've gotten my ITB strap, I feel somewhat empowered to run again. Today's trip to velocity was definitely helpful because I managed to find the Cho-Pat ITB strap ($19.90) @ Running Lab. It wasn't the one I was looking for but this looked quite reputable also and anyway these straps all function the same so I just got it without hesitation.

So now the engine's on all the way, unless my ITB acts up, which is a scenario I don't want to entertain or even think of ANYMORE. Because I know, if I do my stretches, and I run with correct form, and I wear my ITB strap, my runs will (hopefully) go on smoothly from now on. If not, I think I'll be damn sad.

Anyway, there are only 2 must-join races for the rest of the year which is AHM and Stan Chart. Especially Stan Chart. I must do my 2nd FM this year. How coincidental, last year June I started taking up running as a sport. Now one year later, I am re-starting, coming back from a injury. It's hard to stop running because you're injured, but even harder to come back from an injury. But like how they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, so just train hard and hopefully we can see some positive results again.

Full gear on Monday!

Read more »

Twist, you lame Gook

First of all, a totally unexpected piece of good news. In a long time. I don't need to do MPIA for tomorrow YEA.

Seems like staff wanted to use duty personnel instead, don't know why, but I don't care cos' now the situation totally changes. From having to leave 2pm tomorrow, to 8 hours free...OMG perfect. 8 whole hours -- I can do some many things.

I DID run today, with little motivation or aim, and clocked 7K. Of course I said I was going to do 10K but come to think of it, my calves were still hurting so I'd rather take it slow and steady instead of committing the same mistakes again. All for the long run...

So a bit on the running itself; it seems forefoot strike really is the better way to run. Oh, I forgot to mention, my ITB did not act up today and I believe it may really be due to a better stride. I used my supernova today, and I don't know how it's affecting my gait and form. But I will be getting Newtons and doing a comparison, to see if shoes really matter. Once again I went slow but right now it is crucial I go slowly and progressively increase distance instead of trying to fly back to my peak, which is quite dumb. My aim now is really to be able to do half marathon distance (21K) at LSD pace without much stopping and without ITB acting up.

It may be a waste of time, but I'm heading to velocity tomorrow to see if I can find the patt strap. If not I might have to get it online, which is damn troublesome...

QOTD: Keep hope alive... --Russell Hantz

Read more »

The freaking A-bomb.

Wow yesterday was such a tough day. I was dropped the A-bomb and had to do EXTRA work and eat into my book out time, WAT THE HELL RAGE LEH!! It's so taxing that I immediately slept when I reached home this afternoon.

Anyway, I'm gonna focus on my running now. 10K, WCP, tomorrow morning - do it.

Also I have to get the pattstrap somehow, I don't know where it's sold but I might head to velocity to check. Also it's time to save up for a pair of Newtons. I'm gonna totally revamp my running technique, so I need fresh new gear to go along.

Rage leh.

Another another A-bomb -- MPIA for Shangri la dialogue on Saturday. I'm sad.

I'm just a sad song, with nothing to say...

So I only have tml whole day to rest. NOT ENOUGH.

Sat MPIA..Sunday duty...Tue rehearsal...

Like

a

D

O

G.

Read more »