The Year just passed me fast without realizing that I had already done 3 marathons and 3 ultra distances. In between, some other runs and 1 triathlon.
As I turn to middle age. I do realize I can no longer be like the younger days where I could run almost a marathon every month, sometimes even back to back in two weeks. Well I guess those hay days are over. I could feel the difference in recovery and capabilities as I turn a decade older in 2018.
Feeling sleepy at 9pm, unable to wake up 5am to clock those LSDs. Trying to take on different sports just makes it even more challenging.
Triathlon
Swim time
Most runners always say, up to a certain point , its either you branch into ultra trails or to Iron Man and triathlon. I have no qualms on that, seeing most of the running friends going into these 2 mainstreams but actually more on the ultra trails side. I guess the greatest deterrence in doing triathlon is the cost of owning and maintaining a road bike, and to a lot of people ( to my horror) they simply cannot swim. Some of my folks are actually paying good sums of money to learn how to swim and bike. Maybe they want to swim really effectively, but I remembered how I learnt swimming and that was simply trying to follow my father in the sea waters of Desaru. As he thread further and further, without realising that we were far from the shores, I followed. Soon to realize I am very far from the beach!! I struggled and nearly drowned, but picked up soon to quickly swim back and not to follow him. The first taste of open water swim was not fun, but swimming had became a sport that I loved a lot before I started running.
2018 I did my 4th Olympic Distance triathlon in Singapore. After much coercion from an Iron man friend. As usual, too cheapo to buy a real bike I rented a Mountain Bike, which was already proven an epic fail before. To me riding is never my forte maybe I had some fear of the speed. There are a lot of mechanics and maintaining to be done with it. I am personally not good at that and also in terms of maintenance, it gets even worse, as I have troubles even maintaining my own body to be pain free!
Nevertheless finished this race although at not a glamorous timing, yet decent in my own terms and definitely not the last person coming in too!
Ultra Trails
stunned at PYT
Definitely not my forte also. I always think that doing trails is more of a combat fitness than physical fitness in the Singapore Armed Forces terms. But the good part about doing trail is getting close to nature. As I usually take very long time for trails due to my poor technique with descending. I take my time to enjoy the nature around, which is hardly available in Singapore.
Travelling around the region to chase the trails is also very fun. Running in Singapore can get really routinized and boring because of the same route over and over again. The lack of mountain terrain is another reason why I enjoy going overseas for trails. 2018 the Pong Yaeng Trail was like a highlight for me because I was alone and also since I really loved travelling to Chiang Mai, I totally enjoyed this trail.
Taking a Break
running with friends
chilling relaxing and drinking
The year end also meant a break from the usual training and races. I have been swimming more and concentrating on yoga and stuff. Pole is also one activity that I do to build up my strength and also the core. Of course, it also meant a time to pig out and drink ( happen to be another of my hobby which I need to cut down more on).
This year my race schedules have been planned and seems like I am going for another hectic one. I do not know if I have been prepared. But I do hope to finish all the races that I had planned for. I also wish for all the athletes out there to keep on going and believing on what they do. I guess the quote lasts: Tough Times dont last Tough Men DO!