Fiddling with Self, Contemplating on Life

Sunday June 17th 2007

Triathlon Clinic - Admiral Marina, PD
PD International Triathlon is a must in every Malaysian based triathlete's calendar. It is held normally during the weekend after Yang Dipertuan Besar's birthday where the weekend before is the Seremban Half Marathon. It is loved for the nice openwater, moderate to very little current and almost flat terrain which is the best condition for everyone to improve their Personal's Best record and not so painful for first timers or beginners.

The clinic this time is to introduce to participants slight changes in the race route and training simulation for Klang Valley based triathletes that are going to race in next week's Miri triathlon. According to Mr. Chan, this is going to be the biggest ever with at least 700 has registered and mostly are oversea based. 1000 is approximately to compete in various categories.

I reached the Marina on the dot of 8am. I was surprised by the attendance with 4 bike racks all full with tri, road and mountain bikes. Luckily the buoy wasn't ready, so I lazily set up my bike with helmet on. I even left my cycling and running shoes in the car. The clinic even have coverage by Media Prima group in particular NTV7 Breakfast Show. As in Kenyir, I swam in my cycling bibs which creates resistance from the low cleavage opening right up to my not so squarish boxy tummy. This year, swimming discipline will have beach start which I don't favor much due to construction works nearby the jetty.

Mr. Chan whistled to signal the start of the swim. The water was quite choppy for PD standard which reminds me of my post dive surfacing right in a storm at Pemanggil Island. I just swim front crawl like my normal training. Just like Charlie's description (my swimming instructor when I started learn to swim a couple of years ago), if I synchronize my arm pedalling with the wave, navigation is very easy because the wave just bring you on top and you can see the buoy clearly. One thing he didn't told me last time was to straighthen the back. Getting to the first buoy was tough because the swim was against the current but once I got into the Marina's water, it was as calm as pond water. This time, I swam 97.5% front crawl where I did BS/float only for correcting goggles and real check of the last buoy. Once the shore insight, it seems like forever to get back on foot. The swim feels great, and compared to Kenyir, my feet was still fresh for next discipline.

Since I'm still fresh so I decided to proceed with cycling event as I've never cycled the route before. Put on my cycling jersey and shoes together with helmet and sunglass. I then gobbled a Powerbar as my breakfast were only 2 slices of bread. After everyone was out of the water, we gather for a rolling start up to the traffic light going to SbnPD Highway where we turn right towards Linggi. This is where the bumpy terrain started and my left knee didn't complaint much as I put it to effort but my hams and quads were quite shocked after more than 3 weeks on vacation. I was totally ripped apart in this section with all the conditions and the 20km marks U-turn was a relief. On the way back, it started to rain with strong winds from everywhere except the tail side. I couldn't see anyone in front but occasionally a guy in yellow suit (I'm still figuring his name, he finished right after me at Kenyir) stayed closed to me and let me drafted him. I was concerned the rain might caused my thigh to cramp but thankfully to God, it didn't happen. The wind was kinder once I returned to the highway and finally back to transition at the Marina. I returned my bike to the rack and switched my cycling shoes with running shoes.

No cramps and no jelly like feet so I took the liberty to start running. I'm amazed that my feet still feels like 70% ready but this time not my left knee. It felt uncomfortable as each impact is easily felt at the back of my patella (kneecap). I run for up to 400m and decided to turn back. Today is not the day to give my all yet but it's good to know that my body system didn't really deserted the swim bike run routine. I waited for all runners to returned because Mr. Chan annouced there's an Oakley Radar sunglass in a lucky draw at the end but it wasn't meant to end up with me.

Reality check, SJ10k run looks a distant option. Even if I don't feel much pain by end of this month, there's no way for me to improve my 10k PB which I achieved at this event last year. Next come Seremban Half Marathon. Gone were my running benchmark partner, Farrah and the person who insists me to take on this event, Mr. KL Tang. Even my brother Azam might not be available to run with me if I chose to go for 10k instead. The event stands as my only Half Marathon and my time last was awful with a sore right knee instead. Next inline of course the event I've waited whole year, PDIT. Should I go for OD or just limit the risks with Sprint? I'm not sure I'll return next year.

Will retire next year?? I'm praying hard for god to let me complete at least one Ironman. However, there's a big offer coming from a big corporation with a slightly bigger grades and bigger leadership roles but with a catch, the post is in Miri. I like (maybe almost love) what I'm doing now, developing what a lot of other men craze for, creating something for the future, with customers' satisfction in mind at a deep rooted place but with a meagre salary at a financially sick company. I'm utilizing most of my talents, business acumen, planning, winning coalitions and foreign language application in addition to technical abilities but my leadership skill is yet to be proven. Will I still able to swim bike run at Miri? How much races can I join later? Whichever wayI'm going, great adventure awaits.