hi Pei Ling
真金不怕火， 百炼成刚。
There are also many who admire your courage of conviction to step out, stand up and be counted, and your many prior years of service at the grassroot.
If you are not made of steel yet and courage in adversity is still in transition, this baptism of fire should speed up your growth, maturity & strengthen your resolve to serve the people. you should have the character, make-up and commitment to take the heat and stay in the kitchen, and embrace this episode as a positive takeaway.
What is important is humility and service. only then can one truly, sincerely seeks to understand the problems of the poor, dispossessed, underclass and elderly etc, find practical solutions to improve their lots, make a difference in their lives in a real world & walk the talk rather than preaching armchair. That's why the first thing Chiam See Tong said when introducing Benjamin Pwee to the press was "he has humility".
It is irrelevant to many who are pro-Singapore, appreciative of PAP, but who may actually support WP's pursuit to build a strong, committed, responsible opposition (not any opposition) capable in time to be a weighty alternative to form a government in a stable 2 party parliament, whether you are running for opposition or PAP. your value & contribution now & in future to society & to fellow Singaporeans who may be left behind in Singapore's heady growth and deserving of our care and support are far greater than many of us who have not contributed as much. So seize this adversity and turn it into an inspiration and opportunity. all the best and continue to serve wholeheartedly!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
democracy & pluralism
in an email discussion with good friends after viewing Sylvia's speech in parliament on Minster's pay..alleging Minister's look away & all that..
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/ministers-look-away-as-sylvia-lim-spoke-on-ministerial-salaries/
my 1st email contribution
Excellent speech by Sylvia…I always believe like attracts like, hopefully WP will attract many more like her…
my 2nd email contribution
To me there is nothing to it…when any others read or give speech we all do the same thing…in other parliaments they watch pornos or fall asleep..haha..people want to read what they want to read..they already decided…so (to me only) nothing worth bothering about useless to waste time on it :-)…that’s just my opinion…
To me, Sylvia (& her party) have depth and made very valid arguments, and PAP should listen and consider them. There are always many sides to an issue and many considerations to make. And PAP contrary to what some think, do listen and in fact have by repeated actions proven to be one of the rare dominant incumbent in anything (don’t talk about running a country just think of a small insignificant sport association that is turned into a fiefdom by people who have contributed >20years but just don’t know how to listen & walk away graciously like PAP stalwarts had done on a much bigger stage). It does not matter what PAP said in parliament or publicly, what’s more important is whether internally they are listening to valid alternative views and the value of an good alternative voice in parliament is that in fact you need good sensible people to speak up in parliament and more of them to do that and a good governing party like PAP who has been changing/evolving substantially over the years will in fact listen up.
There is nothing to what people said in public or following party lines. Ruling parties & opposition in every country do that, democrats & republicans do that everyday irrespective of what the other guy say what they believe or not believe such that people lose total faith in politicians…but if we believe in democracy & pluralism, we accept the good and the bad and in the free market place contest of ideas, the best will emerge & prevail over time, but people say truths & untruths kind & unkind things all the time and that is part of the process of democracy..
there are loads of venom hatred mean spiritedness on cyberspace today which decent people will largely ignore and accept as necessary for democracy & pluralism…an earlier episode happens with AWARE and these unfortunately are here to stay..there can be genuine movements for civic mindedness civil society decency…it does not mean to shut out the noises which you can’t and should NOT in a democracy, but it also does not mean good decent people cannot speak otherwise their own convictions and must jump onto bandwagon because it is fashionable to be anti-anything or to be nasty…and it does not mean people who speak against nastiness must disagree with (they can support) the issues spoken or ignored by those whose object is nastiness that they forgot what the issues were…
coming back to groupthink, I do not myself believe there is groupthink in arriving at decisions. Toeing party line whether in PAP or opposition or in a company doing what majority decided etc is not groupthink it is commitment to a group decision and humility to know that what an individual believe or think may not always be the best…a party that constantly renew itself that constantly innovate and objectively repeatedly perform superbly against the best economies punch above its weight in international affairs against the best in the world (Tharman chairs IMF policy advisory committee etc) cannot be having groupthink, not in touch with the ground, incompetent etc etc…what I think may be groupthink is not when a decision is reached but when a decision needs to be reversed, like education, COE, NKF, organ transplant etc etc that there maybe groupthink among most ministers & MPs until someone right on top change course (this is not good for the country in long run & more good responsible opposition in parliament who one day can take over PAP in a 2 party system is good for Singapore)..
but each issue need be viewed objectively, there is no greater groupthink than Bush regime under Cheney…to the extent of lying to invade Iraq, killed more Americans than 911 & >100k more innocent Iraqis, destroying undercover agents life in Fairgame the movie.. it is one hand covering the sky (只手遮天)..so that is one forgetable episode in an otherwise US democractic system but we need to open our eyes and not wear tinted glasses...
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/ministers-look-away-as-sylvia-lim-spoke-on-ministerial-salaries/
my 1st email contribution
Excellent speech by Sylvia…I always believe like attracts like, hopefully WP will attract many more like her…
my 2nd email contribution
To me there is nothing to it…when any others read or give speech we all do the same thing…in other parliaments they watch pornos or fall asleep..haha..people want to read what they want to read..they already decided…so (to me only) nothing worth bothering about useless to waste time on it :-)…that’s just my opinion…
To me, Sylvia (& her party) have depth and made very valid arguments, and PAP should listen and consider them. There are always many sides to an issue and many considerations to make. And PAP contrary to what some think, do listen and in fact have by repeated actions proven to be one of the rare dominant incumbent in anything (don’t talk about running a country just think of a small insignificant sport association that is turned into a fiefdom by people who have contributed >20years but just don’t know how to listen & walk away graciously like PAP stalwarts had done on a much bigger stage). It does not matter what PAP said in parliament or publicly, what’s more important is whether internally they are listening to valid alternative views and the value of an good alternative voice in parliament is that in fact you need good sensible people to speak up in parliament and more of them to do that and a good governing party like PAP who has been changing/evolving substantially over the years will in fact listen up.
There is nothing to what people said in public or following party lines. Ruling parties & opposition in every country do that, democrats & republicans do that everyday irrespective of what the other guy say what they believe or not believe such that people lose total faith in politicians…but if we believe in democracy & pluralism, we accept the good and the bad and in the free market place contest of ideas, the best will emerge & prevail over time, but people say truths & untruths kind & unkind things all the time and that is part of the process of democracy..
there are loads of venom hatred mean spiritedness on cyberspace today which decent people will largely ignore and accept as necessary for democracy & pluralism…an earlier episode happens with AWARE and these unfortunately are here to stay..there can be genuine movements for civic mindedness civil society decency…it does not mean to shut out the noises which you can’t and should NOT in a democracy, but it also does not mean good decent people cannot speak otherwise their own convictions and must jump onto bandwagon because it is fashionable to be anti-anything or to be nasty…and it does not mean people who speak against nastiness must disagree with (they can support) the issues spoken or ignored by those whose object is nastiness that they forgot what the issues were…
coming back to groupthink, I do not myself believe there is groupthink in arriving at decisions. Toeing party line whether in PAP or opposition or in a company doing what majority decided etc is not groupthink it is commitment to a group decision and humility to know that what an individual believe or think may not always be the best…a party that constantly renew itself that constantly innovate and objectively repeatedly perform superbly against the best economies punch above its weight in international affairs against the best in the world (Tharman chairs IMF policy advisory committee etc) cannot be having groupthink, not in touch with the ground, incompetent etc etc…what I think may be groupthink is not when a decision is reached but when a decision needs to be reversed, like education, COE, NKF, organ transplant etc etc that there maybe groupthink among most ministers & MPs until someone right on top change course (this is not good for the country in long run & more good responsible opposition in parliament who one day can take over PAP in a 2 party system is good for Singapore)..
but each issue need be viewed objectively, there is no greater groupthink than Bush regime under Cheney…to the extent of lying to invade Iraq, killed more Americans than 911 & >100k more innocent Iraqis, destroying undercover agents life in Fairgame the movie.. it is one hand covering the sky (只手遮天)..so that is one forgetable episode in an otherwise US democractic system but we need to open our eyes and not wear tinted glasses...
Friday, December 31, 2010
2010-Looking Back
never thought I would write about something so newspapery = the year in review.
these days very lethargic no energy little motivation to do many things..it is true that feeling a bit jaded (kind of been there done that)..or maybe a "PO" angle to look at it is being "more focused"..well that is a 1/2 full or 1/2 empty thingy.
what about 2010?
I did two 1/2marathons 21.1km Sundown May29,2010 (2hrs 33mins) & Standchart Marathon Singapore Dec5, 2010 (2hrs 50 mins). I am doing weekly runs with a good friend and doing 3x10km/week runs with reasonable comfort and feeling good after runs (did 10km this morning & on wednesday and 8km on Monday since I came back on Dec25 night)...
I spend lots of time with old RI classmates/schoolmates, rediscovering old friendship, hearing expose' from ancient times gone by (I was sleeping mostly through RI days), played mahjong first time in my life, couple of tennis games (should do more tennis) and a bit too much dining (should do more coffee 功夫茶 red wine like what Chai Seng suggested) but managing my weight ok with 30km/week runs & 1 meal a day...
and not forgetting watch world cup together at Temasek Club and semi & final @ MBS (Marina Bay Sands)..watched F1 at Pit Straight suite courtesy of Chong Lee..got invited to tapas and fine dining by by home chef friend Wang Junwei who is discovering new things everyday from sous vide 70degC vaccum cooking to 36hrs ice filtration consomme to black garlic..Kum Fei coming back to visit his son mum & nephew wedding and we having sungei road laksa & turtle soup at jln berseh hawker centre.
A few of us got together to work on some social project which may begin to take shape and hopefully can see some result in 2011. quite a good team really, a few of us RI friends and a few 13-15yrs our junior and they in turn work up a partnership with a younger team of 26 year olds with Stanford degree..
and I got to visit my eldest brother 永俊 in Shantou Chenghai 汕头澄海. though I invited him, his wife and daughter to stay with me for 1 month in 1995, I don't think much about them after that other than the usual occasional letters etc..this time over 22-25dec I got to know them a bit more in depth, the 2 nephews, their wives, son (1st year communications technology in Guangzhou No2 Agricultural unviersity) & daughters, my niece, her hubby (a graduate from Qing Hua University) and their daughter my other grandniece..and a bit more understanding of the ordinary folks life in a utterly corrupt system to the base level - counterpoint to the macroscopic successes that make China the economic powerhouse of the 21st century which no doubt pragmaticly improve the lots/lifes of 100millions people than any empty ideological calls of "democracy" - intellectual snobs' ideology more important than real improvement, real freedom/rights to property, employment etc for 100milions people?
also got to sort out some of W3's investments and to rebalance some personal ones...
2010 is over tonight, looking forward to welcome 2011!
these days very lethargic no energy little motivation to do many things..it is true that feeling a bit jaded (kind of been there done that)..or maybe a "PO" angle to look at it is being "more focused"..well that is a 1/2 full or 1/2 empty thingy.
what about 2010?
I did two 1/2marathons 21.1km Sundown May29,2010 (2hrs 33mins) & Standchart Marathon Singapore Dec5, 2010 (2hrs 50 mins). I am doing weekly runs with a good friend and doing 3x10km/week runs with reasonable comfort and feeling good after runs (did 10km this morning & on wednesday and 8km on Monday since I came back on Dec25 night)...
I spend lots of time with old RI classmates/schoolmates, rediscovering old friendship, hearing expose' from ancient times gone by (I was sleeping mostly through RI days), played mahjong first time in my life, couple of tennis games (should do more tennis) and a bit too much dining (should do more coffee 功夫茶 red wine like what Chai Seng suggested) but managing my weight ok with 30km/week runs & 1 meal a day...
and not forgetting watch world cup together at Temasek Club and semi & final @ MBS (Marina Bay Sands)..watched F1 at Pit Straight suite courtesy of Chong Lee..got invited to tapas and fine dining by by home chef friend Wang Junwei who is discovering new things everyday from sous vide 70degC vaccum cooking to 36hrs ice filtration consomme to black garlic..Kum Fei coming back to visit his son mum & nephew wedding and we having sungei road laksa & turtle soup at jln berseh hawker centre.
A few of us got together to work on some social project which may begin to take shape and hopefully can see some result in 2011. quite a good team really, a few of us RI friends and a few 13-15yrs our junior and they in turn work up a partnership with a younger team of 26 year olds with Stanford degree..
and I got to visit my eldest brother 永俊 in Shantou Chenghai 汕头澄海. though I invited him, his wife and daughter to stay with me for 1 month in 1995, I don't think much about them after that other than the usual occasional letters etc..this time over 22-25dec I got to know them a bit more in depth, the 2 nephews, their wives, son (1st year communications technology in Guangzhou No2 Agricultural unviersity) & daughters, my niece, her hubby (a graduate from Qing Hua University) and their daughter my other grandniece..and a bit more understanding of the ordinary folks life in a utterly corrupt system to the base level - counterpoint to the macroscopic successes that make China the economic powerhouse of the 21st century which no doubt pragmaticly improve the lots/lifes of 100millions people than any empty ideological calls of "democracy" - intellectual snobs' ideology more important than real improvement, real freedom/rights to property, employment etc for 100milions people?
also got to sort out some of W3's investments and to rebalance some personal ones...
2010 is over tonight, looking forward to welcome 2011!
Monday, December 13, 2010
still having internal battle whether to do the next 1/2marathon, probably standchart at year end 2011..
did 8km run this morning 9.1kmh, rain started at 7km and became a downpour at 7.5km totally drenched. last week did 10km 9.1kmh with son and 6.5km at a slow 8.4kmh with Su Lin around the estate with terrain.
still having internal battle whether to do the next 1/2marathon, probably standchart at year end 2011..
on one hand I tell myself at this age there is nothing to prove. The 29may2010 Sundown set a target and helped me to focus my training runs and I was doing 5x10km/week before Sundown. for 5dec2010 Standchart Singapore marathon I reduced to 3x10km/week - that being my REAL objective ie to do comfortably 3x10km/week w/o excessive assertions and injuring myself, NOT the 1/2 marathon per se.
since my objective of 3x10km/week is achieved and (1)I have no problem to continue that w/o any talisman 1/2marathon (2)I am unlikely to push myself risk my knees then running 21.1km is just running 10km at a slower pace to last 21.1km and past 15km breathing is not a problem and tiredness of legs kicked in and potential cramps, then 21.1km does not achieve anything that 10km doesn't achieve for me in pragmatic health terms..
I can say "been there done that" having completed 2 1/2marathons but actually there's not much to be said, my timing of 2hr33mins for Sundown was mediocre and 2hr50mins for Standchart a bit below expectation...
since there is nothing to prove to others or myself and i no longer need a 1/2marathon to make myself continue 3x10km/week runs the other purpose of doing another 1/2marathon is just to see if I can better the time..assuming my 2hr 50mins for Standchart is just due to cramp (which means inadequate preparations like strength training etc to avoid cramps), then target would be to do better than 2hr33mins in Sundown even with the terrain & route bottlenecks for Standchart (guess if I am to run another last 1/2marathon there is no point to do 20,000 runners Sundown might as well run the 60,000 runners event of the year Standchart marathon)...maybe I can do 2hr30mins or 2hrs25mins, and that is all I am interested to achieve and if i fail that will still be my last just that I have tried 1 more time...
stacked against that is the additional incidences for injury damaging the knees etc..problem is such injuries are silent and accumulative and there is no doubt the more "beyond the limits" attempts the more likely the injuries...that was why I don't "push" myself it is not worth the injury however through training it is possible to improve the stable running pace w/o sudden stretch beyond what the body is accustomed that can cause real damage...
still having internal battle whether to do the next 1/2marathon, probably standchart at year end 2011..
on one hand I tell myself at this age there is nothing to prove. The 29may2010 Sundown set a target and helped me to focus my training runs and I was doing 5x10km/week before Sundown. for 5dec2010 Standchart Singapore marathon I reduced to 3x10km/week - that being my REAL objective ie to do comfortably 3x10km/week w/o excessive assertions and injuring myself, NOT the 1/2 marathon per se.
since my objective of 3x10km/week is achieved and (1)I have no problem to continue that w/o any talisman 1/2marathon (2)I am unlikely to push myself risk my knees then running 21.1km is just running 10km at a slower pace to last 21.1km and past 15km breathing is not a problem and tiredness of legs kicked in and potential cramps, then 21.1km does not achieve anything that 10km doesn't achieve for me in pragmatic health terms..
I can say "been there done that" having completed 2 1/2marathons but actually there's not much to be said, my timing of 2hr33mins for Sundown was mediocre and 2hr50mins for Standchart a bit below expectation...
since there is nothing to prove to others or myself and i no longer need a 1/2marathon to make myself continue 3x10km/week runs the other purpose of doing another 1/2marathon is just to see if I can better the time..assuming my 2hr 50mins for Standchart is just due to cramp (which means inadequate preparations like strength training etc to avoid cramps), then target would be to do better than 2hr33mins in Sundown even with the terrain & route bottlenecks for Standchart (guess if I am to run another last 1/2marathon there is no point to do 20,000 runners Sundown might as well run the 60,000 runners event of the year Standchart marathon)...maybe I can do 2hr30mins or 2hrs25mins, and that is all I am interested to achieve and if i fail that will still be my last just that I have tried 1 more time...
stacked against that is the additional incidences for injury damaging the knees etc..problem is such injuries are silent and accumulative and there is no doubt the more "beyond the limits" attempts the more likely the injuries...that was why I don't "push" myself it is not worth the injury however through training it is possible to improve the stable running pace w/o sudden stretch beyond what the body is accustomed that can cause real damage...
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Just 3 weeks to Race Day!
did 14km this morning...9.0kmh & average heartbeat 158/min...2 days ago also did 14km slightly better at 9.1kmh average heartbeat 157/min..
would have prefered to do only once 14km a week but not much time left..leaving with Lisa for Kyoto 19-24nov, so I have 1 run with Choon Hung this wed & probably 3runs after returning on 24nov until race day StandChart 1/2 marathon on 5dec...maybe will do 1 more or max 2 more 14km...
psychologically still feels less prepared than 29may sundown...also sundown was flat terrain whereas StandChart 1/2 marathon is running thru' Resort World Universal Studios & quite hilly terrain i think on sentosa after which lead up ECP then turn back to end at padang...others may like the view but I only focus on running when I run so not bothered about Universal Studios and all that..
seriously consider not to do any more 1/2 marathons no point to put pressure on myself can just sign up a few 10km runs thru' out the year & those will be like just a 3x weekly regular runs no need preparation...
would have prefered to do only once 14km a week but not much time left..leaving with Lisa for Kyoto 19-24nov, so I have 1 run with Choon Hung this wed & probably 3runs after returning on 24nov until race day StandChart 1/2 marathon on 5dec...maybe will do 1 more or max 2 more 14km...
psychologically still feels less prepared than 29may sundown...also sundown was flat terrain whereas StandChart 1/2 marathon is running thru' Resort World Universal Studios & quite hilly terrain i think on sentosa after which lead up ECP then turn back to end at padang...others may like the view but I only focus on running when I run so not bothered about Universal Studios and all that..
seriously consider not to do any more 1/2 marathons no point to put pressure on myself can just sign up a few 10km runs thru' out the year & those will be like just a 3x weekly regular runs no need preparation...
Monday, November 8, 2010
did 14.1km run this morning
did 14.1km this morning - 1hr 35mins about 8.9kmh average heartrate 159/min (was 9.03kmh same heartrate at 12km)...very happy..means if I run remaining 7kmfor my Standchart 1/2 marathon and take another hour I can complete in 2hr 34mins or slightly more...
did 12km 2 days ago about 9kmh and higher heartrate...standchart 21.1km 1/2 marathon is on 5dec2010 <4weeks away...feel that I am less prepared than Sundown earlier on May30 but if I can do a 12km run & 14km run each week for the remaining time it should be ok..
anyway always say aim to complete not complete, and after this may not run anymore 1/2marathons...these days there's more than a run every week and can probably pick up 4 or 5 10km runs a year no need to run 1/2 marathons...very happy I can do 10km as a normal 3 times/week run w/o overworking my lungs and legs and happy to just keep it that way...
did 12km 2 days ago about 9kmh and higher heartrate...standchart 21.1km 1/2 marathon is on 5dec2010 <4weeks away...feel that I am less prepared than Sundown earlier on May30 but if I can do a 12km run & 14km run each week for the remaining time it should be ok..
anyway always say aim to complete not complete, and after this may not run anymore 1/2marathons...these days there's more than a run every week and can probably pick up 4 or 5 10km runs a year no need to run 1/2 marathons...very happy I can do 10km as a normal 3 times/week run w/o overworking my lungs and legs and happy to just keep it that way...
Monday, October 11, 2010
America has lost its bearings & leadership
America has lost its bearings & leadership…unfortunately no one ready to fill vacuum…”yes you can” rally is powerless has lost its voice gagged by cynicism apathy misinformation dogma & venom (coming from wall street+republican+media pseudo free capital market vested interest that distort/brought down capital market because it was not "free market" at all but manipulated and milked to near collapse, held captive and still by $power+dogma+ideology)…democrats are bickering faithless visionless and united with republicans only in narrow selfserving incumbent interests..our faith in America being always able to reinvent itself being the most competitive economy will always bounce back now being severely tested…and for how long?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Army 1/2 marathon Singapore Bay Run 2010
son went for the army 1/2marathon this morning with his army friends, the 21km Singapore Bay Run 2010, scenic Marina Bay route but steep gradient. 70,000 runners - the largest run event in Singapore but hey they got the army boys running compulsory with day off some more(Stanchart Singapore Marathon 2010 that is the largest full marathon in Singapore with >60,000 runners)..
wen yu did 2hr 15mins, but of course these chappies don't even train just go running like any other day outing, plus quite a bit of walking stopping etc...
Choon Hung ran today too he probably did about that time 2hr 15mins or lower also...I got to target 2hr 20mins for Stanchart run (9kmh)...anyway always good to start off with target...got to drop my weight to <68kg and get back to 14km runs at 9.2kmh which I was able to do training before the last Adidas Sundown 1/2marathon...
wen yu did 2hr 15mins, but of course these chappies don't even train just go running like any other day outing, plus quite a bit of walking stopping etc...
Choon Hung ran today too he probably did about that time 2hr 15mins or lower also...I got to target 2hr 20mins for Stanchart run (9kmh)...anyway always good to start off with target...got to drop my weight to <68kg and get back to 14km runs at 9.2kmh which I was able to do training before the last Adidas Sundown 1/2marathon...
Sunday, September 5, 2010
did 10km Yellow Ribbon Prison Run this morning...
did 10km yellow ribbon prison run this morning..almost wanted to leave because of continued heavy drizzle (oxymoron?) at 8am flag-off but changed my mind when organisers brought light transparent poncho sheets..1st time ran 10km in poncho throughout..Singapore may have set record for largest number of runners in ponchos (just kidding!)..
my 10km timing today was slow - 1hr 9mins 16secs (8.66kmh), slower than my Sundown 21km 1/2 marathon timing (8.8kmh) on 29.5.2010. only 3 months left before my Standchart 1/2 marathon on 5.12.2010 so will need to push my training a bit even though my aim is to complete NOT compete..
good thing is 10km runs at this speed (& guess up to 9kmh or 9.2kmh) is now becoming staple runs for me 3 times a week which is my long term target anyway for health/lifestyle runs..
for standchart prep my targets would be between 9.2kmh and 9.4kmh for 10km/14km training runs and between 8.8kmh and 9kmh for standchart 21km 1/2 marathon..
thought the prison run 2010 organisation was ok, the coach pick-up was at Singapore expo MRT which also have large carpark, so convenient for drivers & also those traveling by public transport..flag-off point was near changi village & there was marshalling tentage. flag-off was at 8am instead of 7.45am as stated in website and guide. Shanmugum would have lost a few votes if he was the reason for the delayed start but guessed it was simply the organisers telling runners 7.45am flag-off time while getting VIP to come at 8am. anyway flag-off was 8am sharp w/o incident....
didn't really pay much attention to the route and basically just concentrate on getting my cadence & breathing right..the minor gradients were quite manageable..
post run, got together with Choon Hung (he as usual did below 1 hr), Chee Hong & Wei Liang. among the first to catch coach back from Changi Prison to expo, and after a change of dry tees, got to food court and had rather good $4 Tai Wah bakchomee (大华肉挫面) with loads of ingredients (seemed much more than Crawford & Hong Lim), and $1 brewed coffee..
good fun morning!
my 10km timing today was slow - 1hr 9mins 16secs (8.66kmh), slower than my Sundown 21km 1/2 marathon timing (8.8kmh) on 29.5.2010. only 3 months left before my Standchart 1/2 marathon on 5.12.2010 so will need to push my training a bit even though my aim is to complete NOT compete..
good thing is 10km runs at this speed (& guess up to 9kmh or 9.2kmh) is now becoming staple runs for me 3 times a week which is my long term target anyway for health/lifestyle runs..
for standchart prep my targets would be between 9.2kmh and 9.4kmh for 10km/14km training runs and between 8.8kmh and 9kmh for standchart 21km 1/2 marathon..
thought the prison run 2010 organisation was ok, the coach pick-up was at Singapore expo MRT which also have large carpark, so convenient for drivers & also those traveling by public transport..flag-off point was near changi village & there was marshalling tentage. flag-off was at 8am instead of 7.45am as stated in website and guide. Shanmugum would have lost a few votes if he was the reason for the delayed start but guessed it was simply the organisers telling runners 7.45am flag-off time while getting VIP to come at 8am. anyway flag-off was 8am sharp w/o incident....
didn't really pay much attention to the route and basically just concentrate on getting my cadence & breathing right..the minor gradients were quite manageable..
post run, got together with Choon Hung (he as usual did below 1 hr), Chee Hong & Wei Liang. among the first to catch coach back from Changi Prison to expo, and after a change of dry tees, got to food court and had rather good $4 Tai Wah bakchomee (大华肉挫面) with loads of ingredients (seemed much more than Crawford & Hong Lim), and $1 brewed coffee..
good fun morning!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
I salute YOG!
I salute YOG! very proud that Singapore hosted the inaugural YOG, that like Greece was the birthplace of Olympics, Singapore leaders have the great vision to enshrine Singapore as the origin of the Youth Olympics Games for generations to come...
==============
Straits Times Aug 29, 2010
YOG deserve your salute
By Deepika Shetty
A friend who saw the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on television said she was teary-eyed by the end of it. Her biggest regret was not having tried hard enough to get the tickets.
On opening night, some 5,500 performers came together on one stage. Through their energetic performance, capped with a stunning firework display, they tracked Singapore's progress from a small island nation to what it is today.
Like me, my friend hails from India and I could see why she felt emotional.
With about a month to go before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the debate on Indian television news channels, websites and newspapers centres on shoddily built stadiums, corruption, claims that almost 4,000 rupees (S$116) were spent on a single toilet roll, and the deeper problem of inflated pricing.
Here in Singapore, things were pretty much seamless from start to finish.
That is why I just do not understand the cynicism and negativity surrounding the recently concluded YOG. There are some rather vicious and unwarranted online attacks on the Games and the criticism does not end there.
The previous Saturday, I shared a table with alumni from some of Singapore's top schools and here, too, the Games provided just the trigger for a debate. Arguments against the YOG were about being held up in traffic to allow the torch to pass through, the expense of the Games and, more disturbingly, whether the Games were needed at all.
I am convinced that people who have been lashing out against the Games have not actually spent time watching them.
Sure, there is the question of the budget, which I am confident will be explained in greater detail. Then there is the ticketing. It could have been better. I know that because my two children and I queued on three successive days trying to get tickets for the diving events. We were unsuccessful.
But we did make up for it by watching Cuba take on Argen-tina in a volleyball match. It was all thanks to the volunteers who assured us the match would be well worth it. They battled the elements and made us feel at home even in a queue. They made restless children happy by handing out YOG badges.
A middle-aged volunteer shook hands with all of us, thanking us for making time for the YOG and apologising for the queues and the wait. He did not need to do that. He told my seven-year-old son how he had not watched a single game but he was happy to have been a part of this historic event. It was a simple and telling story about the need to relish every moment.
We would not have made it to the athletics finals at Bishan Stadium had it not been for the thoughtfulness of a police officer. When I asked him about the closest place to park our car, he suggested I get my daughter to join the queue before trying to do that. It would take a long time, he told me. It did. In the 35 minutes it took me to find a parking space, my girl made it to the last lot of 50 in the queue.
Inside the stadium, we saw young volunteers walk in a straight line, carrying athletes' bags in plastic boxes.
In Toa Payoh, where we watched volleyball, six volunteers swept the floor in perfectly synchronised moves, making us wonder how hard they must have practised to pull it off.
The attention to detail extended to the fine sporting venues we visited, and the swiftness of the security checks.
After the athletics final at Bishan, traffic came to a halt for less than 30 seconds to let the official cars pass through. I know because I timed it.
We did not get to watch too many events live but, in those we did, it proved the Games were no child's play. Boys fought like men, girls dashed like grown-up Olympic champions. My son added new sporting heroes to his list every day. He learnt to cheer for the best sportsboy and sportsgirl. He heard many national anthems in one night and understood the world is beautiful because it is diverse.
As my friend and colleague Rohit Brijnath observed so rightly in one of his columns: 'A large games is a sporting quilt of a thousand threads.' The thousands of threads which went into the making of the YOG here were the finest of the lot.
I just wish more Singaporeans would stand up and salute their everyday heroes who made such a seamless and impressive show possible. From the helpful policemen to the smiling volunteers, they all blended together. Successfully presenting an untested form of the Games is a testament to their collective triumph.
deepikas@sph.com.sg
==============
Straits Times Aug 29, 2010
YOG deserve your salute
By Deepika Shetty
A friend who saw the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on television said she was teary-eyed by the end of it. Her biggest regret was not having tried hard enough to get the tickets.
On opening night, some 5,500 performers came together on one stage. Through their energetic performance, capped with a stunning firework display, they tracked Singapore's progress from a small island nation to what it is today.
Like me, my friend hails from India and I could see why she felt emotional.
With about a month to go before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the debate on Indian television news channels, websites and newspapers centres on shoddily built stadiums, corruption, claims that almost 4,000 rupees (S$116) were spent on a single toilet roll, and the deeper problem of inflated pricing.
Here in Singapore, things were pretty much seamless from start to finish.
That is why I just do not understand the cynicism and negativity surrounding the recently concluded YOG. There are some rather vicious and unwarranted online attacks on the Games and the criticism does not end there.
The previous Saturday, I shared a table with alumni from some of Singapore's top schools and here, too, the Games provided just the trigger for a debate. Arguments against the YOG were about being held up in traffic to allow the torch to pass through, the expense of the Games and, more disturbingly, whether the Games were needed at all.
I am convinced that people who have been lashing out against the Games have not actually spent time watching them.
Sure, there is the question of the budget, which I am confident will be explained in greater detail. Then there is the ticketing. It could have been better. I know that because my two children and I queued on three successive days trying to get tickets for the diving events. We were unsuccessful.
But we did make up for it by watching Cuba take on Argen-tina in a volleyball match. It was all thanks to the volunteers who assured us the match would be well worth it. They battled the elements and made us feel at home even in a queue. They made restless children happy by handing out YOG badges.
A middle-aged volunteer shook hands with all of us, thanking us for making time for the YOG and apologising for the queues and the wait. He did not need to do that. He told my seven-year-old son how he had not watched a single game but he was happy to have been a part of this historic event. It was a simple and telling story about the need to relish every moment.
We would not have made it to the athletics finals at Bishan Stadium had it not been for the thoughtfulness of a police officer. When I asked him about the closest place to park our car, he suggested I get my daughter to join the queue before trying to do that. It would take a long time, he told me. It did. In the 35 minutes it took me to find a parking space, my girl made it to the last lot of 50 in the queue.
Inside the stadium, we saw young volunteers walk in a straight line, carrying athletes' bags in plastic boxes.
In Toa Payoh, where we watched volleyball, six volunteers swept the floor in perfectly synchronised moves, making us wonder how hard they must have practised to pull it off.
The attention to detail extended to the fine sporting venues we visited, and the swiftness of the security checks.
After the athletics final at Bishan, traffic came to a halt for less than 30 seconds to let the official cars pass through. I know because I timed it.
We did not get to watch too many events live but, in those we did, it proved the Games were no child's play. Boys fought like men, girls dashed like grown-up Olympic champions. My son added new sporting heroes to his list every day. He learnt to cheer for the best sportsboy and sportsgirl. He heard many national anthems in one night and understood the world is beautiful because it is diverse.
As my friend and colleague Rohit Brijnath observed so rightly in one of his columns: 'A large games is a sporting quilt of a thousand threads.' The thousands of threads which went into the making of the YOG here were the finest of the lot.
I just wish more Singaporeans would stand up and salute their everyday heroes who made such a seamless and impressive show possible. From the helpful policemen to the smiling volunteers, they all blended together. Successfully presenting an untested form of the Games is a testament to their collective triumph.
deepikas@sph.com.sg
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