The raw duathlon

Got my endorphin fix yesterday at the raw duathlon. Did the 5k 40k 5k. I thought since there were no kakis with me, it would definitely be a lonely affair. But highlight number one was a reunion with my BMT buddy Ahmad Hilmy who saw me on FB and told me he was going for this event too. I tried looking out for him at the transition zone but didn’t see him but he found me at the start point so we started the race together, just like SOC in the Army! We chatted like it was 18 yrs ago. I used to beat him at it but now he finished earlier than I did. Well done buddy!

So this was my first duathlon and a highly charged event for me. The adrenaline was there for the 1st 5K so I finished that off in about 25 mins. The weather was getting real hot and I wished the start had been 7am instead of 745am. It was nice to transit to the bike leg and ride under the shade of the rain trees on the changi coastal road with the wind blowing. At about 30km and onto the last loop, I was running out of water even though I had 2 bottles in my bike cages. I had frozen one bottle but that melted way before. Being a zen dog doesn’t help the bike leg competitively as I began to get into a kind of zone with people whizzing past and started to enjoy the cycling, admiring the nice bikes that whizzed past. But I knew the heat would take its toll in next 5k run leg so I took it easy on the bike.

The next transition was really grueling running on the heated tarmac its albedo at around 10am. Not more that 100m into the run, my thighs cramped, luckily those were peddling muscles.. or the lack of. So I ran those cramps away. It was really hot and I took my time at the drinks station… The road was beginning to dot itself with cramping runners.

(this was taken at 630am.. those clouds up and disappeared at about 730am)

At the 2.5k turn, the wind../ zephyrs that had previously blown softly into my face now disappeared and I was now running away from it… Its soft murmurs in my ears now replaced by each of my feet placing itself on the tarmac. I lamented this wind of change../change of wind. Shortly at the 4k mark, a caucasian (attended by vigilant medics) had passed out on the side of the road still clutching on to a plastic cup.. and a guy who I had seen cramping up when I was on the opposite stretch was still negotiating with the medic to continue with the race. I was glad I signed up for the 5km run legs… I haven’t so much to prove anyway.

I pretty much enjoyed the last stretch.. better than the marathon or half army marathon…. at least I still had something left in me. Got a drink from the milo stand and headed for the free cup (decent amount) of beer (ice-cold Brewerkz beer after a duathlon at the Aviation park road on a damn hot day is mind-blowing, someone should do a study on this). I think I finished in about 2hrs 45mins.

(after the race… check out the cloudless sky)

Overall, an enjoyable race. $55 a bit expensive but the medics were on their toes and the beer was a nice touch. The volunteers were the best I have met in races, smiley and ready with the drinks. No finishers medal (which I don’t care much for) but something to take back would have been good.

(the relaxing ride back to the car after the race)

Moments from the Bike Rally

This was a nice part of the ride along Lim Chu Kang Road. A bit surreal riding on an open road with open fields around. Fantastic.

Aaron trying to resuscitate his tyre with the handpump, which we then christened the pump virus, it deflates the tyres with unapprenticed use and when others see you having a pump in hand they will ask for it and deflate their own tyres as well.

A nice clear and sunny day… that began to cloud and darken.

Lady bug leading

Waiting out the downpour at Serangoon stadium. We finally decided to cycle to East Coast Park after the rain subsided a little.

The most sucky part was when the bike rack with KX’s and Ladybugs bike fell off the road, luckily the cars were far off behind and stopped in time for us to retrieve the bikes and gingerly drive off to HV…

Favourite moment – MacDonald’s breakfast at West Coast – we told the marshalls we needed to go for a toilet break… half an hour later we came out and the marshall (NTU undergrad) remarked jokingly “Wah toilet break so long one ah?!”

Hat tips -
I was tweeting updates and apparently Jen was following Otterman’s tweets in facebook to get updated on our progress.

My loving wife stayed home with the 3 monsters to let me cycle round Singapore.

NTU organising body was really on top of their jobs ferrying bikes and participants who were stranded in the rain. They road marshalls were in good spirits despite being in the hot sun and then being pelted with heavy rain. There were enough snacks and drinks to keep everyone well nourished. Only gripe were the beating of traffic lights by some undergrads.

Changi ride

Its always nice to ride to Changi with the Zendogs. This time I was catching Otterman and Ladybug who were on their way to PedalUbin. I also could test out my new ride, a second-hand racer which isn’t too shabby. I had tested out the clips for the pedal as well as shoes the night before as I have heard some of my friend falling off at road junctions. The ride was great and managed to catch up with them along Elias road from Sengkang. A pity they had to rush off at the jetty.

The Changi rides are the most enjoyable. Here’s the bike taking a rest while I had my Jwee Kueh which was a good carbo fix before the half hour ride back to Sengkang.

Week 5 Training log

Today’s run and review of the week’s training.. can I keep this up?

Distance: 12.92 km
Time: 1hr 20mins
Ave heart rate: 142
Time in Heart rate Zone 4: 1hr 5 mins
Total calories: 1558
Recovery in 2 mins: Down by 14 bpm

Friends at the NTU bike rally

Otterman and friends at the NTU bike rally. Wish I was there but I think my week has been too packed already.

Zendogs ride again – part deux!!

The fact that we even embarked on today’s ride was a feat in itself as the last ride was just 3 days ago. What’s important in a zendog ride are the kakis…becos that means there’s gonna be good conversation and some good makan. Most importantly, the kakis are motivation to wake up at 5.45 am to get ready.

Otterman’s speedometer showed a total distance of 84.19km, in 4hrs 48 mins and 11s.

Most of the Zendogs couldn’t make it but we are on leave. The park connectors were ours in a sense as there were few people about. The highlight of the day for Siva was when we met up with another cyclist who was testing out the park connectors at Loyang to Changi and we started talking. He said he was doing some cardio and Siva said,”Oh, we are just going for breakfast at Changi…” The guy must have been baffled when he found out I was coming from Sengkang and Siva from Holland Village, just to go to rustic Changi Village for breakfast… ha. Which was a kosong and egg prata.

This is the view of the Serangoon PCN which I use to get to Tampines Road. Its scenic and with quite a few users, young kids, people jogging and some fishing or doing taichi.

That’s Siva on the Changi Coast PCN in the forest of rhus (Casuarina equisetifolia). It was surreal looking at the scene; it felt like I was in some pine forest in a colder clime.

That’s Siva not on a PCN and being a dawg… and trying out a new route, which in reality was not a route but some grassy space near a longkang, with lots of fallen branches.

A helmet light courtesy of Siva. Which came in handy as my backlight konked off on the way back. More accessories for the bike!

I also bought a backpouch for the bike. I left my chain for locking the bike back home today – and boy did that make a difference. I now have to remove the basket (to reduce wind resistance), oil the wheels and chains. The long distance ride’s pretty different from the short one (an hour) I take to work, so every thing counts. I also badly need a cycling shirt because today I realised I got abrasions. Well as Siva puts it, I am on the slippery road to getting a full kit… Now I know what I want for Christmas…

This is the Bedok Reservoir PCN.
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I had a PCN map handy from Sungei Buloh Nature Reserves and I used that to navigate. It was extremely useful and using the PCN was pretty easy. But I got lost at the Bedok Reservoir area and I think those people at the bus stop must have been thinking I was doing laps as I rode up and down the same road over 3 times looking for the park connector but luckily a taxi driver and an aunty on a bike going to the market helped me to Bedok Reservoir where the PCN was.

Although the map is good, there are some deficiencies, minor ones – the Bedok Reservoir Road area is a bit misleading as it doesn’t show the cross-roads.

Well, it was a nice ride and especially with things so quiet. The steady rain pelting on us along the Changi Coastal Road PCN was a nice feeling. At the end of the ride, at least my knees didn’t complain like the ride on Saturday. But I am sure if i try to take a big step up the stairs, my legs will give.

Zendogs ride again

Its been a while since I joined the Zendogs for a ride. The Zendogs was conceived circa 2000. So this time it was the park connectors (PCNs) we were checking out. From Sengkang, I took the Serangoon river PCN to reach Tampines Road and that was a beautiful road to ride on at 7am in the morning. Somehow, it felt like old Singapore kampung and the sense of history could be felt.

The view from Old Tampines Road in the morning as the sun rose

Met the rest of the Zendogs at Loyang and headed to Changi Village and had thosai there.

The second leg of the cycling trip was the Changi Coastal road PCN and that was nice and we could ride 3 abreast and have a nice conversation and easy cycle. The nasi ayam, gado-gado, soto ayam beckoned so we had another meal (plus some length conversations – hence the name Zendogs cos we tend to forget we still have 40 km to go and start to relak-jack). Most guilt-free eating cos of the mileage covered.

One of the most pleasant cycling trips I have had so far.

These are the dogs – damn happy ones from the looks of it. Check them out sitting in pits they dug out for themselves in the sand… they ARE the true Zendogs.

And these are some Zendogs (2 on the left and one uncle on the right… he’s enjoying the PCN too)

This is a Zendog contemplating the ocean on a Park Connector

More about the ride here at Otterman’s post on the ride