16 November 2008, Sunday

Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2008 was really a great experience. Competing with the best athletes from all over the world made me feel very privileged to be part of the event. The 20 year old world record of 6 minutes and 55 seconds was broken this morning. Congratulations to German Thomas Dold, who was the Men’s Open category champion. He smashed the current record by 3 seconds.

For me, I completed the race in 13 minutes and 30 seconds. I was not exactly delighted with the results, but I think it is a pretty good achievement being my first time. The scenic view on the top of the hotel was incredible. It makes me feel as if I am on the top of the world.

17 November 2008, Monday

I hate it when I do not bowl well. I am so off my usual form (it seems like I am off form everyday). Better start focusing on the game and not get distracted. The doubles competition is next week and I feel that I am so unprepared. I need to improve so that I will not let my partner down.

18 November 2008, Tuesday

With muscle cramps and all, I skipped sailing training. At least I can go home early and touch on my projects.

19 November 2008, Wednesday

The project is on its way to completion after like so many months of endless work. Project meeting was fruitful and I can say that it is almost completed. Although there is still quite a bit of work to be done, I am thankful that this year long project is going to be completed soon. Strive and persevere.

20 November 2008, Thursday

On the way to school from the train station, I met Jun Kai. We have not seen each other for such a long time, or maybe not so long ago. Anyway, we chatted for awhile before heading to our respective classes, which is just one block away from each other. We might be meeting again tomorrow to catch up on our lives and have lunch together.

21 November 2008, Friday

If everyday was so carefree, I would want this day to repeat itself over and over again. I spent the morning in school with Jun Kai. We went to the gym together and he accompanied me to the bowling alley afterwards, where I bowled five games in order to be ready for the doubles competition next week. My scores got from bad to worst and I missed many single pin spares. On the bright side, I got a turkey and a couple of strikes. Still, there is much more room for improvement.

We had lunch at food court six before leaving the school. I went to make my passport after that, and I find the new system pretty efficient as you can come back and collect your passport when it is ready. All you have to do is just fill in your particulars on the form and put it into a collection box. This is as easy as 'ABC'.

22 November 2008, Saturday

Sailing training is cancelled again due to the fact that the instructor is on a seminar. This spells bad news for me and the sailing team as our competition is in about two weeks time. I am not really prepared for such a major competition and really need the water time. I hope training will resume next week.

This morning, I went down to my secondary school to help out the scouts in their camp preparation. Everything was in a mess though. I also met up with Benjamin and Chen Xing whom I have not met for quite some time due to their examinations. Afterwards, I had a great lunch at Katong Shopping Centre with my father and sister. We had chicken rice and I think I ate a little too much. I am going for a swim later to burst some fats, since lunch was rather sinful for my body.

each day we will choose the one we will follow in life

Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2008

i am on top of the world looking down on creation

09 November 2008, Sunday

Started the morning with a run with Daryl. 4km was just nice for me since I was rather tired after attempting 17 storeys of stairs at his house in about two minutes. The run up the stairs totally drained my energy but I still managed the 4km run.

I had to rush home to bathe and change before meeting my sailing team for a HSBC Tree Top Walk adventure. It sounded nice, but walks can turn into torture when someone like me just came back from East Coast Park after a strenuous run. My suffering started when we realised that we started the trail on the wrong route making the journey much longer than expected. The initial journey was alright until we came down from the 'tree top'.

Being lost and all, it was someone’s bright idea to walk all the way to Bukit Timah Hill, which was obviously very far away. I am skipping all the details to hide all my sufferings. Edwin, some girl, and I completed the walk first and we went to McDonald’s to rest while waiting for the others. I had a burger there before walking over to Bukit Timah Hawker Centre for a very late lunch. The food there was so amazing that I took about ten minutes to decide what I want to eat. I had fried prawn noodles and it was great. It was a long journey home after that, and if I am not wrong, my legs moved more than 20km in total.

10 November 2008, Monday

Is it because of the weird oil pattern that is preventing me from attaining high scores in training, or is it just me? I have to say I am still trying to adapt and make corrective actions before taking my game into the next level. My sparing has improved though, and there will be more to come from me.

11 November 2008, Tuesday

Just did my gym workout and left sailing training early since there was nothing much to do. Everyone thinks that I am being anti-social by leaving training early, but the fact is that I had to go home to complete my tutorials, so I am unfazed by their comments.

12 November 2008, Wednesday

The rain spoilt my day because I could not train for the vertical marathon. I will do it tomorrow and pray that it does not rain. While typing this, I just realised I prayed for everything I needed except for the weather. Oh well.

13 November 2008, Thursday

Awesome God, I would like to thank You for seeing me through my final year project balloting. Although the chances of my group getting the project was only 50%, you assured me and made it more than just 100%. Putting my faith in You makes things that seem impossible, possible. Even a simple gamble of rolling two dice is within control of Your very hands. Thank You so much for everything. You simply amaze me just when I needed the assurance.

14 November 2008, Friday

I went to school early to gym and I really had a great workout there. I also met Jeremy and his friend there. Later in the afternoon, I met Samuel for lunch before going to meet my project group to complete the presentation slides. We took only about ten minutes to complete it. Met Annabel to go home and had a great talk with her on the train.

15 November 2008, Saturday

Travelled all the way to Republic Polytechnic, which is in far away Woodlands, for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon volunteers briefing. The journey there took more than an hour. Being my first time to Republic Polytechnic, I think the campus is pretty nice, in fact, much nicer than the one I go to. Anyway, the briefing lasted a long two hours but the speaker was humourous enough to keep us awake. After lunch at Causeway Point, Mou Wei and I headed straight home. I took a nap to get enough rest for tomorrow.

prayer with faith makes miracles happen

26 October 2008, Sunday

Tasted defeat and totally embarrassed. Whatever happened just now will not repeat itself again, I promise. What I thought would be a morale boosting competition turned out to be a total flop. Anyway, I cannot let this feeling overwhelm me. Life still goes on and I will continue to work harder on my weaknesses to make a good comeback. Till then we shall see.

27 October 2008, Monday

Another public holiday of the year. This time, I stayed at home to complete my tutorials and watched a few movies. Nothing beats staying at home in your own comfort zone when the weather is not permitting for you to go out with your friends.

28 October 2008, Tuesday

Just before sailing training, we celebrated Zhe Yang’s birthday. The cake was great, with the crispy biscuit-like cracker inside. Everyone, except me and some of other sailors, got a little rowdy and started to 'tau pok' each other. Thank goodness I was not involved. After the celebration was over, we ran once around the school and I headed straight home after that with Christopher. The run was great but I am sure I can do much better.

29 October 2008, Wednesday

With project meeting cancelled, I met up with Chor Boon to gym and had lunch thereafter. In the evening, I met up with Mou Wei to train for the Swissotel Vertical Marathon which is held in a few weeks time. Embarking on climbing many flights of stairs was simply a torture but it makes me a stronger person. I climbed a total of 1280 steps.

30 October 2008, Thursday

Lessons were as per normal and I managed to change one of my tutorial classes to an earlier slot so that I have time to go to the gym.

31 October 2008, Friday

Gym in the morning, lunch, then I have to do a project till evening. I hate projects but they are a part of the school’s curriculum so I do not have a choice. Sailing training will be held tomorrow and I will be looking forward to it.

01 November 2008, Saturday

With sailing training cancelled at the eleventh hour, I have to unpack my bag which I neatly packed the day before. Training will resume next week which is ideal for me. I cannot wait for the 32nd Starhub Singapore Laser Open at the end of this year.

teamwork divides the work and multiplies the effect