Nirvana..

You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe your dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race. - Eric Liddell

I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure. - Eric Liddell

Eric Lindell ran for God in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He gave up running his 100m heat because it was held on the Sabbath. He honoured God. A team mate on the British Olympic team gave up his 400m spot for Eric so that the latter could compete.

Prior to the start of the 400m finals, a USA runner handed Eric a note at the starting point. In it was: It says in the old Book, "He who honors Me, I will honor". Good luck - Jackson Scholz. It was Scholz who knew the real reason why Eric Lindell was running this race. The whole team USA had under-estimated Eric for he had already ran 2 events that day and they all thought that he will cramp up by the 300m mark.

Eric Liddell held on to that note during the race and went on to win the 400m.

Isaiah 40:15-31:
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.

All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?

An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.

He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Da 3 Stooges..

It was a great time catching up with Li Keng after almost a year since I've caught up with him. Nicolas was in New Zealand back then, so I guess it has been even longer for him since he last saw Kengs. Anyways, we had a really good time tonight over dinner.

After my mugging session in school, I picked Li Keng up at Buona Vista MRT and we headed down to pick Nicolas. The journey in the car took 1hr! Li Keng brought me on a 'tour' around Singapore's roads. Due to the massive jam on PIE, we had to exit and try an alternative route to East Coast Road, and that was when the trouble started. Hahas..

We finally had our dinner around 8:45pm. Nicolas was insanely famished by then =] As Keng's 22nd birthday was coming soon, Nic and I decided to surprise him with a cake and to treat him to dinner. It worked! Li Keng was really surprised (one of the very few times that surprises actually worked!).

He has really good memory, recollecting all the lame things we used to do in Temasek Secondary. There was a year when we got him an 'Ang Bao' for a birthday present and hid it under a huge load of mealworms in a box. He had to put his hand in and search for his gift! =] There was also the 'major dumping ground' we initiated in class, where we conveniently took a huge dustbin from the corridor and placed it in class. We even decorated the rubbish bin and brought it with us when we shifted class in Secondary 4.

However, the thing that really got me laughing so hard until tears came out was the 'locker challenge belt' that Nicolas and I made. We designed and made this WWE looking belt with the words "Locker Opening Champion" on the front. We had weekly challenges to see who could open his lock (the turning heavy duty type of lock) the fastest and the winner got to hold on to the belt until the next challenge. Those were the days...

As we grow up, time becomes more and more scarce with increasing activities jostling for dominance in our schedules. However, it is always nice to take a step back and chill out with your friends and just remember the good times you have been through together.. I really appreciate this friendship that we share =]

March madness

The month of March is poised to be one of the most killer concept months of my life till date. Until recently, after seeing Xu Sheng's nick on MSN, had I realised that there was only 28 days this month! Oh February, how short you are..

Things coming up for me in March:
1st March: Newton 10k Run
7th March: Singapore Biathlon
13th March: Medicine CA3
14th March: NIE Biathlon
22nd March: Aviva 70.3 Half-Ironman

I need to get pass this coming March successfully! I need to know I can cope with such a schedule! This is an opportunity to shine. =]

OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009 Results

1. 781 Lim Jia Jie 0:59:30.484 NUS Biathlon
2. 782 Welzl Nicolas 1:03:42.743 NUS Biathlon
3. 783 Lin Norman 1:05:24.970 NUS Biathlon
4. 784 Yip Yan Shen Jason 1:08:30.534 NUS Biathlon

We totally raped the competition! Above are the first 4 lines of the results sheet under the Challenge 40km School Teams category! =] "SMU sent in 8 teams and they are nowhere to be seen!", said Jason when he called me to update regarding the results. The 4 of us have waited about 4hrs 30mins after the event for the results as Jiajie thought we stood a really good chance of winning the 40km challenge school category. It was only after our stomachs got the better of us that we left for Popeye's Chicken at the Singapore Flyer. We went home after that. Mugging was my intended plan, but I fell asleep until 1am. Jason, as I found out today, also did the same. Hahas..It was indeed a superb experience.

"We'll be back next year as defending champions". I forgot who said this..hahas..probably Jason, Jiajie or Nicolas..duh!

This result is really an encouragement for us. You reap what you sow, indeed..

You need guts..

Today, I woke up at 5am to get ready for my 1st ever cycling event - the OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009. My hamstrings were still sore from last week but it definitely felt better after the rub down from mummy the night before. It was really shitty to climb out of bed at such an ungodly hour, but I did, knowing that Jason, Jiajie and Nicolas were going to be waiting for me at some junction for the ride down to the start point at the F1 pit stop area.

I hurriedly ate my cereals and left house. The gang met up and started the ride to the start point. When we reached, the amount of bicycles there was astonishing! It was literally 'bike porn'..Pinarello Princes were littered all over together with Trek roadbikes and the like. We waited for our start time.

The air gun was sounded and we charged down the 1st stretch. Jiajie, as usual, was right ahead followed by Nicolas and then Jason and I together. The starting speed easily reached 45km/h! It was insane. Adrenaline can really cause you to do mad things. After the 1st turn, I could hardly see Jiajie and Nicolas. Jason was also pulling away from me. I was all alone..I have never seen myself as a strong cyclist, so there was really nothing to be disappointed about. I had only one thing on my mind: to finish the race safely. On the 2nd turn, I saw a dislodged wheel in the middle of the road from afar and heard a lot of shoutings. A cyclist has fallen on the turn and his front wheel came out! Goodness!

The next few turns were filled with warnings shouted by the front riders giving the rest at the back ample time to expect what is to come. A few turns down the race route, I witnessed first hand an accident. The cyclist infront of me made a large turning angle on his way into East Coast Park from Fort Road and this caused another cyclist behind to collide into him and fall, bringing with him another 2 cyclists. It was freaking dangerous!

The cyclist infront of me still turned back to look and even muttered a half-hearted "sorry". I shouted "focus on the road!" and sped pass him. I felt bad for the cyclists who crashed out because most probably they will not continue with the race, and even if they did, it will be a bad experience overall for them. Sometimes, it just takes abit of courtesy during races to ensure that everyone participating will leave with a good experience and will continue to train harder for the next event. Singaporeans are at times too competitive.

When I competed in my 1st triathlon (olympic distance) in Bintan last year, I left with a very good experience. It spurred me on to train harder for my next event. You can make a difference, and if everyone does his/her own part, the world will definitely be a better place.

Anyways, in East Coast Park, I felt very good after the initial soreness in my legs. I was in the 2nd peloton, Jiajie in the lead pack, Nicolas in the chase pack and Jason somewhere infront of me. I had around 20-30 cyclist in my pack and we travelled like birds in a formation, utilizing energy efficiently. I had finally found a group where I can draft behind at a comfortable speed of 40km/h.

As we advanced further into the course, I saw Jason and overtook him. Then, it was whacking all the way. I saw that the speed on my speedometer was dropping to 36km/h with the front riders slowing down, not wanting to go any faster, all waiting for someone to surge forward so as to ride in their draft. I hesitated and did not make the move. The speed began to pick up again. After another 5km, the same thing happened again. This time, I dropped out of the line formation and made a sprint to the front. I was leading the pack. I hang on to 43km/h and was almost dying. The headwind was killer insane and I could hardly hold on. It was then, another rider came beside me. "Together" was all he said. He took the lead and I drafted behind. This happened a few times, and with each challenge, I felt better and stronger.

I realised that in cycling, you have to have guts. You have to give all you have got, pushing your limits until you know you can do no better and leave the place with no regrets; this is the same for life. Altogether, I made 3/4 challenges and finished the race in a time of about 1hr 4-5mins. The exact time is not out yet, I will post when it is out. =] Jiajie did his in sub 1hr, Nicolas in 1hr 01mins and Jason in 1hr 6-7mins. Jiajie believes that we have a very good chance of winning the school team challenge! Hahas..hopefully we do. Until the results, I have to catch up with work. Mug, mug, mug..

The Valentines' weekend..

The swim training on Friday the 13th was quite cool for me in many ways. =] After recovering from sore throat and flu, I thought that I will struggle in the pool that day for training. However, I tried my very best to hang in there during the sets and managed to complete them. I thought I gave my best that day and did not regret at all. It was indeed a very good workout. After the training, my upper body was aching (probably due to too much inactivity during sick times).

After training, I rushed to cell group at the faculty of Engineering and caught up with the rest. Li Yan and Joanna came back from China and they brought us gifts! Hahas..I got a monkey! It is super cool, its hair changes colour based on the temperature! How cool is that!? =]

On Saturday, Valentines' day, we had training at Sentosa. I seriously did not feel like attending it but I did. I was still reeling from the effects of the last 2 days of training. After coming out of the water for the 1st set, I quickly put on my shoes and commenced the running leg. The blister on my Achilles' tendon was taped up but came out after the very 1st swim. A mixture of sand and salt assaulted the open blister and quickly send pain signals to my brain. It was freaking pain, but I had only one thing on my mind: catch the person in front. After a while, the pain seem to take a back seat as slowly got used to it.

Out of the 5 sets of transition training, I completed only 4. I thought the timings were pretty decent, though I would very much like to improve on them further =] To wrap up the training, Zhiyun introduced her Valentines' day special in which we were to pair up and swim. The second person will hold on to the first while he/she swims. I did it with Lemin and it was fun! Thankfully we were not last =x hahas..

Today, the gang met up for the usual Sunday morning bike training. We did 8 x 5km sprints down the coastal stretch. It was insane! After being off the bike for like 2 weeks, I found it hard to keep up, but I ignored the effects of lactic acid in my quadriceps and sprinted to keep up. It was osgasmic when we completed the sets! This is the kind of training to start the day! =] You will end up feeling really good about yourself for the rest of the day! Hahas..

Ending off with some quotes from chocolate wrappers:

"The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes"

"The curve of a smile makes a lot of things straight"

It feels great to be back =]

I am finally back training with the team! After 5 days of rest due to my sudden flu and sore throat, I went for yesterday's 14km run training with immense enthusiasm. I was already at the pool at 4pm when training was at 6pm, I decided to read up on abit of physioloy before training. =]

However, my plan was screwed by my lunch. I was feeling super hot inside. I had 'herbal black chicken' soup for lunch and according to Xu Sheng, it was super 'heaty'. I should not be having that as I am still recovering from my sore throat and flu. Drats.

Anyways, to combat the 'heatiness', I drank loads of water. I went ahead with the run and it felt really good. I felt really blessed to be able to train again. Towards the last 3km of the run, blisters appeared on my left foot. It hurt so badly, but I took in the pain. "Love the pain", I told myself. For I considered it a gift that I was even able to run. I ran like an animal. A wolf even wounded will run till its death than get killed by a human. Soon, the 'heatiness' got the better of me and blood trickled down my nostril. Thankfully it was not a lot. I managed to keep it in until the end of the 14km. By then, it had already clotted.

I went home yesterday feeling really happy and abit of feverish. After dinner, I took my temperature and was disappointed that my initial diagnosis was right. I had mild fever. I took 2 paracetamol tablets and slept the fever away. =] The fever was gone this morning and I am looking forward to swim training later!

There will be blood in the water..

Amazing love

Think of a scientist, staring through his microscope's eyepiece at a microbe population gone berserk and threatening the world. He longs for a way to remove his labcoat, shrink down to micron size, and enter that microbe world with the genetic material needed to correct it.

In the context of our own analogy, imagine God, after looking with great sadness on the virus of evil that has infected His creation, casting aside His own prerogatives to take on the shell of a victim cell of that abhorrent virus in order to vaccinate humanity against death and destruction that are sure to follow. An analogy points to truth weakly; nothing could have more force than the simple assertion, "He became sin for us."

This is just something interesting I came across when reading In His Image by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand. I can still hardly grasp and fathom the love that God had when He sent His only Son Jesus to die on the Cross for us. It is simply amazing =]

Bad timing..

Argh!!!!!!!! I have sore throat and yellow sputum. Freak! All these are indicative of flu (I guess). It just happened, and I don't know why..I really want to train next week, I hope I recover today. Lord, please heal me, restore me again.

Inspiring..simply inspiring..

I just watched Gattaca on HBO for the 4th time in my life over lunch today. I still vaguely remembered the 1st time I watched it...somewhere in Secondary 2 I think. =] Anyways, I found out that as we age, the things that we pick up are different from before. These were the things that really spoke to me today:

Anton: So how did you do this Vincent?
Vincent: You want to know how I did it? I never saved anything for the swim back.

My goodness, when I heard that I was totally dumbstruck. Vincent was a 'God-child', meaning he was born naturally. His brother, Anton, was a genetically-engineered baby, 'perfect' in every aspect. Vincent and Anton always swam in the sea when they were young to compete. Anton always emerged winner. However, as they grew older, Vincent started to get better at it. Until one day, the 2 swam so far that Anton could not go any further and required rescuing. Vincent was there to save him. The above dialogue happened in the sea in the middle of the last swim before Vincent's departure into space - his ultimate dream. Anton was expressing concern that they have lost sight of the shore and that they might be lost and should turn back. Vincent however, felt that they were closer to the 'other' shore and wanted to keep going. Finally, Anton required rescuing by his brother again.

As Vincent was not 'perfect', he had to 'beat the system' in order to work in Gattaca, a space-related company. It was his dream to go into space and he never once lost focus. He assumed the identity of Jerome, another genetically-engineered person who looked almost similar to him but was crippled due to a suicide attempt gone wrong. Jerome was given another boost of life by Vincent's dream, and the 2 worked together to fulfil this seemingly impossible goal.

Vincent: Thank you for everything.
Jerome: No, thank you. I've only lent you my body, you've lent me your dreams.

Vincent's dream was the only thing that kept Jerome alive. After Vincent finally reached his goal and took to the skies, Jerome committed suicide again, this time successful.

One thing I have learnt from this show is that if you really want something bad enough, you will get it. Watch Gattaca, it will be worth your while.

Thanks for believing in me more than I do!

Today at the pool, I was still reeling from the effects of Monday's training. During the pulling set, I could barely feel my arms propelling me further, faster. After 1 set of 4 x 200m pulling, I joined the other group doing the 4 x 150m pull. I took the extra time over there to work on my strokes whilst pulling. I put into action what Zhiyun said about being streamlined in the water. It was pretty fruitful.

After the kicking sets, I decided that today was going to be a 'light work out day' for me, so I remained in the lane which had to do 2 sets of 8 x 50m sprints. My usual lane was doing 8 x 50m, 6 x 50m, 4 x 50m and lastly 2 x 50m sprints. However, my plan was not to be. Coach identified me in the mass of human beings and got me to rejoin my group. I reluctantly did.

Coach was right, I was wrong; Coach 1 - Norman 0. I completed the sets, managing to keep up with the group until the last 50m of the 2 x 50m sprint. It was during those sprints that I realised that sometimes you don't really believe in the things you can do. Yesterday was an example too - after completing 10 x 400m with an average timing of 82s, we had to complete another 2.4km. I thought I would just die, and that doing a 10min timing was going to be really hard. It was Zhiyun this time scoring the goal; Zhiyun 1 - Norman 0. I competed the 2.4km in 9mins 16secs.

Being in Aquathlon has really taught me many many things that will see me through life. It is like a family here.. and the father will be boss Aldrich who has always encouraged me and given me sound advice, you're the best Captain! =]

It is good that tomorrow is a rest day for the sprint distance time-trial on Friday. My target will be 34mins, I hope I reach it..

Half-empty or half-full? What's the verdict..

Today, I felt like my hands were going to cramp in the pool. I was quite looking forward to that, imagining what people few years from today will say about how tough aquathlon training was that one of its members suffered a hand cramp while swimming! =] That was exactly what went through my mind while I was struggling to move my body in the water..

It was different, today. I did not feel the usual dread of going for swim training today, I don't know why. Even after getting tortured/raped in the pool today, I still felt the same. I am looking forward to Wednesday's swim training already! =] I really hope to break through the plateau phase that I'm currently experiencing with my swimming. Zhiyun really put this down in perfect description: "If I can't pull as hard as the rest, I will kick harder; if talent is lacking, I will substitute it with pure hard work". Beautiful. The words resonate with my belief too, although at times it might get chucked into the back seat of my mind. She really reminded me on the concept of hard work, of reaping what you sowed. Nil Sine Labore. Perhaps that's why we kind of think the same way with regards to this.

After training today, I approached her to help me check my strokes. The verdict was not what I had expected.. "You are not gliding enough", "Your legs are sinking and you need to try push your chest down to get streamlined" and "Your head is abit too high up" were the views offered. I felt pretty screwed up for just 3secs. After so long, I'm still not gliding! What the hell is wrong with me?

I could have chosen to continue down this path of self-destruction or take the advice and better myself. I chose the latter. After 3secs I told myself that maybe this is what's stopping me from breaking through to the next level. Maybe that is why I'm stagnant now, not improving like before. To be honest, I really felt that I have improved quite abit after all these months of training. So if I take these suggestions and correct my strokes, boy, I think I will do much better! I'm so damn excited sia!! =]

Life is always about perspective, how you look at things. The cup can be both half-empty or half-full, you are the one who decides. I always believe that attitude means half the battle won. This time, I will put it to the test again..