Ironman Western Australia 2012, 6 Dec, my 1st Ironman

I wanted to pen down my 1st Ironman experience since completing it before taking part in another. However tomorrow, 6 June 2013 is going to be my participation is Ironman Cairns 2013 so I better take the chance of free time now to recap what happened exactly 6 months ago on 6 December 2013, also to help me with some confident to walk me through a more difficult course tomorrow..

Upon Arrival to Busselton jetty, I know I have to find myself a way to swim around the jetty before considering how I can complete the bike and run leg. The jetty is 1.9km out from shore and another 1.9km back. I never swim above 2km open water, it's cold like 15 degrees but I realized during test swim that it gets warmer as I swam outside just have to bare the cold for first 5-10mins.

Logistics on the race morning and the early start time made me start the race in sort of a daze mode, which was pretty good that it kept me in a low anxiety start.. Taking stroke at a time.. I woke up when I spotted the first stingray swimming among the weeds directly beneath me  like 15 mins deep. Yes, the water was that clear. With thought that it could sting me like how the Aussie crocodile man was stung and died. Became a little worried but it keep me alert to stroke forward. Finally I reached the end of the jetty! I turn back to look at the shore and laugh to myself, Yes! I made it! That's when I realized I didnt start my Garmin multi-sport time! Anyway got it started and head back towards shore, I just know that if I can swim out I should be able to swim back.. Spotted another stingray on the way back but this time my thoughts are if it's coming near I telling it. I'll eat it! Swim finish at 1:29 hrs

I wasn't expecting to see anyone I know since swimming is my weakest leg, but still managed to bump into Kang, spent 10mins in T1 and just before I leave for my bike. I felt the need to pee.. Guess what, Sky Kwah whom I was trying to link up upon reaching Busselton had the same thought and finally we met in aero helmet, shades and full bike gear, outside the portable toilet! We gave each other a big hug and head to our bikes and hit the road..

Bike course is 3 loops of 60km, I basically took one at a time, it was flat and lonely most of the route but I don't really mind, as at some point I really hope the cross wind will leave me alone! One loop at a time, I took my nutrition every 30 mins, with Gu chomps, roctane as well as some Jap jelly which was really nice but not as compare so I only had one on my bike. I took only gatorade from the aid station, till the final 15km I felt I needed some water .. In between I have to stop for a pee, haha! Finally I finished the bike 6:04hrs. Happy that I survived!

Reward myself with a 15mins transition, taking my time to hydrate and rest, wasted too much time in fact. Anyway I was celebrating that I will complete my first ironman by walking the marathon, I told myself. I just have to run the first 5 km past the crowds of supporters and I can start walking, but then I couldn't! I see Aaron, Peter, Kang, Sky they are all running and there were supporters along almost everywhere of the 10.5km loop! So I hit 10km, told my self I try hit 20km before I walk, then I hit 20km told myself I'll start walking at 30km! I didn't, though I stopped at every aid station for Gatorade, water and coke! The adrenaline just drag me to run slowly to the next aid station it goes on and on.. Last 500m I started to high 5 almost every supporter...
Finally I heard a voice, "MArk Lee from Singapore, first time Ironman, MArk Lee you are IRONMAN!"

I hope to something similar tomorrow, this time with my wife Christine at the end point waiting for me..

Landreth vs Sky speed

I started the training with the Asic Landreth 7 for more then 100km my 18 Jan post before trying putting on the sky speed, thinking that I would run them in for Tokyo Marathon in 2 weeks time.

I started it for a full dress (almost, I will be wear full compression with a t-shirt over it, just to be sure that I can take the 7 degrees cold at Tokyo) rehearsal to Mandai on last Tuesday. Everything went well, I had my fuel belt from Nathan to hydrate me, I was doing a 5:40 mins/hrs pace on average, it kept me going with only 1 stoppage that is to refuel the bottles at Singapore Zoo in Mandai!

My new Garmin forerunner 910xt was the new toy to
that guide me in my run, its fantastic!



Back to the Asics Sky speed 2, it feels light then the Landreth 7, also harder sole making the propel easier.

Towards the end of the 26km, I started a little pain in my legs and began to hear my landing is much louder my usual as if I was slamming the ground. I probably think that it was the fatigue from the training.

the 16km run on the following day at Pungol further zero the pain to the ITB, I did some stretching and it was OK.

I give another 20km chance on Saturday, the painful. I concluded that Sky Speed is not suitable for people who has under pronate or high arch feet. It is really silly for me to try so many things be fore the marathon. I am going back to Landreth 7 but probably need another to alternate.

First race of the year, Tokyo Marathon 2012

Receiving this package excites me additionally! 3 more weeks (in fact its just 20 days as I write this, looking at the countdown timer on Tokyo Marathon 2012 official site.) and it will be my first event out of SEA (as in South East Asia, LOL!) So looking forward to it, yet nervous about the training and preparation that I'm doing! Really praying for more of Wisdom and the Hands God!

I'm excited to see Japan too!

MIRACLE!: Ironman, Western Australia 2012

Yes! I got my slot to Ironman, Western Australia 2012! Praise God for that and also I do not have to go through travel agents as it will cause my plans with friends for this event inconvenience (and cost as well). Anyway thank God that I receive flavor and exceptions!

As mentioned in my sports plan 2012 post, IMWA 2012 at Busselton was the main highlight my ultimate target for 2012.

The registrations opens 8am (SG time), on 9 Dec 2011, successful participator has exactly 1 year to train and prepare this 3.8km Swim, 180km bike, 42km run event. All the general entry slots was sold out in 69mins (by 9:10 I tried to register, it all sold out)

I left my house 8:15am that morning, planing to register for it when I get to my office, which takes about 40 mins usually. I hit a car along the way and
wasted 10mins settling the problem. Can you believe it?! The hit came harder when I found out that I could have successfully register if this 10mins was not wasted.
(Though in the end, it wasn't!)

The Joy of receiving something that I do not deserve is wonderful. I am thankful to God, for He has done it many times before my eyes. Praise God!

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalms 30:5)

Asics Sky Speed 2 vs Landreth 7, Goodbye Cumulus 12

A brand new season, a brand new start, but which pair should I start with?

I started this year with a couple of runs and its time to dump my 2nd pair of Asics Cumulus 12. These 2 pairs lasted me 14 months. I enjoy Asics Cumulus since its 7 release up till now. I thought maybe I should explore to try out other Asics models.

My new choices are the Sky Speed 2 and Landreth 7. Both are suitable for my under pro-nate feet type, which was one of the key factors that keep me from injuries running especially with shoes that is not suitable for my feet that. I started to believe when I put on my first pair of Cumulus, the cost of it was much lower then the Kayano 10 that I was wear and also dissolved the injury I picked up from my first marathon in 2005.

Since then I become a strong believer that wearing the right shoe is important, Asics DS Trainer didn't work for me, Nimbus is ok but I thought i need a lighter shoe then Cumulus.

I come to a conclusion its Sky Speed 2 Vs Landreth 7, I have also decided that since Sky speed 2 is lighter, I'll use it for race day and if the Landreth can last, I'm using it for training. Shall start with it tomorrow and East Coasts Park for a 10-14km evening run.

Anyway, its bye bye cumulus yesterday.

Just in time! Nikon V1!

A Nikon V1 camera came timely before our Hanoi trip this Christmas! God is really good to us, last year it was an iPad, something that we wanted to buy, this year was the newly launch Nikon V1 camera!

Praise God for answering our prayers! Have been waiting for Nikon to launch a digital compact camera that can do a DSLR, as it suit my wife better on the weight yet I would have the function available on an DSLR with multiple lenses to play with. This Nikon V1 i got comes with a starter lense 1 Nikkor 10mm f/2.8

Let's see how this Nikon V1 works for us in Hanoi.

Sports Plans for 2012

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011 on 4 Dec marks the end the year with a 4:33hrs completion time. Participating 6th time in this annual event, this timing rank 4th and concluded that I have made no improvement and I have been training the same way if not doing less then I used to. No Excuse. Slack! God, I need a breakthrough!

I love the end of the year apart from to holidays we can all enjoy. It's also a time of the year where you can push the reset button and set new plans for the coming year.

This is what I have line up for 2012

• 26 February, Tokyo Marathon 2012
  

(Registered! slot confirmed!)

• 26 May, Sundown Marathon 2012

(Registered! slot confirmed!)

• 7&8 July tentative, Port Dickson Triathlon 2012

• Half Marathon with My wife, Which one?

• September? Desaru Long Distance Triathlon 2012

• 9 December, Ironman Western Australia
  

(Not Registered! All slots sold out in 69mins!) writing in to Ironman and the travel partner, I won't give up!!!

(List to be updated...)

Video editing:Trying Ulead's Video Studio Pro x2 for my Proposal Video

It's still taking a long time to get my proposal video up, using free software like Window Movie Maker doesn't encourage me to speed up at all.

No doubts I have done my first and many "Projects" using Windows Movie Maker (WMM) that sparks off the interest in me for video editing.

Even I have ideas art directing my proposal video but I guess most of the ideas wouldn't work well with WMM. 

The One thing I learn in life, if you like to do well in some interest or anything, you got to think that you want to get professional with it! That's how we do it here! Regardless in what sort of interest, sports, music or software.. I find that using the 5Ms,
Money/Minutes (Time), Man, Method, Material and Machine will help to give us an idea how to start to do it correctly.


1. Spending minimum MONEY, investing MINUTES (time), effort is definately essential, not everyone is born geninus!
 
2. Being MAN enough to do it, certain items are just not meant for you, some might spend less effort to get better, nevertheless the more you do the better you get! Asking for wisdom from God and listen advices people sent to you to advice if this is what your strength suggest you should do help to encourage the right tea your cup should hold.

3. Research, prayers is important to find the best METHOD and we have to be ever versatile to switch over to what best for you.

4. With research and all the sound advice, suitable MATERIAL and tools (MACHINE) required can be derive. This is when point 1 comes in again.

So I consulted a few people and did some Internet research and come across Ulead's (now Part of Corel) Video Studio pro x2. It cost US$99.99, http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1175714228541#tabview=tab0
I thought it's quite reasonable comparing to the Abobe Premiere Pro CS4 that cost $799.00. Anyway I wait a couple of weeks (or much longer) till I was prompted to check out the website again on 30 Nov 2009, 

It's US$39.99! Offers end before 1Dec2009, I'm just 15mins till the offers ends! (yes God knows i wanted it so much!) So no hesistation, I immediately bought a download copy from the US site (the box copy doesn't deliver to SG on US site and Singapore site and doesn't have the same offer!)
 
So the MAN spend the MONEY and  got the MACHINE, it's now the MINUTES and MATERIALS with the right METHOD.

Look out for my Proposal video and review on Video Studio Pro x2!