[IPPT No.2]

The Miracle Leap


It's amazing what the human mind can do when it sets itself a target to achieve. There I was on a cool Thursday evening, the 26th of October, exactly 12 days after my first IPPT attempt... knees slighlty bent, legs spread comfortably apart, arms relaxed and swinging lightly in a forward motion as I stared intensely at the white markings on the Standing Broad Jump (SBJ) mat/machine/sensor (whatever you call those new gadgets). I was not only determined this time round to pass my initial attempt of 234cm, but to exceed the 5 pts standard of 239cm. Now, that meant an additional distance of 6cm, of which I barely achieved during my trial jumps along my corridor (if you're wondering, I used a measuring tape and stuck it onto the tiled floor with some old yellow cellophone tape).

It didn't help that my hamstrings felt tight that afternoon, probably a result from Monday's 12km tempo run. I knew I had done my best during the week already... did my tuck jumps, calf workouts, power leaps. Even changed my shoes to my trusty pair of Asics DS Trainers. I warmed up well and was quite psyched up to leap like Mr. Spidyman. Hey, on a side note, never downplay the power of mental preparation... I found it very beneficial in conditioning one's mind to feel confident... yes... like you're suddenly transformed into... into a kangaroo?? (oh, but this one is 'teng lang" (local), not ang moh aussie breed)

And so I said my final prayers and... JUMPED. (ok, almost typed 'jamped'). I landed firmly and immediatedly fixed my eyes on the score board at the bottom...

250cm.

*blink* *blink* yes, i couldn't quite believe what I saw. My highest ever recorded jump I believe..... thank you Lord!

The other stations strangely became a breeze to complete. I finished my run in a faster timing and left the place a happier person and $200 richer in my pocket.

Yay. =)


God of wonders beyond our galaxy...


Fishmonger

Celebrate the simple joys of life...

I was strolling to work just the other day and pondering over the fact that we don't often take time out to celebrate the blessed life we live. Good things don't always come in big sizes and nice wrappings... some are often small and nice to have at our point of need. If only we could all spend time celebrating these moments...



God help us, we have so much more to learn from these people...


Fishmonger

Say NO! to Fakies, YES! to Soken

Ok, we all have watched the Titanic before... but please beware of the side effects if you've watched one on DVD purchased from some alley in Bangkok or JB.

Enjoy...




Fishmonger

Friends of past, friends at heart.

There are some people who say that the friends you make in school are some of the best friends you will make in life. Well, I tend to agree with that notion. I've always wondered what ever happened to the friends and classmates I had from school, especially the ones back from Primary and Secondary school. Yup, those pre-teen and teen years... the growing up years where you can still vividly recall the fun and exciting moments, the sad and heartbreaking ones, the naughty and mischevious times... memories like these remain etched in your mind and never seem to leave you, don't they??

It's hard to keep in touch with people sometimes, especially if, like me, I don't have the habit of keeping phone numbers and addresses. And so it may take years before you finally bump into old friends again. By then you would already have discovered them entering into the mature stages of life... some married, some with babies, some walking hand-in-hand with kids by their side...

It's always a nice blessing when God chooses to bring good, old friends back together again. Ahh... the wonder of the internet, I don't think we could have found each other in such a short time without MSN. So it's gonna be a reunion of sorts where we'll gather to talk excitedly about the past and catch up on the present.

The date has been set. Next Monday, I'll be meeting up with a group of them. I always carried images of them as 15, 16 year olds in my memory for so long, I wonder how much they would have changed over the course of time. Would I be able to recognise them? Would they have the same personality quirks? Would we be able to pick up from where we left off 14 years ago?

I'm looking forward to next week's gathering. I reckon Mr. Monday Blues would have to wait a week later to hit me. One of them is flying in from U.K. with her hubby. I'll check out the British accent =P

Oh! And someone please remind me to bring along a camera...


Fishmonger

Fear Mongering

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedalio.

If you're wondering if I'm writing gibberish, then you're wrong. It's actually the correct term for a fear of long words. Yes, LOOOOOOOOOONG words. Can you believe a phobia of this kind exists? It's ironic. Even the word that was coined to describe this condition is terribly long.

Oh, but do you also know that many other phobias of such interesting nature exist? For example, a phobia for anything related to the unlucky number 13 (to the superstitious of course) is known as triskaidekaphobia. Tri... si-mi? Wahaha, it's a mouthful, eh? Did you also know that there is a list tracking the top 20 phobias on a regular basis? As you prepare to breathe into a paperbag, take a gander at what other anxieties freezes you in your tracks:

1. Triskaidekaphobia
2. Acrophobia
3. Agoraphobia
4. Xenophobia
5. Arachnophobia
6. Heliophobia
7. Pteromerhanophobia
8. Necrophobia
9. Claustrophobia
10. Homophobia

It seems that the fear of the Number 13 creeps past our usual haunting aversions to height and tight spaces into the number one spot. Well, here's the rest of the list:

11. Hydrophobia
12. Photophobia
13. Islamophobia
14. Coulrophobia
15. Glossophobia
16. Aichmophobia
17. Ophidiophobia
18. Selachophobia
19. Emetophobia
20. Arachibutyrophobia

So, do you fall into any of the above categories? Sure, fear cripples us from time to time and limits the growth opportunities in our lives. Consider this - even as fear tends to inhibit action and bring paralysis, in like manner, action tends to dispel fear. The psalmist discovered one great weapon against fear when he wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd ... I will fear no evil" (Psalm 23:1,4). We should remind ourselves over and over that God is all-powerful and that His protection is sufficient for any need.

Of course some fear is healthy. We should fear, or at least respect fire, electricity, lightning, bullets and especially God Himself. On the other hand, we should recognize that some extremes of fear are totally false and may be induced by demons. In these cases, spirits of fear need to be commanded to depart in the name of Jesus.

Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). The Word of God sets people free. Praising the Lord is an excellent antidote to fear. Not only does this rebuke the spirit of fear and Satan who brings it, but it also brings one into the direct presence of God. The psalmist tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people (see Psalm 22:3). Out of praise, we will find deliverance from all our fears.

Sounds cool? Let's work on getting rid of fear from our lives!


Fishmonger

The Elusive GOLD Award

I woke up late this morning and rushed down for my IPPT at Bedok Camp. I was gunning for GOLD but with extreme lack of sleep this entire week due to my Big Move, I was just hoping to make the bare minimum for the Gold standard (then again, who wants to do extra??). Guess what? Sigh... of all stations I had to get 4 points for SBJ (Standing Broad Jump)! I still can't believe it when this is traditionally one of my strongest station. No problems with full 5 pts in the past. And always on the first try! Well, it went like this - I was disqualified in the first round, almost made it the second time and did much worst in the third. Then I found out they only allowed 3 tries and that was it for me! This shouldn't be the case really, why can't someone be allowed to try indefinitely? Oh well... so feeling a tad bit dissappointed, I dragged myself to complete the shuttle run and 2.4km run. My total score was 24 pts when I needed 25 pts to achieve Gold. My run was also under 9:30 mins so I'm feeling 'buay gam wan".

So I, Sebastian Teo, NRIC number 7XXXXXX Z, pledge to re-take my IPPT next week and achieve the GOLD standard! (So that I can claim my $400.)

On the side, I was rather amused listening to the run briefing from the NSF PTI. Words like "Gentleman, at this point of time, is anyone not feeling well?" and "Whole lot of you, good to go!?" brought memories of me barking orders to my men during my time as an NSF Platoon Commander. Haha, army culture is here to stay.

I want my GOLD!!!


Fishmonger

Sunday Morning Inertia

Lord, thank you service starts at 1.30pm.

Fishmonger

Here's my entry on Adidas Running website,"Reason Why I Run" (you know the ads you see at City Hall MRT? Yea, they have a competition on their website that allows you to enter your personal reason for running. But... pity it's already over.)


"It gives me the endorphin fix I need to pull me through the entire day." - Sebastian, Singapore


If the competition was not over, I think I'll stand a chane to win the free t-shirt. Cool reason right? Haha... anyways, here's my run log for this evening.

Run Session - Long Distance
Distance: 21km
Route: Home - East Coast - End of Safra Country Club - Home
Time: 1:43:42


Running is addictive. Get healthy. Run!


Fishmonger

A New Machine

I do not own a desktop and my current 5-yr old laptop is on life support right now. The time has come for me to consider a..... NEW MACHINE!!! Muahahahaha. The iMac pictured above has caught my eye for a while now. It runs on Intel's Core 2 Dual processor, the first Apple computer ever built around an Intel CPU, displacing the PowerPC family used for the past 12 years. My only real concern is that PowerPC applications such as Photoshop, Finalcut Pro and Flash doesn't work so well on an iMac Intel as compared to the trusty G5 CPU. Especially when you're using it for heavy duty production work. Reviews say pro "creative" users will need to wait for their applications to be released as Universal Binaries before buying an iMac Intel, since many of these applications are entirely unsuitable (or incompatible) in their present form, and power users with special software and hardware need to check compatibility reports carefully before upgrading.

But:

1) I am not a professional "creative" user
2) The Core 2 Duo is faster, more versatile and quieter
3) I think it sits pretty in my new room
4) I do away with a chunky CPU
5) It feels nice to own one really
6) Point 5.


What's not to like??


Any views on the iMac Intel vs. PC war? Leave your comments behind and tell me if I should... well, get something else.


Fishmonger

Faith and the element of Risk

Have you ever felt uncertain or fearful when you've decided to completely place your faith in a person? Maybe someone like you dad? What if he's a hugely successful guy in the corporate world, a man of integrity and wisdom, a counsellor and active leader in church, loves his wife and kids (you), provides well for the family, tolerates your inconsistencies and idiosyncrasies, and is always there for you through your many ups and downs, WOULDN'T YOU FEEL VERY MUCH SECURED? Say you've entrusted the next 5 years of your life to him to decide the education or career path you should take, wouldn't you allow him to given his vast knowledge and experience? After all, his track record's been impressive.

Ok, so that's your daddy. Now, how about God?

If we put down all piousness and spirituality about us, I can almost for certain say that the response wouldn't be an immediate "Yes!". The truth of the matter is that we do feel a tinge (of course, it may vary from just a tinge to a tsunami of emotions) of uncertainy or fear. Why?

More often than not, our faith comes with an element of RISK. Faith is about God while risk is about us. If we are risk centered when we exercise faith, then we are really focusing on what we would lose if the action failed to produce the outcome. On the other hand, faith is about obeying and entrusting the outcome to God.

Makes sense? Some food for thought.

"The righteous shall live by faith." - Habbakuk 2:4

Fishmonger

If Jesus Starred in Star Wars...

www.Threadless.com

Finger Lickin' Ain't Good

Threadless.com

Let me know if you are intending to purchase a tee like the one above. I want one too. Let's help make shipping costs more affordable.

Are you wearing a nice tee today?

I was on the hunt for new, affordable, cool tees when I came across a new, affordable, cool tee a friend of mine (Mr. James) was proudly wearing. He directed me to this website which happened to be selling very new, affordable, cool tees. Fantastic!, I thought. Just what I was looking for - new, affordable, cool tees.

So please do click on the logo above if you're really keen on new, affordable, cool tees. It's a great feeling to be wearing new, affordable, cool tees.

In fact, I just bought my first new, affordable, cool tee.


Are you wearing a new, affordable, cool tee today? Or is this just getting a little irritating?


Fishmonger

What It Takes

Four ironman athletes. Four human beings. Four stories. One dream.

"What It Takes" is a documentary profiling 4 world-class triathletes in their quest for the 'holy grail' - the 2005 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. This is the ultimate race that consumes every professional triathlete and pushes them to attain the title of world champion year after year. The movie includes footage of the athletes training, racing and resting, and also opening up in extensive interviews to share their thoughts and feelings. Besides learning about the sport of triathlon and the duel for athletic supremacy, viewers will also understand the very human issues which confront these athletes in an up-and-down, unpredictable year.

As some of you already know, my dream, yes my athletic quest in life is to complete an Ironman. Come November, I will embark on 3 solid months of intensive training to prepare myself for this race in February 2007. Of course, mine is not going to be held in Hawaii lah, that's for the 'sat-sat' pros. Ironman races are held all over the world and the only one in Asia is in Langkawi, Malaysia (incidentally, it's also touted as the toughest, yes read TOUGHEST, ironman race in the world due to the extreme heat and humidity). It ain't gonna be easy. 5-6 days a week, 2 disciplines a day is a crazy crazy schedule for a man who works 9-10 hours during the day and still gives his life to the ministry b'cos he's madly in love with God.

I don't think it's impossible. There'll be little adjustments I'll need to make and some support and help I'll need, but I don't reckon it cannot be done. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Triathlon is in so many ways related to my spiritual walk with God. Consistency, Discipline, Perseverance. Words all too familiar to us, eh? From the pulpit, to your pastor, to your cell leader... we hear it all the time, don't we? In fact, it's so foundational to Christian living we often like to preach about it but find difficulty in living it out =)

And so, such is the journey I'll be embarking on. To my guys, you watch me run this race and make sure I run it well. I'll do my best to finish under my target of 14 hours. When I'm finally done, I wanna see each of you begin your own journeys of pursuing your God-given dreams and persevering through, right to the finishing line. I'll be there, with you, cheering and supporting, so you know you'll never be alone.


Fishmonger