Re-Calibration & Measuring Up

'To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.' - Steve Prefontaine


As a society, we are fond of measuring ourselves: body weight, status, salary, achievements, number of friends, goals and performance. Many of us allow ourselves to be possessed and obsessed with scientific measures. We live with weighing-scales, heart-rate monitors, bodyfat measures, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, measuring tapes and stop-watches.

What we measure determines our future direction. When we have not reached our desired targets, we tend to explore ways of reaching them, or make compromises. It is so easy to make excuses, when it is more useful to attribute reasons to our shortcomings. Measurements help us reconcile our perceived gap of ‘what is’ and ‘what ought to be’. Working with coaches, we also accommodate verbal feedback – analysed from our measured performance.

I missed my Boston Marathon entry by 73 seconds. It was a case of ‘made it however it was not good enough’. That being the case, I will now focus my energies and strategies on my next Boston Qualifier, aiming to smash my current personal best time by a larger margin. As of 2013, my age group BQ will be 3:25:00 with no allowance for a second more from this cutoff time. As such, I am determined to crack this new ceiling, and by a memorable margin of at least 5 minutes. I hope to do a 3:20-3:25 at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon in Singapore – a humid and hot course.

I have my work cut out for me, yet that does not deter me from reaching my potential. Based on current performance, I am on-track for a sub-3:30 timing. My 1:33 at the SBR/AHM 21K about three weeks ago, gave me some confidence for doing a 3:20 in about eight weeks’ time. I just need to inject more strength and speed workouts to achieve this new formidable, but possible, target.

I am looking forward to my new achievements. It is useless to focus on my disappointment as it is a thing of my past. There are always new hurdles to surmount, and new mental mountains to climb. We can work with results, as they are outcome-based. There are not foregone conclusions.

I also look forward to Ironman New Zealand 2012, where my psychological and physical limits will be challenged. I intend to earn my all-time best performance, where I arrive in my best physical fitness, and highest health. The last three outings on the 226K were made on nominal fitness and accident-based injuries. In 2010, I suffered fractures (car accident) and sprains yet raced and completed all my ventures. My adventures were my accomplishments and milestones in my, otherwise, challenged and challenging year.

I am patient still, and will bide my time as I anticipate a better competitive year, filled with promise and premise. I will give my best and race with my heart.


Photo-credit: Yellow Ribbon Project