Stories from Las Canarias to Warm Your Cockles

We love stories. Millions of copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul book franchise have been sold. These are some videos on the Big Race in Lanzarote, the Canary Islands. The winners Rachel Joyce and Timo Bracht are seen at the end point. There is also Race Director, Kenneth Gasque who welcomes everybody in with a handshake.

By the way, 25 May was World Planking Day. Time to start this interesting core stability test back home! Assume the position! But please avoid anything higher than 30 centimetres. John, this is for you! You keep planking, and I’ll keep plonking.

The 20^th edition of Ironman Lanzarote 2011 presented many heart-warming stories through its bastion of athletes. These are some of them. 

If you are in town next weekend, do attend Nique Tan's show. This is interactive, amazing, mind-reading by Singapore's leading mentalist. I strongly recommend his show. You will be enchanted.

Leadership Lessons: When was the last time you held your audience captivated with your stories? How much do you observe and return in recognition? How often do you give praise and thanks to those around you?

Bracing Barcelona: A Photo-Log

We just got back a few hours ago; a very lean and tired, John Cooke continued on his return leg to Perth, Western Australia via a budget airlines. At my trusty iMac workstation, I share my adventure tips with you.

Barcelona temperature is about 22 degrees Celcius at this time of the year. The air is fairly dry, with nice breezes so carry your chap-stick/lip-gloss with you, some snack food, as well as a big bottle of water. Supermarkets stock inexpensive drinking water, so buy the 5-litre bottles and distribute them into smaller one-litre ones.

The day that we departed (Friday), demonstrators who camped for several days (at the Place de Catalunya) got into a clash with the police. The news eagerly covered it, as curious tourists lapped it up as part of the action at the shopping belt of La Ramblas.

If you intend to have a vacation in Barcelona, after finishing the Ironman Lanzarote – fly direct from Singapore to Barcelona via Singapore Airlines. You can actually connect from almost anywhere in Europe to the Canary Islands, including Madrid, Milan, and the UK.

Stay near the La Ramblas area, and prices vary depending on vicinity to the main road. We stayed at Atlas Hotel, which we booked online. It is about 50 metres away from La Ramblas, and the nearest Metro station. Get a day pass so that you can travel on both the subway and bus. I would recommend exploring Bracelona, and its top-10 ‘must visit’ places by these two convenient modes of transportation. Ensure that you have your tickets validated at the turn-stills (in the Metro) or ticketing machines on the buses. There are numerous museums you cna go to, however we recommend visiting the Olympic Stadium (Olympic Games 1992) and the Spanish Village (within the same area and walking distance).

Goods and Services Tax (or Value Added Tax, VAT as it is known) is claimable for tourists for single purchases above 90 Euros. It is a pain to claim these precious dollars back, however do it earlier at the airport. Give yourself up to an hour to leave the VAT-rebate queue less unhappy. You only get 10 percent of the 18 percent you pay above the tag-price at the branded outlets or sports mall.

The brand Under Armour, as promoted by triathlon champion, Macca is popular here. I was surprised after buying my compression t-shirt, that the restaurant manager we met at the tapas restaurant wore a polo-short by Under Armour. Many shops are closed between 2-4pm because of the afternoon siesta, or break. So, shops open till 9pm and restaurants even later.

When it comes to eating, the Spaniards love to eat late and their preference is tapas. Tapas is to the Spanish, as dim sum is to the Chinese. It comprises a set meal of paella (seafood-based, pan-cooked rice) and finger-food (appetizers). You choose what you like on the menu, and you share the tapas selection – that is the spirit of Spanish eating! Sangria is a lovely cocktail made of red wine, orange juice and additional surprises that washes well your meal. Lanzarote also presents such savoury fare and savoire fare for participants on the Canary Islands.

Photo-Credit: John Cooke

Patience As Your Virtuosity

I recall the opening credits for each episode of the 1970’s television series, ‘Kung Fu’. The blind Shao Lin master monk would say to the young Kuai Zhang Kane: ‘Grasshopper – you have finally snatched the pebble from my hand. It is time for you to leave the monastery!’ A visibly sad, Kane would then get his first and last tattoo (of a dragon – what else?) seared into his puny forearms when he carried the hot cauldron with the embossed tattoo outline across a reasonable distance (to set the imprint). Indelible printing technology has come a long way! When I see the blood red ‘M-Dot’ on the Achilles Heel of triathletes – I know that they may have made their pilgrimage to Kona, Hawaii for the Ironman triathlon world championships. Such is pride born of patience.

My friend, John Cooke reached his target weight whilst training for his next Ironman in Lanzarote, Canary Islands. He has been patient and continues to reap benefits from his discipline to stick to his plan. We will be headed up their in about two weeks’ time. Three other participants dropped out from the original team, and are focused on Ironman China instead. This is a blog about a patient 45-year-old runner.

It takes time to improve. Youth has an advantage in terms of physical recovery. That does not mean Masters athletes don’t have an edge: we can get more with less. The over-40, athlete can become fitter and stronger with shorter mileage, and increased intensity. Thus, strength and power training through kickboxing, interval training, kettle-bell training, CrossFit (circuit training), core stability work, Pilates and yoga can enhance one’s physical performance when included in a weekly training menu. Proper nutrition takes time to be processed (digestion is about patience) and assimilated by your body.

The more challenging the goals or higher the expectations – the more patience we need. You cannot rush a professional photographer through a session and hope for great shots. You cannot be impatient with your convalescence when you realize that antibiotics and medicines take time to work their effects. You cannot rush potential business-partners or clients to seal a deal when trust and honesty is not fully there. Patience pays. It pays to be patient. Education takes time. The marathon is a longer race, run at a slower but sure pace – but you will get there, even if you walk.

If you like to test your patience, sign up for this mint race! It promises a totally new scenic view.

Leadership Lessons: How patient can you be? When do you lose your patience? How do you apply your patience to your profession, recreation and relationships? 

Captivated By Challenges

Singaporean climber, Khoo Swee Chiow will attempt his biggest challenge yet. He will complete all eight major summits in the world, beginning with his third attempt at climbing Mt. Everest on 15 April. He is sponsored Air Asia, which covers all the destinations to his mountains of choice. One of interviewees, Steven Novick climbed Everest successfully after a mano a mano battle with cancer.

There is a certain allure of danger that appeals to people. The danger is usually entrenched in some degree of risk and potential loss, or possibility of injury. It is no different when we travel on a plane, train or automobile; raising a child; mentoring a high-potential staff; trying out a new recipe. There are recipes for disaster around us, and we need to be aware and cognizant of them.

We wish Clifford Lee of Singapore the very best in his 11^th attempt for an Ironman triathlon finish. He will aim to complete Ironman South Africa this weekend. His recent report indicates choppy water conditions for the swim; we hope that the sea will calm down to present a good swim for him. Clifford completed, arguably, the toughest Ironman course in the world, Ironman St. George in Utah last year. He will be the first Singaporean to complete 11 226K races. I am, one month and one race, behind him and I can’t wait to complete my 11^th Ironman next month in Lanzarote, The Canary Islands. The game is afoot!

If IM St George and IM Lanzarote lay claim to being two of the toughest Ironman routes in the word, then is this the most dangerous bike tour in the world?

How do you identify future leaders in the company? Do you relish identifying high potentials? How do you know if your choice of future corporate champions was the right decision? What if you made a mistake by making a counter-intuitive selection?

Leadership Lessons: What captivates you? What would you consider as challenging? Would you attempt something just for the sheer heck of it?