Monday’s Musings & The Monotony of Motorised Methodology

As I was stuck in mid-morning, taffy-sticky traffic – on my way to a business meeting – I could not help myself when I conjured up this alliterative title. Alliterations have a psychological way of playing the influence game on your mind. Remember ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper?’

The fastest runner on the block at IM South Africa yesterday was Chrissie Wellington. The three-time Kona Queen did a remarkable 2:52 marathon and outshone the men at IM South Africa – a full minute ahead of the fastest male competitor. Plus, Wellington registered a new world record time for the 226km triathlon. The lanky and perennially smiling, British professional constantly challenged and toppled the record books; she has demonstrated her continued dominance and prowess mano a mano, with the boys.

Big Shout Out: Veteran, Triathlon Family member, Clifford Lee completed Ironman South Africa in 15:40:51 – making it 11 in his cache of completed races.

The question may emerge occasionally: why take on these seemingly impossible activities? In an earlier blog, I suggested that such physical challenges (marathons, ultra-marathons, Ironman triathlons) serve to excite, entice and encourage the competitive and serious streaks in people. Because our potential is an elusive, intangible thing we would want to explore it when we can. Having experienced an event, we can add to our wealth of experiences and, hopefully, enhance our potential. We arm ourselves with new skills, develop mastery in existing ones, and measure up to new challenges to increase our capability. Through this, we hope to increase our self-worth, be worthy of attention, and become valuable to others.

I signed up for the Gold Coast Marathon this evening; I hope to do well with another PB that qualifies me again for Boston. The 113-year-old, Boston Marathon is highly competitive even to qualify and qualifying standards for the next two years will be more stringent. For starters, beginning next year the 59 seconds of buffer (after the qualifying cutoff time) will not be accepted. In 2013, the cutoff times will be reduced by five minutes across the board. In the overall scheme of things, standards are expected to rise and we can expect human potential in sports to rise. Qualifying for a Kona spot in our 60’s and 70’s may become more exciting in the years to come!

If only road conditions would improve substantially, and not be wrought with jams and impatience. If only cyclists are spared a fate that is unfortunate and harmful…four wheels good, two wheels healthier!

Pushing Potential

When was the last time you nudged your potential? Potential – that elusive thing that is just out of your reach and that which raises your value and enhances your substance. Move from ‘what if?’ to ‘what could be’ to ‘what is’.

Pushing metal. Pushing back distractions and useless temptations. Pushing back against naysayers. Without pushes, we are less motivated to explore possibilities and our capabilities. Pushes need not be hard and harsh. They can be gentle and persuasive - working their magic in subtle ways.

How much have you challenged yourself recently? Have you considered enhancing your career, a change in working environment, being expatriated, working with new partners and alliances, or being self-employed? In your current employ, when was the last time you submitted an article to your corporate newsletter, pitched for a budget, given a recognition speech, or engaged actively in your company’s corporate social responsibility campaign?

Are you keen to run a sub-3 hour marathon? Former-national sailor and world champion, Dr Ben Tan achieved it a few years back at 40 years. The following article was sent by my tri-buddy, Richard Leong who recently completed the Tokyo Marathon. Seek your potential and rise to your next level of competence and mastery.

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Last night, after a short swim I rode with Andy at the ENR Tuesday ride. We did a moderate 55 minutes for 30K, with a persistent headwind. We then met up with the original ENR gang – SK, Ed, and Reeves - for supper at the lagoon hawker centre. This evening, I ran 11K at about 4:55 pace, which was reasonable after Sunday’s 150K ride in Malaysia. Because of forefoot running on my K-Swiss shoes, my calves are unusually sore. Tomorrow’s deep tissue massage should sort the kinks out. It has been more than a fortnight since my last marathon and I do need to seriously knead those tight leg muscles and spasms.

'Fox’ will be prescribing me a 16-week running program to get me close to a 3:15 timing for the Gold Coast Marathon in July. It is a simple but intense approach of three runs a week done on alternate days. I am looking forward to Coach’s program for me.