Overlaps, Oversights and Overlooking the Precipice of Possibilities

Pardon me for my enthusiasm over alliterations; I could not resist the wave of inspiration that washed over me. I was watching the Commonwealth Games and was alerted to the segment on Synchronised Swimming – I think the ladies are hot…cool…hot…cool…I am undecided. Their nose-clips look like the next fashion station, but I digress.

I suspected it, and now it’s true. I have double-booked myself for two running races on Sunday. I realized, to my consternation, that I signed up for both the 10.10.10 Newton Run (30K) and the Mizuno Wave 10K Run. Discerning the two eastern-based races, the lesser of the two challenges appears to be the 10K run, however it may be too fast and too furious for me since my brief hiatus from tar-plodding after the Berlin Marathon. I have yet to collect my race-pack, so we’ll see how my choice pans out.

It should be interesting if I run the 30K: I am not suited for trail running, as I have been focused on road running for too long. Plus, my legs are still recovering from the 42.195K I completed two weekends ago. Sounds like an excuse - perhaps.

What do you do when you realized that you have committed to two events? What happens when you say yes to two people you know, when you should have declined one. You could have, inadvertently, penned down two meetings that overlapped in timings, or agreed to two dinners on the same evening. Worst, you forgot about one engagement as you were enjoying another. How do you extricate yourself out of this predicament? How do you excuse yourself? Or, do you make an excuse for one?

Withstanding Time and History

Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site located in Salisbury, United Kingdom. It is slightly less than two hours by rail from Waterloo Station (35.50 Sterling Pounds for a return trip), and you can then happily hop on a guided tour bus at this history-drenched town.

An audio-guide (used like a walkie-talkie) is provided upon paying your entry fee; this is covered in the day ticket trip where you can board any of the designated buses at 15-minute intervals. You will pass through some postcard pretty scenery as you pass through the town of Salisbury. The architecture reflects the style of the area, with a few houses built out of timber and no nails!

The self-guided tour at the Stonehenge site reveals, subsequently, a demystification of the inaccuracies and assumptions about the gigantic rocks arranged in a circular formation. It has existed for about 4,500 years or more. There are some missing stones, perhaps from intentional human removal and what is left tells a quiet story of early mankind’s evolution to a more developed species. Essentially, it is not a sacrificial altar and it was not built by druids (who are Celtic in origin).

What have you done that you think can withstand the test of time? What are you doing to leave your legacy? Which deeds will you be remembered for? Which stories will you leave behind?

Presentational Strategies for Leaders and Professionals

Do you communicate to express or impress others? How do you know if you are being effective in your communication?

Bait it then hook it. To sell, influence or captivate you will need to consider presentational tools that matter. You can include multi-sensory stimuli: see, hear, feel, smell and taste. A speech can be made more impactful by providing more than predictable slides – tell stories, sing, do verbal impressions, include activities, pass samples/prototypes around, burn incense, etc.

Have an acronym for recalling your process. Marketers use AIDA as a presentational tool. You can also use the 4’A’ of leadership influence: Attention, Attraction, Attainment and Attachment (Gary Yardley, Jan Kelly, et al). Each layer deepens the connection, and promotes contact with your product, service and yourself. KISS: Keep it simple and short.

Create a presentational hook; there is always an angle. Spin it in various ways; that is what spin-doctors do. Reframe your language. Tag-team with associates (not more than two others), and take turn to present. Be mindful to exercise restraint and discipline, align your thoughts and strategies, and be respectful and recognizing of each other.

Lead with your head.


Photo-credit: ZBComma newspaper (distributed to schools on Friday).

Scenes from the Berlin Marathon 2010

This is a pictorial log and roundup of the Berlin Marathon on 5 October. I hope that it will be useful for your future planning. It can be a cold day, so dress warmly with mittens, head-gear and long-sleeves. Compression-wear was abundant, including grown-ups in long compression socks. Ensure that you have adequate energy from gels and bars. They serve Power-Drink at alternate drink-stations (about 2.5K apart). Ensure that you change immediately to dry clothes when you can as the wind-chill can lead you to loose a lot of body heat; I was shivering. You will collect additional race-kits with food like bananas, apples, water and nutritional bars.

This was a huge race fair.

My race-kit.

My trusty shoes; last used at Yellow Ribbon Run.

The archway we will run through near the end-point.

Last 3km…

Last 400 metres…

Rested and Ready to Go!

How do you start your day? How do you engage your engines before a meeting? How do you initiate a performance appraisal interview? Motivation is about movement, motility and motive. What is your purpose for doing what you do on a regular basis: eat, sleep, exercise, work and seek leisurely pursuits.

After about 10 training-free days, my legs feel fresh. I did not run, except for hurriedly scuttling between stations in the Underground trains, while lugging around deadweight luggage.

Having not done Ironman training-specific exercise, I am looking forward to my next session. And, it should be tomorrow evening’s 30K fast-ride, with an optional short run. That makes it a brick session, if I so choose to go that way.

Our brain and body remembers both pleasure and pain, in the form of experiences. The more painful an event or activity is, the more likely it is to resist it. We make excuses for waking up earlier in the morning, or sneaking in a few more minutes of mattress time when the weather looks gloomy. The opposite is also true; we yearn for pleasure, personal-best performances, the race finish line, and a chance to celebrate.

Does absence make the heart go fonder? In my case, it is an undisputed YES!

Stuck in Traffic

Guess what? I was stuck in a four-hour traffic jam in London and was stranded. I have a confirmed flight, but hope to get an earlier flight by getting ahead in the wait-list. It has been an emotionally draining event last night, however many things were beyond our control.


The past week has been an abject lesson in patience and managing changes for me. Resilience was the major value I drew strength from, as it is about bouncing back into normalcy. It is so easy to succumb to abnormal reactions and behaviors. Emotions are inversely proportional to rational thinking.


Next week is Kona - the holy grail event of long-distance triathlon; like the Boston Marathon I was gunning a slot for last Sunday. The exclusiveness by entry-only makes the races attractive, and a dream for many. One can only review one's priorities, dreams, goals, strategies and abilities to engage this exclusive status. I would love a silver Ironman decal on my bike one day, or the tee-shirt that screams Boston Marathon. An improvement of 17 minutes versus four hours stuck in a massive road drag puts things in perspective. Which one offers the most room for improvement and progress?


Can't wait to begin my IMWA training: I want to ride and swim badly. Anyone want to help me with retrieving my Real Run race-kit?

Set Standards or Be the Standard

The de rigeur test for superlatives include words like good, better, best, and excellence. In industry, we have industry standards, good practices, best practices, gold standards, six-star status, elite membership, and the like.


After coming through in 7760th place (out of 40,000) at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, I have a deeper appreciation of standards.' In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed is king' is an interesting saying. There were many great athletes, and even more better ones. I was alright being good, but good ain't good enough. 


I was happy to be among the best. I am inspired to be the best. Greatness is around us. Keep training and learning.

To Change or Not to Change?

I have been reading friend's blogs about how they may have to change their running posture. This is a very relevant question as it is strongly linked to comfort, exacerbation of injuries, training, and performance.


When we were younger, it was about instant gratification; as we aged, it was about 'delayed' gratification - knowing when to stop, or be patient. A 'no' was a 'no' and you absolutely did not exceed it, especially if it was a rule. Rules are rules; flout them and face the consequences. You draft behind a cyclist, and you may earn five minutes in the 'sin bin' at Transition 2.


Having altered my running style vicariously in recent years, I have reconsidered my options. These are:


1) What is my current state of fitness?
2) Which are my recurring injuries?
3) Which movements cause the most pain and discomfort while running, and while at rest?
4) Which posture feels the best?
5) When does the discomfort emerge?
6) Which active and passive forms of treatments am I applying?
7) How am I responding to treatments?
8) What am I doing right?


These are the barrage of questions I ask when I analyse my physical problems. An expert can be very useful and relevant in the areas of sport performance and recovery. Personally, I stick to my knowledge and experience, yet continue to do small experiments with technique and style. I use the Chi Running style, focus on core stability (pelvic tilt, activate Transverse Abdominus), proprioceptive work ('sightless balance'), barefoot running (to strengthen my feet and calves), stretching, strengthening (weights, hills, steps), massage and chiropractic interventions.


Seems like a lot? Change may include myriad other smaller changes. It has systemic effects on our body and mind. When do we 'need to change' is different from 'want to change'. Think over what needs to change versus what you want to, and will change. We change for the better, not for the worst - it's counter-productive and counter-intuitive.
*****
All the best to my friends racing at the Desaru Long Distance Triathlon this weekend! I certainly missed the hot and humid races in recent years.

A Wet & Wild Run

Last Sunday's Berlin Marathon may have been one of the coldest in years, and it was certainly one of its wettest. Cold and wet, my Mother tells me, is bad for aging bones. I used to laugh at her for it, but now I just ache in silence.


I ran with a brown beanie (woolen cap), Superman-blue compression-top (Skins), a blood-red 70.3 World Championships tee-shirt, running tights and a pair of racing-shoes. Around my waist was my race-belt, eight gel-packs and my race number. I was cold with fear and warm with excitement, however the cold overwhelmed me. Shivering burns additional calories and I may have not fed myself adequately. I learnt that you need more sugars when fighting the lower temperatures when racing in Europe in autumn.


To keep warm, run closely to a large pack of runners - but pick your pacers wisely. Run too fats too soon and you'll flatline and go straight to Bonksville. You don't want that.


I ran with wet shoes. Strangely, but appreciatively, I had no abrasions or bloody toenails. I did not lose any toe-nails as I am wont to suffer. I put Vaseline on my toes and so it may have helped tremendously.


Perhaps my destiny lies in warmer climates like Asia where the heat and the humidity play. Racing Ironman in December in Perth should be a breeze after this cold spell...

The Benefit of the Doubt

We have heard the term 'having the benefit of the doubt'? When  it comes to sport, it can be deleterious to our performance if we are not careful.


Doubts cast indecisiveness, apprehension, self-doubt and hesitation. Doubt can manifest itself through injury, lack of systematic training, poor preparation, fickleness, and the influence of others.


When doubts stem form oneself, review your plans and expectations. Be pro-active and make changes to improve and be better. When doubts come from others, pay some attention but not completely. When father knows best, he may only know what he knows. Mother knows better, too. If other people's doubts become your doubts, this inheritance may be costly to your investment; all that training, recovering and recuperating may come to nought.


Know what you doubt; be doubtful, but never over-doubt yourself.