Running to Grading Venue !

P.S This is a late post !

21st July, Sunday morning. Woke up earlier than usual, 7am. Normally on a Sunday morning, I would laze in my bed and sleep till noon. Sometimes I can be a pig and continue sleeping to 2 hahahahaha ! Worrying that it might rain and spoil my running plan, I got to the window and saw clear skies and I felt happy and excited ! Got up and had 2 slices of pineapple chiffon cake and a glass of soya milk. Quickly changed into my running gears. Wore one of my favourite top, the running singlet from the Jurong Lake Run 2013, 2XU compression tights, calf guards, sun visor, GPS watch with heart rate monitor and my running shoes. I almost forgot my 'map' as I was running towards a whole new destination, Kallang CC at Boon Keng Mrt station.

The night before I was using google maps to plan the route, wrote down on a piece of paper and thinking on how I was going to 'carry' the map. I couldn't hold on my hand because the sweat will tear the paper. So I thought of an idea putting inside a mini ziplock bag and attached it to the fuel belt.

Left the house, feeling excited, adjusted to my custom playlist of songs and set my GPS watch in place. Cross the road after Bukit Timah plaza, and press the start button on my watch and off I go. Listening to Don't You Worry Child while running. Ran till after ACS (Barker Rd) and I had to see my map, feeling afraid that I would get lost despite having the map as it was my first time cutting through the messy roads there. I trusted myself and I continued running. After what seemed like eternity, I reached Kallang CC. Juniors who saw me there were like, Germanium you ran here ? I replied yeah ! They were like you siao ah ? I said yeah because I love to run long distance :) From my house, (Bukit Timah) to Kallang CC is about 10.5KM. Rested there for a while chatted with them and wished them luck for grading. Here are some pictures I took with my Taekwondo juniors :)

Here's me with Gary ! :)

With the year 1 junior ! Lek Hong ! :) 

Year 2 juniors ! Joel & Xerxes ! :D

After resting so long, I went to get a bottle of mineral water and drank it. Then Weizhu came along with a Macdonald's breakfast meal and I was curious what meal she ordered. So I went over and asked. She asked me if I wanted the hashbrown, I said yeah because my stomach was growling haha ! Thank you Weizhu for the hashbrown ! :) Because it gave me the energy I needed to run back home as hashbrown is a light food when after taking it, I won't have stitch when running back home ! :D

                       Broke my personal best of a half marathon ! Huat ah ! Shiok man ! :D 

Brought Phpps students for NE Show aka NDP Rehearsal

20th July Brought P5 primary school students from Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School (PHPPS) to the marina floating platform for their NE show/NDP rehearsal. Entered PHPPS for the first time ever since the June holidays as they had not called me back for relief teaching. Got there, heard a lot of Mr Soh, Mr Soh, Mr Soh. I guessed most of the students haven't seen me for quite some time. Got to the canteen area to take their attendance and distributed out the lunch pack to each students. Followed by giving them drinks. Soon after, I got my pack lunch and sat with other teachers to eat and chatted. Most of them were asking me when I was enlisting and I told them 25 days (from 20th July) and they were like woah that's so fast ! Replied to them yeah, going to miss everyone in PHPPS and of course my hair haha !

Soon, it was time to get ready to board the bus. I was assigned by the form teacher, Mr Darren Choy to sit at the back while he's in front to take care of the class. I sat with a group of super cute P5 kids and I kindly approached to them if I could take a picture with them and their nodded. Feeling happy, I took out my phone and took a picture with them :)

Here's a picture with them :) Cute boys :) 

Here's a photo with Jia Le & Wei Wen ! :)



By the time we reached there, it was scorching hot, the sun was above us and I was perspiring profusely, everyone was complaining about how hot the sun was. There were students saying wa lao eh so hot, we becoming chao da, heard some girls saying quickly put sunblock, if not later our skin not nice very dark. I was ROFL-ing. Can't laugh at them also because they are kids haha ! My back was wet and all the students said Mr Soh, you take shower ah ? I was LOL-ing hahaaha ! Kids will be kids ! Took some photos before the show started ! 

With Ms Magaret Teo :)

With Ms Loh Wai Yee ! :) My P6 CL teacher !

Mr Darren Choy & 5 Loyalty 9 students ! :D

Clockwise, Ms Celestine Ong, Mdm Dawn Ling, Ms Sung Huimin :)

With Ms Pang Xinyi & Ms Hannah Foo ! :)

Mrs Michelle Tan ! :D 

A nice photo with Ms Celestine Ong ! :)
Students at the back doing some funny actions LOL !

With Ms Jennifer Lai & Mr Gregory Peck ! :)

Mdm Valerie Chen and me ! :) 

This year's NDP theme reacts more with the audience compared to previous years. The new theme song didn't disappoint me as I was wondering will it be worst again compared to last year's. Before the fireworks started, we all rose to sing the national anthem, I could feel the awe the students were feeling, they sang with great pride and with awe. The national anthem was sung beautifully ! The fireworks were great and awesome ! Here's a picture of one the fireworks ! :D 

PA ( People Association ) Tournament 2013 !

Today marks the last competition I will be competing before I enlist :"( the PA Tournament 2013. Maintaining weight for this competition wasn't easy for me as I was informed that was a competition 4 days before the deadline closes for the registration. It took me almost 2 complete weeks to maintain my weight at around 54.5 Kg as I was fighting under 54 Kg. I had to control my diet, cut down on my carbohydrates and abstain sweet, fried and oily stuff. It was a hell for me honestly speaking as I still indulge during the first week. During the second week I managed to control my curb for my ''cravings''. Had noodles for lunch, soup and a little rice for dinner for the past one week. 


Seeing my opponents (fought with them before!) fighting each other was intense ! The first guy, Low Yong Ming from NYP (Nangyang Polytechnic) and the other guy, Yong Hee Jay from TP (Temasek Polytechnic). Both players are skilled and I have won both of them before except for Yong Ming, won him once and lost to him once. Knowing that he won when fighting Yong Jay, my heart skipped a bit. But I told myself, no matter what I must do my best to get the gold medal. Finally time passed and my turn was here to fight. I was in blue (Chung for Korean) and my opponent Yong Ming, in red (Hong in Korean) First round was good I guess did what I was supposed to do and first round ended after 1 minute, Score : 0 - 0.
Second round started and he got 2 founds (Kyong-go in Korean) in which I scored a point. 1 - 0. We exchanged kicks and fought hard. Then I got injured, time out for a while, needed the cold spray to relieve the pain from my instep. In the mean-time, my coach, Sir Christopher told me to use either a back-thrust or a back hook as he kept charging forward. I tried twice and the first one wasn't a clear one but the second one touch but points wasn't given. I guess it could be the angle the referees couldn't see and the impact of the hook wasn't there I suppose. Second round ended 1 - 0. The final round came, I knew this was the last 1 min of the match, I had to go all out, sadly my composure wasn't really there and my kicks were slightly low, and when I kicked the padding, it wasn't clear cut. Last 30 secs, we exchanged fiercely and suddenly a short slam kick came towards my face, I dodged it but the referee called for a discussion to see if that ''head kick'' was counted. The referee gave my opponent 3 points (due to ahead kick). He was leading 3-1, so I told myself to stay calm and fight as usual, went in with a fake and a slide in kick 3 - 2, I scored one point, but but I was left with 15 secs before the match ended. I just needed a point to bring myself into sudden death but unfortunately, 15 secs passed and the score was 3 - 2. After the match my coach told me that my kicks were slightly below the padding, if I were to kick up slightly higher, I would have scored more points. 



Sometimes winning is not about everything, sometimes setbacks happen and I have to take it. Learning my mistakes from it and improving to be a better player the next time round. Got a silver medal from today's PA Tournament. I want to say a big thank you to all my coaches Sir JohnBoy, Ma'am Eileen for guiding me through the few weeks before the tournament. Sir Christopher for coaching me today ! Thank you my coaches once again ! :) To those who wished me luck, I'm sorry, I disappoint some of you by not getting the gold medal, thanks once again my friends who wished me through any means, be it from Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter and SMSes :) Here are some of the photos for today's event !

P.S http://instagram.com/p/bvihyMoz3H/ Click on this link to see me and Sonia imitating the minions singing the Banana song ! Ba ba ba ba ba na na ! LOLLLL ROFL LMAO ! #Actingtobeminions #Fail 

With my taekwondo brother ! Yiyong ! 

Congratulations to him, a gold medal ! :D

#SPTKDC Fighters ! 3 Gold, 2 Silver & 1 Bronze ! :D 

From left : Hong Wei, Me (Germanium), Yiyong, Cindy & Jun Jie !

Credits to : Corin ! 

Thanks for helping us take a photo ! Much appreciated ! :)

P.S Chee Hean missing from picture haha !

Saw and met Dixon ! :) 

Congratulations on him for getting a gold medal ! (Y) 

That is just so sweetttttttttttttt ! Awwwwwwwwww :))) 

Jun Hao with Lydia ! <3 

Love is in the air :)

My medal ! :) 

Finally a good meal after the competition ! :) 

Salmon with Japanese Rice, Coke, and Jelly with Nata Cubes at Yoshinoya !

 JEM ! :D 

That's all for this PA Tournament 2013 ~ ! 

Pre / During / Post Jurong Lake Run 2013 ! :)

Today marks the end of my race, as it would be the last one before I enlist. Reason being, my mum forbids me from joining anymore marathon/races after this Jurong Lake Run, (JLR ins short).

Okay let me talk about what I did for last night hahaha !! Last night was a great night, mum whipped up a simple yet sumptuous meal. I had fried eggs with big onions, tofu with mushrooms and minced-meat, baby kailan & salmon soup. Loved the soup the most because of it's natural sweetness in it :D Thinking about it now makes my mouth water, and I think I'll be drooling if I continue to think of it at a timing like this LOLLL !

After dinner, as usual, washed  the dishes and headed back into my room, using the computer to adjust the songs I wanted it to go for Sunday's run. You guys must be thinking why do I need to adjust my playlist. Reason is being I listen to fast songs and I follow the tempo which affects my pace. Loaded in my favourite songs by Justin Timberlake ! His fast and catchy tempo never fails to capture my attention and rhythm to it ! After much 'adjusting' to my playlist, it was quite late, around 11 plus so I put on my compression tights and calf guards. Compression helps to promote/improve blood circulation around my thighs and calves. So that it will prevent cramps and ache during the race ! Here's a picture !

Doing Compression on my thighs and calves 

#2XU #Compression 

Slept at around 1am and woke up at 5.15am. Woke up feeling excited about the race in 2 hours time, my stomach felt like there was butterflies in it hahaha !! Nervous yet excited because I have broken my Personal Best (PB) once during training (10km - 48mins 56 seconds) and hoping I could do it under that timing. Of course my ideal timing was to aim for under 10km - Under 45 mins. Cooked some scrambled eggs and had a BA BA BA BA BA NA NA ( following the minions because its too cute :D ) for my breakfast/energy fuel for the race ! Here's a picture again ! 

Pre-Energy fuel for the race ! 

Ba ba ba ba ba na na & Eggssssss 

Dad then drove me to the racing venue, I told him not to because it was only at Jurong East but he insisted ! Thanks Dad ! :) Reached the baggage deposit at around 6.30am and the flag-off time was at 7am so after depositing my bag, I went for a quick jog, sorta like a quick warm-up for my race. Did a bit of sprinting, leg raises, stretching from head to toe, I went to the starting line. When I got there, I saw a lot of elite and professional runners, some were last year's winners on the podium. I saw angmohs, mixed blood, japanese, army personnel, and the people whom I respect the most, THE KENYANS !!!  Yes ! They ! They are one hell of a runner. If there were to be a zombie apocalypse and it hit the Kenyans, everyone will turn into a zombie in no time LOL ! Okay, jokes aside, I mean Kenyans are really really fast ! They can complete a 10km in 29 mins, 21km in 1hour 9 mins and a full marathon, 42.195km in 2 hours and 17 mins ! That's totally insane ! It's either they have a V8 engine inside them or they have got super huge lungs ! I was quite excited as its my second time to be so close to the starting line. 

Soon it was 7am and the it was flagged off by the Finance Minister, Mr Tharman Shanmuganratnum pressed my watch as I ran past the starting point. The first 2.4km wasn't really good reason due to going at a faster pace then usual, from a 4.35min/km to 3.30min/km. That's about 1min/km pace difference and I tell you my body wasn't feeling natural, in a sense, quite weird. Grabbed some water at the first hydration point then continued on with a 4.45min/km pace till the next hydration point at the 4km mark, took a 100 plus drink this time round and took a few sips and continued. Something happened at the 5km mark, saw my taekwondo friend, Angelia Ong who was volunteering there ! Shouted her name and she looked felt and right, feeling puzzled who called her ! Her look on her face was priceless until she saw me and said hi ! HAHA ! Continued on with a pace of 4.53min/km to the 6km mark, took another 100 plus drink and continued at a pace of 4.45min/km to the 7km mark. Here I saw another friend of mine, Jonathan Tay, he said : " You're left with the last 3km ! All the way ! It's now all never ! " He gave me the courage to go all the way ! I bolted my legs and increased my pace to 4.25min/km, maintaining that all the way till the 8th & 9th mark. I saw a photographer and she called my name, I turned around and realised it was Norafida ! Haha ! Such a coincidence ! I didn't expect her to be there taking photos ! :D The volunteers had cheered me on, giving me 'Hi-5s' along the way and the signs showing ' Hang On ', ' Chiong Ah '. Some even cheered and shouted so loudly with so much enthusiasm ! Then the 9km mark, 1 more km to the finishing line, I checked my watch, 40 mins 44 secs, I thought to myself, " YES I CAN DEFINITELY BEAT MY PB AND GET A TIMING OF LESS THAN 45 MINS ! "So I decided to chiong all the way at a very fast pace, I pass by all the runners that over took me at the 3km mark, it made me have some 'shiokness' but in a race, you compete against yourself, not the others.Left with the last 400 metres and my watch showed 43 mins 30 secs, I literally sprinted, sprinted all the way like I was chased by a cheetah and I saw another friend of mine who was taking pictures too ! Sebastian Wong AKA Iron Man Runner !Soon I crossed the finishing line and saw the gun time on the clock : 44 mins & 15 secs it read ! I pressed stop on my watch too and it showed 44 mins 52 secs ! When I crossed the finishing line, I was overwhelmed by happiness and so surprised, really over the moon ! I could actually hit a 45 mins for a 10km ! :DDD #HAPPYBOY93 !!!! :DDD So I'm now waiting for the official timing to be out ! Here's a picture of me with my medal feeling happy and excited ! :D

New Personal Best ! 

10KM - 44 MINS 15 SECS 

#Recordsmashed ! 

I went to collect my bag, and met up with a few of my friends who participated in the Jurong Lake Run and took photos with them ! Here are the pictures ! : 

Finally a photo with Narfirus ! :D 

With my running buddy, Dedrick ! :D
Congratulations on his PB too ! :)

With Jun Jie ! ;D

With the Taekwondo Pro !!!!

Christopher !!!! :D 

Met Norafida finally ! :D 

Friendly and a nice person to chat with ! :)

Finally able to take a photo with SG Blade Runner !
He ran despite having a fever the days before and sinus problem !
#Respect #Salute !

Got to know new running kakis , Ezekiel & Mynelle ! 

Thanks to Norafida ! :)

Then I and Norafida waited for Gerrard AKA Mr Lim Ah Siao. Those who don't know who is Mr Lim Ah Siao, he ran with a 14KG tyre at last year's Standard Chartered Full Marathon (SCM 42.194KM). He's an ambassador of the the bone marrow foundation. Those who still don't know who is he, you can visit the web page on Facebook to know more about him : www.fb.com/AHSIAO69 PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help to like the page ! Thanks ! :D Today, I really admire, respect and in awe for both SG Blade Runner and Mr Lim Ah Siao ! One is sick and still ran ! The other, had fractured his right ankle/instep persisted to run pulling a 14KG tyre, BUT BUT that's not all ! He 'ran' in crutches !!!!! I bet when most people are injured, including me, myself will rest at home till the injury heal then run again. But he was different, he was willing to go through the pain that he thinks that this pain he's suffering cannot be compared to the patients who are suffering the pain from the bone marrow disease ! I accompanied him , during his last 1km or so and we 'ran' together, supporting him, encouraging him ! Below is a picture ! 

I'm 'running' next to Ah Siao ! Encouraging and motivating him ! Tan Caibao (raising his hands) also did that ! The group of volunteers were cheering him on !!! He showed no signs of stopping and went even faster ! #Respect #Salute

This was near the finishing line, a few more metres ! As you can see from the looks of his eyes, he shows the fire burning, his spirit, his will to complete it is so determined ! We were all cheering him on !! Go Ah Siao ! Go Ah Siao ! 

This picture shows me carrying the tyre for him because he was rushing to another venue to receive an award ! Mr Ah Siao talking on the phone like a boss LOL !  XD 

Mr Lim Ah Siao received a prize from Finance Minister, Mr Tharman Shanmuganratnum !

Next we had a photo-shoot with Mr Lim Ah Siao by one of the newspaper reporters I think ! I & Caibao were asked to come inside ! :D 

Support Mr Lim Ah Siao okay ? 

Find out more at www.fb.com/AHSIAO69 ! :)

We then headed to Jurong Point to have our lunch ! Here's our group photo ! From clockwise, Weitin (Ah Siao's Gf), Mr Ah Siao, Tan Caibao and Me 

AKA GERMS/GERMANIUM :D 

Credits to : Norafida ! :)

My Pepper Lunch ! :D Pepper Salmon Rice with Egg ! :D Yum Yum ! :)

Reached home feeling tired, exhausted but happy ! :) Jurong Lake Run 2013 will be a memorable and unforgettable one ! :) Because it's indeed more than just a 10KM run !

Till next year ! See you JLR ! :) 

My first trail run at MacRitchie Reservoir !

Yesterday, 30/6/13 was my first virgin trail run at MacRitchie Reservoir. I woke up slightly late as I stayed up the night before till 3am -.- I was a stupid idea because I had to wake up at 6am the next day but I woke up at 6.30. Got ready and went down to the bus stop only to see my bus leave. I was feeling so frustrated because I was late meeting my friend Narifus. The bus ride was predictably boring ZZZ.  After what seem like eternity, I reached the place and met up with Narifus. Set our GPS watches and started our run. The air there was so fresh,never once in my life I've breathe in such great air, it was like pure oxygen, revitalising me and I felt so refreshed :) The journey was a tough one as it was my first attempt to run on trail, running on sand, mud, rocks and gravel was hard, lose your footing on your landing and you would have sprained your foot. Soon after it started to rain, making the trails muddy, and I we ran through it; splash splash splash all we could hear was the splashing of the water each step we took. At the 7.5Km mark we decided to rest at the shelter because the rain was too heavy and we decided to wait for a while for the rain to subside/ less heavy.  10 mins passed by and we continued on with our journey. Halfway through my stomach was feeling upset because I had milk in the morning ! I totally regretted it ! So we had no choice to walk to the end. Feeling sad, angry and apologetic to my friend. I guess I've low lactose intolerance intake :/

Went back home feeling awesome as I had done my first trail run at a very good timing ! 9.76KM in 1 Hour 2 Mins ! :D Then I had my breakfast at the market ! Having fishball noodles and a warm cup of soya milk on a rainy and cold day was superb ! :D 

Got back, switch on my computer and uploaded my training result from my Polar RC3GPS watch, to my surprise, I found out that I had ran like the perimeter of Singapore but inside MacRitchie Reservoir ! HAHA ! COOL MAX !