1ST 10KM B4 40

I have make history for myself last Sunday, the first time I ever run 10.5 km in my life. And although my timing of 1 hour 20 minute isn’t that fantastic, I am still very happy, since my family was there to give me the boost.

Running has never been interesting since my school days. Even in my army days, I have never thought I would be running this distance. My mentality was “I didn’t need to, I didn’t want to.” Then I changed my mind almost twenty years later.

This is a new beginning. I have a new vision for myself, I want to run a half-marathon, soon, hopefully by end of the year.

Connection In The Park Connector

Since the media covers on the Southern Ridges few weeks back, I was hoping to check out the place with my family, but I seem to be more occupied after switching to a 5 days work week. My weekend now becomes very fulfilling with activities like cycling and running, with my gals of course.

I finally free a slot from my busy schedule last Sunday afternoon for this. We set off at about 1500 hrs from Telok Blangah Hill Park. It is not difficult to orientate ourselves in the park as there are sign boards all over the place, besides, the place was packed with visitors, so, getting loss is out of the question.











Henderson Waves was our first stop, we walk up a long stretch of slope pavement which my kids have fun running down later. We stay for about 10 – 15 minutes on the bridge to enjoy the views and take some photo before making our way towards the Forest Walk.


There are two ways to explore the little forest, one by walking on the elevated walkway which offers birds’ eye view of the forest, and the other via the trail at ground level. Both ways are good experience of the woods for my little girls. We took a 10 minute break at Alexandra Arch before we head back to the car park. My wife spotted this big spider near the walk way, definitely one of those biggest I seen in the wild.

I must say N-parks have definitely done a great job connecting these parks, the only disappointing factor would be I don’t see any chance of cycling through the parks any time soon, but I am still looking forward for the day to come.

Runway Ride

Last Sunday, I brought my two girls and my wife to the National Runway Cycling 2008 at Paya Lebar Airbase, which is a key event of the National Family Week 2008.

The four of us wake up 5am in the morning. My plan was to get out of the house by 6am and reach there before 7am in order to secure a parking lot. The biggest challenge come first thing in the morning, there is loading four bicycle onto my car, two 26”, one 24” and one 20”. It was to me tougher than riding 6km on the runway actually.



There are 3 categories in the event, 6km family route, 15km leisure route and 45km endurance challenge. Needless to say, all four of us took up the 6km family ride. The two girls were very excited in front of the runway, but the 6km was quite an endurances test for them on their 24” and 20”, we could see from their expression at the end of the ride.



The event was well organised, booths were set up by SAFRA, and a few well known bike shop and supplier. There are also performances that keep us entertained while we rest after our ride. We left around noon, where we headed straight home and slept through the afternoon.

Two Wheels Adventure

Nearly three months ago, I found a new reason to take my run more seriously. Running becomes a supplementary training for my new hobby, Mountain Biking. I brought my bike just two days before Chinese New Year, it’s a Scott Reflex 30.

When I decided to take up mountain biking, it appears to me that I will be doing slow trail riding with my family in the nature like what many did in the parks. So I went on to ride about fifteen kilometers of roads a few nights before to get me into the mood, and I thought I will be ok on the trail. But I was wrong. My first trip into the trail was shocking, my dream for the family ride got further, the stamina and skill needed to ride ten minute into the trail far exceed my fitness level. I felt like I am back to BMT training at the end of the trail, it was very "SIONG".

Nevertheless, I was determined to carry on with my new hobby, there is no turning back after throwing in close to a grand to acquire the necessary gadget. In fact, I even went on to get three more mountain bikes for my wife and the two elder daughters.

Last week, my effort is starting to pay off, I took my wife and eldest daughter to Gangsa Hill on two separate days, and they were coping well for a start. And although my big girl complains about the need to wash the bike after the trip, she is looking forward to the next trip.

Healthy Living

While reading SgRunners few days back, I registered for a talk, as its title says “Fit for Running” the talk was meant to create awareness and prepare runners for the upcoming marathon event. I am not a marathon runner, but I still went on to attend the talk since I am almost 40 and have not been running for a long long time. Most of the subjects are quite dry, but I did the right thing to attend the talk. I learn to understand injuries, the preventions and managing them if it happens, I learn some techniques of strength training, and there are also what and how to eat and drink correctly for runners, lastly about the risk a runner face when running a marathon, why some runner died running. It was 3 hours well spend, at least I learn to run the right way, rather than sacrificing health for fitness.



Back home in the evening my wife suggested a family run, and so every member including my youngest daughter was at my usual running spot, and amazingly, she did 800 meters. Not bad for the first run of a 4 years old, really.

This is really one memorable Sunday in my life, not only did it motivate me to take a wider step in running towards my dream, it also marks a milestone in the family’s healthier lifestyle.

Guard Mounting

I planned this outing about 3 week ahead, not that I am too busy but because it only happen once a month. I also did not dare to keep my children inform worrying that they will be bordering me everyday before the event and worse if I have to postpone to the next month. Anyway, when I tell my friends about my plan, they all give a sarcastic smile and a very simple remark, “无聊”.

So, this is it, the Changing of Guard Ceremony at the Istana. This ceremony only happen on the first Sunday of every month.

There are people waiting at the place even earlier than us when we arrive at about 5 pm. I find a good spot for my family to view the ceremony before getting some drinks as we have to stand there for the next 45 minutes.



The old guards match to the main entrance and wait for the new guards’ arrival at 5.40 pm.




At 5.45 pm sharp, the Silent Precision Drill Squad leads the new guards match in with the company of the Military Band. The new guards then started taking over the duty from old guards.







The next thing is the rifle precision drill performance by the Silent Precision Drill Squad which last for about 5 minutes.




At the end of the drill performance, we come to the end of the ceremony as the old guards complete the handing over of duty to the new guards and match off with the military Band.

A New Dream

I started running nearly 3 weeks back, I have not been excising regularly since my R.O.D., so what have trigged this sudden change in my lifestyle? It happens in the last swimming session I had with my elder daughter. As she is still a beginner, I encourage her to challenge herself by swimming the length of the pool. While pacing her, I found that my stamina had deteriorated to an alarming level.

I was a good swimmer in my polytechnic days, I pass my Bronze Medallion test and was a part-time lifeguard of the swimming pool in the polytechnic. Those days were tough, I trained for 8 hour weekly, minimum of 2 km for warming up and 1 km for warming down, but I was at the pink of my health. Though the traning was meant for more advance certification, the Silver Cross, (the test system for lifesaving course have change since then) I did not go for it because of my final year examination.




Now, I have got my wife and my daughters to start running with me. And to give myself some encouragement and determination to continue and excel further, I brought myself a pair of last season’s Asics Kayano from Royal Sporting House for $160, I know it is funny but this is the first time I spent this much for a pair of running shoe. In fact, I did some research and ask around for advice before throwing in my money. I was quite surprise with the recommendations from my friends, brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Fila were not in the list, instead the popular suggestion were New Balance and Asics. Interestingly, I feel that the money was well spend after just one run, beside being comfortable, the aches on my knee and ankles have subside substantially.

I am now running 3 times a week and have more confident with my improving fitness. Being a non-runner half my life, I hope that soon, I would be able to run a half-marathon, maybe even a full marathon with my wife and children.

The Third Terminal

I was invited to an open house with my family on Sunday. It was a unique one, an open house of the Terminal 3, at the Singapore Changi International Airport.




The basic facilities were completed, but the whole place was undergoing renovation of the tenant’s shop lots. Being an engineering guy, the first thing I notice was of course the building services in the terminal. The roof of the building was covered with skylights which allow sunlight to penetrate and light up the place, there are very minimum light fittings in the main hall. Then there were air-conditioning outlet that is build very low above the ground, this contribute to energy saving since the system only need to cool the lower space where the human traffic is, rather than the whole hall which is easily 10 meters high. I also see more architectural features and lots of indoor plants at every corner as compare to terminal 1 & 2.





While my wife find the trip bore, I treat as just another family outing, the children and me enjoy ourselves take photo and playing catching in the big hall.

A CHILDREN’s Garden In Botanic

I was very tired yesterday. I did not get enough sleep the night before, and what welcomes at my work site me was intense task to be rushed. I intended to write about my Sunday trip to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden with my kids, but my memory had failed me, that was why I am only writing it today. I learn about the garden only about a week back, and since my wife have a weekend assignment (road show), the trip would keep them occupied for the weekend and also give them a break before they settle down for their preparation of year-end examination.



As I was not familiar with this area, I parked at the car park near the Singapore Botanic Garden visitor center. Following the maps and the road signs, we walk about 20 minute to the garden within the park vicinity.



The greenery is something children cannot appreciate, while I enjoy my slow walk toward the garden, my kids would hassle me about the long walk and keep asking me, “我们到了吗?” So along the way I would talk to them about the plants, and took photos for them to kill their boredom.




The place is quite well planned for the children visitors. There is a controlled entrance which is guarded, the guard is meant to ensure that children in the garden are accompanied by adult since the entry is free. There are children’s toilets and drinking points, and the canteen is right outside the garden with little chairs and tables.






The garden is separated into many stations like water-play area, cave, suspension bridge, tree house, maze, etc. With its size and the variety of play area, it could easily keep the children busy for at least half a day, especially the water-play area. As I did not prepare extra clothing for the children, plus the weather was very sunny, we left the place after only 2 hours. Now, things got tough for me and the children, they were too exhausted to take the walk back to my car but there are not alternative, so the daddy (that’s me) has to lure, encourage, push and pull them along.



This is a picture of my youngest daughter learning how to drink from the water point on her own.



On the way back, we pass by the big pond where we had an encounter with the black swan.



When we reach the visitor center at last, we took a rest before we goes off. And we manage to spot and snap a picture of a squirrel hanging around our rest area.