"the miracle is not that you finished but that you have the courage to start." -singaporemarathon

guess what? i'm going to take part in the singapore marathon half marathon event again this year. i've called skg along since he expressed interest in it last year when he follow me to the event. now i'm thinking if i should make army half marathon (AHM), which is in september, a training ground into the dec 7 event. this time round, my aim is a 1hr 45mins finish. it's a 30mins cut from last year run. i'm confident of doing it but this aim shall be reviewed again next month. my training is going to start tomorrow and i'm still looking for a place in air force school where i can do my long distance training. i don't want to leave all the long runs till weekends because i know it will be hard for me to accomplish them. it feels so good that i finally decided to start training again, to rekindle the aspiration to do an ironman and to have a healthier lifestyle. previously, before i know about the beginning of registration for singaporemarathon, i had basically no aim or goal to start a training. excuses override the urge to train.

have you guys read about the true spirit of Tour de France? it's amazing. it's true that all athletes wants to win. however, if i were to ask, do you know what is US postal service team? do you know the team members? now try this. do you know who's Lance Armstrong? at the end of the tour, the whole world regconises Armstrong without realising that the team of eight is actually more important as they protect and shield Armstrong all the way to the mountain races where he will take the lead to the finish. it's a strategy. the manager jolly well know that there are better cyclist than Armstrong in the team but he delegate the job of shielding Armstrong to these cyclist. i wish i can understand the whole stategy. all i know is that it would be a advantage to have a strong climber shielded so that he can reach the mountain stages fresh. this year, when the Tour de France ends, clap for not only the man in the yellow jersey, clap for everybody in his team.

"a man's worth is not seen through his ability to excel in comfort and conveniences but his ability to survive through controversy and competition."

ha. i felt as though i matured alot this week. i was exposed to the sad part of life. i understand and finally accepted that this is not an ideal world and definitely not a world which is perfect. evil and greed are still in everyone of us. i've seen how people decided to quit though they love their jobs but hated the politics. can you imagine how cruel that is. when you finally find something you love and other factors have to be in your way. i have also seen and realised how interest can bring us nowhere in the world today. how one needs to commit to family and forgo one's dream. how one needs to have a total change in environment for the pursuit of the letter 'M'. also, would you believe me if i tell you that the world is ruled by the letter 'M' than love? for guys, don't be so foolish to think that the girl who say she want to be with you in times of ups and downs is really going to stay with you for life. money and luxury is what they are all after. maybe there's a few who ain't like this. if you don't trust me, trust a lady who's engaged.

how many of us today actually take death as a natural process than a failure in life? by this i don't include those who happily eat peanuts and play 'mahjong' away at wake. those who see it's a natural process because they have less burden. we see a toddler walk and slowly mature to a adult. we felt happy that the kid is growing up. why can't we feel the same when someone actually pass away?(for the matter of fact, i still can't handle deaths). the chinese phase of "birth", "aging", "ill" and "death" make it sounds as if it will be so easy for us to accept this cycle of life. maybe it's just simply due to the fact the we are living, we view death as our enemy. "he fail to overcome death". statements like this ought to be removed.

also, for those who question the reasons why the iranian twins decided to go for the separation admist all risks, hold your breath. one day, when you are one of them, you will realise. for all of us out there, do not make judgement of others or question the way others do things. we do not live in the same situation.

the last two paragraph are actually sort of a summary from two columns i read in "The Straits Times". btw, i still like the tatoo i saw on a character in "charlie's angels-full throttle". it reads "only god judges me". this four words ran through my mind before i give any judgements and yes, they did reduce probable friction.

"attitude will determine your altitude."

yet another inspiring qoute from commander ocs. this is self-explanatory i guess. but the important point here to note is that the altitude here is talking about long term and permanent altitude, not temporary achievements. alot of us have, in one way or another, got away with results by putting in minimal effort. this is a bad attitude with a temporary altitude. in the long run, this is not going to bring us high up.

i have just heard from my friend, who is giving home tuition, that her primary2 student (8years old) has been watching pornography. geez! isn't this shocking? shouldn't we reflect on how technology and information overload have affect us and our morals? an innocent 8 years old mind is corrupted just like that. this is sad. very sad. not only that, this student of hers has also been stealing from her and his mum knows about it! atrocious. what is this world becoming of. what happen to the upbringing?

"if he be courteous and gracious to strangers, then he's the citizen of the world."

a qoute i read on the new North East line. a line which provide much more convenient for me.

now, i pass out from air force service term, ocs, officially. i guess i will miss the monthly commander's parade. not exactly the parade itself though i do enjoy the three i had in the previous months. i was the contingent commander and i get to hold the sword. why would i mind? more likely i miss those lenghty but yet meaningful speech by commander. i remember him talking about "personal mastery" on the second speech. the first speech i was too tired to remember anything. personal mastery is all about self-discipline. can't exactly say what it is but i'm going to buy the book about these to read.

core value of the month for july is 'ethics'. he talked to us about "doing right above looking good" and "service above self".i guess i don't have to elaborate on the latter but the former is pretty interesting. i don't know how to fully explain it in a manner as clear as how commander explain it to us, but i think the following example which i observed over the weekend will be able to illustrate it. i was on the bus heading home before i heard this empty bottle drop on the floor. it landed somewhere near the door. i guess the owner is sitting quite far back as everyone look back. i assume no one is going to pick up tt bottle. however when the bus reach this busstop, i saw this young man walking up to the exit and picked up the bottle before he alight. geez. i was thinking, even if that's my bottle i will not be bother to pick it up coz i will be so embarrased. blocking the exit just to pick up a bottle i drop like 20minutes ago? i wouldn't look good. but that young man did what was right. he care more about doing right than looking good. i questioned my morals that night.

commander also taught us how officers should have a cool head, warm heart and hot hands. we must always have a calm mind, a caring heart and always be on the ball. last of all, i will also not forget all the debates the childish trainees had with the mature course instructor.