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It has been a long time since I am updating my blog. This June has been like a roller coaster month for me.

It started the month with lots of running, firstly the exotic night marathon with my IPPT 2 days later which I failed my 2.4 by 4 seconds. Back in army, IPPT 5 items, the usual standing board jump, pull up, shuttle run and sit up are never a problem to me. But once out of army, exercise and keeping fit soon become a very foreign words to me. While struggling to finish my static station, I still manage to get all 5 points but my 2.4km was a pain. I started running as if I am still a commando active solider, one round in Maju almost killed me. My leg almost refuse to run and my breath was never enough. In the mids of running, I decieded to adopt a different way of running, to sprint and walk, hopefully it can bring me a margin pass. But I am wrong! With the bad effort, I still fail my 2.4 run and with a messy finishing. I almost burn out all my energy. I have no choice and it is just 3 days before my birthday, I NEED to pass it by 5 June before I will be sent to the remedial training usually known as RT. Quickly, back I home, I login to www.ns.sg hoping that I still can book my IPPT on my very last day. Heng, really heng! 5 June 2008 my final day to prove myself and escape from the time wasting RT.

Decided to rest for next big day and not going to train for it. Decided to use a different strategy, a well design strategy to complete my 2.4km in 11.40 ! Choose not to train but to rest because of the “cross country” night marathon which I had completed 4 days ago. I think my muscle need a good rest to really perform. Yes, need strategy, firstly my last strategy to sprint and run was a bull shit method which almost drain me dry. After much thought decided to further break down my goals to complete before 11.40 into smaller goals, usually I will break down the timing into 3 parta, since in Maju camp I only need to run 3 rounds, I will have 3 timing to complete so that I can complete in the desire time I wanted. But I realised this strategy can be further improve by further breaking down into smaller goals and much achiever able timing.

So My final strategy, 8 different timing and to start slow and slowly increase to a comfortable constant speed as long as my timing is met every 400meter. This strategy successful stop me from stopping and leaving great energy for my last 200 meter sprint. I know i made it but not sure what is my timing, and when I collect my result slip and I was SHOCK and a bit disappointed. Why am i disappointed? It show 11.04 which is 4 second to silver awards, 4 seconds more to extra $100. Oh man, I cannot believe I can be so close, in fact my goals was to complete between 11.30-1140. But nevertheless, I passed and escaped the time wasting RT.

Lesson learn after some reflection of myself with this simple IPPT. Sometime we limit ourselves due to our past experience, in the past few IPPT, my 2.4 timing was always between 11.30- 11.50. And I believe that without training, it is impossible for me to achieve Silver award timing which is under 11 minutes. I limit myself with my self belief, but this last IPPT proved to me that I can easily achieve a better timing. Because of this reflection, I decided to always impact and challenge my belief system to BELIEVE I can do much better than what I think I can or cannot.

6 June my big day, my darling bring me to the southern side of Singapore for a rejunevating and relaxing holiday SPA in one of the most luxury resort in Sentosa. The morning didn’t start smoothly because some unexpected stuffs to be completed before I can go link up with my darling. But everything was put aside after some cooling time. We drove to Sentosa and checkin into the 5 star hotel resort. This is my first time staying over in Sentosa. We were warmly greeted and brought to our room. http://www.thesentosa.com/

The room was fantastic and well furnish with a luxury and posh theme. The super king size bed look so comfortable and soft that make us want to jump onto it right away but something stop us! Photo taking first, haha, silly me didn’t bring my Canon Power Shot digital camera along. So we can only take some picture using our phone and PDA. Because we check in quite late, soon we have to prepare for our SPA session at SPA Botentica . Spa Botanica, a 6,000 sq m tropical garden spa, is the first of its kind in Singapore. http://www.spabotanica.com/

We took a short walk, and soon we were well oriented to the entire spa by the friendly staff before we head to our individual changing room to get started. We are hungry, so our spa session started with a light meal before our free and easy relax mud pool. We took our meal in our swim wear and accompany by a huge hungry peacock. Anyway, I ordered a dish call Kingfish Sashimi.

Until now I am still drownling on it. It was well prepared by the chief with a special sauce. Great dish and it is a MUST TRY if you are a Sashimi lover.

After the meal we proceed to use the Mud Pool, The Labyrinth and Swimming Pool at the Spa Gardens. The mud pool is something very new to us. Imagine covering yourself in mud?

This is not the dirty mud in the soccer field after a heavy rain. These are mud imported from Australia volcano which said to be very good to our skins with lots of benefits. Overall fun experience , especially taking off the mud in the warm jacuzzi pool with darling.

After much fun, we proceed to our 2 hour of Spa treatment in a couple room. it is an out door rain forest tropical theme. As usual, I always fall asleep during Spa treatment. After the relaxing treatment, we proceed back to our room and enjoy ourselves before dinner time.

I deiced to pay a visit to one of the most prestigious restaurant in Sentosa. The Cliff, Designed by famed Japanese designer, Yasuhiro Koichi, The Cliff sets new standards in the culinary arts. Perched on a cliff overlooking the South China Sea and blessed with gentle breezes, this alfresco style restaurant is a heaven for connoisseurs of fine seafood and wine. The menu reflects the creative spirit of our Chef de Cuisine Shawn Armstrong who prepares his dishes with a distinct modern French flair.

We ordered a few of their signature dishes even though the serving was reasonable, after the meal we feel extremely full. Great place to dine in but you must be prepare for the bill, got my hint. Haha!

After an relaxing night, we headed back home the next day. Brought my relatives to No Sign Board for a meal, really feel bad didn’t bring the out to tour around for this visit to Singapore. Hope they understand =)

Next day was a running day for me again. 15KM Passion Run at east coast. Woke up 5am and reached east coast with my car fully loaded. A group of us including my sister and kelvin, geng hui and of course my darling took part in the passion run, lucky for us to find a parking load but have to walk 1 km to the start point. I started the run with Kelvin, but after 4KM i begin to fall back slightly as I couldn’t follow his pace since it is still not even half way of the run, i decided to maintain my peace throughout the race rather than pushing to the limit which had been proven in the previous IPPT not workable at my current fitness. Even though I still walk a few distance along the entire run, I still manage to push myself and completed the race 3 minutes more than my targeted timing. I completed my 15KM in 1 hour 33 minute. Despite not achieving my timing, I still feel great since i push hard for the run, after all I did my best and I know I can do better.

After all had completed the races, we toured the sport fair for awhile before we headed back home. Back home I was too tired and fall asleep almost immediately after washing up! It had been a great running week for me.

42KM Night Marathon 2 X IPPT and one 15KM Run all in 7 days! 3 Cheers for myself! But I still need a good rest! I am no longer as fit as my Commando days.