Nothing much to blog about at the moment, except for the news of the death of this Yr1 RJC student by the name of Thaddeus Cheong. He died when his heart apparently stopped beating shortly after he PBed his Olympic Distance Triathlon with a timing of 2hr9min. It was a SEA games qualifying time trial organised by TAS, a 1st in a series of 2 qualifying races. His timing was under the 2min12hr cut off, which would allow him to go on to the final selection race, the Osim Triathlon.

As I read the Straits Times about it, well, it felt a bit surreal but then again it is very much a posibbility. One of those others who was doing the time trial and was interviewed by the paper was "Sunny", known to most in NUS as one of the fastest runners in NUS / Eusoff Hall, and this Thaddeus was described by him to be looking better than ever before on the run. It certainly is wierd how his heart could just simply stop.

A news report later that night interviewed another endurance sports veteran who I heard from my canoeing teammates was one of Mr Yong's acquaintances. Well, he's actually a member of my church too, who works as a reporter. I didn't really watch the report but my mom did quote him as suggesting endurance sports be taken up only when one is 20yrs and above. I think there is some truth in there. When I was 17, completing even 5km felt really long, and even my cross country friends showed signs of fatigue coping with their 15km runs. Based on a rough estimate, 15km would take them slightly over an hour, no where near the 2hrs plus you would have to endure for an Olympic Distance Triathlon. Furthermore the intensity at which these young athletes race at is quite astounding. Last year I did a 2hr27min without specific training, but to go faster than me by 18 whole minutes would require a 10 min faster swim (quite possible for a competitive swimmer) and an 8 min faster run (which is a 40min 10k). I think the hard part would be the 40mins 10k after a 22min 1.5km swim and an equivalent cycle as mine.

Life sure is fragile. I remember the close calls when vehicles whizz past me in the opposite direction. The relative velocity would probably approach 100kmh, with me going at 40 and the vehicle at 60. A lapse of concentration and I would surely be in my grave. Yikes. I think I will stick to the inside of the lane the next group ride...

On another note today I did a double session of paddling, but it was only 10k in the evening. But that 10k was enough to make me realise a few things. I'm a lot more stable in the wierd red/black raptor, and I am lacking stroke length and glide still. Barely keeping up with aaron sometimes, and can't hold both Wenyang's maintenance and sprint. But that's the whole point of the double session, to make up the difference if possible.

At this rate I won't be learning any driving, won't be swimming, and won't be running long runs more than once a week.

I wish I had more time/energy.