Reminisces

Been wanting to pen down all the significant things that happened this year for me ... more for safe-keeping (considering I have really bad memory!) and reflections. Upon reading Loti's post, I am just even more inspired to write .... so here goes ... a draft ... which prolly will remain so ... :P

January
A brand new year, brand new job. Into the job for 1 month and still grappling with the culture and all.

My first blood donation. Read in the papers that supply is dwindling fast, especially during the CNY period and blood bank is appealing to all (those applicable) to donate. I remembered going there during one of my lunch hour, very rush and had to keep hurrying the nurse to finish up as I had to go back to work. :P

Chinese New Year. My favourite time of the year. Nope, not for the ang baos & definitely not for the visiting! Just enjoyed the festivity of it all and of course the feasting! YUMZ!! Love my pastries ... tarts ! :P But funny, i'm one who loves the crust and not the filling (think pineapple tarts, i like the crust with just a bit of the pineapple filling, not too overwhelming) ... and the loveletters! *drool*

February

Went Phuket for my department retreat. First time in Phuket and did a lot of shopping there. Quite fun. Enjoyable time.

Was too lazy to go to the gym the entire month and my last run was on CNY's eve, so decided to re-start my running. Went into SGRunners forum and found that they have a weekly CBD run, just right near to my workplace! Ok, no reason not to join the run so thick-skinly asked to join the run on 28th Feb 2006. (I just went to the forum to check when was the first run I joined and found to my surprise that when I first post in the CBD run thread, we were at page 19 and how we have grown! We are now at page 280!!)

Still remembered my apprehension about going for the run on 28th Feb, I was in such a dilemma. I'm not a sociable person, I surely do not know how to mingle in a crowd full of strangers!! How ? Shall I or shall I NOT go ?? I was 2 minds about it even at 6+pm, deciding whether to change and get down to meet the runners. Thankfully good friend Allan was online and encouraged me to just go for it. Oh boy am I GLAD I went down for the run!!! I met a bunch of very friendly and wonderful people and as the saying goes, the rest is history :)

I have pretty vivid memories about my first CBD run. I went down in my running attire and just my staff pass in hand. As I was crossing the road I saw a fellow runner going towards the CBD gathering point. It was only later that I found out that was Philip. Got to the starting point and I introduced myself to the group of runners (can't remember who liao). All seemed harmless hehe .. Trying to recall who I met that day ... Tiwazz, Charlotte, Meteor, Ronnie (?), Philip, Nemo (now known as Loneshark), Realrunner, Kops (now known as tigger), megahunk IMD.

Charlotte and Meteor were really nice and friendly, both chatting with me before the run and making me feel at ease. My first impression of the group was that everyone had known one another for ages so was really surprised when I found out several runs later that some only joined not long before me. Its this camaraderie that really attracted me. And of course, everyone being life-time members of the k3 (kek kek klub) all reassured me that they run VERY slowly and that I need not worry. When the run proceeded, everyone (including charlotte!! -_-") just zoomed off leaving me biting the dust. But of course, Meteor and Tiwazz were really really kind to keep me company throughout the run, until the very last leg of the run (when I was already near-collapse) when Meteor decided to sprint ahead with Philip. I was about to give up but the ever patient Tiwazz took over and accompanied me all the way back to the starting point. I was REALLY embarrassed about being so slow and slowing Tiwazz down but he was very gallant and kind about it and wouldn't hear any of my apologies. What an angel.

While stretching and cooling down, Kops who was there to act as jaga for our bags, gave us nice cold 100+ to quench our thirst. I remembered feeling very impressed with people like Kops. He wasn't running that night (tapering week for the upcoming marathon that weekend) and hence was there solely to help jaga our bags and even so, he bought us 100+! I was thinking to myself, wow! this bunch of people is fantastic!! I remembered leaving the run feeling very glad that I joined the run and meeting such a fun group of people.

I was still wondering whether to join their subsequent runs (not very nice to keep slowing people down) but was encouraged when I next login to the forum and saw Meteor and Charlotte and the gang warmly welcoming me to join them for subsequent runs. THANKS everyone! Without your urging I think I would have thought twice about going again ...

March
HSP Run - Idea mooted by Nemo (now known as Loneshark). Was a great idea and I jumped on the chance to have more running sessions with the group. Met JT, FBB, Patrick, Mythos there. In our inaugural run, we even have Tiwazz & IMD to grace the event!! And IMD event ran back to the West from Sengkang!!! *faint* Not one familiar with long distance running, my jaw almost dropped when I heard that the megahunk was running home from Sengkang! Sure, I'm a DR but I still know Sengkang to the west is very far lo!!! :P

25th March - Missed the SGRunners organised Sunrise run. Didn't have the guts to try out the 10km route coz I was quite sure I would have ponchet halfway into the run. But I was really really itching to go for such a run coz I think it would be just simply fantastic to be able to run (especially in a group) and to catch the sun rise. Got my dream fulfilled when Tiwazz reassured me that I can do this sunrise run. Boy was he right! We met in Tanjong Pagar MRT in the early Sat morning. I met many of the SGRunners whom I didn't get to see during the CBD runs. Met Alvo, Run3, Taz di di and choon wei for the first time!

end Mar - found some unpleasant truth. Sadness swept me away momentarily but thankfully I have a wonderful friend in Allan who was with me at my darkest hour. THANK YOU so much, Allan (though I know you wouldn't bother to read my blog -_-" hehe) Thanks for being there for me, when I myself didn't know I needed a shoulder to cry on so badly. Eternally grateful. :) And I'm still waiting to meet ur gf! Way overdue liao hor!!! :P

April
23 Apr - West-to-East-Midnight-Run
My longest run ever thus far!!! Again I have to thank Tiwazz for reassuring me about this run. My intent was also to just run as much as I can and then take a cab home when I ponchet. I just found this run too interesting to miss so I just went for it not knowing much what to expect. Met the "westerners" at Jurong Point at midnight. It was indeed a very "massive-scale" operation and I have to kowtow to IMD for organising the run and getting everything together.

The "westerners" met the "northerners" (who ran from Yishun) at Orchard CK Tang and a big group of us chit chatted in the middle of the nite, outside CK Tang and even took a big group photo. In retrospect I wonder how come we were never stopped by the police haha :P

First time meeting Andy, Cfred, Roentgen.

Very proud of myself for hanging in there and running & walking all the way to ECP only finally giving up at the MacDonalds! :P Remembered some candid moments like Charlotte with her 7-11 plastic bag hanging from her elbow while she enjoyed her ice cream. Also remembered her offering me her almond biscuit near ECP when I complained about being hungry, and Roentgen stopping to wait for us gals while we enjoyed our biscuits & drinks :P

Met the towering figure Sotong at ECP while we were having breakfast. Had a very enjoyable time.

Interval Training at HSP - Nope, I did no such thing. It was a day after the JP Morgan Chase run. So I joined the HSP gang. While they did their intervals (patiently guided by Patrick), I merely ran a few laps. That night, I met Teelee & Shutehelup for the very first time. Also saw Taz running bare footed on the track. I was thinking this guy is nuts lo :P well, I wasn't very far off since he signs off as InsaneT@Z :P

May
First outing with SGRunners where the objective isn't to run! Celebrated JT's birthday with some of the runners and even Choon Wei turned up!

12 May - Vesak Day Sentosa Run. Another memorable run!! This is a run that almost didn't happen! It was pouring close to 5pm and the group of us were online discussing whether to call off (albeit reluctantly) the run. Just as we had called off the run, the sky cleared and we immediately sprung into action. Everyone was informed to meet at said time and off we went. My first time running into Sentosa, it was really fun and I remembered one part of the trail was pretty dark and I had to use my dopod as a torch light. Still remembered poor teelee who forgot to bring his running shoes and only found out when we were halfway to the meeting point. Could see the disappointment in his face .. poor fellow ...but he learnt his lesson and his TLV always have a pair of running shoes now hehe

Injured my leg (shin) and had to stop running....

X-Men - Went to Great World City to watch X-Men with a big group of the SGRunners. We later proceeded to Suntec for shopping and ended the fun day with B&J ice cream! YUMZ! Also had a chance to chit chat with the young boys like Cokie.






June
Resumed running on 10 June with the HSP gang accompanying me on a short run. I felt very blessed to have these wonderful runners keeping me company on my recovery run after one month's hiatus. This run also marks the very first post on my public blog...

By now the CBD runs have attracted a pretty big group. Lots of BD celebrations it seemed.

During CBD run, we celebrated Tiwazz's BD. The following week, we celebrated Roentgen's & IMD's bd. Both of them shared the same birth date (not the same year though).

I remembered at one point the CBD group totalled about 30-40 runners! Its HUGE!!!

SGRunners 1st Anniversary !! I am honoured to be part of this meaningful event. Had loads of fun running around ECP with Andy as my partner. Was a very memorable event and feel very happy to be part of this one big happy SGRunners family. To many more great years ahead, SGRunners!

Charity Fund Raising for HWA - The idea to raise funds for charity was mooted by Aichai. Roentgen & Aichai spoke about it and decided to rope in a few of us CBD runners. I gladly joined in as I have been wanting to contribute & volunteer my time for the longest time ever. After getting a few interested parties involved, we kicked off the charity drive on 21 June 2006, by having a meeting at this very exclusive place *sweat buckets*

Next half coming up ...