An much anticipated event of the year - Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008.

DECEMBER 07 2008. 5:06AM: Arrived at Padang, making way to the Start Point.

5:22AM: Merged into the crowd getting ready for the gun to start our marathon (42.195KM) run.

5:30AM: *BANG* Embarked into the route of my first full marathon attempt.

Felt nervous, but what can I do? I can’t back off any moment till I reach the Finish Point.

Kept my momentum going, and as far as my leg can catch up with the turbo.

Strategy 1: Every 10KM or 1-hour, allowance to slow down. I am glad that I was able to sustain through 12KM before I start to lower down my pace. Upon second set, failed!

Strategy 2: Every 5KM or 30-minutes, grant allowance. After two sets, it failed! Worried as I reached the turning point (21KM) of the run at end of East Coast Park and I have merely half completed the run! Shrugs!

Strategy 3: Every 2KM or 15-minutes, grant allowance. After one attempt, it failed! My heart sunken, my legs weighed tonnes heavier..

Loads of things running through my mind..

I asked myself, why did I even attempt this Full Marathon when I have merely participated in thrice Half-Marathon? Why do I go ahead with the run when I did not train for the event at all?

“Should I give up now? But my legs can’t stop moving forward.. HELP!”

Upon every KM I have come across since then, I felt like crying.

My inspiration to complete no matter how tough the remaining journey is.. individuals who fight through diseases and disability, what is this little pain I am experiencing compared to theirs? My future depends on me, if I give up now, it means I am giving up my future path too!

Memories flashback emerges again.. my past achievement, my career, my past relationship, my family, my life..

It seems like a long journey ahead as my legs seems to get heavier each step I took. Challenges in life seems to be like the different turns and gravity on the road, intercepting human traffic and the excruciating pain and soreness. “Overcome them, boy! You can do it!” is what I have been telling myself..

I am running.. like never ending.. with the warmth from my family, encouragements from my “ku-ku-na-than” friends..

I saw glimpse of lights, colors and crowd! I hear cheers! “I am here! Yes, I am here!”

Running towards the Finish Point with all my might (though crippling)..

I MADE IT! Oosh! Timing for my debut in Full Marathon (42.195KM) is 6:10:15.

Oh yes, I have forgotten to mention another motivation value for me to complete the run is.. the exclusive Finisher’s Tee! Woohooo!

I am so loving myself for another achievement in life, Finisher’s Tee and Finisher’s Medal! Goes out to individuals who rendered encouragements, and not forgetting MYSELF! Hehe!

I would say, Dimbo loves his third Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon medal too! Look at him! Hehe!

Alright, enough said, time for me to snore now..

“Ahem! by the Beach” - an event for us to “beach” about anything and everything under the sun with a glass of frozen margarita or refreshing mojito at Siloso Beach’s Café del Mar.

Sun good, weather fantastic, party fabulous!

It felt so nice and warm to be back at Café del Mar (as a patron now), got to meet up with some of familiar individuals whom I’ve once worked with.

My MacBook has never fail to stick with me wherever I go, not to mention this day..

Guess what Azlina has been busy doing while the sun kiss every single inch of our bodies? Video chatting with someone over Skype! Gosh!

We had our share of alcohol indulgence which made us blush more..

After some time, Azlina turns emotional. She stood up and sat by the beach on her own during sunset..

Mickey “Mouse” starts to squeek around, while some of us call her “little rodent”. Sshhh..

It is simply amazing to witness how a lady who detests sun so much ends up loving it. Who? Who? Erm..

And camwhoring continues..

Main object is the bottle of Absolut Blue Vodka.

Soon the night falls and time for us to set our feet off..

We had great fun, and the damage of the day is SGD284.83.

OCTOBER 2008 Close-out coincides with Halloween Day! Creepy!

We would pretty much like to create an atmosphere to attract people in to the club, unfortunately people up there has no budget for us. Therefore, our club is plainly quiet on this day which gives a cold eerie feeling though.

To hype up a little, we had our team lunch at the newly opened Harry’s Bar (Fusionopolis).

They serve set lunch. I had a go with a salad as starter, rib-eye steak as main and sinful dessert (which I didn’t manage to taste as I had to rush up for a presentation).

I would say the food there is pretty average, taste could be better and overall service is plain. I would have my meal there again if I want to chill out.

As the night falls, we had wacky ideas to invite the creepy mistress going around scaring members and guests. Before that happens, she did a spa at our nice sky garden..

Gone crazy did I, munching on Front Desk’s microphone! Aarrgghh!

Flipping pages as day goes by just like scribbling on a scrapbook. I want to fill up with colors, attractive graphics, inspiring words and rich experiences.

Somehow, it’s filled with merely three colors instead of seven and jig-saw graphics even though 25 years of my life has passed.

Achievements? Nothing much, compared to peers or people around my age, some are already in managerial positions or Managing Directors. The inferiority in me emerges.

Is it how life wants me to walk through? Even though no matter how much determination I want to path it the way I want it to be?

Sometimes I felt so tired, the energy to fight through is almost used up. I want to rest but was threatened by worse situations may arise.

Luck. I need some to shower over. I want to have a brighter life and provide a better quality of living for my family. I want to be able to go travelling to places like New York City, Boracay, Japan, etc.

I would not want the remaining of my life to repeat what appeared in my scrapbook for the past 25 years. I want to better. I really want to..

Reminiscing..

Certain things due to certain reasons I no longer able to condone for now..

I am so missing being an avid party animal, with all the adrenaline pumping tunes emitting through, and unlimited flow of alcohol in my blood-stream.

I am so missing my dosage of wine and champagne, be it at any function or just over a simple dinner.

I am so missing the varieties of “Wan Dou Sek” dim sum at Geylang, like my favourite siew mai and mugga chrysanthemum tea.

I am so missing the indulgence at Ichiban Sushi, N.Y.D.C., The Soup Restaurant, Coffee Club Xpress, etc.

I am so missing the visual and audio treats in the cinema.

I am so missing my regular trip to Sentosa to receive the love from the sun and the beach, not forgetting with my glassa mojito.

I am so missing..