1ArmRunner

My Dream - Living Life To The Fullest

2012-02-02T05:27:00.002+08:00

Just like anyone, we disabled are no exceptions; we too have dreams. And my dream is living my life to the fullest, living to its full potential and making it a very meaningful journey by helping to raise public-awarness about disability sports, being an inspiration and motivation to others, and helping those in need.

My dream consist of the following:

1. To be an ironman by participating and completing a full ironman triathlon event by 2013.

2. To be a complete ultramarathoner by participating and completing the 4 deserts race including the ultra-trail du mount-blanc by 2014.

3. To participate and compete in major overseas marathons such as the new york marathon, boston marathon, london marathon, berlin marathon and tokyo marathon.

4. To participate and compete in major overseas vertical marathons such as the Taipei 101 International Run Up Race and the Empire State Building Run Up.

5. To set-up a successful business in the sports industry where disabled individuals will be offered positions in the company and part of the monthly company profits will be donated to charity and/or used for good causes such as spnsoring disabled athletes/teams and etc.

However, to make the above-mentioned dreams come true, I'll be requiring help, assistance, donations, pledges, contributions, sponsorships and investments from individuals, groups, corporate organisations, benefactors and investors which I'm currently searching for.

If you are very much interested to help turn my dream into reality, or know of anyone that can, please contact me. And if you would like to donate/pledge, you may use one of the following methods:

Local Bank Funds Transfer

POSB Savings Bank

Bank Code - 7171

Branch Code - 081

Account No. - 052-15804-4

Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer

For US Currency

Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York

Swift Code - irvtus3n

Aba No. - 021000018

A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore

Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer

Non-US Currency

Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809

Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Cheque/Money order

Please make the crossed cheque / money order payable to 'Adam Bin Kamis' and post/mail it to:

'Blk 296, Yishun Street 20, #06-07, Singapore 760296'

Credit/Debit Card

via PayPal - oboogah@gmail.com

Cash

Please contact me.

Currently, I'm having a couple of fundraising projects which are in need of donations, pledges and sponsors:

1. Bike Fundraising Project *urgent*

2. ING New York City Marathon Dream

Please check the above projects out and please help to spread-the-word.

Bike Fundraising Project

2012-02-02T04:35:00.000+08:00

My determination and will power to succeed against all odds and hopefully, one day, realizing one of my dreams: To become an Ironman.

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.

By participating and completing this event, I hope to prove to society that 'Disabled does not mean Unabled, we are in fact THISabled' and at the same time, to raise public-awareness about disability sports, to garner more support and contribution from the public towards disability sports and its athletes, to increase participation of disabled community in sports, and, to inspire and motivate others.

But to be able to accomplished such feat, I require a huge amount of help from individuals, groups and corporate organizations in terms of financial support, products sponsorships and etc, which I'm still searching and seeking.

One of the immediate and urgent help I need is fund to purchase the Cannondale Road Tandem 2 (http://cannasia.com/bike/recreation-urban/tandem/road/road-tandem-2) and cycling accessories. I have less than 3 weeks to raise an amount of SGD5,000, and so far total amount raised is SGD1150.00.

Together with a cycling buddy to help me balance and steer, the bike will allow me to train my cycling and also, allow me to participate in local cycling and triathlon events, and thus allowing me to spread my quest and mission in raising the profile of disability sports and inspiring more people until I'm able to source a modified/customised bike or trike which will allow me to balance and steer by myself.

So if you would like to donate or pledge to the fund-raising project for my bike, you may do so via one of the following methods:

Local Bank Funds Transfer

POSB Savings Bank

Bank Code - 7171

Branch Code - 081

Account No. - 052-15804-4

Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer

For US Currency

Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York

Swift Code - irvtus3n

Aba No. - 021000018

A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore

Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer

Non-US Currency

Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809

Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Cheque/Money order

Please make the crossed cheque / money order payable to 'Adam Bin Kamis' and post/mail it to:

'Blk 296, Yishun Street 20, #06-07, Singapore 760296'

Credit/Debit Card

via PayPal - oboogah@gmail.com

Cash

Please contact me.

All donations and pledges received will be treated with integrity.

If you have any enquiry, question or in need of clarifications, feel free to ask me.

I thank you all in advance for your support and contributions.

Article from My Paper

2012-01-30T13:44:00.000+08:00

January 30 2012

Life's no obstacle for one-armed runner Adam

By Daryll Nanayakara

A horrific motorcycle accident nine years ago severed one of Adam's arms and left the other paralysed.

However, that is not stopping Adam from being the first disabled athlete to take part in Men's Health Ubanathlon on Feb 19.

The freelance graphics designer is determined to tackle the nine obstacles along the 14km course with the help of his younger brother, Kamsani, despite his disability.

The gruelling Urbanathlon is in its third year and will take its men-only participants on an obstacle-course route through the city.

Several new challenges have been added to this year's race, such as Quantum Leap, where participant have to jump over five 1.3m high horizontal beams, and Down and Dirty, where they have to wade across a water hole and a mud pit in skip tanks.

The five fastest contestants in the individual category stand to win prizes worth almost $2,000 to $10,000.

However, for Adam, just being given the chance to participate in the event is a bonus.

He though of taking part in the Urbanathlon two years ago, but decided against it, after considering his condition.

However, after completing the 100km marathon at last year's Sundown Marathon, he decided to revisit the idea of taking on the obstacle course.

"After the 100km run, I thought to myself, 'What's next?', The Urbanathlon seemed like the next step forward in pushing myself," he said.

"It is like a glorified version of the Standard Obstacle Course that I cleared during my national-service days."

The former Guards officer approached the Urbanathlon organiser and got permission to take part, with his younger brother helping him along the course.

They have yet to come up with a plan on negotiating the obstacles. Al they have done so far is analyse illustrations of the course, and hope that everything works out.

"The goal is to overcome the obstacle as much as we can," he said. "It comes with a big risk of injury but using myself as a tool is the only way to do it."

The only obstacle that he will not clear is Monkey Business, as participants are required to swing across four sets of horizontal bars.

"That one requires arm power entirely, and even with my brother helping, there's just no way I can do it." he explained.

Adam, who runs in marathons under the moniker "1ArmRunner", hopes that his participation will pave the way for other disabled athletes to enter such competitions.

He said: "I use myself as a tool to inspire and motivate them. Yes, we cannot compete at the same level as most people but I want to prove to people that we disabled athletes deserve equal opportunities and respect."

The former marine engineer started running in 2008 on the advice of his doctor, in order to build up his stamina and muscle mass in preparation for a complicated 15-hour procedure on his paralysed left arm.

Doctors will need to harvest muscle from his thighs and nerves from his diaphragm for the operation, which is expected to affect his ability to run, eventually.

He will go for the operation in 2014. In the meantime, he aims to run as much as he can.

Every weekend is spent at running events, from short-distance runs to longer ultramarathons, he said.

He trains almost every day, doing interval runs, conditioning exercises and going on loops of up to 35km around the Yishun estate where he lives.

While his devotion to running may seem crazy to some, sports was his main route back to normal life after his accident in 2003.

He said: "In OCS (Officer Cadet School), we were taught to live by our motto - to lead, to excel, and to overcome. We are officers till today and that is what keeps me going."

Next year, Adam intends to take part in a full Ironman triathlon. For this year's Sundown Marathon, he has signed up in three categories: the 10km, the 21km half-marathon, as well as the full marathon.

"(There's a) little bit of crazy in me to keep going, until the fight is over," he said simply.

My ING New York City Marathon Dream

2012-01-30T06:57:00.000+08:00

Last year, I almost had the chance of fulfilling one of my dreams which is to participate in one of the major and exciting overseas marathon event which is the ING New York City Marathon (http://www.nycmarathon.org/). But I felt like the opportunity was robbed from me.

I entered a contest in facebook which was organised by one of the leading local ointment company where participant had to submit an inspirational video about him/herself and also, to explain why he/she deserved to be the winner.

The following is the video that I submitted:

The above-submitted video garnered the highest number of Facebook 'Likes', positive comments and support. However, I suppose I was penalised due to the fact that for the trip and for any overseas trip, I'll be requiring the company of a caregiver to assist me with my daily needs.

Thus, I feel that perhaps the organiser do not want to incur extra cost in having to pay for 2 persons instead of just 1. Therefore, the organiser chose an able-bodied participant as the winner even though the winner's video was in the 2nd position and the support received was miles away compared to my submitted video.

But since the organiser has the rights to make the final decision, I just had to accept it even though many were displeased by the organiser's decision, and some even tried to persuade the organiser to choose me as the winner.

Therefore, for this year, I hope to participate in the marathon event on my own and also, with yours and others help as well as I need to raise a substantial amount of money for the race registration fees, the flight cost, accommodation cost, meals cost and etc.

So if you would like to help make one my dreams come true, and would like to donate, you may do so via one of the following methods:

Local Bank Funds Transfer
POSB Savings Account
Bank Code - 7171
Branch Code - 081
Account No. - 052-15804-4
Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
For US Currency
Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York
Swift Code - irvtus3n
Aba No. - 021000018
A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
Non-US Currency
Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Cheque/Money Order
Please make the crossed cheque / money order payable to 'Adam Bin Kamis' and post/mail it to:
'Blk 296, Yishun Street 20, #06-07, Singapore 760296'

Credit/Debit Card
via PayPal - oboogah@gmail.com

Cash
Please contact me.

All donations received will be treated with integrity.

If you have any enquiry, question or in need of clarifications, feel free to ask me.

I thank you all in advance for your support and contributions.

Standing for a Cause

2011-10-20T18:12:00.003+08:00

Mediacorp

10th Subaru Impreza WRX Challenge 2011

(The Asian Face-Off)

Official Website: http://xinmsn.com/CarChallenge2011/

Location: Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, Orchard Road, Singapore (See Map)
Date: Saturday, October 29 2011
Time: 1pm
Organised by: Mediacorp Pte Ltd
Main Sponsor: Motor Image Enterprises

This year, Mediacorp Subaru Impreza WRX Challenge will be celebrating its 10th year since it began back in 2002. This challenge is a joint initiative by Motor Image Enterprises and MediaCorp Pte Ltd. This event is the region's most anticipated endurance challenge where it test the contestants mind and body to the limit and beyond.

Participants will pit their ultimate endurance skills to outlast each other. They will have to battle against harsh weather conditions, sleep deprivation, hunger and thirst and keep their right palms firmly on the Subaru Impreza cars. They will be given a five minute break once every six hours – at 1pm, 7pm, 1am and 7am. The last individual left standing with his or her palm still on the car will walk away with a grand prize of a Subaru Impreza WRX 2.5 MT Hatchback worth S$92,800 (without Certificate Of Eentitlement), additional titles and cash prizes.

Now in its 10th year, the event will bring together a total of 10 countries to the competition, making it the largest regional challenge in its history. This year, two new countries, Cambodia and Macau will participate in the challenge. They will compete with contenders from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

Besides vying for the grand prize, regional contestants will also compete for three additional titles and cash prizes. The title of Country Winner will go to the last standing representative of each participating regional country, with a cash prize of S$1,000. The last regional contestant standing will win the Asian Winner title and walk away with S$5,000 in cash. The Country Team Winner title with a cash prize of S$10,000 will be awarded to the country that holds the longest standing time (combined from all 10 representatives of the same country).

To mark the Challenge'’s 10th anniversary and Radio's 75th anniversary, there will be a special "Unfinished Business" category. For the very first time, 10 ex-contestants from Singapore who have clocked 75 hours and above in a previous challenge will be given direct entry to compete with the best from the region.

To make it the event even more special, I'll be taking part in the challenge and I'll be the first physically-challenged contestant. My aim of participaiting in such a gruelling contest is not merely to challenge my own ability and limit, but to prove to everyone that 'Disabled does not mean Unabled' and at the same time, to raise public-awareness about disability sports and also, to raise funds for Mr. Md. Noor Azri and his family through pledges.

(A brief story about Mr. Md. Noor Azri. In 2007, Mr. Md. Noor Azri met with an unfortunate tragic accident during his school extra-curricular activity that left him with half-a-skull, half-paralysed body and partial blindness. He was just 16 years old then. Right now, his family is appealing for help to raise money to help with the medical expenses and they are also, hoping to raise enough money to send Mr. Md. Noor Azri to Germany to seek further medical treatment in the hope that he will be able to regain some independency. You can find out more through their website, http://victorianazri.blogspot.com/)

The road to qualifying and be eligible for this exciting event has not been easy for me as at first, the organiser put a stop to my application as they deemed it was not feasible for me to partcipate due to my disability and also because of that, they deemed the event too strenuous and unsafe for my well-being and health.

I was devastated and disappointed as I always believe that we should not be disqualify because of our disability, and thus, I shared my thoughts and feelings by uploading it through my status on facebook. And to my surprise, I had a lot of positive support from family members, friends and even strangers. A few of them even wrote-in to Mediacorp and Motor Images to request that I be allowed to participate based on my accomplishments in the running and swimming scenes, and also based on my fortitude and determination.

After receiving such rousing support from many people, Mediacorp responded and Mr. Steven Choo, Assistant Vice-President (English Programming), MediaCorp and Chairperson for the event, and his colleague, Ms. Sandra, arranged to meet me personally to know more about me.

It was a brief meeting but after knowing more about me, Mr. Steven, decided to allow me to participate in the event and even asked me whether I need any special assistance during the event but I decline as I want to compete in the challenge fair-and-square with other contestants without having the privilege of special treatment. The only exception is that I'm allowed to place my half-opened left palm on the car instead of having a flat, opened right palm.

Though I know winning the event is not going to be easy as last year's winner, Mr. Aloysius Lim did a standing time of 75 hours and 17 minutes and the current record, which was set in 2008 by another Singaporean, Mr. George Lee, at a standing time of 81 hours and 32 minutes, I'm truly excited and looking forward to the day of the event and I have to thank the support of my family members, friends, strangers, Mediacorp, Mr. Steven and Ms. Sandra for making it happen. Thank you so much once again.

See all of you at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza from Saturday, October 29 2011, at 1pm onwards. I look forward to your presence, support and cheer, and I hope to be there at least till Monday.

One last thing, please donate generously to Mr. Md. Noor Azri and his family to help them with the medical expenses. No amount is too small. Your contribution will go a long way.

For donation via bank funds transfer -

Md. Noor Azri B. Abd. Rahman
POSB Savings a/c no : 209-44396-1

For donation via paypal -

noorazri91@hotmail.com

President's Star Charity 2010

2011-10-19T19:31:00.000+08:00

President's Star Charity 2010

Article from The Straits Times

2011-10-19T18:50:00.001+08:00

October 30 2010

I still watch Motor GP and F1. Totally love speed.

Disabled athlete made a comeback after losing arm in motorbike crash.

By Kevin Lim

THE accident was seven years ago but former marine engineer Adam still can’t get it out of his head, still can’t work out just how he lost his right arm. Mr Adam, can reel off the sequence of events with ease. He was riding his 200cc Phantom motorcycle at no more than 90kmh near the Yishun exit on the Seletar Expressway (SLE).

He was heading to work in Tuas, where he maintained ship engines, and was way ahead of his 5.30am start time. Just after 4am, he was startled by what he thought was “a black dog” dashing out from the forested areas flanking the SLE and across his lane. He instinctively swerved to avoid the dog but lost control of his bike, slammed into the metal railing on the road shoulder and was thrown off his motorcycle.

“When I came crashing down on the railing, my arm got stuck at the right shoulder point... and (it) just snapped off at the shoulder joint,” recalled Mr Adam, a former SAF Guards officer. He stayed conscious after rolling about 30m to 50m but struggled for almost an hour before one of the very few passing cars stopped to call an ambulance. “Because of the adrenalin rush, I didn’t know my arm was already snapped off and amputated on the spot,” he said. As he lay in his own blood and watched his detached arm dangling on the railing, he resolved to stay awake. “I kept telling myself if I were to sleep, I might end up sleeping forever. I needed to stay alive and tell my mum what happened,” he said.

Doctors at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) re-joined the arm later that day but the reattachment was short-lived. The injury was just too severe and complications like infection and bleeding arose. “Despite all our efforts, his condition became critical and the arm was finally removed to save his life,” said Dr Tan Soo Heong, a visiting senior consultant at SGH’s department of hand surgery. Not only was his right arm gone, but also his left arm was so badly damaged that it was paralysed. All this from Mr Adam’s first and only motorcycle accident. “It dawned on me that things can’t be normal,” he said to himself in the hospital. It wasn’t just the dreadful physical injuries that he had to deal with. There was also a sense of “Why me?”“I rode safely and yet still met with an accident,” he said.

The polytechnic graduate with a diploma in marine engineering found himself withdrawing from others for a year after the crash, then battling feelings of envy. “You see your friends getting a good career, a good life. Being a human being, you still want relationships, but...being in this state, not having a stable income, how can you go on dates and (all) that?” Despite her anaemic condition, Adam’s mother Aminah Jumaat has been taking care of him full-time for the past seven years. “It has totally changed my life as I have to stop working and cut off my social life almost completely so that I can care for him 24/7,” said the former production operator.

“As a mother, I have to be and stay strong so I can provide him with the best support and care possible.” Sdam’s brother Anuar, the sole breadwinner. He is an auxiliary police officer with Sats. Their younger brother, Kamsani, is training to be a flight attendant. For them, Mr Adam snapped out of it. “Life has to move on, I just have to try to be as normal as possible. That’s when I started contacting my friends,” he said.

There was a turn for the better a year ago with a ground-breaking contralateral operation that involved implanting the existing good nerves in his right stump into his left arm. He is believed to be the only person in the world who has undergone such an extensive procedure. This has enabled movement, however minimal, in Mr Adam’s left arm. It enables him to earn some cash – a chopstick in mouth and a mouse underfoot – editing reports for marine engineering firm Man Diesel and doing freelance Web and graphic design at home.

He also picks up orders for T-shirt printing to help supplement the family income and meet medical bills.

But sport has been his main route back to a meaningful life. He was a keen athlete at school and resumed running in July 2008 to strengthen his legs and improve his stamina for operations. Four months later, he became the first person with his kind of disability to complete the Vertical Marathon, finishing 76th out of 297 men. Last year he came in 17th in his category.

“I’m hoping to run up the Empire State Building or Taipei 101,” he said. “People say try to dream big but I’m realistic. The world record is six minutes and unless I have arms to pull myself, I can’t reach that time.” He also competed at the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, last year at the invitation of the Singapore Disability
Sports Council (SDSC), winning the gold in the 1,500m and the silver in the 800m. And at the Danish Open Athletics Championships this year, Mr Adam won the bronze in the 100m and the silver in the 200m sprints. At the Delhi Commonwealth Games, he came in sixth in the para men’s 100m with a time of 13.17 seconds.

Mr Adam also runs marathons under the moniker “1ArmRunner” as a way to raise awareness of disability sport. His next medical challenge comes in the next few months when doctors undertake an 18-hour surgical procedure to construct a bicep for Mr Adam’s left arm. It involves taking some of his thigh muscle so that could mean Mr Adam will be unable to perform at his peak when he returns to running. With dreams of 2012 Paralympics in sight, that creates a dilemma but he knows his priorities and knows he needs to take some pressure off his mum. “We’re hoping to get back the basic needs of feeding myself and holding my ez-link card and tap,” said Mr Adam, who has plans for life after the operation.

“I can do some business in the sports industry like setting boot camps, coaching, inspire and share my knowledge. If I can have a stable income, I can hire a
full-time maid or nurse to take care of me and not depend on my mum.”

His resolve and willingness to embrace life are in stark contrast to the shattered man of seven years ago, though some of the old Mr Adam still breaks through. “I still watch Motor GP and F1. Totally
love speed,” he said. Sometimes he even rides pillion on his friend’s motorcycle, but without his
mum’s knowledge. “A rider is always a rider.”

National Day Run 2011

2011-07-29T14:25:00.046+08:00

NDRUN 2011

Event : National Day Run 2011

Date : August 09 2011

Run Start & End Point    : Overseas Union Bank (OUB) Centre, 1 Raffles Place (See Map)
Reporting Time              : 4.45pm
Reporting Location        : Glass pyramid near the OUBC lobby (See Photo)
Running Route               : Around the CBD Area.

Distance                         : 2 Categories - 6~8km run and 3~4km fun run/walk
Event End Time             : 7.30pm
Registration Info            : Free (Donation is encouraged as money collected will be donated to charity).
                                        No age and nationality limit; anyone can participate.
                                       Do indicate your attendance in the event page in facebook by clicking here (so that we
                                        can have a rough estimation of the number of people attending the event so as to
                                        prepare enough supply of hydration for all participants).
Official Event Sponsors : Venue      - OUB Centre & National Parks
                                        Hydration - 2XSFB Sports & SIS
                                        Apparel    - OoogahBoogah Design n' Printing Studio

United Runners (a casual and fun local running group) and I are organising a run and a fun run/walk on Tuesday, August 09 2011 evening in conjunction with Singapore's National Day. This is the 2nd year that I'm organising this event. The purpose of this event is to celebrate Singapore's Birthday / Independance Day and at the same time to keep fit and bring runners, their family members and friends closer together within the running community.

The start and end point of the run will be at Overseas Union Bank (OUB) Centre, 1 Raffles Place. The total distance of the run will be about 6 km to 8km for the serious and enthusiastic runners, and the fun run/walk will be about 3km to 4km for the fun runners/walkers.

Unlike last year's National Day Run, this year, the run will take place in the CBD area. There will be a few stops in-between the run for photo-taking sessions.

Meeting point will be at the glass pyramid near the Overseas Union Bank (OUB) Centre lobby. Briefing and warm-up will commence at 5.00pm which is compulsory for all participants to attend. The run itself will start at 5.30pm.

The best way to get to Overseas Union Bank (OUB) Centre, 1 Raffles Place is by MRT and alighting at Raffles Place MRT Station and the OUBC building is just above the station.

During the run, there will be pacers (to lead the running tempo) and sweepers (to assist the stragglers) in the running/walking groups. Remember, this is not a race; no medal or awards will be given for fast runners.

At the end of the run/walk, a cool-down session will be conducted followed by breaking fast session for Muslim participants and mingling session for all participants while watching the fireworks.

For more information about the informal event, please feel free to contact me via email at 1armrunner@gmail.com.

Take note (Disclaimer & Indemnity):

1. Storage will be provided for baggage. Though you may leave your belongings with the event's volunteers, we (the organisers) will not be responsible for any items/valuables missing before, during and/or after the event.

2. Only 1 water point will be provided which will be located at the start/end point of the run which will be at Overseas Union Bank (OUB) Centre. Participants are advised and encouraged to hydrate sufficiently before and after participating in the event and also, to bring their own water-bottles or any other form of refreshment or hydration-fluids for the event.

3. Participants are to be responsible for their own safety and well-being. Parents, guardians and adults whose kids/children are participating in the event, are to be responsible for their safety and well-being too. There will not be any medics, ambulance and security officers for the event.

4. Before attending this event, participants are to consult their doctor to make sure that they are in clean bill of health to participate in the event.

5. In the event of inclement weather, we (the organisers) have the rights to delay, postpone and/or cancel the run/walk.

6. All participants are to abide by the traffic rules and must not cause in inconveniences to other path and road users.

7. Muslims participants are encouraged to bring their own food for breaking fast after the run/walk and after the cooling-down session.

We (the organisers) will not be responsible for any lost or damaged items/valuables, injuries and/or deaths that may occur before, during and after the event. By participating in the event, participants automatically indemnify us (the organisers) from any lost or damaged items/valuables, injuries and/or deaths that may occur before, during and after the event.

Since this is an informal event, please do not expect high-class or frill-free organisation and/or treatment. And although it is a free event where are participants are not required to pay any registration fees, participants are encouraged to make a donation contribution (any amount) as donation collected will be given to charity. Donation can be made via funds transfer through internet banking or paypal (bank paypal details can be found below) or by cash on the event day itself.

To further create a sense of carnival-like event and also to form a unity in the running community, I have designed an event t-shirt to commemorate the day which is shown below.

The event tee is on sale. Each piece is prized at SGD10.00/pc and parts of the proceeds from the sales will go towards charity. Anyone can purchase the tee, even those not participating in the event.

The t-shirt is made of dri-fit material in red and white colour, round neck and short sleeves as shown above, and it also comes in mens/unisex and ladies cutting. The sizes (applies for both mens/unisex and ladies cutting) are as follow:

26 - chest 26inch, length 24inch
28 - chest 28inch, length 24inch
30 - chest 30inch, length 24inch
32 - chest 32inch, length 25inch
34 - chest 34inch, length 25inch
36 - chest 36inch, length 26inch
38 - chest 38inch, length 26inch
40 - chest 40inch, length 28inch
42 - chest 42inch, length 28inch
44 - chest 44inch, length 29inch
46 - chest 46inch, length 30inch
48 - chest 48inch, length 31inch

For easy reference, based on general Asian local size, for mens/unisex cutting, Size XS = Size 36, Size S = Size 38, Size M = Size 40, Size L = Size 42, Size XL = Size 44. As for ladies cutting, Size XS = Size 32, Size S = Size 34, Size M = Size 36, Size L = Size 38, Size XL = Size 40.

If you are interested to get purchase the event t-shirt, e-mail your order to me at 1armrunner@gmail.com with the following details -

1. e-mail subject: NDRun Tee Order
2. your 'real' full name
3. your facebook name
4. your contact no.
5. your full residential/shipping address if you opt for the tees to be posted or shipped to you
6. preferred tee type/cutting/style, colour, size, and quantity
7. payment (funds transfer) transaction details

The first batch of t-shirts will be ready from Saturday, August 6th. For those that participating in the ND Run, you may collect or purchase (first-come-first-serve basis) the t-shirt on the event day itself on August 9 at Overseas Union Bank (OUB) Centre, 1 Raffles Place from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

As for self-collection before the day of the event, location/date/time are as follow -

Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Aug 6th, 7th and 8th respectively, between noon to 4pm at Blk 296, Yishun St. 20.

Please make an appoinment with me prior to coming down to Yishun for the self-collection.

However, if you would like the t-shirt to be posted to you, additional cost of SGD2.00 will incur for postage and handling for each t-shirt and it only applies for local addresses. For overseas addresses, please e-mail me at 1armrunner@gmail.com to find out the postage and handling, and shipping prices. Do allow 2 to 3 working days for the t-shirt to reach you, again for local addresses.

Please be made known that opting for posting may cause the tees to reach you after Aug 09.

Payment for the t-shirt must be made immediately when ordering the t-shirt. The bank info is as follows:

Local Bank Funds Transfer
POSB Savings Bank
Bank Code - 7171
Branch Code - 081
Account No. - 052 15804 4
Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
For US Currency
Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York
Swift Code - irvtus3n
Aba No. - 021000018
A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
Non-US Currency
Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Paypal Payment
oboogah@gmail.com

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 Featured Runners

2010-11-14T15:53:00.002+08:00

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 Featured Runners

SIS Burner Gel

2010-09-16T00:54:00.005+08:00

The new Science In Sport Burner Gel is now available. It's based on the popular and award-winning SIS Go Electrolyte gels but inlcudes carnitine to boost fat burning. The theory behind the gel is that by boosting the levels of carnitine stored in your muscles you can become more efficient at burning fat as a fuel during exercise which means sparing your bodies more limited carbohydrate stores.

What is Carnitine?

Increasing the levels of carnitine in your bodys muscles makes them more efficient at burning fat as a fuel rather then carbohydrate. This means that athletes may find it easier to loose weight/fat mass and make the same carbohydrate/glycogen stores last for longer.

It's ideal for endurance athletes as by becoming more efficient at using fat as a fuel should mean you can exercise for longer before depleting your energy stores.

SIS recommend taking a maximum of two Burner Gels per day, but increasing your fat burning you should require fewer carbohydrates but you can also use them in combination with SIS Go Electrolyte Gels.

Palm sized sachet
19g of carbohydrates per 60ml sachet
No need to take with water due to the gels being isotonic
Light on the stomach
Easy to consume

10 Reasons to Start Running

2010-09-15T21:07:00.003+08:00

People start running for a variety of reasons. Some run because they want to lose weight, improve their health, compete in races or try something new. Whatever your reason is for running, you'll experience many physical, mental and emotional benefits from the sport. Here are 10 great reasons to get started with running:

1. Running improves your health

One of the biggest benefits of running is that it's good for your health. Running is an excellent way to strengthen the heart and ensure the efficient flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body, which helps decrease your risk of a heart attack. Exercise, combined with maintaining a healthy weight, is one of the best ways to naturally reduce your blood pressure if it's above normal. If you have high cholesterol, running can also help keep it in check. Running also improves your immune system, so your body functions are more effective and efficient at fighting off germs. Running and other weight-bearing exercises increase bone density, which can fend off osteoporosis.

2. You can lose weight

Many people start running to lose some extra pounds. As one of the most vigorous exercises out there, running is an extremely efficient way to burn calories and lose weight. If you're already at a healthy weight, running can help you maintain it. Just make sure you don't think running gives you a license to eat anything you want. The basic rule of weight loss — that you must burn (through life functions and exercise) more calories than you take in — still applies to runners.

3. You can run for a cause

Running can also be used as a way to contribute to society as a whole. Many races benefit charities, and some charities offer race training in exchange for fund-raising. Running for something that's bigger than you is a great way to stay motivated to keep training and can make your races even more meaningful and fulfilling.

4. You can meet new people through running

Some runners enjoy the quiet and solitude of running on their own, but other runners see running time as social opportunities. Finding a running buddy or running with a group is a great way to develop a sense of community. You can set goals and accomplish them together. In addition, having a regular running buddy or running group is a great way to stay motivated to run.

Some runners also share advice and motivation with other runners in online forums, such as sgrunners.com. You can meet other people who share your obsession with running, celebrate your triumphs and help you overcome your obstacles.

5. You can experience something new and different

Running is a great way to expand your horizons and break away from the daily grind. The sport gives people the opportunity to explore areas of their own community or new locations, experience new physical sensations and run places they may not normally see.

6. You can train for a specific goal

Some people hate to exercise just for the sake of exercising, but with running, though, you can train for races, from 5Ks to marathons and beyond. Training for a race gives you a specific goal to work toward, which can definitely help improve your motivation to run.

7. Running improves your energy levels

When you're feeling sluggish or tired, running is a great way to boost your energy. Runners who run in the morning report that they have improved energy levels during the day. Combining running with a healthful diet will help improve your energy levels even more.

8. Running will help you feel good about yourself

Regular runners report an increase in their confidence and self-esteem, and the self-esteem benefits of running are increased if you set a specific goal, such as running a marathon, and accomplish it.

9. Running is versatile and inexpensive

Running requires very little equipment, and it can be done almost anywhere. All you need is a good pair of running shoes, and you can head out your door to go for a run. From city sidewalks to wooded trails, there are plenty of places for runners to explore — at no cost. If you travel a lot, it's easy to pack your running shoes and run while you're on the road.

10. Running can help with stress relief

Running — as with many forms of exercise — is a great cure for stress, emotional strain and even mild depression. Research has shown that healthy adults who exercise regularly are generally happier than those who don't.

WHY DO YOU RUN?

Special Talent Fund

2010-09-02T04:13:00.004+08:00

North East CDC 'Special Talent Fund'

About the fund

The North East CDC ‘Special Talent Fund’ encourages people with disabilities but show potential and talents in arts, music, academic, sports or any other fields to apply for the fund to enhance their talents. The fund acts as a subsidy to a maximum of $5000.00 per application.

Application and Selection Procedures

1. Interested applicants are required to submit their applications to North East Community Development Council Office using the official ‘Special Talent Fund’ application form to 3 Tampines Grande #01-02 AIA Tampines Singapore 528799. Attention to: Miss Tan Sushan, Project Team. The application form can be found here.

2. An evaluation panel comprising North East CDC district councillors and/or Patrons of the fund will assess the applications. For enquiries, please contact Ms Tan Sushan at 64244 024 or via email at Tan_Su_Shan@pa.gov.sg.

Eligibility

3. This fund is open to all Singapore Citizens regardless of age.

4. The applicant must not be receiving any other related governmental funding.

5. The maximum total household income for each applicant is capped at $8000.00.

6. Shortlisted applicants would be required to attend an interview with the evaluation panel, and they would be required to display their talents during this session as an evidence of their talents to the panelists.

7. Applicants are encouraged to submit written proof of the acknowledgement or recognition of their talents if available.

8. North East CDC should not be held responsible for any unforeseen circumstances/liabilities arising from the award of the fund to a successful applicant.

9. North East CDC reserves the right to take action against any successful recipient of the fund should he or she be deemed as misappropriating the fund awarded.

10. North East CDC reserves the right to revise the eligibility criteria at any point in time without prior notice.

11. The decision of the evaluation panel is final.

Men's Health Interview

2010-09-02T03:47:00.002+08:00

Men's Health Interview: 1ArmRunner

Singapore June 2010 Edition

Interviewed by Ryan Rueben

Ever heard the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”? One local disabled athelete, exemplify this best by continuing to soldier on despite suffering from handicap that would have made lesser men lay down and give up. The athlete will run in the 84k category in the Adidas Sundown Marathon on May 29 – the equivalent of two consecutive marathons in one night. This is all the more significant because he was involved in a 2003 road accident that left him with his right arm amputated and the left paralysed.

The athlete, who goes by the moniker “One Arm Runner”, saw his life change when his doctor advised him to run to increase his strength three years after his accident. With the encouragement of his family, he took part in the Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2008 after just three months of training, coming in 76th out of 297 participants in his category, and becoming the first disabled person to compete and complete in the event.

The bachelor was invited by the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) that year to train in their athletics programme. He made his international debut at the Arafura Games 2009 in Darwin, Australia, winning gold in the Men’s 1,500m and silver in the Men’s 800m events. His most recent achievement was at the Asean Para Games last year in Kuala Lumpur, where he won silver in the Men’s 800m.

When he is not competing, he also keep busy raising public awareness about disability sports. How’s that for passion?

ON FATE

1ArmRunner: I was going to work at 4-plus in the morning on my bike along the SLE when I lost control and crashed into a guard rail. My arm got stuck in the railing but the momentum caused my body to move forward, snapping my arm off. I had to wait 45 minutes before a group of kids found me – I landed under a tree and couldn’t move because I had fallen in an awkward position. The paramedics came and loaded me in the ambulance, but almost drove off without my arm! They got it but couldn’t put it in ice in time to save it. The first weeks after this, I felt like I could not move on in life. I was not able to train, which I loved, and the bills started piling up. But my family and friends rallied around me, and I slowly started to get used to my condition and overcame my pain. Whatever fate has dealt you, what matters is how you respond and overcome it.

ON MOTIVATION

1ArmRunner: I participate in Ultramarathons despite my disability not because I’m crazy. There’s a reason: I may need an operation soon that will harvest the muscles from my leg and the nerves from my diaphragm to transplant to my weak arm, in an effort to strengthen it. The doctors told me I might not be able to engage in strenuous activities any more after the operation, so I’m just doing as much as I can now while I’m able to. That’s what keeps me going.

ON RUNNING

1ArmRunner: It’s great for helping me to forget my troubles. Running puts me in a meditative state – almost like a trance – and I pay no attention to anything but the sound of my own heartbeat and the wind. It helps me to focus. It’s also good in making me self-reliant – unlike in team sports, where the end result also depends on other people’s performances. All you need are shoes and you’re set to go any place you wish.

ON INNER STRENGTH

1ArmRunner: More than anything, I derive strength from deep inside because of my passion for running. That keeps me going in my races as well as in life, and pushes me to excel beyond my boundaries.

ON THE FUTURE

1ArmRunner: It all depends on my upcoming operation. If I still have enough strength in my legs to run competitively after that, I plan to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics in London. If not, I will focus on training for my high jump – an event my coach feels I also have promise in – and concentrate on taking up a coaching position at the SDSC.

1ArmRunner's top tips on hurdling obstacles --

KEEP A POSITIVE MINDSET.

“Once you overcome your negative thinking, you’ll find that everything else will become much easier to achieve.”

HELP YOURSELF.

“You have to want to take the first step. Only after that will you be able to realise the extent of your ability.”

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.

“Don’t look for charity, because chances are you’re not going to get it.”

Unplugged Interview by Voxsports

2010-08-29T21:32:00.001+08:00

Unplugged Interview by Voxsports

NDP RUN 2010

2010-07-24T05:24:00.013+08:00

NDP RUN 2010

Event: NDP RUN 2010

Date: August 09 2010

Start & End Point: MOE CCAB Stadium, 21 Evans Road (See Map)
Running Route: CCAB Stadium - Singapore Botanical Garden - CCAB Stadium

Distance: Less than 8km (exact distance to be confirmed)
Reporting Time: 7.00am
Registration Info: Free, Registration is closed
Official Event Sponsor: SIS

Singapore Blade Runner, me and a small group of runners are organising a fun/easy run on Monday, August 09 2010 morning in conjunction with Singapore's National Day Parade. There will be a few stops in-between the run for photo-taking sessions. The purpose of this run is to celebrate Singapore's 45th Independance Day and at the same time to keep fit and bring runners from the running community closer together.

The start and end point of the run will be at MOE CCAB Stadium at 21 Evans Road. The total distance of the run will be less than 8km (exact distance to be confirmed). Most of the run will take place in the Singapore Botanical Garden.

Meeting point will be at MOE CCAB Stadium. Briefing and warm-up will commence at 7.30am which is compulsory for all participants to attend. The run itself will start at 8.00am.

To get to CCAB Stadium, for those going by -

1. buses to CCAB are: 48, 66, 67, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170, 171, 186. Alight at Bukit Timah Road, nus (bus-stop) or Dunearn Road, after Kheam Hock Road bus-stop. Walk towards CCAB running track, beside NUS Law/Bukit Timah Campus. See map below.

2. by cab, alight at MOE CCAB itself which is at 21 Evans Road.

3. by own vehicles, you may park your vehicles at NUS Law/Bukit Timah Campus but do take note that there are parking tolls.

During the run, there will be pacers (to lead the running tempo) and sweepers (to assist the stragglers) in the running groups. Remember, this is not a race; no medal or awards will be given for fast runners.

For more information about the informal event, please feel free to contact Singapore Blade Runner either via sms or call at 90420418, or email at pasingaporebladerunner@gmail.com.

Take note (Disclaimer & Indemnity):

1. No storage will be provided for baggage. Though you may leave your belongings at CCAB Stadium sitting gallery, we (the organisers) will not be responsible for any items/valuables missing before, during and/or after the event.

2. Only 1 water point will be provided which will be located at the start/end point of the run which will be at CCAB stadium. Participants are advised and encouraged to hydrate sufficiently before participating in the event and also, to bring their own water-bottles or any other form of refreshment or hydration-fluids for the event.

3. Participants are to be responsible for their own safety and well-being. Parents, guardians and adults whose kids/children are participating in the event, are to be responsible for their safety and well-being too. There will not be any medics, ambulance and security officers for the event.

4. Before attending this event, participants are to consult their doctor to make sure that they are in clean bill of health to participate in the event.

5. In the event of inclement weather, we (the organisers) have the rights to delay, postpone and/or cancel the run.

We (the organisers) will not be responsible for any lost or damaged items/valuables, injuries and/or deaths that may occur before, during and after the event. All participants that want to join in the run, must sign an indemnity form before they are allowed to participate in the event. Indemnity form will be given out on the day of the event before the briefing and warm-up commence.

Since this is an informal event, do not expect high-class or frill-free organisation and/or treatment.

To further create a sense of carnival-like event and also to form a unity in the running community, we have decided to do event t-shirt. Thus, I took the responsibility of designing the event's logo and t-shirt. The logo is already shown above, whereas the t-shirt is shown below.

I just managed to squeeze in a couple of hours in-between my training sessions to draft-up the design for the NDP Run logo as well as the t-shirt. As you can see, the design is not really fanciful but it is bold and aesthetically pleasing. The design is done in 1 colour and it will be printed on a plain dri-fit short-sleeved t-shirt to reduce production cost.

The t-shirt will be ready from Thursday, August 5th. For those that participating in the NDP Run, you may collect the t-shirt on the event day itself on August 9 at CCAB stadium from 7am to 7.30am. Payment in cash must be made during collection.

As for self-collection before the day of the event, location/date/time are as follow -

Thursday, Aug 5th, between 2pm to 4pm at Blk 296, Yishun St. 20 or between 5pm to 6pm at CCAB Stadium

Friday, Aug 6th, between 10am to 3pm at Blk 296, Yishun St. 20 or between 5pm to 6pm at CCAB Stadium

Saturday, Aug 7th, between 11am to 2pm at Blk 296, Yishun St. 20

Sunday, Aug 8th, between 11am to 2pm at Blk 296, Yishun St. 20

Please make an appoinment with me or Sasha prior to the self-collection.

However, if you would like the t-shirt to be posted to you, additional cost of SGD2.50 will incur for postage and handling and it only applies for local addresses in Singapore and for maximum of 2pcs of t-shirt. For orders of more than 2pcs and for overseas addresses, please e-mail me at 1armrunner@gmail.com to find out the postage and handling, and shipping prices. Do allow 2 to 3 working days for the t-shirt to reach you, again for local addresses. Payment via internet banking / funds transfer must be made before the t-shirt is posted to you. The bank info is as follows:

Local Bank Funds Transfer
POSB Savings Bank
Bank Code - 7171
Branch Code - 081
Account No. - 052 15804 4
Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
For US Currency
Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York
Swift Code - irvtus3n
Aba No. - 021000018
A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
Non-US Currency
Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

We deeply apologise for not able to cater to needs for those that were requesting for sleeveless tees/vest/singlets due to the short lead time as this event t-shirt idea was conjure up quite late and thus, the apparel manufacturer do have sufficient time to produce the apparels. Hopefully, if the event is still on for next year, definitely we will offer these types of apparel for the event.

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010

2010-06-05T19:22:00.013+08:00

adidas Sundown Marathon 2010

Date: Saturday, May 29 2010
Category: 84km Ultra-Marathon Men's Open
Start & End Point: Changi Exhibition Centre (Aviation Park Road)
Flag-off time: 6pm
URL: http://www.sundownmarathon.com/

This is the third year year that HiVelocity is organising the event and 19,600 runners from Singapore and around the region have signed up for the night race, the biggest participation in a night race in Asia. Since its inception in 2008, 611 runners have made history in the Sundown Hall of Fame and this year, I wanted to be the 612th. With the kind gesture from the man himself, Adrian Mok who in 2005, while training at night for an ultra running competition suddenly had an idea of organising a night race, he offered me a slot in the ultra marathon category even though all the 600 places were fully taken just a few days after the registration had opened.

Unlike the two years before, certain changes were made to the 2010 84km running category. The running route no longer consists of vertical obstacles such as bridges, instead flat route throughout and the starting time has been push forward from 8pm to 6pm so that more ultra runners have the chance to 'beat the sunrise' - slogan for the event. This after collating feedbacks from participants from the previous 2 years where many had failed to 'beat the sunrise' due to the obstacles along the running route as well as the short time given of only 10hours (cut-off time of 15hours still remain).

For this year ultra marathon, there a couple of runners that will be doing it for a cause. Besides me who will be doing it to raise the profile of disability sports and to raise funds for my upcoming operation costs as well as for the disability track and field under the project name '84km of Pain for a Cause', there is Kash, a Malaysian woman runner whom I got acquainted in facebook and she wrote an article about me in her blog, she'll be running to raise money for National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) under the project name 'Project 84 - I run for Autism'. One more is Mark Philpott, President of Humaneity Group who is running under the project name '84km Pain for Humaneity' to raise funds to support a school for the under-privileged children in Cambodia.

Whatever the aims or causes to run this audacious and gruelling 84km course under 15 hours, this is no simple task. There is no short-cut to prepare for the mammoth task ahead except for hard training, piling the mileage to condition the body, mind and soul. With just 2 months for training, instead of progressive training, all the workouts intensity were increased exponentially as 2 weeks before the event itself, I have to run at least 60km in one particular day. That was the target but due to the recurring shins' splint and calves' strain, I only managed to run to a furthest distance of 58km.

Luckily for me, Patrick and Dave from 2XSFBSports.com came to my rescue, when they came to know that I was trying to negotiate the 84km ultra marathon, by providing sponsorships on Science in Sport (SIS) nutrition which has been at the forefront of high-performance sports nutrition in Britain since 1992 which was founded by Tim Lawson, an elite athlete who collaborated with champion British cyclist Chris Boardman. SIS is also the first in the world to create isotonic gels. Using the SIS gels and bars, it certainly improved my performance and decrease my recovery time between training sessions. Consuming it during training sessions also helps me to train longer as I less succumb to fatigue and lesser prone to the dreadful cramps especially running long distances.

A week before the event, I started tapering down my training and started with my carbo-loading. The distances get shorter as the day approaching, and the pace gets slower. Although it was a nerve-wrecking period for most participants at this point of time, as for me, I actually felt quite excited and was looking forward to the challenge that laid ahead.

Just like many other events, one of the pre-race activities was the race kit collection. It was a disaster during the first day of the collection. There were many problems and many participants that came during the first day of collection, voices out their unhapiness. Firstly, unlike the previous year where it was held at the Millenia Walk, this year it was held at the atrium at Raffles City Shopping Centre. Due to the limited space, and huge turn out, the queues for each different category was spiralling around like snakes coiling in heaps. There were no visible signs and demarkations, and many who have waited in a queue for quite sometime, were suddenly told that they had to line-up in another queue as they were queueing in the wrong category. Frusrations were shown in the faces of those queueing up as they were not only left clueless but also they had to queue for nearly 2 hours before they are able to reach the counter.

Not only the queue was going very slow, but upon reaching the counter, many were given the wrong tags, wrong event singlets' sizes and etc. It was chaotic. But from the feedbacks, the organiser made the necessary adjustments, and the second and third day of collection was much smoother. Many participants were satisfied with the quick response from the organiser to solve the problems.

At the back of the race kit collection counter, many of the event's sponsors' booth were set-up. I browse around the booth and met many friendly staffs. One of them that I visited was the adidas's booth. That is where I got acquainted with Alex and Mike, the adidas staff. When they got to know that registered for the 84km ultra marathon, they were quick to offer advises, tips and assistance. Mike even did a scan of the running strike of my feet using a special foot scanner. It just a simple analysis. To get a more detail analysis, one can call Adidas Singapore at Cathay to set an appointment. He even offered me a pair of extra soles which I can use to replace the soles of my Adizero Tempo after my first loop. As for Alex, he offered me his staff discount for the things that I purchased such as the Adidas tops and socks.

On the day of the event, I was still undecided whether I slould wear the long 2XU compression tights or the short one but feeling it might a very humid night, from the feedback of past 2 years participants, I decided to wear the short 2XU compression tights and the 2XU calf guards. As for the tops, it'll be the new Adidas Response top which I just bought with my blog's url emblazoned at the front and back (just in time to get my local t-shirt printing supplier to print it) and as for the socks, it'll be the new Adidas formation.

For all ultra-marathon participants, we are given a 'special needs bag' which is a transition bag, where we are allowed to store the things that we want such as change of clothings, deep heat creams, extra music player and etc, things that we want retrieve at the 'race pit-stop' after our first 42km loop. For me, I place an extra Adidas Response top, extra soles given by Mike, an extra pair of socks, a small hand towel, a can of cold spray for my niggling injuries and a few SIS gels and bars.

Upon reaching the site, with only 30mins before the flag-off time, I quickly deposited my bag at the baggage are and the transition bag at the race pit-stop tentage, and find a good spot to carry-out my stretches. Although, it was the first shuttle service, I feel that it set-off a bit too late but I still managed to take say hi to quite a few runners and supporters that were cheering as soon as I stepped-off from the bus. I also managed to say 'hi' to Alex and Mike who were tending to the Adidas booth and Patrick who was tending to the SIS booth.

At 5.50pm, many runners were already making their way to the starting line. Shariff, Singapore Blade Runner, who was at the race site since 3-plus, and me managed to squeeze our way through all the way up to the front of the pack. As the emcee was introducing the pasy years winners such as Jeanette Wang and also the man himself, Adrian Mok, Shariff and I was enjoying posing in front of our friends and supporters who were happily snapping away on their cameras, and at the same time, we were discussing our strategy on attacking the 84km course.

Suddenly, the emcee introduce me, the 1ArmRunner to the crowd. Everyone applauded and cheered, and I acknowledged their support by raising my paralysed left arm using the control of my shoulder and did a bow. As soon as the cheered died down, the emcee started to do a countdown to the flag-off and everyone was suddenly focused on the run.

When the horn was blown, Shariff, me and many other runners started to sprint-off from the start line. It was like a 100m dash but in reality, there's 79,900m more to go. So at the 50m mark, Shariff and me started to slow down a lot. We started on a very slow, comfortable pace and was running shoulder-to-shoulder. But at the 4km mark, Shariff told me to proceed on with my own pace. As I do not want him to feel stress and feeling that he was slowing me down, I picked-up the pace and ran on my own.

It was quite a humid day and so from 6km onwards, I have to stop at every hydration point not only to hydrate myself but to wet my head and body, by requesting volunteers manning the hydration points to pour water on my head and back.

Thd first 42km loop was quite a breeze. I did not felt much discomfort and I managed to complete the first loop about 4hrs and 50mins. Just as I reached the last 3km to the pit-stop, I was received with loud applause and cheers from the road marshalls, volunteers and other participants but the loudest was when I reached the pit-stop itself.

At the pit-stop, I was assisted by one of the volunteer (I deeply apologise that I forgotten your name but if you know who you you are or if anyone knows his name, please let me know). I'm truly grateful for his assistance. He helped me with changing of my top, socks and soles, and even helped to wipe my perspiration-off on my body and my legs with the towel. He then fed me cupcake and mineral water which was provided by the organiser, and before I left the pit-stop tentage to negotiate the 2nd 42km loop, he fed me the SIS gels and bars, and spray my legs with the cold spray. I guess, I spent less than 15mins at the pit-stop and it was the only time, that I showed my scarred body to the public with my right stump protruding out (I only went half-naked after getting permission from the other exhausted participants and everyone do not seem to be bothered about this trivial stuff).

When I left the cosy tentage, there were many camera flashes aiming at my direction and from the corner of my eyes, I can see the full-marathon participants already ready at the start line. Thus, I know that its going to be 12am soon, which is time for the full-marathoners to be flag-off. As I started my 2nd loop run, many half-marathoners were making their way back and many gave their support, well-wishes and high-5s as I ran passed them in the opposite direction.

The first 5km went quite smoothly but at the 6km mark, I could feel my shins' splint and calves' strain were coming back to haunt me. Not only that, a few days before the event, my right middle toe was accidentally stepped on by a lady in heels in the train. It caused the toe to swell 3 times its normal size and I could not even put my hold weight on my right feet. During the day of the event, my toe was still swelling but I was still able to cope with the pain. It just got a bit excruciating on the 2nd loop. But the worst was yet to come.

Just as I was limping pass the 8km mark, drowsiness started to set in and it is not due to sleepiness. In the morning of the event day, I got struck by nerve pain on my left arm and I thought it will subside after a short while. Instead, it worsened as the hours passed-by and just before I left the house, I had no choice but to take the nerve-pain reliever medications. The drowsiness from the medication will only come after a few hours consuming the medication itself. So besides battling exhaustion, the recurring injuries and a swollen toe, I was trying hard to keep myself awake and fully-focus.

But the drowsiness won. From the 9km mark and above, sometimes I was limping with my eyes close. Due to that, sometimes I accidentally knocked into other runners or sometimes, almost ran into ditches and drains. I tried to run/limp with the company of other runners and even wet my face my face and body many times, but the drowsiness was just too strong. Hence, to prevent from unneccessary injuries on myself or other participants, I decided to take some short power-naps at the hydration points or where there were road marshalls stationed. I heard of stories about participants falling asleep throughout the race, only to wake-up after the cut-off time. Thus, I make sure that there will be someone to wake me up just in case I fell into a deep sleep. Luckily, I'm able to wake myself up each time I took a nap.

As the further I went, the pain on my legs and toe, and the drowsiness just kept getting stronger. But I was determined to complete the race before the cut-off time and before sunrise. Furthermore, I do not want to let those people that were rooting and supporting me down. Most importantly, I do not want to let myself down. Throughout the remainder of the 2nd loop, I kept telling myself this mantra that 'pain is temporary, pride and glory is forever', and as an ex-guards officer, I have a lot to live up to.

Though it was passed the 12hrs that I set myself to complete, I managed to complete the 84km course at a time of 12hrs and 41mins. I know that I could do even better but I was satisfied with my achievement and by the time I crossed the finishing line, the sun was just about to rise. So I suppose I still managed to 'beat the sunrise'. If I'm still able to run next year, pending on the outcome of my next operation, my target will be sub-11.

I just would like to thank the following people that made this achievement possible:

- Adrian Mok, HiVelocity / Polar
- Shawn & John, Band
- Patrick & Dave, 2XSFBSports.com / SIS Nutrition
- Sham & Ryan, Key Power International / 2XU
- Alex & Mike, Adidas Singapore
- Volunteers, Supporters & Participants of adidas Sundown Marathon 2010

Special thanks to the volunteers that assisted me at the pit-stop, baggage deposit, hydration points and etc, and supporters that set-up their own hydration points/fuel-loading points that fed me isotonic drinks, coke, fruits and etc along the ECP.

Last but most important of all, I would like to thank those that have made the donations and pledges their support for my '84km of Pain for a Cause'. If you would like to make the donations/contributions, just click here to know how.

By the way, congrats and salute to all Sundown participants that came, ran and conquered the night especially the ultra-marathoners. 2-toes up to all of you;-]

Oh, one last thing, this run is dedicated to Shariff's daughter who is currently nursing an illness. I hope and pray for her speedy recovery.

Being interviewed by Men's Health Magazine

Photoshoot at the Men's Health Magazine Singapore Studio

The fiished article on Men's Health Singapore June Issue

Photoshoot for the Singapore's Malay Newspaper, Berita Minggu

After an interview session with DJ Zaza at the Malay Radio Station, Radio Warna

Me and Shariff - Singapore Blade Runner before the flag-off

Patrick from 2xsfbsports.com/SIS in the white t-shirt and far-right in the blue standard chartered marathon singlet, Sallehan - Ultra-marathon fanatic, completed the 84km route in 9hrs-plus

And we're off, dashing towards the 50m mark before slowing down to a jogging pace

Smiling, only ran about 2km

Coming back for the transition after finishing the the first 42km loop. No more smile except focus.

Starting the 2nd 42km loop with a fresh top, socks and soles.

After finishing the 84km, no strength even to sit down but still enough for a smile/laugh

With other runners, Roslinah and Jason

While waiting for the shuttle service

National Vertical Marathon 2010

2010-05-27T14:15:00.001+08:00

Post Run Interview by Voxsports

Running Clinic

2010-05-27T14:02:00.003+08:00

Running Clinic With Asafa Powell at Fairmont Hotel, Singapore

Operation Status

2010-05-27T13:12:00.007+08:00

My Operation Update

Since April 12 2003, the fateful day that turned my life 180-degrees, I've been in and out of the hospital operating theatre countless times. Now, I still has to go for 2 to 3 more operations.

The next one will involve the muscle from my thighs and nerves from diaphragm being harvested and transplanted to my left arm in the hope that it will bring back some functions and mobility to my paralysed left arm.

This operation has been delayed because during the conduct of a pre-op test, the nerves that worked on during the last operation, 2 years ago, were still showing sign of regeneration. Not wanting to take any risk and jeopardising the regeneration process, the doctors decided to delay my operation.

I will be going for this pre-op test every six months. If there is no more sign of the nerves regenerating, the operation will take place immediately as doctors do not want to delay the operation any further.

After this operation, there might be a high possibility that I might not be able to run or getting myself involve in any strenuous activity.

Each operation will cost between SGD20k - SGD40k, which I'm still trying my best to come up with the funds.

At the moment, I'm just doing as much runs and swims as I possibly can before the curtain close down on me and at the same time, doing my best in raising public-awareness and promoting disability sports through my runs, swims and accomplishments.

By the way, if you would like to donate to help me to raise funds for my operations cost, you may do so via one of the following methods:

Local Bank Funds Transfer
POSB Savings Account
Bank Code - 7171
Branch Code - 081
Account No. - 052-15804-4
Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
For US Currency
Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York
Swift Code - irvtus3n
Aba No. - 021000018
A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer
Non-US Currency
Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809
Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Cheque/Money Order
Please make the crossed cheque / money order payable to 'Adam Bin Kamis' and post/mail it to:
'Blk 296, Yishun Street 20, #06-07, Singapore 760296'

Credit/Debit Card
via PayPal - oboogah@gmail.com

Cash
Please contact me.

All donations received will be treated with integrity.

If you have any enquiry, question or in need of clarifications, feel free to ask me.

I thank you all in advance for your support and contributions.

Running for a Cause

2010-05-24T07:30:00.015+08:00

84 Kilometres of Pain for a Cause

On Saturday, May 29 2010, at 6pm, I have started on the epic journey of running 84km (double the distance of full marathon) in the Adidas Sundown Marathon 2010.

The race started from Changi Exhibition Centre, Aviation Park Road with a U-turn point (21 km) at the end point of East Coast Park towards Tanjong Rhu and end at Changi Exhibition Centre. This loop covered a distance of 42km and as an ultra-marathon participant, I ran this loop twice.

The cut-off time for the ultra marathon category was 15 hours and I managed to complete it at a time of 12hours 41mins and 40 secs. Although, I missed my target time of 12hours but battling with recurring injuries, swollen toe and drowsiness due to medication, I'm quite satisfied with my achievement, especially coming in the 121st position. Furthermore, by the time I crossed the finishing line, the sun was just about to rise. Thus I managed to 'beat the sunrise'. To get the full story, just click here.

This was my first attempt on such a gruelling event but I did it in the hope to raise funds for my upcoming operations costs and also to help me in my pursuit to qualify for the London Paralympic 2012.

So I would like to sincerely and gratefully thank those who had donated and pledged in my 'Run for a Cause' project. Your contribution will certainly help me in many ways.

By the way, to those who have yet to make any donation or pledge, you can do so by one of the methods mentioned below. No matter how small or large your donation is, every cents and dollars count.

You can also Pledge a minimum of SGD1.00 for every kilometre I ran during Sundown for individuals and for groups, companies or organisations, the minimum pledge is SGD10.00 for every kilometre.

You can make the donation/pledge through one of the followings:

Local Bank Funds Transfer

POSB Savings Bank

Bank Code - 7171

Branch Code - 081

Account No. - 052 15804 4

Name - Adam Bin Kamis

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer

For US Currency

Pay To - Bank of New York Mellon, New York

Swift Code - irvtus3n

Aba No. - 021000018

A/C Of - DBS Bank, Singapore

Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Overseas Bank Funds Transfer

Non-US Currency

Pay To - DBS Bank, 6 Shenton Way, DBS Building, Singapore 068809

Swift Code - dbsssgsg

Cheque/Money order

Please make the crossed cheque / money order payable to 'Adam Bin Kamis' and post/mail it to:
'Blk 296, Yishun Street 20, #06-07, Singapore 760296'.

Cash

Please contact me.

All donations and pledges received will be treated with integrity.

If you have any enquiry, question or in need of clarifications, feel free to ask me.

I thank you all in advance for your support and contributions.

Warmest Regards,

Adam

1ArmRunner

F1 Sports EQ Nature Run 2010

2010-05-16T23:20:00.003+08:00

F1 Sports EQ Nature Run 2010

Date: Sunday, April 25 2010
Venue: Macritchie Reservoir
Flag-off: 8.00am
URL: http://f1sportseq.blogspot.com/

The inaugural F1 Sports EQ Nature Run was held on April 25 2010 at Macritchie Reservoir. It was organised by F1 Sports Equipment and F1 Runners. The turnout for the event was quite healthy. Categories that were offered include Ladies 10km Open, Men 10km Veteran, Ladies 10km Veteran, Men 5km Junior, Ladies 5km Junior and Men 15km Open.

This was considered an old-school event as firstly it was held at Macritchie Reservoir which has served many decades as the cross-country running ground for local schools' competition as well as national competitions. Secondly, there was no eletronic timing. Primitive but reliable stopwatches were used instead and only top 10 runners timing from each category will be recorded and announced.

I have registered for the Men 15km Open and was told by a couple of the runners that went for the orientation run a week before the race to familiarise themselves with the race route, that it was a tough and challenging course. To make matter worse, it was raining the day before the event and thus other than the hilly and uneven terrain, slippery ground will be another challenge for the runners.

A couple of days before the event, I did my long mileage run around my estate as a preparation for the upcoming Sundown Ultra Marathon. Thus I wanted to use this F1 Nature Run event as my recovery run. Furthermore, as I was still haunted by the event that took place during the last year MR25 Cross-Country Ultra Marathon where I twisted both my knees badly, I did not want to run fast and push myself too hard on this course.

As the event was about to start, there were many confusion among the runners on which category is to start first. Thus, some runners from other category accidentally joined another category when it was flag-off. I almost ran with the runners for the Men 10km Veteran but luckily, I was stopped by one of the officials.

When it was almost time to flag-off the Men 15km Open, I decided to squeeze myself to almost the front few rows of runners. I should have been at the back rows as I will be doing recovery run which be at a slow pace. I suppose it was the race/competition atmosphere that makes forget about haunting issue and also the fact that I just did a very long run a couple of days ago. So when the blow-hown was sounded, I ran at my normal competitive pace and I was in the front pack for quite a while.

Everything was smooth and nice until we hit the first big slope. A row of runners began walking up or slowed down to a jog. Feeling good, I overtook these slow pack and when I hit the top of the slope, I encountered more jogging/walking runners as they tried to recover from the challenging upslopes. I took the opportunity to push forward even further and kept myself out of a pack of slower runners. I ran with controlled pace.

It was towards the half-way mark that the muscle strain on both my legs suddenly surfaced. My face was grimacing and I was biting my teeth, and I slowed to a jog. The pain got worst and I slowed down almost to walking pace after the half-way mark and at this point, many runners started to overtake me. But I was more concerned of completing the course at a respectable time.

I just keep on trying to put one feet forward followed by the other as I tried to maintain constant pace for the flat and also for the slope. I was re-energized however when the man himself, Mok Ying Ren offered his chilled isotonic drink and even helped me to hold the can while I down the content at the last water point. It was not suprising that Mok Ying Ren has already completed the 15km course and was doing his 5km cool down run.

Though I felt better, however, in order not to agitate my muscle strain again, I kept to conservative speed. Upon reaching the last 1km mark, I was joined by my friend, Sam who has already completed his Men 10km Veteran. He came back to find me and he paced me till the finishing line.

I felt relief and glad that it was over, and I was just looking forward to give my legs a good rest. Sam's wife who helped to take a few photos of me during the start and end of the race, also assisted me in timing my run. I was very grateful to Mok and, Sam and his family for their support and assistance.

The best part of this event is the collection of the CamelBag (Hydration Bag) after the run. For SGD38.00, you get a nice quick dry tee and a quality hydration bag; probably the more value for money race in Singapore.

Sprinting towards the finishing line

After crossing the finishing line

Samuel Emmanuel (Arthos), Jason Kick Yourbutt (Porthos), Onearmrunner (Aramis)

Andy Ng

Ronald Heng

Haffiz

Sam's Wife, Sasha and her daughters

Archived Accomplishment Blogs

2010-04-16T13:07:00.002+08:00

Archived Accomplishment Blogs

2009

My Wishlist

2010-04-16T12:38:00.012+08:00

On this page, I have listed a few of my wishes. Hopefully, it will come true one day. I'm crossing my toes....hehehe..;-]

1. Have enough money for upcoming operations' costs; still left with 2 to 3 more operations.
2. Be able to afford in fulfilling mother's wish by sending her for the pilgrimage to mecca.
3. Visit Anfield (Liverpool's Stadium) and watch a live game before they move to a new location.
4. Tour around Europe and/or United States.
5. Doing scuba diving, tandem jumping, bungee jumping and other extreme sports.
6. Take part in major overseas marathons, ultra-marathons and vertical marathons.
7. Work in a stable-income job or set-up a business in the sports industry.

2XU Compression Run 2010

2010-04-14T20:23:00.006+08:00

2XU Compression Run 2010

Date: Sunday, April 11 2010
Venue: Sentosa
Flag-off: 7.45am (Delayed to 8am)
URL: http://2xurun.keypowerintl.com.sg/home.html

The inaugural 2XU Compression Run was held recently on April 11 2010 at Sentosa. It was organised by Key Power International Pte Ltd. Quite a huge number of participants turned up for this event even hough the OSIM Singapore International Triathlon was running on the same day.

I was really looking forward to this event as this will be my very first time running in Sentosa. Furthermore, as this event was organise on the day of one my closest friend's friend birthday (we have been friend since in primary school), I'm dedicating this run to her as part of my birthday gift to her (Happy Birthday, Murani).

There are two categories offered in this event - 12km mens and 12km womens. The start and end point of the race will be at Siloso Beach.

A few days before the event, I was down with flu and fever, and thus I was confined at home instead of doing my runs. When the day finally arrived, my fever has dissipated a little but my flu was still hindering my proper breathing. Since this is my first ever run in Sentosa, I will not allow the sickness to stop me from going for the run. Thus, I down a bottle of the snakehead fish essence in the hope of revitalising my body.

The flag-off for both the mens and womens category was suppose to be at 7.45am but due to minor hiccups with the shuttle service that was provided by the organiser from the HarbourFront Interchange to Siloso Beach, participants were still strolling in after 7.45am and the flag-off time was delayed. As many participants at the starting point were groaning and moaning about the delay, the event was finally flaged-off at 8am. The last participant that ran out of the starting point was at 8.30am.

For this event, I wore my normal New Balance lightning-dry top, 2XU short compression tights, Nike dri-fit socks and my newly purchased Nike LunarGlide+ shoes. Prior to the race, I did not take the time to look at the race route and I assumed that it will a flat run throughout. The first 3km was a breeze, my flu seemed like it had disappeared, I was breathing normally and the new shoes felt good on my feet.

Soon after we reached the end point of Tanjong Beach and heading towards the Telecoms Station, we met with our first obstacle, a long steep slope. This was where my problem started almost immediately. My flu suddenly re-appeared and I had a hard time breathing properly. My legs don't seem to have that strength to climb the slopes and my body just felt so weak. But I was too determined to complete the race, and hence I slowed down my pace alot.

The sun seemed to rise quickly than it usual self. The heat was just spell-binding and frustrations were shown on many of the participants' faces due to the lack of water points and lack of volunteers manning the water points throughout the running route.

Every time, I passed a water point, I took the opportunity to hydrate myself as much as possible and wet my head and body. I know that I can never hit my target time of completing the race below 1 hour but at the state I'm in, I feel completing the course will be a great achievement by itself.

Upon reaching the finishing point, I was greeted with rousing cheers and applause both by participants that have already completed the course as well as volunteers. I was ecstatic when I looked at the timer board and it was showing 1 hr and 18mins. Even though I ran a very slow pace, I still managed to complete the course at a respectable time.

The race was won by our very own National Triathlete, Mok Ying Ren at a time of 40mins and 1sec, a time which I can only dream of doing in my sleep but nonetheless, I felt that I had a done a great job. The event was close with lucky-draws giveaways. However since most of the participants had left the location, the lucky-draws was turned to quizzes and impromptu dance competition which I participated and won.

All-in-all, I had a blast that day. Met old friends and made new friends too. My next race will be the F1 Nature Run at Macritchie on April 25 2010.

Photo courtesy of my new friend, Andy.

Photo courtesy of my new friends, Richard and Anthony.

Photo courtesy of my new friend, Wee Ling.

My new friend, Sam and, his adorable and cute daughters.

Photo courtesy of Sam's wife, Sasha.

Advertise With Me

2010-03-31T13:37:00.011+08:00

Advertising with me will introduce readers, runners and volunteers to your websites, events, products or services which could potentially turn them into a customer or participant for life, and can spread the word to hundreds or even thousands of others.

I'm providing the best platform to reach the sports market and sports lovers, not only specifically based in Singapore but overseas we well.

I offer advertisement space at a very competitive rate and prices are negotiable. At the present moment, advertisement spaces are available for purchase on my blog and my competitive running top. Sponsors are welcome too!

If you are interested in discussing advertising opportunities, contact me.

Blog Advertisement

Top Full Banner
Mainpage Large Rectangle
Mainpage Large Square
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Square Buttons
Featured Posts
Sponsored Blogs
and etc.

The advertisements placement will depend on availability. Advertisers are allowed to advertise for less than 30 days at different price rate. Any advertisement of 60 days or more will be given better price rate. Terms and condition applies.

Competitive Running Top (Shirt/Mobile) Advertisement

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The advertisements placement will depend on availability. Advertisers are allowed to advertise for 1 event at different price rate. Any advertisement for 2 or more events will be given better price rate. Terms and condition applies.

Discovering my talent for running through football

2010-03-26T07:04:00.002+08:00

It was 1982, I was just 3 years old. Lazying in the living room, clutching my milk bottle with both hands, sucking down the warm MILO that my mother had just made, my eyes were intensely locked to the television set. It was a Charity Shield (presently known as the FA Community Shield) match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. The memory is still very vivid.

At that time, I didn't know which team were which and I don't even know anything about football but I was just intrigued by the things that were happening in front of my eyes. Groups of people kicking and chasing after a ball and the emotions that were poured into the event by the crowds that were sitted surrounding the green field with their singing, chanting and shouting including my father and elder brother who seemed to be immersed with the game.

I was like a kitten, following every movement of the ball - up, down, left, right, I just couldn't take my eyes off the tv. Maybe it was the bright red coloured jersey or perhaps the movement, interpassing and guile of the players that made me pay more attention towards the Liverpool team. One thing for sure, after defeating the team in white 1-0, and lifting the Shield, Liverpool FC was etched in my heart and soul forever.

Ever since then, I have been supporting Liverpool FC, though at times, when I was still young, I cheered on every teams that wore red jerseys as I thought they were Liverpool. But I know, the very next day, I used my father's motorcycle helmet as my very first ball as at that time, there was no ball lying around in the house. As it was almost round, I kicked it around the house.

I suppose it was when my father forgotten to bring and wear his helmet while riding to work and was stopped by the traffic police one day as I had hid the helmet so that I can play with it, that he bought a plastic ball for me from an indian provision shop. It was a cheap plastic ball but it was my favourite toy. I slept with it, eat with it and even took my shower with it. I brought it along and kick it around wherever I go. My mother just could not stop me from kicking and playing with the ball in the house as sometimes I will accidentally break the displays and at most times, left the ball's marks on the walls.

Seeing my craze for soccer, my father brought me to an open space like the void decks or the basketball courts to impart some of his knowledge on the basic technique of soccer like kicking and stopping the ball on me. He even encouraged me to join the other kids in the estate where we were residing, for some kick-abouts to hone my skills.

When playing soccer in a group or a team, being very young, kids do not have positional sense. So you can be a defender or a striker, or even a goalkeeper, every where the ball goes, you will follow. It will be like bees swarming on a hive. Everytime the ball is kicked, all the players will charged towards the ball and crowd around it. Thus, to have more chance of touching the ball, one better run hard and fast and that was what I did. There is no way to dribble the ball from one point to another with other kids surrounding you and kicking furiously and wildly for the ball. The only way was to kick the ball and chase after it. It was not pretty but it was certainly effective.

The first few games was tough. I could not even managed to complete the game as I got tired quite fast. I was panting heavily. But after awhile, I got the hang of it.

I suppose playing in such a way for a few of years has helped in increasing my endurance, stamina and even speed in running as by the time I was schooling, I was galloping up and down the field with ease while playing for my primary school's soccer team. This time, my positional sense was much better but as a midfielder, lots of running still has to be done.

During my primary school days, I still did not think much about my running ability as I was more focused on the beautiful game itself though I came in top positions during the school's sports meet in the track and field events. However, I only took notice of it when I came in 2nd for my secondary school's cross-country meet, defeating almost all of the school's running team except for one who came in first, without proper training and etc. I was amazed by my achievement and started to train even harder during my soccer training in the runs and sprints exercises, and never looked back since.

I won top accolades during my secondary school tenure in the cross-country meets as well as the sports meet in the track and field events. By the time, I was serving my National Service, I was chosen to represent the Officer Cadet School running team as well as the Guards running team after being posted there after my graduation as an Officer. During this time, I've ran many half-marathons and came in the top position as a team.

A year after my National Service, my life took a drastic turn. I was involved in a road accident that left me with an amputated right arm and paralysed left arm. For a few years, I cooped myself up at home, not doing anything except for making trips to and fro the hospital for doctor's consultation and occupational therapy. Though I do not have suicide tendancy, I just lost the zest for life.

However, my life took another turn when my doctor told me to do some running to increase my endurance and, to increase my leg muscle and strength as muscle from thigh and nerve from my diaphragm will need to be harvested and planted to my left arm in the hope of regaining some function in my left arm in the long operation. Heeding my doctor's advice, I did some brisk walking before moving to slow jog at the park near my house.

Within just a few weeks, I was doing normal runs at the park and even staircase runs at my 14 storeys apartment. With the encouragement of my family members, I took part in the Swissôtel Vertical Marathon after just three months of running. To my surprise, I came in the 76th position out of 297 participants in my category, and not only that, I was the first disabled person to compete and complete the vertical marathon.

Due to my achievement, I was invited by the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) in December 2008 to train in their athletics program. I made steady progress during training and made my international debut at the concluded Arafura Games 2009 held in Darwin, Australia. It was a medal-winning start for me as I returned with a Gold in the Men’s 1500m and a Silver in the Men’s 800m. My recent achievement was in the concluded Asean Para Games 2009 that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I won a Silver in the Men's 800m and broke the meet record set in 2005.

This showed that although the accident has taken away most of my arms, it diminished none of my running prowess and mental strength which I have discovered through football. I have football to thank for.

Even now, in this condition, I do still play football with my neighbourhood friends every now and then, as my passion for this Beautiful Game can never wane. Luckily, my legs are perfectly fine. As for Liverpool FC, though this season is a season to forget, but 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.

“This blog post is submitted as part of Sony Ericsson’s Extra Time campaign. You can read the other local football stories here. :)”

North East Run 2010

2010-03-15T11:47:00.004+08:00

North East Run 2010

Date: Sunday, March 14 2010
Venue: Pasir Ris Park (Car Park C)
Flag-off: 6.45am (Men's 16km)
URL: http://www.northeastrun.com/

It was a bitter-sweet event for me. Early in the morning, a few days before the event, the phone in my house rang and a news was given that my great-grandmother had just passed away. She died due to a freak fall in the toilet. She was 108 years old. Though directly, she was not my great-grandmother (she's my grandmother's mother's sister), my family and I was quite close to her. It was quite a sad moment for me and it filled me with this question, "Why before every running event, somone that I knew, passed away?" It happened before Standard Chartered Marathon. It happened again before MR25 Ultra Marathon. And now this. Is this merely coincidence? I really hope so. But it gave me the opportunity to dedicate my run though I don't really need it and I pray that such thing would not take place again for my future running events.

On the flip side, a couple of days to the event, I was given the news by my doctor that the nerves that were 'worked on' during the last operation were still showing sign of regeneration. Hence, my intended operation will be postponed for another six months before they carry out another test as he will not like to take the risks of jeopardising the regeneration process. I was thrilled. This will give me the chance to take part in several more running competitions, and at the same time, allows me to earn more money to cover the operation and other expenses.

The day before the event, I just stayed at home and spent a couple of hours in the morning and evening on stretching as my groin was still feeling the strain which incurred during a speed-endurance workout a week earlier. I also took that 'lull' period to massage my knees as there are still some niggling pain especially on my right knee as I have twisted both my knees during the last MR25 Ultra-Marathon.

As this was my first running competition for the year 2010, I was really hoping that I'll do well. I was very excited. On the day of the competition, just like before, I drank a glass of black coffee and consumed a few slices of banana with peanut butter spread. With my mum's help, she applied deep heat cream all over my legs and at the back of my body. For this race, I wore my New Balance lightning-dry top, 2XU short compression tights, New Balance lightning-dry socks and Adizero shoes.

I was delighted about the transportation pick-up venue. Unlike the Standard Chartered marathon event, where the pick-up point is in front of Yishun Stadium and I have to walk very far from where I'm residing (there are no public transport as the pick-up time is before 5am), for this event, the pick-up point was in front of Yishun MRT Station. Thus shorter walking distance.

Upon reaching the competition venue, I immediately deposited my bag and find a good spot to carry out my stretches. Though the size of participants is much smaller compared to Standard Chartered event, it was still quite huge. Half an hour into my stretches, the emcee announced on the speaker for all runners to gather at the starting point. I quickly made a bee line to the very front row of runners, just before the starting line and I was surrounded by NUS runners including Mok Ying Ren who was just in front of me.

The funny thing was, at such a point where the runners are sardine-packed, touching shoulders-to-shoulders and raring to go, the emcee invited instructors from Fitness First to the flag-off podium to conduct the warm-up. Couldn't they have conducted the warm-up when the participants were at the open field? Thus many participants seems annoyed and their response to the instructors showed that. A few participated in the warm-up, some just stood and watch, while many just going-through the motion.

After about 10-15mins, the event was flaged-off by North East CDC Mayor, MP, Mr. Teo Ser Luck. A few runners sprinted forward. As for me, I did a few paces of striding to give a space between myself and the surging crowd to prevent being trampled on. I came across the sights of people being trampled on and it's not something that I want to experience. After about a km into the race, I felt good with my pace. A quarter mark into the race, I was among the runners in the front pack but almost reaching the half-way mark, the pain in my right knee appeared. It was so sharp and sudden. I stopped immediately to ease the pain and walked a few steps forward.

By this time, the pack that I was with was far ahead of me. To make matter worse, a part of the running route was climbing stairs to the overhead bridge. I tried to run but the pain was just unbearable, hence I walked up instead. By now, many of the back runners had already passed-by me though some gave me a rousing support and cheer and a few was surprised that I managed to reached that point at such a quick time.

After the pain had eased down, I continued my run but at a much slower pace. Everytime the pain shoots-up, I had no choice but to slown down my pace even more or to stop and take a short breather before continue to move, first by walking and slowly progressing to run. I was very frustrated about the re-occurrence of this pain but I was determined to complete the race.

At the last 2km of the race, I was given a surprise. Mayor of North East CDC, MP, Mr. Teo Ser Luck was suddenly running beside me, out of nowhere. At first, I was quite intimidated by his presence but I just took up the courage to say 'hi' to him. He replied my greeting and we started having small conversations while running side-by-side. I was impressed by his running prowess as he had started running from the very back of the crowd as earlier he had flaged-off the event. So he must have ran at a very high tempo.

During the conversation, he remembered and personally congratulated my achievement in the last Asean Para Games where I won silver and broke the meet record in the 800m. We both parted ways after crossing the finishing line before he gave me a shoulder hug and another short congratulatory speech.

He was a very friendly and down-to-earth guy. It was really an honour and a privilege to ran with him and to have an informal chit-chat session. It was just awesome.

All in all, it was a great day though I wished that the pain was not there. As for the event, it was organised quite ok but certain areas can be improved to make it better such as -

1. Conducting warm-up at an open area instead of the starting point.

2. To have more water points along the running route.

3. To have a better running route where runners don't have to stop and wait for the vehicles to stop as that will cause
many runners to lose momentum and time.

4. To have power gels/snacks points along the running routes for the longer distance, if possible.

Web Designing

2010-03-09T03:23:00.014+08:00

Besides doing online self-learning on graphic designing after my accident, I also dabble on web designing with html coding and javascripts. My first web design project was designing my very own personal website using free hosting and platform provided by tripod.

I got rave reviews from family members, friends and anonymous surfers. I was even requested to design a few of my friend's personal websites and blogs, and I did it all for free as I was using it for practise and also, to stretch my creativity and imagination.

After several free projects and positive feedbacks, I advertise and offer my web designing service in a forum and a couple of free advertisement platform websites. Happy to say that since then, I have been involved and completed many projects.

Other than html and javascripts, over the years, I have also equipped myself with Adobe Flash, CSS, PHP and etc that I have self-learnt and incorporated into my projects to create more eye-catching, interactive and search engine optimised (seo) websites for my valued Clients.

To help my Clients to carry out self-editing on the contents of their websites with very little or no knowledge on web designing, I also have incorporated Content Management System (CMS) into the back-end of their websites.

If you would like engage my designing services, and would like to request for quotation, feel free to contact me. No obligation. My design charges are very competitive and negotiable.

Here are a few of my recent works:

Sailability Singapore

Details: Non-profitable Organisation Website. Providing sailing experience to the disabled. An ongoing project.

Tools : Html, CSS, PHP, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Javascripts, Search Engine
Optimised, CMS.

Lawn Bowls Association for the Disabled (Singapore)

Details: Non-profitable Organisation Website. Offering lawn bowls (a non-strenuous sport) to the disabled.
http://www.disabledlawnbowls.org.sg/

Tools : Html, CSS, PHP, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Javascripts, Search Engine
Optimised, CMS.

JS Athletics

Details: Corporate Website. Providing coaching in track and field events, cross-country and road running for both
abled and disabled athletes. http://www.js-athletics.com/

Tools : Html, CSS, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Javascripts, Search Engine Optimised,
CMS.

My Shop

2010-02-22T03:48:00.004+08:00

To further supplement my income, I'll be selling items such as t-shirts and etc in here.

Do show me your support by purchasing the items (which will be uploaded soon) and spread-the-word to your family and friends about my blog and the online store.

By the way, if you are interested in selling your products in my blog, contact me.

Product, Event & Service Review

2010-02-22T03:29:00.007+08:00

On this page, I will be using it as a platform where I can rate and review products, events and services and the individuals, groups or organisations that sell and/or provide them. It is my honest response - satisfied or not!

My objectives:

To provide un-biased user opinions to all my visitors/readers to help make a better informed choice.
To provide a sophisticated platform, where my visitors/readers can "tell it as it is" and make known their personal experience in using a product, service or dealing with a store through the comment feature.
To drive public opinion to influence merchants and manufacturers to "step up" and provide higher quality products and better service.

So if you have running shoes, performance apparels, accessories, for me to try on for my training or competition, supplements or nutritions for me to take or events such as running clinics, running competitions for me to experience, or even anything outside the running world entirely, and after which, I will give my honest feedback, contact me.

My Review

SIS Burner Gel

Just Rambling

2010-02-22T03:09:00.007+08:00

On this page, I'll be ruminating on life and among other things, one post at a time. This blog will be random. This blog will have little or no purpose but to help me develop and document an account of my life. Yes, it will most likely consist of lots of mundane concerns and observations of my day-to-day life.

Just click on the following link to view and read the story:

MR25 Cross Country Ultra Marathon 2009

2010-02-18T17:17:00.009+08:00

MR25 Cross Country Ultra Marathon

Date : 27 December 2009, Sunday

Start Time: 7.00am

End Time : 7.00pm

Venue : Macritchie Nature Reserve (Reservoir) Park

URL : http://www.mr25.org.sg/

This event marked the longest distance I have ever run in my entire life in a competition. That being said, I joined this event with a lot of reservations. The question that weighed heavily in my mind was whether I will be able to complete the minimum 5 laps required to earn the finisher t-shirt. Each lap on the macritchie northern trail is about 10.5km and that works up to 52.5km to complete the minimum requirement.

The longest distance I have ever completed was 42km during the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) a few weeks ago which took a lot of grit, determination and mental strength, as well as a good pacer/running partner cum motivator to complete the course.

What sets apart this MR25 Cross Country Ultra Marathon from other marathons or ultra marathons for that matter is that you are given a fixed time of 12 hours to complete as many laps as possible instead of the norm fixed distance and see how long you will take to complete the distance. Each lap is about 10.5km and you have 2 hours to complete each lap.

During the online registering process for the MR 25 Ultra Marathon, I kept asking myself whether am I doing the right thing by joining this event. But my hunger for personal accomplishment and to push my limit even further, outweighs everything.

After the SCSM, I took 2 weeks for recovery; no run. After which, I did a few recovery runs which was slow run covering short distances (no more than 10km) and that was my preparation for the MR25 Ultra Marathon. I also did a whole week of carb feast just before the event to increase my energy level and mental preparation by visualization.

A few days just before the event, I got news that my ex-NS Company 2IC, Tan Hau Teck just passed away. This sad and shocking news made me more determined to complete the run as I was dedicating the run to him.

On the day of the event, I did my normal ritual of having a few slices of white bread with peanut butter spreads, a few bananas and a black coffee. Then my legs are applied with heat rubs. Though I'm a bit tense but I was looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.

There were about 250+ runners that turned up for the event with runners from Team FatBird, Punggol Runners, SgRunners, MR25, SAFRA Runners, Pacesetters from Malaysia being represented. The renovated Macritchie Visitor Centre was used as the registration/lap point.

For the first lap, I completed it in about 1hour and I felt good. The terrain was something I did not expect; lots of loose gravels, slippery slab of rocks, tad muddy and undulating ground due to early dawn shower. This was my very first experience doing a cross country or terrain run. The last time I ran on such terrain was during my high school days and that was many many years back. I was totally unprepared to run in such a terrain.

I down a couple cup of 100plus, take a short breather and continue to run for the second lap. There was space to run by now as the runners have dispersed along the trails. In the mid-way of my run, I slipped and twisted my left knee badly. A sound from the knee could be heard during the twisting process. By then, I knew that I had badly injured my left knee. I tried to run a few steps forward normally but the sharp pain in my knee was holding me back. But I told myself that I can't stop and give up now, I'm doing this event not only for myself but for a wonderful friend that has passed away.

So instead of running, I did what Terry Fox did, I ran with a hop, putting all the weigth on my right leg and hopping to propel me forward. It was very tough especially going up and down hill but I was too determined to complete the 5 laps. I no longer worry about the time or pace but focusing instead on the completion.

The second lap, I completed in 1hr 30mins. I took a longer break to nurse my left knee. The third lap wasn't that better. While 'running' downhill, I slipped and slightly twisted my right knee. The day was going from bad to worse. At that point of time, I was having doubts on completing the 5 laps. Luckily for me, I had a few friends that kept pushing me during the 'run' and after each lap, they help me to massage my legs with deep heat cream.

With the help and motivation from them, and the rousing cheer and support from other runners as well as volunteers, I kept 'running', though it was more of a walk for the fourth and fifth lap. But the determination to complete the 5 laps just kept building. On the last few hundred metres of the fifth lap, I felt alot of relief that the torment will be over soon.

At this point of time, both my knees could hardly bend nor straighten completely, and they could hardly take any more pounding. But every few steps towards the finish line, I look towards the sky and hope that my beloved friend know that I'm dedicating this run for him.

Hopping towards the finishing line, I was received with thunderes cheers for my accomplishment. Photographers kept snapping my pictures though I could hardly give them a good pose and smile; I was instead grining and biting my teeth due to the pain.

I was glad that it was finally over. In total, it took me just over 9 hr to complete the 5 laps. Another great achievement. Now, I have put my sight on completing the Sundown Ultra Marathon - 84km.

Graphic Designing

2010-02-17T00:22:00.006+08:00

After my accident and losing my job as a Marine Service Engineer, I was finding ways to earn some income to help my family with the utility bills, house mortgage loans, food expenditure and etc. With me being dependent on my family for my daily needs due to my condition and the mounting bills, I need to find a home-based work. That is when I started to do self-learning on graphic designing from online tutorials though I used to hate computer during my school days.

Using a huge chunk of money from my depleted savings, I invested in purchasing a mid-range computer and some designing softwares such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and etc. After a few months of learning and practise, I bid for my very first job, a logo designing project, online. I was hired to carry out the work and the Client was very satisfied with the end product, and from that day, I never look back.

A few of the work that I am able to carry out includes logo designing, print and publication designing such as letterheads, name/business card, invitation/wedding card, broucher/flyer, poster/banner and booklets, product conceptual designing, photo enhancement and many more.

If you would like engage my designing and printing services, and would like to request for quotation, feel free to contact me. No obligation. My artwork and printing charges are very competitive and negotiable.

Here are a few of my recent works:

Birthday-Themed Party

Details: Designing and Printing of birthday invitation cards, goodie bag stickers, snack packaging stickers, fun item
stickers and banner and incorporating Elmo, a character from Sesame Street, into the designs.

Corporate Identity

Details: Re-traced and Vectorized company's logo and designing new business cards and letterheads.

Charity Carnival

Details: Designing stage backdrop/banner, invitation card and corporate apparels.

National Event

Details: Designing event logo, poster and flyer.

My Accomplishments

2010-02-16T21:19:00.021+08:00

My Accomplishments In Brief

2010
North East Run - 16km, 1hr 32min 19.71sec
2XU Compression Run - 12km, 610th Position, 1hr 18min 12.20sec
F1 Sports EQ Nature Run - 14km, 1hr 36mins
U Run - 8km, 44min 56.15sec
100 Plus Passion Run - 25km, 2hr 41min 31sec
National Vertical Marathon - 63 storeys, 200th Position, 16min 27.36sec
adidas Sundown Marathon - 84km, 119th Position, 12hr 41min 40sec
Internationale Deutsche Meisterschaften, Leichtathletik - 100m-6th Position/13.74s, 200m-4th Position/28.69s,
400m-5th Position/66.00s
Singtel & Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer - 7.5km, 93rd Position, 38min 28.40sec
Streetwise Run - 8.4km, 43rd Position, 49min 12sec
Timex Tri-Run - 21km, 154th Position, 2hr 13min 58sec
38th National Track & Field Championship - 100m-1st Position/13.78s, 200m-1st Position/28.65s
The Republic Run - 10km, 160th Position, 1hr 27.32sec
Danish Open Championships Athletics - 100m-3rd Position/13.02s, 200m-2nd Position/27.75s
Yellow Ribbon Prison Run - 10km, 46th Position, 53min 30sec
SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon - 21km, 1219th Position, 2hr 15min 4sec

2009

Arafura Games - Gold in 1,500m and Silver in 800m

5th Asean Para Games - Silver in 800m, broke meet record

Swissôtel Vertical Marathon - 73 storeys, 17th Position, 11min 18.0sec

Aviation Run - 10km, 52mins

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon - 42km, 1596th Position, 4hr 42min 47sec

MR25 Cross Country Ultra Marathon - 5 Rounds, 52.5km, 115th Position, 9hr 4min 08sec

2008

Swissôtel Vertical Marathon - 73 storeys, 76th Position, 12min 33.9sec

Events in Singapore

2010-02-16T20:41:00.040+08:00

Singapore Event Calendar 2010

MARCH
6th - Sat : Metta Charity Run
6th - Sat : Hotdog Energia Run
13th - Sat : Singapore Biathlon 2010
13th - Sat : Milo MOE Youth Triathlon 2010
14th - Sun : North East Run 2010
14th - Sun : Singapore Sprint Series - Duathlon
20th - Sat : NTUC Run 350
21st - Sun : Aviva Half Ironman 2010
27th - Sat : NTU Run Round Singapore
27th - Sat : The Amazing Kidney Race
28th - Sun : NUS Biathlon 2010
28th - Sun : CitiSpa & Mizuno Power Run (women only)

APRIL
10th - Sat : Starhub Urban Freestyle
10th - Sat : Osim Singapore International Triathlon 2010
11th - Sun : Osim Singapore International Triathlon 2010
11th - Sun : 2XU Compression Run 2010
18th - Sun : Live Earth Run for water Singapore 2010
25th - Sun : F1 Sport EQ Nature Run 2010

MAY
2nd - Sun : Singapore Sprint Series 2010 - Triathlon
6th - Thurs : JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge
9th - Sun : U Run 2010
16th - Sun : X-Physique 2010
22nd - Sat : Singapore Passion Run 2010
23rd - Sun : Cold Storage Kids Run 2010
23rd - Sun : National Vertical Marathon 2010
29th - Sat : Sundown Marathon 2010

JUNE
5th - Sat : Moulmein Intra-Con Road Run Championship 2010
6th - Sun : NUS Legs n Paddles 2010
13th - Sun : Mizuno Mount Faber Run 2010
13th - Sun : MR25 Cross Country Marathon
13th - Sun : NTU Adventure Trail Challenge
13th - Sun : North West Junior Run 2010
19th - Sat : SimpleRun™
20th - Sun : Thomson Run 2010 (The Ultimate Urban Run)
27th - Sun : SPCA Fun Run 2010

JULY
3rd - July : National Library Vertical Marathon
4th - Sun : Streetwise Run
4th - Sun : Singtel & Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Race Against Cancer 2010
11th - Sun : HP TRI-Factor Series: TIMEX TRI-Run
17th - Sat : Home TeamNS Stars of the Terrain Race 2010
17th - Sat : The Straits Times Paper Chase 2010
25th - Sun : Run with Style
25th - Sun : Shape Run '10 (women only)
31st - Sat : Inter-Constituency Road Run Championship 2010

AUGUST
1st - Sun : SMU City Trail 2010
9th - Mon : NDP Run 2010
14th - Sat : The Republic Run 2010
15th - Sun : RunNUS 2010
15th - Sun : Waterfront Scramble 2010

SEPTEMBER
5th - Sun : Yellow Ribbon Prison Run '10
12th - Sun : The SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2010
18th - Sat : NICORETTE® Quitters Run
19th - Sun : POSB Run for Kids 2010
25th - Sat : MOE OLive Run 2010
26th - Sun : Tour de Trail 2010

OCTOBER
2nd - Sat : Watsons Pink Ribbon Walk & Run 2010
3rd - Sun : HP TRI-Factor Series: HP TRI-Athlon
9th - Sat : The North Face 100
10th - Sun : Newton 30km Challenge
10th - Sun : Mizuno Wave Run 2010
10th - Sun : SAFRA Quadthlon 2010
15th - Fri : NIE Director's Race 2010
17th - Sun : New Balance REAL Run 2010
24th - Sun : Nike City 10K SG vs KL Challenge
31st - Sun : Great Eastern Women 10K

NOVEMBER
7th - Sun : ERA Charity Run 2010
14th - Sun : Tiong Bahru Challenge
14th - Sun : Salomon X-Trail Run 2010
21st - Sun : Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2010
21st - Sun : Run For Hope 2010
TBA : Aviation Run
TBA : The Bull Charge® 2010

DECEMBER
5th - Sun : Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010
26th - Sun : MR25 Cross Country Ultra Marathon

If you have an event that you would like to be added into the calendar or you would like to report of a broken link or even to highlight a mistake in the date(s) shown above, feel free to contact me.

My Event Calendar

2010-02-16T17:16:00.049+08:00

My Event Calendar for 2010

MARCH
14th - Sun: North East Run 2010 / 16 km, Pasir Ris Park (completed)

APRIL
11th - Sun: 2XU Compression Run 2010 / 12 km, Sentosa Island (completed)
25th - Sun: F1 Sport EQ Nature Run 2010 / 14 km, MacRitchie Reservoir (completed)

MAY
9th - Sun: U Run 2010 / 8 km, Downtown East (completed)
22nd - Sat: Singapore Passion Run 2010 / 25 km, East Coast Park (completed)
23rd - Sun: National Vertical Marathon 2010 / 63 storeys, OneRafflesPlace (completed)
29th - Sat: Adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 / 84 km, Changi Exhibition Centre (completed)

JUNE
7th - 15th: International Open German Championships Athletics 2010 / Bottrop, Germany (completed)

JULY
3rd - Sat: Vertical Marathon / 90m, National Library Builiding (completed)
4th - Sun: Singtel & S'pore Cancer Society (SCS) Race Against Cancer 2010 / 7.5km, Pasir Ris Park (completed)
4th - Sun: Streewise Run / 8.4 km, Zouk Carpark (completed)
11th - Sun: HP TRI-Factor Series: TIMEX TRI-Run / 21 km, Punggol (completed)
17th - Sat: 38th National Track and Field Championship / Serangoon Stadium (completed)

AUGUST
9th - Mon: NDP Run 2010 / 6.7km, MOE CCAB Stadium (completed)
14th - Sat: The Republic Run 2010 / 10km, Woodlands Square Road (completed)
18th - 25th: Danish Open Championships Athletics / Copenhagen, Denmark (completed)

SEPTEMBER
5th - Sun: Yellow Ribbon Prison Run '10 / 10 km, SAF Open Field, Farnborough Road (completed)
12th - Sun: The SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2010 / 21 km, Padang (completed)

OCTOBER
3rd -14th: XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 / Delhi, India (completed)
15th - Fri: NIE Director's Race 2010 / 2.4km, National Institute of Education (completed)
17th - Sun: New Balance Real Run 2010 / 15 km, Changi Exhibition Centre

NOVEMBER
14th - Sun: Tiong Bahru Challenge / 5km run & 30 storeys climb, Block 2D Multi Purpose Hall, Boon Tiong Road
21st - Sun: Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2010 / 73 storeys, Swissôtel The Stamford

DECEMBER
5th - Sun: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore / 42 km, Orchard Road
12th - 19th: Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games / Guangzhou, China
26th - Sun: MR25 Cross-Country Ultra Marathon / MacRitchie Reservoir

Corporate Gifts & Promotional Items

2010-01-12T02:28:00.012+08:00

To further supplement my income, currently I'm doing freelance sales on corporate gifts and promotional items too. Part of the income will be used to buy food and drinks for the Disability Athletic Group's athletes during their daily training and major part of the income will be saved and used for my upcoming operation costs. Hence, I hope you will show me your support and purchase your corporate gifts, door gifts, event gifts and promotional items from me. My recent works can be found below.

I have tied-up with a couple of overseas corporate gifts/promotional items manufacturers/suppliers, to provide me and my clients with high standard workmanship, high quality products and stringent quality control but at competitive prices (lower than most prices offered by local vendors/companies). The only setback is the delivery time. It normally takes about 14 to 30 working days for mass production upon order confirmation or sample approval depending on quantity and complexity of the order.

Therefore, for those urgent orders, I have tied-up with a local corporate gifts/promotional items manufacturer/supplier. Though the pricing is a bit more expensive, it still is competitive.

I also have tied-up with a local courier company to deliver your merchandise right up to your doorstep. There will be no delivery charges regardless of your order quantity - delivery is absolutely free for local address within Singapore.

Some of the ready-stock products that are available are in shown the images below:

Apparels

Headwear, Aprons & Towels

Calculators

Clocks & Timepieces

Computer Accessories

Desktop Accessories

Document Bags

Hardware & Accessories

Haversacks

Lifestyle

Miscellaneous

Drinkware & Mugs

Others

Promotional Edible Items

Radios

Shoe Pouches

Sling & Waist Pouches

Stationeries

Toiletries Pouches

Travel Bags

Writing Instruments (Metal Pens)

Writing Instruments (Plastic Pens)

Personalised Sourcing

Do take note that the above only showcase just some of the products that are available. If you are finding for item(s) that is/are not shown above, do enquire, my suppliers may have the product(s) you are looking for. However, if my suppliers do not have the product(s), I will do my best to source the item(s) from other vendors/suppliers that comes at the lowest price with no additional costs to you.

Gift Design & Customisation

If you are looking for a customised gift, I will work with you closely, to turn your idea into concept realization and upon approval of the customised gift design, I will send the design to my suppliers for sample production. Then upon sample approval by you, mass production of the customised gift will proceed. Do take note that for customised gifts, high quantity order is needed and nominal charge for complex artwork will incur. Do enquire on the order quantity.

Artwork & Design

Just pick your item, forward the logo and/or design to be printed on the item to me and I will work on a personalised design for your gift. All artwork and designs will be shown to you for approval before printing work begins. All simple artwork services are free and for complex custom design and redraw, a nominal charge will incur.

Printing

Unlike many vendors, all the printings are done in-house to cut-down on overheads and delivery time. Printings are carried out by printing specialists that are trained to use the latest technology (4C Pad Printing, Silkscreen Printing, Roller Printing and etc). Its fast, accurate and precise.

Enquiry

So if you would like to request for quotation for your school's national day gifts for the students, convention door gifts, corporate gifts, concert promotional items or etc, simply send me an e-mail along with the following details:

1. Order quantity

2. Type of gift(s) required

3. Printing requirement - send to me via attachment softcopy of the logo and/or design image file to be printed on
the gift(s)

4. Expected delivery date

5. Budget / Target Price

Let me be honest with you. I don't think I'm offerring the 'cheapest' corporate gifts and promotional items in town, as I'm only a small setup.

I do not have

- large capital to order huge quantity to push down my supplier's price and

- neither do I own any warehouse to store any bulk supplies.

But I do try my best to push my running cost as low as possible.

- No official website with costly domains,

- No special paid email addresses and

- No rental for office.

- No rental for storage space.

- No salary for staff.

- No maintenance costs for machineries.

Just this blogspot, a free gmail mailing address, a home-office and low-cost offshore corporate gifts and promotional items manufacturers/suppliers (another cost saving factor).

And because I'm a small setup, every single customer, enquiry is IMPORTANT to my survival. I believed I can offer a more personalized and thoughtful service to my clients (You!), while offering an equally competitive price due to my low cost and simple setup! I focus on being cost-effective but without comprimising on the standard of service and quality of products!

If you are wondering whether I or my suppliers are reliable, by stationing myself in an 'active feedback' environment where clients can upload their feedbacks in the comment feature in this blogsite, you will be able to see negative feedbacks if I or my suppliers screw things up and I cannot offer a satisfied rectifications to my clients.

So give my service and products a try, and for sure you will not regret it!

The following is my most recent work:

JS Athletics Athletes' Shoe Pouch/Bag

Details - 420D Black PVC Material for the Body with Red and Blue Side-Seams
Silkscreen printed (2C on one panel and 3C on the other)
One medium eyelet for ventilation and plastic zipper

Photo courtesy of JS-Athletics.com

Apparel Customisation & Printing

2010-01-10T18:38:00.010+08:00

Currently I'm doing freelance sales on apparel customisation and printing to supplement my income. Part of the income will be used to buy food and drinks for the Disability Athletic Group's athletes during their daily training. Major part of the income will be saved and used for my upcoming operation costs. Hence, I hope you will show me your support and purchase your group, class, team, club, corporate and event apparels from me. Some of my recent works can be found below.

I have tied-up with a couple overseas apparel manufacturers/printers, to provide me and my clients with high standard workmanship, high quality products and stringent quality control but at competitive prices (lower than most prices offered by local vendors/companies). The only setback is the delivery time. It normally takes about 14 to 21 working days for mass production upon order confirmation or sample approval depending on order quantity and complexity of job.

Therefore, for those urgent orders, I have tied-up with a local apparel manufacturer/printer. Though the pricing is a bit more expensive, it still is competitive.

For any apparel order, I'm offering free artwork services for simple custom design and redraw. As for complex artwork, a nominal charge will incur.

Some of the products that are available are t-shirts, polo-tees, shirts, singlets, sweaters, jerseys, jackets, windbreakers, which are made from raw fabrics in variety of materials such as 100% Pure Cotton, Tetron Cotton (Polyester 65% / Cotton 35%), CVC Cotton (Cotton 50% / Polyester 50%), Dri-Fit, Lycra, Spandex and 100% Microfibre in different knits and in wide range of colours. However, if you require a specific colour, the garment can be dyed to your required colour wth a minimum order of 200pcs.

Printing methods that are available are heat transfer, silkscreen, embroidery, dye-sublimation and 3D printing/embossing.

In heat transfer method, special coated paper are used. Your design will be printed on the special coated paper which will then be plotted and trimmed to the shape of your design using a plotter/cutter. This process will remove and weed the unwanted spaces on the paper such as the background. Your design will then be transferred using a heat transfer machine onto you desired apparel. There are no setup cost in this method. This method is offered where

1. the order quantity is very low,

2. the numbers of colours used in the design is very high and/or

3. there are colour gradients, tonings and shadings in the design.

In silkscreen printing, the setup cost are very high. Initially your design has to be colour separated using an expensive software. Then the separated colour design have to be each printed on a film and placed on individual board/screen which contain silk/wire mashed and that have been coated with emulsion. The screen is then exposed under ultra violet light for 'burning'. After that, the film is removed and the screen have to be washed with high pressure water to remove the unexposed emulsion. The screen will then be dried and unwanted spaces will blocked using special inks and tapes. The screen will then be ready to be placed onto your desired garment/apparel and inks will be poured onto the screen and will be 'forced' using pressure through the screen and onto the fabric. Lastly the garment will be put into a dryer for the inks to be cured using high temperatures. All the mentioned steps have to be repeated for every individual colours used in the design thus the high setup cost. This method is offered where

1. the order quantity is reasonable to offset the high setup cost,

2. the number of colours used in the design is low and

3. lead time for delivery/collection is reasonable depending on the size of order and complexity of the job.

As for embroidery, it also has a high set-up charges. In this method, your design will be stitched onto your chosen apparel using threads and machine embroidery and supported by special backings or stabilizers. The high set-up charges is due to the fact that your design has to be firstly converted and translate into a file where the machine embroidery can read and in turn convert it into stitches. This process uses a very expensive software and can be extremely time consuming depending on the complexity of the design or logo, types of fabric chosen where design/logo going to be stitched and the types of thread that are going to be used. Though the steps are not as much as other printing methods but the complexity and the speciality of the job itself causes the high set-up charges. Furthermore threads used in this method are very expensive this is because it has to withstand the high temperature during the stitching which is caused by the needle high speed movements thus preventing it from wearing down and snapping.

In dye-sublimation printing, steps and process executed are almost similar to that of the heat transfer method. The difference are in the equipments, inks, special coated paper used. In this method, the inks on the printed design of the paper undergo a sublimation process during the transfer whereby the inks convert from a solid state directly to a gaseous state and adhere to the fabric. Unlike the heat transfer method where the paper adhere together with the fabric, in dye-sublimation printing, only the inks adhere to the fabric. This method is the best printing method since the inks integrate with the fabric thus providing longer lasting prints without affecting the breathability and stretchability of the fabric unlike silkscreen printing and heat transfer where it blocks the pores of the fabrics. The only setback is it cannot be printed on 100% cotton fabric and dark coloured materials. This is due to its inks characteristics. It is best used on white fabrics and 100% polyester material such as dri-fit/fast-dry garments.

Lastly, 3D printing or embossing as the name suggested allows the printing design to be embossed when printed on the garment. This printing method is almost similar to silkscreen printing. However there are more steps involved in this printing method and it is more complex. The inks that need to be used are of higher grades and quality and the screens that need to be used are of a different type to those used in silkscreen printing. Therefore the minimum order quantity is much higher than that of silkscreen printing.

So if you would like to request for quotation for your class t-shirts, school windbreakers, corporate polo-tees, running team singlets or etc, simply e-mail me the following details to receive an accurate and competitive pricing:

1. Order quantity

2. Type of apparel - e.g. t-shirts, polo-tees, shirts, singlets, jackets or etc

round neck, v-neck, collared or etc

short sleeves, long sleeves, sleeveless or etc

3. Material of apparel - e.g. 100% cotton, tetron cotton, cvc cotton, dri-fit or etc

4. Colour of apparel

5. Customisation on apparel - e.g. trimmings, pipings, zip, pockets or etc

6. Design, logo and layout - send softcopy image/file of the design, logo and layout via attachment

7. Printing size and location of each design/logo

8. Printing type for each of the design/logo

9. Expected delivery date

10. Target price or budget

Just send me an enquiry, no obligation.

Let me be honest with you. I don't think I'm offerring the 'cheapest' apparel customisation and printing in town, as I'm only a small setup.

I do not have

- large capital to order huge quantity to push down my supplier's price and

- neither do I own any warehouse to store any bulk supplies.

But I do try my best to push my running cost as low as possible.

- No official website with costly domains,

- No special paid email addresses and

- No rental for office.

- No rental for storage space.

- No salary for staff.

- No maintenance costs for machineries.

Just this blogspot, a free gmail mailing address, a home-office and low-cost offshore apparel manufacturers/printers (another cost saving factor).

So give my service and products a try, and for sure you will not regret it!

The following is my most recent work:

JS Athletics Coaches' Apparel

Details - Round neck, Short sleeved, T-shirt

Dri-fit material, Silkscreen printed (2C for front logo and 2C for back logo)

Open slit-ends at the bottom on both sides of the t-shirts.

Photo courtesy of JS-Athletics.com

About Me

2010-01-04T14:21:00.093+08:00

About Me In Brief

Photo courtesy of SameerPictures.com

Status : Single

Date of birth : March 11

Interests : Avid runner (and recently, swimmer too).

Soccer fanatic. Been supporting England & Liverpool FC since childhood.

Loves to dance and club too.

Qualification : Diploma in Marine Engineering from Singapore Polytechnic.

Ex-NS Officer from SAF 1 Guards Unit,10th Mono Intake.

Occupation : Home-based, freelance graphic and web designer.
Home-based, freelance t-shirt designer and printer.

Home-based, freelance sales in corporate gifts.

Disability : Complete amputation on right arm.

Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI) on left arm - paralysed.

Training : Monday - tempo run and swimming, Yishun Neighbourhood Park and SAFRA Yishun Country
Club.

                         Tuesday - interval training and swimming, Yishun Stadium and SAFRA Yishun Country Club.
                         Wednesday - strength & conditioning, EnergyOne Gym at  SAFRA Yishun Country Club.
                         Thursday - slope run / staircase run and swimming, Yishun Neighbourhood Park or Yishun Blk
                         296 / 297 and SAFRA Yishun Country Club.
                         Friday - long steady run and swimming, Yishun Area and SAFRA Yishun Country Club.

Saturday - trail run / recovery run / swimming, Macritchie Reservoir Park, Yishun Neighbourhood
Park or SAFRA Yishun Country Club.

Sunday - rest.

Achievements: Gold and set Asian Record in 1,500m in Arafura Games held in Darwin, Australia in May, 2009.

Silver and set Asian Record in 800m in Arafura Games held in Darwin, Australia in May, 2009.

Silver and broke meet record in 800m in Asean Para Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in

                        August, 2009.
                        Silver in 100m and 200m in Danish Open Championships Athletics held in Copenhagen, Denmark
                        in August 2010.
                        Finished in 6th position in 100m in Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India, in October 2010.

Finished in the 76th and 17th position for the Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2008 and 2009

respectively.

                        Finished in the 121st position in the Men's Open 84km Ultra adidas Sundown Marathon 2010.
                        Finished in the 262nd position in the Men's Open 100km Sundown Ultra Marathon 2011.
                        Finished in the 309th position in the 100km Duo Men's Open The North Face 100.
                        Completed 100 laps under 3 hours in NUS Swimathon Splashdown 2011.
                        Lasted over 42 hours in the MediaCorp Subaru Impreza WRX Challenge Asian Face-Off 2011.
                        Won and set a Singapore Record for lasting over 92 hours in the NESCAFÉ® Frappé 100 Hours
                        Chill On Movie Indulgence 2011.

Dreams : To qualify and compete in an Ironman event by 2013.

To compete in major local and overseas marathons, ultra-marathons, vertical marathons and
triathlons.

To set-up own business in the sports industry.

Looking for : New friends to hangout and training partners.

Donations to assist with the upcoming operation, post-operation consultations, medicine and

occupational therapy costs.

Sponsorships to assist with transportation costs, supplements, equipments, competitions' fees

and overseas travelling expenses such as flight, accommodation, food and etc.

Caregivers to assist during overseas competitions.

                        Investors and business partners.

Typing skills : Using a chopstick in the mouth and the mouse underfoot.

The accident: Took place in the early morning of 2003, along SLE while riding to work. Tried to avoid a dog that
                       was dashing across the highway and lost control of the motorcycle, and rammed straight onto the
                       metal railings at the side of the highway. Flung-off the bike, fell onto the railings and the right arm
                       was amputated by the railings. Fell in awkward position and torn a few nerves of the left arm.

Photo courtesy of VelocityNovena.com

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009

2009-12-21T05:49:00.015+08:00

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009

Date: 06 December 2009, Sunday

Time: 5.30am

Start Point : Esplanade Drive, The Esplanade Bridge

End Point : St Andrew’s Road, The Padang

URL: http://www.singaporemarathon.com/

Does anyone know how to translate the content to english?

First and foremost, I would like to thank the following:

Singapore Sports Council (SSC) (Ms. Neddely), Standard Chartered, Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) for allowing me to take part in this prestigious event and providing me with the complimentary entry.

Fulford Public Relations Consultancy Pte Ltd (Ms. Sheila and Ms. Samantha) for 'connecting' me to the media and creating a platform for exposure about me, my blog and the disability athletic group.

Mediacorp press (Mr. Tan Yo-Hinn) and radio for providing the platform to share my story and also to create awareness about disability sports and its athletes to the public.

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2009 Volunteers for their assistance and support before, during and after the race.

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2009 Participants for their support and encouragement throughout the race.

And I would like to say a very special and heart-filled thanks to Encik (CSM) Daniel Ong Jin Hwa (Bib No. 21282) from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Signal Unit who was my pacer, my caregiver, my motivator during the race. Not only did he helped me to complete the gruelling 42km marathon, but he pushed me so that I can achieve my target with a completion time of below 5hrs of which I did, with a time of 4hrs 42mins 47secs.

During the race, he also looked after my well-being by helping me with the drinks, cooling me down by pouring water over my head, neck and face, feeding me with the energy gel and banana to boost my energy level, applying ointments to my legs to reduce/prevent aches and cramps, giving my legs quick massages and etc.

I'm truly grateful and indebted to him. Thank you so much Encik (CSM) Daniel Ong Jin Hwa. If anyone knows how to contact or reach him, please let me know.

Anyway, I'm very satisfied with my achievement. After many weeks of hard and rigourous training, I finally managed to negotiate and conquer my maiden marathon. I delivered and exceeded my expectation.

In general, the whole event was organised very well. I hope that I'm able to participate in the next year Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2010 and complete with a better timing, but only if my legs allow it as I will be undergoing operation (muscle transplant) soon.

Below are more pictures for your viewing pleasures:

Article from Today (Mediacorp) Newspaper

2009-12-03T12:12:00.004+08:00

Dec 03, 2009

He's running out of time

Sunday's race may be this record holder's last

By Tan Yo-Hinn

1-Arm-Runner with the New Balance kit

SINGAPORE - As an army officer during his National Service (NS), 1-Arm-Runner (picture) lived by the motto "actions speak louder than words". That was tested six years ago, when an accident cost him his right arm and left his other paralysed.

His world could have crumbled but, instead, 1-Arm-Runner is now a technical report editor and is the Asian record holder for disabled athletes in the men's 800 metres (2 min 26.00 sec).

This Sunday, the 1-Arm-Runner will run his first marathon at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon and, on Dec 27, his first ultra-marathon at the MR25. "I was a Guards officer during my NS days, and you lead by example," 1-Arm-Runner told MediaCorp yesterday. "I believe actions speak louder than words, and in living life to the fullest."

Yet, it may be the final time he will be able to run. To regain partial use of his left arm, 1-Arm-Runner will undergo a 21-hour operation in January to transplant his hamstring muscle from his right leg onto his chest and left arm. That would make running very difficult.

"I'm in a dilemma," he said. "If I delay my surgery further, it would be too late and I will not regain the use of my left arm again. But if I do it, then I may not run again. It's a life-changing decision."

As a teenager, 1-Arm-Runner was part of the then-Tanjong Pagar United's youth football squad coached by Robert Lim, and also the Combined Schools Hockey team. However, in 2003, the then-marine service engineer with Man Diesel Singapore lost control of his motorbike when he swerved to avoid hitting a dog.

He crashed and his right arm broke after it was caught in a railing. "My family members had to work doubly hard to pay off our bills, expenses, mortgage," said 1-Arm-Runner.

Since then, he has had six operations, including skin grafts, costing about $80,000. His surgery in January could cost $20,000.

He just did it

Fiercely independent, 1-Arm-Runner become a web and graphics designer to augment his family's income. To prepare for surgery, he started running and gym training a year ago to build up his leg muscles.

He also undergoes sports physiotherapy and gym training at the Singapore Sports Council.

At his elder brother's encouragement, 1-Arm-Runner competed in last year's Swissotel Vertical Marathon, and the recent Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, where he took silver in the 800m in 2 min 29 sec. He set the Asian record of 2:26.00 for the 800m at the Arafura Games in Darwin in May this year.

As a volunteer with the Singapore Disability Sports Council, 1-Arm-Runner also trains intellectually-disabled teenagers.

To prepare for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, 1-Arm-Runner trains twice daily, with up to 35km morning runs and afternoon speed-endurance training.

"By running this Sunday and (the MR25) on Dec 27, I want to raise public awareness of disabled athletes, and to show disabled people that sports is a good rehabilitation," he said. "It may be the last two times I run. If it's the first and last times I run the marathon and ultra-marathon, I want to at least finish them."

1-Arm-Runner trains twice daily to prepare for the Marathon

Looking for Training Partner(s)

2009-11-29T04:55:00.010+08:00

Are you interested in running, swimming and/or working out in the gym? Are you looking for or interested in having a training/activity partner? Are you comfortable being around a disabled (amputee)?

It can be a bit boring to train and workout alone, don't you think so? Hence, I'm looking for a running, swimming and gym male/female partner(s) not only because its boring, but also, to help push me to my limit and beyond, and to provide assistance with certain things.

During the long distance run, when you have no one to talk to or to spur you on, it can be very mundane, boring and even hard. For me who can't plug music into my ears by myself, there's nothing to accompany me during that long, gruelling and lonely run to distract my mind, and even if I do manage to get someone to help me with the music player and the earphones before/after my run, I will not be able to fiddle with the player or put-in back the earphones when it accidentally falls out during the run. I'm hoping to tackle the Ultra Marathons and this needs lots of long distance training (progressive runs). Anyone care to join me?

For the swim, I have to have someone to help me with my clothes, and even paying the entry fees (money will be provided by me...hahaha) to the swimming complex. I intend to incorporate swimming/aqua running as a part of my training/recovery programme. If things go well, I might even include biathlon in my 'competition calendar'. I'm able to swim even with my current condition as I had swam a few times at Sentosa after my accident by laying down on my back and just using my legs to propel me forward. But I have yet to swim for long distance besides the 2km coastal swim which I did back during my NS days as part of the Guards Officer Conversion Course. I hope to swim at least once a week.

As for the gym, my workouts are basically focused on the legs which I'm hoping to carry out twice a week. The main few exercises that I usually do are leg squats, leg press, leg extension, leg curls and calf raise. At the present moment, I do not have any gym memberships. It's impossible for me to workout in the gym without assistance as I need someone to help me with the adjustments of the weights and etc.

So if you are interested in joining me as a training/activity partner in one, combination or all of the activities mentioned above, contact me.

Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2009

2009-11-26T13:39:00.005+08:00

Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2009

Date: 22 November 2009, Sunday

Venue: Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore

Time: 7.00am
URL: http://www.swissotelverticalmarathon.com/

The muscle was still a bit sore and aching from yesterday's aviation run. But to me it was just a minor setback as my mind was totally focus on what lies ahead - to improve on my timing and position which I set for last year's Swissôtel Vertical Marathon which was 76th position and a time of 12mins 33secs.

Even though I did not have much time to prepare and train for this year's vertical marathon compared to last year as I have been busy training on the track (currently, I'm a national disabled athlete running in the 800m and 1,500m event), my desire to better what I did previously was just too great and it will definitely compensate on my lack of vertical training.

After the aviation run yesterday, I hit the sack at about 3pm; 2 hours after reaching home. I woke up at 11pm the same day and missing my Liverpool game against Manchester City as I was too exhausted. I then had my shower and again had some pasta for carbo-loading which my brother bought from Pastamania.

I tried to go back to sleep after the late dinner but was just too excited about the upcoming battle that I just kept turning and tossing arund the bed. In the end, I was awake till in the morning.

My brother and I left the house at around 7.15am and upon reaching the assembly area at raffles city shopping centre, the event was about to start. Without wasting time, we both went to an empty space just in front of the swissotel the stamford to do our stretching and warm-up while waiting for our category to flag-off.

When it was out turn to head to the the starting point, some participants shook my hands, gave me pat on the shoulders and even a few words of encouragement as a form of support. A few of them even recognise me as a participant who took part in yesterday's aviation run and/or last year's vertical marathon.

As we were flaged-off, my brother and I sprinted to the first flight of staircase and leaving the rest of the runners in our group behind. For the first few storeys, my brother kept pace with me by being just a few steps behind me. But after the 12th storeys, he just drifted back and he shouted at me to just keep pushing on; and so I did.

I was having a good rhythm and pace for the first half of the course, and I even managed to catch-up with some of the runners that were flaged-off earlier. But after the 40-plus storeys, things just got tougher. The legs just got heavier, and each steps of the staircase seems to be higher and further. My pace drastically reduced after the 50-plus storey but I just kept pushing on even though my body told me to stop.

Upon reaching the 70th storey, I told myself that this is the final push. So I stopped for a few seconds, got a good breather and sprinted up the last 3 storeys. Once I reached the top and crossed the finishing line, I was congratulated by many runners, volunteers and staff for completing the course. I even obliged to take a few photos with a few of them even though I was still panting and my legs were still wobbly.

After resting and enjoying the view at the top for 30mins, my brother and I head down to see the result. I was ecstatic when I saw that I came in the 17th position with a time of 11mins 18secs. Though I was very far away from the world record time of 6mins 46secs which was set by Mr. Thomas Dold from Germany, I'm still very pleased with my achievement.

I hope I can improve on my timing/position further for the next year's race. Anyway, in this year's event, I've got to meet few old friends and made some new ones.

1-Arm-Runner with, from left, Mr. Ahimad Lamchannak from Morocco came in the 7th position, Mr. Thomas Kiprotich from Kenya came in the 9th position, Mr. Pedro Nuno Moura Pinto Ribeiro from Portugal - former Champion - came in the 2nd position and Mr. Thomas Dold from Germany - current champion.

1-Arm-Runner with Ms. Suzanne Elizabeth Walsham, Women's Champion for 4 years consecutively.

One of my 'old' friends, Ms. Melissa Choo from Swissôtel the Stamford.

One of my new acquaintances, could not really recall her name at 'press release'. Anyway she's a promoter with Redbull. If anyone knows her name or how to contact her, do let me know.