The same old topic

Well the day has come - this is the "last" day of entitled off given while in Germany, before coming back from overseas. Actually have 5 days of off left but I guess that it would be good that I go back first to take some instructions, not knowing my work schedules in the coming months, it was difficult to make committments to the community projects. But well as expected long ago, I already told the chairperson before she put me into the committee, 2010 is gonna to be a very busy year for me, and I couldn't commit as much as I could, and asks her to consider. But in the end, she still went ahead. I have been expecting to plunge myself straight into the preparation of the biggest party of the year, and I know chances are that I can kiss my 5 days off left goodbye once I go back. But thankfully there is this long good break for me to recharge my battery. But of coz after taking such a long break, there would be the "I dun want to go back to work" symptoms.

There are issues to be sorted out, I have the feeling that it is going to be payback time. I have earlier clashed with my immediate boss prior to going overseas, over roles and responsibilities of my primary job scope and the overseas one. I was only going to and only have the abiliy to concentrate on one, which is the overseas one, so there was some bad clashes which I got even higher level to come into the picture. I was plotting my own downfall I guess, but given that the so much office politics that the office is having, I am not really regreting the move. And maybe this is the only way out for me given the look of things, now that I am in her bad books, she probably will get rid of me if possible. Let's be honest, the office working environment really sucks. It is possibly the worst office politics that I have encountered for my close to 6 years in this line. Most importantly, I have not been happy. Past few months away was great, much much better.

If things are going to be real bad and not going to improve, I think that I am ready. July is fast approaching - the end of my study bond. This is probably the last thing which hinders me. I took up this study bond mainly to support my late mother who was bedridden with multiple strokes. I never hide the fact, that was the best decision that I made at the point of the time given all the circumstances, I would have made the same decision if time turns back to 9 years ago.

But now is probably the right time for me to breathe some fresh air outside. I would see how it goes, but there could be some developments in the coming months. But for now, it's back to work and see what would I be facing...

And the same old topic surfaced in the forum. The first was during the Passion Run after I wrote about the early cut off of a particular loop. The so called "elitists" versus the walkers. Apparently, someone claimed that he was very pissed off by the wall of walkers, making remarks that, "some of the fm runners din even make an effort to run or battle the mental thingy" and, "good riddance, now we won't know who are the ones who tried their best due to everyone being awarded the finisher tees".

Well I decided to step in to remind all involved about the objectives and purpose of SGRunners. Hopefully it will cool down things a bit.

But on a personal note, and my personal blog, I shall write more. I am not flaming. I just write what I think is right.

I knew this fellow. Sad to say, he was my pri sch classmate. But I dun really keep in touch with him. For what, given the kind of remarks he has been actively making in the forum.

But one must really look in the mirror before they make such comments. If you are truly a elite, then you shouldn't have this problem of hitting wall of runners, you would be too fast for the walkers. If you are truly a runner, then you have to accept that it is part and parcel of races, you got to learn to overtake and overcome them. If you have the finishing timing of 6 hrs 3 mins, you got to expect and accept that you would encounter the faster walkers de mah. Is 6 hrs 3 mins considered fast? Yes definitely faster than me who has many injuries problems, but what is the definition of fast runners? Opps it is getting too personal le. But the issue of timing is really subjective to each individuals.

We have different reasons to run a marathon. Some for the fun of it, some was addicted to running marathon, some to improve timing, whatsoever. Mine was to challenge my limits - running on a reconstructed ankle ligament , with the whole ankle being defined as having 5% permanent disability in the end. Ended up I was one of the walker, who barely finished within the cut off last Dec. But hey I am happy, I overcome the odds to finish.

So how do u tell whether I am making an effort and battle the mental thingy? Can anyone tell of my injuries from my appearance? Yes I look out of shape. And pretty much that, no way to differentiate me from the rest of runners, no way to tell my old injury. The same goes for others, they could be just back from injuries, they could have suffered cramps, they could be suffering from effects of running in the middle of the night, there is many possibility that one chose to walk. But one thing is for sure, who doesn't want to end the pain faster if they could, they would also love to finish the race fast, but there are definitely some underlying reasons.

Yes as the community grew, there would be a few who totally dun train and just whack, but through the hardship during the race, hopefully they would learn the lesson just like me, I really learnt to respect the distance.

I really hope the so called "elitists" would wake up their ideas one day and accept that plodders have their rights to be in this running community.