random quotes from the Pensieve...

Heads up Paps! Let's keep moving forward. Go go go!

the best inspiration is not to outdo others ,

but to outdo ourselves .

-

i fear not the shame of losing ,

only the regret from not trying my darndest .

-

What are you made of ?

-

24 May 2008 - When the cat is away...

... the mice still train! - Strange, but true. Papillons hauled themselves outta bed early Saturday morning as usual for water training.

Nevertheless, some chaos was to be expected when the cat is away getting married. The situation was made worse by an influx of primary school children in the compound, which made it difficult to find a patch of ground for warm up. So we jumped right into the boat for a warm up row instead.

Our cameo coxswain-of-the-day - Freddy! (whom we stealthily koped* from Veterans for the day) - decided to put a twist in the concept of 'warm up row' (and maybe our muscles too) by introducing a couple of hard-10s while we rowed towards the Sheares bridge. Not to worry - our muscles did not spas up, even as Christy lamented the lack of push ups and land-based warm up.

*Koped = poached

From there we headed to our favourite destination - the mysterious supposedly '300metres away' yellow buoys. Our boat was feeling alittle groovy, so it 1, 2 stepped to the left, then 1, 2 stepped to the right. (Of course, it was unintentional laaa.. Alright, next time I'll cox.)

So anyway, we reached the buoys, then decided to let freshie Ben Chua try his hand at coxing. The boat did the 1, 2 steps left and right too, but not a bad attempt - we didn't crash, did we?

This was followed by an attempted boat chase - we wanted to qie4 / 切 / overtake a nearby boat which, in Jon's humble opinion, was moving very slowly (yes - we're suckers for cheap thrills). So off we went! BUT, just as we engaged 4th gear... the other boat stopped rowing. What a downer - cheh.

I think I have yet to mention any break - let me assure you that we did pepper our training with sufficient breaks and boat stretches. In fact, we found some time to do ambassadorial work for Singapore Tourism Board by waving enthusiastically to the tourists (or locals?) onboard the Duck tour boats that passed us. (Tour guide to tourists: "To your left - you can see dragonboat rowing along the Kallang river. *Spies Papillon waving excitedly* Look! - Singaporeans are such friendly folks.")

A few start sets (10 hard - 20 fast - 3, 2, 1 - 10 maintenance - easy) and pair rowing thrown in, we then took a well-deserved break during which we observed hilarious antics by kiddos learning to row dragonboat. Paddles literally up overhead, at various angles, lovely wavelike incoordination and plenty of splashes amidst friendly paddle fights - what great fun they had! *Brimming with cheap thrill ideas again* - How nice it would be if all our J.I. race competitors rowed like that!

Snap back to reality - we returned earlier to the pontoon to wash up and make our way to our favourite cat's ROM lunch.

喜喜 Congratulations to Patrick on your marriage! 喜喜

喜喜 Wish you and Geraldine happiness forever after. 喜喜

Papillons - good effort at today's training. I don't think we let up on the intensity even as Coach was not around. (*Conscience-stricken* Okaaay... maybe there was no tyre. Alright, alright - I confess we skipped the push ups too...)

Anyway - let's keep it going! With gym and all - build it up!

= Chief Editor signing off =

17 May 2008 - Pap_ _ _ _ _ ('illon' missing)

This Saturday, Papillon's 'people-to-boat' ratio was unusually lower as we missed a number of folks mainly due to trips - business trip / honeymoon trip / plant trip.

With 8 instead of the usual full load of 11 (sometimes 12!), Coach Patrick thoughtfully decided to spare us from the tyre - the boat itself providing enough resistance for 7 rowers.

Our plan for the session was simple enough: Technique.

With plenty of seats available, Coach was able to move around to observe closely and correct our strokes as we rowed individually. In particular, Dawn's movements have been looking unnaturally awkward and finally Coach couldn't tahan* anymore and came to the front to adjust her arms (much like twisting the limbs of an action toy figurine) - Ah, much better!

* 'Couldn't tahan' in this context = 'couldn't take it'

After the individual tuning, we rowed towards imaginary buoys in the distance. Due to the heat, Pap____s were inflicted with the same hearing problem:

• Coach said: 'Row to the yellow buoy, U-turn row back to Sheares bridge and rest.'
• What we (in our delirium) heard: 'Row to the yellow buoy ...(we zone out here)... and rest.'
  

So we cheong-ed* all the way to the yellow buoy (near the dam construction) and listened eagerly for the 'Easy' (while still rowing). But when instead we heard 'Now little bit more to the Sheares bridge' - we all collapsed and died.

* 'cheong'-ed = forged forward with great effort

Later resurrected by a break, we made it to the bridge, and then headed back to shore. The curse of bad ears struck again as we neared the pontoon - not hearing the 'Easy' and 'Hold', our boat executed a smooth drift-like manoeuvre which was breathtaking if not for the final bang onto the boat in front. We were duly reprimanded by the guy-in-charge - so much for 'Initial-P'.

(Folks, for Safety - next time do make sure the commands are passed down well and quickly. On our part, let's also exercise common sense to hold the boat if we realise it is going too fast when berthing or nearing other objects/structures.)

Hope everyone gained something from this Technique session - let's keep it with us for next training, the one after, and forever more.

Keep plugging away, Paps!

= Chief Editor signing off =

Technique check

Thought it'd be good to note this down and track our progress thereafter...

During the pacing session with Vets et al the previous week, it was observed that our surge was not as powerful as it could be, mainly because we were pulling at half-blade. The coordination was perfect though.

On hindsight - as 'right pacer of the day' for that training - I think it was because we were going too fast, mainly during maintenance. When that happens - either coordination gives, or power gives (ie. row at half-blade in order to keep up with the pace). So that's why we were 'punctured' by the latter half of the race.

Nonetheless, a silver lining in this - I am glad we are all aligned that Coordination is of foremost importance.

If there ain't coordination - there ain't nothing.

So! No worries - we'll find our pace as a team. Steadily and surely - it will come. In the meantime, let's keep them blades fully in the water!

= Chief Editor signing off =

10 May 2008 - Play time. Not!

This Saturday, we started off with a fitting session to try on our war armour for this season. Singlets, shorts and polo tees were pulled on and stripped off with much efficiency. No doubt, let's make those clothes look good again this year!

On to a quick warm-up - jumping jacks, a quick stretch and 50 push ups later, Papillons were boarding the boat when they heard a splash! We turned and saw our Joe suspended thigh-deep in the water, holding up his crocs - for a moment, I was amazed by this unreal gravity-defying act, until my dull brain registered that the tide was very shallow - chey... Fortunately Joe was okay, except for some skin-nourishing mud and algae smears on his shorts and feet.

So off we went, in seek of the Tyre again. Heaven tried, in vain, to help us by running the boat aground under the Nicoll Highway bridge, in waters much resembling the river Styx (black, foul smelling and leading to 'hell') - alas, a feeble attempt it was, and we still kena* the tyre after doing a detour.

* Kena (in this context) = got 'bestowed' with

Coach Patrick brought a couple of new toys for us this week - we took turns to 'play' with the pro-looking black Trivium paddles. For some reason - could be the hyper-extended shaft or more likely because we aren't used to it - it feels to require more effort for each stroke. So after everyone had a stint and realised 'eee-urhh... not nice to play one!', the toys were duly abandoned.

The girls in front also found time to play 'mini musical chairs' amidst the warm up row, 50 strokes pair rowing and some race sets. Too bad Dennis... who ask you sit so back. <- PG note: bad English (but good Singlish).

Papillon then engaged in a friendly pace with our Vet boat, and a mystery other boat. We fared not too bad! - But Coach rightly pointed out not to rush and burn ourselves out prematurely, especially during maintenance. OK Coach, noted.

After that, it was back to the pontoon! Stretches, 70 wobbly push ups and a Papillon whoosh later, we were dismissed.

Key follow up items are to:

• Continue the good work at gym.
• Keep finetuning and focus on executing the piston-stroke correctly during water training (until it becomes second nature).
• As a team, find our optimal pace - this will come as we do more race sets.
• Send your race indemnity forms to Jon.

Yet another muscle-screaming session... well done! Rest well folks and have a good week.

= Chief Editor signing off =