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 =