It was a bittersweet moment last weekend as I bid my last IVP competition goodbye.
I embarked on my maiden IVP competition back in 2001 for Singapore Polytechnic with an individual medal and ever since that, at every IVP competition I’ve participated, the medal has eluded me. Now in my final running semester with NTU, I managed to grabbed the individual medal finally
400m top three. Fir (SMU), roomie (center) and me (right)
I noticed this year 400m race standard has dropped. I ran a faster timing two years back, and yet I still did not even made it to the Top four in the final race. Still a race is a race
Albeit only a bronze in the 400m men and with a slow timing of 52 plus seconds, I would still cherish the medal.
The race last weekend itself, I was being cautious, I didn’t run my usual race-pace but instead followed the two runners ahead of me for the first 300m meter. My roomie and another tracker was faster than me, so I didn’t follow them
Around the last 100m of the race, only then did I open-up and surged ahead for the third spot. Since I’m already way behind the first two runners, I decided to coast, so as I’ll be able to conserve some energy.
I still have the 4x100m and 4x400m race to go for that day.
Me warming up
I mentioned it was bittersweet as I wrapped up my IVP days with my sought-after individual medal but my school lost out again to NUS in the championship. Oh dang!
We’ve a strong Team NTU for this year espiecally the men, with a string of national athletes however it wasn’t enough. By far this year was the closest we’ve ever been toppling NUS in the Men’s category, but series of unfortunate performances screwed up the points.
The relays has double points and the needed essential points, as it could close-in on the team points. We chalked up the points when we got gold in the 4x400m men but we falter in the 4x100m and ended up with a silver instead. We lost out to Team ITE by just a fraction of a second
At the start for 4x100m
Considering the 4x100m relay team has just trained together once only, it was a good result, but still to sweep both the relays gold by NTU would be nice.
This uncle didn’t help in the cause either. It was all my fault where I screwed up in the 4x100m baton exchange. People commented I ran my leg too early and my incoming runner couldn’t catch up. So I slowed down to get the baton, that’s when second place Team ITE caught up. I feel so sucky that day for being such an ass. It was not to be.
At the podium
The Women’s category however, NTU has a history of not having enough females athletes, but it was a good performance from the ladies too. Women like the men category, we were runners-up to NUS yet again this year.
Well enough of the disappointment … after the event, I had a big dinner buffet down at Sakura Clementi. It jolly well cost me $28, but it’s not often I splurge on such food, so I really made it worth my while. Call me kiasi, I had 6 plates of food. Heh … I ate plenty of seafood and beef as it’s always the most expensive. Yup I’m such a food-whore
Nat (left, 4x400m team-mate) & Kien Teck (right, Hurdle gold)
I came to the buffet hungry and light, and came out three month pregnant with a belly. Keke, I had to loosen my board-shorts in-fact
So well, the IVP has finally ended, and now it’s my exams next on the agenda. I’ve gone into off-season now and I’ll only decide during the holidays if I’ll still continue running or i’ll just content keeping myself fit. You can’t have the best of both world. It will take alot out of me, if I were start to work and yet wanting to train full-time. It’s just not possible.
The varsity team from NTU side, minus the NIE athletes
Well I’ll think of something. I always do … but for now, I’m just glad how I have ended my IVP journey
Photos courtesy of Michelle’s Facebook .. i kope from there :)
the winner of the 400m men is hot. is he available? =)
if you’re nice to me, i’ll intro him to you
i heard he like cedar girls only :p
sounds like he’s taken le. intro also no use =|
so?
hahaha
true. ok intro me to him anyway. maybe i’ve got some unknown charm or something. hahaha
oooh cicak and roomie sitting in a tree … K I S S I N G :p
ok will intro soon! promise to have babies named after me ok
Yeah, and that cedar girl has strong fingers :x and she likes to pinch alot!!
Haha, finally i can say whatever I want without being pinch.. Haha!!
I declare myself switzerland. Don’t wanna get involve, don’t wanna get pinched! wahaha
ooohh. this girl sounds really fiesty ah. i must meet her. gotta learn some of that pinching skills. =)
chet .. we’re not scared of her!
anytime, anyplace :p
we’re guys, we’re macho, we’re the woodlands boys … weeeeeee
asking for it sia.
oohh.. congrats again uncle…
you deserved it…
but who come no ladies pictures leh?… only a few ladies athletes featured..
so SEXISTSlah u… wahahahahhahaahahahah
ada pompuan, but i’m not the photographer
i posted what i have …
you cheekopek u!
Its Sha who private message me to say that!! Now, someone’s trying to act blur again!! Sha, if I get pinch, I’ll make sure you get it too.. haha!! Friends share :)
dei dun frame me la
oh yes. frens share. miss cedar girl with excellent pinching skills, i hope you’ve saved some pinches for these 2!
we’ve thick skin … dun feel it .. nyet nye nye
Congrats UNCLE SHA!
At least you got the medals and fond memories to bring with you till like as long as you could! :)
hahahaha.. :P..
yup cherished memories
my congratulations to you as well. at least you’ve won something. well done!
thanks bro … its somethin i love doin
hey uncle sha
congrats to you! least you go back with something .. proud of ya!
thanks babe :)
oh .. and the blog looks different too .. or am i seeing things? hmm ..
yup i’ve changed to a new theme
The IVP is finally over! yea now is all off season training period!
indeed … i’ve been eating alot too now. keke
wah…change looks again!! Banyak betul time ko eh..haha
no la bro … took me few hours jer
Sha, wanna know why u didnt win that gold medal? Coz u didnt hv any cute cheerleaders in short skirts cheering u on laah. “2…4…6…8..WHO DO WE APPRECIATE..
GO SHA..GO SHA…GOoo..SHA!!!”
Chet, if I knew I would’ve dropped by….hmm dah guarantee GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!! hehe..
chet … haha
but then again, i think if got cheerleaders, hmm maybe break world record? haha
way to go sha! it’s nice to see you getting rewarded after all your hard work and patience. :)
yeah man … time to unwind now