Masthead Photo of 22 and 23 Jan 2012 Run

To see more photos, click on the two links just below the main masthead above.

29 Jan 2012 Run starts from ECP Car Park F2. See you.

Gong Xi Fa Cai. I hope everyone had a good time with all the eating, drinking, laughing, singing and maybe some gaming ( ie gambling).

Last weekend, we had two mini impromptu birthday celebrations. On Saturday, we had Mahean ( aka The Indian) celebrating his riches as he turn old enough to collect his CPF. So, the SLR runners bought a mini cake and had a mini celebration with a fairly quiet birthday song. ( We do not want the rest to know that he is collecting his CPF lah !!)

On the first day of CNY, we had another mini celebration for Ldr A (see photo below), this time for his Chinese calendar birthday for he is born on the first day of the Chinese New Year. No wonder he is so prosperous !!

We also had a lo-hei (see photo below) after the Sunday run courtesy of Pei Lin mum. All in, lots of eating !!! No one cares about how far they run or if the track is muddy or not !! Perhaps, the only one counting is Jasmine who promised to do at least 20 runs with the ABC runners this year. I think, so far it is already 3 .

This Sunday, to take advantage of the cool weather, we will venture back to the East Coast and start the run from F2 carpark. I hope it would not rain like the last time. I really hope all will try to come early and it is really refreshing to do an early morning run. Talking about the birthdays, it is everybody birthday on Sunday !! Time to celebrate again at the hawker center at Blk 17, Bedok South Rd .

So, see you at 6.30 am at ECP carpark F2 this Sunday.

Regards

Sunday 22 Jan: Marigold Drive and Monday 23 Jan: Dempsey Road

Finally, we had a reason to go to the Labrador Park for a run. Well, Jasmine was the enthusiastic one that mapped out the route and we had to do the jetty part 2 times so that the total distance exceeds 10 Km.

The early morning rain seems to have deter early risers. Hence, as I drove into carpark B at 6.30 am, I could only see Nai Eng standing there with his bag. After some time, others started to drift in. So, we finally begin our run at about 7.10am and the carpark was starting to get full. We started off with a slow jog to the jetty (closed due to safety reasons) and then up the hill to whether all the old British big guns are. All are facing the sea, and the Japanese attacked us from land !! Belakang mati lah !! We went down the hill and joined back to Port Rd onto the MRT station which makes the start of Berlayer Creek Mangrove trail. It does not lead you into the mangrove swamp but merely skirt the edges – which is better since the mangrove are not disturbed. Then onto Bukit Chermin boardwalk which is created for you to salivate at the multi-million dollar dwellings and the yachts along the coast line. Finally, round the so-called Keppel Island which is probably just one big football field.

As the weather is quite cool, it is quite a pleasant morning run. As most of the route is not quite shaded by trees, it can be quite hot when the sun is up. Will try to feature this route into our regular Sunday run and see if others also like it or not.

Back to the run this Sunday. This Sunday is CNY eve , not so many places are open for breakfast. As such, we will start the run from Shih Pin/Pei Lin house on Sunday. The usual 10 km round the McRitchie Reservoir. After that, we will have a sumptuous breakfast prepared by Shih Pin. If you like, you can bring some of your New Year delicacies as well.

On the first Day of CNY ie Monday 23^rd Jan, we will do our traditional first day run ie a short run of about 3 km. No breakfast and all can go home after the run for their visits and other programs. We will start from Dempsey Road. Try to start about 6.45 am as some may need to rush home. Come in your red clothing.

So, Sunday run – Marigold Drive. Monday run- Dempsey Rd.

Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Yoke Weng  

Welcome back to our ABC Runners' Blog. Run on 8 Jan 2012 starts from ECP Carpark F2

I hope everyone had a good holiday season.

At 7 am last Sunday, there were just me and Nai Eng at Dempsey. Well, some of the others started to stream in a little while later, and we managed to start off at about 7.10am. Most did the usual WKS route. Sort of miss the Gurkha at the gate !! The cool weather makes the run quite pleasant.

It was a different story at breakfast time. The handful of runners had turned into a crowd. The number of non-runners (7) was about the same as the runners (8).  We had to join 3 tables at Ah Seng to accommodate the eaters. Also, we had to replenish the you char kuey and carrot cake as Ah Seng took ages to deliver his fish ball and prawn noodles. I thought that it would be helpful to write down our orders for coffee given the lack of helpers at the coffee stall. However, we had a small problem – the stall holder could not read English and hence we had to translate it into simple Hokkien instructions. As usual, with AYG around, there were a lot of laughter round the table and some sharing of the holiday experiences. AYG promised to post the photos on the blog (see photo in the ABC Runners masthead).

With the opening of a few new trails eg Labrador, Serangoon etc, we will see if we can go there for a run. In the meantime, we have not done East Coast run for while. Parking at carpark B1 is always a problem. So, for this Sunday, we decide to do the run from carpark F2 – this is the carpark after Bedok jetty. From there, we will do the run towards SAFRA (about 4 km one way)  and the airport coastal route. Likely to be around 12 km. Will decide on breakfast venue later.

So, I hope to see everyone there early this Sunday – ECP carpark F2 . usual time.

Regards

Yoke Weng

Yoke Weng: Beautiful Rainbow on the day Steve Jobs passed away

I was away last weekend and I hope all had a good run and breakfast.

I was in the Silicon Valley last week and it was raining almost everyday.  On the day that Steve Jobs passed away , there was a beautiful rainbow ( actually a double rainbow) – see attached photo. Other than that, the day went by just like any other day.

Eric recently asked if there was interest in the HK marathon – and looks like there is no reply. I heard that the 5 hour limit has been extended to 5 and a half hour. Maybe some of you may be interested.

As it is been raining quite a bit recently, I thought the tracks at Gangsa may be a bit wet, so will defer that location for a while. This Sunday, we will start the run from Dear Ldr house in Garlick Av, usual time. Not sure if we will proceed to the Sixth Av coffeeshop as it is very crowded on Sundays. Play by ear.

See you at the usual time at Garlick Av .

Regards

Yoke Weng

More photos of the 9 Oct 2011 Dempsey Road Run

Good morning, Shih Pin, Pei Lin and Wee Boon.

Look at the handsome smile from Nai Eng.

Just before the run. 

Wow, look at the area outside the Botanic Gardens MRT Station.

Outside the newly-open MRT Station on an auspicious date: 9-10-11.

Choon Chiang trying to explain to his wife and Zoe the newly-opened Circle Line.

Posing outside the Botanic Garden Station.

Wow, at the entrance to Botanic Garden just outside the brand new Botanic Gardens MRT Station. Just bought my EZ-link card on 9-10-11.

Just discovered: the forbidden fruit in Botanic Gardens. See, touch but no take-away.

Still fresh after 70 to 90 minutes of run, jog, plod and walk; that's the ABC spirit.

Look at the highly adaptable Seng Cheong (Still Hungry and Still Foolish); showering in the open and exhibiting his evolving six-pack.

2 Oct 2011 Run starts from SICC Sime Road

Since we didn't take a group photo and there are not enough photos to fill this post, Pei Lin has kindly contributed the 3 sketches below to show the difference between the emotional responses and facial expressions of men and women. 

Thanks Pei Lin.

Sketch 1
Obviously, women show a greater repertoire of emotional responses (and they show it on their faces immediately; see sketch 1) whilst men are more guarded in displaying their emotions (see sketch 2: either they have a narrower range of responses or they bottle them up and then do something else...drinking, smoking for the unhealthy ones and running, swimming for the healthier ones). 

Sketch 2

Sketch 3: 

Men, broaden your vision, horizontally and vertically!! Women like men with broad vision!!!!