Tuesday, April 18, 2006

The Accidental Brick

Remember my posts about being rained out in Singapore lately? The rainy season is supposed to have ended months ago, not sure if it is the effects of global warming, but we have been getting A LOT of rain in Singapore lately. Specifically, the kind of DOWNPOUR that causes flash floods, reduces visibility to less than 10m (yards) and makes it hard to breathe. :(

Well, I decided to stop being a whimp and head out on Sunday for my usual 50km ride despite a hint of storm clouds. Less than 10km later, I rode into the full fury of the storm and things started getting hairy when visibility was reduced and I had to ride through more than one flash flood. Finally decided to turn around. When I got home, the rain lightened, and I decided to sort out the soaking wet bike stuff, grab my running gear and head out for a run. Of course, I ran right into the storm again after less than 2km, but this time I decided to stick it out. So as you can see from my training log in the side bar, I am proud to report that I managed a 30km/9km Bike/Run Brick with a "longish" transition time of 17 minutes (took longer than I thought to sort out the wet bike stuff)! I even have a picture of my sopping wet bike and run gear stuff to show for it! Call me a cheat, but a brick is a brick in my books. ;P

Thinking back, it was probably a stupid idea to be out riding/running in the rain and thunder/lightning. Thank you Lord, for keeping me safe despite my foolishness!

On a totally unrelated note, The Message sent me this beautiful verse about what it means to be a free spirit that I just HAVE to share:

"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness." (Galatians5:16-17, The Message)

Heads up: My next post will be a bit of bike porn. :) I will be sharing pictures of the final position of the aero bar on my roadie - I figure it may serve as a reference for those of us using aero bars on road bikes. Meanwhile, train safe and God Speed!

8 comments:

Chris said...

Oooohhhh.... Bike porn!

Cliff said...

Great post Kewl..

I love that verse too. So true.the free-er u are, the less selfish u become :)

I need to start doing some bricks as well..

Rachel said...

it totally counts. the break in between doesn't count (in my books) on training day. only on race day. way to go out in the rain.

Comm's said...

I would have packed it in. Good job on mental fortitude.

Iron Pol said...

With only six and a half weeks until the triahtlon, I need to get a few more bricks in, myself. I need to work on transitioning from swim to bike, though it's a bit difficult at the YMCA. I'd just hate my first real attempt at making this transition to be on race day.

Good job! I might continue one discipline in cruddy weather. I don't know if I would go home and then go back out.

Steven said...

Sounds like your ride was a lot like mine. Good job getting it done under less then perfect conditions!

Trifrog said...

You learned to persevere. Come race day, if the weather is bad, you'll have a reference from which to gain the strength again.

Nice job!

Ellie Hamilton said...

This is the kind of training that makes you tough!! And I agree, a brick is a brick, even if you do the run first, in which case it is a kcirb. And I love the verse. Thanks for brightening my day!