Youth & the Year Ahead

2005 will soon draw to a close. It has been an eventful year for me participating in running, trekking and biking; I hope you have the same experiences too.

Moving forward, let us renew our commitment and enthusiasm to strive harder in outdoor quest and also in our career.

Wishing you a challenging and happy year ahead.

Below is my favourite inspirational passage and I would like to share it with you. It can really inspire and charge me up whenever I do not have the “oommp” in my endeavour; I hope it has the same profound effect on you too.

I first read this passage below in the September 1990 edition of Reader's Digest. I like it so much that I cut it out and keep it. After 15 years, on 2 January 2005, I decided to type into a softcopy document and share with my friends via emails. One of my friends was so touched and energized with the message that he replied excitedly: "YEAH...Let us die young at …". Then I realized that it was only the second day of 2005. It was really inappropriate for me sending the passage that provoked him to mention "die" at the start of a new year – did not sound auspicious. Nevertheless, I survive 2005 with much vigour.

So, I think it is appropriate to publish it at the end of the year.

Cheers,
KCxxx :-))



Youth

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20; but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80. (From Reader’s Digest - September 1990)

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A Glimpse of Photography

Stockie and Lye Hock are friends whom we share common interest in camera. I can not, at this moment, say "share common interest in photography" as I am not up to the standard yet. My skill is only up to point-and-shoot type covering running events. Let me show you what serious photography means.

Stockie's Photography Works

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Please click here to go to Stockie's weblog.

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It is ironic that the photos taken by Stockie (a nickname) were of razor-sharp, vivid and vibrant in colour even though the subject was in a distance. But the profile photo on him is blurred. I was trying very hard to see whether we can recognize him from that blur photo. Was he holding a handphone?

I guess his friend who took his photo could be an apprentice. Similarly, when guys go to the barber shop for haircut, if they are two barbers in the shop – one with neat and nice haircut, and the other one is of lousy haircut – who would you chose? Answer: select the barber with the lousy haircut as the master is not easily visible.

When I first received an email reply from Stockie, adding on to the confusion of this subject matter was the following line of technical specification:

Nikon D50 AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED, AF 50mm f/1.8D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro, Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG, SB600.

Looks like I need to spend time to decipher what these means. Apparently, every letter has its special meaning and also means much superior – come with higher capital outlay – than another one. For example: AF, S, DX, G, ED where AF stands for Auto Focus, etc. On initial reading of the camera manual, Nikon would publish that certain letter (or the absence of it) is compatible (or not compatible) with certain type of camera bodies. Hmm… not that simple after all.

Lye Hock's Photography Works

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Please click here to go to Lye Hock's weblog.

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His profile photo is even much more stylish -- we can only see his shadow.

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Under the Moonlight

After I have bought my Yashica SLR camera long time ago, I went back hometown one day to see that there was one type of flower planted by my parents started to blossom at midnight. The flower is white and the name is sounded like “kheng” flower. According to what I heard, when it blossoms, it would bring good luck to the family.

On that night, it was a coincidence that the full month was high up in the sky. By the light of the full moon, I could see the flowers in a silvery varnish. It was a rare moment of serenity and I found myself mesmerized by the full moon illuminating the flowers. So I took out my camera, lay flat on the ground below the flower with the moon as backdrop and started clicking away. I remembered too that one of my neighbours who was attracted by the camera flashes igniting the neighbourhood, was showing concern of my weird action.


By KC

Celebrating Life - Siemens Run 2006

Siemens Malaysia, in the sporting arena, organized the first Siemens Run in 2004 to propagate healthy living among Malaysian. With the previous success, the Siemens 10km Run is back again on 15 January 2006 at Dataran Merdeka.

Besides from encouraging Malaysians in the sport of road-racing, the run is also for charitable purposes, as the proceeds would be donated to the Pediatric Cancer Ward of University of Malaya Medical Center and the Rotary Club Kuala Lumpur DiRaja.

The Siemens Run has a special meaning to our group because it was the first 10km race after knowing Chantelle, MC, Janet and Sook Yuen in October 2004.

On race day, I would try out my new toy, Nikon D50 SLR camera, by capturing the runners in action – the expression and emotion on triumph, joy, determination, despair, agony, etc.

For those fast runners, this could be another arena for you to reinforce your standings. So, let us support this event for a good cause. As you can see in the photo below, our famous guy, TeyET, was so touched about this event.

Details of the race:
Date: Sunday, 15 January 2006
Time: 7.30am
Venue: Datara Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
Fee: RM 10-00, RM5-00, RM3-00.
Distance: 10km, 7km, 2km.

Closing date of application: 11 January 2006
Website: www.Siemensrun.com.my
Telephone: 03-7660 9611
Email: mailto:siemenrun2006@totalsportsasia.com

Supported by: FTAAA
Sponsors: Milo, 100 Plus, etc.

Powered By Nikon D50

I was most satisfied using the Nikon D50 digital-SLR camera at Mizuno Wave run on 18 December 2005. The camera was responsive; shutter-release button was smooth and the shutter-release sound was so soothing that I wanted to press for more. It was really “syok” (fun and exciting) to use.

I bought it on Saturday 17 Dec 2005 from Foto Shangri-La at Lot 10 Shopping Complex. Nikon Malaysia actually sent a team of sales persons to assist in managing the road-show. I was attended by Josephine and she asked me for NRID in the purchase due to standard procedures. Leaving Lot 10 excitedly, I was carrying three big paper bags bearing Nikon name containing camera body, kit lens, flash unit, camera bag, knap sag, pouch bag, etc, and other free gifts.

I only started reading the camera manual almost at mid-night to understand the functions and features. Due to lack of time, I decided to set everything to “Auto” mode for a quick familiarization the next morning. I was a little excited and I woke up before the alarm clock went off on Sunday morning.

On race day, I completed my run after 50 minutes. Immediately, I took out the new camera. The feeling of holding it was fantastic – it automatically upgraded me to a level higher than the compact camera series. I was the photographer in disguise but easily recognizable: donning running vest and shorts with wet and muddy running shoes after running across the pitch to the finishing line.

Almost all the initial photo shots on runners in running action were blurred because my hands were shaking: firstly, it was after the run and secondly, I was nervous as I have not been shooting in SLR camera for a long, long time.

With the wider angle, taking group photos has more rooms and easy. With the long-range lens, I could freeze runners in action further away. So, next time, remember to put on your best smile – as though it is a free and easy run – for photo shots while you cross the finishing line.

I have considered buying a SLR camera for a few months since Nikon D50 was launched. I was contemplating how to hide and carry the huge SLR camera in my pocket as of the convenience of digital compact camera.

Freeze the Actions

I tried very hard to capture runners in action using the compact camera but the results were unsatisfactory. My first funny encounter of action photo shots was taking those racers at Malakoff Duathlon in March 2005. When the cyclist was framed in the middle of LCD monitor display, I pressed the shutter-release button. But during playback viewing, the cyclist was not captured due to slow shutter speed of compact camera.

After seeing Jason Lee’s Nikon D70 (bigger brother of D50) results with stunning clarity from the Nikon telephoto lens, I decided to buy one. I, too, like photography. I remember after started working in my twenties, I bought one Yashica SLR camera; that time I did not have much money owning a Nikon brand.

Back then, I was using a partial auto camera. First, I have to decide whether to set the aperture or shutter-speed priority. Viewing through the viewfinder would give the other clue and then set accordingly. Focusing was done manually by turning the focusing ring of lens; taking each shot seemed slow and tedious.

Photos that you see in the weblog are down-sized and set to Medium resolution quality for fast transmission over internet. Each photo is down-sized from 2,000 KB to about 40 KB only. They all suffered the lack of clarity and vibrant colours as compared to original.

Buying SLR camera is the beginning of spending lots of money. On Sunday at the Mizuno run, I have a chat with Chan Wing Kai, Pacesetters Club photographer. He proudly showed me a jewel in his camera bag – a renowned Nikon VR (vibration reduction) lens of almost six inches long costing more than RM 5,000 !

Other than taking runners and bikers in action, I would have to try my hands on birds (those that fly, of course) to improve my photography skills. Just in case I am engaging in “flower or bird” priority mode, just shout out loud when you run pass for me to switch back to “runner” priority mode.

Please click here to view photos takin by Nikon D50 for the Mizuno Run.

By KCxxx :-))
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Santa Claus Running 20km

Today is Christmas. Nevertheless, we still go to Bukit Aman for a 20km run this morning in preparation for the coming Kuala Lumpur International Marathon on 3 March 2006. Before that, we were busy with Singapore International Marathon on 4 December, and that was over.

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It was most unusual to have a Santa Claus doing a 20km run this morning with us. What costume would you expect Santa Claus to wear – heavily dressed-up costume with big belly? That would be difficult to walk 20 meters let alone running for 20 kilometers. Yes, to grace the occasion, we have JOHN TAN, The Santa Claus. Since it was a 20km distance, he was donning running apparels attire.

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There were not many runners this morning. I presumed they must be taking a holiday break for the Christmas celebration. The morning air was cool and fresh after a downpour yesterday evening. It was perfect for a long distance training run.

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Our Santa Claus was seen distributing sweets along the course. At Selangor Property area, one Philippine maid who was waiting for taxi was most impressed to receive a sweet from our Santa Claus. Further down the course, two Bangladeshi workers were given our Santa Claus extended admiration. Not many people have the luck to watch Santa Claus in running action.

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Near the Bank Negara LRT area, I was running fast and competing with Santa Claus. He eventually outran me. Well, he is most qualified to assume the assignment for long-haul running Santa Claus in Christmas.

To view other photos, please click here.

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By KC

Festive Seasons and Holidays

Dong Zhi

According to Chinese tradition, today (22 December) is Dong Zhi (Winter Solstice) festival. When I was a teenager, my mother would make the colourful marble-size tang yuen (glutinous rice ball). I would then volunteer to help her to roll the dough into round balls. She would say, “Son, after this Dong Zhi, you will be one year older and one year wiser.” After eating thousands of tang yuen, one thing is for sure: it adds up to my age but I am not sure whether it adds up to my wisdom.

Above is a photo taken from Chee Wee’s internet email. He sent us one virtual tong yuen feast this morning.

Year-end Festive Season

2005 will soon draw to a close and it has been an eventful year for me. Other than the usual running, this is my maiden year taking part in Duathlon races – it was love at first sight. In August, after months of trekking, we scaled the summit of Mount Kinabalu with Tony as the Team Leader.

This year-end festive holidays will allow us some rest and an opportunity for reflection on our achievements. Briefly, here are my major events:

March = Kuala Lumpur International Marathon; cheering and then bought a road racing bicycle.
May = Duathlon at Lumut; Trekking at Gunung Dato; Nike-Pacesetters 15km race.
June = Trekking at Gunung Irau, Cameron Highland.
July = Seremban Half marathon; Malaka Half marathon; Duathlon at Johor Baru
August = Trekking up Mount Kinabalu
September = Putrajaya Half marathon; PJ Half marathon, Putrajaya Powerman.
October and November = 20km and 30km training runs for Singapore marathon
December = Singapore International marathon.

Going forward, let us renew our commitment, whether in running or in our career to strive harder. The challenges that abound in the coming year will require all of us to train harder and run faster. It comes a long way where I evolve from a 10km runner to a full marathon runner.

Thank you to all my running friends for being with me and I treasure the camaraderie and good times together.

To my friends and readers who are celebrating Christmas, may I wish you Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all. As you travel with your loved ones for the holidays, drive safely.

Best Regards,
KC

I Am Nearly Famous

When I turned to Page 34 of Metro Section in Star newspaper today (Wednesday, 21 Dec), the familiar sight of runners donning blue T-shirts caught my attention. In the following page, I saw the inflated model of a huge shoe associating with Mizuno Wave Run on 18 Dec.

I was most excited when I recognized that the person in the photo was me. With back facing the camera, I believe nobody else could recognize the person, other than yours truly. The other guy in the photo looking sideway was Chee Wee. I was searching for something on the ground at that moment as though we were busy doing treasure hunting next to a majestic structure in the shape of a giant shoe.

We were not aware that the photographer was taking photos on us – the power of telephoto lenses. Otherwise, we could have demonstrated more creative poses. The photo below showed a completed action: the reason why we went near to the giant shoe even though we have to walk across the muddy pitch.

Next Posting: Powered by Nikon D50 SLR Camera

By KC