Happy Hari Raya!

Today is a public holiday in Singapore. To soak in the festive atmosphere, I drove past Geylang Serai and boy... was it CROWDED! Thousands of people crammed along the streets of Eunos. I'm proud to be Singaporean and 1 of the perks is to be able to enjoy the many cultural holidays and mingle with the many races found in our country.

Today is a fantastic day for a ride. There was virtually NO HAZE! Hallelujah. I completed a LSD (Long Slow Distance) ride of slightly more than 100Km. Fantastic rhythmic ride. Feeling the tempo and the slow burn in my legs.

I'm getting really used to these endurance trainings and accustomed to fueling up during training. My breathing was steady and easy. It took me about 5 hours to complete the training. A power gel, 3 hydration salts and a snickers bar from a petrol kiosk.

I realise it's so impt to eat when I'm exerting for more than 90 mins. I used to get delirious from taking just power gels. Solid food gives the body and mind the much needed fuel and comfort.

I'm happ with where my fitness is right now. 5 hours of training ad I feel strong and good after it. I'm looking forward to training more than 200km. I want to see how my body will react to training non-stop for 8 or 9 hours.

Till then... Happy hols!

What a way to start the Official Site

I had the best ways possible to start my campaign for the upcoming Ironman Race in NZ this coming march. What better way than being able to train!

Haze or No Haze; Rain or shine.

Managed to squeeze in a 75km bike ride on SATURDAY, followed by a relaxing swim cum stretch session at 1 of my training team's condo. I also had the wonderful experience of eating an enormous Botak Jones burger located under a block of flats at Clementi Avenue 5. It was HUGE!

SUNDAY was a chill-out day with family and church. I had an early dinner at almost 5pm so I could run a 21km. Was meant to run the route starting from Bukit Timah, but Lyn's advised me to run indoors at the gym. So I drove to Planet Fitness Far East square arriving at 730pm to find out they closed at 8. Bummer! I gave my $1.50 in coupons to a very happy taxi driver at Telok Ayer Street who professed his 'I Love You' to me. So love can be bought with car park coupons!

Headed to Chinese Swimming Club and finally managed to do my 21k run starting slightly over 8pm. Took exactly 2hours to complete. A long slow rhythmic jog with 2 stretch breaks, 1 power gel and 2 hydration salts packet.

I had my iPod mini playing and at the 90min mark, this song called 'I can only imagine' started playing. It is a Christian music and it has been used by a triathlete team, Team Hoyt (Google it!), where a father-son team does triathlons of all distances, marathons and runs across the US. The son is born handicapped, slow in thinking, not being able to connect the brainwaves to make his arms and legs move like normal. The only thing that makes him feel normal or alive is when his Father discovered his son likes to be pushed fast while Dad is running. and there begins more than a decade of ultra distance races so that Son can feel alive.

I cried when I first saw the video and cried yet again when the tune was being played while running last night. It has given me the strength and conviction to do good with the Ironman Race I'm preparing for. Raise funds for some organisations contributing to the forgotten people of society and also raise the awareness for the sport of triathlon or just physical well-being of the public. If I can balance a 12-14 hour work day, family, friends, church and training... So can Anyone!

IronmanBernard

WELCOME to the official site of IronmanBernard.

I am just a man on the street, balancing between an awesome career and having a work-life balance with outside work commitments of having to train for the upcoming Ironman New Zealand held in Lake Taupo on 3 March 2007.

What's an Ironman. No... it's not a body building competition or steelmill related joke.

It's an ultra long triathlon race, comprising of:

- 3.8km swim in the open water
- 180km bicycle ride
- 42.2km run

Sounds strenous. IT IS!!!! I hope to complete the race in 14 hours. If I can come in a faster time... so be it. If not... I wont cry over it. It's a personal challenge for me. I race against me, my will-power not to give up and against the elements: Time and Mother Nature.

There's slightly over 4 months to the race date... so wish me luck and good health.


Bernard Tang
aka
IronmanBernard