A word to seal 2012

Hello guys,

It's been quite some while since I last blogged, with numerous events and mishaps and what not.

I've always told myself as a kid: I don't want to be a politician. I don't want to do any sort of work that involves politics.

And so I football'ed, basketball'ed, Tennis'ed, and even spent a good energy on Table Tennis!
Eventually I fell into swimming and running, then triathlon caught on not long after.

Little did I know that as I continued breathing triathlon, I would become the core processor with all politics [windows 95 viruses] happening in Malaysia. The regular pop-ups that constantly appear as you deal with each, blocking you from doing anything you want and frustrating you to the brink.


But that's not what I am here to talk about.

I'd like to talk about the little (and major) things that have occurred to put me where I am, with a smile on my face.

During these past few long weeks, I had the opportunity that any young, ripe athlete would have begged on their lives for- to be able to have casual lunch together, live, train with, and watch the Pro's do their job. This all started just about a week before the Malakoff's wonderful event, Powerman Duathlon Asian Championships 2012 that was held in the scenic and iconic roads of central Putrajaya.


Harry come over to have a little training with us and not long after Radka Vodickova joined in, giving us a boot to the butt and also someone to be chasing most of the time. It was wonderful to hear what they had for say, to watch and also try to match the trainings sessions, and have a few good laughs.

During which Rob Woestenborghs also came over to stay over with us for a few nights prior to the lead up to Powerman.

It was a wonderful experience to be training with them!

I guess there is a fine difference between praising and kneeling before a picture of an idol mounted on the decorative wall, and actually bonding, having a close friendship with them. You learn that they aren't actually much different from us after all (Well, except some of us are just lazy farts, druggies and alcoholics), and that they still live with something the way we all have to. Life.

With the end of Powerman, Rob flew back to Belgium after an exchange of handshakes and best-of-luck wishes, while both Harry and Radka stayed a few more nights before heading off overseas to compete in various races (Including Hong Kong & Sanshui which I could not compete in).

I continued my training with the team and soon we headed off to Subic Bay Duathlon Asian Championships.

To cut things short, basically I finished 8th and very happy with, including some technical difficulties that cost me at least 1 placing and possibly a top 5 finish (if I had started the 2nd run out of the transition together with the entire pack chasing for 3rd place).
Having said that, I'm actually still jolly and don't believe it's anything worth stressing about.
In addition, 2 night before the race I had a bike mechanical tragedy and had a friends dad call his driver back in KL to pick up his extra bike, send it over to Steve's house for him to pack it up at 11pm, then get on the plane with 2 bikes at 6am and have it brought to me to set up and use for the race the next day! All that happened within 24hrs while "calm" was kept, continuing race prep'ing and what not (with a temporarily "Sponsored" bike) Can't thank KK Lee & Steve enough for making such an effort just so I could get on that start line.

New frame (Silverback Space). Sweet ride!

The following weekend I left for Phuket with the same luggage from Subic untouched. (Slowly learning to live out of a suitcase!)

I had a change of bikes within the few days in KL. Thanks to Megabike Asia for managing pull off a super hero move!


Firstly, may I just make a clear point: This was to most extraordinary trip of my life.

On the first morning after an evening flight, I happily crossed the line to place myself a winner of my very first and also very last Ironkids event. It was held in the incredible, spectacular grounds of Thanyapura Sports Center. The facilites were amazing and the campus was just "Ginormous". It was a perfect ground to hold a training camp and also have a good holiday.. Or both!

Even a beach volleyball court was available for use (for us to run in, and play in).

Though it is my last Ironkids, I'd definitely love to come back next year to watch how the event has progressed and also all the kids. Maybe even volunteer to help out as well if needs be, just as an excuse to be there to watch.


But what really caught me wasn't just the wonderful Thanyapura. It was what was held the morning after.


The Ironman Laguna 70.3.


It was a huge luck that someone was looking for a swimmer to go with their "fun" relay team to compete in the event and happened to stumble upon me as I was also looking for a reason to be at Laguna.
Thank you Barry Lee for helping out on that part.

Early in the morning as I headed down to the beach for a pre race warm up, I realised the atmosphere was one I had never experienced nor seen before.

Team FHL!

It's not easy to explain so let me just start by saying that there was a very strong smell of "70.3 and Phuket" to the environment. It was an incredible blend of the marvelous cultures and iconic sceneries of Thai together with the grand, adrenaline injecting atmosphere of an Ironman event.

Obviously, I'm not saying I now crave to do an Ironman starting next year or anytime soon.

They say a picture tells a thousand words. Well this "motion picture" showed me and taught me something that can't be taught from a book or overly exaggerated words of other competitors.

It showed me why these people loved the sport so much. It explained why they went all crazy about it, but could never really put it into words. You just can't. It reminded ME why I came and stayed in the sport longer than any other, through a very different way to the ITU environment.

You see photos and videos of people crossing the line and celebrating their victory, but it is just something else completely when you are standing under the pouring rain and deadly heats watching them for real and not through an electronic box. (I definitely can't begin to imagine the feeling of being the one to run across that blue carpet. The 30 second long jog that allows you to reflect and remind yourself what you have just achieve, while the audience standing behind the branded board pour their lungs out just to express their support). The parts that cameras don't record. The "not important" parts that they leave out (Which I've learnt more out of).

Allow me to sum it all up in just one word.

Experience.


Well, getting photo's with Macca, Chris Lieto, Ruedi Wild, Belinda, Melissa and Radka were obviously a highlight of the trip as well. Can't deny that.

Macca crossing the finish line to claim the title

I usually keep emotional experiences more personally, but I can't deny the bittersweet feeling that burns in my guts.

Bittersweet what?
Bittersweet, because the fun came to an end. Because I wont meet these wonderful people anymore, at least for now. Because a had taken a flight on sunday evening and missed the Laguna 70.3 after-party!

Bittersweet because I know that it was an unexpectedly amazing way to end the year, especially after the unfortunates throughout the year.
Bittersweet because I know that this is not the end, merely even the start, and that the season of 2013 and mabe even 8 years into the future will be filled with so much more.


So finally 2012 season has ended, and it's time for me to chill, re-manage myself, recuperate, catch up with friends, and prepare myself for the exciting mysteries to encounter next year.

I'd like to thank my sponsors:
- Athlete's Circle - for supporting my training this year with the aid of Polar HR monitoring and Nuun Electrolyte tabs to fuel my active needs.
- Megabike Asia/Silverback - for supporting my with an amazing bike for training and racing, as well as other numerous helpful equipments.
- Oakley - with their spectacular eyewear.
(I cannot thank you guys enough for your your help and without you, I definitely wont be where I am now)

Thank my family and friends for all their support and encouragements.

My coach Steve Lumley for guiding me to the correct path and fighting full-on single handedly for the rights of his athletes. Also to set up an elite team support us in vast aspects and prepare us for the challenges next year!

Merry christmas everyone and have a very happy new year!

Riki

Congratulating and sharing a few laughs post-race 

Photo with the Legendary Macca and lovely Olympian Radka

Chris Lieto