Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Duathlon’s bad propaganda

Duathlon, triathlon and XTerra are in my opinion some of the greatest sports ever invented. What happened last Saturday at the world championships though was an uppercut straight in the face of Duathlon. Trying to get out of its bigger brother’s shadow (triathlon), the race created a huge publicity nightmare which it could have gone without like a toothache.

I’ve been trying to understand what went through the protagonists heads, or if you want to reverse the roles, the antagonists. Having read some of the blogs of mainly the Flemish athletes present at the race, the whole ordeal is starting to make sense to me. It’s another classic example of the ruthlessness of the professional world of sports.

Rob Woestenborghs was under an enormous amount of pressure from the Flemish sports council (BLOSO). He needed to make the podium or he would lose his status as a professional athlete. BLOSO evaluates its athletes on a yearly basis and if an athlete has not met the required goals, they get the proverbial pink slip. More or less, you could say Rob’s professional career might be over, unless he finds private sponsors. That’s a tough pill to swallow, and might explain his possible recklessness on the bike during the race. Pressure can make you do silly things.

Jurgen Dereere is a duathlon legend at the Olympic distance who is a multiple European champion. The only major championship that has eluded him is the world championships, ending up as vice-world champion on quite a few occasions. For him, this was the race of the year and thus pressure sensitive. According to information on the Internet, Rob made a reckless maneuver on the bike that caused Jurgen to crash. Fair enough, I’d be pretty upset too after the race.

The protest lodged by Dereere was apparently backed up by 12 athletes. That is no small amount. I feel though he could have handled the situation differently. As Rob is Belgian, he should’ve let other foreign duathletes take the lead or discussed the matter with the Belgian delegates. The result is that he has received quite a few threatening or ill-worded messages on his website’s message board. Apparently, the Portuguese also handed in a complaint about Rob’s cycling, but only after Jurgen. The press has not made any references of this fact.

Whatever took place, the whole ordeal was not only a blow to the Belgian national team, but one Duathlon didn’t deserve. Hypothetically though, and I want to emphasize this, both athletes could have handled the situation during and after the race in a more mature manner. Because isn’t that what makes the great champions, being able to cope with pressure.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Embarrassment doesn’t even sum it up

DQ in Rimini gives Amey Du title (September 28, 2008)

Paul Amey won his third ITU Duathlon World Championship on a day marred by controversy in Rimini, Italy today. Belgian Rob Woestenborghs was first across the line but after his own teammate lodged a protest, Woestenborghs was later disqualified by race officials thereby giving the world championship title to Amey.
The controversial men's race opened with a pair of Portuguese men, Sergio Silva and Lino Barruncho, taking the early lead. But the main players, Amey, Woestenborghs and Belgians Bart Aernouts and Jurgen Dereere trailed by just seven seconds. The drama began early in the 40-kilometer bike segment as all six men were in the lead pack. According to Dereere, his Belgian teammate Woestenborghs was cycling dangerously. Eventually Amey, Aernouts and Woestenborghs broke away and went on to post the three fastest bike splits of the day by almost two full minutes. That lead was enough for all three to secure the podium with Woestenborghs crossing the line first, Amey second and Aernouts in third.
However, after the race, Dereere filed a protest with race officials against Woestenborghs for his aggressive riding. Officials said it was a tough call but ultimately disqualified both men for what was deemed "unsportsmanlike and dangerous behaviour on the first lap of the bike segment which risked the safety of the competitors around them".
With the disqualification, Amey was crowned world champion for the third time in his career, successfully defending last year's title. But the bitter sweetness of the occasion was not lost on him.
"It's pretty disappointing to win the world championships in this way. (Rob) definitely deserved to win today," said Amey.
Aernouts was awarded the silver while Silva was bumped up to the bronze medal position. After being dropped from the lead pack in the bike, Dereere fell further behind and finished well back and outside the top-20. The disqualification is final and Woestenborghs cannot appeal the decision. He was not available for comment after the disqualification.
Over the next few days, I hope to get more details about what really happened at the Duathlon world championships in Rimini, but at the moment I just feel embarrassed. If the Portuguese or British had lodged a complaint, I could have somewhat lived with that fact, but a fellow countryman? A teammate? Jurgen Dereere might have had a point when he filed his protest, but why couldn’t he have solved the issue within the Belgian team or through the Belgian federation? No other athlete filed a complaint except him. The official Belgian motto “Unity creates strength” was literally flushed down the toilet here. I’m baffled.

Ford Ironman World Championship (11/10/08)

IRONMAN = 3.8 km swim – 180 km bike – 42 km run

The big boys are slowly starting to arrive in idyllic Kona for the Ford Ironman World Championship: a legendary race on boiling lava-covered roads with an unforgiving wind. This is by far the most important race on any ironman’s calendar, elite or age-grouper alike. The lucky few who have won the right to book their Kona plane tickets, all went to a grueling training routine that allowed them to qualify for the epitome of long-distance triathlon.

I have never competed in an Ironman, and I must admit, I find it a completely different discipline from what I have done so far. I’m not sure if I ever will as I’m still having a debate with myself if I would actually like it. I thoroughly enjoyed the half ironman I did recently, but an Ironman is still another story. If I ever do it, I want to reach certain targets, and that would mean a sub-three hour marathon for a starter. That’s not a big deal in a normal marathon, but it is in an Ironman. Anyways, if I do an Ironman, it won’t be before 2010.

Thanks to Luc Van Lierde, Kona has reached mythical proportions for Belgian triathletes. In this year’s race, we have no less than five athletes who have the capabilities of finishing in the top fifteen. Marino Vanhoenacker could even win the race. Nevertheless, I believe the Aussies are going to dominate again as they did last year. I’m going to put my money on Craig Alexander. I met him a few years ago at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand, and although he is an absolute superstar, he was very much down-to-earth. Winning in Kona would be a deserved accolade for his fantastic career. Here’s my top 5:

1. Craig Alexander (Aus)
2. Chris McCormack (Aus)
3. Marino Vanhoenacker (Bel)
4. Eneko Llanos (Esp)
5. Luc Van Lierde (Bel)

Craig Alexander

For the women’s race, it’ll be toss up between Chrissie Wellington (Gbr) and Samantha McGlone (Can). I think Chrissie will win thanks to her fantastic run.

I’d like to wish Carmen from Malaysia good luck. She qualified for her age group through the Langkawi Ironman in February. Enjoy the race, soak up the atmosphere, and most of all have fun. Being there is an amazing achievement in itself.

Carmen

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The world goes round and round

It’s been a good week both at the office and in training. On Monday, I was interviewed for the DELTA course. The trainer immediately put me at ease by revealing I had been accepted already. My past experience and credentials were sufficient. Of course, this is the easy part. The first 6 months of 2009 won’t be a picnic, but hey, sometimes you have to "suffer" to get somewhere in life.

Training has been going well and my Achilles tendon/calf isn’t bothering me anymore. I’ve been able to resume my training schedule as planned. Yesterday, I did a 60 km bike ride and a 15 km run off the bike. I ran the distance in 1:04 on a hilly course without ever pushing myself, or as I would put it, an easy run. I feel very confident about my run for Powerman. The Open Philippines Duathlon Championships on October 19 will be a great test for that race. I wish though I had more time to stay in the Philippines as I’ve never been there before. Filipinos are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met and I’ve heard it’s gorgeous out there. It's a country on my to-do-list.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Alberto Contador

Read my words, the cycling world has a new Tour phenomenon: Alberto Contador. He has joined the immortal Merckx, Gimondi, Anquetil and Hinault as the only cyclists to have ever won the Giro, the Vuelta and the Tour. This deserves nothing more than the utmost respect.

And for those nostalgic naïve cycling fans, the Boss is going to get creamed by this young Spaniard in next year’s Tour de France. Barring any political turmoil within the Astana team, the once great Armstrong shall be watching Contador’s Lycra shorts gradually cycling away from him on L’Alpe d’Huez in an ever humiliating fashion. Remember “the look”, it points to the future. If you believe in the past and Fantasy land, I recommend going on a holiday to Disney World. Contador shall be merciless! Olé!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

The road to recovery



Today was a promising day in training. I had to take it easy for a few days as I was having some issues with my right Achilles tendon and calf. I was able to do the bike workout exactly as my coach had written it in my training plan. I did not do the 2 hour run off the bike; instead I did an easy 5 km run. Since I did it in 20 minutes flat, I think I shouldn’t complain too much. There is no negative reaction, so I hope by next weekend I can increase the volume again. We’re back on track.

D-Day

On Monday, I will be interviewed by the DELTA trainers of my school/company. More or less, this is/was the main reason why I moved to Vietnam. I believe going down the DELTA route will eventually allow me to have more and better professional opportunities, and thus more financial rewards. I feel quietly optimistic and confident that I will be accepted by the program officers. I’ve given it my best over the past 6 years, there’s nothing more I can do. Here’s some information:

What is DELTA?
If you have substantial experience of teaching English to speakers of other languages, and are ready to progress your career, you need the Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA). This internationally recognized qualification helps you to:
- deepen your understanding of the principles and practice of teaching the English language to adults
- examine your current practices and beliefs
- apply the results of your learning and reflection to your current teaching position and more senior roles.

Who is DELTA for?
You may be a graduate, or already hold an initial teaching qualification, and are considering DELTA as a route to further career progression. The qualification is ideal if you wish to extend your professional experience and accept new responsibilities as it not only demonstrates a commitment to the profession, but is also proof of your ability.

You may be looking for an opportunity to increase your understanding of the principles and practice of English Language teaching to help improve your overall performance in the classroom. As part of this process, DELTA courses encourage you to analyze your existing practices and beliefs. They also help you to apply the results of your learning and reflection both to your current professional life and to contexts beyond your present and previous teaching experience.


To summarize, the DELTA makes you a better practical teacher, while for example a master’s degree focuses more on theoretical aspects. Eventually, I will do a master’s degree, but not in a specific topic such as English language teaching. Flexibility is the key in today’s job market, so an MA in international education or MBA in project work would make more sense. Future music! First land safely on the beaches of Normandy on Monday!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Training can be mythical

The volume in training has been quite high lately and most of the time it’s a fine balancing act between what is sustainable and what isn’t. Currently, my body is telling me I’ve crossed the line. Therefore, the next few days, I won’t be running. I have strained my right Achilles tendon a bit. I’m not too worried. Rest for a few days should do the trick. Nevertheless, I couldn’t resist the temptation of doing some Google research and came across the story of the Greek mythical hero: Achilles.

According to ancient Greek mythology, Achilles was the Greek hero and greatest warrior of the Trojan War. His exploits were chronicled by Homer in the Iliad, one of Western civilization’s first great epic poems; Alexander the Great used the title Descendent of Achilles; and Achilles was a lead character in three movies: Helen of Troy (1956), Helen of Troy (TV 2003), and Troy (2004).Achilles' mother Thetis was one of the fifty Nereids. Nereids were friendly women who: lived in the Mediterranean Sea, associated with Poseidon (God of the Sea), helped sailors during storms, rode dolphins and sea turtles, and could predict the future. Achilles’ father Peleus was King of the Myrmidons and one of the Argonauts who accompanied Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece. All the gods and goddesses except Eris (goddess of conflicts) were invited to Thetis's and Peleus's wedding. Eris did not like being excluded, so she threw a golden apple into the wedding banquet. The apple was inscribed “to the most beautiful”; which led to an argument between the beautiful goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite; which later contributed to the beginning of the Trojan war.

There are two versions of how Thetis tried to immortalize Achilles. In the earlier version she anointed him with ambrosia (a drink of the gods that reinforced their immortality) and then put him in a fire so that all his mortal parts would burn away, leaving only his anointed (and therefore immortal) parts. However, Peleus interrupted her and pulled Achilles out of the fire before his heel was burned. In the later version she dipped Achilles in the sacred river Styx, making every part of him that touched the water invulnerable. However, Thetis held Achilles by his heel while dipping him, so his heel was not touched by the water. In both versions, Achilles’ heel remained mortal, while the rest of his body became immortal. Achilles’ heel was Achilles' only vulnerability.

During the Trojan War Achilles was a seemingly invincible warrior. He captured over 20 Trojan towns, and killed many Trojan warriors and their allies. These included: Hector, Prince of Troy and the 2nd greatest warrior in the Trojan War; Memnon, King of Ethiopia and Greek historian; Cycnus, son of Poseidon and King of Colonae; and Penthesilia, Queen of the Amazon warriors. Later, Paris (who started the Trojan War by kidnapping Helen from Greece), aided by Apollo (God of Music and Archery), shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel and Achilles died of the wound.

As a result of the Achilles legend, the expression Achilles heel came to mean a small but fatal vulnerability, and the tendon connecting the heel to the calf became known as the Achilles tendon.

A local delicacy – Snake meat

(R-rated WARNING: the video and pictures at the bottom of the text are of very explicit nature)

When it comes to food, I definitely have the reputation of being a human waste bin. Being a triathlete certainly doesn’t help either, calories are my dearest friends. Nonetheless, I’ve always been a huge fan of the finer cuisine and I just couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to eat a Vietnamese delicacy, the cobra.

Snakes are mindboggling creatures, not only for their ecological value, but also for the symbolic fear they have represented over the ages. Make no mistake though, snakes are more afraid of us than any other predator. Still, I wouldn’t sign up for a wrestling match with a boa or a game of chicken with a cobra.

A few months ago, my colleagues and I went to a small snake restaurant in a dodgy alley near our work. As we entered the kitchen, we could see all the cotton bags and metal cages where the snakes were being held. Being the curious self, I couldn’t resist the temptation of picking up one or two bags and looking into the cages. The chef quickly pulled me back, wagging his finger, not this cage: spitting cobras. Oeps!!!

“Time to rock and roll”, thought the chef. He grabbed a snake and with the assistance of a female relative, he used some scissors to cut off the cobra’s head. The reptile’s body was incredibly tense. Then again, how would you feel with a snipping guillotine next to your head? Immediately, the chef took a knife, cut open the snake’s “belly” and let the blood run into a plastic cup. The heart and other major organs were also removed. The blood and organs were later mixed with a bottle of vodka. The belief is that it has an aphrodisiac effect on especially men. I had one shot, didn’t feel the difference to be honest.

The main meal turned out to be a bit disappointing. The adrenaline rush the snakes had before seeing the big shiny gate opening, their reunion with Adam & Eve and the infamous red apple, had a bad effect on the meat, resulting in a chewy culinary experience. If the animals were killed in a more humane manner, I assume the flesh would have been much tastier and more succulent.

Is going to a Vietnamese snake restaurant shocking? Most definitely! Does an animal rights organization have the right to call me a barbarian? On this occasion, yes they can. It was an interesting cultural experience to say the least, but that was about the only positive note. I’m a passionate omnivore with an animal-loving heart (I know, it’s a contradiction). The snakes deserved to meet their end in a more civilized manner.

The removal of the snake's internal organs

Snake soup with ginger

The cutting open of the snake stomach

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A Vietnamese Wedding

I had the privilege of receiving a wedding invitation by one of my Vietnamese colleagues. As I am a big fan of free food parties, how could I resist? To my great joy and probably hers too, her groom-to-be decided not to bail on the wedding and everything went according to plan. The venue for the wedding reception was Maxims, which immediately gave me a déjà-vu. Wasn’t someone I know supposed to have a party here two weeks ago? I guess not all of us can make the big step (and this time I’m not referring to myself).

The last wedding I went to, I felt that I was seriously overdressed so I decided to come in fairly formal shorts and a nice black t-shirt. As I approached the restaurant, it came to my attention there were two weddings going on, one upstairs and one downstairs. If you have never been to a South East Asian wedding, well let me tell you this, the brides tend to put on a whole department store worth of cosmetics on their delicate faces. I went to the photographs standing in front of each wedding reception and obviously, I couldn’t recognize my colleague. I started wondering if I was at the right place, but then luckily, I saw a sign with her name. And coming back to my clothes, I was seriously underdressed this time. Damn!!! But I did recognize my colleague once I put my face right at her picture.

To summarize, a Vietnamese wedding is about food, Vietnamese men getting hammered, and your eardrums getting pounded while enjoying the lovely food. The food bit is a part I just can’t resist. We were given five different local dishes, and I ate to justify my reputation as a calories-are-my-best-friends’ gourmet. About every five minutes, the men sitting at the table next to ours would throw down a shot of vodka or a glass of beer. Every ten minutes, they would come to the table I was sharing with my foreign and Vietnamese colleagues. A quick one, two, three and cheers!!! Always fun, having a drunk dude hanging all over your shoulder, although you’re drinking plain water. The band, or actually to be more exact the loudspeakers, did an excellent job of making conversations near impossible. At some point, I thought my ears were going to sue me for negligence.

Besides the Vietnamese band and local dance acts, my American colleague Rick gave a virtuoso performance. The crowd absolutely loved him, and he just stood there on stage cracking jokes and singing songs in Vietnamese like it was the most normal thing on earth. At the end, he was a real superstar, being invited for more “vodka shot” rounds. His face glowed even more once he rejoined our table.
The wedding party didn’t last very long, perhaps two hours. The guests gradually started going home, while I was still enjoying the food. It was so delicious that I sort of lost track of time, and started getting subtle hints from the waiters it was time to go home. A few more fish balls and veggies, and I was ready to go.
The bride seemed very happy when we left. Still being curious, I haven’t been able to stop wondering for the last few days. Two months ago, I asked my colleague if she had a boyfriend and she said no. You can imagine my surprise when I found out about the wedding. An arranged wedding? Most probably.

The boss' come back

The mythical proportions of the big boss’ decision to rejoin the peloton has probably been on most cyclists’ lips for the past days. It seems that it might have a domino effect too, Floyd Landis and Michael Boogerd are thinking of joining Lance. I guess life away from the spotlight is hard to bear. Although, the boss shouldn’t have to complain too much with Sheryl Crow and Kate Hudson on his résumé.

Some claim Armstrong is the greatest cyclist of all time; I would be committing treason and blasphemy stating that opinion. For Belgians there is only one: Eddy Merckx. Over the years, the sport has undergone a dramatic transformation and has become much more specialized. In the old days, les coureurs would embark on both the Classics as the major Tours. Yes folks, cycling is not only le Tour de France. Every year, more than one million people stalwartly cheer on their heroes in de Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). To give you a statistic, that’s 10% of the Belgian population or nearly 17% of the Flemish inhabitants. Cycling is a religion in the more sensible region of the Low Countries (sorry couldn’t resist making a joke about the Dutch).

In a certain way, I can understand Armstrong’s motives. The fight against cancer deserves no less than overexposure in the media. There is no doubt about his love for the sport and the camaraderie of being part of a pro cycling team. And ultimately, there’s the main reason, the addiction for sports. The fight to be number one and prove one is the best.

Do I think Armstrong is making the right decision? Honestly, I have ambiguous feelings about his comeback. Yes, he would give cycling a much needed boost, especially in the North American media. On the other hand, I respect Lance for what he has achieved in the past and I would rather hang on to those images. I seriously doubt he will be able to achieve his previous level. My hat off to him if he pulls off an eight Le Tour victory.

You could say that I am quite a conservative cycling fan. Even though I have an immense amount of respect for Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong, they embody modern cycling. They both had the month of July marked with a big fat red pen in their calendar, but other major races would be left untouched. The international media has a tendency of only focusing on the Tour de France circus, often ignoring the likes of Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen or Fabian Cancellara to just name a few, and their fantastic feats.

Outside Europe, only a select few know more than a few household cycling names, and I’ve never been a fan of front runners. Cycling is more than just Lance Armstrong and Le Tour de France; I hope people won’t forget that.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

The Frog Princess


Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a gorgeous castle surrounded by breathtaking mountains and lovely little streams. One day, while the princess was enjoying a beautiful day out near a pond in her far far away land, a frog approached her. To her great surprise, he started talking to her.

“My dear lady, a wicked witch once transformed me into a frog,” he croaked, “but if a princess kisses me, the spell will be broken. If you kiss me, I can move into your amazing castle with my mother, you can cook for me, wash my clothes, and take care of our children. So, what do you say?”

That evening, while the princess was enjoying frog legs in a mouthwatering béarnaise sauce, she thought to herself and said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”


I used this story for a writing and listening activity with my Elementary level adult students. I couldn’t resist the temptation and ask my female students how they felt about the princess’ actions. To my surprise, their answer would not turn out to be generational, but would depend on their social and educational background. I had both younger and older students agreeing and disagreeing with the princess.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Rest day

Sigh!!!! (a relaxed sigh)
I love my lazy days. In my dictionary, it means a day without exercise. My goal, on days like these, has always been quite simple: “be like a sloth”. I try to honour my imitation in true spirit, although I wish I had less other commitments like work and grocery shopping. Nonetheless, today I’m a sloth.

Over the next 28 days or so, I’ll have exactly 3 lazy days (including today). My training schedule has been set up in 10 day training blocks. Each day consists of a bike workout and a run off the bike. Obviously, the intensity varies from day to day, but I’ll have my work cut out for the next month.

The toughest part of training is the constant loneliness. I miss having training partners, people who can push you to the next limit when training requires you to push that little extra. Vietnam isn’t a very sport minded country; let alone finding someone who does duathlon/triathlon. The biggest challenge until Powerman isn’t the physical aspect, it’s the constant mental strain training puts on you. I’m glad I’m an ultra-competitive someone, it helps. I reached my goals in Desaru, and I will achieve them in Powerman too.

Monday, September 8, 2008

The road to Powerman Malaysia


The final preparation for Powerman Malaysia (November 9) has begun. The next 2 months will be both physically and mentally grueling, but you can’t expect anything else if you want results. As a final tune-up, I will be competing in the Open National Duathlon Championships in Clark, the Philippines on October 19.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Accident deaths highlight Vietnam's traffic crisis





This is an article the Taipei Times published 2 years ago. Although for example motorcycle helmets have become mandatory since December 2007, a lot of the traffic issues mentioned in the article are very much still a problem today.



AP, HANOI Sunday, Dec 17, 2006
It was a terrible coincidence that has focused attention on one of Vietnam's worst problems: In the past week, motorbikes hit and killed two beloved professors on the streets of Hanoi.

One, the president of Hanoi National University, died a day after he was struck during an afternoon stroll near his home.

The other, a professor emeritus from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, is in a coma after being run down on a busy street in front of his Hanoi hotel.

A chartered plane yesterday flew technology and education expert Seymour Papert, 78, back to Boston, along with family members, a nurse and a neurologist.

Papert, in Hanoi for an international mathematics conference, had been talking to a friend about ways to solve Hanoi's traffic problems when a speeding motorbike hit him on Dec. 7.

On Thursday, thousands attended the funeral of university president and mechanical engineering professor Nguyen Van Dao, 70.

"We must find a way to solve the traffic problems here," said Nguyen Thi Viet Thanh, a colleague of Dao's. "This is such a big loss."

Government statistics show traffic accidents, the leading cause of death in Vietnam, claim about 12,000 lives every year in the country of 84 million.

Some international organizations estimate the actual number is twice as high.

Ninety percent of accidents involve motorbikes, the primary means of transport in the developing country, where few can afford cars.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City roads teem with speeding motorbikes. Traffic law enforcement is lax. Drivers routinely run red lights and go the wrong way on one-way streets.

Honking horns and chatting on mobile phones, they weave across lane markers.
Crossing the street is hazardous for pedestrians, especially tourists unfamiliar with local driving habits.

"The number of deaths is shocking, but the number of injuries is three times as high," said Nguyen Phuong Nam of the WHO's Vietnam office. "There are many serious head injuries."
Very few motorcyclists use helmets and many drivers lack experience, said Greig Craft, president of the Asia Injury Prevention Fund, a nonprofit group that makes low-cost helmets and promotes safe driving.

"I would call the traffic situation here an absolute crisis," Craft said. "In the West, if you run a red light, it is culturally unacceptable. But here, the young Vietnamese think it's cool."

Craft's group has been working for years to persuade Vietnam to make helmets mandatory, which he says would immediately cut traffic deaths by more than 30 percent.

Most Vietnamese believe strongly in fate, and that death will come when it is meant to. This contributes to a fatalistic attitude about traffic safety.

But the two professors' recent deaths have prompted many Vietnamese to call for a safety campaign. Newspapers have been filled with stories about the accidents. People flooded Internet chatrooms to vent frustrations.

Vietnam International Triathlon


Where: Hoi An, Vietnam
When: 23/08/08
What: Triathlon
Distance: Swim 1.5 km – Bike 40 km – Run 10 km

Originally, I had not planned to do this race. Although it’s organized by probably the best organizers (Tribob) in the business in South East Asia, the race does not offer any prize money. At the end of the day, I’m still an amateur (no sponsors) and racing costs money. I decided to contact my company and ask them if they had any interest in sponsoring me. A few months ago, I won an X-terra triathlon in Mui Ne and received quite a lot of press attention (newspapers, TV, magazines). To my surprise, they decided to pay for my flight, accommodation and registration fees, as long as I would show the company’s logo during the race and mention them in any interviews.

One of my colleagues had also entered the race, and to be fairly honest, it’s always more fun when you go to a race and you have some friends tagging along. Since the company was paying for it, I chose a pretty fancy resort to stay in. Japanese style decorated rooms in combination with a TV showing the Olympics almost made me not want to leave the room.

I knew before the race that the ½ Ironman in Desaru might play a factor in my performance in Hoi An. Would I have had enough time to recover? The moment I hit the water, I knew I hadn’t. I felt like a sack of potatoes. The swim turned into a struggle which I just wanted to get over and done with.

Once on the bike, I got into a pretty good rhythm. My heart rate was much higher than I wanted to and I tried to control it as much as possible. Going into an anaerobic state at such an early part of the race is just looking for trouble. I quickly started catching up with the faster swimmers and only one cyclist managed to pass me. I kept a pace I felt comfortable with and started mentally preparing for the run. The bike course itself was OK, a bit windy at times, but the biggest fear factor was definitely the Vietnamese motorists and pedestrians. When it comes to traffic rules, they live on another planet. What am I saying; they don’t have any rules whatsoever in Vietnam.

Going into transition, I heard over the speakers that the athlete in first place was too far ahead. The number two position was realistic and set that as my main goal. We had to run three laps of 3.33 km each. Before the end of lap one, I had caught everyone and somewhere in the back of my mind, I kept hoping the person in first place would bonk. Obviously that didn’t happen, and I finished the race in second place overall and first place in my age category. Although I felt I could’ve done better, Frederik Croneborg from Sweden deservedly won the race.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Desaru 1/2 Ironman


Where: Desaru, Malaysia
When: 16/08/08
What: Triathlon
Distance: Swim 2 km - Bike 90 km - Run 21 km

The swim was probably one of the toughest I had ever done in open water. The buoys were lost between the waves and personally I felt the swim course could've been marked better. Most of the buoys were as big as my mobile phone. Still the navigation went fairly well, but my goggles decided to live a life of their own. They were too tight and I started to get a headache, and thus resulting in a loss of concentration. The last few hundred meters I swam using breaststroke and my goggles taken off. Once on land, I felt relieved.

I decided to listen to the advice of my coach and some friends for the bike leg. Control your bike and stay within your heart rate zones. I surprised myself and was able to maintain the same time difference with other top age groupers, and even went faster than Wong An Thiam (I had never beaten him before on the bike). The last 20 km though, I couldn't ride in the aero position anymore as my glutes were tightening up and I didn't want to take risks for the run. Other than that, thanks to my punctual nutrition intake, I felt both physically and mentally fresh.

The run always turns into an imaginary game of Pacman for me. A little figure eating away at all the food that lies in its path, in triathlon terms: other runners. My confidence was incredibly high, borderline cocky, and I approached it with one single determination: "I WILL catch all the non-pros." My pace for the first 5km was incredibly high and when I looked at my watch (18:13), I was like, wow dude that's Chris McCormack territory. I tried to keep my pace as high as possible without blowing myself up and at the half way mark, my timing was still excellent (40:15). However, I started to get a bit restless because I hadn't caught anyone of significance. I made sure I kept my focus and kept the pace up, and then it happened, I started seeing people just ahead of me at the U-turn and water station section. The number two guy in my age group was struggling, and Dino was just ahead of him. That lifted my spirits and soon I passed both of them, although the heat was also starting to hit me pretty hard too. And then Mother Nature heard my prayers, the clouds magically appeared as they were a gift from heaven. With 3 km to go, I suddenly saw Razani's orange tri-suit. The competitive me just couldn't give up that opportunity and I upped the tempo again. And guess who was ahead of him, the athlete who was first in my age category. He looked at my number, panicked, tried to run faster, and with an over-my-dead-body attitude, I placed an ultimate sprint out of my legs. I wanted first place no matter what. Thanks to a time of 1:24:10 on the run, first place was mine. What a sweet way to start my half ironman career.

I finished fifth overall in a time of 4hrs49mins. The first four athletes were pro-athletes, so I was very pleased to be the first amateur to complete the race. My run was the second fastest of the whole field (600 athletes), even three minutes faster than Pete Jacobs. A nice boast for the ego, but I also know he was taking it easy. Months of hard work paid off.

Runaway groom


Relationships can be tricky. I should know, I am the personification of commitmentphobia. Nonetheless, I greatly respect and look with a certain envy at my friends’ relationships or marriages. Not too long ago though, a surreal event happened to a colleague of mine.

The most likely dating situation a male foreigner might find himself in Vietnam is with a local girl. The cultural differences can be quite stressful, but at the same time incredibly rewarding. Unless you are going to be with a “bar girl”, Vietnamese women tend to be conservative and are under a huge pressure to find a suitable husband. Premarital sex is usually frowned upon. If a woman accidentally becomes pregnant, the inconvenient situation usually gets covered up by an instantly arranged wedding.

My colleague had been in a relationship with a Vietnamese girl for about one year. Her family approved, but the pressure on his girlfriend to materialize a more serious unit must have been immense. One Wednesday evening while watching television, he was given a pink wedding invitation card. To his great surprise, his name was the groom-to-be. What should have been a laidback evening watching the latest movies on DVD, immediately turned into a nightmare. Three more days of celibacy, the wedding was planned for Saturday. Invitations had been sent to all the Vietnamese relatives, even to the swamps in the Mekong Delta. It would become a huge occasion.

In total shock, he ran. It was the only defense mechanism he could think of, leaving behind a young bride-to-be. No matter how you look at it, she will always receive the short end of the stick. Heartbroken, spoiled property in many Vietnamese eyes, her life will never be the same again. His reaction can be explained for the unusual situation he had found himself in. However, I am amazed at his naivety.

And I’m just counting my “celibate” blessings.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

My precious


Anyone who is passionate about bicycles will attest to the fact that they become an emotional part of your life. Incredible memories, such as tackling a mountain peak or simply getting drenched in another rain storm, make the experiences as diverse as ever. So when I woke up one morning to find out my race bike had been stolen from my garage, I was shell shocked.

If there has been one thing I have learned over the last 6 years living in South East Asia, there is always a solution to a problem. How could I get my bike back in a small little Vietnamese town? You contact the local bike shop, that’s how. Being the best customer of a small little shop in a dodgy alleyway, I was hoping the owner would be of some assistance. While his daughter translated the matter, I asked him to contact anyone who might know more about my bike. He told me he’d look into it.

My next stop was the police station, knowing very well it was a total waste of time. The police in South East Asia don’t have a particularly good reputation when it comes to competence. Then again, could you blame them for their lack of motivation? Looking at their salary, most people would be shocked or wouldn’t bother getting out of bed. My Vietnamese colleagues were of great help, but the police officer didn’t impress me very much. He was literate, but that was about it.

The emotional blow started to hit me. Months of training and a major race in a fortnight, the thought of needing a bike and the possible financial implications made me feel depressed. A new race bike is a major investment which I just didn’t want to face.

The next morning, I received a phone call from the bike shop owner’s daughter. Good news! Her brother had been able to make contacts with the thieves. Negotiations were in the process of being done. The first offer to retrieve the bike was US$ 1,000. Luckily the brother came up with an ingenious lie, namely I was his brother-in-law. Couldn’t they give a better price? They dropped their demands and ultimately, I was able to buy my own bike back for US$ 400.

At first, I felt violated. I felt I had been attacked to the core of who I am. Afterwards though, except for the US$ 400 I lost, I must admit this was a great story. Why didn’t the son turn in the burglars? Organized crime is run by the local mafia and any form of provocation could lead to serious repercussions. The bike shop was told not to involve the police. Politics in Vietnam can be complex, and sometimes simplicity is the best answer. I have my bike back, and that’s what counts.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The start of a new chapter

Feeling I wasn’t catching up with rest of the world, and the rest of the world wasn’t catching up with me, I thought it was time to start posting my exploits. Currently battling the daily madness of Vietnamese motorcyclists, the masochistic torture of triathlon training and living in a foreign country, I’m trying to stay afloat in this adventurous globe.