Holiday Greetings

With a few colleagues/friends, we went to Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Christmas. I had experienced one Christmas before in this motorbike mad city and remembered it to be insane. The crowds would not disappoint me and in combination with Vietnam’s first leg victory over Thailand in the ASEAN Cup, everybody more or less went berserk.

We had German cuisine for a change and I thoroughly enjoyed the bratwurst with red cabbage. As a starter, I had Hungarian goulash soup and it was really to die for. It brought back some memories of my mother’s home cooked meals.

I’d like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope all your wishes and dreams will come true.

Vietnam stage late rally to clinch Southeast Asian title

HANOI, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Vietnam scored a last gasp second-leg equaliser to finish 1-1 with Thailand and clinch the Southeast Asian championship for the first time on Sunday.

With the match tied 2-2 on aggregate and seconds away from extra time, the dangerous Le Cong Vinh leapt high above the Thai defence to head home Nguyen Minh Phuong's free kick and spark wild celebrations at the My Dinh stadium.

Three-times champions Thailand, upset 2-1 in the first leg, had most of the chances and went ahead after 21 minutes when Teerasil Dangda beat the goalkeeper to head Sutee Suksomkit's free kick into the net.

Thailand paid dearly for their misfiring and conceded a disputed free kick deep into stoppage time, which Vinh flicked into the net to earn Vietnam their first international title.

Here are some pictures I took in Vung Tau. Everybody came out onto the streets with their motorbikes and lots of people were waiving the Vietnamese flag. They were certainly enjoying the moment.

Belgian PM's resignation accepted

The Belgian king has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme's government, but asked it to stay on in a caretaker capacity.
Former PM Wilfried Martens has been asked to mediate in efforts to put together a new government. A palace statement said Mr Martens had accepted.
Analysts tip another former PM, Jean-Luc Dehaene, as favourite to head a new interim coalition.

Mr Leterme offered to resign amid a row over the sale of troubled bank Fortis.
The moves come after a series of consultative meetings over the weekend to consider the impact of the government's resignation during the current financial crisis.
Mr Leterme only took office in March, nine months after a general election had resulted in political deadlock founded in tensions between Flemish and Walloon groups.
He tendered his resignation in June after he failed to push through plans to devolve more power to the regions, but the king rejected it.
Court ruling
Fortis bank has been one of the European banks hardest hit by the credit crunch, leaving it desperately short of cash.

The government was forced to take over and sell nearly all of the company's assets.
Hundreds of thousands of investors were left with virtually nothing and so began a successful legal action effectively preventing the asset sale.
Earlier this month, the Brussels appeal court ruled in favour of the shareholders and froze the sale of most of Fortis to France's BNP Paribas, which was supposed to have been finalised this week.
Last week, Belgium's Supreme Court president said there were "undoubtedly significant indications" that members of the Belgian government had attempted to influence the outcome of the court case.

Belgians sometimes make sarcastic jokes that they live in a banana country, crudely referring to what happens politically in some third world countries. I hope this will be the start of a political rejuvenation, because with all due respect, bananas taste better in South East Asia/Africa/South America than in Europe.

Belgium's government in crisis over Fortis

RNW News
19-12-2008

Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme has been accused of trying to influence a judge in the Fortis takeover case. On Thursday the opposition called for his resignation. A higher court, the Court of Cassation, is investigating the matter.

Prime Minister Yves Leterme of Belgium After an eight-hour session on Thursday evening the cabinet decided that neither the prime minister nor any ministers would step down. Belgium's VRT public television is reporting that ministers were discussing the possible resignation of Mr Leterme, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders and Justice Minister Jo Vandeurzen over the affair. It has not been confirmed that all three were involved in the alleged pressurising of the judges.

A decision on the ministers' position has been postponed until publication of the Cassation Court report about the judicial procedure that led to the verdict in the Fortis case. The court will report on Friday.

So what happened?

A week ago the Court of Appeal in Brussels declared that the government's sale of the Fortis Bank to BNP Paribas of France should not have taken place without shareholders' consent. The sale of the state-owned bank has been frozen for 65 days. A senior official from Mr Leterme's office contacted court officials in an attempt to prevent the Court from reaching this decision. The Prime Minister has confirmed that there was one such contact.

Earlier on Thursday, parliament wanted to question Mr Leterme about his contact with judges in the case, but he failed to appear. The speaker of parliament had been sent a letter by the Court of Cassation, which contradicted the prime minister's earlier assurance that he had not tried to influence any judge.

Avoiding a new crisis

The parties in the governing coalition are not eager to break up the cabinet, which is made up of five parties: two Liberal, two Christian Democrat, and one Socialist. It took nine months to agree on a coalition programme, during which time Belgium was practically without a government. A new period of political uncertainty, particularly during a difficult time for the national economy, is something that many politicians in Brussels say they want to avoid.

Kristof: I feel ashamed, embarrassed, disgusted...

Life in Vietnam

It’s been a pretty busy time lately. Not really because of a huge amount of work or anything like that, I’ve just been busy trying to collect my thoughts. Trying to fit some of the pieces of the life jigsaw puzzle together. The most important decision I have made is that I will stay at least one more year in Vietnam. Leaving would have too many negative impacts on both my teaching and sports career.

Ultimately, I would like to continue combining work/studies with my duathlon and triathlon career. I achieved some great results the past year and would like to see where the sky limit is for me. As I’m still young, I feel I can still make progression in certain areas, especially on the bike and swim. Keeping a status quo is at this time the best way to go.

I have started training again for the upcoming season. I’ve had a bit of a setback concerning my left knee. The inflammation has returned and for the past week or so, I’ve only been able to swim. I hope there is no extra cartilage damage. I’m going to assess the situation and hopefully with some rest, the injury might solve itself. Otherwise, it’s another date with the MRI machine and I’m not looking forward to that.

The injury comes at an unfortunate time as for once, fortune might have decided to give me a bit of a sponsorship boast. Through my coach, I might be able to get a new bike for free. It would be a Valdora Cycles frame, Profile Design bars, Hed wheels and Token components. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Lizi and Hintong's Wedding Mama Mia

As promised, here are some pictures of the wedding of the Mama Mia gang doing their duties for the groom.

I guess I'm a lazy bastard

Last night, I covered uncountable and countable nouns in my intermediate adult class. I gave certain instructions and the students had to write a noun compatible with 6 different quantifiers. One of the instructions went as followed: Write down some things you can buy with your salary.

The first person to complete the instruction was my female student Van. She gave her answers and concluded the exercise by saying “and only one husband”. I couldn’t resist the temptation and had to ask her how much she was willing to give for a husband. She gave quite an ambiguous answer and I continued by asking her how it would work. Do you go to a room with a big glass window and you just choose the candidate you like most? I like number five, please. And then suddenly she said: “Don’t worry teacher, I wouldn’t want to buy you. You’re too lazy. You’re never home and never cook your own meals. I can’t rely on you, especially if I have children.”

I spontaneously started laughing. How could I argue? I am lazy to cook my own meals. Why would I when I can buy them all prepared and ready to eat for US$ 2? I think I’m going to stick to my laziness.

Writing is therapeutic

One of the greatest weaknesses I have is that at the core of my heart I want to believe that all people are genuinely good. Obviously, doing so spells naivety and it’s just not a realistic philosophy to adopt in today’s world. The last few days, Asia has been rocked by tragedy in Mumbai and sheer political lunacy in Thailand.

Up to this day, the most amazing trip I have ever made was my four month tour of southern India seven years ago. The whole experience was more than mind blowing. I remember arriving in Mumbai and absolutely hating it without any rational thought. I knew I had to give this metropolis another chance. Just before I went back home, I stayed a few days in this cultural hub and fell totally in love. To watch the Taj Hotel being ravaged and scores of people dying by terrorists who totally defy the core of Islam, has been hard to bear. India has just had its own 9/11.

Perhaps lunacy isn’t the appropriate word to describe the current crisis in Thailand. Maybe economic and political suicide is a better summary. One million people could lose their job due to the struggle for power. The government and the opposition are giving a new definition to hypocrisy. And the normal Thai is sandwiched between all this mess.

Another character flaw I have, besides my naivety, and I know it sounds like a contradiction, is the difficulty I have to trust people. Living in Vietnam certainly doesn’t help. I’m not going to get into the psycho-analytical reasons, but generally speaking foreigners fall into a different class. That means you always have to hold your guard. When you actually meet a local who you might get along with, might appreciate as a friend, and then have more lies and deceit slapped in your face, it hurts twice as hard.

My mission for the next few weeks: find some people who are genuine, folks you can trust. I’m tired of this protective wall around me. It’s starting to suffocate me.

Terry Fox Race

About 6,000 people joined the Terry Fox race this morning. Together with a few friends/colleagues, we entered the race. Since it was a charity run, I wasn’t expecting a competitive atmosphere, but to honour Terry Fox, total perseverance was my only motto. I guess it was fairly easy and I managed to cross the finish line in first place, about 15 seconds ahead of the second guy. I’ve been taking it easy over the past few weeks, so I can feel I’m getting a bit out of shape. Time to start getting my act together again.

Malaysia outlaws yoga for Muslims

Malaysia outlaws yoga for Muslims
By Robin Brant BBC News, Kuala Lumpur

Millions of people in Malaysia have been banned from doing yoga because of fears it could corrupt Muslims.

The Islamic authorities have issued a ruling, known as a fatwa, instructing the country's Muslims to avoid yoga because of its Hindu roots.
To most people yoga is simply a sport - a stress-busting start to the day.
Malaysia's National Fatwa Council said it goes further than that and that elements of the Indian religion are inherent in yoga.
Announcing the decision, the council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said practices like chanting and what he called worshipping were inappropriate and they could "destroy the faith of a Muslim".
The ruling is not legally binding but many of Malaysia's Muslims abide by fatwas.
Yoga classes here are filled with mostly non-Muslim Malaysians of Chinese or Indian descent, but in the major cities it is not uncommon to see several Muslim women at classes.

Prayers and gym
For Muslims across Malaysia the day starts at 5.30 in the morning, as the call to prayer goes out.
A handful of the most devout arrive at a mosque in the western outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
Over the other side of the road, in the shadow of the Mosque's golden dome, a few others start arriving to start their day - at the gym.
Each is carrying a yoga mat, slung over their shoulder.
Adam Junid is a Muslim Malaysian who does both - prayers and gym, specifically yoga.
An engineer in his 30s, he goes to a weekly class for about 30 people.
"I don't think it interferes with the religion at all," he says.
"In fact it helps you, makes you healthy and more aligned and it helps you become self aware," he adds.
Adam is a rarity because it is mostly women and not many Muslims who do this.
"The yoga masters repeat that it actually can be quite compatible with religion," he said. "It makes you a better person."
Yoga comes in many forms. For some it is a stress-busting sport. For others a serious bit of soul searching.
What Adam does once a week is the serious stuff. The class I sat in on was two hours long.

Spiritual experience
It included breathing exercises, with the help of the tick-tock of a metronome.
There was meditation, then half an hour of darkness for intense relaxation.
Before that some of the class managed a very stable headstand. Others could touch the back of their head with their foot.
"It can go with any religion," instructor Mani Sekaran told me.
"Or it can go with those who don't believe in any religion, because it's purely sports," he added.
He is also founder of the Malaysian Yoga Society. A bald and very fit man, he once did martial arts.
"If I want to train for an Olympic gold medal... whether I believe in a religion or not doesn't matter. I just keep on training."
"Based on that we can use yoga to enhance whatever we are doing, whether it is religion or whether it's spirituality... but it [yoga] is stand alone."
During the class I sat in on, yoga's Hindu roots were mentioned, albeit briefly. A spiritual experience was on offer for those who wanted it.
This is the point where some Muslims in Malaysia worry about yoga. They think it is encroaching on their way of life.
One Muslim student told me that she combined yoga techniques with prayers. That concerns some Islamic experts.
"If people want to practice yoga, the physical exercise, I think that is no problem," Professor Osman Bakar, from Malaysia's Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies, told me.
"Many Muslims would say fine. But they would object to the mixing of the two things."
"Islam is a complete way of life. Islam is able to cater to the needs of Muslims; spiritual needs, intellectual needs and other needs, material needs. So there is no need to bring in elements from outside," he added.
Adam's yoga class ended with a quick discussion about self-awareness, concentration and why people do yoga. I was not sure if this was a weekly occurrence or for my benefit.
He told me that yoga has made him a better person. He has no plans to stop.

Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona was recently appointed as the new manager of the Argentinean national football team. He took his huge ego to Scotland for his first game in charge, and obviously the British press had a field day.

Terry Butcher added to the sports headlines by refusing to give a hand to the Argentinean football legend. He was still angry for the infamous “hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup. Maradona’s reply? “Terry Butcher who? I’m getting criticized by a nation which won its only World Cup by a goal that didn’t even cross the goal line. How ridiculous is that?” Touché if you ask me.

He came, he saw and he conquered.

Terry Fox Race Ho Chi Minh City

For the past two weeks, I have done everything in my power to be as lazy as possible. A year of full on training definitely deserves some downtime. Although I have no races planned for 2009, I’ve already been in touch with my coach and we are going to maintain my fitness level with a support program over the next few months. It will be tricky to see how I’ll combine it with my studies early next year, but it should be manageable.

I have registered for the Terry Fox run on November 30 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a race that is organized all around the world to raise money for cancer research. Terry Fox was a young Canadian athlete/cancer activist who I admire immensely. He is/was simply a true hero. The race itself does not have a competitive character as the main focus is on raising funds for cancer research. Nonetheless, I will go full out in the 5 km run. I thoroughly enjoy running races and I don’t have to worry about impacts on training schedules at the moment. It’ll be fun.

Lizi and Hintong's Wedding

One week after Powerman, I returned to Malaysia, this time for my good friends Lizi and Hintong’s wedding. I had the honour of being one of the best men. I had been looking forward to the event for quite some time now and I knew how much effort both the bride and groom had put into the organization of their marriage.

The best men needed to help the groom reach his bride by assisting him in some activities set by the bridesmaids and family members of the bride. As we reached the bride’s home on the back of a 4x4 pickup truck, the gate was closed and we weren’t allowed to enter. We were greeted by one of the bride’s sisters who gave us some garters to wear. One on our head, three on both wrists, and two around each ankle! I was already wondering what I had gotten myself into. The next moment though would scar me for life. We were asked to dance and sing, while holding carrots and cucumbers as microphones, to Dancing Queen sung by Abba. This was rapidly turning into a nightmare, but luckily one of the best men is an aerobics instructor who sort of guided us through this painful ordeal. Finally, we were allowed to enter the gate.

Next step was entering the house. We had to answer some questions about the bride and the groom. This went without too many hiccups, and before we knew it we were in the house. We had to do a few more dance routines and come up with a catchy phrase to “seduce” the bride. Unfortunately, Abba music continued dominating in the background and I felt like voluntarily admitting myself to the nearest mental institute. Eventually, we were allowed to go up the stairs where we faced a locked door. The bribing had begun: some ampows for the cousins, some cans of Tiger beer for the sisters and at last we managed to get the groom to his bride.

To seal the marriage, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony was held at both parties’ homes. It meant sharing tea with both the elders of the family and the younger ones. Once completed, the food was ready to be served.

The wedding party was held at the Equatorial hotel. Before the big bash, both the bridesmaids and best men joined a photo shoot with the newlywed couple. After showing off our lovely pink shirts, doing serious and silly poses, carrying bridesmaids up the stairs, being mistaken for being the actual groom, having Nicole David (World #1 squash player) pass by, we had a short break before the guests would arrive.

In the mean time, I had been told that I could stay in the bridal suite, in the room adjacent to Lizi and Hintong’s. The party was fantastic. The food in combination with the red wine was to die for. Plenty of rounds of both were great excuses for me not to enter the dance floor, all to the great frustration of some of the bridesmaids and the bride herself. Sorry ladies, I’m just not that big on dancing, plus I was still getting over my Abba experience. The scars were too fresh.

At the end of the night, some of us decided to go up to the bridal suite for some more partying and drinking. One by one though, most of us started passing out. It had been a long day and for me personally the fatigue in combination with French Chardonnay was taking its toll. I slept on a couch which was incredibly comfortable. Nobody had bothered to turn off the lights and that made a deep sleep quite difficult. After a while, I started hearing some pretty passionate noises next to my couch. Less than five meters from where I was sleeping, two friends of the couple started getting it on. I don’t need to draw any pictures, do I? I was so exhausted and disinterested that I just turned around and continued counting my sheep in dreamland. I must admit I was very tempted in telling them to get a room, but for some reason I was just knocked out, I didn’t have the energy. Finally, the naughty couple moved to the bathroom where she was certainly enjoying her climax and disturbing my sleep.

The next morning, I met up with everyone again and evidently we had a few things to talk about. The newly-wed couple was so exhausted they weren’t able to enjoy their wedding night in a way you might expect. But that’s where the irony starts kicking in! Guess who the naughty gentleman was? The bride’s ex-boyfriend! At least someone had some action.

Powerman Malaysia 2008

(Pictures are courtesy of Master Photographer Tey)

Powerman Malaysia 2008 = 11 km run – 64 km bike – 10 km run

For the fourth straight year, Powerman Malaysia was the apotheosis of my season. This grueling long distance Duathlon attracts some of the best athletes in the world and enough age-groupers to make most European race organizers drool. Even though I have a somewhat love/hate relationship with the event, politics and my ego were quickly shoved aside to make place for the sporting challenge.

Thanks to Emma, I was able to get a ride to Lumut. It must be said, if it wasn’t for my excellent navigational and co-piloting skills, we might have ended up in Penang. A couple of Emma’s legendary flapjacks kept my concentration level at full alert and we managed to narrowly escape some wandering encounters with the Kampong cows.

Race tactics were pretty simple. Maximize my run and control the damage on the bike. I tend to take some time to really warm up properly. I guess I should become a spokesman for Diesel engines. The main protagonists quickly took the lead of the race. Jason Spong and Anthony Le Duey took off and their pace was too high for me to follow. I decided to stick to my race plan and follow my instincts. Four kilometers into the race, I could feel the extra pistons going off and my running rhythm simultaneously took off. I entered transition feeling extremely comfortable just behind former winner Chrispine Osmondi and just ahead of Danish top duathlete Aksel Nielsen in fifth position (Time: 36:16).

I didn’t try to fool myself on the bike. My confidence has/had been rock bottom for months. Yes, I have improved my efficiency on the bike, but on the other hand my speed has not shown any significant improvement over the past two years. I managed to stay in a good position until the second part of the first lap. I am not able to push the necessary gears at this level. I’ve stopped beating my head in over this fact. Training conditions aren’t ideal where I live, I have no cyclists to train with, and I could use a technical overhaul of my current bike. Although, I must admit the technical aspect is a lousy excuse, it’s the still the engine that matters.

During the first lap, I lost one of my water bottles at a bumpy stretch. I decided to go back and retrieve it. The race was still long and I wasn’t willing to take any additional risks, especially when it comes to hydration and nutrition. Aksel Nielsen told me after the race he had also lost his bottles, but he left them. He totally bonked on the second run. I kept my rhythm and I was very much looking forward to the end of the bike section and start the second run (Time: 1:47:09).

The psychology of running off the bike is if you really think about pretty simple. No matter how bad you might feel, at the end of the day everybody suffers immensely. That thought has always comforted me and I can’t resist a game of Pac-man whenever I can. I have a naturally high running pace, even if I am ready to drop dead. I never felt I was running fast, but Jason Spong told me he had the exact same feeling, still I managed to catch quite a few of the other elites. The moment you pass another athlete on the run, you can see the mirror breaking into many pieces. Mentally it’s a home run in your advantage and I have met very few athletes who have the strength to keep all the pieces glued together. Overall, I managed the fourth fastest time off the bike (Time: 40:41). If you only take the run into account, my cumulative time was fourth fastest of the field. That in itself is a huge achievement considering unlike all the other elites, I am not a full-time professional athlete.

Before Powerman, I had set two goals: Finish in the top ten and be the first “real amateur” to complete the race. I achieved both! My final time was 3:05:45. That was exactly ten minutes behind Andy Sutz, the winner of Powerman Zoffingen 2008. I was able to talk to him after the race, and he quickly noted Powerman Malaysia was tougher than Zoffingen. The heat and humidity can be excruciating in Lumut.

Jason Spong reclaimed his title from 2005. In an awesome 2:43:13, he blew away the competition. A deserved winner who is a class act as a person.

Overall, I’m very pleased with my season. I set certain realistic but challenging goals and I reached all of them. That in itself shows I gave it my best and in the end there’s not much more you can do. Now, I’m looking forward to a break from training. Play some football on the beach with friends, go kayaking and anything that doesn’t resemble Duathlon or triathlon. Oddly though, in two weeks’ time, I will probably miss my training schedules already.

And last but not least, congratulations to everyone who competed as age-groupers and finished in the top three. Well done Emma and Simon!

Final Preparations

High time I wrote something again. Don’t want to see my blog turn into a fossilized artifact.

In less than a week, Powerman Malaysia will take place. For the past week or so, I have been tapering and religiously following my coach’s schedule. My hamstring is fine and I’m obviously pleased about that. Thank goodness I let common sense prevail and handled the situation well. Ego sometimes needs to take a backseat if you want to move forward or achieve your goals. There’s just no point in continuing when one is down, but it doesn’t mean it should have negative effects. Cross training rocks!

Thanks to Emma, I’m able to get a ride to the race site in Lumut. Although I’m very much looking forward to the race itself and the accompanying challenge, I know I’m not particularly welcome at the race site. To simplify matters, let’s keep it at “politics”. Mentally, it’s not ideal. Hopefully by catching up with my Malaysian friends, I’ll be able to distract myself from the negative vibes.

Over the next few weeks, I will have to make some major decisions. As it turns out, there are some issues with my work permit in Vietnam. Even though, I turned in my original Flemish documents and English translations, the Vietnamese government needs to have the paperwork in Vietnamese. The only way for me to do this officially is by once again validating my degree at my university, go to the ministry of foreign affairs, then go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Brussels and finally to the Belgian Embassy in Hanoi. To me, that just sounds like an administrative headache, not to mention the financial implications.

My company has suggested that I could stay on until the end of my contract, change my visa status to a student visa from January to March while I study my course, but it would mean (unless I get the documents), I can’t resign a new contract. The main question though is why should I do all this administrative mumbo-jumbo? I have no ambition to stay in Vietnam. Both in Thailand and Malaysia, the documents I already have were more than adequate.

It’s far from ideal to prepare for my June 2009 exam, but I might have to move earlier than anticipated. Oddly enough, I could stay in Vietnam if I decided to work for a Vietnamese owned school, but I will happily pass on that possibility. Furthermore, I feel it is time to go and perhaps leave South East Asia. I’ve enjoyed the past 6 years, but the newness or the challenge has slowly disappeared.

Next Monday, I am going to meet my former boss from CfBT in Kuala Lumpur. I might as well kill two birds with one stone: race and apply for a new job. CfBT has various projects running in the Middle East, more specifically Oman and the UAE. Some of them involve teacher training and ultimately those are the kind of projects I’m interested in the most.

Financially, the Middle East is an attractive option and the region around Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat is getting good reviews. There’s a whole load going on out there, and I wouldn’t be me before having done some research. Muscat has a running and triathlon club. Sounds like my kind of place. I like the geographic diversity of Oman’s landscape as it is not only Desert. Its political policies are quite progressive for the Middle East and most of all, it’s politically stable. Who knows, I might be in the land of the flying carpets and genie bottles in the not so distant future.

Hamstrings

With exactly two weeks to go before Powerman, training has been disrupted by my left hamstring. Since last weekends race in the Philippines, I haven’t been able to run. I tried to go for an easy run two days ago, but had to quickly abandon that plan. The good news is that I’ve been able to cycle pain free. Still, not being able to run properly just before the race of the year is a major bummer.

Most likely, I have pulled the hamstring. As there was never any swelling, I’m assuming there is no tear in the muscle. I hope by resting a few extra days and taking some anti-flammatories I should be able to resume some light running on Tuesday. Since running is my strength, I don’t believe it will be too much of a set back, but the situation is far from ideal.

2008 Philippine Duathlon Open

Reality checks can be bitter sweet at times. After this weekend’s race in the Philippines, I have a double feeling about my performance. On the one hand, I’m extremely pleased with my run performance. On the other hand, I’m a bit disappointed with my sixth place position, but in all honesty I’m being too hard for myself. I was beaten by five national athletes. What do you expect?

I knew that if I wanted to have a shot at winning the race, I would have to run a very good first 10 km. And that’s what I did, but to my surprise, athletes who I had beaten before, were able to follow the tempo. We had to run four two-and-half km laps. The first two laps were led by another competitor and the eventual winner Catiil, but gradually I started catching them and for the last lap-and-a-half I more or less dictated the tempo. At all times, I felt very comfortable, although I did pick up a slight strain in my left hamstring. I decided to continue as I felt it wasn’t serious enough to quit. I finished the first 10 km run in 33:29, a few seconds behind the other three of the leading group. I did not sprint into transition as the others did, as that usually just blows up in your face later on in the race.

I did not have a bad bike, but still I struggled. I don’t have the explosiveness to keep up with any decent cyclist. I don’t have any training partners and I knew before the race this was going to be my biggest weakness. It was also an undulating course, which is the kind of course I am totally not suited for. It’s either flats or monstrous mountains, but anything in between I struggle on. Three more guys passed me on the bike, but my aim was to catch them on the second run. I saw them running when I entered transition after 1:09:34 on the bike.

What can I say about my second run? With a strained right hamstring I pulled a fantastic 17:03 off the bike for the last 5 km run. And still, I only managed to catch one guy, so I finished 6th overall. I just wasn’t able to beat the two hour mark, as I finished in 2:00:06.

The ambiguous feelings I have stem from the fact that if I were to be stronger on the bike, I could actually compete for a podium place in a race like Powerman. Nevertheless, the reality is that I can’t enjoy the luxuries of proper training partners, full-time commitment to the sport, on site professional coaches, etc.

This does not take away the amazing performance of the Filipino national team. They did a wonderful job and some of their athletes have improved tremendously. If the SEA Games were to be held today, the podium would be all Filipino. They don’t just have one Ryan Mendoza, they have four or five of them running around, and all of them are in their early twenties. A 16-year-old, who competed and won in the sprint category, managed a 16:32 for the first 5 km run.

I was hugely impressed by the commitment and professionalism of the Filipino Triathlon association. They have a proper system in place, backed up by an excellent coaching team. In the years to come, this South East Asian country could become one of the leaders in Asia’s multi-sport scene.

I would like to thank the Triathlon Association of the Philippines for inviting me to the race and taking care of my accommodation in Clark and Manila. A special mention goes to Mr. Carrasco and Rick Reyes, who invited me to stay at his home for my last night in Manila. Thank you for your generosity and hospitality.

The wedding planner

As I was walking down the stairs from class, one of my Vietnamese teaching assistants gave me an invitation card for yet another wedding. “Who’s getting married?” I asked her. “Mai is”, she replied. I had to think for a second and then it hit me. The first thing that came up in my head was “you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Am I working at a school or am I in the middle of a soap opera without knowing it? A bit like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. Our dear bride-to-be used to have an affair with one of our teachers. Obviously, she kept a Vietnamese boyfriend on the side, but he was kept in the dark about her little romance. Then again, this being Vietnam, I’m sure he has a few girlfriends on the side too.

The ironic thing is, the above mentioned teacher only left our school two weeks ago. They sure don’t take a lot of time to take care of business in Vietnam.

Not a gambling man

If anyone followed my advice and put money on Craig Alexander at a local betting shop, don’t forget to buy me a drink next time we meet. I’m extremely pleased to see a fantastic athlete like Alexander win the Ironman in Hawaii. Here’s an excerpt from the press conference. I think it says enough about what a great athlete he is.

Some other aspects of today’s presser that told much of the story of the race:

Turns out that Craig Alexander said some encouraging words to Andy Potts as he went by him on the bike.

Of the man who had never run further than 15 miles, had never done a 100 mile bike, but still managed an eighth place finish, the ever-sportsmanlike Craig Alexander had this to say:

“I was really happy for him to get eighth,” Crowie said. “He’s definitely a danger if he ever wants to focus on this race. He’s a pretty quick learner.”

When asked why he would encourage a competitor like that, Alexander said:

“When you reach out to people in the race it takes away a bit of the pain.”

I’m also pleased that Rutger Beke has made a successful come back. Considering he had a four minute time penalty during the bike, it took an enormous amount of mental strength to keep his focus and not do the easy thing, which would be to give up. In that perspective, it reminds me of my race in Desaru where I had a very bad swim, but never gave up. The satisfaction of reaching your goals afterwards is indescribable.

Also, I’d like to congratulate Carmen for her inspiring performance in Kona. You are truly an Iron(wo)man.

Heat & Sanity

Roughly 90 km from where I live, there’s a city named Bien Hoa. There’s nothing mind-blowing about the place, apart from the fact that it has a quite famous mental hospital. The moment I even mention Bien Hoa and their infamous hospital, my students always chuckle. I’m seriously contemplating having my mental sanity assessed by the local psychiatrists. Then again, I hope they have moved on to modern day techniques and have dropped old ones such as lobotomies. Just kidding! :-D

One of the main reasons I love living in South East Asia is the weather, and I can now officially declare the rainy season to be over in southern Vietnam. OK, that’s not entirely true; currently it is the stormy season. Vietnam does frequently get hit by hurricanes which create enormous amounts of damage and deaths, especially in the north of the country. Just a week ago, a storm ravaged some northern provinces.

The end of the rainy season has brought scorching hot weather with temperatures over 35°C. For some reason, this shift from Mother Nature has had a positive effect on my training. For some reason, I thoroughly enjoy running in this heat at midday. For some reason, I just think that’s not normal. The Vietnamese certainly don’t. They must be amused seeing me on another masochistic and torturing run every day. Crazy foreigner!

I’m really getting excited about next week. The Open Duathlon Championships in the Philippines will only be my second Duathlon of the year, but unlike the first one in Singapore, I’m much fitter and will not hold back on particularly the run. It’s going to be full on business and I will try to give it my best. I’m going with certain ambitions, but realism keeps me in check. I have various tactical scenarios in my head for what might happen and most importantly who might be there. The goal is to utilize my strengths to the maximum.

Powerman Malaysia Request

Are there any people interested in sharing a hotel room in Lumut for Powerman Malaysia? It's a great way to cut the costs. If so, leave a comment and I will contact you ASAP. Thanks.

My Vietnamese students

Some pictures of my adult and teenager class. Instead of boring everyone with superlatives about them, here’s a little anecdote.

While I was teaching in Kuala Lumpur, I once gave my higher level adult students some pictures spread out on a piece of paper. I wanted them to create some sentences using the grammar point we had discussed that lesson. After completion of the task, I asked them if they had recognized the person in the bottom picture. The picture showed me running out of the ocean in the Bintan Triathlon. One of the students immediately replied and said: “But of course, that’s Tom Cruise.” As you can imagine, I gave her some extra marks on her next exam.

How I adore my sloth days

Last Friday, I had my beloved sloth day from training. For the past month or so, I’ve been able to focus well on the schedule my coach had prepared for me. My endurance level is excellent, but I’m a little bit worried about my explosiveness. The constant solitary nature of training is starting to get to me a bit, thus having an effect on my motivation level. I guess it’s the end of the season blues, but the prospect of Powerman keeps me going. It’s the only Duathlon race in which I can test myself against some of the best duathletes in the world.

In two weeks, I will have my penultimate race of the season and my last warm up for the big one on November 9. The Open Duathlon Championships in the Philippines are going to be intense and I hope Aussie Rafael Baugh will be there. He finished 12th at the recent World Championships in Rimini, and even though I know he’s a more talented athlete than me, I relish the challenge.

As Powerman is a longer distance, it will be in my advantage. I prefer longer distances, and if it was up to me, they could add some kilometers to both the run and the bike. My goal will be to finish in the top ten, and if possible as close as possible to the number five spot. If I can run both run segments in roughly 37 minutes, my placing should be good. I have proven in various races this year that I am capable of reaching those targets. I can’t wait!!!

P.S.: Powerman Malaysia = 11 km run - 64 km bike - 10 km

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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