Today, I had the deepest slumber I've had in months. After coming back to GMP from the triathlon this afternoon, I had a shower and literally died. The telly was blaring as baby watched the Olympic mountain biking event and I tried to gain consciousness to watch it too, but failed miserable, muttering lots of rubbish about being tired and hungry.

This morning, I woke early to get ready for my event, with total creepy crawlies in my tummy. I had breakfast at GMP when everything was done (bike stickers etc) and I immediately felt very nauseus. I think it was a combination of eating too much (two kaya sandwiches and two eggs), and getting total stage fright. I realised that in all my years of activity, I had never done something like this before. Yes, I've done heaps of performances and competed in sport, but it was never an individual race before. Squash and volleyball are team sports and games, and somehow, matches never scared me like this morning. So we rode to ECP and I was jittering all the way. My eyebrows were furrowed the entire time and Andrew tried rubbing the lines out of my forehead.

And when the announcer was counting down to the start of our race, I was literally shitting bricks. Rebecca was nervous too, especially for the swim. The seas were really choppy - worse than when we'd trained at Sentosa with Nick - and I swallowed a lot of horrible water. But with a bit of perseverance, I was apparently sixth out of the water and back to the transition area. Passed Nick Fang on the ramp (he was on his way to the run leg) and we exchanged a high five. Managed to overtake quite a few people on the bike and Dad said I was about third or fourth after I'd dismounted the bike. But on the run, my heart rate had shot up to 200, and I was getting tired.. so I slowed down to catch a breather and pop some energy gel, letting quite a few people overtake me.

I cannot even begin to describe how happy I was when I saw the drinks station on the run. The sun was blazing and it was friggin' hot. I passed a girl who uttered the words I think I'm going to die, so I asked if she wanted some Power Gel, but she declined.

Then, I saw him.

Andrew got some pictures of me and then started running beside me and encouraging me, saying I was doing real well and it was almost over. It felt really good to know that the race was almost over, and the end was in sight. When I saw the finish line, I gave it all I had and sprinted till I passed the clock. Hmmm...It might have helped that I was dying to pee as well.

The clock read 49mins and some (but apparently I took 47ish minutes). I have no idea how I did, but I think I'll know in about 48 hours. Ken said I was easily amongst the top ten. Chetz said I was 12th, and Hua Qin from WheelsareturningI said I was 14th. Well, I guess I shouldn't be bummed coz I didn't set out to get anything anyway, I just wanted to finish and I did. But I sure wish I ran a little faster at the end. Funny though, apparently Dad's calling me the 'iron lady' of the family. So funny!

Meanwhile, Rebecca came in first! She's such a super woman... To think she joined last minute, and was stood jittering with me at the start of the race. She is so incredibly fit, and I really want to be as fit as she is. That'd be really cool! Ken and Ming say she's a hussler, and she should have gone for the Olympic Distance. They were probably right! Then again, Nick F did the mini and came in first. Hussler! But he couldn't take part in the OD anyway, coz he's got a fencing competition tomorrow. Oh well, credit to him. At least he rode from Sunset Way to ECP!

Anyway, I was so glad my family was there to cheer me on today. It definitely made me not walk for sure!



End note:
The results are out:

Rank: 14

Bib: 586

Swim
00:04:16

Transition
00:05:20

Bike
00:23:01

After Bike
00:32:36

Run
00:13:06

Time
00:47:19