Being Thankful

It's been an amazing month of June. There were many challenges but for every challenge I faced, I was also presented with a solution. It been an amazing month. It's taught me to trust with my heart, mind and soul. To always know that things will work out no matter how difficult I may think a situation is. To top it all, I was ill for two weeks! It didn't help being ill as I didn't have my usual stream of energy to see me through some days. But I must say that I am very blessed for all the friends who have encouraged and supported me. They would share with me whatever little spare time they had or words of encouragement to see me through my days. I could not have achieved all I did in the past month without these Angels... Even one that was sent all the way home to me from Sydney. I can't Thank ALL of YOU enough! But THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Positive Feedback

It's only been a day since the conclusion of our I AM Kids Holiday Camp and there have been so many positive feedback from parents. The feedback range from:

• Better behaviors;
• Increased attention span;
• Increased ability to follow and listen to instructions;
• Motorically more skillful;
• Increased self-confidence and spatial awareness; and
  
• Socially more appropriate and positive behaviors

These feedback are very encouraging as we have met the objectives of the camp. A few children came back on feedback to ask when would the next camp be. It always good to know that they had and are looking forward to more camps in the near future.

I would like to Thank all the parents for the opportunity for me and my team to be able to positively impact the lives of their children.

Conclusion of Camps

So sorry for the tardiness in blogging the events of the last week. I've been working very long hours (17-18hour days) to make sure the upcoming camps - the adult Cameron Run-Fit camp from 4 to 6th June and I AM Kids Holiday Camp from 14th to 17th June. The time spent was worth every minute spent as they were both a success and met all the objectives that were specifically set out for the camps.

The focus of the adult camp was on running in cool weather and altitude. It was a great experience for many, especially those preparing for the Gold Coast Marathon on 4th July. The children's camp was a great success as the children enhanced their individual proficiency in a variety of skills as well as co-operative interaction and positive social relationships with their peers. The camps were enjoyed by the adults and children, respectively.

Time to recuperate as I am slightly under the weather. Will bounce back in no time.

Doubting Self

When the going gets tough, it is often easy for us to cast doubts on ourselves. There is also an increased tendency to compare self with others. Negativity tends to set in... And everything seems to be going wrong. It's difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

During the last few weeks of marathon training, people tend to go into panic mood. Feeling that they have not trained enough or are not improving as fast as others around them. They start to question why are they doing this and what are they training for. These doubts tend to creep in unconsciously during the highest mileage weeks. If a person is not vigilant, these negative thoughts can 'throw' them off course from their goals and objectives.

It is really important to maintain one's focus and keep their eyes on their goals and objectives. To believe in themselves and know that they are ready and have done all that they possibly can. Training for and running a marathon is very different from what most people perceive it to be. Especially when you want to do well. Training for a marathon requires more than just your physical endurance, it requires the endurance of your mind and soul as well.

So relax and enjoy the process and journey! Doubting and being hard on yourself will paralyze you. I leave you a quote...

"Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

Giving Back...

I've been thinking long and hard on how Fifth Ray is able to give back this year. An idea was then posed to me by two friends and I thought it was a fantastic concept. The concept allowed Fifth Ray to give back and help runners achieve their goals at the same time.

This year, Fifth Ray will be donating 30% of the programme fees of every runner who joins to train with us for the standard chartered marathon on 5th Dec 2010.

Finding a reason to run or race? We are providing a motivation to all runners (novices and the most experienced) a greater purpose to be training and running. While achieving your own dreams and goals, you will also be training and running for charity at the same time. Isn't it wonderful?

The donations will be given to Life Anew! It is a new non-government funded organisation that supports and provides assistance to the families and children of inmates who are serving prison time for their crimes. Our main focus will be on the children support and assistance programme. This is because children are usually the innocent parties in these circumstances and should not be made to 'pay' for the mistakes of their care-givers. They should be allowed and given the opportunities to live to fulfill their potentials even when the main care-giver of their family is no longer able to provide for them. Details on the organisation will be posted on www.fifthray.com soon.

Do forward this formation to all who are looking for a greater purpose to train and run. Thank you very much =o)

What a day!

For the first time, I lost my cell phone. It was really careless of me this morning. Too much on my mind! Well I have to learn from my absentmindedness. Tried to get help from the people in charge in the area where I lost my phone and it was quite an ordeal. There was one lady, in particular, that was sympathetic and really helpful. The rest were.... I can't bring myself to describe. anyway... All I can say is that I've tried my best. It's lost!

This morning's event did get me thinking though... Why would people not return phones to the rightful owner? Isn't it as good as stealing because you can actually return it with all the contact numbers in there. You'll definitely be able to trace the owner of the phone.

I tried calling my cell numerous times and it rang for quite a while until the person finally decided to switch off my cell phone. So sad yah? I was still hopeful that i would get my phone back until that point. The person could have just picked it up and he/she would have done a great deed for the day. It is really not the phone that I am concern about but rather the contact details and numbers I have. Should I ever pick up anyone else's cell phone, I'll definitely return it to them. Why won't you?

Idealistic? I would like to think that there are honest people out there. Oh well... I have only my own carelessness to blame.