Risking Everything for a Dream that nobody sees but YOU!

I have often spoken about how running a marathon is similar to how we live our lives. It is a long journey of endurance and perseverance where we are constantly challenged to keep our thoughts positive and maintain our positivity at every single moment. A brief moment of being distracted or the lack focus can cause us to move very quickly into negativity which can compromise our marathon performance or how we live our lives, so to speak.

Over the weekend, I watched the DVD "Million Dollar Baby". I was totally inspired! The storyline maybe about boxing but it does relate to our attitude in all that we do. Be it running a marathon or how we live our lives. One particular quote by Eddie Dupris stood out for me, "...it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you."

The quote speaks so clearly to me... It is the attitude which we have built Fifth Ray on. We have a dream for Fifth Ray and we can so clearly see that dream when everyone else around us may not. It is also the very same attitude that we bring with us when we coach or work with every single one of our clients. We will do everything within our power to assist them to achieve their dreams (safely and free of injuries) whether they see it or not.

If you have the time, do take the time to watch it and but inspired =o)

Getting Rid of the Old to Make Way for the NEW!

It's been about a month since my last post... We have not been missing in action but rather we were filled with too much action within a short space of time. The past one month has been very hectic for us due to the renovations of our new center at Ture (66 Kampong Bugis, Level 6) and re-structuring of our existing programmes and designing new ones to better serve our clients in 2011.

The past one month has been a time of getting rid of the old and making way for the NEW! Literally, from physical things like old equipment to programmes, to even mindsets and perspectives! Personally, I find change in any aspect allows us to challenge ourselves, learn new things and broaden our perspectives. In some sense, change does liberates one to welcome new ideas, new perspectives to enhance one's growth. To make positive changes in life takes courage. Hence, we are yet again taking another leap of faith for more positive changes in Fifth Ray.

We, at Fifth Ray, certainly hope that you will be part of our exciting and wonderful journey in 2011! All the best for the year ahead. Thank you for reading my blog in 2010 =o)

Day After

Am really happy today... For one all the Fifth Ray's runners ran really well at the marathon yesterday! They were all excitedly exchanging their race experiences with each other last night at our post run dinner. Every one was cheerful and chatty! (You should have heard them) hahaha ;op There was a point during dinner when I sat back to listened and looked at all of them I could not help but feel joy within my heart. Almost like a parent looking at how their 'children have grown and achieved their goals they had set out'. Am really proud of each and every one of them for taking on the challenge and maintaining their tenacity to the finishing line! Well done, runners!

Second, am actually surprised at myself for completing the race. Hahaha... I had sustained a calf injury 12 weeks ago and I could not get back to regular training until 6 weeks ago. For a number of training runs I had to stop short of the planned distance. I knew I could run the distance but I can only manage it at a much slower pace than I would desire. I've not been able to pick up my pace since the injury as it will place a strain on my calf. I have been very cautious not to place undue strain on my calf too. I am always for running pain free and be able to run for many years to come =0) Hence, I actually went into the race prepared that I may have to bill out half way if I feel my calf being strained. I always feel no race is worth putting myself on the sidelines for months on end.

To my surprise, my calf was slightly tight but Pain free. I was really comfortable throughout the run and felt like i could pick up pace. I tried to pick up pace a few times but backed down as my calf tightened more. I did not want to strain it again and be put out of action. Considering the circumstance, i thought I ran fairly well! Hahaha... I think I surprised all the Fifth Ray runners too as I have been training with them and I've not been able to run so comfortably as I did yesterday for quite a while. I had fun running with all the Fifth Ray runners and experienced the challenge with them - Running the journey with them =0)

For all who ran congratulations! Well Done! Rest well and have a good recovery!

Butterflies in my Tummy!

One more day to the marathon and I have butterflies in my tummy. The butterflies are not for me but for the Fifth Ray runners who are running the roads tomorrow. I am so excited and anxious for all of them. At the beginning of their journey, they all shared with me their individuals goals. After months of training, here we are, just ONE day away from them realising their dreams. It is just so exciting!! =o)

I must salute each and every one of the Fifth Ray runners running tomorrow. They kept their goals insight and worked hard each day to move closer to their goals. Even after months of hard training, their resolve to achieve their goals never wavered. They constantly kept their focus and continued to be the best that they can be. Tomorrow is their day to reap the fruits of their labour! I am just so excited for them! Can you tell?? hahaha... I should be running along side a few of the runners tomorrow and I can't wait. They are ready and prepared for the race!

To All the Fifth Ray Runners running tomorrow, I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to each and everyone of you. I have had an amazing journey with all of you in the past year. The 5am training "Good Mornings" from each of you never fails to start my day on a beautiful note. Your dedication is remarkable and it is YOU that keeps me going! When assigned with your training for the day, the "OKs", "I'll do my best!" and "I'll try my best!" are admirable. Every time each of you take to the track or roads, you display an indescribable purposeful determination and perseverance. You have all been exemplary in the way you have carried yourselves and taken on the journey to realise your dreams. I can't thank you all enough for you have enriched my experiences as a coach and my life. I know you will accomplish what you have set out for yourselves. It's a knowing deep within my heart. I believe you will achieve your goals.

I will be "RUNNING" with each and every one of you! If not physically, it will be in spirit =o) GO! GO! GO! See you all at the Finish Line! Fly to the end!

Ungrateful?

I just had a chat with a friend earlier, who is also a coach. He was sharing that there are some clients that are never satisfied with the training programmes he provides to them. To them, he is never good enough. Then he questioned, why do they pay and have him train them in the first place? I told him that that's a really great question which I can't answer it myself either as I do wonder about that at times myself.

I shared with him that he is not alone. I have had my fair share of clients who are never satisfied with the training I've provided. It really doesn't better if we have taken them in when they were at 'ground zero' (injured, post-surgery, unconditioned, unfit, etc.) and we have helped them to become a lot more mobile, attain their range of motion, strength, fitness, achieve their goals or beyond. To them, they gained their physical abilities all by themselves without your assistance. All successes are through their own efforts and they are quick to point fingers at the coach for their own failures. Without evaluation and reflecting on one's own actions first. It really does not matter what we do as they won't see it because they can't look pass themselves.

I told him to take heart and shared that what I always choose to do is to train all my clients unconditionally and to the very best of my abilities. Even if I go beyond the call of duty out of the genuine goodness of my heart, there will be individuals who decide to insult or mock at me or my programmes, and I can't control that. What I can do is decide on how I respond and think... What these individuals think of me is none of my business! They are free to move on and choose something else that they deem is 'better'. Never engage in their negative and self-centeredness with these individuals. I pick and choose my battles wisely at every single moment.

I told him "Welcome to the world of the service industry"=o) And I reminded him that there maybe a few 'bad eggs'. However, always look towards those who are positive and is willing to work together to achieve their goals. Even if it just one individual, it is enough to 'wash' all those negativity away. I told him that I have been very fortunate to have a beautiful group of runners for this upcoming marathon. They have also been most co-operative to allow us to assist them in achieving their goals. It is such a joy to be part of their journey. It makes all the nasty experiences disappear.

Please do not misunderstand... Coaches are not individuals who are looking for recognition just because they train you. Coaches usually train others with a passion. And it is their job to do so as their trainees would have paid them to do. It just makes it difficult for coaches to train any individual who attends training sessions grudgingly or would only engage in exercises they fancy which makes the goals set out impossible to achieve. In addition, should you decide that the training no longer works for you, move on and do not continue to crucify the coach.

Having shared all these, I would like to Thank all the Fifth Ray runners who have maintained their positivity during the training sessions all these months and years and who have worked together with us at Fifth Ray to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. It is for these individuals that we always strive to better our programmes and services. And provide them with the best programmes we possibly can.

Life is like running a marathon!

Whenever I train myself or others for a marathon race, it is the journey that I learn the most from. It has never been the race itself. The race is usually completed in a matter of hours while the training journey lasts for months or even years. Over the years, it has been the journey that has presented the most challenging of circumstances - physically and psychologically, for self and training others.

I am always thankful for all the challenges as they have certainly made me stronger and have broaden my perspectives on things and life as a whole. It is so interesting that how we deal with our marathon journey reflects how we actually deal with issues and challenges we face every day in our own lives.

I have come to learn that life is not a sprint! We can not simply sprint our way through with blinkers on to get to that one destination. Life is a magnificent gift given to us to test our endurance, patience, and perseverance, very much like training for a marathon. We usually have a BIG overall plan or objective for ourselves and we make smaller plans or check points along the way. It's pretty much how I plan the marathon trainings for myself and the Fifth Ray runners. Life is fragile and it is so important that we value it. If we choose to abuse or neglect ourselves, life can be short-lived and that is truly a dis-service to the beautiful life that you have been blessed with.

Mental Tenacity

No matter what you do in life, you need to have mental tenacity. It is the ability to sustain your focus to complete a particular goal or task that needs to get done. Often times when the going gets tough, we will find excuses or procrastinate or even talk yourselves out of it. It's amazing how many people I have met that have talked themselves out of what needs to be done.

The most common excuses told to me are "I can't do it!"; "It's too difficult for me!"; "This is beyond me!"; etc. Even if you think something is too difficult, give it a try, you never know how you can surprise yourself. So many people have so much potential and yet they limit themselves just by their own thinking and perspective. Your mind is really powerful! Half the battle is already won by just how you think!

As a coach, I have often been told that I don't understand when it comes to training. hahaha... Isn't it interesting?? I find it very interesting because I've been there and done that. When I train others, I would have weeded out all the mistakes I have done on my own before. As I do not wish for others to learn things the hard way if I can possibly help it. So I know exactly how they are feeling and what they are going through. For now, I do the same training as my runners. People can argue that there are variations in speed and experience but if you streap everything away, we are all just doing or giving our best. So the difference between each of us is really the mental tenacity.

In order to improve and better ourselves, we need to 'push' ourselves beyond our comfort zones. If we constantly stay in the zone that we are comfortable with, there is a limit to fulfilling our full potential. I don't promise that the experience is pleasant or easy but at least give it a go!! Run faster or longer (calculated and planned, of course, for injury prevention) because you never know what you are truly capable of until you do it. So what if you reach the time you have set for yourself? Work towards achieving it... You will eventually get there when done correctly. However, for some it may take days or weeks while for others it may take months or years. What's more important is that we all get to our own destinations eventually =o)

So be courageous! Don't allow yourself to live in your own little mind world with 'blinkers' on.