All the hype about PM Lee's National Day Rally on racial and religion tolerance can be epitomised in this funny incident, when kids say the darndest things. After my run on Saturday, I was doing my cooling down in the playground. There were 5 children playing a game of soccer and they were decidng on how to split the team. There were 3 indians and 2 Chinese boys. The conversation that followed nearly caused me to cramp my hamstring when stretching:

 

All children: O Bei Som!

 

After several rounds...

 

Chinese Boy: Aiyah this is taking too long... let's just play

 

Indian Boy: But the team how we split

 

Chinese Boy: No problem. WHITE VS BLACK.

 

Yeah there you have it. Racial tolerance.

 

In another incident of funny words, we were having a discussion at work today:

 

Mr. X: Wah Mr. B really pulled a long face today... I thought Alvin's face was long enough already, but his face was longer than Alvin's!

 

(I was stunned. Stupid Chin Cher was laughing in the background... nabei)

 

Mr. Y: Hahaha... that's no good.. Alvin you better do something about it.

 

(In my mind: What the fuck? How am I supposed to do something about what I was born with???)

 

Me, spoken words: Huh??? How am I supposed to 'do something about my face' which I was born with...

 

Mr. Y: Errr... Just smile more.

 

Me: (Total loss for words)

 

For the record, I'm one of the 'smiliest' person you will ever meet in your life.

When I smile, you can't see my eyes...

I passed my IPPT! Results as follow:

 

Sit up - 41 (5 pts)

 

Standing Broad Jump - 225cm (3 pts)

 

Chin Up - 7 (2 pts)

 

Shuttle Run - 10.1 sec (3)

 

 

Result: PASS

Award: INCENTIVE

 

And what better way to celebrate than having a McChicken Burger and Seaweed shaker fries (I definitely prefer Subway but it's too far from home given my shagness...)

 

Of course this may seem like a joke to many but it is one individual goal which I have finally achieved. The last time I passed my IPPT was in 2005, while i was still undergoing training in SISPEC. After posting to be a Transport Supervisor, it's slackomania all the way! I have always done poorly in running - failing all my 2.4km runs in Secondary school. This is definitely an achievement for me (why would I be blogging if otherwise).

 

Thanks to fitness master Isaac... for your motivation and tips and tricks on fitness and running. Previous times when I took my IPPT it's 'shagadelic baby!' for every station but these 3 months of training made the static stations a breeze.

 

I guess the good luck message from Mel came pretty much handy also.. I needed all the luck I could get.

 

Also thanks to Mr. Muhd Amin, the ironman who could run 100km - no sweat. You may not be reading this but your words etched deeply in my mind  - "when you want to run, don't think so much. Just do it" - plagiarism at its best... He didn't even quote the source from Nike.

 

I will endeavour to keep up my fitness regime and train for longer distances and better timing. Hopefully the passing of the IPPT is not the end of the fitness regime but a start towards a healthier body... Gawd I sound so... unlike me.