The 4 year wait...

The HSBC UK Triathlon.

A charity drive organised by the HSBC Group to raise funds for the Build a School project, began 4 years ago in 2008.   The first colleague who went was Chin Chun Hoo who was from my department.  Chun Hoo has always been active in sports so it wasn't a surprise when he got it.  The second year it was Michelle Tan Bee Kiang, most runners would know her as she is a familiar face in the running world and she is really fast.  Siti Balquish got chosen for the third year, as she had done Kenyir tri before.

So where do I fit in?

Nowhere.

Up till 2008, I had still looked like this.

 Okie fine, I still look like that.  Whatever.  That was about 91kg.

Then one fine day in that same year, I decided that I've had enough of wearing maternity clothes when I wasn't even pregnant. I was just plain fat and I'm not the type of girl who wears tight clothes like a "sarung nangka" as my mother always puts it.

I bought a crosstrainer from Kettler and starting working out vigorously.  I shed about 19kg with that crosstrainer within 8 months.  I used the crosstrainer so much that the right pedal actually broke. When the Kettler guys came over to repair it,  the guy actually remarked, "binatang apa tinggal dalam rumah ni?"

By May 2009, I plateaued.  I got frustrated that I wasn't losing weight anymore.  I started to eat all the things I shouldn't be eating again. So my weight went back up of course. By January 2010, I had gained 8 kilos.

In January 2010, I joined the Original Bootcamp (http://www.originalbootcamp.com.my/) in the hopes of losing weight again.  I didn't lose weight immediately of course. But what I gained from bootcamp surpassed my expectations.

After only one month of bootcamp, I participated in my first road race, the 7.7km category in Putrajaya Night Marathon in February 2010 and earned my first ever finisher medal. I was so bloody happy, as between the group of people I knew who did that category, only Amelda and I managed to get that finisher medal. So I stuck with bootcamp for about 6 months. And I stuck with the running. By June 2010, I attempted my first half marathon and finished it.  By Dec 2010, I attempted my first full marathon and finished it.

Fast forward to 2011, numerous running events and 8 full marathons + 1 (100km) ultra marathon + 1 olympic distance triathlon later,  I am leaving for the HSBC UK Triathlon in 2 days' time.   I managed to get chosen based on these achievements.

I have been secretly eyeing this event for a longggggggggg time. Okie fine, the truth is that it's my only ticket to get to the UK. There's no other way I'd ever reach UK if not for this tri.  I had to force myself to learn how to swim and overcome my fear of the deep waters (this year itself), just for this event.

Will I make it? I really don't know.  This is my first visit to the UK. This is my first swim in freezing cold waters. I couldn't even stand running in Hong Kong's weather in February (this year) and that was about 15 degrees.   Now I have to force myself to swim in that kind of temperature? I didn't get to practice in a wet suit since the cost of one is 2 months of my car repayment and even though a very generous Ms H offered to buy me one, I couldn't bear the thought of buying it at such an exorbitant price and then probably only wearing it once. (since I plan to lose even more weight)

I just know I have to try. I've already come this far.  I've already fought so hard to be chosen.  Even though there is a high probability of me coming out last, I. STILL. MUST. TRY.