Mongolia Action Asia 3 day Ultra Marathon Arrival

So excited for 4 reasons, 1. I will be in Outer Mongolia, very new to me and that satisfied my adventurous mind for many years I wanted to go to this kind of nomadic place. 2. I'm gonna run my very first Ultra marathon. 3. Gonna meet my friend Frederic, my good friend from Norway. 4. Going with Lyn and Evan and sharing our Ger imagine under the dazzling Galaxy. 

I do lots of shopping for this trip, sleeping bag, trekking equipment, water purified tablets (serious?) etc. from the organizer compulsory list. Digging my innermost of 10 years girl guide experience. Can't described how excited I will be. And this explain I can't stay too long in a comfortable environment. 

So all set to go, i packed light with on 1 backpack and one smaller rug sack. When we arrives the airport, we were told the flight delayed 4 hours. Which means we will be arriving Ulaanbaatar tonight around 11PM. The event organizer Action Asia started to distribute the tee shirts and the race bibs for all of us while we have nothing to do. We have already 2 meals at airports, and finally we are on board. We started to know each others on the plane and eventually i meet my Strava friend JC the very first time :) When we landed is already dark, weather is a bit cold. We quickly wear our jacket and moved to the shuttle bus. The lunch box is ready but we had our Pizza Express takeaway with us and the fun journey begins. 

"There should be a 6 hours shuttle bus ride down south to take us to the start line."One of the local Mongolian girl told me and i found out later that she is the student from the local Medical school she came for volunteer us. What? 6 hours bus ride down south, i firstly recall the map and navigation that should be Gobi. I can't express my feeling, excited and unknown. Really can't believe we are really going there! I share the two seater with one local young Mongolian volunteer and ask her if she would like a piece of pizza, she looked very happy. And i'm happy. ON the way, i hardly can see any road sign, thumbs up to the driver. Really have no ideas where is the direction. The land is no ends, dark, rocks and sands. Until i see a bunch of camel with the lights coming from far sunrise, we almost there. 

The race director decided to postpone the start time from 8AM to 10AM, so we've got an hour sleep. I remember when i landed from the bus, the first air breath in is so fresh and crisp. The land is strong and in terracotta colour. I rushed to our tent and greet Frederic, he has been waiting for us the whole night, we just say something and rushed our our sleeping bag and take a power sleep before we gone to wild. 

Action Asia Ultra Marathon Mongolia, after 6 hours of bus ride and 1 hours sleep we all set at the start line. 

2016 Nike Women 10km run Hong Kong

We run HKG!! 

2016 Nagoya Women's Marathon

Running my first marathon with 20000 ladies!!

Outward Bound Adventure race

A race with fun, challenge and overcome your inner fear! We did it

"Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear." - George Addair

Too true re quoted from Bear Grylls!

Bye Bye 2015, Hello 2016

Early Dec. 2015 in ShekO Beach.

2015 is not a year for me, have been suffering, lost my passion of work and sports.  The whole year have been navigating where i am and never come to the shore or arrives any destination. I hope 2016 would be a better year for me, a new direction to be set off and take action to it. To summarize, this is my Top 10.

1. Accomplished 2 key project milestone on time with a new model type of new development concept. Having great experience working with a team of French and Canadian consultant where i learn from them and having some hard time too! In view of cultural difference towards government / contractual submission.
2. Thanks my boss who gives me lots of opportunities to fall (to bottom) and rising me back again. Understanding my weakness (effective presentation) is the key to success.  I have pushes myself started to self debate, self talk, and practice public speaking. It really helped me alots.
3. The best of the year is i have my kitten arrives as part of my family. He called Micgo, adopted from a extended friend in Cheng Chau. A British short hair blue cat, now he is 8.5 months old. He brings lots of joy, worries and love to me. He is the best and i can't live without him now.
4. I have raced my 6th 70.3 Ironman race (not including 3 DNF over the past 8 years). It consist of 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run in beautiful Kenting, Taiwan. Come back 6th in my age group, i have actually did my personal best of the race, completing a strongest field of girls. Hopefully i can be on the podium again amongst the best girls. The post race is awesome with my Team Sonic throw in with street BBQ, wine with our beach house boss and family. Thanks my coach, Charles and my Physiotherapist who worked so hard behind to support me. Earlier this year, i have fail at Taiwan Challenge Half. My fall due to improper recovery, allergy and my guts is missing!! Have the worst time in TaiTung.
5. Have 6 wonderful trips this year (not including my business trip) scatter in Koh Samui, Paris, Tai Tung, Taipei, Kenting, and Japan (Nagoya, Kyoto & Osaka). The holiday with family in Koh Samui is relaxing while the Japan trip with my family is fun, I have long time didnt lived with them and it brings back a lots of being a daughter memory. The Paris trip is unforgettable, combining work. Being alone for 9 days it let me to explore the other side of me. Meet new friends, revisit some of the old place and new place. Just wish that Charles is with me when i'm eating alone.
6. This year, i'm not passionate about work nor sports. Sometimes, feeling so alone, numb & lost; The mood is not there. Yes, moody. (May due to the Chinese Zodiac of being Sheep of year 2015 and yes i'm 36)
7. Discovered new sports - Crossfit. Yeah! Women who can lift!
8. EMBA or not. Still NOT.
9. In early Sep, i went to a SUP yoga retreat in HK remote island. I feel the love, support, sea and embraced myself every minute. I see what i'm missing and what i missed. I need that to support my soul.
10. I'm always glad that i have best friends around from the girls i have been handing around for years after years and my Team Sonic fellas who always pushes me to the limits, encourage me not to give up. Thank you all :)
11. I almost forgot, i have passed Driving exam in early Sep.! So thrilled.

Get Set Goal for 2016:
1. Get a New job (not related to properties development) that i will found passion, i would love to learn new things and explore my limitation.
2. Year of investment.
3. To go further of the sports i love, Triathlon, Marathon, SUP and Crossfit. The Ironman and 4deserts is what i'm watching.
4. To explore new places i never been: Norway, Grand Canyon, Nepal, Jordan Petra.
5. To study the veterinary nutrition for cats, bring new food that my cat will enjoy!
6. To train my cat going outdoor under guidance and be able to return the ball to me when he catch it.
7.  Hmmm, to study.
8.  To participate some group / team sports, to name a few the Outwardbound adventure race, Clean Half distance ocean swim.
9. Be able to join my college in some research study.
10. Be the best what i can be.

Ironman 70.3 Taiwan 2015

My 9th Ironman 70.3 
Finished 5 hours 30mins 26 sec. 
Finished 6/19 of Female 35-39 Age Group
Finished 32 / 129 Overall gender 
Finished 329 / 1158 Overall finisher

The pain, tears and sweat is overly exploded 3 weeks before the race day. The peak week made me like a monster, i could no longer hold on anymore. The training intensity increase, the duration increase, the stress and i have to cut down the sugar and carb. , my unfortunate illness (allergies) is coming back. I have loaded extremely much supplement since that week and with the mental strength and determination i overcome this physical condition!

The last two weeks before the race day is living in nightmare, i could not perform the best time neither in run nor swim and of course my solo bike ride! I started to ask myself why and is it because the session that i missed or physically my body is not ready? I'm living in doubt and feeling weak until it close to my tapering weak. It started to feel flushed out, not because my physical condition is in good shape, but i knew i could not do anythings better and i'll just leave it to my body!

Not to mentioned my back injury back in August, i have hurt badly from a Back squat attempting just 37.5kg at my box. ( Don't get it wrong here, i'm still believing the weight training is part of the key success) its takes exactly 3 months with intensive physiotherapy treatment