"On your marks," I heard the race starter say. I tensed up, looking straight forward.
And a few seconds later, I heard the gunshot. BANG! I was confused. Wasn't he supposed to say "set" first? I thought so, but the gunshot meant to start running, and so without thinking about anything else, I started to break into a slow sprint. There were about 6 people in front of me, and about 8 people behind me. I started to run even faster, being mindful not to run too fast because I didn't want to lose all my energy to quickly.
I was running the 800 meters, and this was it. I was representing my school at the competition, and the time I got here was final. I then slowed down into a jog, trying to cut into the first lane. Because the first lane was so crowded, I tripped trying to get in.
Oh, no! I thought. I knew that even though I was falling, it wouldn't do me any bad to try and get even further. Thinking fast, I took a few fast steps, trying to stop my fall. But it didn't work. Instead, I was running slanting upwards, falling as I was running. Next, I put my hands in front of me to brace my fall.
I felt my hands being scraped as I made contact with the wet track. Knowing that I couldn't waste anymore time, I got up and kept on running. About 5 people had already passed me by now, and I had to get my pace back.
Seeing the people ahead of me, I started to pick up the pace and run a little faster. After overtaking the people, I started to increase my speed a little so they wouldn't be able to catch up.
I then heard the sound of a bell, which was to signal that we were done (or almost done, at least) with the first lap. I started to run even faster, keeping in mind that there were people behind me. Passing by the "athletes' village", I heard the sound of my teammates cheering for me. My hands still burned from the scrape I had got from the fall, but at least my hand wasn't bleeding. Nearing the last 200 meters, I didn't speed up, but instead told myself that I needed to save energy for the finish. I was going to sprint at the finish and try and catch up to the person in front of me.
Nearing the last 100 meters, I recognized a line from our track at school. And when I saw that white line, it was my cue to start to sprint.
And so, I started to sprint. I started to sprint like mad. I felt like I was going to die, but I told myself that I was really close to the finish line, and so I was going to finish this race.
I took a big leap as I crossed the finish line and dipped down so my chest would cross first (as that's what really counts - if your chest crosses the finish line first, you win).
I took deep breaths in and out. Now that the race was over, I was going to get more fresh air, as that was what I really needed.
I walked back to the athletes village (which is kinda' like our base camp) and opened up my food. I needed to eat some more, for I had the 200m sprint later in the day.
To fill up the time, I decided to watch a few other events.
But at last, it came. I tensed up at the finish line, and waited for the gunshot. As soon as you hear the gunshot, run! I told myself. BANG! The race starter fired the gun. I started to sprint and use up all the energy that I had. In the last 100 meters, a kid cut into my lane. What? Don't you get disqualified for cutting into other people's lanes? I thought.
But I kept running. Nearing the finish line, I tried to run faster, but the kid was blocking my way. I didn't want to exit my lane, for I didn't want to get disqualified. After the race, I told the judge, but the judge replied me and said: "I think you can do that in the 200 meters."
What? Why would you be able to cut into the first lane in the 200 meters if lane 8 gets about a 25 meter head start than lane 1?
And because the kid cheated - I was sure he knew the rules - I came in 4th place.
I went back to the athletes village, disappointed, but told myself that it wasn't the end of the world.
After a few minutes, I heard Ms. Val, one of our PE teachers, ask: "Where's Zhi Hong?"
"Here," I replied.
"Mr. Balsamo needs you!" She called back.
"Congratulations, you're on the relay team." Mr. Balsamo said.
"Wait, wh-" I was cut off before I could finish.
"Matthew's injured. You're his replacement."
I knew I had to go. The original backup had quit, and if I didn't go in, we wouldn't do very well in the relay.
I jogged up to the starting line. I didn't have long to talk to my teammates, but what we said to each other would have to do. The race was starting.
BANG! I heard the gunshot in the distance. I saw all the runners start to sprint. I watched, my eyes fixed on the baton as it was passed on to Greg. I watched as Greg sprinted up to me.
"BATON!" He yelled as I started to pick up speed. I felt the baton slide into my hand, and I started to sprint like mad. My legs were short, but I just had to make do. I moved my legs as fast as I could, focused on nothing but the track.
"BATON!" I yelled to Alan and he started to jog. I shoved the baton into his hands and he clenched it hard. And then, he started to sprint.
Overall, we finished 5th, but technically, we finished 3rd because a school had cut into our lane during the relay (which results in disqualification), and another school had dropped their baton during the relay (which also results in disqualification).
But it didn't matter. Because today, was supposed to be all about fun.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Slice Of Life #155 - The Pinewood Derby Competition - Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 - Happened on February 16th, 2019
I heard the sound of cheers come through my ears as I watched the cars pass the finish line. I was part of the Cub Scouts, and was participating in the Pinewood Derby competition. For all the past years, I had won a medal in the competition (except for last year because the system broke), and I was hoping to win one today.
I had carefully thought about my car, and how I wanted it to be aerodynamic. I took this competition seriously, and I had thought out all the science behind it carefully. My wooden car ran on 3 wheels only (to reduce friction), and was really similar to my car last year, except for a few modifications. I had reduced the weight in the middle a little so I could put more weight at the back - so you get more potential energy and your center of gravity is higher.
Looking on the screen for the next race, I could see that my Lego car, the Turbo Engine, was racing. I watched the track with my eyes transfixed, watching my car speed past the finish line, finishing in 1st place. After a few more races, we moved on the the Wood cars.
My car, a Flying Piece of Wood (weird name, huh?), was again one of the 1st up. I watched again as my car sped down the finishing in 1st place. Looking up at the screen, I saw my name displayed in a big white box in the middle of the screen. New Track Record, it said, Zhi Hong Chan.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, happy that I had beat the track record.
After a while, I wondered if I still had the track record, as we had to rerun a few races (mine was one of them), as the timer kept getting faster and faster.
After all the races were completed, we had to go out of the room to let the judges decide who had won what medal. We went down to play, but I came back up early because I didn't want to miss the prize giving ceremony.
When it came to the fastest Webelos 5/Arrow of Light car, my heart started to beat faster and faster. I was in Grade 5, which made me one of the Webelos 5/Arrow of Light.
I waited until our cubmaster said the name of the car that won.
"The car is..." Our cubmaster said. "A Flying Piece of Wood!"
I shouted with joy. I had won it!
I smiled as I walked up to the stage to receive my medal.
I had carefully thought about my car, and how I wanted it to be aerodynamic. I took this competition seriously, and I had thought out all the science behind it carefully. My wooden car ran on 3 wheels only (to reduce friction), and was really similar to my car last year, except for a few modifications. I had reduced the weight in the middle a little so I could put more weight at the back - so you get more potential energy and your center of gravity is higher.
Looking on the screen for the next race, I could see that my Lego car, the Turbo Engine, was racing. I watched the track with my eyes transfixed, watching my car speed past the finish line, finishing in 1st place. After a few more races, we moved on the the Wood cars.
My car, a Flying Piece of Wood (weird name, huh?), was again one of the 1st up. I watched again as my car sped down the finishing in 1st place. Looking up at the screen, I saw my name displayed in a big white box in the middle of the screen. New Track Record, it said, Zhi Hong Chan.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, happy that I had beat the track record.
After a while, I wondered if I still had the track record, as we had to rerun a few races (mine was one of them), as the timer kept getting faster and faster.
After all the races were completed, we had to go out of the room to let the judges decide who had won what medal. We went down to play, but I came back up early because I didn't want to miss the prize giving ceremony.
When it came to the fastest Webelos 5/Arrow of Light car, my heart started to beat faster and faster. I was in Grade 5, which made me one of the Webelos 5/Arrow of Light.
I waited until our cubmaster said the name of the car that won.
"The car is..." Our cubmaster said. "A Flying Piece of Wood!"
I shouted with joy. I had won it!
I smiled as I walked up to the stage to receive my medal.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Slice Of Life #154 - "On Your Marks, Get Set, GO!" - Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 - Happened on Saturday, February 9th, 2019
My legs stiffened, and I looked straight ahead, looking at my lane. I took deep breaths, in through my nose, out through my mouth. And then I heard it. The whistle.
My legs went from stone to water as I frantically moved my legs as fast as I could. The track in front of me started to blur as I started to pick up speed. I picked up my legs and leaped. I started hyperventilating, (this was a shorter race, but don't do that - if you do that for too long your blood doesn't receive enough carbon dioxide, which isn't good) my legs moving at optimal speed. I saw my friends ahead of me out of the corner of my eye. I then took my focus away from my friends, and started to use all my energy left over that I had.
5 meters away from the finish line, I let my head fall so my chest would cross the finish line before my legs, as your chest has to cross the finish line in order for you to complete the race. I was panting. I had just finished the 100 meters race with a time of 17.41 seconds. I wasn't really good at sprinting the 100 meters, as my leg's stride length wasn't very long (as I am pretty short), so I couldn't cover too much space too quickly.
I was at my school training for the ISAC (International School Athletic Conference) Competition, as I had been selected to represent the school. Today was a "tryout" day, where we were free to try timing for other events that we were not selected for to see if we could get selected for the event (after this day, I got selected for the 200 meters with a time of 36 seconds).
Next up was the 200 meters sprint, which I also tried out for. When we first started sprinting, I was about 5 steps behind everyone, but in the last 100 meters, I started to sprint and was able to overtake about 5 people who were ahead of me. I find what the PE teachers say surprisingly true, because if you pick up speed at the end and pace in the middle (for the distance running, not sprints - 200 and 100 meters), you probably can overtake them. All you have to do is keep a good distance between the person in front of you and overtake them at the end.
After that, I also tried out for the 400 meters, as I was better in distance running instead of sprinting. The 800 meters was next, which I found extremely tiring because there was only about a 30 second rest between the 2 events.
The 800 meters was a waterfall start. I put my foot on the line and stiffened my body. I looked straight forward at the track, towards the inside lane, where I was to cut inside by the end of the first 25 meters.
Beep! I heard the Ms. Smith blow the whistle. I started to sprint a little, then broke into a slow jog once I was in the inside lane. I heard the voices of parents cheering as we ran pass them. Breath... I thought to myself.
I started to run faster as I finished running the first lap. By now, my stomach started to hurt like crazy, and I was running in last place. I thought about the quote I had seen on the windows to the high school gum. It was from Bear Bryant, and said: "Don't give up at halftime. Concentrate on winning the second half." Come on! Almost there! I thought to myself. I had only half a lap to run now. 200 more meters. There is no way I am stopping here.
I started to jog faster, and drifted passed the 2 girls in front of me. If I could maintain my speed, I could get 2nd place.
I looked ahead of me as I saw the last 100 meters in front of me. I started to "kill" myself, and used up all the leftover energy I had left in me. I quickly picked up speed and heard my feet thumping against the ground. I looked over at Greg, who was about 20 meters in front of me. He had just finished the race, and I was about to do so, just like him. My throat was really dry, and my stomach felt like there was a rock in there. And then, I dropped my head to see a white line in front of me, and leaped. I had done it.
My legs went from stone to water as I frantically moved my legs as fast as I could. The track in front of me started to blur as I started to pick up speed. I picked up my legs and leaped. I started hyperventilating, (this was a shorter race, but don't do that - if you do that for too long your blood doesn't receive enough carbon dioxide, which isn't good) my legs moving at optimal speed. I saw my friends ahead of me out of the corner of my eye. I then took my focus away from my friends, and started to use all my energy left over that I had.
5 meters away from the finish line, I let my head fall so my chest would cross the finish line before my legs, as your chest has to cross the finish line in order for you to complete the race. I was panting. I had just finished the 100 meters race with a time of 17.41 seconds. I wasn't really good at sprinting the 100 meters, as my leg's stride length wasn't very long (as I am pretty short), so I couldn't cover too much space too quickly.
I was at my school training for the ISAC (International School Athletic Conference) Competition, as I had been selected to represent the school. Today was a "tryout" day, where we were free to try timing for other events that we were not selected for to see if we could get selected for the event (after this day, I got selected for the 200 meters with a time of 36 seconds).
Next up was the 200 meters sprint, which I also tried out for. When we first started sprinting, I was about 5 steps behind everyone, but in the last 100 meters, I started to sprint and was able to overtake about 5 people who were ahead of me. I find what the PE teachers say surprisingly true, because if you pick up speed at the end and pace in the middle (for the distance running, not sprints - 200 and 100 meters), you probably can overtake them. All you have to do is keep a good distance between the person in front of you and overtake them at the end.
After that, I also tried out for the 400 meters, as I was better in distance running instead of sprinting. The 800 meters was next, which I found extremely tiring because there was only about a 30 second rest between the 2 events.
The 800 meters was a waterfall start. I put my foot on the line and stiffened my body. I looked straight forward at the track, towards the inside lane, where I was to cut inside by the end of the first 25 meters.
Beep! I heard the Ms. Smith blow the whistle. I started to sprint a little, then broke into a slow jog once I was in the inside lane. I heard the voices of parents cheering as we ran pass them. Breath... I thought to myself.
I started to run faster as I finished running the first lap. By now, my stomach started to hurt like crazy, and I was running in last place. I thought about the quote I had seen on the windows to the high school gum. It was from Bear Bryant, and said: "Don't give up at halftime. Concentrate on winning the second half." Come on! Almost there! I thought to myself. I had only half a lap to run now. 200 more meters. There is no way I am stopping here.
I started to jog faster, and drifted passed the 2 girls in front of me. If I could maintain my speed, I could get 2nd place.
I looked ahead of me as I saw the last 100 meters in front of me. I started to "kill" myself, and used up all the leftover energy I had left in me. I quickly picked up speed and heard my feet thumping against the ground. I looked over at Greg, who was about 20 meters in front of me. He had just finished the race, and I was about to do so, just like him. My throat was really dry, and my stomach felt like there was a rock in there. And then, I dropped my head to see a white line in front of me, and leaped. I had done it.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Slice of Life #153 - Chinese New Year! - Tuesday, February 5th, 2019
Okay... I will have to rush this post because it is currently 11pm at night, and I want to sleep soon.
I am now in the car, enjoying the ride back home. I almost forgot to slice today, as it has been a very busy day because today is Chinese New Year.
Yesterday, I went to my grandparents house. We stayed overnight for one night. Yesterday, for dinner, my mom cooked some food (that tasted pretty good - Thanks, mom!) Other than that, we also brought some 'Lou Sang' from KL to eat, which is a mixture of a bunch of foods. We mix it together with chopsticks (although we used forks this time for no reason) and eat it.
Today, we had spaghetti for breakfast, which my mother cooked. I also got a few red packets from my relatives, which is one of my favourite parts of Chinese New Year - free money!
I also went to one of our relative's house, where other relatives of mine would come and we would get together once a year - I got more red packets!
I didn't really get a lot of lunch because I wasn't very hungry. For dinner, we went outside to eat, but in my opinion, the food wasn't very good.
After dinner, we went back to my grandparents's house to pack up and get organised, before going to the Lost World of Tambun, which is a theme park.
Woah! I just lost my tooth! It fell! And I'm talking right now, as I'm writing this post!
Anyways, in the Lost World of Tambun, we brought a explorer pass, which is basically a yearly pass, which means that we can enter anytime we want (one entry per day) for exactly a year and 5 days (I don't know why the 5 days part is there, but it's extra, so I'll take it!)
And that was my experience for this year's Chinese New Year. We got to get together as a family, which, from what I know, is a very important part of Chinese New Year - getting together as one big family. One big, united family.
I am now in the car, enjoying the ride back home. I almost forgot to slice today, as it has been a very busy day because today is Chinese New Year.
Yesterday, I went to my grandparents house. We stayed overnight for one night. Yesterday, for dinner, my mom cooked some food (that tasted pretty good - Thanks, mom!) Other than that, we also brought some 'Lou Sang' from KL to eat, which is a mixture of a bunch of foods. We mix it together with chopsticks (although we used forks this time for no reason) and eat it.
Today, we had spaghetti for breakfast, which my mother cooked. I also got a few red packets from my relatives, which is one of my favourite parts of Chinese New Year - free money!
I also went to one of our relative's house, where other relatives of mine would come and we would get together once a year - I got more red packets!
I didn't really get a lot of lunch because I wasn't very hungry. For dinner, we went outside to eat, but in my opinion, the food wasn't very good.
After dinner, we went back to my grandparents's house to pack up and get organised, before going to the Lost World of Tambun, which is a theme park.
Woah! I just lost my tooth! It fell! And I'm talking right now, as I'm writing this post!
Anyways, in the Lost World of Tambun, we brought a explorer pass, which is basically a yearly pass, which means that we can enter anytime we want (one entry per day) for exactly a year and 5 days (I don't know why the 5 days part is there, but it's extra, so I'll take it!)
And that was my experience for this year's Chinese New Year. We got to get together as a family, which, from what I know, is a very important part of Chinese New Year - getting together as one big family. One big, united family.
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