Post Half-Marathon Reflections
Attempted my 2nd Half-Marathon (Standard Chartered Half) yesterday morning. Some post race reflections & thoughts ……
1. Not overloading on carbonated drinks (H-2-O … 100Plus) as compared to last year …… no funny reactions from stomach as compared to post run 2008 BUT got headache (lack of salt as I did not finish up the bottle of 100Plus I got post run as not cold enough for my liking) …..
2. Did not do route check b4 the run …… thus not prepared for the nicoll highway/ECP stretch before going into Suntec/Beach Road (I thought it would follow the full marathon route, which is the flatter shenton way turn but I think they may have changed the route last min too!) ……. Decided to play it safe by walking through the up-sloping stretch (a bit too early to start walking) as versus to sprinting up and on hindsight, could have contributed to 5 min timing difference ……
3. And with regards to the route, same as last year, the last 2 km would stretch outside esplanade mall, down to the bridge before turning into Padang …… given the narrow barricaded esplanade drive + traffic jam = impossible to speed up (although I think the full marathoners will not have this problem as they are projected to finish later,in fact my colleague commented that last 1km was very fast) …. I would have preferred them to divert into esplanade, cut through the park and then head towards Padang ….. broader route and way easier to run!
4. Did not carbo-load enough …… should have taken more bread/pasta within the 12 -24 hour timeframe to the run proper …… Was craving for bannanas after the 12-13km mark (but they only give out for the full marathon) ……
5. Minimal runs done post GE-Run …… but I suppose the aerobic base from spin classes helped to some degree so still improved my timing despite walking more than expected ……. Moral of the Story: Keep Spinning!
6. Did a time check with the marshalls around the 14-15km markets and it was about 905am ….. so I have around 40-45 min to finish off the remaining 6-7km so felt comfortable BUT traffic jam at the last 2km (route joined together with full marathon + 10km ladies) meant plan/strategy to pace up to the finish was spoilt! Arghh! Would’ve pushed harder at the Kallang stretch if that was the case …….
7. Stones! Lots of them along nicoll highway … and at pit building …… was hitting stones more than hitting milege ……
8. More long training runs needed ……. note for 2010 training plan
9. The importance of a warm-down …… given that it is double of the usual 10km races in the calendar, recovery time is longer ……. muddy field + crowd at finish line + kan cheong to collect baggage at the other end meant that I did not do warm-down …….
And paying the price for it today with a sharp pain on my left knee joint ……. But the funny thing is there was no sharp pain after run and after post run massage ….. strange-ness! So it must be the lack of warm-down and effect has kicked-in 1 day later 
So this means working from home today after resting for the rest of Sunday! Neglected work to catch up on + still have photography assignment due tmr …… hai …..
At the torturous nicoll highway/ECP stretch, I was cursing and swearing and would be thinking “OK, this would be the last time blah blah blah …. ” and yet at the end of the finishing line, it would be replaced by “Will be back next year to further improve timing” 
There’s a chance I might ‘graduate’ into doing the Full Marathon next year – that is if I can manage my time properly and stick to the training plan ….. Once in a lifetime goal to earn that Finisher’s tee-shirt 
Meaningful Quote
Got this off a friend’s facebook profile …… power man!
To live life like the above is indeed an acheivement and something wonderful to aim for 
Update
An update to this entry ……
This is the original letter that sparked off insurers reply. Reproduced as below.
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IT WAS heartening to read on Monday that United States President Barack Obama’s proposed changes to the health-care insurance system passed an initial legislative hurdle which obviously benefits ordinary people (‘US health-care Bill passed in tight vote’).
President Obama’s plan not only helps provide health-care insurance to those who do not have it at lower cost, but also helps to end discrimination by insurance companies against people with pre-existing medical conditions.
I underwent an angioplasty procedure four years ago while working for a company covered under Aviva Healthcare group’s insurance.
When I left the company, I wanted to continue with the insurance but was rejected. I tried to get health insurance under NTUC Income but was quoted such a prohibitively expensive premium, the policy might as well have been restricted to the wealthy.
With medical costs rising in Singapore, I hope the Government will protect uninsured ordinary citizens like me who have a pre-existing medical condition from discrimination by insurers.
Senior citizens are a significant group who need government help to secure health insurance.
The Government could consider a public health-care insurance option to provide medical care, and protect it, for the uninsured, seniors and excluded citizens like me with pre-existing medical conditions.
Kaliannan Tamilselvam
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You have heard my thoughts in my previous entry. Of course, once your letter is sent in to the ST Forum, ST has the discretion to edit the original contents (fit for publishing) so there is always the possiblity that the original contents were edited to show a bias towards certain parties (personal thoughts only ah …. don’t flame me!) …… But the comments made by netizens at the bottom are quite telling ain’t it …….
真的是越瞄越黑 hor!
今天的大新闻
U.S. futures brace for losses on Dubai debt fallout
Whilst watching the last episode of Daddy At Home earlier, the chinese news headlines flashed some content stating that another financial crisis could come with the above …… Well, attention-catching enough for me to on the computer and checking out various CREDIBLE financial news sources online to confirm what exactly is going on (considering that today is Friday and also Public Holiday as well) …….
OK doesn’t seem as exaggerated as what channel 8 news flashes as claimed (note the use of the word claimed, it is precisely headlines like that which cause un-necessary panic and blood out there) as European indices are turning green once again …… As for US, at the point of writing, as expected, both futures and market have inched down 200+ points …… I would think the impact is only felt in US today as yesterday was Thanksgiving Holiday in US (thus markets are closed!) ……
Still feeling rather switched off (carried over from yesterday, not too good ) , shall continue with some drama watching and continue reading my book …….. 1/3 of long weekend almost gone!
What Do You Think?
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/My%2BMoney/Story/A1Story20091116-180306.html
No loadings on Income’s health insurance
Portable scheme continues the full health insurance protection even after leaving employment.
Wed, Nov 18, 2009
The Straits Times
I REFER to Mr Kaliannan Tamilselvam’s letter last Friday, ‘End exclusion penalty’.
He wrote that he underwent an angioplasty procedure while working for a company which covered him under an Aviva group health-care scheme. After he left the company, he was rejected by his former employer’s insurer when he wanted to continue with the health insurance coverage.
He also wrote that he subsequently tried to get health insurance under NTUC Income, but was quoted a premium which was too high. We have contacted him to clarify that he had applied for life insurance and not health insurance.
For life insurance, a higher premium (or loading) was quoted in view of his pre-existing medical condition and previous medical procedures. NTUC Income’s health insurance premium rates are uniform across age bands. While we may impose exclusions, we do not impose loadings for our IncomeShield health insurance plans.
Mr Tamilselvam’s situation could have been avoided if he had been covered under a portable medical benefits scheme when he was with his previous company. A portable medical benefits scheme such as NTUC Income’s Portable Group IncomeShield is designed to address the need for employees to continue to enjoy full health insurance protection even after they leave their employment for any reason. The premiums for these portable medical schemes can be partially or fully funded by employers.
As a social enterprise, NTUC Income’s aim is to make essential insurance such as health insurance accessible, affordable and sustainable for all. Thus we have strongly advocated the benefits of portable medical schemes, which largely address the limitations of traditional group hospital and surgical insurance plans.
Senior Vice-President & General Manager
Group & Health Insurance
NTUC Income
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
——————
Some points to note based on the above
(Disclaimer/Note: The following are solely MY opinons based on my experiences and information as a financial industry practitioner. It DOES NOT constitue any form of impiled direct advise or product recommendation.)
* Said person is confused between Health Insurance (covering hospitalization, outpatient etc.) and Life Insurance (covering Death, Disability, Critical Illnesses etc.). The impression that I have gotten is that said person doesn’t seem to know what he/she is applying for and quick to make a judgement when something happens.
* Application for ANY form of Life & Health Insurance is subject to underwriting (aka screening of medical conditions by the insurance company) as insurance operates on the principal of risk pooling/sharing. Policy terms and conditions typically exclude PRE-EXISITING CONDITIONS (i.e. medical conditions – minor/major that you are currently seeking follow-up treatment/medication for).
* Income is correct in saying that their Health / Medical Insurance plans – specifically Incomeshield DO NOT impose premium loadings. However exclusions could apply based on the health declaration and status at the point of application. This adheres to the principle of risk sharing and pooling and anti-selection (unfortunately, I will not go into the bore you to tears story of how it works A-Z and why the addition of not so healthy people in the pool will increase claims and premiums consequently).
* The key point here is not so much on why did the employer not get a portable coverage. The problem with many (based on my experiences and with NO intention/purpose to single out any one in particular) is that they seem to think that company coverage is a god-given and more than sufficient for them not to spend additional $$ on something as essential as a basic Private Shield Plan. Inertia at work! Problems will come when individual final decides to get it but gets frustrated and upset with the insurer to due unfavourable underwriting (as a result of pre-existing medical conditions developed). Furthermore, it is really a joke when a particular self-proclaimed activist/guru claims that basic Medishield is more than sufficient (*sacarcsm intended*).
* And as a note, basic Medishield has capped limits, and is mainly for B2 class and below. So if you desire better coverage i.e. B1 and above – basic Medishield will never be good enough. I have the examples to back up my statement.
* To add on, once no coverage can be obtained on standard terms, some tend to get upset/frustrated/angry with the insurer, thus do not wish to take up the cover. Within this group of people, there are bound to be ‘black sheeps’ who start to bad-mouth/spread negativity about insurance as a risk management instrument. Where in the very 1st place, given such an experience, logically speaking, shouldn’t they realise the importance and the significance of getting a good coverage even more! Very often, these are the people who have procrastinated for a long time! (The procrastination could be due to a variety of reasons).
* Procrastination and ignorance is not an excuse when the fact is that you had a chance/opportunity to make a responsible choice when you are perfectly healthy. Why wait until when something happens then start to blame the whole world except yourself! It is all about taking responsibility for your choices/decisions as versus to playing the blame game!
* I have received some comments and ‘feedback’ that financial planning should be about making $$ (in this context, what the prospect/suspect really means is that the financial adviser should be making investment profits for them and not telling them to go into instruments that is not designed to make $$ i.e. insurance would fall under this fallacy). Typical example of inertia/ignorance aside, what instrument can protect your income in the event of any unexpected event that affects/incapitates your ability to earn that income? No point talking about the latest sure to make money trading system etc. when an unexpected event can possibly wipe out your savings.
* I believe after reading this forum letter, many should realise that it is simply not wise to rely on company to cover you (just because you don’t have to pay a cent). Do not be penny-wise and pound foolish.
Hence in our financial plan, we need BOTH a SHIELD and a SWORD!
Latest Song On Repeat Mode
EXILE – Your Eyes Only～曖昧な僕の輪郭～
Their very 1st single (originally recorded in year 2001) which was re-recorded by the 2nd Generation EXILE members (aka EXILE 第2章) in 2008. More R&B feel as they are more ‘pop’ sounding these days ……
Going to get their live DVD as well
Ken Hirai – Pop Star
Well, I would love (x infinity) to be able to play the piano like that but too bad, one of the things that my parents never did was to send me for piano lessions
Anyway its a great live performance by Ken Hirai …… My one of my preferred Jpop singers who has great style & groove (as well as the vocals to boot!) …. Enjoy!
Between, the original PV can be found here …. J-Pop really wins when it comes to absolute creativity (by just looking at the way they film their PVs) …….
Ignorance & Inertia
One of the things/issues that have been constantly in my thoughts every now and then would be the various issues and complications with regards to Ignorance and Inertia ……
And yeah, serious enough to sneak an entry whilst in office (ok, client wasn’t free to talk over phone so got to call back again tommorrow, thus a quick one) ……
Ignorance and Inertia may sound similar in meaning ….. but ………..
Using dictionary references from online
Ignorance ~ the state or fact of being ignorant; lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc. / The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed (source)
** Wikipedia also has a pretty good definition here …..
Inertia ~ a disposition to remain inactive or inert; “he had to overcome his inertia and get back to work” …… associating traits include lethargy, sluggish-ness, restfulness, passiveness, laziness, indolence etc. (source)
With the above, the differences seem clearer now right?
Ignorance means not having the knowledge/information in a certain area (sometimes, people also subjectively chose not to know, as to why, I can’t answer so …… ) ……. Inertia, means that you know something can be done/should done and yet you choose to be passive/indifferent ……
I guess everyone of us here all have our moments of inertia, big or small …… end of the day, its about taking responsibility for the choices you have made ….. no business to say you do not know when the fact is that you choose not to act upon it (as versus to you genuinely do not know) . There is really no point to blame ignorance as a circumstance when something screws up but yet the facts are clear that you know that you can be proactive and do something about it to change the situation and yet you CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT.
Inertia itself may not sound like a big deal BUT a small thing like this always goes a long way and it is usually the small things that make the difference in the long run.
I guess this comes about when 1/2 the time you have to deal with tempremental and difficult people who always like to use ignorance as a reason when it is clearly their inertia at work!
Rude-ness
As briefly twitter-ed some time ago, I believe I have mentioned that nowadays, I have zero, if not NO tolerance for any sort of rude-ness, irregardless of minor or major.
You may think that I am getting very particular/sensitive these days BUT I suppose this is serious enough to warrant a entry (and not a tweet) ……. It may seem like a small (and even un-important) matter to some but I suppose even small things like this reflect a lot on a person ……
Just because you did not get what you want, does it give you the right to be rude and curt and at the same time forgetting a basic thanks?
Well at the end of the day, always remember to do undo others what you want others to undo to you!
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