Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Last Burst

Been really too busy to post anything much these days. 2 weeks to the big day.

Somethings no need to say out wan, if you have the heart, you will offer.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

X-Wonder Cheer Journey 2007 - 2011

X-Wonder Cheer Journey 2007 - 2011

Saturday, February 16, 2008

No longer good enough

I think its time to hand over the baton...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Training

The holidays are over and its back to training almost everyday again. The body parts that seemed to have became better after the short break, now seemed to start to show wear again, esp the right knee.

Why is this only happenning to me? Looks like it is a sign for me to retire after this campaign is over... retire from team competition and focus fully on what X-Wonder is all about...

P.S I might have found my new pond afterall.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy year of the rat to all of you out there.

2nd day without training and I am feeling much better already. Hope my injuries can recover by then.

Enjoy the holidays.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Time

Time time time, where are you?

Everyday has become so routine to me these days. Wake up at 0630, travel to work, reach office at 0815, leave office at 1715, eat dinner at 1800, start training at 1830, train till 0000, travel back to hall and bathe till 0045, eat supper till 0145, prepare to sleep by 0200 and then sleep for 4 hours and wake up to work again.

I am so tired everyday at work that I simply have no energy to go look for things to do. How i hope there can be just 4 more hours each day, so at least I can get more sleep and rest. I have to catch a wink whenever possible, when I am on the bus to work and when I am on the bus back. I makes me seemed like a anti-social guy before and after work, beacuase I am always trying to shun my colleages so that I can catch some much needed sleep.

I am a graduate, and last year I told myself that I will only get involve in coaching, and not as a player. But it seems as fate has it, to pull me back into the thick of the action. Well, since I am in the routine, I thought that maybe I will get less roles, or at least less than Cheerobics 2007, but I was wrong again. This time round, with just 16 man, the roles increased, and since this is going to be my 5th Cheerobics, my responsibilities increased tremendously. I always had to take the more challenging roles, be it gymnastics, tosses, partner stunts, pyramids...

I am not complaining, and in fact I relish the challenge. I want to achieve greater things and push myself to the limits. I want to help the team in all ways I can. Cheerleading is just like any other sport if you were to ask me, plus more fun and entertaining. To excel in any sport, you have to make it your lifestyle; marathon runners run everyday, soccer players kick a ball everyday and some may even sleep with the ball. To do well in cheerleading, one have to make it their lifestyle as well. Sacrifices have to be made, meaning less time for leisure, less time for sleep, less time for friends, and the list goes on. I am glad that I am able to live such a lifestyle now. At the end of the day, the sarcrifices will be worth it.

The above lifestyle is an ideal for anyone who wants to live cheerleading and improve. How I wished that I can fit into the ideal senario, but sometimes things are often non ideal. First of all, how can someone survive through a week with only 4 or less hours of sleep daily? Not with the amount of strenous trainings and work I have. With not enough sleep, the body does not gets enough rest, and the muscles and joints start to give problems. And also the immune system weakens and you fall sick easier. I probably might be able to cope with all these better a few years back when I was just 21 or 22, but now I am older and my body is not as strong and fit as it used to be. It has endured years of hard battering and the scars are begining to show now.

It is my apparent need to lead by example during training and keep doing the stunts and help spot whenever possible. However, I just hope that everyone can help me share my responsibilities in the team, let me take the occasional breather and breaks whenever possible. This is the only way I can let my candle flame burn longer, to let my lifespan increase. Handle me with care, or this 'old vehicle' will break down one day.

I also wish to think that I am super, but I guess I am only human. Sorry to my readers for having to read about my bitching. And also sorry for appearing weak in front of you guys. I guess even the king needs a break.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Injuries

Injuries are part and parcel of any sport. It can be very irritating to get injuries, esp those niggling ones. They are not serious to the extend that you cannot train, but with some protection,(tape) you can carry on training. However, over a period of time, such as a few months, it will start to worsen and till one day every move you make with that joint hurts.

So should a person continue to train in this sort of circumstances? I guess the answer will be no choice... competition is coming up and things are very crucial now. Short of a player at any time will do no good at all to the training. Just have to make do with whatever treatment or protection as much as possible. Ice it after every training, tape it during training, massage it whenever possible.

This is really bad for the body, but I guess this is the sarcrifice everyone has to be prepared to take once you sign up for this. To those carrying injuries of any kind and still training, I wish you guys the strength to endure. The pain will only make the victory sweeter.

Jiayou