Who is to say?

Everybody has their own whims and fancies. We all have their idiosyncrasies. Somehow deep inside, we feel that we got to where we are because of what and how we did it. We must have done something right.

That gives us the assurance that all things in life would turn out the way we want if it were done that particular way. And it would definitely turn sour if it were not done so. We all have our superstitions, and it gives us the conviction that everything will be alright if performed in such ritualistic manner. Nobody knows or can explain the sciences behind such an endeavour, but we do it anyway. What if something goes wrong? The stakes are too high to risk to engage in such a gamble.

I was in the company of some friends. We had decided to finally meet up after numerous failed attempts to get together due to pressing work engagements. What better time and place to meet than at a local sports’ restaurant with a giant screen display of the week’s big English League football game. The scene was set, and the game commenced. I noticed that my friend, M, had his back facing the TV screen. To the amusement of everyone in the group, he insisted on sitting that way!

Over the years, he had noticed that whenever his favourite team was playing, the team would win if he was not watching the game. The team fared poorly every time he viewed. The excitement of wanting to be in the thick of things when his team was playing was too overwhelming that he had to compromise - be at the game but not view it directly. Hence, he had resorted to such an arrangement. The rule has certain exceptions, of course. It is okay for him to see instant replays and pre-recorded games as these are not in real time.

His belief was further reinforced in that outing. After having his back face his screen throughout the two halves of the game, his team did indeed win the match. Deep inside, he must be glad that, in his own small way, he contributed to the success of his team, albeit his small butterfly fluttering way. This, against the variable biorhythms of the players, off/on forms of footballers, dirty tactics of the opponents, the invisible hands of the bookies, the state of non-level playing fields and many more unknown scientific and un-scientific factors. If it makes him entertained, who is to say?

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Life ruled by numbers?

Pain? Just a perception?

D4447 - That is the number of my running bib in the recently concluded pre marathon run of 30km. Somebody who is highly superstitious or particularly particular about numbers and if you are a Malaysian Chinese, you would have your version of interpretation. From the experience of mixing and growing up with superstition, my take on this number is like this. Generally the number 4 (sei, si) is shunned as it sounds similar to death in most Chinese dialects. 8 (pat, fatt) is desirable for its symmetrical appearance and its sound akin to prosperity. 7 is okay too as it signifies something complete like how 7 days complete a week.
Detractors will also argue that one justify their claim by looking only at what they want to see.
Well, the way I see it, the racing number denotes how my Back to Basics 30km run went.
Deterrence started with a bruised knee sustained two weeks before the race. Dried concrete on the training tarmac sent me sliding on my knees, bruised but not stirred! Then there were the aches and pains, knees, sole, here, there and everywhere.
But the minor glitches were just, minor.
After feasting on carbohydrate the day before the event, I thought that things would be okay when morning come as I lay my weary head down. But I was so wrong! Just past the stroke of midnight, an hour and and a half into slumberland, tour of duty blared its loud horn. Two hours flew by as I sorted out my worldly duties, the reason I was sent to Earth. And I was left with only 2 hours to shut my eyes before it would be to get ready for the run! A working colleague had to douse fire with kerosene by saying that I should abandon my running plan for health reasons. Oh, those naysayers!
Against all odds I persevered...
The run was a low key affair but widely supported by die hard running junkies. The terrain was an undulating unforgiving see-saw of a path with peaks and troughs. The initially planned 10km loop had to be re-routed to 7km (wonder why is it 7?, is it a sign? the last digit of bib!) after part of route was flooded due to the downpour the day before.
Anyway, from 0530h, the runners went round the loop in circles before the break of down all the way to enjoy the various hues of sky and skyline as the rays of sun hit the countryside of the lush green terrain of Serdang.
All the effort bore fruit anyway. Managed to finished 4 loops of the course with an additional 2km to round it up to 30km in 3h36m, feeling complete and satisfied that the psychological barrier of sleep deprivation was successfully combated and be in course to meet the FM challenge, come 29.9.2013!
All the sey loh, sey loh threats; but still managed to complete! 4447!

http://runkeeper.com/edit/activity?tripId=238390016