痴肥與飢荒 / Obesity & Famine

I enjoy all kinds of summer and winter sports, such as running in the summer and skiing in the winter.

No doubt the clean air, nutritious food and regular exercise all have contributed to my physical and mental well-being.

But transplanting to a developed country like Canada is no guarantee for improving one's health.

In fact, some of my Chinese friends who habitually over-eat and lead a sedentary life are adding inches to their girth.

They are joining an increasing number of obese Canadians who might put their health at risk.

Photo credit:
Sept 13, 2011 Ottawa Sun

山野半馬拉松賽跑: 『蜀中無大將,廖化作先鋒!!』/ Half-Marathon Race in the Woods: The Last Shall be the First!!

After a gruelling half-marathon run in the woods last weekend, I now weigh just 3 kg more than the scrawny kid who came to Canada many years ago.

When I was living in Hong Kong, I did not always eat different types of nutritious food, mainly because I was spending my lunch money on stamps (I could have been as tall as Yao Ming LOL) and partly because of our family income (my father's career was hampered by his lack of education, as he had had to quit school to earn money to help raise his younger siblings).

During my early years at KC, I was eating plain "Cháng fěn" 腸粉 (steamed rice rolls) for lunch. When I was in Form 3, I was the only late-bloomer in class who could sing high notes like the Vienna Boys Choir 維也納童聲合唱團. My body was still waiting for some nutritious food to kick-start my growth hormones!!! No doubt if I had stayed in Hong Kong, I would not have grown any taller and stronger, never mind becoming a marathon runner.

But then, I might have grown up to be somebody else instead of the one who is writing this blog !!!

Photo Credit:

Someone took this pic of myself receiving a "1st Place" award.

Now, just to put things in context: There is an old Chinese saying 『蜀中無大將,廖化作先鋒!!』 哈哈!

2011「加拿大陸軍 半馬拉松賽」/ 2011 Canada Army Run Half-marathon Race

On Sept 18, 2011, I finished my 3rd Canada Army Run half-marathon race with a Personal Best (PB) that beats my May 30, 2004 ING Marathon record (at the 21.1 km mark) by 33 seconds !!! Altho the difference is not that much in absolute terms, an age gap of 7+ years is significant over a runner's life span.

For example:

The qualifying time for the Boston Marathon "eases up" as a runner enters into his/her next 5-year age group. So, there is hope for those who can still run 42.2 km at age 80+ !!!!

2013 Qualifying Times (effective September 24, 2011)

Age Group	Men	Women
18-34	3hrs 05min 00sec	3hrs 35min 00sec
35-39	3hrs 10min 00sec	3hrs 40min 00sec
40-44	3hrs 15min 00sec	3hrs 45min 00sec
45-49	3hrs 25min 00sec	3hrs 55min 00sec
50-54	3hrs 30min 00sec	4hrs 00min 00sec
55-59	3hrs 40min 00sec	4hrs 10min 00sec
60-64	3hrs 55min 00sec	4hrs 25min 00sec
65-69	4hrs 10min 00sec	4hrs 40min 00sec
70-74	4hrs 25min 00sec	4hrs 55min 00sec
75-79	4hrs 40min 00sec	5hrs 10min 00sec
80 and over	4hrs 55min 00sec	5hrs 25min 00sec

(Source: http://www.baa.org/Races/Boston-Marathon/Participant-Information/Qualifying.aspx)

Anyway, here are the photos and videos of the 2011 Canada Army Run.

Photo #1: At 09h00 sharp, this cannon was fired with a loud BANG, and the half-marathon race was on !!

Photo #2: Among the front runners sprinting off at the starting line of the half-marathon was #73 Rebecca Stallwood.
Photo #3: This runner ran into trouble and had to be held to get off the race track.Photo #4: Over 16,000 people participated in the Canada Army Run at the Ottawa location on Sept 18, 2011, including many injured soldiers.

Photo #5: In the half-marathon race, Joshua Karanja of Ottawa won the male category (1/3239) and the M20-29 age division (1/607), with a chip time of 1 hr 8 min 18.9 sec and an avg pace of 3.15 min/km over 42.2 kilometres.

Photo #6: In the half-marathon race, Rebecca Stallwood won the female category (1/3147) and the F30-39 age division (1/1025), with a chip time of 1 hr 23 min 2.1 sec and a pace of 3.57 min/km over 42.2 kilometres.

Photo #7 and #8: My friend Peter (in red cap) had a new machine this year and finished the half-marathon in 1 hr 12 min 47.1 sec at a 3.27 min/km avg pace. Bravo Peter !!

Photo #9: At the end of the event, awards were given to the winners of all the races that took place in Ottawa (see video below for the Canada Army Run held in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan).

Video #1: Here is a clip of the runners taking off at the half-marathon starting line in Ottawa.

Video #2:

Over 700 participants from different countries ran the Canada Army Run held at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. You would notice three runners were wearing face-masks as an added challenge. With the face-mask on, your air-intake rate is somewhat restricted by the filters while your body is crying for more oxygen !!!


Photo/video Credit:

* I took photos #7, 8, and 9; while the rest are from The Ottawa Citizen (Source: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Photos+Video+Army+triumph+will+many/5421654/story.html)

* The YouTube videos are posted on-line by the Govt of Canada.

Note: At the end of my half-marathon race, I crossed over the foot-bridge near the Ottawa University and ran an additional 3+ km with my friends toward the finish line.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
UPDATED Sept 28, 2011 Re Ottawa Sun interview with Peter Morel:
Army Run keeps on growing by Kelly Roche, Ottawa Sun

First posted: Friday, September 16, 2011 08:04 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 16, 2011 08:16 PM EDT

Peter Morel isn’t satisfied with completing the Army Run half-marathon in 90 minutes. Morel reckons he can cover the 21-km in his hand cycle faster than his 2010 time, so on Sunday he’s taking another crack at it. “Our race bikes can cruise fairly fast, so we can cruise at around the 18 km/h mark,” he said.
He was born with spina bifida, but using a wheelchair hasn’t stopped him from excelling in athletics. “I was a Paralympic rower and am trying out for the national adaptive shooting team,” he said. And the Army Run is an event that’s close to Morel’s heart. “My father was in the Second World War, in the air force. My grandfather was in the army in the First World War,” he said, adding three friends are currently serving in the military.
He isn’t the only one training. In running circles, it’s said to be the fastest growing event — roughly 16,000 people are registered in the 2011 Army Run. “Every member of the Canadian Forces takes pride in the growing popularity of this event,” said Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin, commander of the Canadian Army. “Although the event was created as a way for the military to thank Canadians for their support, it has become clear that Canadians also want to thank the men and women of the Canadian Forces for all they do at home and abroad. And we sincerely appreciate that.” When the Army Run began in 2008, 7,000 people participated. Last year, that number doubled to 14,000 and more than $100,000 was raised for the Military Families Fund and the Soldier On program, which trains injured soldiers.
Morel co-owns TopShape Fitness Studio in Westboro, where many of his clients are in the military. “We’ve had everything from complete amputations from land mines and IEDs to spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, you know, the list goes on and on,” he said. His goal is to get soldiers moving again. “We design programs for them and teach them how to exercise properly,” said Morel. “These are highly motivated people to begin with.” They’re so motivated, Morel has recruited about 20 others to take part with him in Sunday’s event. “These guys can do anything they want if they put their minds to it,” he said.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/09/16/army-run-keeps-on-growing

Marathon Training - Week #15

On Wednesday Sept 21, 2011, our marathon running team was on schedule with Week #15 of the training program.

We went to a 400-metre outdoor track and did the following interval training:

* 3K of warm-up run (abt 7 times around the track, non-stop, marathon pace or less)
* 30 m short bursts (10K pace, 3 times, with a walk in btwn)
* 15 min of loosening-up exercise (skipping, grapevine, running backward etc)
* 1st Interval: 400 m run + 10 seconds walk; 800 m + 10 sec; 400 m + 10 sec.
* 2nd, 3rd and 4th intervals: Same as above except one walked 200 m instead of 10 sec at the end (i.e. 400m+10s, 800m+10s, 400m+200m)

Note 1: For each interval, the first 400 m was to be at tempo pace (faster than marathon race pace); the 800 m faster, and the last 100 m the fastest

Note 2: For the Sept 21, 2011 session, my speed varied from 4:00 to 4:50 min/K (rough estimates only, as I did not have my GPS watch with me). The last 100 m of the 4th interval was the fastest.

Note 3: Total running distance = 3K + 1K + 1.6K X 4 = approx 10K

Coming Up:

* On Sept 24, 2011, we will do a hilly 21.1K half-marathon trail race, then run an additional 11K, for a total of 32K. It is expected to be one tough day !!!

Google Plus

Come One Come All !!!

What's your name?

I mean your REAL NAME!!!

Nice to meet you Little Red Riding Hood ^_^

Why the personal data?

To serve you better with !!! Haha Just kidding ^_^

Because Google and its affiliated market sponsors, your govt agents, your employers present and future, your parents, friends, and foes, all want to know who you REALLY are!!!

Of course, nobody is FORCING you to join.

I mean, like, you don't have to take the bus, drive a car, own a cell phone, use a computer, go on-line, text or blog, belong to Facebook or any social network, have electricity to your apartment, or even have a normal life .....

We at Google respects your FREEDOM of choice to OPT OUT !!!

But it would be nice if you show everyone the REAL YOU ^_^

BTW, I can't find anyone called Little Red Riding Hood in your city's phonebook or the govt's tax return list. Could you spell that again?! And please re-send us a photo of the REAL YOU without the hood covering your face ^_^
Sent from BlackBerry

您相信天堂存在嗎? / "Do You Believe in Heaven?" by Tradjaig

I don't believe there is physically a heaven.

But I am sure it exists in many people's minds.

九一八事變 / The Mukden Incident

懐九一八事變

日本侵華九一八
瀋陽先失戰事發
東北三省皆淪陷
安內攘外軍心沈
溥儀黃帝號康德
傀儡登堂又入室
当年老將淚滿襟
今日遊子作詩吟

攝影图片: 日軍以中國軍隊炸毀日本修築的南滿鐵路為借口，佔領瀋陽。
攝影图片: 日本軍隊聚集瀋陽，1931年9月18日
攝影图片: 九一八事變中瀋陽街頭的日軍攝影图片: 九一八事變中的日軍攻打東北邊防軍司令部攝影图片: 佔領日軍对市民的「佈告」攝影图片: 1930年，黃顯聲任遼寧省警務處長兼瀋陽公安局長，為了民族利益，對日本帝國主義在我國東北不斷擴張陰謀盡力予以抵制，對“滿鐵”軍警依仗日方特權滋事欺人，進行針鋒相對的鬥爭。1931年“九一八”事變爆發，瀋陽南市、三經路等公安分局均按他的命令奮起抵抗，這是當時瀋陽唯一未執行“不抵抗”命令的武裝隊伍。所以在繳械後，被屠戮者甚眾。攝影图片: 日軍將中國軍警繳械攝影图片: 被捕的中國軍警
攝影图片: 偽政府警察局和新招的軍警攝影图片: 九一八後偽滿洲國總統溥儀照會各國使節國聯調查團成員在偽“滿州國”執政府會見溥儀
根據【維基百科】: 九一八柳條湖事件經過

1931年9月18日傍晚，日本關東軍虎石台獨立守備隊第2營第3連離開原駐地虎石台兵營，沿南滿鐵路向南行進。22時20分左右，以該連柳條湖分遣隊隊長河本末守中尉為首的一個小分隊,在奉天（現稱瀋陽）北面約7.5公里處的柳條湖南滿鐵路段上,引爆小型炸藥，炸毀了一小段鐵路,並將3具身穿東北軍士兵制服的中國人屍體放在現場，作為東北軍破壞鐵路的證據。爆炸後，河本末守立刻向北大營的方向射擊，並向日軍獨立守備隊報告「北大營的中國軍隊，炸毀鐵路，攻擊守備隊」。獨立守備隊又立刻報告了關東軍司令部。板垣征四郎下令向中國軍隊開火，進攻東北軍北大營和瀋陽城。當時，北大營駐守的東北軍第七旅毫無防備，被打得措手不及。而事前張學良曾訓令東北軍不得抵抗，駐守部隊並未做出反擊。第七旅三個團中有兩個團按指示撤走，只有王鐵漢的620團未及時接到撤退命令，被迫自衛抵抗，最後突圍撤走。由於執行不抵抗命令，北大營逾萬名守軍被只有500多人的日軍擊潰。隨後，瀋陽城及東大營駐軍亦是不戰而退，被日軍順利佔領。

(Source: Wikipedia 九一八事變)

Photo Credit: 國恥！“九一八”日軍侵華寫真
* http://tuku.news.china.com/history/html/2011-08-02/180280_1860857.htm
* http://tuku.news.china.com/history/html/2011-07-29/180036_1855643.htm

Ottawa City Hall (IMG00436)

Tomorrow, I will be here checking in for the Army Run half-marathon!!!

Sent from BlackBerry

外交部長的國會秘書鮑勃德克特与中國新華社多倫多分社女記者施蓉: 前途未卜 / Mr. Bob Dechert & Ms. Rong Shi: Se rendre à une affaire

其一:

你是一個美麗的人兒,
妳站在水邊鼓著臉頰的照片,
實在是令我難忘,
我願整天看著妳那可愛的神態,
我是非常想念着你。....
妳一定要收看我在加拿大眾院投票的电視錄影,
因為我將抬頭看著妳微笑,想念着妳。
愛妳的卜。

其二:

說到那老頭﹐
別管他。
你訴說的悲痛故事﹐
我也有同樣經歷。
他会讓你苦等一段長日子﹐
忘記他﹐
把他掃進垃圾箱﹐
他配不上你。

其三:

Dear Romeo:
By the time you see this letter,
I will be back home facing my husband,
and swallowing the inevitable career-killing pill.
Thanks for the good time!
Best regards to your lovely family in Canada.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

卜 (pronounced: Bob)
Se rendre (pronounced: Shi Rong)

Photo Credit: Photo widely circulated by media (I have edited out face of unknown woman on left)

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Updated Sept 16, 2011:

外交部長的國會秘書鮑勃德克特 与 中國新華社多倫多分社女記者施蓉

Based on media reports in the public domain, it appears this case has more to do with a rocky marriage and a flirtatious Canadian politician than some sort of a well-planned espionage attempt. If the encounter btwn 鮑勃德克特 and 施蓉 had been scripted by professional spies, the email leak by 施蓉's jealous husband would not have happened and there would not have been such a public exposure of the parties involved. But then, maybe I have watched too many Hollywood espionage movies :P

Related News Articles:

"Tory MP apologizes for 'flirtatious' e-mails to Chinese reporter"
steven chase

OTTAWA— Globe and Mail
Posted on Friday, September 9, 2011 5:04PM EDT

Mr. Dechert is parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.
Xinhua is the official press service for the People’s Republic of China and Western counterintelligence organizations have likened it to an intelligence agency. This all came to light Thursday night when a mass e-mail was sent to more than 240 media, academic, political and business contacts across Canada. The missive contained the text of intimate messages written by Mr. Dechert, including ones where he professes love for Ms. Shi.

One e-mail, sent to Ms. Shi on April 17, 2010, from Mr. Dechert’s parliamentary office account, says: “You are so beautiful. I really like the picture of you by the water with your cheeks puffed. That look is so cute, I love it when you do that. Now, I miss you even more.” The e-mail was signed “Bob Dechert, MP.” The sender account named was decheB9@parl.gc.ca and the recipient was shirong2011@gmail.com, which Ms. Shi has used as an e-mail account. ....

Another e-mail, dated April 20, 2010, invites Ms. Shi to watch TV for an evening Commons vote in Ottawa. “Dearest Rong,” the note began. “How is your day? Did your interviews at Royal Bank go well? Did you get enough information for your articles?” The MP told Ms. Shi he’d just arrived in Ottawa and “I enjoyed the drive by thinking of you.” In this e-mail, he also encouraged her to watch televised proceedings in the Commons. “We will be voting at 6:30 p.m. If you have time, watch on TV or on your computer (on the CPAC website) and I will smile at you.” “I miss you. Love, Bob,” the e-mail concludes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

洩情資？　加國議員戀新華社記者曖昧信曝光

..... 據外電報導，53歲的德克特用國會電郵帳號，寫給施蓉大量的私人信件，內容多次提到「我很想你」、「你很漂亮」等親密對話；另一封於去年4月間的郵件，德克特還提醒施蓉留意渥太華的眾議院投票，寫到：「如果你有時間，請看電視或電腦網站，我會對你微笑」，甚至還表示：「我很享受一邊開車一邊想你」。這些電郵上周四被人發送到加拿大超過240家媒體和機構。....

(原文網址: 洩情資？　加國議員戀新華社記者曖昧信曝光 | 頭條新聞 | NOWnews 今日新聞網 http://www.nownews.com/2011/09/12/91-2741855.htm#ixzz1Y5KIgIme)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

遭暗示涉挑情電郵事件 中國政府斥報道不負責任

【明報專訊】中國政府說﹐德克特(Bob Dechert)事件是私事﹐報界暗示北京涉身其事﹐是不負責任的報道。

保守黨國會議員德克特肩負特別外交職務﹐他說他發給新華社多倫多女記者施蓉愛意綿綿的電郵﹐純屬「純潔友誼」。

加拿大情報局長去年警告說﹐中國試圖滲透加拿大政界。德克特的電郵曝光後﹐中國駐渥太華大使館的發言人對《環球郵報》(Globe and Mail)說﹐中國不評論53歲的德克特與施蓉的個人關係﹐兩人都已結婚。

不願透露姓名的大使館發言人說﹕「我們知道相關的報道﹐但不便評論家庭糾紛﹐以及涉事者的私事。但要說一聲﹐用這事誹謗中國政府﹐就是不負責任。」

在多封外泄電郵中﹐1封是特別的私人信件﹐用中文書寫。它顯出一段複雜的關係﹐似乎有人情海翻波。

哈珀認為這封中文電郵有深入研究的需要。

電郵題為《老狐狸》(Old Fox)﹐電郵筆者看來在提點施蓉﹐教她怎麼處理自己和1名年長男子的關係。那段關係超出友情﹐現在觸礁。

電郵在2010年6月26日發出﹐據說筆者是施蓉的新華社記者同僚屈靜(Qu Jing﹐音譯)。電郵寫道﹕「說到那老頭﹐別管他。」屈靜對施蓉說﹕「你訴說的悲痛故事﹐他讓你苦等一段長日子﹐忘記它罷﹐我也有同樣經歷。把他掃進垃圾箱﹐他配不上你。」

(原文網址: http://www.mingpaovan.com/htm/News/20110915/vad2.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

挑情國會議員保烏紗 外長續力挺 政敵放一馬

　　(渥太華13日加新社電)保守黨國會議員德克特(Bob Dechert)發出調情電郵﹐給新華社女記者﹐雖然可能是拙劣的判斷﹐但2名政敵周二說﹐他不必為此辭職。外交部長白諤德(John Baird)也力挺他﹐說仍然相信他。

新民主黨司法評議員科馬丁(Joe Comartin)告訴加新社﹐德克特沒有必要退出1個跨黨委員會﹐它正在甄選候選人﹐填補加拿大最高法院2個空缺。

該委員會5名成員包括2名反對黨國會議員﹐科馬丁是其中一人。他們將推薦6名候選人﹐交由總理哈珀考慮﹐填補最高法院的空缺。

科馬丁指出﹐德克特「沒判斷力」﹐令他感到意外。但他指出﹐委員會揀選最高法院空缺候選人﹐受「嚴謹程序」約束﹐德克特遵守應無問題。

德克特上周承認﹐他發出示愛電子郵件﹐給新華社多倫多記者施蓉﹐該新聞機構與中國情報機構有關聯。但他堅稱﹐兩人的關係是「純潔的」。

但科馬丁說﹐德克特與那新聞機構代表交手時應該更加慎重﹐很多國會議員知道﹐這個新聞機構與間諜的聯繫。

他說﹕「我們全都知道﹐尤其是那間新聞社﹐基本上是中國政府的宣傳工具與間諜工具。那是無人不知的。」

自由黨國會議員麥家廉(John McCallum)表示﹐加拿大保安情報局(CSIS)應調查德克特的行為﹐但他沒有要求這名國會秘書辭職。

麥家廉告訴記者﹕「他顯然作出拙劣的判斷﹐特別是他任職外交部。

「關於德克特應否辭職﹐實際要由委任他的人決定。」

外交部長白諤德繼續為自己的國會秘書辯護﹐說他對德克特的信心從未動搖。

白諤德周表示﹐他與這名多倫多地區的國會議員長期共事﹐仍然相信他。他拒絕就事件進一步評論。

(原文網址: http://www.mingpaovan.com/htm/News/20110914/vaba.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

哈珀接納「純友誼」 「挑情議員」保官職
德克特負責北美事務
(2011/9/10)

【明報專訊】外交部長的國會秘書周五發表聲明﹐承認他給中國新華社多倫多分社女記者發電子郵件﹐行文有調情字句。聯邦保守黨政府連忙採取補救行動﹐總理辦公室的電郵說﹐國會秘書沒有不當表現。

　外交部長白諤德(John Baird)的國會秘書鮑勃德克特(Bob Dechert)周五晚間發聲明道歉﹐承認他與新華社多倫多首席記者施蓉(Shi Rong)在華語訪問中相識﹐成為朋友。

【綜合報道】總理哈珀辦公室周六說﹐保守黨議員德克特(Bob Dechert)被要求全面交代﹐他和那個女子的關係﹐並准許他保留外交部長白諤德國會秘書的職位。

總理辦公室說﹐德克特周五公開說﹐這只是純潔的友誼﹐總理辦接受他的說法。

總理辦助理傳訊總監麥克杜格爾(MacDougall)說﹕「德克特否認任何不當行為﹐我們手上沒有其他資料﹐證明相反說法。」

德克特是密西沙加-艾林黛爾(Mississauga-Erindale)選區保守黨國會議員﹐他承認發出調情電郵給多倫多新華社記者施榕(Shi Rong)﹐令執政保守黨難堪。

另外，政府消息來源周六說﹐承認發調情電郵給新華社記者的國會秘書﹐被要求交代電郵內容。前情報官員說﹐這名國會議員可能要向保安官員解畫。

德克特承認向新華社記者施榕發出電郵。雖然電郵純屬調情﹐但德克特形容他與女記者的友誼「純潔」。

即時不清楚﹐德克特要向政府的哪個人交代他的事件。

1名加拿大保安情報局(CSIS)前高級情報官員說﹐任何訊問德克特有關他與施榕的關係﹐可能涉及保安官員。

現在主管1間私人保安公司的朱諾-卡蘇雅(Michel Juneau-Katsuya)說﹕「加拿大保安情報局會即時警覺。」

外交部長白諤德(John Barid)有兩個國會秘書﹐該政府消息來源說﹐德克特負責北美洲﹐不是亞洲。

國會秘書的主要角色﹐是部長不在時﹐在眾議院回答問題。該消息來源周六說﹐他們通常不能接觸機密的部長級信息﹐德克特唯一可能得到的﹐是在質詢時間回答反對黨質詢的簡報筆記。

另1個政府消息來源證實﹐德克特不是負責亞太事務﹐沒有紀錄顯示﹐他曾獲得任何涉及中國的簡報。

施榕周六拒絕在電話評論﹐她在掛線前說﹕「抱歉﹐我現在不能說任何話。」

德克特的互聯網說他已婚﹐5月2日大選後﹐擔任白諤德的國會秘書職務。在那之前﹐他是司法部長的國會秘書。

朱諾-卡蘇雅表示﹐德克特不是政府前座議員﹐但不會令此事的保安憂慮顯得不重要。

朱諾-卡蘇雅說﹐怎樣套取情報﹐中國情報官員非常老練。他說﹕「中國情報人員工作時﹐不會以月或年的策略計劃為基礎﹐他們有時經歷數個世代工作。」

(原文網址: http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20110911/taa1.htm)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

9/11 恐怖份子襲擊事件十週年 Tenth anniversary of terrorist attacks: Part 2 (09:03 am) - Mourning a Son's Death

Photo above: 曾喆媽媽提起兒子心痛流淚 (read news article below)

Photo above: 曼哈頓一處消防站門口，張貼著911遇難消防員的名字和照片。(news article below)

9-11事件時華人救人遇難
名字成紐約街道名稱

　在悲傷中尋找到力量

走在紐約繁華的街頭，街景美如油畫，人群川流不息，這個城市隱匿的傷痕已經絲毫不見痕跡。一個就在世貿中心不遠的酒店服務生對我們說，現在只要一次停電，一次地震，都會讓曾經經歷過911的人們驚慌失措，唯恐是另一場恐怖的襲擊。十年前彌漫在空中的塵土和煙霧如噩夢一般，依然會出沒在人們的心裏，難以擺脫。不知不覺，轉眼已成十年。在那一天裏，共有3000多個家庭瞬間破碎，熟悉的朋友突然一去不復返。記者採訪了一名曾在廣州生活的華裔母親，她的兒子在救人時不幸犧牲。記者還採訪了一名美國女消防隊員，她的7名戰友在衝向世貿大廈後再也沒有出來。我們發現無論是華人母親，還是美國女消防員，不分國界、種族，乃至膚色，當她們的生活都被悲劇撕裂出巨大傷口的時候，她們悲傷都指向一個方向。時間是療傷最好的藥。在這十年裏，她們在療傷，她們在改變。如今，雖然那位母親接受採訪時還會落淚，但她依然堅強地接受採訪，因為她希望兒子樂于助人的精神發揚光大。女消防員將9月11日看作公共服務日，熱心為市民服務。她們都在悲傷中尋找到力量，並且成長。

每周到老人活動中心跳舞是67歲的岑嬌嫻的“必修課”，她從位于紐約東面的布魯克林區的家裏，到城西的曼哈頓唐人街老人活動中心，必經一條叫“ZACK”ZENG的路，中文名叫曾喆(zh岢)路。前幾年，岑嬌嫻到活動中心一定要先坐地鐵再轉6號公車，她總是繞開了這條必經之路。她說，走上去，心很痛。這幾年，她好多了，經過這條路很多次，感覺“走上去，心還是痛，但也很自豪” 。因為，這條“曾喆”路就是她兒子的名字，曾喆在10年前那場911襲擊中返身進入世貿雙塔救人後犧牲。

　　“媽，我沒事，我要去救人”

2001年9月11日，這一天，曾喆像平常一樣拿著公文包去上班，曾喆出門時，母親岑嬌嫻正在洗手間，沒來得及像往常一樣目送兒子出門。曾喆上班後，岑嬌嫻打開了電視機。“那天真奇怪，我平時早上都不看電視的，不知道為什麼鬼使神差就打開了電視。”岑嬌嫻看到的是世貿中心濃煙滾滾的畫面。9點多的時候，岑嬌嫻接到了曾喆的電話，他急匆匆地說：“媽，我沒事，我要去救人。”岑嬌嫻本想囑咐兒子小心點，但曾喆已經匆匆挂了電話。岑嬌嫻沒想到，這是兒子留給自己的最後一句話。10點多，曾喆的女友打電話給岑嬌嫻，說曾喆的電話一直打不通，世貿雙子塔已經倒了。岑嬌嫻的心猛然一沉。“世貿100多層，覆蓋的面積有多大？我不敢想下去……”手機也沒信號，岑嬌嫻心急如焚，唯一能做的就是等待和期盼。家裏的電話鈴聲不斷響起。曾喆的同事、同學從各地打來的，大家都關心曾喆的安危。岑嬌嫻哪裏都不敢去，唯恐錯過了兒子的電話。“我好希望電話一響，拿起來，是阿喆說，媽，我好肚餓，想喝糖水。”一整天杳無音信，岑嬌嫻還心存希望，或許兒子太忙，沒空聯係家裏，又或者他受傷了，在醫院治療，沒法打電話……

　　美國電視臺播放了曾喆救人的畫面

不久，曾喆在美國西雅圖的廣州校友打來電話，說在紐約FOX電視新聞臺的畫面中看見曾喆蹲在一位亞裔婦女身邊實施救護。婦女的臉上可以清晰地看見大塊的血污，曾喆穿白襯衫卡其褲，戴著膠皮手套。此前，曾喆曾在大學課外獲得過緊急救護員證書。隨後岑嬌嫻在曾喆同學寄來的錄像上見到了兒子，地面上滿是掉落的瓦礫和飛機的殘片。根據畫面現場判斷，曾喆當時應該是在和世貿大樓緊鄰的馬路上急救傷員。根據這唯一的線索推測，救人的曾喆應該被埋在坍塌的樓下。在社區義工、同學朋友的幫助下，曾喆媽媽在紐約廣泛張貼了尋人啟事。在照片的右下方，是曾喆在美國義務救護隊的徽章。在那些希望渺茫的日子裏，岑嬌嫻經常在唐人街一帶走來走去。她總是期盼著奇跡的出現，曾喆像往常下班一樣，笑嘻嘻地朝她走來。然而，曾喆再也沒有回來，錄像片裏，曾喆救助婦女的畫面永遠定格在岑嬌嫻的腦海裏。孩子的最後一面，沒有對話，沒有擁抱，只有冰冷的電視屏幕。曾喆的哥哥和女友為曾喆辦理失蹤登記。問及失蹤原因，答曰救人，對方詫異：“有這麼偉大？”這話深深刺痛了曾媽媽的心。她已經忍受了喪子之痛，怎麼能再去容忍別人對兒子精神的質疑？

　　移民家庭中的廣州男孩

曾喆的生日是9月30日，與中國的國慶節相連，因此，曾家給兒子起名喆，意為雙喜，吉又是喆的異體字，包含吉祥如意的意思。岑嬌嫻希望這個兒子有福吉祥。1988年，曾家初來美國時，曾喆還是一個15歲的少年。新移民的生活免不了辛苦操勞。因為不懂英語，原來在廣州當老師的岑嬌嫻到衣廠做工，給褲子絞邊。一天最起碼要幹十小時。最晚曾經做到淩晨2點。1995年，岑嬌嫻又遭受了喪夫之痛。幸好曾喆努力學習，取得了電子工程學士和MBA碩士學位。並在華爾街的紐約銀行任職，分管幫助外國公司在紐約上市的業務，年收入7萬美元。曾喆以他的聰明、勤奮融入了美國主流社會，也用他厚實的雙肩撐起了這個移民家庭。他在911襲擊遇難時僅僅28歲，如果沒死，10年以後，也許他和女朋友已經結婚，也許會有自己的孩子。

　　終于找到了幾根頭發

在等待的日日夜夜裏，岑嬌嫻漸漸接受了曾喆已經離開的現實。她唯一的期盼就是找到兒子。“活要見人，死要見屍，按照中國人的傳統，我找到兒子的下落，哪怕是一根頭發都好”。在報失蹤人口的時候，政府讓岑嬌嫻收集一些曾喆的個人物品，以便能夠比對曾喆的DNA。岑嬌嫻到曾喆的床上找他的頭發，還真讓她在枕頭上找到了。小心翼翼地捧著這幾根頭發，岑嬌嫻的眼前模糊了，她突然舍不得把頭發交給政府。2002年5月，岑嬌嫻接到政府的電話，證實在世貿的廢墟裏找到了曾喆的遺骸。“那種感覺很難說。我的最後一線希望都破滅了，很傷心，但是也證實了他就是在那個地方救人犧牲了，找到他的遺體，就是給那個說‘真有那麼偉大嗎？’一個最響亮的耳光”。她開始收集曾喆的各種信息，整理兒子的相片，為兒子做紀念冊。“到美國之後，我一直忙著做工，他又去羅切斯特上學，我們連一張合影都沒有。”岑嬌嫻給新快報記者看兒子照片時難過起來。“你們可以拍一下，但別拿走了，有好幾張被記者拿走了，都沒還回來。”她小心翼翼地保護著曾喆的記憶。曾喆親友原本打算要為曾喆做一種108頁的紀念冊，但由于經費問題，最後只能出版了一些只有36頁的紀念冊。

　　一條街道以曾喆名字命名

曾喆的事跡震動了全社會，感動了無數人，人們公認他是“美國的英雄，華人的驕傲”。2004年9月11日，為紀念曾喆的英勇事跡，曼哈頓第三社區委員會與紐約市議會先後通過了命名“曾喆街”的議案，布隆伯格市長于5月初簽署了議案，使得“曾喆街”的命名方案終成法律。

2011年9月1日，10年過去，新快報記者在美國曼哈頓唐人街的勿街見到了岑嬌嫻。她穿著修身黑色連衣裙，脖子上戴著一串美麗的白色珍珠項鏈。在講述曾喆救人的經過和回憶曾喆童年時，岑嬌嫻語氣平緩，時常開著玩笑，被悲劇撕開的巨大傷口似乎已經愈合。但一被問到今年的911紀念活動時，岑嬌嫻突然控制不住情緒，潸然落淚：“其實每年紀念活動時，你們記者採訪我，就是揭開我傷口，再給我撒把鹽。但是我想到這是你們的工作，我盡可能配合你們。另一個主要原因是我也希望曾喆這種助人為樂的精神能夠發揚下去，弘揚他的精神。所以，我再痛苦，也接受你們的訪問。” 每年911，美國政府都有紀念活動，岑嬌嫻都會接到邀請函，但她基本都沒有去，因為不懂英文。岑嬌嫻有自己的紀念方式，那是最傳統，最中國的，就是帶上曾喆最愛吃的橘子，到墓地看兒子。岑嬌嫻還收藏著來自全美各個學校孩子們的信。很多孩子安慰鼓勵岑嬌嫻，想要當這個英雄媽媽的孩子。

為了走出喪子之痛，岑嬌嫻曾經也接受過紐約市政府提供的心理專家咨詢服務，但她去了兩次就再也沒去過。　“其實我覺得去看病更痛苦，醫生還是問我過去的事情，把我的傷口又挑起來。”岑嬌嫻搖搖頭。她意識到，只有自己勇敢面對，才能解放自己，才能從傷痛中走出來。“你自己站不起來，看什麼心理醫生都沒用，所以我看了兩次就沒有再去了。”岑嬌嫻給自己鼓勁：“我要自己解放自己。” 這種“走出來”的路是漫長的,解放自己的路是漫長的。

曾喆剛出事的時候，岑嬌嫻一下子瘦了十磅。“擺在我面前只有兩條路：一條是跟他去，一條是活下來。如果要選擇活下來的話，哭也是一天，笑也是一天，我不希望自己沉浸在痛苦的回憶中。我活著不光是為了我自己，還要為身邊的人著想，我還有我的大兒子、兄弟姐妹和朋友，我不希望他們為我擔心，假如我的身體垮了，不僅累了自己，還會讓身邊的親人遭罪。我覺得曾喆他也希望我活得快樂、健康。”岑嬌嫻認識一個和她際遇相倣的女人。岑嬌嫻住在紐約市布魯克林區17街，15街有個華人，她的兒子也是911恐怖襲擊中去世了，但她一直都沒有站起來，每天都沉浸在痛苦中，她的身體狀況每日愈下，到後來基本不能自理，岑嬌嫻還去過她家幾次安慰她，有一次岑嬌嫻在街上碰到她先生說起她的情況，她先生也很苦惱。

　　十年過去，時間是療傷止痛最好的藥。

岑嬌嫻志願成為社區老人活動中心的義工，“幫助別人的同時也幫助了自己，讓自己能更快地忘記傷痛。”岑嬌嫻因做義工服務老人不遺余力，還曾獲市議員尼爾森頒發“最佳義工”獎。除了做義工，岑嬌嫻還熱心公益。2007年3月，為紀念在“911”事件中舍己救人的華裔英雄曾喆和在伊拉克戰爭中陣亡的華裔子弟林宏呈，她與紐約華人家長學生聯合會及其所屬的模范母親聯誼會和林宏呈家屬發起成立“華裔國家英雄救難基金”。現在的生活忙碌而充實,在做義工的過程中，岑嬌嫻充分發掘了自己的文藝細胞。如今她是老人活動中心合唱團的團長，用她的話說，“把唱歌當練氣功，跳舞當打太極。”岑嬌嫻的一個朋友告訴記者，她唱女高音唱得非常好，而且還是交際舞的老師。岑嬌嫻每天的生活忙碌而充實。“星期一，去跳交際舞或者打麻將；星期二，唱粵劇；星期三，下午去老人活動中心教交際舞和健康舞；星期四，有時唱歌有時跳交際舞；星期五，參加合唱團活動；星期六，唱粵劇；星期天，家庭日。”岑嬌嫻一口氣把一個星期的日程安排都說了出來。

我一個婦人也不懂政治但,我真不希望再有戰爭

十年中，悲劇撕開的傷口正在逐漸愈合，而因傷口而引發的怨恨呢？當被問到失去了心愛的兒子，會不會埋怨美國政府或者本‧拉丹時，岑嬌嫻嘆息：“每個國家都有每個國家的政策。其實恨一個人，自己也是很痛苦的事情，何必呢。你老是記得那些愁啊、恨啊的，自己會生活得很痛苦。”本‧拉丹在幾個月前已經被擊斃了，按常理應該感到寬慰的岑嬌嫻說出了一段讓記者肅然起敬的話：“我是一個小婦人，對政治沒什麼看法，我的感覺是冤冤相報何時了。一個拉丹死了，還有另一個拉丹出現。反正我覺得，戰爭對我們平民來說就是災難。不管是哪一個國家，哪一個地區發生戰爭，受傷害的都是平民，我希望世界和平，不要再有戰爭。”

10年中我感到人生無常

在談到911事件對自己的影響時，岑嬌嫻說：“我失去了一個親人，我的心很痛，突然感到人生無常。生命不是我們自己能夠控制的，但是能活一天的話我們就不應該白白浪費，應該做對自己，對集體都有利的事情。”岑嬌嫻幾乎每年都回廣州，那裏還有她的家人和朋友。而她必訪的一個人就是兒子當年的女友。“這麼多年我們一直有聯係，我每年回去都到香港看她，她也會到紐約來看我。她已經結婚了，現在有一個4歲的孩子。”兩個深愛著曾喆的女人在一起，提到曾喆又笑又哭，回憶的都是當年一起生活的快樂時光。曾喆每個周末都呼朋喚友，讓媽媽不要上班，在家裏和朋友一起打麻將。岑嬌嫻朦朧中倣佛又看到曾喆笑呵呵的臉，問：”媽，你贏了沒？”

最後岑嬌嫻還對記者提到了“命運”這個詞。原來，9月12日，曾喆就要去三藩市出差，連機票都訂好了。“可是偏偏是9月11日發生了這個事情。我只能說這是命。”

（新華新聞 ∕ 曹晶晶 尹輝 郭晨琦 / 2011年09月06日 14:37:54）

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2011-09/06/c_121984360.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OTHER RELATED ARTICLES:

http://www.mingpaofun.com/realtimenews/tor/content_CANADA_NEW.cfm?aid=14858

「911」10周年大多區紛舉行紀念活動

(2011/9/11)

【明報專訊】今天是「911」恐襲10周年紀念10周年﹐大多區以致加國多處地方從今晨開始均有舉行紀念活動。在多倫多彌敦菲臘廣場﹐多市警察總長布萊爾﹑消防總長施棣華(Bill Stewart)及醫療急救總長拉蒂斯(Paul Raftis)與一批緊急救護人員一起悼念在10年前今天因為執行職務死亡的緊急救護人員。今早的儀式包括鳴槍21響。

萬錦市及約克區警察﹑消防及醫療急救部門亦在新市約克區行政大樓舉行紀念儀式﹔密西沙加市消防員則於今晨在各自所屬的消防局舉行紀念儀式。位於阿梵奴路(Avenue Road)及聖卡拉路(St. Clair Avenue)的Timothy Eaton教堂﹐今早舉行一個名為「重訪9-11」的禮拜儀式﹐由Andrew Sterling牧師主持。 在多市Eastern Avenue及Coxwell Avenues地區的Millenium Gardens在今天下午1時﹐將會舉行一個紀念在9-11恐襲中喪失生命的加拿大人的儀式。Millenium Gardens是加拿大唯一擁有專門紀念在9-11恐襲中喪失生命的24名加拿大人的紀念公園。已退休的消防隊長Jim McGregor將會宣讀紀念的悼詞。

在全國方面﹐一個特別的紀念儀式在紐芬蘭省小社區 Gander舉行﹐該社區是在紐約發生9-11恐襲時﹐在世貿中心及國防部五角大廈受到襲擊後﹐美國關閉領空時﹐大批飛機要改飛及停留在其他城市時﹐Gander就成為6600名飛機旅客的臨時居所達5天﹐受到這個人口只有3000多人的小社區的居民的招待。美國駐加國大使David Jacobson及紐芬蘭省長Kathy Dunderdale均會出席。在美國禁止所有民航機飛入美國之後﹐大約有200航班要轉飛加拿大。除了Gander之外﹐其他還飛到哈里法克斯(Halifax)及紐賓士域省的Moncton。今早哈里法克斯也有紀念儀式。其他如渥太華﹑愛蒙頓及卡加利均有紀念活動。

至於總理哈珀﹐則到紐約世貿遺址參加那裏的紀念儀式。美國總統奧巴馬上周寫信給總理哈珀﹐多謝在恐襲中加拿大人提無的幫助﹐以及在反恐上的努力﹐又特別多謝Gander人民的熱情及友誼。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/INews/20110911/ta72051c.htm

奧巴馬出席世貿遺址悼念 (明報加東版)

美國紐約世貿中心遺址星期日舉行悼念九一一襲擊事件十周年儀式，美國總統奧巴馬伉儷出席了儀式。儀式在香港時間晚上8時35分開始，首次是由合唱團演奏美國國歌，同時展示在當年在遺址中找到的一個受損的國旗，在8時46分，即當年第一架飛機撞向世貿中心北塔的一刻，全紐約市默哀一分鐘。奧巴馬和紐約市長彭博隨後發表了簡短演說，跟讀出了大約三千名死難者的名字。出席儀式的包括前總統布殊和他的夫人勞拉。在9時03分，即當年第二架飛機撞向世貿中心南塔的一刻，全紐約市再度默哀一分鐘。由於今年紐約的悼念在世貿遺址舉行，天還沒亮，就有許多家屬抵達現場。不少家屬穿著印有罹難親屬的T恤，或是帶親人的到照片到現場。

由於據報紐約可能在今天再度遭逢恐怖攻擊，紐約市進入全面警戒，各大地鐵站裡都有警員巡邏，世貿遺址的警察對所有進出人士進行嚴格安檢。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9/11 恐怖份子襲擊事件十週年 Tenth anniversary of terrorist attacks: Part 1 (08:46 am) - "I Have A Dream" by ABBA

Photo above: I took this pic at the National Military Cemetery, Beechwood, Ottawa

"I Have A Dream"

Songwriters: Benny Andersson / Bjorn Ulvaeus

Singers: Abba

Lyrics:

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

必治活加拿大國家軍人公墓 - 紀念在9 /11事件中喪生的加拿大人 / Beechwood National Cemetery - Remembering the Canadians, and others, who Perished their Lives, on the Ten-year Anniversary of 9/11

I read with emotions the September 10, 2011 Ottawa Sun article entitled "Remembering the Canadians" in which Beechwood Cemetery family services counsellor Tania Turpin recalls how she started with the idea of keeping the memory of the 23 Canadians killed on 9/11 alive.

Twenty-two died while they were trapped in the north and south towers of New York's World Trade Centre and one in a plane on that terrible day. They are among the over three thousand civilians and service men/women who perished during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Because of Ms. Turpin's idea and efforts, a memorial was built at Beechwood in memory of the 23 victims.

Now, Canadians might not always agree with some of our powerful neighbour's foreign policies and military actions. I think that's fair and healthy, for we are a sovereign nation. But when it comes to fighting terrorist attacks on North American soil from within or without, the two peoples definitely have agreements in principle, if not in exact details. The 9/11 memorial at Beechwood serves as a reminder of our shared past experience, painful as it might be, and the future of our two countries.

As well, Beechwood is the National Military Cemetery for many women and men who served with the RCMP and the Canadian Forces, including Trooper Karine Blais to whom I paid tribute in the form of a blog article after she had been killed on April 13, 2009 in Afghanistan.

On a personal level, Beechwood is where my father is resting and that is where my mother will eventually join him.

So in more than one way, Beechwood Cemetery is a place of my heart and it will remain so on September 11, 2011, the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as the days beyond.

(Update 20150911: According to HuffingtonPost, the 9/11 attack killed 26 Canadians, here are their names: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/09/06/list-of-canadians-killed-911-sept-11-terrorist-attack_n_949877.html ; The official number is 24 based on a campaign speech delivered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Sept 11, 2015 at Victoriaville, Quebec: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/harper-discusses-national-security-live-at-9-30-a-m-et-1.2867156?cmp=rss )

Photo Credit:
* Top: I took this photo while visiting the Beechwood Cemetery on Feb 22, 2011 at around 15h07. The 9/11 memorial is on the left and the National Military Cemetery sign on the right.
* Bottom: Sept 10, 2011 Ottawa Sun

Sent from BlackBerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Related Articles:

* SUNDAY, MAY 01, 2011

紀念在九一一事件中喪生的加拿大人 / In Remembrance of the Canadians Lost During the 9/11 Attack http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2011/05/in-remembrance-of-canadians-lost-during.html

* SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

記念九一一襲擊事件: 必治活國家墳場 / Remembering the 9/11 Terrorist Attack: Beechwood National Cemetery http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2010/09/911.html

* SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009

靈魂之窗: 加拿大士兵与阿富汗女孩 / Windows to the Souls: Karine Blais & Sharbat Gula http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/04/windows-to-souls-karine-blais-sharbat.html

* Wikipedia: 必治活加拿大國家公墓 Beechwood National Cemetery

Canadian Sunset (IMG00417)

I have taken lots of photos of Canadian sunset, but never one from the parking lot of a strip mall. If you don't see the beauty of it, just remember: One of Canadian singer Joni Michell's famous songs is abt a parking lot !!!!

Photo credit:

* I took the photo w my BlackBerry outside The City View Running Room on Sep 6, 2011 at 19h55

Sent from BlackBerry

馬拉松賽跑: 事在人為 / Running Marathon - Commitment

今年一月開始的時候,我本來打算繼續自我訓練,跑第14個馬拉松賽,無奈俺惰性重,又饞嘴,只要老天爺陰陰天還未下出雪花,我就以壞天氣為籍口,取消訓練,直衝往最近的咖啡店喝杯熱騰騰的 chai latte 和吃塊新鮮出爐的 ginger cookie,飽了之後当然是有力無心,再提不起勁出外跑步。

跑全程42.2公里的馬拉松可不是 a walk in the park輕而易舉之事,沒有適当的根基和訓練, 肌腱丶骨骼丶關節丶和肌肉受損的風險是大為提高,嚴重的可能会令傷者患上關節炎等纏身病症。所以到了五月,我頗感到心灰意冷,眼見訓練計劃不湯不水,全程馬拉松賽無望,就索性放棄參加所有 Ottawa Race Weekend 的任何賽事。

不過,事有湊巧,在比賽開始前兩天,Christine 的朋友因貧血缺鐵問題,不能參加半程馬拉松賽事,她問我願不願意取票填補空缺。我聽後雀躍不已,趕快把打入冷宮的跑步鞋放入車廂,又往Bushtukah 山友行購買6包高能源凝胶 energy gel。四十八小時之後,我衝越終線,完成最沒有凖備的「壯舉」!

五月廿九日的半程馬拉松賽事過後,我思前想後,自我檢討,發覺在氣力及體力方面來說,我是有能力去訓練和參加全程馬拉松賽事,但可惜我欠缺的卻是承諾 commitment,總沒有下定决心去全力訓練, 正是: 心不想,事不成,到頭來都是自欺欺人。

在六月十四日我痛定思痛,立定了主意,往 The Running Room 報名參加他/她們主辦的全程馬拉松賽跑訓練班,每星期上課三次,星期二丶三是訓練和改善短程競跑及上山落山的速度,逢星期日的Long Slow Distance (LSD) runs焦點是培養個人意志力和訓練跑長程的耐力。

我跑馬拉松目的有二,一方面是鍛鍊身體,另一方面就是培養意志,正如我說: Wellness is being healthy both physically and mentally。我希望,同時也相信這次參加 Running Room 的業餘賽跑隊是能夠幫助加強我对自己的守信和承諾。

各位讀者,各位跑友,事在人為,共勉之!!!


Photo Credit: (taken by BlackBerry camera on Aug 28, 2011 Sunday)

* 這是我的馬拉松賽跑隊友,我們剛剛在Gatineau Park跑完了兩次環路 (2 x 13.4km loop = 27 km)

Route Map:

(Running Route: Park at P8, go north west on Gatineau Pkwy, cross Meech Lake Rd and go up Camp Fortune Parkway, turn left onto trail #1, go past Keogan cabin, continue on #1 to Penguin picnic ground (steep downhill on dirt trail), turn left downhill on Gatineau Pkwy, cross Meech Lake Rd back to P8, do loop a second time)

View Larger Map

馬拉松賽跑: 2011年9月4日的32公里訓練路程地图 / Running Marathon - Sept 4, 2011 Training Route Map

星期日上午與馬拉松賽隊友在渥太華市跑了32公里的路程,時間記錄是3小時15至27分鐘(包括所有步行丶喝水丶上洗手間丶待交通燈等等)。

回家後洗澡上床,測量我的vital signs:

* 血壓是 106/64 (畧低)

* 心跳是 38 beats per minute

Road Constructions - (IMG00411, 413)

With a slow economy, Canadian fed-prov-terr-municipal govts are pumping money into infrastructure projects across the country to help stimulate regional employment.

There is so much road construction around the city these days that many drivers find themselves hopping from one detour route to another. Pedestrians and shop keepers are often just as frustrated and impatient as drivers.

I took this photo on one of the Ottawa side streets that was completely dug up. I overheard a woman complaining to the foreman on-duty that someone had messed up the new side-walk by tagging graffiti onto the still soft cement outside her house. One of the road crew members, who was busy pouring cement to make the side-walk, was kind enough to go back and fix the problem for her.

So amidst all the road constructions, detours and impatience, ppl can still be kind to each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Sent from BlackBerry