Back to Montreal...

I did Montreal 24 hours relay race 2 years ago. I was in the winning team in elite category. All I remember about that race was tough and tough. I was so weak at that time and the slowest skater in my team, it was so really hard race mentally and physically. This year I skated in the team which belongs to recreational category. Most of members are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s from TISC(Toronto Inline Skating Club). There wasn't much pressure to win and our team was supposed to support Eric's solo skating at some point which we did. Human being is very greedy sometimes. It was fun and enjoyable race but, on the other hand, I wanted to compete and push myself. All members weren't serious about winning and did what they could do, so I didn't feel like I was racing. Basically, I took it easy and sometimes I pushed myself to break my time. In general, I just enjoyed skating on the surprisingly smooth F1 track.

It rained and stopped on and on most of time on Saturday. Track was wet all night and I had to skate in the puring rain a couple of times. Skating in the rain itself isn't bad but we got completely soaked after skating in the rain and had to put on soaked skates again after a break. It isn't a good feeling at all.

Our team consisted of 8 members. Each skater skated one lap and took a little more than an hour break while other 7 skaters skated. We divided into two sub-groups to get some sleep at night. I was in the first shift. For some reasons, I did 2 laps of skating twice during the night shift. It was hard but okay. After finishing our shift till 2 am. I cleaned the bearings and got two hours of sleep. As soon as I opened my eyes, I looked up the sky. It was clear. Even though, I got exhausted, I was so happy about the weather because I didn't need to skate in the rain any more. Sunday skating went well till the last turn.


< approaching to the relay zone >

For some reasons, I was an anchor to finish the race. When I got the baton from Calra, it was at 12:42 pm. I was supposed to skate till 1 pm. My time for one lap was 9 minutes something, so I thought I needed to skate for just two laps. I slowed down at first because I had to do two laps. "Kevin, pick it up~". It was Nick, who I skated with at RSO #2, passing me. I knew it was his final lap, he was doing his best. Pace was a little tough but I followed him and we pulled each other. I think it was pretty fast lap for me, could be 8 minutes something. He exchanged with his teammate and I had to keep going.


< With Nick >

I tried to chase his teammate but I was already tired. So, I just let him go and skated by myself. When I approached to the finish line, I checked my watch. I slowed down and waited for 1 pm. I passed the finish line at 1:01. I thought I was done skating. "Kevin, one more lap", I heard Richard cheering me up. Oops, I had to do one more lap. I forgot my watch is 2 minutes faster than normal. I should not have skated with Nick. It was late to regret, so I got to skate 3 laps for the last turn. I was dying but it turned into an awesome experience.


< The last lap >

I broke the my personal time and got hi-five from many skaters when I finished the race. It was really really awesome. The skaters standed on the both sides of the track and gave hi-five to finishers. I was one of them having chearing and hi-five.

I didn't win anything at this race but was so happy about myself finishing the 24 hours relay race and closing the race with the awesome experience.
I am not sure I can do it again next year at this moment, but I am quite sure that it is so worth it to try.


< After the race with TISC Skaters >

Dim Sum twice in a row.

I remember the day Stephen took me to a Dim sum restaurant for the first time two years ago. I didn't even get the word 'Dim sum', so I asked him again and he explained it to me but I don't think I understood well at that time. However, now I know what it means because I had Dim sum twice in a row last Sunday and the next day, Monday. My friends, Nozomi and Nenry explained the meaning of it to me. If I got it right, 'Yum cha' is an actual term that literally means 'drinking tea'. Basically, you can have many small dishes in a small steamer bamboo basket or on a small plate with tea like Jasmine tea. You can get various dumplings, bans, rice, noodle, congee, deep fries and so on.

I went to Hamilton to skate on Sunday. It had been a week since I donated my skin to the track at RSO #2 race. I felt totally out of shape. We ended up skating a little earlier than usual due to rain. My friend, Carolyn caught rain on the way to the start line. She dyed her hair red the day before, so red thing came out and she got that on her skin suit. She wore her white skinsut for the first time. She worried out that red stain come out easily. I saw her wearing the same one last night's practice. I didn't see any red stain on it.
Anyway, we headed to the Dim Sum restaurant in Mississauga after skating. It is always good to have lunch with friends after Hamilton skating. We were a little hungry and happy about the fact that we were out early in the morning and skated. Chatting was the most fun part of it.



We ate tons of dumplings and many different dishes. It was so fun to have many dishes at once. Carolyn got the wet bearings, so Ed and I went to her place afterwards to help her clean them and Ed and I went to the SilverCity near Yonge & Eglinton and saw Micheal Moore's new movie, Sicko, which I really enjoyed. We ended up having a hamburger with Ed at his favorite hamburger place. I love the humburger there. Meat is really juicy and thick. Ed has a card which he can get one free hamburger with, so he got me a free hamburger. I bought him ice cream instead for a desert.

The next day, I got a call from Nozomi and heard ISM friends were going to have Dim sum lunch. I decided to join them. When I saw Nozomi at Finch subway station, she had a card with her for Junwoo. I realized that lunch thing was Junwoo's farewell lunch. There were ten of ISM friends there and we all enjoyed Dim sum. Later that night, I heard that Nozomi got a upset stomach. Maybe she didn't enjoy as much as we did. Even though I had Dim sum in a row, it didn't matter to me because it's not important what to eat but it's important and good to have friends you can enjoy a meal with.

"See you Junwoo in Korea, stay in touch with me".
That was what I wrote on the card for Junwoo.


< Junwoo in pink >

Race weekend and teaching Korean.

Another crash last Saturday during the 500m sprint and got a big scrape and burn on my arm. It was my first race since I came back. I found myself not good at races and need to do more races If I want to perform better. However, that's not what I am here for. I have something else I have to focus on.


< the crash in the 500m sprint - photo by Eric Gee >

Anyway, I got some very good pictures of me during the races. Thanks Peter and Eric.


< 10k - photo by Eric Gee >

< 10k finish - photo by Peter Doucet >

The next day, I did a 42k marathon. I took it easy and finished without a crash. hehe. There were some crashed, though.


< After the marathon >

Recently I have taken over language exchange meeting from Youngin whom I met at ISM. He is going back to Korean, soon. Therefore, he can't continue that meeting. He asked me to take over. I said yes. Today was the first meeting which I was in charge to teach. Less people showed up because we couldn't find any places where to meet. At the very last minute, Dan suggested us meet at his place. Even though there were less people than usual, I really enjoyed teaching Korean language and culture. I have also started language exchange with Hilary. One of members I met at Yougin's meeting, Steve, introduced me to her. I met her last Tuesday. She is around my age and I found her very nice person. we sat down at a coffeehouse and started talking about ourselves first and we then started our first Korean lesson. I had never taught Korean before, so I found it very tough and felt that I need to know how to teach but I had fun while teaching.

I think teaching might be the thing I really want to do, at least I can enjoy. I couldn't enjoy working as a computer programmer. Sometimes, I felt a little joy after solving harsh problems but It didn't mean I loved that job.
Life is once and too short to do what you don't like. I will keep looking what I want to do to pursue my happiness.
By the way, Am I happy now? Sure, I am. kk