Running Club

Monday 1st September

Investigation:

Today, I had my first running session with the running club and ran 6k around the school. It was a bit tough but not too bad, and through this activity, I hope to get better at running. But more specifically on my stamina. I don’t run particularly slow or fast, but at some point, I do feel very tired and need to walk which was what happened after 4k today. But by pushing through (so for instance when I do get tired run slower rather than walk) I should be able to improve my stamina.

#LO1

Tuesday 22nd September

Today  I had another running session which was a bit more interval training in away. In the sense that one circuit around the school was an easy 4-5 RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) and the other a 6-7 RPE. It was slightly difficult but I know that through this activity I aim to improve both my speed and my stamina, and through stamina, I will improve my speed so it works hand in hand. To really improve on my running, I aim to run at least twice a week or even more in order to build that momentum. It doesn’t have to be very difficult and could just be 3k, but even then, it is good practice and regular running sessions will help me to run quicker and longer.

Thursday 19th November

Now I have had quite a few training and now two times a week during the mornings. We are no training at Bedok reservoir and we do a mix of long runs, 5ks, intervals, and pace run. So far I feel like I am getting better, already I can control my pace better and I am running a lot faster. However, what I am noticing is that I don’t mind the distance, but my pace is still quite slow, or at least, I feel like I can pace myself slightly faster. I can run long distances but I am very slow and my average 5K time is around 25-30mins. 10km is about an hour and usually more. So I am not that fast at running. If I try pacing a little harder I can get 21 minutes as a 5k time. My ultimate goal is going sub 20 minutes for 5K. It has been difficult because I can pace myself quite hard for 1-2K but after that, I drop down really quickly. This is a challenge I am working on and hopefully, I will be better at running and especially at running faster at the same distances I can run now. So I plan to try and go easy first and go faster and faster towards the end of a run or end of a 5k for instance.

We have a schedule every week so we are always ready and now what our training session will be all about:

#LO2, #LO4

Thursday 17th December

Although I will be continuing with the running club and track and field next year, I feel that the running club this semester has been quite fun and challenging at times which is good. I have been able to run faster and keep my stamina in long distances. Even though I am not a particularly fast and great runner, it is still enjoyable and worth undertaking the many challenges in the club. Sometimes, despite it saying perhaps an easy loop around Bedok Reseviour on the schedule, I still feel as if it is a big challenge. However, that isn’t a problem because I need those challenges to grow as a runner, to build speed and so on. Reflecting on my time, I have been very consistent with my running and have always shown up to every session. This has allowed me to become focused and to maximise the hour in the club two times a week. During this holiday, I will try to run a few times a week to continue that stamina and build up so when I come back I don’t have to start from scratch.  I will continue running in the future and at school.

#LO1, #LO4

Rock Climbing

September 9th, 2019

Investigation:

I decided to go rock climbing (see full explanation in the CAS profile post) for a few reasons. I have climbed for a long time and was in this activity a part of grade 9. This is a sport or at least an activity that I find really enjoyable. Also, my brother, who climbs with me a lot, will be joining which will make the experience even more fun as we are quite experienced climbers and get along really well.

Preparation:

During this session, we had a coach for the day, were we just revisited some basic skills of climbing, bouldering and belaying. My brother and I have been to this particular gym before (located in Our Tampines New Town Hub) called The Rock School Climbing Gym. We have belay cards and since my brother and I have climbed for quite some time, our role in this activity could be to mentor and help others to improve their climbing ability. I, as a quite experienced climber, will challenge myself on new challenging routes including those of 6b and 6c as well as harder bouldering routes. If I have the time, learning to lead climbing may be a new skill I could learn.

#LO1

Here is my climbing above 

Here (above) was our warm-up area where we did a few pull-ups and other warm-up activities.

#LO1


September 30th, 2019

During this session, we’ve been preparing for a climbing competition on the 29th and 30th November, at Climb Central (a climbing gym in Singapore) hosted by Dover (the other UWCSEA campus)

In this Climbing Team Invitational, there will be three categories: Bouldering (climbing without a rope), top rope (including climb a high wall with rope and belaying) as well as speed climbing. We will compete for both individually and in collaboratively in our groups usually with a partner. In this session, I have been climbing with my brother for the top rope as we may be competing in the same age category (even if my brother is a little young) to improve our climbing together and being able to climb collaboratively together. In top rope, it is very important to have a good connection with the belayer (the one on the ground) and the climber to prevent any mistakes and to ensure a smooth climb. A belayer has to always be aware in case the climber falls or needs help with something. Also, the climber must have trust in the belayer so maintaining a good connection and relationship is important, especially when climbing on difficult climbs or in competitions. Besides, the benefit is that one can gain a good friendship and relationship.

Also, I have noticed that even if speed climbing is a new skill, I have noticed that I am pretty good at it. This may because I have climbed for such a long time so that unconsciously, I know where to put my hands and where to put my feet. However, there are new skills, which are extensions of some that I know, that are needed in speed climbing. One skill is more of a mindset—usually, when climbing, one looks both down and up to find a hole and really plan out, but for speed climbing that takes too much time. So when speed climbing, one has to look up all the time and only glance down at times. Another skill that is needed, that I and developing is the skill to jump rather than reach. By jumping up, one is covering more distance in a short amount of time, and it is a useful skill to have when speed climbing.

Bouldering can be quite difficult and it is a skill I have had for a long time. This is a skill I am always developing by challenging myself during each session as well as asking a question to instructors on how to complete a move. Bouldering involves many skills including strength, agility, balance, good articulation ( in that one uses good technique and placing foot and hands in a sophisticated manner) control and focus.

 

#LO1, LO2, LO5


November 18th, 2019

Unfortunately, I have fractured my wrist in skateboarding accident (despite wearing wrist guard and full protection) doing a big 180 frontside air. This will definitely impact my performance in rock climbing for a few weeks and since I cannot climb it may mean that I will not be able to climb in the competition. However, during the weeks and sessions before I fractured my wrist, I improved a lot on my speed climbing where now I can climb up an 8m climbing wall at an average of six seconds. and sometimes under six seconds. I’m also quite comfortable on 6b climbs and 6c are not too difficult. Besides, my bouldering skills have also improved quite a bit.

     

This is one of the walls and with top rope like these, 6C isn’t too difficult to climb as I can rest.
  

However, climbs like these, which are auto-belay, doesn’t allow me to rest so sometimes 6bs can be more challenging, due to more difficult holds

 

 

This is speed climbing and the key thing is not looking down and jumping as far as you can to reach the next hold. The helmets are a bit of a nuisance (but a must from the school due to safety issues) and would rather not have them but in some cases, especially real rock climbing outdoors, than it is a good idea to have one.

 

The bouldering has an unusual scale but in reality, every gym has its own rating and scale for bouldering. Bouldering is something challenging but a lot of fun. It requires a lot of strength and in some cases mental strength even if half the skin may be all that’s holding you. It requires also a lot of skill to know how to place one’s ha hands and feet to maximise strengths and steadiness in order to climb higher. As you can see, I am still injured, however, I won’t be able to compete in the climbing competition.

#LO1, LO2, LO5


November 30th, 2019

Action, Reflection, Demonstration:

The climbing competition was held over two days including a gala dinner. I attended both the gala dinner and the second day of the competition. I was very disappointed that I could compete because of my wrist injury. It looked like a really good competition with lots of activities and fun. The challenges including bouldering and top rope (my brother told me it was really tough and there were a lot of climbs), and there were also mini challenges including hang times, group speed relays, climbing with oven mittens, speed climbing, climbing with sticks and a few more. Some were a bit unusual but still sounded fun. Unlike most competitions, there were some group competitions instead of only individual climbs which were interesting.

I wish I could be there and compete to not only compete with and against others and compete in these peculiar challenges mentioned before, but also to grow as a climber and to find a connection with other climbers. My brother told me that he became good friends with other climbers from other schools and instead of being competitive, the competition was challenging yet inclusive.

However, hopefully, I will be able to compete next year.

  

My brother competing in one of the challenges.

 

IMG_1823

Here is also a video, and unfortunately, the person on the right is not me despite the similar hairstyle.

#LO4

———————————————————————————————–

February 10th, 2019

Unfortunately, I am unable to participate in this activity anymore because of the New Coronavirus outbreak. The Singapore government and the school have put tight restrictions on activities outside of school like rock climbing, so I cannot participate more in this activity nor will I do Project Week. I wish I could climb more with the school but that won’t be happening any time soon.

Through this activity, I feel like I have been able to grow as a climber and building relationships with instructors and schoolmates. This activity has further pursued my interests in climbing as well as my brother’s relationships with his interest in climbing. It is a great benefit to climb with others as one challenges oneself, even more, when others around, perhaps to boost one’s ego, but even then, the support can drive one’s ability. I perhaps won’t have the chance to do more Rock Climbing at school as I am thinking of investing my time into other sports like Track and Field, Football (maybe) and CrossCountry. But I will try to compete in the next competition of which I great opportunity was missed. Although I haven’t progressed immensely as a climber, I still feel like my skills in collaborating with others and my spatial awareness and strength have in some way improved through climbing. I do a lot of sports that involve with the legs but not much with the arms, so it is good training with rock climbing so that I am exercising the whole body, and rock climbing is a very whole body thing. However, despite all the drama with the virus, I will continue climbing outside of school as it is a really fun activity and challenging.

#LO2, #LO5

Final Reflection Post on Skills: Playing cello in a Symphony Orchestra

For my NYAA I started my activity in September of 2017 and finished in October 2018. However, I am still in the orchestra and I hope to continue through my High School years. The orchestra has taught me many things and most of all has been a lot of fun. One of the most important skills in an orchestra is listening to other musicians, and I have developed this skill and have seen the impact on my listening skills.

Furthermore, every piece that we practice requires a lot of practice and having the hard-working mentality has been very helpful in my academic classes. In addition to that, I have grown as a musician, being able to play a variety of genres and also expand my knowledge of music. The orchestra has inspired me to play or at least inspire me to play other instruments. Nowadays, I sometimes record a piece on a piano and then play it while I play the cello piece. Although it is great to play solo, I  believe playing in an ensemble such as an orchestra makes the music experience so much more engaging and fun which is why I have tried to play multiple instruments to get that feeling. This makes music much more engaging and fun. My grandmother came and visited us in December and January of 2017/2018and we played together as an ensemble (she the piano and me the cello) for some Swedish tunes which were extremley rewarding and fun, especially in front of a crowd.

Thus, I think it is safe to say that I have made a quite considerable amount of progress as a cellist, and a musician in an orchestra or an ensemble. Finally, through the variety of pieces/genres (we have played rock, pop, classical, scene music, and more), we have played and from previous ensembles and orchestra from previous schools, I have now explored new genres of music for cello and piano. Right now, I am playing Bohemian Rhapsody by the queen on both piano and cello and have started composing new pieces of my own creation inspired by other pieces or from my imagination. For the future, I would like to play other instruments such as the French horn, drums, bass, saxophone, flute and more.

Final Reflection Post on Physical Activity: Rock Climbing

I have been apart of the Rock Climbing activity which is located in @Onsight in Geylang which is for the Advanced group.

In the first few weeks, our first lesson to rock climbing and for most of the lesson, we talked about what would happen over the next few weeks. We explored our site and learnt all the basics and the important information we need for the next few weeks. Later on, we continued the introduction into rock climbing. We reviewed belaying and some rock climbing techniques and skills. Furthermore, I also tried belaying in a different way that I am used to. This new technique was much safer than the one I used to do before. Moreover, I tried some very unconventional holes that were flat on all sides. This was a bit challenging but I overcame these sets of holes.

After the first few lessons, we tried some difficult routes on the top climb. We tried the 6a and the 6b which were challenging but most of us managed to get to the top. One of the challenges was to try a 6c with holes that are all flat on all sides. However, I cheated (as in using nearby holes not part of the route which had an easy grip) and my goal was that I would like to learn new techniques when climbing such routes. I have tried new techniques but some of the holds have a very hard grip. In order to improve, I learned that I definitely need to warm up my hands and try to use more chalk in order to get a better grip. I also tried the very high wall. But after a while, I was able to comfortably take on the challenge of 6a and 6b and I have managed to climb a few 6c routes.

After that, I started to focus more on bouldering. I learned more about how to hold holes that were called jug, pinch, crimp sloper, pocket, jib and mono. I learnt new techniques in bouldering and surprisingly, it is much harder to boulder than to top climb because you can rest when top climbing, but with bouldering, you need to do everything in one go, otherwise you fall. In the end, it has been very fun and I will continue this activity for the next few weeks. I will probably choose another activity, but it has been really challenging and rewarding joining this activity. 

Here is an image of the grips and holes that I learned through this activity:

Monday, Febuary 5th, 2018, was my last climbing session. In my opinion, I have expanded my knowledge on climbing and I believe that as of right now, I am a decent rock climber, in terms of the average person. It has been exhilarating and awesome to be part of this activity. I will start the Dragons Badminton for my next activity.

Courtesty and Quick Reference:

What are some of the biggest mistakes beginners make, and what techniques should I be focusing on as a beginner? from bouldering

http://thesmartlocal.com/sg/facilities/1742-onsight-climbing-gym

http://sg.asia-city.com/singapore-venue/onsight-climbing

https://www.facebook.com/events/759954907506878/