The Uphill Task

I will stuff the mouth with kimchi of the next person who undermines the importance of lifts.
I think whoever said that "You only truly appreciate something after having lost it" is superbly unfortunate. I mean, that poor guy must have been through a lot before lamenting so.
I took part in the twice a year Vertical Marathon held at Republic Plaza today.
For such a low-keyed event, it certainly drew hordes of students and adults alike taking their endurance to the next level. Rising the notch a wee bit more.
The day started off on the wrong foot for me. I shouldn't have woken up so late. My breakfast turned lunch and in the end, I had to consume so much food just to make my Mum feel reassured that I won't faint due to starvation. Nasi Lemak, Otah... Gee. These foods are really going to add a few kilos. Rats.
Then, I headed to Raffles. It was sunny until 2.30- Which so happened to be the time our team starts running up the stairs like maniacs. As common sense should tell you, due to the unprecedented change of weather, the stairs will now be wet. Hence, this means less grip. Equate it all together and you get a greater probability of slipping and being Humpty Dumpty of the day.
We got the good luck of having our photos taken before we made the mad dash. Twice in fact. But after that, the photographer began fiddling with his camera. No doubt that he will be deleting those photos. It was all for the show.
I noticed 2 general patterns as I climbed painfully up the steps.
1)The steps got dryer.
2)The coordinators got more nonchalant about the state of our welfare.

I managed to conquer the first 15 levels without much difficulty. Then, things started to get a lot lot tougher.
By the time I reached the 28 floor, I was gasping for breath. Think like a fish out of water kind of panting. My steps became heavier and for a second, I thought of throwing down my Dunks to the first floor and run up bare-footed.
At the 36th floor, I decided that if I am not to have a break, I will break. So I grabbed a seat and drank plenty of water. The coordinator then looked quite worried because I looked like I could collapse and get into a fit anytime. He spun the fan around and directed it at me. I got the 5 star treatment. The unfortunate fellow behind me happened to have a bout of nose bleed. He too got rested and took the lift and headed down to ground zero.
The notion of giving up did flash across my mind a couple of times. But I didn't.
Let me ask you. Have many times have you let your silly pride clash and run over your logical judgment? And how many of such occasions proved to be worthwhile and how many turned out bloody?
Luckily for me, I made it to the 60th floor in one piece.
Before I took flight, another macho looking coordinator told me this. "Take a deep breath and then exhale slowly. You have a tendency to breath rapidly. (Like a hummingbird). No worries. Just take your time. The whole idea is to get to the top and feel great!". I seriously must thank this guy when I get into NTU. At least I hope I can find his photo, his contacts and thank him personally.
Then, foolish me embarked on the second league of this tormenting hike. I reached the 48th floor. Desperate for a break but not willing to give myself one. The girl there was especially uncaring. For starters, climbers had to personally walk into the lift lobby, grab a drink while she continued to scrutinize her nails. Gee. So I headed up to the one at the 51st floor and grabbed a drink. The girl there was much much kinder and considerate. I took a 5 minute breather there and rocketed to the top.
Well, I didn't actually sprint of anything.
At the 54th floor, a girl who looked very much like Twohill started cheering and saying "Great job! You are near the top! Don't give up!". I thought it was for poor, half-dead me. But no, it turned out that she said so to everyone. Kudos for bringing hope into us!
57th floor, another girl was playing emo punk music. I didn't bother to listen to the chorus as the lead singer was only screaming his lungs out.
Then.
Top.
There was this mad group of boys and girls screaming and jumping as though they have won 50 lotteries in a row.
HA ha.
I was so tired that I just sat at the lift lobby and drank some nonsense horrible energy drink they gave me. I lost hope in it after two sips.
There was this posh looking office there. Whoa. I wish I could work in one of those when I hit 30. Ah. Fat hope.
Then, the lift-ride down. I swore I could just kiss the walls of the lift. I was so grateful for this important invention.
And the air-con of course.
The race ended. Well for me that is. So I went to collect my goodie bag and so on and so forth.
At the end, it was a trip to Orchard to purchase some stuff for myself.

I think I saw Joanne Peh today on the way home. She was in a Suzuki Swift. A white look. Maybe my eyes were still dizzy from that 60 level climb.
I got this certificate: