Training During The Month of Ramadhan

It has been quite some time since I last wrote on this blog. I have been spending time conducting workshops and meeting people for my article.Not forgetting my obligations during the month of Ramadhan such as fasting, sahur, iftar, terawih and tadarus. It is really taking quite a toll on me and whenever there is an opportunity, I will grab a wink or two.

In 1999, I was enlisted into National Service(Army) and I was posted to one of the combat engineer's battalion during the start of the Ramadhan(fasting month). As we made our way to the company line, the sight of bridges and other construction displays presents an overview to what we will be facing in the next 2-3 months. I was thankful to be surrounded by some of the friendliest group of trainees. They expressed their concern to me during those tough training as I was fasting. I assured them that I will be alright and will fall out if there is a need. One of my favorite training in those days was the Standard Obstacle Course(SOC). I remembered clocking 9minutes for my rundown. Comparing my timing to that of my non-fasting platoon-mates added rage to my commanders. While I marched to the cookhouse for my iftar, my platoon mates will pay for the consequences. They were made to march around the parade square till I returned from my iftar. When I found that out, I tried to consume my food quickly and rushed back to 'rescue' my platoon.

I was asked a few times where did we get that strength. From the deprived sleep and lack of food, we are expected to not to perform and most of us don't. Some of us outperform. I think it is about conditioning, conditioning of the mind and body. When I was in school, I will never excuse myself from strenuous physical activity just because I was fasting. In my secondary school days, we used to have a football coach. A Muslim himself, he will lead the team in runs around the Bidadari cemetery during fasting month. He was the first person to encourage us to keep pushing and not to give excuses. His training was tough, mind you. Today, some of us who trained under him are national sportsmen and some worked in the elite special and emergency response team within the prison service. Wherever we are, we just don't quit. We were conditioned to be put on a brave front and to outperform even in the lack of basic needs such as sleep, water and food. We will have football training in the afternoon after school and will get back home for iftar and eventually attend our terawih in the night. At the end of the night, the 'sweetness' of victory is indescribable.

Today, when I see students excusing themselves from physical education activities, I wish I could relate to them what they are really missing. We are strong. We just do not know how strong we are. The only way we can know, is to keep pushing our limits.

Last week on the first day of Ramadhan, I was approached by one of the students during my workshop. She asked if I fast. Apparently, she did not expect to see a trainer who fasts yet always on the toes during the workshop. Well, if she were to see my conditioning 'training', she might have understood the reason. Moreover, I loved what I do. I love running those workshops. I even have back to back workshops that starts at 7.30am in the morning.

To all my fellow Muslim readers from all over the world, Ramadhan Mubarak to you.