After MCO, I quietly retired from triathlon.
This week, I almost sold my Felt TT bike to “close the case”.
Free up space.
Clear emotional baggage.
Move on to hobbies like motorbike and pickleballthat don’t require suffering.

Before letting it go, I did one small thing.
I posted a WhatsApp poll in our old Tri group:

“Anyone planning to come back for Half Ironman or Full Ironman?”

This Tri group known as South Tiger Warriors (STW) has been sleeping since MCO.
Everyone busy with kids, career, injuries, motorbike, and evaluating their life choices.

I expected maybe one supportive emoji.

Instead, more than half replied:
“Can consider coming back.”

I straightaway put down the allen key.
The bike also macam whisper:
“Sell me? You serious or you just hungry?”

My stamina also jatuh teruk since MCO.
Sometimes I think the Covid jab whacked my lung a bit.

Let’s be honest
I hate brick training.
Why cycle 90km and then run?

My swim also always look like turtle migrating to Singapore without passport.

My best Half Ironman was 6:20, and the swim alone makan almost an hour.
If I return, target is simple: Sub 6.
Not for podium.
Just to close an unfinished story.

To hit sub-6:

• Swim : no more lost seafood drifting. Bring 60 min → 45 min
• Bike : more big gear, more suffering. 3:05 → below 3:00
• Run — train under hot sun. 2:20→ 2:15

Easy in Excel.
In real life, Excel never cramp, bonk or panic at deep sea water.

Full Ironman? Please lah. My body has tendered resignation

Then come the accountant dilemma.

Half Ironman under RM2k = can buy fridge.
Full Ironman under RM4k = can buy fridge with many beers inside.
Add hotel, flight, bike transport… can go Europe and still buy souvenir magnet.

So officially, I’m still “retired”.
But the bike never left the house.
It’s sitting there quietly like audit evidence.

Sometimes quit because passion and mojo gone.
I quit also because body slow, cost high, and training scared.

But one WhatsApp poll,
can wake up that stubborn fire.

Maybe I race again.
Maybe I don’t.

But the bike stays.
The dream stays.