LINUS FERNANDES

I have been an IT professional with over 12 years professional experience. I'm a B.Sc. in Statistics, M.Sc in Computer Science (University of Mumbai) and an MBA from the Cyprus International Institute of Management. I have completed levels I and II of the CFA course. Blogging is a part-time vocation. I am also the author of four books, Those Glory Days: Cricket World Cup 2011, IPL Vignettes, Poems: An Anthology, and It's a Petting Sport---all available on Amazon Worldwide.

LINUS FERNANDES has written 1458 posts for Make Time For Sports.

Mumbai Cyclothon – 21st Feb, 2010

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 21, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

The Mumbai Cyclothon takes off on the 21st of February, 2010 here in Mumbai.

The BSA Hercules India Cyclothon- Mumbai 2010 is a mass participative cycling event for professional, amateurs and the casual biker. The event intends to promote the cause of cycling and promote the various benefits.

The race categories are as follows:

International Elite (Men)
100kms
18yrs and above
Entry By Invitation only

Elite Indian (Men)
50kms
19yrs and above
Entry By Invitation only

Amateur
24kms
18yrs and above
Online Registration

Corporate Group Ride
24kms
18yrs and above
Online Registration

Green Ride
12kms
14yrs and above
Online Registration

Kids Ride(8-13 years)
2kms
8yrs and above
Online Registration

I have registered myself in the Amateur category i.e. the 24 kms race. Cycles are not available to lease though registrants were promised that it was a possibility that they would be provided.That would be difficult since cosmopolitan India does not have a cycling culture yet!

24kms should be a breeze! I’ve been doing 45-50 kms on my stationary bike at home! Have still not got around to purchasing one for the race, though I have made enquiries.

The website is http://mumbaicyclothon.topdoctorsonline.com

Have a great day!

Cheers!

_______________________________________________________________________________-

If you have a child who is seven feet tall, you don’t cut off his head or his legs. You buy him a bigger bed and hope he plays basketball.

Robert Altman

Source: http://quotes4all.net/quote_125.html

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For the cricket fans!

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 18, 2010

Articles from the blogosphere!

http://quicktake.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/dramatic-win-for-india-at-eden-garden/

http://cricwaves.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/india-won-by-an-innings-and-58-runs-in-2nd-test-againt-south-africa-full-scorecard/

Have a great day!

Dads Rights At Work!: http://wp.me/pfeiK-d6
Who Let The Frogs Out?: http://wp.me/pfeiK-da
Make No Apologies!: http://wp.me/pfeiK-dc
Poetry in Motion!: http://wp.me/pfeiK-de
For the cricket fans!: http://wp.me/pfeiK-dh

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Notoriously bad starters!

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 15, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

With the 2nd day of the India-South Africa 2nd Test Match in Calcutta drawing to a close, a few thoughts on how India are notoriously bad starters in a Test Series.

Over the past 3 years, India have won just 3 of the 1st Test matches in a bilateral series.

This considering that India has played 12 Test Series in the past 3 years.

The 3 First Test Matches India have won have been the following:

England in India Test Series – 1st Test

India v England

India won by 6 wickets

India in New Zealand Test Series – 1st Test

New Zealand v India

India won by 10 wickets

India in Bangladesh Test Series – 1st Test

Bangladesh v India

India won by 113 runs

Even amongst these 3 matches, India conceded the 1st innings lead against England and scored just 243 vs Bangladesh with Bangladesh replying with 242. The only Test Match where India seems to have been on fire right from the start was the Test Match against New Zealand at Hamilton where India scored a huge 520 in reply to New Zealand’s 279.

It seems to be India’s bane that by the time India wake up in a series, they are lucky if they have salvaged a draw in the 1st Test of the series. This seems to have been the case in the last 2 series as well. India were lucky to win against Bangladesh; a stronger team would have punished India’s batting ineptitude in the 1st innings.

South Africa proved that India have still to learn the art of being ‘ready to go’ right at the beginning of the series and won handily at Nagpur to go 1 up in the series without even a semblance of a fight from India’s top cricketing team – we are ranked No. 1.

Use the link below to check India’s performance in Tests over the last 3 years, both away and at home.

http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/team/6.html?class=1;spanmin1=15+Feb+2007;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team;view=innings

With luck we should be able to retain our No. 1 ranking by drawing the current series, riding on centuries by Sehwag and Tendulkar.

But why , oh why , are we such poor starters?

A good beginning is a job half-done. And that definitely holds true for the India cricket XI.

Have a great day!

Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

William Faulkner

Source: http://quotes4all.net/quote_1338.html

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Believe it or not? OR Maybe What Not To Do?: http://wp.me/pfeiK-c9
Architecture – Understanding The Criteria – V: http://wp.me/pfeiK-
ci
New blog post: http://tinyurl.com/yzfsvee – Architecture – Understanding The Criteria – V
Notoriously bad starters!: http://wp.me/pfeiK-cp
New blog post: http://tinyurl.com/y9vvdb5 – Notoriously bad starters!

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Dream Run – 17th Jan 2010

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 13, 2010

I completed the Dream Run (6 kms) in 45 minutes. I have been doing 10 kms in an hour and 7 minutes, 9 kms in an hour , so I ought to have finished in 40 minutes. But the first 2 kms was not a run, it was folks having a party with no space to run and elbows jammed in your tummy if you tried to go past!

Some pictures clicked at Azad Maidan and me, nearing the finish!

For more photos from the official web-site http://mumbaimarathon.indiatimes.com/pgallery09.html

My photos are also online at http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event_entry.py?event=Sports%2FCPUK%2F2010%2FMumbai+Marathon&new_search=1&match=44343

PS: Kindly don’t go nuts over the microphone! You know what I’m referring to!

Sports, Champions and Celluloid

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 12, 2010

A couple of sports-related articles from the Mint.

http://www.livemint.com/2010/02/11211942/Weissmuller8217s-Tarzan-is.html?h=A3

http://www.livemint.com/2010/02/10210525/Champions-born-or-made.html?h=C

One details how many sportspersons have made the transition from the field to celluloid.

The other talks about the similarities in champions across nations and generations.

Have a great day!

India Vs SA – First Test – Results & Selections

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 9, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

Two posts on the India Vs SA series.

First, a point to be made. Even the most fanatical Indian cricket team fan would admit that after losing 3 top draw players in Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Laxman and then having Rohit Sharma injured at the last minute, it was going to take all the effort the team could muster to make a draw of the game, let alone win it. In the end, SA ended up winning comfortably. Also, Dale Steyn proved that quality fast bowling can only be negated by quality batting, not dead pitches!

A +ve for India was Badrinath proving that he is competent enough to be a part of the Indian test team.

Tendulkar and Sehwag scored hundreds , but could not get the middle order to bat around them. A question arises again: Is Tendulkar playing only for the record books? Does it seem that way because he makes batting look so easy, when he’s out there?

Dhoni & Gambhir were not able to stand up and be counted when it mattered!

That’s all for now!

Let these posts say the rest!

http://shortofalength.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/cricket-prophecy-fulfilled-prediction-cent-percent-accurate/

http://the22yard.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/raina-sreesanth-and-karthik-in-for-eden-test/

Have a great day!

Cool Running!

Posted by LINUS FERNANDES ⋅ February 7, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

After doing the 6 km run this year, I will attempt the 21 kms next year, i.e. Jan 2011.

I have located a few web-sites on running that give tips and schedules as how to prepare for both a marathon and a half-marathon. All said, running a marathon or a half-marathon is about endurance. It does not matter how much you run but how long you run! The longer the better!

Of course distance counts but if you are a beginner, like me, then you should not concentrate on the distance and/or speed but focus on increasing the time spent running i.e. running non-stop. You can of course, choose to fortify yourself with water and small snacks. Hydration is very , very important. Carry a water bottle with you especially for the longer runs.

Some interesting sites to look at:

http://www.marathontraining.com

http://coolrunning.com

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hydration-key-to-exercise-success

http://www.halfmarathons.net

and of course

the Mumbai Marathon web-site

http://www.mumbaimarathon.indiatimes.com/

As for myself, I will be training by running 3 times a week, supplemented by cycling 2 times a week (to reduce the wear and tear on my knees) and some light weight-training! Bulking up is out – makes it harder to run!

You can find a program to follow on the web-sites listed or use them to create one tailored for yourself!

Also, do not try to be rigid about your running schedule. Listen to your body! Rest when your body tells you to! Also, start early, so that you can compensate for slippages. Or sick time. Ensure that you have good running shoes. Change them as needed.

Do check with your physician before starting any vigorous physical exercise! Start slow, be steady! Don’t rush where angels fear to tread!

Have a great day!