Sundown Marathon

Finally my result is out! (actually i had also timed myself~)

TIMING: 5:15!!

*Tap my own shoulder* Well done Chin for completing! (self-encouragement ahah~!)

First will show u all the race route, which i myself was guilty of not studying it before this event..

Just a short debrief of my race plan. Find the Red route the toughest as it comprises half of the whole race. Personally ran it before, really boring.. and maybe i ran without hydration support compared to the race. The rest of the journey (Blue, Green & Yellow) can relax and cruise through as they are in our home ground. Bedok Reservoir, Tampines PCN (always cycle to Pasir Ris will pass by there, so can visualize), Pasir Ris Park (ran with MK).

Now what happen on the ground.

Red Route aka String of Light (22km): Was very pleased with the timing i did for the whole red route, took me 2:05 for 20km. Still within my plan and pacing. Terrain all flat, pass by ECP is a great morale booster as there are many supporter! Didn't do a good warm-up as find that 42km will give me sufficient 'warm-up' i need. So just do some dynamic warm-up and leg streching, to wake up my hibernating legs. Felt better when entered ECP, all the joints are 'defrost' and muscles loosen.

Blue Route aka Heartland Twist (6km): Start of my misery and consequence of not doing fam run. The run was still good after ECP till i reach Siglap PCN after Kembangang MRT. (notice the stretch which turned 90 deg right) Yeah! That's where my air starts to leak. Didn't know that the Siglap PCN is so hilly, not really a hill but just many ups and downs, entering and exit this stretch are overhead bridges. Didn't train for slopes so told myself to walk through the overhead bridge, didn't notice that the entire journey will be similar.

Find it pretty tough, after transit from 20km of flat terrain to hilly terrain, my calf all started screaming, cant help but to walk and jog since then. I call this stretch the Dragon Trail..
Will never forget this stretch!

Green Route aka Waterfall Front (7km): This route was much better and flatter. After handicapped by Blue Route, my momentum broke, keep walking and jogging. I know it will be this way till end point. Received surprise when entered Tampines PCN, didn't know that our team member actually register to volunteer to cheer for this event! Seeing them really made me 'lau bak sai' ~ Started zombified, by then its already 3+ midnight. Took 3:25 to reach 29km mark

For this route, i thought i will be running pass the mega malls follow by the fish farm then entering Pasir Ris Park. But ended up running within the neighborhood of Tampines and Pasir Ris. However it seems like a blessing for me as the route i thought is long and boring, accompanied by a few slopes entering Pasir Ris. While for the PCN route, there are only 2 overhead bridges again but rest of the journey is shorter and kept my mind occupied by the turns and bends.

Yellow Route aka Homerun (7km): As the route name suggested, 'Homerun', i cant wait to finish this agony run! Used to cycle this route to Coastal as warm-up, so nothing specials except the slope which i always ended up panting after reaching the top. From the view of a runner, the slope seems longer and steeper! Legs are soft and tender after marinating for more than 4hours, dont wish to injure my knee by running down slope, so jog down slowly with caution. Last stretch passes my camp and my camp always run that from Bn PT! Finally ran finish the 1km with my unit's motto in mind.. Time now 5:15am!

That all of the whole race! Will remember the painful lessons i physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually experience!

Will be back, More prepared!
C Cube

New Balance Real Run 2007

Yes completed another running event for this month especially after such tiring weekend. The event is held at along Changi Coastal Road, where the next air show 2008 will be held at. Tried using the Google Earth to locate the area. However seems like the Google earth is abit outdated..

Anyway steal the running route from their website

Running out from the start point is a distance of 2km! Can you imagine how large the area is, that had been well concealed by the vegetation.

We have to make a left turn when we reach Coastal Road. Running along the track which is just recently laid. U-turn at the 8km mark and head towards the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. and did the beach run.

Beach run really sucks, especially when my leg still haven recover from the blisters. Returning route back along the road toward the Finishing line is the defining moment for most runners. Imagine the 10am sun which raise just nice at eye level and shining directly in front of us while running back. almost thought that i will experience a heat exhaustion..

Guess who i saw today at the run. My secondary school senior, Fat Cat and classmate, Kelvin. Fat Cat joined the run while Kelvin was working as the baggage retriever (haha, made him sound like a dog..)

Now guess how much Kelvin's pay is.. , $10/hr for 5hrs.. argh! whereas i spent $30 for this run.. Despicable! Anyway think there is no way I'm gonna miss a running event to work for it.. haha!

15km Finisher, next 21km
C Cube

Army Half Marathon 26/08/07

Finally the run had put a end to my hectic schedule for the past 2 weeks. Had ran 1hr and 55min, averaging 5min 30s per km. Didn't put in much effort to train nor run on that day. However better than the timing of 2hrs and 15min last year.

Have been running 10km and 16km as build-up run since i return back to my camp. So I'm done with my training in terms of preparation for mileage. Woke up 3am in the morning to prepare my favorite breakfast, 3 slice of bread with egg, cheese and mock ham. This time round i didn't do a proper warm up for the run, hence first 1km is more like a cold start for me.

This year's route was better than last year's. Making us run about 4km in the city before hitting the Sheares bridge follow by entering ECP. Most of the route is in ECP unlike the busy road we had last year where traffic constantly obstruct our momentum of running. After exiting ECP, basically is a returning route back to the floating platform via Nicole Highway, Ritz Carlton and the Esplanade. Fatigue kicks in at 15km mark, and also where 2 of my friend overtook me.

This is the 3rd half marathon i ran so far. More or less overcome the distance barrier , now aiming for the upcoming run which is the Standard Chartered Marathon which fall in the November, 1month after i come back from Brunei. Hope that i will be able to complete it without much pain.

Finally last thing to share.
I LOST TO CHARMAINE IN THE RUN!!! she ran 1hr 49mins!! argh~

Standard Chartered Marathon here I come!
C Cube