URun 2012

I particated in the catagory of 10km + Verical climb. Its a test for me to see if I can completed a run then climb to the top of the NTUC building. After slacking for so many weeks (after the marathon) its a comeback run and its first race of the year to start for me. I have been lazying around cutting down on my training run for only once per week now. So I have gained some weight.

Munching on the energy chocolate which tasted bad

Weird feeling

The race starting point is at the marina floating bay. The crowd begin to form at the starting line around 7. Wave after wave we started. I was feeling abit worried for the race as my performance was not as good as before. I just want to finish the race as fast as I can.

Crowds......

Closer and closer

Some of the photos that are shot after I completed the climb.

Iam so high... I can hear heaven

Finally finished. 

Yay...

Run down, more climbing to go

Nearing to the climb

Stairways to heaven

Wow... the climb at the staircase just so stuffy. The air condition inside was not so good compare to the Swissotel climb. Not every door was opened. At most of the point all you breathe in is smelly of the people in front or behind you.... er mm and some bad breath. LOL... Thank god is just 30 storey. Another problem is the baggage collection was horrible. My friend and I wait for at least more than half an hour for our bag. When it was our turn some of the people beside were havin problems getting their bags.

Next race is the NTUC 350 Run....

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011

Over 60,000 people pounding hard on yesterdays SCM. All of the runners did a good job. Especially those running under the hot sun. It was cooling in the early morning but humidly strikes in when the sun comes up. Cheers for the runners again!

My second marathon of the year was fulfilling as I broke my previous PB. Finished in 4 hours 28mins cutting about 15mins off from previous. I will continue to train and beat this timing, hopefully I finish in sub 4 which is my goal.

Early morning at Shaw tower

Pinned my number tag on my running shirt two days before and pack my bag the night before allows me to wake up later in the morning and not to rush out of the house. And I had ample time to slowly eat my tarts which I had brought the yesterday, I have the say the tart was delicious. 

Suppose to meet my colleague at 3.25 cause he is picking me up by car but I mistakenly thought was 3.35. Step out of the at 3.32. I was late and the car was already at the bus stop. 


Drop off at far east centre and we make our way to meet the others at Shaw tower. Saw lots of runners having their breakfast at the Mac and others getting ready with their gel pack and adjusting their shirt, putting up their number tags. All of them has one goal, that is to make it to the finishing line.

Opp Ion

Beautiful elephant found outside Taka

Lot of people making the shortcut by climbing over the rails to the start point and so did we. Runners were so eager to get over. Luckily we won't the ones that got stuck at one of the entry point halt by the security.


Very fast and we were flag off by the acting minister and some of the committee. It was still dark and I can feel the breezes at some point but most of the time was stuffy. There is so much runners on the road in the beginning, that there is one point where everybody got jam for awhile when turning to a narrow road.


When I was entering East Coast Park that is when I saw the Kenyans running in the opposite direction. They made the U turn earlier on and was heading back to the city. The leader of the pack was fast. Incredibility fast. Hes strike was big and super fast like turbo. Leaving the rest of the packs far behind him. Saw our female national champ Qi Hui a few meters after the elites.


I was chasing the 4hour 30mins pacers. They are very easy to spot. They got balloons behind their backs. At one point I got surround by a pack of pacers and runners following them. Two pacers were in front of me and beside me were their followers. Got hit by their balloons so many times on  the head. So I tot I need to get past them soon and fast. One of the pacers start to fasten his speed that is when I got my chance to slide thru the pack.


Finally make it thru the U turn point, 21km down and another half marathon to go. That is when I felt my stomach feeling very uneasy it must be the American hound dog with American chilli I had yesterday evening. I was trying very hard to hold on to it to the end but i cant so I ran over to the toilet and found there is not toilet paper in there. Grrr...  Sadly, I returned to the race when I feel abit comfortable again and started running. That is until I cant impossibly hold it anymore after 1,000 metres. I had to get tissue from the volunteers along the race and had ran over to the toilet ahead near big splash. 
Feel good after reliving myself and once again I was back on game.  One of the checklist to tick before the marathon... A packet of tissue. One lesson I have learn and will never forget.


Exited ECP and another 10km plus more to go. The sun was already up up in the sky. I didn't want to look at the time as I'm afraid of going to fast and burn out at the last 5000 meters.


I hated the last few km as it takes forever to reach to the finishing point and that is when fatigue starts to sets in. I was so tempted to walk but I slowed down my pace when I was on the long expressway bridge behind MBS. I know I was nearer and nearer to the finishing line but I wasnt excited until I saw Fullerton hotel. The last U turn... I sprinted all the way to the finish and I was glad to beat my previous PB. Both arms up when crossing the line for the photographers to snap a couple of shots of me. It is a good race to end the year of 2011 of setting a new record.

Medals, Finishers Tees and 100 plus were rewarded to me after a tough run. Next reward will be food for me. Had lunch at raffles city food court and had yong tau fu.

Supporters near the finishing point

Watching upon runners nearing the finishing

Kenyan walking to finish with disappointment

 

Disappointment for him

Photo taking for our 50 dollars.

No major hiccups but I guess the organizer should put up more distance markers which is lack of. They should have sponge soak in water handed out to runners like they have in the Army half marathons cause its a humid day. Heard that there are a complains about the bag deposit that cause relay in some of the runners and the bottleneck problem. And didnt get to choose the finishers T-shirt size as it is base on a first come first serve which the organizer need to do something about.



Nevertheless, I would like to thank all volunteers and all the supporters for their support and cheer during the race. I really appreciated your attendance in the race. Its hard to find Singaporean cheering for runs but I saw quite a few. Not easy to cheer for hours. Saw one ang moh guy in green shirt at East Coast Park and again spotted him near MBS giving hi fives to runners. 


The Biggest Marathon of the year is finally over. And another new chapter is opening up for me. Planning to set another new PB next year. 

Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2011

My very first stair climbing to the top of the Swissotel Helipad was much easy as I expected. I thought of being stuffy and hot. But they kept some of the escape door open for air ventilation. Bottles of water were given at one of the level. Most of the organizer were very encouraging and clapping for you.

In front of swissotel

Saw our friend

The Queue to the starting point

In the q with the guys

Everyone queue to the starting point. The queue was fast but I had to be serepate with my friends cause women starts in different waves. So I have to re join the queue alone while my friends were behind the starting line. 

The Starting Line

Alone in the Queue waiting for mine turn

Took a picture of Ed while I was bored

Me at the extremely right in blue

Everybody getting ready

Zoom... Off I go

Took a picture when I was at 10 floor

Yea After 1,336 steps. I've made it!

Standing at the top of Singapore

Oh Gosh I look so fat.

View of the Singapore Flyer

View of the MBS

View of the CBD

Everything is just so small up there. I can see the beauty of Singapore from up there. Everything that is built up from nothing til today. New building keep popping out. Its even more beautiful at night I guess.  Gorgeous Gorgeous.

And next is to take the lift from the top the bottom.  71 to 4 with a blink of an eye.

The Elites in action

This is the starting of Men's Open. Caught the Elites in the front row. Taken a couple of shots before they flag off. Guest of Honour is the Swiss Ambassador.

Stretching and warming up

Waiting

Some cit chat first

Small talks

Everyone ready

Swiss Ambassador flagging off

Final Countdown

And set off

Final picture after everything.

See the picture of me at the top. My flabby arms is begining to show. Need to do some cardio and burn some shred some fat off my body.
 
Definitely count me in next year it was so much fun. See you next year swissotel...

Laz Run (8Nov 2011)

Missed couple of runs during public hoildays. So today I thought I must step out of the door and put on my running shoes. (Stepping out of the house was the hardest part)

Did my long run today. From my house to ecp and from ecp back to my house. It should be around 21km.

Realize after missing so many weeks of running my leg have soften. Lol... Luckily my form is still there. And breathing abit louder than last time. Gosh.... it bad news.

I was running towards fort road and in front of me was Vivan tang and her training partners just about to start their training session. Wow.. The elite runners. One of the guy was starting his timing on his watch and off they go as I glance on them running past my opposite direction. They were all so strong and have such good form and strike. 

I did a U turn back and that is when I was running behind this guy maybe in his 30s or 40s and once he notice that I going to take over him, he panicked and ran a faster pace to stop me. After a few seconds sensing that he can't continue in his faster pace, he slow down and once I'm going to take over him is pick up his pace again. I was like......  It continued for a few times until I could hear his breathing so loud. It's so annoying until I can't stand it. So I cross over to the biking path and until I managed to missed him I cross over back again. One message for the guy. (Please if you can't speed up then please don't. I'm scare that once you over stress your body you might faint or other things might happen. Most importantly is always listen to your own body. Run your own pace. )

And I'm running freely again. And this time I saw Vivan and her training partners again running back. They break the pack and one of the guy was in the lead second I saw was Vivan and the rest was behind. And zooming past me one by one.

I was surprise to see that there will be another MacDonalds at the Jumbo Seafood area. Yeah! Another Mac location at Ecp.

I reach home at 8. Completed run in 2hours 30mins. My reward after run is instant noodles with egg and 3 cups of green tea. Thirsty Thirsty.

Nike We Run SG 2011

The weather was so great that day. I think all the 10700 runners had enjoy such a great weather. But I dont think the location was a wise choice. Everybody had to cross the overhead bridge from the event site to the starting point. And it was all jammed up along the path.  Luckily we came early and make it for the first wave. The event was hyped and exciting and there is also Utt.

Early Morning

Human traffic.

Photos speak a million words....

Enjoying my breakfast at Raffles City SC.

Many people was complaining about the finishers token which was a thumb drive that is in a shape of a running shoes. In my opinion, I think the idea fresh and new. I totally had no idea that it was a thumb drive at first. And its kind of cute. But I would have prefer a medal instead. It make me have sense of achievement and it also adds up to my collection.