My SCSM 07 10km PB!!

Surprise, surprise. Really it is beyond my wildest imagination.

At end Oct during the NBRR, I clocked 1:29 (round up a few seconds) for 10km although that was over different terrain and in much hotter weather.

But the SCSM results are out.
EVENT: Men 10Km
DATE: Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
BIB/DIV: 40679 / M3034
TIME: 1h:27m:1s (gun) / 1h:18m:23s (net)
Average: 7:50/km Speed: 7.7km/h

The improvement is amazing. On SCSM registration, my expected finish time was stated as 1h:35m. Well, just thank God I completed, got a Personal Best time and did not drop dead or anything. Also, my feet no damage and must attribute it to the new NB 1223 bought the Saturday before at NB Concept store, basement Raffles City (S$157.50 after 30% discount). Can't imagine what would have happened if I used the Brookes "The Beast" like for NBRR, probably have more bleeding toes and sore legs and thighs. Now, I am glad I bought shoes with better cushioning. :)

Standard Chartered Marathon 2007 - My 1st SCSM 10km

1st time running 10km for SCSM.

I arrived late. Stopped at Raffles Place MRT. Went to Fullerton Hotel to use their toilet. What a blessing - having a nice toilet with no queue.

Walked to starting line. Annoucer said 3 minutes to start. Really long walk to the start. Some more, had to walk up and down staircase since can't close the road. Reach start so very late. I started around 8-10 minutes after gun time.

Starting jogging. HRM was at 146. Better than NBRR which started at 161. But less than 200 metres, the HRM was flashing past the 159 mark. Anyway, I decided to keep jogging as there were many people behind.

After 2 km mark, at Marina Street (after the Marina Bay MRT), saw one guy at the side, sitting down and cluthing his tummy. Wanted to stop but saw this 'marshall' with walkie-talkie asking 'Are you alright'. Decided to go on. Some guys were laughing about the large number of people walking and said, "Like big walk" and they all had a good laugh.

I appreaciate the drinks station which was advertised on the SCSM website as every 1.5km after the 1st drink station at the 3km mark. Sipped a little mineral water at each station.

Just before the 7km mark (& drink station), someone pointed to the white signboard and said, "9km! The gods are trying to be kind to me". Hee Hee. The white signboards were for 21km, I think. The 10km markers were yellow boards.

Reached the finishing line at 1:18:42 per my watch. Official clock was 1:26:xx which explains how late I started. Followed instructions. Untie my champion chip and exchanged it for my finishers' medal. Cool, 1st medal for completing a race.

Saw my elder See Chuan looking for his daughter. We asked each other if we ran. He told me it was his third SCSM 10km run. Told him it was my first.

Took 1 bottle of ice-mountain and also 100Plus. Wah, ice-cold 100plus had never tasted so good to me before. :)

Walked to my office. Took my haversack with my change of clothes and digicam. Walked back to padang. Sent sms to slow-runner, jodan and my colleague ken. Walked around and took some photos randomly at the padang and also some runners coming into the finishing line. Photos are at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kcslchin/SCSM2007 . Berocca had a booth that provided free cups of berocca. I took one for the fun of it. I noted a few corporates had their own tents and runners dressed dressed in sponsored tees as well as supporters and support crew that pouted 100plus in their tens. I like the Singapore National Eye Centre tee with the "Run for Sight" at the back of their running singlets.

Slow-runner called me and I left for breakfast with him. Settled into The Pizza Place, at Raffles City Basement. I had a regular New York Pizza, finish the whole pizza except one slice. Slow-runner had Creamy Mushroom Linguine. They don't take credit card for orders below $30 so thankfully had cash on me. Met Chris Seah and Eu Lee as well as Chris' brother at the basement. They were also looking for makan. After that, me and slow-runner adjourned to Starbucks for our latte and green tea latte :p

I must say I enjoyed my run today.

3 Days to SCSM 2007

Just a reminder . . . and I better shut down and go to snooze land. . .

No chance to run before SCSM :(

Today, Wednesday heavy rain from afternoon till early evening.

Only run about 700-800m in my NB 1223 which was bought last Saturday.

The NB 1223 is a really comfortable stability shoe. But, feel apprehensive running 10km in it for SCSM on Sunday without even doing 5km in it. But to run 5km on Thursday (tomorrow) assuming good weather is probably a bit too close to SCSM since I have only ran 5km, 7km and 1 km in past 2 weeks. Not a good build up but it is partly due to my current assignment and also the weather. Slacking and tapering not by planned choice but due to circumstances largely beyond my control.

I'll just take it easy this Sunday for my 10km. Enjoy the occasion and run like what I did for the SBR and NBRR. :) Oh, just remember, Thursday evening I have to see my doctor for my review as my lipids blood test results out. Looks like running is out. . .

Not Cheap to Run. . .

How much have I spent approximately in $$$$ to Run/Jog/Walk?? From May 2007:

Accessories and Gear
Heart Rate Monitor: Polar F4: S$140+ (May 2007)
Glucosamine 1000mg + Shark Cartilage + Vit C + Zinc + Magnesium: 3bots x 60tabs: Ard $80 after Robinson 20% discount.
Nike Arm Pouch: Mizuno Cap: S$9.95 24/11/2007
Sunnies with UV400: S$95 24/11/2007
Vit E Occasional Vit C

Shoes
August 2007 - Brookes 'The Beast' Control Shoes: S$147
New Balance 1223 Stability Shoes: S$157 (after 30% NBRR discount)

Race Fees
Singapore Bay Run 2007 (6km Fun Run): $10
Run For Hope 2007: S$30
New Balance Real Run 2007 (10km): S$30
SCSM 2007 (10km): S$35

SCSM Race Pack Collection

Reached Suntec 6th floor at 10:57am (my watch). Arrggh.....such long queue for the 10km and 42km. I took 20mins to reach the counter. Collected for myself and 2 friends doing 10km too.

I really appreciate the 2 ladies being so fast and efficient.

Slow_runner (21km) queued and collected his bag in <10mins. Then went to Kids Dash counter to collect 2 bags for a friend. Aiya-ya, never expected carrying 5 bags would be such a hassle.

Went to Race Expo. Walked around. Met Slow_Runner and kayano. I went to Adidias booth for free foot analysis. Ran and placed foot on square mat. Right foot followed by left foot. Initially told to redo as I did not placed my foot heel first. Result: Flat foot and the pink dots showed I am mild over-pronator. Lady also explained neutral and under-pronation. She recommended me to a staff to show me the Adizero Tempo. But didn't buy. It felt really hard and it cost $202 before the 20% discount which is over my budget. But I got a pair of sunnies with UV400: $95. Come wth 3 lenses: dark, orange and clear and a nice box. After that, saw kayano checking out the gels with another sgRunner.

Then, went to Marina Square for lunch with slow_runner and then we had a drink at Starbucks to chit-chat.

At 6pm, walked to New Balance store at Raffles City basement. After trying various stability shoes, the 1223, 746, 848, 858, decided the 1223 had the best cushioning for stability shoes for my flat feet. Used my 30% discount coupon from the New Balance Real Run and paid $157 (above my $150 budget but what to do? My current shoe, Brookes 'The Beast' is a well-known control shoe but a bit too stiff for a 10km run).

Health background of my personal running journey

My aim for running or jogging is for fitness. Not for PBs or achieving the Marathon or Tri.

I must always remind myself that I can never run a sub-4 marathon.

Am on medication for chronic elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure. Diagnosed with mild LVH after 2D echo in November 2006. There is no way I should ever push myself. If the LVH is elevated (possibly through stress and/ or exercise), one result would be sudden heart failure and might just collapse and leave this world for heaven.

In the last few weeks, in the sgRunners.com forums, talking to people who run long distance, I realise that low-mileage runners like me who jog for fitness or are pure recreational runners are a minority. It is hard for those like me to relate to serious runners who talk about their running clubs, overseas events, ultramarathons, LSDs, fartleks, etc.

So, the 5km to 10km recreational runner will find difficulty joining sgRunners for area runs which is from 12km upwards, minimum pace of 6min ~ 7min per km. I have learnt that serious runners are passionate (or obsessed) with running and training, even running on National Day, Christmas Day mornings, New Year Day, Chinese New Year 3rd Day, etc.

But I'll see how my running journey (adventure?) goes. There's this sgRunners Banana Relay in January 2008. Walk/run/crawl 3km x 2 laps. See how goes. Might be too busy as it is weekend just before I leave my job and join a new company. Closer the date then see how. Sounds fun since no time limit.

Found more NBRR photos of me

Today, under my bib #, got one photo of me walking on the sand.

But I found 2 solo photos of me under "Unidentified Participants" and another partially blocked photo of me behind someone. Somehow, can't get the photo saved under the shopping cart.

Decided to send an email to sportsphotox and see what response I get.

NBRR 2007 Photo

Surprise! Surprise! Found a solo photo of me running in NBRR in http://www.sportsphotox.com/ under the 'unidentified participants'. Now...should I pay $$ to buy it??

Result of New Balance Real Run 2008 - 10km

Wah, I'm so happy. My chip time for 10km was 1hr 28min 52sec. Better than my 1:30 average for nrmal runs around home. Now, the problem is the pressure to better that time for the upcoming 10km run at Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on 2 Dec 2007.

New Balance Real Run - 28 October 2007

I had asked my 'uncle' kayano to picked me up (& saved the hassle of figuring how to get to the start point). Thanks, 'uncle' kayano . Reached there at ard 6:15am and had to trouble him to secure the champion chip for me as this was the first competitive run in my life (after the SBR 6km and RunForHope fun runs with no chip). Some more, he had to provide me breakfast and running accessories.

Before run started, was introduced to DO, Ultra and Dream by kayano (had an awesome feeling inside of me meeting all these guys). Found my ex-colleague slow_runner who I introduced to kayano, DO, ultra. Then, proceeded first to starting line since 10km get flagged off first. I was with my ex-colleague, slow_runner at the start line. We were flagged off 10mins later than the 7:30am advertised time since our President was a wee bit late. The sun was already out, which I was glad (initially) for the good weather rather than the forecasted thunderstorms. After crossing the starting arch, my ex-colleague (the not slow) slow_runner zoomed off. I was left to walk a few metres since my HRM didn't pick up any signal.

The moment the HRM picked up a signal (whilst I was still walking) it reflected 152 (cham lor....I waz thinking. . .my 80% max was 158). The silent excitement and adrenalin was making my heart beat faster than expected (juz like at during SBR. Hmmm...sometimes I wonder if participants are aware since higher Heart Rate usually means high blood pressure and possibly higher risk of strokes and heart attacks, etc). I did a slow shuffle of a jog and let everyone past me. I saw this guy in an Adidas white strip in the middle lane and decided to just pace behind him since he was more or less my pace. After ard 1.25km, the lack of interesting scenery made me wonder, "what I am doing here?". At around 1.5km, I was feeling real tired, HRM flashing at 162~165 and started walking liao. I was wondering if I would be the 1st participant to surrender and drop out before 2km mark....I soon saw the 1st 15km runner on the outer most right lane and he was like (no kidding) a cheetah running. . . .Just before I reached the 1st junction, I saw one guy zooming across Changi Coast Road (on the return leg!!!!). At the 1st junction, some cleverly stopped to use a construction site office's toilet. After turning left into Changi Coast Road, I jogged and walk. Not long into the stretch, even I had problem jogging as more people were walking or jogging even slower than me. (Yup, me saw a few guys go thru brush to wee-wee too but too far away for me or the ladies to get offended, la). Then the shout of "move to the right, please" as more 15km runners came wheezing by. I think they were frustrated wth the narrow pavement and I don't blame them. The speedy ones just ran on the sandy ground on the left or on the grass on the right on the Changi Coastal Road itself (which the returning runners after their U-turns were running on). After 3km mark, already see more and more 10km runners on the Changi Coastal Road after the 10km U-turn. I was thinking like "whoa, these guys are really, really fast"). At the 10km U-turn into Changi Coast Road, was frustrated that there was no ice water, only 100plus. Was feeling sticky and thirsty on lips and in throat due to too much sports drink before race started and the heat and fatigue. Licking my lips was like licking salt water due to sweating. I saw one old Indian man in front of me after the 10km U-turn, on Changi Coast Road, doing a very slow jog and I slowly past him (wondering, how come he was so far ahead of me in the first place for such a long distance???). I saw 2 ladies cut across a barrier (and I think they will discover they DNF since they did not pass the mat at the 10km U-turn).

I then saw this guy in SCSM blue singlet wth an orange arm pouch and I just paced (walk & jog) behind him (and thereafter we sort of past each other a few times up to the last stretch near the CEC). I enjoyed this stretch a bit more since got some trees on right and the airport on left and seeing airplanes overhead (ya, was slow enough to observe planes, hee hee).

Reaching the Ferry Terminal Road, into Changi Beach Park and all the way until after clearing the sand was an experience in itself for me. I was glad on entering Changi Beach Park that they have PLAIN WATER. I sip, sip, wet my lips, got rid of the salty sweat on lips. Jogging under the shade in Changi Beach Park was ok.

More 15km runners were zipping past and as usual, the narrow pavement and the 10km 'walkers' were probably a source of frustration for the overtaking runners. (Perhaps, organisers should brief recreational runners before races on the ethics of not walking 4 to 6 abreast to chit chat to avoid frustrating faster competitive runners and also preventing accidents). On the sand, I chose to go high though in the midst, I saw some running quite firmly on the sand near the sea and was wondering, "should I go down?...". Anyway, I walked the whole 1km on sand because (1) I was quite fatigued, (2) there were tree roots, stones and broken bricks (3) vines running across which could cause twisted ankles and (4) most people were walking too.

The last stretch on the road was interesting too. At the beginning, took some water, sip, sip again. Then looked at the mass of people in front of me. The sun was BLAZING and I was walking. Toward the last stretch after I could see the CEC, I started a slow jog. DO and then ultra passed me on the main road. There was a slight slope towards the CEC.

I crossed the finishing time with the official clock for 10km runners at 1:30:42. I think the chip time is slightly faster, but I did better than I myself expected and so am glad. After finishing, I grabbed a bottle of mineral water + 100plus. I was so very, very hot and was feeling a little disorientated. Saw people with the goodie shoe bag and decided to go to the hall. Wah, outside the hall entrance, I felt the aircon draft so strong and and shivered as I was still drenched in sweat. Decided to stand under hot sun in front of main entrance for a while to 'acclimatise' since was still having a slight cold and phelgmy throat.

Collected my goodie bag. After I collected my bag, I had recognised TLR in sgRunners tee and had the awesome privilege of introducing myself to him. He asked me my time and congratulated me. Feel pai seh. After that, I met slow_runner who told me he finished the 10km in ard 1:01, I think. 2 mins slower than his personal best which I think was due to the sandy stretch. Then kayano called me and I met him near the stage where DO and Dream were. Met Sealboon, Jasonlow83, Acleong, Forgotten, Brokie, Gentle, Rogerhub, AlecChua, Shaunzer, Jodan, Sotong and Roonz (sincere apologies if I missed out anyone else, was smiling in the hall but a bit giddy inside). Well done to the medallists, brokie (18th in Women's Open) and RogerHub (16th in Men's Open). RogerHub told everyone on the stage that the lady taking his photo (Brokie) was Ripley. Overall, a good first competitive event for me. I am glad for the experience since I did not plan to sign up except prodded (encouraged) by my boss and slow_runner. Good to meet TLR and other sgRunners after the event. Am definitely affected by heatstroke. . .

Why a Running blog

I thot it might be good to start a little running blog.

Just a place to post running experiences and frustrations. Let's see how it goes :)

Now, wonder if I should let other people know about this blog?