PAssion Run 2010 - 25km

How to start?

Just after I registered for 25km, in my heart and mind, I knew I was crazy. After completing, I still feel I am crazy to have done it. My friend slow_runner told me it's okay to be crazy once a while. Guess, he was trying to encourage me.

I took NE MRT line to Circle line to Stadium MRT. Reached at 3pm and got onto the 4th bus. Bus dropped us at Siglap link and had to walk 10mins incl under the Expressway to get to the East Coast Parkway, and still long walk to the start area. :(

Wave 1 of Elite runners and VIPs started at 4:20pm.
I thought I will start in the middle of the Wave 2 at 4:30pm.
Oh no.......after a number of runners started, they closed the start for a Wave 3. Sigh :(
I started in front of Wave 3 and was pressured from the start to run fast since I was no longer in the middle of the pack. Not happy. I completed my 1km in 6mins when my normal pace is 8mins/km. By Km 2, I only took 13mins. Still too fast, but I had started to pace myself some slower runners.
Too bad, despite starting to walk at 3km mark, I cramped at 8km mark. As usual, my left hamstring tighten first. Before 9km, I knew any jogging will lead to the inevitable tightening and pain.
Of course, cannot just walk. So many great students cheering encouragement so enthusiastically.
Took a break at a ECP toilet.
A little jog and some walking. By Km11, both hamstrings gave me pain. Ankles ache (a little pain). Fatigue and muscle lactic acid had set in. Dreaded the 14km to go. More than half.....
Walk also pain. Stopped at park benches twice to stretch a little and elevate my feet which was a great relief before I hit 16km.

God sent an 'angel' to help me on. I met Tim from my church betw 15km and 16km mark. We talked and walked with each other all the way to the finish. He started the back of Wave 3 and had a also a little problem with cramps but I believe mine was much worse. What a torture. We both find we suffered from cramps partly due to lack of conditioning.

 We walked all the way and ran to the finish arch the last 50m together.

I completed the 25km with the Gun Time at 4hr 15mins. My Net Time should be 3hr 55mins. Got to wait for Official Result. Pace was slow. Even 21km today was slower than my AHM 2009 21km of 3:10.

Now, both my hamstrings pain. Knees also painful. My left 2nd toe is not blue black but painful. Right 2nd toe a little sore. Body aching. Legs here and there also pain. Jog and walk 25km is really punishing to the legs. Met my cousin surprisingly before Tim caught up with me. My cousin who I see normally at CNY every year only was like 1-2km ahead of me. He said he was walking from 3-4km(?). Also had a great time chatting on church, CPU, running, etc with Tim. We both feel the Finisher Medal and Tee is really hard earned after the pain and torture we endured :)



What was good?
1) Thank God for good weather. Just a little sun before starting and a little during the first 10km. Otherwise, cloudy and cooling due to the rain in the morning and early afternoon.
2) Drink stations with Water and also alternate water points with 100Plus.
3) Wonderful students/ volunteers. Most cheered enthusiastically, clapped, shouted encouragement to runners, sprayed SalonPas if there was any left
4) Distance markers - Every Km I saw from 1KM to 24KM.
5) Route was fairly flat.
6) Design of Finisher medal is alright.

What could be improved?
1) Free bus shuttle
Boarded the bus rather early @ Stadium MRT at about 3.10pm, didn't wait for long...
Why can't the bus alight everyone at Siglap Link instead of near the Start Point?
Bus stopped at some side road within some condos and everyone practically had to walk more than a kilometre to the starting point...
What happened after the run was even worse; no signboard as to where to go for the shuttle bus services...
Like most who've crossed the overhead road/bridge to the other side, only to get lost along Bedok South Road/ Marine Parade Road. I ended up taking SBS bus 31 to Bedok Interchange...

Bus shuttle after run: Pickup should be at Angsana @ ECP instead of Siglap Link.

2)Finisher tee with the "25km Done" behind - I think the printing will all peel off after a wash or two.

Conclusion: Generally, well organised and well run.