1st Post Conronavirus Pandemic physical run (not that I joined any virtual runs from 2020 to 2022).
And being a sucker for deals, I signed up in 2022 when SCSM was offering a special discounted rate of $65 for Half Marathon and comes with event vest, 2XU black polo tee and a finisher tee. A good deal since the orginal or later pricing was $72 for HM and $65 for 10km. At that time of registering, I had not even done any 21km distance since early 2019 since 2020 HM events were cancelled (incl 2XU Run 2020 which I did not sign up for. But the Income Eco Run 2020 HM was cancelled and I reeived full refund). But I was doing 6-8km like 4-5 times a week due to WFH flexibility unlike pre-Covid weekend 8-12km on Sat & Sundays. Never would I have imagined the amount of raining days Singapore would experience from Jan to Mar 2023 which meant very little running or mileage. Basically, only managed 2 'long runs' (15km and 16km) for entire Q1 2023 and was not confident of even being able to jog-and-walk the 21km to the finish line. Some more, early March when I restarted and overdid my jogging, I have had some shin slplit pain on left leg.
Event Day - Sunday 16 March 2023
As usualy, booked ShareTransport bus from Sengkang to F1 Pit (3:15am bus).
Reaching F1 pit, I have not seen so many people going to and at race event grounds for many many years. It was so packed and explained the 1st day race entry collection long queues and also made me worried about crowding on run route.
Met George Yeo [2:13 HM finisher] on the bus who took a wefie after de-busing.
I lined up in Pen B (2:00hr to 2:15hr finisher). Of course it's impossible. I was targeting to complete by 3:30 since I had not been running due to Work in Office and dinner appointments that week. And that's what I told George too - hope to complete within 3 1/2 hrs. I chose Pen B cos I didn't want to be in a later wave and start later (I thought it was 10 mins between each wave flag off but 2XU made it 5 mins this time which was fantastic).
Run for Pen B started 4:35am. It was super humid. Less than 2km later, I ws soaked through in sweat from head to waist. Later my Decathlon running shorts would be dripping sweat around the 4-5km mark and all the way till after race completion and beyond.
The route was usual city HM route. Just a nice feeling of running the route again after a break of 3+ yrs. Before 2020, I was so sianz (bored) since a few runs including Income Half-Marathon route was quite similar. Part of the route a bit damp and muddy. There was one part the organisers had a inverted 'Z" path made of planks otherwise we would have to step into mini pools. Pocari Sweat points were more than sufficient, more than the plain water points (Hint: Want cold or iced isotonic or water - get it further along and not the first 2-3 tables).
Some parts of the route were too narrow for a HM with 9,000 to 12,000 participants [apparently almost 12,000 signed up but the race results indicated 9,691 HM participants]. Some parts of the route, some members of the public running or cycling were met with the mob of 2XU runners/joggers/walkers. 1 lady complained to the race marshalls at Garden Bay East appealing for them to make the participants run on one side (the entire path there was too narrow, how to move to one side?) and she was complaining and complaining while jogging on the spot. My 1 cent thought as I went past her: Participants have no choice on the direction and route to the finish line - but she could have decided not to run across Marina Barrage and into Gardens Bay East but oh well....she said she had the right to the route for her run but it's made impossible by the crowd taking up the entire path. I was thinking all the 2XU participants have no right to the path except her ( 🤷 )
My first few km pace was just too fast (or rather I didn't want to hold up others behind me). It was 6min plus min/km which was faster than my 10km pace and well....unsustainable for me to cross the finish. But I managed to not start walking till almost 3km at the too fast pace. Good thing I brought a recycled 100Plus water bottle and I was sipping from it as I was sweating like it was raining. The jog-walk-jog-walk-jog phase repeated till 11km when I decided to just walk all the way to finish as I felt the exertion due to the too fast a starting pace and the too much sweating. Only short little jogs to the end like overtaking or avoiding wet patches on route (path).
Per my Polar watch, I finished 21.13km in 3hrs 1min and 35 secs (yes, I know - many participants using higher end Garmins, Suntos and Fitbits say it was 20+ km recorded). And yes, I am very happy with the finishing time. My official NETT time by results.racetime was 3h 01m 29s. So all is good - until I check some friends results and everyone is like 2 hours to 2 hours 40 mins; young and old, male and female 😄
Finishers goody - 21km finisher tee, 21km finisher medal, a 375ml bottle of cold Pocari Sweat and a ice cold wet little white towel. Sweet 😊
Took MRT back fro Promenade station. Very exhausted cos instead of 4-5 hour sleep daily, I slept 10 hours in 3 sessions on Sunday. Besides completing the HM, 2 different ministries in church that Sunday morning, only managed 3-4 hours sleep before the run. So the pre-race MC cause a bit of chuckle when he asked if everyone had 7 hours sleep before the run 😅
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