Review of my 2007 Running Journey

My running journey in 2007. A recap.

Started running in May 2007 after buying a Polar F4 Fitness HRM watch.
8 May: 0.9km in 6mins. Ran to fast cause nearly collapsed on a pavement at a traffic junction in SK.

My mileage (incl Running Events)
In May 2007, clocked 7.40km in total. Total running time: 1hr:13mins
In Jun 2007, clocked 1.80km in total. Total running time: 0hr:13mins
In Jul 2007, clocked 36.35km in total. Total running time: 5hr:04mins
In Aug 2007, clocked 50.10km in total. Total running time: 6hr:55mins
In Sep 2007, clocked 37.00km in total. Total running time: 5hr:32mins
In Oct 2007, clocked 48.00km in total. Total running time: 6hr:40mins
In Nov 2007, clocked 30.00km in total. Total running time: 4hr:14mins
In Dec 2007, clocked 30.20km in total. Total running time: 3hr:56mins

Running Events
In between, ran/jogged/walked the following (with the initial fun runs meant to increase mileage and test my ability to eventually complete a 10km)
1) 18 Aug 2007: Heartstrings Charity Walk 6km
2) 26 Aug 2007: SAFRA Sheares Bridge Run 6km
3) 16 Sep 2007: Run for Hope 4km (Supposed to be 8km)
4) 28 Oct 2007: New Balance Real Run 10km. Chip time: 1:28:52
5) 02 Dec 2007: Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 10km Chip time: 1:18:23

2007 completed. 2008 to look ahead to. Hope can sustain the interest. The monthly mileage has been dropping month by month. . . .hee hee.

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??