SCMS 2011 - 21km

Used my U Credits ($33) to sign up for SCMS 21km which would have cost me $46.40 even with loyalty rate 20%.

14th training (17th) run of 2011

Actually was debating whether to do more or less than 10km after my 7.9km run on Friday morning.

I took my nap a little late this afternoon. Woke up with a headache. Drank 3 mugs of fluids, as felt thirsty. It was bright and sunny before 5pm. Turned cloudy and then sun came out again. Must admit, I had 2 minds and excuses like (I'm on leave tomorrow, maybe can do Monday morning or evening run, etc).

Anyway, eventually clocked exactly 11km in 1hr 25mins. Stardard 9km route + 2km extension. Quite satisfied.
But my tummy will need a lot more exercise to brun off the 5 days of sinful feasting in KL!!

13th training (16th) run of 2011

Church camp at Mines Resort - Palace of the Golden Horses hotel.
I did pack running attire to camp. But after 2 mornings, very lazy even though bump into church firends who went for morning runs.
On the 4th day in KL, I woke up early enough. Decided to change when it didn't look like rainng and light from the sun started to light up the place. I am very conscious that Msia isn't the safest of place for a chinese to run around in the dark.
I srated out at 6:55am, out the main gates, turned right and went up the road. Didn't realise until after sometime it was up slope. No wonder felt it took quite a bit of effort even though it was only a few hundred metres. At 1km mark, reached the guard post and barriers to the Mines Residences. Guard didn't allow me to run inside. So U turn. Reached main entrance to hotel, 2km done.Decied to run round to Mines business City. Horrible la. Smelly roads, dusty and all. Ran back towards hotel again.
Went into hotel grounds and ran around until reached golf course.
Eventually clocked 7.91km in 1hr 5mins. Pity, another 100m and it would have been a nice 8km.
View my running route on Endomondo. Can see I was running unplanned here and there. Very brave to run on the roads when most pple ran in pairs or on the golf course only. Must thank God for his protection!

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/13746819

12th training (15th) run of 2011

Already 12 June 2011 and only 15th run of 2011. It's been a slow running year. Imagine just an accidental toe fracture and all the training and stamina goes out the window.

This afternoon I started at 5:30pm. It was sunny. But today was a hot, energy sapping run. I felt exhausted. I stopped for water at a coffee shop toilet and also at my regular Rivervale Mall toilet. I think I drank enough before I started. But today was tough run.

I targeted 10km. When I stopped, the Endomondo recorded 11.23km. Completed in 1hr 32mins, 8min 12 secs average pace with lots of walking.

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/sG8_Gy9OEWg?post_id=722921615_168409079890410

11th training (14th) run of 2011

It's been such a long while since I could even leave office before 6:30pm. But after exit mtg done, waiting for my colleague to finish her documentation, aircon freezing my fingers off, i decided to leave earlier.

Reach home by 7:15pm, pavements seem reasonably dry. Changed and went out. Started at around 7:22pm.

Per Endomondo, clocked 8.60km in 1 hr 6mins. Decent time with average pace of 7min 40secs per km. Amzingly free GPS app said my fastest pace was 5min/km!!!!! And fasrter 1km lap was the 7th km completing in 7mins and 21secs.

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/pJWHtCxMS3Q?post_id=722921615_221105201242229

Sundown 2011 - Half Marathon

Official Runpix Results are out:

TIME: 3h:20m:0s (gun) / 3h:16m:28s (net)


http://www.runpix.info/wrace2/00/finord_one.php?id=C2267&ev=sun11&dt=21&ln=

Plus 1 nice photo:

I might as well re-post my posting on sgrunners:

After not doing SD since the 1st edition (because of the high fee, not so +ve feedback on organiser, Hivelocity and also no finisher tee for those doing < 42km), I wanted to try a night Half. Was hoping I could do 3hrs since no sun like AHM. But it was so humid and not had enough training after recovering from my fractured toe. So, actual time far exceeded my fantasy time.

Experience wise, it was good. Transport back and forth was ok although the return night bus at $8 was not so satisfying, taking almost 1 hr to reach Sengkang after some delays departing (abt 20mins after the hour) and mine was 2nd last stop.
I finally saw my Runpix timing after this morning scare why my 10km and 42km friends can search but my 21km cannot.
I got my softcopy (PDF) color finisher cert with Chip Time.


I got 3 photos. 2 had part of me/head chopped off. But the first photo was *Fantastic*. Just under the arch, with the Gun time and me at least looking like I still could run some more with painful ankles, knee and hamstring (the right pose with elbows bent although it not planned!)


The night carnival type atmosphere, stage concert, vendors selling $1 ice-cream, chicken, etc and also free popcorn and candy floss was nice to be part of.


Therefore, I had a good experience overall.


Sundown Half Marathon 2011

In the 1st SD, I did 10.5km and it came with Adidas vest, finisher tee. After that, no participate as the fees were always expensive. This year, it cost me less, thanks to USports. But the vest sponsor is now NB and no Finisher tee, even for HM. Pity.

I took the chartered SMRT buses from EXPO, paying $1. 45-50mins to reach. On the way, saw the 10km runners on Aviation Park Road. Looking a masses of joggers & walkers between 1.5km and 3.5km of a 10km route felt funny.

I had time to read my novel, eat my snack bar before my 8pm HM start. Didn't take much photos to preserve my Hp battery.

The event start - wah....so many 21km participants. The MC was loud and noisy. Hee hee.

Along the route, I start a good pace with walking the first 2.5km since it was as fast as the people jogging or plodding steadily infront of me due to the people  jam. Good to conserve energy.

It was really humid. Along Aviation road, I felt sweat on my arms. I see runners passing me glistening with sweat. I was hoping no one would faint from excessive sweating & loss of salts. Hydration was alright. Water and 100Plus alternated around every 2km along the 21km route.

I jogged between the 3km to 6km. Even number means got hydration point. From then, i was thinking, after drink, walk 1km and jog 1km. Too bad by the time I hit 9km, my hamstrings tell me 'no'. It was basically fast walk from 8km. surprisingly, nowadays a lot of people, male and female can walk as fast as my fast pace. It amazed me but good to walk along with more and more people as the distance wore on.

At the 10km mark, I got my water and queue for toilet at the pair of portable loo. Took so long. Must have waited about 5mins in the dark and then gave up. 1km later, drank my 100Plus and queue at another pair of portable loo with only 1 lady queuing. After that done, felt much better. I think the cup of coffee at 1pm during lunch has a greater diuretic effect than expected because I've never experienced going to loo before, during and after a run event even though I've also done 21km and 25km before. Next time, no kopi on race day.

Then i jogged a bit until my hamstrings protested. Then it was the long walk from 13km to 21.1km. Must have over-taken quite a lot who were walking slower than me as some definitely suffered cramps. I just wanted to finish it and rest my tiring and aching legs.

I walked all the way, ignoring the student volunteers urging people to run a little bit more. No way I want to cramp up and collapse just before the finish. That would be a real waste. The pain I feel in my ankles, knees and the tight hamstrings mean if I try a run, I'd be really risking it. I stopped to take photos before crossing the finish arch. Crazy, huh? Even took photo of the Athlete's welfare area - where they distributed 1 can of 100Plus, 1 bottle of mineral water, Finisher medal and 1 banana.

Overall, I think I completed 21.29km in 3 hour 17min. Wasn't great. But less than my personal cut-off of 3:30. Way beyond my PB of 2:52 at AHM 2010. Endomondo recorded the route, lap times and avg pace: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/12087865

Happy with the event even though there were warnings that this was a Hivelocity event and previous years had many complaints from bus transportation to race logistics, etc. But I doubt I would sign up again. Without the reduced USports fee, it would be too expensive, although race fees for all events are rising.

PAssion Run 2011

Was unwell the whole day. Sinus since morning. I think it didn't help when my kids the night before woke me around 11pm arguing and then morning wifey on the living room lights before 6am. Had running nose. Dehydrated too.

I started the first 4km really too fast, at times, doing sub-7min/km pace. Hydration was sufficient. Mountain water and 100Plus alternate around every 2km or less. Got public toilets which helped since I drank too much just before event and not enough the whole day. But ya, BBQ smoke wafting across caused my eyes to tears at some points and a friend said BBQ smoke made her hungry!!

My left hamstring tightened just before 8km with more than 1/3 to go. I walked. When I tried to jog, it cramped and I had to walk. Later on when I jogged, even the right hamstring cramped. :((

500m from finish line, saw a man unconscious on his left side on the right side of pavement on grass patch. 2 guys were administering some CPR and trying to talk to get his attention. Security lined the right side of pavement and moved runners along.

Finished in 1hour 36min, slower than my expected time of 1hr 30 and slower than my 2XU 12km at Sentosa in 2010 when I completed in 1:26.

Cramps were really bad. As I crossed the Bedok South Ave 1 to get to bus stop to catch bus to Bedok, nearly got knock down by car cause my right hamstring froze and suddenly stopped and was hoping no vehicle came and knock me on the rather dark road near to the flyover.

Endomondo recorded quite accurately: A bit extra distance because I went into toilet and also stopped GPS recording late: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/11552803

Finisher Medal

10th training (11th) run of 2011

Today weather was bright when I woke up from my nap just before 5pm.
Felt tired and little mood to go for run.
But then, there's where the mental comes in despite how my body and emotions were.
Out at 5:25pm. Was overcast. nice & cooling actually.
Pity Endomondo did not start recording. I stopped at the bridge over the river to check because at the 1km Anchorvale CC mark, the voice Coach did not announce the lap time.
So Endomondo recorded 13.50km. http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/11115075

Total distance clocked will be 14.6km (13.50 + 1.1km) in 1hr 56mins. Avg pace of 7:57min/km. Nice timing.

Reasonably happy. 50% of my 21km distance with DD HM 2 weeks away. Next Satuday 12km PAssion run treat as part taper for SD HM.

Singapore Bay Run 2011

Didn't sign up for 21km. Over-running can lead to leg and knee injuries.
Back to 10km for this run. It will probably be hot but bearable. Good to have a tee rather than singlets. Hope it's a nice design like last year's. $25 for 10km (or $26.75 including some online payment charges)