Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (4 Dec 05)

This is my first Singapore Full Marathon. I completed it in 5:00:25 according to my watch. It was a slow run. It was much painful compare to KL Marathon 05.

I fetched Zhiwei(Jessica Hubby), Francis and Penguin(Jolene) to the event. I parked at Bible House(same place as Bizhong's ROM). Changed and proceed to the water fountain to meet the rest of the sgrunners. Unfortunately they are not there, maybe change the location again. Before that we went for a pee first, I lost touch with Francis there. Sigh. Anyway, meet alot of sgrunners along the way, notably Death run with me for the first part. His training mileage is not enough and he is afraid he ran too fast, so he wanna control the pace and run with me.

We proceed at 6am slowly towards Marina South. My concern at this point is whether the injury that keep me out for the last 2 weeks, whether would stop me to run or not. I was carefully with it and run slowly and carefully as not to make it worse. The good thing is that it didnt bother me for the entire whole run.

According to Heart Rate monitoring and practice run, i am suppose to run around 135 and <=150. Today for some reasons, my heartrate is hovering at 154-164 most of the time i care enough to take a look at the watch. I was running at a Heart Rate too fast for a Marathon. I can feel the strain after a few kilometers. I tried not to think about it and even try to slow down and was running close to my usual pace(slightly lower than 6:30-7min/km pace). I reached 10km mark at 1:07hr. I was targeting around 1:00hr, but okay with 1:03hr. 1:07hr is abit slow, but okay if i can maintain till the end of the run. Look at the bright side, the injury that keeps me off no longer pestering me. I should be able to hang on. By 10km, we have already overtaken by the front runner for 21km(which start 30mins later).

Before 10km i saw one guy wearing an oversize bra outside and running with it. Wow pah...i almost fell out of my stride.... ... As we headed back towards Esplanade, i saw one FAT man running the Full Marathon. Damn good sia, must encourage him. I was running with Death and Yankee at that point.

We proceed to jog along towards Nicol Highway, and the strain is being to get worse as i signal for both of them to go ahead. After abandoning them, i take the opportunity to put on the MP3. The music is good as it motivates myself along the way. The sun was scorching down hard and i regretted that i have left the cap at the support point rather than carry with it as i assume it shouldnt be that bad. My heartrate refuse to come down for no reason. Sigh...as i run slower in an attempt to self recover from it, i was overtake by Arthur from hkrunners by that point. Anyway he is a faster runner. At this point, my muscle felt like cramping. Wah lah....less than 20km nia leh and legs giving up !!!!! When is the last time i have this kind of feeling? I couldnt believe it that i am feeling the strain at such an early stage now. I slowly move along and reached 18km.

It finally dawned that i am really in trouble. Should i turn back and stop there or should i proceed with it. I was in a dilemma. I have come a long way to train for this event i am not going to give up without putting up a fight. From 18km, i used yokoyoko on those wanna cramp part, as i do run/walk. The aim is to run every 2km and walk for about a few minutes etc. I reach 20km mark at 2:14hrs. I tried to do that for about 4-6km before knowing i cant proceed with 2km run, as it is getting tough.

As i struggle along, i saw run.run.runaway, Taz, 136Fallschirmjäger, Theresa(Gym). At this point i saw Chief Of Army as well. I think its him, have escorted runner leh...We have a friendly duel overtaking each other for about 10km distance. I reached and make a U-Turn point at East Coast, took 2 packets of Powergel(Strawberry flavour). Run for a distance, before taking 1 pack. Not really that good leh...then the other put in the pocket. At this point, i saw Francis(Lost touch since Toilet break at the starting point), David(Adidas), mythos, sotong(again) and wildcat. Finally managed to reach 30km at 3:25hrs. Saw sgrunners support point(Cosmic, Whr, Reno, FD) and Jessica.

I put on the cap, take the electrolyte, which was cold and goodness me it felt so good that i took another tube. I proceed to run along, after a 20meters i realised that i didnt put on knee guard on the right knee, i immediately found a bench along the beach and changed. I was up and running in no time. Even though i am struggling, but my run pace was pretty good, even though i can't sustain for longer period. I saw jianjian on her way to the end of the East Coast, i should be around 31-2km at that time. One tough cookie for her, as she attempt to do her first Marathon in 7-8hrs.

The return path on Ford Road onwards was HOT, luckily i have my cap to block it all. I have abandoned the Chief of Army at that point and run along one very tall angmoh. Wah pia, he is practically walking leh...and i have to run (overtook him), and walk (he overtook me)...so frustrating, he walks faster than me with just his stride. I took another package of Powergel at 33km and almost puke , i dont know why.

I have beginning to set mini goals along the way by now, eg start running after the lamp points, stop at the bridge way infront, looking forward to the next km mark etc. The pace maybe slows but i definitely moving and by moving i am one step nearer to the end. I saw 1 guy carry a stalk of flower with him on the run, is it someone pass to him along East Coast? or is he carry to pass on to someone later? I am interesting to find out. I reach 38km at PA(Kallang) gate and saw Leong Tuck Wah and Beetin there. Leong took a photo of me and i gladly pose for him.

Time wasn't a matter and i just baked in the sun and enjoy myself. I struggle through knowing that i am a few kilometers left. I still on target to finish within 5hrs. At this point along Kallang, i saw Yankee again, i thought he could have left me faraway in front, i didnt realised he is just in front. I Just wanna do the run comfortably and finish the race. This is not my day, i just want to finish it and get on with it.

Finally turn into my familiar territory (running route), finally a long stretch with good shade. I was running, walking and managed to chit chat with the Indian guy that i was chatting with in KL Marathon. He looks skinnier now that then. We run together and chitchat along the way. Slowly the distance gets nearer and nearer. I reached Esplande where another group of sgrunners are there to give the last "burst" support. I still recall Tiwazz shouting last 500metres. To be honest, i was thinking of running good at the end so that i can get good posing for the pictures since East Coast, slow nevermind, must pose nice nice. I slowly jog along as i know the end is near, i didnt stop for the last 400 meters i think as i moved along, before developing to a longer strides at the end. Must look good lah.

Pheck Leng was there waiting for me as i finished the run, but she couldnt come in as the place is "corner" off for runners, i rest inside for a while before picking up the championship medal and most importantly(Finisher Teeshirt). A bit disapointed that the Tee was as good as last year, but nevertheless i earned it.

I was not feeling particular good after leaving the runner resting area, even though the heartrate have slow down to an acceptable standard. I try to go for massage, but the long queue under the hot sun didnt worth the effort as well as i dont feel quite well. I have to go for shade and rest. I dont know why i actually throw out at there, but i feel much better after that.

I meet up with Zhiwei, Jessica, Franics and his family later. It was a long day and we falled out soon on our individual path. A good day to run 1 of the top 10 world hardest Marathon in the World.