Army Half Marathon 09

Date: 16 Aug 09
Time: 7am
Distance: 21km

This is the event, i have signed up every time ever since i started to run. This year is no exception. Giving my body condition, taking on 21km is the direction i am heading towards. There isn't many 21km around either to be choosy. Anyway, the way the army handle this, i am confident they won't disappoint the runners that much.

Ok, i am not a fan of the strict regiment, but i know they are going to do their "best effort" to a decent job. Unlike SCSM, it keep boasting this and that and ended up w/o moving forward! Damn! I am not going to do another SCSM! Period!

I reached our meeting point slightly after 4am. I am surprised that there are not much car this morning. Even after 4:30am, i still could get a parking lot! Damn! This is strange!

Terence has complain about leg sng(from ICT) and agree to run with me...slow and easy...2:30hr pace. Ok...i think, let runs.

My last 21km is in Jan 09 during Goofy Race. There i did a mid 2:10-2:20hr. This time round, i hope to maintain the timing. My training over the last few months have been decent. Have not been slacking too much and should be able to achieve the timing i believe.

Before the race start, i realise the new championship chip on the ankle has went missing! Damn! i know it can't be secure with my ankle strap, but i didn't realise it can get lost so easily! First time running without a chip feel funny though.

The race is schedule to start at 5:30am. It was strange to get the flag off 5mins before the time! Wah...this isn't good for those still getting to the starting pen! We didn't know it has started! Ok, i heard the word "GO" by the DJ, but it was done at such a funny tone that i thought he is joking!

The race started at a fast pace for most. I go with a slow and smooth running with Terence by my side. It is a warm morning. I can feel the body losing water within the first km and subsequently getting worst. It was an okay pace for me. Keep it light and easy and slowly move on. The trainings will bring me through i keep telling myself.

Up and down Sheares bridge and come across many familiar faces. Tao was running nearby, so is divy as well. Breathing and HR still maintain at a expected range. Pace seems to be a bit slow though. Nevermind, just go easy with the flow.

Reached ECP still in darkness. Taking every opportunity to take in fluid as we ran along. Looking for 100+ more than water. Meet up with more familiar faces that started in the front. First 10km about 1:10hr. Hmm....I feeling okay...not say very fresh or tired....

Saw a familiar face doing funny thing! Run up and down, carrying a bottle taking water/100+ and run back taking care of his new love. Wahaha....Funny.... I heard even more adventurous things that they did from grapevines at the kopi session...:)

Pace has not increase as i try to focus one water point to another along Nicoll Highway/Mountbatten. Can feel fatigue creeping in. Spotted quite a few interesting pom pom groups...quite a nice touch i feel from the organiser...kudos...

10km runner merge with us on the last stretch. Again witness a few familiar faces along. Kind of nice to see them going at a fast pace. How i wish i can catch up with them and chat along..keke..wilful thinking i know!

I am struggling as i head towards F1. Breathing and HR is at expected range, but i felt tired. The only explanation i can think of is that my endurance is no longer able to run the distance. I have been feeling this way for a long time. I just couldn't find any reasons, why i am feeling tired during training. I have been doing my training regularly, but why it is not able to call upon during races? The hours and effort put in training is not equal to the output! Demoralising.

The distance get nearer as we edge forward. Slow but surely we reached the end. Finished in 2:28hr based on the watch. On the official clock, it is 2:31hr.

Phew! It was not as painful as last year, but i took another 5mins more. Another PW! Sigh...

HR dropped after the race completed. It was kind that no complication during the run. Thanks to Terence who ran with me. I couldn't have done a much slower timing if not because he is around.

I experience something that i have never don't so ever in races! I have cramped on the right calf...on the way walking out of Padang, after the chit chat with some of the familiar faces...Damn...after that, cramped on the left calf! Wahaha...yeah lah...all of you laff at me! One day will be your turn! *evil grins*.

I guess, fitness and body have remind me once again. No longer what i had, even though the training hours are there, the result isn't proportion to the effort. That is the reality. Time to rethink about next year target. One small step at a time. I hope i can control the urge.