TNF Support Team - 24 Oct 09

The feeling isn't that bad compare to Sundown. Maybe i am still hurting due to the decision not to do anymore marathon after my "retirement" in Jan 09.

The effort that i put in preparing for TNF event is on par as for Sundown. But why i didn't blog down the details from the support team point of view for the Sundown event puzzled me. Maybe the pain was too much to write then and remind me.

I can still recall the reason i start blogging a few years back is to share my thoughts and experiences as i go through different spectrum of running. Be it in training up for the event, the event itself and post event. The ups and downs of running. The joy of finishing, the pain of injure and DNF that we have to go through as we pursue our goals. It is with this thoughts, that i decide to jot down the view from the eyes of the supporter for TNF.

Given a choice, i rather be part of the event rather then providing support. Can i just do my regular workout on event day and ignore my running friends that are out on the road and without providing them with some kind of support along the way? Being a runner, i would definitely appreciate a private support table along the way, no matter how small the gesture is. I am not leaving them behind if i am capable of assisting.

Preparation starts a few weeks before the event. Recruitment of the support crew, waiting for the event route to be announce and identify of support locations. What to bring and the logistics etc. It is like a mini project that involve various parties and i am the team leader.

I am fortunate to gather a few like minded runners(that are not taking part) that are willing to fork up their valuable time and money for the cause. Thanks to them i have an easy task.

Location of the support station took me a couple of days to decide. Consideration of the location of the official support station, car accessibility, distance on the race, the terrain and the need of the runner at various distance. The major locations(especially friendly to car accessibility) are covered by official stations, which make our private support redundant in a way. No choice but to use another yardstick to decide the position of the support table.

Given i am familiar with the terrain. i am aware of the critical location which require the additional support for breather(rest). Therefore we choose the location "peaks" - (summit of Bukit Timah) at distance 12.5km and the "highest peak" of Bukit Timah pipeline(37.5km). Another peak(Hill 265) is consider, don't think we can hand carry the stuffs(a few km) inside given it is a military location) and have to dismiss it.

Given this is a self volunteer support. The cost of the support is not cheap. Given Sundown experience, it might come to S$100, at least for myself. Therefore there is co-ordination require between us, who should provide what supplies to split out the cost.

The needs for 50km and 100km runners are different. Resources has to be split and hopefully we can covered adequately to all our friends(which we are supporting). Given the nature of the event, we have to forgo the support for 25km runners, as our resources are not wide enough to cover it.

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Event: The North Face 100km
Distance: 100km/50km/25km
Time: 4am/7am/9am

I was awake 3:40am+ by Enver. It give me an earlier start for the day ahead. Fill up the supplies and make 2 trip down to the car to load up. Plus last night supply loading, i hope i didn't forget anything.

Reached Esso station at 4:35am along Bukit Timah way ahead of the prearrange 4:50am. ST has just arrived. We shared out some of the supplies, as we need to split out our support later. Tiwazz make a long walk from his home with 6 bottles of Barley water! At least a few km walk! I was surprised. Bravo! Charlotte, being the nearest is late! Abit annoy that she didn't keep to the timing and also to myself for not arranging the meeting time earlier to cater for the late comers.

We left about 5am and reached BTVC in darkness. Have to resort in parking the car head in to the parking lot, as it is totally darkness and we won't want to risk crashing the vehicle on the barricade behind.

The front runners has just arrived and we have to quick hand/leg to grab our stuffs and head up the summit.

I grab the ice box with 2 bottles of barley, 4 bottles of isotonic, i bottle of water and a packet of ice(purchase at esso) up to the summit in darkness. With a backpack full of other stuffs(book, makan, cups, first aid kit), the total weight isn't that light in any sense.

Even though it is a short walk from BTVC to the summit hut, i was WET, arms aching and breathing slightly chuan when i reached. I am surprised that i manage to carry all the way up without any stoppage! We setup the table in darkness(except for our torch lights).

We saw runners coming up, couldn't make up who is it most of the time! Even though they just had a step climb, it is healthy to see them in very strong running stride. Given the fact they are doing 100km, i am not surprised. Of the 100km folks - only JC, Epalite and Commando stop for a breather. The rest just push onwards.

ST has to left us shortly to continue her support for JC. Shunyin joined us at 7:30am.

There was a pause while we wait for the 50km runners to come by. I have to make a trip down to the VC to release some pent up frustration and brought additional stuffs from the car.

The 2nd trip up isn't as WET as the first, but did enough to give the heart a bit more workout. I just wonder how did i manage to climb up without stoppage with those barang barang a hour ago! Maybe it is the darkness that make it easier. Ignorance is bliss?

The first 50km runner across our support table exactly at 8am. He is very fast and looks very strong! Shortly all the familiar faces start to come up one after another.

We gave support to all runners that come forward and our friends. As expected the first too we saw were Soon Tuck and Lionel. Followed by Terence, Clare, Yeehua, Regina, Aili, Ray, Joanna, Kok Wai and Yulan not in any particular order. Alot of Sgrunners came over and nice to see that everyone is still strong and cheerful.

At 9am, it is time to close shop and proceed to our next support point - highest peak along Bukit Timah pipeline. I am surprise to see a few familiar faces as we walked down. Eg my Indian friend(Mohan), Catwoman and kkchin(he is late to start by 30mins). 12.5km in 2 hours! It is going to be a LONG day ahead(hopefully they don't get DNF).

By 7:30am, our support station at the highest peak are in place leads by Christopher, Molly and Loune. I was surprised that it took so long for them to get things ready, as they meet 6:30am at Macdonald(King Albert Park). Later did i realise what had happened.

A called from ST realised that JC has passed the pipeline and couldn't find our support point and she needs to move on meet JC at the end of Rifle Range Road(RRR). She won't be joining us at the pipeline.

RRR is barricade by the organiser and i couldn't find a parking space along the road. Damn! No choice drop the rest of stuffs and the folk along the shortest path to the pipeline and recee for parking space.

Up and down RRR and even drove over to Jalan kampong chantek to find the nearest parking spot. Yes, i can see parking space at the front gate of the military and PUB installation. But given the nature of the building, i rather not block their passageway. No choice but to head back to RRR and park in the carpark about 600 meters(i reckon) to the entrance of the pathway inside BT pipeline.

It was getting hot and a walk towards the entrance of the pipeline seems so far away. Fortunately i don't require to carry much, except 2 backpacks until the military base(SOA) whereby ST pass me another ice-box and i make the 3-400 meters walk in. Another challenging walk! The arms are stretch again when i reached the support point around 10am. Felt like doing sets of weights in the gym on this morning supporter workout!

Weather was hot and runners start to trickle in. One thing i learn from the experience with Sundown and TNF are our support table are meant for mid to slow pace runners. Not for fast runners. I am and non of our close running kaki are elite/fast runners. So in a way, we don't quite understand their needs well. At least from my point of view, it is abit disappointed to see some reactions among those runners.

Eg, runners ask for water and refuse to run/walk over(like 5-10meters) to grab it and expect us to come to them! Official support table, the water is on the table, you come and grab it. Unofficial support table, the runner ask for water, continue their stride(run/jog/walk) along and expect you to dash over to them to give them!

Water, water, shouted one runner. I run over with a cup of chill 100+ as i just don't have time to grab the plain water bottle from the icebox and pour out in time. Guess what the runner did? Pour away the 100+ and throw the cup down and continue his journey.

Another runner pick up a cup of 100+, in front of us, pour out the water and take a slip only. Reason, too much water is bad for him.

I can tell you, the feeling is like....wtf, we pay for the water, get it chill and carry the water all the way in and you are so wasteful! At least have the courtesy to return the unfinished water back to us and we know we have pour too much water and not throw it on the floor in "public"!

The majority of the runners are gratefully to our support and thanks us for being there. Which is heart warming.

I know i am being harsh here. But i still going to make it a point to speak out what i feel is uncall for.

First of all, if you want to be a supporter, be prepare to do it willing. Not come and show everyone you are doing a dirty and super hard job and come bragging. Everyone is here to do support and not here to be a peacock show.

I was irriated by her words. Firstly i didn't invite her to join us. She came on her own and brag about how tough to take pictures, up and down during the morning event and now have to come over and blah..blah..blah...

It ended in a short shouting match( i hope it don't sound so bad) and the bragging stopped. Thanks goodness.

I don't care if you are a general in the Army or whatever VIP. If you don't be humble and bragging and belittle others i will not return the due respect. It is a hot afternoon and everyone is trying to stay cheerful and provide good support for the runners.

I hope whatever unhappiness stop here.

As expected, the first pair of toos are Soon Tuck and Lionel. They came cheerful and seem that fatigue has not set in yet.

Yulan came shortly. This lady just love the nature races...

Regina(came in torn pants at the kneecap) with aili. Regina has a fall. We try to wash away the wounds and use antiseptic wipe to clean her wounds. It just some scratches, so didn't warrant a plaster.

Terence still going strong, no seeing of his buddy(heard bad cramps way behind)

Clare and Yeehua came shortly after. That slacker, keep saying want to take "coke" few days back, but give it to her, say she has enough of drink + food.

It take a while, before Tao and Yankee appeared. Slow and steady these two..TMM behind!

Clocking ticking and we started to wander and worry for Ray. Cramp so bad that he was way behind. *concern*.

Loune has to fall out earlier from the support. The rest of us soldier on. Thanks Jie Jie, hope you have a wonderful experience! Next year take part ok?

I think around 1:45pm, Ray arrived. He has bad cramps and more like mental is what keeping him going. Together with a group of Sgrunners, they slowly move forwards. Hopefully with group, it is enough to pull everyone through. They still have 2 hours+ to cover another 12km.

At 2pm, we decide to pack it up and head out. It is a long walk with the barang barang out to the main road. So glad that i can ditch those stuffs!

It is a long walk as well for Christopher and myself to reach the carpark. Retrieve the cars and make our way back to pick up the rest.

Christopher, Molly, Kelly and Shunyin take the other car, whereas Tiwazz, Charlotte and Evangeline and myself another. We splitted from there.

After a call to Epalite to get his location, we immediately set our way to Mandai/Track 15 to setup another station to support the 100km runners. ST and Andy arrived shortly as we waited by the road side.

Melvin, Freddy, JC, Peter and Voon Ho are some of the familiar faces we saw that past our stations. Everyone still going on as strong, except for Voon Ho which is slightly slow. I think fatigue has crept in badly and he is suffering.

We waited till almost 5pm, where we heard the news that Voon Ho has decide to declare out of the race at Hill 265. I can feel the disappointment. He has come a long way - 70km and couldn't continue due to the time factor. It is rather sad.

I received news from MR that Ray have bad cramps that he need to seek medical attention and stop the race at Durain loop. He must be in great pain.

I can feel their anguish. I have DNF due to similar kind of circumstances. It is not pretty. The ego is hurt, you will start to doubt your ability.

It is a super hot day. The heat and terrain is challenging. At times, everything goes according to plan. At times, it is a struggle just to finish before the cut off time. If it gets too painful and long, we need to have a clear mind and make the judgment when to call it a day. Health and life is more important than money and ego. If we failed today, we can try again. It has been a long day, give yourself a pat in the back that you survive and brave enough to make the decision. We have the responsibilities not just to ourselves, but to our families and love ones.

If you are still game enough, next year i will train with you guys for the event. At least i will try if my body still able to take the training.

For those that completed. It is a long race and you should be proud that you have completed. Take a couple of days of rest and i will ask you if you are interested to do it again next year! Runners have short memory of pain...don't you agree? Wahaha.

Since the unexpected twist in plot, we have to cut short our support schedule. We waited for Epalite to come out to Lorong Asrama before we split out.

It has been a long day and i need a rest and be with my family.

Thanks to the supporters (Tiwazz, Charloette, Shunying, ST, Christopher, Molly, Loune, Kelly and Evangeline) to join me in our own support stations. It has been a long day and you girls and guys rock! *muak*