Adidas Sundown 2010 (Half)

You run not to see whom you surpass but whom you are within.

Everything beyond 15k is new territory for me and I had to look within to recall what had been stored away to get myself to the end. Close to the line, I was stymied not by mental weakness but physical distress. If it's anything, I have re-learnt to lean forward a little, in order to get the run going. Here's how the race went.

Preparation is everything. I went to the site this afternoon to check out parking arrangements and road closures. How I behave on Malaysia cannot be applied here - it's parking strictly at designated lots and not along the curb. A race official assured me transportation to and fro would not be a problem if I got there about an hour early. This is what the start looked like before the on-slaught - all peace and quiet (and empty!):



Nisa and Jamie sent me, intending to get there early but Singapore being Singapore, there was heavy traffic all the way there. We got in with just some time to spare and I started the warmup. If anything, we must go to spore races early because there is always, always, traffic. This was how the season opener run got ruined. At the starting corral, I met my classmate from school and we ran together for the first 3k or so.

It was very very muggy. I typically skip the aid stations until 8k or so but I started drinking at 6k. The stations were fantastic - long and hence able to accomodate many runners at a go, and plentiful. Stories of stations running out of water or 100+, well, this doesn't happen in a Spore race. But all this early drinking was to be in vain.

I was steady, if not timely, up to the 10k mark. 10k is, after all, the distance where we had raced many occassion. Throughout the journey till here, I went past many people. The route was pancake flat and comprised the famed Changi Coastal Rd; this is the road that parallels the runway but from a runners standpoint, long and straight. All mental effort. In training runs past, I had learnt that getting through the mental barrier was to focus on form and glazed straight ahead; well, the lesson was well applied here and until the next stage of the race.

The 15k signboard came up, less slowly then the rest before; my pace had slowed. Every step beyond this was new ground to me. The form overcoming mental bit only worked for another km or so. The singlets and legs (ie the serious looking runners, their seriousness backed up by speed) started overtaking me as I stopped to walk some ways. I tried the "walk 200m after an aid station, and run to the next" style, but that only worked for one aid station. Thoughts of doing a DNF were erased when I saw the 17k sign because I was close. At 18+k, the race turned back into the long straight home; it was here that I started cramping up. Walk, hobble, run and I made it to the end. I dare say that if not for the cramps, I would have registered a much better time. Physically, I was ok and mentally as well.

Best thing was that Nisa and Jamie were there at the end gantry, and Jamie called out to me and saw me wave back. That itself was worth the bloody effort.


Post race 8.32pm on 30 May - I got into the compression tights immediately I got cleaned up after the race and slept in them. They really work - I woke up feeling as if I could run again. Nisa, Jamie and I drove Changi Coastal Rd again and I could not believe I actually was able to go up and down this road; it's long and straight and you can see one end from the other.

My road to the Sundown

I did something I never expected to do this evening .. I pinned on a bib for the Sundown!! You bet I'm excited, and a little apprehensive.

My road to the Sundown actually started this morning whilst I was lying in bed. In spore, we alternate our weekend morning runs and she was out for a 12k. I wrote to DK and CCY to wish them luck on their races tomorrow; DK didn't bother to reply but CCY quickly wrote back. He's feeling a little under the weather and did not want to risk the run. Mumbled something about we being at that age where the old ticker could just seize up etc etc. I quickly asked if he wanted his bib released to me. Yes, but he wanted the tee shirt. Oh well..

My plan was to do the half at the end of the year and my training plan was tailored to that. I wasn't prepared to do the Pacesetters NB 15K quite so early notwithstanding I've been doing the occassional long run at that distance. And now I will be attempting the half, half a year early. I'm a little apprehensive and am prepared for walk breaks. CCY reassured me that I would be fine, when he asked how was my training so far. I'm excited too, because the Malaysian runners would be there, whom I feel i am a part of that community. So much so I will be wearing my Mizuno Wave run tee from last year tomorrow night - it looks like the spore one but on a careful look, the decals will show Malaysian origins (..the race at UPM at Serdang), and hopefully pegging me as bring one from the community across the causeway.

I've just picked up the bib from CCY. I've changed the emergency info at the back and the bib has gone onto my tee. I'll be in the baby Sundown.

Our very own Gulf

Disasters in the west always seem do far away to the point it's not easy to feel sympathetic even though I know I should. Each one carries it's bitter lesson to and unless it happens in your backyard it does not really hit home. There was been much about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the attempts by BP to contain and clean. The oil is also fast approaching land and people who depend on the sea being clean are no doubt in anguish (economically as well). It's all nice to read until the experience occurs in your very own backyard where I can see, smell and hopefully not feel.

Singapore has been having it's oil spill. Granted it's minute compared to what has been discharged on a per day basis in the Gulf but nonetheless, it's a spill. 2 ships collided off the east coast resulting in the spill. All seem well because it all still seemed so far away.

Until, I came back 2 days ago and wondered if the estate had been fogged to rid it of insects. It was that kerosene smell that was all over the house. I didn't give it much thought notwithstanding it lingered. It was there again when I came back. When I when on a run, it was there, all over the ECP. I looked into the water and there were pontoons, and beyond that, the water was heavy
and sluggish; it was also opaqued. It was the spill and it had finally hit home in our backyard. All through the ECP there was the smell of kerosene and the water was terrible. If this was bad, the spill in the Gulf must be a million times worse.

I now know what it feels like, but their anguish and despair must be much much worse.

The best burger in the world

Pretty big boast, but it's all true.

I made my choice the one with 3 pattties. Ordinarily, this would not be enough for me, not for dinner at least. It was uncomplicated and arrived as an open burger. The bun was lightly butterred and my sides were mash potatoes and coleslaw. There were some onions and I think there was a piece of lettuce somewhere. The description on the menu did not speak of cheese but the photo did show cheese slices, melted on the burger. They were friendly enough to concede that the photo was misleading and took the burger back to add cheese. So far so so..nothing much to shout about. Until you chow down on the monster.

The beef patties were huge. But what made them the best were that they were juicy and sweet! Juicy not because of oil but just pure beef. And the pattie was not processed (and therefore packed hard) but more like minced beef in texture. It tasted like a steak but because it was a pattie, I just ate away instead of applying jaw strength.

All this from the urban legend that is Botak Jones; known amongst the heartland Singaporeans but otherwise unknown to those that do not venture into deep Singapore. This outlet has finally found it's way to Simpang Bedok and here is where the world's best burger makes it's home. Price-wise, it's probably 50% more than what you would pay for at a burger outlet but then again, the patties there are neither huge nor juicy nor tasty. Botak Jones is not air-conditioned but you wouldn't care less once you chow down. I was surprised that I could not finish the burger and I actually glanced back with fondness at the unfinished burger as we walked out. What an eat!

He's way too cool..

The blading lessons are coming to an end, and in fact they will end this weekend, seeing we’re going home to KL then and will be missing our lessons. Nisa and Jamie have really been progressing rapidly, especially so for Jamie once he made that breakthrough and was able to stand without assistance. He is able to move fairly quickly and steadily as well. Nisa is now learning to move like an Olympic speedskater!!

Nothing validates our pride in Jamie more than when the praise comes from someone outside the family. Before I go on, here is what Jamie looked like 2 weeks before (ie..he’s much better now!!!):



One of the pupils taking lessons for advanced skaters could really move around. I think he's there for the trick skaing module and he remarked that Jamie was rather stable on his blades. He said Jamie could move around pretty well and that he could turn, and stop with the proper technique. Quickly, the outpouring came and this had nothing to do with Jamie's skill level. One of the instructor's said he was "so cute" and his female assistant agreed. So much so that very soon at the end of the lesson, a few photos were taken of, and with him! Jamie smiled coyly throughout but I think he enjoyed all the attention he was getting so far. Nisa and I definitely did.

Its worth at least 2min..

I set off this morning in a light drizzle, a little annoying because i knew i would not be able to see through my glasses after long but otherwise it was a perfect day for running. Not many people were out at ECP because Sundown is around the corner, plus there is the Passion run this afternoon.

What I was surprised about was that a pretty large corporate held its run this morning. As far as I know, organizers tend not to clash their runs with other events in case it spoils participation levels. But here its was and there were some few hundreds of runners heading down the route that was the Passion run this afternoon. It was a race proper.

A colleague of mine, running today at Passion, had said that a race is worth at least 2min (for 10k) and maybe even 5min for the half. I tried to keep up with the last of the runners and it was not easy. In the last race, I wasn't near the end and I was confident I could catch him. Here he was at a pretty fast clip - I don't think the race was more than 5k but he was going as if there was a prize for being 2nd last! He was the last and he wanted to surge past the chappie in front of him. And here was Jamie's Daddy charging down but unable to catch up, even right up to the finishing line. Either he took his magic pill this morning or that he was caught up in the adrenalin of the event; he just would not give up, nor in.

I think its worth at least 5min..and a lifetime of satisfaction after that.

Something is clearly afoot!

I spent all of Sunday recovering from NB15k 2010. Eat modestly when I should have ate more, and drank even less, especially immediately after the race. Didn't even nap as well. It was only after the cup of coffee in sunday evening that I felt much better. The race took a lot out of me, no thanks to the hills, which made the distance longer than it was.

Something's afoot because I only experienced the post-race high on Monday morning, and I'm still unable to sleep. But we have an immigration problem that is more pressing and that will keep me up all night.

NB Pacesetters 15k 2010

Nisa: don't forget to bring some money, in case we want to get something to eat after the run.
Me: ok. What about our ID as well?
Nisa: you're not going to be coming in top 3 so I don't think there's a need.

It was already 6.05am when that bit of the conversation took place and we were off from our PJ home to the race. We arrived early(ish) because there was not much traffic at that time in the morning. Parking was also fairly easy, unlike other races. I think participation was limited to 2000+ so the pre-race logistics was pretty managable. We wanted to get there ahead of time so we could walk and take in the atmosphere, and to do a slight warm-up as well.

Being typical Sporeans (and Nisa is regaining her Spore inclinations after living with the people there), we had scouted out the route the day in advance. We had arrived KL Friday night and collected our race kits Saturday morning. The pleasant surprise was that we got to try on and choose our tee shirt sizes. This was inspite of having made a choice on the application - you'll never be allowed to change your choice on collection in a spore race. After that, we drove the route. We had walked a part of it some weeks past but with the map, together with the direction signs that had gone up, we did the recce. The hills were mighty and were every bit they were famed for. Worse were the bukit tunku hills, positioned right in the middle of the route.

The smaller the race, the more warm the atmosphere. There were the recreational and there were the serious, evidenced by their kit and the HRMs. I told myself at the start that I would walk the hills and let O'Newton help me on the downslopes. Here's how the race went for me:

The first 4k was ok. I ran slow and people were surging past me right from the start! My watch said I was going faster than my planned pace though. First major hill behind Tugu Negara was taken with advice from RW - short steps, bound up like a rabbit. No problem because the downslope to the highway came next. Breezed down to the turn at the highway into bkt tunku. If this was a 5k event, I would have placed top one third; meaning I was done st this stage.

The next bit was tough. I walked a little going into bkt tunku but kept up a decent clip until I came to the clock tower round-about. The next uphill was the killer and I walked some ways. By now I was pretty popped but I saw Nisa in the distance and that somehow imbued me with energy. Crested the killer slope on a slow jog and it was downhill and the flatlands all the way back till the last 3k. It wasn't as muggy on the way back and I maintained my pace pretty successfully.

The last waterpoint was at the 12k mark. Guess what, the running mom was there taking photos and I somehow found the energy to introduce myself as "Jamie's daddy", but beyond that, I failed to say anything intelligent - sheesh, what a way to meet one of the running personalities of Malaysia. Stopped for water and went on to the finish.

This was a tough race because there were multiple hills. There was not enough prep work on the hills for me and this was my undoing. The compression tights worked though; I wore them to recover after the race and all through the night; my legs feel decent today. The other thing that I learnt is that my coffee is my elixir; it was only after a cup in the evening that I felt well.

The races in Malaysia are much more enjoyable than those in Spore. The smaller they are, the more the running community comes out to play. Although I don't know anyone here in Malaysia, I feel I'm one of them. On my runs over here in KL, people wave! And during the races, every one is only as competitive as to give way to a faster runner. This is something I will miss when we run in spore.

We took almost the whole of yesterday to recover and during that time, Nisa said the half was within reach. Having survived this, I now think so too.

Husband duties

I couldn't think of a better word but it is certaintly not "duties" in that I dread them. They make me feel whole and a part of the family, that I'm providing for them and watching over my loves.

Nisa has been I'll since last night. Nothing untoward, just the bug that she didn't seem to be able to shake off. I think it's probably the weekend's worth of activity, topped off with her run in the afternoon and blading session last night. It was a practice session after dinner and we all descended onto the skateboard park at East Coast. Jamie was excited and he is now able to go faster, controlling balance better. He even gave instructions to Nisa on how to execute a turn! Before he felt off to sleep, he was still giving these instructions and had to emphasise the point with his finger tracing a U shape turn on the mattress.

By this time, nisa was already feeling ill and I was wondering if I should be going in to work tomorrow (ie today). It's going to be a struggle for her alone and ill, what with she having to watch over Jamie and not being able to lie down to rest. Plus, there will be someone coming over to fix a part of the house. MKL just approved my urgent leave this morning and Nisa will be able to rest all day to recover.

The racing experience

So here I was, sitting by myself on the bus journey into the office on a Monday morning. It takes about 40min to get in and as I board somewhere close to where the bus route starts, I am fortunate enough to get a seat. A few stops down, this person in office attire gets up the bus and seats herself next to me; you would think that anyone working in Raffles Place would observe some form of decorum but she had a nose ring!! Anyway, she starts putting on her make-up on the bus and starts fidgeting, and continually bumping into me – which really irritates me (ie the bumping). Obviously, she wants more space than her seat will allow but I would not give in. To ignore her, I decided to let my mind wonder and started to think of everything appealing about racing.

The experience starts when you register. We mostly participate in Malaysian races and I somehow do not fancy registering (and handing out my credit card number away) on the internet; but this is somehow the way to go now. We did the paper registration for the NST / Subang Jaya run, faithfully cutting out the “official” registration form from the NST, only to have the information re-typed in when we went to register in person. But the excite builds immediately after you register – it happens every time.

The training is not that arduous because we run often, and more so because we run in races that are well within our training threshold. Not much excitement there but we always look for the post run high and the warm glow-y feeling that last 48hrs after the run.

Raceday itself always passes in a blur. We’ll get up at the crack of dawn, drive to the venue and always spend time looking for a place to park the car. Then there’s hardly any time for a warm up and we’re off. The best part of the racing experience is post race where we feel so good we want to buy almost everything. The running shop always gets a visit and this is when resistance is the lowest and we might come away with a new pair of shoes. Logic (and guilt) arrives but no matter – we’re happy and insya-Allah, Jamie is happy too because he would have his medal from the race just completed.

So what has happened to the girl with a nose ring? She got so pissed off with my refusing to relent that she got up and stood the rest of the journey. The person who occupied her seat was much more pleasant.


P/s I have visual evidence! The nose ringed person boarded at the same stop as me and occuppied the middle of a two-seater, effectively taking over 2 seats.

The little things bring the most joy

This is all about the blading odyssey (so far)

We had signed up for a pack of lessons. The deal is time based, and we could go for as many lessons we could within a one month period. In true Spore behaviour, we attended twice in a weekend (once Saturday and again Sunday). Nisa and Jamie got the theoratical basics nailed down and it was only just yesterday that we bought our blades. Of course Jamie wanted his own pair the day we signed up for the lessons but we thought it best that we waited for a while to see if he would lose interest after 2 lessons.

In the past 2 lessons prior to this weekend past, Jamie had been able to stand up but balance remained doubtful. He did better on the Saturday lesson and I relented when he asked again. Nisa bought a pair as well. Jamie was really pleased when he got his blades, and whilst at the shop, he wanted to put them on and skate away down ECP!! The light drizzle (which turned into a downpour) did not seem to deter him. Anyway, here he is examining his blades in detail when we got home.


He couldn't resist himself and put on the pair in the house and moved about - a little dangerous to do so, but so did Nisa, who could not resist as well!!

I could well justify the purchase because it would allow Jamie to practice in-between lessons. I am thinking the lessons are for learning something new, and you spend the time outside the lesson practising what had been taught - then you go back to the next lesson where you learn something new. Without blades (and hence practice), lessons are simply practice sessions - which is really not the point. Well, the truth is that I find it hard to say no to my boy, especially when he's learning a new skill.

But there was still no breakthrough in the blading adventure. Jamie could stand, and could barely balance, let alone move along. He was still excite about blading nonetheless and that was all that matter to Nisa and I. In true Spore style (again), we got up earlier this morning and brought Jamie to the skateboard park. There is a practice area and this is where Jamie strapped on his blades to have another go. I started my run just as Jamie started with his practice.

After 49min (or an 8k in very muggy weather), I returned. Nisa said Jamie had something to show me; Jamie said "watch this, daddy". And he moved towards me on his own. Balance was fine! Movement was good! That 20m distance that he bladed towards me were like his first steps and it felt that way as well. The little successes bring the most joy, because every success deserves recognition and celebration. Jamie was now really looking forward to his lesson later in the day.


I think A (the instructor) was a little surprised, and pleased with the progress as well.


He's actually moving on this own!!

What did I learn? It is to step back and let Nisa do this. Nisa was the one who coached Jamie whilst I was away on my run, and got him to balance on the blades. I would have been impatient and would have over-analysed the situation. Nisa really aced this one, and all on mother's day as well. I love the both of them.

Why is there double of me?

2XU means 2 times (ie multiply) you. I just don't get it. Why is there double of me and how will it ever help me?

Runners in Singapore and Malaysia would be familiar with 2XU, one of the brands of compression tights that are available. They are very costly but the other makes are not any cheaper. I went all over queensway and the bike shops at East Coast checking out what was available. A quick chat with a colleague and fellow runner settled the choice. I travelled down to Velocity during lunch time today and bought the half body compression tights. In fact, I was vacillating a little at the shop but a 10% discount off the price sealed the deal.

Maybe I have been sold on the belief the compression tights will aid on recovery by forcing the blood to circulate, or maybe I just wanted to buy something that was related to running.

No better time to try if they work then after back to back runs. After a shower, I put them on. Not so much as pull them on but rolled them on. The start was the worst as I could barely get my foot through the opening. Then it was to adjust them over my lower leg. Wearing them are not easy and I actually got frustrated at how long I took to wear them. Once on, I felt naked, they being a second skin and all. They'll be on the whole night and I'll see if they really work in the morning.

Walking around the house, I felt like Phelps (the swimmer, not the Mission Impossible guy)


P/S I've worn it twice now; once overnight and another during the day, both after runs. My legs don't feel as sore and the compression tights do seem to work

JP Morgan run 2010

How can everything turn out roses and nice smelling all the time? So here goes..

JP Morgan run is an annual affair for corporate Singapore. Individual participation is not permitted and corporates form teams and send them for the race. As you would expect from the name, majority of participants are from financial institutions but there are those from outside the industry. The annual race was held today and I was part of the team sent by my bank.

We met at the lobby of the building. At once, I could tell the race this year would be well participated. There were streams of people making their way to the starting line, together with us. I read there would be some 11000 runners, all to be flagged off at one go. It certaintly felt like all 11000 were at the start because it was crowded and congested. When the gun went off, it took me a full minute to cross the start. This was not the end because the crowd did not even thin out until 3k onto the 5.6k race. All prospect of a PR were lost because I had spent, together with the rest of the 10999 runners meandering and avoiding each other. Most (no, all) Malaysian races have jovial crowds but not this time. Runners were joustling and the faster runners had trouble overtaking the slower one (whom stoutly refused to give way).

So it was a slow shuffle for me until I could run free, by which time, I really had to step up the pace by more than a notch. In a longer race, I could continue to plod along, confident that I could overhaul those that had started out too fast. In a 5k, it was every man for himself! Even the big needed only to close their eyes, suck it up and bear with it all the way to the finishing line.

This speeding up threw me off and I somehow struggled when my fitness should have carried me through. I made it to the end in a semi-decent time though. At least there were free drinks, and there were many many lines for the collection of the goody bag and tee shirt; it was speedy and efficient. Not the ideal race because I did not settle into a comfortable pace but the season has started.

Now for the next one in KL the weekend next.

Waiting to exhale

It’s like I’ve held my breath for so long and am finally able to exhale. It’s got to do all with luck too.

The season has all gone awry, and even the season opener race got postponed. All that pre-season training seemed to have come to naught and I am even feeling a little burnt-out; without even racing! Until the call came this morning.

One of my colleagues had to travel suddenly – would I be interested in taking over his bib for the JP Morgan run tomorrow? I would be part of the team representing my company, and it would only be 5.6km. I tried not to sound too excited and mumbled something about my willing to do anything for the company etc etc but in truth, the season opens tomorrow!!!

When I had to quit

I better write this down do I'll never forget.

Never, ever attempt a long run when the workout the day before were hill repeats.

I had to quit 5k into the planned long run this morning. My eyes were smarting from excessive sweat, I was sweating buckets. My legs were dead and aching and my will had left me.