Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009

Today I had a great time at the race. On top of finishing my 5th full marathon, I also achieved my best timing ever. I completed the race in 4hr 25min. I also did it with a decent average pace of 6:11. According to the official race results, I came in 1200 for overall ranking out of a field of about 13,000 runners :-) There were 8% of runners who finished ahead of me.

As usual, this marathon was great in that it was done with a bunch of great friends.

I was also pleasantly surprised by my wife who came to support at the end of the race.

Well, this marathon marked the end of my races in 2009. In retrospect, 2009 has been a significant year for me. This year alone, I completed 3 full marathons, one of which was an overseas marathon at KL, Malaysia.

I am sure 2010, will prove to be an exciting year in more ways than one. It might just see me doing more overseas marathons :-) among other exciting things...

Stay tuned.

Real Run 2009

This is my 3rd Real Run and this year's Real Run was especially special for me! I achieved my personal best time of 1 hr 21 min for 15 km. I also kept a decent pace of 5:25/km throughout the race. According to official race results, I came in 337 out of 2373 runners who completed. Not too shabby at all!

The strategy today was pretty simple. I was chasing after a friend who was a more powerful runner. In fact, I was chasing after him for 2/3 of the race. Well, it showed on my face that I was really pushing myself very hard for this race.

As part of the race, runners had to run on trail, road and sand (beach). The trail was not too bad as it was not muddy and the beach section was quite nice as the sand was quite compact near the water's edge. Somehow, this year's race seemed much "shorter" for me than previous years. Maybe, it could be due to the fact that I completed a much tougher race 2 weeks earlier, The North Face 100 (50 km Duo), and that made today's race seemed easier than usual.

Well, the important thing was that I had a splendid time today having a Real good run with Real good friends!

Next race, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon! My 5th full marathon!

Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2010

A few weeks ago, I did something that was really crazy!

I actually signed up for Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2010 (28 Feb) without knowing whether my schedule (and the various "authorities") will allow me to make the trip to Hong Kong in the first place.

I figured I better "chope" a place first. At least I am assured of a place if the stars and moon come in alignment and I am able to go. Anyway, if I do get to go, this will be my second overseas marathon!

The North Face 100 (50km Duo)

Today I must have experienced the most punishing race I have ever done. This is the first race that I suffered cramps along the way.

Although my team mate and I only participated in the 50 km Duo, which meant that both of us ran 25 km simultaneously, the route was very challenging.

Most of the races I participated were road races, this was the first trail race that I experienced. The race started from MacRitchie Reservoir and took us all the way up to Bukit Timah Hill and the U-Turn point was the summit of the hill! Climbing up the hill was sheer torture and coming down wasn't easy too. This was where I suffered cramps. I guess my legs were not used to trail running.

Both my team mate and I completed the race in high spirits! We completed the race in 3 hr 16 min. We actually came in 74th position out of 277 teams! Not too shabby at all!

I must say the another thing that impressed me of this race was the post race buffet spread. There was unlimited supply of Subway sandwiches, cookies and even fruit cocktail. Not bad at all!

Of course I cannot end this blog entry without acknowledging a gift from a dear friend (left) which made participating this race possible. It was the gift of a hydration pack. This is the first hydration pack that I have ever owned and this gift was made more special with the fact that it was a prize that my friend won from an adventure race. This was one gift money can't buy.

Next Race, RealRun 2009!

Mizuno Wave Run 2009

This was my second attempt at the Mizuno Wave Run. However, this year's race was nothing like last year's. For one thing, the location was different. Last year, the race was held at Tampines (Temasek Polytechnic) while this year, the event was held at Ang Mo Kio/Yio Chu Kang area (Nanyang Polytechnic). This year's race also featured a new distance. It was a 10 mile (16 km) race. Interesting.

Like the Mizuno Mt Faber Run, the runners disobeyed traffic rules and decided to run on the road even though there was no road closure. I was sure some motorists were not too pleased.

The route itself was not easy. There were plenty of slopes to conquer (the one outside St Nics was challenging). This was especially so when many of us deviated from the actual route (I think) and ran up Old Upper Thomson Road rather than the flatter Upper Thomson Road. It was really as case of blind leading the blind. I just assumed that it was the correct route when I saw everyone was running up that road. There were no marshals in sight. It was only after the U-Turn that I realised that some runners were running along Upper Thomson Road. Seeing that caused me to wonder if I had indeed taken the wrong route. Anyway, the "wrong" route was enjoyable for me as it was a more scenic and enjoyable route. My Garmin GPS watch recorded a distance of 16.93 km (shown below), which sought of confirmed that I took a longer route.

As a whole, it was a fun experience with a few small complaints. I felt that it was a waste for the water points to give out bottles of water when cups of water would suffice. At many water points, they ran out of cups for the isotonic drinks. Also, runners had to make many stops at major road junctions which disrupted our pace and rhythm. Other than that, it was a fun race.

Next race, The North Face 100: 50 km Duo. Really looking forward to this one!

I am not a Jogger!

This article taken from Runner's World is the source of inspiration for the name of this blog!

I AM NOT A JOGGER

I may waddle when I run, but I'm running all the same

By John Bingham

PUBLISHED 09/19/2007

The late Dr. George Sheehan, beloved Runner's World columnist and arguably the first running boom's premier philosopher, once wrote that the difference between a runner and a jogger was a signature on a race application. (For the youngsters out there, there was a time before online registration when you actually filled out a paper application, signed it, attached a check, and mailed it in. Quaint, I know.) As succinct as Dr. Sheehan's definition was, it made the point. If you were motivated enough to train for and participate in an organized running event, then you were a runner. Anyone willing to risk public failure in order to be a part of the running community--no matter what his or her pace per mile might be--was a runner. Period. Kind of hard for anyone to argue with that logic.

But a few months ago, an ad ran in this magazine that drew a very hard line between runners and joggers. I immediately heard from tons of readers who were upset by the distinction. To me, however, such definitions are meaningless, since those of us who call ourselves runners already know why we call ourselves runners. Your reasons may be different from mine, but here's why I know I am a runner:

I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.

I AM A RUNNER because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what.

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate--things I once avoided--are necessary if I want to be a better runner.

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on.

I AM A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.

I AM A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Waddle on, friends.

Source: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-332--12126-0,00.html

Run NUS 2009

This was my first attempt at Run NUS. Overall, I thought it was a fun race. The run took runners through different spots around NUS. Places that I have not ventured to when I was an undergraduate at NUS. Part of the route included Eusoff Hall, Bukit Chandu, Kent Ridge Park, etc.

The terrain caught me by surprise. I heard that it was going to be hilly, but I did not expect it to be more challenging than Mizuno Mt Faber Run. Instead of having to conquer just one hill at the Mt Faber Run, I had to contend with many inclines along the route. Some of these inclines I felt were steeper than those at Mt Faber! Not to mention steps along parts of the route! This run was like a combination of Sundown and Mizuno Mt Faber... considering the steps and terrain...

To top it all off, the heavens opened at the last few kilometers and runners had to run in the pouring rain! Well, at least we got run. The race was eventually cancelled due to the rain and the other waves were not flagged off. I could see many disappointed faces...

Despite all the challenges, my friends and I maintained a decent pace throughout the run as shown by my GPS watch.

We maintained a pace of 6:03/km and finished the run in 1:07:58. However, the route was shorter than expected. It was 11.23 km (while the official distance was reported to be 12 km).

It was indeed a fun and interesting Sunday morning!

Next race, Mizuno Wave Run. My first 10 mile (16 km) race!

One of my blackened toe nails fell off!

One of the first things I realized after the KL marathon was I had one blackened toe nail on each foot. I have read about runners having blackened toe nails from long distance running but this was the first time that I actually experienced it.

I did not really know what to expect. I did do some research on the internet and the advice given was to leave it alone.

Therefore, I left it alone wondering what will happen to the blackened toe nail. Well, tonight I found out what will happen to it. It literally fell off!

Below are some pictures to show you what happened to my toe!

The picture above shows my toe nail dangling precariously from my toe! I had no choice but to yank it out!

The above is the gruesome picture of my nail-less toe. Currently, I do not feel any pain... Lets hope it remains this way. However, I do wonder how the nail will eventually grow...

Well at least now I know what happens to blackened toes...

Update 22 Oct 2011: Well it happened again recently at a race. Since this post has been quite popular, I thought it might be good to post the latest pics of my blackened toe nail... I will update this post further of future developments to my blackened toe nail.

Update 11 Dec 2011: Well as expected, the blackened toe nail fell off as I discovered in the middle of the night while I was asleep. I woke up to take this picture as a public service. haha. Like the first time, it did not hurt although it looked terrible...

SAFRA Bay Run & Army Half-Marathon 2009

This year's race was an interesting one. As usual, had a good time racing with good friends! What was a little disappointing for me was that we arrived on time only to realise that the race had started 5 to 6 minutes earlier than it should have. This was disappointing for me because I have always enjoyed the sense of anticipation before any race and the adrenaline rush when the race is flagged off. Not only that, we had to "fight" our way through the crowd to maintain the desired pace and to squeeze through bottlenecks. So this year, the starting of the race was a bit of a non-event and disappointment. Notwithstanding the earlier than expected start, I had a good race overall. The route was interesting and I enjoyed running through the F1 track and paddock area.

This is my second attempt at this event. I started with the goal of achieving sub 2 hrs timing having achieved 2 hrs 6 min last year. However, it was not meant to be. I finished the race at 2 hr 3 min. I was not upset with my timing at all because I did try my best and it was an improvement over last year's timing. The lesson learnt is that sometimes I have to set realistic targets.

When I reviewed my race data on Runpix as well as my Garmin 405, I realised that I had a pretty good run after all. The captured data is shown below.

My Garmin showed that I actually maintained a pace of 5:49 min per km! To me this is not too shabby at all. This means that throughout the 21 km race, I ran at a pace I would normally have run for a 10 km race! I also managed to remain quite consistent pace, of 10 to 10.5 kph, throughout the run as shown in the Section KPH.

Well, lesson learnt! I must learn to set realistic targets and appreciate what I have achieved so long as I have tried my best :-)

There is always next year's race!

Next race, RunNUS 09!

My Running Equipment

In this post, I will share some of the running equipment that I own and I find useful in enhancing my enjoyment in running.

SHOES

The most basic equipment for all runners would be a good pair of running shoes.

My shoes of choice would be ASICS Kayano (left). I have owned many versions of this shoe. Ranging from Kayano 13 to my current Kayano 15. The Kayano is a pair of running shoes with structured cushioning suitable for those who are flat footed and need shoes for over-pronation.

Like tires of a car, running shoes are subjected to tremendous wear and tear. To ensure proper cushioning and to prevent injuries, I change my pair of running shoes every 500 miles (around 800 km). This will work out to be a new pair of running shoes every 20 weeks (5 months) if I do a milage of 40 km a week.

Each pair of Kayano costs around $200. Therefore, a serious runner can expect to spend up to $600 dollars a year on running shoes alone.

I usually buy 2 pairs of identical shoes and rotate them (like car tires) on a weekly basis. This is to ensure that should anything untoward happen to a pair before race day, I will always have another pair as backup.

The Kayano is more of a "trainer". I am currently also trying out another pair of running shoe, ASICS DS Trainer 14 (left), which is more of a "racer". The DS Trainer is lighter than the Kayano 15, which is helpful for speed, but it has less cushioning compared to the Kayano. To me, this shoe is more suitable for shorter distance and faster races. However, I also have friends who use this pair to complete marathons. The DS Trainer is also good for fore-foot striking while the Kayano is good for rear-foot striking.

I might use the DS Trainer for the upcoming SAFRA Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2009 to see if this is also good for longer distance races.

(Afternote: I have used the DS Trainer for the Army Half Marathon 2009. It worked well for me so long as I consciously use fore-foot striking in my running. The DS Trainer has better cushioning at the fore-foot section. For rear-foot strikers, I suggest sticking to the Kayano.)

KEEPING TIME, PACE AND MEASURING DISTANCE

Another equipment that is useful for runners would be the Nike+ Sports Band (left). It measures the distance as well as the pace of every run. Data can also be uploaded to the website to track your runs. I am not sure of how it works technically, but I find this equipment quite accurate. It is also relatively cheap, around $100 when my wife bought it for me.

However, if you would like something more sophisticated, you can always acquire the GARMIN Forerunner 405 (right). It is a GPS watch, coupled with a heart-rate monitor. It costs around $500. I find this equipment exceptionally useful as it gives me accurate measurement of distance covered using GPS technology and as I run, I am also told of the pace that I am keeping. It is like wearing a speedometer on one's wrist. This is very useful if one is trying to keep to a certain pace in order to achieve certain target race timing. This piece of equipment has certainly helped me achieve my race targets for shorter distance races as well as marathons. The next picture shows the readings on the face of the watch. It provides several fields of data: Time, Pace, Distance, Calories burned among other details. The data shown on the watch below was race details of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon I completed in June 2009.

The last piece of equipment might not rank high on many runners' must-have list, but this ranks high on my list of favorites.

RUNNING SHADES

My running shades of choice is the OAKLEY RADAR with polarized lens. This is a gift from my wife. It fits perfectly and there is a special coating on the lens that repels moisture. Nice! Of course I think it looks cool. Ha ha.

A Chronicle of My Runs - 2007 to mid 2009 (updated 24 Aug 2009)

This blog chronicles my journey in the sport of running. Let the race pictures (taken over 2 years) do the talking and see for yourself how running has transformed me over the years... haha.

It all started with Run for Hope 2007. Under the influence of a certain individual, I did a 4 km charity run, enjoyed it so much and the rest was history.

Immediately after Run for Hope, I signed up for Real Run. My first official competitive race.

RealRun 2007 - 10 km (November 2007)

My timing for this 10 km race was 1 hr 17 min.

2007 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon - 10 km (December 2007)

I think I completed this run in 1 hr 10 min. After finishing this race, I started on my marathon training. I started by clocking 32 km a week (8km x 4), progressing to 44 km a week (8km X 3, weekdays + 20km LSD, on Sundays).

I also used a heart-rate monitor to ensure that I am exercising at the correct heart-rate zone and not pushing myself too hard.

After 6 months of running/training... I proceeded to complete my first marathon. The Adidas Sundown Marathon.

Adidas Sundown Marathon 2008 - 42 km (June 2008)

My first marathon was completed in 5 hrs 43 min. Not bad for a marathon that required one to cross at least 4 overhead bridges and risked being knocked down by cars.

I was so proud of this achievement that I started the tradition of framing my bib and medal for my subsequent marathons.

Passion Run 2008 - 15 km (June 2008)

This run was exactly 1 week after Sundown 08. It was a "recovery run" from Sundown...

Completed it in 1 hr 43 min.

Also did the Mizuno Wave Run (July 2008), my first sub-hour 10k run.

SAFRA Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008 - 21 km (August 2008)

Attempted my first half-marathon race after completing my first full marathon... irony of ironies. It was fun running over the Sheares Bridge and Marina Barrage even before the barrage was officially opened.

Achieved a decent timing of 2 hr 6 min.

Nike Human Race -10 km (August/September 2008, can't really remember)

This was one of my most enjoyable race. Running through the city spots such as Clarke Quay was cool.

I bettered my previous 10 km timing... 55:41 min

RealRun 2008 - 15 km

 

My second RealRun. It has been a year since my first official race. Notice the transformation yet? Completed this race in 1 hr 33 min, I think.

2008 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon - 42.195 km (December 2008)

This marked the climax of my running in 2008.

I achieved my personal best marathon timing for 2008: 4 hr 41 min

 

2009 has been an interesting year for my running. It is marked by many firsts...

Early in the year I participated in the Newton Active Run at Seng Kang. It's the first run I have ever done in Seng Kang. It was also the first race for the year. I was also happy with my timing. I achieved 54:38 min (10km). A personal best at that time. But more importantly, an Ang Moh (a caucasian man) came up to me at the end of the run to thank me for pacing him during the race... woah, that felt good!

Suburban Run 2009 - 10 km (February 2009)

2 weeks later I did this race teaming up with a good friend. Guess what, we came in tenth in the team category! Another first for me. I also achieved my personal best timing of 52 min for 10 km.

(June 2009) was my second Sundown Marathon and third full marathon. I had loads of fun for this marathon. As usual, the race was run with good friends. I remembered feeling very high at the last 10k and I was actually encouraging other runners to follow me to achieve sub-5 hr timing. One young guy actually followed, however, he dropped out a few km from the finish. Sadly, I could not find any official race pics of myself for this race. However, I was happy with my timing. More importantly, this marathon taught me many important lessons about life... It has taught me how to measure success... It has taught me that although timing is the common yard stick to measure success in a race, running a race is not simply about timing (albeit important). Achieving success in a race is about enjoying every moment of the race, finishing well and strong. It is about overcoming difficulties and challenges leading up to the race itself. It is about completing the race!

Mizuno Mt Faber Run 2009 (10 km)

This was my first attempt at the Mizuno Mt Faber Run. It was truly an enjoyable run as I have never run up, down and around Mt Faber before. I was also happy with my timing of 58:13 min. More interestingly, I actually found my race pic running together with a good friend on the official website. Try to spot me (Bib No. 1388). Truly the bib number 1388 proved to be very auspicious!

The highlight for 2009 must be my first overseas Marathon.

2009 Standard Chartered KL Marathon - 42.195 km (June 2009)

This was truly a fantastic experience. The route was not easy and it was hilly for most part of the last 10 KM. Having done the Mizuno Mt Faber Run 2 weeks before this race certainly helped prepare me for this marathon.

I was ecstatic after I crossed the finish line. I also achieved my personal best for Full Marathon! 4 hr 30 min!

To complete the whole story, a video of the run before and after the finish line!

The journey continues... next up... AHM 2009... stay tuned...