Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011

Everything happened as planned. My strategy for this race was the same as Newton 30k. Complete the first 11km below 1hr, 20km below 1:52 and 30km below 2:56. I figured if I could hit these timings at the various distances, I should be able to achieve my personal best. Well, the funny thing was, I completed the race with the same timing as my PB set in 2009. Now how conincidental can that be? My comfort was that last year I completed the same route for the first time in 5:10... so in fact I improved by more than 45 mins!

As a whole, I had a blast at the race. My race buddy and I arrived at the start line well ahead of time. Having gone through the new route last year, I was better prepared for the race.

My only complaint about this race was the lack of distance markers. I resorted to spotting runners wearing GPS watches and asked them what was the distance... It also did not help that all race categories merged towards the end of the race, and it was really crowded. It was difficult to run with walkers hogging the route.

Well, at the end of the day, it was a nice day out and at least I am not disappointed with my race timing.

Now I am really looking forward to my next race which is HK Marathon on 5 Feb 2012. My last marathon before I turn 40 on the next day!

Newton Challenge 30km

This is the first 30km race that I have ever participated and it was a blast. I was aiming for a sub-3hr timing and I achieved it.

Initially, I was apprehensive about signing up for this race because I thought the route would be boring as I was very very familiar with East Coast Park. However, I believe it was this familarity that helped me to achive my personal best for 30km.

The strategy for this race was simple. To achieve a sub-hour timing at the 11km mark and sub 1:50 timing at 20km mark. I figured if can achieve these timings, I would be on track for a sub-3hr timing for the 30km race. My strategy worked and I clocked in a timing of 2:56. Not bad huh...

The race was generally well organised with distance markers every kilometer. This was very useful for me as I paced myself. There were also sufficient hydration provided. I am even beginning to like the official drink. A nice touch at the end of the race was that all runners were given a COLD WET towel! That was indeed very welcomed after running for almost 3 hours under the hot sun.

Overall, it was a pleasant outing complemented with great company at the race! This race also served as a useful time trial for the end of the year SCMS.

It was indeed a good Sunday.

Real Run 2011 (21km)

One major lesson learnt today. Check your race calendar before signing up for races. I signed up this year's Real Run without realising that I have also signed up for Northface 100 (25km) yesterday. After yesterday's race, I was really wondering if I could survive this year's Real Run.

Unlike other years, this year's race offered a new 21km category. The route was pretty much the same as last year's 15km route just that they lengthened the part along Changi Coast Road. Overall, it was a very well organised race. No surprises, just like all other years.

My race buddy and I really suffered for this race as we were still experiencing fatigue from the previous day's race. However, we persisted and came back in a decent net timing of about 2:06. Again we finished the race within a minute from one another. This meant that we kept to an average pace of 10km/h which was quite decent.

Post race, I was suffering from the effects of the races... I don't think I will go anywhere which requires me to go down flights of stairs... However, the satisfaction from completing 2 huge races back to back was priceless.

The North Face 100 (50km Duo)

This is my 3rd go at this race. This race has always been the most painful race in my race calendar but it is one of those race that one die die must do dispite the pain.

Somehow the pain and adventure of running a trail race seemed very atttractive. Anyway, all the years, this has always been one of the better organised races with great post race goodies like Subway sandwiches and cookies. This year, they even brought in the Milo Van! I had countless cups of it after the race... comfort drink indeed after a hard race.

This year I fell during the race and I actually hit my face on the ground... I also scrapped my shoulder, knee and palm. Thank God I was not badly injured and could carry on with the race. There were also some good samaritans who came to render help and made sure I was ok. To top it all, I also have a blackened toe nail (not my first though) and a few blisters... See this year's race is indeed eventful and memorable...

Anyway, this year my race partner and I completed our race within seconds from one another and I came slightly after he crossed the finishing line... We completed the race about 3:13. Last year both of us completed it in 3:22. So it was a personal best for both of us...

Really looking foward to next year's race.

Anyway, my next race is tomorrow morning... RealRun 21km.... its gonna be painful....

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 Certificate

My KL Marathon 2011 Certificate arrived. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the certificate. It came laminated with useful information such as split timings as well as overall postion.

I must say that SC KL marathon has come a long way since its inception. I remember the chaos the first year it was held in 2009, with drink stations running out of water and slower runners had to resort to buying drinks from convenience stores along the way. Runners also had to contend with traffic as the locals as well as the police who were not used to the idea of road closures.

Two years on, the marathon has grown to become one of the better marathons I have run. All the issues that were experienced in the first year has disappeared. This marathon has become a highlight in my yearly race calendar!

Indeed looking forward to next year's race.

Army Half Marathon, 21 km (04.09.2011)

This was one special race for me. This was the race that I achieved my PB for 21 km last year at 1:56. Inherently, I was under pressure to better my time. To manage my own expectations, I actually revisited the quote that I put up to explain why I named my blog "I am not a Jogger".

"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. 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. - Quoted from RW Magazine"

It might sound very emotional, but thats how each and every race can be. Each and every race has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me! Sometimes I ask myself why do I want to put myself through such stress. As though my life is not stressful enough.

To be honest, I was concerned and I was preparing myself for disappointment that whatever the race turned out to be, just enjoy the race, the route, as well as the company. Its the enjoyment that counts... yeah... like real.

To make matters worse, I discovered one the night before the race that I have been issued a wrong bib... a bib carrying someone else's name. I tried calling the person on the mobile number stated on the bib hoping to return him his bib but he did not answer the call... oh well... I thought it was not a good sign for the race.

Therefore, I decided to run the race with the wrong bib, which means I will not be having an official timing, and really simply enjoy the race.

Well, everything turned out fine at the race. The race was superbly organised, the route was new and nice and most importantly, I ACHIEVED MY PERSONAL BEST!!!!!

As can be expected, I was ecstatic! I really could not believe that I could better my PB, having been disappointed at the 2 previous 21km races. I actually completed the race in 1:52!

Really happy with my timing. Now, I just want to busk in the moment... till the next race....


Next race: North Face 100 (50km Duo) and Real Run (21km). Made a mistake signing up to the races back to back on a Saturday and Sunday... crazy!

Adidas King of the Road (28.08.2011)

This is one of the better organised race I have done this year. Appreciated the efforts organisors took to "smoothen" out the route in that they actually build ramps to prevent runners from climbing up stairs near MBS. I thought that was a nice touch. Did not sleep well the night before the race as I was staying up to watch Singapore's closest ever fought Presidential Election. Enjoyed the route though, and did decently well. Completed the 16.8km race in 1:33.

Marina 21K (23.07.2011)

Just completed the race last night with a timing of 2:02. 6 minutes shy of my personal best. But I had fun nonetheless. Especially after the fiasco experienced at a race one week earlier. Last night's race was relatively incident free and well planned out. The race route was nice and being able to see fireworks from the National Day Parade Rehearsal en route was a bonus.

This race route comprised of 2 loops around Marina Bay/Tanjong Rhu area. I completed the first loop in 56 mins. After completing the first loop, I thought I could keep up the pace and finished the race with a PB. But somehow, I could not keep up the pace and fell behind. I was glad that my good friend was able to clock yet another PB and was there to take the video of me at the end point :)

Next Race: Adidas King of the Road

Community Games Road Run (16.07.2011) and Timex Trifactor 21km Run (17.07.2011)

This weekend is a relatively "busy" week in terms of races. I participated in two events. My first Community Games, Road Run and my second Timex Trifactor 21km.

Together with my team mates we ran at the Community Games, Road Run. It was a short race of 4.29km. Did not do fantastically well (about 21 to 22 mins, did not start my stop watch) as I have always found short races painful. It is ironic but short races to are really painful to me. This is because for short races, there is a need to have a burst of power from beginning till end. Power, something which I do not have much of. I am more of a consistent, moderate-paced, long distance runner who can go on and on.

Anyway, I thought I could do better at the next race which was a half marathon distance. I was hoping to beat my personal best of 1:56 as this race is usually not crowded. However, I was disappointed. I finished in about 2:06. I was quite amazed by the (lack of) organization of the race. There was a real lack of water points and one of the water points were not even manned (I guess due to a lack of volunteers). To make things worse, there was hardly any route and distance markers. The route marshals were also not clear as to how to direct the runners. We were literally running "blind". At one point runners were wondering if we were lost. I encountered a group of 10k runners who said that they could not find the route to the finishing line. This really affected my motivation as well as performance.

Well, after this experience, I am really apprehensive about my race next Saturday which is Marina 21. This is also a new race by new organizers. I hope it will not be a repeat of today's fracas. And hopefully a personal best?

Next Race: Marina 21

Pleasant surprise from HK Marathon

Had a pleasant surprise from the organisers of the HK Marathon. I actually received a "Progress Award Certificate" on top of the normal finisher's certificate from the race organisers.

I think this is a nice touch which local organisers can consider.

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2011 (26.06.2011)

Completed my 12th full marathon last weekend and completed it in 4:38. Not my best timing, but still very happy. Considering that I have not really been running since Sundown Marathon and was on holiday right up to the week before this marathon. I was also nursing an ulcer in my throat from all the heaty food consumed during my holiday in Vietnam and Phuket... (yup, excuses, excuses). I was ranked 266 out of 1256 Full Marathon runners in the Men's Open Category. Incidently, next year I will be competing in the Veteren Category :-(

This marathon is special because of several firsts that were achieved.

The first first was that my friend and I decided to drive to KL from Singapore rather than catching a flight. The drive up proved to be a very pleasant experience as it allowed us to "stretch the legs" of my car... loved the feel of the car on the NS Highway. We also managed to reach our destination in very good time ;-) With the help of modern technology in the form of GPS (loaned from my wife), we were able to navigate to the race pack collection venue as well as our hotel without any problems.

The second first was that this time round we decided to stay in a hotel near Chinatown that was within walking distance to the start and end point rather than our usual hotel. This was indeed a good idea. We even had time to leisurely walk back to our hotel for breakfast after completing our race.

The third first was that my good friend managed to achieve his PB and a sub-5 timing. Truly happy for my friend!

The fourth first was that this was actually the first marathon that I used a Heart Rate Monitor to monitor my exertion throughout the race. This was despite the fact that I have owned a HRM ever since I started running. I guess it was a wise move as in my eagerness to run a good race, I did not want to over exert myself. Throughout the race, I kept my HR to below 151 pulse. This would be around 70% to 80% of my maximum heart rate. However, I could hardly push my heart rate above 141 beyond the 25km mark. I figure if I really want to push for a PB, I should be pushing towards a HR of 158. Lets see if this will work at the year end SCMS.

I am starting to enjoy overseas marathon races more than local races. This is because I am starting to find local races being too crowded and the route boring. From the statistics given by the organisers, there were less than 1400 runners in the Full Marathon Category. Compare this with our local year-end marathon which has about 15,000 full marathon runners, not including runners from all other categories merging at the end point. This year, organisers for the local marathon are aiming for 70,000 runners...

Anyway, I really had a good time and am looking forward to the next race overseas.



Next Race: Tri Factor Run

Passion Run 2011 and Sundown Marathon 2011

 

Sundown Marathon (28 May 2011)

Completed the two races in two consecutive weekends. As usual, Passion Run was seen as the final Long Slow Distance (LSD) before Sundown (my 11th Full Marathon, completed it in 5:15). Both races were done and completed with great friends and at an relaxing pace. Both races had similar race format/route as last year, so there is really nothing much to talk about... haha. Honestly, I pity race organisers nowadays as it is really getting harder to come out with fresh ideas and new race locations on our tiny island. Particpants are also getting more and more demanding concerning race entitlements and experiences. At the same time. I am pleasantly surprised that there are more long distances races organised this year. According to my personal race calendar, I have one or two long distance races (15km and above) every month from now till the end of the year... I really wonder how race organisers are going to keep interest among the running community alive as I suspect the participants for all these races will be the same group of people.

Next Race: KL Marathon

Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2011 (20.02.2011)

Just back from my first race for the year. This race was special to me as it marked the completion of my 10th full marathon since I started marathoning in 2008. What better way to commemorate this milestone than to do it in Hong Kong? Another highlight of this marathon was the fact that this was the coldest marathon I have ever attempted. Apparently, it was as cold as 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. As someone from the tropics, this was indeed a fantastic experience. Initially, I was very concerned about the cold temperature as I arrived in Hong Kong not prepared physically as well as psychologically for the cold. Some last minute shopping for weather appropriate running gear helped tremendously. I bought a long sleeved running T and on race day, I wore 2 layers of T-shirts.

The actual experience of running in the cold proved to be very positive. It was indeed very comfortable and I really enjoyed the cool air. This was also the first marathon that I ran in a pair of full length compression tights. The compression tights served me well as it protected me from the cold as well as provided enough support for my leg muscles. This is the first marathon that I completed absolutely pain free. I was really surprised.

The route was exactly the same as last year's and this year, I was mentally better prepared for the elevation of the route. I improved by about 15 mins from last year's timing completing the race in 4:47. I am happy with this timing =)

Other than the race, the company and food that went along with the race was fantastic... All of us, completed the race well.

This race will indeed be a highlight for me should my friends and I decide to do this race again.