My 1st ever Marathon!!!

After few months of tough training, the D-Day (4th Dec 2005) finally come! I slept at 8pm and woke up at 3am.. was feeling quite refreshed :) I took the hotdog bun and a cup of cereals.. applied my sweat resist sunblock and off we went in my mum's car to the startpoint... and picked up Kumaran along the way ...


We reached RTP at ard 4.50am.. we met up with Bernard and some TP runners at the Padang field.. then we joined the rest of the MFrunners at the Esplanade.. alot of enthusiatic runners.. not forgetting the hot favs, the Kenyans.. wow the way they warm up is already like my speeding pace.. haha... their legs were so long and slim..

At ard 540, we start to gather at the start line.. haha Kumaran was no where in sight.. we guessed he must be in line with the Kenyans.. and truely is.. he was pushed to run once the "Bang" went off... Ong told me to run my own pace.. abt 7min/km... i checked my watch at every km.. to ensure i am in pace.. :)

I followed Adam's pace which is very consistent.. 7min/km.. once i turned in to Marina South.. i got an bad urge to go to the toilet... it was until the 3.5km pt then i spotted the 1st toilet and dashed towards it.. I lost Adam when i was out from the toilet.. i joined in the rest of the runners and heard horns, cheering and clapping at the 4km pt.. the Kenyans were making their exit!!! wow.. they were running in a big pack.. they have completed 9km.. wow very fast!

At the carpark B, i saw Ong at the 2nd drinks station with Uncle Chan close behind.. Teen was just ahead of me.. and I caught up with her at the golf resort.. and saw Adam just did the U turn ahead... we chatted as we ran on.. and caught upo with Adam at the 3rd drink station at 10km mark.. I followed teen pace and out we went to Prince Edward.. this is the 11.5km mark.. 1st 100 plus drink pt.. 100 plus will oni be provided at every 6km... water at every 2km... I drank the whole cup and it was sweet... till now my pace was easy and breathing also smooth.. at abt 14.5km.. we saw the 1st pair of 21km Kenyans racing back.. it seems so easy for them to do it in 1 hr plus.. by the time i reach MtBatten road.. the front pack of Kenyans had already ran past.. completing their 36km.. haha I told Teen, really envied them.. they got less than 10km to go.. and we are oni at 17km... still a long way to go man! hahaha...


The weather was very hot and the sun was so glaring! Luckiyl i got my cap with me... I was drew towards the 100plus at the 18km mark... and drank it mixing with water... feel like i was drinking the syrup.. finally towards fort road and into ECP.. i drank again at 20km pt.. haha this time could feel the stomach is abit bloated with water.. haha told myself.. next water pt cannot drink.. abt 22km, i overtook Shirlyn and Annie.. William ran with me for a short distance and told me about his ITB.. he wun be completing the race.. at tt moment.. i was also tempted.. but told myself no way u are gg to give up now.. focus focus! why u join this race for? for the medal! go for it! and that thought was thrown to the very back of my mind.. i just ran on enjoying the scenery and cheering teams...

at 24km.. another 100plus pt.. i decided to load my fuel belts with them instead.. so far i had not stop running.. so when i stop to pour the 100plus, i sensed something wrong.. i felt very giddy.. i quickly hopped and ran on the spot.. and i knew i couldn't stop.. else i will faint.. so i quickly get back into running.. and saw Chin Whatt walking and drinking.. I called out to him and ran on... after a mini up slope, i crossed the bridge to the lagoon.. wow there is no shade at this stretch.. i can't wait to get over this zone.. i just ran all i could.. and soon reach the food center.. then to bedok jetty for the U turn.. I saw cm and david shum at the 26km mark.. whilel they were at 27km.. as i ran further down, i saw Alan and Akira.. Akira seem to be in great pain... i took a packet of power gel after the U turn and start eating.. it was very dry and my throat had problem swallowing down.. i eat bit by bit.. and saw Teen followed by Lee... then gallop the whole pack down and reach out for some water back at the 26km water pt..

Soon I saw Jimmy Tan doing some stretching and called him.. now i start to feel the tiredness of both legs and my sole starts to hurt too.. i drank more water at the 28km pt.. abt 500m later, i saw Akira in great pain at the stone chairs.. i asked if he is ok.. and he signalled move on.. i just ran on and felt my speed seem to slowed down.. As i ran past the chalet, suddenly the lady beside my tripped and fell in front.. i and another guy quickly moved forward to help her up.. she was bleeding.. and there was no medic ard.. she said she was ok and told us to carry on.. i dare not stop so i just ran on.. and keeping drinking the 100 plus from my felt belt..

At the 30km mark.. i ran to the last table and asked for 100 plus.. they had ran out of cups.. and were pouring into used ice mountain bottles.. i just grab one and drank the whole bottle.. my energy was running low and i felt my legs gg to cramp up.. the oni thing i could think of were the salt tablets.. soon i saw the sgrunners support point.. din realise tt Sotong was so near me.. as he ran past and exclaimed Sgrunners Sgrunners.. i went up to FD and Chris if they have any salt tablets.. they dun have.. so i decided to move on and maybe Safra support pt will have.. then CHris chase up to me and said.. This is for u... hydrolyte.. wow.. i quickly drank the whole pack and felt better.. i almost skipped the Safra support pt.. thinking i had the hydrolyte.. shld be ok.. haha but Alan passed me a ice pack.. and i opened a small opening... and drank it until the 33km mark before i finish.. i started to count down at every km.. and look forward to the next drink pt..

The weather was getting hot.. and there was no shade once i came out of fort road.. Sotong was with me on and off.. hehe i saw his family and brokie's little ones along Kallang.. i was feeling quite ok.. just tt energy quite low at this pt.. Sotong asked me at 38km mark if i am aiming for sub 5.. i looked at my watch.. 4hr 38mins.. 4 more km to go in 22 mins.. haha unless i sprint.. dun think i got the strength to do so.. my target is to complete.. and told him to go ahead :) very soon, Sotong was far ahead of me.. i continued my slow pace and manage to catch up with him at 40km mark.. and i took my last drink... and ran on..

I saw Tiwazz, Bee at esplanade.. 41km mark.. TIwazz cheered me on and paced me till the last 250m.. haha i was trying hard to catch up with him.. my toes and hand turned numb.. and i was abit worried.. scare i will faint b4 the finishing pt.. haha but everything was quite fast.. i saw the clock.. 5 hr plus.. haha slow down at the last 100 m and look out for the photographers.. hehe like the runners ran past me.. so i can have nice nice pic hehe :p and finally cross the line! haha can't beleive i can finish it.. hehe

I saw Ong and CM @ the finishing pt.. and told them I DID IT!! haha.. but after tt run, i can't walk and have to drag myself up the cab.. hehe... but getting the medal and finisher T-shirt is worthwhile.. No pain No gain.. haha

Distance covered: 42.195km __ Timing: 5:02:51s

Race Pack Collection

I decided to give today run a miss... as my legs are still arching from Tuesday run.. think must give my dear legs some good rest for this Sunday... getting abit excited abt it.. hehehe... will be gg down to collect my race pack @ Suntec today! :D

5 Days to D-Day --- Taper Run to Labrador Park

Quite a number of regulars were absent today.. hahaha think most have taper off for the wk.. for the big race ;) as we gathered at the lobby, a new member, Pek Chong came up to us... he had just signed up.. and will be joining us for the 1st time :) we start off slightly later at ard 6.55pm... the route is Depot Rd- Labrador Park- Henderson.. abt 8.5km... so will be back to club by 8pm....

I start off in my warm up pace.. slow and easy.... hahaha Adam asked if I wanted him to pace me... Yean keep pace with Pek Chong and they crossed the traffic with the frontiers.... Adam, CM and me was struck halfway thru the junction... by the time we ran in to Labrador.. we saw they were abt 200m ahead of us... once we were in Labrador, Adam had crossed his warm up distance--5km.. and he started to increase his pace.. i followed suit.. and tried to run light.. head str.. and breathing smooth... by the exit of the park.. Yean and Pek Chong was about 100m ahead.. Cm targeted tt we can catch up by the traffic junction... and we did :D

Along Telok Blangah rd, Adam cont'd his pace.. and i followed close behind.. halfway along Henderson rd, Adam crossed the road.. thinking there was no vehicles.. i made a quick turn and tried to cross too... woaah.. a car came by at a high speed.. and luckily i managed to jump up the pavement in time.. waah heng arh.. thw 1st thing i recalled was the sms i received from Anton before the run.. tt a female runner was knocked down earlier at Sixth Avenue... I just cont'd on all the way to the foot of TB hill.. and crossed the road safely to club..

Distance covered: 8.5km __ Timing: 50:01:39