• The Cheery Runner

    Tuesday, May 30, 2006

    Sicky Short Run

    I was down with running nose and fever today.. dun feel really good to run.. so just run whatever distance i can.. My Dear got ICT for 2 wks.. so he wun be ard during our wkly runs at MF.. Cm, Wong n Derrick will take over the training hehe.. Segolene n Philips are back after 2 wks of outstation..

    Today's route is Depot Rd-Canterbury-Labrador-Telok Blangah Way-Henderson Rd-Club

    We start off at ard 6.50pm.. I was doing my easy pace and chatting with Lee along Depot rd to Canterbury.. keeping me occupied w/o thinking of my fever.. Thanks Lee! :) As we ran towards Russell rd, i asked Lee to go ahead without me as i plan to do a shorter route today.. He went ahead and joined his kaki, Adam :) Cm and Waifung caught up from behind n CM teased me tt Ong not here, i no form.. haha.. i told him i sick.. he quickly ask me to cut short n go back to club.. I was lagging slightly behind as i ran out of Canterbury.. Wong waited for us at the exit of Canterbury, I told him tt i will skip Labrador n head back to club with Segolene n Philip.. I ran abt 55mins today...

    I felt much better after sweating out.. but feel quite tired.. after sending kumaran home, i went back home and zzzz...

    Sunday, May 28, 2006

    Sunday Run to Esplanade-Marina

    Anthony and DO bought some new running frens today. Nice to meet up with IMD, Realrunner and Craig :D Waifung and Wendy also came.. Ong briefed us on the 36 km route : Hendersion- Tiong Bahru Park- Grange Rd-Zouk-Clark Quay-Esplanade-Marina Promenade (2nd Toilet)-Shenton way-Marina South (marathon route)-Keppel-Kampong Bahru-MF( 1 loop)- Morse Rd-Henderson Rd-Club..

    We started off @ 720am.. Bug was leading far ahead.. he was no where in sight when all of us reached Beo Crescent-Esplanade.. We have a comforatable pace until Zouk where the front runners start to break away.. I was with Goola, Waifung, Wong, Lee, Uncle Lim, Dream, IMD, Craig and Wendy as we ran to Esplanade.. I took a short water break @ Esplanade.. and we were split into 3 grps.. IMD, Dream, Craig, Uncle Lim, Waifung, Goola went ahead for the 2nd toilet.. Lee and Wendy decided to Uturn back the same route back to club.. while Wong, Colleen and I decided to head into Marina South..

    I was feeling quite thirsty as I approach LPS.. very tempted to buy drink from there.. think i din drink enuff yesdae.. as I ran errands at a couple of places... when i went in Marina.. my mind was all abt the MaMa shop at Victor's bowl.. just like an Oasis to me.. haha.. tt's the main source tt kept me gg.. Colleen asked if i can finish a bottle.. I told her Yes Yes! I severly deprived of water.. need to take the whole bottle.. haha :P it was really refreshing and I almost wanted to say Aarrhhh... as i gulped down the isotonic.. we cont'd on our run.. felt a slight stomachache when I ran past the steamboat stalls.. this is e 2nd time i encountered it after drinking sportade.. think i will either go for 100plus or H2O the next time..

    As we turned left at the 1st T-junction to the Uturn road, I heard footsteps behind.. It's Bug!! wah sey he on good form today.. the rest were no where in sight.. he proceeded with the Uturn and we waved good bye as we were heading str out of Marina from the short cut.. we then saw Uncle Lim and Goola... did a short explanantion on the route to Goola..

    The weather was very good.. nice and cool.. so happy to have the clouds to shed off the sun.. I took another water break @ keppel as Colleen n Wong waited for me before we ran back to club via Kampong Bahru @ a faster pace..

    Derrick managed to get back just in time b4 the big downpour!The rest of the runners were totally drenched.. Goola managed to make her way back from Marina b4 she was caught in the heavy rain which blinded her visibility @ Kampong Bahru..

    We had our nice Briyani rice and chatting session @ TB Cres mkt while waiting for the rain to stop..

    Distance covered: 20km __ Timing: 2:03:05

    Thursday, May 25, 2006

    Hill Repetitions @ TB Hill

    It was pouring very heavily in the afternoon.. lucky the rain stopped and we can proceed with the hill intervals.. :) Our Beau Tonglin is back with us today.. sunshine after the rain :D We did a short 3km warmup run from Henderson Rd- Telok Blangah Way and Telok Blangah Heights..

    We gathered at the usual start pt of the TB hill.. Ricci, Derrick and Kumaran were very eager on chionging e loops.. haha it's always fun to see them joke and challenging one another in teasing way.. :D

    We have to do 6 sets of 1km loop ard TB hill. the following are my timings for the training.. felt quite shiong throughout the sets.. was panting quite hard.. mindset is very impt to last me thru the rds..

    1st Set : 4:34:82

    2nd Set : 4:48:94

    3rd Set : 4:48:10

    4th Set : Legs jellied after i just passed the 1st carpark.. Stop and walk back to start pt.

    5th Set : 4:48:08

    6th Set : 4:50:06

    Tuesday, May 23, 2006

    Kent Ridge

    Congratulations to all who have just copleted their 15km PaceSetters Race! Well done!! Their timings were superb!!

    Ong briefed us on the route.. we are gg to Kent Ridge today.. it will be the usual KRP route, 1 loop and back from Pasir Panjiang.. We have a very big turnout today.. Alan estimated almost 30 of us.. tt's really alot! Without futher adew, we started off at 6.50pm.. The frontiers were fast ahead..and by the end of depot road, they were out of sight!

    At Queensway traffic junction, I looked at my watch.. 16min plus.. one of the fastest i ever done.. We ran in to Kent Ridge via Portsdown.. Adam and Waifung were ahead of me as we went up the KR slopes.. Ong was guiding at the junction.. 3 of us decided to skip the additional rd and went str to the tank.. we had a short water break and waited for the front runners to finish their loops at the lower KRP..

    Once everyone has gathered, we cont'd the route back to club.. the return pace was faster.. Sok hwa and Chua overtook me after Comtech.. Wong and Hock Soon were ahead.. Colleen joined us at the PSA junction.. After the traffic junction, we cont'd on the pace.. By the time i reached Henderson rd, i felt numbness on my brain.. keep breathing hard and endure all the way to the club..

    Distance covered: 10km __ Timing: 1:06:14

    Thursday, May 18, 2006

    Esplanade Run

    Eh is back again.. haha think she can't resist the temptation to run.. :D cm keep asking her to do slowly.. Anton and DO went off earlier for their Climbtalon training @ Labrador.. Ong briefed us on the route and we start off at ard 6.50pm...

    The front runners were stopped a couple of times by the traffic lights from Henderson to Zouk... giving a chance for us to catch up .. haha.. Bug slowed down and chatted with me along Grange road.. I felt quite easy with the pace towards Esplanade.. n i am supposed to run recovery today..

    After Zouk, EH, Yean, Cm, Alan Chao, Sok Hwa, Chua Thomas and I were running together at the back as the frontiers started to speed ahead..Aa we ran past Clark Quay, some tourists cheered and clapped for us.. soon we reached Esplanade.. i took a short toilet break and joined the rest..

    Chua asked me, there must be a reason why u wanna run so fast lately.. is it Ong chasing after someone tt's y u run ahead to chk out on him?? I broke into laughter.. hahaha.. I told him if that's the case, I would have given up the idea long ago.. cos there's no way i can run tt fast to see who's ahead with him.. haha maybe i shld change to cycling or blading in order to catch up kakaka..

    Ong led us back to the club.. dunno y the journey back to the club was so tough for me.. after clark quay, i felt i had no energy to move ahead at all.. and there were many pts whereby i felt like stopping and walk back to club instead.. i keep telling myself mindset mindset.. at certain pt, i felt my right vision blurred.. and i got to blink a couple of times b4 seeing better.. after the kopitiam of henderson rd, i totally din see Xiaoling and Alan Yeo until Wong told me.. we stopped and tok to them for a while.. haha thurs is their dating day n they were gg to Bugis.. hehe.. i think i was quite tired and totally shag out.. my whole mind was abt 100 plus in the club.. :P tt's the whole motivation tt put back back to club...
    Overall run is good for the front part.. and disaster for the 2nd part..

    Distance covered: 12km __ Timing 1:20:41

    Tuesday, May 16, 2006

    Intervals @ Queensway

    Quite a few injured themselves recently.. must really take good care! Divey is nursing her injury.. other than her knee prob, enghwa hurt her finger and right knee consecutively over these 2 days.. take care gals!

    Waifung joined us for the 1st time in our wkday run... Anton n DO went for climbaton training @ Labrador.. Teck How went for his MF speedwork.. for the rest, we went to Queenstown for the speedwork :) abt 25mins...

    Today's interval is 2x1.6km; 3x800m; 3x400m.. But i skipped most of the sets.. oni did the following.. :p

    1600m :
    1st lap - 1:57;
    2nd lap - 4:04;
    3rd lap - 6:07;
    4th lap - 7:57

    400m : 1:38:41

    400m : 1:36:06
    Feel the strain at my right thigh..

    400m : 1:35:23

    I ran back with Ong and Eileen to the club.. took abt 25mins for the warm down run.. Did some stretches to relieve the strain on my right thigh ..

    Sunday, May 14, 2006

    Sentosa Cove - Marina South

    Today's route is to Club-Henderson Rd-Harborfront-Gateway-Sentosa Cove-Tanjiong Beach-Siloso Beach-Trail-Gateway-Keppel Road-Marina South-Keppel Road-Harborfront-Henderson-Club

    I went off an easy pace talking to William and Colleen for a while at the start.. We reached the gateway junction in abt 17mins...

    As I ran in to Sentosa Cove part, my lower back arches badly.. think due to the painting i did for my room on fri.. i even tho of Uturning back to club from there.. was quite low moral and the up and downs make me feel worse.. I can't wait to finish this part.. I signalled to Colleen to go up the steep slope which will lead up to Tanjiong Beach-Siloso Beach.. Colleen turned right n I decided to skip Tanjiong beach too.. I told her and William tt I heading for the 7-eleven.. and I got 2 bottles of H2O for 2 bucks while Colleen got a 100plus n William a mini curry puff.. I saw Ong running pass and asked if he wan some drinks.. he went ahead with Jimmy Chow slightly behind.. I gulped down one bottle of my H2O and felt much better.. think I am too thirsty earlier..

    3 of us cont'd on towards Rasa Sentosa.. and saw Adam ahead.. I did a short cut to the main route.. lucky to catch Adam in time to ask him to go into the trail.. as we normally run the main road due to poor visibility in the trail at nite.. Colleen n William tot i was lost.. haha cos i suddenly disappeared behind them and become in front... hehe.. colleen has good form today and told us tt she will wait for us at the end of the trail.. Anthony also came shortly.. I followed behind Adam n William.. at the end of the trail.. Colleen and Anton was waiting at the other side.. and I asked them to go over to the usual route out towards the gateway.. Anton proceeded ahead as he is doing the full route..

    When we reached the gateway, Chine, TLH, Freddy, Wong were already there... they ran past the musical fountain which is slightly shorter.. haha no wonder we din see them .. We had a short break at the gateway and i shared my 2nd bottle of H2O with the guys... some of us was thinking if we shld go to Marina South as it was getting hot.. Wong suggested to skip the Marina South portion n we'll U-turn after the water break @ Tanjiong Pagar Shell Station.. Freddy, Colleen, William and Adam decided to call it a day and headed back to club from Kg Bahru.. Only 4 of us (Wong, TLH, Chin n me) proceeded to Keppel road.. the weather heat was unbearable.. I ran towards every possible shade i could hide from the sun..

    As we approaches the Shell station, Chin and TLH din cross over.. Wong and I shouted for them to U turn, but they din hear us and ran further and further away towards Marina South direction... I got a bottle of H2O and drown it down my throat.. I was feeling very thirsty today.. think was due to the heat and i din drink sufficient yesdae..

    After the water replenishment, we exit from Shell and was jsut abt to head back the same direction to club.. an Indian passerby told us our frens have turned back to club.. think he saw us shouting and waving hard earlier to Chin and TLH.. haha..

    We crossed the junction and ran back the usual route along Keppel n PSA as this route is more shady.. we went back from Kg Bahru-TB Rise direction..

    Ong and Anthony did the full route! Wow 3 cheers for them! We waited for them and had a rewarding lunch at Cineleisure Cartel afterwards..

    Distance covered: 20km __ Timing: 2:14

    Thursday, May 11, 2006

    16km - Botanic Garden

    Ong briefed us on today's 16km route: Henderson-TB Park-Delta Canal-Ridley Park-Botanic Garden-Farrer Rd-Magaret Drive-Delta Canal-Henderson Rd-Club

    By the time we reached Canal, the frontiers were already no where in sight.. Small Chua sped up to closen the distance with them.. and the rest of us enjoyed a comfortable pace along Canal.. When i was in Ridley park, i heard a fast "Pi bo Pi b" rythm getting nearer n nearer behind me.. it was Derrick.. wow he was fast man! caught up with us in such a short time as he was held up at work..

    Derrick, Yeun, Sok Hwa, Mr Chua, Wong and Uncle Lim were already at the BG traffic junction when i reached.. and we ran in together with me lagging slightly behind.. they were simply too fast for me.. As we reach to the inner part of BG, I saw Ong at the junction.. I ran on and saw the rest gathering at the toilet.. Kumaran asked me where is Ong.. haha.. think he very eager to con'td... I took a fast toilet break at Botanic garden.. cm, yean, Divey, Segolene n Yuen joined us shortly and we moved on to farrer road.. I was feeling slightly tired as I ran up towards Holland junction n slowed down my pace.. managed to catch a short break at the flyover junction..

    After traffic junction, Wong sped up a little at the up slope and I followed behind.. Segolene was just behind us when we turned in to Margaret drive.. I picked up my pace slightly and tried to maintain.. halfway thru, I saw Wai Man walking ahead.. maybe the frontiers' pace were too fast for him initially.. when he saw us approaching, he also started to run.. we crossed the traffic junction and reached the Delta canal.. Wong started to pick up pace again.. i pick up my legs and I followed suit... overtook Wai Man after the road crossing.. was breathing quite hard.. saw sok hwa n Mr Chua just ahead.. Wong turned in to Henderson road.. wow heng arh.. finally got some shortcut... abt 500m shorter... haha.. and we ran all the way until the Courts junction b4 i could have a chance to catch back my breathe.. just as the green man appear, Clare n TLH just crossed the pedestrain crossing and 4 of us sped all the way back to club..

    Distance: 15.5km __ Timing: 1:32:07

    Tuesday, May 09, 2006

    No matter Rain or Shine.. The Spirit is there!

    It was heavy showers with thunders just prior to the run.. Ong and I were struck at the hdb void deck.. Thanks Jimmy for bringing us the umbrella.. was quite surprise by the turnout.. As Alvin had said our club really have alot of die-hard runners! 3 cheers for all! =D

    Due to safety reason, Ong cancelled today's MF hill repeats to the reverse 10km route of Thurs run.. Club-TB Rise-Harborfront-Morse Rd-MF Peak-Kg Bahru-Harbourfront-Henderson Rd-Club

    By 6.55pm, the rain reduced to drizzle.. Without further delay, we started off and was greeted by a nice nice Rainbow on the way out of club! :) I planned to go for recovery today.. Eng hwa joined us too.. she skipped MF and went for a flat route towards Alexandra-Depot Rd.. Uncle Lim, Segolene, Ong and me ran together from Morse road up.. I was following behind Uncle Lim till mid-hill where i overtook him.. was breathing slightly heavy as we headed for the peak.. As we ran down the steep portion, Uncle Lim sped all the way down in a very fast speed.. (which triggered his old injury after the run)..

    I was feeling kinda tired as I ran out of Kg bahru.. can't really lift up my legs.. I hang on a slower pace.. and tried to recover.. After Morse road, I gladly increased my pace and pushed myself all the way up Henderson road.. Segolene was together with me too!

    Overall was quite ok for me.. easy in the front.. dwell abit in the middle and pushed hard at the back... :)

    Distance: 10km __ Timing: 1:00:16

    Sunday, May 07, 2006

    Sunday Run to Labrador - Marina South

    Oni a few of us (Adam, Andre, Derrick, Divey, Freddy, Ong, me, Phillipe, Segolene, Small Chua, Teck Hou, TLH, Waifung n Yuen) turned up today.. Anthony, DO and Ricci went for MR progressive run.. Kumaran was last min called up to work morning shift.. JC got a bad diarrhea and missed the run..

    By the time we reached Alexandra junction, Derrick, Freddy, Ong n Teck Hou were far ahead of us.. Andre, Divey, me, Phillipe, Segolene, Small Chua, TLH, Waifung n Yuen were running together in the 2nd pack.. I was breathing slightly heavier as I followed behind Adam up the Labrador slope.. I did 2 loops in the park and took a sip of water from the cooler at each rd.. We exited from the flat road and all of us managed to gather at the traffic light n headed towards harborfront..

    Andre and TLH turned back towards kampong Bahru while the rest of us head towards Keppel.. Divey told us not to wait for her as her injury flared up again.. Along Keppel road, Adam asked for a water break n we stopped at Tanjiong pagar shell station for a drink.. was surprised to see Divey, tot she Uturn back earlier.. she really endured her pain all the way.. really admired her never give up spirit :D

    Segolene n Phillipe turned back shortly after Shell station while the rest of us headed in to Marina South.. Adam, Divey n Waifung planned to do 21km so they U turn back @ Marina Bay 1st busstop.. left Small Chua, Wong, Yuen and me.. the pace was still quite ok and soon we reached Victor's Bowl n saw the frontiers completed their marathon loop.. i finished my remaining 100plus... Yuen went for a short toilet break and Wong led Small Chua n me to the marathon Uturn pt n str out we exited from Prince Edward rd.. my energy was running low n we stopped for another water break @ Finger Pier.. i had my refreshing H2O before we cont'd on back to club @ a faster pace.. had a hard time trying to follow behind Small Chua n Wong.. @ TB rise, i was panting heavily and my legs had no strength to catch up.. was abt 50m away behind when i reached the club..

    Overall, it was a good run for me and i enjoyed it tho my archilles were arching badly for both legs after tt....

    Distance covered: 25km __ Timing : 2:37:01

    Thursday, May 04, 2006

    MF 10km

    Ong and I bumped into Sabrina @ Redhill mrt.. she is joining us for the 2nd time today.. Enghwa also came for the run.. haha kena nagged by me not to run tt long as her knee still haven recover.. and her doc strongly against her to run now.. Hope she willl recover soon! :)

    Ong briefed us on the route.. it will be the same 10km MF loop + another 5km vis Henderson-Harborfront-TB Rise.. so for those who do the 15km will pass by harborfront 3 times..

    As usual, the frontiers were no where in sight when we reached Seah IM FC... I was with Divey, Wong, Sabrina, CM, EngHwa, Jerry and Patric. After teh traffic junction, Divey and I ran side by side.. Shortly after the muslim cemetery, some part of the pavement was shadowed by the overgrown branches.. there was a pt whereby Divey and I brake at the same time as we paused for one another to go 1st.. we broke out into laughter as we have the li lang jin shen...

    soon we reached kg bahru.. Wong and Yuen were already at the traffic junction.. we turned left up to MF, Wong overtook me after the pearl and I saw Hock Soon, TP guy and Jerry ahead.. I followed behind Jerry up e steepest part.. I was panting real hard.. Shortly after the pavilion, I saw Alan running down strong and cheering us.. I was panting real hard and so i can oni wave back.. haha.. Wong slowed down and waited for us..

    Then we saw Anton and DO @ e hilltop.. i conc on recovering my breathing on the down slope.. Hock soon and TP guy were walking.. Wong explained the route to e TP guy as he was not so familiar.. on the downslope towards Morse road, Wong suddenly stopped as something went into his eyes... I ran ahead as e TP guy was speeding down.. Once out of Morse road, my watch clked 40:57 I increased my pace.. Wong caught up with us shortly.. I held on to the pace and my breathing was heavier.. I pushed all the way up the TB Rise n back to club.. took 18:30 for the last stretch..

    Distance covered: 10km __ Timing: 59:28:77

    Tuesday, May 02, 2006

    Intervals @ Queenstown

    I was feeling quite tired today.. not sure how much I could tahan for the intervals.. Yean and I ran the 4km warmup run together... she was coughing quite badly along the way.. she felt like her airways were block.. we ran slowly and managed to catch up with the rest at Queensway.. As usual, I took abt 25 mins to reach Queenstown stadium..

    Ong briefed us on the intervals.. 2x1.6k; 3x800m; 2x400m

    I din complete the sets.. oni did the following.. I skipped the last 2 400m sets and headed back to club with Divey and Yean.

    1st 1.6km: 8:02:46

    2nd 800m: 4:04:87

    3rd 800m: 3:39:55

    4th 400m: 1:44:17