Closing for 2006

For the past month (after the D-Day) my running has not been so smooth.. 1st I was hit with the toe injury n was grounded for a wk before I can wear my shoe.. then I got ITB (under recovery now), gonna try out the Pat strap i got from Ricci.. then with the endless rains during wkdays, I missed a couple of wkday trainings.. lastly, I got the bug.. down with fever, sore throat, blocked nose and cough in the last wk of 2006.. missed my last run of the year.. the Ultra Marathon.. Dear went n came back with his muddy nimbus... comforted me that the terrain was not in good condition to run.. with very slippery mud paths and dangerous branches.. heard Ricci and Melvin hurt their forehead during the run.. Take care guys!

Nevertheless, 2006 has been a Superb year for me! With so many special memories... Not only have I break most of my PBs, I get to tye the knot with my most loved man of my life and move on to the next chapter of life.. (^o^) Really looking forward to more excitement and PBs breaking for 2007! Cheers!!

All the best to everyone in 2007!! Stay Healthy, Fit n more Pbs for all!!

Queenstown Trackworks

Doc Adrian joined us today! Surprise to see him when he called me! haven seen my emcee since my wedding :D He was here last tues, but I was not ard due to my toe injury.. Today is my 1st wkday run after the marathon.. hope my left knee will be able to take the training.. dear suspected i got ITB.. having problems moving down the stairs... really a killer for me to do tt now.. :( can't really bend my left knee... arh how come recently got so much injuries on my left leg.. ?????

It has been a while since i last visited the tracks.. I chatted with Colleen along the way towards the stadium. glad tt i am still able to talk running with her easy pace.. she is getting real fast nowadays! with her PB at the marathon, her speed has been accelerating quite alot! She have passed her driving test in her 2nd attempt with oni 4 demerit pts!! Wow tt's great! Congrats!! Now she can start driving her car around :D

By the time we reach the stadium, the sky was already dark. could feel the pain at my left knee. Without much delay, Dear briefed us on the intervals session.. 1 set of 1600m followed by 5 sets of 800m...

1600m: 7:56:68
1st Lap -- 2:00:53
2nd Lap -- 1:58:71
3rd Lap -- 1:59:81
4th Lap -- 1:56:70

1st set 400m: 1:51:43
Could feel the pain at my left knee.. dun think i can take it doing 800m... dear ask me to do 400m instead...

2nd set 400m: 1:38:17
I was running beside derrick for the very 1st time during trackworks.. woah! i was thinking am i running too fast?? i just wanted to complete the lap so can rest more before the next set.. later then we knew tt derrick was also injured during his sun run.. tt's y he was more cautious today to prevent further agitation of his thigh...Doc went back after this set as he got something to attend to...

3rd set 400m: 1:30:03
I pushed hard for the remaining 400m sets.. felt better when i lifted up my leg.. din feel much of the strain.. think the continuous bending at my normal pace make me feel worse... saw PS n Wong at the grand stand.. they had just finished their recovery run to Portsdown..

4th set 400m: 1:29:42

5th set 400m: 1:32:53

My left knee gave way after the 5th set.. n I had to walk all the way back to club.. just like my last sun LSD with Waifung.. Peter is very kind to company me all the way back to the club.. hahah we talked all the way non stop abt his Xmas gifts for Magaret n hobbies etc.. Thks for the great company! if not this 4km would be a very long journey back... we reached the club ard 9.30pm.. the rest had already taken their shower.. Ricci passed me a can of 100plus.. hahaha i was really thirsty after talking so much muahahahhaha :D

Sentosa LSD

It's my 1st comeback after the marathon.. wualala.. it's been 2 wks!! since i last ran.. ok tt's wat happens.... 1st was the official 1 wk break from club.. hahah tt wk really fully rested without any run.. sounds great right? hmm read on... it was oni when i was hit by the ripping off of my 3rd left toe tt grounded me for another full wk doesn't make it sounds tt great anymore.. i couldn't even walk properly.. n was limping n groaning in pain all the way trying to get my balancing... glad i have recovered from it to make it for this LSD...

We have a new runner, Bill(from HK) joining us today.. he is Zhengxu's colleague.. a guy whom asked me abt running while on my way to Harborfront... without much adew, Dear briefed us on today's route.. wong talked to me at the start of the run.. i was panting like crazy n trying so hard to catch my breath... woah! 2 wks of break was really no kid.. i went on very easily.. but was hit by a strain on my outer left knee as I ran towards the gateway... i reduced my pace even further.. Waifung was running with me.. i asked her to go ahead as i will be real slow.. haha she said tt her engine haven started as it was a Sun morning.. hahahha still in slp mode... saw Derrick followed by Jimmy chow (blowing multiple kisses to us.. hahahaha.. cfm tiffany style...) the pain start to get stronger as we ran out of sentosa cove.. i felt i was running with my right leg n dragging my left to move on.. arh here comes the slope b4 siloso beach! i limped all the way up with my right leg.. went on even slowly on the downslope.. tabuleh tahan.. i held on to the last lamp post of the slope n stretcchhh..... Waifung asked if i was ok.. told her abt the sharp pain on my outer knee.. she suspected it is ITB.. oh no! she offered me her additional bottle of Gatorade.. nice n cool! Thks alot! we proceeded towards Tanjiong Beach.. felt i shld complete the distance instead of snaking today.. just then we saw Micheal running out.. n i cheered to him "Steady Steady Pom Pi Pi".. Waifung laughed n accidentally stepped on a fruit.. n twisted her ankle.. i felt very bad abt it.. if i din make her laugh, she wun have sprained her old ankle injury.. so sorry.... soon Peter n Julie came along n we asked them to enjoy their run.. we decided to Uturn back and walk for a distance until Waifung is ok to cont'd.. we saw the rest taking a short break outside Siloso beach toilet... we started running.. my legs couldn't take it anymore when we reach the downslope driveway to the carpark.. n Waifung walked with me all the way from Siloso Beach to Viviocity before we took a bus back to club as it was getting quite late... tho din get a good workout.. but i had a great walk n chatting session with Waifung :) Thks for the company!

SCSM Report Card

Pre Race Preps
I woke up at 4am to get ready for the race.. went to 7-Eleven n got a bottle of H2O to top up my fuel belt before joining mummy n dear at the carpark. Dear tried to motivate me with a $1k cash reward if I can come in sub 4.45 in good condition(means not landing in Medic center).. and a nike shirt in return if I can't do it...(which's a higher possiblility).. Based on my past few weeks of performance, I dun even have the confidence of substaining my last yr record.. 5:02... My greatest fear that I have to overcome for this race is the incident that pulled me off from AHM 06 where i ended up as a DNF due to health reasons. But nevertheless, I still pinned a hope and planned the race --> 10km - 1:06, 20km - 1:06, 30km - 1:10, 42.195km: 1:23..

We reached Esplanade at around 5am.. met up with the rest of our MF runners at our usual Esplanade run water break area.. Adam, Mr Chua, Yean, Julie, Ricci, Anthony, Ronnie, Jimmy aka Tiffany, Wong, Peter n his lovely gf, Margaret...

Start Line
We wished everyone all the best for their run before proceeding the the race line.. wow the race line was shifted all the way to the opposite end of last yr pt.. the area was super crowded.. My pacer, Waifung was no where in sight as Julie n I moved down from the start of the sub 5hr zone.. met Angelin n David somewhere mid of the Sub-5 zone.. they told us tt Waifung was also looking high n low for us.. haha David asked us to stay put n wait for him as he went to get her over.. Thanks David! :D

Finally the long wait is over as the commentator count down the time.. but we were walking for 3 mins plus before actually crossing over the champions mat.. once over it, i started to run off my comfortable pace.. turning back a few times to look out for Waifung.. making sure I was not gg off too fast.. Alan Yeo, Yuen n CJ ran past me cheering me on.. many ppl stopped for water at the 1st 1.5km mark.. I moved to the outer lane to prevent getting block. The entrance to Marina South(MS) was always the same.. squeezed thru like sardine pack.. then I saw the Trifam 5hr runners.. feeling quite ok, I overtook them n ran past the Marina Park when loud cheers greeted the Oversea Elites flying off in a closed pack out of MS.. After the steamboat center, I saw Benson followed by Teck Hou, Dear and Alan Chao running out.. wow tt's very fast.. soon I saw many of our runners too, Jimmy Chow, Derrick, Ronnie, Freddy.. as I turn left to Coastal Drive, I saw Dream coming out.. was quite surprise to see him there.. cos the rest were already quite ahead.. After Coastal Drive 1st U-turn, I waved to Waifung running together with Julie oppositen continued on.. then saw CM, Alvin Lai and Enghwa as i headed out.. My watch clocked 1:09 for my 1st 10k.. tho slightly behind time due to the late start.. i remained calm n smile to the superb weather! cloudy but not much wind.. I caught up with Yean at 11km, checked to see if she was doing ok... just then an ang moh in front of me choked on his ice mountain and splashed out his water onto my face.. yucks!! i quickly wiped off n ran away... (><) Soon it was out of Prince Edward- Robinson Road.. a slight hoo-ha between 2 runners as a caucasian brushed hard at the shoulders of a fellow singaporean.. causing him to wobble n shouted back.. lucky they did not start a fight over tt... *o*

15km @ Esplanade
I started to feel numbness ard my eyes area... many runners run over the 21km route water pt for drinks.. knowing there will be a water pt ahead, i decide to bear with it b4 i take the 1st salt/sugar tablet at my 1st water pt.. Uncle Lim called out for me shortly after 16km.. followed by Alvin Ong.. i waved to him n headed to Nicoll highway where Patrick overtook me.. 18km.. my watch clocked 2hr sharp.. I am on time.. meaning i am on a faster pace than my 1st 10km... the kenyans had already passed the stadium area b4 i even crossed nicoll highway... soon I saw Hock soon, Alber n his running mate after the 19km water pt.. i started to feel tired n hungry.. Alber passed me a pocari sweat, courtesy from his supporting frens stationed at Fort rd.. knowing it was not sufficient to last me thru till lagoon.. tots of giving up start flashing thru my mind.. i was really looking forward to the Powergel station/any bananas to give me energy.. as I turned into ECP park pavement, i saw dear running out! i cheered him on and he asked me to Jia You too.. :D finally the long awaited yellow beach umbrellas reading "PowerBar".. i queued n was given Double Latte n Green apple.. i oni took the Green apple at the next water pt as Ricci told me tt GA was very salty.. saw alot of fellow runners in opposite direction towards the Lagoon.. Freddy, Sok Hwa, Colleen, Anthony, Uncle Chan

LS Drama
After Carpark C4, I got the LS feeling.. oh no!! not wanting to lose pace with Patrick ahead.. I endured it until I can't take it anymore at the lagoon.. saw Eddie Toh, Wong n PS running out from the seafood center.. it was 27km in 3hrs .. I rushed to the food center toilet.. but there was no toilet paper.. asked the male cleaner n a malay lady inside.. they just shake head.. arh panick.. i ran out n asked ard for tissue.. Finally got a nice couple offered me a whole pkt.. Thank you so much!! took me 5mins before i could cont'd on with the race... once cleared, i felt so much relieved n stronger.. now i understand y Freddy also can run so fast after bombing.. hahaha.. =D

My Race Begins
It was 9plus n i was suprise to see Auntie, Jimmy still at the lagoon.. tot they left at 8.45am... Alan was there too! he pulled his muscle n initially planned to give up his run.. but after seeing me, he decided to pace me back n finish his race :D so glad he did that as the pace he set for me really made me went fast n consistent.. overtook John at 28km, he was having bad cramps... cheer him on n cont'd... we stopped for water breaks at almost every station.. worrying tt I wun be able to sustain it without energy, I eat n drink whenever i got the chance to... got an ice pack from Daniel(NB Mgr) at 30km.. suck it as we ran out of ECP.. then grab a GA n SB powergel from Adrian Mok... n saw David Shum stretching at the lamp area.... at carpark B1, we caught up with Patrick n Adam.. we cheered them on n ran on.. saw Ah Chua at 33km water pt.. n out we head out of fort road..

Mountbatten road
Alot of ppl were walking along Mt Batten road.. Alan opened a path for me to run through and tell them "Excuse me, Dun block dun block" hahah make me felt like a VIP runner.. i ate the GA gel at 35km water station as I cont'd running.. 7km plus to go.. Alan told me I have a high chance to complete in sub 5hr.. maybe even sub 4.45.. wow! my pace n breathing was still very good n i felt very strong to complete it at this pace throughout.. we overtook alot of runners along the way.. overtook Shirlyn at Stadium link... wow she was very fast today! din even get to see her earlier.. Alan told me to be patient n maintain it.. dun increase pace anymore, i was doing very well.. he keep time-checking along the way.. hahah maybe worried tt i might punctuate soon...

Last 5km



We saw Safra TP supporters at Kallang, then saw our Babe Tonglin standing n cheering for us! so happy to see her there.. wow she getting more n more pretty!! so radiant! I took another ice pack from Samuel, TP chairman.. thks for all the support n efforts! then grab a 100plus from the water station.. wow now my hands went full of food! hahah ice pack n 100plus on one hand n SB gel at the other.. hahahaa think Alan also shake head... we saw Chin Whatt at the underpass.. and 3 of us paced together in Marina Promenade.. 40km water pt, Alan asked if i still need to drink.. i say yes.. he instructed tt this will be the last water pt.. can sense tt his pace was moving faster to a sub 6 min pace.. i tried hard to follow knowing the end pt is very near.. overtook Mike at the bending n cut alot of ppl ahead.. finally reached the esplanade.. 41km!! i asked Alan to go ahead.. he misheard tt i wanted to take my SB powergel, haha keep saying dun eat dun eat .. hahhaa i burst in laughter n explained no no u can go ahead hahahha.. Out of the Esplanade underpass, i heard WeeSan cheering for me! saw the official time 4:38:23!! wow!! i made it to sub 4.45!! waved to Bee n stepped up my pace.. so many runners start to chiong.. wanted a nice solo pic, i let them go pass n Alan tot wat happen hahaha.. the clock timed 4:41:10 as I happily crossed the finishing strongly with my $1k awaiting for me!!!




Courtesy of Eng Hwa


Courtesy of James




Race Pace Calculation


This race makes me feel so good.. not because of the 1k..(but i do consider tt as a bonus.. hahaha) But my personal confidence tt I can complete n standing strong at the finishing line.. it makes me realise how much it will really helps in planning n running the race tho small hiccups may happen along the way.. but most impt! Dun give up n Believe in urself! Try hard n u will beat it n prove it!! As my dear always says "A weak mind only makes u a weaker person" ;)

Congratulations to all our MF & Safra Runners for performing so well in this race!! All the efforts have paid off for the trainings! Blessed with such a superb weather to break our PBs! 3 Cheers to all!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!

Last Run before D-Day

Today is the last run before D-Day.. Route: Depot Rd-Alexandra Rd-Telok Blangah Road-Harborfront-Kampong Bahru-TB Rise-Club

We start off at a very relax pace.. PS was asking me how come Ong still like leading so fast.. hahaha we both agreed tt he really run at a fast pace, we wun be able to even see him as we ran down the slope of depot road.. but by the end of Depot rd, all the elites already nowhere in sight! we were following behind Wong along TB road..

When i reached Morse road, i got the urge to speed up like I did in tue again.. felt like testing my legs out again (thot my calfs really ached badly on wed).. how i might feel during my 30km this sun.. how am i gg to endure it through without walking throughout the race like last yr.. off i went n increased my cadence.. overtook shirley, Tamp malay guy.. n eventually running next to Sok hwa n Ah Chua at the Malay cemetery.. it was then they sped up as I tried to follow.. but my energy level was running low much faster than tue n my calfs started to protest.. i slowed down all the way back to club in a very relax pace...

Distance covered: 9km __ Timing: 55:06:40