Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2011 Review

Joined the men's open, the field as compared to Sundown half marathon runners are much faster & stronger. Sundown half marathon runners are more recreational i guess.

A great day, I had finally acheived the goal of running a half marathon in under 2 hrs. Well 1hr 59 mins! Since 2004 when i did a half marathon, it had been 7 years! A happy day indeed.

the 20th year, 70k runners signed up for the race

The race flag off at 5:15am. My goal was to run within 2 hrs 10mins. I didn't really put in much effort before the race, the most i did in a training run was around 10km, we are supposed to do 2 sets of 5.6km (11.2km total) but it was cancelled on both occasion because of rain. Knowing there was an uphill at Fort Canning Road, the race course is much more challenging than Sundown Marathon. I didn't have much expectation, RELAX, just here to enjoy the run, once the race started i stick with my running mate Hong (he was having slight flu), a better runner than me, my goal was to keep in pace with him. His endurance and stamina drop slightly as he didn't really prepared for this race.

At 6km mark the time was 34mins, within the 6mins pace (what we usually did in training). At 7km it was 40mins. I checked my watch again at 9km, it was 51 mins. At 10km mark the time was 57 mins. After which i didn't check my watch that often, at around 13-14km, i stopped and stretch my right leg for around 20-30 sec. There was slight strain in my right knee again (the usual problem). The weather helps, it was still early in the morning and there was no heat. Looking in front of me, there are really a lot of superb runners in Singapore, only experience runners with certain mileage in training can run under a 6 mins pace, i was trying to keep up with this group of runners.

We carried on running, at 18 km mark it was 1 hr 40 mins. At 19km, i took a cool water sponge and wet my neck & shoulders, it kind of lower down my body temperature. I knew i can make it within 2hrs, today is the day! 20 mins to cover 3km, that's not too difficult. Slight pain in my right knee again, but i just pick up pace and forget about the pain (when you don't think about it, hopefully it will go away). In the last 3.1km, i was running at 4 min 28 sec per km.

Finally 1hr 59 mins! I joined the under 2 hrs group after 8 years and on the 7 attempt!
2004 SCSM at 2 hrs 9 mins, 2006 SCSM at 2 hrs 13 mins, 2008 SCSM at 2 hrs 13 mins,
2009 Safra at 2 hrs 18 mins, 2010 Sundown at 2:06 mins, 2011 recent Sundown at 2:06 mins

Running towards the line at the gun time of 2 hrs, i'm at the most right behind (half covered), this is the only picture. These guys running within 2hrs are all good runners.
Photo by runevent shots

results from runpix, comparing with sundown runpix, the experience & serious runners are mostly here :)

increased my pace in the last 3 km, overtook almost 150 runners (learning from the earlier sundown experience, i need to run faster in the last few kilometers in order to get under 2 hrs)


Overall it was very well orgainized (the army guys always did a good job). Each water point was having sufficent guys (mend by each combat unit). The cheering, local bands, belly dancers gave the much needed motiviation and inspiration. The only thing to note on the aid stations was that they should use deep heat instead of having the spraying stuff (like those used in soccer match, not much use for me).

The last time i ran in the army half was back in 2009, comparing it with the Sunday run, they had made a huge improvement in overall logistic, race route (less uphill) and support, and the best is i got a PB :)

Sundown Ultramarathon 100km Finisher Medal

Sundown Ultramarathon Finisher medal, 1ookm
Ultramaraton Runner

OFFICIAL RESULTS ON RUNPIX

Of the 488 who finished, 12% were Women and 88% were Men.

As mentioned in the earlier post, i met up with my running friend James for dinner on Sunday. He brought along his finisher medal. Right now, i guess this is the only picture avaliable on the net, didn't manage to find one. Sealed in a self-made plastic cover for protection, there was reflection when the picture was taken, precious medal! Nevertheless we can still view it :) When each runner crossed the finish line, the organizer volunteer will putting the medal over your head.

He ran till 70km, didn't rest or take a break apart from the water point. From 70km to 100km, it was run & walk to finish.

Result
13 hrs 50 mins 57 sec. Men's open 67th place with 235 finishers behind.

If you are walking like a penguin, then you have to stop, there's no point walking towards the finish line in a limp, the distance is just too great (there is a cut off time for the race). By pushing through the pain barrier, there might be more harm to your body. This is the advise given by James after the race, and the organizer had mentioned this before the race. He saw a lot of runners who had to give up at around 50km, there was a bus to fetch these guys.

I'm glad to play my part in helping him to draw out the training plan, yesterday he thanked me for it. Although i have not attempt an ultramarathon before but more or less i did read on how people train for such races. As each runner is different, the most important factor was to know the person well, based on his running experience, looking at the physical and mental aspect, how he can adapt to the training program over the months. Important things to look out for over this training period, more critical in the last month or so. Understanding how the body react during the training, and finally the 1 week rest needed before the race day (tapering).

In return, the challenge he thrown me was to participate in the race next year, now that he had completed the one and only ultra. 100km??? I knew my limit, and the distance i can cover, 100km is simply too much.

Before i ended this post, here is something i would like to share with all (there will be a separate post on more of the specially selected quotation from the book).Finished reading a book on Extreme Running by Kym McConnell & Dave Horsley over the weekend.

The only true wisdom lives far from mankind, out in the great loneliness, and can be reached only through suffering.
- Igjugarjuk, Caribou Eskimo Shaman

Sundown Ultramarathon 100km - A New Record in Singapore

It was a great day, my friend James Loo had completed the 100 km ultramaraton in 13 hrs 54 mins. Importantly he had gave his best and survived the course. And he had put his name in the Sundown Marathon Singapore Record book forever!!

Some 900 runners took off the gruelling 100km Sundown Marathon at 6pm yesterday(26 Jun) at the Marina Barrage.

Last year around 30% completed the 84km distance. It's much tougher in 100km. Will update the results shortly.

I will be meeting him next Sunday, and there will be a special interview, which i will post here for everyone.

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011

The Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore is here again. It will be open for registration tomorrow 23 Jun. For those who intended to sign up, please do so and take advantage of the early bird. The early bird offer is valid from 23 Jun to 20 July 2011, last year, all the slots were taken during the early bird period.


Categories

Full Marathon early bird offer $75 (15% less for cardholders at $63.75)
Half Marathon $58 ($49.30)
10km Men/Women/Wheelchair $50 (42.50)
5km Fun Run $20 (N.A)
Kids Dash 750m $18 (15.30)
Ekiden -42.195km $300 ($255)

I'm surprised when i saw the fees for this year full marathon $75 (for early bird offer)! With standard chartered credit card (15% off), it will be $63.75.

Last year i paid $38.25 for the full marathon (using standard chartered credit card). An increase of 40%!! WOW. For me & my friends we will just sign up for the half. Kind of disappointed to see the increasing fees, a few years from now, i'm not surprise to see $100 for full marathon.

After last year run, I have decided not to run a full in SC. The 10km & half marathon runners merged at Sheares Bridge and basically you have to walk with them. It is frustrating if you have a time goal, having come so far to reach 37km ... and ended up walking with the rest. It was only in the last 2km, you get to run to the finish. Precious time were wasted :(

Last year 60k signed up (from the previous 50k) and this year they intended to get 70k participants.

Race Review for 2010 Full Marathon
SCMS Race Review 2010

This will be the 9th year since my first 10km in SCSM. My recommendation for those who are running full marathon:

1. Prepare yourself. Train in the heat. (last year the race starts at 5am and at around 10am the temperature was at 35C) . Can you run in the heat for the last stretch? It can be quite painful & stressful.

2. Are you aiming for a PB? If you intend to do a personal best, SCMS might not be suitable. You will probably be slowed down by others near the finishing. Last year, I have to walk for about 2km at around 37km mark. I finished in less under 5 hrs, it could be better.

Workers' Party Rally Serangoon Stadium 29 April

Hedgehog is never a political blog, but a snap shot of what is happening around me in Singapore. From the earlier post on YOG, the first hand pictures on the opening of the casino, the pride as a Singaporean when i attended the national day parade 2 years ago and when the local YOG soccer team brought us happiness and together as Singaporeans. This strong response was felt at the Serangoon Stadium rally last night. Here are the pictures i took last night.

I can felt the heartbeat of our people, when all of us came together after a hard day work, it doesn't matter who you are or what is your position in the society, it even doesn't matter if you are late, we gather at the stadium.

people continue to stream into the stadium even when i left after 1.5 hour, it's just too pack inside

how big is the crowd last night?

went up to the 11th floor of a HDB flat to snap this picture

workers, singaporeans on to their way to the stadium... 2 hrs after 7 pm

Nobody can belittle us, each and everyone of us is talented, by believing in yourself and removing the fear factor, we can achieve what we set out for. It doesn't mean we complain & keep complaining, but we find solutions to solve the problems, taking it as a challenge. What matters is the struggle we encounter in life, and by overcoming them, we made our lifes meaningful. The people can tell what is true & what is false, it's never emotional. When we vote, not only do we vote for ourselves, but we do so for our family and children, we will vote for a better Singapore.

Singapore Zoo Run 2011 Race Review

looking forward for a good run, which didn't happen...
Bad Weather. Race Cancelled.

Along Mandai road, runners parked their cars along double yellow lines

Last Saturday was the zoo run, signed up for the competitive men 8km, upon arrival at Mandai Road, that was this jam. The traffic police stopped us at 1.5km before the zoo entrance, so i have to walked in (again walking out after the run).

A massive crowd when i arrived, it was hard to find a place to warm up too, at around 4 pm it started to run, thunderstorm, i just find a corner below the information counter and sat down, no point standing up waiting when you don't know how soon the rain will stop. Closed my eyes seated cross-legged, kind of in a meditation position. At around a 5 pm i decided to stand up and walk around, unknowingly i joined the queue in collection the medal. Super long queue, saw our Singapore Marathon Champion Mok Ying Ren, waited for around 20-25 mins before i got the items (medal & a hand-held water bottle). I walked towards the start line and saw a crowd of runners waiting, the rain had stopped at around 5:10 pm. So i just joined the 6km fun run (people were eating ice-cream, drinking 100 plus as the race starts, this is surely a fun run/walk). It was dangerous as kids around the height of my hip, were running in front of me, i had to stop suddenly a couple of times, as usual couples holding hand walking, it was expected as it was a fun run anyway. A small boy about 6 years old dashed in front of me and fell, i pat him on his shoulder as he was standing up, the wet ground made running dangerous.

Collecting the medal before the run.
Holding on the medal & hand-held water bottle, completed the 6 km fun run, this medal is just a sovenir. This is the second time i didn't run in a race i signed up. In one year, i didn't turn up for the Mizuno Wave run, because of a thunderstorm.

The organizer should make announcement on the PA system and update us on their plan. Most competitive runners (8km men & women) left when they learnt the race was cancelled. Not knowing they were supposed to collect the medal & a free hand-held water bottle. (they can collect the items at 2XU store at Marina Square from 22 Feb to 25 Feb), check facebook page for more updates.

Last year, i had joined the Newton 30km run organized by Pink Apple, there was slight rain before the race, and it started anyway. They can probably delay the race for 15-30 mins and before deciding what to do, the rain stopped at around 5:10pm. When the race was supposed to start at 4:45pm, they can combine both men & women together. However for safely reasons, it is definitely better to cancel as the route was wet & slippery, but they still proceed with the fun run. Given an ice-cream after the run, but no water, i didn't see the 100 plus, only drink when i reached home at around 8pm.

The organizer (Pink Apple Pte Ltd) should have free shuttle buses to the zoo, pick up point at MRT station, so it will not create this jam along Mandai (most runners taking cabs and parked their vehicles along the whole stretch of road)

This is the first time signing up for the race ($50), it will be my last too. Felt sick after the run, with slight fever, having a rest day today.

This evening, the organizer had send an apologise letter to all competitive runner, and I accepted it. As usual, just move on, there will always be another run.

Singapore Zoo Run 2011 (Feb)

After last Dec marathon, just went for 2 runs a 5km+ last year and a 3km this year. Kind of lazy to run now, i will start training today.

Today signed up for the Singapore Zoo Run 2011, Run for Ah Meng after I received an email usually received lots of email on all kinds of runs in Singapore. Ah Meng (the late orangutan) is the zoo icon . Not cheap for a 8km, early bird at S$48 (for passion card member), price exclude GST (tax).

Anyway, I like the towel (top picture) and the medal (looks nice), with a 2XU black T-shirt and an adult zoo ticket which will be given after the race, on top of that there was a unknown event gift from the zoo too. Nowadays, organizers need to show runners the medal and free gifts before we can decide whether to join.


Shall see if I will bring along my digital camera on that day for some photo taking. The race will be held on 12 Feb at 3:30pm.

* pictures taken from Singapore Zoo Run 2011 Facebook page.