Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012 Race Review

Jogging track in Fermont, San Francisco. It was cold & raining during my visit. Didn't run, but took a picture. 

I came back from a US trip on the 26 Nov, visited San Francisco & Las Vegas. The Standard Chartered run falls on the 2 Dec, without training during the last two weeks, it was going to be tough.

As usual the 10km run within Sentosa is quite tough, but i'm ready for it as this is the 2nd time running this course. The part i hated most is running at the sentosa underground carpark (about 1km+), with the car engines running, i'm kind of out of breath, hoping to get out as soon as possible.

Overall it was a challenging course, i do not want to run the same course again next year.

 medal for this year

the race result is out within a day.

A total of 7462 finished the race, at 2:27 it is considered slow (due to the tough course), however this time is within the top 20%.

Runs for 2012, sundown, safra army half marathon, adidas kings of the roads and finally standard chartered

 completed 10 years of distance running, i'm taking a break from standard chartered as i intend to run overseas.

Adidas King of the Road Singapore Race Review 2012

Last Sunday 28 Oct, I took part in the adidas King of the Road, with the final leg in Singapore. The race tag is kind of refreshing with the "is all in" behind my name. KOTR is a running championship held across Southeast Asia, held in five countries across the region and organised in city areas - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. The race distance is 16.8km.

On the Race 

KOTR is a very well organised race, adidas has very good experiences in running such big events, however i had a few points to make and hope they can change and improve on.

The race starts at 7:15 am, it is kind of late in my opinion, with the morning sun at around 8 plus am, it is going to be quite tough, it will be better if they can bring the time forward by 30 mins to 1 hr. We had to walk around 1km to the start line, well i have no complaints of that, just treat that 1km as a warm-up, plus runners can chit-chat with friends. At the start line there was a water point!! Well this is really good, I'm surprised by this welcoming sight, this is the first time i saw a water point right before the start line, runners can take a quick slip before the run. Do keep up with this!

The route itself is challenging with plenty of uphill, with 3 timing check points. adidas can look into the road block itself and make sure it is secure. At the 14km mark, 2 ladies (well i'm polite to call them ladies, kind of mid-age aunties), just cut across in front of me. They cheated!! from 6-7km and jump to 14km! Because there isn't any proper road block, it will never happen in Standard Chartered race. They are not runners, cheating themselves and the rest of runners who put in the effort. This is a disgrace! For participants who signed up for any race, please respect the distance and the route. Else don't sign up for the run in the 1st place.

Along the route, the water-points are sufficient. At around the 15km mark, 2-3 water point volunteers even gave out water by crossing to the other side of the road (when runners are really suffering in the heat), they show sometime beyond their duty. Of all my years of running, this is the 1st time i saw this, i salute the volunteers for being so helpful and kind. This make the race stand up, and they are doing it with a difference. Keep up the good work!

adidas should had runpix for this race, so runners can review their race! Just showing the timing at the 3 check point is not enough. I finished in Rank 579, i doubt i'm that fast, how accurate is this, my timing is not fantastic, my friend who is 8 mins faster than me, was in 554. As runners we would like to know the total number of runners on the field. Before the race, the DJ announced that there are 12,000 runners. Well it don't look that big, i would put it at less than 10k runners. It will be unknown, how many runners started, and how many finished the race.

Overall race experience, i would give a score of 8/10. Good work! 

Just start the race 30 mins earlier, DJ speech can improve at the start of the race, play some nicer music and have runpix, then it will be 9/10!

the blue running singlet and the finisher medal 

I had took part in a few races after last year Standard Chartered Marathon 2011, it had been quite sometime and it seems that I had forgot about this blog. Ran in the Sundown Half Marathon 2012 and the Army Half Marathon 2012, the next coming race with be a half marathon for Standard Chartered in Dec.

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 :)

Running on Faith - Jason Lester

I'm currently reading the book, Running on Faith by Jason Lester. The principles, passion and pursuit of a winning life. At age 12 Jason was knocked down by a car and his right arm was paralyzed.

Jason Lester is an ultraman triathlon, an ESPY winner. The distance of an ultraman triathlon?

Swim 6.2 miles
Bikes 261.4 miles
Run 52.4 miles

An inspiring book on courage, commitment, passion, spirit and life itself. A must read if you guys need more than just motivation, unimaginable!

Newton Run 2010 Race Survey

Today received an email from Newton running to complete a survey on the recent 30km run. This morning, my running mate message me to check the time on the official site.

www.newtonrun.com

1,280 Men took part in 30km, was placed in 370. The time is about 1 min different from my stopwatch, on the men's list I came across woman's name in the list.

Overall the total runners in the four events are less than 2,000 participants, not as the announced 3.5k+.

Ratings for the following:
Newton website, Registration Process, Race Expo & Bib pick up, Cost of Event, Race Route, Direction Signage, Distance Markers, Goodie Bag Collection, Carnival Activities, Baggage Deposit Service, Course Support e.g Water Stations, Race Singlet Quality and Finishing Medal.

Have not decide on whether to join this race next year, it is kind of taxing to run such long distance, there are too many events now, it will be interesting to check out other races.

Here is a paragraph from a book which I read a few months ago, can't remember the book title.

Success means different things to different people. Someone else might see success as having the energy, fitness and body of an athlete, another person might see success as creating something unique, having a millionaire lifestyle or a loving relationship. Another person might see their success as helping others and making a difference to people's lives. However you define your success, you then need to make a plan and put an order to it.

Running

copyright by dictybloke

At the midpoint of my marathon training program, 2 weeks ago I read a book by Amby Burfoot, The Runner's Guide to the meaning of Life. Winner of 1968 Boston Marathon. This book is supposed to be one of the five best books on running.

A passage from the book, I would like to share with everyone...

We are meant to run, and we do so naturally when left to our own devices. Watch a group of children on the playground, in your backyard, or wherever they come together. When they play games like tag, they run for a while, with squeals of obvious delight, and then rest until they are recovered again. Run and rest, run and rest. It is the perfect exercise program because it is coded in our genes. It is what our forefathers did millions of years ago.


First we try to run faster. Then we try to run harder. Then we learn to accept ourselves and our limitations, and at last, we can appreciate the time joy and meaning of running.
- From the Runner's Guide to the meaning of life.

关于跑步 - About Running

Recently, finished reading a book in Chinese, 关于跑步, a runner friend lend me this book. In English translation - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. The author wrote this book between summer 2005 to autumn 2006.

The book was written by an award winning Japanese author by the name 村上春树. Haruki Murakami, winner of the Yomiuri Prize for Literature. The original book was published in Japan by Bungei Shunju Ltd, Japan. The Chinese translation is in complex/traditional character only. No problem with that, although we are using simplified character in Singapore.

In the book, the author talks about running his first marathon in Athens following the route of Phidippides, qualifiying for the prestigious Boston Marathon, ran in the Japan ultramarathon of 100 km without walking within a cutoff time of 11 hrs plus, and marathons both in US & Japan. After a long running career, he took part in the Ironman. He mentioned about his training program, from running 6 days a week (1o km per session) to running 7 days a week. Progressive monthly increament, covering a total distance of 260 km, 310 km, 350 km per month. Also thoughts on distance running and the mental & phyiscal aspects of running long distances.

In the last sentence, the author talked about the pride of running a marathon without walking a single step, he achieved that in all the marathons he finished, not walking a single step no matter how painful it was, even in the 100 km race.

This is what he wish to have on his tombstone.

至少到最後都沒有用走的

At least, till the end I didn't walk.

For experienced runners, this can be a goal to achieve in the 26.2 miles race. No walking (maybe just during drinking) and running the full distance. I'm certain to use this as a motivation in the coming race in a few months time.

the book has this quote (not from the author):
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.


Earlier post:
Marathon Medals

Sundown Marathon 2010 (29 May)

Running tag and D-tag for timing.

The medal is thinner as compared to previous years.
Men's Open 21.1km ranking - 254/3301 (9 Jun 2010)

Last Saturday took part in the half-marathon night race at the adidas Sundown Marathon 2010. Finally, I achieved a personal best timing of 2:06:14, the 5th attempt in 7 years.

Before running this race, my best timing was in Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2004, a time of 2:09:09. In SCSM 2006 half, ran 2:13:44. In 2008 SCSM half, a time of 2:13:14. In 2009 SAFRA Army Half Marathon (a tougher race running up the expressway) finished in 2:18:29. After 4 attempts, I was destined to run 2hrs 14 mins for a half marathon... So I tried to take advantage of this race, with a starting time at 9pm (though the air was hot & humid), but at least there isn't any heat from the sun.

With 3 of my running friends, Martin, 40 yrs old (best time this year in 1 hr 36 mins, was placed 19), Chin, 53 yrs old (finished in 1:58). Roland, 58 yrs old (finished in 2:02), he encouraged me when we met at 16km mark, where I was leading him.. shortly he overtook me, this made me determined to give a final push, maintaining my pace towards the finish (at average 6 mins pace). My inspiration came from my friends, despite being older in age, they are superb runners always running with deep passion.

A great race for everyone, we had our photos taken by an appointed photographer after the race, followed by a deserved night snack of "Indian prata", it was almost 2am. Hopefully in the next half-marathon, I have the chance to improve my timing again, it is not going to be easy but not totally impossible.

Race Review:

This is my 3rd Sundown marathon, in 2008 I ran the full marathon, at that time the total participants was probably less than 5k, a niche race in my opinion, the full marathon sign up was just around 4.5k. From my records, 3,599 men and 861 women completed the full. For 84km race, just a few hundred runners. The race was manageable back then, but recently it seems the organizer are getting their hands tied.

Has making more Money the main factor? More than 19k runners this year, an increase of 8k plus as compared to 2009. How was the logistic, transportation and manpower being planned? In the area of bag deposit, entertainment and wider running route, it was good planning. As usual credits to all the volunteers, they are the biggest plus point in this race. With limited resources and manpower, the volunteers did a wonderful job.

As I travelled to the location by car, it was very smooth along the way. But considering the majority of runners depended on the race day feeder buses (learnt that there was about 10 buses catered for the event), it was a huge disappointment, together with complaints from lack of drinks at each water point. From all the posts on Facebook Sundown Marathon, it sounds like a nightmare for most people.

The organizer will have to look into the complaints and improve... else runners won't bother to sign up next year, the race fees are not cheap (increasing every year) in the first place. I had experienced bad races in Mizuno Wave Runs (first 2 years) and understand the frustration even after the race, hopefully runners can forget about this and look forward to their next race. Good luck & enjoy your runs :)

Earlier post in Feb:
Medal Collections till 2009

Lego Medieval Market Village Review

Last Saturday fixed this lego set, it was actually purchased back in June/July last year on Singapore ebay. The history went back to more than 20 years ago when I was given the lego sets Legoland 6010 -Supply Wagon and Legoland 6022 -Horse Cart. Both sets were released in 1984, set 6010 was the peasant with his horse-cart selling weapons and set 6022 was 2 guards on a horse-cart. So at that time I was wondering how much fun it would be with a lego medieval village/town.

And finally in 2009, lego released this set 10193 Medieval Market Village, with a total 1601 pieces.


Let the fun begins....1600 pieces. Took around 3-4 hrs to complete.

The complete village...
The two town houses.
The Inn.
Back of the Inn.
The bar counter.
Bedroom with dressing table.

The lady's house interior.

The classic Blacksmith set created by Daniel. Currently there is a set on ebay at a whopping USD440.

Blacksmith's house front, with the frog at the water wheel.

Back of the Blacksmith's house is the stable.

Blacksmith at work..

Chimney with fire.

Blacksmith's house interior.

This is the complete set, actually it looks empty, work can be done on the river bank, plants or trees, building a pavement path, more ducks and horses... just when I'm free to get the lego pieces, if there are available in the shop.

Purchased some of the additional pieces, using 1 dog for display.

The market place with extras...

Jester is from the Lego Drawbridge Defense set.

The market can be expanded further using the set Indiana Jones 7195 (with a stall and cart), haven't opened up that set.

The cow-cart. (Using 18 pieces for this customized cart)..

Come to an end of this post, welcome any feedbacks by posting below, if you guys has any comments for future lego review, let me know ... Have a Nice Day!

Lego Battlefield

I am a fan for the lego castle series.. there will be a new post coming in the next few days, a review on one of the collector's set fixed last Saturday afternoon.

It will be pictures intensive, just getting them ready... :)