Ulu Pandan Vertical Run 2015

With this inaugural event happening just the week after NVM 2015, I didn't hesitate about signing up. Perhaps the only bothersome aspect was the trouble of having to head down to Ulu Pandan CC to make payment.

Scheduled for 30th May, I was trying to figure out how to negotiate my running schedule while factoring in some rest. However, this was meant to be a fun activity and just an additional race experience, hence despite a workout the day before I wasn't too concerned. My intentions were to run a sub-4 time. As this was a small event, I was expectant of picking up a podium finish as well.

I arrived at the event site (Ghim Moh Link, Block 24A Level 3) about 45 mins flag off. The event site was simple but well arranged. After registration I proceeded to calm my nerves, recce the adjacent block's stairwell and attempt a few flights to get a sense of pace. I expected an anti-clockwise pattern of handrails, though I was later proven wrong.

As we gathered along the corridor, there were barely 40 participants, though I noticed a sizeable number of rather athletic-looking individuals. Some had even donned gloves in preparation for their climb. In addition, I recognised Yaner Lin who placed 2nd in last week's NVM 2015. I figured that for the Men's Open, there were a decent number of dedicated stair racers, while the remainder was formed by people living around Ghim Moh. I was confident in my abilities yet I suspected that a podium finish could be anyone's as long as circumstances were ideal for the individual.

Flag off for the Men's Open was mildly delayed at around 10.20am instead of the scheduled 10.15am. This was a mass flag off in a line according to Bib number (I was fortunate to number 11 - hence this meant having to pass fewer participants), instead of staggered starts. We were to start at level 3 instead of 1, hence climbing to the 40th storey meant only 37 floors. Everyone broke into a pacey start and I was certainly drawn into a quick pace in order to avoid being passed by participants behind me. It wasn't long before overtaking occurred and it certainly was difficult at times in the narrow stairwell. Save for a few extremely considerate individuals, most individuals occupied a big portion of the narrow stairwell and hence required several prompts of "passing" before they gave way (we were instructed to keep left along the wall side if being overtaken).

My pace was undoubtedly quicker than last week's climb. I knew that it was possible that I'd blow up, though the consequences were much less significant in this short race. The only time I caught a glance at my watch was as it read 2:2X, possibly when I was hitting the upper 20s. Overtaking was a constant struggle but eventually I found myself behind the first participant (based on Bib number) and before long, I proceeded to overtake him as he courteously gave way. I recall seeing storey 37 as I gasped for air and spurred myself on for the last few flights, before crossing the finish as my watch hit 3:14. I was elated. However, the body wasn't quite excited as the lungs gasped and the legs burnt.

This was a different type of climb from last week's - a sustained but controlled climb. This climb involved much less control. It was nonetheless paced decently, delivering a pleasant result that was confidently sub-4 - even if the climb was extended to 40 complete storeys. I had desired to experience burning pain in the pace and arguably I did, to an extent. I admit that I certainly felt I had ever endured more while actually sprinting up shorter stairwells. Nonetheless, this was a nice conclusion of my stair racing endeavours over the past week.

Standing beside Yaner (2nd) and Philip (3rd). The no smoking sign features
prominently at the top right hand corner. Credit to Ulu Pandan CSC.

Blessed.

Thankful for Ulu Pandan CSC's efforts.

Update: The complete list of results have been published on Ulu Pandan CSC's Facebook page. Official time was 3:13. It seems that my initial thoughts in assessing the participants were accurate - there were a number of quick finishers here. 10 individuals (myself included) out of the 40 in the Men's Open finished sub-4, granted we climbed 37 not 40 storeys. Amongst the finishers, we've actually had 7 of them as prize recipients across the various categories of the previous week's NVM 2015.

National Vertical Marathon 2015

On the last day of the early bird registration, Joel suggested that we participate in the National Vertical Marathon. Though it's been years since I've heard about vertical climbs, it was the first time I decided to participate in one. My intentions were to simply experience a physical activity apart from running and enjoy the view at the top of the climb.

Priced at $26 (there was an additional charge for online registration), it proved to be worth much more. A week before, we received emails about our detailing. Joel and I were scheduled in detail 131, while Jon Soh was in detail 133. Meanwhile, Russell and Guan were participating as well; and so was my brother who was in the Youth category.

Come race day, the three of us met before registration. There was a subsequent 30min window for us to get prepared before we then headed to the baggage deposit and the pre-race briefing. We chanced upon Joel's friend who had just completed his climb in a very respectable 11-12 mins. As this was my first time and I was keen on running a sub-11, I probably asked many questions pertaining to the layout etc. He definitely provided an invaluable piece of advice - the race doesn't end at level 63, there are additional stairs to climb.

After gathering our detail, the organisers let us proceed with the climb. Details per staircase (there were two, separating different categories) were released in 2 minute intervals, thus minimising any bottlenecks in the narrow staircase. I broke into a pacey start, confident that in the 10 to 12 minutes, such a pace was more than comfortable and instead, the real work was the climb.

As we were assigned to Staircase A, it was about a 20m run before we entered the staircase. The handrails were on the right as the staircase turned clockwise. I quickly grabbed onto the handrails and began my controlled ascent. I could hear footsteps approaching behind me and I suspect at around the 3rd floor I was passed by another individual in my detail who was running up. I stuck to my rhythm.

The stairwell was pretty empty and perhaps around the 12th floor, I caught up with the earlier individual. Thereafter, there was a water point on the 15th floor which I skipped. For such a short race at a decent intensity, I wasn't planning to risk an gastric upset nor waste precious seconds in getting hydration. Continuing my climb, I recall glancing at my watch on the 20th floor as it struck 3:20. I knew a sub-11 finish was possible but wondered how previous champions managed it under 10.

I gradually began to overtake individuals from earlier details. Most were taking single steps, some were just waiting around for others or getting hydration (storeys 15, 32 and 44). I knew I began to feel the discomfort towards the upper 30s. It was a mixture of mildly burning legs and heavy breathing - both intensifying as the run continued. Nonetheless, the burning legs was nowhere near that of sprinting up staircases. Here, it was probably the cardiovascular system limiting the muscular system from intense lactic acid accumulation - just as how in a 5km race, there aren't burning legs unlike a shorter race.

Some participants voluntarily moved to the left (recall that the handrails I'm grabbing are on the right) as I passed, while others were using the handrails themselves, forcing me to pass on their left. The cumulative cost of passing perhaps 20 individuals was indeed numerous seconds but I was prepared for that. Perhaps one of my mild annoyances came from how some volunteers were standing at the landings, back against the handrails, hence forcing me to go around them. I could see no rationale for them doing that instead of standing nearer the walls.

After the increasingly difficult later floors, I finally hit storey 63 and glanced at my watch as it read the lower 10s. I knew the sub-11 was definitely secure and perhaps eased off a little. The last portion of the climb was somewhat confusing to navigate. It would certainly have helped if marshals were stationed to direct exhausted climbers. Nonetheless, I eventually found myself crossing the timing mat, guaranteed of my sub-11 finish. Thereafter, Chuan Heng greeted me - he was there organising the timings (I guess no long run at MR for him that day). I could only muster a "Hey" before moving on, fearing that I may block other participants. I then stopped my watch as I collected the finisher's medal. Little did I expect I would receive another later that day.

After a few more minutes, Joel and Jon Soh reached the top as well. After a few casual photos and lots of water, we headed down a few flights of stairs before taking the lift. We checked out timings (10:46 for me), collected out deposited bags and subsequently lingered around to get our heavily (literally) sponsored goodie bags.

Thereafter, MRT home and a strength session for me. After returning to my phone, I realised that I had a missed call - I suspected it was from the organisers. I was pretty certain with a sub-11 time, I placed top 10 hence may have been informed by the organisers. I returned their call but did not get an answer. Meanwhile, I resumed my other planned activities (studying ~).

After a little later, I received yet another call from a different number. I was expectant once again. To my pleasant surprise, I was informed that I had actually placed 3rd. After some discussion, the organisers gladly let Noel (who placed 1st in the Youth Challenge) collect the prize on behalf of me, saving me the convenience of heading back to the event site for the pick-up. NVM 2015 was definitely once of my most pleasant race experiences - good organisation, great goodie bags and the blessing of a podium finish.

Thankful for the company :)

After the descent. Credit to Runcapture.

Pleasantly surprised :)

Achieved the goal of a sub-11min finish!

Men's Open results. An arguably slower field compared to previous years.

Aranda May Day Run 2015

I chanced upon this event and noting it's cost and how it suited my schedule, I didn't hesitate before signing up. Perhaps the only push factor was the mild inconvenience of registration - having to mail payment.

This was to be the first of a series of races - not all of running nature - that I would embark on in the month of May. For this event, I was hoping to experiment with a racing strategy (and tactics if possible) - and perhaps snatch a podium finish if competition allowed, due to the small scale of this event. Nonetheless, this was not an important race and I intended to include an extended warm-up (and a cool down if circumstances permitted). With regard to race strategy, I was hoping to attempt an even split for this distance (slightly under 5.5km~) as in my only other 5km race (Carnival Run 2015), I had ran a negative split.

Alas, when I arrived at the race venue, I saw the large group of F1 runners. Having seen them compete in other running events, I identified a couple of them whose abilities definitely surpassed mine. I was hoping that there were some whose ability levels matched mine, thus providing some competition. After registration, I proceeded to do an extended warm-up, covering a portion of the race route.

With just under 10 minutes to go, I used the restroom then headed to the start line. I was feeling a little fatigued and certainly soaked with perspiration from the warm-up.The group of about 80 of us was then flagged off at 8.00am. 

I took awhile before finding some empty space in the first hundred metres, by then I noticed a few prominent F1 runners in the distance, together with other fellow runners who I suspected would quickly slow. My beliefs were quickly confirmed as I found myself overtaking some runners, with only three F1 runners ahead. Running alongside me was Lexxus Tan, the coach of F1 runners, who was obviously relaxed. Looking back, he was perhaps making an assessment of me - aspects such as smoothness, breathing etc. After just a few hundred metres with me, he then sped up to join his other runners while I continued, alone.

As I took a look at the four runners ahead, I was certain three of them were certainly faster runners than I was. I knew a podium finish wasn't possible unless one blew up. There was an F1 runner who didn't strike me as particularly quick, yet he certainly ran his first km rapidly, sticking to Jacky Ong, the eventual champion.

My FR15 beeped 3:49 at the first km. That was a little faster than what I wanted and I wasn't quick confident of keeping pace. Nonetheless, this race was all about experimentation. Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone near me to "race", thus the next aim was to work on pacing and get in a workout. As the kms went by, I proceeded to overtake the slowing F1 runner (not unexpectedly), though I myself was slowing too. I did feel some discomfort around my lateral abdominal region, probably attributed to my musculature not being accustomed to the pace that my cardiovascular system was prepared to handle. This forced me to ease off the pace a little, explaining the unfortunate 4:00 5th km.

All this while, the other F1 runners had extended their leads. Lexxus ran with the eventual runner-up, constantly looking back - probably watching out for me while spurring his trainee (who seemed to be struggling a little) on. Lexxus eventually (deliberately) crossed the finish just a second after his trainee, while I finished in 4th. Thereafter, I proceeded for a short break and some hydration before heading out for a cool down.

At the finish. Credit to Aranda Country Club

The event concluded with a pleasant reception at Aranda Country Club, including a brilliant lucky draw with 20 prizes (bearing in mind there were only 80+ runners) and certifications of achievement for every runner. The podium finishes for both genders were fully snatched up by the F1 runners. Overall, this was a simple yet well organised race. My takeaways extended beyond the goodie bag, the reception or the certificate, but included aspects on race strategy. I believe an even pace is certainly possible (as long as I work my core). Furthermore, experimentation with an extended warm-up and cool down suggested that I could afford to shorten my warm-up duration for a race of this distance. Certainly a race I'll be looking forward to support once again :)

Strava data.

Transaction

"It's easy to stay healthy, but then maybe you won't get really good either..."

Agne Bergvall

"You give your life... in exchange for what you hope to achieve... I'd gladly do it again and again. I'd trade my life to feel that sensation again."

Susanna Kallur

Draw

"I’ve always said, Ironman racing, particularly in KONA is, as much a mental test as it is a physical one. You draw on those experiences and a lot of the training you do, often on your own, those hard sessions, you know, they go in the memory bank to be drawn on at a later day. And to be honest I love being out there on my own, you know. I like that mentality and you’ve still got to do the work. Everyone goes through that sort of sacrifice and that sort of training and I think that’s the unique thing about our sport. You know, whether you try and win world titles, or win your age-group or even just finish. The people who win don’t just have the talent they work the hardest."

Craig Alexander

Surrender

Here's a little reflection on the multiple weeks with a bout of injury and how it has shaped my perspective. The experience with injury was very much influenced by prayers and a book - Living For What Really Matters. Personally, perhaps the greatest reminder was to be clear of my priorities (and importantly their motivations). This excerpt from here is a timely reminder.

"He made some of the greatest men of faith wait.

Don’t be discouraged if He makes you wait as well.

He will come through for you, just like He came through for them.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14"

If you're interested in reading the additional lengthy chunk as I make daily updates on my thoughts and experiences, beginning from the onset (19th March 2015) up till end April where I'm convinced it has probably resolved, take a look below. To sum it up, my injury was a period of emotional distress for me. However, I recognise the disparity between a state of mind and immediate emotions. We are called to rejoice always (Philippians 4:4) and are promised peace (Philippians 4:7) when we present our requests to God. I did seek Him daily, recognising His sovereignty. Though emotionally, I was constantly affected by the tumultuous episode, I ultimately managed to rejoice and find peace.