Run350 2016

It was time for my third edition of this race (you may also read about my race experience in 2014 and 2015). Having signed up with Ben since the 2014 edition, we decided to make it a yearly affair.

Thankfully, we had discounted rates, making it a very affordable race ($23)!

During REPC, Ben discovered he had been fortunate enough to obtain the lucky bib number 00888 (and I got 00887 -_-"). Seems like I still need patience in the hope that one day I am fortunate enough to obtain a nice bib number.

A jealous me in the background. Credit to Run350's Facebook Page.

Come race day, we reached the event precinct just before 6.20am. With flag-off scheduled at 6.30am, I knew it would be ideal to start queueing in the pen to get into the first wave and position ourselves reasonably towards the front, but nature did call. Therefore, it was barely five minutes before we got into the race pen. Unfortunately, a division (a thin metal chain)  had been made to separate us into the second wave. Despite some negotiation with the race officials, they prohibited our keen desire to join the first wave.

The first wave was flagged off at 6.30am. Quite interestingly, a runner beside us dashed under the metal chain that separated our wave (two) from the first. A race official tried to stop him, albeit ineffectively. That was rather amusing and ironical, as that exact runner, in seeing our ineffective negotiation attempts with race officials, had previously advised us to wait patiently for our wave's flag off.

Seems like I was fortunate enough to queue up behind a VIP.
Cameras were constantly flashing. Credit to Run350's Facebook Page.

Ben and I were flagged off in the second wave at 6.35am. Our plan was to try to run a 48min 10km race. It's interesting to see how we've progressed over the years...slowing every year...

Nonetheless, we begin at a rather quick pace, initially because we were planning to stay away from the crowd. The first km was passed in just under 4:30 - way too fast and definitely unrealistic. Most of it was my fault of poor pace estimation, having run last week's 2XU with close to a 4:00~ first km while already trying to start slowly. I've come to realise race pace feels so much easier in a race than in training - the atmosphere, the shoes, the ground (indeed, as most of my running is done in MacRitchie).

We deliberately slowed in the second km, on track for our target. Ben did however warn me that we may have to slow a bit - that was a poor prognostic indicator (coming this early, granted the aggressive first km). With some regulation of the pace, we soon started clicking off 5min/km. I encouraged him to just run as constant a pace as possible, avoiding unnecessary overtaking/weaving, in my desperate hope that we would run a 48+min race. Soon that become a sub-50.

All along, the route was filled with multiple runners, some from the first wave and others from the HM category that merged and diverged on various occasions. I obtained hydration from every hydration station available, intending to maximise my money's worth, though the race was already very affordable.

We noticed a middle-aged, small-built lady in a red top, running with small but rapid footsteps. She was our target. (Apparently, Ben realised that we had seen her in previous edition's.) We managed to stick with her for a large portion of the race, then disaster struck in the last km.

At that point, I was running slightly ahead of Ben. I loss visual on him (my complacent and lazy self that decided not to turn around for just a little too long) for a period of time and thereafter, for nearly a minute. That was under Bayfront Bridge, right at the point where the HM runners and 10km runners diverged. I was desperately concerned that either he had surged ahead along the 10km route without my notice, or that he had been diverted to the HM route. It was only after much waiting (and contemplating on my next course of action) that I saw him emerge from behind - before the route diverged for different categories. Apparently a cramp struck in those moments where I loss visual contact, thus handicapping him for a period.

Along Bayfront Bridge. Credit to Running Shots.

After ensuring that he was fit to continue running, I spurred him on. En route, multiple other runners also encouraged fellow runners. To me, that was inspiring. As we crossed Bayfront Bridge and headed close towards the Finish, we then threw in a surge as we hit the straight. It was arguably one of the fastest finishes I recall, though it was controlled in a manner that would enable both of us to pass the line as closely as possible. Looks like I mistimed it a little...

And we're done. Credit to While You Run.

Thereafter, it was time for a good conversation on life, health, priorities and of course, God and our faith. It's these conversations which I hold dear, recognising that they are the foundations and manifestations of strong friendships that may possibly last a long while. Sure, some of such in the past have passed, yet I'm no sceptic of them, merely realistic and accepting.

Race results available 2 days after the race ~

Till 2017 then!

2XU Compression Run 2016

Just the day before the race, Jacq informed me that she had decided not to run and offered me her slot. I had in mind to run a relaxed workout, or perhaps pace the others from church (if they were keen). However, she later mentioned "do a good one for me".

There were two reasons why this was difficult. Firstly, I had just been to the gym (an hour before) - my usual Saturday morning routine. This meant I would be aching pretty awfully. Secondly, I hadn't made specific preparation to run a half. I didn't know what pace was suitable, nor was I prepared to handle the demands of a longer race, having typically raced the 10k. Nonetheless, I was excited.

I awoke at 2.55am without an alarm (set at 3.00am). Every muscle in my body was aching. Even the eyelids, secondary to the short amount of sleep. Usual race day preparation ensued, thereafter I shared a cab down to the race venue with Javier and Joel. We arrived at about 4.20am and realised the restroom queues were terrifyingly long. I knew I had better find an alternative and managed to, with some thorough searching ;) Thereafter, I hurriedly collected the race bib from Jacq, deposited my bag, then headed into the race pen just around 4.50am. I snaked my way through the crowd towards the front, stopping about 10m~ short of the start.

5.00am and we were off. My plan was to head off around 1:35 HM pace, before speeding up after about 7km if I felt comfortable. This was an unfamiliar distance. Though I had covered a half-marathon before, it was never run competitively. Though telling myself to go slow, the first km was passed in about 4:00, and the subsequent few were passed only mildly slower, despite the deliberate attempt to relax. After about 4km, I caught up with another runner (a race bandit) who mentioned he was planning to run 1:28 or so, thus with the earlier km passed comfortable at approximately 1:25 pace, I decided to stick with him.

It wasn't long before we heard pounding footsteps from behind and lead bikes following us. The lead female (Jasmine) had caught up with us and we all decided to stick together. Runners were awfully strung out at this point of time, hence I was very keen for company. We slowed down marginally for Jasmine, though still clicking off 4:10-14. It felt very comfortable and I knew that my cardiovascular system would probably not be troubled maintaining this effort (speaking in full sentences was possible) for the distance.

With Jasmine (eventual Female Champion) just
behind. Credit to Pink Apple Events.

Somehow, my bandit friend disappeared around 8km. Thereafter it was the two lead bikes, Jasmine and I. I was fearful that we were slowing, hence I intermittently encouraged Jasmine along. We passed 10km in slightly past 41mins, which was well on track for the 1:30 I had in mind. Feeling comfortable, I decided to maintain my pace as the gap between Jasmine and I grew. One of the lead bikes followed me even after my gap with Jasmine grew. I asked him whether he could do that gratefully thanked him for his company as I was now progressing on towards a dark and lonely stretch along the PCN.

Towards the end of the PCN, there was a sign that read "Narrow Path Ahead" - that would prove to be a disastrous bottleneck for runners in the middle of the pack that would later pass by.

It was around the 14km mark where I started to feel the fatigue setting in. There was the tingling in the calves, not good. To complicate matters, my Garmin FR15 suddenly gave up on me. Whether it was the battery or Garmin's signal issues I do not know, but this meant I didn't know how fast I was running (which wasn't too big an issue as I could vaguely gauge) and how long I had taken (which is of concern when I was hoping to run a specific time). I only had the distance markers to rely on. My FR15 still did display the time of the day, hence having assumed that we were flagged off at 5.00am, I knew I had till about 6.30am to finish the remaining distance.

The next few km were pretty challenging as I felt the risk of cramps, in addition to the heavier legs suggestive of glycogen depletion (I hadn't bothered to carbo-load nor did I prepare nutrition en-route). I was for a huge portion of the route and the desire to finish the race was constantly growing (a poor prognostic sign). At around the 18km mark, a volunteer wasn't doing his job properly - he was moving while holding a cup of hydration out for me. I decided to ignore him altogether, instead grabbing a cup on the table. I felt a twinge through my left calve. I decided I better stop for a moment to stretch, lest a cramp came that would handicap me for the remaining few km.

After my 10 seconds of stretching, I resumed the running, albeit much more cautiously. I had enough time to run a sub-1:30 if I maintained a 5min+/km pace. That was definitely manageable, as long as cramps were held off. Even if a cramp did occur, I suspected I still had a sufficient buffer.

Now concerned about cramps. Credit to Pics2Go.

I proceeded on possibly around a 4:45 pace, being particularly careful on the slopes. Eventually a sign read 20km - the end was near! And footsteps from behind were getting ever nearer, along with Lexus' shouts of encouragement to a couple of other runners (one of whom was Jasmine) and myself. I laughed in reply to his "Moses you can run 1:25", mentioning that I wasn't keen to push myself and risk a cramp that would make my passage across the imminent Finish not so...graceful. Nonetheless, he was pretty persistent with his shouts and I'm glad I sped up. During this period, one runner passed me. That was the first in the race.

I don't quite remember what caught my attention. Credit to Pics2Go.

As I proceeded onwards at the risky pace, I gradually started to feel the cardiovascular fatigue that was unfamiliar for the entire route prior. It was a tough balance between running hard while recognising that a little too hard and a cramp would be invited along. Thankfully the Finish came pretty quickly and I passed safely as the clock was reading an upper 1:26. I knew Jasmine was just behind as I saw the tape being prepared - obviously not for me (though I was the first female bib that crossed the Finish). Oh, and I recall hearing Jacq's shouts of encouragement as I passed the Finish.

I was pretty surprised at the time, though (as usual) convinced that the course was slightly short (which, according to most others' Strava data, it probably was about 20.8km). Nonetheless, I knew a sub-1:30 was undeniably possible.

Thereafter, I collected the Medal and Finisher Tee (a Female one again, as with last year) before congratulating Jasmine on her performance. She congratulated me as well and told me that I needed to work on my endurance (definitely true ha ha). It's amazing how this lady who is my age+15 (so she claims) runs so well! Thereafter, I went to look for Jacq. I contemplated the complimentary massage (the queue would later grow to an insane length) though decided against it for fear of it triggering a cramp. Briefly caught up with some of the F1 runners while thanking Lexus for his shouts of encouragement, without which I would have certainly ended my race more cautiously. It was a longggggg wait thereafter, during which I managed to see Kenn Siang again (just like in 2015), before meeting Kenneth and Javier for breakfast. And finally, the batch at Serangoon.

Someone forced the Finisher's Medal on a reluctant me. Credit to Pics2Go.

Refresh yourself with Pocari.

Just missed a sub 1:27! Then again, this was run at such late notice :)

By the way, feel free to check out my review on JustRunLah! here :)