Asics Relay Singapore 2018

Akira Swift Road Relay Championships 2018

I was the burden in my team hahah

Luck out of proportion to probability.

IVP 2018

Blessed to have been able to participate and I absolutely enjoyed and treasured the God-given opportunity!

Alongside.

Gratitude.

Photo credits: Alvin

I had always wanted to run for IVP. This year (or I should say, in the AY 2017-18), I found out with minimal notice (essentially about a week) that qualifying for the 5000m was possible. Yet the other consideration was - when was the 5000m - as there was some variation in schedules across previous years. 

I can choose to attribute my qualification for the right event at the right time as pure coincidence or God's blessing and I choose to acknowledge that it must have been the latter. 

Consider my circumstances. I was in the midst of preparation for MBBS, therefore was running minimally (20-30km a week, a far cry from the mileage and intensity I was doing just a year ago). After MBBS was over, I would fly to Taiwan from 15th January onwards. This meant that I could only take part in IVP if the event I participated in fell on 13th January 2018 (Saturday). Furthermore, I had to qualify. God opened the opportunity for me, and I seized it.

The week of MBBS was a challenging one, physically. I was unwell. Thankfully, much of the preparation took place in the months preceding. It forced me to recognise my limitations and rely on God for His providence. I write this prior to receiving my results but I write this confident that whatever the outcome, He wills for it and is pleased with what I chose to do.

On the day of IVP itself, I was still unwell. I had an uncomfortable throat and lingering lethargy. The weather was drizzly (as it had been for the past 120 hours?). Though a little excited, I was joyful. Sheer joy at the privilege and blessing to be running that afternoon.

We were flagged off just after 5pm. It was still drizzling and the ground was damp - in fact it had been persistently drizzling for about the past 3 days.

I settled into a decent pace, perhaps a tad too fast for my fitness at that moment. Surprisingly, the first 2km felt absolutely comfortable. I was running with Yurong for the first few laps, before he started to drop back ever so slightly. Ahead of me was a pack of about 4 runners. I could hear the cheers suggesting I catch that pack, however I knew that even trying to speed up by a few seconds would cost me dearly. In fact, I was probably running a few seconds too quick.

The pack ahead maintained an amazingly consistent pace, gradually pulling further ahead. This left me in no man's land. Yet I realised I was in 8th position - which would actually enable to me to score points. It wasn't long till one of the pack dropped back and I caught him - I was now in 7th! I was surprised to even be in a position of getting points for NTU, having seen the start list. However, a couple of podium contenders did not start.

It was a largely uneventful race till the second last back straight, where Yurong pulled up beside me. Were we going to complete this race again? The bell rang. And I guess Yurong realised we were only starting the bell lap. Yet another miscalculation on his part hahaha.

I saw it was just around 17:32 where we started the bell lap. This meant a sub-19 was still possible! I remained conservative for the first 200, before starting to kick as I rounded the final curve. It was well within control, yet immensely satisfying. In previous races, satisfaction was best attained by running intelligently, running negative splits, or really running till I got myself nauseous. Today, it was just about running. That was enough.

I have seen how God has opened up this opportunity - and other opportunities - over the past few months as I returned in Singapore. I have gotten my spiritual life into better order and perhaps as I contemplate my circumstances through clearer lenses, I constantly am awakened to the blessings that have saturated my life.

To God be the Glory.

The chief end of man is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.

Asics Relay 2017

National Vertical Marathon 2017

Four.

A risky investment. Thankfully, there was ROI.

The race was initially meant to be 34 storeys up, 13 down. Deceiving. As I'd estimate that these 34 storeys were closer to 55 of a HDB block. The descent was cut away a week before the race due to safety concerns, which was indeed legitimate.

First up was the Men's Open. The podium was the target. A 6-min ascent would be icing on the cake. Without the descent, I was confident I'd be quicker than Kai Peng (he's the best I know when it comes to descending!). With 4 categories for the day ahead, I was happy to place behind Yaner. Furthermore, I did sincerely feel he deserved to win Tembusu Vertical instead of me (this was likely due to my fortune in starting in an earlier wave). Both of us aside, the next question was, would there be others to contend with?

I saw Kien Mau while I was registering with Noel and Joel. He informed me he had many categories for the day. Like 6. He told me he had trained with his friends. Was he as quick with the stairs as he was on the track?

Indeed he was. Blazing. 5:40ish. My 6:08 paled in comparison. Surprisingly, that took me to third place (just behind Yaner at 5:56) at 8ish in the morning and that remained all the way till the end of the Men's Open. Missed the prize presentation but I've come to realise that it didn't matter at all to me. I was in the competition for prizes and the medals. The medals I desired to dedicate to my family. The prizes were meant to bless others and for some personal utility.

Credit to Pixelinc.

I had time to kill after the first category. It would be a long day ahead. My first climb began around 7.45am, while the others were to begin at 12.15pm, 12.45pm and 5.45pm. I had the company of some from church. There were multiple game booths and free snacks available to occupy participants as well.

It was time for the next two categories which offered little respite between. I was to race the Team Open with Kai Peng, Konan, Clarissa and Pyone before racing back down to begin the NTU Team with Lester, Yi Heng, Sai and Li Sin. I climbed the Team Open consistently, with a pretty decent timing of 6:13 despite ensuring some reserves for the next race. The rest of the guys were pretty solid as well, as they were adequately experienced with stair climbing.

I'm really bad at this.

Unfortunately, the NTU Team was arguably less experienced. I kept warning them to START SLOW! Yet the guys disappeared above me quickly. Which meant it was only a matter of time that I caught up. Nonetheless, the overall performance was pretty solid.  

Credit to Pixelinc.

Then came a decent interval for R&R before the final category. Caught up with the NTU crossers and took the time to visit the National Library to study 😅

The last category (Open Relay) was probably my most intense race for the day. Being the relay, it meant we had way less to climb. I recalled from last year's NVM that a short race meant a more intense race. This was likely to be a 2min climb - which is way more intense than a 6min one. It was so quick that I didn't have the time to break a sweat.

Credit to National Vertical Marathon's Facebook page.

The relay involved 3 climbers per team. There were probably about 7 teams within our wave - of which the hottest competition would arise from. The transition points were at the 14th and 26th floor in order to provide 3 segments for each team. I was to be the second runner behind Kai Peng, while Clarissa would anchor. 

As I took the lift with other 2nd runners to the 14th floor, Richard talked to me. I recognised him from previous verticals - he was a solid climber, but a fatigued one as well as he had just completed the Corporate Relay. He told me that he felt my team stood a chance of "beating the ang-mohs". I didn't quite see any of them. I told him his team was probably gonna be quicker than mine, though I'd do my best as well.

The first leg climbers arrived rapidly. Kien Mau led, followed by Bryan right behind and Kai Peng came up a few seconds later. The two ahead of me were off very quickly. I was doing my best to be controlled yet optimal in my effort. The gap wasn't closing.

It was only within the last few floors whereby I suddenly caught them very quickly. Within a flight or two, I flew past both climbers. Richard had very kindly given me the inside lane (the rails). In the final few flights, it seemed like I gained 5 seconds. Clarissa was off.

And apparently she led till the final flight, whereby jostling occurred. It was pretty stormy weather thereafter. In more ways than one.

SUniG Road Race 2016

And there it goes.

Shivers down my spine, the wind and rain through my skin.

Tension in the final minutes.

Any time now.

We're off.

The tiny first loop.

With smiles for now.

I know my targets.

My pass time.

Passed and running past no man's land.

Left foot.

Right foot... nearly done.

Oh so near.

After the storm. 

Courageous capt.

Alongside.

All in.

Photo credits to Alvin, Kasi, Sarra, Guo Jie, XYZ Photos (Yuan Zhi), NTU Spirit (Jun Cen) ... any others? :)

I have fought this fight and finished this race but so much
more importantly than any earthly race, may I keep the faith. 

The desire to represent NTU was first introduced in 2015, when I was hearing about the Inter-Varsity Polytechnic competition. The goal was to run the 10,000m. After all, if I had loved the sport and had a decent ability, why not use running as a platform to contribute and inspire. A breakthrough in performance came with an approximately sub-39 paced race in September, barely three months prior IVP, though it wasn't 'official' since the race was about 200m short (measured on GPS). Sadly, injury struck thereafter, taking me out for an agonising three months. That meant my goal for that academic year was gone.

The following academic year presented the perfect opportunity. I had a few months of minimally interrupted training and this time, ran a sub-39 en-route a 10.5km (GPS-measured) race. Furthermore, it was a comparably conservative effort in contrast to the first sub-40 race I had run (necessitating a visit to the medical tent). However, I ran that race with the burden of imminent ITBS just preparing to flare. The subsequent two months were an uncertain period before another miraculous resolution, occurring barely two months before SUniG Road Race 2016 - my next opportunity. On one hand, I had the benefit of abundant time during throughout the day as it was a period of... relaxed curriculum. However, two months was a major time restriction. Three or four months - that would have been much more comforting to produce a performance, due to my preferred slow, progressive nature of aerobic training.

I worked within my limitations. I then came to realise qualifying to be part of the six that ran wasn't in any way easy. I barely made it. It was simply a God-given chance, a second chance.

Race-day (11 September 2016) came and I was filled with apprehension yet excitement and hunger. My first race representing NTU. I donned the NTU-top for the first time ever with much pride and gratitude, choosing to attribute this opportunity as God-granted and for the purpose of His glory.

The skies were cloudy and the forecast predicted impending thunderstorms. About 30 mins before flag off, the heavens opened. Ferocious gusts and flashes of lightning illuminated the gloomy surroundings. The sun had vanished.

I hated wet conditions.

In my mind, I had mixed feelings. Getting to West Coast Park was no doubt quite a hassle, hence a postponement would be pretty frustrating. Yet running in sub-optimal conditions (wet, slippery grounds) and with a sub-optimal psyche (wet, slipper grounds and soaked shoes) wasn't too appealing either.

The rain continued for a long time. In fact, it was still drizzling by the time the announcement that the race would proceed came, albeit a 9.20am flag off as opposed to 8.00am. This was it. We were to proceed and I had better get myself ready, perhaps more mentally than physically. A brief warm up left my shoes soaked. I proceeded with some race-pace strides and the final few minutes were spent in prayer. It was time.

Kai Peng had informed me that he did not make the team nor the reserves. That had to mean the competition would be extremely stiff. It would be a narrow battle between NUS and NTU. I knew NUS had the upper hand - as to what extent, I did not know. All I knew was that I needed to be conservative (as I often am) yet aggressive (early enough) in my pursuit of anyone with an orange top. I was realistic that I could well be NTU's 6th runner. Though this meant not clinching any points for the team, I could contribute by giving every other school a run for their points. Every point I could add to their score would count (here's a recap on cross-country scoring).

We arranged ourselves based on expected finish order (except for Yuan Yi and I) - Kien Mau, Andreas, Zorn, Lester, myself and Yuan Yi. I was to start ahead of Yuan Yi as I had the tendency to be conservative while he often started too aggressively. Constant prayers on peace, surrender, joy and favour were uttered in the final few moments before we were flagged-off at 9.20am sharp.

Many, if not all of the fast competitors were experienced, segregating themselves quickly into appropriately-paced packs. I immediately eyed my competition - oranges. The first four were clearly ahead, but the fifth and sixth tops were in the same pack as I was. Bearing that in mind, I proceeded at my intended race pace.

We first covered a small loop spanning approximately 1km, before proceeding for the larger loop that would take us past the underpass and to the Eastern (the map below is not oriented) end of the park. I was surprised that Yuan Yi had yet to pass me; I was concerned that not all was right for him. As for me, I found myself right on the heels of orange-5 and orange-6 as we began the bigger loop. It wasn't long before they, along with some others, were on my heels - and the gap growing. It was then time to look further and identify where orange-4 was.

The small loop

He was a decent distance ahead, perhaps 15 seconds or thereabout. Lester was slightly ahead of him. I was about 2km in, feeling comfortable, but pretty lonely. I hardly ever look back in races - and certainly was not going to for this race. Therefore, I had no idea if anyone was behind to work with. My goal was to do my best to catch orange-4 and give NUS an extra point.

Though I would have wished I could savour every detail, I do not recall being thoroughly engaged. Sure, I was working hard yet the fitness developed over the past two months was manifesting. I was soaked to the skin - shoes, shirt and all. I paid attention to the slippery surfaces. I ran the tangents skilfully. Importantly, I focused on keeping up the intensity even as I ran alone.

As the race continued I realised I the gap was growing. I had no idea who he was but I knew these NUS guys were quick. Regardless of the circumstance, I was determined to run my heart out. “Run till your tongue touched the ground” to quote Coach.

The rest of the race passed in a blur. Getting increasingly uncomfortable by the minute, I saw the girls heading out, cheering them on as we passed. As I was nearing the 5km mark, I heard pounding footsteps behind me. Strange, but I never looked back. I was however extremely alert to the individual - the proximity, the intensity of breathing. They disappeared within seconds, I had no clue whether that was a competitor or any other individual.

As I rounded the final small loop, I knew I had to began my kick early enough in order to run the fastest time - even if I was not going to catch orange-4. After rounding a few curves with a slight ascent, I began the controlled kick. That was easily 350m out. Accelerating progressively as I drove my arms, I experienced increasing agony with every stride. I embraced it, fighting the voices that suggested slowing a little. Was there anyone who would pass me? Didn't I have sufficient a lead as the path behind me seemed silent? The voices fell on deaf ears.

It was over so quickly. At the finish, I grabbed my knees and gasped for the first time in too long. This was it. I had finished what I had intended to start. The intensity of satisfaction overflowed. Praise ensued.

As this race marks the end of SUniG for us, every time I look back I recognise the favour granted to me. I love running; I certainly had acceptable abilities - though not extravagant talent but one which I was willing to work for; I had favourable circumstances. When passion, abilities and destiny come together, they formed a launching pad to propel me into this avenue. I must cherish this opportunity, I must use it for His glory.

My second chance; a day to remember.