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.

Ebb

And flow.

The opportunity.

Income Eco Run 2017

Zero waste runner.

Ben and I participated in the last 3 editions in this race and this time, Wen Shien was joining us!

I recall it was back in December 2016 (if my memory's to be trusted) that we registered for this event at a really affordable rate. As the months passed, we managed to get in a little bit of training together, in addition to the Wheel Walk Jog (4km~) event a week prior.

Humidity. The enemy of just about every runner in Singapore. He was present, even early in the morning of that Sunday. According to our previous plans, our aim was to complete the 10k in 50mins. I was particularly hopeful for that because I had witnessed Wen Shien's dedication to running regularly.

The route was typical of a run held in this vicinity. After all, how many options does Singapore provide. Wen Shien was moving along steadily, while Ben seemed to develop some discomfort about halfway through. I was torn between sticking with Ben and pressing on with Wen Shien, both of whom would certainly benefit from company.

I lingered with Ben will about 7km where I decided I wanted to help Wen Shien to perform as well as possible, just as I had encouraged Ben a few year's back when we ran a fast race.

By then, participants of the 21km category had merged with us, therefore it meant a substantial amount of weaving. On a brighter note, this meant many individuals to catch up with.

The last few km must have been excruciating. I've experienced the battle of the mind where only by sheer will and some foolishness urges one past previously discovered boundaries. In the end, as Wen Shien and I passed the finish line, I certainly was satisfied.

This race means much to me. I do enjoy a running and furthermore, a race that supports a worthy cause, but paramount to me is the company - one which I foresee will last - and this is my greatest joy.

Verity

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10 (NIV)

Relieving; reliving.

2XU Compression Run 2017

I arrived just as the tail end of the first wave departed. 

I'm usually early.

But this time complacency got the better of me and I missed the flag-off of the first wave of the 10km runners. I could try to catch-up with the front runners - but they'll probably be way ahead. The alternative would be to join the second wave. Perhaps even join the 5km later.

The 5km. Credit to Pink Apple Events.

As luck would have it, Jacq found me on the same MRT carriage.

MR-25 Progressive Run 2017 (15km)

It was great running another MR event. MR-25 is a running club that kindly organises free-of-charge sessions nearly every month, including official races such as the MR-25 Ultramarathon or Marathon.

Today, it was time for the 15km Progressive Run.

With the closure of a section of the SICC Golf course, routes for recent MR runs had to be modified. Hence, this was a new 15km course as compared to previous years. A 5km loop around Lornie would be proceeded by a 10km out-and-back portion along the Northern route.

The Northern route is tough.

Upon flag-off, I settled to what felt pretty comfortable for a 15km race. Naturally, I found myself perhaps closer to 20th place. Nonetheless I knew that with time, I would catch up to a substantial number of participants.

The initial 5km was pretty manageable. It did feel appropriate for a 15km effort. However, this race of 15km has a pretty challenging final 10km. I repeated reminded myself to go easy, particularly on the uphills, lest I found myself crawling up hills towards the end of the race.

Having overtaken about 10 runners, I caught up with a few more by the time I reached Ranger station. The route took us further out by a few hundred, before we would make a U-turn. Along these few hundred, the returning runners passed me.

As I write this in retrospect, the leader at that point of the race was actually a Commonwealth Games Marathon participant! Ben Moreau boasts amazing PBs, way better than any Singaporean can manage at this moment. Talk about a 28:40 10km or 2:15:52 full marathon!

As I made the U-turn, I was some distance apart from Chuan Heng. He stopped for a quick drink and I caught up beside him, though I was content to follow his lead.

To be continued~

Photo credits: Chan Chai Hui

Run For Hope 2017

Service.

I dwelt on the word, even as I rushed over for group training and as I got up early (earlier than my other races) on race day.

This race was about performance. I needed to perform according to my expectations. Today, it was to pace other runners to a 60min 10km race.

I first chanced upon the opportunity to become a pacer for Run for Hope 2017 on Facebook by Coffee Tea Runners. They're a group that conducts regular casual group runs in addition to providing pacing support to a variety of local events. One aspect which enticed me was that apart from the time trial, there were only 2 training sessions prior to the event day. This meant significantly less time commitment (which admittedly, is a challenge) as opposed to becoming a pacer for other events. In addition to that, Run for Hope champions cancer awareness and research.

Pacer selection was determined through a 10km time trial, whereby we were flagged off minute by minute and made to run the (approximately?) 10km route with as little km to km variation in our splits.

Upon selection, we engaged in two group training sessions. The bunch of pacers came from diverse walks of life. Some were retirees, while others were freshly starting out in the workforce. As a student, I was the youngest. Nonetheless, despite varying backgrounds, all of us there were like-minded in seeking to perform well, for the benefit of others. Service.

Our first group training.

Colourful. Our second training.

Looking back over the couple of years since I've started running, I recognise how it's given me a keen sense of purpose, in addition to helping me organise my life and priorities. I knew that this was a great chance to give back to the sport and the community.

We paced fellow runners to a finish of just below an hour. Service; with humility.

En route. Credit to Running Shots.