Richmond Runfest 2017

Surpass.

I signed up for this event months in advance, at Yirong's suggestion. Why a half? It was cheaper than the 10k, while remaining a reasonable distance (the full marathon would render me antalgic for some time).

With all that was going on in London, it was surprising that I actually got to run regularly in UK. Most of it came down to me wanting to explore and the fact that school didn't start anywhere as early as back home. Then again, schedules were very flexible as an elective student...

The race pack was delivered via mail without additional charge. 

On race day, as I was scheduled for the first wave (based on my previous HM time), I was due for flag off at 9.00am. In Singapore, that would have been torture. In London, the weather was gloomy though thankfully it wasn't drizzling. Probably around 12-14 degrees Centigrade that morning. I wore my NTU top, shorts and my gloves. My thermoregulatory mechanisms seem to neglect my hands. Significantly.

After the tube ride to Zone 6, I headed over to the park. A quick security check, bag deposit and then a brief visit to the portable toilets. Portable urinals were certainly a significant time saver. It's certainly an idea worth adopting back home.

To prevent myself from gradually freezing, I tried to stay within any crowd I could find. Thankfully, it wasn't long till flag off. 

To put my expectations into perspective, I had about three weeks of decent running (40-50km, with some workouts) in my legs. Prior to that, I had about 2 months of averaging 20km a week of slow running. I knew there were supposed to be pacers for 1:30 and 1:45. Following the former seemed rather risky yet the latter would have certainly been somewhat unfulfilling. A year ago, with about 3 months of solid mileage, I ran a sub 1:30 with about 20 hours notice. Under my present circumstances, I wasn't certain I could manage that again. But I was open to trying.

The Start. Credit to Richmond Runfest's Facebook page.

The first km was passed comfortably. Legs were good, lungs were brilliant. Many people passed me - considering I started only about 20 from the front. It's interesting how unlike in Singapore, the Brits don't cram themselves right to the start (at least in this race). There was so much room at the start line that I felt obligated to occupy the empty space.

Anyway, I knew I'd gradually be catching up with many that were passing me. First km in 4:15. Settled into a rhythm and clicked off the next couple of Ks in sub 4:10. I was breathing absolutely comfortably. However, it wasn't long till I felt the niggles in the thighs. Seems like the mileage (or lack thereof) was catching up with me. Aerobically I knew I wouldn't be in trouble. Paramount to a good race was therefore, to make sure my legs could keep up with my lungs.

The course took us through variable terrain - minimal grass, a fair amount of tarmac and gravel. As always, I gradually started catching up with runners over the first 10k. I passed 10k in sub-42min pace. The thighs were starting to get a little sore, which was worrying. I knew I could afford to slow down. It was going to be a fine line and I needed to make sure I threaded lightly in order to maximise my chances to arrive at the finish with functioning limbs.

There were a couple of hydration stations along the way. Unlike back at home, the low humidity here meant dehydration wasn't as noticeable. I drank at every occasion I could. Bottles were convenient to drink from, though I felt wasteful at the limited amounts I could consume before I'd toss the bottle to the side.

I found myself running beside a Caucasian lady for a substantial portion of the race. I noticed another Asian man as well. I was thankful for their company, though no words were spoken. The route was enjoyable, though I was gradually having trouble focusing on my surroundings.

I was certainly starting to hurt. Or at least the legs were. The breathing was still comfortable - judging by the respiratory rate. Towards the last third of the race, I knew I had lots of time in the bank for a sub 1:30 performance. I deliberately slowed down, in the hope that the legs would take less of a beating.

At some point towards the last few Ks, I was passed by a pacer. I knew the fastest pacers were 1:30 pacers - and I was certainly running sub 1:30 pace - whereas he was kinda flying past me. Then came a huge group of runners (about 6-8). I contemplated sticking with them, but realised the legs just could not.

Thankfully, the agony the legs encountered was soon over (only in retrospect). The last few Ks were miserably slower than the average pace (though then again, the terrain was slightly more challenging). I finished joyfully in 1:28:13. What a pleasant surprise. I certainly wasn't expecting this performance, considering the limited mileage over the past few months. In fact, over the previous 4 months, I had averaged less than a half-marathon per week. Per week.

Committing to surrender my running to God was no doubt a blessing. Not only did it free my time, but it freed my heart. And I was blessed with a satisfying performance in my first overseas race.

Towards the Finish. Credit to Prestige Events.

The full marathon winner.

Old shoes.

Happy Singaporeans.

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 :)