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.

Run at SUTD 2016

This was a good opportunity for exposure to the track and to racing on the track.

Furthermore, all registration fees (reasonable at $10) would be going to charity - specifically the Singapore Disability Sports Council.

Important as well was the fact that the location was suited to my agenda.

The competitive category consisted of a small field. I immediately picked out Joo Ern and Karthic. I didn't notice anyone else of too much relevance in the remaining 20-30. Said a quick hello to Joo Ern and then it wasn't long till we were flagged off.

I started off slower than both of them. Two others had sped off to a quick start, though I was certain they would falter as they didn't appear to be in the best of shape (yet looks can deceive). I knew that I had to keep Joo and Karthic within my sights, yet was also keen to run this in appropriate intensity to make it a decent workout - not a killer one.

It wasn't long till I reigned both of them in. Karthic was sitting behind Joo; at once I knew it was likely he was keen to sit and only kick at the end. Meanwhile, I continued behind steadily. I heard Joo's breathing but Karthic was silent.

Joo began to slow the pace. Marginally. Yet it was noticeable - in fact it felt like a jog. I was breathing at a similar rate I would do my long runs in. I was content however, as Garmin indicated we were still running at a pace that would provide me with a decent workout.

It wasn't long before anyone sticking with us faded (considering we were slowing as well) and anyone ahead was caught. After about 7-8 laps into the race, I knew it was time to speed up a little - just to test Joo and check Karthic's tactics.

I surged a little - Joo didn't seem to stick. Karthic however,  followed my moves. Joo was a middle distance specialist so I certainly wasn't about to stick around for his kick, therefore I sped up marginally - though nothing too taxing. From a 4:05 3rd km we ran a 3:51 4th km. I didn't know where Joo was at this point of time but I knew he was not near enough to be heard.

Just two of us left. For now.

The plan for the final two laps was to first make sure I don't get caught by Joo and next, try to respond to Karthic who had no reason not to out-kick me. He was still sticking behind me on lap 11, but he surged into the lead once we hit the bell.

I didn't muster up a very good response because I felt to follow him demanded a pace I couldn't sustain for the entire final lap. His lead had grown into a good 50-odd metres at the 200 mark. It was then that I heard cheers and I knew Joo was behind and closing. The race - my race - was now on.

I had no visual of him. I gradually heard the footsteps and the audible breathing. I then attacked the track yet stayed in control. As we veered off towards the finish 'route' that was demarcated near lane 8, I knew he was getting very close yet I played the boundaries of the route - indicated by cones.

I finished in 18:33:XX. He crossed the line in 18:33:XX. I placed second, to Karthic.

He was evidently spent as he grasped his knees. Karthic had arguably split a sub-70 final lap in an excruciating slow race (by his standards). Joo (after catching his breath) mentioned how he deliberately tried to slow the race down as he knew he had the kick. Thankfully I didn't play into his hands, making an appropriate move slightly after the halfway point to grow a gap.

Tactically, it was extremely satisfying to have finished the race just milliseconds ahead of my fellow competitor. I could easily expand much more energy and place second by a larger margin, but this wasn't about the times, it was about racing. Perhaps another enjoyable and tactfully executed race would be the Otter Run 2016, having surged into second place barely 500m from the finish.

There were prizes for the top 3 competitors. However, none of the cash was going to myself - a commitment I had pertaining to all financial rewards from my racing. God's blessings would be channelled to bless others.

Photo credits: Frasers Centrepoint Limited

Sub 1:20 final 400 :) Strava data available here.