Green Corridor Run 2016

After a late invitation (early bird rates long gone) by Chuan Heng, I decided to attempt the Green Corridor at last and in fact, for the first time. I was definitely excited to have the chance to race as part of the competitive MacRitchie Runners 25 team, having seen them often at MR and during races. 

With Chuan Heng as the team leader, we met at 6.45am (so early for a 8.00am start!) at Tanjong Pagar before proceeding to the race site, led by Kek (Dan Gao). The group was a friendly bunch, comprising of both veterans and junior members.

After depositing our bags, we proceeded for a simple warm-up before forming up about 25 mins prior to flag off as the crowds were gathering quickly. I was pleased at the ability that we possessed in securing a decent starting position, within metres from the start line. Looking around, there were representations from various running groups (F1, Singapore Shufflers) including speedy individuals (like Kenyans).

We were promptly flagged off at 8.01am, with a huge pack heading off to the a blistering start while I attempted to remain conservative. It wasn't hard to avoid too fast a start as the circumstances - terrain and participants - demanded it. I was pretty comfortable for the first km passed in 3:57, though I was a little hesitant if I could keep it up for the entire course. I gradually realised that I certainly wasn't back to premorbid (IT band syndrome for the last quarter of 2015) and that this was complicated by the flat though slightly uneven and shifty terrain.

I had options - to push hard early and try to hang on or to play it conservatively. I decided on the latter as I this was my first race in awhile and I was a little doubtful of my fitness. Furthermore, bearing in mind my uncertainty of the course (first and last run ever at the Green Corridor), it seemed wise to recognise my mistake early. 

As always, I gradually caught hold of some runners. I could see Chun Hong consistently about 30-50m ahead of me. I noted some familiar faces though I admit I was a more focused on conserving energy to run instead of greetings. There were however, multiple photographers along the way. I knew that I couldn't race this in a brilliant time, hence I tried to maximise my photogenicity (its success was debatable) while maintaining a respectable pace (no star jumps for me).

Looks like I've still got some work to do. Credit to RecoveringAddict Runner.

Around the 7km mark. This one's not much better either. Credit to Running Shots.

I registered a particularly slow split for the 8th km. I have no idea why... maybe it was the flyover stealing the GPS signal.

Towards the last portion of the race, I noted the presence of a lanky F1 runner and two Shufflers ahead of me. I decided to speed up and surprisingly, I managed to do so pretty convincingly. I began a kick just as I caught up to the F1 runner, continuing past steadily before proceeding towards the Shufflers. By then, the finish was in clear sight (150m?) and I knew I had to kick hard now, lest they decided to hang on to me. I did exactly that, passing them with 50m to spare and sparing them no chance to respond.

First, the F1 runner, with about 500m~ to go. Credit to Running Shots.

Time to fly while others shuffled (very quickly). Credit to Pictureart.

(I feel like I'm writing some inspirational race commentary. But that was quite certainly the best experience of my race today.)

Thereafter was the collection of a towel, the finisher's medal and a bottle of water. Last but not least, a cool-down with some MR-25 guys (I could sense a cramp coming - thankfully we quickly concluded it) and photo-taking.

Proud to have run alongside this friendly team (: Oops we're missing Jesper...

Hmm now we're missing Kok Soon...

Strava data available here. Missed a GPS-registered sub-40 10k by a bit!

With regard to the course, there were some stretches of poorly lit areas such as under flyovers. As the non-existent pack I was in was pretty spaced out, the rays of light seeping in were sufficient, though I imagine those running in a bigger pack would require some definitive lighting to maximise safety. Other than that, there were slippery portions though nothing in comparison to the previous Compressport Rail Corridor Run earlier in the year. Distance markers were appropriately positioned at every 500m (if I recall), so great work by the organisers. I was however rather disappointed that there was no chilled hydration, let alone isotonic hydration available along the route.

For now, we await official results. Hopefully the team will place well! Congrats to Thomas and Chuan Heng for running another of their many existing sub-40 races and Chun Hong on a great PB!

*Update. Official results are out and we did indeed place pretty well :) We were initially 4th but a member of the originally 1st-placed team was disqualified, hence they dropped to 5th and we were elevated to 3rd!

Results promptly released the following day :) A very strong field!

And our little reward ~

Do also feel free to check out my post on JustRunLah! here :)

Cosmic Nostalgia

"Apparently, then, our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory and honour beyond all our merits and also the healing of that old ache."

"Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing."

C.S. Lewis

IHG Road Relay 2016

It's great to be back to running and back to racing. However, I was pretty apprehensive about this race. For one, I knew there was a decent field of very strong runners. In addition, having only managed running for barely a month (after three months of pain - beyond physical), I wasn't at all confident of my fitness for this short races. This is quite self-explanatory but running well in short races necessitates short, fast training (on a background of aerobic fitness). The latter I may have semi-had, but the former was lacking.

At NTU's SRC, I finally got to meet my team of runners. I knew some from previous encounters, yet the majority of them were foreign (metaphorically). The relay involved two teams of five runners per hall. Team A (the team I was assigned to) was required to have three guys and two girls, while Team B had four guys and a single girl. All 18 halls would have one runner of each team running concurrently, totalling 36 runners on the field. The total time of both teams in each hall would then be calculated and the eventual rankings would be determined based on this. I was given the bib A3 as I was the third runner of Team A. The route would take runners around the track, before moving along a segment of Lien Ying Chow Drive, Nanyang Crescent, then around the track before relay handover. The estimated distance of the route was slightly past 2.2km.

At first glance (and not unexpectedly), I noted there were a sizeable number of potentially quick runners amongst different halls. While some were slightly more inconspicuous, others did seem to exude an aura suggesting they were speedy.

Just before flag off.

It wasn't long before the first 36 runners were flagged off. They sped off, possibly too quickly, as Russell and I noted that a sizeable number covered the first 200 in 30-35s~ (that is too fast, unless one intended to finish under 7min - which I believe no one did). We were rather concerned for Bert (A1), who was near the leaders. Nat (B1) adopted a more conservative approach and it probably served him well.

Before flag-off, Russell and I postulated that the first runner out of the track would be either very fast or very foolish. The first runner off the track was Andreas (IVP 15-16 Steeple Champion) so he was indeed very fast (and not foolish) as within a few minutes, he was the first one returning to the track and eventually completing the first round. Thereafter runners started stringing in. Before long, Nat returned and transited to Debra (B2), followed by Bert to Ziyu (A2). I started getting nervous.

It wasn't long before Debra returned and handed over to Russell (B3). Thereafter, Ziyu handed over to me and I was off. Probably a little quick at first, but nothing suicidal. I knew I needed to keep the initial pace modest early lest I found myself with too much reserve with too little distance left to expend it.

After a loop around the track, it was a short flight of stairs up before hitting the sheltered walkway towards Crescent Hall. En route, I passed a couple of runners - mostly female - and the occasional male. At this point of time, runners were spread out across the entire route, hence there was no difficulty overtaking.

Marshals were spread along the route, directing runners at appropriate turns. I was particularly adherent to all instructions, making sure that my run had no reason to be DQed. The first half of the route had a net downhill. Thereafter, it was a rather steep incline and it was there that I caught up with Russell. By then, I was pretty uncomfortable, but the race was nearly over. After some technical turns (including dodging of an elderly lady), I finally hit the track.

As I slowly caught up with some runners, I made the foolish decision to run on the inside lane (as we were running clockwise - this was the right side of the track). The mind certainly wasn't functioning too well and I found myself obstructed. Looking back, I certainly should have ran wide. However, it wasn't long before I finally entered the transition zone and handed over to Felicia (A4). Russell had managed to stick with me and handed over to Edwin (B4) at the same instance.

Almost. Credit to Merlin.

Right after transition. Credit to Merlin.

And we burn. Credit to Merlin.

"Gosh that was difficult," I exclaimed, my legs experiencing the burning sensation of short races I dearly missed. It was however, exhilarating that I managed a sub-8. Bearing in mind the technicalities of the route and the lack of speedwork appropriate for this distance (not to mention only recently returning after injury), I had initially intended to simply run a modest sub-9.

The race wasn't over however, as I watched the others race on. Eventually, Hart (B5) and Brandon (A5) started their own legs and finished their relay legs. Team A finished in 47:21 while Team B finished in 46:57 (these were timed by ourselves). The official time of our hall was 94:17, placing us 9th out of 18 halls. Not bad for a debut :)

The Team. Credit to Merlin.

Final standings. We beat Hall 9 by a mere second.

Strava data available here :)

To conclude the events of the morning came the awkward celebration of Nat's birthday. Thereafter, I caught a few words with Jian Jie, Andreas, Jaren and Guan Zhen, before a shower and departure from Pulau NTU.

Opportunity

Return

Return to God, return to running. Remember this.

The IT band injury took me out of pain-free running for a good three months (end Sept '15 till early Jan '16). Despite countless rehabilitation exercises or keeping off from physical activity, it seemed to persist.

Until one day, on the 3rd January 2016, I uttered a prayer during service in Bartley Christian Church. The intention was to put God first, put personal goals, dreams, even joys - behind. And then came recovery and restoration.

I choose to attribute my physical restoration to God's healing hand. It's been more than a month and my IT band hasn't flared at all since the miraculous, instantaneous recovery. As for my spiritual and emotional transformation towards surrender, it is in the process. Yet here I write this, lest I forget.

NUS Bizad Charity Run 2016

"Stick with me". They did so and they did it well. In fact, too well. They blindly followed me as I took a turn off course to avoid the finish.

(When I realised their error, I quickly redirected them back.)

Nonetheless, glad to have helped these Sec 1 and Sec 3 boys to their 45~min finish :)

Credit to Ming Ham.

But to Serve

What better way. Not to be served but to serve. Read more here.

The Leaders. Too quick for the camera.

Bijay. Eventual Ekiden Champion team.

The crowd begins. 3:45 pacers.

Our leader in the distance (in more ways than one).

Our leader in the distance (FM) now nearer.

The three 10km Wheelchair leaders.

May the force be with you all.

The Gurkhas. Ekiden Champions.

The first half-marathon finisher.

Dr Mok. Local Champion.

First lady.

10km leaders. Neck to neck.

Lexxus Tan - Singaporean Master's Champion.

The crowds.

They don't look too happy... they looked forced.

Rangers.

And finally a bit of us.

Hoping to finish what we started.

Before.

The real 'Before'.

After.

In action in the background. Credit to Runcapture.

Lest I forget - one moment that left me in deep respect.

Spot him. 5:40:24 was accepted by this sub 2:10 marathoner.