Akira Swift Cross Country 2017

It's great to be running with the NTU lads yet again.

We all raced this morning. For most, it was the IHG Road Relay. For me, it was the Tembusu Vertical Marathon.

Representation.

Credit to Syed Taha Aljunied.

Flag-off was prompt at 4pm. It was a pretty small field. Yurong, Sunil and I probably lost track of the number of participants that overtook us. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say about 85% of the field. However, with the plan of running a conservative first portion, Yurong and I were certain we'd catch quite a number.

Credit to Syed Taha Aljunied.

The route took us along the pavement. Seemed like my Salomon's weren't required after all (I had expected much more trail). A few hundred in, we started catching people one by one. I could feel the residual soreness from my AM race. It wasn't helping that my eyes were getting rather dry, having worn my contacts since early that morning. However, I knew this conservative approach meant that we would get faster (and faster...hopefully).

The climb began around 2km in. First came the gradual, manageable hill. Then the steeper one. I slowed considerably (and deliberately). Yurong started to pull ahead a little, before we mounted the hill and I slowly drew a little closer. Nonetheless, there was a bit of a gap. I was confident of his pacing and focused on sticking with him.

At the bottom of the hill, we finally hit the trail portion of this cross country race. Bedok Reservoir isn't the nicest of trails to run as the terrain is somewhat sandy. A greater degree of friction would have been desirable. It was time for some catching as we gradually passed other runners.

All this while Yurong had a decent gap over me of perhaps 3-5 seconds. Though I wasn't comfortable, I wasn't particularly willing to dig deep. I was content to treat this race as a workout (which meant nothing too hard). However, as I gradually started to see the Finish across the water, I attempted to marginally pick up my pace. I could also see Chun Hong further away in the distance.

At the rate I was going, it crossed my mind that I could catch Yurong.

Until he picked up the pace as well in the last 100m or so. And then I got lazy.

It was all smiles at the Finish. No expectations, no pressure, just sheer enjoyment at racing with the team.

Strava data if you're interested :)

Tembusu Vertical Marathon 2017

Aching calves.

Blessed.

Photo credits: Yong Jian

Long awaited; blessed.

What was also long awaited was me getting down to writing about this event. What drew my attention to this was both the cause (supporting Tembusu College's tCambodia) and the activity (stair-climbing).

I was particularly keen to start in an early wave for this event as a stairwell is only so wide. Furthermore, I had to rush off to classes after I was done. Thankfully, I started in the first wave.

I found myself leading initially. Then again, waves were of tiny groups of about 5 and not even segregated by gender. It wasn't long before a female climber caught up with me. Judging from her movements however, I suspected I would soon catch up and she'd probably be in lots of pain.

The route was pretty complex as besides the stairs, some careful navigation was needed. Unfamiliarity wasn't of any use. Nonetheless, I didn't take this race too seriously. I was certain I would secure a podium, the exact position wouldn't matter too much to me. And I had another race with the NTU Cross team in the afternoon.

With a controlled ascent of the first block of 20-odd floors, I began my first descent. I quickly heard pounding footsteps approaching from behind - it had to be Kai Peng. Unsurprisingly, he passed me. This meant he probably had gained a good 20 seconds on me since he had started in the second wave.

I quickly knew why he was so fast with this - he flew down the flights of stairs. 

The rest of the race was just a repetition of ascending a block before descending. It got progressively harder. Lots of concentration is required in a stair race as footing and even the number of steps matters tremendously. Cut an unnecessary step and you'd save a fraction of a second. Do this for... many flights... and it adds up.

Eventually, I was back down to the ground and conservatively sprinted towards the Finish. Kai Peng was waiting.

I also caught a quick word with Yaner who was queuing for his wave's start. To be honest, Yaner's definitely a faster climber than me, though I didn't know about his descents. Nonetheless, the Men's Open was mine due to my fortunate first wave start.

Next up is NVM 2017 - multiple categories!

IVP 2017

It wasn't mine to be. Yet perhaps that was a blessing in disguise.

Perhaps one of the highlights in a race that I could possibly have been running, was the IVP 5000m. I was previously hoping to qualify for this event, yet the poor health rendered it not possible. Instead, I witnessed an amazing race - rarely seen over such a distance in our local setting.

How often does the winner of the 5000m lap the bronze medallist? (In the 2016 POLITE, the champion lapped the silver medallist in the 5000m. This was the same champion burning the field of IVP candidates.)

How often do you see a SEA games athlete being lapped by another Singaporean over 5000m?

This was surreal. I was proud to have witnessed the entire spectacle as a spectator instead of being a participant. 

Coming into the race, Chilton's PB was fairly far off from Jeeva's. A friend informed me that Chilton's PB was run during the POLITE 2016 5000m. Having said that, he was running solo. Did he have the courage to gun for the gold?

It was a pretty strong field - you're talking about more than half a dozen sub-18 runners. 5 sub-17 runners. With regard to the podium possibilities, 2 runners participated in 2015's SEA Games. 

Settle for silver (or bronze) or seek the gold (and risk the podium)?

Here's a race of courage, confidence and composure.

MR-25 Progressive Run 2017 (10km)

Photo credits: Chan Chai Hui

Mileage New Year Run 2017

Two events occurred this week. A week that spans the old and the new. A week spanning 2016 and 2017. I pen this a little confused, uncertain about my intentions and purposes I wish to convey. Yet a failing memory entreats me to materialise my thoughts before they become nought. 

The first event was a 5000m Time Trial in the attempt to qualify for IVP. I had previously recorded a 5km East Coast Parkrun timing of 18:36. I wanted a sub 18:30. More importantly, I was hoping I could achieve a timing that could qualify me as one of the two runners participating. The time to beat was 18:25. With a tumultuous and hectic course and travelling schedule in December 2016, my health was in question and consequently, my fitness.

My previous intentions were not to focused on qualifying for the 5000m. Instead, the 10000m was the goal as I felt I had a relatively better performance and experience with it than over the 5000m. Unfortunately, I slowly figured that it was out of reach as qualifying times were beyond my reach. I would likely have to run a sub-38 which wasn't feasible, at present. An attempt towards the 5000m was the slightly more realistic option. Why any shot at IVP was important was because this year would likely be the last chance I had at representing NTU. Ignorance and injury had led me to forsake the previous two editions of IVP, whereby I did stand realistic qualifying chances to participate as a runner. Back in 2016, I finally had the chance to participate in the SUniG Road Race. I would be engaging in an elective rotation in London during SUniG 2017, and undertaking my final examinations during IVP 2017-18.

Suffice to say, I didn't perform the way I wished. I had actually performed poorer despite agreeable weather around a dead-flat track, completing the 5000m in 18:48. Though I went off at a reasonable pace of 3:40/km, I succumbed to fatigue after 3000m. Furthermore, Zuo Hong, who had initially decided to run the trial with me, decided to drop out and run a Cooper Test instead as he endured the residual effects of a previous flu. I know ideal conditions (the company of fellow runners, previous optimal health preceding the race) would quite certainly have enabled me to achieve my targets. Yet in spite of that, I had many aspects to be grateful for. I had a sustained previous of staying injury free for a couple of months (as compared to 2015). Furthermore, I had enjoyed the company of various groups of people through running. I certainly had reasons to be thankful. Philippians 4:6-7 was so apt. Presenting my requests doesn't mean they will be granted. Instead, the peace of God that transcends human understanding guards my heart helps me look beyond my personal goals and recognise my identity in Christ.

Next up however, in my sub-optimal state of fitness, was the Mileage New Year Run I had previously registered for. This initially served as an opportunity to record a presumably accurate 10k road PB (as I had assumed I would run a 10000m track PB - after all, a first try would be a PB). Subsequently, after missing out on qualifying as a 5000m runner, a sub-39 performance in this event would have served as a consolation. Then came another episode of ill health (the prolonged bout of ill health made me wonder if I actually caught a secondary bacterial infection or just a series of viral infections) - and all expectations were eliminated, besides a pretty manageable sub-40.

I awoke feeling rather groggy on New Year's day. It was a combination of poor sleep and poor health. I was nonetheless feeling excited at the prospect of having lots of running company (with Kien Mau and Zorn as coaches of ACSI, I could forsee many students from my alma mater). I caught the first bus (74) to the race venue and headed for a brief jog but didn't manage to squeeze any strides in. There wasn't much pressure. In the race pen (which thankfully was segregated into different projected finishing times), I caught up with Mahendran and Randall. I also exchanged casual greetings with a Ching Siang, a fellow runner whom I got to spend a considerable amount of time conversing with after the race.

(This post is getting really lengthy. Apologies. I post more for myself than for readers.)

The race was flagged off promptly at 7.40am. I started conservatively, bearing in mind my extended period of sub-optimal health. Naturally, I was overtaken by tonnes of schoolkids presumably empowered by race nerves. I also saw the 40min pacer surge to the front. He certainly wasn't running at a 40min pace for now (more like 3:45 for the first km). It certainly became costly for those who attempted to follow him in this early stage.

Slowly but surely, I approached the pack. I did speed up a little between the 2nd-3rd km, wondering whether a sub-39 was a realistic aim given my preceding circumstances. As a result of this conservative injection of pace, I found myself reeling in the pack. By about 3km, I found myself passing them. I contemplated sticking with them as ahead lay scattered runners. Nonetheless, as I was still feeling comfortable, I decided to stick with my pace.

I had noted 6 runners pass ahead of me prior to reaching the U-turn point of the out and back route. Upon making my turn, Garmin read 19:2X. On track for a sub-39. But I could sense that I was fatiguing.

But two runners were fatiguing more. Within a span of about 400m, 2 runners ahead of me actually went from a reasonable trot to a jog. I urged them on as I was desirous of some company to tide me through the second half of this race. They urged me ahead.

This meant I was in 5th. But I was slowing.

Slowing just marginally. Thankfully.

I still maintained about a 4min/km pace, focusing on just reasonable turnover. I was pretty certain that most runners weren't going to run negative splits, hence my position would be pretty secure. I knew that the fleeting suggestion of a sub-39 wasn't meant for today. I could wait till I was in ideal health. Instead, a brilliant way to start the new year would be to achieve a top-5 finish (Mileage was awarding the top 5 runners of this race).

Though uncomfortable, it wasn't a brutal pace. It wasn't long before I arrived at the U-turn point for the 5km runners. I was thankful for the company. There were a few school kids running pretty decent paces, though not exactly consistently.

The final few km of a 10k are always tough for me. I merely reminded myself to hang in nicely for the top-5 finish, while staying cautious of any competitors who may throw in a last minute surge.

After we passed the 9km mark, I sped up a little as I knew I had the reserves. In retrospect, it appeared that a fellow runner of the same category was hot on my heels. It was in the final few hundred that I sensed there was someone behind me (pounding footsteps could be heard), though I didn't know whether he was one of the 5k runners. Nonetheless, I threw in a sprint to the finish, which he probably responded to, but could not surpass.

I crossed in 39:06, with my fellow runner (RI kid) just a second behind. After the finish, I found out that he was in the 5km category. I was also handed a potential winner tag for 5th position :)

After the race, I had the chance to catch-up with Mahendran and Randall, who admitted they started too quick but still mustered a decent run in the low 40s. In addition, I got to know Ching Siang who did share more similarities with me than I had expected. I also congratulated Bijay who placed 2nd in the 5km category, runner-up to his Gurkha counterpart.

I pen this experience recognising I have been blessed in my running journey. God has given me this avenue that has inculcated discipline and diligence, yet always requiring wisdom and surrender. I'm still trying to figure out where I running may take me (literally, figuratively). Yet here's a pearl Ching Siang left me (which I admittedly paraphrased considerably).

"One day, you'll look back as work settles down and wonder, what am I left with. Work is work, and medicine consumes you in multiple aspects - family, partner, sports, leisure - but what fragments of life do you cling on to besides work... You don't want to find yourself asking 'what if' because you gave up the opportunity then..."

What a fast start...to the detriment of all but 3 ahead of me. Credit to Running Shots.

The RI kid (1015) eventually finished right behind.

I had no idea he was so close!
My ACSI junior eventually placed 5th in the 10k cat.

Still comfortable just a few hundred from the finish.

The thrill of footsteps trailing behind. I love sprint finishes! A close one here.

Blessed to bless. Somehow I placed 4th, not complaining!

Photo credits: Running Shots, Runcapture, Mileage Run.

Strava data available here :)

On a separate note, the week of this race marks a milestone for me. 3000km (documented) in 2016, the highest so far in the past many years of my life! I am thankful.

Seizure

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives."

Braveheart

Believe

This too shall pass. 

Sublime Point, Leura.

Lincoln's Rock, Wentworth Falls.