Standard Chartered Marathon

7 Dec 08, 星期天，晴

Finally, the day has arrived! The big race! D-Day!.... (heh heh)

Slept early last night just to make sure that I have ample rest before the race, cos had got up at 3 am to prepare. Met my kakis at 4.30am to hitch a ride to the start point.

This year had seen a record turnout! 15,ooo people running Full Marathon, out of the total 50,000 participants! I guess the finisher's T-shirt is the ultimate prize for most of us at the start

point. Ha ha!

Me and 2 of my running kakis ran as a group, watching out for each other along the way. The run was gruelling. My body and legs were screaming with pain from all the pounding during the run. Had to resort to brisk walk at certain points of the race. "28km...30km...35km..." as I recalled counting down at the last stretch of the race.

Lucky for us, we had a good, cool weather at the start. And most of all, we had some great logistical support from 2 great souls, brothers. They provided food supplements and drinks, deep heat rub and spray for our soring muscles.

Towards the last 2 km stretch of the race, we had our die-hard cheer-team to give us that final push towards the finishing line! It was truely a morale booster. Though the body and legs are telling me that they might dis-integrate anytime, but my eyes tells me that there are many great supporters out there cheering for us. So it's mind over matter as we opened up our stride and give it all out for the final finish!

And finally, we saw the sign that we've been longing to see... the finishing point! We held our hands, formed into a single row and crossed the finishing line with our arms and head high.

WE DID IT!

30km challenge... and the reward

The Challenge
This is the day... the ultimate challenge - to complete the 30km training run. Sound impossible. The adidias slogan

"Impossible is Nothing"

could probably sums it up in 3 words.

Albeit, we still have to face it... rather suffer now during training and gain something, than to wait till actual day and suffer, and may not get pass that thought ever again.

And so it is, after a gruelling 3 1/2 hours, we ran and walked the whole 30km. By the time we completed, our bodies are aching all over, especially the legs, with all the 3+hrs of pounding... but we did it. :)

The reward

Besides the usual post training breakfast session at the usual hawker centre, the highlight of the day would be the BBQ session at MW's place in the evening. It is a get-together in the name of rewarding ourselves for coming this far in the prep for the marathon.

All those in the running teams are invited. There were BBQ beef, BBQ Japanese shishamo, soba and lots and lots of wine... slurp slurp...

Thanks to the hosts for organising this get-together! MW and family. Thanks to all who came and made this evening a great evening to remember by!

Cheers everyone!

Salomon Trail Run 2008

跟几位志同道合的同事们一块 sign up 了以上的越野赛事，是由赞助商Salomon主办。地点是在Tampines 的 Mountain Bike Trail.

这是个10km 的比赛，整10km的山路。由于昨天下了一整天的豪雨，山路都已经变成了泥路，真是伤脑精哦！

整双跑步鞋都沾满了 Tampines Bike Trail 的泥。虽然辛苦（大热天，满身的汗，又累又渴。。。）不过，抵达终点的成就感，三言两语是无法形容的。一路的想法是：“Aiyoh!怎么还没到啊？还有多远啊？” 可是一过"Start/Finish" point, 瞬间的喜悦一涌而上，心里想着："I did it! The gruelling trail run is over! Woo hoo!"

过了终点也没闲着，喘了两口气后，便到终点设制的帐篷内领水猛灌！哈哈！跑在前头的一些同事们都已经等候多时了！Paiseh, paiseh!

Though it was hot, sweaty and grueling... but it was fun. Well done dear friends! We did it!

Runspiration...

Nike+
Training shoes - $129

Nike+

Sensor + Wrist watch - $99.90

Nike

Dri-Fit socks - $14.90 per pair

Timex watch

+ - $178

Heart Rate Monitor sensor

Oakley Flak-Jacket Shades - $380

Nike Dri-Fit waist pouch - $44.90

Nathan 5 oz. hydration bottle

+ - $23

clip holder

Salomon hydration back-pack (1.7 L) - $159

Crossing the finishing line at the end of the gruelling 42.125km Full Marathon in one piece...

Priceless!!!

Rewarding yourself with gears and gadgets once in a while and be able to use it during training and actual race motivates myself to go the distance... a "feel-good" motivation.

My running gears...

My recent acquisition of running shoes... Asics DS Trainer. Cool color rite?

Socks that I wear... Nike ones, wrapped around your foot, very comfy...

Running pouch I bought to hold some spare cash, keys and ID during run... of course, my cell phone too...

Suppose to hold iPod Nano or mP3 players...

Running... my passion for the last 2 years...

Dunno since when, I've taken up this sport as a passion - running...

Ah... now I remember... Standard Chartered Marathon 2006! That time only took part in 10km run... tongue almost touched the floor when reached end point...;P

From then on, found a group of kakis in company who also nothing much to do on Sat and dun mind waking up very early in the morning to break some sweat... and it all started from there...

I got so involved tat I started to look forward to Sat mornings... initially not so much on the running, rather on the breakfast session after that, and the chit chat session with those kakis... haha... even started thinking of where and what to eat before run starts... :D

As time passed by, found greater passion and started going for distance... 10km, 12km, 15km, 21km...!!! Took part in SCM 2007 and ran my 2nd half marathon in my miserable life!!! (first one done during NS, with a M16 pointing at my back and beckoning me to run...haha).

This year, took my very first step out of the comfort zone... took up the challenge to do a Full Marathon... yes, yes... 42km!!! Dunno whether I'm stupid or crazy (more like stupid, why fall for the trap when boss asked you to join him??!!!)... but what's done cannot be undone... 所谓“君子一言九鼎， 四马难追”. (OS: 到时可别五马分尸哦！）

Need to get myself ready... have been training so hard for the past 2 years... gotta do it... 加油！