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Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the last post from Sydney’s Bondi beach; this time, I’m checking in from sunny Adelaide. As the journey progresses, I continue to enjoy running regularly, and in this post, I’d like to talk a little bit about running while on holidays – why you should do it, how to enjoy yourself while doing it, and some tips to consider for a safe and enjoyable running/travelling experience.
Depending on what your motivation(s) is/are for running, you may feel ambivalent about running itself. However, since you are on a running website, reading a running blog, I shall just go ahead and assume you enjoy running as an activity, above and beyond the next most commonly stated reason people give for running (weight loss). So. You enjoy running, and you have successfully managed to find some time in your regular life to fit it into your routine. Running on holidays, however, can quickly become quite complicated.
You’re out of your comfort zone. You’re in a different country, with a different climate, a different terrain, possibly a different language, and people are driving on the wrong side of the road… argh! Before you start feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to consider this: if you see people running at your holiday destination, there is no reason why you cannot do it too. It just takes a little bit of planning.
Before you leave… plan!
Knowing the type of holidays you are going on will help you determine how and when you can run.
If you’re on a package tour with your family, it’s more realistic to wake up a little bit earlier than the rest of the group and fit a quick one in than attempting to squeeze in a pre-lunch jog. One possible alternative that I have personally tried before, is to do a quick run at one of the attractions you are visiting – say, a beach where you are given 2 hours to explore before the tour bus continues. Note the time and meeting point, and be punctual! Your travel group is running on a tight schedule, and you don’t want to be left behind.
If you’re travelling free and easy, you have a little bit more freedom to run whenever you want. However, if you are with a partner, or your family or friends, please take into consideration their desired itineraries. You may wish to slate in an afternoon here, or an evening there, when people can part ways and do what they want, before meeting back for dinner or a group visit to an attraction. This way, you can go run while the others drink beer/go shopping/(insert less-fun-than-running activity here).
If you’re travelling alone, you are a free man/woman. Run whenever you want, wherever you want. Nobody will judge you.
Destination, destination, destination
No matter the type of holidays you are on, there is one thing you’ll definitely be very clear about: the destination. Hopefully, you also have the dates clearly written out or memorised. This is important for various reasons:
1. In this day and age, with Google at our fingertips, you no longer need to wait until you arrive at our hotel or hunt down the tourist information centre for a map. You can Google your destination in advance to determine how suitable the environs of your hotel are for running. Singaporeans do tend to take for granted certain basic points about safety. Find out if it is a safe neighbourhood to go running in, and don’t forget to check for sidewalks, as some places are not too pedestrian-friendly. Don’t forget to note the direction of traffic.
2. Scope out local attractions, and plan our a running route that will take you to these highlights. That way, you kill two birds with one stone, as you are sightseeing while running. Yes, it takes practise to run with a camera in hand, but it can be done. No, I do not recommend you bring your $800 gear.
3. Find out running routes that are frequented by the locals. Even something as short as a 5K distance will give you opportunities to cross paths with local runners, and there is no better feeling in the world than exchanging a cheery “hello!” with a complete stranger, knowing that you are united by the simple act of running. Your faith in humanity will increase by 5000%, and you will truly believe that through running, we can achieve world peace.
4. Knowing the exact dates is not only helpful in giving general ideas of what the climate will be like at your destination at said time of the year, it also means you can look up the weather forecast in advance. Never underestimate the importance of dressing for the weather, which brings me to my next point…
Getting your gear ready
When you run at home, in the comfort of your daily/weekly routine, it is easy to go through the motions on autopilot. You know where your shoes are, you know in which corner of your drawer lives your lucky underwear. Haven’t washed your running shorts from yesterday? No problem, just use another. When you are travelling, you will suddenly realise how much stuff you carry while you run.
This is what you usually run with. You won’t forget them while you prepare to run on your holidays.
Here are certain items that you probably don’t carry with you on your usual runs at home, but really should while you travel.
Start by inspecting your suitcase size, and where applicable, negotiating the amount of space that is yours. Think about which items are truly essentials (for me, it’s my wicking socks, and the tech stuff like heart rate monitor and GPS). Next, decide what items you can truly run without, or items which you would like to replace, which means you can buy while you’re overseas. Leave those out.
As stated before, dressing for the weather is important. This means you won’t need singlets if you’re planning to run in Vancouver this time of the year. No appropriate clothes for the climate? Buy it at the destination rather than ordering it online in advance. Understand that you may require certain things that you don’t normally carry on your regular runs.
Tiger Balm and extra deodorant, probably not necessary. Band-aids, sunscreen lotion, and some portable food, I’m inclined to say: essentials, no matter the distance. Also, bring some money and a travel card. Make sure your mobile phone is always charged before you run. You may never know how long you will be out for, no matter your intentions, so water, food and money are paramount. If you take a wrong turn and lose your way, or run out of steam and cannot continue running, having a travel card or cash will help you get back safely. Some countries lack the sanitation standards that Singaporeans are used to, so in case you get hurt, band-aids will help reduce the risk of infection.
Hitting the road
Now you’ve got yourself sorted, all that’s left to do is run! Before you head out in a rush, however, there are just a few more reminders.
1. Always let at least one person know that you’re off to run. Let them know your intended route and an estimated time. If you’re not entirely sure, don’t say “I don’t know”, say “if my sense of direction is functioning, I should get the chance to see the Charlie Checkpoint and if I am not back by x o’clock, ring the police”. That is the difference between coming back alive and being another entry on a Missing Persons list.
2. Vigilance of your surroundings cannot be stressed enough. If you want to listen to music, I recommend keeping one earbud out so you can hear. Pay attention to street signs, landmarks, anything that will help you trace your way back.
3. Avoid drawing too much attention to yourself with expensive gear. Hide them under clothes, or leave them back home. You are a tourist, and unfortunately, this means you could very well be an easy target.
Run!
By this stage, I hope I have convinced you that organising yourself to run while on holidays is not as impossible as it may seem. A little forethought pays off, and really, it is truly worth the effort.
Running on holidays shouldn’t be a chore, it should enhance your experience. Forget the details of training such as negative splits, hitting target zones, sticking to prescribed distance/time on your training plans. Let go of all that stuff and just run. Stop as often as you desire, to take a photo or to drink in the scenery – you are only there once in your life, and you don’t want to run right past a magical sunset or a feat of engineering. Let that voice in your head that’s always saying “last 2km!” or “I must overtake that slowpoke in front” be replaced by “I cannot believe I am running past the Empire State Building!”
Weaving a run into your holiday will ultimately up your game as a runner, as you realise that running need not be separate from everything else you do in your life.
My unofficial timing is about 2 hours 30 min which is what I aimed for. I am happy that I am able to complete and reach my goal timing for this half-marathon but I am sure that I can do even better in the future races.
Before the race
It was raining the night before the race and I thought that it is good as I assume that it won’t rain on the day of the race. But who knows that this rain is so persistent. As we waited in the start pen, the drizzle is getting larger and larger and thus all of us, the 21.1 km runners together with the overseas and elite runners started the run in this cold and wet weather.
First 7 km of the race
The elite runners were flagged off first and after about 2 min, we were off to complete the 21.1 km GE Women’s Run 2014. The pacers from Running Department were very visible with their balloons that were attached to them. I started off overtaking both the 2:30 and 2:20 pacers as I know that I will slow down as the race continues. The rain did not bother me as much as I have my cap to block off the rain from my face. Although I still have to take note of the puddles on the road which I did stepped into it a couple of times. I think I started off at a really good pace and the pace was actually faster than my usual runs. I believe that running in events like this always spurs you to run quicker and perform better. This first 7 km is manageable and I am feeling really great despite the rain which lasted about 30 min into the run.
Next 7 km of the race
This is where it gets difficult. Luckily I did put on some yoko-yoko before the race and I could feel it heating when my muscles are started to feel the strain. At about the 9 km mark, the hydration point was giving out the Maxifuel Viper Active Gel. It was stated in the map that they are giving it out at the 13 km mark but I am grateful that it came earlier as I think that my muscles were going to cramp soon. I got the Lemon Lime flavour and it is really nice and easy to eat. I tried another type of energy gel which is of a jelly consistency that is harder to consume as compared to this liquidy Maxifuel gel. After having the gel, I felt that I have more energy to continue with my race (maybe is just mental, but whatever). However, due to the lack of training (I think), my energy quickly diminish.
Last 7 km of the race
The pacers were very enthusiastic and have really high energy. They were shouting loads of encouraging words and push us runners to run and continue. As my pace slowed down, I am able to hear them catching up to me. Every time when I hear them, I started to run a little faster till I can’t hear them. This goes on for a couple of times until I finally do not have the energy to continue with the 2:20 pacers at the 15 km mark. At this point onwards, it is again a very familiar road that the Puma Running Club usually runs at when we have our runs at the MBS area. It is also at this point that my feet starts to hurt due to the fitting of the shoe which caused me to have blisters on my arch. I need a new pair of shoes! There are loads of photographs and supporters at this last stretch of the race. I struggled to complete the race with my blistered feet and burning legs. I stopped a couple of times but almost always get back running as more and more ladies passed by me. Finally, at the last km of the race, I started to increase my pace on the Esplanade bridge. However, at the midst of it, my toes and hamstring starts to tighten up and I can feel a cramp coming up. I was forced to slow down my pace till I reach Esplanade and finish my race with an unofficial timing of 2 hrs 30 min =D
Post-run
There are loads of food provided for the runners after the run like Nandos, Subway, chocolate milk and many others. They even have True Fitness to lead a mass workout Sh’bam while waiting for the rest of the 21.1 km runners to return. By the time I return, the 10 km and 5 km runners have started their runs.
Congratulations to all ladies who completed the runs. And to all who achieved your PBs, good job!
Also to all who are like me, first timers in a half-marathon event, LET’S DO IT AGAIN!
Singaporeans looking to do an overseas run should list Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon (SCKLM) as one of the few runs to sign up. Traditionally taking place in June/July, this year’s run was planned for in October to avoid any postponement due to the haze as in the case of last year. Hence, imagine the irony that a few days before this year’s run, the PSI started to shoot up to the unhealthy range. While the PSI range was relatively much lower than that in June last year, I was dreading to see an update from organizers saying that the race would be postponed. Thankfully this was the only haze-related measure from the organizers 2 days before race day.
The ‘all-clear’ signal
Off to KL!
So 4 of us – 2 doing the full and 2 doing the half – set off on a Saturday morning for a short flight to Kuala Lumpur – 75mins to be exact. Upon arrival, we took another 30mins or so to clear the immigration and customs before proceeding to the KLIA express. The KLIA express (or ekspres) costs 35RM takes another 30mins to reach KL Sentral where there are choices galore for anyone looking to get to their hotel. Take your pick from taxi, bus, train (yes train), monorail and the LRT (KL version of our MRT) – our next mode of transport. While we did not take the taxi, it should be noted that the taxis at KL Sentral operate on a coupon system – hence no worry of having to haggle over the prices which is usually what puts us off taking taxi. The LRT ride was to the next stop – Masjid Jamek – which is the station for Dataran Merdeka, the starting point of the half and full marathon as well as for the race pack collection at Dataran Underground.
Dataran Merdeka – Start and Finish point
Race pack collection
Dataran Underground which is basically below the Merdeka Square, is an underground mall with the large space needed for a race pack collection. Through the main entrance located near the big flag pole and fountain, volunteers will guide you in. Something unique about the race pack collection is that the race expo actually starts before the collection and continues after the collection point. Personally I think that if it were done deliberately, it is a good move as you actually taper the crowd before the collection, possible reducing queue time. Probably due to it being the last day of the collection, the queues if any, were cleared within minutes. The expo continued mainly for the race sponsors and here I picked up additional freebie from Honda and a clock which I had ordered online.
T-shirt courtesy of half-marathon sponsors HondaSIN somehow sounds cooler
From the race pack collection, we headed to check into our hotel which was minutes away from the Dataran. Swiss hotel (no typo here), is the nearest hotel possible to the start point for the HM/FM. Even if it were not a budget hotel, you wouldn’t mind paying for the convenience of getting up an hour before start time and still having time to spare! And the cost? $30 per person for the night. After checking in we took a short break before heading out for a quick lunch. We then headed to check out the Petronas Towers and abit of exploring of KLCC (lots of food and shopping opportunities) before we finally decided to get dinner and then call it a day.
The Petronas Towers and my souvenir – the predicted time when we cross the finish line?
Race day!
The marathon buddies got up at about 0345hrs – that’s 45mins before start time – for a quick shower and lite breakfast before heading to the startline. We squeezed in another hour and half of sleep before we got up to do the same before walking over to the startline for the half-marathon. The efforts by the organizers to make participants feel at ease can really be felt; from the free LRT rides to free drinks and salonpas – lots of it! After getting a spot where we could breathe more easily, we went thru the usual pre-race routine – track selection, getting GPS ready and a final tug of the laces – and off we went at 0600hrs.
Free rides to the start point
The first six kilometers was around the KLCC area, making a big loop around Petronas Towers with some slopes every now and then. As you reach the halfway 10km mark – you are faced with a manageable climb up the elevated expressway which is relatively flat but with a couple of slopes up and down before you reach the 13km mark which leads the half marathon runners off the expressway. For some reason, other than it being unlucky 13 – this was where a few runners, mostly those attempting the full marathon decided to drop out – some were clearly in some pain while some were(I hope) sleeping. But I later on found out that it was the point where the full marathon runners broke away to proceed to the highway for their additional 20km of track, hence somewhat a point of no return or a strategic point to call it quits.
As we left the full marathon runners, we merged with the 10km runners and along came the question of “Will there be congestion when the full marathon runners merge back?” While the full marathon runners did eventually join back at 36/37km mark(17/18km for the half/8km for the 10km), the 10km runners were then diverted as they embarked on their final 2km. The full and half marathon runners were then push thru the second highest climb thruout the race(at the last 2-3km mark) to the Botanic Gardens while passing by the Parliament House.
We made one last turn out of the Botanic Gardens area and could sense that we were near the finishing line and started to push harder – even though at this stage it was pretty much run/walk mode. Passing the National Mosque on our right, we started to see supporters as well as those who had finished their race, edging everyone on – pretty much like the final stretch between the old City Hall and the Padang for the Singapore edition of the Standard Chartered Marathon. As we cross the finish line, we were definitively glad to complete the run despite the threat of haze as well as the grenade incident that took place in KL a few days earlier.
Second medal of this year’s Standard Chartered Marathon Series
After-race
After collecting our medals and refreshment, we proceeded back to the hotel for a quick change of clothes before heading back to the finishing point to wait for the marathon buddies. As always they finish the race and meet us in their finisher tee and medal, grimacing with every step they take. They proceeded back to the hotel for a quick change and rejoined us for breakfast. After avoiding the spicy food before the race, we happily tucked into Nasi Lemak, Naan and Prata – easily found at the Masjid Jemak area near our hotel. Satisfied by the local fare, we proceeded back to the hotel for a rest before checking out.
Nasi Lemak Kerang – Cockles!
As we came to end of the our SCKLM trip, making the same way back to the airport the way we came, the four of us agreed we should seriously consider making this one of our annual overseas run. And we hope that if we do return next year, we will bring a bigger group with us.
As mentioned earlier, credit must be given to the organizers for making this event as enjoyable as possible and their efforts to improve can be noted from how they reach out to participants for feedback – even offering a lucky draw for those who participate. Even when I emailed them for permission to use their pictures, they replied to me promptly on the same day (even though it was 3 weeks after the race).
Survey
For those keen to save up, the cost in SGD (RM in ( )) for our trip is as follows:
Registration Fee 42
Hotel 35
Taxi(Singapore) 45
Flight 90
KLIA Express x 2 27 (70)
LRT x6 2.7 (7)
Meals x 4 23.1 (60)
Misc(Drinks+Snacks) 15.4 (40)
Total 270.2
So start saving a dollar a day (and watch out for hotel/flight deals) and you’ll see that doing an overseas run – at least the SCKLM, is really not that hard to save up for.
Perhaps you could join us when we make the trip next year.
Take one look at me and you will never guess that I am a runner.
I am short, and sometimes walk funny. This is due to a previous injury, my hips hurt when I stand too long or when I just completed an intense exercise (like running). Yet, I do actually take part in a few races every year – runs, biathlons and triathlons…or at least I make an attempt to participate 😛
But take a closer look at my feet and perhaps you can tell that I do run.
That is because I have blistered and super ugly feet. Since young, I developed bunions and they hurt with most shoes that I wear for any long periods of time. Despite changing many pairs of running shoes, many blisters still form, every single time (on both feet), when I do a long run. Still, being the stubborn mule, I just try to minimise pain by taping my bunions, wearing the right pair of socks and putting on the broadest pair of running shoes available for my short feet….and then I just suck it up and run! However, it can get very embarrassing when I can’t wear footwear, like at a yoga class, or when I go for a foot massage.
Ok, so back to the story of why I still continue to torture myself, my hips and my feet. I love all sports but running is the simplest and most convenient form of exercise. You don’t need to assemble a team, you don’t need any equipment; you just need a pair of running shoes. Then again, barefoot running is quite trendy, so maybe you don’t even need shoes to start!
Beautiful Sunrise at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in July 2014Finishing line of the Tokyo Intl Marathon 2014
I don’t have a runner’s bod or legs, but I run because I want to. I run because I can (for now…) and will continue to do so until my body gives way. It is also a form of discipline for me where I will set aside time at least once or twice a week to run. Most people run many times a week to clock the target distance when training for a marathon, but for me, the strategy has to be different as I suffer when I run too much. So, I do other forms of exercise like yoga and swimming so as not to overstrain my hips and blistered feet too much.
My first marathon (Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon) was when I set a goal for my 30th birthday and after that I told myself that it was going to be my last. However, in February this year, I ran the Tokyo Marathon nine years later! And next March, I will be doing the Nagoya Women’s Marathon…. so never say never!
Despite the pain, if a race brings me to a different city with a new experience, you will find me there 🙂
PS: Do look out for my future posts on overseas runs.
It was my second participation at Great Eastern Women’s Run in the 10km category.
The first was in 2012 and I have yet to beat that timing of 57 minutes.
I did not carry my mobile phone throughout the race, and I find it a pity that I was unable to capture the beautiful sunrise and awesome landmarks
such as Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang River, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay.
With consideration of the wet floor and the crowded route (at the last few km towards the ending point), I wasn’t able to keep up with my pace and
decided to take a leisure jog and brisk walk.
The drink stations were sufficient and well staggered between ice mountain water and isotonic drink. I actually stopped at all the water stations to get myself hydrated.
The most satisfying experience of the run was to receive the finisher medal, a can of 100+ and a banana! (Not forgetting the cheers and encouragement from volunteers!)
Before heading back to baggage area, I took a short stroll at the race carnival and saw interesting activities like bubble bump and photo booth.
Overall, the event was a great one and I look forward to run a half marathon for this next year!
I thought I would do a short series of blog posts about my running heroes.
You will have heard of all these people I am sure, some of them you will know the story well, some you might not know quite so well.
Hopefully they are a good read. I’ll give you a bit of background on the person and a bunch of links to find out more.
Each of these people has had an impact on me and my running – I’ll share what that is in the post.
First up is my all time favorite running legend: Steve Prefontaine.
His story is about as close to a hollywood film script as it gets within Athletics, he’s the rock star of distance running – and sadly, like many other fragile talents, he died young, way too young.
Steve Prefontaine was born in 1951, in Coos Bay, Oregon on the North West Coast of the USA. Son of Carpenter and German mother, he took up running in the 8th grade after being left out of various school sports team for being too short! Quickly his talent became noticed and by the time he left high school he was National Cross Country Champion and won the schools 3k in 8.41 a time which still standards as US record. (he later set 7.42 as a US record – compare that to your time for 2.4k IPPT !)
He was in high demand from Universities across the country, but after a long process chose to study at University of Oregon. Track Coach at the time at U of O was Bill Bowerman, who co-founded Nike with Phil Knight after creating the famous NIKE ‘waffle’ patterned soles for running shoes with his wife’s waffle iron in their kitchen (true story).
U of O is still considered one of the great places to study as a competitive distance runner, recently Galen Rupp (Olympic Silver Medalist and USA 10k record holder) and local Singaporen talent Soh Rui Yong have chosen U of O for its pedigree in distance running. This heritage is mostly due to Pre and Bowerman.
Google Steve Prefontaine and you will quickly see that he had some strong opinions on running and racing strategy who came up with a good many great quotes which are used to this day by Nike in various advertising campaigns.
Pre’s racing style was to go out hard and keep going hard until he couldn’t go hard any longer. He didn’t do tactics, famously said that holding back and then picking runners off with a final sprint was ‘chicken shit’ and felt that he would always do his best as a front runner.
This I relate to a lot as my personal preference when racing is to be ahead of a group or on my own, I dont like running in big groups, and I don’t like to play the waiting game, mostly because I don’t have a great sprint finish, but it’s also a personal preference and I can understand Pre’s point of view on this. I love this approach – for me, the best races are the ones where you finish in a heap on the floor, knowing you couldn’t have gone any faster.
In four years at college, Pre never lost a race at 3k, 5k or 10k.
1972, Olympic year – Munich.
Pre qualifies for the USA team and is one of the main medal hopes in the 5000m. The day before the 5000m heats, the Munich Massacre (Terrorist attack on the Israeli team apartments) happens and the heats are disrupted. Pre qualifies for the final. It’s a race featuring the other main middle distance legend of the time, Finn Lasse Viren.
Watch the race unfold here.
Pre runs one of the gutsiest races of all time. but fades in the last 20 metres and is out of the medals. Crashed and Burned. It’s his first Olympics, he’s 21, just come fourth in the world, but he’s devastated.
After this he goes off the rails a little, heads home, manages to finish college, turns professional, continues to race in the USA winning races and setting records, but loses a little edge until 1974. Then he gets his act together and starts to train for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, stronger, wiser he’s ready to slay the demons and win a medal.
On May 29th, 1975, around midnight, whilst driving home after a party with a visiting group of Finnish athletes including Viren, Pre’s car hit a rock on a remote mountain road near the University, flipped and he was killed. He is 23 years old.
This is the rock, in 2012 – it’s now a semi-permanent shrine to PRE.
Since his death, Pre has remained a running icon, like many who die before their time, his icon stature is probably even greater in death than it was in life.
For me, Pre is everything that is great about running, you do it your way, you run until it hurts, you race to win, you work hard, you play hard.
He is my all time number 1 running hero.
At the time of his death in May 1975, Prefontaine held every American outdoor track record between 2,000 and 10,000 meters. at only 23 years of age, you have to believe he would have improved on all these times.
For me, one of the most amazing aspects of his story is just how much global sports history it contains. Here’s a guy, who never won an olympic or world championship medal – dies at 23, but gets coached by the founder of NIKE, is present at the Munich Olympics where was one of the most terrible events in Olympic history happened and is credited as one of the inspirations for the ‘running boom’ in the USA in the 1980’s.
Forty years on and his image is still being used by NIKE !
I remember last year on the same month after running 8km at Chua Chu Kang Farm Run 2013 (CCK) event that I’m going to join again next year.
CCK was one of the many running events I anticipated this year. This event is annually held around Brickland road. I’m staying in east area, so this running event route is unique and fresh scenery for me. I was delighted when the organizers announced on their facebook page that this year’s run will be 10Km, longer than last year’s 8Km route. So far this is the cheapest running event I know. I only paid $10 ($12 for non-Passion member) for 10Km with singlet and finisher medal included, shuttle bus service from ChoaChuKang MRT to Brickland road and back, as well as freebies from sponsors. This is a fun run that promotes health in the community through running, with walking and kids dash included as wholesome family event, so there is really no need for race bib and timing chip. I was able to register and pay online as well, which is a big improvement from last year’s registration whereby you can only register and pay through community centre.
Chua Chu Kang BIG Farm Walk & Run 2014
October 12 came. I started heading off from home (Bedok) at around 6 am taking bus/MRT and arrived at ChoaChuKang MRT around 7.15am. I went to queue up for shuttle bus, and noticed that the flow of the queue is good. Volunteer smiled at us telling us not to worry as they will wait for all runners to come.
The flag-off for 10Km run is 7:30 am. I arrived late, went to baggage deposit area to give my bag and went to one of the portable toilet stations before heading to the starting point. There are lots of people waiting 3Km Walk 8am flag-off, and so I started running at around 7:50am. I supposed I can still start to run even at 8:30 am (for those staying farther than me).
Besides liking the route and scenery, I’m also excited to have my PB (I’m using running apps to track my distance/speed), so I ran my best. I can say that the road preparation and logistic by road marshals are good and safe. I was late, so I hurry up and this is a good way to beat my PB. But somehow along the way, I experienced congestion. Some of the participants (and I can say not few), are not running but taking a walk leisurely and taking some pictures. Anyway, what can I expect … this is a fun run and not a competitive run, besides the value for money I paid for. So I squeezed in for several hundred meters doing some zigzag occasionally. On halfway part, I think I passed through the leisure runners and catch up with the serious runners so the road was smooth again. I passed through several drink stations and I think only stop on 1 drink station. I can remember there is no isotonic drink (if my recall is correct), but I don’t think I really need an isotonic drink for 10Km run, water will suffice.
Moving past the half way, I saw the 3Km walkers and they are all happy and smiling. I can see the sense of community in this event. This is really an event that promotes health as they give walk option for the oldies and kids, and kids dash.
At around 8Km mark, I saw that volunteers are giving the finisher medal. I didn’t know that it was 8Km as I think I didn’t saw a sign or mark. I took the medal, thinking that I completed the race and stopped my Runkeeper apps. Looking at it, I saw only 8Km and also seeing other runners continue their run, while I started walking. I guess this confusion is the only part I didn’t like during the run. Anyway I want to complete my 10Km, so I started running again (although my mood wants me to rest already). I persevere and finish the 10Km mark.
At the finish line
The volunteers are waiting and smiling to give finisher medals (which I already took on 8Km mark, so I didn’t take again). They also gave the goodie bags. This event is truly generous as they provide big bananas (I’m seeing some runners took 2 or 3) and waters. After taking my goodie bags (I also bought ticket for my kids since it’s only S4 with shirt and goodie bags included), I queued up for Milo drinks and took 2 cups.
I took a selfie as usual and took a picture of my new souveneir medal. Wow, the medal is much better than last year, it’s thicker and bigger. I looked at my Runkeeper apps and indeed have my PB (less than an hour finishing 10Km).
I collected my bag and took a public bus to nearest MRT. There is a free shuttle bus going back to CCK MRT station, but it only started at 11am.
Few days after the run, I can see some of my running pics by Kiko Aguelo and Running Shots. Again I have my souveneir of pictures and medals that I can see later when I grow older and bring back my euphoric running memories.
My overall recollection of the event
There was much improvement from last year, from the registration, to the longer running route, to the finisher medal. For a fun run I thinkI would give CCK Run 2014 event a 10/10.
This event has good logistics. Even before the pre-registration, their facebook page is always updated and transport is provided as well. I think there was enough water stations (although I can see comments from others requesting to add more water stations next time) and the road is not congested. What more can I ask for a $10?
What I can see an improvement is the 8Km giving of finisher medals. I’m not sure what is the purpose of giving medals at 8Km, maybe for those who wants an option to stop running after 8Km as this is just a fun run, but at least they should mention this option in the FAQ or updates.
CCK is not for serious runners as it’s non-competitive and you can expect a walker or leisure selfie taker that can block your way unnecessarily. I really think this event is for a health promotion run, that is affordable and wholesome that everyone can participate in the community including oldies and kids. I truly enjoyed CCK 2014 fun run event and will join again next year.
PS. This is of my own opinion and experience, and I’m no way affiliated with the event’s organizers.
We have done this before and we will do this again.
That was what I told my kids who ran the Hello Kitty Run on 1 November 2014, Saturday.
Hello Kitty Run 2014
My girls and I waited for the flag off patiently but grey skies loomed above. It sure looked threatening from a distance. Shortly after the third wave was flagged off, big droplets of rain fell on us.
‘Press on, children! Let’s finish it and head home. We have done this before and we will do this again.’ It rained cats and dogs during Cold Storage Kids Run 2014 as well. My eldest nodded and persevered inches behind me.
Holding my younger girl’s hand, we walked up the slopes and ran on flat ground.
It was definitely a teaching moment. ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.’
We were ‘fortunate’ to be able to collect our medals and I must declare, the medal was the prettiest I have ever received. The best part, I have three of them. My girls proudly wore them as soon as they received it.
Busy mum
Between morning to the evening, my Saturdays are normally packed with chauffeuring the kids to their classes, three different classes in different centres to be exact. 1 November was no different.
Puma Night Run 2014
Without any rest, by evening, I was off to Sentosa again, for Puma Night Run.
The hills and slopes in Sentosa were something I had not prepared for. The one word that was on my mind the moment I hit flat ground was ‘compensate’. I kept looking at my Runkeeper app to track my timing and compensate as best as I could. In short, the race was pretty well organised (except for the baggage collection), the bright coloured Puma tees certainly brightened up the dark scene in Sentosa.
Thank God for the wonderful weather in the evening, the run was a good one. Despite the crazy day I had, I managed to finish the run, achieving my personal best.
See you, running mummies
Hi five to those who did both cat runs last Saturday at Sentosa. To fellow mummies whose children were as soaked to the skin as my children were, take care and hope to see you and your kiddos at Santa Run for Wishes and Run for Hope in weeks to come.
Don’t miss Myanmar’s largest and Yangon’s only marathon.
The third annual YOMA Yangon International Marathon (YYIM) will take place on Sunday, January 11, 2015 and is expected to attract 4,000 runners. Aiming to inspire athletes and connect communities, both locally and internationally, YYIM 2015 will bring together runners, supporters, volunteers, corporates and the community through a mutual passion for running.
For this year’s edition of YYIM, 2 new categories- 10km challenge and a 3km Fun Run has been made available to cater to runners across all levels. Both the full marathon and half marathon categories remain similar to past years. Participants can expect to be treated to a visual feast as they weave their way through Yangon’s unique blend of modern and rustic architecture, passing iconic sites including Botahtaung Pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda and Inya Lake. A new philanthropic component will be introduced for YYIM 2015 whereby selected Charity Ambassadors will use the race as a platform to raise funds and awareness for the chosen charities. Although the charities have yet to be named, the common theme will be charities that support children in Myanmar.
Run for a good cause
A new philanthropic component will be introduced for YYIM 2015 whereby selected Charity Ambassadors will use the race as a platform to raise funds and awareness for the chosen charities. Although the charities have yet to be named, the common theme will be charities that support children in Myanmar. The Charity Ambassadors include Grace Swe Zin Htaik, renowned Myanmar actress and social activist, Aung Chit Kin, Principal & Founder of Strategy First Institute and Managing Director of ACK & Co Services Company Limited, Lung Sitt Ja Moon (Ah Moon), singer and member of pop group Me N Ma Girls and War So Moe Oo, an up and coming model and actress. Interested donors can click here to make a donation.
Register now!
Registration for YYIM 2015 is now open till 12 December 2014. International participants can log onto www.yomayangonmarathon.com to register while local participants can register in person at FMI Centre, No 308, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon. Registration of participants will be served on a first-come-first served basis and runners are encouraged to register early to avoid disappointment. Click here to register.
The YYIM 2015 race categories and registration fees are as per the table below.
Runninghour 2015 will be the first and only race in Singapore where participants run alongside over 200 visually, intellectually and physically-challenged runners. The Run will be a rallying call for Singaporeans to come together and show their support towards integrating people with special needs.
At the beginning, our outlook seemed challenging and uncertain as we were constantly searching for acceptance and support
Prior to event day, integration workshops will be conducted to promote awareness and training for participants over five zones in Singapore namely in the North, South, East, West and Central regions.
Journey Pink: A sign of hope. A positive colour inspiring warm and comforting feelings; a sense that everything will be okay.
Prior to the formation of Runninghour, there was a lack) of community based support for people with special needs, and an absence of support in the physical recreation and social network realms.
Come 22nd March 2015, Runninghour 2015 hopes to provide opportunities for persons with special needs to interact with their peers – ordinary youths and adults, to build bonds and widen their social networks.
Integration workshops apparel.
Event t-shirt
“Purple signifies a warmth embrace that offers an encouraging and promising march ahead”
Journey Yellow: Creating enthusiasm for life and awakening greater confidence and optimism.
Purple is the colour adopted by Runninghour Co-Operative and represents special needs.
Violet, a hue of the colour purple, represents humanitarianism, using its better judgment to do good for others.
JustRunLah! is proud to be the official online running community of RunningHour 2015 and we are happy to provide the first 500 readers with a $5 discount off the early-bird price!
This will be the first time that I will be participating in GE2014 and also the first time for me to run a half-marathon. It took 4 years for me to decide to try completing a half-marathon. 4 years ago, I joined Bay Marathon 10km with my best friend and from then, I have joined a 10km once a year and a few 5km runs here and there.
What made me make the move?
I have been wanted to try running a longer distance since starting running 4 years ago. But I always do not have the extra push or motivation to do it. This final push finally came when I joined Puma Running Club last year where I met lots of people who are very passionate about running and have interesting running experiences to share. In addition, there are no like-minded friends before I joined Puma Running Club. Most of my female friends are not interested in running longer distances and I was looking to have somebody to run together for long distances to keep each other moving for the whole 21.1km. Although I do not have somebody to run together this time round, I feel like I probably could finish the course.
But … …
I have not ran in about 1 month (except for the Puma Night Run last Saturday). It is not because I have lost motivation in running or I am just plain lazy. It is because I just had an eye operation and I am currently now on a business trip to Bangkok. I feel a little overwhelmed and hopefully I could finish the course. And if I could finish the course, I hope I can do it within 2.5 hours.
To all ladies who are joining the GE2014 this coming Sunday, JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU!
JustRunLah! – Your Running Buddy in cooperation with Sabah Tourism Board is happy to bring you an amazing gift! One of our readers will get to enjoy a free3D2N stay in Deluxe Sea View Rooms with daily buffet breakfast for 2 persons at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, Tuaran, Sabah Malaysia!
Relax or… Run!
Sabah offers the perfect escape and it is just 2.5 hours away from Singapore. Pamper yourself in the amazing 5-star Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, enjoy the beautiful beaches, indulge in local cuisine or combine your vacation with a Borneo Marathon, one of the bucket-list races of many runners in Asia, taking place on May the 3rd, 2015 [read more about the race here].
Puma Night Run first event in Singapore, Saturday 1st November, 2045 flag off at Sentosa.
This race ended up in the middle of a very busy racing weekend for me. I ran the Stadium Run at the Singapore National Games on Saturday morning (4.4k), good news there – I was able to hang on for 7th Master and F1 Runners masters mens team won the team event. Then on the Sunday I did 4×400 masters for F1 at the same SNG event, here we managed to grab Silver, but definitely confirmed that none of us is ‘track fit’ any longer. We joked with the winning team (proper sprinters) that next year we would take them on over 4 x 5k ! 🙂
So, with those races going on, I decided to try a new way of running an event in Singapore – I decided to ‘Just Run Lah‘. A few of my fellow ‘Mount Sinai Striders’ were running, so I planned to pace my mate ‘Scouse Pete’ to a sub 50 pace. At the same for this event, I would do all the ‘fun’ stuff that I never normally do at races to get into the ‘Puma Night Run’ vibe.
VIP treatment
I was very kindly given a free slot at this race by Puma courtesy of this blog, which was awesome. Joshua from Puma’s PR company Mercury MC met me at the VIP Registration Desk and took me around the race showing me all the various activities and ideas Puma had put together for the run. Wavestation at Siloso Beach makes an incredible Race Village, the beach club vibe fitting really well with the overall ‘cool’ of the event.
Josh explained the event was capped at 3000 runners, due to set off in two waves and it had been a sellout. I arrived at the village around 7.30PM and the place was already buzzing. I dropped my bag in the VIP area (haha! I am going to keep saying VIP throughout this blog, cos it doesn’t happen to me very often) [editor’s note: see? we like saying it too, we even used it as a heading for you :D] and headed into the village to drop off my lucky dip ticket, get a temporary tattoo and grab a handfull of glowsticks to decorate my shoes and make a lovely glow necklace(!).
These are all things I never ever do when I am racing, so it was kind of fun to get into it all. I would have got an Instagram pic taken, but the queue was way too long for my low boredom threshold. So I went back to the VIP (sorry / notsorry) area to see what was going on.
Joshua told me that there were a group of (real) celebrities who had been chosen by Puma for a running bootcamp over the previous 6 weeks – they seemed like a nice bunch,who obviously are enjoying their night and seem to have a great team spirit. Since I’m an old guy I dont know who any of these people are, but judging by the number of runners who are crowding around the VIP area for a look at these guys, they are very popular!
(Blog update – the Puma Night Cats are : Tabitha Nauser, Darius Chia, Kimberly Chia, Mahdir Mustaffa, Gavin Teo, Vivi Yeh & Justin Vanderstraaten)
Two enthusiastic MC’s introduced the famous people to great applause on the stage at the Wavehouse and everyone seemed to be having a great time on a warm, clear evening on Sentosa. The lighting is uber-cool, the music is loud and all the beautiful people are here.
After my Newton Challenge experience last weekend I went early to the start pen so as not to end up in the second wave. It’s about 400m further down the road towards siloso beach and it’s also looking awesome. The whole beach front road from Siloso to Tanjong Beach is closed off for the run, giving it a real professional event feel. I join the start pen, meet my mates and wait for the flag off.
Plan with Pete tonight is to run around 5min/k’s to get him somewhere in the 49-50 mins zone. We know there are a few hills on the route, but we’ll try to stick to the pace as best we can.
Flagg off!
Flag off at 2045 and we are off up the road, feels great, with a nice crowd and enthusiastic support from the bars and restaurants along the first km section towards Beach Station. The course is well marshalled, well lit and plenty wide enough for the number of participants.
We make a solid start and we’re on pace through 4k when we turn just at Tanjong Beach Club, we then hit the first climb up the hill to the golf course (seems a lot less steep when I am driving up there!), the course takes an interesting route them through a buggy tunnel at Seranpong and loops around the Telecoms Station. It’s very quiet here, but well lit and a good route decision.
Back onto the main Sentosa road for the last 4k home, we steam down the hill back to Palawan beach and push for home. I told Pete the golf course hill was the last one, but I forgot the slight incline up to Beach Station, so we push up there, still more or less on our pace, last 1500m has a real ‘big race finish’ feel about it so it’s easy to find the extra strength and motivation for a final burst over the line. We’re all done in 50:14 and feeling great. Meet the volunteers at the finish line for a banana and a nice cold bottle of water, collect our medals and the team re groups.
Shug (my regular racing buddy) was racing this one, he finished 6th in 39:17, so he’s very happily wandering around with the ‘6th place’ lanyard around his neck, Shaun and Rob finished just ahead of me and Pete so we all wander back into Wavehouse together, our work for the evening complete.
The after-party
I head into the VIP area to pick up my bag, grab a shower and change clothes, there’s a nice F&B spread put on in here so I grab a coke and some watermelon then head out to meet the boys for a well deserved beer and the essential 30 minute ‘my race went like this’ de-brief session.
We stick around and watch the presentations, Mens Race is won by a Kenyan guy in 31 mins (big respect), Womens is won in 44 mins, which is kind of surprising, but there are a lot of other events this weekend which I assume attracted the faster ladies.
The post race vibe is just as buzzing as it was beforehand so we stick around for a few drinks enjoying the atmosphere. One big plus of a smaller race size and a race village like this place is that you can get an actual seat to chill on, rather than sitting on the grass at the Padang, plus its late at night, it’s a bit cooler, so it’s very relaxing to sit, chat, drink and listen to the bands.
Reflecting on the evening now I can definitely say this was one of my favourite running experiences to date in Singapore. Usually after a race I am mainly thinking about my performance, did I go out to fast, did I go out too slow, should I have done this, should I have done that blah blah blah. But this time, I just ran, at a very comfortable pace, chatted to my mate (bugged the hell out of him throughout) and enjoyed the night.
It gave me an opportunity to see the event the way (I think) many people see it – less about the running performance, more about the overall experience – and I really enjoyed it. Puma got the balance right between sports/performance and fun/atmosphere and in doing so created a really special event. I’m really happy to have been part of the inaugural Puma Night Run and I’ll certainly be back next year. I did hear that the regular baggage collection station was a bit chaotic (not sure why they needed to wrap all the bags in big white plastic sacks – sounds like they made it very difficult to spot identify each bag), but apart from that everything was well managed and executed.
Meanwhile, the competitive runner in me returns and next time out I’ll be fretting about seconds, splits, when to push, breathing patterns and all the other rubbish that usually occupies my mind when I’m running.
When most of us think of Singapore Airlines (SIA), we usually think of it being one of the safest airlines in the world, providing one of the best in-flight services that anyone would have ever experienced and last but not least, the iconic SIA girl- the gorgeous air stewardesses. Yet, who says that SIA can only forge a relationship to anything and everything that has got to do with flights, airplanes and the tourism indiustry? Just yesterday, on the 2nd of November 2014, SIA took its 1st step into the sports industry by organizing a race- SIA Charity Run. Held at the F1 Pit Building, the race attracted one of the largest crowd of participants that I have ever witnessed, ranging from kids to corporate participants to competitive runners.
If you are a fan of themed races like the Hello Kitty Run or Colour Run, SIA Charity Run is the run for you. It is definitely one of the most well-themed races I have ever come across! With its starting point being named as “Take Off” and its finishing point being named as “Arrival”, it enhanced your running experience by allowing you to imagine that you are “flying” instead of running. Not to forget, there were even air stewardesses to cheer for you at the starting point. In addition, to mimic the breathtaking scenery that one would witness on the plane if you are lucky enough to get yourself a window seat, SIA Charity Run provided us with picturesque scenery of the Kallang River, Marina Bay Sands and also, The Singapore Flyer.
A smooth flight
Reputable for providing a smooth flight, SIA has planned a fairly smooth running route for the race too. With little slopes, the run was a pretty easy one that would not be too taxing for any beginners out there. Unfortunately, there were several areas (the Kallang River area) that were pretty narrow and congested. For competitive runners, this can be quite a hassle as your timing for the race will be affected. In fact, due to the non- competitive nature of 5km run, many of the participants were walking. This resulted in a huge congestion around those areas and many of the runners had to either run on the grass patches to keep up with their timings or, to walk together with the other participants. Besides, there were also a lack of road marshals at several important points that resulted in several race participants cheating their ways across the race by cutting across the race route. Yet, all these congestion and problems were eased with not only the strategic location of the water stations along the wider areas of the race route, but also, the integrity of the majority of the race participants.
Due to its abundance of volunteers, there were almost zero queue for both baggage deposit and medal collection. In fact, unlike many of the races in which you have to endure a long queue before getting into the restroom, there were plenty of restrooms for this run.
Having a themed photobooth is a trend nowadays and SIA did not miss out on that! After the race, one can grab a picture taken with not only a pilot and an air stewardess, but also, with a cute airplane background. Not to forget, Ironman and Captain America were spotted there too!
Overall, SIA Charity Run is one that is not only family-oriented, but also, well-themed. It is a run that you will witness parents piggyback-ing their kids, guys dressing up as air stewardesses, kids dashing along the race routes, all in one day. As a competitive runner, I would join this run again though most likely, for the 10km category instead.
Sundown Marathon used to be the only “night race” in Singapore. In recent times, there were more of such runs. One example is the Illumi run.
This race is Puma’s first running event in Singapore. I understand the Puma running club in Malaysia is pretty established and thus it was great to witness a sports brand holding a run in Singapore especially after Adidas and Nike pull the plug on their respective hosted runs this year.
Setting its sights in Sentosa, the key attractions to this run is obviously running in the night and “running areas in Sentosa never ran before“. For a typical tourist, Sentosa is pancake flat. However the same couldn’t be said for race routes; be prepared to go past never-ending hills and expect a challenging race.
Puma night run did not disappoint in that respect. Seriously I have no idea where I was running. But in summary the two km was pretty flat. Thereafter it was either ups or downs all the way till the final km.
Getting ready
I drove in and was greeted with a smile at the gantry. Thereafter i slowpoked my way towards a makeshift parking area specially created for drivers. Parked my car and made our way towards the starting point. It was a km walk towards the start line and i thought it was a good way of channeling everybody towards the start point, especially in a race site like Sentosa.
The baggage deposit was placed strategically on the upper levels. I though that was a brilliant idea to ensure proper flow of runners! I did not deposit any baggage, hopefully collection was a breeze!
When i reached the start point, i was 15mins away from flag off. The MC was asking all of us to stop our warmups if we want to participate in the first wave.
When i arrived at the pen area, i realized there were no much areas to do any warmup. With that, i did none and walk straight into the pen and squeezed as front as possible. By then, i was jammed 15 rows behind the starting point.
Of course, the coolest aspect is to be able to run with your fellow Mediacorp celebrities. Here you could see Sham enjoying himself with their company!
I only knew there were celebrities after flag off where their respective fan clubs stand by and support their celebrities. I believe Elvin Ng was there. His fan club was screaming for his head lol.
And so the race begins!
The first 2km was rather flat and manageable. However there were peeps walking just after the 1km mark, which was disappointing to witness. There were some minor hills on the way to Cove Drive which was still manageable.
The killer came at the 4km mark where there was this mini route of up and down hills. Thereafter at the 6km mark, there was this unique huge “roundabout” of up and downhills. That was pretty manageable as you could see the front runners running uphill while you’re going down, giving you a sense of what to expect.
Once out of there, you are basically on the same route back to where you started. I like how there’s every km marker on this race, a rarity nowadays. The accuracy seemed to be off abit but who would complain about a shorter distance, right? 🙂
I was amazed by the volunteers and the management of the water stations. They are extremely enthusiastic and would take the water out for you before you crash into the station yourself. Though i stood there for few seconds waiting for mine in one particular station, that wasn’t a problem as i knew they tried. I would prefer to be handed water than to pick one myself at running pace!
The distance markers looked something like that. Don’t we love the 400m and 200m distance markers? These are the most motivating markers throughout the entire race! Not to mention 400m marker was right smack beside the “Bikini bar” 😛
With 200m left, i give a last surge, lifted my arms and celebrate with joy!
The after-race party
While the race comes to an end, the start to the after-party begins!
As the rest of the runners trickles in, there were entertainment planned for everybody.
Free wave rides for runners, concert-liked performances, beer offerings, instant photo booths etc. The aim if to create a party-like atmosphere and i thought this was rather unique for a 10k race! Thumbs up Puma for creating that atmosphere.
I took part in the instant photo booth while the queue is short and was smiling with glee upon receiving my photoprint 😀
Thereafter, i made my way to collect my car. I recall there was a ‘towel’ to be collected, but unfortunately I couldn’t find a booth that says towel collection. With that i walk my way to my car and like the rest, drove out before the crowd came back.
In summary, the good and challenging parts of the race are as follows:
Pros
Unique race concept
Night race for those whom prefer racing the night
Bright pink event tee with nice sizing (Can be cons for some guys whom hate bright pink!)
Volunteers are extremely enthusiastic
Water points are well managed
Challenging aspect
Hilly run, not a good race for PB
Lack of warmup area
Not so value for money
All in all, it was an excellent race for those seeking a challenge and for those whom run best at night instead of mornings! It was short, around 9.7xkm, not sure if that qualify as a pro or con! 😀
First up is my all time favorite running legend: Steve Prefontaine. 
VIP treatment
Joshua told me that there were a group of (real) celebrities who had been chosen by Puma for a running bootcamp over the previous 6 weeks – they seemed like a nice bunch,who obviously are enjoying their night and seem to have a great team spirit. Since I’m an old guy I dont know who any of these people are, but judging by the number of runners who are crowding around the VIP area for a look at these guys, they are very popular!
Flagg off!
The after-party
smooth flight
While the race comes to an end, the start to the after-party begins!