As we all mourn the passing of the man who built the Singapore that we know and love today, the endless tributes flow in from all around the world, paying homage and sharing memories of our late first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
But how can we properly thank someone who has dedicated his whole life to creating a country?
How can we express gratitude to someone who has led us from poverty to prosperity, from yet another post-war-torn, post-colonial island with slim chance of survival, to a country of international renown, from its education quality to its cuisine and gastronomy to its high standards of governance?
How can we pay due respects to someone who, when the rest of the world had given up on us, took on the challenge to unite a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural mixed bag and forged a single national identity?
Sometimes, we can’t.
When words can only go so far, runners like ourselves find solace in running. We run to escape our grief, but we run also to express our grief. Sometimes, we run to share our grief, and it is in this spirit of bonding in our nation’s dark hour that a running club in Singapore has organized the Run for LKY.
Run for LKY, 28 March 2015
Announcement from Gei Gei Running Club – 25 March
Dear fellow runners,We are extremely touched by the immense support shown by fellow runners for “Run for LKY” this coming Saturday. The strong support we have received shows that there are many Singaporeans who are extremely grateful to what our founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew has done for the nation. The overwhelming response (as of now, the number of runners is almost 500) is not something that we have anticipated. Due to the large number of turn-ups for this run plus saftey concerns from fellow runners, we have decided to change our plans for the run.For safety and security reasons, we will no longer be meeting at 7.15am and running together as a group. Runners are free to do your own runs between 7.15am to 8.15am from Esplanade towards Parliament House (Route to be confirmed tomorrow) on Saturday morning. You can run/walk in small groups, either with your friends, family members or with your running club. You can observe 91 seconds of silence before the run and bow 3 times near Parliament House (we will no longer run pass Parliament House as that area is cordoned) and u-turn back towards Esplanade. Runners are encouraged to dress in black as a form of mourning and respect for Mr Lee. Please maintain low noise and decorum and respect when you are near the Parliament House.We are doing this purely to remember Mr Lee’s contribution to the nation and out of our deep love for him. We hope all runners feel the same and do the same too. We apologise for the changes and we hope for your understanding in this. It’s the thought that counts.
Best Regards
Gei Gei Running Club.
Let’s come together as ONE running community, regardless of race, language or religion and pay our respect to OUR Mr Lee Kuan Yew. You are invited to join in the tribute run this Saturday – organised by Gei Gei Running Club – with fellow runners who wish to keep Mr Lee Kuan Yew in memoriam. The details are as follows:
We will run from Esplanade Outdoor Theatre to Parliament House. We will observe 1 min of silence there and bow 3 times to pay our respect. We will then continue towards Clarke Quay and U-Turn back upon seeing the first bridge. There will not be any refreshments for this run. We are also not sure if the security will allow us to pass through Parliament. If not, we will just play by ear on the actual day. Runners who wish to run longer can continue their run on their own.
Running at this point may seem completely trite. Running will certainly not bring back this great man, but neither will words, nor tears. We run instead, to celebrate the life and the achievements of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and we run to honour the lessons and wisdom he has instilled and imparted to us.
Thank you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, for all you have given us. You live on in the hearts of Singaporeans, who will strive to continue your life’s work in creating and maintaining the Singapore of your – and our – dreams.
When I was first offered a slot for the Green Corridor Run I was slightly hesitant as I was not really a fan of trail running. Not that I didn’t like it but my previous experiences which included 2 NorthFace 100 25km runs, taught me to never underestimate the challenge of trail running. But since it had been awhile since I did a trail run, I decided to take on the challenge.
Race Pack
Race pack collection was at City Square Mall was a breeze. Collection basically took less than 5 minutes and add in a 15 minutes walk to and from the Mall, I was back in the comfort of my place with my race pack in under 45minutes. The race pack content was quite standard – bib, running top, vouchers and reusable bag as well as a Green Rail Corridor map which gave a glimpse of the route.
Race Pack Contents
Race Day
One of the few runs in Singapore in which I was able to wake up at 7 and happily hop onto a bus to the Tanjong Pagar railway station. As I approached the railway station, I recollected the few times as a boy my father bringing me to the station to pick up my grandauntie whenever she came to Singapore as well as the last time I took a train out from here as I made my way with my uncle to witness Singapore winning the Malaysia Cup for the last time in 1994. I believe many who join the race for the first time not only wanted to run along the green corridor but also to visit the station which has a rich history behind it. I found a spot to fiddle with my hydration pack(dug out from the storeroom after a few years of ‘cold storage) which I hoped could counter the effects of the potential heat.
Uncaged… from the storeroom
As I heard the first wave flag off, I slowly made my way to the starting line. Unfortunately, the flag-off for the next wave was delayed for safety reasons as it seemed that the last runner from the first wave was taking longer than expected to reach one of the checkpoint – hence the 2nd wave was made to wait under the sun on the remnants of the railway track at the station. Eventually after a 20 minute wait, the 2nd wave got flagged off 0940hrs. The starting pace was relatively slow and I thought that it was the gravel and pebbles which was causing it. But as I near the 1st kilometer mark, my concerns of the late start flag-off were confirmed as the heat got to me, as well as some of the other fellow runners. I could see some of them already walking(although it could also have been what they already doing from the start, ie treat this a Sunday stroll) and I myself already required a drink which was earlier than what I usually do. While my pace remained slow, I was able to make my way pass ‘the walking contingent’ along the way. Now most people who know me will know that I am never critical about slower runners or joggers – I myself being one of them, but my tolerance level for people who intend to walk for the whole distance is practically non-existent. While I applaud their intent to participate – they could either start at the back of the wave or rightfully start in the next wave. By choosing not to do so, they tend to make the run slightly more tedious and rather unpleasant.
Back to the run, the heat was not making it any easier and by the time I reach the 1st water-point, I didn’t just had a couple of cups of water but also a longer than usual break before continuing. I pretty much did the same at the 2nd water point and the effect of the heat was taking its toll as a handful of runners basically headed to the exit point where it seems that bus(es) were waiting to ferry them. It is never easy to drop out of a race but it is something which is prudent, especially when the risk of heat-stroke is there.
As the route ‘neared civilization’ around Commonwealth Drive and Tanglin Halt, you could basically see more people who probably use the Green Corridor for their weekly exercise, trekking by as well as on their bikes. At the 3rd water-point at North Buona Vista, which was a vehicle overpass or rather previously a underpass for the trains, quite a few runners stop to take in ‘Street Art’(which you don’t normally see), which is probably one of the interesting aspect of this route.
Street Art
As I left this last water-point, I was slightly apprehensive about whether I had enough water to beat the heat. Fortunately, it got slightly cloudier and this last stretch of the route was ‘greener’ with more vegetation and also ‘friendlier’ terrain. The fact that it was the last 2.5km probably helped and I was honestly quite thankful to cross the finish line intact. 😛
Points To Ponder
While I was making my way to the bus-stop (another rare occasion which I could also take a bus back home), I had a short conversation with a Irish runner. He also observed the walkers (I was not not the only one!) and in addition to what I mentioned he also brought up the point of safety – of runners being blocked. He also remarked that there seem a lack of running etiquette when it came to overtaking, walking and even stopping(don’t do it suddenly). But we both agreed that the width of this route (versus a roadrace) probably made the problems more obvious.
On the overall, this event is worth a try if you want to experience this unique route. But do note the heat that comes along with the late start time and hopefully organizers can do more to separate those who wish to do a Sunday leisure stroll in another category as well as remind participants on some of the etiquette to make this run a safer and more enjoyable event.
HI to all JRL readers, I am You Liang, 23 this year. Before I start off with the normal race review entries, I would like to talk more about how running changes my life. Maybe after reading my stories, some of you are able to tell more of your non-runner friends,to motivate them to make their first step.
Since young, I did not really enjoyed running, in fact, I hate running. Running to me is a torture, I always ask myself, why did we had to run? Why are we being force to take the 2.4km run? This mindset of mine does had a impact of how I looked like back then.
See, this was my size during 2012 May, 95kg. Actually, all along I was always around this size. This size makes me very difficult whenever it comes to choose clothes, maneuver in crowded places, and many many more. To be honest, during those period of time, despite having quite a few disadvantages, I was comfortable with my size. Until one day, while I was sitting along Bedok Reservoir looking at groups and groups of people running past me, a few questions flash through my mind. Why am I satisfy with my size? Why must I stay in this size? Why have I not done anything to lose weight? So later on that evening, I decided to make a change in my life. I decided to go for my “first run”. The reason I choose to run is because that I don’t know what else can I do to lose weight beside running, and running is the only sports that I could do with just a running shoes and no other equipment. So I did my first 5km run around my house area, and I spend 40 over minute to complete the run. It was very tiring and I still don’t like running, but I felt a kind of satisfaction when I completed it. At least, I felt that I had contributed to my weight losing plan. So the following day, I forced myself out of the house to do the same thing again. I told myself that I had to at least run 6 times a week. Of course beside running, I had to watch over my diet as well.
Around july 2012, I manage to see a little bit to hard work being paid off. I loss around 9kg from the day I started running.
The next few month after this weight loss was tough. I had to manage between studies,work,runs. So if I had to study on work very early in the morning,I had to wake up earlier to do my runs as by the time I reach home at night is always close to mid night.No one actually expected my determination to last so long, not even myself.
Jan 2013,7 months after I started running, I shocked everyone around me. When I posted my picture up to social media, question starts to come in. “IS THAT YOU?” “WHAT HAPPEN?” “ARE YOU IN THE ARMY?” lots of question all around.
See the difference? From 95kg all the way to 64kg, my effort for the past few months paid off. Also until then, I found my passion in running. Running no longer is a torture to me, it became part of my life, and I enjoy doing it. I did my first race in Feb 2013, the URUN 15km + OMB challenge. Subsequently, I did my first half marathon(2xu compression run) in march 2013,and my first full marathon(sundown marathon) in may 2013. I also achieved my personal best of 3hr 53min for full marathon duing that first FM I joined.
Now, 2015 March, I had glad that I still maintain the weight, completed 5 Full Marathon and quite a few other races. Along this 2 years, I met quite a few great running friends as well. I am happy that my determination was right, if not all these would not had happen to me.
So I hope to use to opportunity to share my stories with all the JRL readers. Runners, keep up your this running passion. As for non running, a lot of things can be done, it all depends on how much efforts you are willing to put in. This is how running changes my life,I hope after today, it change yours too. So what are you waiting for? JUST RUN LAH!
As the SEA Games 2015 draws ever closer and Singapore is stepping up its preparations to host the 28th edition of the events, its representative athletes are working just as hard to ready themselves for June. In this interview, JustRunLah! catches up with middle distance runner, Soh Hua Qun. Despite the 24-year-old’s recent struggle with injuries, he ran the 1500m in 4:06.02 and 800m in 1:58.79 at the recent Inter-Varsity Polytechnic (IVP) Championships, earning first and second place in the respective events. With his ability to perform in the face of adversity, he’s dubbed Singapore’s best hope in the 800m and 1500m events.
Read on for more details…
JustRunLah!: What’s your running story? Who/what got you running?
Hua Qun: I’ve loved playing sports since I was young. I relished the adrenaline rush whenever I played catching or blind mice with friends, when I could inject quick bursts of speed at will and escaped the clutches of my friends. It was only at the age of 10 when I started taking part in a proper track race and won all the races (200m, 400m and 800m and 4x100m) with school shoes. Mr Affendy, the track coach of Townsville Primary (my primary school), spotted me and wanted me to join their track team. My mother was strongly against it due to my commitments to studies and CCAs – I was already involved in badminton, robotics, swimming and art and craft classes but I managed to convince her by working harder in my studies.
My love story with running began with this track team when I started working on the specific areas of sprints such as drills and accelerations. I enjoyed the camaraderie with my team-mates as we worked on every aspect of baton-passing and accelerations, practising our passing more efficiently. It was hard work but it paid off when my 4x100m team managed to emerge champion in the Nationals in 2002. I also attempted many events but the 800m seemed to intrigue me most, especially the part when it comes to fighting the lactic rush. Even though I came in 7th for 800m during Nationals in 2003, I was hungrier for more.
When I enrolled in Catholic High, I embarked on distance running as my coach felt that I have more potential in longer distances. My endurance has enabled me to sustain a fast pace for long distances and coupled with my passion for speed workouts, I came to enjoy tactical races such as 800m and 1500m. My breakthrough in 1500m came in 2005 when my coach Mr Alan Koh worked greatly on my running economy to enable me to run more efficently and fast even under great training load. This enabled me to emerge champion and 1st runner-up in 1500m during Nationals in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
It was in Raffles Junior College when I got to dabble with my favourite events, the 800m and 1500m. Mr Steven Quek (JC coach and current coach) incorporated sports science and pace management in his training. Furthermore, he made me realise the importance of taking care of one’s lifestyle habits, taking note of the rest, diet and training to maximise the benefits of training. His program that he planned for us in Raffles had enabled us to juggle studies and training well. Taking note of these distinctions had also aided me greatly to bring my middle-distance running to greater heights.
I took a break from competitive running during my National Service but decided to try out middle-distance events again, as I missed the adrenaline rush of sprinting. Furthermore, it was my dream to qualify for the SEA Games and win a medal for Singapore. Mr Steven Quek has aided in the planning of my training program and I managed to have the opportunity to work with many passionate athletes along the way to push our limits. Besides improving the timings of my races, I came to enjoy running much more in university when I got to meet like-minded peers who shared the same passion and joy for running. My breakthrough came when I managed to hit sub 4 for 1500m and 800m in 2012, but I failed to meet the qualifying mark for the 2013 SEA Games squad. It was then I set my sights on 2015 SEA Games.
I endured a setback in late 2013 when I had an accident during a fall and tore my patella tendon. I had surgery and I was wheelchair-bound for quite a while. I worked really hard during my rehabilitation as I had the desire to prove to other people that it’s possible to pursue their dreams despite the circumstances, as long as one doesn’t give up. Thankfully I am recovering well and currently working hard for my SEA Games dream and hoping to make my breakthrough soon.
Soh Hua Qun at the Singapore Open 2014
JustRunLah!: You are currently a student at the National University of Singapore. What are you studying, and how do you balance your academic and athletic commitments?
Hua Qun: I’m currently studying Accountancy in NUS. I try my best to do away with any time-wasting activities during training to shorten the training hours. I also make sure that I sleep early and have adequate rest so that I can make the best use of the time in the day. I try to read up before and after lectures and tutorials to understand the materials faster.
JustRunLah!: You recently participated at the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Championships, and bagged several impressive wins, placing 1st for the 1500m, 2nd for the 800m and 2nd for the 4x400m events. Congratulations! Can you share with JustRunLah! readers, what has been the highlights of your running career/journey?
Hua Qun: My breakthrough came when I managed to run 1:55min in 800m and 4:03min in 1500m during Singapore Open 2012. I managed to perform well under race conditions in ASEAN University Games 2012 when I emerged 4th in both 800m and 1500m, losing the bronze medal by about half a second.
JustRunLah!: And now you’ve made it onto the Singapore Athletics Association SEA Games 2015 training squad, and have been dubbed Singapore’s best hope in the 800m and 1500m events.
Hua Qun: Yes, I’ve been striving to excel in 800m and 1500m events ever since I returned back from my patella tendon injury. I hope to win a medal in these events at SEA Games on home ground. I have only attempted 5km and 10km events to evaluate my aerobic fitness from time to time.
JustRunLah!: How are you currently training and preparing for the SEA Games? You ran the ASEAN University Games with an ankle injury, is it better now?
Hua Qun: I have recovered from my ankle injury. My coach and I have raised the intensity and frequency of trainings to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games. I had also been working on more speed workouts as I foresee strong finishes by the foreign competitors.
Team NUS working hard
Team NUS playing hard
JustRunLah!:What do you anticipate to be your biggest challenges at this event?
Hua Qun: I hope to win a medal for Singapore on home ground but a win is never predictable due to the tactics involved during a race. One of the challenges I will face would be to match up to the strong finishing kick that will be put up by the Vietnamese and Filipino competitors as they have great speed.
JustRunLah!: Conversely, do you feel there are any home-ground advantages to the SEA Games being held in Singapore?
Hua Qun: It would be the acclimatisation to the humidity and hot weather in Singapore, especially in the afternoon.
JustRunLah!: Who or what is your source of inspiration?
Hua Qun: David Rudisha, who continues to step up his game even when he met with countless setbacks.
JustRunLah!: Any advice for aspiring young athletes out there?
Hua Qun: Give your best in everything you do and be daring to pursue your dreams. Leave no regrets.
JustRunLah!: Any message(s) you’d like to share?
Hua Qun: I would like to thank my NUS cross country team, my coach, my training partners and my close friends who have gone through this arduous yet fulfilling journey with me. Also, I would like to thank my sponsors ASICS for the training gear-shoes and apparel that had allowed me to run at my best and USANA for the health supplements that had kept me in the pink of health.
JustRunLah!: Finish this sentence: Running is…
Hua Qun: Running is… symbolic of life; to push yourself to overcome the obstacles and when you feel you can’t, search deep within for inner strength to realise that you are stronger than you thought.
ASEAN Uni Games 2012.
Corrections: In an earlier version of this article it was stated that Hua Qun ran a sub-4 timing for the 1500m at the Singapore Opens 2012. The official time recorded for his performance at the event was 4:03.06.
Ring….ring….my trusty alarm clock rang at 4am. Jumped out of my bed and started preparing to move out.. Had my breakfast consisting of two pieces of bread and peanut butter. Changed into my race attire and did some light stretching before leaving quietly at 4.45am. Don’t want to wake up my wife and kids….
It was a long drive to Punggol Waterway Park, an unfamiliar place to me. Reached around 5.20am and managed to grab a parking lot at the nearby multi-storey carpark. Wow… a lot of race participants had reached there as well, all decked in the familiar neon orange t-shirt.
Made my way to the holding area and aimed for the mobile toilet. This is a must do pre-race routine, if not it would be extremely disruptive having to hunt for a toilet half way into a race…lol. There were ample toilet facilities but queues were already building up. After my toilet break, I moved to the start point and started my warm up exercises.
By 6.20am, the crowd had already built up all ready to start. The DJ had to speak to us in a low voice as we were near a cluster of flats. I find this amusing as we had to strain our ears to hear what he was trying to tell us. Around 6.25am, the pacers with their blue balloons started to stream in. Wah….. they have pacers for 2.30 hrs as well. I made a mental note to follow them and see if I could break my training time records of 2.35 hrs.
Soon, we were flagged off at 6.30am silently….lol…no horns..no loud music….ha ha…..So we started running ‘silently’. This was the first time I am running at Punggol Waterway Park. There were some construction going on next to the park connectors that were running on. But on a whole, it was a rather easy and flat route the runners.
As I was nearing the 5km mark, I saw the first runner streaking down the opposite side of the park connector, with a cyclist pedaling furiously to lead to the way…wow….(I understand that the winner of the half marathon came in at 68 minutes). Seeing him, I started to increase my pace, but soon dropped to my usual training pace. I completed the 1st loop of 10.5km at around 1:10hrs, and bump into the 10k runners who were just released from the start point. So it was rather squeezy from the 11km to the 15km mark, which slowed down my pace considerably. The 2nd loop also means a boring same route for the next 10.5 km. Some where around this distance, I passed by the energy gel point and grabbed a packet of GU energy gel (mandarin orange). I had never tried energy gel before and I was tempted to tear the pack open and glup the contents. But I decided otherwise, as it meant that I would need to start walking to do that, which would break my momentum.
I also started taking the isotonic drinks from the water points from the 11km mark onwards.. The isotonic drinks came in orange (or yellow?) and green and tasted rather saltish and made me thirstier. I decided to stop taking them after the 1st two cups and relied on my own supplies (100 Plus Edge) and the plain water from the water points. Luckily I had my trusty Redbull (in my waist belt bottles) and had sipped on them for every 2 km after the 11 km mark as well. It boosted my energy levels and make the race more enjoyable.
The crowd started to thin out after the 15km mark, and I picked up my pace. As I was coming on to the final km, I realised the finishing point was at the top of a low hill. To get there, I had to run up a rather steep slope which snaked around the low hilltop, and had to dodge the walker who were jamming up the route. As I crossed the finishing point, I glanced at my watch and realized that I had achieved a timing of 2.23 hrs!! A good 10 mins plus shaved off from my training best timings. I was very pleased with myself as I made my way to collect the banana, the 2nd half of the medal and the 1.5 litre of mineral water.
End of Race
Asked a fellow runner to help take the usual ‘victory’ post race photo, then did some warm down before heading home. It was a good 1st half marathon for myself. Thumbs up to the organizing committee as well for the smooth race, given the fact the they were volunteers.
Medal
The medal is a very unique design in that it had two pieces. You get the first one during the race pack collection and the other half only after you complete the race.
You can read more details on how I prepared for this race in my blog at runningat39.blogspot.com.
Cover photo: North East Compressport Run Facebook page
“Transformed Rochor canal a hit with resident” screams the headlines on straits times. It was practically an open invitation for SG Unfit Runners to swing by the canal to check it out. So on that very Sunday, we gathered at Lavender MRT station and easily found a dolled up Rochor canal, just behind the immigration & checkpoint authority building. We had a special guest who joined us today, Ms S J, the cute daughter of Fang Tai who insisted on tagging along.
We were Sold!Our Guest runner. Ms SJ
As soon as we had gathered, S J bolted off like an excited puppy with the poor mum chasing after her. We started a slow jog towards Bugis and we were obstructed by a two segment pedestrian crossing along Kallang road. It took us 5 mins to navigate that stretch and resume along the canal. A few hundred meters later, we came across another traffic junction along Syed Alwi Rd where we have to jog on the spot for a few minutes again.
Other than the 2 traffic junction, the entire route is a picturesque path with a lot of curvy wooden seats and glass barriers. The Rochor Canal used to be famous for being smelly and full of rubbish, but this has changed with the revitalization. I can imagine this to be a top notch evening romantic walking spot for couples with seats to cuddle up under the warm orange glow of the lamp post.This is a great route for evening strolls but not fanatic for a running routes with two major traffic junctions.
The 2 leg pedestrian crossing at Kallang RoadExtremely good spot to cuddle!Map of Rochor CanalCleaning up the CanalCould not resist taking a selfie!Opening Ceremony of Rochor Canal.A vegetable garden at the nearby HDB estate
On the hand, if you want to have a smooth running path without any traffic junction, you can head east wards towards Kallang River whereby you have the choice to head towards Kallang Riverside park or along the south bank where it will take you to Singapore Flyer and if you feel like it, a victory run around Marina Bay.
There is an underground pass linking the new Rochor Canal to the Kallang River route and underpass acts like a time traveling tunnel. On one end, the sparkling new Rochor Canal and the old rusty Kallang River route.
The Magical Time Tunnel!The older looking Kallang stretch after the tunnelBeautiful Sunrise @ Sports HubSleepy Cat posing for a shot
I will strongly recommend that you try out that tunnel. It is somewhat magical!
We ended the run at the very nearby North Bridge Road Food Center. There are another 3 coffee shop around the region and there are tons of famous hawker food around the area.
Overall, I will say that starting the run at Lavender MRT station offers a bit of something for every runner. A short scenic route through a revitalized canal in one of the oldest HDB housing at the heart of Singapore or a long scenic route along the beautiful Kallang River. Throw in one of the best food center in Singapore and you have one of those perfect early morning running route suitable for both Fit and Unfit runners.
North Bridge Road Food CenterOne of the famous store in the food centerBreakfast! Highly recommended!PES E RouteBBG route
Visit SG Unfit Runners for more routes for absolutely unfit people. Don’t visit us if you are very fit and do ultramarathons without breaking a sweat! SG Unfit Runners is a finalist at the Singapore Blog Awards.
It’s the time of the week again where you put on your running gear, head to your usual venue and prepare to go for another run which could possibly be your next personal best timing or distance. However, the thought of having to conquer this path alone might make you feel slightly bored and unmotivated. And then, an idea struck you – why not ask your girlfriend along?
Indeed, running has long been associated with the idea of being an individual sport. As such, people often forget that having a partner to run with, in this case a loved one, can actually add some element of fun and chemistry into the supposedly solo activity.
1. Take the First Step
As a boyfriend, the last thing you would want to do is to force your partner into doing something she dislikes. If running happens to be an activity which is out of her list of hobbies, do not lose hope and simply scrap the idea of running together! Try to find a suitable time, perhaps mealtime conversations or the night before a run, and share with her the benefits of running and how much you would like her to be part of your activity.
Bring her along on a sports gear shopping spree and recommend her suitable running shoes, attire and adding elements of running into her favorite pastime is definitely a great idea!
In addition, you and your partner can go for running dates at romantic locations, for instance, a night run along the paths at the scenic Marina Bay, or even sign up for an overseas marathon event as part of the itinerary of your getaway trips!
Running incentive: a racing holiday!
2. Running Together
We all know that the female and male physiological differences account for the general differences in running abilities between woman and man. However, that does not mean that couples cannot run together and that your girlfriend has to end up chasing after you for most parts of the run instead.
When running with her, you need not deliberately slow down your speed to match hers so as to literally run side by side together. You can leave a comfortable buffer distance between both of you for her to catch up and keep her within your view for safety reasons. While the slower runner can practice on speed and strength training, the faster runner can train on pacing, stamina or even try out new things such as increasing cadence, breathing patterns and more.
Hence, running with a partner who has a different running ability is beneficial for both parties and a valuable opportunity to know each other more.
3. Jazzing Up the Couple Run
Friendly competitions and challenges are ways to spice things up between you and your partner, where goal timings or distances can be set for each other and perhaps the winner gets a meal treat from the other as a reward! Another idea would be to set a target timing difference which would require the effort of both to keep the differences in completion time as small as possible.
For instance, a target for timing difference of 10 minutes between you and your partner for a 10km run can be set. If you completed the run first, you will have to find different ways to make your girlfriend finish as soon as possible within 10 minutes; be her personal pacer, cheerleader, timekeeper and anything else you can think of to achieve the goal together.
It will be quite a challenge at first to adapt to these running practices but running as a couple is nonetheless an interesting, interactive and healthy activity and the satisfaction from achieving fitness goals by working together is beyond description and definitely a relationship booster.
Be a running boyfriend who cares, motivates and love your running girlfriend for putting herself in your shoes, your running journey and your life.
Signed up for a race? Get your Newline compression wear at a special price!
A few days ago, we introduced Newline, a Danish brand producing quality running, cycling and triathlon gear which has just arrived in Asia.
Today, we are happy to bring a special promotion to all our readers:
If you have signed up for a race, stop by ACTIV360, at Novena Square #03-42, 238 Thomson Road,show your race BIB and enjoy 30% OFF your next compression wear!
Something new in the sports industry
The main focus of the company is and always has been continuous experimenting with functional product improvement to achieve highest possible comfort for the runner.
Details, comfort, functionality and high quality are combined with contemporary design to make fashionable products. Styles are inspired from fashion tendencies, and these are transformed into sporty combinations of prints and colors. Newline collaborates with some of the world’s best color and tendency experts to make sure that collections are up-to-date and innovative. Newline’s belief in the combination of function, fashion and differentiating design has opened doors to many markets worldwide.
Newline Asia has decided to partner with ZEN’YU Pacific, as they have established themselves over the years as one of the leaders in the running market providing a comprehensive range of products. ZEN’YU Pacific has also been active in sponsoring events and participating in running, cycling and triathlon races.
Have a look for yourself to what Newline has to offer at ACTIV360, Novena Square #03-42, 238 Thomson Road, (S)307683.
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Life was dark for all visually impaired runners. Life was dark for all intellectually-challenged runners. Life was dark for all physically-challenged runners. How to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle were a question none of them could answer. Likewise, a lot do not have the opportunity to interact with their peers, ordinary youth and adults to build bonds and widen their social networks. NOT ANYMORE! Love was found in the form of Runninghour.
Why Pink?
Since the founding of Runninghour, all visually impaired, intellectually and physically challenged runners have the chance of doing something once deemed impossible in the past. They have a chance to interact with the mainstream people, doing things and socialise like how mainstream people do. This JOURNEY Of LOVE, appreciation and trust will go on and on. Visually impaired runners, intellectually and physically-challenged runners are here to stay.
Run So Others Can
Have you been running for a while and been trying to find more meaning to running? Do you need more inspiration and motivation to your running journey? Running will never be the same again with Runninghour. Here, runners run for his/her buddy every step of the journey.
Why RunningHour 2015?
The first blind run in Singapore. Hand in Hand. Heart to heart, run to bond, run so others can. An inaugural national event that aims to use mainstream sports as a platform to promote integration and nurture an inclusive Singapore. The only race in Singapore where participants run alongside over 200 visually, intellectually and physically-challenged runners.
22nd March 2015
The Run will be a rallying call for all Singaporeans to come together and show their support towards integrating people with special needs. Last call for walk in sign up at City Square Mall tomorrow. See yar!
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After doing the Tokyo Marathon in 2014, a friend told me about the Nagoya Women’s Marathon and how this race was different from others. So last September, I bidded for an entry slot and was lucky to garner an entry to this largest women-only marathon in the world.
Here are some facts about the Nagoya Women’s Marathon:
Held on Sunday, 8 March in conjunction with International Women’s Day
Started in 2012, it is the largest women-only marathon in the world comprising 18,000 runners from 30 countries
Organised by Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), Chunichi Shimbun
Starts and finish at Nagoya Dome (Course certified by the JAAF and AIMS)
Entry fee is 10,500 Yen (+ 600 Yen administrative fee) for foreigners
Time limit to complete the distance of 42.195km is 7 hours based on gun time
Feeling excited as it was my first real solo trip, I happily flew into Nagoya on 3 March and headed north to visit Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Hira Furukawa, which were all awesome in winter. I took a bus back to Nagoya city after two days of sightseeing and started to prepare for the marathon.
Race Pack Collection: 6 March 2015
Race pack pick-up started two days prior to the race and it was held at the Nagoya Dome (home of the Nagoya Dragons, their local baseball team). Here, various sponsors and partners showcased their products and services with Menard and Nike having the largest booths. Others sold running gear, power gel and isotonic drinks. The race expo however, was significantly smaller than the Tokyo marathon’s.
Race Day: 8 March 2015
I awoke at 6.30am to have a light breakfast before heading to the Nagoya Dome – the start point of the race. Boarding the subway proved a challenge as it was so packed on a Sunday morning with presumably everyone heading to the same place. The Japanese are known for their civilised and courteous behavior but when it comes to the subway, this is where they are most aggressive! J
Upon arrival at the Nagoya Dome-mae Yada station, hordes of people got off and there were volunteers carrying signs in Japanese, presumably leading the way to the Dome. The baggage drop off was relatively smooth as we were allocated sling bags to contain our personal belongings and we just had to drop it off at the pre-assigned sectors. Thereafter, we walked through the Dome, caught a glimpse of the finishing line before heading out into the carpark area to await the start of the race.
At the start point of the Nagoya Women’s Marathon.
Here, I was greeted by a spectrum of colours as the women were dressed in bright sports gear. Popular colours were various shades of pink, purple, yellow and turquoise (this is the official colour of the marathon) and I was probably the most boring one in black. Like most races, there were several who also chose to don their favourite cartoon character or super hero outfits.
I must say the weather was excellent – sunny yet cool, nothing like the heat and humidity one would experience running in Singapore. However, the day was actually hotter than usual at 12-17 degrees Celsius as compared to other days of about 10. So while very few chose to wear a down jacket, I was left with little choice as it was my only top with pockets, and I needed pockets to carry my gel and gloves. I saw a smart girl wearing a cycling jersey and immediately thought that why didn’t I think of that as it would have been ideal – it was not too warm as a second layer, and had pockets to store stuff!
At 9.10am, the elite wave of women were flagged off and by the time it came to ordinary folks like me, it was about 9.27am when I reached the start point. I quickly snapped a few pictures, started my Runkeeper app, kept my mobile phone and started my race. The start was a bit slow as there were many runners, but I knew I had to keep to a good pace for my first half if I wanted to complete the race in a decent time.
So I zig-zagged a little, weaving in and out, attempting to pass some runners. I managed to do so until I hit the 15km mark. This was where the pain started to set in due to inadequate training (yes, yes I know, I deserve it). Nonetheless, with crowds cheering by the road side, I persevered, as no one stops running here in Japan! I also dared not stop (except to drink), for I feared that if I had done so, my legs would not start-up again 😛
From the Nagoya Dome, the race route took me past the Nagoya museum, Atsuta Jingu, Osu Kannon, Tsurama Park, Nagoya TV Tower, Nagoya Castle, Nagoya City Hall, Shachihoko and back to the Nagoya Dome.
At the end of the race, finishers were treated to a pleasant surprise – a Tiffany & Co. “medal” in the form of a Sakura pendant, all nicely ribboned-up in a box. Indeed, it is the best and most useful race medal I have ever received! This truly, is a women’s marathon.
The finisher “medal” we all looked forward to 🙂
What can be done to improve the event:
Have more English signs. As I don’t read nor speak Japanese, figuring out what was where was quite a challenge. Most of the time I had to use intuition or ask using my limited Japanese.
Have more portable toilets. I spent an hour queuing up just to use the loo prior to the start of the race.
Again, have clear signages to indicate where the changing rooms were. After the race, I did not see any toilets to freshen up and traveled back to my hotel (via the subway) in my drenched outfit. This is not ideal during winter. But also, because of the huge numbers, I figured that by the time I queued just to change into a fresh outfit, it would be faster just to head back to the hotel.
Highlights of the race:
Hardly anyone walked during the 42.195km so I was super motivated to keep moving.
The volunteers, who played a huge role in the success of the marathon. Without their enthusiastic cheers and logistical support, the race would not have been a smooth and enjoyable one.
Money can buy you a Tiffany jewellery but it is pure sweat and endurance (and pain) that will get you the coveted Tiffany Sakura pendant. Oh, and you get to pose and take pictures with handsome, hot bods too.
Although I could barely walk after the race, I still treated myself to sake and Izakaya to celebrate the completion of my 3rd marathon.
If you are thinking of doing the Nagoya Women’s Marathon next year, do remember to bid for your slot by early September this year. What are you waiting for? Just do it! 🙂
It was one of those days filled with trepidation and unfounded nervousness. I’ve been looking forward to this race for months but I couldn’t help thinking in the lead up to the event whether John and I have overstretched ourselves. We have never run anything longer than 10km and this event had a 14km running route. Add to that 9 obstacles and it was likely to be a physically demanding challenge.
The morning was abuzz with Urbanathletes and a quick glance at the post race activities such as the “drink all you can” beer station indicated a good Sunday morning. We settled into wave 2, geared up including our gym workout gloves. Looking at the description of the obstacles we figured it might be useful to wear gloves to protect our hands from rope burn. Looking around at fellow participants, it seemed we weren’t the only ones thinking that.
The gun went off at 7.30am with our wave delayed about 10min. In order to last the distance, we started with an easy pace. We tackled the first 1.5km around the sports hub towards Tanjong Rhu, and met our first obstacle, “The Tipping Point”. We had to climb up a narrow plank which at halfway point tipped and then climb down. Nothing complicated, a little balancing but nice warm up to what was yet to come.
Obstacle 1: The Tipping Point*
As we rounded our way beneath Benjamin Sheares bridge we came across obstacle two the “Bottom Line” which required us to traverse a slackline with the use of dangling ropes and then swinging onto a platform at the end of the slackline. I had to look up the definition of slackline to find out that it is a recognised balancing sport, except that it doesn’t use any ropes for extra help. Who knew.
Obstacle 2: Bottom Line
It takes my legs about 3km to warm up and take on the jarring effect of the pavement, so it didn’t surprise me when shortly after the second obstacle I needed to walk. As we reached the Marina Barrage bridge we picked up the running again until we realised that part of the run was tackling the up and down concentric footpath. We walked the up to reserve strength and energy and jogged it down.
When we reached midway of the footpath on the green roof of the barrage we saw the third obstacle the “Balance Sheet”. Made up of one sloping beam and four straight beams the challenge was balancing on the 4 inch width of each beam that gradually increased in height until the last one which was a drop of about 30cm onto the last beam. Given that I’m not fond of heights, I felt my heart rate raise with each beam I crossed and even more so when I had to step down on the last one. I was more than elated when I jumped off the end as the photo below can attest to.
Obstacle 3: Balance SheetGrateful to get off.
With four obstacles complete and very much enjoying the experience, we set off past Gardens by the Bay and its Domes in a cheery mood and curious about the next location and obstacle we’ll be presented with. Ho and behold the smile got wiped off my face as I was faced with obstacle four the “Lateral Move”. Made up of two sets of parallel bars, the first one required to make our way across a pair of 6m-long parallel bars using our hands. Probably every girls nightmare as this activity required upper body strength and some seriously well developed triceps. Needless to say I failed it miserably. Each time I tried to move across it my arms would give way and I would drop onto the ground. I fumbled my way through it somehow to then maneuver down a second set of parallel bars, with my hands on one bar and feet on the other. The second set was easy even though at first I wasn’t too sure about the 1m distance between the two bars.
Obstacle 4: Lateral Move*John completing the second set.
Glad to move on it was time to wrap up the Marina Bay area and make our way back towards the sports hub via the Singapore Flyer and to my delight cross the 10km mark, the longest distance I’ve ever run. It was definitely a pic moment for me.
Feeling good and happy.
Coming onto obstacle five the “Workload” we found ourselves queuing in enormously long lines where we lost a good ten minutes. Here we had to carry two 10kg cement blocks and run 100m. Wow, I’m sure my arms were elongated a couple of centimetres but having a 20kg kid that still gets tossed around by both parents, we didn’t have too much trouble with this obstacle.
Obstacle 5: Workload (the queue)Running 50m in both directions with 20kg.
It wasn’t long after this obstacle that John started complaining about knee problems. Somewhat surprised given that it’s not something he has problems with, we had to change tactic by doing short bursts of running, followed by walking to ease the pain. Targeting points to run to helped push us along and stay motivated as the pain was niggling away at his knee.
Near the Kallang Riserside Park was obstacle six the “Wheel and Deal” where we had to squeeze through tyres of different heights feet first. The first and second tyre was easy given that it was at the lowest point. The third one was two tyres tied together, a bit fiddly squeezing through but okay. The fourth was a bit trickier just simply cause it was quite high. Perhaps not too difficult for John given his 6″1′ height but I needed to leverage off the pole construction holding up the tyre, use the rope to pull myself up and once my feet were through I wiggled my way through to the other side. I certainly felt for those who were not particularly tall.
At this point I couldn’t remember how many obstacles we had done or what they were but given that we had passed the 12km mark we figured there couldn’t be too many left. Most of the obstacles were approximately 1.5km apart and that created plenty of opportunities to rest between runs by tackling them. However, the last three obstacles were in much closer proximity.
Obstacle seven “Leap of Faith” is when we were most grateful for our gloves. Having to climb up a 2m high tower, at the end of the platform we had to grab a rope that was dangling 1.2m away, hang on to it and then lower ourselves without rope burn. John’s elegant descent was the complete opposite to my “oh man, I can’t hold on” and dropping unceremoniously to the floor. Imagine one of those comedies with the pro gliding (that was John) and the comic relief fumbling (that was me). Don’t be fooled by the pic demonstration. That’s just John’s good timing with the camera.
Obstacle 7: Leap of Faith
By now the novelty was starting to wear off and we were looking forward to the end or perhaps we just naturally think that way when we know we are reaching the end. I guess the troubling knee wasn’t helping to sustain our enthusiasm.
We soldiered onto obstacle eight “The Network” which required us to climb up and down a 3.2m high 3-tonne truck using a rope web. We observed some unique versions of tackling this obstacle but it was essentially a vertical climb up the truck, traversing the truck and descending the other side on a slope. I had my Spider(wo)man moment on top of the truck by wedging my right foot into the corner of one of the webs for stability whilst using my hands to crawl forward and my bent left leg to follow. It seemed to work without wobbling too much. Where I was completely ungraceful in the previous obstacle, I was much more coordinated on this one.
Obstacle 8: The Network*John’s descent.
And then came the big bang in more ways than I could have foreseen. We completed the remainder of the run with a shuffle, hobble, walk whatever got us to the last obstacle “The Mystery”. Oh yeah, I should have been scared but when I saw the potential fun, I was hanging for the queue to get cracking and move along. By this stage we were in the scorching sun and our supportive team watching from the sidelines quickly snuck in a couple of cups of water which were very much appreciated.
Obstacle nine was a crawl-climb-jump surprise. It was all fantastic till I got to the jump. The first section was a 10m prone position crawl beneath a platform just barely 30cm above ground. I was surprised how swiftly I could glide through. Incensed with confidence I climbed up the side of the construction, ran up the two sloped platforms and came to a screaming halt when I saw the 4m high jump I had to take to land on safety mattresses.
Commando crawl afoot.
I am petrified of these kind of heights and I did not take this into any consideration. I sat down on the edge and in nanoseconds contemplated the next move. Fear was edging its way through my veins and I knew if I didn’t push off now, I would be paralysed with fear. So without further ado, I throw myself onto the mats and land with an agonizing twist of my right ankle. With my face contorted in pain and the onlooking volunteer just staring at me, I told him to pull me off the mats so the rest of the participants could keep going.
John may have missed the whole kerfuffle but my girlfriend didn’t and photographed the whole sequence not realising what was about to happen. I had my suspicion as to what occured that was confirmed when I viewed the pics. Upon landing on the mattresses my right foot slipped through the cracks of the joining mattresses and took the whole brunt of my jump. Had I landed squarely in the middle of a mattress this ending would have been completely different.
John with a much more successful ending to his jump and unaware that I’m hobbling up ahead.
I was 200m from the finish line and there was no way they were wheeling me off. With what could be interpreted as a snarl and determined to cross that line on my own two legs, I said no to the wheelchair and with John beside me I hobbled my way across the Finish line and straight into the medical tent.
Finishing the race on my own two feet.
The medics were great. They stuffed me with painkillers, rubbed Tiger balm on, iced me, wrapped me up and when I was ready to go home about an hour later, they wheeled me to the nearest taxi rank put me into a cab and sent me on my merry way. The cabbie had a giggle in good gest at my misfortune and shook his head at my foolishness.
Yup I’m a Survivor and high on painkillers.
Never made it to the ‘all you can drink’ beer tent but after a much needed shower, I spent the next 6 hours poolside with my own cold beer, good company, high on painkillers, alcohol and ‘happy’ pills. I was far too jovial for someone with an injury and John was just waiting for the painkillers and alcohol to wear off and eventually they did.
It’s been 9 days that I’ve been housebound, couchbound and foot propped up. Can’t walk yet but the healing is taking place albeit a little too slow for my liking. Unfortunately, I had to miss the Green Corridor race but hopefully I can manage to make it to the Twilight Ultra at the end of the month. Not sure what I can accomplish but since I registered along with seven of the Team Costa crew, I’d at least like to participate.
Overall, this was a fun race regardless of the end. We enjoyed the obstacles that broke the monotony of running. The camaraderie amongst participants was friendly and courteous as we all waited for our turn.
We’ll certainly be looking out for more obstacle races this year and will be back for Urbanathlon 2016.
Proper nutrition is one of the cornerstones to improving sports performance and maintaining physical health. Most of the essential nutrients can be obtained from our everyday foods. However, with significant physiological differences between males and females, our needs subsequently differ. In this article, we will be exploring and analyzing the top 3 key nutrients for men runners, which are: vitamin C, zinc and potassium.
– Vitamin C
The benefits of Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in supporting general health are plentiful, with its role in boosting immunity by stimulating antibodies formation, providing protection for the body against oxidative stress, tissue repair and bone development. Since men are more prone to heart-related diseases, adequate vitamin C is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health.
More importantly for runners, Vitamin C aids in collagen production, which indirectly improves muscle and tissue flexibility and strength since collagen is a connective tissue that holds muscles, bones and other tissues in place. It also reduces bruising by maintaining the firmness of capillary walls and blood vessels.
An interesting experiment conducted by British researchers also revealed the role of vitamin C is post-exercise recovery. Subjects were made to perform an unaccustomed bout of exercise over two weeks; they found that those who were given a vitamin C supplement experienced less muscle soreness, better muscle function, and lower blood levels of the oxidative stress-induced molecule malondialdehyde compared to those given the placebo. Post-exercise elevations in levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 were also lower in the vitamin C supplemented group.
The richest sources of vitamin C in our diet come from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Fruits especially citrus fruits such as oranges, and vegetables such as tomatoes and spinach, are food sources rich in Vitamin C. Note that cooking in high heat reduces the vitamin C content of your food, so aim to include a wide variety of produce, both raw and cooked, to your daily diet.
– Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace element required in small amounts necessary for a healthy body. For men, zinc is a crucial mineral to maintain robust testosterone levels, and in order for prostate cells to function at its optimum, of zinc is necessary. Zinc deficiency impairs testosterone production and lowers male fertility and increases the likelihood of erectile dysfunction and developing prostate cancer.
Sexual health aside, the importance of testosterone for sportspeople are manifold. Testosterone helps maintain bone density, thus preventing osteoporosis. It also helps the body preferentially build and retain muscle, resulting in less body fat and higher lean body mass. Low testosterone levels can lead to fatigue and depression, ultimately leading to subpar athletic performance. This is not to encourage runners to start using steroids! With adequate zinc intake, the body is able to produce enough of this hormone.
Testosterone production aside, zinc is necessary for macular (eye) health, and a zinc deficiency can lead to visual impairment. Zinc assists in wound healing, treats a variety of skin conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure, and boosts the immune system. It is used by athletes to improve sports performance and strength because of it’s the repair, building and development of muscle tissue as well as energy production.
You should be able to meet your zinc requirements by consuming a balanced diet. Food sources rich in zinc are mainly found in meat, dairy and seafood, particularly oysters. Zinc deficiency is unlikely, and zinc supplements must be consumed with care, as they often contain cadmium, a mineral of which high exposure to can lead to kidney failure if consumed over an extended period of time.
– Potassium
Alongside sodium, magnesium and calcium, potassium is one of the four major electrolytes that maintain the fluid balance in our body. Its ionic nature is used for nerve transmission, active transport and muscle contraction. Potassium deficiency can result in arrhythmia, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, digestive disorders, and infertility.
Across the demographic, athletes are at higher risk of potassium deficiency, perhaps due to the loss of electrolytes during sports. Runners need to maintain an electrolyte balance in order to achieve optimal performances and trainings as an electrolyte imbalance will lead to higher frequency of muscle cramps and fatigue. Stiff, achy joints, muscle spasms, dizziness and nauseas are other symptoms of electrolyte imbalance which prevent runners from achieving what they are physically capable of.
When these symptoms arise during your run, it is recommended that you rehydrate immediately with a sports drink, as these are designed to restore the lost minerals.
The recommended daily intake of potassium is 4,700mg. A potassium-rich diet would consist of a variety of fresh vegetables (especially leafy greens) and fruits (especially bananas), nuts, seeds, dairy foods, lean meats, potatoes and whole grains. Certain methods of cooking, such as boiling, can significantly reduce potassium in foods so once again, aim to include a wide variety of produce, both raw and cooked, to your daily diet.
Try making these modifications to your diet today, and see if you feel the difference!
Yesterday was 8 March 2015. To all ladies out there, Happy International Women’s Day aka 三八妇女节!
This is my second year joining Venus Run and it was held in the morning unlike the previous year where it was in the evening. And therefore, my friends were late. Without having to do any warmup prior to the race, we left the starting point at about 5 min after the flagoff timing. Since being slightly late, there is a slight human jam till about 2 km of the route.
At about 1 km into my run, the top runners like Vanja Cnops and Mok Ying Rong have already u-turned and completed about 3 km of their run. Every one of us along the other side of the route were all clapping and cheering for the returning runners as we continued running.
Sadly, I was unable to hit my goal timing of 25min that I aimed to do this year. Partly it is due to human jam but I think most of it is due to lack of training and warmup prior to the race. All in all, this race is good to join with friends and have fun.
The most sociable alarm call for a race in Singapore;
I was woken by my clock at around 0715 for this year’s Green Corridor Run. Headed down to Tanjong Pagar Station in a taxi with The Claw. It’s our last build up run for the upcoming TransLantau 50k in Hong Kong (more on that in a future post) and whilst a 10k run along an old railway line isn’t perfect prep for 2700m of mountain running, we are both very fond of this race, so there was no way we were going to miss it.
I’m running back home after the race, so no baggage drop for me, straight into the starting pen around 0810 and it’s like Norm in the bar at Cheers.
Virtually every runner I know in Singapore seems to be here, Lexus, Stu and the F1 gang (30 F1 runners in this event!), the rest of the Mount Sinai Striders (Ben, Rob, Jeremy), Conor (my strava segent chasing nemisis) and Azlan (fellow Nuke Optic TransLantau runner) & many more. After I while I spot our estemmed JRL Co-Founder Peter, also sporting the very funky JustRunLah! vest and we exchange a quick ‘good luck’.
Flag-off time
The VIP did a good job with a short and to the point speech and we were flagged off on time. Quick comment on the start time. The first year of Green Corridor, we went off at 0700 – good for runners, but apparently not so good for Everton Park residents who (I am told) complained about the noise and so got the start moved back to 0900 last year and this year. Thing is, this means that the slower runners are running at 1030/1100 and that’s just too late, too hot.
I hope the organisers can reach a compromise with Everton Park and maybe start at 0800 from next year. It really is the only negative point about this race!
Back to the race itself. I was torn as to a strategy today – on the one hand I am running 50k next saturday, so it’s probably not a great idea to waste any energy beforehand, on the other hand, its a race and I can’t not race a race.
So I decide to use today to try the ‘steady and build’ race plan, which is not one of my strengths – so it could do with some practice. I set off at a decent but not stellar pace, avoid a mishap in the argy-bargy of the first kilometre, plan is to hold that pace thru 5-6k then try to pick it up.
This works out pretty well and I am at Buona Vista before I really have time to think about it. Then I remember that Peter said the JRL photographer would be around 6.5km, so I’m trying now to focus on looking good for the cameras in my awesome JRL vest. I saw him just on the trail in Ghim Moh – and I have to say I’m delighted with the result!
Pushing on up past Holland Road I am now playing a game of ‘pick them off’ – where I look up the trail, pick 1-2 runners in the distance and just focus on catching them up, nothing else.
This works out well and I overtake a few more guys before the final stretch into Bukit Timah. This is very familiar territory for me, I know exactly how far it is from Jelita to the finish, so I can push on with confidence
Last year I was too hesitant with the final push, this year I am feeling great, no fatigue, no heat problems, so I push on and finish strong with Stu yelling at me from the sidelines. 42.40 on the watch, 5 and a half minutes faster than last year and finishing very comfortably with next weekend’s run in mind.
Two bottles of water and time for a post race catch up with Lexus, Stu & Ben. Then one by one my other running buddies come over the line. A great vibe at the finish area, just as there was down in Tanjong Pagar an hour earlier.
Highlight of the finish area was a catch up with Jason (The Reawakened Runner) who is here cheering his buddies and taking pics – great to see you man.
What is it about this race?
Seems to bring out the best in everyone – great etiquette, great performances, great camaraderie.
With no finish line downpour this year, I wander off with Jeremy and The Claw for a recovery run home. For Jeremy this turns into an epic – he runs to Keppel Bay via the Southern Ridges (!), for me it’s a 6k jog back to Mount Sinai and a cold shower.
Still my favorite race in the Singapore Calendar, still an awesome place to run. With each year I know a few more runners – and so far, I am shaving off a few minutes each year as well! Can’t wait til Green Corridor 2016!
Stats as below. 42:40 for 25th place (unconfirmed).
It has been a long time since I wrote last, but I would like to say Captain Canada is back! I hope you all missed my antics as I have missed writing about them. This is my second race of 2015, but there cannot be a better race to write aboot eh!
Where do I begin with this one? Well I guess it all starts with my anticipation to running this event. I read some great blogs from last year’s race that had me pumped up to run. Being my first official trail race I’m sure all the runners our there could feel my joy of getting off the mean streets and enjoying nature.
As a Canadian fellow there are a few things that I truly enjoy in life:
1) Nature- The smell of the trees, the sound of the animals and the cool breeze flowing through my hair.
2) Friendship (see last blog).
3) Competition- Or in the case of trail running a competition of who can trip least over anything and everything.
So without further ado my review of the Green Corridor Run 2015.
After a late Friday night packed full of misadventure and delicious beer my stomach was felt like it was on trial for mischief. As Saturday night came around Captain Canada in true form pulled himself together and got his head in the game.
Off goes the Old Car Horn Alarm again and I shoot out of bed like an Apollo mission with 1 goal in mind… What is that goal….. Destroying number 2 (Friendship) from above with number 3 (Competition). Now I know everyone who participates in a running event will never admit it, but when we see anyone especially our friends passing us on the course a secret rage grows from within. LOL.
My Colleagues had the chance to move to Wave 1 which I had been too late to do before racepack collection. As we walk up to Wave 1 security I was shaken down and told I cannot enter the first wave. I am very impressed by the security team and they should be given jobs immediately at the airport security desks… Hats off my friends… You win this time.
So lonely I wait and wait and wait for the second wave to begin. Under the 9 Million Degrees Celsius (Or in American 150 Million Fahrenheit) I was baking like a White potato haha. The only complaint I have at all is the fact that the crowd was cheering more to “Start the Race, Start the Race” then the announcers Lame-O Jokes lol.
So off I go front of the pack. I will say I felt like a real champion for about the first 5 km as only a small group of us stayed out front. I will say I absolutely loveeeee trail running, but hateeeeeee the weather here. Flashbacks of the Standard Charter Full were dancing in my head as I felt the temperature rise.
Sun Sun Sun more Sun and here we are at 9km. I was impressed with myself for hitting the 9km Mark in around 48 minutes or so…. Then….. Disaster strikes. I don’t know how this happens, but I would love to hear from others, but it felt as if I were about to spontaneously combust into flames. At this point there was no other option for me but to take a 2 minutes walking break, or have a friend write my obituary lol.
2 Minutes go by and the competitive nature of being a Canadian kicked in as the CEO of my company whom I had beat in the bull charge went flying past me. What he doesn’t know is I actually enjoy my job and beating him twice is as good as a pink slip on Monday morning.
10km and them 10.5km and Done! Dizzy and spent I wonder if the race volunteers handing out water realized they saved a man’s life this fine day.
With a time on the Polar watch of 56.49 I am happy, but not satisfied and am looking forward to improving on this next year.
All in All minus a few small hiccups I give the Green Corridor run a 7 out of 10. Please start this earlier next year. 10 AM is absolutely painful to run in for a pasty white Canuck.
Around july 2012, I manage to see a little bit to hard work being paid off. I loss around 9kg from the day I started running.
Made my way to the holding area and aimed for the mobile toilet. This is a must do pre-race routine, if not it would be extremely disruptive having to hunt for a toilet half way into a race…lol. There were ample toilet facilities but queues were already building up. After my toilet break, I moved to the start point and started my warm up exercises.
