Daily Lessons from Life 05 December 2010 - Finished My 3rd Marathon!

Dear Friends and Sponsors

I am pleased to share with you that I had successfully completed the 2010 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS2010) this morning, safe and sound, and in 6hrs 24mins (my own stopwatch time). It was a disappointment that I could not improved upon last year official time of 6hrs 20mins.

The seed of this 3rd marathon for me was planted at the end of 2009 marathon charity as some of you encouraged me to continue to do it. It is also something I want to do, health permitting – to stay healthy and do something meaningful with your supports.

The choice of the charity is easy: mum has colon cancer (being 10 years now and things are going well), dad just have prostate cancer about a year back (responding well to hormone therapy), some close friends had brushes with cancer too. I just hope Singapore Cancer Society use the donation money wisely!!

A re-cap of the day:

This year we start at 5 a.m. instead of 5.30 a.m. The starting point is at Orchard Road just outside Takashimaya for those who know Singapore. It is a new course. A more challenging one in my opinion!

Since cramps were my greatest concern since the 1st marathon, this year plan to tackle it were: drink isotonic drink early and more often, brought my own energy jel (4 packs full!) (input from a student of mine who did his 1st marathon under 5hrs without cramps!), and stretch the muscle at 10km then every 7-8km to release the lactic acid into the blood (Hiok Khoon’s input). Well, the best laid plan sometimes did not work well. I had my cramps at precisely the same point in the race – around 16km. Only this time, it was MUCH WORSE! Besides the calf muscle, the thigh muscle got into the ACT!! NOT GOOD!!

1st 10km was easy peasy as the weather was still cool and feeling good. We meandered through Orchard Road, South Bridge Road, Maxell Road, Collier Quay and through the Marina Floating Platform and to East Coast Park. At 10km, I gulped down the 1st pack of energy gel and stretch my muscles! At 16km the cramp SUDDNELY HIT me and I was surprised! Not with the extra gel and the stretching surely I exclaimed. I have to ACTUALLY STOP to stretch and apply the deep heat rub to the muscle. I muttered an unprintable word carelessly!  From then on, it was regular rub down and stretching and steeling myself NOT to give up and think about all the POSITIVE things/people/experiences.

Made 21km actually in relatively good time at just under 3 hours despite the pains from the cramps. It was amazing how stretch-and-rub can make one goes the extra mile! LOL!! Gulped the 2nd energy gel. Hoping that it will work its magic to restore the lost electrolyte that supposedly caused the pain. No cigar mate. Did not work much. Sigh …

Missed the official jel station – this showed that when you have everything (my own 4 packs) you don’t pay attention to what you do not need. If only people are more aware that we already had a lot and don’t need more. In fact, we can afford to give a bit more …

The countdown began after the turn, 20km, 19km, etc … A real struggle really at this stage as the cramps simply refused to go away. So, more stretch-and-rub routine, only the interval was shorter between each cycle! Did I doubt why I am doing this? NO!! YES. I did not. I wanted to do it. You supported me to do it. It is not time for negative thought!

I was trying to look out for someone I can follow and found a few pretty maidens who are about the same pace with me. But the pain distracted me a lot. So, I just put my head down and walked for a count of 1-30 or 50 and then jogged for a count of 1-30 or 50 and the occasional 100!

At 32km, Mum, my brother, Keehiong, my sister-in-law, Lucy, and my nephew, Zhengwei, caught up with me at the Marina Bay Golf Club area, and it was a morale booster for me. That stretch is open, barren, and it was around 10+. The cool weather has given in to the HOT late morning sun. I am thankful for the Motorola Hat from GCPSD Gold Coast days with me. Doused with water, it kept me cool for sure. Wow!!

At 36km, the course designer decided to play a trick with us lesser ‘runners’. We have to negotiate up a bridge along ECP right next to the Marina Bay Sands and I swear I heard many unprintable words from other ‘runner’s as I gingerly pushed myself up the slope. It is a much more difficult course this year in my mind!

Well, the finishing line is in sight, the sun beamed its energy mercilessly on me and I am not thankful for the solar energy. Maybe if I were a solar panel, I would have loved it! LOL!! Did I catch the few young ladies around this time? NO. They were probably well ahead and not bothered with an old man dragging himself along. I could hear the music blasting and the announcers screaming words of encouragement for the ‘runners’ to make the last push. As I stepped into the last 500m, I was RUNNING despite the cramps that tried to stop me! Trying, in vain, to beat 6hrs 20mins. It was not to be. 6hrs 24mins was my unofficial stopwatch time.

A disappointment for sure. At the same thing, a relief that I had not given up. That it is another life experience in my short life. That it is ALL WORTHWHILE for I had YOUR SUPPORTS.

2011 will need serious work on stopping the cramps and enjoy the jog/walk without pain! THANK YOU AGAIN!!