This is the BIG day where my year long disciplined lifestyle of training consistently and eating healthily for the past 11 months come to bear. A day I put my legs and feet , and mental toughness to a 6-6.30 hours test while raising funds for the Singapore Cancer Society as I had done since 2008.
For amateur marathon 'jogger and walker' like me (I dare not called myself a marathon runner as the marathoners would have told you that a marathon is someone who cover the 42.195km under 5 hours), completing one is ALWAYS a challenge. This year was no exception and made worst by the bright sun that could not wait to greet us at 9 a.m.! 4 hours after we had started! The last 13 km was sheer torture with the burning sun beaming on us as we got out from the shades of East Coast Park!
It would have been a lovely day out for the families and any outdoor lovers who did not have to pound the roads for another 2-3 hours; like those elite runners who completed their in less than 2hrs30mins mostly! The woman winner came in at 2hrs 40+mins!! All of them were already showered, cooled down and going about their normal life!
This year race felt good for me as I kept to the game plan of jogging for the 1st 12km before switching to a 'run-walk' routine with each run double or triple the counts for the each walk. I was cruising and did not have any sign of leg cramps, my biggest 'enemies' in the past few editions, even as I approached the half-way mark.
The usual energy gel at 12km, 22km and 33 km helped though after the 30km marks, signs of cramps started appearing. Twitches here and there that did not developed into a full cramp. That was a relief. Achieved probably through the general doses of muscle rubs and vigorous application! The 'Drink Stations' with plenty of water and 100Plus isotonic drinks HELPED for sure.
The trusted Motorola Bushwalker Hat from 1995 in Gold Coast, Australia, saved the day for me again as I doused it generally with water as I 'walk-run' through the last 13 km. At some point, I could, maybe I was hallucinating, feel the vapours coming off the hat as the merciless sun 'converted the water into vapour'!!
My family was tracking on the mobile app the organizers had provided and they knew I was doing ok and gave them peace of mind. Along the way, I saw some runners with serious cramps and got down on their bums needing some attention. At the 33km mark, one run collapsed and culled up needing medical help and an ambulance to ferry him away. I hope he is doing fine now and it was just a case of over-exerting.
Came across a couple from Taipei and helped them took a picture at the Marina Barrage. Commented to them that it would have been lovely to 'jog and walk' THIS MARATHON in Taipei NOW after hearing that the temperature there is around 10 degree Celsius! It must be very challenging for them and yet they looked fresh and happy!
The old familiar feeling of walking head down up the long slope of ECP Flyover outside the Marina Bay Sands at 37km mark knowing that it will all be over soon felt good! What would normally take a 40-mins jog to complete 5-km turned into an hour. Talking about tired feet.
As I heads down towards the finishing point, I was looking at my stop watch and made a push for it to come under 6 hours. Alas, I crossed the line in 6hrs 22 sec by my watch. Good try but no cigar this year.
If this is the official timing, then I have only come under 6hrs twice in the 7 attempts. Hmmm. More work ahead?
I want to thank all the supporters who had steadfastly allowed me to indulge in this annual pilgrimage of doing good while trying to keep a healthy lifestyle donating to Singapore Cancers Society. This year we will raise more than S$9k for sure!!
THANK YOU!! Until next year???
For amateur marathon 'jogger and walker' like me (I dare not called myself a marathon runner as the marathoners would have told you that a marathon is someone who cover the 42.195km under 5 hours), completing one is ALWAYS a challenge. This year was no exception and made worst by the bright sun that could not wait to greet us at 9 a.m.! 4 hours after we had started! The last 13 km was sheer torture with the burning sun beaming on us as we got out from the shades of East Coast Park!
It would have been a lovely day out for the families and any outdoor lovers who did not have to pound the roads for another 2-3 hours; like those elite runners who completed their in less than 2hrs30mins mostly! The woman winner came in at 2hrs 40+mins!! All of them were already showered, cooled down and going about their normal life!
This year race felt good for me as I kept to the game plan of jogging for the 1st 12km before switching to a 'run-walk' routine with each run double or triple the counts for the each walk. I was cruising and did not have any sign of leg cramps, my biggest 'enemies' in the past few editions, even as I approached the half-way mark.
The usual energy gel at 12km, 22km and 33 km helped though after the 30km marks, signs of cramps started appearing. Twitches here and there that did not developed into a full cramp. That was a relief. Achieved probably through the general doses of muscle rubs and vigorous application! The 'Drink Stations' with plenty of water and 100Plus isotonic drinks HELPED for sure.
The trusted Motorola Bushwalker Hat from 1995 in Gold Coast, Australia, saved the day for me again as I doused it generally with water as I 'walk-run' through the last 13 km. At some point, I could, maybe I was hallucinating, feel the vapours coming off the hat as the merciless sun 'converted the water into vapour'!!
My family was tracking on the mobile app the organizers had provided and they knew I was doing ok and gave them peace of mind. Along the way, I saw some runners with serious cramps and got down on their bums needing some attention. At the 33km mark, one run collapsed and culled up needing medical help and an ambulance to ferry him away. I hope he is doing fine now and it was just a case of over-exerting.
Came across a couple from Taipei and helped them took a picture at the Marina Barrage. Commented to them that it would have been lovely to 'jog and walk' THIS MARATHON in Taipei NOW after hearing that the temperature there is around 10 degree Celsius! It must be very challenging for them and yet they looked fresh and happy!
The old familiar feeling of walking head down up the long slope of ECP Flyover outside the Marina Bay Sands at 37km mark knowing that it will all be over soon felt good! What would normally take a 40-mins jog to complete 5-km turned into an hour. Talking about tired feet.
As I heads down towards the finishing point, I was looking at my stop watch and made a push for it to come under 6 hours. Alas, I crossed the line in 6hrs 22 sec by my watch. Good try but no cigar this year.
If this is the official timing, then I have only come under 6hrs twice in the 7 attempts. Hmmm. More work ahead?
I want to thank all the supporters who had steadfastly allowed me to indulge in this annual pilgrimage of doing good while trying to keep a healthy lifestyle donating to Singapore Cancers Society. This year we will raise more than S$9k for sure!!
THANK YOU!! Until next year???
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