Did not write last night as I have to retire early to get up for my 9th SCMS marathon today. We were asked to be at the starting point in Orchard at 3 a.m. for the flag-off at 4.30am for the elite runners and followed by other runners of descending prowess.
A few things to share from physically involved and observing the many comments posted on the SCMS FB site after the race:
1. the one that overshadowed all things is the unfortunate demise of a young 29-year old male runner who collapsed and died 1km before the half-marathon finishing line. A FB post by one of the fellow runners who administered CPR on the collapsed young man asked: how soon did the ambulance got to him? was it really within a minute as claimed? Another question that needs to be answered is: that particular runner who administered the CPR asked for an AED, was there one?
A critical issue to get RIGHT from this tragic incident if that was not considered.
2. a new organiser took over this year and have tried a few new processes.
e.g. starting the full marathon (FM) and the Half-marathon (HM) at the same starting point since Resort World Sentosa (RWS) is no longer involved where the HM normally start in the past few years. This mean a bigger crowd at the start of the flag-off and hence the 'instruction that runners need to be at the starting point at 3 a.m.' a good 1.5 hrs before the flag-off for the elite runners at 4.30am. Obviously the long waits can be draining for the other runners. Many did express their dissatisfaction of this arrangement in the SCMS FB.
e.g. hydration points, especially for the FM, come in for harsh criticism of 'run out of water too early', no '100Plus' the isotonic drink that is important for proper hydration, distance between hydration points are too fast apart, etc. this may be due to the shared 1st 11km of the HM and FM route BUT no excuse for the hydration after the 11km for the FM folks.
e.g. while the early flag-off at 4.30am is in response to the feedback in 2015 on the extremely hot weather that year, for some of the slower races (those > 6hrs), they may get to the starting point at 4a.m., they don't get flag-off until 5.20a.m., no much earlier than in 2015!! So, they STILL get the scorching late morning sun. Some FB comments mentioned: sun burnt stretch between Fort Road and Nichol Highway!
I am not sure this hot weather issue can be avoided for the slow runner like myself. I have to admit the last 10km under the scorching sun after 10.30am is killing!!
3. regardless, I do want to thank the volunteers for helping out. Some of them were under the scorching sun too throughout the race! Kudos to them though I did detect some who were there just because they were asked to! The medical details that spaced out nicely along the route dispensing the deep heat rub are my heroes as I could not have completed without them! Special mention to the young singer and the guitarist who sang throughout the race too at the East Coast Seafood Center area. At least when I passed them to the mid-point and passed them on the return leg, they were still singing enthusiastically. Thank you!
Each year I raise fund for the Singapore Cancer Society with the support of a bunch of lovely friends. This year is no exception. Thank you for your continual supports. I am blessed with friends like you.
Will I complete the 10th charity marathon as I initially committed in 2008? While my resolve is a bit shaken, I think it is going to be a YES!
A few things to share from physically involved and observing the many comments posted on the SCMS FB site after the race:
1. the one that overshadowed all things is the unfortunate demise of a young 29-year old male runner who collapsed and died 1km before the half-marathon finishing line. A FB post by one of the fellow runners who administered CPR on the collapsed young man asked: how soon did the ambulance got to him? was it really within a minute as claimed? Another question that needs to be answered is: that particular runner who administered the CPR asked for an AED, was there one?
A critical issue to get RIGHT from this tragic incident if that was not considered.
2. a new organiser took over this year and have tried a few new processes.
e.g. starting the full marathon (FM) and the Half-marathon (HM) at the same starting point since Resort World Sentosa (RWS) is no longer involved where the HM normally start in the past few years. This mean a bigger crowd at the start of the flag-off and hence the 'instruction that runners need to be at the starting point at 3 a.m.' a good 1.5 hrs before the flag-off for the elite runners at 4.30am. Obviously the long waits can be draining for the other runners. Many did express their dissatisfaction of this arrangement in the SCMS FB.
e.g. hydration points, especially for the FM, come in for harsh criticism of 'run out of water too early', no '100Plus' the isotonic drink that is important for proper hydration, distance between hydration points are too fast apart, etc. this may be due to the shared 1st 11km of the HM and FM route BUT no excuse for the hydration after the 11km for the FM folks.
e.g. while the early flag-off at 4.30am is in response to the feedback in 2015 on the extremely hot weather that year, for some of the slower races (those > 6hrs), they may get to the starting point at 4a.m., they don't get flag-off until 5.20a.m., no much earlier than in 2015!! So, they STILL get the scorching late morning sun. Some FB comments mentioned: sun burnt stretch between Fort Road and Nichol Highway!
I am not sure this hot weather issue can be avoided for the slow runner like myself. I have to admit the last 10km under the scorching sun after 10.30am is killing!!
3. regardless, I do want to thank the volunteers for helping out. Some of them were under the scorching sun too throughout the race! Kudos to them though I did detect some who were there just because they were asked to! The medical details that spaced out nicely along the route dispensing the deep heat rub are my heroes as I could not have completed without them! Special mention to the young singer and the guitarist who sang throughout the race too at the East Coast Seafood Center area. At least when I passed them to the mid-point and passed them on the return leg, they were still singing enthusiastically. Thank you!
Each year I raise fund for the Singapore Cancer Society with the support of a bunch of lovely friends. This year is no exception. Thank you for your continual supports. I am blessed with friends like you.
Will I complete the 10th charity marathon as I initially committed in 2008? While my resolve is a bit shaken, I think it is going to be a YES!
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