It’s been quite awhile (relatively) since I’ve last participated in a race. This was therefore an enjoyable experience, despite a variety of aspects that could be improved. As always, I will try to provide an objective account of the the race, though you may choose to view my personal blog here 🙂 Do keep a look out for the font in italics that I feel are aspects many runners would take interest in.

Race Category
10km for me! Or maybe more…?;) Read more here.

Pre-Race Matters
Race Entry Pack Collection (REPC) was held from the 16 to 17 July from 11am-7pm at Velocity. A pretty convenient location, yet queues were lengthy during the first day. (Note to all: minimise collection of race packs during the first few hours of the first day of any REPC if you’d like to avoid the crowd.) Race tee printing was available, though waiting times were arguably unbearable.

What were the runner’s entitlements? An Asics running tee, including other goodies were included. Not forgetting a lucky draw chance to win a trip to Japan. If you were a past-participant from 2012-2015, you’d receive an exclusive Pocari Sweat jacket!

The Race Precinct
Baggage deposit, restrooms and ample hydration was available at the race precinct – the Floating Platform. The location is definitely a reminder of the 24km route march to many of the younger guys that have been through Basic Military Training during their National Service.

The Race
I entered the start pen just before 6.30pm and managed to start in the second wave, which was flagged off about 6mins after the first wave was flagged-off at 6.30pm. The race route of the 10km category would take participants past the Esplanade to Fullerton Road, weaving through Marina Bay Sands and looping at Gardens by the Bay (East). It would then conclude back at The Float at Marina Bay. Notable challenges would definitely be the bottlenecks and hairpin turns (no exaggerations here) at multiple occasions, such as the wooden boardwalk near Marina Bay Sands. Furthermore, holding a race through multiple tourist attractions in the evening (as opposed to typical early morning runs) meant that there were crowds that runners had to contend with. Last but not least, with runners moving in both directions on the same portion of the route, it certainly was potential hazard and contributed to the congestion of the route. The saving grace, in my opinion, was the beautiful skyline and comfortable cool weather (there was an initial light drizzle before the race commenced).

The race offered hydration stations at appropriately spaced-out points. There was definitely ample Pocari Sweat available, in addition to plain water. My only qualm was that hydration was served in plastic cups (as opposed to paper cups). This meant their top ends could not be pinched together (a feature that makes drinking while running tremendously easier).

Distance markers were spread out throughout the route at every kilometre. Some participants fedback that the race was longer than 10km. Personally, my Garmin FR15 did register a slightly longer route (10.2km~), though I do recognise that running through the Central Business District and under bridges/overpasses does distort the GPS signal as well.

Post-Race
I was rewarded with an ELM Finisher’s Medal, a banana and a bottle of Pocari Sweat. There were a variety of post-race activities to engage in, such as performances and an ambassadors’ talkshow. Race results were subsequently released 3 days after the race.

That’s all for me for this review. Hope it was informative and accurate! If you’re interested, you may view my JustRunLah! review of the 2015 edition of the race here. You could also check out my personal blog here 🙂

Cover photo credit: Pocari Sweat Run’s webpage.

No run is a bad run. Although I did quite a bad timing this time as compared to my previous 2 half marathons. I was quite sad about it at first because I walk a lot in this run but then I have to tell myself that no run is a bad run because a run is better than no run at all. Congrats to Chee Beng getting 4th position in the half marathon and congrats to Eugene for getting PB! ? Congratulations to all runners for completing the run! Thank you all my running friends for giving me advices, encouragement and motivation! Hopefully my next half marathon next weekend at SCMKL will be better! ?

Was figuring what went wrong for me that cause me to walk a lot in this run. Maybe is because I was going faster than my usual pace at the start. Both overestimated myself and underestimated the run this time. After Sundown Marathon, I didn’t really run any run more than 10km. Or I was too focus on a running method landing with the front part of the foot causing my calves to be super tired which I didn’t have proper or enough training. Or I was screaming inside because of the pole class yesterday which must be the reason that causes both my shoulder to ache since I woke up so while I run I need to do some arm/shoulder stretch. We did something called the scissors climb yesterday where I need to use my arm strength to pull myself up the pole.

There’s the Ekiden half marathon category, the half marathon and 10km. The flag off for the Ekiden is at 5am and flag off for the half marathon is at 5.15am. The sky is clear, the moon can be seen and is in crescent shape. July says it is as if the moon is smiling at us ? But it is very humid and I’m sweating a lot just by standing still and waiting for the flag off.

While I was running along the way, I saw many female runners who ran in sports bra ? I would want to run in sports bra too because of Singapore humid weather but I’m all fats ? And it’s always my dream to achieve abs, I don’t need the 6 pack abs but the two super nice vertical line is very good already! However it will always be a dream if I keep on eating what I’m eating ? Jordan Yeoh(Or someone else) says its 80% diet and 20% fitness. I seriously need to do something about it because I’m running YOLO run in October ?

There is not a lot of runners running this CSC run as compared to other runs and the participants for Ekiden is very very little.

There were pacers to follow but I didn’t manage to follow even the slowest group of pacers as they overtake me shortly after 10km. And desperately seeing them vanishing makes me feel so terrible. Sabrina is the pacer of 2hr10mins, it’s nice to have a friend that is the pacer right? But I can’t manage to follow Sabrina as her pace as it is too fast for me. I’ll need to be realistic with following the timing group of the pacers next time, because I lost them even before 2km and find myself very breathless and tired. Maybe if it is a 5km run then I can try something like that.

My feet usually don’t get wet with sweat, but this time, I don’t know why my socks is all wet. I’m very wet as if I was soaked in the rain. Just a little squeeze on my shorts and the sweat drips out, it’s shiok to see so much sweat ?

(Photo Credit: Pris Chew)

There’s many water stations and I simply love the cold water. Nice! Most runners will really appreciate the cold water ? The last part when we completed the run, we get our finisher tee, medal, banana, a can of isotonic drink and ice cold towel! Love it! ? Although there’s photo booth, but by the time I came back there’s a long queue for it already so I didn’t go and queue but my friends sure get nice photos because they ended early and there’s no queue at the photo booth ? That’s one of the perks of being fast runner other than getting podiums ?

I like the medal, it’s nice and this run is torturous to me, this medal is also not an easy earn for me.

But actually I don’t really like the finisher tee and the race singlet, think it’s because of the colour. So I wore my own top for the run ?

After the run, we went to Starbucks for breakfast ?

[Some thoughts]

The more I run, the more I realise I didn’t push myself to run hard enough. The more I run, the more I don’t understand running. The more I run, the more I don’t know what do I want to achieve through running. I think I’m undergoing what I would call a “running crisis”.

Today marks the last day of July. And it’s a eventful month and I’ve collected 4 beautiful medals ?

[One day before race]
I’ll consider this a runcation as July and me is having a staycation at Rendezvous Hotel. Although it’s about a 20mins walk to the flag off venue @ The Float, but what is 20mins walk to runners who is going to run a half marathon afterwards? ???

I think that I’m also sort of having this love hate kinda thing with pole. I dread to miss class and I dread to attend class. Running a half marathon next day is not easy with the stretching and core workouts done in pole class, the bruises and soreness that is always guaranteed the next day is really a torture just to thinks about ? It’s like we always complains of the pain and ache but then after that feels that all the torture is worth it. It’s the polemates and pole instructor that keeps me going. Without them, I think I wouldn’t have continued after the first few lessons. So, before start of class yesterday I tell my pole instructor: Please go easy on me. I’m running a half marathon tomorrow ? Then she said: Then how? Every week you have runs and marathons? Ok, she’s not very happy about that. She is a very good instructor, very supportive and encouraging but I think I’m really not a very good student. Pole class will never be easy no matter what, so I’ll just do what I have to ? Just going to cry father cry mother tomorrow again ?

So after pole class, I head down to Rendezvous directly to meet July, Sabrina and Yiheng for dinner then we went to llao llao for desserts with Justina and Chee Beng too ? Eat because tomorrow gotta run! ?

I must have been mad to even register for this in the first place! Could it be mid-life crisis? Probably so.  Or maybe a sense of adventure?

To start off, I was not exactly a seasoned and competitive runner, having taken up running again from mid-2014 onwards (a break of probably more than 8 years) for health purposes. To motivate myself (to earn all the nice medals), I participated in a few 10k, half-marathons and a marathon race.

To start off, I was not exactly a seasoned and competitive runner, having taken up running again from mid-2014 onwards (a break of probably more than 8 years) for health purposes. To motivate myself (to earn all the nice medals), I participated in a few 10k, half-marathons and a marathon race.

But having registered for the ultra-marathon, I pushed myself to train harder. In the two months leading up to the 23rd July 2016 ultra-marathon, I had increased my weekly mileage to 40 – 45km, which was about all the limited time I could spare, besides juggling with work and family life. I even got myself a new pair of racing sunglasses, presumably to shield my eyes from the sun during the ultra-marathon, since the race was to stretch into the late afternoon. I even planned how to tackle the 12 rounds (each loop 4.3km), along the lines of four phases consisting 3 rounds each, with a break in between each phase to recover my breath, rest my legs and refuel.

But having registered for the ultra-marathon, I pushed myself to train harder. In the two months leading up to the 23rd July 2016 ultra-marathon, I had increased my weekly mileage to 40 – 45km, which was about all the limited time I could spare, besides juggling with work and family life. I even got myself a new pair of racing sunglasses, presumably to shield my eyes from the sun during the ultra-marathon, since the race was to stretch into the late afternoon. I even planned how to tackle the 12 rounds (each loop 4.3km), along the lines of four phases consisting 3 rounds each, with a break in between each phase to recover my breath, rest my legs and refuel.

The day finally came. I was extremely excited as I made my way to Bedok Reservoir at 6am in the morning. The last time I ran at this location was in 2014, at the Tampines Run 10km. So I was not exactly unfamiliar with the terrain. I recalled it was mostly sandy trail round the reservoir. Not exactly fun to run on as the little rocks and sand will try to sneak into your socks and shoes!

The day finally came. I was extremely excited as I made my way to Bedok Reservoir at 6am in the morning. The last time I ran at this location was in 2014, at the Tampines Run 10km. So I was not exactly unfamiliar with the terrain. I recalled it was mostly sandy trail round the reservoir. Not exactly fun to run on as the little rocks and sand will try to sneak into your socks and shoes!

When I reached Bedok Reservoir, there was already a small crowd of runners gathering, collecting their bibs, race singlets and preparing themselves. The atmosphere was jovial. I placed my special needs bag at one of the tables and checked through the items: 10 packets of GU gel, a 2L bottle of Pocari Sweat sports drink, sun screen spray, extra socks, etc. Thereafter, all of us took a group photograph before being flagged off at 7am sharp. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins as I started out on my 1st loop enthusiastically. But I managed to calm myself down and slow down my pace to a mere jog to conserve energy for the remaining 11 loops.  Somewhere through my 4th or 5th loop, it had started to rain rather heavily. I thought this benefited the runners as we do not have to contend with the searing hot Singapore weather. At the end of my 6th loop, I saw my wife and kids waiting by the starting point. They were there to support me. I was very touched and happy. I took a photograph with my family, before going off on my 7th loop.

During the 7th loop, the rain ceased and the sun came out. The sudden change from a cold morning to a hot late morning/noon did made a great difference! The hot sun started to take a toll on me as my pace started to slow down considerably. My legs also started to show signs of muscle cramps and I had to rest longer than expected at the start point for every subsequent loops. I must say the food spread provided by the organizers was good, i.e. bananas, bread, cup noodles, biscuits, watermelons, etc. I had a good time gobbling down bananas, watermelons and chocolate wafers!

Going round in loops around the reservoir could really drive one crazy. Especially if it took hours to do so. It really requires plenty of physical and mental strength to complete this ultra-marathon. While the early afternoon was hot, towards the end of my final 12th loop, dark heavy clouds gathered once more at the reservoir, providing a cool environment to run in. I think this helped a lot and I managed to cross the finishing line at 9h 17mins with a distance of 51.6km. With my shaky legs, I happily waddled over to the registration table to collect my medal and took a standard victory photograph, posing with my hard-earned medal.

This ultra-marathon was a very wonderful experience for me, in terms of realising that I could push my limits to complete one and showing me that nothing is impossible, so long one’s mind is strong and focused on the objective.

Would I take part in another ultra-marathon? I do not know. All I want now is to have a good rest before thinking about the next race. And also many thanks to Running Shots for taking so many nice pictures during the race. I appreciate the efforts as these photographs captured wonderful memories of my first ultra-marathon.

Cheers!!