About Pocari Sweat Run 2016

It’s the 5th Pocari Sweat Run and the slogan for this run is: Run to the moon. Which is because after this run, the total distance covered by the runners for the Pocari Sweat runs all these years is the distance enough to reached the moon. And the first thing that comes to my mind is the quote: Love you to the moon and back. So maybe that’s the slogan for the run in a few years time when the distance covered by the runners is able to make it back to Earth? There are two distance runners can choose to run, 5km and 10km. I’ll be running 10km and hope that I can complete below 1 hour 10 minutes and that means 1 hour 9 minutes and 59 seconds and I’ll be happy! And thank you Just Run Lah for the race slot! Join Just Run Lah team of bloggers for chances to get free slot for some of the races!

Race Entry Pack Collection

We love our customised personalised race singlet so much! ? Thank you p_ease! There are two designs we can choose from to be printed on our race singlet and we can print on both the front and back of it with our own text too. Luckily our race singlet are not affected by the delay as some runners are unable to get their race singlets in time for the race. As this is the first time July and I participates in the Pocari Sweat Run, we are not entitled to the jacket that is given free to the Pocari Sweat run loyal runners. We collected our race entry pack on the second day of the REPC and there is no queue at all while I heard that some of our friends had queued for more than 1 hour on the day of REPC! ? There is also a photo booth where we can get our photo printed out in astronaut suit, it’s so nice!

Race Day

It’s Saturday and I have pole class. Last week due to Mizuno Ekiden run, I have to sacrifice my pole class. But it’s totally worth it! Enjoyed the run with friends! ? Sometimes I really dread to skip pole class because it means I will missed out a lot. There is make up class, but that instructor is too hardcore so I’m actually scared to attend her class! ?

After pole class, headed to Starbucks to meet my friends for something light before heading to the race venue at The Float together. The flag off time for 5km is at 6pm and 10km at 6.30pm. The race route is the usual scenic one running through many tourist attractions: The Float > Esplanade > the Merlion > The Marina Bay Sands > Gardens by the Bay > Marina Barrage > Gardens by the Bay East. The u-turn point is already at 6km mark so the way back is shorter, turning towards the finish line after Gardens by the Bay and through Helix Bridge to go back to The Float.

Once we reached there I saw Jasmine Goh, she is one of the elite runner who really motivates and inspired me a lot in running, and she really encourages me to be better in running. I always feel very inspired and motivated after talking to her and congratulations on her podium in the 10km category! ?

As we were still early, after some photo takings and chit chat around, my friends and I were there to see the 5km runners flag off. After the runners do a very cute warm up with the Pokemon music, they were flag off on time. Then we head to the start pen for our turn to be flag off. I’m seriously glad I did not feel unwell as it is so packed while we are waiting to be flag off. Usually if I stand too long in a particular place without any movement will cause me to have near syncope. It’s some sort of fainting spell which I think is because I’m anemic. I didn’t join the the Pokemon warm up because any movement will cause me to bump into anybody ? I can’t breathe and it’s so stuffy. Taller people will get fresher air I think ?

Justina and July is flying and I lost them very shortly after flagged off. All of my friends are motivating and inspiring me in running. Although Justina is unwell, she still manage to finish the run in 53 mins! ?????? I’m more of a leisure runner and they are the chiong type ?

I didn’t stop at any water point again and July says I should start drinking water in runs because we need water so we will not be exhausted. Which I think is true as I’m really exhausted. Maybe it’s like same logic of those F1 racing cars, after some distance there is a need go to the the pit stop to change tyres, add fuel to carry on to go fast? I was actually hoping to end below 1 hour 10 mins by following the 65 minutes pacers but I lost them since the beginning near the Marina Bay Sands as was slowed down by the bottlenecks. There is really too many runners in the this run and some of the paths are quite narrow where runners will just bump into one another easily.

The run is good till the last 4km is quite stressful for me because I was still hoping I can chased up the pink balloons but it’s too far away and not possible with my pace but I really hope to complete before the timing I have set out for. When I’m at the helix bridge, I can see the finishing line and I look at my time, I still left with only 3 minutes to the end point if not it will be a time that is more than 1 hr 10 minutes so I pick up my pace and chiong. I crossed the finish line at 1 hr 9 mins 50 something seconds ? Still it is within what I had set out for and its my PB! I’m happy! But I wonder is it that for the runs I didn’t push myself hard enough so I always run at 7mins pace, a manageable pace for me where I’m not struggling to catch my breathe. Only minutes before the run I finally get myself a Garmin watch, hopefully with this watch, I can track my heart rate and speed more accurately and improve on running.

Seriously happy to receive the bottle of super cold bottle of Pocari Sweat when I finished the run. My friends had already completed their run long before me so I looked for them in the race village. There were so many nice photography spot especially the giant can of Pocari Sweat ? And I simply love the medal! It’s really nice!

After run of course must eat! ?

Shape Run 2016

As July and I didn’t sign up for shape run, we decided to go for a recovery run around the area to support our friends who are running. We didn’t really check out the route but we have an estimation of the route and we were actually hoping at first to be back at the finishing point to welcome our friends back. We thought that the finishing area should be around the Float too. We start out from City Hall MRT station running towards Padang then towards Esplanade. Just nice when we are at the Esplanade running towards the Float and wondering whether we have run at the correct place because we see no runners at all when a cyclist cycle pass saying: First runner coming back! We were wondering first runner? We are getting excited and it’s really the first runner of the 15km category running pass us in the opposite direction. I felt really lucky and awesome to see these elite runners running and they are still going strong when they had already ran at least 13km. And we started to see more runners and we are getting more excited and alert because we will be seeing our friends shortly as Justina and Sabrina are also running the 15km category. And after a while we really saw Sabrina and Justina at somewhere near the F1 pit building and we u-turn back shortly after them running towards the finishing point. Thank you RunningPics for the picture of July and me enjoying the Shape Run ?

While we were near the Fullerton hotel, another cyclist rides pass us and this time, they are opening path for the fastest runner of the 10km category. And it’s Vivian Tang, she is really impressive and fit and that she gave me a very strong impression as I remembered her from Ekiden run. I was there in the 2nd runner pen waiting for July, the first runner of my team to come back. Vivian Tang came back as the first women runner of the first runner in the Mizuno Ekiden Run last week ?

When we were running near Bay Front, nearing the finishing line, we spotted many boyfriends and husbands around the area waiting and supporting their girlfriends and wives to come back from their run. We can’t stop feeling that how sweet are they right! ❤️

Sometimes runners out there is really there to motivates and inspires other runners and for them to look up to. While July, Sabrina and I went to Starbucks for breakfast, Vivian Tang came in and we manage to get a photo with her ?

And thank you Sabrina and July for accompanying me all the way to Queenstown to get myself a new pair of running shoes ? I’ve fully utilise my pair of new balance running in it for more than 800km and it’s torn already too ?

SHAPE Run is Singapore’s first all-women race and it has always been a yearly event for me except for the time that I was studying overseas. I’ve participated in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015 editions and I had fond memories of these events.

[Photo Top: My past SHAPE Run memories]

What I excites me to join SHAPE Run every year has got to be the event tee and the goodie bag! I always love their run tees as they give you that girlish sporty feel and they are super pretty! The goodie bag are always filled to the brim with freebies and not just flyers and coupons!! This year is no exception! The run tee is a cute turquoise green with pink wordings and the goodie bags are filled with goodies that every lady would find useful and essential. Check out my photo below!

[Photo Top: SHAPE Run 2016 Goodie Bag and race tee]

PRE-RACE 

[Top Photo: Pre-race group photo around the event site]

This year is the first time I’m taking part in the 10km category as compared to other years where I just participated in the 5km. This year’s event was held at the Marina Bay Event Space and the flag-off for the 10km category was at 06:45 hrs. As with all early flag-offs, all of us had to wake super early and  take a cab down to the event site! We reached the event site at around 05:50 hrs and we had ample time to eat our breakfast, hydrate ourselves, drop our bags off, snap some wefies and use the toilets. I think among all the SHAPE runs, this is the best event site! It was spacious all around and super convenient to access.

[Top Photo: Pre-race group photo in the START Pen]

We promptly headed for the START pen at 06:15 hrs. It was really nice to have a familiar voice, Charmaine Yee, from my all time radio station, Kiss 92 FM on stage welcoming everyone! Love the energy that she brings when she is emceeing! 15 minutes before flag-off, Charmaine handed over the stage to Joeson Yeo from TRUE Fitness who conducted a simple aerobics warm up session! He was very engaging and both me and Cheng Yee were instantly reminded of our gym exercise class days. We did the warm-up routine with energy but it was a tad squeezy at where we were standing but still we enjoyed the warm up! As soon as warm-up was done, Charmaine took to the stage again and introduced the flag-off party and we were promptly flaged-off on our 10km route!

ROUTE

[Map courtesy of SHAPE Run 2016 website]

This years route was a familiar one for me because this is one of my favourite places that I would do my weekly workouts. It’s a really scenic route that brings you past our awesome Singapore skyline, Gardens By the Bay, to our Marina Barrage area, next to Gardens By the Bay (East), and back to the Double Helix Bridge, past the Floating Platform and back to the FINISH area! There were definitely a few small slopes but it was all good! There were no bottlenecks for the first 8km but after the Esplanade, it started getting crowded as all the race categories were heading back to the FINISH point.

The weather this morning was fantastic and water points with both plain water and H2O were sufficiently distributed all along the route which made it very helpful to participants as Singapore has a humid climate!

POST RACE

I finished the run event with an unofficial timing of 1 hr 15 mins (See photo above)! Medal collection was really fast and smooth! I really like the design of this years medal! At least it has some colour as compared to the other years (See photo below).

Once we have cooled down, my friends and collected our stuff from the baggage counter! We just walked around to check out what the vendors were offering and took some post race wefies!  I must say that SHAPE has one of the best after race expo!

CONCLUSION

Overall it was a enjoyable and well organised run event! Great job SHAPE Singapore and Esprimo! I’m just looking forward to the official results and race photos by the various photography groups! Till my next race review, congrats to all the ladies on completing today’s event!

Singapore’s first all women’s race celebrated its 11th year this weekend at Bayfront Event Space and I was very excited to be part of it!

As well as the 5km and 10km races, there was also a 15km category, which I decided to go for.  15km is a great distance to bridge the gap between a 10km and a half-marathon and as I usually opt for 10km, I wanted to challenge myself.  There was also a 1.8km Family Run.

Race pack collection was a breeze – no queues and the staff were lovely.  The race pack itself was awesome – some seriously good swag – and definitely worth far more than the race registration fee, which was reasonable to begin with.

I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be woken up by the alarm at 4am, but I was relieved to see that it wasn’t raining, given the recent bout of pre-dawn thunder and lightning storms.  In fact, the weather was perfect for running – temperature was cool and pleasant for my 6am flag-off.

The 15km route took us past Marina Bay Sands, along Gardens by the Bay (South), Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay (East), past the indoor stadium and Singapore Sports Hub, Millenia Walk and Merlion Park, allowing us to take in Singapore’s picturesque city skyline.

Markers along the route were clear and well-positioned, as were the several hydration points.  What I really liked was that the volunteers cheered us as we went by and were so encouraging.  This can make a huge difference when you’re tired and flagging and wondering what on earth you are doing up at this ridiculous hour!

Another well-deserved shout out to the fantastic pacers. I tagged along with the 1:40 gang for the first 3-4 kms, until I looked around in dismay to realise that I’d lost them.. Not a balloon in sight!  Undeterred, I picked up the pace and soldiered on, only stopping to help a runner who had tripped and fallen over.  Hopefully she is ok and managed to finish her race.

I rocked up (ok, almost threw up) at the finish line in 1:34, according to my trusty Garmin and was delighted to see my husband and daughter there to welcome me home.  I felt fantastic!  I was pleased with my performance, considering I was on antibiotics for a kidney infection (cue the violins) so I didn’t have a target time in mind.  My helper, Olive, ran her first ever 5km race and nailed her target time of 30 minutes.  She loved every minute of it.

The Shape Run was extremely well-organised from registration to race pack collection, to the main event.  The race village was buzzing afterwards and we hung around for a while to soak up the atmosphere.  I was in selfie heaven!

Would I participate in in next year’s Shape Run? Absolutely – it was an amazing experience!

After doing the last 3 races in as many weeks, (10, 15, 10 km), this was the 4th consecutive race with a difference.  I was trying out this inaugural Blueseventy Urban Aquathlon at Orchid Country Club.  This was the second time I tried an aquathlon, the first was with Nila Aquathlon Intermediate Race (500 m open sea swim, 2.5 km run).  It seemed so distant and back then I did 36+ min.  Now it was 400 m in the swimming pool and 3 km run.   I started swimming again more regularly just about 3 weeks ago or so due to time constraints and only in the condo pool.

One good thing about this race was that the venue was rather near my home.  Collection of race pack was also held at the Country Club.  The pack itself was still value for money in my opinion, as we got a pair of goggles and tri-shorts from Blueseventy.  It came with a blue swimming cap which I think is pretty standard issue for aquathlons.

I was meeting my friend, Francis and so set off early to reach around 7.05 am though the race was to start at 8 am.  There we queued up to collect our bib number strap and tied it aound the ankle while the volunteers tattooed the numbers on our arms and legs.  After a quick shower, and donning our caps, we queued up to start.  Each swimmer dived or slided down into the pool, 5-10 seconds apart, and zigzag fashion completed 8 laps.  As I was slower, I got a head start but my friend ‘swoomed’ past me (swim and zoom combined) in no time.  I felt good despite the lack of practice and then ran to the transit area where we had to put on a tee and shoes/socks.  Less than 1 km, and I had to stop to tie my shoe lace which had come loose !

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The race was pretty short and we enjoyed it while it lasted.  Water was provided at the transition area and energy drink at the finishing point.  I collected the finisher medal with some satisfaction.  Timing was released the following day.  Did 34:06, now if I didn’t stop to fumble with my shoe lace ? !

Had a good breakfast and catch-up with my friend.  Just as I finished my roti prata, suddenly something dropped from the trees right into the curry plate.  I think it was output from a bird in the trees…  Luckily I had finished my breakfast, otherwise .. Talk about timing (and omen?).  We moved to another safer spot soon after and continued to chat.

The race was a good experience overall.  I do think it is a good introductory race to running and swimming.   The distance is fairly comfortable for beginners, I would think.

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Thoughts over the weekend: Run as best as you could, given the situation.  Live to run a better run (or even swim) each time.  Running is Living…

Our Team name is Hunk and Babes ? Coming up with a cheeky team name is not easy ? With the 4 of us, July, June, You Kai and me in a team completing the distance of a full marathon (42.195km) in a form of relay ? The run will start at 4pm. Why? Why at 4pm? At a time when the Sun will be roasting us for sure? July and I were the first 2 runners and we were wondering how roasted we will become ? Our 3rd and 4th runner do not need to be around so early. But we have to wait for the last runner to finish the run to collect the medals for the team ? Although we were saying the first two runners gotta run under the Sun and get burnt, but the the last two runner is very pitiful too, have to run with a sash soaked with all the other runners sweat ?

For the month of July and August is packed with a race almost every weekend ? Which is really a lot of REPC to deal with actually ? July and I went to collect our race pack on the day of compressport run after.

The both of us decided that we can walk to Velocity from Nicoll Highway MRT station to collect the Mizuno’s race pack. We realised that the time difference is not much between taking public transport there and walking there.

It is also not that far away and we started off our journey to the west (my phone’s GPS tells me head west the moment I start the GPS ?) after breakfast with our friends at a nearby hawker centre not far away from compressport run race venue. It’s a little more than 3km walk after a 10km run but we are not complaining at all and is enjoying the walking and chatting ?

On the race day, July and me meet earlier at Tanjong Pagar to have a light lunch first before we meet the rest at 3pm at Downtown station and walk to the race venue together. The Sun is really scary. We were gonna to be so toasted, cooked and baked by the Sun. Deposited our bag and explored a little around the race village and take pictures. And of course must take picture with the giant Mizuno shoe ?

Shortly, the first runners have to be flag off soon and Justina and I went to the side to see off our first runners and go to the transition area. We were watching the TV in the tentage on the live update, this super fast guy is running at 3mins something pace! Wow! It makes me think of a saying in Chinese “刀手三分速” which means running with hands in chopping posture at 3 mins pace if I never translate it wrongly ? Maybe I will run like this if I’m ever chased by a lion or Sadako ?

It is great that there is live updates and we could also track our team mates or any other runners as long as we know their name, team name or bib numbers using our phone. Justina and I were the second runner of our team, shortly after the flag off of our first runner, we proceed to the transition pen shortly. Met many other running friends who were also the 2nd runner of their team. And of course must take wefies ?

We were there welcoming the fastest runners to return. I felt like I was attending ‘Star Awards’. The runners coming back to the transition pen is like running on a red carpet as Justina tells me about how superb some of these runners are. Many of the runners who returned from the run is very very very drained. I believe is the scorching hot sun and these hardcore runners is pushing their limits too. Especially some are competitive runners where timing is important and run fast to deliver is the sash to the next runner is a very important mission. Once they pass the sash to the second runner, their legs are allowed to give way and they can faint immediately ? Although I respect their determination and the drive of running fast but I would never want to run to the extent my body can not take it and hurt myself. The feeling of running sick is horrible.

Before hand, I let You Kai the third runner of the team know that I’m not a fast runner because I worried that he may wait too long long or wonder had I got lost or missing in action. Told him I will take an estimated time of 1 hour 10 mins to complete because that’s the timing I used for Compressport 10km run. But I took 1 hour 14 mins, distance is about 10.4km which the timing to me is not that bad. I won’t complain much about the Sun because of the visor I wore is giving me the illusion that it is not that hot actually ?

My speed are quite constant I think except I walked all the up slopes ? I don’t really know my pace because my running app on my phone is not accurate that’s why I finally decided after so long to invest in a Garmin after which I’m happy to be receiving it in a few days time! ? So there was this one girl, around my age who I started to noticed after 1km or 2km point Because I think since the beginning of the run we go off together. I was always looking at her back view from as near as 2m away or up to 50m away ? It’s like a sort of motivation to keep on running, tell myself I could not lost sight of her because it will means I’m slowing down. Somehow she motivates me and discourage me at the same time. LOL ? Because her speed is not constant, she chiong and then she walks. So like countless of times I over take her the she overtakes me again. But during the time when she walks I feels like walking too ? It is only at the last km, I finally manage to overtake her.

I manage to spot her in the race village after some time and I went to her and congratulate her. Tell her that I was following her to motivates me and she said she is also actually following me too! ? It feels awesome right, runners motivates each other ?

It’s nice and a relief when I reach the end point and saw You Kai there, ready and eager to start his run. There was a first runner just now after returning and the second runner is not waiting there ? He was there so for so long like 5 minutes till I start my run his second runner is still missing, hope that their run had carried on smoothly.

After the run, July and I went around to see what we can buy using the coupons we have earlier bought during the race pack collection. I feel that the food and drink is too expensive but I like the matcha ice cream, simply like ice cream especially after a run in a hot day.

When you are enjoying yourself, time pass by very fast. I don’t feel the wait for the 3rd and last runner to finish their run. It’s like after some food and photo taking and June, our last runner is back in a blink of an eye! ? The medal is just simply gorgeous!

Ten Team Costa members participated in the Bintan Triathlon event, covering the Olympic, Sprint, Sprint Relay and Swim categories.

We began the weekend on Friday morning by congregating in the condo lobby. Luggage, kids, helpers and non-cyclists departed for Tanah Merah ferry terminal by taxi whilst the rest cycled via East Coast Park in order to transfer their bikes to Bintan.

With bikes and luggage checked in, we looked forward to our destination Bintan Lagoon Resort, a familiar location to most of us who have holidayed there before. It was an easy 90 min journey followed by a reasonably quick immigration clearance, especially now that Visa on Arrival payment was no longer necessary.

Once checked into our rooms, master-planner Chris organised all our bikes with the hotel to be tagged and shuttled to the race venue the next morning.

The event organiser, Metasport, arranged for regular shuttle buses to be available between resorts to transfer their triathletes to and from the event which was held at Nirwana Gardens.

Using the shuttle service we travelled to the event to collect our race pack which consisted of a bib, timing chip, singlet, tee, cap and towel. We watched the mandatory pre-race video briefing. It described the course, do’s and dont’s, in case of emergency and race precautions to be taken.

From here we wandered down to the event location to get a feel for the course and watch Michiel swim his 1km race.

The swim course was set inside a sheltered bay in clear and balmy waters. The bike course routed from north-west to north-east of the island, whilst the run tracked along the shoreline, up several hills and through a forested area.

Following is a recap on each participants’s race experience:

1km Swim – Friday

Michiel hails from the Netherlands. A swimmer all his life, the add-on 1km swim in the bay was an opportunity to participate in a race without completing a full triathlon.

Getting his swim out of the way on Friday, Michiel spent the rest of his weekend supporting his wife, Cindy and the rest of the Team Costa crew.

The swim route was kind of like an arc, heading out from the right of the bay. Following the buoys the route headed across to the left of the bay, followed by a sharp turn to lead the swimmer to the centre of the bay for a straight swim back to shore.

Whilst the water was calm and balmy, according to Michiel the buoys acting as markers were too far apart, making it difficult to see the route’s direction that was further emphasized by the setting sun in his line of vision. Michiel worked around this by focusing on a landmark across the bay and using it as his point of direction.

Sprint Distance – Saturday

Michelle, Cindy, David and Veronika participated in this category which was made up of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run, whilst John (cyclist), Zuzana (runner) and myself (swimmer) were the Sprint Relay Team.

Saturday morning started with a bright and sunny day. Catching the shuttle bus to the venue we collected the bikes from the depot, set ourselves up in the transition area, got the body marking and with some time left took a dip in the clear and balmy water.

Conversely, Singapore was dealing with rough weather thereby delaying the ferry from departing the terminal. Filled with daytrippers participating in the event, I could imagine their anxiety level reaching new heights, worried that they’ll be late for their race. The organizers were great and delayed the Sprint flag-off by half hour.

The men’s wave was the first to start. Joining his fellow competitors, David flagged-off at 9.30am followed by the women’s wave and relay teams about ten minutes later.

As the swimmer in my team, I held it together and swam side by side with Veronika and Michelle with Cindy only slightly behind. This lasted about 250m at which point I realised that yoga 4-5 times a week is really paying off for Veronika as she broke away and pulled ahead. Shortly after Michelle did the same (another yogi) and left me in the dust. Perhaps I should have trained for this instead of just 4 swims two weeks before the race.

Piling out one after the other we moved into the transition area for the bike segment. John was ready and waiting for my timing chip to be strapped onto his ankle. That’s essentially how to pass on the baton.

With my racing part over, I was pleased I survived the swim with minimal training and could now turn into the paparazzi, watching and supporting my friends.

Veronika and John exited transition together, followed by Michelle and Cindy. From here they cycled across 8-10 hills with elevations of up to 33m. Cycling speeds ranged immensely. For instance, Michelle a strong cyclist averaged 29km/h with maximum speed as high as 54km/h, whilst John and David averaged 22km/h with a maximum speed of 44km/h.

It was a tough cycling route given how flat Singapore is with no hills on the East Coast where we reside to regularly train on. John’s description of his ride was “click, click, click” uphill gear change followed by “click, click, click” downhill gear change repeat, repeat, repeat.

Anyway, it wasn’t long before Michelle slid into transition having clocked up 20km in an impressive 42:08min, followed by an unassuming Cindy, who I think is a closet cyclist at 46:18min. Her downhill riding was described as “woohoooo, give me more speed”. The rest of them finished their cycling in the 50+ minutes range.

Having survived two-thirds of the triathlon, John passed on the baton to Zuzana for the final leg. Michelle and Cindy were long gone and we hoped to see everyone finish the cycle before racing to the finish line to see them all complete the final leg of the race.

Cool as a cucumber Michelle floats in like a butterfly in 30min, placing 9/30 in her category and 2nd in cycling. Cindy followed suit placing 12/29 in her category and 3rd in cycling. When David came around the final bend he found an extra bounce in his stride and breezed around other competitors to the end. Shortly after Veronika finished as well.

When John and I saw Zuzana on her final stretch, we flanked her like bodyguards and ran together the remaining 100m across the finish line. It was a sensational feeling to be completing the relay event together, realizing how much more pressure was on each one of us to deliver on our part and not let down the other team members.

With the Sprint category finished there was an interlude in the racing scene until the afternoon when the Olympic Distance started at 1pm. It was Stan and Chris’ turn.

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Olympic Distance – Saturday

Pre-occupied with supporting their wives throughout the Sprint Distance race, both Stan and Chris had probably started their own race a bit off their game. Running out of time to gobble up some lunch, both of them entered their race a little undernourished for the distances they had to complete which included 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run.

Whilst we missed their swim (too busy gobbling up our lunch and cold beer), we made it back in time to see them exit transition with their bikes about 8min apart. Finding a spot on the side of the road we settled in and waited for both of them to whizz by. Given the downhill location and potential speed it was fortunate we knew what they were wearing in order to see them far enough in the distance to start cheering and photographing. As they flew past us for a further 5km turn around, we were able to see them on the uphill as well as prior to their turn-off into the transition area.

From here we had a short walk for another position to see them on their run. Not particularly pleasant route as the first section of the run is already on an uphill. Not even enough time for their muscles to switch gear from cycling to running. Chris is a pretty solid runner who typically covers 14km from work to home at an average 4.6 pace. It’s definitely an environmentally friendly form of transportation and free of charge. Stan on the other hand is a solid cyclist whose weekend typically starts with a round the island bike ride that covers approximately 120km. He gets home for his coffee before I even blink an eyelid.

As we see them off on their run, we vie for different locations in their route to keep catching them to cheer and photograph of course. Having to complete two loops on their route, we moved around chasing them like the paparazzi.

The greatest cheers of course came as they crossed the finish line with Chris placing 19th at 2:46hrs, and Stan placing 40th at 2:55hrs.

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As we returned back to our resort and a short rest, we celebrated the night away with dinner and drinks on the beach. I don’t think we had left the island before discussions around Bintan Ironman in August started surfacing.

The camaraderie and team support during the race made for a terrific weekend away. Somehow we keep getting drawn into events we are completely unprepared for, yet our boundaries are constantly challenged and shifted.

Three years ago was my first foray into fitness and racing completing my first 5km event. Since then, along with my fellow Team Costans, we have competed in marathons, half-marathons, numerous triathlons and cycling both locally and internationally. Each time a race is complete, the stakes seem to go up never quite satisfied with the status quo.

With the Bintan Ironman looming only weeks away, the future of Team Costa will be in its diversity, challenges and sheer camaraderie and good fun.

Cheers