It started in 2007 in Philadelphia, when Anne Mahlum could be found running the dark streets at 5 a.m. — with homeless men cheering her on as she passed their shelter. But one morning, she stopped in her tracks.
“Why am I running past these guys?” recalls Mahlum, 27. “I’m moving my life forward every day — and these guys are standing in the same spot.”
Instead of continuing to pass them by, the veteran marathoner sprang into action so they could join her. She contacted the shelter, got donations of running gear, and in July 2007 the Back On My Feet running club hit the streets.
“Running really is a metaphor for life,” she says. “There is always another mile. You just have to take it one step at a time.” Anne Mahlum, Marathoner and Founder of Back On My Feet
The first day, Mahlum led nine shelter residents in a mile-long run. Today, Back on My Feet has served more than 5,500 individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness and engaged more than 100,000 volunteers and supporters. The group has run a collective 500,000 miles and obtained more than 3,500 jobs and homes.
Requirements for shelter residents to join are simple — they must live in an affiliated facility and be clean and sober for 30 days. Members receive new shoes and running clothes, and teams run together three times a week between 5:30 and 6 a.m.
The runners are diverse — doctors, janitors, students and shelter residents — but such distinctions aren’t apparent.
“All you can tell is who’s the fastest,” says Mahlum. “You can’t tell who’s homeless and who’s not.”
For Mahlum and others, Back On My Feet is more than a running club.
“We’re a community of support, love, respect,” she says.
Runners greet each other with hugs and words of encouragement. While members say they’ve lost weight, quit smoking and have more energy, Mahlum believes they’re also learning important life skills such as discipline and goal-setting that can help them get on the road to self-sufficiency.
Mike Solomon, an original member, is one of the group’s success stories. A former crack user who spent his youth in and out of trouble on the streets of Wilmington, Delaware, Solomon is employed, in school and training to run a marathon in his hometown. He considers Back on My Feet part of his support group.
“Anne is helping people see the hero in themselves,” says Solomon.
By combating homelessness through their innovative program, Back on My Feet proves that there is hope, that individuals can achieve things they never thought possible, and that there are people who will support them along the way.
In addition to Philadelphia, the organization now has chapters in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Austin and Los Angeles. It will also be going to San Francisco in November this year.
Anne’s vision for Back on My Feet is simple, yet bold — to help as many people as possible, in the most efficient way as possible, redefine themselves so they can redefine their life and, just as important — to change the perception of homelessness on a global scale.
“Do we need homes? Yes. We need jobs? Yes,” she says. “But imagine if you didn’t have anybody in your life who said, ‘I’m really proud of you.’ Back On My Feet does just that.”
1 May 2016 marked the start of the first race of The Performance Series. It was held at Punggol near Punggol SAFRA, a place that is rather easy to find as it is right in front of Sam Kee LRT station.
The flag off for 10km wave 1 started off at around 7.30am. Running alongside the waterway was rather nice all thanks to the beautiful scenery. And since it was still rather early in the morning, the sun wasn’t that hot. The running pathway was also rather wide and they had several volunteers stationed along the way to help guide the runners.
The run got a little boring when I turned towards Coney Island. There weren’t much to see except for trees and the trees weren’t providing us much coverage from the sun which was blazing hotter and hotter by the minute. The road was long and straight but the bridge towards Coney Island in the far distance kept me going. I’ve never been to Coney Island before and was really excited to explore the place.
We entered Coney Island through the west entrance. The moment I passed the gate, I could feel a drop in temperature as I was welcomed by rows trees that lined the pathway. The trees provided a shelter away from the blazing hot sun. The air also felt fresher and it was really wonderful to be able to run in such environment. Running along on the sand and gravel was a new experience for me too and I soon came to enjoy listening to the soft crunching rhythm of sand and gravel underneath my soles.
The run through Coney Island was enjoyable but rather short-lived as I exited the area and was greeted by a road bridge that led me back to Punggol. On that bridge, I experienced the merciless heat of the sun on me and I started missing the thick foliage of Coney Island very soon after.
The return journey was along a rather narrow path that was covered with gravel and occasionally a puddle of muddy water alongside the road. The road then led back to Punggol Waterway and eventually the finishing point.
Hydration Points & First aid
There were a number of hydration points along the way which was really helpful for the runners due to the hot sunny weather (P.S. And special thanks to the volunteers who worked hard to pass us drinks!). The energy drink provided – Lucozade, had a really nice taste. Just like orange juice! I was rather surprised by it as I have always been skeptical about the taste of orange flavoured drinks as they always tasted really fake.
There were several mobile first-aiders along the way and I could see that the organizers really cared for the safety of their runners.
Distance
The distance somehow felt longer than 10km!
TPS race 1
And upon checking on my running app did I realise I have completed a distance of 11.4km, the longest distance I have ever accomplished.
Medal & Finishing tee
The queue after the finishing point was rather long as everyone got jammed trying to go up the stairs to the race village. The collection of medal and finishing itself was fast. But as I looked at the medal, I doubted myself a bit, wondering whether the colour of my medal was indeed gold. It doesn’t look that gold to me and since there weren’t any indication of the distance ran, I had to look at the medal of my fellow 10km runners to check whether I got the correct one. I did get the right one. It just doesn’t look gold enough.
The sizing of the finishing tee was good and mine fitted well.
All in all, the race was a rather good experience although the journey was longer than expected.
This post can also be found on mylittlepartoftheearth.blogspot.com
China is infamous for its disregard of international copyright laws — with copycat sphinxes, talent shows and luxury brands. Just last week, a company in China unveiled its latest premium sports clothing brand, which looks very similar to Under Armour’s trademark. Judge for yourself:
Aside from the ridiculous name, the resemblance is uncanny. Under Armour has noticed as well, and it is not too happy. In a statement emailed to Fortune, the company vowed to pursue “all business and legal courses of actions” to stop Uncle Martian from ever getting off the ground:
Under Armour is aware of the Uncle Martian launch event. Uncle Martian’s uses of Under Armour’s famous logo, name, and other intellectual property are a serious concern and blatant infringement. Under Armour will vigorously pursue all business and legal courses of action.
Uncle Martian on the runway
Uncle Martian’s parent company is Fujian-based Tingfei Long Sporting Goods, a 25-year-old sports shoe manufacturer that has specialized in manufacturing off-brand sneakers for years. But now it appears the company is poised for bigger and better things, riding on the wave of Under Armour’s growing success in China.
Even Chinese netizens are not impressed, expressing their disgust and embarrassment towards Uncle Martian. However, Uncle Martian was quick to defend itself and said that it has no similarity to Under Armour at all:
Weibo screenshot showing Chinese netizens’ disgust against Uncle Martian
Meanwhile, Chinese courts make punishing these “copycat brands” a difficult task. Currently, China’s top court is deciding whether to reopen a high-profile copyright case involving Michael Jordan and Chinese sportswear company Qiaodan Sports.
Qiaodan Sports | Photo credits: shanghaiist
Qiaodan (乔丹) is the transliteration of the NBA star’s surname in Chinese. The company’s products also incorporate the number 23 and a silhouette of a basketball player which bears more than a passing resemblance to the iconic “Jumpman” logo used by Nike in its Air Jordan line.
However, last August, the court ruled that “Qiao Dan” is a common Chinese name while “Jordan” is also a common name used by Americans. Furthermore, the logo was in the shape of a person with no facial features. As a result, there was insufficient evidence to show that the brand is related to Michael Jordan. (China.org.cn)
Will Uncle Martian prevail in this fight? Let us know what you think!
On the surface, this phrase really does sound ridiculous.
However, if we think of our bodies as being analogous to a car, we’d see that the right petrol can drive up the car’s horsepower and longevity. Just like how we take care of our cars by giving them the best petrol, we can take care of our bodies with the proper fuel as well. Feed yourself properly and you’d also become healthier, stronger and faster!
Petrol or Diesel?
You won’t put cheap diesel into your BMW or Mercedes, right? Similarly, you need to feed your body with quality food. Those should be fibre-rich, whole grain food. Like how you wouldn’t want to pay tons and add poorly refined petrol into your good car, your body can also do with less preservatives and less processed food. As runners, you’d need to make sure you get sufficient carbohydrates (good ones like wholemeal sandwich and brown rice) and proteins (good ones too like lean meat and fish).
What’s the traffic light colour?
Photo Credit: The Paleo Logic
When you reach a junction, you’d stop at red and go only when the lights turn green (unless you couldn’t care less about paying the extra tickets). When it’s orange, you’re need to/supposed to slow down. Same with your nutrition! Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and reduced fat dairy products are always going to be green lights. Those that are lightly processed meat with a pinch of salt, white bread and white rice all fall into orange. Take them in controlled amounts! Those deep fried, chips and sweets are a blaring red. Avoid, avoid avoid!
Shell, ExonnMobil or Caltex?
Photo Credit: anishinaabemdaa
How the food is prepared is as important as where it came from. For example, lean meat that is initially healthy becomes a RED LIGHT when it becomes deep fried. Similar to how you choose the petrol stations to go to (let’s ignore the fancy points you earn from pumping petrol), you need to be careful about how your food is chopped, seasoned and cooked as well.
So the next time you go out and buy something from the Pasar Malam, think. Are you putting in petrol or diesel? Or are you running a red light? Take care of your body because after all, you are your best investment!
Transcend Yourself – that’s the theme of the Performance Series (PS) Race, conceptualised by Liu Zhiyong, a passionate runner. This is a series of 5 races encompassing Oasis/Island, Lake, Heartland, Reservoir and Farm, through the unique landscape of Singapore. And as befitting it, all 5 finisher medals collected will form the shape of Singapore. There are basically 3 categories of races, 2.5, 5 and 10 km.
I liked the idea of running a series of races as this also keeps one going consistently throughout the year. I’ve just taken up running more ‘seriously’ last year and thought of signing up too for this series. So when JustRunLah (JRL) offered a free slot to me, I took it up instantly and opted for the 10 km race. One of my goals this year was to try and break my PB for the 10 km distance. The first race was at Coney Island and I’ve not been to the place before so I was looking forward to this race.
For those who had read my earlier blogs, I had just completed my first ‘audacious’ goal of completing two half marathons (2XU Compression and Run 350) a week apart, back in early April. I was so happy that I completed it, I continued my training runs in the mornings on alternate days in the following week, slowly building up to a 7 km run again. Unfortunately I twisted my left foot at home a couple of days later and had to take things easy for the next couple of weeks. I stopped running in order to let my foot recover. I was getting a bit concerned as I started to feel the pain coming back each morning I woke up, resembling Plantar Fasciitis.
One week before the race, I tested out my foot in the Snoopy Fun Run since I had signed up for that earlier. Felt a bit stiff in my foot but I was hopeful and rested further and just did some swimming in the week before.
Earlier, the race pack collection venue was at City Square mall and the race was so popular that this was one of those longer queues I had experienced this year; took me about 50 minutes to wait my turn. About 5000 participants were in the debut race. Still the volunteers were efficient, and I collected the package within 3 minutes or so, without any mishap. What was also special in this package, was a pair of red Compressport Socks with the right size that I indicated in the signup. The Tee Shirt was a very nice orange with some black markings on the sleeve, very smart and bright.
Race day came – on Labour Day. The starting time was 7.30 am for first wave. This was probably the only thing I would love to request for a change if possible. I prefer races that start much earlier at 6 am when it is cool morning air still, even though the distance may be an issue but I’m quite used to it by now, given that I’m staying at a most remote place far from most starting venue of races. Still, this meant I had slightly longer hours of sleep vs the usual races for this Sunday morning.
At about 7.27 am, the announcer said the guest was making his way to the flagoff. For a moment, the crowd thought this was going to be a late start. Luckily soon after 7.30 am, the flagoff was done for the first wave, the horn blaring off.
I had earlier squeezed myself into what I thought was the back of the first wave. After the flagoff, it took fairly long before the crowd in front of me started walking. Yes, they were walking somehow. So I thought I might be in the wave 2. And then I saw the starting line, so I was in wave 1 after all. But the runners in front were just shuffling along. A sudden thought popped into my head : should I go backwards towards wave 2, so that I don’t need to shuffle and weave through the crowd. Then the next thought of the rising warm Sun goaded me to carry on forward. God was kind to me, I figured, this was to make sure I don’t run too fast a pace at the beginning and hurt myself further.
The first 4 km resembled the surface that I used to run on, at the park near my home. After that, it was the entrance to Coney Island. I had passed two hydration points by now but didn’t take the drinks. The surface was now more like trail (pebbles and stones) and it lasted for about 3-4 km before it reverted back to the dull park surface again. I took more care to not trip. I drank at the next hydration point. There was water and Lucozade Sports drinks provided. Overall, the hydration points were adequate. I think there was an extra one very near the finishing point. I felt it was too near the finishing point but perhaps it was good for those who felt the heat and who had to start in later waves. So kudos to both the organizers and volunteers – the volunteers were cheerful and alert. And as always, there were also the heroic photographers braving the sun and heat to take beautiful photos (thank you all!).
Somehow the last couple of kilometres in a race always felt too long. Still, I completed the race and collected both the finisher Tee and medal. I enjoyed the run, the heat was still bearable, the scenery was a nice change from the usual race routes. At times the pathway looked a bit narrow for the crowd. Still there was no jam. I had feared jams when I watched the video of the route at certain points. Apparently there was quite a number of new runners in the first wave who may not be as aware of good running etiquettes like keeping to the left if slowing down, or even stopping suddenly. I saw a runner almost crashing into someone who suddenly stopped on the right side of the path because I think he ran out of breath somehow. Still, it meant the organizers were successful in attracting new runners to take part in this healthy series of event and a good start to their running journey.
The finisher Tee looked crisp and sharp in black and the ‘gold’ medal was uniquely shaped. So I had collected the first jigsaw puzzle ! I didn’t manage to get a PB for 10 km but was able to keep the pace I wanted for this round, given my current state of fitness. And I looked forward to the next race in the series, at Jurong Lake. The best is yet to be… For now, though, I have to prepare for the next audacious goal this Saturday. Transcending yourself is a continuous journey. Thank you, once again, JRL for granting the free slots !
(Photo Credits in this blog : JustRunLah and Run Shoot Repeat)
It was a hot one, with temperature reaching a high 36 degrees Celsius. With a late morning start, I can imagine the triathlon for the Sprint and Discovery categories would have been a tough slog.
Taking on the photographing duty, I suffered in the full sun alongside my participating buddies David, Michelle, Caitriona, Cindy and Lisa.
Sprint Category [750m swim, 18km bike, 5km run]
Whilst I missed David’s race as he started an hour earlier than the girls, I managed to see him briefly on his first cycling lap and at the end of the race.
I took the brunt of the sun watching the unusual “M” shaped swimming course for the Sprinters. With a choppy sea and strong current the swim was tough, slow and often knocked off course. As Michelle and Caitriona completed half the course by swimming into the sea, turn at the buoy and return, they needed to exit the water, run up the beach around an orange cone and then back in the water for the second half.
According to Michelle, the choppy water conditions created a bottleneck at the first buoy that stagnated for some time as swimmers struggled to push their way through the current. She also found herself pressed against the course rope in the congestion. Add to that dodgy goggles creating diminished visibility it was only natural that she would be pushed outside the course by the current. Caitriona seemed to have fared better and looked strong as she exited the water four minutes sooner, placing 13th in her category.
As they transitioned, I raced to the cycling track for their 3 laps of 6km each. A strong cyclist, we all anticipated Michelle making up substantial time and she didn’t disappoint with an average speed of 30km/h. Caitriona held her own with an average speed of 27km/h. I can imagine with a couple of tight corners on the course maintaining a high speed would have been quite challenging.
Onto the running stage. Due to construction on East Coast Park, the running course needed to be altered with 2 x 2.5km loop. Not the most appealing when as a runner you see the finish line but you need to turn and do another loop.
I took up position near the finish line and I waited for super speedy Michelle to barrel through with wide strides and a determined look on her face. Whilst certainly not her fastest run it can be understood when the run is tied onto the tail end of a swim and bike ride.
Three minutes later Caitriona flew through with her posse of girls. Joined by her three eldest girls towards the end, they were a vision to behold. The run looked like it might have taken the wind out of her but again after a tough swim and bike it’s to be expected especially since in cycling the muscles are used in different ways to running. Coming off a bike the muscles may feel like jelly and then the same muscles need to be further activated for running which typically requires more energy.
For Michelle and Caitriona this was their first Sprint experience and as challenging as it might have been I think I’ll be following them like the paparazzi in future triathlons.
Either way congratulations are in order to Michelle and Caitriona for their first Sprint Triathlon.
Discovery Category [250m swim, 12km bike, 2.5km run]
As Michelle and Caitriona were completing their cycling, I returned to the beach to watch Cindy and Lisa flag off. Fortunately for them, they only had to complete a portion of the “M” shaped route.
Of course it was no easier for them since they had to handle the same choppy conditions, except that it was for a shorter distance and less time.
Primarily a breaststroke swimmer, Lisa exited the water pretty strong and about a minute before Cindy.
However, Cindy made up her time on the bike, travelling at 28.7km/h and finishing in 25min with Lisa about four minutes behind. When they both took off for their run, they seemed to maintain the same steady pace of about 6.20/km, finishing the race exactly four minutes apart.
Once we all regrouped and obtained the live results it was to our delight to discover that Cindy took 1st place in her category. Of course we had to wait until she climbed the podium for the necessary pics and prize collection.
Even though it was terribly hot and some of us sported pink noses and burnt shoulders from the sun, we reunited poolside later in the afternoon for a celebratory drink and race debrief.
I want to thank July and Sabrina that I am able to complete the 43km! Thank you both for encouraging me and motivating me and make the distance seems shorter and always checking up on me whether I’m ok ??
Photo credits: Running Shots Day One
Don’t know is it me or is there anybody else have the same thought as me. The first thought I have when I reach the event site is: Why is the run in clockwise direction? ? I really don’t like running in clockwise direction when running in loops. No special reasons but it just feels weird to me. Maybe I have some OCD. Or maybe it is something related to turning left or right. Running in stadium tracks is also in anti-clockwise direction right, sure got special reason behind it?
50 hours non stop run doesn’t mean crazily run 50 hours non stop. This is a fun run and the runners are given 50 hours to complete 43km, which is equivalent to 10 loops around Bedok Reservoir. 50 hours non stop, means the run continues even in midnight! ? Upon completing 43km, there will be a total of 3 medals. Runners will get their medals after 3, 6 and 10 loops. So if the runners doesn’t want to run so much can just run 3 loops to collect 1 medal or 6 loops to collect 2 medals. Runners who are hardcore of course can run more than 10 loops, but no extra medal will be awarded. ?
There is no baggage deposit so I didn’t bring much things just T-shirt and slipper to change and put my bag in their tentage. But if my T-shirt went missing I think I will cry because it is my one and only Standard Chartered Marathon 42.195km finisher Tee, the tee I get from the only marathon I’ve ever participated. Didn’t know when will I have the courage to sign up for a full marathon again ?
I only ran 3 loops and collected 1 medal and decided to run the next day and Monday if I can’t finish it in 2 days. I had wanted to run more but I don’t want it to be so painful the the next day because I attended a very fierce fitness class earlier on. It is always guaranteed bodyaches and blue blacks the next day always. Love running with my friends but sometimes I very stress to run with them because they are very fast but they are super nice, assure me can run my pace with me but I paiseh to have them wait for me ?
The race fee is cheap so I don’t have much expectation. But every time in a run the water not cold makes me very sad ? I miss my secondary and primary school days sports events, I remembered there is always the Milo van! Please, any upcoming running events can be so kind to get the Milo van as a sponsor? Milo is like the most delicious drink!
Day 2
Seriously is run die me! Not going to run any 0.01m longer ? Mentally torturous run and really pushing boundaries. My sports bra strap is giving me two very painful abrasions after my 4th loop. It’s really ouch! Then I tell myself this is nothing! I saw a picture before that a guy nipples is bleeding while running a marathon, that must be much more painful! Be positive! ? I gei kiang wear a super short ankle sock, then kena abrasions at my ankle. Till before I start my 6th loop I changed into slipper and run in it because the pain is really not tahanable anymore. I thought why not？Got runner wear slipper in marathon also right, good inspiration ? Till the last 3km, I walked, totally no more motivation ? Weak right? Only last 3km only but never bite my teeth hard and end it strong. If combine my timings for yesterday 13km and today’s 30km I did a PB! But I know it’s not counted like this lah ? Last year’s SCMS I use 5hr50mins to complete ?
Still, I can’t believe I got the courage and push myself to complete the remaining 30km today! Must be running with friends who motivates me! ? This is my longest distance this year! It’s similar to completing a Newton Run. If to compare to my Newton Run last year ending 32km in 3hrs 59mins, the timing for this 30km is not bad already. I had hope that I can complete the remaining 7 loops today but I’m not sure whether can I do it or not if not I can just come back the next day to complete the remaining distance as my longest distance this year so far is a half marathon run ?
Reach there earlier to start running because I don’t want to burden July and Sabrina to wait for me too long. I ran my first loop of the day with Nina, it is my first time seeing her. But she’s familiar because we are on each other’s Instagram. We were complaining to each other about the sun. See:
It’s 4 plus when I run my first loop. But ya, I’m trying to be positive again. I tell Nina that let’s imagine that we are in a very cold place! Zero degrees! It really helps me because I’m scared of cold actually and I don’t feel the heat or the sun anymore ? I’m really good at consoling and comforting myself, which is something not good. Like I always tell myself that its fine to be single, so what if scrolling through Facebook are all proposal photos, wedding photos, photos of babies ultrasound? What if marry already then realised I have a abusive husband or after a few kids then one day my husband just says he don’t love me anymore and get a new girfriend 20 years younger is even worse right?
Overall, Bedok Reservoir is quite a good place to run in, can enjoy the scenery but the terrain is quite tough to run in, it’s sandy. The difficult part is everytime when I’m opposite of the floating platform, I look at it with pleading eyes, it seems so far away ? But yes, luckily I’ve already cleared the distance ?
Day 3
Luckily wake up with no leg pain or any where pain other than the site of abrasions. All my abrasions from all the previous runs and other fitness torture heals already but look like patches of ugly darken skin which will not go back to flawless skin again ? One day I shall tattoo and cover up ? Am also happy that I don’t waddle like a penguin ? Still admiring the hard earn medal ?
Today was the inaugural run event of The Performance Series. It is the first of five races that promises it’s participants different unique landscapes of Singapore during each event. The 5 landscapes comprise of island, lake, heartland, reservoir and farm, bringing race participants a different and unique running experience each time. This races was created by runners for runners and each of the five races have 3 different categories, 2.5 km, 5 km and 10 km. This is to encourage all levels to join in this national movement of running and at the same time help in enhancing the running culture in Singapore and also to empower individuals to take ownership of their health.
Race Pack Collection
Race Pack collection was held at City Square Mall over one of the weekends in March. I went down on Day 1 of the collection. Before I arrive, I received a message from one of my friends who was there already, she said that there was a really long queue and she has been in line for about an hour. She was nice enough to offer to collect on my behalf and I quickly accepted and forwarded her the relevant details needed for collection.
The race pack was a Compressport Tote Sling bag which contained lots of sponsor vouchers, a bottle of Lucazade Sport drink and a pair of Compressport socks. What I felt could be done better was for the organizers to give us an option on the sock sizes. The ones that they gave me were slightly too fitting and if they had provided me with a pair that was a size bigger, it would have been more comfortable.
Race Day
This is my second run event this week and thankfully I had enough time to rest and get ready for today’s race. Race 1 was held at Punggol Waterway and I took bus 117 and it took me slightly around 40 mins to reach Punggol Interchange. As Punggol Waterway was relatively a new place for major run events, I was glad that the organizers had provided us tips over Facebook on where the race site was. It also helped that I did a recce run at the Punggol Waterway last Sunday before the race. What I thought could have done better was to place direction boards starting from the MRT station advising on how to get to the race site. From Waterway Point, it was relatively easy to get there and there were direction boards guiding us to the START Point.
Upon arrival, I headed straight for the START Pen. At first we were pretty far behind but we saw other participants heading closer to the front and decide to follow suit. The weather was starting to be warm as the sun had risen but I was glad to know I would be flagged off in the first wave if I were to be flagged off in the second wave, it’ll be such and agony to complete 10km in humid 31 Degrees Celsius weather.
Race Route
We were flagged off about 2 minutes after 07:30 hrs. The first 2 km had slight bottle necks but at least we didn’t come to a full stand still. We had to run up a slope of a bridge but that was okay. The route had gentle slopes but the difficult part had to be along the fifth to eighth km which covered trail. Coney Island was sandy and made it very difficult to jog nor walk. Sand would start to slowly enter your shoe when you do either. At that particular moment, I just felt that Coney Island was never ending and couldn’t wait to exit that place. After we exited Coney Island, there was about a more kilometer of trail before we finally headed back to Punggol Waterway Park.
What the organizers did really well was with the planning of the hydration points. They had initially planned 3 hydration points but they increased it to 4 thereafter. That was a really good call by them as the weather was really warm and humid. Having a cold drink really does energizes you.
Another thing they did well was the distance route markers! My GPS had not tracked my run properly but luckily there were these marks and that really helped me in know how far I have covered and whether I was making good time.
Collection of Finishers Entitlements
I finished the race in 1 hr 21 mins (unofficial timing), not too bad for my first 10 km run event for 2016. Crossing the Finish line I felt a sense of achievement. Looking at the Finish gantry, it did not have your usual FINISH wordings on it but it said “Well Done” and that was a refreshing change. I made my way up the stairs to the medal collections area. Everything was well labelled and well organised. I collected my Finisher Tee and my medal!
I really love the Finisher Tee as it’s cutting was really nice. It can be worn for both exercise and going out, can’t wait to wear it! The medal is also another unique one. It’s just one part of the Singapore Island. Now I’m tempted to sign up for Race 2 cause it’ll be a cool collection piece.
Race Village
The race village was bustling with life after the race with participants meeting up with friends and checking out the sponsors booth. I found a nice shaded spot to sit down and sit down for a while to cool down. When I’ve recovered, I went to find my friends for some post race wefies.
Conclusion
Overall I really enjoyed today’s race experience. Congratulations to everyone who participated and complete Race 1 of The Performance Series. Now I’m really tempted on signing up for Race 2 at the Jurong Lakes. Till my next race. Hope you all had a nice time reading this review.
You know how when you travel from the west to the east or north or south and it feels like a completely new place? Same here. Suddenly, it seems that Singapore isn’t so small. Punggol, to me, is incredibly far and I haven’t gotten the time to visit Coney Island since its opening (and since all my friends have talked about it). So despite its distance, The Performance Series gave me a chance to explore Punggol and Coney Island – both very highly rated new places in town!
Beautiful route and considerate people
The race started at 7.50am for me (I was part of the second wave runners as a result of my gross time planning). The weather was already starting to heat up and the tight starting pen didn’t really help. Personally, I would have preferred an earlier start time. True enough, the sun did beat down quite mercilessly in the second half of the race.
Once the starting horn went off, we eased out into routes that wind around waterways, cross canals and went into Coney Island at the 4km mark. The changing terrains made the race more difficult but a ton more fun. I liked the trail path in Coney Island!
At most parts of the route, there were residents running and cycling alongside us. This was a refreshing experience! It felt very much like running at the park connector at my own place but with the energy of thousands more runners. Despite that, the fellow park users were very considerate. They stopped when we went by, cheered us on and not once did I hear an impatient bicycle bell.
Sufficient hydration points and supportive volunteers
Since I haven’t been running much this week or doing much 10km races, I thought it’d be a good chance to take things slow. I decided to listen to my body and rely on the distance markers instead. They were at 2km intervals at the start and abruptly changed to 1km intervals. Although confusing at the start, I sort of made a game out of guessing the next distance.
Hydration points had water and Lucozade. It was a foreign isotonic drink to me and gave me a slight tummy ache at the start, to be very honest. But that’s to show that you should always try out your energy drinks/bars/gel before the actual race. What impressed me most was that the hydration points were so well placed that the station itself and the crowd forming around it did NOT affect the flow of runners. Major plus point! All the volunteers also appeared very sincere in cheering us on. None of them looked bored or played with their phones. (which is a pet peeve of mine)
In sum, can’t wait for TPS 2 @ Jurong Lake
Photo Credit: JustRunLah Instagram
This race brought new experiences. In part due to the new route and in part due to the vibe of the people there. It felt that it was a community run by fellow runners for runners. The volunteers and race organisers created a very positive, supportive environment. Have I also mentioned that the event shirt and finisher tee fit like a glove? They’re so beautifully designed. Plus, the next race is going to have another colour. In lieu of the upcoming races in this series, I should probably make it a personal goal to improve my race timing with each one.
Punggol has always been a mysterious part of Singapore to a Westie like me and I have yet to step foot into the newest popular nature hangout spot, Coney Island, until today. Thanks to The Performance Series, I managed to get a chance to explore the urban and natural landscapes of the area and get my running spirit on.
Race start
The start pen opened around 6:30am and I got into the first wave, standing amongst the humid race crowd all waiting for the flag-off which took place at 7:30am, as stated on the race schedule. I personally prefer races to start earlier, like 6:30am or so because the scorching heat would be less of a hindrance in the later part of the race. However, I was told that the public is only granted access to Coney Island from 7am onwards. As such, this meant that the event crew was super efficient in ensuring that all logistics were already in place, resulting in a punctual flag-off!
Narrow but smooth lanes with considerate road users
I took a quick look at the route the night before and was expecting some bottlenecks to form since we are running through a neighbourhood after all and other public road users might affect the flow. The start was slightly crammed as the roads were slightly narrow but the crowd gradually eased and road users in Punggol were super considerate by stopping their bikes or run to let groups of runners pass by. Some residents even took photos of us and cheered us on!
After the race with Justina!
Clear distance markers and sufficient hydration
Every km was marked clearly and the words ‘transcend yourself’ spoke to me each time I felt like giving up with my runny nose and weakening from the heat. Hydration stops had water and lucozade, with enthusiastic volunteers forming 2 rows on the side of the route to hand us drinks and cheers. Thank you all!
Longer than actual distance – transcending boundaries?
As per my GPS watch, the actual route was 500m longer than 10km and with that, I sprinted and gave my all in that extra road to make up for my multiple instances of pausing or almost giving up during the run. There were past races where actual versus stated distances differ which led to event organisers facing backlash from public. However, I believe that a race is a race – everyone runs that same extra distance and it is still fair because they pushed for it, and they earned it. So I guess it is all about the mindset and for me, I see that as a ‘bonus’ from the organisers to motivate participants to transcend ourselves :p
Humble race event with great potential
Being a first-time race event, I think the race organizers did a fairly commendable job of encouraging runners from all over the island (and even from other countries) to gather and sweat it out. I saw the proud smiles of Punggol residents showing fellow runners their beautiful neighbourhood; I felt the friendly yet competitive atmosphere amongst seasoned runners; and most importantly, I am motivated to train even harder for the future races! Congrats to all finishers and I hope the next few series of the TPS would be even more successful and I can’t wait to complete my medal collections 🙂 Happy Labour Day!
The SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon (SSBR & AHM) is back for its 24th edition this 28 August 2016! Apart from a limited edition Army running singlet for 21km and 10km participants, you can also expect attractive discounts for all categories. Back in 2014, the last year before its break for the SG50 Celebrations, this signature event attracted over 46,000 participants.
Photo Credit: SSBR & AHM Facebook
In other to show full gratitude to the families of our Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) active servicemen, Operationally Ready NSmen (ORNS) and those who have completed their ORNS training cycles, their immediate family members would be enjoying incredibly attractive registration packages this year. To put it simply, immediate family members of NSman registering for the 5km category will only be paying $9 each (a huge discount of more than 60 percent!). Those competing in the 21km and 10km categories will also be receiving the limited edition Army running singlet.
Colonel (NS) Simon Lim, Ministry of Defence, believes that:
“Having strong family support provides the peace of mind for our NSmen to give their best. These enhanced registration packages to NSmen’s families is our way of thanking them for their continued support to our NSmen and at the same time encourage more NSmen and their families to participate in the event together.”
Photo Credit: Singapore Records
As the signature sporting event of both the Army and SAFRA, SAF active servicemen, ORNS and those who have completed their ORNS training cycles will continue to enjoy over 75 percent discounts on their registration fees for the 21km, 10km and 5km categories. For our NSmen who are also fathers, you guys can look forward to the return of the Families for Life 800m Challenge.
The countdown to the race has begun. Registration has just opened!
JustRunLah! is proud to be the Official Online Media of SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2016.
The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge (JPMCC) is one of the races that I look forward to signing up for every year with my company. It is 5.6 km race that has it START point at the Esplanade Bridge and ends at the F1 Pit Building at Marina Bay.
Every year the slots for this race always fill up really quickly as soon as the registration email goes out. This is the 13th edition of the the JPMCC Singapore. It was launched to encourage a culture of work-life balance in a fast paced working environment.
Race day
Managed to clear whatever I was working on by 16:45hrs to go and change into our company event tee and running gear. There were a handful of us from the Support Department that were taking part in the event and all of us were super psyched for the event! As normal, we always take some wefies before we headed for the race site.
Walking to the START point, we noticed the sky was getting dark but it didn’t seem threatening for it to start pouring. There were lots of participants already at the holding pan. One of the things that I noticed was that the security were trying their best to filter the walkers and runners into the right line but not all of them knew which one was the correct one. Luckily my colleagues and I managed to get into the right lane and managed to head all the way to the front. Though we were a few meters away from the START line, it was nice to know that we would be flagged off in the first wave.
Just 15 minutes before the actual flag-off timing, it started drizzling. There were really huge drops of raindrops falling. All of us were super worried that this would get heavier and we would not be able to race. Luckily the organiser decided to flag us off early by 5 mins instead of letting us get drenched by the heavy drizzle. Thankfully, it was just a passing shower. The race was flagged off by The race the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu and Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng.
Race Route
The race was generally smooth flowing but there were some bottlenecks along the way. The bottlenecks areas were within the first kilometer when turning right to the Floating Platform and when going under the Double Helix Bridge en-route to the Singapore Flyer but luckily it wasn’t so bad till it jammed and come to a complete stop. The race route was mostly flat but the challenging part came at Crawford Street Tunnel which was slightly before the 4km mark. The up slope, down slop terrain will drain you of your energy but I still pushed. What I thought was good planning by the organizers was that they had placed a hydration point just after that challenging spot. That I think would be appreciated by lots of the participants after a conquering 2 slopes.
[Route Map courtesy of JP Morgan Website]
Collection of Finisher Entitlements and Official Race Results
I finished the race in 40 mins. Not a personal best but I’m glad I got a good workout and maintained pace throughout the race. One of the things that I like about JPMCC was that you need not wait long to get your official race timing. I received an email which was sent about 5 minutes after I crossed the Finish line that listed my average pace and Nett timing. Now that is what I call efficient.
Collection of Finisher entitlements were done in a smooth and efficient manner. Every lane was well labelled and clear queues for participants to join.
Finisher Entitlements
Bananas, a can of 100 Plus and a bottle was handed out to all participants upon completion. We were also given a Finisher Tee, a small sports bag with all the sponsor items which included vouchers from Acuvue and Watsons, Berocca sampler, Listerine mouth wash, Neutrogena SPF 50 cream and Bengay Pain Reliving Cream. All very practical products and one of the better race packs that I’ve seen this year.
Race Village
The race village always comes to live after JPMCC. There was a live band playing before the emcess came up on stage to announce the winners for the event. There were lots of stalls selling food and drinks which included ice cold beer! Who can resist?!
Lots of company had their own tents but for those who don’t, there were lots of sitting areas for runners to mingle and network with other participants,further encouraging camaraderie among companies and colleagues.
Conclusion
Overall, I did enjoy JPMCC. Everything was well organised and not forgetting the route took place in our very scenic CBD area. Definitely looking forward to the 2017 installment!
SCKLM is an inaugural race that returns on 7th August, 2016 for its 8th edition. This crazy popular race is back with all 35,000 slots completely filled up! If you’ve heard of the runners’ tradition of carb-loading with pasta the night before, you’d also like to hear of their special Pasta Party happening on 6th August! This Friendship Run and Pasta Party aim to celebrate the lasting friendships from all around the world in the spirit of the Marathon – and it’s beautiful.
#2 ASICS Penang Bridge International Marathon
Photo Credit: Asics Penang International Marathon
This international marathon attracted 60,000 runners from local and overseas to trail along the Second Penang Bridge back in 2014. At 24km-long, this bridge is the longest bridge in South East Asia. The temperature on race day typically reaches 30 degree Celcius, but the race brings you across the waters bring cooling winds and scenic views. Who’d miss that?
#3 Electric Run
Photo Credit: Time Out
You dance, you run and you can now literally race at the speed of light. This energy-buzzing race is already completely sold out and it happens annually in May of every year. The energy starts right from the beginning, with neon lights and loud music. This illuminated 5km course features exciting areas – Electro Rainforest, Rainbow Road, Sweet Tooth Acres and Under the Sea – and each zone just gets brighter than the last.
For our Malaysian readers, if you know any other races that are CRAZY-FUN, MUST-GO, comment below and let us know. 🙂
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This race report is way overdue. I decided to sit on it until now hoping that it will somehow motivate me for this Sunday’s Garang Warrior Ultra !
This 6th Edition was only my 2nd time doing it. Last year i did 95k in 15 Hrs 19 Mins – ranked 24th Overall, and 18th in the Men’s category
This year i was out running just as long; 15 Hrs 16 Mins but covering further distance, 15km more. I completed 110km, and enjoyed my first podium ever ! Men’s 3rd – Overall 5th !
New Venue :
Twilight Ultra Challenge (TUC) 2016 was the 6th Edition since it’s inception back in 2011, but was also the first time it’s being held in a new location – Sengkang Riverside Park, opposite Blk 335C Anchorvale Crescent. The previous had all been at Casuarina Grove, ECP. This new venue was deemed more challenging mentally. Where as the one at ECP was 10k per loop; 5k on either side of the main admin / start point, this SengKang one was a 5k loop as described above.
Do as many 5km laps as possible within 16 hours ! Participants head out 2.5km from the start point, before u-turning and running back 2.5km back to where they started from. This would be the equivalent of 1 lap or 1 loop of this year’s Twilight Ultra Challenge.
PROs of New Venue (vs Old ECP one)
More motivations / cheers from fellow participants ! you see them more often than you would at the old venue bcos of the 5k loops (as opposed to the 10k loop)
Better quality of the track – Park Connector standards, unlike ECP uneven, loose gravel, sandy tracks, and even potholes !
No (ECP) BBQ and ciggies fumes to contend with
No need to keep dodging the large crowds awaiting their tables at the Seafood restaurants, and especially errant parents not keeping an eye on their little ones
No food centre to distract runners like me
No dimly lit dark stretches
CONs of New vs Old Venue
Bikes, more as the night went on
No separate lanes for bikes
that said, thankfully there was no accidents nor any close-calls between bikers and runners
PRE-RACE :
I decided i was going to put my Coleman cooler box to use for this loop ultra again, just as i’d done so for GRUC. I packed it with several beverages of my choice, amongst which was Nescafe milk coffee drink. I’d tried this only once before on a run, and did not suffer any GI issues then. I’m banking on the caffeine to keep me awake thru the night. Coke, Coconut drinks, coconut juice, Lucozade, and water made up the rest of my personal hydration
I made the mistake of leaving home a little later than i’d hoped for. I decided to book a cab instead of flagging one down. I would face lesser problems with the cabbie not allowing my cooler box into his cab.
The Cabbie – at first he was a typical laojiao (old hand) cabbie. Didn’t wanna listen. When told to make a left to get out of my car park, he turned right. When told we’d have to go round and round and be back where we were, he suddenly had a change of heart and started to reverse. We nearly got hit on the back by a car coming perpendicularly at us (blind spot). Then when i asked him to take the SLE via Woodlands, he decided to go via Mandai Rd (to Lentor) instead. Many traffic lights, further delays, which stressed me even more as having departed later than i’d planned … i now found myself wondering how i was going to get dinner before the flag-off. We finally arrived and credit to him for helping me remove my cooler box from the boot. We’d done so, when suddenly he handed me a wheel. It had come off from the axle. Together we searched the boot for the nut in a patient manner but to no avail. He also waited a while (a few minutes) before he drove off
Upon crossing the road to the event site, i came across Jeeb Akid and family. He was headed for the event site too. I showed him the wheel in my hand as I continued to struggle with the cooler box. Next thing I knew, he’d returned with a trolley he’d borrowed. I loaded my stuff onto it and got to the site much earlier than if i not had his help. Thanks bro 🙂
L-R : Michael Cheng, Huang Shaofei, EuGene, myself. Pre-Race
L-R : Jason Cheong, Rozman, Tony Goh, Jeremy, Esmond, Lena. photo credits : Tan Kim Lai
L-R: Kim Lai, Nel, myself, Esmond, Foo Yat Sun, Debbie
Bib settled, photos and wefies taken, there was still a matter of dinner to worry about. Last year I’d overlooked dinner. Ended up wasting an hour to consume it afterwards sometime after the race was underway. I prayed it would not end in the same fashion this. Just then with slightly over 30 mins before flag-off Lily asked if i needed anything as she was on her way to get Chicken Rice for her boss Esmond. With about 15 mins left, we both got into our dinner ! Fishball Noodle ! A first for me, eating so soon just before the flag-off. It was actually quite exciting ! Lily was also to help me in other aspects throughout the night and into the morning. Really appreciated the Coke with salt, as well as keeping us runners company by staying up all night. This personal milestone would not have been possible if not for her help. Lily, you were instrumental ! Huge Thanks !
L-R : (back) Nel, Karl, Shaofei (mid) William, Faith, Jason Cheong, Lily, Esmond, Daniel (front) Jeeb Akid with his twin terrors, Lena, Joseph Wong, myself, EuGene Aw + the one-wheeled cooler box . photo credits : Tony Ton Ton
The Race :
I came for this race with the sole target of completing 100k ! The rest was experimental, a works in progress. The cooler box was part of the experiment. I didn’t wanna waste time queuing waiting for drinks especially Coke from the volunteers. Every second wasted is a second lost especially in the early stages when one is still fresh. Having my own cold beverages cut down on the time lost.
My original goal was to break down the loops completed into quarters, as in 5 loops per quarter. So my goal was to complete 4 quarters.
led by Race Director Ben Swee after flag-off !
I started the race slow and easy. Logical since i’d just consumed my dinner only minutes ago. My buddy was Esmond for the first few KMs before i lost him to Daniel Ong, his go-to running partner for races. This new route was preferred since it allowed me to keep track of who’s ahead and where i stood in the ranks.
The first 8 loops came and went. I remembered glancing at my watch and noticed it was in good pace too. 42.5k in 4 Hrs 30 Mins ! Would have been my SCMS PB had this been in the daytime … 4 Hrs 30 Mins inclusive of breaks taken after each loop. The last 2 or 3 of these loops were with Jeremy Lee ! I lost his company on his final 2 loops to Guru Sng Boon Heng whom he was pacing
with Jeremy Lee, we ran 2-3 loops together. we ran the first 20k of last year’s TUC together. photo credits : Run Shoot Repeat
wayang time for the camera ! Front L-R : myself, Bob, Jeremy, EuGene. photo credits : Run Shoot Repeat
10 loops completed, 50k done ! Soon the pair of Esmond & Daniel, along with Joshua Lin Lu caught up to me when i was refuelling and recharging myself. Had wanted to start the next loop with them, but when they elected to spend a few minutes to nap and rest i decided to go solo. I came across them again closer to the completion of my 11th loop. They looked as fresh as when they started the first few loops.
New Objective :
11 loops completed, and bro Jian Hong who had decided to stop after completion of 50k (he was faster than i to 50K) came over to tell me something that was to change the whole complexion of my Twilight race. He updated me on the rankings ! From 6th placed in the Male category after 10 loops, i now found myself in 3rd after 55K. 3 faster runners had decided to call it a night. I was pumped but knew the night was still young. There was still many KMs to go. From being casual, i was now focused and purposeful. And soon i became so engrossed that i forgot all about completing the loops in quarters. Every loop completed was +1 over the previous. I started paying more attention as to who the 2 male runners who were ahead of me; Bibs 150 & 58. Both Caucasians. Optimism was raised when i was told these guys might be targeting 100K only. And suddenly, i was strategizing and planning as i was looping the circuit like a hamster. My breaks after each 5k completed were also kept to a minimal.
As the night went on, I started becoming more and more apprehensive of who’s ahead and who’s just behind within striking distance to capitalize on any time wasting or slow down on my part. It was quite exciting really, and i think the adrenaline kept me wide awake, as do too the many friends i kept coming up along during the loops, and also maybe the caffeine from the Nescafe canned drinks i had in my cooler box.
beautiful shot (No Flash ! ) by Run Mo Cap
70k in or so, and someone told me that i might have been overtaken by Joshua & Szeto. They also told me about the Indian runner whom i had no idea who he was. The name Thomas did not ring a bell to me at all. Just then i spotted Szeto coming in and almost immediately heading back out without even stopping for a sip. That was like a wake-up call to me. I playfully called out : Run Szeto, run ! I am coming for you ! and hurriedly left in pursuit. I only managed to catch up to him at the u-turn point near Gerald Drive. A quick chat and my fears were unfounded. I was still holding down the Men’s 3rd placing since the 11th loop. We run-walk together till the CP. The pool of runners was considerably much smaller since 7pm, and Szeto tells me he’s going off in the morning. I was in no doubts that he be a formidable rival in my quest for podium had he had the time to run till the cut-off time at 1:00 PM. Szeto eventually completed 85k in 12 hours ! I also had the opportunity to run with my buddy from my Monster Ultra 200k attempt Jason Cheong. The Monster (Finisher) would go on to complete 80k in 11 hours 34 mins, and this was his Lantau recovery run !!! And what of Thomas the Indian ? Well, it finally dawned on me, after 5km it was my friend Tejo, or more affectionately referred to as TT or TJ
My standings in the Male Category remained unchanged since loop 11 until the start of the 17th loop. The runner just ahead of me had decided to stop after 80k. I suddenly found myself in 2nd place, 3rd place Overall, with Faith Tan who was leading the Ladies’ category just ahead of me, and the lead runner #150 at least 1.5 loops ahead of me then. There was no way i could over haul his position in a straight race if we both kept going the manner in which we were doing till the end of the event. I could only hope he really does stop after 100k.
I was still feeling good about myself and my body. I was still going strong despite not having eaten anything solid except for the Fishball Noodle dinner that i had earlier prior to flag-off. I did not want to waste any time so i politely declined any offers by friends to prep cuppa noodles. Besides, i didn’t wanna take unnecessary risk as a consequence of the food i consumed.
Gadgets :
And finally I need not fuss nor worry about charging my iPhone. That spared me a lot of hassle and time. I no longer relied on my Runtastic Pro App. I got myself a Suunto Armbit 3 Peak Sapphire back in Feb ! The only mistake i made was forgetting to Lock the button of the watch. I lost 15 mins of personal tracking when i Paused the tracking without realizing it.
photo credits : Run Mo Cap
The other thing i did which i hadn’t done for a few ultra distance runs was immersing myself in music. My new Sony Bluetooth water-resistant earphones worked wonderfully. Throughout this whole run, i only ever needed to recharge it only once and that was when the battery went completely flat. Rated to last up to 6 hours only, it surpassed it’s specifications (granted i wasn’t blasting the music on full blast). It had gone at least 8-9 hours. I left it to charge (so i was running one loop without music) and by the time i returned it was already fully charged
[it’s actually quite interesting writing this report so many weeks since the event. as i’m going thru my fellow ‘competitors’ stats, i learned and saw how the race unfolded on that day. Faith Tan, the Female Champ led the field after completion of her 11th loop, 52.5k. She lost the lead to the Men’s leader shortly after the u-turn on the 14th loop. And got pegged back further after the u-turn on the 15th loop to the next male runner. She’s now 3rd placed overall, but she made a strong comeback to regain the lead being the first to clock 90k that day. She eventually surrendered that lead for good after 97.5k but was strong enough to maintain her lead in the Ladies category, and finished the race in 2nd place Overall. 120km in 15 Hrs 22 Mins !]
Still Men’s 2nd, 3rd Overall … since the start of the 17th loop, i knew my only chance of topping the Men’s category was up when i saw #150 still going strong. He did not look like he was going to call it a day anytime soon. This was when i’d just completed my 90th km. He must have been at least 2 loops ahead of me by then, and he had just set off on yet another loop. My best bet was to buckle down and hold down my fort in 2nd place (Men’s).
photo credits : Tan Kim Lai … taken probably after 90k completed
Handa (a friend) whom i’d first met at Craze 101k back in 2014 was still breathing down my neck for an eternity. First signs of trouble felt on my 19th loop. Right ankle did not feel right. I tried not to think too much of it, but it certainly made me exercise caution. This lap took ** 44 mins (to complete the 5k loop) – longest i’d taken to complete a single loop since the start of the event. 95km done.
** Checkpoint Spot, The Official Time Timekeeper & live tracking provider’s splits were taken without including the idle time when a runner was resting at the main CP area. In other words, the splits were calculated from the moment the runner started on a new loop (eg loop 9) (crosses timing mat A), u-turn at the midway CP (timing mat B), crossed timing mat A again (one loop of 5k – 9 loops completed). If say, the runner then rested 55 mins before setting off on his next loop (10), and took 40 mins to complete his 10th loop, the split on the results page for that runner would indicate Lap10 Finish 40 mins, and not 1:35:00 (55 + 40 mins) **
Out for another loop, and suddenly the same sharp pain on my right ankle became increasingly painful. I was stopped dead in my tracks for the first few occurrences. Handa was approaching ever closer. I tried my best to run, to at least maintain a distance between him and i. I had to. I was not going to give him any encouragements from seeing me struggling. 97.5k – U-turn … i continued running in spite of the pain becoming increasing frustrating ! Round the bend, out of sight … i walked, praying he’d do likewise after the u-turn. But alas, he was still running ! and as he passed we cheered each other to push on ! Loop20 : 42:30 : 100k done : Men – 3rd : Overall : 4th
Mayday, Mayday ! :
I was distraught. The ankle was hurtiing. Plus i knew i could no longer run ! Frustrated because i was no longer in control of the situation. There was still time, but what good if no longer able to run ? Run … pushing through pain … and risking an extended period on the sideline was not my idea of how i should run. I am not a professional runner. Decisions decision, call it quits or continue prodding along. At which point now, time becomes the enemy because now those trailing behind me have the time to overtake me. Quit, and for sure lose out on the possibility of my first podium finish. Walk, and then the bitter reality that i had been narrowly edged out of Top 3. Lily & Eugene Teo (he was here last night to support the runners before going home) watched on somewhat bewildered at how fast my situation had changed from one of optimism and hope to one of utter despair and anguish. I laid down on the groundsheet to get my head sorted out. In the meantime, i’d asked Eugene to help me fill up the plastic bags i’d given to him with ice. Minutes passed, how many i hadn’t a clue. I finally got up, went to my belongings and switched out from shoes to my Teva sandals. I had to try … as the saying goes, you’ll never know if you never try ! I headed out on my 21st loop !
This was the most difficult loop of my TUC ! Demoralized, deflated, despair, tired, plus the sun was now out, and as if things could not get any worse the PCN was now bustling with activities – joggers, runners, cyclists ! 2 attempts to try running in the sandals both ended in failure. I had to walk … no more running. Loop21 : 52:49 : Men – 3rd : Overall : 5th
with my buddy William Muk. we both had different agenda for this year’s event. no chance to run together like we did last year. shot taken by Tony Ton Ton at the end of my 21st Loop. Caught William just in time as he was leaving event site
Busy working out the permutations, weighing the odds, checking with Checkpoint Spot on how much lead I had from my ‘chasers’ … and in the midst of it all, Daniel and Esmond returned with another loop conquered. They both just finished their 100k ! At one point i suspect i was almost 10k ahead of my buddies ! Daniel was contemplating stopping for good, but Esmond was still eager to go on. Eugene Teo was getting ready to head for home. We reached an agreement. We’d all walked together for this loop.
Loop22 : 1 Hr 01 Min : my slowest ever of TUC 2016 : As at the time of my completion of this loop … Men’s : 3rd : Overall : 5th … Gun Time : 15:16:48 ! 33+ Minutes of waiting to see if i was still in the Top 3 …. Loop 22 as it happened : we walked cos we both could no longer run except for Esmond. He soon left us to go on ahead on his own. Daniel – foot blisters from wrong choice of footwear; racing flats ! Eugene Teo – departed shortly after Legends Cafe to get home. And then there were 3 : Daniel, myself, and ST Ngoo (Daniel’s pacer friend). This loop was painful, but it could certainly have been a lot worst had i not had company. I’d probably might not even have attempted this loop had it not been for Daniel who went out on a last loop simply for my sake. Thanks Daniel Ong ! He completed 105km, a TUC PB for him.
photo credits : Tony Ton Ton … starting out on loop 22 with Eugene Teo in tow
photo credits : Nyoman … u-turn done and dusted
photo credits : Ben Swee … we’re done ! with Daniel Ong & ST Ngoo
Tejo arrived 10 mins after us at the CP. He still had 33 mins to complete his 23rd loop. RD Ben Swee & Yee Hua cajoled him to head out for one more. Tejo headed out and i was joking with Ben & his wife about my 3rd placed finishing prize being robbed ! I was resigned to the loss. I totally lost tracked of time nor of what i was doing since i completed my race. Soon, Tejo came roaring back in style ! I cheered him and congratulated him on his awesome finish ! We shooked hands !
TUC Conquerors : L-R : Handa, Thricey, EuGene, Steven Goh, Daniel Ong, Esmond, myself, Karl
jiak ! photo credit : Tick Hock
with The Music Man Tick Hock … photo credits : Tick Hock
so glad it’s over !
In all, 16 runners completed 100k (20 loops) or more vs last year’s 23 (2014 – 25, 2013 – 26, 2012 – 16, 2011 – 15), bearing in mind this was at a new venue and each loop being only 5k (vs the 10k ones at ECP) so it was mentally more draining and monotonous.
Top 30 Finishers of TUC 2016
3 outstanding runners to point out, all happened to be ladies – Mary & Esther. Both started the race slow and easy, and i think i was ahead by 2 loops at least at one point during the race. Both showed great tenacity to finish strong ! Mary completed 110k in 15:44. Just found out she saved her best and fastest lap for last. She completed her final 5k loop in 31 mins !!! Esther did 105k in 14:54 to finish 3rd & 4th in Ladies category. The other lady i hadn’t mention was Thricey. Gritty, resolute and tough … she endured the pain in her knee from pretty early on and pushed herself to complete 100k in 15:37 to finish 5th in her gender category (though the Results page erroneously reflected her as a male runner)
Top 3 Male Finishers
Top 3 Female Finishers
4th & 5th Placed Ladies, both displayed great comebacks
Last runner to cross the Finish Line before the 16-Hour cut-off time was up was #150 Moog Antoine, the man whom i was ‘plotting’ against, the Overall Champ from France … 125km, 25 loops, 15:52 ! The Female Champ Faith, the 2nd placed Overall – 120km in 15:22 !
All good things gotta come to an end … and soon 16 hours had come to past. Time for the prize presentations. I was completely taken by surprise when Ben called out my name for Men’s 3rd placed Finisher. I’d been pranked ! Apparently Tejo had turned back prematurely on his last loop. I’m still not sure if he was in on the prank, but regardless i had not seen it coming. $100 store voucher courtesy of sponsor Key Power Sports, put to good use with the purchase of the Ultimate Direction Stereo Hi-Fi running belt i’d been eyeing. Just as well cos i’d ran the first 50k with my iPhone 6s Plus in my hand, before removing the casing and slotting it into the back pocket of my TNF Long Haul Shorts for the rest of my journey in this year’s TUC
Top 3 Male
receiving my 3d prize from RD Ben
Tejo The Man ! gave me a run for my money !
And how did i fare for this year’s TUC ? i think i did good, better than i could have anticipated. But most importantly, i did it in the manner that i always do my races. Cheerfully, merrily, clowning around with friends and kakis, laughing and generally having a great time even thru the hardest and darkest periods of the race. To me, that is why i continue to love running. The camaraderie is the quintessential component of an Ultra race, probably one that cannot be matched by lesser distance races. The runners are all in tuned with the fatigue, the mental drain, the suffering … Elites not exempted
The Officials : Running Guild – Ben, Lok, Phil, & Teelee. Yee Hua, Checkpoint Spot, The volunteers, The medics on standby
The photographers : Run Mo Cap – Nora & Joe, Tony Goh, Wilson Ong, Running Shot Marcus, Run Shoot Repeat, Nyoman, Ming Ham, Satay & Joyful Runner.
My fellow Ultra runners and friends. This event would not have been possible without your continued support and participation. We kept each other running through the night, and for a few … into the morning and after ! Too many to name here, you guys know who you are ! Heartfelt Thanks ! 🙂
Jeeb Akid – for returning with the trolley to aid me with the broken cooler box. I think your act was key to the whole thing. It set everything in motion, and i was able to be calm instead of being a nervous wreck worrying over no time for this and that
Lily Bimmo – for dinner, and just about everything else. PB Support / Supporter. can’t thank you enough sis
Eugene Teo – for your kind words of advice and concern after finding out i was injured. I think i might have stopped at 100k. you played a part in my continuing on. and thanks for helping me to fill the bags of ice, as well as walking out on the last loop when you were bound for home
Daniel Ong – for your constant cheering throughout the night, and especially for talking me into going out one last loop and accompanying me too even though your feet were suffering just as badly. Proud to have known you, and to be a friend of yours bro 🙂
Jason Cheong / Chung Kit Szeto – for running / walking with me; your company, your continued encouragements and support to fight for podium, for hearing me blah3 lol
with Lily. consuming dinner before flag-off. photo credits : Tan Kim Lai
The Photogs : Joe & Nora (Run Mo Cap), Ming Ham (wow2wow), Tony Goh (Tony Ton Ton funshots), Joyful Runner, Satay (1Satay)
Final Words :
Lesson from this race : While you see a chance, Take it !
i leave you readers with this thought : A lad, young runner … passing (towards me) as i was going out on another loop sometime in the middle of the night, 3 AMish, maybe even 4 … suddenly asked me : “don’t feel tired one ah ?” I just smiled at him and “Jiayou” back ! but in the back of my mind was : yes i’m tired too, but i’ve got a podium to catch ! LOL … it all comes down to how much you want it, and knowing how much you willing to suffer for it. Me, i was lucky in that the injury struck pretty late after i’d completed 100k. Any sooner, and the outcome of this post would have been an entirely different story, different mood, more sombre ! I was not willing to risk a long term injury for something which i could not even be certain of, in this case the 3rd placed (Men’s) finishing … and i came to within a whisker of losing it too. I will cherish this for a long long long time 🙂
STATS :
Suunto movescount app
Checkpoint Spot Splits. split becomes active once runner crosses the timing mat on the way out until he crosses the same mat at the end of the loop. idle time – time spent resting at CP between loops are not considered
not quite certain why my Suunto tracked over distance
In recent years, we have been seeing more athletes and amateur runners wearing compression gears. While compression clothing sure adds onto the cool factor for athletes, there are many who have reserved doubts regarding the benefits compression promises. Fret not, we are here to debunk the 5 more common myths of compression for you!
Myth: Compression garments are reserved for pro athletes
Many pro athletes use compression, but compression can provide the same benefits even for beginner athletes. The benefits of compression are not exclusive and is for anyone who wishes to improve their performance. For instance, the R2V2 Compressport Calf Sleeves help with limiting vibrations, reduce muscle damage, delay muscle fatigue, improve prolonged performances and prevent delayed muscle soreness.
Moreover, wearing the R2V2 Calf Sleeves during recovery will increase the oxygen supply, eliminating toxins faster and preventing swelling. Whether you are a pro athlete or amateur runner, everyone deserves to use a quality product for your best performance.
Every 10km runner will get a pair of Compressport R2V2 Calf Sleeves at Compressport Run 2016
Myth: Warm weather makes compression unbearable
Compression gear such as Compressport products are made with light and breathable fibres for better thermoregulation. The brand new R2V2 Compressport Calf Sleeves are made from Ultralight material so it remains the most lightweight and optimises thermoregulation. The Compressport Pro Racing Socks V2.1 also uses similar technology. The 3D.DOTS Technology enables moisture to be evacuated between dots and air to circulate freely so the user’s foot remains cool and dry. This allows the socks to be breathable, which help to remove humidity and sweat while also protecting against heat, the risk of overheating, blisters and fungal infections.
Two recent meta-analysis* (based on 40 scientific studies on compression) related to sport compression have shown that using compression garments induces athletes’ better performances and recovery in any sport. In some minor studies which do not reflect any positive effects, the reason could be attributed to the use of unsuitable type of compression, for example when it is too strong or weak.
* Born DP, Sperlich B, Holmberg HC. Bringing light into the dark: effects of compression clothing on performance and recovery. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 2013;8:4-18
* Hill J, Howatson G, van Someren K, Leeder J, Pedlar C. Compression garments and recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: a meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med, 2014;48:1340-1346
Every 5km runner will get a pair of Compressport Pro Racing Socks V2.1 at Compressport Run 2016
Myth: All compression garments may be used in any and every circumstance
Before, during or after a workout, your body needs different types of stimuli. Different compression products are designed for different purposes: to reduce the feeling of lightness before, for reducing vibrations and thus delaying fatigue; reducing risk of injuries during; and for faster recovery after. The key is to use the suitable product for its designed purpose in order to reach maximal efficiency. In fact, compression gear can be used in any sports, for better performance and protection against injuries.
Myth: Compression garments can’t reduce the risk of injuries
A scientific study carried out on more than 1200 sportsmen and presented to the last International Olympic Committee (Monaco 2014)* has shown a significant reduction in risk of injuries (29%) when a sportsman always and rigorously use compression during his training and competitions.
*Ménétrier A (2014). The use of elastic compression to decrease the risk of injuries.Br J Sports Med 48:638
10% Discount for Compressport Run 2016 for our readers!
Great news for you guys: all 10km runners are entitled to a pair of Compressport R2V2 calve sleeves (worth $79), while all 5km runners are entitled to a pair of Compressport Pro Racing Socks V2.1 (worth $29)!
On top of of that, all JustRunLah! subscribers can get a 10% OFF with promo code: CR2016JRL10. Simply key in the promo code during check-out to claim the special price.
Like it or not, running makes for a really great cardio workout. Running is an incredibly effective and efficient form of exercise for burning calories. The best way to burn more calories while running is to mix and match short, medium, and long intervals to keep your body working harder and burning more energy.
2. Expensive equipment isn’t required
Running can be done anywhere, anytime. There is no need for expensive gym memberships or equipment for you to enjoy a good run. In fact, our favourite runs are always done outdoors, where we can discover new running routes and sceneries around Singapore.
Running alone can allow you to hit the mute button on the world and take full advantage of exercise’s stress-busting benefits. Running alone gives you the space and time to think and concentrate or completely clear your mind and zone out. Sometimes, we need running to give ourselves this extra space to reflect or step away from the demands of our everyday lives.
4. It lifts your mood
Running releases happy hormones called endorphins. It is our very own natural happy drug. Our body produces them when we push ourselves hard enough in a run, but not at max effort, in response to physical discomfort. It makes our runs feel easy, exhilarating, even euphoric. Are you always feeling high after a good run? That’s a great feeling and now you know what’s the cause for it!
5. It boosts creativity
Running improves our brain power by encouraging the growth of grey matter directly, which is linked to our memory. The aerobic nature of running also boosts our brain with oxygen, which improves our cognitive skills. This means that running keeps our brain strong, and this makes us more creative, more efficient, and better in the things we do.
6. It provides a chance to go outside and enjoy nature
What better way to enjoy our surroundings than actually taking the step out to be closer to nature itself? Running allows us to explore nature more intimately. When we run through a park, we can enjoy the fresh air, feel the cool breeze and listen to the peaceful sounds of nature. If you love running in nature, do try trail running or join some trail races to enjoy the full experience!
7. It reduces stress
If you lead a hectic and stressful life, running can be your best friend. Psychologically, running gives you a set amount of time to be alone with your thoughts. If you’re able to use this to your advantage, you can use that time to get your brain around an issue at the office or the problem with your significant other.
In studies, regular runners generally say they live a happier, more stress-free life than their housebound counterparts. Aside from simply being happier because you’re in better shape and feeling good, endorphins also play a big role in these results.
8. It fights depression and anxiety
As mentioned earlier, endorphins trigger a positive feeling in our bodies. The euphoric feeling that follows a run or workout, is known as a “runner’s high,” and can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life. Regular exercise has also been proven to ward off anxiety and feelings of depression.
9. It lengthens your lifespan
Running gives us stronger lungs and improves blood pressure and blood sugar sensitivity. This means that running can give us better cardiorespiratory fitness, which translates to a longer lifespan for us. Furthermore, light or moderate running boosts our body’s natural immune system by circulating protective cells through the body faster, to attack and eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi.
10. It gives you strength
Running can let us feel self-empowerment because it let us have control of our own body. When we overcome the pains and sufferings in running, we feel psychologically stronger to take on other problems in our life too. Running also helps to give us realistic personal goals to work towards to.
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