If there's one thing that I can't live without it today....it's gonna be the air-con. Staying in the office with air-condition from day till almost sundown Mon-Fri, little did I know how strong is the heat out there.
So why am I so stressed over things that's happening today.... It goes like this........................
Wed: Approach by Sundown organizer to help out in the familiarization run #3 today. Task given = sweeper. Have to come back the last, if not the last few at least. I didn't have much thought abt it and due to KL marathon, there wasn't much sgrunners ard and sensing some desparation from organizer, I agreed but voice out that I will not be doing the entire 34km, prob ard +-28.
Thurs & Fri: Started to get worried. It's gonna be my longest distance ever. Why do I agree to sweep in the first place. I MUST BE ON DRUGS!!! Grumbling to myself and JC almost everyday, I can't wait for it to over.
Sat: Received a PM from organizer. Wah..sound so official. LAGI stress! Couldn't sleep at night. Having a slight gastric.
Sun: Woke up pretty fresh, leave home to BR start point. Run flag off around 6:45am having Raven together with me as sweeper. It was a pretty big group. More than 50 I reckon.
The Run:
Not a suprised to me, majority of them are not familiar with the route, hence the existence of such familiarization run. It's my home ground and I have no problem at all giving the direction to all that are unclear. I covered the front group of the back pack while Raven is covering the rear of the back pack. Weather was fine and all is good.
With some break here and there waiting to ensure that Raven & the backgroup are within my sight and running on the right track, I reach CV approx after 2 hrs. Cfred was already patrolling around with his bike. The rest proceed to to Changi Beach while I waited for some of the last pack to U-Turn. BAD CHOICE!!!! Real bad choice.
It was quite a long break at CV for me & before I knew it, the sun is up in full force. IT IS HOT!! If I knew it, I would have make my way back sooner. Once Philip sms me that the last pack is at u-turn pt, I made my way back with 2 lady. Sensing that one of them is not too alright (back pain & hitting the wall), I call Philip to get them to pick her up at the bus stop and have cfred to keep her company until they come while I proceed back with one of the lady.
Once out Loyang toward Pasir Ris, I am seriously badly affected by the sun. It's burning hot on my skin. I can feel the heat on my arms and calves. I reckon that I've not been training under such weather, usually finishing my long run b4 10am, this is really zapping up my energy. Legs are still so fresh, yet......:( If not the visor that I have, I think I would have fainted...haha...
Towards Tampines Ave 9, I saw another lady going back and forth with the map. Hmm..I think she's lost. Gave her the direction while I'm still slowly struggling back. Reaching Tamp Ave 10, there's prob another 2km to go. That 2km will probably take forever to reach. I rested a while at the bus stop. 2 young man came along with one of them is also running on very low fuel. I told them only +-2km to go if not can choose to take a bus then run another 800m or so. They agreed to take the bus. I am also seriously...hmm...not on low fuel...but really hate the thoughts of going that 1+km plus of pavement with no shelter and with the heat burning on to my already semi-burnt skin. Ok. I decided to take bus with them. Alighted and shortly we are at BR, a few more hundreds meter to end point. And again, it takes forever. My goodness...the wind in BR is warm! My ice cold water has turn into hot water. I think if I were to carry an egg with me at the start, it would have been cook by now. Just nice to eat it at end point :) I was slightly in front of the 2 guy when one of them ran to me and say they are going off as his friend is not well. I acknowledge and make my own solo way to end pt. By the time I reach... most of them have dismissed with only 2 more ladies and raven behind.
Ripley and gang was there and all I need was that ice cold drink. Had 6 glasses of it before they disposed all off to the longkang..haha...actually..I think I can take a few more glasses....haha...
Anyway, the sweeper role itself was not as stressful as I thought. It's probably the starting part where ppl are not familiar. Mostly will know their way back and it's pretty an OTOT kind of run. Apart from the heat.... I think it was a pretty good and well organized run :)
chow-tar-ed
on Sunday, March 30, 2008DIE DIE !!!!
Why am I putting myself in such stressful position!!!! Is this the outcome of "whack first and think later??"
**What never kills you will make you stronger**** I shall be repeating this to myself for 5 hours if not more come Sunday....Wish me luck!
Thou shall not be influenced
on Tuesday, March 25, 2008***"stole" this from someone's blog****
What: The inaugural Sundown Marathon 2008
Where: Changi Village
Distance: 84km & 42km
Time: 8pm & 11:59pm
I have been having a little bit of peer pressure here and there lately to sign up for this event. The route itself, is no alien to me since it is my training ground. If I do it, it's gonna be my virgin mara..haha... Apart from having to run such a long distance, it's also going to be a challenge for me to stay awake since the 42km is starting at midnight. For those who know me well, u know what I mean. My eyelid will shut off, my nose will be block when my biological clock strike. Apart from that, I'll also have to listen to my knee and PF in the next few LSD session to see if it's giving me any serious problem....The list goes on and on..... :) So.... am I up to it? Will I just "whack and think abt it later"? Hmm...let's see.... I'll DEFINITELY be there. To either support, volunteer or run or pacing JC a portion of his 84km. So ya....you WILL see me at Sundown :)
Easter for the crazy one...
on Friday, March 21, 2008In view of a long weekend, there's at least 2 groups of 'crazy' one that I knew off who did something extraordinary to challenge themselves physically and mentally.
The first 'not-so-crazy' group that is not from the other 2 groups and I happen to join this gang, we met at 630am at ECP C4. Non-runners are probably classifying us as crazy still. Waking up at 5am on a public hol to go for a run!!! Siao!! There's only 5 of us this morn and it's my pleasure having 4 gentlemen running with me...hehe.... Probably due to the bike session they had before the run, the pace for today is just nice for me. Not too fast for me to catch up and we stayed together almost 80% throughout the entire run of ard 20k.
Now the other 2 groups. The first, meeting at ECP B1 yesterday night at 1030 to start their 45km run, themed as "Prata Run". The intention to stop at various prata shop for a quick bite and replenish their fuel, hence the theme of the run. Organized by SGrunners, this is the first time JC joined the gang. Finishing their run at 5am, I got an sms from him = "teruk"..haha... This man..... go tell ppl his nick is "ST"!!!! :( If ever the real ST can do that kind of endurance run.........hmmm...I wonder whether "ST" will appear in the Prata Run forum later......:P
The second group also did a 40+km run since yesterday night and link up with us at ECP, happen to be their end point. I looked at fennel. She is such a tough and strong lady. Her backpack is soooo heavy!!! And she has been running with that througout the last 7+ hours!
Salute these ppl for the endurance and willpower to complete man!!! JIA YOU JIA YOU!!!
It was such a warm weather today. The moment I step out at 6.30am, I can feel the heat around me. No wind at all. Proceed as per plan, I board the train to Kembangan and start my long journey towards ECP. The distance from Kembangan to ECP is approx 2.3km. 3 times throughout this 2.3k, my knee is giving me some signal...bad one..:( I dunno what is runners knee but the pain is a short sharp pain on the knee cap. Came suddenly but disappear pretty fast. Like the bones are rubbing one another?? Hmm...pain enough to stop me from running. Anyway, I kind of ignore it and move on....
It's hot, real hot and the knee pain come and goes... U-turn somewhere along the garden and back to Kembangan. Not really an enjoyable run today...
~~~~
On a separate note, saw a recipe on home-made portebello burger... I love mushrooms. Can't wait to try it. So I snapped a pack of this gigantic mushroom from NTUC with all necessary ingredient. Portebello mushrooms coated with cheese, teriyaki sauce, tomato and mini hamburger bun....... grill for 5 mins...Simply delicious!!!!!!!!!
Quote from LT "Whack first, think later".........
I did something today..... it shall be review when time is right :)
The need to satisfy the urge
on Wednesday, March 12, 2008
This kind of weather, it's best to hibernate at home...
What am I doing here.......
Time to go?
on Saturday, March 08, 2008My beloved partner who have been with me in the last couple of years...at least 3-4 years I reckon, is prompting me in the past few days that it's time for him to go. He need to rest after all this years. I gave him some chance, hoping that he will recover. Yet, it seems that his performance is deteriorating.
Hmmm....IT show ends tomorrow. I got to decide fast whether I wanna to replace him.......
Fruitful weekend
on Monday, March 03, 2008It was a good weekend so to say..both mentally and physically. Mentally good because I get to rest or rather...I managed to get a lot of sleeps. Not that I didn't have enough sleep, but I'm always deprived of sleeps..haha.. Also met up a bunch of old friends from KL happen to be in SG this week.
Physically is also feeling good, all thanks to the Too's for a good run on Sunday at MR. Especially Joanna and Hoho. If not because of her, 1st, I would have lost my way. 2nd, I would have stop and walk. Having her within my sight at the front really pushes me to work harder so that she don't need to wait too long for me as I requested her to give me the direction whenever there is any junction ahead. She pre-empt me that for a first timer to go up that slope (was it UPR slope or seletar) is a bit tough. Hoho also asked me to conserve some energy just before we head off to air-con road. I acknowledge and slowly steadily make my way while the 2 is about 50m in front of me. Nice view at the reservoir and golf course really.... Why on earth have I not been to this place after stayingin SG for > 10 years!!! Ok..so after exiting the trail, I'm warmly welcomed by the slopes. Still feeling ok. It's just the beginning. The fun is yet to come. To air-con road and turn left to the 'gate'. Wah....slopes and slopes... The guys were way in front and I can see them coming back to my direction while I'm steadily making my way up those slopes. First Terence, LT and Burnz...all giving me a "JIA YOU". Haha... Sometimes it's nice to run in groups :) Next hoho appears telling me that I'm reaching the top soon...Jia You again! Joanna waited for me at the gate. We rested a few seconds and make our way back. Ya...going thru the same slopes again... Sigh..can't remember how many slopes have I climbed. Doesn't matter. All I know is I'll have a stronger leg and a better stamina after this session...ahaha
Throughout the entire run, Joanna brought me to various routes that I've never been before. Well, that is their usual 20km route. Part of it is the same as MR ultra but the rest, it's new to me. Glad that I completed the entire journey with no injury. Though exhausted but it's ok. Not a problem at all. Feel super shiok and good inside. Spent close to 3 hours incl water/toilet break.
Came back around 10.15am spotted the guys showering in public with the pail..etc...haha..(with their tights on of course) and Fennel washing her hair. Joanna quickly grab her camera to snap. I suggested to post it in our "Photo of the month" forum..LOL!!!Time to feast at Whampoa!!!! Went home zzzzz again for 2 hours...:)