Call me crazy, 'siao', stupid, running freak.. whatever!~ anyway i did it.. i'm an offical ultra-marathon finisher for the very 1st night run in Singapore.. 84km.. i've done it.. i'm one of the 300 runners who completed it.. seriously.. i feel very proud of myself.. this is not 'hao lian' or what.. but it is a kind of self satisfaction, achievement which nothing could ever describe.. you can only feel it, once u have done it.. it's the toughest race of all.. i lost 4kg over a night.. i spent 12hr 44mins running/walking/struggling/limping... almost gave up.. almost cried while struggling with the pain in my knee.. but somehow i managed to cross the finishing line..
Before-Race
Met up with Wei lun and Zhen wei at Pasir ris Mrt control.. we took bus 89 to Changi.. along the way we were talking about what were our stragery for the run.. cos somehow 3 of us fear that we might not complete it.. when were reached Changi beach, the whole place was super crowded as the ultra and team run started at the same time.. so we actually felt very 'great' as we were the handful of people out of thousands of runners doing the ultra.. the atmosphere was so special.. we deposit out bag, special need bag, took the light stick and put it around our wrist.. it was so cool..!!! =) did some stretching and walked towards the start line..
During-Race
Once we crossed the starting line, 3 of us were running side by side.. maintaining at a very slow pace 8km/hr.. lots of team runners were running ahead of us... we were actually quite discipline not to go too fast.. as there was still a long way to go.. after abt 5km, wei lun fell behind.. so zhen wei and i maintain our pace and finally the ultra runners were left on thier own as the team runners 'u-turn' back.... coastal road is damn boring.. but luckily the volunteers were their to break the silent.. yeah!! after abt 10km.. we reached ECP.. there was where we have to keep within our pace cos when u ran passed people esp the girls, u tend to go a little faster.. haha.. alright even though we were maintaining at a steady pace, somehow we were able to overtake some of the runners.. after u-turn, saw Kk and weilun.. gave them a thumbs up and waved at each other.. after about 2 hrs++ we left ECP.. after crossing the 1st overhead bridge, there was a lady giving out free red bull.. hmm.. so zhen wei and i shared the can.. we ran passed kembagan mrt, bedok town park.. then we reached an overhead bridge where we have to climb up.. yes steps all the way.. saw a disabled participant who i think was paralysed from waist down used his own effort to make his way up the steps.. he didn't ask for help.. that gave me some motivation.. after that we reached Bedok Res.. i started to fall back as i felt that my legs was gonna go cramp.. so zhen wei went ahead of me.. we were abt 200m apart.. i tried to follow his pace and eventually lost sight of him when i reached tampines park connector.. so i contiuned my run.. and look at my watch.. almost 4hr and left with 8km which was well within my target of 11hrs.. after running non-stop for 4hrs and once i reached the 35km mark, i stopped.. and started to switch to 'walk-run' strategy... finally i reached Changi and i jog my way through the finishing point.. but wait!! that was only the 1st half.. i still need to go for another 42km.. haha.. the feeling of completing the 1st round was great.. i ran passed this small bridge.. once i crossed over this bridge, the people were clapping and cheering for me.. the whole atmosphere was fantastic.. 1st time i'm felt this way.. all the attention was on me as there wasn't any runners infront nor behind of me..time check!~ 4hr54mins..
:: One of the 'Up-Sloping' OverHead-Bridge ::
:: This water cooler saved me ::
Made my way to the pit stop.. took my sport beans and chew it along the way.. wanted to jog again.. but couldn't so i walked for the next 1km+ until i get out of changi beach.. then the hell began.. the coastal route.. it was boring.. but the volunteer never failed thr runners.. they were as enthu as ever.. i would try my very best to smile at them for their effort to make them felt that they were important for the runners.. after abt 2km+ of walking, finally i'm back to 'walk-run'.. run abt 600m and walk abt 200m and eventually i made my way to ECP.. once i reached ecp, my whole legs felt weak.. and my knee started to feel alittle pain.. so i rest at one of the bench and do some stretching.. at this point, some of the runners over took me.. they were strong.. after that i walked most of the way and did some self-reflection..haha.. until i reached the cable ski lagoon.. where i turned on my hp-mp3.. ahaha.. and the momentum was back.. i kept running for most of the distance until i reached the u-turn point.. after which i walked again.. total exhausted.. hungry and sleepy.. at Ecp Macdonald, it was tempting to get a double cheese.. but i didn't.. anyway there was this emcee who was cheering for all the ultra runner.. there was a point where i walked until he said "Sundown ultra marathoner.. after tonight u will become an Ultraman.." i felt motivated and somehow i managed to run again.. and then he was saying something like "yeah man.. there's way to go.. all the way.." haha then i realised tt ultraman was actually refering to me.. i was so ps.. so in order to maintain a 'zai' image.. haha i ran until i almost left ECP.. then for the rest of the route, it was purely walk and a little of run.. my mind was tired.. drained.. when i reach bedok town park, the sky started to drizzle a little.. thunder could be heard and lightning was within sight.. i was so afraid that they might stopped us.. at that moment the video clip of Avivao 70.3 suddenly appeared in my mind.. the clip mentioned this.. "The rain can't stopped me.. the only thing that can stopped me is... ME".... so i actually ran hard and took little walk break.. until i reached bedok res.. at this time the sun was up.. khai yau who ran the 42km called me and asked where am i.. i told him i still have abt 12km to go and told him to go home 1st as i was struggling with my knee.. while talking on the phone i noticed that i actually had missed one of the turning point cos the marshall who was supposed to guide us was seeking for shelter and that guy infront of me also missed the turning point, and i literally followed him blindly haha.. i was like wtf.. lolz.. nvm.. took a toliet break.. and walked the rest like almost 10km.. Zhen wei and Xin Zhong called me asking me where am i.. i told them "Jia Lat man.. knee pain.. a long way to go.." haha... the last 8km was a total struggled... it was that moment where i really felt like giving up and the word 'suffering' appearred..i couldn't even jog for more than 10m.. felt like crying.. "ArghZzz" Mental Torture.!! i left with no choice but to walk and took serveral breaks at the bustop.. it was kinda embrassing when u walked passed people and volunteers(though some of them were sleeping).. i couldn't afford to risk my knee.. so i chose to walk.. when i reached Changi, Kk ran passed me.. he still looked fresh.. while i was like a zombie.. saw the finishing line, so i jogged again.. i looked arn, most of the people had left.. and finally i crossed the finishing line.. i've done it..!!
After-Race
Felt so relieved after crossing the finshing line.. though not much people were there cheering for me(abit disappointed).. but the feeling of making it through still felt good.. took my finisher medal and tee.. sat on a chair for a while.. before i limped my way home.. ok i took bus.. i din walked home haha...
hmm.. i would definitely rate this as the toughest race so far.. the route was tough with lots of up slopes.. The whole experience was excellent.. the
volunteers were the best i ever came across.. they made my run easier.. there were alot of eye candy too.. hehe.. yeah.. but they look young.. so haha.. ok.. now lots of my friends called me 'siao' after knowing tt i completed 84km.. hahaa.. would i do this again? yes definitely.. maybe not 84km.. at this moment once is enough.. haha.. but not too sure by the time when the registration starts.. hahaa.. if the date for next year sundown it not close to the exam.. perphape i can consider doing 84km again.. as for now.. shall focus on shorter distance.. preparing for IVP.. =)
:: Finisher Tee-Medal-Towel and Event Singlet ::
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Watched Singapore Vs Uzbekistan at National Studium on Monday with kelvin.. Singapore kena trashed.. we were outplayed by the opponents.. however, we could see lots of improvement on the team.. but sad thing is we had quite a numbe of "foreign talents" in the team.. about half of the team were not "true" Singapoean.. it's a sad thing to see this.. i don't think it's gd for our local players who are currently trying very hard to shine.. sigh..
:: Where were the Die-Hard Fans?? ::
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Had two mahjong sessions this week.. 1 lost 1 win... was very lucky on the 2nd session.. haha.. even can "zhi mo" 5 tais.. got a couple of 3 tais win too... I'm hook on Mj again.. HELP!!!.. hmMmm...
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Had track training on tues and thurs.. was kinda surprised tt my legs feel alright during the training.. though i felt tired easily.. but i guess i haven fully recovered from Sundown.. hmm.. thurs did hill intervals.. feel a slight pain in my lower right shin.. and when i woke u the next day it's felt bad bad bad.. haha.. guess i overtrained? not sure just needa some rest... =) Went to Sentosa on sat with some of the trackmates.. it was pouring.. but we still enjoyed ourselves under the rain.. haha.. after tt went to Scott's place to play Mj(2nd mj session mentioned above).. after tt reached home arn 3am.. was kinda tired but i still got a run at 630am at ECP.. in the end i went for the run without any sleep.. anyway.. was very slow in this 15km run.. my shin still hurts.. in the end completed the run in 1hr40mins.. which was kinda slow consider the fact tt i'm able to complete 21km within the same timing.. so.. glad tt i finished the race... haha.. din really wanna miss any run that i've signed up.. so =)
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Found a Temp Job at ESPN Star Sports.. It's a really cool place.. pay not bad also.. conisder tt i'm only a temp staff.. quite a number of Temp staff over there who are around my age.. Enjoy working there.. Heard that it is a place where temp staff will kena 'axed' easily.. Hope i'm not the next.. hahaa...
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Went for Poly garthering on sat.. We went to Fish N Co.. only 9 of us turned up.. can conisder not a bad turn out already.. surprised to see hui shan , jolene and rudy.. cos they hardly come for any garthering.. hmm.. after that went to PS Mac'cafe and chit chat.. wanted to go TCC.. but it was full.. almost missed my last train from town to Pasir Ris.. the last train to City Hall had left Dhoby... so i walked very fast.. fast.. really fast.. to catch the last train from City hall.. Phew!!~ luckily i managed to take the last train...
