The words printed on every banner as i lifted my head "Run Your Own Race"
I was thinking to myself. Different people run for different purposes. therefore, that saying is true in every sense because you are running to achieve. your goal.
i completed the marathon of 42.195km on 2nd Dec 2007 with a timing of 04:43:45:95! it is not exactly fabulous but i am proud of it. My target was under 5 hours.
starting off at the starting line with me at 0530 (crazy timing i know, but it's pretty cool to be in the town area running so early) was Zihao and Weiyang. Zihao was super high while i seemed a bit tense. haha. afterall the long preparation was all for this ultimate run. we were standing in the sub 4 hours box (act zai a bit) and at 0530 sharp, the horn went off and off we go. on our 42 km!
1st stretch was Marina area. wind was great, no sun, i know my pace was good. i lost track of the two of them. i was thinking they went to the toilet or something. found them and lose them again. so i just decided to follow the race slogan of running my own race. and i believe they will want me to go ahead too.
i am beginning to go past area i have never been to. there was this building at this marina south pier and it is pretty. like a glass house. i swear i will be there someday to really see what it is. heard some runners say the food there is not bad! o ya, and i spotted the kenyans running past on the opposite road (yeah they are that fast!)
so it was a big round back to the starting point at esplanade bridge and off we go towards ECP. sun is coming out now but it is still pretty cooling at this point of time. supporters make my day. their cheering really pushed me on. at the bridge, people offered bananas and water (out of their own pockets!). u see, that's the spirit of keeping everything fun and cool the way they are doing it.
it was up Nicoll Highway and then Kallang. just as i was going to turn into ECP at Fort Road, i saw Sharon (weiyang's girlfriend). then next, it was a super amazing moment. the first runner (Kenyan i suppose) was on the other side. meaning he has completed his whole ECP and running back to the finishing line!! i was stunned. i looked at the big timer on top of this car and it reads somewhere 1 hour 40 - 50 minutes plus.
alright, a left turn into ECP and this is the playground for runners! it's just one straight stretch of road with the turning at the 26km mark. i was super motivated at this point of time because i know i am going to go into my longest distance ever ran (furthest was 21km). as i was indulged in that thought, the 21km mark appeared and i checked my watch. 2 hours 10 minutes. unknowingly, i broke my own personal record (was 2hour 14 minutes) and my next thought was fear of over exertion on the 1st half stretch.
"aiya, heck la, just run" that's what i was thinking when i shook away that fear. just run man! ECP was fun. a lot of supporters and they were great. more free bananas! drinks were plentiful at the drinks station. as some of my practice runs were in ECP, it was actually a pretty good stretch. the view and wind were great but the sun was coming on and the heat is turning up.
at 27km, the fatigue and pain is catching up with me. 6km more than my longest distance ever. i have to stop for the first time in the race. i begin to walk and swallow my fourth power gel pack. then i saw hao and wei yang. seeing them just makes me wanna go again. and yeah off i go. didn't last long, stopped at 30km and subsequently almost at every 1.5km.
sun was coming down hard on us. burning skin, aching calves, tired quads, funny ankles, abrasions on underarms. at 35 - 36km, it was the most torturous moment of the race. took up 2 cups and pour water over my head and drank half a cup. glup down the last powergel. looked at my watch. wonder whether i can really make it under 5 hours. and i was just thinking, every step forward is one step closer to the finishing line. so i went.
last 3 km. somewhere near esplanade. supporters were there. and they were cheering so hard that if you don't run, you seem to be letting them down. picked up my fatigue body and pounded the concrete with heavy steps. but as i move closer to the line, cheers get louder and it just gives me more motivation to run faster. so i unknowingly picked up speed. and for that last 3 km, i didn't stop a single step. i just ran.
beep. i pressed my watch and it says 4 hr 43 mins. and i smiled to myself. i did it. =)i shall never doubt myself again.
PS: Hao, the cramps were really most unfortunate but i am real proud of you completing the race even under such undesirable condition. seriously, you're the man.
Weiyang, good job in the race! try again next year and we shall aim higher.
Wee Ling, great effort!! this is the first of many to come right.pick up more tips from work and i am sure we will go to greater heights
Ling Xiu: Fantastic. 4th in age group among the girls! so are u migrating to Kenya soon?
Fana: Thanks for the loud shout at the last stretch. it really works! a pity u cant run due to your flu. next year. see ya with the black tee!
also to those familiar faces during the race. yun kay, amy, sharon and wei bin etc. you all contributed to me finishing the race. thank you!
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008. here i come!
but let me rest my legs for at least a week first! deep heat, here i come!
biting my way through.we are all real tired
that's us. finished!
the finisher's tee.
