Northface 2012 - 50km ?

Northface 2012 – 50km ?

When I signed up for Northface 2010, I told myself this is the first and last time. I just want to participate and go through the experience, knowing how tough the race encompasses.

Fastward to Northface 2012, I did took part of the race on 13 Oct 2012. Someone signed up for me, so I am officially didn’t signed up as I said to myself few years back.

How I ended up running? Well, it is a long story behind the twists and turns. I have to be silenced if I reveal too much here.

As expected, it has been mentally and physically challenging to go through the weeks of training to gear up for the event. 2 x 40km has been planned, I did complete only once. Did a few 30km+ runs. Shins have not fully recovered since KL marathon 2012, add on to the challenge. Peak run 1 month prior to the event. Thinking back now, I think this is the right strategy to adopt.

Unlike the last Northface which have several issues confronting me, this year approach has been better managed. Though with niggling body aches which might flare up during the run; I am fresh and ready for the run.

Strategy: Walk the incline slope, run the down slope. Try to run the flat portion(if possible). Keep a minimum 6km distance per 1 hour. Prefer 6.5km to be on the safe side. Finished around 8-8:30hrs.

Date: 13^th Oct 2012

Event: Northface 50km

Venue: Macrtichie Reservoir

Time: 6:45am

I have reached race site around 5:30am. Get the usual parking lot and get myself prepare. Many others are there and we chat, joke along.

Race start on the dot(6:45am), and off we head off on our journey. Unlike training when we run together, this is OTOT. I started carefully and gingerly behind. Not putting too much effort and keep it easy. Shunyin and Angela are running around me until rifle range road. That is the last I seem them.

Meet up with Jancy and Vincent at Ranger station. She has a fall and as usual(blab blab blab). Nothing serious just cuts and bruises. We ran close to each other to the end. Strangely but true.

Reached 10km point at 1:29hr(pace is on target). Miss out on replenishment of the water bag at 2x water points. The past experience starts to alarm bells and I have to silently cursing myself.

Reached 3^rd water point(which I didn’t expect) near one of the rear carpark in Bukit Timah area. Phew, quickly top it up. Still feeling okay.

Bypass the 4^th water point and head straight to the Petir road whereby our supporters are waiting. It has been nice to meet familiar faces. Grant a cup of gassy 100 plus(not a good idea) and grab some fruits.

Reached 20km point in 2:40hr(pace is ahead of target). Felt strange that I actually gained timing! I am going at an easy pace, shouldn’t be that fast. Anyway, distance marker might not be accurate. Just run!

Keeping a clear and focus mind, slow moving ahead. Keep telling myself, the body is okay, just relax and move along. Reached Mandai road junction and surprise to see Ray and Joanne. The slacker really turns up! I grab a very refreshing energy drink in a pouch! If it is the last 10km, I wouldn’t mind a beer, but not at this stage, whereby the fun about to start!

Cross the road and head into Arsama. Meet up with Cher, Voon Ho and Tiwazz along Mandai main road. Grab some grapes and keep on moving!

Topped up waterbag to the rim at the 5^th water point and grab a packet of energy yummies ! Cannot take risk going inside, this is going to be the make/break point!

Time check, 3:30hr heading in. 9 km inside Arsama loop. Gave myself till 5hr to exit Arsama. Weather is hot as expected. Slowly walk and run along,  .256 as the target and slowly moving along.

The familiar training shed, off I go up the slope, whereas many take a breather at the training shed. It wasn’t that tough as expected. Glad that I make it up as to me this is the U-turn point. Happily head downwards and back to Arsama gate.

Hmm…reached the water point at 4:40hr. I am way ahead of my expectation, which is good. Replenish the stock and headed out.

Meet up with the support crew of Cher and the rest at Mandai road side. Saw Terence for the first time as he is heading into Arsama for the 2^nd time(he is doing 100km)!. Wish he good luck and I have to push on.

Left groin area starts to show sign of cramping up. Quickly take out heat rub to suppress the pain. I meet up with a foreigner that have good walking speed. I have to run to catch up with him. We leap frog each other until end of Rifle Range road before I ditched him for good.

Nice to see Joanna and the gang along Chestnut Avenue. Took a breather and rested for a while restocking before moving on. In front of the support point is 40km mark, according to Joanna, every runner GPS states it is 37km+. It doesn’t matter anymore as I know I am going to complete it, most probably faster than my previous trip. Total distance based on most GPS is around 48km for the entire race.

So nice to be back at very familiar training ground as I know each twist and turns like the back of my hands. I enjoy the run as I move forward. Caught up with Aili almost at the end of the pipeline(leading to rifle range). She has resort to walking for quite a while now, by looking at her posture. Urging her along as we accompany pace each other till the end.

Kind of disappointed when it seems that the water point near Durain loop seems to be running very low on supplies of water. Fortunately the last water point at the end of Rifle Range road has sufficient to top up my waterbag for the last stretch.

Jancy, Aili and myself slowly jog into MR. Saw a lady foreigner fallen and we help her up. Tough cookie, no injury and she just want to finish. I understand her feeling, there is a point in running that what you care is just to FINISH it. She did a lot of running from my observation and seems to have abundant energy in reserve. At the end 4 of us finish close by each other.

When I reached the last 2.4km mark, I knew the distance is going to way shorter than 50km!

Slow and steady, crossed the finishing line at 7:22hrs. Phew! I make it.

Shun Yin and Angela finished within the cutoff time as well. In fact everyone completed! Cool.

Thinking back, the training in preparation is sufficient. The strategy to peak a month before the event is the right move. I feel fresh before the run and is in control of myself throughout. Most probably i could have push the pace a little faster. Well, run should be enjoyable. Till next time. If there is one. 

New Forest Half Marathon 2012

Where is New Forest? If you ask me 6 months ago, I am most probably should be the one asking the question.

In life, if everything goes according to script, it will be monotonous. Just do it, when the opportunity presents itself.

I am on a business trip to Reading UK. Check out any event around the period in England, ask around and it seems New Forest – New Milton, Hampshire England UK is a doable destination.

I was late in registration and couldn’t get into the full marathon, so have to settle for 21km. There are only 2 categories and attracted a couple of thousand runners. It is a small town event. Well it will be enjoyable nevertheless.

Date: 23 September

Time: 9:15am

Distance: 21km

Event: New Forest Marathon

Starting Point: Station Road(South) in New Milton town centre

Route: abundant of rolling slopes(multi-terrain)

It was 6:30am when I head out of the house for a 20mins ride to town given normal road conditional. Event newsletter has indicate that we should put in extra hour more due to high traffic on the road. After a mini scare as GPS bring me to a strange location(or wrong GPS co-ordinate given). It took me 10mins of thinking, before I reach the designated carpark(which is about 150meters away) around 7:05am.

Today is a typical English weather – Wet and Cold. A welcome embrace to me! I have to hide in the car until 8am before heading out to the race site (which is 1mile away on the map), in actual face it is like 250meters away! If my bladder can hold it, I wouldn’t have left the car early and stood in the rain, waiting for the race to start!

Not a stranger to this kind of cold weather. For unknown reason, I totally forgotten to bring my Garmin and gloves for the run! Strange!

With my trusted full length CWX and Northface windbreaker, I am ready to tackle any cold runs! Still remember the day I ran with Raven in this attire in falling snow in Japan a few years back.

It is like a small town fanfare run, at least at the starting point. MC speak like they know everyone in the run. The VIP(Not in formal attire), stand tall on a trunk. One of those truck that carry rubbish in local context. One thing do look different, all runners do look like runners! The last time I experience this is at New York Marathon.

The picture is just before the start. I am standing somewhere behind, since there is no running pen for me! Runners are encourage to stay in the pen with their estimated finishing timing. But the slowest pen is for 61-210 minutes. Where should i stand?

The race start exactly on 9:15am without heavy music, hype up atmosphere. Just GO! Just like a training run. Out of town and the rolling slopes start.

Trying not to get pull away from enthusiastic runners, I control my pace. My right shin is tight. It starts to get worsen as distance is extended. Hoping that the feeling will subside but it didn’t until 5-6miles distance. Which is a worrying sign as what kind of injuries I might sustain.

I just hold on the pace and hope that the water point is somewhere in front for me to take a break and given the shin a stretch or rest. The first water point is slightly after 3miles! Wow, that look like an awful long for first water point. Not that I need water(it is raining and cold), but more on taking the opportunity to access the aching shin.

First water point is served by young children. Lovely children braving the rain to serve water! Bravo to them! Some of the supporters are lovely as well, standing in the rain to cheers us along.

Running through old English roads, animal farms, long meandering routes, beautiful sceneries at times, it is something to cycling in Neo Teo area back home. With the different of English weather( Cold and Wet).

Next water point is close to 6 miles. By then I have to resort to walking up the slopes. First the shin is still giving me the creeping feeling. 2^nd the body not use to running non-stop anymore. No point pushing hard.

Saw a couple of fireman in full gear overtook me at this point. Wow impressive. I want to push faster, but with the body condition, I have to hold back.

After miles 9 to miles 10, there is a steepest slope on this stretch. The supporter give us a cup with something sweet(jelly beans?). Just telling us, 3 miles with a climb ahead. I remember a steep climb at the last stretch but at this distance. Hmm…Well, I walked up nevertheless.

Almost reaching the top of the slope, heard a familiar sound. Rima has appeared! She suppose to meet up with me at miles 5-6. Not catching her earlier, I thought that is the end of it, and most probably meet her at the end of the run. One of her Taiwanese tenant is with her and we walk and chat along for a while. Her coughing is very bad. No wonder she can’t run with me or miss a few of her recent signed up runs.

I pressed on with the knowledge I am 3miles out to the end. A good and strong 3 miles as I push on the pace, trying to gain the time lost chatting with both the ladies a while back.

Last 2 miles, I am accompanied by 2 lovely English ladies as we push all the way till the end. I could have pushed harder but didn’t. Just enjoying the last few miles of the run.

Crossing the finishing line in 2:18:11. I expect faster time given the cold weather, but guess the body still has to adapt to running on the road. But did finish strong and feeling good that there is reserve strength not tapped.

At the end got a finisher medal. Grab 4 cups of orange water. 1 biscuit(muslie bar) , 1 bottle of water, 1 small sachet of isotonic energy drink tablets on the way out. There is a silver piece of warmer that given to runner as well. Given the number fingers, it is hard to unwrapped it and even take pictures! Just so difficult to punch the passcode to a sensitive touch screen!

An enjoyable first run in England. A typical Wet and Cold Run.

Next time will join Rima for the kind of run she have experienced. 42km event cost 5 pounds! Food abundant before the start, mid and end point. Runner given a map to find their route, get the map stamped(at certain check point) with no road closure or marshall! A finisher certification is given at the end.

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2012 - 重出江湖

Date: 24 June 2012

Time: 4:30am

Event: Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2012

Venue: Dataran Merdeka

I need a marathon to align with my goals. It does make it symbolic to come back to the location whereby it started everything many years back.

Although there are quite a few runners coming along for the run with myself, but our distance signed up and hotel we are putting up are different. I make my way to start point alone, like many years back for the first time.

In the running pan, alone as well. Everything looks like in the past. Alone and looking forward to the long run ahead.

On a humid and stuffy 4:30am, the race was flag off. The difference this time(compare to my first)is the introduction of pacers. And the Penguins are not around. Though i spotted Tony cycling along cheering the runners on 2 occasions if i am not wrong.

For almost the first 10km, the pacer(5hr) is well within sighting distance in front. Abit edgy and the kinks start to surface at several spots at the beginning is nothing new. I ran a slow 7min+ pace, felt as though this is my efficient pace. :( Rather slow imo, will need to pick up the pace in training in the future.

Did a pee break around 9km while the lights are still dark. :) Experience slight drizzling which make the run much cooler.

Trying to keep calm while slowly moving forward. Try to go at 7min pace and keep sight of the pacer in front. The target is do under 5hr or keep as close to 5hr as possible.

At 16km point, the Japanese 1-man band has caught up just behind me. I was surprised and tried to put in some effort to push forward. Fortunately that is the last I heard of him, else will be pretty stressed.

Reached first 21km around 2:28hr which is within my expectation to finish in 5hr. By then the pacer group has long disappeared.

I tell myself that I can reach target timing if I keep up with current pace. But it is going to be tight especially knowing it is normally to slow down at the 2nd part of the run.

Trying to maintain pace and target each waterpoints as break points. The water point of 1.6km is very nice IMO, even though I express doubt on the reasoning before the run. When you are just trying to meet next objective- the water point. It is a welcome sight.

The young volunteer is just charming. Some of the beautiful smiles on their face ready make the run more meaningful. The traffic police does a good job, though they are some policemen still needs to do better. The pressure they are under the entire day and handling of them deserve a pat on their back on a job well done.

Reached 30km in 2:29hrs. I know by then I have a good chance of going under 5hrs.

Grinning with renewed confidence, slowly push on. By then the body has shown sign of cramping up. Stop to at some of water points just to put on yokoyoko. The warm and numbing effort is good.

Finally meet up a familiar face in Peter aka Commando. So happy to meet someone familiar! Didn't speak much as do not wish to get distracted, have to move on after 32km point. That is also the last water points that I managed to run nonstop in between. Cramp finally starting to pull up at both the calves at exactly the same spots, so have to stop and give it a reprieve.

Only a short walk and I am back on slowly moving forward. I have a target, I know I can make it if I don't walk for too long.

I was force to walk/jog as the cramps start to show more frequent. Yoyoyoko is constantly applied on the trouble spots. To a certain extend it helps.

Mentally do a lot of calculation on the timing on each Km to make sure I am on target. It is going to be close.

At 37km, with 5km more to go I need to buffer 35mins with 7km pace. I reached 4:24hr. I shouldn't force the pace, just go naturally, if it comes it comes.

The steepest slope in the entire course is at 37.5km, which I am prepare for. After that will be downhill all the way. Even walking up the slope almost cramp up, I have to change my walking style and relieve the overuse muscle group.

Going downhill, have to let it go, but have to jog with a unfamiliar stride. :(

Another climb just before merging with the 10km crowd. Hmm...Siao Leow! Maybe I misinterpret the map!

Have to zigzag for the last 2.5km with the crowd, by then I am aware there is no way I am going to miss the 5hr mark. Stopping from time to time just to make sure I don't cramp up on the last stretch!

Saw Tiwazz and Charlotte just around the finishing chute.

4:59:45, I am back.

Borneo Trip

I miss the last Borneo Marathon. This time round, have to nail it. :p

Manage to jio quite a few for the trip to Kota Kinabalu as well.

This will be my forth trip to KK. Each trip the feeling is different, similarly this time round is no difference.

Reached KK on Friday evening(29 April). Almost didn't make it when the taxi booked didn't turn up! Have to drive to airport in my own vehicle after picking up Bing from her home.

Rest a night in KK before we head out for Pedas(White Water Rafting) aka "milo drink". There is no white water, but brown in colour instead in KK. :p

Our stay in KK(MYNE) is okay. Just that there is no lift on the ground, have to walk 1/2 a storey for the nearest lift. :(

Booked and paid a deposit for the Pedas event and almost didn't materialise. Tour agent forget to book the tour for us! Fortunately within an hour, we manage to hope up a bus towards Tenom.

I guess i have food poison in Tenom and have a hard time enduring during the water rafting. Damn! It keep remind me of Penang Marathon. It was fun though, the highlight of the trip!

We are fortunate to reach hotel around 7:30pm. Have our dinner and off to bed.

Though continue to not feeling well, head for the race with Francis. The rest which did 42km, left earlier with the shutter bus.

Borneo Marathon is a small time event. We have an easy ride to the stadium(6km away). Very quiet. Too Quiet IMO, that we are not use to.

Race started at 5:30am sharp. A humid day ahead. We ran together, slow and easy pace. Guess around 4-5km, Wei Ming has overtaken us(he did 42km). He must be flying at a fast pace(He finished 3:45hr).

Sun starts to rise and it is getting hot as we move along. 2km at a time targeting the next water points. Many familiar roads as we passed it yesterday.

By the time we reached 16km, i am just a few meters in front of Francis and feeling tired. HR is slowly raising over the run and i felt like throwing out. Damn! Something is not right. I resort to walk trying to calm myself down.

I was targeting 2:30hr, but given the circumstance. Finish first. Slow and surely over time, i manage to complete the run in 2:34hr. Phew! A little bit of stretch, but still doable.

Quick line up for water, return of chip. Hope up the returning shutter and off we go. "Short and Sharp", the army will term this. Cool!

Wash up and head for a quick nap before heading out for lunch, shopping and massage! Wahaha...

Night time, have an "expensive" seafood dinner before heading for Karaoke at Lisa's company club. It has been a long time since i get to sing. For those that are fortunately to heard me singing..must remember to buy 4D!

A good few days getaway. It was fun and i hope everyone does as well. Look forward to next one. :p

Out for a change

A weight session on Wednesday. This time round, making it tougher so that it aches the next day onwards. :p Ok, it does has a difference compares to last two weight sessions. It aches.

Thursay has a good bike session. Friday likewise, but on a different theme.

Saturday morning has to do a short, early run as i have a flight to catch. Thanks to Terence, i had a 16km run before leaving for a week holiday in China(Shanghai).

Currently i am in Shanghai. Blogging is not allowed, likewise to many apps....including Tap Zoo! Damn!

Moving On....

Wow, it has been a week. Time really flies. In a few days time, i will be heading out for vacation.

Weight session on Wednesday, bike on Thursday and Friday. A typical week day workouts.

Saturday at ECP for a 20k run. Felt strange again shortly after the run start. Felt running is hard. Garmin show high HR, MIO shows norm. Felt uncomfortable to run.

Walk abit, before continue tht run again with Francis and Terence. Thanks for waiting for me.

Slow and steady reached NSRCC u-turn point. Before that saw Wee, which is out for a recovery run after last weekend Death March in Philippines(100miles).

He gives us alot of snapshots of the event and his experience. Seems like fun..but too long for my fancy....*no evil thoughts*!

Struggle at the end, but manage to finish the run in 2:35hr for a 20km run.

Rest on Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday continue another bike session(simple) to keep the legs moving.

Another easy few days

A relax 60mins bike session on 25th to keep the leg fresh for the weekend.

Saturday(26th) is the first of the series of run for TNF. I was there to kpo around. Quite a group. I started off in the middle pack and slowly drifting down till the end.

It wasn't that well guided as expected since this is the first time for most of us.

The front pace is good, behind is rather slow. Too short the distance for the run, estimate 8km. Fortunately we ran from Ngee Ann which extend abit longer. Still way too short for a saturday run.

Sunday is a rest day.

28th(Monday), another new week. Started off with a relax 60mins bike. I should have push it, but lazy i guess. Just a slight longer rest required.

1st March. Wow...March already....60mins bike in the morning, follow by CBD run in the evening to MF. Heart felt a bit strange while running there, take it easy, U-turn early and enjoy a slow stroll back to TP.

CNY Weekend Run

It was a bad judgement move on Friday and i ended up sleeping late. Very late and felt lethargic on Saturday morning. How i wish the weather change and i can take extra rest. Sigh.

Same as last week starting from C4 to Changi and back. This time round i hope to clock more mileage. Alas, body isn't responding.

5 of is started off at 5am+ towards Coastal Road. I am struggling to keep pace, with left calfs showing sigh of aching and right PF giving me the crept. This does not seems good.

When i reached NSRCC, i know it is going to be a super long road ahead. I decided to turn back at the green fence. Ok, all of us U-turn together.

Me and Terence stopped at C4(17km), some proceed towards B1 and back.

Fortunately i stopped, because HR went up after resting for a while.

Sigh...how to run this way?

CNY RUN

It was the first day of Lunar New Year and we are out for a run.

Just the 4 of us today at Kallang. It has been a long time since we last run here.

We ran from Kallang till Ferry Wheel and U-turn. The pace is slightly faster than norm(maybe due to the shorter distance).

It was a good and short run with some chit chatting along the way.

7km completed, it is time for some serious makaning...:P

CNY looming

A 60mins ride on Monday to kick start the week(monday). A good sweaty session. :P

It has been raining non stop for the past few days and fortunately i wasn't adversely affect for my workout.

Tuesday due to car problem, took bus/mrt to work. 70mins from home to office door. Non peak timing.

Didn't go for CBD run.

Wednesday, just as i step out of the car, HR went up. Sigh...should i or not....

I reach the gym abit breathless as the lift isn't working and have to climb up the escalator. Once i hit the toilet, HR went down. Phew.

I had a 60mins weight session as plan. Cool!

A nice last workout before the Chinese New Year

Last weekend - Jan 2011

Rest on Thursday and continue with a easy ride(60mins) on Friday before preparing for the long run on Saturday.

Last 2 weeks of 23km have set the tone, i will have to do longer this time round. U-turn at First toilet at Changi point is 29km. Dunno body can take it so much. Let see how it goes.

Together with Francis and Terence, we manage to reach 1 bounce after the traffic light at Coastal road- 25km.

Though pace is slow but with these 2 guys chit chatting along, it should be fine. HR seems to be slightly high for this run, maybe body haven't recover from the weight session.

We manage to run together until F2 carpark after which is OTOT to C4. Francis is cramping up and we took a longer walk then run back. HR went skyhigh after seafood toilet and we walk all the way back to C4. Sigh. Fortunately it last about 10-15mins. Phew.

Slowly, hopefully fitness will starts to return.

CBD - 5 Years Old

It has been 5 years. Wow.

Last evening we celebrate CBD 5 years anniversary. Time ready flies when we are not looking.

We have aged. Everyone has grown up. We can't stop the time. To a little extend, i can stop my tummy from bursting the button of the pant. I really should!

For the past year, i have been literally taking a further back seat. Body isn't that healthy and this/that aches are starting to come and go in regular fashion. Runs have to take "discounts". This is not what i envisage, but reality is that fitness has a beating. Life isn't the same anymore.

Glad that Tiwazz and some folks have step up to assist which is heartwarming.

This evening, i guess about 40pax turns up. Meet quite a few new/old runners. Ok, pace is slower, but we are still running. It is always a good feeling to see so many familiar faces.

Tonight the run is 5km towards Helix bridge(MBS) and back. Due to the shorter distance the pace is pretty fast. A couple sprint forwards from the word GO!

Seems like a good opportunity to put on a faster pace. Tucking some distance behind the front group, i try to run comfortable while putting some effort on the pace. It was a bit tiring, but overall is okay, since we hit some traffic lights stop along the way as well.

We reached back at TP in good time. We waited a long while for RSM returns. We proceed to eat when it is getting too late. The food is good and glad that we didnt have much leftover. Phew.

I wish everyone a good run year ahead.

slow saturday run

Another similar run to last weekend, the feeling is much better this time.

I go with my feel and resisted to look at the watch. HR is fine, pace is rather slow.

Thanks to Terence which accompany me on this super slow run. I felt very good throughout with some chatting along the way to kill the boredom.

23km completed. Phew!

Going Down

It has been a fustrating week, which is the reason i didn't bother to blog it down.

Things has gone worst since last week.

I was out of breath and legs are tight when we are half way through to the foot of MF on Tuesday. This is bad. I don't understand why. I just stop and walk back feeling disappointed.

Many things goes through the mind, but i have no answer.

A relax 60mins bike sessions for the next 3 morning.

Only yesterday afternoon HR went up. It stay up for 6 hours. I took the medicine eventually to calm it down.

Dark cloud is gathering....ominous sign...

Heart Break Sessions

Target to do a swim during Thurs lunch period. HR head north for 2 hours in the morning. Decide a rest is require.

Just before i head out of home on Friday, HR went up again. Dissapointed and proceed to work. This time round it lasted 15mins. Thought this is going to be another couple of hours session again. Sigh.

Saturday had the usual run. I don't know how it is going, but at least i have to steps out and see how it goes. Fortunately Francis accompany me for the long journey back. We walk/run on the return leg. It is tiring for me. I guess the fitness has dropped, which is expected.

Completed 23km. Phew!

HR went up after i reached home. Took a nap and no idea how long it last. :p

Mid Week

Yesterday afternoon HR went up for about 2 hours. I wasn't feeling comfortable. It eventually subside. I am in two minds whether to run in the evening.

Traffic was bad and i arrived on the dot. Nevertheless i did join the run and see how the body react.

Legs are a bit heavy and body abit tight(maybe the swim in the morning). Felt sluggish and not comfortable during the run. Don't think i can last the distance with the condition.

Decide to skip the FC run and go on my own to the Zuok Road. I was struggling but manage to reach the bridge(Zuok). Decide to slow down and take a long stroll walk.

Quite nice walking around and looks at things that i normally miss during the run. Saw a Veg restaurant along chinatown, which has queue out on the road! Seems like a small eating joint(20 tables?). Maybe worth a try next time. :p

As usual, felt tired in the morning due to the late night. Felt like not doing anything. But....

I reached the Gym as plan. Decide to skip everything and go straight to do a slow bike playing with the phone.

Quite a nice 60mins slow ride to keep it light. Maybe this will be the direction to go when everything starts to go dull/nasty. :p

8-9 Jan 2011

On Saturday morning, all seems normal until the run start at B1(ECP) at 6am+.

HR monitor on Garmin indicates a higher than norm "starting" rate. It didn't dawn on me at the beginning until a min later. Hey, something is not right here. I should be starting at this rate!

I stop took a pulse of my other HR watch and it indicates low(normal starting rate). Ok, took it for the 2nd time and still it appears lower than Garmin. Strange.

Did a body check, seems that i am struggling to keep pace. Which should i believe?

It could be psychological. It could be real. I hate to call it a day just shortly it has started!

I need to get my run going!

I calm myself down and proceed at a slower pace and continue until the first toilet break at Sea food joints.

Just a mere 4km, felt like 20km+ effort. I am tired.

I decide to stop at F2 toilet. I am tired and struggling to keep on moving. Going further just too daunting at this moment. Furthermore the heels are showing sign of aching. Sigh.

It seems that the HR had went up to 10km pace and i am just not comfortable with it as i make my way back to B1.

Walk the last couple of km back, as i don't have motivation to carry on. Meet up with a few familiar faces(includes army friends) along the way.

Another day went down the drain. :(

On Sunday, i woke up as per norm. I have to do the bike today. I couldn't run, at least i have to do the bike to keep the fitness.

I bike off at 5:15am. It has been that long my Ironhorse. Slowly moving on, with good traffic conditions, i make good time to reached Casuarina at 5:52am.

Too Kia was late. Waited for quite a while, before we head towards Mandai. It has been a long time since we last met.

I realise that during the ride, i am doing about 10 beats higher than my normal bike rate. I didn't pay much attention after the ride had completed.

I am surprise to see Buay along Mandai. :p

To meet up and go for another round before we pause for prata break before heading back.

Total distance 66km.

At least i get this moving. I should stick to this formulae until i am ready to run again.

First CBD 2011

I wasn't feeling comfortable on the run again this evening at CBD. I just couldn't point my finger what is causing it.

Maybe getting too fat and unfit. Sigh.

Almost wanted to short cut and head back way early. Fortunately the situation change better and with a slower pace, manage to do 8km this evening.

A good nice wet session at the end.

I need to spent more time on the run

New Year Run

Decide to join the East group for the first run on 2011 at Bedok Reservior.

My guess there are over 20pax for the Run. It was a big group.

The one that jio me for the run didn't make it until Kembangan MRT. Iphone alarm glitch that make her oversleep. :p

I wasn't feeling comfortable on the run, maybe not use to the waterbag. I was struggling abit, which is rather disturbing. Anyway, I decide not to overstretch and decide to U-turn at Kembangan. Distance 5km from the start.

Came back to BR, did the reverse loop and back at the start point(12km).

I was winded and HR seems to be going slightly high for a slow effort. I couldn't understand why this is happening.

Guess the new year resolution is to do more runs to get back the feel of running

Monday Run

It is a replacement holiday for my on Monday. I was at ECP B1 with Burnz for a run.

A short 16km run to seasport club toilet and back.

It is a quiet morning, not much crowd(compare to weekend). 2 crazy runners chatting and running along.

A 2hours effort run before we head over to Kallang Airport for breakfast. Meet up with Teh, Buay and a MY(friend) having breakfast.

A nice run to start the last week of 2010