UPDATE My none-too-impressive running stats. That only means I have plenty of room to improve.
———–
About three months back, Theresa convinced me to sign up for the 10km race in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. I hesitantly signed up, thinking that I would train for three months, starting with 3km, then adding an extra 3km per month. By race day, I’d be running 9km with ease. What’s an extra kilometer?
That was the plan. Reality, naturally, took a different path.
The first month’s training was hampered by my surprise visit to Oz. The second month’s training was hampered by a reoccurrence of a bad lower back injury. By the third month, I wondered what in the world I had gotten myself into.
Immediately after registering for the race, I set up a pre-timed entry, scheduled to appear here at the moment the 10km race was supposed to begin - 7 a.m. I deleted the post a few weeks back because I was convinced I wasn’t going to take part.
One of my colleagues, who signed up for the full marathon, said that I should just go anyway. Walk if I have to, but finish it.
So, I collected the race pack last week. I spent the whole week in trepidation, wondering if I would survive the 10km. To put things in perspective, I have never gone 10km before. Not even during NS.
Early this morning, I took a shuttle service from Bishan Stadium to The Padang. There were thousands of people gathered in the dawn light. When it came time for the 10K to start, the first of the male marathoners were about to pass the start point (the route is actually a giant circuit).
A group of African runners zoomed past.
It was truly amazing watching world-class marathoners in full flight. And it really looked like they were flying.
Then the first female marathoners glided by, easily outpacing some of their male counterparts.
Before I could take it all in, the 10K had begun. I pressed play on my iPod. Here’s my ‘Run’ playlist:
- Magnet - (Nike commercial with Lance Armstrong)
- In My Heart - Moby (made famous in the Nokia N-series commercials, a very nice thumping bass, if your earphones can reproduce it properly)
- Happy Feet - Randy Spendlove (Shall We Dance soundtrack)
- I See You Baby - Groove Armada
- Wonderful Night - Fatboy Slim
- It’s Like That - Run DMC vs Jason Nevins
- Brimful of Asha - Cornershop (Fatboy Slim remix)
- Hey Ya - Outkast
- You Can Do It - Ice Cube (Save the Last Dance soundtrack)
- Be Faithful - Fatman Scoop feat. Crooklyn Clan
- Don’t Give Up - Chicane (feat. Bryan Adams)
0-2 km The only 2 kilometers that I jogged continuously. I went slowly, letting people get past me. Saw lots runners from Seagate, Changkat Changi, Singapore Sports School. By Maxwell Road, I had shin splints and started walking.
2-3 km Saw a dad pushing a pram while running. Started seeing half-marathoners and marathoners going past us. Decided not to look so pathetic and started jogging again.
3-4 km Bumped into a Remedial Training (RT) mate. Quite surprised that he signed up to run because he doesn’t seem too motivated during RT. Still, it was good to know he was there. Actually, there were quite a number of runners who didn’t look very fit, but seemed determined to finish the race one way or another. No excuse for me then. Still, I started walking a bit.
4-5 km This seemed like the longest kilometer (until 9-10 km, that is). Where’s that U-turn? Bryan Adams sings to me: Don’t Give Up. Passed by some really smelly porta-loos just before the half-way mark. The leading women 10K runners had caught up with me just before the U-turn.
6-7 km Friendly pretty girl in the opposite direction was giving high fives to other runners going past. Running while smiling, amazing. Go past one of those information boards telling you how many minutes it takes to travel to other places via the expressway. 12 minute to Changi? I’d definitely be running more than 12 minutes. Pre-pubescent ang moh girl goes by. Wonder if she’s doing the 10K or half-marathon.
7-9 km Kind of zoned out. Alternate between jogging and walking. Robinson Road seems really long on foot. Decide that I would jog the last kilometer.
9-10 km 1000m to go. They must have put the ‘1km to go’ marker at the wrong spot. It seemed like eternity. I started to get stitches. Towards the Padang, the cheers of the supporters kept me going. I hurtled stumbled inexorably to the Finish.
Thank you, Trees, for goading me to sign up.
Thank you, Nik for encouraging me to run.
Thank you, Stationery Girl™ for the unwavering support. Couldn’t do this without you.
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Congrats! Hmm, reading this makes me wonder if I should sign up for it next year. Maybe you can remind me if you decide to take part again dude
Congratulations! You made it! Wish I had the determination to do this
I hear people usually hallucinate around the 8km mark. I hope you can get out of bed and your body can..you know…move.
@ Sonic Trust me, it took a lot of encouragement from my friends. I don’t recommend trying this without some training though. My body is taking it out on me today.
@ le minah I think they hallucinate at the 8km mark if they’ve been pushing themselves the entire distance. I took too many walking breaks to start hallucinating. Also, the weather was favourable for running on Sunday morning.
Wow! Congratulations!!! You should be so proud of yourself!
hey, about a recovery run? Followed by a celebratory dinner?!
Well done man! So walking
And the medal’s a nice remembrance keepsake (not sure about putting the Merlion on it though - is that still THE symbol of Singapore? Sigh ……) What’s the diff btw between this & the other distance medals, or are they all the same? Ladybug was mentioning that the half-marathon’s wasn’t as nice as before
If you found the whole thing worthwhile, don’t wait for next year’s marathon - keep at it & do it more regularly. Then you will be all ready for next year, no need to train up specially. And if you get bored by road racing (I always did), try the nature reserves, eg. the 8 or 10 km route thru Macritchie. Much more varied terrain, scenic & interesting IMHO.
Oops … made a typo in 1st para - sorry!
Was going to say ’so walking KRP, even the mountain bike route, should be a breeze now’ :p
i agree with anand…you maintain the training lah! Then you can try finish the ironman.
@ Anand Well, the run starts near the Merlion, so I guess that’s why it’s there. Either that or the Durians/Fly’s Eyes.
I’m not sure about the marathon and half-marathon medals but mine has a ‘10KM’ on it if you look closely.
Aiming to run more regularly, yes.
@ le minah Ironman?!? Wah, one step at a time… I’m not a strong swimmer, so swimming in the sea isn’t for me. Maybe more 10km runs. Then a half-marathon some time in the future.
How about Sheares Bridge Army marathon? YAH, keep at it! I would love to do a ‘walkathon’ thing. BIG WALK just don’t cut it!
Lunch or KOPI?
Eh, I go running around Bishan or NUS 2ce or 3ce a week. Average mileage is 5-7km. Once a month I go for high mileage, typically around 10k. Do drop a line if you are game to come along? I’ve got several routes available.
Few months ago, we ex-RCAB (i.e. Colin Ng, Vincent Xiao, Kevin Liu, Ian Binny and myself) got this running thing going on. Sometimes it’s Bishan (park connector route), sometimes it’s Macritchie.
Macritchie’s swamped these days coz of rain, so I do Bishan, or NUS.
congrats Kenneth! next year we go for 21 together!
Congrats on finishing the 10 km run. Stats do not matter. It takes grit and determination but you’ve done it.
congrats! finishing a 10km run isn’t easy ^_^
Congrats friend. Maybe next year I join …. What am I talking about. Today briskwalked 7000 steps already so tired.
@ Chun See Wah, looks like a few FoYers are interested.
Wow, look at all the support and encouragement you have here.
You have one more year to train before training with me. =)