New Balance Real Run 2005

This is the 1st year that New Balance is organizing this run. It?s pretty well-organised except for the fact that they did not provide enough lockers (there seems to be more last year) and there was no staggered flag-off times. Everyone started at 845 am. Whoa oh. Mad rush. Yilin and I were late and we arrived at the bus stop at 825, only to find a long queue. Hence, we decided to walk and got to the starting point at about 842 when they already flagged off. Since we were already late and there were no lockers, we took our own time to warm up, sort out what to bring along, attached the race chip to our shoe and then dumped our bags on top of the lockers. Quite a smart move, except I had to run with my camera and handphone in the Ziploc bag in my hands.

Starting late has its own advantage. There are no other runners to jostle with you and at least u can start at the right pace as it?s very important. One thing I noticed was the rather heavy traffic that ploughed the roads of Sentosa. Surprisingly, on a Sunday when they have a run event. We had to stop for cars at the very beginning of the run. Geez.

Slopes. Tarmac. I was taking to them well. Better than I expected actually. Suffering from gum pain that spread to the side of the neck since Thursday night, I was not expecting much from this run although I know I have trained rather sufficiently. My gums have been a pain in the ass (read: mouth) since Thursday night. Despite the many herbal teas, panadols, and honey drinks I have taken, and even rubbing salt and rinsing my mouth with saltwater and Oral B (which is DISGUSTING!!!), the pain has went down significantly, but is still there. Yilin said it should be gum infection which she suffered from before as well. I would need antibiotics to make it go away? Argh. Another visit to the doc which I am not covered under1! I have to pay for the doc fees myself even though I have worked for almost 3 months already!!!!! Just another week to go! Why don?t this problem come knocking next week or later?! Argh. I will have to go see doc tomorrow if the pain still persists. Darn.

It was the sand after about 5-6km of run on tarmac. The 1st part was surprisingly alright. And a considerably short stretch as well. Tarmac again. Then somemore sand. And this stretch was longer. I was concentrating so much on the sand and trying to find the right footing on the harder sand and also darting from people that I did not notice almost all the people were WALKING on the sand! In fact, when I looked up twice, all those ahead of me were simply taking their own sweet time WALKING on the sand! The organisers might as well just organize a New Balance Real WALK for them! These people are obviously here for the dri-fit tee! DUH!

The sand stretch this year is 0.4km shorter and I find it so much more bearable. Most probably because I have prepared myself well this year and am fitter than last year? Although the sun was shining down hard on me, I was really surprised that I endured the entire run very well. Must be due to the 500ml of honey drink I took in the morning on the way to Sentosa and the amount of fluid and fruits intake the day before. Hydration before a race is so important!

The last stretch was actually through cycling trail which was part of the route last year. Not really cross-terrain, just the surroundings. Haha. Tarmac actually. But there were so many walkers and slower runners u have to dart! And especially school kids who are wearing their school tees and walking together in a row. I told a bunch of 5 girls walking abreast off. They are ridiculous! It was very mild. Simply ?Excuse me. Don?t walk abreast.? No running etiquette at all! What the?!?! There are many others as well. I would be able to finish my run in a shorter time if I need not care about these ?road-blocks?. Sigh.

I regret not timing my run on my watch. Only took note of the time that I started at. If I?m not wrong, I took a total of just a few seconds less than an hour to complete the whole run!!! So happy with myself! I took about 1hour 15min last year if I did not remember wrongly even though the stretch of sand was just 0.4km longer! Overall, I?m feeling very good after the run, even up till now, though it?s already 11pm, I haven?t felt any sense of fatigue in me yet!

Met many runners from the sgrunners forum. Very interesting, being able to meet some people whom u exchanged tips and views with on a forum in real life and all of us share something in common. Running. I know some of them are very active and they have even gone on runs together. Whoa oh. Just nice to find a group of people with whom I can hang out with during events in the case if no close friends of mine are joining with me. Most probably will join them at the aquathlon next Sat at Sentosa. It?s going to be a long day starting from 0930 till 1530. Gotta prepare myself well man?

I actually met many people at the run. Tay, my ex-classmate and who was so helpful as to allow me to tumpang my camera and handphone with her at the very beginning of the run when I bumped into her. Otherwise, I would have to hold on to the heavy cam in my hand throughout the run! And I might not be able to perform so well! Thanks girl!

Also met people I did not wish to see. I knew he would be at this run because of the tee. A very cheapskate fellow. Argh. He went to the toilet halfway during the run and I saw him as a result. :p

Also saw a radiologist. Surprise, surprise. Someone from my department! Consultant. So he should be in his fifties?

Radiographers from KKH. And a phototech as well.

Lijen, my junior, who used to be in Judo in secondary school and track and field in JC. She?s the lean and tall type, but I overtook her! See what training can do to a person?

Some other schoolmates from JC.

Nifal! Met him earlier this year after the NUS Biathlon. A fellow judoka from another school, with whom I got to know in Thailand when we represented Singapore to go there for friendly matches. Those were the good, old innocent days man?

Yilin and I bathed and then went to Seah Im Food Center for lunch. Had a hard time deciding what to eat, as I realized I have abstained so much from unhealthy food that I have no cravings for the food that I used to love. Which is a very good thing actually, as my body is only attracted to healthy food nowadays.

We then sojourned to HarbourFront Centre and decided to settle our bums down at Coffee Club for a drink and cakes! That?s one sinful thing I cannot resist. :p We had a very good and thoughtful conversation on our future and about marriage and getting attached. Hah. Topics that I would not discuss just with anyone. Or rather, topics that are so not me!!! Haha.

We went down to the harbour and stood there enjoying the sea breeze for about half hour before heading home at around 6! I was hoping to get home at 4-5pm? There?s so many things I have yet to do this weekend. Now, they have to wait till next weekend!

3rd Sep: New Balance Aquathlon. 1.5km swim, 10km run. Flag-off time? 12pm!!!! I?m really praying hard that it would not be too hot nor would it rain! Sigh. Gotta get enough rest this week!


"It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes life worth living."
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr