Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2007

It was a good run for me. I adopted a run/walk strategy because I want to be conservative (and because I suffered quite bad back pain/strain on my lower left back on 7 Nov 07). Ran 7-8min and walk 1 min. I did that until about 23km, then because of fatigue, I changed it to 5min run/2min walk.

When cramps start to threatens, I changed to fast walk, and when I felt I can run, I'll just run 1 to 3 mins until I reached near Kallang Stadium area (36km). Then I just fast walk all the way in (6.2km/hr). I did the marathon in a net time of 5hr37min - an improvement of 35min over my 2005 marathon.

Yesterday's home to office run

Yesterday I didn't sleep as much as I need (only 6.5hrs). I woke up at 5:21am (1 minute more also happy), stepped out the door at 6am. Start jogging right away from the traffic junction. After the first 4.2km, I then follow the run 10min rest 1.5min routine most of the way. I consumed one gel at near Bishan Park. When I reach Marymount road (near MCYS) its 8:05am.

When I reach the area near Thomson Medical Centre, my legs are tired (upper and lower). I reach Tekka mall at 8:20am and it rained. Well I'm determined to finish all the way and reached office at 8:35am, hurray!

New Balance Real Run

Did the New Balance Real Run (10km Men's veteran catergory, there's a 15km event but I didn't realise that at the point of registration that Men's veteran can do the 15km unless I register as Men's open).

First thing, I slept late the night before, about 11:46pm. Then I woke up at 6:15am, ate half a clif-bar and a cup of 100plus. Brought a 250ml 100plus+water mix to the race. I was late and have to parked far away from race start point. I ran almost 5km to the start point, hahaha, I did 15km eventually :)

Quite a nice race, I did with some rest walk, I think I did it in about 1hr20m.

Off my pace

Recently, I'm a bit off on my fitness level. Well, I'm doing the mileage, but my pace has slacked off. Hmm, maybe I need a treadmill session or tempo run at the stadium once a week.

Last Sunday, woke up to a rainy day, sigh..., I've to cancel the Northern run (was planning for a 19km). Did a hot evening 28min run (I think about 4.5km only). Sigh again. I've to rush off to attend a respected boss/friend's daugther wedding. Nice to talk to my former team colleagues (YC, SP, WL).

I've to work late the past two weekdays, skipped my usual CBD run. Anyway their pace is fast and the planned routine was going up Fort Canning which I think is not good for my knee joint.

I did a run from home to office this morning. I managed to reach the furthest I've done in this 4th edition of run from home to office, hurray! I think I managed about 21km. I reached Novena Square. Took a bus to office from there and showered. The endorphin high hasn't subsided even though I had only about 6hrs of sleep.

I didn't manage to do any run on last Sunday (I woke up late). And Tuesday CBD was cancelled last minute due to thunderous rain.

I wanted to make up the shortage of mileage with a home to office run yesterday morning, but I stopped myself after 1.5km into the run. I realised that I need to help fetch my oldest child and my wife to Bukit Batok Keming Primary school for my oldest child to take a gifted-programme selection test. So I u-turn and bought breakfast for them instead. Another reason is that my hip (front left area) has slight discomfort that gives me pause. Luckily I drove to work because I realised I also didn't leave all my work stuff at the office to faciliate the run to office. Phew. So it was not meant to be.

Yesterday night, I prepared all the stuff for the run. This morning, I woke up at 5:40am, went out the door at 6:08am. First 8km, I felt my heart pumped with more effort and I was slightly breathless, kind of worrying. Fortunately, the heart rate slowed down a little and I ran comfortably even past the area where I usually get demoralised (the Upper Pierce reservoir area). I managed to do 18km until 8:05am, and I realised I still need to catch a bus in order to get to work on time (but I'm getting further each of the three times in two months that I did this run from home to office).

Next Thursday, hopefully I can do 24km all at one go, but I have to start off from my flat at 5:40am latest.

Plan for tomorrow

Today is Saturday 13 Oct, I hoped to catch a nap this afternoon. I've to take the kids to swimming class (maybe I'll also do a easy swim). Tomorrow morning I plan to start early at 6am and go to the East Coast park to do about 18km run.

This week (8-14 Oct) so far

On Tuesday, I joined the CBD run, supposedly easier (on hindsight, it is) with a run that passed by Clark Quay, and Tanjong Pagar MRT, we end up at some HDB flats (near Spottiswood park) and did two rounds of walking up 30 Storey. My legs almost cramped on the first round so I've to slow down. Because I started the run without my usual water bottle (I was late so after I parked, I had to chase and catch up with the group), I felt very thirsty and walked to Tanjang Pagar (opposite Amara Hotel) and bought two bottles (500ml) of 100plus. Saw some ladies that dressed like working girls - I thought this area doesn't have such things but....

Anyway, walked back to start point, cool down and finished up one and a half bottle of 100 plus (I think I drank back what I worked off, sigh) and rushed home. I did about 7km (besides the stairs climbing).

On Friday morning, despite past few nights of insufficient sleep (worrying about work issues), I managed 7hrs+ of sleep but woke up later than planned, and slowly prepared to run to office and went out the door late at 6:25am.

I jogged till Bishan St 21 (near Golf driving range) and noticed that its already 8:09am, I better take a bus, I took bus 951 and for the first time, I learned that this bus starts from Yishun Bus interchange and passes very near my work place (Suntec). I alighted at near Bugis Junction, then did a slow jog to reach office, bathed and ate packet breakfast by 9:20am (ok, late). Next time, I better start from 5:30am (which will be quite good since this will mirror the Standard Chartered Marathon start time). Oh, I did 13.5km there about.

This week, I've done my most mileage so far this year.

Tueday I did the CBD run, from Tanjong Pagar MRT station to top of Mount Faber, then did 3 loops around the Mount Faber (each loop about 1.6km), then back to start-point, total about 15km.

Friday evening I did an easy 4.5km.

This morning did slow long run with five other northern runners, we did about 17km. Legs felt tired but after breakfast and bathed, I (including legs) felt refreshed.

So total distance done this week is 36.5km.

Its been a week plus

Last week, after the Tuesday CBD run, I felt the tiredness in my thighs and also discomfort on my right knee. I didn't do any run at all. Then I flew off to Kuwait for work (Ramadan period but no choice), jet lag and stress on the work there meant I only managed to do a threadmill run on Tuesday evening for about 4.6km.

Reached Singapore this morning but didn't manage to sleep much on the return flight. Slept at 9am and woke up at 4pm. I hoped tonight I can sleep and go for a short run tomorrow.

Tuesday CBD Run - Speed session

Tigger leads today CBD run with a slow jog (actually, not that slow) to Esplanade drive (after floating platform) just under the Shearles bridge. Then we did 6 x 1km speed run. Mine average around 5min (I think its 4min47, 4min52, 5min5s, 5min20, 5min25, 5min05). Then walk for about 12min before slow jog back to start point. Very tired and body felt a bit weird (feeling a bit of a temperature).

Slept late last night, the kids are making noise until about 10:50pm. Wife was not home yet from work so the kids were waiting up.

Plan for a SLD run at East Coast Park (ECP) with Dasher and Ripley. Highbury turned up too at 6:30am. By then, the TriFam Pacer training group had started off. We did our own pace SLD.

I was not feeling well (I think I caught flu from my boss during a 30min meeting, sigh I'm weak and haven't recover from my sore throat and now this). I struggled and sometime during the run I felt like vomiting. Did almost 2 hrs so I estimate about 17km. I saw Bug, Meteor, Cheow, WeiSan, RealRunner, AiChai, CFred, and others along the ECP doing their Pacer training. I've to go off early as I'm not feeling too good.

This week total mileage is 30km consisting of two runs (Tuesday CBD 13km and today's SLD of 17km). I may need to spread it out but SLD is important now that I didn't have much training time with heavy overseas trip coming up. I'll have to do one SLD on alternate week and perhaps >10km type of run mid week. I need to do up my training schedule for Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2007 (2nd Dec 2007).

I'll have to take a nap, feeling the effect of the flu.

Right knee still feels kind of weird, a bit of nagging feeling but not painful - yet.

I'm going to ECP tomorrow hoping to run 18-20k, I'll be driving and pick up Dasher and Ripley along the way.

CBD run (11th Sep 07)

Last week my total mileage was 24km, a bit slack and didn't do any SLD (slow long distance).

Tuesday (11 Sep) I went to the CBD run. Arrived early and grab a 600ml of water. Its run to Mount Faber and I plan to only do one loop (1.6km) on Mount Faber. Total distance done is 13km. Right knee feels the strain so I'll have to stay off running till maybe Thursday (13 Sep).

I plan to join some runners (TriFam pacer training) and Ripley on this Saturdayat ECP (6:30am start) to do 20km SLD.

Long time no post - lazy

I've done the Singapore Bay Run 07. First time racing as a Veteran (I did the Duathlon 07 but I've to be classified as 30-39 because they use 1st Jan 07 to calculate age). Did the same timing as my KL 06 half marathon. I didn't have motivation to push forward after the 10km mark. Fortunately, I saw Taz along the way and tag along and he "encouraged" me.

11 weeks to go before SCSM07. Just in case I've to travel during that period, I've booked a slot on Bangkok Marathon (18th Nov 07).

29 Oct 06

I've been taking anti-inflammatory ibuprofen (low dosage, max 400mg per day) which helps in reducing the inflamation and nagging pain on my right foot.

Woke up at 6:10am, I've got to get used to waking up earlier to get used to Stanchart Marathon start time of 6am, went out at 6:40am, reached ECP F2 carpark at 7:07am and report to Nike tent for Runaholics 20km practice run. Start off at 7:35am after briefing of the route by one of the organisers.

First 7km was tentative as I'm worried that the right foot pain will return but it was ok. Then after 9.5km, it was mentatlly very challenging to keep running. Hmm, next time better think of motivational thoughts, or bring my MP3. Finished the run in 2h19m39s. Not too bad considered I've walk a lot in the last one third of the run and I've to go to 7-ll twice to get isotonic drinks. This timing does seem better than my best 21km timing (done in KL this year) if I add on 7min to factor in the extra 1km needed.

Legs was tired, but mind even more so, thus I didn't carry on to do another 7km for mileage. On hindsight, I should have in order to toughen my mind (probably why my weak mind convinced myself not to carry on :)

26 Oct 06

Today, my right foot (ball of foot, near the second toe) pain has reduced greatly compared to Tuesday (when I did about 14-15km of run).

Had too much tea-break and t-time snacks as I attended a network vendor's seminar and walk back to office to attend colleagues' promotion celebration session. Went for gym after work. I avoided running on the treadmill, instead I did 22min eliptical, 42min cycling, and then 10min walk (3deg gradient) to burn off some of that afternoon calories.