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.