2006 Standard Chartered Marathon
People look at me with amazement, unbelief, doubt, all sorts of expressions (mostly those ‘can you make it?’ type) when I told them, “I am going for full marathon.” Well… I myself didn’t really know exactly how tough it is to complete a 42km race. I told myself at most walk till finishing line only. Never did I think that it is really a tough race…
Xuqing asked me why am I going for marathon, jokingly I replied, “For glory!!!”. :p I think I must be imagine myself going for a battle and aim to knock down every foe that come my way. And, I must not deny that there is some desire for that finisher tee with that ‘Finisher of 42.195km” printing... He he...
Basically I am not very prepared for this marathon… when I am suppose to build up my mileage slowly, I only manage to hit around 16km during one of the training session… then, I stop for sometime just before the race, and manage to run a personal short run and last one with cg ppl just one week before…
But, thinking about this, I think sandy and chai choo will be worse prepared… so, very amazed by chai choo’s and sandy’s endurance during the race. And Jason, I think he also not really trained up himself.
The day before the run, I got a great time gathering with my high school friends, we were gathered for Dec birthday boy n gal. So, got 3 birthday boy and gal that evening. Once I got the photo I post it here again. J
Anyway, after the dinner, and after the coffee and cake session in cityhall, by the time I reach home, already 10.30pm.. wao… really late.. Quickly packed my thing into bag and prepare to take a cab to poy house… ya. I decided to stay in Poy house, I don’t wan to be late for this “race of my life”… I think really can call that, I think this race might take my life away... ha ha.
By the way, I actually got prepare one more set of clothing in case Jason really wan to play pool after the run… I think it was so naïve and silly of me to prepare that extra clothing... Ha ha...
So tired that I actually slept in the taxi itself… luckily I take taxi, if not, I confirmed overshoot my stop if take public transport… Reached Poy house around 11.45pm. Quickly get on bed, but, landed onto the wrong bed, chased away by poy… his one got pillow and blanket, mine got two similar to pillow one and no blanket… -_- anyway, lay down for sometime, and couldn’t sleep as it was just TOO quiet… already too used to the my room’s noise that came from main road… so, get the I-Pod from Poy and play one of my favorite band – Bon Jovi. That ‘Cross-Road’ is really one of best album... I think I slept quickly with some noise stuck into my ears.
4.45am. awaken by Poy… Drink some water, and ate the same bread with same jam (which I took for half-marathon)... brush my teeth and don’t bother to comb hair as who will care about that during the run?? :)
On the cab, I show Joe about my string of energy gel… I really felt like I a going for a mission – a suicidal bomb mission…
When we were there it is about 515am… There is still plenty of time for us. We did a quick check with another. I gave a quick flash of my powergels to show them… ha ha. Everyone laughed. Now I think back, it was really too many of them…
We did some stretching of muscles, and I went for toilet last minute… sometime the urine just came last minute… -.- and after sometime of prayer, we head toward starting point. YES. My first marathon is about to start…
At the starting point, it is as expected, many people. Basically we can see that those at the front line are not running, but walking. So, we take Wilson’s advice, we start at around 620am.
Poy, Wilson and Jason disappeared soon after that. Joe ran at slower pace. I still remember that after Poy waived goodbye to chai choo, he then disappeared in the crowd. Ha ha. So sweet…
From the beginning, my mind has only one objective that is to complete the run. So I take my pace, I tailgate chai choo. :p A few time I thought I was left behind when she is out of my sight, then, she suddenly appear again… I think it is because she didn’t stop by the first few water point... She really a tough gal. I basically will slowdown to drink 2 cup of water and proceed again… the first few Km not much fun. Just run my own race. Sometime look out for any familiar faces. Sometime just read those ‘reason tag’ that pinned behind some runner…
And it came to this 3km point, I think, then I start hearing people cheering aloud, I look at the opposite route… oh my good… I saw 4 guy marathoner sprinting in a row… my jaw dropped… they were running at a pace so fast that I doubt I could sustain that even 200meter run. And, I look at opposite roadmark, it is 11/12km point.. speechless… at the point of time, I could really imagine what Wilson told me, those Kenya runner chase a deer until that deer collapsed from tiredness… I can fully appreciate that when I saw how they run… and I suppose they are going to maintain that speed for the rest of the 30Km…. insane!!
And I saw chai choo in front, quickly run to her and exchange our ‘amazement’. Ha ha.
Continue the ‘silent’ run... In my mind just going thru thing in life, what thing has yet to done, what thing is outstanding still… think about people.
In the middle of run, saw a guy with tag “catch me if you can”, since I already catch up with him, so I just run to him, and said, “catch you!”. Haha. We both just exchanged a friendly smile. And I go ahead first…
Not sure how long did I run... the first few kilometers seem to be quite at ease. No pain yet. And still running. Look at the watch, it is about 1.5 hour pass, and I already ran for 12km. I thought to myself, “look like I can finished this marathon before 12pm to catch my lunch… not too bad...” so, this indeed encouraged me to go on…
I think before I go up to Nicole highway, I got some problem with my right leg liao. That is quite strange, normally it is the left leg gave way first… I think perhaps it is just a reminder to me in my engineering practice. Thing ‘normally’ become abnormal during the actual run. So, I guess God just remind that I can’t just go on with life with a human understanding/expectation, thing must be approached different everytime, and must commit those thing to God, for He is the one who is in control, and not me. Thanks God for the lesson… but, I talked to myself, but, God, can you choose other time and not marathon? Then, I thanks God again, it is only marathon, and not my marriage. Haha.
Then, I bump into the ‘catch me’ guy again… I was like “ha? How come he is in front?”… so, I run toward him, and ‘catch’ him again… ha ha.. exchange a small conversation, that is because he had not stop by any drinking station.. I was like so stunned… and he just finished his warming up… gosh… -.- so, he go on first this time… haha. Anyway, he is not first time marathon liao, so, I got an excuse to console myself… =.=
Came to this station, looking for deep heat rub, was told that it was out of stock. And the next station is 6km away… OMG… it is as good as 1 hours run. Ok.. I shall run and walk, walk and run.
Run and walk… walk and run. Finally turn into East Coast Park. Recalled Wilson said that once come out of ECP, the whole race is considered two third already… well, at that point, I think it is already 23 or 25km, so, I look at the opposite signboard 31km. I told myself that was my next station before I surrender and walk… I think Chai Choo appear again around the same. She gave me a ‘painful smile’. I gave her a ‘bitter smile’. And, she moved on. I tried to tailgate her again… but, the right knee pain is excruciating.
From this point onward, I know the powergel will not help much, it was not the energy, it was the legs that were failing…
Drag on myself, tried to run toward my 31km point… but it came a point that I really can only walk… so, just walk.. I know the 12pm is not possible already. I only hope that I can reached the finishing point by 2pm…
Just as I walking ‘mindlessly’ (I think I really wasn’t thinking... just walk and walk). Sandy came up to me... I was quite surprised by her. She was one of the few that disappeared into the crowd before my eyes… so, we two just walk and walk lo... then, saw Joe running pass from opposite side, he open his mouth wide, I think he wanted to ask ‘why are u two walking there?’? ha ha. I just signaled that ‘you go first…’ I guess sandy did the same thing...
Walking & walking.. Rain came. We wished and asked that God control the waterpipe make it small… but, I think God choose to practice His sovereignty to make it big..
Well. Walking alone and walking with someone beside is really a totally different thing. Especially walking side by side with Sandy, she is a fine sister. I think no one will deny that. Ha ha. I remembered that when we walked passed a particular crowd, someone shout ‘so romantic a? walking in the rain..”. ha ha. Ya. If it was not becos the legs is painful, and the rain was SO SO big, it will be quite a pleasant experience. :p
Both of us just walk and walk, and looking for someone with deep heat, or, someone that legs is white white in color (evidence of presence of deep heat).. haha. No runner had it. But, thankfully we approached some medical team and those ‘ppl on duty’ (Don’t know how to call them). We managed to apply some deep heat, it really so soothing to the muscles and it was such a relief, though only temporary, but, good enough liao.
During the walk, we managed to catch up to talk about thing and the recent happening. She is still corny, so the chat with her was delightful. Understand from her some experience she went thru, and really amazed and encouraged by her determination to do thing, and her faith in God really inspired me. We chat about what is our spiritual gifts, I think she got the gift of faith and encouragement. Mmm. Never really got it right, next time round should ask her again. Since I got some question about BGR thing, so, “sun bian” ask her about her view about this area of life. Ha ha. Really good time talking with her.
Fellowship aside, the marathon does get shorter when you got a companion… ha. In fact, our pace became slower and slower… it was really a painful walking experience.. never in my life, I walk till the extend that I can feel the ‘cramp’ is coming (but still not happening. :P), and you got to do stretching just to walk that extra distance…
The most depressing thing happened was around the lavender/kallang area, I knew only after walking passed this area mean that we are very close to finishing line. I told sandy, once we cannot see the Concourse building, we will be very near… but the fact here is, that Concourse building, just like the “eye” in Lord of the Ring, keep staring at us… I really felt like I am the Sam, and sandy is the Ring bearer, Frodo.
Finally we walk out of the ‘The Eye” and go into a park along Kallang River, where sandy used to jog around. We were very close to the end. Initially we were still thinking maybe can run the last 2km toward the finishing line, and I think, we just cannot make it liao, maybe just walking and post for cameramen? Ha ha. But, seeing that 40KM was really such a wonderful feeling. It is VERY CLOSE.
The “Runspirator” (start to appear again), aha, really encouraged by them, to stand and wait for a marathon runner like us (half is walkathon) is really very sweet and encouraging…
Then we both of us pass under the bridge (where we gathered for pre-run warm up), and a few more walk, we saw chai choo walking near us. wA!!! So encouraging to see her. And she encouraged us to run, and she mentioned after the 8 hours clock, no more recording of personal timing… I not sure how Sandy suddenly can run. But, she just ran… -.- haha. So, I also pick up that wear leg and run.. slowly… and then I see wilson, poy and Wilson again… wa.. and I see the stage and hear the DJ called out Sandy name and cheer her on. I just run and run.. my name wasn’t called. But the DJ said that I got a good timing of 8 mins. Haha. He mistook that 8:00.00 as 8 mins. Haha. He corrected the error. Haha. He is very nice DJ. :) then, I saw a cameramen ahead just behind the finishing line. I took my time, and posed a ‘Victory’ sign. And the cameramen signed, “thumb up, and good to go!”. Ha ha. :) Later then I know that my picture is the best picture among the bros and sisters. Ha ha. Maybe I was the only one near the finishing point, that is why the cameraman can took a good shot. :)
Xuqing asked me why am I going for marathon, jokingly I replied, “For glory!!!”. :p I think I must be imagine myself going for a battle and aim to knock down every foe that come my way. And, I must not deny that there is some desire for that finisher tee with that ‘Finisher of 42.195km” printing... He he...
Basically I am not very prepared for this marathon… when I am suppose to build up my mileage slowly, I only manage to hit around 16km during one of the training session… then, I stop for sometime just before the race, and manage to run a personal short run and last one with cg ppl just one week before…
But, thinking about this, I think sandy and chai choo will be worse prepared… so, very amazed by chai choo’s and sandy’s endurance during the race. And Jason, I think he also not really trained up himself.
The day before the run, I got a great time gathering with my high school friends, we were gathered for Dec birthday boy n gal. So, got 3 birthday boy and gal that evening. Once I got the photo I post it here again. J
Anyway, after the dinner, and after the coffee and cake session in cityhall, by the time I reach home, already 10.30pm.. wao… really late.. Quickly packed my thing into bag and prepare to take a cab to poy house… ya. I decided to stay in Poy house, I don’t wan to be late for this “race of my life”… I think really can call that, I think this race might take my life away... ha ha.
By the way, I actually got prepare one more set of clothing in case Jason really wan to play pool after the run… I think it was so naïve and silly of me to prepare that extra clothing... Ha ha...
So tired that I actually slept in the taxi itself… luckily I take taxi, if not, I confirmed overshoot my stop if take public transport… Reached Poy house around 11.45pm. Quickly get on bed, but, landed onto the wrong bed, chased away by poy… his one got pillow and blanket, mine got two similar to pillow one and no blanket… -_- anyway, lay down for sometime, and couldn’t sleep as it was just TOO quiet… already too used to the my room’s noise that came from main road… so, get the I-Pod from Poy and play one of my favorite band – Bon Jovi. That ‘Cross-Road’ is really one of best album... I think I slept quickly with some noise stuck into my ears.
4.45am. awaken by Poy… Drink some water, and ate the same bread with same jam (which I took for half-marathon)... brush my teeth and don’t bother to comb hair as who will care about that during the run?? :)
On the cab, I show Joe about my string of energy gel… I really felt like I a going for a mission – a suicidal bomb mission…
When we were there it is about 515am… There is still plenty of time for us. We did a quick check with another. I gave a quick flash of my powergels to show them… ha ha. Everyone laughed. Now I think back, it was really too many of them…
We did some stretching of muscles, and I went for toilet last minute… sometime the urine just came last minute… -.- and after sometime of prayer, we head toward starting point. YES. My first marathon is about to start…
At the starting point, it is as expected, many people. Basically we can see that those at the front line are not running, but walking. So, we take Wilson’s advice, we start at around 620am.
Poy, Wilson and Jason disappeared soon after that. Joe ran at slower pace. I still remember that after Poy waived goodbye to chai choo, he then disappeared in the crowd. Ha ha. So sweet…
From the beginning, my mind has only one objective that is to complete the run. So I take my pace, I tailgate chai choo. :p A few time I thought I was left behind when she is out of my sight, then, she suddenly appear again… I think it is because she didn’t stop by the first few water point... She really a tough gal. I basically will slowdown to drink 2 cup of water and proceed again… the first few Km not much fun. Just run my own race. Sometime look out for any familiar faces. Sometime just read those ‘reason tag’ that pinned behind some runner…
And it came to this 3km point, I think, then I start hearing people cheering aloud, I look at the opposite route… oh my good… I saw 4 guy marathoner sprinting in a row… my jaw dropped… they were running at a pace so fast that I doubt I could sustain that even 200meter run. And, I look at opposite roadmark, it is 11/12km point.. speechless… at the point of time, I could really imagine what Wilson told me, those Kenya runner chase a deer until that deer collapsed from tiredness… I can fully appreciate that when I saw how they run… and I suppose they are going to maintain that speed for the rest of the 30Km…. insane!!
And I saw chai choo in front, quickly run to her and exchange our ‘amazement’. Ha ha.
Continue the ‘silent’ run... In my mind just going thru thing in life, what thing has yet to done, what thing is outstanding still… think about people.
In the middle of run, saw a guy with tag “catch me if you can”, since I already catch up with him, so I just run to him, and said, “catch you!”. Haha. We both just exchanged a friendly smile. And I go ahead first…
Not sure how long did I run... the first few kilometers seem to be quite at ease. No pain yet. And still running. Look at the watch, it is about 1.5 hour pass, and I already ran for 12km. I thought to myself, “look like I can finished this marathon before 12pm to catch my lunch… not too bad...” so, this indeed encouraged me to go on…
I think before I go up to Nicole highway, I got some problem with my right leg liao. That is quite strange, normally it is the left leg gave way first… I think perhaps it is just a reminder to me in my engineering practice. Thing ‘normally’ become abnormal during the actual run. So, I guess God just remind that I can’t just go on with life with a human understanding/expectation, thing must be approached different everytime, and must commit those thing to God, for He is the one who is in control, and not me. Thanks God for the lesson… but, I talked to myself, but, God, can you choose other time and not marathon? Then, I thanks God again, it is only marathon, and not my marriage. Haha.
Then, I bump into the ‘catch me’ guy again… I was like “ha? How come he is in front?”… so, I run toward him, and ‘catch’ him again… ha ha.. exchange a small conversation, that is because he had not stop by any drinking station.. I was like so stunned… and he just finished his warming up… gosh… -.- so, he go on first this time… haha. Anyway, he is not first time marathon liao, so, I got an excuse to console myself… =.=
Came to this station, looking for deep heat rub, was told that it was out of stock. And the next station is 6km away… OMG… it is as good as 1 hours run. Ok.. I shall run and walk, walk and run.
Run and walk… walk and run. Finally turn into East Coast Park. Recalled Wilson said that once come out of ECP, the whole race is considered two third already… well, at that point, I think it is already 23 or 25km, so, I look at the opposite signboard 31km. I told myself that was my next station before I surrender and walk… I think Chai Choo appear again around the same. She gave me a ‘painful smile’. I gave her a ‘bitter smile’. And, she moved on. I tried to tailgate her again… but, the right knee pain is excruciating.
From this point onward, I know the powergel will not help much, it was not the energy, it was the legs that were failing…
Drag on myself, tried to run toward my 31km point… but it came a point that I really can only walk… so, just walk.. I know the 12pm is not possible already. I only hope that I can reached the finishing point by 2pm…
Just as I walking ‘mindlessly’ (I think I really wasn’t thinking... just walk and walk). Sandy came up to me... I was quite surprised by her. She was one of the few that disappeared into the crowd before my eyes… so, we two just walk and walk lo... then, saw Joe running pass from opposite side, he open his mouth wide, I think he wanted to ask ‘why are u two walking there?’? ha ha. I just signaled that ‘you go first…’ I guess sandy did the same thing...
Walking & walking.. Rain came. We wished and asked that God control the waterpipe make it small… but, I think God choose to practice His sovereignty to make it big..
Well. Walking alone and walking with someone beside is really a totally different thing. Especially walking side by side with Sandy, she is a fine sister. I think no one will deny that. Ha ha. I remembered that when we walked passed a particular crowd, someone shout ‘so romantic a? walking in the rain..”. ha ha. Ya. If it was not becos the legs is painful, and the rain was SO SO big, it will be quite a pleasant experience. :p
Both of us just walk and walk, and looking for someone with deep heat, or, someone that legs is white white in color (evidence of presence of deep heat).. haha. No runner had it. But, thankfully we approached some medical team and those ‘ppl on duty’ (Don’t know how to call them). We managed to apply some deep heat, it really so soothing to the muscles and it was such a relief, though only temporary, but, good enough liao.
During the walk, we managed to catch up to talk about thing and the recent happening. She is still corny, so the chat with her was delightful. Understand from her some experience she went thru, and really amazed and encouraged by her determination to do thing, and her faith in God really inspired me. We chat about what is our spiritual gifts, I think she got the gift of faith and encouragement. Mmm. Never really got it right, next time round should ask her again. Since I got some question about BGR thing, so, “sun bian” ask her about her view about this area of life. Ha ha. Really good time talking with her.
Fellowship aside, the marathon does get shorter when you got a companion… ha. In fact, our pace became slower and slower… it was really a painful walking experience.. never in my life, I walk till the extend that I can feel the ‘cramp’ is coming (but still not happening. :P), and you got to do stretching just to walk that extra distance…
The most depressing thing happened was around the lavender/kallang area, I knew only after walking passed this area mean that we are very close to finishing line. I told sandy, once we cannot see the Concourse building, we will be very near… but the fact here is, that Concourse building, just like the “eye” in Lord of the Ring, keep staring at us… I really felt like I am the Sam, and sandy is the Ring bearer, Frodo.
Finally we walk out of the ‘The Eye” and go into a park along Kallang River, where sandy used to jog around. We were very close to the end. Initially we were still thinking maybe can run the last 2km toward the finishing line, and I think, we just cannot make it liao, maybe just walking and post for cameramen? Ha ha. But, seeing that 40KM was really such a wonderful feeling. It is VERY CLOSE.
The “Runspirator” (start to appear again), aha, really encouraged by them, to stand and wait for a marathon runner like us (half is walkathon) is really very sweet and encouraging…
Then we both of us pass under the bridge (where we gathered for pre-run warm up), and a few more walk, we saw chai choo walking near us. wA!!! So encouraging to see her. And she encouraged us to run, and she mentioned after the 8 hours clock, no more recording of personal timing… I not sure how Sandy suddenly can run. But, she just ran… -.- haha. So, I also pick up that wear leg and run.. slowly… and then I see wilson, poy and Wilson again… wa.. and I see the stage and hear the DJ called out Sandy name and cheer her on. I just run and run.. my name wasn’t called. But the DJ said that I got a good timing of 8 mins. Haha. He mistook that 8:00.00 as 8 mins. Haha. He corrected the error. Haha. He is very nice DJ. :) then, I saw a cameramen ahead just behind the finishing line. I took my time, and posed a ‘Victory’ sign. And the cameramen signed, “thumb up, and good to go!”. Ha ha. :) Later then I know that my picture is the best picture among the bros and sisters. Ha ha. Maybe I was the only one near the finishing point, that is why the cameraman can took a good shot. :)
And it is finished… great relief... And really thankful to God that I can really finished it… and really thankful to Sandy too... If not for her, I might have given up the walk… it was really a dragging walk, if alone... God is right, when He said that, two is better than one, so that when one falls, the other could pick him up… Amen to that.It is really a great thing... Personally it is a big breakthrough. I knew something is different after the run.
