If anyone knows who made this slide show, do let me know so that appropriate credit can be given.
In the meantime, enjoy :)
09 - 11 - 2009
1 hour ago
Monday, November 02, 2009
Nostalgia
Received this in the email today and watching it brought back many many happy memories of a much simpler time :) I can still vividly remember the Van Kleef Aquarium and the tank of piranhas that occupied the front lobby! Not forgetting the iconic National Library and Fitzpatrick's Supermarket :P Amazing how much has changed in such a short time...
If anyone knows who made this slide show, do let me know so that appropriate credit can be given.
If anyone knows who made this slide show, do let me know so that appropriate credit can be given.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
TNF 100 - The Epilogue
So what does the day after a maiden trail ultramarathon feel like?
The answer? Ouch! Errr, I mean, GREAT!
I woke up with some aches and pains in my quadriceps and calves, but was still able to walk like a normal human being around the house, still not quite believing that I managed to complete the race in one piece yesterday :) Decided to head out for a very slow recovery walk/jog of about 5 km, just to make sure that I didn't leave any part of my lower limbs along the trails of MacRitchie or Mandai, and to confirm that the neural connections between my brain and feet were still intact :P Check mark for both points.
It was then a hunt for a sports massage place that would be open early in the morning. Fortunately, I stumbled across a suitable place just near my home during the morning trot, so decided to give it a try since it was the earliest to open in the area. That turned out to be a blessing cos I happened to get an experienced sport massage therapist who was doing part time work. She managed to find a fibrotic focus in my right calf that was bothering me at the start of the race yesterday. In the end, I got one of the best post race massages ever!
Spent some time during the rest of the day reflecting on the differences between the TNF trail ultramarathon and other marathons that I've run. Apart from the obvious things like differences in distance and terrain, some other things did stand out to me.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, the atmosphere of a trail ultra is much more friendly and intimate. Much of this is due to the smaller number of participants. However, because the event is stretched over a longer distance and time, people seem to be less in a hurry. So the explosive start of a conventional marathon doesn't occur. In fact, the bulk of the runners were going at a slow and steady pace, having friendly conversations, and enjoying the scenery. In the mid portions of the run, the trail got so sparse at times that it was a joy to see a fellow runner on the same path. In fact, there was more than one occasion when a fellow ultra runner offered me part of their stash of muscle rubs or food. Almost felt like I was running with family and close friends.
Second, the strategy is a little more complicated. Rather than the simple hold back in the first half and push for the second half, the unpredictable terrain and elevation changes necessitated a more dynamic plan. The final route was intentionally withheld from the participants until 2 weeks before the event. So even though we had trained in the area before, a significant portion of the trail was in unchartered territory for us. In the end, Stuck and I tried to run during the flatter segments and gentle slopes, walked most of the upslopes, and conserved our legs by going down gently on the steep downslopes. We reasoned that if the ran when we could, and walked when it was wise to do so, we should be able to finish within the cut-off time.
Third, the running load was much heavier for a trail ultra. The compulsory minimum of 1.5 litres of water, along with the phone, map, energy gels, electrolyte powder etc made the total carrying weight close to between 2-3 kg for me. Fortunately, although the weight was significant, the previous training sessions had prepared me for most of the load and I still managed to run reasonably when the hydration pack was full. However, I did feel much lighter and happier whenever my pack was close to empty cos each step was so much easier :)
Fourth, the steep downslopes were unexpected killers! Being inexperienced in trail running, one of my concerns in the lead up training was whether I would be able to climb the many slopes that would present themselves. So hill climbing training was a staple for the months before TNF 100. Fortunately, I had very wise advice from a super experienced ultramarathoner friend, Judy Weller from Rochester MN -- that I should train running downhill. I didn't realise how important this advice was until I started down the steep descent from Bukit Timah Hill. Those big steps and steep drop took a huge toll on all our legs. If I ever do this again, downhill training will definitely feature more prominently :D
The answer? Ouch! Errr, I mean, GREAT!
I woke up with some aches and pains in my quadriceps and calves, but was still able to walk like a normal human being around the house, still not quite believing that I managed to complete the race in one piece yesterday :) Decided to head out for a very slow recovery walk/jog of about 5 km, just to make sure that I didn't leave any part of my lower limbs along the trails of MacRitchie or Mandai, and to confirm that the neural connections between my brain and feet were still intact :P Check mark for both points.
It was then a hunt for a sports massage place that would be open early in the morning. Fortunately, I stumbled across a suitable place just near my home during the morning trot, so decided to give it a try since it was the earliest to open in the area. That turned out to be a blessing cos I happened to get an experienced sport massage therapist who was doing part time work. She managed to find a fibrotic focus in my right calf that was bothering me at the start of the race yesterday. In the end, I got one of the best post race massages ever!
Spent some time during the rest of the day reflecting on the differences between the TNF trail ultramarathon and other marathons that I've run. Apart from the obvious things like differences in distance and terrain, some other things did stand out to me.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, the atmosphere of a trail ultra is much more friendly and intimate. Much of this is due to the smaller number of participants. However, because the event is stretched over a longer distance and time, people seem to be less in a hurry. So the explosive start of a conventional marathon doesn't occur. In fact, the bulk of the runners were going at a slow and steady pace, having friendly conversations, and enjoying the scenery. In the mid portions of the run, the trail got so sparse at times that it was a joy to see a fellow runner on the same path. In fact, there was more than one occasion when a fellow ultra runner offered me part of their stash of muscle rubs or food. Almost felt like I was running with family and close friends.
Second, the strategy is a little more complicated. Rather than the simple hold back in the first half and push for the second half, the unpredictable terrain and elevation changes necessitated a more dynamic plan. The final route was intentionally withheld from the participants until 2 weeks before the event. So even though we had trained in the area before, a significant portion of the trail was in unchartered territory for us. In the end, Stuck and I tried to run during the flatter segments and gentle slopes, walked most of the upslopes, and conserved our legs by going down gently on the steep downslopes. We reasoned that if the ran when we could, and walked when it was wise to do so, we should be able to finish within the cut-off time.
Third, the running load was much heavier for a trail ultra. The compulsory minimum of 1.5 litres of water, along with the phone, map, energy gels, electrolyte powder etc made the total carrying weight close to between 2-3 kg for me. Fortunately, although the weight was significant, the previous training sessions had prepared me for most of the load and I still managed to run reasonably when the hydration pack was full. However, I did feel much lighter and happier whenever my pack was close to empty cos each step was so much easier :)
Fourth, the steep downslopes were unexpected killers! Being inexperienced in trail running, one of my concerns in the lead up training was whether I would be able to climb the many slopes that would present themselves. So hill climbing training was a staple for the months before TNF 100. Fortunately, I had very wise advice from a super experienced ultramarathoner friend, Judy Weller from Rochester MN -- that I should train running downhill. I didn't realise how important this advice was until I started down the steep descent from Bukit Timah Hill. Those big steps and steep drop took a huge toll on all our legs. If I ever do this again, downhill training will definitely feature more prominently :D
Finally, a word has to be said about our amazing friends who volunteered their precious saturday to be supporters :D Who braved the hills and heat, and dragged heavy supplies (bought with their own cash) to remote locations just to provide us with the much needed barley water, coke, 100 plus, raisins, chocolates, grapes, jelly treats, first aid etc etc. Seeing all of you at our own 'private' support stations gave us more of a morale boost than you could ever imagine. There is nothing like the cheers of a friend when the energy has been sapped from your legs, and all you feel like doing is lying down on the ground. The laughs and conversation at our little oasis stops energized me more than all the power gels combined. Thank you so much to all of you, Tigger (for being the overall organizer and lugging the stuff up Bukit Timah hill in the pre dawndarkness), Tekko (for masterminding the Pipeline support), Mrs Tekko, Loon (my dear sis who came down support me in my maiden trail ultra), Tiwazz, Charlotte, and the rest whose names escape me at this point. A big THANK YOU and hug from the bottom of my heart! :)
This was hands-down the toughest event I have raced in to date, both mentally and physically. But the unique atmosphere and wonderful company made it also one of the most rewarding and enjoyable :) In the end, Team R We There Yet? comprising Stuck and me came in 25th out of 126 teams, with a combined time of 13:56:14.54. Stuck clocked 6:58:07.08 while I came in at 06:58:07.46, 0.38 seconds behind my partner :P Not too shabby I say for two trail ultramarathoning newbies :D
This was hands-down the toughest event I have raced in to date, both mentally and physically. But the unique atmosphere and wonderful company made it also one of the most rewarding and enjoyable :) In the end, Team R We There Yet? comprising Stuck and me came in 25th out of 126 teams, with a combined time of 13:56:14.54. Stuck clocked 6:58:07.08 while I came in at 06:58:07.46, 0.38 seconds behind my partner :P Not too shabby I say for two trail ultramarathoning newbies :D
Saturday, October 24, 2009
We did it!! TNF 100K Duo
I still cannot believe it. After all the back breaking training trail runs, we finally did it. Stuck and I crossed the finishing line after 50 km of the North Face Trail Ultramarathon just under the 7 hour mark, bringing our team to a successful finish :)
The day began at 4 am with the usual bread and peanut butter breakfast, Then it was down to final preparation of isotonic fluid for the hydration pack, and making sure that everything was in order. Since I arrived at the MacRitchie Reservoir parking lot fairly early, I managed to get a parking lot near our usual meeting place. One by one, the rest of our group arrived and we set off for the registration area along the shore of the reservoir near the famous zig-zag bridge. The organisers did several checks on our equipment to make sure we had the map, a cell phone and sufficient water. Each runner was also weighed, presumably to evaluate hydration status at the end of the run.
The group of us that had been training together for the past few months gathered in the starting area. We made up a total of 5 teams - Thrill Seekers, Bubble Tea, Slack Toos, Team Seo Bi and R We There Yet?. Each of us would cover a total of 50 km, accumulating a total of 100km for each team. A small number of 100 km solo runners had set off earlier in the morning, and were already on the trails by the time we set off.
Our event started promptly at 7 am. This being my first ultramarathon, I was intrigued by how everyone set off in a very steady and controlled manner -- very different from the explosive burst at the start of a conventional marathon. We skirted the southern end of the reservoir, and were soon on the Northern Trail.
The first 5 km of the race were crowded. As the trails were narrow, opportunities for faster runners to overtake and move ahead were few and far between. Stuck and I decided to just place ourselves at a comfortable spot and conserve energy for the later part of the race. CT and YH were just behind us for the first portion of the run.
Fortunately, after about 5 km, the crowds thinned out considerably and we were able to adjust to a more comfortable pace. Everyone was full of energy at the start, moving up slopes with good momentum, and maintaining the stride on the downhill portions. The morning air was relatively cool by tropical standards, with temperatures hovering probably around 28 or 29 deg C.
We moved progressively through Rifle Range Road, and then took a detour along the Durian Loop. At this point, we picked up the pace a little as we were familiar with the terrain. So far, we were making good progress, covering about 7+ km per hour, which would get us comfortably to the finish in our goal time of 7-8 hours. I diligently consumed my energy gels around every 50 minutes to keep my energy levels up. Hydration also wasn't a problem as I had 2 L of gatorade on my back, and aid stations were plentiful.
The first big challenge presented itself when Bukit Timah Hill came into view. Fortunately, our prior training sessions prepared us for this onslaught of steep inclines, and we cleared it fairly uneventfully. LT, Tiwazz and Charlotte very kindly set up an extra personalised aid station for us halfway up the hill. It was very refreshing to have cold drinks and jellies to consume, and their encouragement and cheers gave us an extra spring in our step :) Thanks guys!
Surprisingly, the toughest bit about Bukit Timah hill wasn't the climb, but the descent. The organisers had us going down the northern face (I wonder whether this was intentional, given the main sponsor for the event??) of the hill. The steps were very steep, and at some points, very narrow and slippery. I had to tread carefully in order not to lose balance. Also, the big drop with each step took a significant toll on my quadriceps -- a price that I would have to pay later.
Emerging from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, we were back to familiar territory -- the water pipe trail. Here, we started to adopt a more conservative strategy of walking up any steep or long slope, and running the flats and gentle downslopes. We continued along familiar terrain until a branch point at around the 17 km mark which led us along 'Track 15', a place I never ran along before.
It was very nice to see new undiscovered trails. Much of these areas would not normally be accessible to the public as they were restricted military training areas, specially open for the race. We continued along for a little while more, before arriving at Lorong Asrama, the entrance to the Mandai Area. We eagerly replenished our water supplies and snacked on some of the food provided. Little did I know that the next segment of the race within the Mandai Area would prove to be the toughest of the day.
The Mandai Loop would stretch for about 10km, and include several 'hills'. It began simply enough on an asphalt road that brought us to a Y-junction. The sun was already high up in the sky, and the temperature was probably around 35 deg C. Soon, the path became a rocky trail that went up and down innumerable slopes. My legs were already tired from Bukit Timah Hill, so the additional climbs were increasingly difficult to complete. Furthermore, the hard ground and rocky surface were unforgiving, making each step (especially on the descent) a jarring and painful one for my quadriceps that were already starting to cramp up...
I decided to celebrate little victories, and gave myself an imaginary pat on the back each time we successfully made our way up yet another hill. A high point was when we crossed the 25 km mark, and noticing that about 3h 30 mins had elapsed. Looks like we would be able to keep to our target time :) I think quite a few runners gave up in the inhospitable Mandai Area. This was definitely the low point of the race for me.
Emerging from the Mandai Area, we recharged with drinks and snacks from the Lorong Asrama aid station. Although my full hydration pack was again heavy with isotonic drinks, I felt comfortable as we crossed the 30 km mark. The trails were really sparse now. We would only encounter one or two other runners moving along every now and then. Whenever I felt tired, I would find myself inspired by the determination displayed by the runners who ran alongside with us.
Soon, we were back to the water pipeline trail. I knew my sis was waiting at one of the aid stations here, so I set my mind on reaching that point as soon as I could. It was getting really hot now, and despite my intensive hydration strategy, I could feel both my legs were stiff and on the verge of breaking out in cramps. Fortunately, I was able to find a comfortable stride and rhythm that did not cause the cramps to manifest.
We spotted the special aid station at the 38km mark. My sis, Tekko, Mrs Tekko, Tigger, Charlotte and Tiwazz were out there in the blazing noon day sun, handing out cold drinks, raisins, salt tablets, grapes, jelly and many other goodies for the weary runners. It was great to see familiar faces cheering us on, and I was very much recharged after the short break :)
The final 12 km were a mental game of keeping the pace, suppressing cramps, and reserving enough energy for the final stretch. Stuck was still bounding and full of energy, and I knew I was probably slowing him down. I told him to move on ahead, cos I knew he could get a good timing. However, he very kindly said he wanted to finish as a team, and stuck (yes, living up to his nickname) with me for the remainder of the race :)
The final 500m along the water's edge must have been a very emotional moment for all the TNF runners. For me, I was absolutely elated that I had survived the 50 km, didn't give up in the Mandai Area, and kept up with Stuck as best that I could. Glancing down at my watch, I realised that it read 6h 58+ mins, which meant that we had a chance of going under 7 hours! We thus decided to pick up the pace for the final 100 metres, and crossed the finish line together as a team :D
Looking back, I know that I would never have been able to finish this race if it wasn't for the team format. Stuck was a fantastic partner to run with, and our constant banter kept me distracted from the building fatigue in my legs. Thanks Stuck for a great race! So, any plans for 2010? :P
The day began at 4 am with the usual bread and peanut butter breakfast, Then it was down to final preparation of isotonic fluid for the hydration pack, and making sure that everything was in order. Since I arrived at the MacRitchie Reservoir parking lot fairly early, I managed to get a parking lot near our usual meeting place. One by one, the rest of our group arrived and we set off for the registration area along the shore of the reservoir near the famous zig-zag bridge. The organisers did several checks on our equipment to make sure we had the map, a cell phone and sufficient water. Each runner was also weighed, presumably to evaluate hydration status at the end of the run.
The group of us that had been training together for the past few months gathered in the starting area. We made up a total of 5 teams - Thrill Seekers, Bubble Tea, Slack Toos, Team Seo Bi and R We There Yet?. Each of us would cover a total of 50 km, accumulating a total of 100km for each team. A small number of 100 km solo runners had set off earlier in the morning, and were already on the trails by the time we set off.
Our event started promptly at 7 am. This being my first ultramarathon, I was intrigued by how everyone set off in a very steady and controlled manner -- very different from the explosive burst at the start of a conventional marathon. We skirted the southern end of the reservoir, and were soon on the Northern Trail.
The first 5 km of the race were crowded. As the trails were narrow, opportunities for faster runners to overtake and move ahead were few and far between. Stuck and I decided to just place ourselves at a comfortable spot and conserve energy for the later part of the race. CT and YH were just behind us for the first portion of the run.
Fortunately, after about 5 km, the crowds thinned out considerably and we were able to adjust to a more comfortable pace. Everyone was full of energy at the start, moving up slopes with good momentum, and maintaining the stride on the downhill portions. The morning air was relatively cool by tropical standards, with temperatures hovering probably around 28 or 29 deg C.
We moved progressively through Rifle Range Road, and then took a detour along the Durian Loop. At this point, we picked up the pace a little as we were familiar with the terrain. So far, we were making good progress, covering about 7+ km per hour, which would get us comfortably to the finish in our goal time of 7-8 hours. I diligently consumed my energy gels around every 50 minutes to keep my energy levels up. Hydration also wasn't a problem as I had 2 L of gatorade on my back, and aid stations were plentiful.
The first big challenge presented itself when Bukit Timah Hill came into view. Fortunately, our prior training sessions prepared us for this onslaught of steep inclines, and we cleared it fairly uneventfully. LT, Tiwazz and Charlotte very kindly set up an extra personalised aid station for us halfway up the hill. It was very refreshing to have cold drinks and jellies to consume, and their encouragement and cheers gave us an extra spring in our step :) Thanks guys!
Surprisingly, the toughest bit about Bukit Timah hill wasn't the climb, but the descent. The organisers had us going down the northern face (I wonder whether this was intentional, given the main sponsor for the event??) of the hill. The steps were very steep, and at some points, very narrow and slippery. I had to tread carefully in order not to lose balance. Also, the big drop with each step took a significant toll on my quadriceps -- a price that I would have to pay later.
Emerging from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, we were back to familiar territory -- the water pipe trail. Here, we started to adopt a more conservative strategy of walking up any steep or long slope, and running the flats and gentle downslopes. We continued along familiar terrain until a branch point at around the 17 km mark which led us along 'Track 15', a place I never ran along before.
It was very nice to see new undiscovered trails. Much of these areas would not normally be accessible to the public as they were restricted military training areas, specially open for the race. We continued along for a little while more, before arriving at Lorong Asrama, the entrance to the Mandai Area. We eagerly replenished our water supplies and snacked on some of the food provided. Little did I know that the next segment of the race within the Mandai Area would prove to be the toughest of the day.
The Mandai Loop would stretch for about 10km, and include several 'hills'. It began simply enough on an asphalt road that brought us to a Y-junction. The sun was already high up in the sky, and the temperature was probably around 35 deg C. Soon, the path became a rocky trail that went up and down innumerable slopes. My legs were already tired from Bukit Timah Hill, so the additional climbs were increasingly difficult to complete. Furthermore, the hard ground and rocky surface were unforgiving, making each step (especially on the descent) a jarring and painful one for my quadriceps that were already starting to cramp up...
I decided to celebrate little victories, and gave myself an imaginary pat on the back each time we successfully made our way up yet another hill. A high point was when we crossed the 25 km mark, and noticing that about 3h 30 mins had elapsed. Looks like we would be able to keep to our target time :) I think quite a few runners gave up in the inhospitable Mandai Area. This was definitely the low point of the race for me.
Emerging from the Mandai Area, we recharged with drinks and snacks from the Lorong Asrama aid station. Although my full hydration pack was again heavy with isotonic drinks, I felt comfortable as we crossed the 30 km mark. The trails were really sparse now. We would only encounter one or two other runners moving along every now and then. Whenever I felt tired, I would find myself inspired by the determination displayed by the runners who ran alongside with us.
Soon, we were back to the water pipeline trail. I knew my sis was waiting at one of the aid stations here, so I set my mind on reaching that point as soon as I could. It was getting really hot now, and despite my intensive hydration strategy, I could feel both my legs were stiff and on the verge of breaking out in cramps. Fortunately, I was able to find a comfortable stride and rhythm that did not cause the cramps to manifest.
We spotted the special aid station at the 38km mark. My sis, Tekko, Mrs Tekko, Tigger, Charlotte and Tiwazz were out there in the blazing noon day sun, handing out cold drinks, raisins, salt tablets, grapes, jelly and many other goodies for the weary runners. It was great to see familiar faces cheering us on, and I was very much recharged after the short break :)
The final 12 km were a mental game of keeping the pace, suppressing cramps, and reserving enough energy for the final stretch. Stuck was still bounding and full of energy, and I knew I was probably slowing him down. I told him to move on ahead, cos I knew he could get a good timing. However, he very kindly said he wanted to finish as a team, and stuck (yes, living up to his nickname) with me for the remainder of the race :)The final 500m along the water's edge must have been a very emotional moment for all the TNF runners. For me, I was absolutely elated that I had survived the 50 km, didn't give up in the Mandai Area, and kept up with Stuck as best that I could. Glancing down at my watch, I realised that it read 6h 58+ mins, which meant that we had a chance of going under 7 hours! We thus decided to pick up the pace for the final 100 metres, and crossed the finish line together as a team :D
Looking back, I know that I would never have been able to finish this race if it wasn't for the team format. Stuck was a fantastic partner to run with, and our constant banter kept me distracted from the building fatigue in my legs. Thanks Stuck for a great race! So, any plans for 2010? :PTuesday, October 20, 2009
3 days left...
The North Face 100km Duo race is only 3 days away. So what have I been up to?
The short answer? Not what I should have been doing :P True, it is supposed to be taper time, and yes, I did decrease my mileage. But with travel to Boston and C's visit to Singapore thrown into the mix, I fear that my taper might have been a tad too 'enthusiastic' :P
Whatever the case, I am still hanging (literally - see below) in there, and eagerly looking forward to my first trail ultramarathon this weekend. Will update more on my tapering sessions shortly...
Image taken near the top of the world's tallest indoor Via Ferrata wall
in Orchard Central Mall, Singapore.
The short answer? Not what I should have been doing :P True, it is supposed to be taper time, and yes, I did decrease my mileage. But with travel to Boston and C's visit to Singapore thrown into the mix, I fear that my taper might have been a tad too 'enthusiastic' :P
Whatever the case, I am still hanging (literally - see below) in there, and eagerly looking forward to my first trail ultramarathon this weekend. Will update more on my tapering sessions shortly...
Image taken near the top of the world's tallest indoor Via Ferrata wallin Orchard Central Mall, Singapore.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
The boy who harnessed the wind
Just watched an amazing interview by Jon Stewart of a brilliant young man from Africa, William Kamkwamba, who amidst extreme poverty and difficult social circumstances, designed and built a windmill to generate electricity for his home based on figures that he saw in a book. He even designed and built his own circuit breaker to protect the home from power surges. And all this at the age of 14! Enjoy this inspiring interview from the Daily Show...
I loved his comment about google at the end of the interview :P
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| ||||
I loved his comment about google at the end of the interview :P
Saturday, October 03, 2009
The final trail LSD run
With 3 weeks to go, it was time to clock the mega LSD run before tapering to the NF 100 event. Having barely set foot back in Singapore for more than 40 hours, I was still jet lagged as I made my way to MacRitchie Reservoir park. Most people were already therre by 6.30am - a good sign. Lugging my hydration pack and a handful of energy gels, I joined in the huddle before the run.
We set off promptly at 7 am. A faint haze was in the air as we skirted the rim of the reservoir, making our way past other early birds out for walks or other forms of exercise. Like a well-honed machine, our group of about 14 runners automatically adjuested our individual paces until we were stretched out in single file, making entry into the forested trails much easier.
Kops led the first portion of the run. My mind still felt clouded, as if I couldn't believe I was back in the tropics. Somewhere, deep in the recesses of my limbic system, I must have thought I was still running along the Charles River in Boston. The morning air was still and dense, with the morning silence interrupted by only the rhythmic crunch of our shoes against the gravel-lined mud trail.The plan was 38 km. But we all know what happens to the best laid plans of man. In our case, the odds weren't in our favour. We had a tendency to either go below, or grossly overshoot the planned distance. Days of being right on target were hard to come by. I didn't expect any different today, and was mentally bracing myself for slightly more than 38 km.
In rapid succession, we passed the Singapore Island Country Club, the MacRitchie Ranger Station, and were soon spread out along Rifle Range Road. The group was stretched out over a long distance now, and we made regular stops at major intersections to close the gaps where possible. We took the Durian Loop, an undulating trail detour riddled with rocks and tree roots, instead of the mid segment of Rifle Range Road in order to train our legs to tolerate the terrain.Next up was Bukit Timah Hill. At the Visitors' Centre at the foot of the hill, we took a moment to refill our hydration packs and recharge. Kops was happily eating an energy bar when a monkey literally snatched the snack right out of his hand before deftly climbing back up the tree to sneer at us! A good reminder to hang on to my energy snacks on such trail runs. I wonder whether the monkeys have any preference for particular gel flavours :P
Stuck, my North Face team mate, and I decided to jog up the steep slopes as part of training. My game plan was to walk these steep slopes on the actual race day, but figured it was worth putting the lower limbs through some tougher training during conditioning runs such as these. Midway up, around the point where my heart popped up into my pharynx and my quadriceps caught fire, I guessed that I might have bitten off a wee bit more than I could chew :P We stood briefly at the summit to celebrate our achievement, stole a moment to snack on some jelly treats that Fennel handed out, and then began our descent.
The next segment was through the water catchment trail, along the (in)famous water pipes, before entering the Zheng Hua Park area. The miles at this point melted into one another. All I can remember is going through the plantation next to the highway, forging our way along mountain biking trails, and cutting through several construction sites.
At around the 22 km mark, we emerged back into civilisation -- a residential area that had nicely paved paths and shelters to rest in. The biggest find of the day here was a functional vending machine dishing out cold isotonic drinks. It was like finding an oasis in the desert. We sat, stretched and drank to our hearts' content. Feeling recharged, we began our journey back to the start.
My legs felt heavy, but there were no cramps...yet. I had already consumed two gel packs and several Clif Shot Jellies, and Gatorade still sloshed about in my hydration pack. Easy conversation and shared jokes at this point helped the miles to pass by more easily. By this time, several runners had dropped out and we regularly checked to make sure we had everyone with us at the major milestones.
The biggest, or perhaps more accurately, tallest, challenge on the return leg was climbing back up Bukit Timah Hill (again!!). Now, this is something few people in their right mind would willingly do, much less after clocking 30 km through challenging terrain. I could only conclude that there was an element of insanity present as Stuck, HP and I crawled our way back to the summit.The descent, though much less tiring, was cramp-ville for me. My calves were starting to tighten up, and the abrupt change in inclination didn't help. We took a longer break this time at the Visitors' Center, where Kops carefully guarded his energy snacks from the greedy eyes of the hovering monkeys :P
From their, it was the final run to the end. My fully-filled hydration pack felt heavy on my back, but it was great to have cold electrolyte fluids to sip on, especially since the sun was starting to blaze down on us. As we ran back along Rifle Range Road, around the 34 km mark, I felt increasingly tired and decided to break the final stage into several run-walk segments.
As always, it was such a joy to see the end point come into view. My left calf was cramping by then, and I knew that this was as far as I could go for today. Total time = 6:36:38 for a distance of 41.93 km -- the longest training run for me. Ever. It was now time to rest, rehydrate and eat. Thanks everyone for the great company. I couldn't have done this alone :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
In step, halfway across the world
Runners share a characteristic camaraderie. One that is built over many miles and the shared experiences of overcoming obstacles together. In this ever accelerating age of instant messaging and tweets, the opportunity to share an extended conversation over a long run is a rare gem indeed. And it isn't just the chatting that makes us good friends. Indeed, it is the contrary -- the segments of silence where one is deep in thought, or simply appreciating the unfolding scenery, but all in the comfortable company of a running mate.
Thus, even though I was halfway around the world, there was a special significance to be able to run at the same time as my running buddies. I knew they would be starting their 32 km trail run at about the time I headed out to the banks of the Charles River. They would be trekking through dense forested areas in the tropical heat, while I was busy trying to keep warm in the chilly evening air of the East Coast.
I was temporarily distracted by the longer-than-usual time it took for my Garmin 405 to get a satellite lock. Oddly, it only managed to establish my location after about 10 minutes. Perhaps it too was suffering from some form of digital jet lag? :P
Once I arrived at Charles River, I could immediately understand why the editor-in-chief of Runner's World, David Willey, cited the banks of the Charles as one of his all time favourite running routes. The meandering paths skirting the water's edge, the energy of fellow runners, and the historical buildings that flank the rive, all add to the richness of the experience.
As is my habit, I ran with my camera, stopping occasionally to capture moments in the run. But as we all know, it is difficult to fully encapsulate the atmosphere and feel of a place through pictures alone. I can share that it was a cloudy evening, with a cold breeze following me throughout. At times, it did feel uncomfortably chilly - guess my Minnesotan training is fading, cos the temperature was barely in the 50s F (about 9 deg C). My heat acclimatisation must have been more successful than I realised. 
College students were out on the water, practising their sculling, and I spotted a few others simply walking or cycling by the waterside parks. It seemed like everyone was slowing down with the advent of fall, leaving behind the memories of summer, and slowly gearing up for winter. Even some of the trees were starting to show hints of yellow and red, subtly hinting at the change of seasons.
I decided not to check my pace, and just run as fast or slow as my heart would lead. At times, I picked up the pace just to clear a bend, or cross a road; at others, I would slow to a comfortable jog, listening to the rustling leaves as the autumn breeze gushed by. As the sky darkened, I headed back past the famous Citgo Sign and 'Green Monsta' and ended another refreshing run. One vicariously shared with friends also running halfway across the world.
Happy running my friends :)
Thus, even though I was halfway around the world, there was a special significance to be able to run at the same time as my running buddies. I knew they would be starting their 32 km trail run at about the time I headed out to the banks of the Charles River. They would be trekking through dense forested areas in the tropical heat, while I was busy trying to keep warm in the chilly evening air of the East Coast.
I was temporarily distracted by the longer-than-usual time it took for my Garmin 405 to get a satellite lock. Oddly, it only managed to establish my location after about 10 minutes. Perhaps it too was suffering from some form of digital jet lag? :P
Once I arrived at Charles River, I could immediately understand why the editor-in-chief of Runner's World, David Willey, cited the banks of the Charles as one of his all time favourite running routes. The meandering paths skirting the water's edge, the energy of fellow runners, and the historical buildings that flank the rive, all add to the richness of the experience.
As is my habit, I ran with my camera, stopping occasionally to capture moments in the run. But as we all know, it is difficult to fully encapsulate the atmosphere and feel of a place through pictures alone. I can share that it was a cloudy evening, with a cold breeze following me throughout. At times, it did feel uncomfortably chilly - guess my Minnesotan training is fading, cos the temperature was barely in the 50s F (about 9 deg C). My heat acclimatisation must have been more successful than I realised. 
College students were out on the water, practising their sculling, and I spotted a few others simply walking or cycling by the waterside parks. It seemed like everyone was slowing down with the advent of fall, leaving behind the memories of summer, and slowly gearing up for winter. Even some of the trees were starting to show hints of yellow and red, subtly hinting at the change of seasons.
I decided not to check my pace, and just run as fast or slow as my heart would lead. At times, I picked up the pace just to clear a bend, or cross a road; at others, I would slow to a comfortable jog, listening to the rustling leaves as the autumn breeze gushed by. As the sky darkened, I headed back past the famous Citgo Sign and 'Green Monsta' and ended another refreshing run. One vicariously shared with friends also running halfway across the world.
Happy running my friends :)
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