Why run a Marathon?

The typical question. 

Have heard it countless times, and the more you try to give a satisfying answer to the person who asks, the more frustrated you get. Face it, people who don't get it will never get it, unless they do it themselves. 

I just saw this person on Facebook minutes ago, who really annoyed me. 

He was actually scolding Standard Chartered and labeled them as "Bastards" for leaving his name out of the slot. When asked why, his response was that he did not went to collect his race pack on the spot.

Come on you dumb MOFO, if you don't bother to collect your race pack, you should very well know the consequences and that would be your disqualification in the race. And now you CB you go blame the organisers? How freaking dumb are you? He is the type of pimp/clubber/good-for-nothing who love to complain about lame shit and take the easy(AND LAZY) route instead of the tougher one. Bloody hell, who gives a shit about people like him anyway? And in the first place, those who are sincere about completing a marathon FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSES should be diligent enough to make sure they prepare well, they collect the race pack on time, they check for updates and stuff. I am not assuming, as I've heard that this particular guy is only joining the marathon for fun and for the sake of it. HOW PATHETIC, YOU AIMLESS DIMWIT. 

Well, that's just some entertainment. 

I think I've combed the entire internet looking for marathon/running videos, and seen the bulk of it. It's strong, inspiring stuff, it really is. But I've seen enough. I just wanna go on this Sunday. WHY am I running a Marathon? 

Am I doing it for fitness and health? Am I doing it for glory? Am I doing it to test my mind? Am I doing it to experience the different emotions that I'm gonna feel? Well you could say it's a bit of all of them. But mostly it would be to experience life itself. 

And sadly, that's what most people don't understand. That the Marathon is very similar to life. You start a new journey as you sign up for the run, you go through all the tough backstage unglamorous preparation that nobody credits you for, you feel the pre-race jitters and anxiety the night before, you discipline yourself to keep training, eat and sleep properly, you sacrifice time and effort, you feel obstracized when people see you as a freak for doing this crazy stuff, you feel the excitement when 60,000 runners gather at the start point, you feel the fresh morning air and thank God to be alive, you feel the adrenaline rush when you course through the road with thousands of supporters cheering for you, you feel pain and fatigue when you reach mile 20 or hills, you force yourself back up to reach the finishing line, you feel a sense of euphoria and relief as you cross the finishing line, you feel proud when you receive the finisher's medal and tee, you throw yourself into the beautiful atomosphere of the Marathon. 

And isn't Life something similar to that? 

It's not just about senseless running, over long, endless distances, people. "Why torture yourself", they ask. 

YOU are torturing your body by missing out on LIFE. 

QOTD: I couldn't believe I was there, even though I knew I would be there.

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When Everything Goes Wrong

This night Murphy's law rang loud in my head; "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". 

Seems like so much bad things are happening in my community nowadays.

On the national level, Singapore seems to be struck by a series of unfortunate and certainly, unnecessary events. Look, first the resurgence of gang related incidents. I may not have blogged about it but trust me, I am FURIOUS if anything, about what is going on. Senseless maniacs going around hacking people? What right do they have to do that? The false sense that the whole world belong to them? They can do anything they want? I won't place too much emotions onto this matter, but I sure know I would at least bring a few of them down with me if I happen to be attacked. 

I can't recall more prominent events but I know right now the society is just topsy turvy. 

Then much recently the North-South Korea tensions. God, how dumb can it get. You know the worst is this small matter link to the great powers and things escalate to a larger scale. Then sooner than you know Singapore gets involved in way or another...and SAF starts to activate all NSF and regulars. Hardly plausible, yes, but better prepared than not. 

So I got very, very paranoid just now. Read on HWZ reports of "fart-like and chemical" smells around parts of Singapore such as Seng Kang and AMK. Apparently started by a loud bang or explosion of some sort. Some even declared feeling sick, having irritated eyes and other conditions. Wow, I was scared pissed, because I thought at the back of my mind we were victims of an Island-wide Chemical attack. Checked CNA and they reported NEA acknowledged the smells but were still investigating what caused it. Hope it's nothing serious...

BUT SEEMS SO MUCH NEGATIVE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING NOW COMPARED TO FIVE YEARS AGO. DARK TIMES, DARK TIMES. THE END IS LOOMING...

Then on a personal side, I was hoping not to get injured before my Marathon. Two days of soccer nearly threatened my condition. I played barefoot on Saturday and due to too long without playing barefoot, I almost got blisters. And my legs ached like hell. And luckily soccer @ The Cage today (Istana cohesion) didn't injured me. Well, I have to say, it was damn fun and substituted as my HIIT! It was a better workout than a normal HIIT! But much to my dismay, my precious legs were threatened again when I went for dinner. As I was picking the inner cans of milk from the upper shelf, one of the cans accidentally dropped and crashed onto my big toe! A freaking 250ml metal can dropped from 2 metres and rammed onto my big toe! Like F-iretr-uck! why the hell am I so unlucky!!! Are the gods trying to purposely injure me so that I cannot make it for Sunday..?! ***AHHH RAGE****

But hey...let's just look forward to the good times coming ahead. Specifically from 2 Dec to 8 Dec. Nobody is going to touch me on those days, nobody. Tomorrow is simple, but may ruin my day. COG rehearsal, and whether my WO catches me. If yes, repercussions may be serious. If no, I am damn lucky and I can holiday mood liao. 

Wednesday another dangerous day, with CPFA and afternoon standing parade, where my WO may catch me again. 

LOL @ the horoscope today which is damn accurate for once: "Blah blah....Professionally, Tuesday and Wesnesday could be your toughest days."

I can't predict the future, so we shall see if I'm lucky or not. 

But come Thursday, I AM FREE BABY. Thur-Fri-Sat-Sun (SCSM)-Mon-Tue-Wed alright!!! SEVEN days of freedom plus SIAM COG, PARADE, SM PARADE.

I

CANNOT

WAIT.

*While I am editing my knee rammed against the table ARGH!!!* CAN I MAKE IT TO SUNDAY IN ONE PIECE?!

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And soon, the start/end of and Era.

Less than 6 months ago I started.

Less than 6 days later I will undergo the first test. 

This final week is crucial leading to race day. I'm ultimately scared of catching illnesses or getting injured so we're trying to be as careful as possible here. 

But how ironic I still played soccer (after a long time) yesterday and would be playing again tomorrow. How dangerous man. If people decide to play rough. 

On the marathon, there's no need to give so much hype, as least in my opinion. 

It's just that people compare results with inferior standards. Look, in Singapore, the average timing for a full marathon is SIX hours. And so completing a sub-6 is considered good. But to people who know better, SIX hours is NOTHING. If we compare to say, USA, where the average marathon timing is 4:30, it's nothing. But if someone hits 4:30 in Singapore it's considered above average. Why? Why can't people research more and see the truth? 

And on the distance. Yea sure, 42K is long. Heck, I don't even know if I'm in the position to comment, since the longest I've went is 33K. But come on, 42K is NOTHING if we want to compare against longer endurance events such as Ultras or Ironmans. Because Singapore only has what, ONE mere ultra per year. Laugh-out-loud. You look at the 50 milers, the 100 milers, the 150 milers, the 24 hours races, the multiday races out there, and you see how deprived we Singaporeans are. It's sad, but it can't be helped, since Singapore is so bloody small and running isn't the most popular of sports here. 

You see all that and you think, what is 26.2 miles? It's almost...amateurish! 

But then again, we will see if I can overcome this 'amateurish' marathon this Sunday. 

I agree, completing a marathon is nothing, some people might say. But to do it within a respectable timing, it's a different story. 

REAL WORK is going to start soon after my marathon, and we're not talking about fitness/running/sports/army anymore.

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The Four Hour Marathon

Hey...less than two weeks to the Marathon...it's time for the motivational videos, ain't it?

Well I might get too emotional right now and lose focus since we haven't really round up our final preparations. 

Yes, my final LSD 33K is done. And with that, the tapering process has already begun. Time to cut down the trainings, lower intensity by 50%, carbo-load, etc etc. And I am listening, it's always good to take the tried and proven route, especially for something as momentous as a marathon. 

On my target timing. My head says 4:30 but my heart wants a 3:59:59 or less. I wonder, when I look at the videos, how 3:30 is so easily achievable by fellow runners who look ....just plain average! It sends the message that a sub-4 marathon is actually simple, but truth is it's NOT. Well, at least to me now!

I've done all the trainings, and I'm already used to the 5.40 min/km pace required for a sub-4. Oh lord how I wish a can say I can maintain it for 42 kilometres! 

Well, the worst I can go is 6min/km, which equates to a 4:12 finish. I am probably going to keep at 5.40 - 6.00 for the first 21K, then push for 5.40 sharp for the next 10K. This is probably going to determine if I hit sub-4. At the 31K mark, if I 'bonk', then I will try to salvage a 4:30 finish. If I feel damn good, I will MAINTAIN 5.40 UNTIL 37K MARK WHEN I FACE THE BENJAMIN SHEARS BRIDGE! THERE I KNOW IF I DON'T CRAMP UP OR GIVE UP I WILL FINALLY UNLEASH MY FREAKING 10K RACE PACE UNTIL AS LONG AS POSSIBLE UNTIL I REACH THE FINISHING LINE................!

Phew. Talking about it gets me excited. 

Oh yes, bonking. I don't want to bonk. Searching and watching inspirations videos also leads to results showing unpleasant stuff such as bonking. It is scary when you think that may happen to you, but things like that can't be helped man. We can only hope for the best when race day comes. 

Check all your preparation for now on...especially enough hydration and carbo-loading...my duties are over, and I won't have duty until after SCSM. =) Predicted off starts on 2 Dec, after which will be my leave 3-7 Dec in view of the Marathon. 

The Four Hour Marathon. If I do it...WILL I do it?

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Positive, positive stuff.

FINALLY

I COMPLETED 33 KILOMETRES.

Just so much emotions right now...

I finally did it...I FINALLY BROKE THE 30K barrier AND I smashed the 'WALL'!

This is the BEST run I have ever done.

When I stopped halfway during my last attempt, a number of reasons attributed to it.

Now, the same goes, there's many reasons why I could do it today.

It was adequate rest. Sufficient preparation. Focused mindset. Hunger. All these must be present in order to complete a marathon.

Right now, I have all the confidence that I can finish it. 

A lot of positives from this run.

-> NO CRAMPS ANYWHERE. NONE. YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE CRAMP UP OR PULL THEIR MUSCLE AFTER SOMETIME? NONE FOR ME. FREAKING SOLID LEG MUSCLES. 

->I RAN AT BLOODY 90% OF MY RACE PACE. HOW I DID IT I DON'T KNOW. I COMPLETED WITHIN 4:30, BUT MINUS 1H OF REST TIME IT WAS 3:30. 3:30 FOR 33K, MEANING IF I RAN FOR 42K I WOULD HAVE FINISHED AT 4:27. NOW IF I PUSH TOWARDS 4:00 ON THAT DAY, I MAY ACTUALLY DO IT...

->NO BLISTER, NO NIPPLE ABRASION, NO BROKEN TOENAILS, MY ADIDAS SUPERNOVA CUSHION 7 IS STILL SO PERFECT, MY 2XU STILL SO PERFECT. 

->BUT. BUT. BUT. I KENA FREAKING RASHES AT MY 'YOU KNOW WHERE' AND WHEN I BATHED IT WAS PAINFUL LIKE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE TOO A NEEDLE AND POKE POKE POKE THERE HOLY SHIT I ALMOST FAINTED FROM THE PAIN. 

->I could genuinely carry on the run; meaning at 33K I wasn't even dying or what. At 30K I could even run at 10K RACE PACE how's that biatch!

This is awesome. 

Nothing more I want to say, but two weeks left to the Marathon. 

Oh yea, crazy as it sounds, but I registered for the 100K sundown. But that will be for another day. 

Time to collect my race pack!

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Let's get this over with!

Uh, through the pain, relentless workouts, but that's the only way Lab works, and the only way I know how. 

I'm feelin' kinda jittery and hyper after the speed training. Woo~! 

Yes what they say is true, those people who run Marathons and Ultras are in one way or another screwed up in the mind. I guess I'm on the right track then...=DD

Alright, since I like breaking records so much, let's break another record! Nope, not in running this time. From tomorrow till' Sunday, I will be mounting consecutively, FOUR days in a row -- New Personal Record AHA! 

Yea you've every reason to think that I've really gone mad now. =DD

Crap aside, these four days especially the Sunday will be CRUCIAL in determining my Marathon performance now why do I say that? It's because my final LSD (33K) will be attempted next Monday, 22/11 morning. So if I treat this seriously I must do my part to make sure I rest enough, I eat enough and I do not injure myself out of nothing so that I'm 100% on Monday. 

By the way, on the Sundown Marathon. I am pretty sure I wanna join both 42K and 100K. Now you may think I'm crazy, but like I said, those who do all these long-distance running stuff must be somewhat screwed up in the mind. =DD

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Barrage virgin hits HIGH

Well I gotta admit, the group run just now with old NPCC buddies is pretty enjoyable. Clocked 14K, and finished with a hills repeat. Well sort of, if the Marina Barrage upslope is considered a "hill". But workout wise, I am on target. No wonder night running is so appealing, there's the breezy and cooling weather, the quiet surroundings, and somehow you don't lose energy as quickly. Oh, and running past the crowded Orchard Road at 10pm does motivate you, hah. Hmm, the next time I go back would probably be this Monday, if not on 5 Dec itself, so yea, looking forward to it man!

 

A preview for next year: New races! 

Two of the ones I'm participating for sure. 

1. Terry Fox Run 2011 

Distance: 10K RUN or 5K WALK. Price: $20 Adult/ $15 Youth. Venue: Big Splash. Competitive or not for the 10K, I'm not sure as it didn't state. The shirt is pretty ugly and "sponsorless", but $20 for 10K is ridiculously cheap. I want to do this. Hey guys who's on? More info: http://www.canadians.org.sg/pdf/Event_TerryFoxRun-flyer.pdf

2. Sundown Marathon 2011

Alright it's finally out! This is getting exciting =). So this time apparently they have changed things a bit. Instead of one single say event for all categories, they decided to do with the usual Full/Half/10K in one day but with the Ultra on another month! But guess what's the more exciting part? The Ultra is not 84K but a whopping 100K! Upgraded to the next level! Even sitting on my seat now, I am feeling pumped up for the event. My mind say just go for the 100K but my heart tells me to do the 100K AND 42K! Woah! Imagine if I could complete that! Uh, but it's still too early to say, so till' then I'll seek some opinion before deciding. The pricing is steep though, but...I'll just have to save up =(. Can't wait for my first Sundown! Interestingly, someone mentioned that there is no "Adidas" included in the title so could it be they've changed sponsors? Who, Asics? NB? NIKE? More info: http://www.sundownmarathon.com/newsletter/newletter_16112010.html

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Races down...the Marathon looms ahead.

How time flies, and we are already heading for the end of 2010..!!

Is it good? Is it bad?? Have I done all I can for this year? 

Well...those shall be addressed next time, but for my 'running life' at least, I should be quite satisfied. It was less than half a year ago when I actually wanted to take up running seriously...If you'd read my post back in June, you'd realise one of my running idols David Goggins ignited the spark in me to join competitive races. Looking back, we've done quite a few this year, haven't we? The Nicorette Quitters Run, Army Half Marathon, Nike City 10k races, New Balance Real Run, and the most recent Salomon X-Trail Run. 

It has been fun...the journey until now. Learning and training rigorously everyday... making mistakes here and there...planning and organising my time for both training and duties.. <---This was especially difficult and sometimes depressing, when things don't go your way, but judging from my race results, it has more or less worked out. Not to mention, sacrificing precious rest time to do things out of the norm...quietly suffering, training, completing workouts without recognition but only necessary assurance for results...trying to reach my targets and one up peers... Oh it's been quite a heck of a ride. 

As I digress, the Salomon trail run yesterday was a new experience. I know, this is NOTHING compared to actual trail running, but as somebody who has never even tried trail racing before, this is a very nice change. However, the organisation was utterly disappointing. Complaints ranged from the very obviously extrapolated distance of almost 13K instead of 12K (No wonder it felt so bloody long and the end!!), absence of distance markers, inefficient, clueless volunteers who lacked the sense of urgency ESPECIALLY AT THE DAMN BAG DEPOSIT, the senseless usage of such a narrow ONE WAY route, and more. It was lucky the threatening dark sky did not rain if not the whole event would have totally crumbled. I really liked the gathering venue though; the entrance of MacRitchie Reservoir, with its luscious, green surroundings, a large sheltered hall with toilets, water coolers, seats and even a cafe housed, is simply a perfect spot as a gathering venue for a vibrant opening to the event. As I promised, I did not go for timing. So we started out at a comfortable marathon pace, (anyway it was so crowded we won't have been able to overtake) before breaking away near the trails. The actual running was crazy and weird LOL, we were just having run chasing each other, which meant the run involved sprinting, slow jogs, fast runs and talking, yea talking...so much the opposite of all my previous runs. It was quite funny man, we were like the only ones talking so loudly yet the rest of the participants were so serious and focused. Anyway this easygoing tempo only carried on until the hills attacked us, and pretty much ended at 8K. Instinctively, the competitor in me came out and I was breaking away soon after. From this point all I can remember are hills, hills, and MORE HILLS. Yes, it was quite tough, but nothing I can't cope with. Strategically I started to "Bankai" and hum all the Army songs I know, but because it was so hard to recall the various songs that I could only keep repeating, "Training to be soldiers..." LOL! It really distracted me from the pain of climbing all the DAMN HILLS. Just. Hate. The. Hills. Then...as i was in my droning mode...the light appeared and we were back on asphalt. Guess what, more up slopes LOL mindboggling stuff man. By now I was fatigue as hell, and my pace reduced to a mere jog. Then at last, we hit the final 400m mark and there's no way I'd walk from now on. I carried on as fast as I can til' I saw the supposed finishing point and started sprinting. AHA what I joke I became! Passing the 'finishing point' I found it strange since there wasn't a huge crowd, only to realise the thing I was was actually the starting line DUH! (To my defence, they look exactly the same...) and I had already slowed down. So upon seeing the real end point I had to sprint again. Yea, dumb, I know. But wow I must say, this was the best reaction I received from a crowd. Maybe it was how ridiculously I looked when I was sprinting! 

Well so that was the race. I don't know the exact timing but I guess it's around an hour twenty minutes? Heh, overall despite the poor organisation things still turned out quite okay. This trail running stuff has made a new fan out of me. 

...And that concludes the races for this year. What lies ahead is the final event, the Full Marathon. I'd rather focus on my training now that be too psyched about it; this isn't the time yet. 

But as I said, by the end of the year I would have endured a hell of a journey. After thinking long and hard, I have decided that's all for my "racing life" and I will stop joining races, at least for the near future. And I will cut down all the trainings, the workouts, and looooooooooooooong runs. It's time to move on to the next phase of my life. Well what can I say, I had fun. And good things all come to an end. 

Just Kidding! WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN, BABY! 

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The good ol' days of "ST65" are back?

Just finished a workout. Well, I have kind of forgotten about yesterday's bad patch. Sort of. Thought it would be good to add in an impromptu workout today since I did not complete yesterday. So I went out at 4:30pm, and managed to complete a 8K mile repeats plus 2K run. I'm glad to say after that refreshing workout, I have rebuilt my confidence and strengthen my tenacity as a runner. That said, I have already rescheduled a date for the 33K. This time I should learn from my past mistakes and finally do it, before it's too late. 

Ah yes, I have put my self cook plans into action. Went to get all the groceries after receiving my pay to stock up for the next 3 three weeks. Yup, I am going back to self cooking in preparation for the marathon. That is how important I view the marathon. Total, uncompromising commitment and preparation. Cut down the junk food, cut down the oily foods, the overload of useless carbs and 'empty' calories. Back to the protein dominant diet. Back to the "ST65" diet. The epic days where I struggled and starved and learnt  every thing about nutrition are back! I will never forget the process of how I cut 22kg through mainly self cooking and I am so excited to experience it again. The chicken breast...the tofu...the eggs...the veggies (YUCK)...the fruits...AH, HEAVEN. 

Alright, finally did the Flag Breaker for 72 man! Quite nervous, and some shite happened, AND I looked so idiotic being a first timer and all...but undeniably relived. That it didn't drop the Singapore Flag. And I didn't SIGN SEVEN extra or WORST. PHEW. Looking back it is true being Flag Breaker is quite simple in terms of the sequence of events BUT it is extremely high risk and low gain. You get to see the guard-of-honour in full view and have the VIPs are literally inches from you, though. 

Time for some Valkyria Chronicies 2 and back to Istana tomorrow!

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Giving Up.

Update: I gave up half way on my 33K run.

Stopped at 10K mark. After some thought, I guess I must have suffered from burnout. Going too far, too much, too soon. Not letting the body rest. I should have known going 33K today was impossible but I still tried. Not just physically, mentally, I was even worse. I wasn't psyched up for today at all. Zero motivation, not realising that I am fighting a beast today. Not prepared. I don't have the rage. I can't feed on negativity. Where are all the things that make me jealous? I need them so that I can fuel up! Post all your happy facebook pictures! Go into relationships and make me jealous! Do the sweetest lovey dovey things and post them on facebook and enrage me! If I don't see all these I can't be motivated to train myself!! Things just seem too good nowadays! I can't feed on anything! And circumstances did not help me either. Sleep so bloody late yesterday, woke up and it was already 10:30am. I had already lost the battle before I even started. If I am ever doing 30K + I MUST wake up at 7. Going out there at 2pm, when the Sun is blistering hot and my body is so damn sleepy, it is just not going to work out. And my damn legs feel so bloody heavy today. Even when I'm going so slow. I just lost all sense of direction, just going out and running without a sense of purpose. 

Complacency, Lack of motivation, insufficient preparation and other distractions all attributed to my failure today. 

But fret not, somehow, someway, someday, 33K will happen. 

Yea, I gave up today...so what. 

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The Leave-Off Combo STARTS!

Let's see...

Thur (L), Fri (Off), Sat (D), Sun (L), Mon (L), Mon (Off), Tue (PH), Wed (Off?)

Chain broken on Saturday but it's ok since I'm repaying duty. It's only one day, and I'll take it as a rest day for SALOMON X TRAIL RACE on Sunday! Yes, though I've never update much but I'm still looking forward to this. First trail run, no worries about timing or whatsoever as I just want to experience trail running. 

Following our Pre-marathon plans, tomorrow is going to be a BIG day for a LONG run. Really LONG. I am almost shitting brix thinking now...

THIRTY-THREE (33) KILOMETRES. 

*Gulps*.

Insane to the average and people who don't understand, but a necessity for runner's who are doing their final preparation for the marathon. It's like taking prelims, you know? Seriously I don't even know if I can walk the distance. Sure, I've gone long but not this long before..! 

But yea, 10K seemed impossible to me 10 months ago. 

21K seemed impossible to me 3 months ago. 

28K seemed impossible to me 10 days ago. 

However, there's something different this time. Have you heard about the legendary 30K mark? That humans can only store glycogen enough to sustain for 30K? Beyond which runners will experience such fatigue that they either can't carry on or lose control of their body, thereby "HITTING THE WALL"? 

I am going to do this. I am going to experience this. I am scared, but I am not backing out. There's no time for childish acts like giving up anymore. And failure is unacceptable. (UNLESS AND ONLY IF, IT RAINS TO THE POINT I CAN'T CARRY ON WITHOUT RISKING MY HEALTH). I am doing this man!

The route is easy, home to pioneer, pioneer to outram park interchange following the MRT tracks, to Fort Canning park, orchard, BY PAST ISTANA on purpose, before ending at City Hall Interchange and taking 51 Home. Ideally, this is what should happen. But I can't forsee any crap hindering me from completing tomorrow. 

Looking forward to the delicious CLIF Peanut Butter Energy Bar tomorrow! 

*Btw*

I may sign 3 extra duties for wearing watch during the 72 man guard-of-honour. Elaborate more next time. I keep telling myself : I-am-not-sad.

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A Terrifying Experience.

Geez, been a long time hasn't it?

I guess I was too busy staying in for duties to even go back home. Anyway, wasted no time to track back to my training schedule. Three days after my last run, and this was what I did today.

Three rounds around Pandan Reservoir. That's 6K x 3 or 18K in total. Well, I must say that I changed the plan for today because I was not properly fuelled for the original 21K. So instead, I just did 18K, split into 3 sessions. All three done at Marathon Pace, but at different times. I am quite confident that this produced better results, instead of 21K slow run. One in the morning, one in the afternoon, and the last one at NIGHT. I must blog about this. Oh-my-lord the night run was terrifying!!! I predicted wrongly that the sky would not turn dark until 7.30pm, where I would have already completed the run, but turns out I was very, very wrong. And I paid the price by having to run almost 3K in darkness, paranoia, and harassment. The first thing was the rain. Thunder and lightning suddenly appeared while I was halfway through the reservoir and it made the skies darker. As a result of the incoming rain, there were these pesky fleas, millions and millions of them, emerging from the sides which just flew towards me and tried to enter my mouth, my ear, my eyes...it was just sick man! The WHOLE stretch of 2K was covered by fleas...and they just relentlessly bombarded onto my body like pins; it was damn disgusting. Especially when they flew into my mouth and I had to spit them out YUCKS. Horrible, just horrible. I was like a caveman. I was literally running away from them. And secondly, from 3K onwards, there were NO LIGHTS at the sides of the route and guess what surrounded me? TREES. Endless, dark, shadowy, creepy looking trees that threatened to have "something" appear out of them. By now I was scared stiff and just ran for my life. My imagination ran even faster and all sorts of shadows, white stuff, voices, figures just popped out. ARGH and I still had like 2K to go! If I stopped, that's it, so I just RAN and RAN and RAN, desperately hoping the end was near. Worst, there was nobody around (at least human presence calms you down) and I'd imagine there was "something" behind me and chasing meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee OH SHIT IT WAS FREAKY. I just ran like a dog, I wasn't even tired or panting it was as if I was on steroids. The adrenaline just overshot to the MAX. After some torturous 15 minutes I finally, FINALLY reached my home. How relieved was I!

I swear I will never run Pandan Reservoir at night again...!

                                             IT'S DAMN CREEPY AT NIGHT.

So yea, what a fun day huh. My damn SIM card is still inactive so I'm gonna be uncontactable for another few days. Collected the Salomon Race Pack too. Shirt material, design and size is great, the bib looks good. Map, rules, all printed nicely on a A4 paper that comes together with a 30% voucher. Sad there wasn't more goodies. Oh, and the sweet running cap that only early birds got. =D

Was thinking just now, actually the neighborhood is actually a workout paradise. There shouldn't be any unfit people in this area, given the easy accessibility to exercise corners and running paths. You see, there's the Reservoir, 6K, perfect for Long Slow Distance with a few rounds with distance markers AND trail training. There's the stretch of 1.5K gravel located beside the levitated reservoir that is just made for mile repeats/tempo runs. There's the 400m asphalts below my house which I use dominantly for Intervals. Heck, I can even do Hills/Hill repeats at the reservoir. And LAST but the BEST, the new IPPT area built at Teban Gardens, which I have yet to visit. If I do each of them daily, and add a gym session, I can easily keep fit even if I'm not training for races. Woo~

Alright, that's all from me tonight! Tomorrow is the First Sunday of the month, time for Change of Guards!

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Getting used to life.

*Bam* and it's going to Thursday already..! Two duties done..! 

I finally managed to get myself not to go home before duties...and truth be told, it's not so bad after all. Maybe I've gotten used to the people in my platoon. Just have to follow their pattern and things will go well. 

No mood no mood no mood no mood.

I don't want to post anymore. Why? I JUST LOST MY PHONE IN THE BUS. HOW'S THAT. 

LOST MY BLOODY PHONE.

BLARGHHHH..!

How am I gonna survive now. 

Wanted to post about my need to lost some extra pounds..wanted to post about my tempo run today...my strategy for the marathon...the new races...even that one time I saw MM LKY in person having a stroll...Oh every thing I spoilt by this! One of the very important valuables that is my PHONE! 

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