Mizuno Wave Run

I almost changed the title to Mizuno Wave Walk-A-Jog, till something happens during the last 2km. So read on... =)

Woke up at 5am and had my breakfast.
Intended to reach the race site around 6:30am so that I can get a good parking spot.
Instead, I was surfing the net and updating my blog when my colleague Seah SMS me @ 6:20am that he is already there!
Quickly washed up and drove to Bedok.
Along TPE, there was a slight drizzle.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it will not rain till the race is over.

Parked at Blk 887 and made the long walk over to TP stadium.
Was surprised that there wasn't any car queues outside TP and the car park ain't crowded at all!

Met Sealboon, Ripley, Brokie, Vincent and my 2 colleagues at the start point.
We estimated 3000+ runners, although the organisers announced 5000+ runners.

It is a one wave start, which I think is sensible as they are utilising the same stretch of road for the last 400m to the Finish line.
Given that there ain't a lot of runners, I dun see much congestion like what the others proclaimed.

The first 3km was good! I ran at a pace of 6:20km/h.
Saw Bananaman30 along the way. Boy, this guy sure can run. He was gone in a flash.
At the 3km mark, PassionRunner and Mashie overtook me. I tried to keep pace with them and failed miserably.
There is a water station at the 3km mark, but there is a long queue, so I din stop for any.
Hoping for another water station 2-3km upstream.

At the 4km mark, things started to go horribly wrong.
I simply ran out of energy. Started to walk and jog.
Try to find my momentum, but it seems to have totally deserted me.
Worst still, coming up at the 5km point is the sand stretch.

I just cannot adapt to running on the sand. It felt slippery.
That kinda explain why I only ran at Bedok Reservoir only once in 2007.
Proceed to run on the grass.
But not much of a trail for me to run on. So I started walking again.
Seeing that the other runners can overtake me while walking, I decided to change strategy.
Tried to out-walk the other walkers, and hopefully runners. =)
For the next 2km, it was pretty fun while I try to out-walk the other participants. Keke.
KcslChin overtook me and I told him to go ahead.

At the 7km mark, queued up for the water.
Boy, these water stations are really under-staffed.
Proceeded to run on the tarmac, but alas the stretch of tarmac ended too soon.
Tried my brisk walking again and caught up with PassionRunner and Mashie at the 8km mark.
Haha, I thought I super slack liao. They are even worse than me. =p

When Mashie decided to walk home at the BR carpark, PassionRunner issued me with a challenge. "Ai chiong mai?"
I just replied "Ok lor!" and the bullet took off.
We kept to a sub 6 minute pace throughout the entire run to the finish line.
It was tough, but it was fun.

After the fiasco last year, it was a pleasant surprise this year.
The organisers have truly redeemed themselves.
With the fewer number of participants, the blessed weather and the unexpected company during the last 2km, it was truly an enjoyable run.
They even have proper tentage laid out for the baggage collection.

Tried to look for the SGRunners group, but did not find them in the stands.
While walking to the tracks to get more NeWater, spotted the guys sitting at the D-ring.
While the others left soon after, I chat with Eliza while we wait for the lucky draw.
Chey, not much excitement there. They will notify the winners of the lucky draw even if he/she is not present.
Proceed to have lunch before proceeding home.