Singapore Biathlon 2009

Reaching East Coast Park at 6:30am, I was hoping to find a parking lot near the race site.
But nay.... it will be a 2km walk to the race site.

After the race pack collection and body marking, I went to set up my transition.
(Hmm.... not so sure why but I was feeling anxious and excited when I was collecting my race pack. :S)
The navy has been kind enough to plant a huge marker at my race slot, so that I will be able to find my slot fast after the swim.

Met PWLee and Eliza, who are complete the last minute preparation for their 7:30am swim start.

The rest of the folks started trickling in and soon we have KK, Aerosolcan, SC5, Atomic, Sotong, Sealboon, Electronic Kang, Nick and Liang Seng.
Sywog came and took some photos for us. Thanks, mate. :)

Soon it was time for the orange cappers (8am swim start) to gather at the Start Line.
Not much talking going on. I guess everyone is psychologically preparing themselves for the swim.

After the horn goes off, I blindly followed the guy in front and ended up on the extreme right "lane". :S
No worries, this will be my game plan for today. I shall do a >1.5km swim to compensate for my lack of swim training. =)
Hey guys, I am not proud of the fact that I can only swim during races.
It is just so hard to find time to do so.

Swimming at 15-20m away from the lane ropes meant that I have the entire sea to myself.
I kick no-one, no-one kick me. :)
The canoe and the life boat is my right marker for the first part of the swim, before the first buoy.
Turning at the first buoy, my Barracudas started to fog.
Geez, what a time for the goggles to mal-function.
Turning to check where the lane rope is a futile task.
The lane markers are everywhere. On my left, on my right and in front of me... Geez, having a orange wave cap is disastrous...
Took a while to get my bearing and soon I am back in my own private swimming lane. =)

Just as I reached the U-turn buoy, the horn went off!!!
What?!?!?! This is unbelieveable...
Either I am 15mins into my swim, which means I am darn fast or the swim has took me 30 mins meaning I have taken a real long time...
I did have a relaxed swim, but I dun think I took that long....
Heck lar, just continue swimming.

My privileged swim is coming to an end as I got herded towards the funnel for the end part of the swim.
Swimming with the pack wasn't fun, but I did have fun swimming alone a while ago. Now it is back to business.
Turning right at the final buoy, I was surprised to find myself outside the lane marker.
The final stretch of lan markers to the swim end seems angled away from us.
Brand us cheaters if you like, but it looks like the entire detail is completely lost.
(I resent that when I saw forummers use the word "cheater". Does it help? Who in the right mind would wanna cut short the swim distance when all of us have come so far to reach this stage of the swim?)
It is simply a case of swimmers see, swimmers follow.
Why is the buoy not at the swim turning point is anybody's guess.

Slowly swim towards the lane markers and entered the final 30m of my swim.
Was surprised to hear the horn going off again... Hmm... is that 45mins or 60mins into my swim?
I dun recall a 9am swim start, so I assume it is 45mins?
What?!?! It took me 15 mins to reach the U-turn, but >30 mins for the 2nd part of the swim.
Ouch, that sucks...

Took a long shower at the transition point with the supporters looking at me puzzlingly.
Ok ok, I get your point. Will save the rest of the water for the other swimmers. :p

While changing into my toe socks, Atomic came up. Saw my socks and laughed. :)
No points for guessing who did a faster transition turnaround. ;)

While on the run, met EdHorizon.
If not for his nick on his SGRunners running singlet, I would not have known. :p
Meet Eliza, Chris and Fuhua after the 1km U-turn.
2.5km into the run, I am still feeling good.
Hmm.... has mid-foot running form really transform me?

All of a sudden, my pinkie toe starts to hurt big time forcing me to take of my shoe and check.
Ahh... must have been the hard knock it took 2 weeks ago...
Pulled the elastic laces really tight to prevent the pinkie from knocking against the toebox.

1km after the U-turn at NSRCC, spotted Sotong. Hmm.... this seems better than last year.
Made a little target of hoping not to see Liang Seng before I turn out towards the National Sailing Club, I picked up my pace.

Just before I cross the bridge towards Liang Seng came running down the stretch... Hehe... we never cross path, so target achieved. *Cheap thrill*.

All too soon, Sotong came from behind saying "Come run with me." =S
"Cannot lah, your legs too long. I catch you at the finish" I replied and he goes on his merry ways. :D

With SxuanJing lurking at the 9km mark, I quickly zip up my tri suit and adjust my race belt.
Haha.... with SxuanJing taking photographic evidence, cannot slack liao.
Before I knew it, the Finish Line looms ahead.
Can sense a runner picking up his pace behind me and I started to change to forefoot running.
Oh boy, that is tough...
Decided to let the guy overtake me. :D
At the last 20m, I made a very conscious effort to ensure that there are no runners around me.... Haha, when did I become so vain.
Finish the run with a smile.
Let's hope the photographers catch that. :D

After the race. Chatted with Sotong for a while and browse through the few sponsors' stalls before proceeding to Novena Square to sign up my kids for the Cold Storage Kids Run.