Physically and mentally tired, I am not in a good shape to do the run.
Strangely enough, the thought of DNS never cross my mind. Not even once. =)
Supcon picked me up at 4:05am...
Sorry for keeping you waiting.
We proceed to pick up Matthew and his friend.
Haha... it turned out that his friend is Fang Jie!!! =D
Small world, small world indeed. =D
Meet ST at the car park, but could not recognise her till I walk almost right up to her.
Not sure what is wrong with me today, but my vision is really bad this morning.
While chatting with Supcon on the way to the race site, I realised that I am going to suffer today!!!
Why?
Ever wonder why I did well during last week's Yellow Ribbon Prison Run, even though I have not run nor train much for the last 3 months?
I took steroids. Yes, you heard right!
I would have been disqualified if I were a podium finisher.
The steroids I took actually numb the nervous system.
It was for my cough.
Ever feel the need to cough, but you could not cough?
Yes, that is what is happening to me.
My throat is ticklish, but even if I tried my hardest, I just could not cough when I am on steroids. Scary...
Scarier still, I can actually feel saliva flowing down my throat...
Again, the thought did not frighten me. I am all ready to go go go...
Met BFF and we proceed to the Start Point together.
I was late and by the time we were on Esplanade Drive, the race were already underway.
We could see the runners on the other side of the road liao!!!
Plan today is to keep BFF in sight, but sadly I lost her after 1km! =(
Her pace of 7min/km is way too fast for me.
Coughing get unusually bad along Robinson Road...
I shld have save 1 tablet of steroid for today's race...
4km and we are on Marina Bay Sands.
Wahaha.... completing 4km is getting really easy now.
Nothing to daunting...
The upslope is a bit tough, but nothing to difficult to conquer.
Running up, I switched to forefoot automatically.
I am glad for my new running form. =)
While admiring Marina Bay Sands, John called out to me.
It is his first 21km.
He was told to start running by his doctor to lose weight and take the pain off his knees. Good on ya, mate.
Turned out his younger brother is my colleague!!!
Gosh, what a small world!
We walked together for the next 3km till the Sheares Bridge downslope.
While walking up Sheares Bridge, I noticed that the lane closure has been reduced to 2 lanes.
Last year, we have the luxury of 4 lanes.
I din encounter any human jams, so that is fine with me. =)
Keke, going down Sheares Bridge is probably the easiest part of the whole run. =D
Again forefoot running is taking care of my knees. =)
Turning into Fort Road, I am starting to regret wearing Asics Kayano today!
Screw the shoe manufacturers...
All their marketing does not help runners at all.
One day, Jodan should come out with his own branding. =D
Injinji socks... Never owned a pair, but already enjoying the benefits of a WrightSocks-Injinji socks combi.
Boosters... probably one of the best buys for 2010.
These compression sleeves really saved my calves.
Newtons... I wanted to save the shoes for SCSM... Shld have worn NB904...
21km only leh, dun need for Kayanos...
No pain on the knees, but the ankle felt really weird this morning.
Sat down to tie the shoelaces again.
Once I started running again, the calves seized up big time...
It is as if someone just inserted two pieces of metal into the calves. Ouch...
Booster, Booster do your magic...
Keke, that is how much faith I had in Booster.
It works, it works darn well.
The compression feeling is so surreal...
From the side of the calves. Ahh... like someone giving me a massage. Cool!!!
When is someone going to market compression sleeves for the thighs...
I truly need that.
Took the Salonpas spray on the thighs today. =)
Let's see how's Jimmy's recommendation works. =)
Love the orange drummers along the route.
Well done, guys!
Saw Hwee Peng just before the U-turn.
After the U-turn I saw a lovely couple on the other side.
So sweet... Hope that I will be able to do AHM with Mrs Jodan one day. =)
Turned out the lovely couple is Mr and Mrs BFG!!!
Good to see ya, boss!
Sorry if my handshake dun feel sincere... my hands are a bit swollen at that stage...
Not much feeling in them anymore.
Keke... Now the gameplan starts...
Sorry BFG, but Mrs BFG becomes part of the gameplan...
The plan is to keep Mr and Mrs BFG from overtaking me as long as possible.
I dunno Mrs BFG's pace, nor if they have started the race on time or not.
But the fact that they are behind me is something for me to look forward to.
Took my second gel at 14km.
Everything seems on track...
Gels at every 7km has always worked for me, so I dun see any issues here.
Or so I thought...
500m later, I hit the WALL....
WHAM WHAM WHAM...
Wow, this gotta sucks....
Ever imagine a car running out of petrol?
That is what happen to me...
The car is fine, but the tank is EMPTY....
I am literally running on fumes...
Walking becomes a huge problem...
I walked and stopped every 20-30 steps.
The WALL strives to demoralise and I must admit it has done its job darn well...
Got me really emo...
A runner wearing the OSIM Triathlon T-shirt ran past.
At the back of the shirt wrote "I'm a Triathlete"
"SO WHAT!!!!" my mind screamed...
"SO WHAT if Jodan is a triathlete? He cannot even finish his HM", it sneers...
"SO WHAT if Jodan has done x HMs, x marathons, x HIMs? He is still suffering right now." it laughs...
Took 2 bananas and Salonpas on the thighs and calves at the next stop.
Experience tells me that it will take a while for the gel and bananas to take effect.
Please dun make me wait too long...
The empty tank feeling really sucks...
Dunno how long I can continue at this stage.
Throwing in the towel was far from my mind though...
If I can complete the last 6km of SCSM 2009, I can do it.
For goodness sakes, this is just 21km...
Mr and Mrs BFG overtook me at 16km...
They were running on the 3rd lane, so I guess they din noticed me. =)
Cool, BFG is pacing his Mrs...
Looks like they are doing a walk-run strategy...
Again, I thought how nice if Mrs Jodan can do AHM with me in the future. =)
The tank started to fill at 18km...
Tried to run, but the legs are already done for...
Aches are everywhere.
Best strategy now is to walk....
Noticed that the 19km distance marker is way off...
At least 500m short...
20km distance marker is spot on though....
Saw the Fun Run 5km runners.
Tried my best to spot my sister but did not see her.
Tried running again...
Haha, my sister appeared right after I started running.
"I thought you are going to finish the race before we start?" she said.
Opps... so much for my bragging...
The last km is probably the longest...
I usually run the last km, but today I really couldn't no matter how hard I tried.
Looking up at the clock, the 21km timer is clicking 3:59:xx...
Time to beat the Gun time of 4 hrs. =)
Completed the run and proceed to get my Finisher's medal and 2 cans of 100-Plus.
Proceed to the Bag Collection.
The guys spotted me and they got my bag ready even before I reached the table.
Thanks, guys.
Changed into Crocs and a new T-shirt before meeting the Merry Gangsters for brekkie. =)
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