It was totally disastrous for this year SBR. I caught the flu on Saturday, one day before the race day. The fever was still there few hours before the race. It was SCSM08 all over again. My body was weak but i decided to try the run after weeks of preparation. I was having the best form before the fever hit me.

 

I gathered at the Esplanade toilet at 4.45 am, the toilet was locked! So i rushed to the NDP stage to use the toilet. As i was warming up, my body was sweating. It was quite unusual for me. I did not know i was seated. Nevertheless i didn't have the strength to start fast, so i joined the crowd to start behind. The run started 5 min early, it was quite surprising. I tried to run and my heart felt hard to cope. I was sweating but i remained calm. I clocked 21 min for the first 5 km, just missed my target time. My heart was racing very fast and feeling very hard to cope. What was happening? i thought this pace should be quite easy for me.

 

I crossed the first check point and headed straight to the medical post. The time was reading 39 min. The army medical personnel took my temperature, it was 37.3 deg. I was having a slight fever. To my surprise, they cannot ferry me back to the start point. I would have to run back to the start point. I went to the main medical post for a blood pressure test. The blood pressure was normal but the heart rate was double of my at-rest heart rate. I took a short break there. The race was already 1 hr 45 min. Then i decided to jog back to the start point as there was no transport to ferry.

 

Dear was waiting for me at the end point and everyone asked me 'what happened'. I felt quite tired after the battle run, weak and tired. It was a bit unlucky for me. What to do to prevent sickness? I guessed it was based on your luck.

 

16th Aug 2009.

 

 

This time trial was initiated by Tampines Safra Chairman during a meeting at May period. I was surprised by the initiative to host a 20 km time-trial at our home ground. But after so much preparations by Safra and CM & volunteers, Tampines only have 4 representatives on this run. TYP with 4 runners and Yishun with 3 runners. MF Safra made up with most of the runners. 

 

                    

 

A briefing was conducted at 7 am and soon we were flagged off at 7.20 am after a photo session. I was conservative on my first loop because of my leg injury recently. Joe, Colleen, Wen Long, Teck Hou, Goh LS, Chia, Wei Shing and Jackie all led in front, i was happy to stay behind and enjoy. They were getting faster and faster as the distance added on. I was quite surprised by their pace and i found myself running alone, attempting the KB slope. The first water point at Jewel Box came, i did not stop for the drink but collected the rubber band. Melvin & Ricci were telling me 'Am i having a recovery run?" Then I saw Jimmy at the junction after Jewel Box. He told me that the front runners were way in front. I said 'Come on, we were running 20km not 10km leh'. I hit Morse Rd with a time of 29 min 40 sec and it was considered quite fast although it was easy. I choose not to raise a gear which caused me later on. By then, i could see Joe & one TPY ang moh in front of me. Bit by bit, i managed to catch up with them. I finished the first loop with a time of 45 min 46 sec, collected the black ribbon but never take any drink. I felt it was warming up process, no need to drink.

 

The ang moh stopped after the first loop but Joe continued his run. I overtook him and started to increase pace. I was ready to do a negative split but i did not know the front runners were 5 min ahead of me. It would be quite impossible to catch up. I was getting faster as i could sense it when i closed up with Wei Shing. The second attempt on the MF steep slope was very tough and mentally drained. This time i took my first drink at the Jewel box. I was 1 min faster than my first loop at Morse Rd. As i was approaching Harbourfront, I could see Teck Hou, Chia, Jackie & Wei Shing. Now it's my turn to show the power. I overtook Jackie after the Muslim Cem., Wei Shing increased his pace to catch up with Chia. I followed suit, trying to play catch-up. I was about 50 meters behind him and 100 meters behind Chia at Telok Blangah Rise. I need a bit more distance to overtake them. They maintained their pace and never slowed down, i did not have a chance to overtake. I finished my run in 1 hr 30 min 19 sec and this was my personal best on this route. 20 sec off my previous record. It was an easy attempt for me, Wen Long had even said that i attempted it too conservative.

 

                                

 

Wen Long did 1 hr 23 min, Goh LS with 1 hr 24 min, Teck Hou with 1 hr 27 min, Chia with 1 hr 29 min, Wei Shing should be 1 hr 30 min flat. They had done it so easily and it was such a long time that anyone have done under 1 hr 25 min. I remember Teck Hou was the last one who clocked 1 hr 22 min in 2006.  On my experiences, these guys are able to clock under 1 hr 30 min in the SBR with this kind of performance on MF hill. For myself, I was happy to run a PB for this route. I did 1 hr 34 min 2 weeks ago with the same strategy. It was 4 min off in 2 weeks. I was going to shed off another 2 min in 2 weeks time.

 

2nd August 2009. Distance: 20km (time-trial). Time: 1 hr 30 min 19 sec (PB)