Army Half Marathons 2009

I made it! I made it! Completed my first ever 21km run at Army Half Marathon.

Time taken is so so - took almost 3 hours but glad that I finish it by my pair of leg (of coz la, who else).

Army Half Marathon Run experience:

The day started with hunting for toilet, toilets in Raffles City, Esplanade are locked to prevent thousands of ppl using it. Walk here and there, queue up at the Raffles City MacDonald for toilet but the person using it never comes out, most likely doing a BIG, if not, MacDonald locked it. Then walk to Esplanade to look for one. Lucky there was a disabled toilet available! Queues that seldom form for man is forming a snake queue outside. Waited awhile for my turn, phew...

Starting Point - Queue up about 100m from the Starting Point. Lotsa people around. Seeded runners are in front including our fren - Jimmy C.
Met Suet Ting earlier and then Calvin over at the starting point.

0 km : Pehhhhz (Loud hailer horn)! Run starts! Everyone chiongz! The pace was fast... I ran my own pace so not to be tired out too early.

2 km : Enter into ECP near Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resorts, everyone started to slow and walk abit. Hmmm.. guess runners started too fast in the beginning.

3-4 km : Run up Sheares Bridge, more people walking.

5 km : Elite runners made U-turn at East Coast and running back towards the finishing line. While me? Stil have at least 15km more to run. Dun understand how these people can run so fast?!

6-12 km : This stretch is within East Coast Park, the part of the running route that I dislike most. Nothing much to see and just run and run. My walking started liao as fatigue strikes. Run and walk, run and walk. At 10km, when everyone is sweating like pig, the smells of sweat started to spread too... *cough cough*. Started to feel hungry, though there are bananas provided, I don't think I can eat it. If I did, confirm vomit.

12 - 21 km : Fatigues hits me harder, walk more and ran abit. Stop at almost every water point to get my self hydrated. At 14km, the run meets with 10km runners, the wide becomes so crowded that you basically try to avoid knocking or running into others path.

21km : Saw the timer at the fininshing line, showing 2:59. Wooo hoo.. at least I don't see 3 hours yet but I shall take my time as 3 hours.

Tht's all for running experience. Pains sets in... I remember I saw one of the Army Division's station, putting up encouraging words - "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever." It keeps me moving though I am having pain on my heel and legs.

Now? Sitting at home and icing my heels and legs at home.

Will I go again? I think so... next run is Mizuni Wave Run 2009 that starts at 7.30pm. Much later time and 16km. Think should be able to cope. =D