Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2015

Every race is unique. SCMS was my 2nd marathon. I have heard many horrid stories about SCMS... About how people would collapsed due to dehydration and heat stroke... how the people would bottle neck at the end... how the crowd would end up walking just to complete a marathon etc etc...

But all these did not stop me from signing up because, after all, it's a national marathon :) I liked the tag line - Race As One.

I had up to 12 weeks to prepare for Sundown. However, due to holidays and unforeseen circumstances, I had a crash course to prepare myself for SCMS. Did mainly squats, leg drills, sprints and lunges to prepare the legs. The race plan for SCMS was different from Sundown.

Things I did differently for SCMS:
- I did not clock any long run prior to the race. The longest distance I did was 10km a day, which I did consecutively for 3 days for a charity run.
- I did a lot of leg works to strengthen the legs. If I cannot run fast, I needed to make sure that, at least, my legs could carry me for 6 hours.
- I ran with a HRM. I usually only wear my Garmin for time and pace, but this time I decided to let my HR lead me.
- I ran without music.
- I stopped and drank 2 cups of water at every aid station. My usual run would be 2 cups every 10km. But I knew that I would need that extra water later in the run...
- I applied sunblock on my face :) Yes, you heard it right... I usually ignore the sunblock part... But knowing that the sun might be merciless, I decided not to take any chances.

The day before the run, a friend sent me the weather forecast! I was excited to see "thunderstorm" and "mostly cloudly". That was good news :) Running in the rain would be fun!

Sad to say, the weather forecast failed... The rain came but too late...at about 12.30 p.m. But I guessed for anyone that endured the sun till noon to complete a marathon deserved the rain more :)

I only had 3 words to describe SCMS; HOT! HOTTER! and HOTTEST! SCMS 2015 concluded my race plan for this year.

Whether you ran sub-4, sub-5 or sub-6... Whether you were decked out in full 2XU gear or just plain run tee and shorts... The tagline for this year was Run As One. I probably forgot how I suffered under the hot sun because somewhere inside of me was looking forward to SCMS 2016 :)

Mediacorp Subaru Car Challenge 2015

Oct 14, 2015 (Wed) 
It was 8.30 p.m. and we were in the car, on our way to pick Debbie from her gym session. DJ Kimberly Wang from 98.7 opened the line for callers to call-in to participate in the Subaru Challenge. The prize this year was a Subaru XV, with COE and $5,000 petrol voucher from Shell. I have always loved a good challenge. With my Toyota going into its 10th year, it was too tempting not to give this Subaru Challenge a try. I got through on my first try! To cut the long story short, I got in :)

Oct 17, 2015 (Sat)
Heard from a friend that everyone had to go through a draw on the day to determine if they get to participate. I was a little disappointed but again if I don't get to participate, I don't have to suffer also :)

Oct 23, 2015 (Fri)
I received the letter from Mediacorp. I had to produce a medical certificate from a GP to certify that I was fit to take part in the competition.

Oct 26, 2015 (Mon)
Had my health check done at Raffles Medical. Cleared and ready to go :)

Oct 28, 2015 (Wed)
To prepare myself for the "numbness", coach advised me to soak my palm into ice water. He said I must get used to not feeling my palm :) I did that! It was unbearable at first; but I kind of got used to it after.

Oct 30, 2015 (Fri)
My final "combat" attire and diet plan after consulting the coach :)
- SPORTS BRA (good support without having wire or clasp poking me)
- COMPRESSION TIGHTS (it's comfortable, good for blood circulation and black is good for hiding  dirt and stains)
- TRACK SHOES, no socks and no lace (Good sole support, socks will trap heat, laceless to accommodate swelling of feet)

Contestants were given 5mins break for food, drink, toilet break, massage or stretching every 6 hours.
- Drink 2 cups of isotonic (Just enough to last 6 hours and not fill the bladder)
- Eat little (I only need 400cal to stand for 6 hours)
- Avoid banana (Excessive potassium and I don't want my stomach to react to the banana)

Oct 31, 2015 (Sat)
Woke up at 6.30 a.m.; had to reach Takashimaya by 7 a.m. for registration. After registration, it was confirmed that we had to draw lots at 10.30 a.m. to determine if we have a spot. Many were sleeping outside Taka or just sitting around, waiting for time to pass. We decided to drive to Killiney for possibly my last proper breakfast :) After breakfast at Killiney, we went back to Taka at 10 a.m.

First person from the right (wearing a red tee)

The queue started at 10.30 a.m. After waiting for 30min, it was my turn to go on stage. The first friend I made in Subaru Challenge was Stella, who was queuing in front of me, she didn't make it. I was mentally preparing myself for disappointment.

I picked R40!!! And was told to join a special queue for registration. Later I found out that local contestants were numbered from 81 to 400. R1-R80 were reserved for Regional Contestants from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The 10 were selected from similar competitions conducted in their countries. Each contestants had won a full expenses paid trip to Singapore for an Asian show-down in Singapore.

R40 belonged to a Hong Kong contestants that couldn't make it for the trip! I drew the WILD CARD! And it proved to be perfect because the foreigners were happy to share and chat with a local. And it was interesting to hear them chatting with their own countrymen throughout the competition :) That definitely kept me alert :)

The position was perfect! I was in Car 1 and my palm position was possibly the best position on that car. My standing position was just beside the railings. I was near to the supporters and air was cooler as I was near to the sides. Some contestants said that it was very humid under the tent. Air condition would only be switched on when PSI hit above 100. But the haze condition was perfect throughout the whole event.

At 12 p.m., we started the briefing and at 1 p.m., the competition started after a massive countdown. And here we go!

The highlight was breaks at 7 p.m., 1 a.m., 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Every car would take turns for their 5min break and the sequence would be determined by a draw. 

At 7 p.m. daily, 1 family member would be allowed to come into contact with the contestants. And every break became a massive mess...:) My strategy was to allocate 1min for every activity; 1min - toilet break, 1min - food, 1min - drink, 1min - massage, 1min - stretch and get back to position.

Eating a few mouthful of plain rice

Right side - drinking and get my massage

Sometimes I tried to save time by doing 2 activities at once. Like bringing the snack to the toilet while I pee :p Or drink and get a massage at the same time. That became my routine for all the breaks.

I didn't have a target timing to hit.... My goal was to take 6 hours at a time. The first contestant dropped out after 22mins!

6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours! I survived till Nov 1, 2015 (Sun), 1 p.m.

By then, many friends had heard about me and many started to come and support me at Taka. My dear friend shared about me on social media. That attracted many people to pray for me and to play the online game to help me earn an extra 5min break at the 3 hours mark.

I had MANY MANY friends that dropped by to cheer me on. Even strangers stopped by to chat with me. One Indian man offered to be my chauffeur if I win the car :p Many passer-bys took pictures of us. For a moment, I felt like a celebrity... Then later I felt more like an "animal" in a cage as my face got oiler, my hair got messier and I was sure I smelled bad. However, it was heartwarming to know that the public were so supportive and encouraging.

By this time, I definitely surprised myself for surviving thus far...

30 hours, 36 hours, 42 hours, 48 hours! I reached Nov 2, 2015 (Mon, 1 p.m.)

I was the last lady standing and only a few left from Car 1. There was more space to stretch and move around. However, I knew that the worst was yet to come. 1 a.m. - 6 a.m. had always been the hardest period to get by... Time would go extra slow and night turned extra looooooong... And terror really would come by night...

Sunday was bad and Monday was worse... The organiser was playing Ch5 from 1 a.m. - 6 a.m. for both nights. As it was Halloween Weekend, we were "made" to watch TEN episodes of Walking Dead! I am not a fan and was not converted after that... In fact, it was torturing having to watch it while feeling like a "Standing" dead! To keep ourselves awake through the night, the remaining contestants did "Yum Seng" and "Ole Ole" cheers. At 6 a.m., the locals even sang the National Anthem. I guess we were celebrating that the shows had ended and the night had passed...

I thought after surviving 2 nights of watching Walking Dead, what could be worse. Well, Tuesday 1 a.m. - 6 a.m. turned out to be the worst; a nightmare actually...

After all the supporters and friends left at 1 a.m., I immediately lost concentration at close to 2 a.m. I started to hallucinate! I was told that in my state of hallucination, I scolded the people around me and couldn't recall what got me there in the first place. I tried to stay on but I finally succumbed to exhaustion after 63 hours and 53 mins.

63 hours 53 mins! I completed my Subaru Challenge journey! I was Top 16 :) Was there anything I wished I could have done better? Any sense of loss over not winning the car? These were my after thoughts...

- First of all, this is not for the strongest; it is for the luckiest... You have to first call-in to qualify for the draw. Then you have to draw for a palm position.

- It is not a competition for the physical; it is super mental... The challenge is to last the 6 hours of "nothingness" until the next break.

- My greatest gain was the love and support that my family and friends had showed me. Many whom I did not know and might never know were playing online games to help me earn my bonus break. I was told that my picture went viral and the support poured in. Many whatsapp chat groups were discussing about supporting this friend's friend's friend's who needed help to win a bonus break. I didn't get both the 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. bonus breaks. That got the supporters even more fervent :) Finally we got it right when I got my bonus break at Nov 2, 2015 (Mon), 10 p.m. It was our victory :)

- Any regrets of giving up? NO! Because I knew that I could not go on anymore... My body had shut down due to sleep deprivation.

Many commented that I kept my smiles throughout the competition. What kept me going was the love that was poured into my heart. Many came and showed their support. For the love that was shown, I could only return that with a smile. For everyone that came by to take a picture, I wished I could shake your hands or give you a hug. I could only hope that you could feel my appreciation from my smile.

I came home with 2 swollen ankles, 1 bruised toe (I tripped over the stairs during one of the breaks), a smaller appetite and a heart full of love!

Thank you everyone for walking this amazing journey with me. It was a priceless experience.

Especially to JX, sorry you had to go through this with me and the many more nonsense that are coming your way :) I have always loved a challenge and you had to accommodate my craziness. Overnight, you had to become the mother, the maid, the chauffeur and the doctor when Debbie had fever on Sunday night... You told me not to "kill" myself over a free car and that we can always buy one... That really warmed my heart :) And I'm glad I am still alive. Haha.

My BFFs for taking care of not just me, but also my family. You made sure my girls were well-fed and came to visit me after I've rested at home. You stood with me. You cheered me on. You made sure I had company all the time. You made sure I had my bonus breaks. You told me it was painful to watch me in pain. What have I done to deserve 3 of you!

And the many friends that came not just once but many times to cheer me on. Many brought their entire family along. You made the journey less painful and more meaningful :)

And to the Subaru Challenge community that I have come to know during this competition, you guys are amazing! I am amazed that many of you were participating for the 2nd, 4th, 6th and even 8th times!!!

So... the BIG question is... WILL I DO IT AGAIN?

While I could still feel the pain and the scary moments when I hallucinated, the answer is NO :)

Sundown Marathon 2015

After completing my first 70.3 at Putrajaya, I came back preparing for Sundown Marathon 2015.

I have never ran further than 21km since completing Great Eastern Women's Run 2014. Coupled that running has always been my weakest discipline, I was ready to start training as soon as possible. Besides building up the mileage and correcting my run technique, to maintain comfort for 5-6hours running on my feet was an important goal.

One of the things to do was the get the gear ready... Shoes, top, shorts, socks, cap etc...

I am usually totally soaked after running for 10-15km. One of the thing I needed to shop for was a good running shorts. Something that is light even when it's wet. Something comfortable and does not give me abrasion after running for long hours. Something that comes with a pocket that could at least hold a gel.

I tried a few brands and finally chanced upon a Nike running shorts that might fit the bill :) I did some product research at Nike Outlet Singapore website.

I decided to buy this because I like the feel of the material and the design. And most of all it was reasonably-priced. I did a few long runs in it and was extremely pleased with my purchase. The search of my Full Marathon running shorts was finally over.

The Nike shorts proved to be awesome. I had no abrasion and most of all, even though I was soaking wet after the marathon, my shorts did not feel heavy... The back pocket held a gel and 6 salt tablets comfortably :)

I completed my first Full Marathon under 6hrs; an hour short of the target that the coach gave me. My personal target was to run without cramps and injury. My legs felt great after the run... Recovery was good; did not have to walk like a crab the following day :)

Another milestone reached for 2015. I am ready for my next goal :)

Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya 2015 - Against All Odds

My journey to triathlon started in September 2013 when I first did a mini in Cold Storage Singapore International Triathlon 2013. Fast forward to April 2015, I completed my first Ironman 70.3 in Putrajaya. So much thoughts going through my head and this would probably take me a few posts to complete my journal.

First the RACE.

Even though 8 hours was not a timing that I should boast about, but I was proud that in the midst of all that went wrong, I survived 8hrs of gruelling heat, pain and managed to cross the line :) Ironman is not a race against others, it's a race against self. More than the physical abilities, it was the mental struggles and odds that I had to fight with.

- 3 weeks before the race, one of my team mates met with a freak accident during a bike training. She had to undergo a spinal cord operation and is still undergoing rehabilitation at the hospital. Her husband had to forgo the race to take care of her.
- 1 week before the race, another friend was hit by a car during a taper ride. He suffered a shoulder blade fracture and had to give up on the race.
- 2 days before the race, my period came... Well, kind of expected, but I was hoping that the stress I was facing would delay it till after Sunday.
- My Garmin 910 went dead on the morning of the race! WHY??? Till today, I do not know... It was charged in the morning.
- Thinking that it was flat, we made a calculated risk to U-turn to pick up the charger for a quick charge in the car. We ended up with only 15mins to set up our transition, including pumping our tires.
- Garmin was at 58%. But when I reached the swim start, the battery was flat... I thought time to upgrade :( However, I charged it after the race....and it is WORKING now... Sigh, Murphy's Law.
- After the first turn out from the transition area, I hit my aero bottle and dropped it. Bottle broke and I can only rely on my electrolyte drink. Had to grab a bottle at every aid station for a quick drink.
- I wanted to avoid another female cyclist at an U-turn, I crashed into a metal barricade.
- Was careful not to push myself too hard on the bike so that I can save my legs for the run. Cramp hit on the first run loop... Time to relook on the diet.
- Many had warned me about the blazing sun... But it did not prepare me for how HOT it turned out to be... No shades, humid and HOT HOT HOT! I was burnt badly...

In the midst of the odds, there were much to be thankful for!

- Left with only 1 team mate, we had a smooth drive up to Putrajaya. No major jam at the customs.
- 2 people, 2 bikes. 1 car. Perfect combination.
- Period came but there was no cramps.
- I met Craig Alexander, the legend of Ironman. Scored a pic with him.

- Garmin 910 went dead and I remembered I had a friend who came as a supporter. Managed to see him at the swim start. He was an angel! Without hesitation, he willingly offered his Garmin 920 to me.
- On the first loop, someone saw me cramping and offered me his electrolyte drink. He mentioned that it was those that doctor prescribed for dehydrated patient. He was walking and I could see that he was also in pain. But he willingly gave me one and even advised me to sip it down slowly.
- On my second run loop, saw a guy walking. Asked if he was ok. He asked if I had a salt capsule. I gave him my 2nd last one.
- Medic and volunteers at the aid stations were very supportive and helpful.
- Made many new friends of the same passion.
- Last but not least, LOVE the finisher towel! Didn't expect that :)

 

Thank you Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya for a memorable first race. I've been "stamped" by the IM mark :)

 

 

Preparing For Your First Triathlon

Lately some people asked me how to prepare for their first triathlon. I am not an expert; but I thought I can share my own experience.

I participated in my first tri event in 2013. I signed up for Mini-tri in Cold Storage Singapore International Triathlon 2013. 200m Swim 10km Bike 2km Run.

 

As I had no prior open sea experience, I signed up for the Open Water Swim and Triathlon Practice Clinics by MetaSport. We were taught a little on open water comfort, exit and sighting, race pacing, pace and endurance skills. For Tri Practice Clinics, we did mini triathlon race repeats over short distances including transitions, coaching on multi discipline pacing and technique, including race preparation. These sessions were the best I could find to prepare me for the event. Of course, I googled and watched YouTube videos :)

 

If you are preparing for your first tri, these are some questions you will ask...

- What do I wear?

- What equipment do I need?

- How should I prepare for the race?

 

First of all, decide on the distances that you want to race in... Read more about How I Choose My Races in the earlier post.

 

Triathlon can be an expensive sports.... My advice would be not to invest heavily into this sports until you are ready to go further with it... For the first race, you can actually make do with a lot of "what you already have"...

 

What Do I Wear?

 

Wear something that can transit you from swim to cycle to run... My suggestion for ladies; wear your current swim wear. And if you have a cycling tights, you can wear it over your swim wear during the swim. After your swim, you can either cycling in your swim wear and tights or throw over your running tee and cycle. Make sure the running tee is dri-fit material so that it will not cling to your body.

 

 

A trisuit may not cheap... Do not jump into buying one if you are not going to wear it for a few races :)

 

As for the guys, you can just swim topless in your tights. Throw over a tee for bike and run... Simple :)

 

What Equipment Do I Need?

 

Swim:

- Goggles (Use existing goggles. Make sure it doesn't fog)

- Swimming Cap (You have to wear the one provided by the Organizer)

 

Bike

- Bike (If you are not ready to invest in a bike, you can always borrow from a friend or rent from a bike shop. Otherwise a budget friendly brand to consider would be Polygon or maybe Merida. Both give you a decent road bike without breaking your bank account too much. Visit Rodalink for Polygon and Hup Leong for Merida. Both are reliable bike shops. I have good experiences with both the shops. However, if you are ready to invest on something of a higher end, there are many options to suit every budget :))

- Helmet (This is a MUST. Again, the price ranges from below $50 to a few hundreds of dollars. You can also borrow or rent if you intend to borrow or rent a bike)

- Shoes (If you are not on cleats, then cycle in your running shoes. Otherwise use your current cycling shoes)

- Gloves (Optional. In fact it would be a waste of time to put them on during a race)

- Shades (Optional)

- Race belt (Optional. It's for displaying of your number bib during cycling and run. However, you can also pin the number bib directly unto your running tee. It's also not expensive if you decide to buy one)

 

Run

- Running Shoes (Use your current running shoes)

- Visor (Optional)

- Shades (Optional)

 

How Should I Prepare For The Race?

 

- Sign up for the clinics to prepare yourself. Especially the Open Water Swim and Transition Practice clinics.

 

Can I swim in other strokes; other than freestyle? Yes! Some breaststroke swimmers actually swim faster than the freestyle swimmers :) As there are no cut-off timings, work towards completing the course.

 

- Watch some useful YouTube videos on setting up your transition area. Search for "triathlon transition".

 

- Talk to someone that has done it before you.

 

- Go out and start moving :)

 

Have fun and Happy "tri"-ing! 

Great Eastern Women's Run 2014

This should have been a year-end post. A post to reflect on all that I have been through in 2014.

2014 was definitely a milestone for me.

- Participated in my first overseas cycling event
- Progressed from Mini to Sprint distance in Triathlon
- Participated in 10 sports events, out of which 4 from TRI-Factor series were racing slots I won from a contest.

1) OCBC Cycle Malaysia 2014: 30 January 2014
2) Aquathlon: 16 February 2014
3) MetaSprint Duathlon: 16 March 2014
4) OCBC Cycle Singapore 2014: 30 March 2014
5) MetaSprint Triathlon: 13 April 2014
6) TYR TRI-Factor Swim : 11 May 2014
7) TRI-Factor Bike : 8 June 2014
8) TRI-Factor Run : 3 August 2014
9) ZOOT TRI-Factor Tri : 7 September 2014
10) Ride for Rainbow: 3-4 October 2014

But the greatest achievement had to be the No.11 and last event for the year... Great Eastern Women's Run 2014!

I have always wanted to participate in a women's run but Shape run clashed with my schedule. When GEWR came along, I got excited. But the next question was to decide whether to run 10km or 21.1km half-marathon....

Well, to begin with, I shunned running during my basketball training days. Coach would get the team to run round Pandan Reservior, which is 6.3km. I would always cook up excuses like not well, stitches, or I would volunteer to walk with the last person :p

To cut the long story short, I signed up for 21.1km :)

Prior to that, I ran 10.5km in TRI-Factor Run. I did a 21.1km training run with my training buddies. I did frequent short distance runs like, 3km, 5km and 7km... The week leading towards the GEWR, I had my usual trainings and I was doing 100 storeys of stairs from Monday to Sunday! Yes!! The morning of the GEWR, I woke up at 3 a.m. to walk up and down my block. Purpose? To kill the legs before I run...

Anyway, the run was great! The early rain made the weather cooling. The hydration points were adequate. There were water, isotonic drink, gel and tiger balm rub given at 17km mark...

And most of all, it's WOMEN's run :)

Post race was totally awesome. Massage, hotdogs, Nando chicken, apples, banana, 100 plus, ice-cream, muffins.... all FREE!!

I totally love the Finisher Tee :) What's sweeter? It's ADIDAS :)

What surprised me even more was... I ran throughout the whole 21.1km :) 2h35min for my first half-marathon. I am HAPPY. Definitely a milestone for me. At 20km, I was still smiling :)

2014 was great! 2015; I will be embarking on a new journey :)