Challenge Iskandar Puteri 2017

Dreamt that I lost my wheels on race day morning! Jumped out of bed at 6 a.m. and reached transition area at 6.30 a.m. Set up transition. Took some pictures and went to swim start.

The last time I did a half-ironman race was IM70.3 Putrajaya in 2015. The plan was to do another one in 2016 but I was plagued with multiple injuries. In short, I injured my lower back after coming back from Putrajaya. I injured my knee during a basketball tournament. I twisted the other knee when I slipped over my own perspiration in the gym #facepalm. The year got shorter and shorter. I ended up registering for Penang Bridge International Marathon instead and completed it in November 2016.

So when the opportunity to participate in Challenge Iskandar Puteri came up, I decided to take the plunge again. This time, I did my training with Morph Performance. My goal was to complete the race injury-free. However, I think I only completed 60-65% of the training plan. I know I should have been more diligent :p

Weeks leading up to Challenge, I had to battle with so much self-doubt. Am I ready for it? Can I complete the race? Do I have enough training to send me to the finishing line? Then, 2 weeks before the race, I was hit with a bad flu and cough which reduced my training to just short distance running. 

It was also this time that my family and friends started to pour their encouragement and well-wishes on me. The positive messages spurred me on; it definitely built up my confidence to not just confront my fears, but also to have the courage to go to the starting line! Someone wrote "you must respect the race and respect the distance". I decided to trust my training and just go for it!

This time, family and friends came to support me. I prepared them that they might have to wait for 8 hours :p It helped that we stayed very near to the race site. They had ample time for breakfast and lunch and could still catch me on the run loop and finish. The night before, I reminded myself to just enjoy the race, listen to my body and the worst that could happen was only DNF J

SWIM

Coach advised me to swim behind the biggest group and they would tow me along. I just kept on swimming and I believed the towing worked. No major drama during swim except I had to tread water to adjust my goggles when someone accidentally pulled it off my face :p During Putra, I came out of the water with leg cramps! But this time, the legs felt fresher and I could run about 200m to the transition area J

BIKE

I did a Bintan ride in August to prepare for Challenge. Many asked me how the bike route was for Challenge. Anything compared to Bintan was considered flat :p There were no surprises, the usual ups and downs; just like Putrajaya. There were a few crashes and punctures along the route. I might be due to wet floor after a haevy downpour. I also saw 2-3 abandon bikes. After the race, I found out that one of the professionals had some frame issues. He actually abandoned his bike and completed the ride on an oBike which I was not sure if it was against the rules :p

The bike ride was like a buffet for me. I ate round the clock; going from gel, chocolate, salt and electrolyte. Coach gave some advice on HR monitoring. I was tempted to catch up on my speed but somehow the speed and cadence sensor did not work! It turned out to be a blessing because I had no choice but to follow my HR. Even though I knew I was slower; but I was glad that I had enough legs for my weakest leg of the race; which was the run.

RUN

During Putrajaya, both my legs cramped the moment I started running. It was a horrid experience. I remembered asking myself “WHAT AM I DOING HERE?” But this time, I was mentally prepared to just run. I told myself “a step at a time”; even if I walked, I want to walk faster than other people… haha… Due to my cramp experience in Putra, I decided to carry a bottle of muscle spray during my run. It proved to be so helpful not just for myself, but I was glad I could offer some relief to many others who were experiencing cramps on that hot afternoon. The sun was merciless and blazing HOT! There were only water and isotonic at the hydration stations. The race was not well-supported. After finishing 2 gels on the run, I had to resort to asking a kind stranger for “food” which she gladly offered half her energy bar to me :) Caring is sharing right? :p

So slowly but surely, I inched forward step by step. The finishing moment was extra sweet as the family was there to cheer for me!

Days after the race, I was still smiling. I could walk properly. No lower backache. Knees were ok. But I think I lost 2 toe nails :p A friend commented that this race was like kampong-style; not as well-organized or well-supported. I agree. But I totally enjoyed this journey to Challenge. Through Morph Performance and weekly runs with ROCKrunners, I have made many new friends. I overcame some mental devils in my mind. Thoughts of panic attack in the water, bike malfunction, DNF, heat stroke, the athlete that suffered cardio respiratory failure during the swim leg at SIT etc, made me more cautious not to push myself too hard…

For RM$600 (less than S$200), I had an event tee, a windbreaker, a finisher tee, a face towel and a solid and heavy medal :) It also included a pasta-party for pre-race carbo loading and a lunch for refueling after the race. Smooth traffic at the customs and our stay at Somerset Puteri Harbour was very decent and value for money. So no complaints from me :)

I am no podium contender; just someone with a little courage and a little bit of insanity; wanting to #livestronglivehealthy and to #keepfitafter40 J

Sundown Marathon vs 2XU Compression Run

I had the opportunity to receive free slots to participate in both Sundown Marathon and 2XU Compression Run held back to back on March 26 and April 2 respectively. I signed up for half-marathon for both races.

The highlight of these 2 races was the presence of RockRunners. They were so supportive; look at all the smiles. Cheering one another at the finishing line. The saying goes "if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This run journey has been made more fun because of my new RockFam. Glad I found them.

Sundown Marathon

2XU Compression Run

Going to do a simple post-mortem of both the races.

Race Pack Collection

Sundown: I went on the first day and everything was in a mess. New race pack collection procedure. Long queue. Weather was hot and there was no shelter. Had to wait close to 2 hours. I decided to leave when a friend offered to collect on my behalf. (0)

2XU: Collection point was inside Marina Square. Even though the wait was about 1hr on the first day, the air-conditioned environment made the wait more bearable. (1)

Goodie Bag

Sundown: Nothing fanciful. Registration fee: $80 (0) 

2XU: Nothing fanciful, but it came with an additional Polo tee. Registration fee: $75 (1)

Race Day

Sundown: Flag off at 1.30 a.m. 3 start pens. (0.5)

2XU: Flag off at 4.30 a.m. 8 waves; 10 minutes apart. (0.5)

Route

Sundown: Start towards Kallang, Sports Hub, Kallang PCN, Gardens by the Bay, Garden Bay East, Fort Road, Republic Avenue, Finish.

- The last 3km was a killer because of the Fort Road slope leading to Republic Avenue.

- Directions signs were not clear. (0)

2XU: Start towards Republic Avenue, Kallang, Sports Hub, Tanjong Rhu, Marine East, ECP, Marine East, Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, Esplanade, Finish.

- Route was pretty flat with a few expected slopes. Many runners managed to hit their PB in this race.

- A few bottlenecks due to stairways and narrow paths. No complains for me as these gave me opportunities to take a breather.

- Clear direction signs at diversions. (1)

Hydration Station

Sundown: Well-placed at about 2km interval. Drinks and isotonic well-stocked. Gel and bananas were also given. (1)

2XU: Hydration stations were well placed at 2km. Would have preferred paper cups to plastic ones. No gel. Bins for cups were placed opposite the hydration stations; had to zig-zag to throw the cups. (0)

Volunteers

Sundown: Enthusiastic volunteers cheering and quick at the hydration station. (1)

2XU: Minimal cheering and volunteers were slow in filling up cups at the hydration stations. (0)

Medals

Sundown: Disappointing... Light, small and the strap was unusually thin... (0)

2XU: Nice design. Solid feel and the strap was beautifully designed. (1)

Photos

Sundown: After the race pack collection saga, Sundown wanted to give complimentary photos to all runners. This was what I got... The pic was so dark that I could hardly recognize myself. I would have given a (0) if it was not meant to be complimentary. No extra effort to make sure the runners receive something decent. (-1)

2XU: At the time of this write up, I have not seen any pictures from 2XU. There was a photographer at the finishing line. However, I am not expecting much as there was a huge crowd crossing the finishing line together, unlikely to get a decent finishing pic. (0)

Final Score

Sundown: 1.5

2XU: 4.5

Sundown... Sleep Can Wait... I was totally exhausted after the run. Had to go home and find my sleep. Had to nurse my legs due to cramps. No finisher tee for HM finishers.

2XU... Let Your Heart Set The Pace... HR shot to 183 at one point and I slowed down to "calm" the heart. Finished the run with no cramps, no aches. Not only was there a finisher tee, we were also given cold towels at the end of the run. It was so refreshing.

NTU Bike Rally 2017

NTU Bike Rally has always been a hot local cycling event; sell out within hours after opening for registration. The ride comes in 2 categories; 108km and 168km. After last year's 168km attempt, I told myself I will not do that again. Weather was scorching hot. I was slow like snail. I finished the ride feeling absolutely fatigued. Legs were cramping and woke up with aches the following day. Well, like what people say... We always forget the pain :p

When registration open early this year, I took the plunged again... "Once bitten, twice shy"? Not really... So with a group of about 20 friends, we decided to sign up for 168km AGAIN! 4 weeks before the event, we joined NTU for its 108km dry ride for the safety cyclists. I found myself struggling through the ride; often being dropped by the group during climbs. After the ride, I embarked on a #lose5kgprogram :) which I only managed to shed 3kg. A little encouragement to prepare me for the ride.

Without being too ambitious, I planned to cycle at an average pace of 25km/h; hoping to complete 100km before noon. I planned to make short breaks for bottle refills and sunblock re-application only :) Food was 1 bottle of electrolyte, 4 energy gels, 2 energy waffles, 1 chocolate and 6 salt tablets. 

March 5, 2017 (Sunday). Weather forecast was cloudy; projected showers in the afternoon. Flagged off at 6am with a cool breeze. I could not have asked for a better weather. For 80% of the ride, the cloud provided the shade for me. Only for a short ride along Lim Chu Kang and Neo Tiew where we were heated up. Mandai and Sembawang was not as torturous as I had imagined it to be. After Yishun, all the way from Tampines-Pasir Ris to Changi, there was a light drizzle to cool me off. The floor was wet from ECP to Flyer because a heavy downpour went before us. But the rain kept the temperature down; so the last 10km ride was very cooling. On my way home, met with a heavy downpour! However, it was perfect because my bicycle, which was hanging outside the car, enjoyed a much-needed wash down :)

Only 2 minor incidents happened along my ride. First, I stopped to help a friend who had a minor bike accident. Second, I could not uncleat in time when I stopped to help a friend fix a tyre puncture. I fell unto the grass patch :)

While I took longer than 7 hours to complete the ride. Overall, it was an enjoyable 168km ride. No hunger - I ate 2 gels and 2 energy waffles. No cramps - I ate all 6 salt tablets and probably drank 4-5 bottles of electrolyte. No sunburnt - I applied sunblock on my face and wore arm sleeves. The best part was I woke up with no soreness and aches the following day. I think the plan to keep a consistent pace and to eat and drink on the ride works for me. Of course, together with the power of praying for the perfect weather and the company of great friends who cycled together.

NTU Bike Rally has one of the fullest goodie bag I've ever seen. Finisher tee, coffee and tea - a whole packet of it; not just a sample sachet, biscuits, muscle rub and many, many more samples and vouchers... 

Ample volunteers and hydration support at the checkpoints. Overall, a well-organized event.

NTU Bike Rally 2018. Anyone?

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2016

I registered for Penang Bridge International Marathon since registration opened in March 2016. Flight and hotel booked and I was looking forward to the run for 3 reasons:

1) PBIM2016 was held on November 27 which was my dad's birthday. He would have been 76 years old in 2016.

2) To fulfill my 2016 goal to run a marathon overseas. 

3) Holiday with my family. The last time I was in Penang was about 30 years ago with my dad. 

My Preparation - 2 weeks before race day

I have earlier registered for GEWR2016 (earlier post) to prepare myself for PBIM2016. So the longest distance I've ran prior to PBIM2016 was 21km. (not recommended at all)

I always study the race route and locations of water points. This helps me plan the fuel I would need. For me, I usually consume 1 salt tablet every 7km and 1 gel every 10km. (requirement differs according to individual)

Tips #1: Plan how to carry your fuel. For me, 2 gels in arm band with mobile phone and 5 salt tablets in pocket. 

Tips #2: Place mobile phone in ziplock bag, in case of rain. 

1 week before race day

We arrived in Penang on November 23 (Wed). There were not much resting for my legs as there were a lot of walking in Penang. It was good to travel in a group. We ordered a lot of food at each meal for sharing.

We visited Batu Ferringhi Night Market, George Town for food hunt, George Town for Street Art, Gurney Drive and Queensbay Mall. (because it was near to the race site) The navigation around Penang was a lot of hard work. #realandnotposing

A day before race day 

Tips #3: Drink 3 litres of water till the urine was clear in colour. Helps to prevent dehydration. 

Tips #4: Avoid meat or food that takes longer to digest. For me, I discovered that meat is the culprit. No more stitches after I eliminate meat from my diet.

Took an hour of power nap till 10.30 p.m. (Flag off was 1.30 a.m.) I drank a can of coffee and headed to lobby to wait for hotel's free shuttle to race site. 

At starting line 

I took some pictures. Instagrammed. Facebooked. Check hair, check cap, check shades, check MP3, check Garmin. I did some easy stretching. I usually do not stretch stationary cold muscles. Ready for flag off. #fireworks

Tips #5: For long runs, the first 1-2km is warm-up pace for me. 

1-10km

Was uneventful. Basically we ran along the highway and made 2 u-turns before heading up the bridge. Many people were running past me but 42km is a looooooong run. I resisted the temptation to keep up with the crowd. #bepatient

The bridge was 13.5km long. A friend told me it's flat; not much of a concern. Another friend said it's like running up the Mandai Road but much looonger... Slopes are not all bad news.

Motivation #1: What goes up must come down... That's my motivation to climb slopes. #paynowrewardlater

100Plus spotted at about 8km water point and I drowned a cup down. Huge Mistake! Too sweet. Too much gas. I started to burp... 

Tips #6: Dilute the 100Plus with water for easy drinking.

Felt much better at subsequent water stations. 

10-25km 

The morale of the people were still high. I caught up with the 6hr pacers on the bridge. Due to my low mileage, I was only expecting myself to complete the run before 7hr cut off and without injury (as usual). I told JX not to come before 7.30 a.m. because to finish sub 6 would be impossible. I was also careful not to hurt my knee and lower back. #oldinjury 

However, I managed to pass the 6hr pacers and was contemplating whether I should catch up with the 5.30hr pacers. #tooambitious But I still had close to 17km to go and I did not want to kill my legs. So the plan to play catch up was aborted.

Tips #7: For FM, your race only start after 3hrs. That's where all your race execution comes in. Hydration. Mental Wall. Cramps. Fatigue. #runsmart

25-30km

Reached the other end of the bridge and I ran out of gel!! Miscalculated the distance of the gel station. I was feeling hungry when I ran past the toll plaza.

Bananas NEVER worked for me. In fact the last time I ate a banana during Sundown Marathon 2016 (earlier post), my stomach churned and I had to make an emergency stop at the toilet. I told myself "confirmed" no more bananas for me. 

At the end of the bridge, I saw bananas and I took a calculated risk! I ate 3 bites and washed it down with water. #badchoice 

Tips #8: NEVER try something new on race day. 

Tips #9: Never repeat the same mistake! #doublereminder

30-37km

Finally saw the gel station at 35km... Unfortunately the 3 bites of banana took its effect fast :( Stomach was churning and I refused to go toilet... #stubborn My legs started to feel fatigue and the 6hr pacers ran past me. I looked at my Garmin for my average pace. If I could maintain a 8.30min pace; I could still finish sub 6. #bonusforme

By this time, many were walking and some limping. #walkingdead I managed to alternate run and walk on my way back to finishing line.

Motivation #2: If you are in pain, tell yourself everyone else is also in pain. Running an endurance race is how well you can cope with pain. 

37-42km

Slight cramps here and there... Sun rising. More people on the bridge as route started to merge with 21km and 10km.

Tips #10: When those late race cramps hit, maintain your running form and keep moving. 

Finishing line

I wanted to go faster but there was nothing left in my legs. Managed to pick up speed in the last 50m and was hoping to see JX at the finishing line. (because I told him that it was not possible for me to finish within 6hrs) Yeah! Finished! #shotbyJX

Unofficial time on my Garmin showed 5h57s. #bonus I was happy with the timing; considering the lack of mileage I put into this race. #badexample After run check, no knee pain. No lower backache. No bunion pain. #happyfeet

First overseas full marathon #checked 

Post marathon: Shower. Sleep. Eat. 

Now to plan for 2017. 

Thank you Penang! You have been good to me and my family.

Great Eastern Women Run 2016

Great Eastern Women Run has always been my favorite run. Simply because it's an all-women run #girlpower. I missed it last year because of Subaru Challenge. 

2016 had been a year plagued with injuries. First, I twisted my left knee in a basketball tournament. Then I injured my right knee which saw me withdrawing from my Ironman race. Just a few weeks back, I injured my lower back. I consulted Dr Cormac O’Muircheartaigh from Sports Medicine Lab for my injuries and only managed to get back to running a few weeks back. 

So the goal for GEWR 2016 was to enjoy the run and to complete the race without injury. I was careful not to increase my mileage too quickly and to hurt myself again. I did multiple 5km runs and only a single 10km run a week before GEWR. The night before the run, I even googled "How to run a half marathon without proper training" ;p

At the start, I kept telling myself to be patient... It's a 21km run and I need to conserve my legs for the later part of the run. Whenever I see a runner charging forward, my mind went "patient... patient..." 

Throughout the run, I was checking for pain in my knees and lower back. None. Soon, I ran past 5, 6 and 7km. I popped a salt tablet... When I reached 10km, I ate a gel. The sun was rising and I told myself, that's where the run really begin... My coach used to tell me, the first 10km is a warm up... the rest is the real race. 

I set the run-walk pace on my Garmin. The strategy was to run-walk the last 10km so that my back can rest... A few times I felt my legs wanted to go faster, but I knew the consequences would be more pain later (which I cannot afford). By the time I reached the last km, I still had legs to pick up speed towards the finishing line. 

There was no pain. No fatigue. No mental wall. I enjoyed the run thoroughly! It was not my best timing but definitely I had worse ;p

Another reason I like GEWR was the Adidas tee. Maybe it's a women only race; the cutting is always flattering. I love, especially the Finisher tee for this year. The colour. The design. Love. 

Every race is an experience and GEWR has been a great one! A confidence boost for my marathon coming up at the end of the month. And a final note... If you want a decent running picture, wear shades :) 

Sundown Marathon 2016

Race Report

I had no intention to sign up for Sundown Marathon this year. I was satisfied that I had my full marathon ("FM") experience last year. Moreover, since Standard Chartered Marathon last year, I have not ran more than 10km in a single run. However, I was secretly hoping that there would be a free slot for me...

3 days before the race, a friend asked if I knew of anyone who would be interested to take over her slot to run a half marathon ("HM"). I gladly volunteered myself.

The week leading to the run, I had office run (5km only), CrossFit, swimming training and office outing at the ClimbMax. My body was aching from one of the killer obstacle where we had to move from swing to swing... Anyway, I totally rested for 2 days so that my muscles could recover.

My goal for Sundown HM was to complete without injury and to enjoy the run. Drink at every hydration station, eat a salt tablet every 7km and eat a gel at 10km. It was all good for the first 7km. Then I started to feel a little empty on the stomach and I did something dumb! I ate half a banana... I have NEVER eaten a banana in any of my races before and I always knew that we should not try anything new on race day. I think the tummy reacted to the banana; I suffered a stomach upset :(

Well, my toes started to cramp at 10-12km but I managed to run it off... At 15-16km, After taking a gel, I could feel some energy coming back and I cleared the Marina Golf loop pretty well... But my calves started to cramp again at Garden Bay East :( At 17km, we had to run up the ramp at Marina Barrage, many, including myself were walking up. As the legs felt better after that, I managed to jog slowly down the slope. But legs cramped badly at the last 2km and I had to alternate walk, limp and jog back to finishing line.

I could only say that I was relieved I did not take over a FM slot because I knew that I was not prepared for one. Every race is a lesson to be learnt and a total new experience. Never try new things on race day. 

Only ONE word to describe this run... PAINFUL :)

Run4Education - Charity Run

It all started in one of our post-training conversations. We wanted to convert our passion for sports into a fund-raising effort. The idea of running to raise funds for education was birthed. After much thought, we decided to raise funds for City College; a private school.

The idea was to raise at least $10 for every kilometre that we pledge to run. We shared the idea with City College, set up the Facebook and extended the invitation to other friends who were interested. The run was conducted over 3 days; November 28-30, 2015 at Kallang outdoor track so that we could stay accountable to the donors. Rubber bands were given for every completed round :)

Close to $4,000 was raised. Glad to have played my part :)

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 :)