Aldric's Nike We Run SG: A Weekend of Records

Aldric recounts his Nike We Run SG experience...

Ironman Fanatics would know that Oct 8th marks an incredible day of racing and record breaking in Kona, Hawaii, Oct 8th 2011. Crowie – Alexander’s nickname – has his name cast in the stone of Ironman Championship history joining the Greats – Dave Scott, Mark Allen, Peter Reid – winning the Championship race thrice in his career and being the first man to ever win the 70.3 World Championship and Ironman World Championship in the very same year. As for Chrissie, it’s her 4th take of the title which many has proclaimed much earlier that she is the athlete of the generation.

Though I’m nowhere close both Greats, I looked forward to my 10km Personal Best race which I have chosen to be the Nike City 10K Run, Oct 9th 2011. As I made my way to the race venue on the actual day, I felt that this is a special day for me. I had forced myself not to run the day before and was anxious to find out the wonders one day of rest would do for my legs. More spring? More pop? Better cadence? I’m unsure and I had many questions in my mind. I felt that I was able to put forth a strong performance while waiting for the flag-off. Then again, everything is possible at the start line.

The flag-off release the runners to the first incline along Nicoll Highway Bridge and it was a unique experience having an incline for a warm-up. It was a race course with recurring intermittent punishments as runners had to ascend and descend the Nicoll Highway Bridge 3 times. It was a challenging course for a PB and I knew I had to ‘cut corners’. I raced through the hydration stations and drinking as I run – instead of slowing for a better swallow – and ended up spilling more than I could consume. Also, I generated quick turnovers over tangents and diligently maintained pace while ascending the Bridge. I was delighted that the Bridge took out many front runners. It means a potential good ranking. Bonus~!

Many front runners had their zip taken out by the second Nicoll Highway Bridge climb. As I crossed the 5km distance marker and running the final ‘loop’ at Nicoll Highway, I could see Kartano and Max in the opposite direction not far from where I was. I decided to put some distance between us and started surging during my final climb. I was maintaining a 3:57 – 4:00 min/km pace so I was feeling comfortable. What I didn’t count on was a lurking fellow runner – who ran beside me since 6km – making his pass decisively at the 8km mark and I wasn’t able to respond as I was experiencing a momentary shooting pain from my right leg to my hip. I was definitely percolating but I wasn’t allowing my PB target to evaporate. I wanted very much to nail my 10km PB so I dug deep and pressed on by tucking myself behind him.

The final 750 meters was an all-out sprint was 4 other guys to the finish as I wanted to pass the pack but they seem motivated not to let me. That’s great~! A little friendly competition is always good as it goes a long way. We ran stride for stride from the Kallang Bridge to the finish chute and it felt fantastic though I was already hurting and was dying for the race to be done. The race announcer who spotted us some distance back was describing us as a 5-man race for the finish. I managed a final surge for the race and broke away from them close to 50 meters from the finish and crossed the finish line. It was my best 10km race experience ever.

I had 4 PB’s under my belt after today’s race for 10km, Half-Marathon, 25km and Full Marathon. It’s definitely a crazy year of running, a year of harvest and not to mention that I have set new records only to be broken in the future.