Pre-race 1 day. First time that I prepared the bib, all my gels and attire in the morning. In the afternoon, bought bread for breakfast. Later the evening decided that I'll walk to the starting line, if there is no rain. Set my alarm for 3am and slept at about 10pm.
Pre-race Race Day. It was a super cool morning, due to the rain the day before. Started out at about 3:35am. On the way, I did a few mini warm up runs crossing roads and chasing after the green man. Arrived nearby Mandarin Hotel at 4:10am. Doesn't seemed crowded yet.
This year, they only had one pen for 4-6 hour marathoners. I'm not too sure where to park myself, but since I was early, I ended up in the 1st half of the pen. As 5am nears, everyone started moving forward, and I ended up even further in front. Fish, this position is perhaps for the 4hr peeps. Never mind.
START - 12km. Not too bad, my legs were feeling smooth. A good sign. Alright, I can now leave my legs alone and just focus on covering the distance. Don't care about speed too, plus I did not start my stop-watch on purpose. First target, focus on getting to Chinatown and then Esplanade.
This year, the route did not snake into Telok Ayer. Hmm, did they make us run more last year, or where will they add in the distance this time. Maybe ECP. Anyway, I'm more than happy to just run down Cecil Street. It is broad with lots of room for everyone.
On the Esplanade Bridge, an interesting incident. A man ran alongside me, and asked if I can spare him a packet of energy gel. He dropped his. Maybe he saw that I have four on me. Without think much, I gave him a pack, knowing that later there would be two gels stations.
At the Floating Platform, I was thinking that it would be much nicer if MBS and the Helix Bridge was lit. Maybe just for the event. Everything is so dark.
Passed Nicoll Highway and nearing Fort Road, I know at the back of my mind that beside the Newton-30 that I did, I had no training whatsoever for distances above 10km. Keep that thought away, just run away. Enjoy while my body is still responding well.
12km - 28km. The elite athletes were just making their way back. I spent a few KMs looking out for them and cheering them on (by clapping). I was also looking out for Mok, wondering if he managed to squeeze enough training to attempt breaking the National Record. I saw the elite women ran by, but Mok is nowhere in sight. Last year, he was trailing the elite women. A few minutes later, I saw him run past with Jason as I stop to drink.
Then my mind shifted to Aldric. Wondered if I would see him. It would be nice to do a hi-five, or at least call out to him. Didn't see him. Meanwhile, I overtook the yellow balloons 4:45 pacers. Nice if I can keep them behind me. But they overtook me when I took a leak near to the chalets.
After the U-turn, I tried turning my attention to looking for other friends. I found it super tiring, because I'm not sure who I'm looking for. Let's concentrate on the task at hand, running. And I managed to overtake the yellow balloons again.
As I reached back Marine Cove, I felt lethargy creeping in. Just nice, someone is offerring hi-fives to the few runners in front of me. I raised my (right) hand up... and fived him. It was one hard hi-five. My palm hurts, but I gained renewed energy!
The energy lasted for a while, but soon my tank is feeling empty again. Reaching Playground.
28km - 40km. It is no longer feeling empty, my tank is empty. Saw a auntie in front of me. She was walking and just started to run again. I tried following behind her, and to my amazement, she runs at my speed. Got to overtake her! How I can be slower than her?!
But well, my tank is still empty. Not sure where is the auntie, but I walked and run to the 30km mark. Time check, 3:20. Not bad, quite decent. If I can find back my legs, there's an outside chance I can better my current best StanChart's time.
The next few KMs were pure torture. Run, walk, run, walk, I made it to the Gardens. The yellow balloons had caught up and at the Barrage, they had floated in front. Time check again, very sure it will be a sub-5. It is just a matter of how much below 5 it is going to be.
Making my way out to the expressway, I saw the auntie once more. She's in front of me, walking. She tried running, but stopped after a few metres. I caught up and encouraged her as I overtook. She looked up at me, and she looked real tired. But having come so far and fast, she's a fighter. I'm sure she'll complete. More run-walk-run-walk for me till I cleared the bridge, but this was the last I saw her.
40km - FINISH. Maybe it was the earlier downslope from the bridge, maybe there is only 2km left, maybe it was the deep-heat that I applied on my quads. Anyway, my legs found back their rhythm, and off I went. My mind is just focused on finishing, and leaving my legs to handle themselves.
Recommended by many peeps and articles, I wanted to *feel* the atmosphere of the finishing stretch. I didn't speed up when I turned into the straight. But not sure if it's just me, or really the atmosphere is simply not there. I looked at the supporters lining at the sides. They were either watching people running by or looking out for familiar faces. Certainly not cheering for strangers. This is my second attempt to try to soak up the seeming electric atmosphere, and I still don't get it. Osim and Gold Coast's are so much better. Giving up, I accelerated to the FINISH. Gun time, if I didn't remember wrongly, 4:47.
Exactly 4 months ago on 4 Aug, I spent 5 hours in the operating theatre to have my 4-part fracture fixed. Today, as promised, it's done. The marathon's done. 1 hour after completion, the realisation of the achievement set in. I felt my cheeks getting wet. It is unbelievable.
Yes you are amazing. 4 months, back in shape and back on track.
ReplyDeleteX.