Banana Relay 2009

Well I set my usually reliable alarm clock to 0500hrs this morning, but haha I was so tired that I overslept. But haha luckily I woke up at 0620hrs, MRT is out of the equation by the time I woke up, so I took the fastest mode of transport to Pasir Ris Park Car Park D. Though Pasir Ris Park sounds very far from my home, but haha surprise surprise the cab fee is comparable to what I paid for from my place to my camp.

The money is all worth it though, I always love to catch up with friends, especially old friends. Catch up with Wei Leong , who is Carine's husband and his friend(cannot remember his name) whom I known since my poly year 1 through SP Track, and oh man, that is like 7,8 years ago. Besides the above-mentioned who I have not seen for years, I also enjoyed catching up with the moderators and the senior members of the forum. And haha didn't expect to see my other friend Alvin from SP running at the event as well.

This year race is of a bigger scale than last year. This year even have volunteers from NYP, besides all the old birds in the forum.

All the volunteers

Anyway was assigned to be one of the route marshall this year, which is totally different from what I did last year - which is F&B. Was stationed just about 30m from the U turn point, I deployed myself there, because I saw the possibility of runners going the wrong way back as there is a split road there. So basically I was just shouting "U turn point ahead" and encouraging them to keep going, and also ensuring that they run the right way back. I also become park cleaner for a while, I went to push away the rubbish trolley after seeing a couple of runners having to adjust their footstep to avoid the trolley which is parked just besides the running path. So I go disturb and move it away further away from the running route.

I got some surprise vistors while marshalling as well. Not really a surprise. I heard from my buddy the night before that some of my former colleagues are going there to cycle. And so hei hei they found me there, even through I never tell them that I would be there.

Well after the event, stayed around to help the organiser to clear up the place and load up the stuff into TLR's car till 1 plus before Bose tum pang myself, Renoh, Charlotte and Tiwazz back to Commonwealth area.

Skipped R2unners training at MR in the afternoon because I am so tired that I slept on Bose's car all the way back, I only have 4 hours of sleep the night before as I went out with my buddy till late and came back to wash my uniform and other clothings before I sleep. Of course the other reason being my ITB, it flares up again while I came out to run during my night off on Wed. Tiwazz said that it shouldn't happen to runners with my type of mileage, but hahaha if I can break my metatarsal bone when I just slipped and fall, anything can happen. Guess I would be cutting back on my mileage and taking a short break for the time being.

Back to Banana Relay, being an event organised by runners, I think that the event is well organised lah. Hmmm just a bit disappointed through coz I missed the big group photo with all the runners, as I am already been deployed at the marshall point. And by cutting away the presentation of the medal to the volunteers, which is part of the arrangement last year, some of the new runners may not know who is who, thus missing a good chance to bond more friendship. Just my 2 cents but haha I know the restriction also, I knew a couple of them need to rush off to catch the bus to KL for GE 30km run later on Sunday.

Me out