After the demoralising "humilation" last year when I finished among the last few runners, I decided to stay clear of the 15km race and registered for 10km this year.
But hardly the best preparation this week, there was some work committments that prevented me from putting in any training runs this week since Mizuno Wave Run last Sunday.
And haha the temptation to watch the Manchester United Vs West Brom with my secondary school buddies on a Sat night at the home of Manutd Sg, Chamber @ Capital Square, was too much for me to resist. The temptation to drink also overwhelmed me. Haha. It was supposedly a big no-no before a race. I only reached home at 1am plus in the morning, that means that I have previous little sleep as well. But man I really enjoyed the good company and it was our first time catching soccer there so haha no regrets man.
I was fighting with Zzz monster and I couldn't wake up in time. By the time I woke up, have a closer look at the shuttle bus ticket that I brought during the race pack collection. I realised that I got the timing wrong, and I was already late for the shuttle bus. I didn't want to take a risk to get the taxi driver to go Jurong East to check out first, so I just got the cab to go straight to Changi Exhibition Centre.
My system is still full with one jug of Erdinger inside and the lack of sleep. But I was determined to run.
It was still rather early when I reached. The thing about the New Balance Real Run is got to reach superb early before the roads get closed. First thing that I noticed when I reached the venue, there is a lot of pp as compared as last year. So much that it took 7mins plus for the 15km runners to clear away from the start point.
Soon, it was the start of the 10km race. I bumped into one secondary schoolmate whom I have not met for a decade while waiting for the start. The first 6km of the race went as accordingly to the script, I was clocking quite a good pace of 6.5 mins/km. Then come the nightmare 600m sand portion at the beach that totally kills my race. Hahaha. I was running at the edge of the sea as the sand is supposedly to be more firm. But as it was high tide, haha I got my shoes wet. Through I have tried my best, the beach conquered me - I was reduced to almost walking pace.
By the time that I completed the sand portion and 7km of the race, my average pace has already dropped to slightly more than 7 mins/km. It would be asking a lot of me to repeat last week's timing.
The sand has really took a lot of gas out of me and it was starting to get really mental for the last 3km and I must confess that I was not mentally strong this morning. I gave myself the chance to succumb to those excuses for not repeating the timing. I started to stop a bit here and there. Zhuang, catched up with me in the final km of his 15km race, I do not have the gas to keep pace with him even with only just 500m to go. I only really let go in my last 200m to the end point.
I was slower by close to 3 mins from last week, finishing the 10km race in 1 hr 12.5 mins. It just proves to show that the run last week was no fluke and my timing is getting more consistent. If not for the sand portion, I might be able to match the timing. And I got to keep training regularly to further improve my fitness to go faster and mental endurance. But I am really contented with the run, it took me 2 hr 22 mins to finish the 15km last year, so I cannot complain much.
As per routine, I visited my father after the run for a lunch session with him before going to Orchard Central to collect the race pack for the Nike City 10k Singapore run next weekend. It should be my last race before SCMS bah. I am sparing my legs from the terrains of the Salomon X-trail Run and I would be going for an enrichment course on the date of Run for Hope Run. I would be lying if I am saying that I have no expectations at all, I hope to keep the pace of this run to be under 7min/km if possible.
Back to the weekend, it was one of those weekend full with activites. I started my Friday evening catching up with my ex-boss and my mentor since I was in the camp for a seminar. The meeting was short but very insightful and meaningful. I dunno how to put it, but his influence on me is huge. So much so that I am shelving certain plans. He was the only one who can convince me on the decision coz he was the one who advised me to go early many years back. Well I was too ignorant to see the bigger picture that is now developing and he helped me to see the light. Thus I should be staying put for now.
After the meeting, I went back home to wash up and changed before going to Aloha Loyang for one of my men's 21st birthday. Have a fun time with the boys, as always as long as it is not a official function and not in camp. Hahaha.
Before joining my secondary school friends for the soccer watching session, I attended a elective course at Republic Poly under Certificate in Community Development certification jointly offered by RP and NACLI. It was about New Media, haha I didn't know what I would learn during the course, didn't know that they are teaching pp how to use Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, Youtube, Google Map, etc. Hahaha I guess it was more suitable to the more "senior" grassroots leaders. But it was fun nonetheless, who get to use internet all the time during class? Hahaha. And I was not the youngest in the class, there was another one younger than me. =P
Going back to school to attend classes has its good points, I have not upgraded myself since graduating from SP more than six years ago. So I spent a bit time to read about their specialist diploma programmes. Now is not the right time since I am going for overseas posting in a few months time but I am definitely interested to start upgrade myself once I come back especially in terms of work related topics - I am looking at Supply Chain management with great interest. Haha I dun think it is wise to jump into a degree especially I am so out of touch for so long.
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