The Infinite World

Although the winning time is about the same as the Singapore edition back in Dec 2013, there are about 100 runners under sub 3 hours. About 80 plus of these are local Hong Kong runners, the race was of a higher quality. The weather is much cooler but also tougher, many hills to tackle. I was quite interested to participate next year after reading through the results. But one thing to note is that the morning temperature can be really low like 1-4 degree celious, need to keep warm at the start. 

Records for running events will always be broken, especially for longer events. So keep going, each of us can get faster if you are determine enough! We will see a 2 hours marathon within the next 20 years, although it's mind blogging, it can be done !

Running a bad race can be quite a good experience, it makes you realise things can go wrong anytime and most importantly to take note of your weaknesses. For myself , I run too little distance and I have weak core area. I have been telling myself to build up my core muscle group but I never really put in much effort to actually do it. From my experience during my 21 km run on the 15 Feb 2014, I wanted to run faster the last 3km but though I kept telling myself to push on, my body was so exhausted. It was a really a battle of the mind over body, but my mind looses the fight. The little consolation is that  I learn how to keep telling mind to take action his time round. Previously, I would have just stop running and just walk. I think as long as you learn something out of the lousy run, it's still a good run in the sense that you learned your lesson.

Did a short run of 5km in the morning of 15 Feb 2014, Saturday. I took part in a night race that started at 7:30pm, 21km but I was late 15min. I started the run at about 7:45pm, the start line was quite empty as the rest if runners started 15min before me. I started quite fast 5:08 for the 1st km and 5:09 for the 2nd km. I was feeling quite good but slow to a 5:32 for the 3rd km, from here I was never     any faster. My pace for the next 6km was 5:40 to 5:55 pace. Although I was still feeling ok, I start to doubt myself as I have not run for 2 weeks. Slow to a 6:54 by 18km, and then I just felt drained and slow to 8 min plus pace for the next 2km. I ran the last km in 7:23, final finishing time 2 hr15min38sec. 

Started my run at 5.44 pm from YCK/Lentor Ave via Lentor Ave then Yishun Ave 1 then across the Causeway to the Seletar Aerospace Park till the end of the incomplete road. Total distance 18.11 km in 1hour51min45sec. The 1st few km was difficult, very slow but it got better as I cover more distance. The best section was after 12 km, I can find the run getting better, my stride got smoother. I can feel I am pushing body and it's a good feeling. 

Covered 10.17km in 59min52.9sec at night, finished the run 25min ago. Felt like I was running fast but the time is slow, about just under 6min per km pace. This is the thing I dislike about running in poorly lit surrounding, it kind of gave me the illusion that I am running fast. 

Completed my 1st run at ECP in 2014 this morning! 22km in 2hr 10min 36 sec, average 5min56.18sec per km. This is not a fast time, but a good run for me. I knew that I can run a faster first 10km and then hold on to the second half. Finished the 1st 11km in 1hr3min36sec and the second half in 1hr7min. I felt good for the 1st 12km and then try to relax and run easy. Finished 15km in 1hr28min, there is this guy who was tailing me and I run well for the next 4km till the 19km. I was feeling my body temperature going up, had to take a quick break to drink water and poured water over my head to cool down. I continue with the run and try my best to maintain a 6min pace. Try to finish the last km at a quicker pace, but my body was not responding well and I eventually finished the last 1 km in 5:45. Overall a good run, but just need to know my body better, learn to pace well and push harder the next run. If I do not push myself enough, I know I always look back with regrets! Just want to make ...

Wanted to try to beat my pb for the 10km at the stadium, but it was closed for 3months for maintenance work. So I run from the YCK police station via Lentor,Yishun Ave 1, till the end across the causeway turn right till the end of the pathway and back to Lentor/YCK road. Total distance 17.25km in 1hour41min47sec. Started out slow, legs were feeling heavy till after 4km. Felt better, so tried to increase pace a little. After turning around at the end of the pathway at the Seletar Aerospace park, tried to relax and up my pace a little. All was well till the last 3km, the weather was really hot, just tried my best not to slow down too much. It's kind of like a shake out run, have not run more than 10km since 1 Dec 2013.

Just wondering when will day comes when we see the top 20 runners at the SCB Marathon all finishes in less than 3 hours ! That will be an achievement for Singapore runners ! 

Recently, I picked up a book titled "Half Gone" by author Jeremy Leggett. It's a book about the world running out of oil in the next 20 to 30 years based on estimated oil reserve of our planet. I feel that this is indeed a very serious topic, which will really affect of us on Earth as we are so dependent on oil as a fuel. There will be no air travel if you think about it, other land based transportation will probably be available. It will definitely adversely affect all of us ! It will be like going back to pre-oil days or 200 years back ! 

Completed my first run this morning, 4 Jan 2014, Saturday. 25 laps of 400m, total 10km in 51min35.828sec. I think I almost PB, not too sure as it was long time ago, almost 20 odd years back in the early 90s or before. Well I cannot really ask for more, as my training mostly are not consistent. This is about 58sec faster than what I did last Saturday. But it's really important to feel what's its like as you get faster. Your body needs to feel it, your legs, your lungs, your heart, your breathing, all will be different as you progress. It's also important to push your limit, your body will adjust,  but you need to know when to push, how much to push yourself. Sometimes, you just have to give it a try when you are feeling good and push yourself hard but know your limit. It feels really good when you PB, it's kind of like breaking down the barrier. 

Started my run at 7.20am Singapore time at the Stadium, no particular target in mind but maybe to better my previous 53min20sec. Completed the 1st lap in 2min7.775sec, 2nd lap in 2min9.124sec and reached the 1st km in 5min20sec. I was trying to run as easy as possible but not too slow. I continue to run the next km in 5min16sec, completed the 2nd to 5th lap in 2min5sec lap. Completed the 3rd km in 5min12sec. Could not maintain the pace, slow to 5min22sec for the 4th km. I managed to speed up a little to 5min15sec for the 5th km, reaching 5km in 26min 25sec. Slow a little to 5min22sec for the 6th km, 5min20 sec for the 7th km, still feeling ok. Completed the 8th km in 5min17sec, reached 9km in 47min45sec. Finally, the final km, speed up more and eventually completed the 10km in 4min49sec, total time 52min34.121sec. Felt good most of the way, need to learn to push myself harder to achieve a faster timing. Aim to run at least 30sec faster in my next run at the stadium, and hopefully ac...

Completed a short 2.4km run in 11min12.935sec at the stadium. I was hoping to do a sub 25min 5km, but  changed my mind and decided to just run 6 laps. Felt good but the track was wet due to rain earlier on. Could have done a sub 11min, there was not much traction, no grip on the track. 

Did not run much after Standard Chartered Marathon on 1 Dec 2013. The 1st run was a 10km at the gym due to wet whether, equaled my pb 49min47sec. The 2nd run was a 10km at the track, completed in 55min36sec and the 3rd run was a 10km at the track as well on 14 Dec, 53min20sec. The most recent was on Sunday 15 Dec 2013, a 6km run at the gym in 30min13sec. I felt that after a marathon, you have the confident of completing shorter run easily. I feel I need to go out and run a maybe quick 5km or shorter distance to gauge whether I have improve on my running during the last 1 year. I find that I am always controlling my run a lot nowadays, I guess it comes from the habit of ensuring I competed my long run, so always put aside some reserve energy to finish comfortably.

This is the run that I have been waiting for in fear and anticipation. It's always difficult when you do not train enough in a proper way, but you still want to challenge it. Woke up at 3 am on 1 Dec 2013, Sunday. Bought breakfast the night before, just bread with some sugar topping. There was even train services provided by SMRT, I took the train at about 4.15 am, run to the station from where I live. Reached Orchard Station at 4:28 am, had to walked all the way to Wheelock to get into the holding bay. After that just walked to as near the start line as possible, it was a good turnout. about 16,000 runners. The atmosphere was full of excitement, everyone was anxious to start the run. I had a start delay of about 6 minutes, it was very crowded at the start and you can only slow jog. The pace for the first 1.5km was never much faster than than 7min per km. I can only pick up speed after exiting from the Ford Canning tunnel, but GPS tracking was abit off while in tunnel with no si...

Recounting my run on 24 Nov 2013, Sunday, I fondly recall how I felt at each stage of the run! Started the at just below 6 min per km pace, early stage of the race normally will be ok. Picked up speed along the way, 2nd km was in the 5:50 range, 3km was like 5:45. Still feeling fine although my training had been erratic all year round. So still feeling ok even at the 5km mark, which was around 5:40 range. Now cruising along the 5-6km long straight stretch, still feeling good. Once pass the 7km mark, sign of fatigue start to set in. Completed the 8km in 5:16, which is fast by my level of fitness, start to slow to around 5:50, eventually timed at 6:02 at 9km. Covered 10km in slightly under 1 hr, the km split was 6:27. My plan was to stick with my buddy until about half way mark and then run at my own pace. I was thinking to himself that I would slow down after the 10 km mark, which I did but luckily I did not slow down too much. On that day, I was feeling pretty apprehensive as my train...

This is the last long run before SCB Sg marathon on 1 Dec 2013, I completed 22km in 2hr11min43sec. This timing is better than I thought possible as my training has been erratic. Ran faster in the 1st 11km, 1hr 3min and 1 hr 9min for the 2nd half. Just hoping to relax and enjoy the run on 1 Dec 2013 !

Wake up late, started the run just before 8 am. It was raining lightly, cool weather, good for running. Just relax and run easy with no target in mind. Run around the estate, just took the roads that I am familiar with and try not to look at my watch too much. I managed to run the last 6 km without looking at the watch, which surprising felt good and relaxing. I guess this is a new found knowledge for me, heard of it before briefly but never thought of trying. Average 6:23 per km today, feel good and not tire for once. Should be doing our usual 20km at East Coast tomorrow morning.

I finished the 2012 SCB marathon in 4hr57min52sec, the 1st time I ever completed a marathon in under 5 hours. It was my 6th marathon and one of my most prepared ever. I did more than twenty 20km run and at least three 30km run, but it was still insufficient preparation. It was still a break through year for my running, never thought I can actually run more than 30km non stop, though at a very slow pace, average 7min3.55sec for each km. I also completed 5 half marathon in 2012 and achieved pb of 1hr57min46sec. This year I completed 3 half marathon and a 32km but no pb, except my usual Ford road/water point pb of 1hr50min52sec for this 19.6  route. I did not exercise enough self descipline during training, no core muscle training as well. I am aiming for a 4hr40min this year, will be difficult to achieve but I will run my best race as much as possible.

Been thinking a lot on how to prepare for a race mentally. Can a strong mental conditioning overcome a less than ideal physical condition? Well, I will get to find out in 12 days time at the SCB Marathon on 1 Dec 2013 ! I will just relax and run a good race, I will try to pace myself at a sustainable pace and hopefully, everything else will fall into place nicely. I will try for a new pb although my preparation is far from ideal. A time of less than 4hr 50min would be achievable!