Saucony Passion Run 10km 8th July 2007

The first Saucony Passion run was held on 8th July 2007. I signed up for the 10km men veteran category. The race was very well organised being their first time. Atleast some 4000 runners participated. SM Goh was there to grace the event.

My category started at 8:15am. They flagged off each category in different timing (wave). I ran as usual however my Polar RS800sd and the foot pod was not giving me any pace number and timing. The Polar watch showed the time 00:00:00 and there is no pace logged at all. I tried a few time to meddle the watch setting while running and thus was distracted and slowed down. I remembered what Ultrman told me "don't look at your watch, just run and not be distracted". So I decided to ignore. It was hard for me as I normally trained with my Polar RS800sd and the foot pod to get my pace and also to watch my pace whether I am going to fast or slow. My pace is about 5:30 min.

Finally at the 5km U-turn, it was some 26 minutes plus. So I have another 26 to 27 minutes to go to complete the next 5km. Before I make the U-Turn at 5km, I saw Ultraman on the opposite side of the path. So U-Turn is near. I saw the U-turn and picked pace and race towards it. It was 26 minutes.

Now I continued on and skipped the next water point to race back.

I saw a lady and sensed that she is a runner and decided to use her as my pace. At one stage we were overtaking each other and I finally decided to just slow down and trial her behind.

Approached the finishing line with 100 metres ahead, I race towards it strong. Looked up for the timing but couldn't find any timing clock. My watch was showing 9:10am. I guessed I have finished the race in 55mins.

While queuing up for the goodies bag, the lady whom I was following in the run was infront of me. I say "hi to her" and we chit chat and got to know her name is Evon. She participated in triathlon. Why I was trailing her was because she was wearing a Polar watch and thus must have her timing checked. I asked her how was her timing. She replied 55minutes.

So, confirmed my timing is 55minutes. The result of the Saucony Passion run came up the next day and my timing was 55minutes :00seconds.


Well, a good run.

Cheers !

SAFRA Mount Faber - Ultra Challenge 27th May 2007

May 27th 2007 was the way Iran up Mount Faber hill not once but 3 times. The minimum to qualfy the Ultra challenge is 3 times. I was targeting to just do the 3 loop up the Mt Faber hill as I worried that I might injure my knee in view of the Penang International Marathon.

That morning, Ultraman smsed me asking whether I need help for a pacer. I said "yes". He came and we ran together. Ultraman is a fast runner and one of the golden boy and sifu in the SGRunners community and a member of MR25. I was honored to have a friend like him to help pace me and gave me alot of encouragement and companionship along the route. With his help, I managed to complete the 3 loops in 3hrs 15mins and qualified for a running vest from SAFRA.

It was also a hot day run for me. I have learnt alot from this run especially from Ultraman himself giving me a few pointers on the run.


Thanks Ultraman !

Cheers !

Penang International Marathon 24th June 2007

Yes...finally another overseas marathon is here. The Penang International Marathon. I didn't train hard for this. I was also down with a flu/cough and fever and didn't get to run for the past 2 weeks. Making the the trip there was double-minded. Physically weak and still nursing a flu and cough. As I boarded the coach at Golden Mile on Friday evening as the trip and hotel booking was organised by Shutelup. There were 7 of us from SGRunners. They were Shutelup, TeeLee, Balasing, Eliza, George and Fennel. The coach journey was about 11 hours. We reached Penang with a beautiful sunrise as we cross the Penang bridge and in our mind we were thinking tomorrow morning we are going to run across the bride. The length of the bridge from Penang to the main land is 8.5km. Both way is 17km.

We reach the bus interchanged, took a cab to the lodge "hotel", check-in and off we went to Queensway Bay Shopping mall to pick up our race pack. Then is idle time to walk around the shopping mall. Fennel made some kind arrangement to have her cousin to pick us up and drove us to Gunney Drive shopping mall.

We have our dinner at Gunney Drive and I digged in to a plate of Penang Fried Chao Kuay Teow. I was careful in the food as not wantng to have stomach upset before the race. Still nursing the flu and cough. So I ordered no "hum" and no chilli.

Night came, Balasing offered me some panadol and I poped two and then slept. Woke up at 12am to get ready for the race. We need to be at the assembly line at 2am. The race started at 3:30am. When we reached the assembly area, we need to show our race ticket and race bib number before we were allowed into the holding area for full marathon runners. I was refused entry as I didn't have the 2nd race bib number. I was wearing one race bib number tied to the race belt. The official was very strict. Some of the runners were held out. I begged the officail and said " Uncle..tolong lah...I left it in the hotel and is very far away..please...let me in." He finally let me in. Some of my runner friend like Shutelup and TeeLee went back to take their. I took the advice from them last night that only one race bib number is enough and not need two as we are not elite runners going for time and prize money. See what had got us into. Thank God....the official let me in. Collected my first runner rubber band and I stayed insde the school compound.

Guess what..? Edward came up to me and say "Hi..." Took me a while to recall..Yes. The same Edward that I met at KL for the KL International Marathon. His sister Apple was also with him but doing the 10km run. She is outside. Was glad to met a friend from Singapore.

The race started at 3:30am and off we went. My legs were fresh and I could go forward strong and completed the 10km in 50minutes. Crossed the bridge and up the slope and overtook the rest. Slope is no longer a worry to me. I have ran up Mount Faber 3 times for the 30km Ultra Challenge organised by SAFRA and thus the slope in the Penang Bridge is not an issue to me.

After finishing the Penang bridge both way and back to Penang island and along the costal road, it was long and lonely. Was looking out for the 30km marker but couldn't find or rather haven't reach yet. I overtook a few more runners and that stretch of road towards the 30km was very dark. Reach a junction and I stop to wait for the next runner to come up and I asked him which way. Straight or go down the left. He replied "Straight" and I ran along with him and then I was alone again. Next IMD and Teelee called out to me "Kayano". Sensing 30km marker is near and is where the U-turn is. I crossed the 30km marker and the time was 3hr 30mins. I started to strategised abit as my leg is very tired and also with the flu and cough, I need to becareful as the next 10km is killing. At the 35km, I poured away the 100plus in my 4-bottle fuel belt as I was feeling the load. The water point was enough for me and thus I didn't use the fuel-belt bottle.

Though the run, I had the opportunity to blow mose mucus and spit out the phlegm on the road. This time, I didn't pee along the road. There was no urine to pee.

While toward the last 3km at the 37km marker, Tigger came from behind and "joi" me to run with him. He is running strong and started to overtook a few runners infront of me. I told and waved him to go ahead. Seeing him some 100 metres ahead of me, I began to pick up pace and also overtook the few runners infront of me. After the U-Turn into the 41km marker, I couldn't see Tigger anymore. He must have up the final slope and to the finish place at USM. I paced up the final slope of the flyover. This is where the 10km and fun runner route merged with the returning route of the 42.195km runners. Mind..mind. I had to dogged my way and zig-zag here and there as there was a crowd of fun runner and walker. I race down the flyover and back toward the USM compound. Some crowd on the roadside began to cheered me and clapped in encouragement. I waved at them to acknowleged their cheers.

Reached the finishing line at 4hrs 41mins. It was 5 minutes better than the KL International Marathon. The memory of this marathon was that I ran with a flu/cough condition and not very wise to do it. Thank God I survived. Not a way to gamble my life for it. I thought and already plan that if worse, I will just quit along the way. However, as I ran, I listen to my body and also watchful of my running pace.

I am glad I finished the race with endurance of a flu and cough.


After resting a day on Monday, I was back to work on Tuesday...still with the flu and cough. Then on Friday, I was totally down and have a long weekend of rest from Friday to Sunday. Thank God. I fully recovered on the next Monday and back into action.

The run gave us some free time to visit Fennel's parents hosue and they treated to nice lunch at the nearby restaurant and then back to her parents' house to pluck some rambutan fruits. Took some pictures of the rambutan tree with the fruits and also dragon fruits growing on the dragon tree.

Thanks Shutelup, TeeLee, Balasing, Fennel, George, Eliza for the memory trip and run in Penang.

Cheers !

KL International Marathon 18th March 2007

Yep...My plan for year 2007 is to run 3 marathons. They are KL International Marathon, Penang International Marathon and the year end 2007 Standard Charterwed Singapore Marathon 2007.

just one month before the 18th March 2007 KL Marathon, I trained with my running buddy whom I have discovered in Church. He is Keng Siak. He also shared the same passion to run however he ran with a good cause to remember his late mother. For me, it is finding another friend in Church sharing the same passion. We trainined together and built good friendship and soul friend.

I organised the trip to KL with hotel booking, coach booking and then the day came. Toegther with Sealboon, Timothy (My brother-in-law) and Keng siak, we travelled from Hougang Kovan Hub to KL.

We stayed at the official hotel where the Kenyan runners also stayed. Mine mine...the morning at 3am, we gathered atthe hotel lobby on 18th March 2007. The bus we took at the hotel that brought us to the start line of the event were loaded with the Elite Runners from Kenyan. They were all dark and we are the few chinese fellows. It was an honour to be in the same bus as them.

The race began at 5am and I was going slow and watchin gmy pace at 6min/km. Slowly as I covered the distance, I picked up speed. The route is hilly and sloppy. I wasn't prepared for such terrain. Half way through the run, I needed to urine and to my surprise there is no mobile toilet and guess what....yep...I just "pee" on the side of the road with other runners running by. This is my first time doing inthe public and so open.

Around the 5km mark, Keng siak came along from behind and we ran together for a while and then he picked up speed and I couldn't see he anymore.

At the 15km mark, IMD and TeeLee came from behind and we ran together for a while and IMD cautioned me to conserve energy as there is a long slope at the highway near the 35km mark. I took his advice and slow down.

At the 25km mark in the city and I saw ahead of me, there were runner in front of me. I was feeling strong and remember Ultraman told me the night before is to concentrate and run and touch the runners in front of me "touch his back and you "overtake" them. I just did that and counted. One..two...nd by the time I cross the 30km mark, it was 30 over runners that I have overtook or rather "touched their back". The upslope at 35km mark was killing.

Finally..into the last 5km and then into the last 2km, I was runnning next to a man form Malaysia. He is a doctor. We chit chat a while as it was just him and me. I aksed him anymore slope to run up. He replied no more. All down and straight to the finishing line at Dataran Merdeka.

We race together and as we got nearer, we could hear the music, the MC loud voice and then....Sotong was standing at the lamp post and called out to me "Kayano"...then next Roonz was getting ready her camera to take a picture shot of me. she raced at the sideroad to try to take a snap shot. I slowed down to let her take a snapshot before racing strong to the finish line. The time was 4hrs 46mins. It was 1 hours better then last year 2006 Standard Chartered Marathon. I have shaved off 1 hours. It is a personal best to me.

I was looking for Keng Siak my running buddy and couldn't find him. Finally he saw me and he just came back 10 minutes after me. He slowed down due to a cramp and searching for toilet. The night before, I took a glass of salt water and it helped to prevent cramp as advised by Ultraman as he smsed m the night to remind me to take salt water. I told Keng Siak, Sealboon and Timothy to take as well. They laughed at me. Guess what ? Keng Siak, Sealboon and Timothy experienced cramp during their run. For me....my turn to laugh at them when they tell. Thanks Ultraman.


It was a good oversea 1st marathon run. I will never go back to KL for the marathon. The terrain is killing especially the many upslope on the highway. Atleast about 5 of them.

In this journey, met a new friend Edward and his sister Apple. Edward ran the ful marathon while his sister did the 10km run. A nice pair of brother and sister.

Well, for me I have a nice brother Keng Seng and the company of a SGRunners at the events.

Cheers !

MR - Ultramarathon 31st Dec 2006

Yep...what more can I say but to continue the run which is an endurance race. That's right...the MacRitchie Runners 25(MR25) club oragnized the annual Ultramaraton on the last Sunday of each December year. I came to know about this event through SGRunners.com forum and was highly promoted by Ultraman (an MR25 runners himself).

Given 12 hours form 7am to 7pm to complete as many rounds of 10.5km each. The minimum to qualify the Ultramarathon with certificate is 5 rounds. I completed the 4 rounds by 4 hours 52 mins and took a long lunch break of chicken rice. Then I walked the 5th round with Brokenrunner and Gentle. We took our sweet time to walk and admired the sceanary which many a time I don't get to do so when running the last 4 rounds. Brokenrunner and Gentle decided to go further into the Treetop walk which is a detour of the route. I continues alone and finally decided to run back. The best part about running back is that I knocked my head twice on the same low tree branch. I did the first knock during the 3rd round and never imagined I did it again on the final round. After checking on the SGRunners forum, a number of runners also had the same experience as me. About 10 of them had their heads knocked on the low branch of the tree.

Well, that was how I ended year 2006 with a completion of the MR25 Ultra Marathon with a totlal distance of 52.50km in 9 hours 24 minutes.

I will come back again to join them in year 2007 and looking forward to do more rounds perhaps 7 rounds....well....mmmm...let's see.

Cheers !

My 1st Full Marathon 3rd Dec 2006

...finally the day has arrived. Dec 3rd 2006. My 1st 42.195km run. I finished in 5hrs 46mins. It was a humbling experience. The tagline from Adidas "Impossible is Nothing" became real to me. The feeling of finishing the race and crossing the finishing line was ...don't know how to descibe feeling except you must be there to cross it yourself.

Without the Nike Runanholic sessions and the group of SGRunners encouragement and the companionship of Apple IPod, I could never finished the greatest race on earth!

Surprising when I reached the turn into St. Andrew road with the last 100 metres to go, the "Chariots of fire" music started to play in my IPod.....what a way to finished the race !

Looking forward to SCSM2007 and I hope to do better in the timing of better 4hrs to 4hrs 20mins.

Cheers !

Carboloading session 1st December 2006 with SGRunners

...counting the days toward 3rd December 2006.Yes ! The Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2006. My first and it is a Mission Impossible to me. Well, SGRunners Founder TLR organised a carbo-loading session for us in downtown Orchard area. It was mu first tme seeing and making new friends. We have a group photo session after the meal. All are wonderful people and runners with a common goal to finish the greatest race on earth !

Thanks to TLR for organising the carbo-loading session. Looking forward to this year 2007 carbo-loading session before the 2nd Dec 2007 Marathon race.

Cheers !

Singapore-Johor 2nd Link Bridge Run 10km 12 Nov 2006

After doing a distance of 15km and 20km run at the Nike Runaholic session, it is time to take part in a competitive run to have a feel of what mass competitive running event is like especially when I was preparing for the year end annual Singapore Marathon organised by Standard Charterd.

So I went with my brother-in-law Timothy and together we ran the 10km. I finished in 53mins. Not bad comparing to my last 10km competitive run was in 23rd March 1986 when I finished the 1/4 Marathon in 52:30. Mine..mine that was like 20 years ago where I was like in my mid 20s. So, I can still run and still fit in my now mid 40s.

Met some SGRunners like TLR, Ready2Race, SysWog, Commandox.....

Cheers!

Nike Runaholic Session 8/10/2006 to 26/11/2006

Yep...the Nike Runaholic sessions came as a good timing for me to train for the Singapore standard Chartered Marathon 2006. Went alone to join the Nike Runaholic session. Eight sessons of Sunday runs at ECP and one at MacRitchie Reservoir and one at Marina Promenade Carpark. The 8th session was held on 26th November 2006. I completed 7 sessions with one Sunday on 12th November 2006 which I was at the Singapore-Johor 2nd Link Bridge 10km run.
After the last session of the Nike Runaholic run, I was surprised to be awarded a NIKE sport voucher worth $200 of a pair of Nike Bowerman Seris Shoe. This is given to those 20 runners who have completed accumulative running session mileage of 90km. Guess my regular attendance pays off. The Nike Runanholic session has helped to shape me into a better edurance runner going distances I never venture into of 35km. I finished the race at Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 42.195km. These running session brings me good memories and especially meeting a total stranger by the name of Thomas Tan. We introduced to each other. Through him, I came to know the online community "SGRunners.com". I went online and registered as "Kayano". Surprising it was the last time that I would meet Thomas on one of the Sunday Nike Runaholic session that we exchanged contact and nickname on the SGRunners forum. Mine...mine....he is "SealBoon" and I am "Kayano".....So we do know each other on the forum by nickname just not the actual name.....

By the 5th session, more SGrunner came into the scene.....DO, Dreamrunner, Sotong, Brokenrunner, Ultraman, TLR, Cokiee, Bee, Alvo, Meteor, Shortlegs, OP, Babymonster at the Nike Runanholic sessions.

The venture into running and for me the discovery of endurance running in marathon has just begun as I discovered a group of like-minded, passionate runners.

Cheers !

Just started to blog and thus will trace back my running events from last year 9th August 2006 to now. Be patient with me as I trace back the running memories.......Cheers !