Singapore Bay Run 2007 (Army Half Marathon & Sheares Bridge Run) 26th August 2007

This year Army Half Marathon & Sheares Birdge Run was renamed to Singapore Bay Run 2007. The ending this year is at the NDP floating platform at Marina Bay.

I registered for the 21km competitive event. The route took runners from : Startpoint at Esplanade, Cross street, South Bridge Road, Maxwell Road, East Coast Parkway, up the Sheares Bridge, Fort RD, ECP, U-Turn at C4 near MacDonald and then continue ECP back to Fort Rd, Mountbatten Road, Nicoll Highway, Republic Boulevard, Republic Ave, Raffles Ave and end at Marina Bay NDP Floating platform.

I got up at 2:30am and had a diarrhea and then took a glass of plain water. Next get into action for breakfast. Thanks to my wife for buying the soft plain bread. I had 3 pieces and spread them with peanut butter and a cup of warm Milo (3-in-1).

Changed into my running gear. Put on my baselayer (Nike Pro compression) and then the SAFRA Sunning singlet over it as the wind can be chilly at that time and not wanting to catch a cold as I just recovered from gastric flu over the past few days.

Waiting for a while to see if the diarrhea will come. Thank God...nothing happen.

Put on my Asics Kayano 12 shoe and off I went. Time 3:45am. Drove off to Raffles City to meet Half-Timer there as we have arranged yesterday to meet up at the hotel lobby before we set to the start line.

There was a slight traffic jam at Raffles Ave just outside the NDP floating platform.

Reached Raffles City at 4:35am. Met Half-timer and his friend at the hotel lobby and we began the search for toilet to do one more time of urine.

Met some SGRunners kakis at the hotel lobby and exchanges greeting to Gentle, Tktan, Bee, Doreen, Alvo, Meteor, Ronnie. They were waiting for Sotong. Introduced Half-timer to them as he has not met all of them before and then we proceeded on our own to the start line.

We accidentally join the army group at the start line and realised this is not right segment and decided to pull back. We then saw a barricades infront of the army boy segment. Good thing we check if not we will be delayed in our starting and run with the army boys.

Next we joined the right segment for the 21km competitive run. Met Tigger and Balasing on the run course at the startline.

Time 5:15am and 15 minutes to go. Then at 5:30am, the run began. I was running side by side with Half-timer and at the South Bridge road, we did our own pace and mentioned that if we lost each other, just focus on the run and see each other at the Finish line.

I was keeping a few steps away behind from Half-timer to so call watch his back in the run along the Maxwell Road, East Coast Parkway and then up the Sheares Bridge. Was doing under 6min pace at between 5:05 and 5:20min pace. Pretty good and strong at this moment. However the heat and the sweat was building up inside my baselayer and thus tell myself that I need to remove the baselayer at the ECP carpark B1 toliet.

Turned into Fort Rd and knowing that the ECP carpark B1 is just right ahead, I slowed down a little. Tigger came from behind and say "hello....you slow today". I told him yep...but need to stop at toilet to remove the baselayer. Next I picked up pace at 4:30min pace to race to the toilet. Passed by Halftimer and told him the same. This is the mistake I made. Time was lost here for urine, and removing the baselayer. Washing my face and drink some tap water.

Next continued my run and picked up pace at 4:30min to make up for lost time. Could feel my right hip pain and nevertheless continued the run. Saw Gentle in front and pace just behind him for a while and after that I lost him. I couldn't find Half-timer as I knew he was right ahead of me already.

Saw the 10km marker and looked at my polar timer. It was 59mins. Ok. I am in good time under 1 hour for the 10km run.

Next the U-turn reached and timing was 1:10. Not so bad. Guess this must be the 11km marker. Took water at the waterpoint. I haven't taken my powergel yet as feeling strong at this point.

Then at the 12km marker, I saw Half-timer and he was slowing down. I came from behind and run up to him side by side. He told me he is having cramp in the calf muscle. I asked him is he ok to continue the run or want to take a break walk. He continiued his run however he was wondering how could this happened. I ran side by side with him slowly for a while. I took a pack of powergel. Sensing he is ok, I picked up pace and speed and continued the run.

At the Fort Rd, the road marshall stopped the runners to let the cars move. I didn't want to waste a seond time on the timing and thus "chiong" when the first car about the move. Increased my stride length to run across the traffic junction and could feel a pull in my hamstring and after cross the junction, I slowed down and not wanting the cramp to pull my hamstring.

At the Mounbatten rd water point, I took another powergel and 100 plus.

It was 7am aready, I know the remaining distance is some 5 km away. I need to make a decision to

1) race at 5min pace to finish at under 2 hours or
2) run at my own pace to minimise the injury to my hip.

Choose the 2nd option as I listen to my body not to push myself too hard.

When I turned into Republic Ave, it was 1hr:47min. Next saw the 20km sign and time was 1hr:54min. I could have run at 5min pace to reach 1:59 for completion but listening to my body and not wanting to stretch for injury, I just do my pace. Next came the 500m marker and my watch was 2hr:00min.

I just run my own pace and next the Singapore Flyer was insight and then I turned into the NDP floating platform. Time on my watch was 2hr:04min. I raced to the Finish line and time was 2hr:05min:14sec. I FINISHED THE RACE !!!

Exhausted and was looking for water or 100plus. Took a can of 100plus and removed my Championchip and exchanged it for my medal and out of the holding area I went. That's mean I can't go back into the holding area where there 100 plus water table and banana fruit table. I missed that.

I asked the army boy on duty to let me in but he couldn't. I then asked a runner who is still inside the holding area to help me get a piece of a banana as I needed it very much. He was very kind and went back to get it for me.

I finished that can of 100plius and wanted to go for another can. This time, I needed to climb over the barricades and must find one section where the army boy is not guarding it. I saw a man with four cans in his hand climbing over from the other side of the barricades. I asked if you can give me a can. He gave me one willing. I thank him for his kind help. After drinking, I did some stretching. I met Mike Kang from SAFRA and also some SAFRA runners. One of the SAFRA runners gave me another can of 100plus. Saw Ultra & Ripley on the opposite side of the barricades. Ultra asked about my timing and I told him 2:05. "Not bad, good enough" said Ultra and he continued "keep the 5 minutes for next year to give back."

The SGRunners were gathering 8:30am under the Esplanade bridge for a group photo taking session. It was a big group of gathering and nice meeting them.
TLR & wife(FD), Ultra, DO, Dream, JamesSoh, Tekko, Eliza, AiChai, Sywog, Sotong, IMD and his wife, Alvo & wife(Meteor), Brokie & Hubby(Vincent), Babumouse, TeeLee, Highbury, Burnz, Tiwazz, Stazla, and others.

This is my first AHM (Amry Half Marathon) and I am glad I finished it with a personal best timing of 2hr 05min 14 sec. Will wait for the official result to release. The official result is out. My NetFinish time 02:05:11 and the GunFinish time 02:06:18:18



Cheers !