First Running Lab Run

Went for my first Running Lab Run last night. Was urged by Tekko & Taz to seek out the pro there by the name of Eddie. They said that since I'm suffering from shin splints, and it might be due to my running style, it would be good to seek his advice.

So there I went. With the kind company of Shutehelup & Tiwazz, who gallantly agreed to accompany me for my inaugural RL run.

I got to City Hall MRT at 6:30pm and met Tekko & wife at the escalator. Apparently we must have taken the same train :) Met up with Tiwazz at the control station and the four of us strolled to Funan. Was chatting with Tekko & Tiwazz about the World Harmony Run (WHR) slated to be on 15th Jul. I am very keen to participate but the distance is a concern. Not forgetting that the following day is my Shape Run, so both the Ts discouraged me from joining. Hmmm ... they definitely make sense, but I'm just so keen to participate in the WHR. Maybe I'll just go for a short 10km, albeit very slow one since Tekko reassured that he will cover the rear at a very slow pace of >7min/km. Hmmm. .. should I or should I not join ....

We reached RL and there already was a crowd gathered outside the shop. The crowd isn't as friendly as the seow kampung in CBD run. They mostly kept to their own clique of friends. I met a couple of familiar faces there like the vitamin gers, puay hien, yean yin. Even met one of a business associate from my ex-company. He found me familiar and I just smiled to acknowledge him, and he did likewise. I doubt he could remember where he had seen me before haha.
Anyway, we walked to the starting point (since I'm a road RETARD, needless to say I will not be able to articulate where we start and details about the route we took, but I'm sure most of u know where and what I'm talking about lah) and Eddie conducted a warm up before splitting us up into 2 groups, one going for the 10km and the other the 5km route. Shut & I wanted to do the 10km route (albeit at a super slow pace) while I can sense Tiwazz wasn't that keen (hehe, think he is worried my shin will give way).

After Eddie explained to us the route, we started the run with the 10km group running at a pretty fast pace (compared to me lah haha). I was reminded to take it slow and I have to thank Shut & Tiwazz for patiently pacing me, keeping to my slow pace and reminding me to slow down. Tintin was with us and though he could normally run fast, he said he was tired and will do a slow one that night. Shut was running alongside me the entire time and watching out for me (how nice Shut! Warning me of the oncoming traffic etc. Thanks bro!) Towards the mid point, Eddie ran up to me (after doing a u-turn to check on the slower runners etc.) and talked to me about my running posture etc. Guessed Tekko must have asked Eddie to advice me, thanks lots Tekko! He even taught me how I should run and stuff, and from the chat I learnt the following:

1. I should do HEEL landing, not forefoot landing (hmmm, thought I was a heel lander, as described by the podiatrist. But have been adviced recently to not land on my heels but my forefeet *scratch head* hmmmm)
   
2. To land softly and push off with my forefeet with strength to propel me forward
   
3. To take small steps
   
4. To look up, chest up and upright (again, this was all along my usual running style - or at least that's what i thought. But was recently introduced to chi running where they said one is to lean forward to minimise impact and reduce forefoot impact? aiyo, so confusing leh)
   
5. Eddie said my shoes are alright - but think maybe i will still consider Asics Cumulus ... see how
   

Met imd on our return leg (u-turn at kallang basin) of the run. Surprise! He wasn't at the starting point and we thought he wasn't coming for the run. He must have been late and with his fast pace, quickly caught up with us. Knowing that he will catch up with us real soon, we just decided to run along not having to wait for him. True enough we heard imd's footsteps behind us shortly after and he even slowed down to run alongside us. I asked him to not let me hinder his pace but he was really cool about it and said its ok. So the four of us jogged slowly and chit chatted along the way, past Marina Promenade to Esplanade and back to starting point. Towards the end we met Ronnie doing his ninja (wow, he seems to be running the same mileage of 15km everyday!! really one super seow on guy haha).

Finally reached the starting point with everyone already sitting around cooling down (haha). Eddie conducted his cool down routines and after which we strolled back to RL. Wah! I was so dehydrated and was pleasantly surprised when I realised RL actually provided us a bottle of plain water each!!! Life saviour, RL! I thank thee! *hail* I downed the bottle in no time, browsed around the shop briefly before the few of us (imd, shut, tiwazz, tintin & i) headed to the nearby food court to have dinner. Met Tekko there and as he was sitting alone (his wife was sitting with the vitamin gers), I asked to join his table. We chit chatted and Eddie joined us shortly (wah, he eat super healthy one. Ate yong tau fu and all vegetables. I noticed we ate about the same items haha ... so ok lah, at least i eat like the trainer ?? wahahhahahah *self console*)

We parted ways after dinner and Shut, Eddie & I took the same train home.

Was a great run, I covered 9.5km in 1hr 05mins. Aiya, like that how to run 10km in less than an hour ???

Anyway, exercise is done for fitness & in good fun! Great company once again and I got to run with 3 hunks (IMD - megahunk!!! Shutehelup - Sensitive New Age & Funny hunk!!! Tiwazz - 6P hunk!!!) ... what else can I ask for man ?

:)

ContentedJazz