Demoralising Run

6min/km run
Changi Coastal Road
DO, DR, Ultraman, Brokie
20-34km

"no way in my right mind would I go for this run" - that's what gone through my little brain when I first read the forum about the upcoming demoralising run on 24 Sep. I just knew this run ISN'T for me. All the super fast speedsters (DO, DR, Ultraman & Brokie - and of coz many others) and the fast pace for such a long distance, its just not something that I could do.

After Roentgen said that he will try out his run/walk technique during this demoralising run, just so that he could clock enough mileage, I gamely asked to join him for this run. Afterall, I have been wanting to try out the run/walk technique and what best time to try then to tag along someone who did just that for his previous marathon! Also, I have been good and been increasing my mileage gradually (of not more than 10% per week), I was keen to try completing a 27km LSD.

Took a cab to Changi and met up with Roentgen outside the Changi Hotel (since I do not know exactly where the meeting point is, Roentgen had so kindly offered to pick me up at the key landmark in Changi). We arrived to see DR and DO already at the car park chatting away. Teelee & sassyrunner arrived shortly after. Chit chat & caught up with many of these sgrunners whom I seldom get to see (different league lah, can't join their runs -_-"). Attendance today: DO, DR, Realrunner, Brokie, Ultraman, Roentgen, Joao, Rim, Sotong, Dasher, Mightyjoe, Run3, Sassyrunner, Teelee, Tktan, Doraemon_red, Jamesoh, Fennel, Cfred, Bee, Ripley, FBB, Acleong.

Due to some miscommunication (some of the runners were waiting at the other car park), we finally managed to start our run 30mins late. The gang were really serious! Even starting with a 1km warm up run (do we need to warm up since most of them are already running the high 20s and low 30s??? *faint*).

The group were way too fast and before long, Roentgen & I were left way behind doing our run/walk. Roentgen suggested beforehand about doing an 8 min run, 2 min walk for the entire LSD at a very slow pace of 7:30min/km pace. It took a lot of patience in the very beginning to stop and walk so early on in the race, but I was determined to try this technique, and also not to push myself too hard considering my running form hasn't been too satisfactory this whole week, so this run/walk technique in fact is a good respite for me.

Soon we hit the demoralising run stretch. It was indeed demoralising seeing this long route that doesn't seem to end. We passed lots and lots of cyclists out on their training on Sunday. Sweet Junie has been very kind and had even sms-ed me the night before to remind me to be extra careful and vigilant while running there because of the big trucks that pass there and because we will be running on the road (no pavement there). THANKS Junie, you are such an angel! :) Many times we had to siam the oncoming traffic of cars, trucks and cyclists and at one point at our walk break, one cyclist among a herd of them encouraged us to "Keep Running!" haha .. Its great running along this stretch of road actually, not demoralising at all! I feel so alive to be out on a Sunday morning, jogging and just enjoying the morning sun and air, and being out with all these other sports enthusiasts. Few years back, I used to pass this stretch of road very often, and I always imagined/wanted to run here, coz I think the feeling of running here on a Sunday morning, together with all these cyclists, will be great. But I never got a chance until this morning. A little dream that I have had for these years have finally been achieved today. This must have sounded very silly to most of you, what dream ? Its just a run! :P but really, the feeling of finally doing what I had wanted to do for so long, is WONDERFUL :)

Kind Roentgen brought along powergel and offered me one so that I could try how it taste like. If I wanted to run marathon next year, I will need to learn to take in some isotonic drinks and power gel to refuel along the way - he said. Not one who likes gooey stuff and I have heard many mentioned how yucky it tasted, I wasn't all that excited about trying it. I chose the Plain powergel and squeezed half of the pack into my mouth and yes, it tasted yucky!

As we neared NSRCC, we met Bee & Ripley waiting for FBB. When we reached NSRCC, many of our friends were already on their return leg (-_-"). Saw cfred, mightyjoe & dasher all going strong. Shortly after met DO who told us that there is cold 100+ waiting for us near the toilet, courtesy of Tekko. Also met Teelee, DR, Jamesoh and many more. They all looked so fresh ... amazing!

We passed Tekko and decided to catch up with him on our return leg and slowly prodded and saw Mrs Tekko doing her run alone. Waved to her before we carried on til we hit carpark F2, our u-turn point at 14km. We returned to see Tekko doing his one-legged push up (and on his operated leg some more!!! Am really impressed with Tekko, just after a knee operation and here he is out exercising!! And glad that he is looking well too! *thumbs up*). We chatted for a while (too bad by then the 100+ supply had gone out haha - just showed how SLOW we are!), asking how he is before continuing with our journey. THANKS Tekko for providing the 100+ !! I'm always impressed by the altruistic nature of many of the sgrunners !! *2 thumbs up* Something I have to learn! :)

Met Doraemon_Red & tktan along the return leg of the "Demoralising Stretch". She was running with tktan and he was feeling the strain and was falling behind. They were doing the long distance of about 34km, and even took the detour *faintz*. Roentgen & I continued with our run/walk while Doraemon_red ran ahead, stopping periodically to wait for tktan. While I was running, saw these 2 cyclists passed me and caught a glance of the female rider and was trying to place her when the other cyclist called out to me as he passed "Kickjazz"!!! I recognised the voice immediately as that of Mythos and the lady cyclist as Jennifery, Mythos training partner. Was very happy to see them and later on I managed to see them twice more as they did loops along the demoralising road, even waved to them happily. I dunno why, but it just feels so good to bump into the sgrunners ... everyone is out doing their training on a sunday morning and the doing what we like and having fun is just such a warm feeling :)

We completed the last few km of the run, playing catch up with Doraemon_red whenever she stopped to wait for tktan, then later have her whizzed past us and then the cycle continued until one part she was ahead and warned us about a snake up ahead. We saw one malay man using his fishing rod with the snake (not sure what he was doing though) and the other malay man looked on. Turned out the snake was a cobra. Not sure what the malay man with the fishing rod was doing, but I would hope he was trying to catch it and keep it in captive because having a cobra lurking in the grass is REALLY dangerous considering there are people camping there etc. :(

I was really surprised to see all the runners still at the start point when we returned 3hrs 38mins later, 28km after. Thought they would have all showered, tng chu kiao kah liao :P
Finally had a taste of the heavenly barley from Brokie. It was frozen and so it tasted like ice blended barley. Extremely refreshing after such a long run!!! THANKS Brokie!! Also thanks to (I think Ultraman) for the 100+! I saw him carry the carton of 100+ from his car so I figured he supplied them ? Doraemon_Red came with jellies for us and its yummy! Texture is just right! Just the right softness & chewiness .... super nice!!! Thanks Doraemon_Red!!

We then showered and walked to the food centre nearby (not exactly nearby when walking under the hot sun! Almost melted!!). Most of them were there to try this very famous and yummy beef noodle and by the time I got to the food centre, Run3 told me they have already placed order with the auntie (although the shop is not opened yet!!!) *eyes almost pop out* Cfred queued up for the famous chicken chop hor fun and he gallantly offered to help me buy (THANKS Cfred!) the ipoh hor fun. Was seated with Dasher, Run3, Ripley & ACLeong. Had a good time talking to them, especially had fun with Run3 teasing Dasher, the vainpot :P THANKS to Roentgen who got me an ice cheng tng! Wow, seldom see cheng tng in such a HUGE bowl and lots of liao ... got lots of sweet potato and the little white and black jellos ... yumz yumz!!!

After that its home to snoozeeee ...

Am really happy that I joined this run and get to catch up with many of the runners that I don't normally get to see. I have to really thank Roentgen for

• jio-ing me for this run
• teaching me the run/walk technique
• accompanying me for the duration of the run although me so slow!
• sharing power gel with me to get me accustomed to take power gel for long runs
• sharing isotonic drinks with me (ok, almost forcing me to take it) to replenish the loss of salt in my body - I prefer plain water which is not good for long runs as I may, according to lokun, become siao ding dong if i dun replenish my salt intake

Thanks so much, Roentgen!!! *bow low low*