Runs this week

This week didn't had much "inspiration" to write about my runs. Anyway, decided to condense all my runs this week into one entry. Here goes ...

5 Sep - CBD Run
Knocked off on the dot and able to join the run. Shut suggested during the day about doing an extra loop around Marina South park and I gladly agreed.

Met a few new runners - scottishrunner (a lady who just arrived in SG for a work stint, returning to her home country after the SCSM), stalza (a very tan and fit looking lady), rim (an indian gentlemen whom I didn't get to interact much with).

Finally get to see Andy re-joining us at CBD runs. Poor guy has been soo busy at work, working long hours, weekends and late nights. Andy presented me with my belated birthday present. Wow!! A hand-made cross stitch! With my name and all and cute little beads sewn together to the cross stitch! WOW! Thanks ANDY!! He had been burning many midnight oils just to get it done for me, and I'm very very touched :)

The run was good. Relaxing and slow pace enough for me. Shut, charmane, teelee, bee, cokiee & myself went on the extra loop.

Total distance covered : 12km
Total time taken : 1hrs 10+ mins (i think)

6 Sep - HWA Run
We needed to go to HWA to collect some stuff for the pledge cards distribution so decided to make the trip worthwhile by going for a run after that.

Hence, the committee went to HWA to pick up the stuff and then proceeded to Kovan for an evening run. The run was nice, cool and breezy. We started the run from Kovan, ran past the canal towards hougang, sengkang and back to Kovan. Interestingly, we have a non HSP (Roentgen) leading the run (wahahaha) since DR here is hopeless in directions and cannot lead any run lah :P

Total distance covered: 12km
Total time taken : 1hrs 20+mins (again, can't recall now)

Of course, we ended the run with yummy muay at Kovan with teelee joining us there. Enjoyed the company of the committee! Great run too for a mid-week!
:)

8 Sep - Early Morning Run
Been eating lots and not exercising enough, feeling ultra guilty, planned for an early morning run on Friday. Due to the early night on Thursday, I was awake by 4am. Lazed in bed til close to 5am to wash up and went out for my early morning run.

Air was cool and refreshing. With my ipod plugged in, I headed out for my run at about 5:05am. I decided to run to Compasspoint, to Sengkang or early part of Ponggol and do a u-turn back to my place. As time was a constraint, i decided to run for about 1 hour so that I have sufficient time to get to work without too much of a rush. As the following day would be the Sembawang LSD, I reminded myself to take it slow and easy.

Ran the route up to Compasspoint, the roads were still quiet, so it was easy to run along the roads. I avoided all the ulu roads especially those with big trucks/vans/lorries parked along the roads, and stuck to the main roads with kopitiams or LRT stations. Headed towards Ponggol, passing by some of the areas I ran on Wed evening and basically just enjoying running alone so early in the morning, breathing in the fresh air and just having some quiet time to myself and my music. Was enjoying myself too much that I didn't u-turn back 30 mins into the run. In fact, I only decided to head back 45 mins into the run... picked up my pace slightly towards the end as I knew I was gonna be late if I don't hurry.

Total distance covered: Unknown. However, since I ran for 1hr 20mins, I figured I must have covered about 10km-11km.

Thankfully I was able to get to the office on time ... good run! Although I wouldn't be doing this often, I think I should consider doing this once every say, 2 to 3 weeks. Running so early in the morning does perk me up and make me feel better about myself. Not to mention the morning fresh air should do me good :)

9 Sep - LSD to Sembawang
Will cover this in a separate blog entry here

10 Sep - Botanical Gardens Run
The monthly theme run. I went along in a cab to BG to meet up with the rest of the SGRunners. Wanted to do a run to compensate for the not so optimal run the day before, and also to help with the pledge cards distribution at BG run.

The first to get there before 6:30am. By there there were already people playing basketball at the dark unlit basketball court. Waited for several minutes just stoning there before seeing Roentgen turned into the car stop across the road. Joined Roentgen at his car to tumpang my bag.

Was a pretty big crowd today and met Freddy-a new SGRunner member who also registered to be a HWA runner. Very glad to see familiar faces like angel and bikerchic.

The run was very well planned (well done renoh!!), with 3 routes of varying distances for us to choose from. Before we headed off, renoh briefed us on the routes but as usual, yours truly - the DR, just switched off and just hoped to follow the crowd in front.

A BIG THANK YOU to Roentgen for pacing me and keeping me company for the entire journey. THANKS brother!!! There were slopes very early on in the run, but the run route was nice and brought me to several places (coronation plaza - where I used to hang out coz I stayed near there, sixth avenue-rich man's place, opposite Holland Village -another of my past haunts) where I haven't visited for a while and brings back many memories. We even got to run in the orchard underpass from Shaw towards Tangs and again at Newton MRT (even got to cross the overhead bridge!).

Got to thank renoh for planning this route, and making sure that all of us are ok. Seriously, it really isn't easy organising a run especially for a big group with varying paces. Renoh got to stop several times to ensure the slow runners like me were aware where to go, and then he had to pick up pace again to ensure the front pack knew where they were going. It must be very disruptive to his own run (not to mention super tiring!) but renoh just took it all in his stride and completing the whole distance of a whooping 20+km (with slopes and all) effortlessly. Balasing was also helping renoh out and could see him stopping to ensure we were all ok and know which direction we were headed.
THANKS Renoh & Bala! You both rock!

Total distance covered: 16+km
Total time taken : 2hrs 10 mins