SBR 2008

The pics said it all.

Yup, I finished it. My second SBR (first being in 2006) and my premonition came true. I struggled.
:P



This run is quite unlike my first. I guess in my first SBR, I didn't know what to expect, I was running quite often and the runs were always fun, so I was sorta looking fwd to SBR 2006. I completed the run feeling fresh (albeit breathless but my legs were alright) and enjoying the whole experience.

Come 2008. Somehow I felt apprehensive and by this morning i was a lil anxious.

Very fortunate to have Mr and Mrs IMD picked me up this mrn and we got to the starting point early. Didn't manage to catch any of the rest of the SGRunners gang and so I was alone at the starting point and it was boring. The comperes were not psyching up the group, and the music was just *yawn* ... errr ... I was really expecting a more upbeat atmosphere :P Maybe it was just me

When the horn sounded, everyone just surged fwd as always but thankfully in an orderly manner. I started my own slow pace and everyone just passed me. I kept to my consistent slow pace and let everyone passed. Somehow the feeling was really surreal. Its almost as if I'm in a dream watching myself running and having all the runners passed me by. I dunno why but I had the urge to turn around to see whether I was the last runner. I know it was a silly thought but really that's how I felt.

The run towards ECP was manageable. Bee ran up to say hello. Pleasant surprise! Very happy to see Bee and very nice of her to run over to say Hi. She was still running at a very consistent pace and I tried to keep up with her on and off.

Shortly into ECP, I already started seeing runners on their return leg. Tried to keep a lookout for Teelee but didn't manage to see him. Saw IMD breezed past. Also caught sight of cfred, TLR and realrunner all in good form. Cokiee passed me and gave me a thumbs up to cheer me on. Thanks so much Cokiee for the encouragement! Really appreciate it. :)

I didn't expect the U-turn point in ECP to be that far away and each time I thought the turn was near, I realised that the long train of runners ahead were still meandering further in. The turning point finally came at the 9km mark. The return leg out of ECP was thankfully uneventful and seemed half as long.

By the 17km I was showing signs of strain. The lethargy was kicking in (so soon?!) and somehow my gastric didn't feel right. I wasn't sure whether it was indeed gastric or stitches as I gulped down a cup of water shortly before. I was starting to weaken mentally and shortly after I started to do run walk. The "trail" leading up to the Marina Barrage was a little challenging, perhaps exacerbatd by my increasing lethargy. Anyway, someone gently tapped my arm as I was in my own world struggling - turned out to be one of my uni friend's husband. How he could recognise me from behind after so many years, I do not know. He was trying to make conversation but I was just too tired and could only answer him in between breaths. Shortly after I asked him to go ahead an he trudged along and was soon out of sight.

The rest of the journey was just ... struggling and I finally finished the run in 2hrs 27mins 04secs. Much slower than my first SBR. Ah well ...

I didn't feel very good after the run, was really drained and ears seemed blocked the entire time. I couldn't really hear myself very well. No good.

Anyway, managed to catch the SGRunners and took some group pics. I feel so out of place now in the SGRunners as I know only the handful of them now. Thankfully cfred called out to me as I was searching for the SGrunners people, else I would have missed them.

My calves felt tight after the run. Quite strange since its not as if I have not tried 20km in my LSD. Must be the age :P

Though I said I feel out of place in the SGRunners group, I'm still nonetheless glad to see some familiar faces like Andy, Sotong (Thanks too for the encouragement after my run! I'm still in awe at just how he towers over everyone!), Teelee, Taz, IMD, Brokie, cfred, Charmane, Renoh, Tigger, Ultraman, Bee, TLR, FD, Cokiee, DO, Gentle ...

Special thanks to Mr and Mrs IMD for giving me a lift today! Very very grateful! *BOW*

Thanks also to Teelee. You know what you did :) So THANKS again!

Also to Cokiee. THANKS so much for all the encouraging words last nite on MSN and to cheer me on when you passed me. That really helps, really. :)

And to the many others who didn't scoff at my horrible timing :P

Ok lah, though I bitch so much about how I didn't enjoy the run, I'm just glad that I completed it as targeted.

Very nice number eh ? I should have timed to finish in 2hrs 38mins and 8 secs :P

SCSM 08 ? Errrrrr ..... I better think about it