2nd SCSM

My 2nd marathon has passed, like 5 days ago? It felt very different from the 1st one...lotsa energy & simply don't wanna go home. Felt so proud of wearing the finisher tee :P

This one was a journey on my own, with no one beside me. Ran only by myself and for myself.

A week prior, jitters set in. Luckily, i only lost sleep on one nite. The next working day, i was about to email HH & Serene to tell them about it but was overwhelmed with work. The next few weeks, i was distracted by a song - Jay Chou's 青花瓷.

Couldn't remember much about the marathon process as clearly as my first. I'll try my best.
~~~~~~~~
Woke up at 3.30am. I had carbo-loaded the nite before at Pasta Mania Marina Square with June, Joanne, Joyce & HH. Food wasn't nice. Went home early and slept at 8.30ish. Woke up at 12am to pee. Couldn't go back to sleep despite trying to listen to those therapeutic music. Just nice, TCM smsed me his encouragement from Philippines. I later used part of it as my "Reason to Run". He told me i'm stronger than what i think i am and he could see my determination for all the runs. I shifted to the living room to sleep. Managed to doze off after 1.30am.

The weather was a cool breeze. I could hear the wind chijmes ringing. It sounded calming, especially so with the cool wind blowing. No one was walking to the stadium with me...hmmm, no marathoners in my area. The newspapers vendors were at the stadium at that time already. From a distance, i could sight 2 persons clad in running wear walking towards my direction. I waited for them to lead the way to the bus pickup point. While waiting for the bus to arrive (it was late), i took my yam bun (from Crystal Jade-tried and tested during one dawn run with Serene) & milo (2nd one). I brought with me a bottle of mineral water.

The bus dropped us opposite Raffles Hotel. Realizing no one around me wore the "Reason to Run" tag, i felt conscious ans walked quickly. Headed right to the portaloo. Timing was just nice, 5 min before flag-off. I squeezed my way to the front but not so front (official results later showed that i was less than 2 min away from the super-sub maathoners.

A foreigner had this "Faded Glory" on his back. Only he knows what that matters. Not much meaning in mentioning his but no one around me had the tag so...

I paced myself carefully in the beginning. At about 1km mark, someone called out to me - Joseph. He later completed abt less than 4.30. As usual lotsa guys chiong into the bushes for a leak. I reminded myself not to think about the distance. Last year, i got rather tired at Marina South. The U-turn point this year seems nearer. For the 1st 9km, i was running under 7min/km. From 9km onwards, i could not bother to keep track of the time - blame it on my poor Maths :P

Turning into Mountbatten, Josephine overtook me and remarked i was fast. Duh? I told her to run ahead. Finally the East Coast stretch! Lian Seng called out to me and remarked "I'm good". He asked where Joanne was. I reli din know since i came & started alone. Din really want anyone with me...race anxiety...hahah.

Was looking forward to the U-turn point which i tot was at the Food Centre. Nooo, i was so wrong. It's at the white structure (Sunset Bay) this year! Geez, that was at the 26km. I think my inner left knee was having cramps by then. It has never occurred during the run :(

Couldn't stop cos the second i did, it cramped even more. At this point, i only hoped to see HH & Joyce cos they said they will be at the 31 km. Goodness, the 4km seems a little far. It was only after the Powerbar station and many 100m later that i saw them. I took 3 grapes and a can of Red Bull. Asked HH how i should stretch but it seems worse when i did so. Decided to continue before my muscles turn cold.

Finally cleared the 15km at EC. Wanted to use TCM's words to push myself but it hasn't reached that point yet :P

Sighted the 5:30 pacers at Old Airport Road. They were keeping a constant pace which i could follow so i trailed them. But it wasn't easy cos i was tired and the weather was hot (it turned hot at at 8.30am). A lot of people was walking at this point. I lost them for a while after stopping for a drink.

The next person who called out to me was Raymond. Rather surprised to see him. He could hardly talk by then. We ean for about 2km together.

Oh ya. I want to record a proud moment. Before this stretch leading to Kallang Sea Sports Club, everyone was walking the upslope. I was the only one running up!

It was better at 39km this time round. Walked a little but could pep-talk myself to run slowly. At about 41km before turning into Esplanade, i saw the time clock 5:24! I told myself, you can't stop now. Still got hope for 5:30. Altho i felt really tired, i din stop running. Reaching the runway of fame, i couldn't sprint. Some pple burst past me. I just focussed my eyes on the time clock...cannot go above 5:30.

I finished up at 5:30:30. 42.195km all by myself :)Having ran this race with no regrets!