With Heat, Will Melt

I feel like i am gonna get sick. It's either the heat or i "gam tio" from the fan blowing at me as i was eating ice cream at Island Creamery just now :P Yum yum...Nutella ice cream is sooo nice.

Serene, Joanne & i started our training at 4.30pm from BT Visitors' Centre. I am usually nestled in the comforts of an air-conditioned office at this time & my trgs are hardly scheduled at such hours. Geez...the weather was reli hot. I'm glad i am not a construction worker. It was a mere 5min walk from the bus stop but that was enough to make me perspire like crazy. Chu joined us today.

Thankfully, most of the bikers were done for the day. We only bumped into 2 bikers at the start. I got tired even before i hit MacR...at the Dairy Farm Quarry stretch. It's not the legs but the body...and perhaps a lot of the mind too. My focus was also bad. Tripped & nearly fell...smtg that hasn't happened for a long time.

Me snacking on Nature Vally Apple Crisp while nua-ing at Dairy Farm

I really look like a hamster eh?

Took 5 at the road leading to MacR. Once we crossed that barricade that starts the trail to MacR, i whined. Serene gotta push me from behind to complete the many upslopes that laid ahead. We took another 5 at ranger station. Somehow, i felt better after that. Maybe i knew the route was easier and there was only 5km left. Was able to run throughout to the end...tho not fast. We finished at slightly under 2 hours at 6.28pm. Joanne, despite nursing a knee injury, was able to come in 2 min behind us.

Been feeling lazy to push...weirdly, for distances more than 10km. On contrary, my timings for short distances got better...as in i am able to keep the past few 5kms at my improved pace. However once i hit beyond 10km, i find it harder to maintain the pace. I tend to want to slip back into my usual comfy pace.

I reckon i just have to endure the "pain" & push my threshold further. Oh ya...i got inspired while watching the Olympics gymnastic comp on the bus. There was this guy who did fancier moves than his opponent but with lesser grace. I thought...better the simple things first. The rest will fall in place :)

Bad Run

It's a hot hot day. Wonder how pple survived running in the Death Valley.

I clocked 2:50 for a 20km this morning...no good *shakes head* We did 2 loops of 10km, from Fort Road toilet to the skating ring after food centre.

My first loop was alrite - took a 30sec-ish water break after BK. Bumped into Hadi & Phoebe, followed by some sgrunners - DO & DR near McDonalds...who were abt to start their run, i tink. I finished the 1st 10km at 1:10. Was 1-2 km away from the guys then...acceptable & expected.

Time to refuel & so i took the Coke gel i bought from Tokyo. Argh, felt my sugar level dipped. Nah, it has nothing to do with the gel, i believe. My sugar level drops every now & then. Yet forgetful me always can't remember to carry sweets for >10km runs, especially on a hot day. Haiz, seems like it takes many sugar-low-bad-runs like MR25 to make me learn my lesson.

Saw Lynette just before McDonalds & she kindly gave me her fuel bottle of Gatorade. It helped to put some sugar back into my body but not long after, i had to stop and walk again. Can't rem how many walks & how long each one lasted. I was zombified. It wasn't very bad as i could still jog a little but some other senses weren't working well . I took a while to recognise Swee Kheng & Alvin when they ran past me.

At last, i was less than a km away to the end. I stopped to walk...again *frowns* Swee Kheng "caught" me as she was running back (with some 100 plus) to check if i was alright. I told her about my situation & she advised me to take iron pills regularly. I dunno how to explain but it'll help my sugar-low issue as well as anaemia.

Then guess who i saw? Lesia! She was so focused that she din see me passed her by. I called out to her & commented that she's very diligent. Well, it's reli encouraging to see non-runners like her hit the road, especially on such a hot day like today! Thumbs up for the effort!

We cooled down, washed up & went to Sushi Tei for lunch. So embarassing...i only brought $17 with me so din have enough to pay...Alvin gotta pick up the tab for me first. Reli paiseh...

It's 3pm now and i'm sleepy. Hitting the sack soon. On a parting note, I have to say that I do feel rather shi**y whenever i ran badly like this. It's not abt the timing but attitude. This being my last long run before AHM, it also affects my confidence to be able to do well for it. Moreover, my PBs are never clocked at home. Oei! (to myself) Can u think positively?!

It's Gonna Be One Busy August

The busy start of my 1st weekend in August seems to bode the same for the rest of the month.

I had a bright and early start on Sat morning. I jokingly told Serene & the rest that i din even have to wake up that early on a working day. The SWET held their Aspiring Mountaineers Program Launch at NLB. The helpers have to be there by 7.45am. GOH was Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. Hmm...i din noe he has got quite a no. of "fans" among the attendees. Anw, he is as congenial in flesh as what he portrays on TV (as a political figure, that is).

The event wrapped up at 12-ish pm. Serene & i proceeded to The North Face Shop to sign up for TNF100. Finally, we decided to take part. It's gonna be my prep race for HKTW. The revised cutoff time of 8 hours, though still challenging, sounded more do-able.

Grabbed a quick bite at Toast Box Citylink before Clarence, Cat & I hit Jack's office for the Nike Human Race briefing. I intentionally skipped signing up for this race to avoid being sardined in the massive turnout of 10,000 runners for a short & hot 10km. But alas... Looks like i still have to face the crowd afterall. From a positive perspective, i'm sure this exposure will come in useful if i have plans to volunteer in overseas events. Nonetheless, only when one gets involved in the execution/ops of such seemingly easy events, one appreciates the bigger pic. You'll then complain less (or nil) when expectations in other smaller areas are not met.

Next on schedule was my poly class gathering at Coffee Club Market Street. It was a small but cosy group with Liheng & wife (Eliss), Zhenjie & wife (Delise), MJ & bf, Shijie, Charlene & me. I really appreciate Liheng's efforts for materializing this gathering. It wasn't easy getting responses from our "busy" classmates. MJ had to leave early for another appt. The guys were pretty shocked at the 6-yr age gap btw her & bf. Honestly, i cannot accept it if it were to happen to me. But again, when love comes, u can't say anything for sure...as long as both are happy. We chatted til the cafe closed for the day.

Reached home 11pm after a 2nd session with June & gang at TCC Novena. I was so tired that i tot i would drop dead as soon as i hit the bed but noooo :( I couldn't sleep til 2am.

Woke up a few hours later for the GE training run. The weather was sweltering hot. I had to clock 10km today (for next Sun's race) hence couldn't run with Charlene & MJ. I was pretty pleased with my timing. Though not fantastic, i hit under my PB despite stopping thrice for drinks :P Of course, i did whined under my breath that i reli hate running 10km. Did some grocery shopping before i went home, dead-beat. Decided to skip the recce at 4pm. I think i needed some rest.

Let's hope next week isn't gonna be so happening...hehehe. Yippee!!! I'm gonna have an additional day off after Sunday. I can have coffee with myself again!