POSTCODE 42195: 31.05.08 ADIDAS SUNDOWN MARATHON 2008

ultra marathon 84km (42 X 2)
final result:
12 hours 30 minutes 15 seconds - men 104th /191 finishers

This race is indeed dreadest marathon ever I took part. No, no, no...not the ultra long distance and but unusually plied routes which including pedestrian bridges, concrete pavements and sandy trails plus undulating terrains. You even got to keep your eyes open throughout darkest hours till next morning to run. Not by chance even few of my Ironman friends said doing ultra is so much tougher than Ironman itself !!

Did not train much except forwarding my last marathon training into this. Plus only two 42km long runs. Going south with one hope - to conquer another uncharted territory after my first full marathon.

This event also mark first anniversary of my running life. Initially wanted to sign up 42km but ended up joining 84km at last minute just for being part of the Singapore's first night ultramarathon plus aiming for invaluable goodies like souvenir towel specially made for ultra-runners and Adidas Response climalite t-shirt with number 84 written on the back. LOL.

the day before...

Departed on Aeroline bus from 1-Utama shopping centre around 8am. Got to meet new friends, namely C-sze, Jaquelin and Alex in the same bus. Met Alex before during training at Bukit Aman early that month. They joined the full-marathon event. Journey down south was indeed smooth. I will come back to travel with them again. After a long queue at customs check point, we split at Harbourfront and I checked-in at New Seven Storey hotel in Bugis around 3pm whereas they went and stay at C-sze's aunty house in Bedok.

After a short rest, went to Athlete's Circle office at Boon Tat Street and collected my race kit around 4pm. Also bought myself Ultimate Direction endurance belt (good for slotting gels without carrying by hand). Met them again about an hour later for to collect theirs and we had dinner at Lau Pa Sat - a huge food court. We splitted and I went to Singapore Post Centre (see below) to shop for few stamps as I am also a stamp collector. Post offices here are open till 9pm on working days.

The stamps that I bought

After stamp shopping, reached Orchard Road at almost 10pm. Sadly, most of the shopping malls along the road are already closed that time. Wish I could skip the post office in first place. Despite after business hours, crowd at both sides of the road are still large till midnight compared to our Star Hill Road back in KL. Nothing else to see but went back to my hotel around 11:30pm to sleep.

race day...

After checking out in the afternoon, went to Tampines by MRT and meet up with Alex and two ladies to follow inside C-sze uncle's car to tour around marathon route which we will run coming night. Had lunch with them later and I went back to the hotel to wait for my incoming friends from homeland.

Met Raymond, Tomatoman, Ultraman Yip, and Siok Bee around 4pm after their late lunch. Put my luggage in one of their rooms.

Whilst others chill out prior to full marathon at midnight, Yip and I went to Tampines again by MRT and from there we board a bus to the starting point at Changi Beach Park. By then, it was about 7:45pm. Met our photographer friend Tey and Shine as well. Plus, Tey introduced me to a female runner named Haza - Running Mom. Nothing much to do but preparing my stuff for pit-stop and putting my bag at luggage counter nearby. Did a little bit of warm-up and proceed to starting point.

++++++++++++++++++++

...3...2...1...blast off !!

Race started exactly at 8:30pm.

The first 21km was quite interesting. Running at full-marathon pace. Maybe due to my excitement about this race. First 10km seemed no ending as the road was so straight in parallel with runway at Changi Airport. Plus roaring sound from aircrafts.

For first time ever, I ran side-by-side with departing aircrafts on runway
(and we can never beat them, of course).

After the first-half by making the U-turn at East Coast Park, found out that we have to run across pedestrian bridges, park connectors and housing areas. Reached 30km at the end of Bedok reservoir. Had slight cramp on my right calf whilst climbing uphill at last 2km.

Clocked in first marathon at 4 hours 54 minutes.

Had about half an hour break with bananas and cookies provided at pit stop. Forgotten the ice-cream. Met a runner named Tan Boon Seng and told him that I know him through his blog. We chatted for a while then he left pit stop earlier. No changes even my apparel and shoes (big mistake and I got blisters at my thigh and left ankle at the end of race). Shine caught up with me moment I left the pit stiop.

Second marathon.

At coastlines again, tried to follow Shine's steady pace for first 10km until I can't cope up with his pace and left him ahead. Have to stride and march like soldiers as my whole body start aching. I counted 1 to 10 repeatedly to put rhythm into my legs. I also begin to see the back pack of marathon runners along the route.

After u-turn, saw Tey waved from the oncoming side, meaning about 1km behind me. Got my blister at my left ankle somewhere after crossing the first pedestrian bridge. Reaching Bedok Park, rain started ! Thankfully I wasn't so drenched due to sheltering trees along the route. Saw SG Runners cheering and ask us to go for their shelter, but I insisted on running.

Running across Bedok Reservoir at dawn was breathtaking albeit rain. What more, running on sandy trail alongside. At 30km mark, rain stopped. Nightmare came true when I really hit the wall after passing 40km mark (82km), cramps holding up my right calf. Started walking and running in pain till the end of the race. Worse still, there were few steep slopes to the end.

Managed to run / walk pass some back pack of marathon runners. Started sprinting as I saw the finishing arc.

Finished the race in 12 hours 30 minutes and 15 seconds without any injuries aside blisters and cramps.

post race...

Collected my well deserved finisher t-shirt, medal, water bottle and two bananas. Resting for a while at pit stop, then head back to hotel by 10am and met up with Raymond, Tomatoman and Yip for post-race lunch at Bugis Junction.

Returned to hotel for 2-hour nap before start packing and head Harbourfront for 6.15pm bus. Our friend Alex and two ladies went home 3 hours earlier. Bus departed late 5 minutes. Reached 1 Utama shopping centre around 12 midnight. Had supper at McD The Curve and took cab home later.

I am very pleased with this event overall despite complaints from our running mates except distance markers which are not placed properly. This is the most organised race I joined so far since started running a year ago. Road marshalls are stationed at every few hundred metres ensuring nobody will get lost plus bright and colourful glow sticks to lead the route.

Definitely will come back next year for this. A memorable race not to be missed. Singapore is officially my birthcountry in ultra-running. Signed off till next race in October.