Marina South-Esplanade-ECP Run on 4 Nov`06 (Sat)

After my bad experience of running under hot sun @ Phuket Mountain Beach (the last 3km was flat but I was unable to speed up under the hot melting heat! So frustrating!), wanna tried the Esplanade-ECP run again – added in a 9km loop to Marina South and return to Marina Promenade via Sheares Bridge. Most SgRunners were taking part in the MR 35km Progressive Run and Nike Runaholics 25km Run, so tktan & I ninja-ed for this run. In anticipation of the heat, we put ice in our camelbaks to ensure cool drink along the way – tktan’s brilliant idea and tried & tested @ NUS runs : ) After depositing our barangs @ Suntec’s Planet Fitness, we did warm up stretch and started the run @ 7am. Weather was clear with a grey sky(a bit humid, maybe haze is coming?!) – hmm, missed the blue sky in Phuket. After 2 weeks of not running with my camelback, felt uncomfortable & hot – would take a while to get use to that again. Lead the way to Marina South as tktan was running this route for the first time(minus during previous races). Nice running in the early morning when the CBD was still sleeping and we had the road to ourselves! After we did a loop round the steamboat area, we entered Marina City Park and found the staircase leading to Sheares Bridge – oops sandy patch and sands got into our shoes. tktan was encouraging me as I slowed down on the upslope @ Sheares Bridge – haiz, the run had barely started : ( Took our first break at the traffic light – to clear the sands in my socks & shoes. Time checked @ 9km was 47:51min – hmm, 5:20min/km pace.

From here, tktan was familiar with the route and ran ahead along Marina Promenade and Kallang Riverside Park. Tried to control my pace so as not to run too fast and heat up my body prematurely. Oh, think we crossed path with Animiles runners – VT zoomed passed in the opposite direction @ Marina Promenade and a couple of guys gave me thumb up for good run @ Kallang Riverside Park. tktan would slow down periodically to check whether I need a water break. Tahan till Indoor Stadium (abt 14km) and we took a break to re-fuel with our 1st Gu/Hammer Gel. Then we crossed the bridge to Tanjong Rhu and ran towards Fort Rd. Surprise, we met Sotong who was doing his ninja run @ ECP (he missed his run on Friday). We ran alongside for 3km with tktan leading 100m ahead – Sotong commented that tktan was on “Energizer battery” and could run on and on : ) Our camelbak was almost empty and parted way with Sotong as we took a re-fill break @ toilet after tennis center. Time check @ 19km was 1h 44min – cool, back to 5:30min/km pace. Topped up with 100plus and tktan took his 2nd Gu Gel. Then we continued towards Lagoon Food Centre. Feeling fresh after the break, I followed tktan closely but slowed down when I experienced stitches. Oops, didn’t know that there was Corporate Triathlon held that day -- the path towards National Sailing Centre was closed. We decided to u-turn here – we took a water break and I re-fuel with my 2nd Hammer Gel.

On the return route, we saw many participants and supporters of the triathlon pushing/riding their bikes with barangs to the start point. There were boxes of H2O at the water stations – so tempted to grab a few bottles to re-fill our camelbaks :P By this time, the sun was out in full blast and I felt my body heating up. Thanks to the cool drink from my camelback, my head was kept cool and I maintained my slow pace. Overtook a few runners along the way towards Fort Rd until only tktan was infront. Joined him when he took a splash break at toilet after Big Splash – his CPU(aka head) was heated up and needed to splash cold water to cool down. We pushed on till Fort Road and he took a brief walk break under the Sheares Bridge while waiting for me. I crossed over the road and ran to the traffic junction. Signaled to tktan that I ran ahead first as he would catch up soon (oops, forgot that he cannot see without his specs!). Ran “meltingly” under the hot sun towards Indoor Stadium via Tanjong Rhu – wah, so glad to reach the shade of shelter! Hmm, strange -- tktan was nowhere in sight. After a seemingly long wait, I decided to backtrack to Fort Rd – was relieved to spot him running towards the bridge. Oh dear, he was waiting for me @ the junction! He needed a toilet to cool down his CPU and the nearest toilet was @ the Kallang Sea Sports Centre abt 1km away – we ran there instead of walk. He juz put his head under the tap – could “see steam” coming out! I was already cooled down but tktan was keen to complete the run. So we crossed over Nicoll Highway and ran back to Marina Promonade. Weather was great for the last stretch as the sun was shielded by the clouds. tktan sped ahead while I followed 100m behind. Yes, we did it – completed >32km! Time check @ 33km was 3h 3min – avg pace of 5:34min/km! Slightly off my target but glad that we finished in good form : )

We walked back to Planet Fitness for a good hot shower and attended a yoga class for thorough stretching. It was tktan’s first try @ yoga -- had some laughs over certain poses when the instructor gave him extra pull! Then it was time to reward ourselves with a good lunch – zha jiang mian @ Neil Rd (this was our motivation during the run)! We made it to the restaurant 15min before closing and juz in time for their last order. Without hesitation, we ordered zha jiang mian, hot & sour soup and xiao long bao. We were so hungry that we finished the food within minutes! Thumbs up for the yummy spread – very unqiue Beijing food, especially the xiao long bao’s meat filling that melt in your mouth!


P.S. Before I went for this run, was apprehensive whether I should do 30km+ LD after 1 week of zero mileage and with juz 2 runs during the week. Glad that I went ahead and complete it! Thanks to tktan for the being a “target” – for a change, I was doing the chase :P Sorry to make u wait @ Fort Rd! Hope to condition my body better with more heat runs before SCSM. Oh, need to add in one more re-fuel break -- my stomach was growling at the last stretch @ Marina Promenade!

Route : Start from 1st toilet @ Marina Promenade (under Sheares Bridge) -> Marina South -> Marina City Park -> return to Marina Promenade via Sheares Bridge -> Kallang Water Sports Club -> Kallang Riverside Park -> Cross Sir Arthur Bridge -> Stadium Rd -> Indoor Stadium -> Cross bridge to Tanjong Rhu -> Fort Rd -> East Coast Park -> Lagoon Food Centre and U-turn

Distance : 33km
Time : 3hr 03min
Avg pace : 5:34min/km