Special NUS Hill Run on 27 Nov`06 (Mon)

This run was specially organised for OP(SgRunner residing in Germany) who would like to experience the rolling hills of NUS on his annual home trip. Invited shortlegs, SgRunner residing in Australia, who's back for SCSM, too. Started to pour @ 3pm and the thunderstorm reduced to drizzle @ 5pm. Decided to meet @ KRGH and if rain still persist @ 6.30pm, would call off the run and go carbo-loading instead :) shutehelup was the first to arrive @ KRGH followed by LM. tktan met up with OP @ Clementi and helped to direct MV (shortlegs' fren Mun's van) to KRGH. Wah, largest turnout of NUS Hill Run -- 7 runners in total *cheers* By the time everyone changed into their running attire, the drizzle almost stopped. Oh, OP was decked in all RED -- running top, shorts n socks, minus his running shoes! After warm up, I briefly described the route and warned everyone of the traffic @ Pasir Panjang & be careful of wet ground. We started the run @ a relax pace in the cool evening. OP was running with his camera and taking pictures along the route. It was 7.20pm when we reached Haw Par Villa which closed @ 7pm. We ran up our first hill into Haw Par Villa -- could hear the "yiak yiak" sound of the shoe's traction on the wet ground. Midway, shutehelup and the rest were stopped by the security who informed them that the gate at the top was closed and we were not supposed to run inside. No choice, we had to backtrack to Pasir Panjang Rd and continued on to South Bouna Vista Rd (99-bend road). At the junction with Vigilante Dr, we all took a deep breath before taggling this killer slope. OP was going strong and overtook me @ the 2nd bend -- tktan juz whisked by us! Clap clap to shutehelup, shortlegs & Mun for their first attempt! You gotta come and run this slope for an "unforgettable" experience -- like shutehelup said, "something worth telling your grandchildren abt"!

With the "worst" was over, everyone welcomed the downslope @ Kent Ridge Park. It was too dark to see the pond as we ran round it -- reflection of the building on the water made it looked taller. We climbed up the stairs to Science Hub where we had a toilet and water break. Chit chat with OP as we ran alongside in Sci Park I and pointed out the grand building of Reuters and Sotong's office @ CINTECH. OP said his muscles oledi warmed up and could run faster :) Soon, we reached NUH and NUS Science Faculty -- shutehelup was running beside me and I was telling him how I enjoyed the gentle slopes @ NUS. Hmm, he saw the slope up to University Hall and pointed to me that it was not gentle! Haa haa, I meant gentle compare to the killer slope *cool_grin* We chiong up the slope and wait for the rest at the bus-stop overlooking the track @ SRC. Another downslope and upslope @ the roundabout @ YIH and we were almost done. shutehelup suggested taking a short cut via Central Library -- no no, we gotta do the original route via Clementi Rd. It felt great to dash up the final slope to KRGH! OP's watch registered a total distance of 8.86km (with a little de-tour @ Haw Par Villa). Well done to everyone for a good run! As we cooled down and stretch, ice cold 100plus was passed around -- thanks to LM for the 100plus and tktan for the ice! shutehelup was super hungry after the run, so we chop chop took a quick shower and head over to The Cheese Prata Shop for dinner. OP had roti john with chicken n cheese, shortlegs & shutehelup had prata and tktan & me shared roti john chicken and mushroom prata. Had good laughs over dinner with conversation about shoes, overseas marathons (OP mentioned abt one which serves wine & cheese @ water station!) etc. On our way to the bus-stop, we stopped by the crepe shop and the boss told me the waterchestnut dessert was sold out but he had special cheese cake. No no, I dun eat cheese and turned away disappointed. OP's eyes lit up @ the mentioned of "cheese cake" and bought one @ $2 immediately! His face was all bliss with the first mouthful of cheese cake -- he made the night (instead of day) for the owner (all chef feels happy when their food is being appreciated). The westsiders, OP & shortlegs, followed tktan while the eastsiders, shutehelup n me, took the bus and NEL home.

P.S. It was a relax and fun run -- always enjoy showing the hilly route to new runners :) Beside the great company, it was such a joy to juz run timelessly (didn't start my stopwatch)! Thanks OP for the Erdinger Light -- all the way from Germany! Oh, now we know Germany's oktoberfest is held in September and not October!