Animiles Run on 24 Mar`07 (Sat)

Had been ages since we last joined the Animiles @ LPR. Decided to join DR, DO, Bug, cheow, fennel & swoop for an early morning run to touch the zoo gate. Was held up by the traffic lights and arrived @ 5am. The group started off first while tktan n me did our warm up stretch. We skipped the windy OUTR to avoid straining my knees n ankles. However, the path on the road was swarmed with insects n we had to run on the road! Original plan was to do an 8km extension after touching the zoo gate. But we changed plan to do the extension first as high chance we would be tired and skip that.

It was quiet along Sembawang Road -- tktan was leading ahead. U-turned @ Gambas Ave and then turned left at Mandai Rd to the zoo. Saw fennel on her way back (she did 19km) and she happily waved to us. As we passed UPR, crossed path with bug, swoop, DR, DO, SC5 and cheow -- they had touched the zoo gate n on their way back. Finally we touched the zoo gate and took a break to refill our camelbak. It was day break when we made our way back to LPR. Detour to Seletar Reservoir -- tktan was feeling hip pain but pressed on for the next 6km. My knee pain came on along Upper Thomson Rd -- had to stop a couple of time to stretch. I thot the end was near when I saw traffic light -- false alarm and I juz continued dejectedly. Finally, reached cassurina and flew down the final 1km to LPR. Saw sassyrunner n teelee (looking shwee on their bikes) -- their cheer spurred me to sprint to the end point. Yeah, completed the 32km run in 2h 59min!

The group had left for breakfast and we took our time to cool down, stretch and change. On our way to the hawker centre, we met fennel and swoop -- they joined us for 2nd round of breakfast. Nice to catch up with them -- been ages since we last met!

P.S. Did not feel too good for this long run. Usually, was able to run faster and less tired in the early morning. But this time, felt tired early in the run. Maybe not use to the slopes since we had been running mostly flat. Will do some small hill run next week to strength the quad. Uh oh, tktan still bugged by hip pain and my knee pain still persistant :(

Distance : 32km
Time : 2h 59min
Avg pace : 5:36min/km