Head Over Heels

The last (?) of the team event for this year - the Head Over Heels Couples Run 2009 at East Coast Park. We took part in it last year and enjoyed it so came back for a second round.

There was about 200 couples or so who signed up for this run to commemorate the sanctity of marriage. Of course, non-married couples were allowed to sign up as well although in the rules and regulations on their website, there was this qualification: "In accordance to the Ministry of Community Youth and Sports (MCYS) regulations, this event is strictly for heterosexual couples." Well I supposed time has change and event organiser now has to set out this type of rules from the outset otherwise....

Anyway back to the race. Unlike last year, there were only a few recognisable faces like Mr & Mrs IMD and their brother/sister in law who came down all the way from KL to support this event [bravo!]; Acidburn/partner and Jeremy/partner. Up and rising Sumiko Tan also took part (this time with a different partner from the one in the Suburban Run) and their team came in strongly to finish 2nd. [Clap hand].

This time round and to make sure that our last team event for the year went off without any hiccup [read sour face], I let her lead the pace and just followed a few steps behind. Unlike last year where there were many strong teams, the field this year was not as strong and at the u-turn point at the jetty after the sailing club, I counted only 11 couples in front of us. Running at a constant pace and stopping for drink at every drink station (there were 3), I think eventually we managed to finish within the first 10. Unfortunately, only prizes for top 3 :(

But nevermind, we enjoyed the run. At the end, the couples were encouraged to finish together so most hold hands, some carry their partners every which way - wedding style; piggy back and one even high up on the shoulder!

Unfortunately for one couple, he stumbled and dropped his poor partner and both were left with cuts and bruises. Who said love is not dangerous?

The event was well organised. Despite it being such a short distance, there were 3 water points, plenty of marshals and with not that many participants, the route was a joy to run on without having to squeeze past other runners. At the end, there were games, a sharing by Melody and Randall, Mediacorp artistes and of course a goodie bag.

Note: Above photos by IMD.

There was only 1 goodie bag for each couple but look at it:

Bulging with

2 bottle of water, 1 bottle of H20, 1 packet of sweet, countless satchets of toiletries samples; 1 bottle of shampoo, 1 bottle of eye rinse, 3 lipsticks, 3 pack of tissues, 3 magazines, 3 don't know what beauty stuff (wonder why everything come in 3?) and more but it is absolutely the biggest goodie bag I ever seen.

At the end, some couples (including us) were interviewed by the organiser on video and one of the question was "Will we be back next year?". The answer of course was "You bet!"