MacRitchie 20km Run

Ring…ring… the bladdy alarm clock screams and OMG is it dawn already? Sigh, another Sunday another early *&^#% run! Still don’t know why I put myself through this torture every Sunday morning? After a quick shower, ate a piece of expired bread (the tag said best by 12 May) with peanut butter, changed and got ready to move off. Oh shit... stomach ache – got to go toilet first. Never happen before on morning run. Bad omen? Already running late. Cosmic smsed – ‘are you on the way?’ Beat 1 red light to pick him up and charged down to MR in 15 minutes. If only can run so fast!

Wah.. MR people mountain people sea! There are some events on. 1 carpark closed. No choice got to park at Westlake Ave and walk over. No time to warm up. Everybody already very kancheong to chiong. Those cannot wait one already started!

The run started at a fast and furious pace with Brokie leading the pack. Me goodnu goodnu followed. Too fast - can die like that. These people rushing to catch train or got monkeys chasing them? Run so fast go where! Slowed down to run with Cosmic and Roengten but still at 5.30 pace. Damn shiong.

Alamak, now got arrows in my right knee. The stupid knee already swollen for few days. Now got pain. Really die. Already smell no smoke from Realrunner, Cheow and the front runners. No choice slowed down some more. This time starts to tailgate Cosmic and Roengten.

Out to Venus Road – the *&^% slopes look damn intimidating. Somemore got to run back same way. Cleared the stupid slopes reached Upp Pierce and stopped for a toilet break. Finished my pack of expired since January Hammergel. Hopefully, won’t LS.

Everybody else has disappeared. I am all along with the monkeys. Turned into air con route and see Taz, Cookies and Alvo running out. Whoa! 2 km behind them. Then Bug (hope he didn’t squash any bug!), Realrunner, Lychee (no longan?), Cheow, Zhiwei flew past. 1km behind them. Finally closer towards the gate, DO, Brokie, Cosmic and Roengten went past. 500m behind them.

Arrggg.. 3 more slopes! Trudged up the slopes. So depressing see everybody ran past. Reached the gate – they said must touch the gate – why ar? maybe blessing can win 4D – so touched the gate and turn round :( more slopes. Stopped at the toilet for a drink break. Hey, DO, Cosmic and Roengten are waiting for Brokie. At last managed to join up with them! Ooops spoke too soon – once they start again, I can only smell smoke. Then walked the slope of SICC with Longan (er I meant Lye Chee). Both of us scare fall into the reservoir!

Reached back Venus Road and everybody seem to have charged ahead. These people really got a lot of power! Must find out what they eat. Maybe spinach? Reached the Ranger station. Surprise – everybody is there. Waited for my turn for a drink at the cooler. Finished and hey where is everybody? Alone again naturally!

Bashed through the landslide – nearly slipped and the knee flared up bad. Ouch! This time really have to run slow slow. Just before the broadwalk, overtook Cosmic who is walking. Found out later the poor guy got blister and sole pain probably from the impact on the different type of ground. Maybe next time we all should wear army boots!

Ran slowly back to the finish line. So many people from the Bank of India. Some Indian ladies wearing saris, 1 in skirt – like that how they going to run? Finish line in sight – a lot of people cheering – for me? No such luck… Some more chase me to one side – cannot cross under their banner! Their grandfather’s road is it?

Stopped the clock at 2:09:46. Still a pretty decent effort. Gave myself a pat on the bum (or is it back?) for a job well done!