Running Sucks

It used to be that when a race is launched, everything is up on the event’s website. But nowadays, almost all events except those in the East Coast Park do not broadcast the race route until the registration is closed Take for example the following races:  U Run 27 February 2011 – Registration dateline is 31 January 2011 and yet the website states for Race Route : More details coming soon……. 2XU 10 April 2011 – Route: to be updated… Run 350 17 April 2011 – Route: coming soon Salomon Tiong Bahru Urban Trail Run 17 April 2011 – Route: The race route will be announced and published at least 2 weeks before the event date Energizer Singapore Night Trail 30 April 2011 – Route: T o be updated… . Sundown Marathon – Race Maps: Coming soon… If I remember correctly, last year it was only the Sundown Marathon that adopted this practice. Subsequently, the SCMS followed. This year, it looks like a lot more has decided to follow the trend. I not too sure why this is so? No approva...

Been searching for a gym since I moved out from the old place. While the gym was small, It was adequate for my need. There was 3 treadmill, 2 bicycle, 1 rower, 1 x-trainer, 1 multi-gym and some dumb bells. Now that I moved out and no longer has access to the gym, I really appreciate the convenience of having one right downstair. So my hunt for a gym begins. Being the kiamseap guy, I will not pay the exorbitant membership fee and monthly fee for one of those atas gym like First, True or California . Since I reckon I will only goes once a week at most, it is not worth it. And what if the gym closes down? Then I discovered that there was a small gym at the CC near my new place. The gym charges a cheapo $2 admission fee very very affordable  and it just 1km away. So I jogged there one evening as a warm up and got my first shock of the evening. At the counter, the girl told me to wait. The gym was full! And so I sat there while my warm up went to waste. Finally after almost 20 minute...

My first Running non-running event of the year. Running because it was a non-competitive charity run and non-running because I was participating not as a runner but as a helper. The Terry Fox Run used to be held regularly in Singapore until a few years back before it changed its name to Run for Cancer. This year the Canadian Association finally decided to reclaim their event. However, with the limited financial resources, it was a small affair with about a 1500 participants. However, the atmosphere was great and I am sure everybody enjoyed the event. There were free coffee (from Starbucks!), free cookies (from Fairmont Hotel), oranges, bananas, water and best of all, it was all free. There was no registration fee. Just a t-shirt purchase price and each dri-fit tee cost only $20.00 for adult and $15.00 for youth. Yes they were that thoughtful to have 2 different sizes. M and me got assigned to the t-shirt selling desk. It was gratifying to see many people just signing up withou...

Another weekend another group run.  This time it is Brokie's Smell Flower Run at the CCAB at Evans Rd and the surrounding Botanic Garden. A very big group of runners turned up. I guess that is the star attraction of RSM Brokie. Cutting through a big field Anyway, with a few of the runners leading the way, we visited the NUS Law Faculty, the Evolution Garden, the Swan Lake, Ridout Road (took a wrong turn) and ended up at a dead end and had to wade through a big field before getting onto Dempsey Hill and then Ridleys Road where everybody jaw dropped at all the big fierce Ferraris at No 2. We passed embassy row before going into Cluny Road and then Tyersall Rd before turning back to Botanic Garden. Some extra 'on' runners did an extra 2km to Dalvy estate. Bravo. Big abandon house at Tyersall Ave We saw big  house, small house, abandon house, embassies, consulates and lots of fast cars. Big house at Ridout Rd Lots of Ferraris I don't know whether I like g...

Some time ago, I was at RL and being the naturally kapo old man, I eavesdrop on the conversation between one of the staff and a customer. This lady customer was trying on a pair of Chot-Pat. She was explaining to the staff that she was doing the SCMS but her knees were swollen and painful and she wanted to use the Chot-Pat so that she can do the SCMS which was just 1 week away. Naturally, I was a bit puzzled. Having used a Chot-pat extensively in the past, I couldn’t figure out how the Chot-Pad could enable her to run on her swollen and painful knees. Recently, I met another runner. He had bad knees and had stopped running. Apparently he had after a recommendation by a friend, bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. And he was now running again! And this seems to be a very common story. People who had some injuries in their legs switched to the VFF and volia, everything is cured! Then there is this runner friend I know who wears an ITB strap and continue to run. Miracle products? Wit...

Green is the color of nature which I love very much. Green is also the color of envy which I really dislike. And green is the primary color of the latest 2 pair of shoes that I bought recently! I am partial to one particular color and almost all my self-paid running shoes come with that particular color but somehow this time round, it seems that I am out of luck with getting the shoe of my choice in the color of my choice. First one was the New Balance MT101 which I got in Hong Kong and which was in a beautiful sparkling green. Now the MT101 was a shoe I been eyeing since I first read about it and so I had to buy it regardless of its color. Then yesterday I went down to the local Saucony distributor to get the Kinvara. In the US, the Kinvara comes in various color combination out of which 2 variations comes in the color that I want so I was all hyped up that surely I will be able to get one here as well.  Imagine my dismay when the friendly guy showed me the luminous shock...

I realise I ran out of energy during my races most of the time. I figure I need more energy. Stamina. Whatever. But I am too lazy to do all the intervals, speed works, lsds to get it. Now in this modern age and time, I am sure there are some stuff that can provide all this without me going through all the tough and long boring runs. Of course, one option is to go get some energy generating drugs from those miracle working doctors and sports trainers in the US. Whatever stuff they are giving to the cyclists and sprinters seem to be working. Problem is, I wouldn’t know how to get hold of them and I don’t think I can afford them either. Then I remember this thing called Phiten necklace. I used to have one. I bought it in Japan where it was first invented. Worn it like twice and then gave it to the toy soft dog. The toy soft dog is dead, gnawed to death by the real dog. The necklace? Probably buried along with the dog or somewhere. But anyway, the Phiten manufacturer claimed that it will...

After a long break, finally managed to get a Eastside Run going. Good start for the new year? The turnout was better than expected. Almost 25 persons turned up including a big group from the CrazyBonkersDeranged Running group. [No offence guys]. We met up at Bedok Reservoir Park and ran to East Coast Park. But everyone was still enjoining the festive holidays and wasn't really in the mood for a long run and nobody took the long route. Some turned back at Kembangan MRT and the rest continuing on to East Coast Park. The runners doing what they do best The obligatory group photo at the end of the run.  What's that behind the runners? Some graffiti? Isn't that a no no here? Find out what it is here .