The crazy people at Running Guild decided to organise an ultra marathon. Not just any ultra marathon but a 100 milers. I can't imagine running 100 miles in hot humid Singapore. But apparently, a lot of people can and a few hundred people duly signed up for the various categories including 67 for the 100 miles, and the rest spilt between the 50 miles and the marathon distance.
The race was flagged off from MacRitchie Reservoir. Despite the darkness and the lack of transport facilities the participants started turning up from 5 am to run in this aptly named Craze Ulta.
These folks flew in from Philipines just to do this. As if there isn't any ultra there.
The Malaysian contingent was nearly 30 strong if I am not wrong. There were also many other nationalities including another big group from the Indonesia.
Due perhaps to Nparks restriction, the runners were flagged off in waves.
The route took them from MacRitchie Reservoir to Upp Thomson Road, to Mandai, Woodlands, Yishun, Sengkang, Punggol, Pasir Ris and Changi.
Here at Checkpoint 1, a group of runners showing their enthusiasm and high spirit. That would soon disapear when the sun came out in the afternoon when the runners reach the unforgiving hot open Punggol Waterway.
The very first 100miler limped into Checkpoint 8 complaining of knee pain.
At Checkpoint 8 where I was based, the runners got tender loving care from the volunteers there including this guy getting a cold spray from a volunteer
The afternoon heat killed the passion of a lot of runners including this guy. Of the 67 100 milers, about 1/3 failed to make it to the 80km and another 10+ gave up the fight here.
But regardless of what distance they completed, simply being brave enough to start is already an achievement. And to run distances of even 80km in our hot, humid and hard ground? These people must be crazy! but to all these crazy nuts, I salute all of you for your remarkable achievement.
More photos here
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