Light at the end of the tunnel?

I was at the URA Centre when I saw this exhibition. The first thing that strike me was this long long building model.

My immediate thought was shit, they gonna build buildings over the Green Corridor!

But on closer look, there was these small little signs place.

 Hmmm definitely something interesting here. So I took a closer look at the exhibition.

This is the Skyland for the Future Exhibition that is currently ongoing at the URA Buidling at Maxwell Road. Basically what this is about is building upwards and separating the living area from the "transport area" by building on top of roads and other open spaces. In another word, creating more land/space for the future. Maybe to meet the 6.9m population?

I don't know enough about architecture and buildings to comment more about this vision but I am excited that there is now some sort of official mention of biking/cycling. It will appear that the authorities have accept that there is space in Singapore for cycling and this is the blueprint for the future. Hopefully in a few years time when this pan out, Singapore can really be a cycling city.

So for my cycling friends, look like there is light at the end of the tunnel after all and one day, you might just be able to cycle all the way to work without having to brave the traffic.

Love is in the Air - Swissotel Vertical Marathon

Maybe it is the altitude. Maybe it is what people call the dizzying height of love. But whatever it is, the top of the Swissotel Hotel, seems to bring out the love in people. On Sunday at the Swissotel Vertical Marathon, there were not one but 2 wedding proposals plus many couples getting all lovey dovey up in the sky. One exciting guy didn't even think it was high enough and had to carry his partner on his shoulder to really get the top of the world feeling!

Here are some of the lovebirds

The first wedding proposal

And a lip smacking kiss to seal the pact

The 2nd wedding proposal

Of course must sealed with a kiss

This one a chaste kiss

This one must be a top of the world kiss

No kiss for this couple but they just couldn't get high enough!

Congratulations to the 2 couples and to the others - may your love grow as high as the highest building.

Boi Boi Ger Ger Run 2014

Finally the day of the Boi Boi Ger Ger Run. As expected, the response wasn't that great. Our target was 10 teams of 4, after registration we got 8 teams but on the morning, a number didn't turn up and we only managed to have 5 teams. Still, the show must go on and I think, it went very well.

Here are some photos of the event courtesy of Marcus Lim of Running Shorts

The participants getting to know each other

The team members checking out the locations on their phone after the images went sent to them via Whatsapp.

A team running to their next location. 

One of the team at one of the locations that they have to find

The winning team!

Trail Running Singapore sponsored 4 TRS tees for the lucky draw

And of course the mandatory group photo

At the end, I think despite the small numbers, most enjoy themselves. Post event, there were some lessons learnt like giving more time to create more buzz and not labelling it as a "SDU" type event. That latter probably scare off a lot of potential participants.

In any case, this event would not have been a success if not for the support of the various running friends, Sotong, who was the MC for the day and who also sponsored the 2nd prize and some of the items for the food; Terence, who assisted with the technical part of the registration and organisation; Brokie and the sidekick for helping with the organisation and getting the food and drinks; Tiwazz and Charlotte for their cash sponsorship; Kelly for the sponsorship of the lucky draw prizes and also helping with the planning and organisation and last but not least, Marcus of Running Shots for coming down to take photos.

Will there be another Boi Boi Ger Ger run? That will depends ....

Boi Boi Ger Ger Run 2014 Prequel

Following my post on Stop Running Part 1, a few of us were talking and we decided to put our money where our mouth is and put words into actions so we now have the Boi Boi Ger Ger Run 2 to be held on 25 January at the Botanic Garden. The first Boi Boi Ger Ger Run was in 2006 at the MacRitchie Reservoir.

Let me assured everybody  that this is conceived primarily as a fun event and not so much as a match making effort. The main emphasis is on fun and getting to know other runners better. All too often, during group runs, we run with our own cliques and talk among ourselves and there is little opportunity to interact which is why we have decided to abandon the format of the 1st Boi Boi Ger Ger Run where the 2 groups of runners starts from different direction and meet up in the centre and continue running.                                                                   

This time round, we have decided on a free form "Amazing Race" format where 2 participants of opposite sex are paired up and has to go to 5 checkpoints as well as answer correctly 5 questions about their team mate. Sound simple enough? But unfortunately, the feedback has been that this is a bit intimating and so I guess we will have to tweak the format a bit to get a better response.

Anyway,  for those who are interested to know more details about this fun event, head on over to the Event page on Facebook [click here] for more details and if you are interested to participate, whether alone or with a friend, click on the google doc here to sign up.

Great Eastern Women's Run 2013 - the men have it too!

This year at the Great Eastern Women's Race, I saw a fair number of guys running alongside their wife or girl friends or partners. Later on on Facebook, some ladies was visibly angry at these guys for gatecrashing their party. But I think the guys who ran the GE run obviously don't see it that way. 

These guys who were running are what is known in races as bandit runners. That is, runners who do not register for a race but still run in it. In the West, this is a big no no. But what is the big fuss? Those who bandited will argue? After all, they do not take the drinks, the gels, the banana and there are so few of them they are not likely to cause any obstructions. And beside, most will know enough to run to the side and not cross the finish line. So their argument will be that nobody has suffered an disadvantage because of them. And of course the line that everybody use. It is a public place and everybody can run in these place.

Not true. The other camp will argue. Most bandit runners will still take the drinks. And if everybody think like them and many more turn up, they will be an obstruction. And beside, what if they collapse during the run. The race people will still have to divert resources to them notwithstanding that they are not registered. And it is unfair to those who paid to run......

And so the arguments goes on. I am actually surprised that the GE organiser do not have bandit catchers. I saw the bandit catchers first hand at the previous years' Shape Run and Nike Run and I was pretty impressed at the power of the security although I didn't think they could outrun the bandits:) Maybe next time round I can volunteer to be a bandit catcher. Anybody want to join me?

But seriously, while I think the bandit runners are not correct to run without registering in the race, I think the guys in the GE Race had good reason to do so and that is to support their loved ones. I can understand why they do it since I am always running side by side with the sidekick although I have never bandit a race with her before. My support if they can be counted on as support is to drive her there, take her photo and drive her home. And beside, if I run with her, I will in most cases end up as the pacee and she the pacer.

But back to the bandit pacer. I think there is good reasons for races to have this category. The Malaysia Women Marathon this year had this. The Craze Ultra had this and many oversea Women races actually allows men registration. So if the problem can't be resolved, maybe next year GE, Shape and even the Venus Run might want to create a new category for male pacers. Charge them a fee to run but no freebees except whatever is given to the ladies and no prizes. Then the bandit pacers will have no excuses to be bandit and the organiser - they might as well make a buck from it. After all, if you can't beat em - might as well let them come it and have it too! 

Here come the Garbage Men @ TNF 100 Singapore

It all started with an idea by a friend who got his inspiration from a  race in Hongkong. One thing led to another and yesterday we found ourselves, a group of 6 runners at the start line of this year edition of the TNF Singapore 100. Another 2 started at the Mandai Road checkpoint. Not to race but to do something very different and I hope inspiring enough for the real participants to do their part.

With Marc Pereira from North Face Singapore

Our mission - to literally sweep - not the last runner but to sweep up all the trash  left behind by the runners. When we embarked on this, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. We have ran the trails in the MacRitchie area and Central Catchment area many times and we have seen many of the rubbish left behind by runners and other park users. But I didn't thought it was that bad.

We started off at about 7 a.m. about half an hour after the 25km runners were flagged off. Our objectives was to stay behind the runners and pick up whatever they left behind. Originally we thought of all of us covering the full 50 km route but as we went along, we realised that it would be faster and easier to split ourselves up and cover different sectors. So 2 of the faster runners in the group, Terence and Voon ran ahead towards the Ghim Moh area where they will start the trash picking from there while the rest of us started picking up the trash from the Durian Trail head. Another 2, AC and Osbert had earlier parked themselves at the Mandai end and will start at around 12 noon after the runners had u-turned.

To help us in our task, the organiser had at our request, kindly provided us with litter pickers. Thank goodness for them  otherwise I don't know how we were going to do our jobs. With these mean litter pickers, we need not bend down to pick up the trash, need not dirty our hands too much and most of all, they enabled us to reach the trash that were strewed among the bushes and in the drains. 

Jancy with one of her "catch"using the litter picker. Photo by Nicholas

Sundown Marathon 2013

After a few sleepless nights and days of torture , the day or rather the night dawn? The day of the Sundown Marathon. Heck, I wasn’t even signed up for this shit and I as kancheong as the sidekick. She complains of upset tummy which I think is more like butterflies than real pain. Funny, considering that this is not her first marathon. Maybe it finally sink in that I not gonna be running side by side with her?

Anyway, the kancheong part – just to show how kancheong I was. We drove down to the race site at about 10.40 pm. I got out my camera, my media pass and walked with her to the race site. The plan was while she goes to the race pen, I will go to the front, flash my media pass and take pictures of her (errr - of everybody) at the starting line. We reached the race village and I started fiddling with the settings. Hmmm something wrong. The camera is not working. Open up the battery compartment and shit… where is the battery? Then I remember – it still in the charger……. at home. Oh well, nevermind I have a spare but its in the car at Millennia Walk. So I walked back while the sidekick went ahead. And I reached the car and took out the camera bag and …..no battery! Die. The spare was sitting inside the battery grip which I had conveniently left behind at home to reduce the weight! Sighed…. By this time, it was too late to walk back to the Race site. And I probably can’t spot her even if I did so off I went after sending her a short SMS. 

2 hours later, I am now at Garden by the Bay East somewhere around the 36km mark. I didn’t expect her to reach that fast but a few of us have decided to kaypoh a bit and cheer on the runners here. After all, she had set herself a target of 5 hours which means she will only pass along this way about 4 hours after the start. So I had a long wait. We brought with us some coke, hot drinks and heat rub for our friends who were running.

The first few runners had already passed when we reached. Marcus set up his vantage point to shoot for Running Shots and we started cheering the runners. The front runners were all fixed on the race and most of them probably didn’t even realize we were there. None of them stop for our drinks even though we offered it to them. The next wave of runners came later – those hoping to finish between 4 hours to 5 hours. Some of them stopped when they see us – to chit chat, get a drink but generally they were in a hurry and did not dally too long.

I expected the sidekick to be in this group. I see her "very the up", though she is very short :) During our training runs, she was doing well and averaging about 7+ minutes pace and I expect her to do better during the race. In fact, I was optimistic that she could even do 4.30. But she did not appear. Not even when the 5 hours pacers passed. Which made me more kancheong. Did she cramp up? Did she dit the wall? Was the stomach upset she complained about real after all? But eventually she came into view. She stopped for Brokie's famed honey water before moving off. But her 5 hours target was gone not unless she could run the balance 7km in 40 minutes which I doubt she could - not after running for 4 hours +.

By now the main bulk of runners were coming in hard and fast, oh wait some were not so fast. Quite a number were walking by now and we hit a sweet spot with a lot of them because we had a prized commodity with us - heat rub and water! It seems the water station ahead of us had ran out of water tle and those who were desperate enough, summoned up courage to ask for water from us. There also seem to be no aid station and our heat rub was in hot demand (pun intended). I do hope in our little way we had helped to make the rest of the race easier for those who managed to get the drinks and the heat rub from us before we too ran out.

The sidekick managed to finish in 5 hours 10 minutes. She complained that there were certain sections along Tanjong Rhu where there were bottleneck and passable only 1 or 2 at a time and she had to walk these sections. In addition, some stretches were dark and there were empty gel packets, banana skins, cups and bottles strewed all over and she had to gingerly jog these areas so that she won't slip. Excuses  , excuses.... But I think overall she was quite satisfied with the results considering this is her first night full marathon and she was running this distance alone for the first time too, meaning I was not there to run with her. But then again, I think if I was running, she will probably end up with a 6 hours + timing!

Looking at the runners enduring sleep and tiredness to complete this race, I am glad I am not running. It certainly isn't easy to run against the body clock and the humidity and gruelling distance. On top of that, most runners appears to be very ill prepared to take on the challenge which makes me wonder - why did they do this? For the medal or finisher tee?

Cold Storage Kids Run 2013

There are races for everybody, races for women and obstacles races and there is the Cold Storage Kids Run. The Cold Storage Kids Run is the first race specially for kids and to date it is still the biggest and only dedicated race for children up to 12 years old.

I have been involved in this event since its inception and over the years have seen it innovate to keep ahead of all the other races which have a children component. It added a stroller category a few years ago and this year it added a 3 generation category. 

But in my opinion, the most unique part about the Cold Storage Kids Run is that it is also open to handicapped children. Each year, children from the  Spastic Children Association of Singapore suffering from Cerebral Palsy participates as guest of Singapura Finance. This year, the invitation was extended to children from Katong School and Rainbow Centre as well. The grit and determination on the faces of these children as they struggled to complete the 800m I believe truly touches the heart of everybody there especially those who are parents.

Here are some pictures from the events:

A child completing in the 1600 category

The Singapura Finance Mascot, Phoebe

DJ Jamie Yeo with her daughter

A participant in the Stroller category

Children completing in the Special Needs Category

The volunteer cheering on the last participant of the day

 The Cold Storage Kids Run also raised S$11,000.00 to buy shoes for children in Cambodia.

Certainly, the Cold Storage Kids Run has proven that when it comes to children, this is the best event in the whole of Singapore!

The Orang Asli Trail Run 2013

Kinda got sick of running the same old trails in good old Singapore so when the opportunity came to do a short trail run in Malaysia, I grabbed at the chance never mind that it was going to cost me a few hundred bucks and plenty of time just to get there for a short 10km run. But the thought of running in a new environment was too enticing and after a 8 hours bus ride and a boring day in Kuala Lumpur, I found myself at the start line of the Orang Asli Trail Run with another 17 runners from Trail Running Singapore and runners from the 1st Malaysian Women Marathon and other Malaysian runners.

Unfortunately, it had rained the night before and it was still raining as we listened to the organiser briefing us on the route and safety. Finally, after a delay of almost an hour, we were flagged off. The race director, Karen Loh has promised us a exciting trail route with beautiful scenery and we got that in plentiful burst despite the rain.

We started off running a short stretch along a winding road before we entered the jungle.

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It was easy going initially and mostly flat. We understand the trail was not a natural trail but a route carved out for us by the Orang Asli! I can't imagine the efforts they had gone to just for us. And they had deployed marshals all along the route to ensure that nobody will get lost.

Along the way we ran past all sort of terrain from grass stewed path, to leave covered path to mud path and rivers! There were some buildings along the way, apparently rest stops and shelters used by the Orang Asli.  It was easy going for the first part and we had to cross 3 rivers. From my place at the back and running as sweeper again, I could hear the laughter of the ladies as they waded into the water. Along some stretch of the river crossings, the Orang Asli had even built bridges specially for us to cross although one of the bridge got washed away.

At one crossing, I heard screams coming from the ladies but by the time I reached the scene, the ladies had gone ahead leaving Karen to warn us of "quick sand"! 2 of the ladies had went and sunk knee deep into the "quick sand" and had to be rescued.What drama!

At another crossing there was the more excitement when the Princess (yes, the precious Princess had decided to tag along) discovered her first leech on her foot. Which reminds me never to believe people who tell you the end of the race is only 200 metres away or there are no leeches in the forest. Because there were plenty of leeches all over. Except that I  didn't even get a single bite even though almost everybody had more than one. The leeches are supposed to attached on to the slower runners and me and another Malaysian runner were right at the back walking most of the way and stopping frequently to help the last few runners. He had 18 bites and I had none!

The rain had caused the ground to be extremely wet and certain sections especially the slopes were so slippery that everybody were sliding and crawling all over the ground, never mind the leeches and whatever other creatures there might be. At one of the "small valley" going down slope, everybody was having extreme difficulty in going down and I was no exception. My trail shoe had no grip at all and I was sliding down towards the gully. In desperation and with no branches or roots to hold on, I finally gave up and went down on my bump and gingerly slide down the slope!

And after this down slope, it was up slope all the way. With the wet ground, many of the runners who were not wearing trail shoes had great difficulty climbing up the slope. Andrew and myself had to pull and push the last few runners up the slope. And then we were out on the road!

But after a short run, it was back into the trail and down hill all the way. Again, the slippery ground and the fairly steep gradient made it difficult to run and I walked cautiously not waiting to risk a fall and a long slide down the hill. Then I found a bamboo pole and was happily using it for support. I thought I can catch up for the lost time and move faster and before I knew it, whoosh and I went sliding down! So much for the bamboo!

But the end was in sight when I spied the last river and 3 little kids playing in it. The kids gave each runner a "welcome home shower of blessing" which was really so sweet of them. I also took the opportunity to wash off all the mud from my shoe, legs and tights before crossing the finish line. 

There was a beautiful "medal" handmade I presumed by the Orang Asli which was given to al the participants. More beautiful and much better and useful than the usual metal race medal.

We were also treated to a wonderful feast prepared by the Orang Asli. It was chicken, fish, rice, sweet potatoe and some sort of jungle herb and baked in bamboo and tasted wonderful.

And  despite the wet ground, the sliding and the leeches and having to endure a long 10 hours bus ride back to Singapore and this was really really a wonderful and fun time for everybody in the group. 

And on behalf of the runners from Trail Running Singapore, I would like to thank Karen Loh and the Orang Asli for having us and welcoming us into their village and forest.

About the Orang Asli Trail Run

The Orang Asli Trail Run is an annual not for profit small scale event organised by Karen Loh, race director of Malaysian Women Marathon. Proceeds from the event are given to the Orang Asli to help them to buy fuel to power their generators and vehicles. The Orang Asli are the original people of Malaysia but like in many countries, has been ostracised and outcast and left to fend for themselves.

The race is usually held annually but this year being the inaugural year of the Malaysian Women Marathon, Karen had graciously decided to hold a run just for the first 100 women sign up for the MWM and for us Singaporean. There will be another run to be held after the Malaysian General Elections and those who are interested can contact the organiser directly or Trail Running Singapore directly for further details. 

More photos on my Facebook page here

Real Run 2013 is back at Sentosa!

The Real Run is back at Sentosa! After a break of 7 years, it has moved back to Sentosa, its home ground since it first started 18 years ago. The Real Run has always has a very special place in my heart. Back then when I first started running, it was one of the few races in Singapore and probably the most unique race around. The 10km route on Sentosa covers road, trail and sand was one hell of a race for the average runner and I remember it as the only race where I threw up after completion. That was also the race where I finally get to meet a great bunch of runners from the Sgrunners forum, many of whom has now come to be good friends and frequent running buddies.

The Real Run had to leave Sentosa when construction work started for the Resort World and moved to the Changi Exhibition Centre. Now, it is back at Senotsa, ironically, forced to move due to construction work at the CEC!

Together with friends from Punggol Runners, I was happy to be invited to test run the new route for this year edition of the Real Run. Azman, the Chairman for the Real Run Committee briefed us that he hoped to make this the "toughest" 10km race in Singapore. Certainly with so many races every month in Singapore, making this something special is always going to be tough but to make it the toughest?

I still remember the old route where we started on the road just after the causeway and ran up a steep hill to the satellite station before hitting the beach and the sun and then wrapping it up with a "trail" run. I also remembered how in 2006 I was stuck in heavy traffic and had to watch the runners start the race while still in my car and by the time I managed to find a parking space, the race was already over! 

Venus Run 2013

A race for the ladies. After a hiatus last year, this fun ladies only race organised by the SAA is back. The race at the Marina Barrage and Garden by the East required the ladies to run a short 5km out and back route. Weather was kind to the ladies and I could see the ladies had fun.

To add some spice to the event, Running Shots as the Official Photographer, held a contest for the most creative and outrageous attire and the ladies responded enthusiastically with many of them coming as fairy and angels. I guess it is not in the ladies nature to dress as something evil:)

These are just some of the ladies in fancy attires that I shot.

For more pictures, hop over to facebook/runningshots.sg

Venus Run - Running Shots Photo Contest

2 years ago, the sidekick participated in the first Venus Run at Bedok Reservoir. I was there too and from the expression on all the ladies face, it was an unanimous consensus that they enjoyed the run. Unfortunately, for some reason, it was cancelled last year but it is back this year at a new location, the Marina Barrage. More details can be found here. 

Running Shots has been appointed the official photographer for the Venus Run and in conjunction with this, Running Shots will be holding its first ever photo contest. 

 Ladies, sign up for the race, come dress in your most outrageous, funky, sexy or creative attires. Get 'shot' by Running Shots and be voted our "Princess of the Run" and stand to win one of the 3 prizes on offer.

 

So ladies, this is one race where you can win a prize without having to run too fast and trying to get podium. So quickly sign up now. Registration closes very very soon in face on 28 February 2013. Don't wait any longer!

Kampong Chai Chee Valentine Day Run 2013

Normally I will not sign up for fun run especially if I have to pay for it.  There is really no reason for me to pay to run for fun when I am already doing that every time I put on a pair of running shoes. But then I went and sign up for this Valentine Run organised by Kampong Chai Chee Community Club. The registration fee was $10.00 and the distance, a short 4.3km round the Bedok Reservoir.

 

One thing about these type of grass-root organised event is that the "freebies" are really good. For $10.00 we got a bright fire engine red top, and breakfast of a cake from Polar Cafe, a banana, a pack of Milo and a bottle of mineral water. The ladies also receive a rose upon completion of the run.

 

 

But the truth was, I wasn't there for the "freebies". I was there for a more pragmatic reason. The lucky draw! I took part in the 2010 edition and remembered that the prizes were pretty good. So I reckoned that our chance of walking away with something was pretty good since there wasn't that many participants but plenty of prizes. On top of that, couples get an extra shot at the prizes plus a special draw for 6 set of Epson laser printer. Unfortunately for us though, lady luck deserted us today and we walked away with nothing. One lucky couple walked away with one of the printer and the top draw of an Apple voucher!

 

Oh well, maybe we come back next year and try our luck again.