The headline said it all: "Run faster on Coffee". Reading through the Sunday Times Life section this evening, the headline caught my attention. Experience runners have always warned of the danger of drinking coffee before a run and here was something that ran contrary to the advice.
The article went on to describe the experience of 2 runners and the effect the caffeine in the coffee has on their run. Apparently, what works is that the caffeine increases the power output of muscles by releasing calcium that is stored in the muscle. This enables athletes to keep going longer and faster in the same length of time. Caffeine also affects the brain's sensation of exhaustion so in effect keeping one going longer.
This is the best news ever. So the next time I head out for a run in the morning, I going to give that milo a miss and have my cuppa!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
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!"
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!
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!"
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
MacRitchie and Killer Hills
Have to clear last year's leave so took the day off.
Decided to pop in to MR again. The last time I ran the full loop there was in June last year. My, how time flies. MR has always been a jinx place for me and I approached today run with a little apprehension since I was running alone. What if something sway happen to me again and nobody around to help? Neh.. I wasn't going to let a small little thing like that stop me so .
Reached there around 7.40am. The new car park has been up and running for some time and can park in the shade. Good - no more hot car after run. I was also glad to see the construction of the new plaza in full progress. Hopefully, it will include a toilet with shower facilities.
Went up via the Little Sister way or what is known as the Northern Trail. The ground was a bit wet. Did it rained last night? I remembered my first time running there so many years ago with Uncle Sebas. I was huffing and puffing as I tried to negotiate the rocky trails with it many up and down while he was sprinting away. 4 years later, I am still huffing and puffing my way up the rocky trails. Sighed.. something never change.
Anyway, it was not supposed to be a chiong run - just a remembrance run and I took my time soaking in the peaceful surrounding. There was few walkers (mostly aunties and uncles) and runners (mostly Caucasians) and most time I had the trail all to myself. I enjoyed the solitude run, feeling the cool morning mist around me, with the occasional peek of the sunlight through the trees; listening to the canopy of sound from the cicadas and birds. That is something you won't hear if you run in a group as all you will be doing is concentrating on catching up with the runner in front or not fall too far back.
Out on to Venus Drive, saw a security guard standing guard at the start of what I called 'Killer Hills' and I felt sad that the route is now closed to us runners. This was one of my fave route. I loved to run from Upp Pierce to MR and back challenging myself on the slope. This I rate as my most difficult route even more shiong than Mt Faber! The first time I ran there was also with Uncle Sebas and I had to walk the hill a few times. I don't run there that often nowadays as it is too tough but I do enjoy a good challenge every now and then. Hopefully SICC, PUB can come to some sort of compromise for us runners?
My suggestion for what it is worth is:
Back on to MR, the ground after the wooden walkway was very soggy especially just before the golf course. Damn there goes my shoes as it sucks in the mud. Out of the golf course, the ground gave way to wet clayy surfaces and in order to avoid slipping I cautiously picked my way through even walking through the entire section of the slope just before the fitness corner. Even then with every twist and turn of the foot, my heart jumped waiting for that awful crack sound that will signify my ankle giving way. It came once when I landed on a rather big uneven rock and I yell (heh heh nobody around to be paiseh about) but fortunately in the end emerged from the whole experience without a scratch.
So have I overcome my MR jinx?
Decided to pop in to MR again. The last time I ran the full loop there was in June last year. My, how time flies. MR has always been a jinx place for me and I approached today run with a little apprehension since I was running alone. What if something sway happen to me again and nobody around to help? Neh.. I wasn't going to let a small little thing like that stop me so .
Reached there around 7.40am. The new car park has been up and running for some time and can park in the shade. Good - no more hot car after run. I was also glad to see the construction of the new plaza in full progress. Hopefully, it will include a toilet with shower facilities.
Went up via the Little Sister way or what is known as the Northern Trail. The ground was a bit wet. Did it rained last night? I remembered my first time running there so many years ago with Uncle Sebas. I was huffing and puffing as I tried to negotiate the rocky trails with it many up and down while he was sprinting away. 4 years later, I am still huffing and puffing my way up the rocky trails. Sighed.. something never change.
Anyway, it was not supposed to be a chiong run - just a remembrance run and I took my time soaking in the peaceful surrounding. There was few walkers (mostly aunties and uncles) and runners (mostly Caucasians) and most time I had the trail all to myself. I enjoyed the solitude run, feeling the cool morning mist around me, with the occasional peek of the sunlight through the trees; listening to the canopy of sound from the cicadas and birds. That is something you won't hear if you run in a group as all you will be doing is concentrating on catching up with the runner in front or not fall too far back.
Out on to Venus Drive, saw a security guard standing guard at the start of what I called 'Killer Hills' and I felt sad that the route is now closed to us runners. This was one of my fave route. I loved to run from Upp Pierce to MR and back challenging myself on the slope. This I rate as my most difficult route even more shiong than Mt Faber! The first time I ran there was also with Uncle Sebas and I had to walk the hill a few times. I don't run there that often nowadays as it is too tough but I do enjoy a good challenge every now and then. Hopefully SICC, PUB can come to some sort of compromise for us runners?
My suggestion for what it is worth is:
- Relocate the hole just before the dam so that the golfers tee off after the dam and not before it so that runners are not in the fly zone of the golf balls
- No running on top of the dam. Build a broadwalk on the outer part of the dam at Upp Pierce just above the water level and below the top of the dam for runners to run on. Fit it with a sloping roof just in case any kayu golfer's shot goes astray.
- Construct or just demarcate a path at the end of the dam to Venus Drive skirting the green for runners to run on.
- Finally, along the road itself, clear the vegetation on the side of the road (say about 1 m wide) and let the runners run on it.
Back on to MR, the ground after the wooden walkway was very soggy especially just before the golf course. Damn there goes my shoes as it sucks in the mud. Out of the golf course, the ground gave way to wet clayy surfaces and in order to avoid slipping I cautiously picked my way through even walking through the entire section of the slope just before the fitness corner. Even then with every twist and turn of the foot, my heart jumped waiting for that awful crack sound that will signify my ankle giving way. It came once when I landed on a rather big uneven rock and I yell (heh heh nobody around to be paiseh about) but fortunately in the end emerged from the whole experience without a scratch.
So have I overcome my MR jinx?
Monday, March 23, 2009
ADVENTURE 200 Singapore – 1 Person, 1Metre, 1 Dollar, 1 at a time... is all it takes
Got an email from a friend appealing for donation and support for a guy suffering from a rare genetic disorder Morquio Brailsford Disease, Spinal Sclerosis and blinded on one eye due to Glaucoma but who intends to travel 200km over 3 days (21-23 Apr09) within Singapore on a battery powered wheelchair, covering places like East Coast Park, MacRitchie Nature Reserves, Orchard, Shenton Way, HortParks, South Bouna Vista Rd etc to raise $200,000.00 for the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore (SCAS) to help people with cerebral palsy under their care.
This guy put people like me to shame and deserve my utmost respect.
For more information, to donate or to run alongside him, click here
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