1st run 2005

Planned route and distance

Actual distance covered

Took the MRT all the way down to the Harbourfront near Sentosa. Wanted to run from there back home in Yishun. I wanted to see how far I can go running in the afternoon.

This time, I'm wearing my Adidas Climacool Adventure shoes, just to have a feel how well it can handle hard ground. Reached the start point, applied some 'Fastum' gel on my knees and calf, but I would later regret this cuz it seems like I'm allergic to it and till now, I'm itching all over and there's rashes everywhere on my body...

Anyway, off I go after applying the gel. This time, I started at quite a quick pace. Passing by Mount Faber and very soon, I hit Bukit Merah Road. From there on, it's all the way along the main road. In no time (about 45 minutes) I passed Queensway Shopping Center.

But from then on, the run took a turn for the worse.

There were construction works going on all along Queensway, and at one point, I had to clear a rather steep slope on the tarmac due the the cement pavement being cordoned off. It was quite dangerous with all the big trucks and buses and I kept looking back to check. By the time I reached the Queensway SCDF camp, I started to feel tired.

From the junction of Queensway Shopping Center all the way down to Adam Road were a few traffic lights which seem to take forever to turn green for me. For the up and down slopes, it was all run-walk run-walk. My pace was getting slower and slower.

Thought I could grab myself a Gatorade or Pocari Sweat at the BP petrol kiosk at Adam Park to replenish the lost salt in my body to prevent cramps, but it was under renovation since SPC has taken over.

By now, my left ankle is complaining non-stop. My running posture began to change as I'm not toeing off correctly, overworking my knee and hip. I tell myself that no matter what, I must at least reach the halfway point, McRitchie Reservoir.

So I run-walk run-walk again all the way to the MR carpark/toilet. Took me 1 hour 40 minutes, about 12km plus. Too slow. Did some cooling down and stretching before applying more of the FASTUM gel on my ankle and knees. And it was at this point in time that I realized my face has rashes appearing all over it.

After a long rest of about 45 minutes, I started brisk walking again for 5 minutes to warm up. I started running again, blocking out the pain of my joints from my mind when suddenly, my left thigh started to have cramps so bad that I had to stop to pop some painkillers/muscle relaxant.

I really wanted to finish what I planned, so I walked to a petrol kiosk opposite Thomson CC to get the Pocari Sweat. But by then, it was too late. Further attempts to start running again brought about spasms of cramps on both legs, the one on the left thigh being the most painful.

In my mind, I was thinking about the feat that ct achieved. The ultra. 52.5km over a period of 12 hours, over much tougher terrain, amazing. Respect!

I called it a day and took a bus home. This is 5km short of my previous run on Christmas morning. Must do better next time.

Gotta get myself some Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate to help repair my joints...