Yellow Ribbon

Today marks another day where I joined and participated in a running event. Collecting my second medal of the year.
To admit, I was kind of reluctant to run this morning. Firstly, I haven't been training for the run like at all. Second, I haven't ran in a month (or more) not since my Bumpy ran with me. Third, it's so early in the morning and my bed loves me too much to let me go. Hahah.
But well, it's a race I paid for, kind of not worth it if I didn't run in the end, even if I didn't really do well for it.

So up in the morning I got up (still very reluctantly), changed and got out to meet my friends to go together. The event provided free shuttle bus services from Singapore Expo which was really awesome. And that's where we parked as well. Getting there was no issue and eventually we hopped onto the bus, and were on our way to the starting point.
But first, baggage drop. I had to pack a change of clothes, slippers and towel. Standard packing for running.
They had trucks ready for the baggage drop off, and they provided big plastic bags for you to place your belongings inside and secure it with a band.

Kitty's caption: What are these people wearing yellow for?
Probably cats and hair colours the second main things on my mind right now. No hints needed to guess what's the first and last thing on my mind everyday.

The event was well organized, buses picking the runners up from Singapore Expo. Well seen signs to direct runners for their baggage drop off before directing them to the starting point.
Unfortunately, we weren't there as early as we hopped to be, and by the time we were done with baggage and friend going to the washroom, it was about 7.30am then. And the race was starting in about 15 minutes time.
Had to pick up the pace to reach to the starting point and even so when the siren went off, it took us like three minutes before passing the starting line. That's how far we were from the starting point. And with that three minutes lag time, the fastest person could have completed a km already (who knows?)

It was like the best weather to run. Despite other parts of Singapore having heavy rain, at Changi area it was cloudy (with the chance of heavy downpour as well) but it just didn't rain at all even after the race was completed. Though there were some times where the wind was a little chilly and with a sweaty body, it gives the chills.
Good run and venue, though the up and down slopes were pretty horrible. In my mind I was mindfucking myself and saying 'this is why I trained at MacRitchie'. It's kind of like self psycho-ing yourself to complete the race. And also how I know Bumpy wouldn't like it if I give up halfway during the run as well.

It's feel like a scenery run instead. Going back Changi Chapel & Museum, passing by factory and even having policemen cheering you on. Not bad I'll say. Hahah. And just at the last part of the run, we were running beside Changi Prison and the most unexpected is when we turned into the entrance. I was like overwhelmed. Like I'm literally going into prison. That feeling when you went pass the gates and know you're a 'prisoner' for a few hours. And turning the corners, you spot the big field where they have the end point and where everyone is gathering there. Inside I'm telling myself, just a bit more. You can see the finishing line already.

And with every race event, somehow the last km is the one where they mindfuck you the most. Just when you can see the finishing line, they decided to make you run a little longer. I thought it was a simple run to the end, make a U-turn and head back towards the end point. But no, they decided it was better to make another turn (Like straight and turn right, something like a L shape instead) before making a U-turn and running back. It's like that additional 300m that mindfuck you a lot. And quite a number of people didn't expect that and they started to pick up pace not knowing there was a little more before actually picking up the pace for real. Still sadly 'cause I didn't train for this run, I struggled a lot. And the last two km I slowed down my pace. Suffered cramps and it was just bad for me. Legs hurt like crazy while running 'cause there wasn't any proper warm up done.
Bright side, I finished the race though not my desired timing of below an hour. But it was 1.01:29. Just a minute above the hour limit. Hahah. Maybe if I didn't slow down that much at the last part it could be possible.
But hey for someone who didn't train or run for the last month. Spend every weekend pigging out with her boyfr and eating so much dessert. I'll give myself a good pat on the back.

After the race, first and second thing is getting myself an isotonic drink to hydrate and heading to the washroom. Hahah. Bad decision to be heading to the washroom though. I feel light-headed after the run and suddenly sitting down and focusing on something, I feel a bad headache coming up soon.
Thank goodness it wasn't a warm weather else I would definitely suffer a headache next. Yea I think my immune system getting weaker.

Headed off to collect our goodie bag and they give awesome items! Like they even personalized a piece of mooncake with the yellow ribbon stamp on top. Secretly saving that piece from my family to share with Bumpy (Shhhh!).
Collected a lot of can drinks as well. And even grabbed a big cup of water to proper hydrate myself instead of drinking too much isotonic drinks. Water is after all the best ingredient for the body. I was like holding the big cup the whole time, slowly sipping water from time to time.

The organizers even set up a separate tent where they display the route of acceptance. Elaborating how there are different courses that prisoners are able to take up while serving their time. From sport to culinary, you name it. They even have a mock cell to show you how small the cell is, the daily activities of a prisoner and the items they received.

The excited moment of texting my Bumpy to tell him my timing.
Was telling him that I aimed to finish my run before 9am and text him then. Hahah. And he surprised me back with long mushy messages.
We weren't able to play some of the games they had there (SIGH). Did want to spend more time there but time wasn't on my side since I was meeting my family later for lunch. Grouping back with my friends and finding each other, we got a group picture before heading to find the shuttle bus service back to Singapore Expo.

And here me...
Holding the big empty cup which I finally finish after an hour of holding it around.
And needing another cup of water instead.
On the bus ride home, I can really feel my wobbly legs and a bad feeling that I would be sore the whole day and the following day. Hahah. Next run, I better be prepared!

The formation of the Yellow Ribbon before grabbing a picture. And they are all wearing yellow caps as well. Hahah! It's a good run. And it is said that there were about 10k participants that morning running.
Well, sometimes during the run, I would be cursing and swearing that it is a long and tiring route, and why I didn't prepare well for it and also after 5k mark, I started to lose interest in completing the race 'cause it got boring running.
Other times, I wonder why am I torturing myself and joining race events when right now I should be running is to keep fit and for leisure. Not for serious training or anything. Then again, I got to work towards my final and last race event of the year; standard chartered. Wish me lots of luck on that, and hopefully to complete the race below 4.5hours.
Even asked Bumpy if he would like to accompany me to run, so at least I have company the whole route and not be even bored running the race. Probably asked him to meet me at the 21km part and he paced me the remaining journey together.

Life is like a race. At times we are not prepare for it, but we are ready to run it anyway.

One race, two races, three races...

How to start this post.
It's a different feeling each time I register for a race event.
To think that it's only since March that I started running more often, doing more training and pushing myself more. As much as I can't be back at my peak performance, and I doubt I'm barely halfway there, it's still an adrenaline rush to be back on track, to be back running and to be back against time.
But this time, it's a different field.
It's different from training for 400m, 200m and 100m already. It's different from having competition on the track.
Now it's outside, it's pushing out of boundaries.
Since primary school, to secondary school, it's all about racing on the track.
Even in secondary school, we had a few runs at MacRitchie, that was a big challenge already. Imagine then, our longest distance we ever ran is 2.4km. And to run about 3.5km at our yearly cross country event is like WOAHHH.
Yet two years ago when I joined my first race event in Adelaide, and that was a 12km run from city to bay. It was a big step. That's one distance I never thought I would be running, least training for.
It was a good experience though, to be running on the road, with random people cheering for you as you reach towards the finishing line.
And after you cross the line, the first word on your mind is 'FINALLY'. And seeing the timing that you clock and marking your personal best, it's a whole new feeling again.
One hour for 12km. That was my fastest. YET.

Taking the first step to start training is hard, it really is very hard.
Last year my friend asked me out to run with her at MacRitchie with her group of friends on Sunday morning at 7.30am. I went once, after that I never appeared again... Until recently.
I couldn't wake up, or rather I didn't want to wake up early on a Sunday, the only day that I get to sleep in. That day was so precious to me especially when I'm working a 5.5days week. There was just no way I'm sacrificing my sleep to torture myself for a run in the morning.
I do love to run, but I get bored of running easily and not really up much for a challenge again after not running for years.
It's like learning to walk all over again, and this time on my own. There's no coach who is going to yell at you to run faster, there's no friends who will be training with you for every session.
As much as I have the friends who wanted me to join them on Sunday, it's a different terrain. I'm not up for that challenge at all.

After 6 months of bluffing and procrastinating that I would start running again eventually, it finally happened in March.
It first started with Kevin randomly asked if I want to run at Serangoon stadium in the morning.
From one morning, we continued on to about three times a week, and pushing more distance. Adding swimming in, we pushed the boundaries to run and swim. Hell it wasn't easy.
We started adding more people into our running/swimming club.
And once we decided to run outside the stadium instead.
The whole month of March was a struggle to wake up early, and not just waking up early, but waking up early to RUN.
I think along the way, there were a lot of moments that I lost motivation and wonder why am I training again. Why bother going back to train. It's not as though I'm going to compete in any racing events.
But one day, Ashley mentioned about joining marathons. That's when things change.
We found a website showing racing events of the whole year, and started choosing a race to join.
Debated and finally decided on joining the Race Against Cancer.
The thought of joining a first race in Singapore, and I really wanted it to be a meaningful one.

This year just registering for my third race event, I'm excited for it.
I'm wondering how would it be like running on Singapore streets.
The first would be Race Against Cancer at East Coast Park.
The second is Adidas King of The Road at Gardens by The Bay.
The third is Yellow Ribbon at Changi.
All three different locations, all three different experiences.

My primary school teacher always tell us; in a race, we're not racing against our competitors, we are racing against the clock.
Even if we didn't come in the top position, but we beat our personal best. Inside we have already won the race.
The second thing he told us is that it doesn't mean the first person who turn the corner would be the first person passing the line, anything can change along the way.
And third is our moto - To conquer, to overcome and not to yield because only the finest make it through.

Well, we will keep the post about finishing the race in July after I completed my first one.
Till then it's all about training and beating the clock.