lets talk about huge numbers.

to be exact, 42195 metres (which appears more, rather than in kilometres)


That is how, myself and group, made a milestone in life, joining the famous standarded chartered run full marathon, on sunday... and more importantly, finished the entire distance, completed with the medal. We did it.


THE ROUTE

Starting at esplanade, it stretches down the shenton way, u-turning back to marina square, nicoll highway, entire east coast park, and back to town, before ending at padang again.



BEFORE THE START

To reach before flag off at 5.15am, with no buses or train at that time, it is to bunk in at someone else's home. Stayed at GH's, crapping abit here and there, then slept for 3 hours, waking up at usual bedtime, and loading up a cereal rich breakfast.. And out at the night, bit of exploration, board a dont-know-where-is-our-destination taxi, and reached. Unique.



THE FUN BIT

Fast forward to the running itself, and i really love this bit. Under the cooling night/morning breeze, amids the sleeping financial buildings in Shenton, you are already sweating and running with the beat. You dont get such chances often, running in the middle of road which been sealed up, together with thousand others. And indeed, these buildings look best and magificant, when you are in the middle of the road and looking up at them.

Nicoll highway also, where it was still 5 or 6km. Still surrounded by hundreds, some slowed down and some sped on. Now it became a massive road experience, with humans overtaking and changing lane all over. Just like driving, some change lane without checking blindspot, causing sudden stops and etc..Out of no where, you got some guy cutting infront of you or rubbing against you on side... The response to these was so like driving; to head over when changing directions, to give way to faster runners behind, not to hold up the faster path after over taking... what a advance theory revision..

And as commonly heard, just before you enter the east coast park, the professional kenya runners will be exiting it. That guy is amazing quick, and after (his) 30km, doesnt look shaken or whatever at all. And that's only 1hr 36mins, as shown on the pacer car. Feel the crowd (or rather, us running in opposite direction) cheering for him as he sped past. What a spirit.



THE KEEP WALKING

Soon after at around 15 kays, catch up with 2 others, had max out our running energy, so the walk begins. Relaxing it seems at first, especially at the food station, 'cos you will be right-hand-banana, left-hand-100plus, walking down as if it is sunday orchard road. Brisk walking or strolling, commenting about other runners, talking about some topics, answering and making phone calls to others, or simply laming about some ramdom stuff.. That makes up the entire east coast park.


THE TORTURING BIT

Then I realise, the point about marathon is not the running bit, but is rather, how you survive after you stopped running and starts to walk. "How hard can it be, to walk?" , very hard, after you ran, and when you are talking about 6 hours of it.

Eventually tiriness creeps in, muscles starts to complain. You heard the bells and whistles in your body calling out loud, you start to lose contact with legs (they are on auto-pilot, walking without control) and the worse is the journey gets long and dry. East coast park is full of distractions and jokes, but beyond it, it wasnt.

Especially at the most dreadful portion, that was at Kallang stadium and Nicoll highway (again). Nevermind is it long and straight, but it was made up of u-turns...So it really look plain silly when you went back to the same place where you had turned in much earlier.

Sun is doing her work at this point of time, and with the several other strangers dragging alone around, it feels like some lost-in-desert movie. Without the oasis.



THE MOTIVATORS

At 12 km, it was banana. Scared that, as i was told, it runs out of stock for the slower runners, it was such a delighted moment when we can lay our hands on one.

At 32 km, it was banana again. This time round, we are really really hungry, and wornt from the above boring walk. And much slower, so higher risk of stock out. Therefore, the beyound-any-words-that-can-describe type of happiness overwhelmed me when i saw those yellow things are still available from far, and we hurried over to grab two each this time. The girl at counter says "Come come take more, it's free!". I wanted to tell her, "No, it's Priceless."

At 39 km, i landed foot on the portion of the F1 circuit, feeling the difference in the world class tarmac (although raymond couldnt feel anymore things now). Then, at the F1 Pitstop, which was strangely littered with plastic cups, it holds a large collections of all classic Ferraris of all times...thanks to the dealer using the F1 compound to hold it's anniversary showcase. Looking at the cars (Daytona to Enzo) which i had never seen one in real life before, i forgot about all pain and blisters etc, as i stroll alongside. But guess it made me slower, 'coz i was handphone-camera shooting all way. oops.



AND ACROSS THE FINISH LINE

After such extended hours of walking, the real cheer came as you feels the ending point drawing near...as if there was a energy sucking you towards it. When the signs are counting down by metres, and the big sign appears right ahead, the world freezes and the lost legs suddenly had a new found energy, to Run towards it, heart beating fast with the excitment.

And across the finish line, with the final beep from the champion chips,

...at 8hrs 15min 53sec. You can deduce a minute off the time, coz i was still taking photos at the finish sign as i ran.







Once in a life time experience, accomplished. Really delighted.


But next year? 21km will do. Running without the walk is just sweet. ^-^

(more photos HERE)

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