After almost one and one half years I have finally decided to add to this blog, if only to discuss my own personal accomplishments. As anyone reading this probably knows, I set my sights on running the Singapore Marathon back in early 2009. (I figured the more people I told the harder it would be to change my mind.) Despite looking in shape due to my continued inability to gain any weight no matter what I eat, I had not exercised regularly in over 15 years and not run a competitive race since a 10K back 1991 while in graduate school. But at the ripe old age of 42 – that put me in the veteran category – I decided to attempt my first marathon.
So back in around February of this year I hit the treadmill for my first run. I think I did about 2.5 miles and did not feel too bad. After a few weeks of running on a treadmill I decided it was time to attempt an outdoor run and so I headed to the track at the kids’ school. I learned very quickly that running in 85 – 90 degree temperatures with 80% humidity is a lot different than running in the AC at the American Club. Move ahead about 10 months, 500 miles, one pair of shoes, some dodged rats and snakes (including what I am pretty sure was a cobra) and a lot of sweat and I was ready to attempt the marathon.
Race day comes early in Singapore to try and beat the heat for at least a few hours. So I was up at 3:30am to get downtown around 4:30am for the scheduled 5:30am start. About 15,000 people start the full marathon with another 35,000 running the half marathon and 10K race – although I use the term run loosely, but more on that later. When the gun sounded the Kenyan’s took off like lightning and were over a mile into the race before I even reached the starting line 6 minutes and 21 seconds later. Having never run with 15,000 other people before, I spent the first 6 miles concentrating on trying not to run over people or get run over while we ran through the streets of downtown Singapore. By mile six, the pack had spread out and I was on my way out of downtown to the East Coast Park where I had done most of my long training runs. I felt really good for the first 20 miles and was under my goal of 10 minutes per mile. Things got a little harder after that as the temperature continued to rise and then at about mile 23 the full marathon runners merged with the other two races that had started at 6:45am and 8:00am. I had heard about this from others who had run the race but did not anticipate a sea of “runners” all walking to the finish – and since a 10K is only 6.2 miles these people could not even run half the race!! So while I am struggling to just put one foot in front of the other, now I have to concentrate on dodging a mass of Singaporean “runners” our for a Sunday stroll. Needless to say I was a little frustrated and ended up walking for about 100 metres three different times as I struggled to find a path through the crowd. Jo Ann was at the finish and snapped the attached pictures which provided me that extra boost to make it to the end.
When it was all said and done I am glad that I did it and think I might attempt one more in a more normal marathon climate – 45 to 50 degrees is ideal – just to see how much easier it is. I will admit that walking was a painful experience the two days following the race, but by day three I felt fine.
Now for the facts:
Net time: 4 hours 31 minutes and 24 seconds
Finish Position: 1,500 out of 14,255
Finish Position among men: 1,318 out of 12,085
Pace: 10 minutes and 21 seconds per mile
Race day temp: Between 80 and 86 with 80% humidity
So back in around February of this year I hit the treadmill for my first run. I think I did about 2.5 miles and did not feel too bad. After a few weeks of running on a treadmill I decided it was time to attempt an outdoor run and so I headed to the track at the kids’ school. I learned very quickly that running in 85 – 90 degree temperatures with 80% humidity is a lot different than running in the AC at the American Club. Move ahead about 10 months, 500 miles, one pair of shoes, some dodged rats and snakes (including what I am pretty sure was a cobra) and a lot of sweat and I was ready to attempt the marathon.
Race day comes early in Singapore to try and beat the heat for at least a few hours. So I was up at 3:30am to get downtown around 4:30am for the scheduled 5:30am start. About 15,000 people start the full marathon with another 35,000 running the half marathon and 10K race – although I use the term run loosely, but more on that later. When the gun sounded the Kenyan’s took off like lightning and were over a mile into the race before I even reached the starting line 6 minutes and 21 seconds later. Having never run with 15,000 other people before, I spent the first 6 miles concentrating on trying not to run over people or get run over while we ran through the streets of downtown Singapore. By mile six, the pack had spread out and I was on my way out of downtown to the East Coast Park where I had done most of my long training runs. I felt really good for the first 20 miles and was under my goal of 10 minutes per mile. Things got a little harder after that as the temperature continued to rise and then at about mile 23 the full marathon runners merged with the other two races that had started at 6:45am and 8:00am. I had heard about this from others who had run the race but did not anticipate a sea of “runners” all walking to the finish – and since a 10K is only 6.2 miles these people could not even run half the race!! So while I am struggling to just put one foot in front of the other, now I have to concentrate on dodging a mass of Singaporean “runners” our for a Sunday stroll. Needless to say I was a little frustrated and ended up walking for about 100 metres three different times as I struggled to find a path through the crowd. Jo Ann was at the finish and snapped the attached pictures which provided me that extra boost to make it to the end.
When it was all said and done I am glad that I did it and think I might attempt one more in a more normal marathon climate – 45 to 50 degrees is ideal – just to see how much easier it is. I will admit that walking was a painful experience the two days following the race, but by day three I felt fine.
Now for the facts:
Net time: 4 hours 31 minutes and 24 seconds
Finish Position: 1,500 out of 14,255
Finish Position among men: 1,318 out of 12,085
Pace: 10 minutes and 21 seconds per mile
Race day temp: Between 80 and 86 with 80% humidity
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