Bay Run 2007

Well, I completed my 12km run in 1hr 20min. Thanks to the very gradual pace set by Tian Fa, I would otherwise have chong-ed all the way, and got punctured. By yesterday, I was able to keep on running and started walking in between from 8km onwards. At this age, and the lack of training, really what better result could i ask for?

But sadly, a young regular officer collapsed and passed away after completing the 21km run in a remarkable time. From the forum pages i had read, he was a keen runner and had clocked a very impressive result for the Saucony run held last month. As an instructor in the Officer Cadet School, he would likely have been in tip-top fitness and would definitely be not categorised in a high-risk group. We had read so much of unfortunate incidents involving sportsmen and healthy young pple falling while they were exercising.

In the office, there were various opinions heard. Some said that one should know his limit, and one remark din go well to my ears. This fellow had said sth which seemed to imply that those who did were blindly pushing themselves, while he is a smart guy who rather went through RT in order not to cause any harm to himself. It bemused me when he said that he could have passed his IPPT but rather not to do so.

Well, looking at his build and diet, I am suspicious and definitely not of the same chord. To him, I would belong to those "nuts". But at the same time, i despised their altitude. In NS , i pushed myself to clock the best time for 2.4km and one of greatest regret was the failure to go below 9min for my last IPPT while serving the 2 and a half (Too bad it was 9:08). It was the desire to succeed and the camaradarie among the peers that spurred one on. If not for these efforts, i would be just a mediocre fat bump.

Though almost gog full circle again, i had 5 marathon certificates under my belt. Given the current physique and responsibility, it would be impossible for me to pursue those achievements and goals in my heyday. The occasionally 10km run should be fine. There must be some goals for me to train, and in doing so bring the following numbers to be a healthier range - BP, HDL, LDL, and of course, the BMI.

As I am writing, I believe Tian Fa should be arriving in his workplace at States. This chap is really amazing. Less than 24 hours after the run, he boarded the flight to Houston, enroute Tokyo and MSP. He said the long flight would allow his legs to recover.... but anyway, my thigh muscles still ached.

Standard Chartered Marathon - 1/2 Marathon in year end? No thanks...