My first quarter marathon experience

Just came back from Singapore, and Singapore Marathon.

I started my first quarter marathon in my life with 10km women category. Finished at around 1 hour 29 minutes. But according to those who went to last year's marathon they will start count only after I pass the starting line. I was way behind in the long queue before the starting line. So it will be lesser. Hehe. Convincing myself now. Never mind, I will get the record from them soon.

The night before the marathon, I felt my heart beating really fast and my head kept thinking of excuses to not turning up in the marathon. But the nervous feeling disappear right after I passed the starting line the next day. I ran until 5km and felt my legs wobbly. Actually it's all mental. I was doing well before this. Non-stop running. But when I saw the signboard showing 5km (it was the first signboard that stated how far we had gone), I thought to myself "What? Another 5km?". And then my foot instantly went wobbly. lol.

So from then on I started to do the interchange of walking and running. Hehe. Thanks to the organizer and sponsors, they had many drink stations which provide mineral water and 100 plus every 1km or so. It was actually the signboards stating "drink station ahead" which gave me the motivation to fasten my pace and keep running. Haha. And thanks to those first aid stations which unlimitedly provide muscle pain relief cream. I think those drinks and creams are helping in terms of mentality. Coz I felt refreshed after having them. And thanks to Zhuang's Agel energy boost which I brought along.

And some spectators who kept giving firm support with really strong and loud voice really helped. I think "Keep running! You can do it!" is really a great line. Two white men (one was a photographer and another was a passerby) only repeatedly shouting this firmly could already lifted up my spirit. And "You're reaching 5km" dampened my spirit a lot coz it made me calculate the distance and the muscle pain I had to endure before I reach the finishing line.

50 meters before the finishing line, the MC was really supportive and kept pumping up everyone's spirit. I guess it was the motivation from the MC, I gathered up my energy and sped towards the line. What scared me was that right after the line when I started walking slowly I felt like my lungs were collapsing! OMG! Maybe I should not speed 50m before the finishing line? Luckily the pain in the chest slowly disappeared.

I really enjoyed the marathon. The triumph when you finally manage to reach the finishing line is so so so much different from seeing an "A" in your exam paper. It's pretty similar to the triumph feeling I had when I reach the top of Gunung Irau eight months ago. But the crowd and the noise in Irau was not as bombastic. Marathon was like a party. Hehe. ^^

Regardless of the medal and certificate, I also get to know new friends (e.g. Ken, Charles and Michelle), meet up some Monash friends who were also joining the marathon and met some representatives from Monash Australia. The time was too packed to meet up with my hometown friends though. Plus my international roaming for Maxis was not set up (I din know have to set up one. lol.), totally cannot contact everyone when I was in Singapore. lol.



Update: Pictures below! (Taken from Shiang and New's facebook)

Before starting

 The crowd was running towards the finishing line

Me, Shiang, Suk Jiun and a guy whom I dun remember his name.

 Kokum and I

Giant Adidas shoe! With YY...

Girls with medals (from the left: New, YY, me, GP, Ying Hui, Michelle and a girl I dunno her name)

See the white fence behind me? I fantasize these kind of fence in my garden! hehe

Me and Shing Wei

Suntec Foodcourt! Can you believe this is a foodcourt? OMG! I thought it was an old Chinese bookstore.

Christmas is COMING! Awww... I'm so obsessed with christmas decorations!