NB Real Run

Went for the New Balance Real Run today, woke up at 4.15am (feels like in-camp timing), had a light breakfast and walked over to the pickup point at Toa Payoh (pickup was 5.15am). Took the transport to Changi. On the way the bus passed the SAF Ferry Terminal, I think that's where you would take the ferry to Tekong. Pretty nice setup. Ended at the proposed new site for next year's airshow. Great sea view, so close to Malaysia that I was getting all the welcome messages from the Malaysian mobile networks on my handphone. Bump into an old colleague Suneetha, had a nice quick chat to catch up before we had to prepare for our runs she was running the 15km, and I was with the 10km. Lo and behold bump into David Hendricks, one of the Tankee's from my active unit. We used to run in the Armour Track Team. He was running the 10km as well. Flag off was by President, poor chap had to get up pretty early to be there at 7.30am for the flag off. With the air horn going off it was the start of the run. The start was really tedious and monotonous as we had to run 2+ km on a straight road with no trees for shade. Along the way I was running behind this old man with a white beard and a scarf on his head, he was wearing a t-shirt and the back of it was written in pen 'Happy 16th Birthday', I figured he probably wore his t-shirt upside down as it should have read 'Happy 61st Birthday'. Road run was ok, the trail was cooling as it was shaded. The beach run was horrible, it took a lot out of your knees, I figured I'll just walk this through as much as I could. The return leg running that 2+ km straight road again to the start/finish point was really energy sapping as it was getting hot and there was absolutely no shade whatsoever. As I was running down this straight, there was this indian female runner who came running by BAREFOOT !! Can you imagine running barefoot on a hot road tarmac !! The runway run was disappointing, I think it was only like 300 or 400m of runway. Was disappointed with that. Based on my watch I should have may it under 1 and a half hours, not too bad a time, pretty happy with it. But will wait for my certificate to be posted to me to confirm the final timing. Collected the goodie bag and rested a bit and went home, legs were aching from all that pounding, knees feel like falling apart. Hopefully tomorrow there would not be too much pain or else may have to take leave to recover ha ha ....