Clone Army

I signed up for the Army Bay Run, I collected my number tag and timing chip the week before the run. The run was held on Sunday  24th August. It rained the night before on Saturday big thunder storm. On the morning of the 24th, it had stop raining. I got up early (4.30am which may not be early for some but it's a Sunday) and made my way down to the venue.

I took part in the 10km run considering that the route took us up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, I was a little concern about tackling that uphill climb. The start point was along Esplandae Drive and the Padang was the end point which was also the main reporting area. The nights rain had really made the ground wet and the field was really muddy. Dropped off my bag and prepared for the run. I really liked the baggage area because they actually thought of everything, The bags were sealed in a plastic bag which made it sort of waterproof and keeps out the dirt as well as provides some security. It started to drizzle as I did some warm ups. Oh dear I thought, might need to run in the rain ! Luckily it was a brief drizzle and the skies cleared by the start of the race.

We were flagged off by the Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at 7.30am. The Half Marathoners were flagged off at 6.30am. The start took the runners through the business district before we hit the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, down to Suntec and turn out towards the F1 Pit Complex and U-turn at Lavender before heading back to the Singapore Eye and the Esplanade and finally finish off at the Padang.

It was a really hot and humid day. It was not really comfortable in the beginning, got worst along the way but I finally felt comfortable around the 6km mark and made it back to the finishing line in what I think should be under 1hr 15mins. A good time and I was pleased with it. After the finish, the whole Padang was muddy and the mud was those that could pull your shoes off your feet. The carnival was not too bad just that it was difficult to move around as the ground was muddy. I collected by bag and that was where an ambulance was trying to make it's way through the crowd, in the other direction medics were pushing a man in a trolley towards the ambulance. Both man and ambulance met just at the place where I was to get my bag. (the baggage area was along the road) It was a Caucasian man and he seemed to have passed out his eyeballs were rolled back. They bundled him into the ambulance with his wife and kid in tow and rushed off. Just hope he is ok.

Anyways I did not stay long this round just looked at the stuff they had on offer they even had food at the carnival for the runners, like ice cream, pizza and even Ramly Burgers. By 10am I was home. My shoes were so muddy (see below picture of my muddy shoes) that I took them off before I got into my car and drove back in my socks. Really weird feeling to be driving in your socks only.