Running 2009 – year in review

Well decided to do a write up of my running year for 2009. In all this year I signed up for 6 runs, but I had to skip the Passion Run as I was sick on that day and was not feeling well. The other runs I signed up for was the Army Half Marathon/Sheares Bridge run (10k), Nike Run (10K), Yellow Ribbon run (10K), REAL Run (15K) and the StandChart Marathon (Half Marathon). I have to admit this year the great thing was the use of disposable timing chips, all the runs I participated used them except for Nike which used a disposable D-Tag, with the chips you actually could keep them and I collected the 4 that I had.

 

Every run had a slightly different feel to it and each carried its own memories for me. She Army run I guess was the only one which feature the Sheares Bridge, it probably would be better if I had gone for the Half Marathon instead of the 10K. Well next year will definately go for the Half Marathon.

There were 2 runs which had the most innovative starts – The Yellow Ribbon run and the Nike Run. For the Yellow Ribbon run the start had these 2 dummy Prison gates and we had to run through them. But I guess the Nike run beats them all when you run UNDER a band they built the stage right across the running track, not only that the countdown was done by the rock band themselves.Now how cool was that. But the Yellow Ribbon run takes the cake for the most unusual ending point – within Changi Prison itself. Now that is the first time I have ever gotten to see what was behind those barb wire/fence up area.

For terrain it has to be the REAL run since it incoporates a multitude of running surfaces, from bush to road to track to beach to an airplane runway. I really like this run and it was the first time I tried the 15K route. I really enjoyed myself on this one.

The year ended with the season ending Standard Charted Singapore Marathon. It was the furthest that I have ever run in a long time as I entered for the Half Marathon. Again I enjoyed this run. It seems the longer distances I enjoy more than the shorter 10K runs, I am not sure why although it could be due to the slower start or it’s just me always taking a long time to warm up and I only get into the rhythm at the 6/7 km stage. But whatever it is 2009 saw a few first including the Visit to the Prison, running under a Band and doing a Half Marathon.

So what will 2010 bring ? Goal will be to complete the full marathon at then end of 2010 (the Stand Chart event) but along the way I plan to do the REAL run again and the Army Half Marathon hope they will run across the Marina Barrage again. I have already signed up for the Addidas Sunsdown Half Marathon and likely to sign up for another event before that. Of course hopefully more Racing Chips to Collect ha ha ….