Looking Back

It’s that time of year again where its time to look back at what has happen in the year and where did my resolutions go …… Bad year for resolutions ha ha …

The year started as it ended, with the arrival of the twins back home from the hospital. The household definitely got crowded this year, we had a helper in for the babies and then it was the confinement nanny for 1 month. The first quarter was pretty hectic mainly around the kids. Getting their baptism done, 1st month celebration, doctor’s appointments and check ups, grocery shopping for baby food and diapers. Second quarter was mainly on the mom, the missus went back to work, and she got baptised as well, that was another celebration event. The 3rd quarter was when we decided we needed a little more help and got another helper. It was also the time where I rented a little box shop to put my trading cards up for sale. The 4th quarter was again the preparation for the kids first birthday and more visits to the doctors and I ran my first Marathon. So that was the year in summary for me.

Resolution wise not a good year of the 5 I think this year only hit 2 targets.
1) Baptism of the twins well that was pretty quick and necessary so we got that done.
2) Ran the Marathon and complete it well I finally got the courage to run one and completed it although not the best of timings I had hope for.
3), 4) and 5) on my Cataloging, Gaming and Toys …. well I think it looks like I have to go for another year of it.

Off to enjoy the final last few hours of the year … HAPPY NEW YEAR

TRON

Got to watch probably the last movie for the year for me. TRON Legacy, a movie I did not want to miss. I had watch the original TRON movie way way way back in the 80s and I had loved that movie, as a kid it was one of my all time favourites, together with the Star Wars movies. The Light Bikes were really awesome then and they still are now. That was like one of the defining moments of the original TRON movie. So what's in store for 2011 looks like more comic related movies are coming out including Thor (6 May), X-Men First Class (3 June), Green Lantern (17 June) and Captain America (22 July -- why this not on the 4th of July week beats me). The final chapter of Harry Potter (15 July) is another movie I look forward to since I saw the first one and there are bound to be cinema's that will show the full part 1 & 2 together again. There is also the following which I am looking forward to Pirates of the Carribean : On Stranger Tides (May 20), Kungfu Panda 2 (May 27) and Transformers : Dark of the Moon (July 1)

Boxing Day

Has been a busy few days. A little late but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone

The kids first real Christmas home and they did enjoy themselves although they did not know what was really happening. They just love getting the presents …. well I think they like the wrappings more than the gifts themselves. Forgo Christmas Eve mass this year and went on Christmas Day instead. Kids stayed up late .. for once .. but got them home before 10pm to get them into bed. (They usually sleep at 8pm)

The thing about the presents was strangely and probably a good thing, No twiney type of presents ha ha … they each got different gifts guess it gets a little difficult for family and friends to get them matching stuff when they are a boy and girl.

Well I need some rest now. Time to get back to bed for a bit before they wake up from their nap.

We Are One

Recently celebrated the twins turning one. Had a small little party for family and some friends.We got the Sesame Street cake from Patisserie, catering from Lavish Dine and Studio shots from Studio Loft. I had a photo for each of their first 12 months which with some photoshop touch up, A4 printing and lamination came out quite well and it was displayed on the walk for everyone to see their 12 months journey. The missus wanted to have a family dress code so new clothes and shoes were bought for the kids and Daddy and Mummy had to follow quit with matching outfits. Took too many photos to put them all up so here are just a very very small few.

 

Sesame Street

Went with the kids to catch the Sesame Street play at Plaza Singapura as they like Elmo. However the boy was more interested in sleeping. I guess he was tired out that day. However my little girl was total engross with the show and she definitely loved it. The show was short just 15 minutes only. But still I think she was excited to see Elmo.

STGCC

Singapore Toy Game Comic Convention – STGCC was held recently at the Suntec Convention centre. It was a paid entry but I had joined a tournament and it gave out free tickets to the event. I total stunk at the tourney but I guess the important thing was to get in and look around. There were a lot of stuff to see, in the end I got some toys and a few comics which were autographed by the writers and artist. A lot of anima and manga characters were about I guess the best looking ones were these 2 below.

So many things to see and so little time. The exhibit that I really love was the Star Wars 501st which were there in full force (pun intended) they even had a baby in ewok costume !! You could take photos with them. At their booth they also had this awesome display. A Hoth battle lego recreation and the Rebel Hoth Base with toys. they were totally so cool !!

There was this life size Simpson family as well which I though was cool.

Post Ponderings

The Marathon was a real experience. There were a few moments to savour. Here’s some of my thoughts on the run.

Banana
One of the things I learn from the race was that I finally learned how to eat and run. When I had picked up my banana at the banana station, I actually could run and eat at the same time. It was a first for me. ha ha ….

Deep Heat Rubs
I also realised that Deep Heat rubs were the way to go as it helps with the cramps and keep the muscles loose, but along the route I only used my left hand to apply the rub as I wanted to keep my right free to wipe the sweat off my face. Did not want to accidentally sting my eye if I had rub my face with it. Had to use the water to wash it off but what I could not understand about the Deep Heat rubs was people who actually were rubbing their legs like the cream was some sun-tan oil they practically had white legs after that. Don’t get it that they actually used so much !!!

Cap
I might just run with a cap the next time as the heat of the sub was really scorching how hot was it well I got a T-Shirt tan running in the heat. It was really bad !!


Gel
The body gel that I used really worked wonders I had no chaffing or abrasions. I even put some on my toes. I had applied it generously this round and I think the after the experience last year where I got abrasions on my body the money spent on the gel was well worth it.

Water Points
Wow the water points near the end were not so much water points but “paper mud points“ as at the later stages people really needed to hydrate and would stop and drink and throw the cups around and also they would pour water over their arms and head as it was hot. Soon the entire area was just a mess of soggy paper !!, Got my socks wet there as well with all the water people were splashing around.

Massages
I think it’s a good idea to have a massage at the end of your run or at least a day after. The Hotel where we stayed was fully book and I could only get a massage (paid for by my missus as a gift for completing the run) on the next day and I think it helps with the recovery.
So those were my thoughts on the run and at the end I guess my pride and joy was to get the finisher’s T-Shirt. YEAH !!!

SCM Singapore

Well it’s that time of the year again, I had signed up for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) this is my 3rd year and after trying the 10K and the Half the last 2 years, it was time for me to tackle the FULL Marathon, all 42.195KM of it. I had collected my bib number 2 weeks ago and here’s a picture of it with the race route.

This year it would be a kind of stay-cation holiday for the family. We checked into Westin Stamford and got 3 rooms for 2 nights, I figured I would be too tired to check out on the same day. The hotel was fully booked, as we were checking in there were at least 3 other groups checking in who were there for the race. Got a nice high floor and one which overlooked the Padang and the day before the race could see that they had set up everything and were putting the finishing touches to the area.

It was 3am when I woke up, did my pre-run checks, got all my gear checked took my breakfast, got my isotonic drink and the most important part was to gel down my body to prevent chaffing and blisters. This year they had a novel idea where the races started at different timings and routes, the Full started in Orchard Road, the Half at Sentosa and the rest were at the Padang. So I took a slow walk to Orchard Road and there were many people heading that way as well. Seems the hotels around the Padang were fully booked too.

There was a party atmosphere at Orchard. By the time I got there it was almost 4.15am and the race was starting at 5am. Just enough time for a quick warm up and I was ready for the start. The race flagged off at  5am sharp and there was a LOT of people there. 20,000 runners from what was reported. It took me about 2 to 3 minutes before I even got to the start line and then it was off down Orchard Road, it was a bit tight as they did not full closed the entire road just 3 lanes and it was an experience running down Orchard under the Christmas Lights. We turn off into the Chinatown area and that was where it got really tight as it became 2 lane, Ran through the business district and back to the Padang area and up on Nicoll Highway which was better as it opened up I enjoyed running that bit. The 10K mark came up and from the results that were posted after the race I was going at 7min 36 sec per km pace, a little fast I think but still under 8 mins. or about 1 hr 20 min for that 10K.

The East Coast Park run was a long long long straight run before we turn back and headed down the same long long long straight again. The turn was also where the half way point was and by that time I had slowed down to 7min 59sec per km pace basically still managed to hold around 1 hr 20 mins. The 23km mark was tough as could feel my legs were cramping but luckily there were those deep heat stations along the way and I basically used as much as I could along with the water stations and the banana stations and the energy gel stations. The 30k mark was around the Marina Golf course, I had slowed to 9min 40 sec per km pace which was about 1 hr 30 min.

The last 10k stretch was a real killer, it was at the Marina Golf Course and the Marina Barrage and then onto the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and down to the Marina promenade before heading to the Padang. ABSOLUTELY shadeless !! The heat of the day really got to you and there were a few casualties as at least 3 ambulances were racing around the course at that point. I had slowed to a 2 minute run, 10 minute walk pace. It was absolutely HOT HOT HOT !!! Most people walked as well and by the time we hit Benjamin sheares bridge practically everyone was walking up except for a few brave souls who still tried to jog up (less than 10 people I think were running up while I was there) In the end I was managing a 10 min 3 sec pace which was about 2 hrs to complete that last stretch.

At the end it was really exhausting and it was really tough just to job over the finishing line. But I completed my first Marathon in a Gun time of 6 hrs 16 mins 31 secs. (my chip time was 6 hrs 13 mins 24 secs) I was really pleased that I completed the entire course. Although I walked most of the last 10K. Well more thoughts on the Marathon later.

Pre Marathon

It's just 3 days to the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010. I had signed up for the Full Marathon this year. It will be my first try at it. I have never run a full marathon before (42.124km) In the course of the year the other runs I have attended, when you walk among the runners the conversation usually comes to "are you running in the stan chart marathon this year" most people are as its something on most runners calendar and most try the half and you hear the reason they give for not running full is that they are afraid. I hear that a lot especially at the runs nearer the year end. I too am a little apprehensive if I can actually complete the full distance but I kind of have a plan for the run. It's basically to take it slow at the start and get into a rhythm and hopefully get to the end around the 6 hour mark. Well that's my aim anyway. I will be have certain markers along the way and I am planning to carry some energy gel as well to sustain me over the course.

Plan is to start slow.

- 5 km will be my first marker as it's to say woohooo ... first 5K done.

- 8 km is the next marker as that is where I usually will feel warm up and comfortable.

- 10 km is next to remind me that QUARTER of the distance is over.

- 12 - 15 km will be where I take my 1st Energy Gel

- 21 km the HALF WAY POINT woo hooo

- 22 -25 km will be where I take my 2nd Energy Gel

- 26 km this will be the marker that I have run the longest this year, as I completed a 25k this year.

- 30 km the THREE QUARTER point and this will be the mark where I have run the furthest EVER in my life I did complete a 3/4 marathon something like 20 years ago.

- 32 - 34 km will be where I take my 3rd Energy Gel

- 35 km just 5 more to go .....

- 40 km just 1 more km to go  ......

- 41.124 km FINISH !!!

I will be hitting all the drink stations, banana stations, gel stations and even the heat rub stations. Guess the 3 biggest things I worry about are (i) Cramps (ii) My knees holding out and (iii) Chaffing and Blisters. Well that’s the plan anyways.