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.