REAL Run 2011

Went for the yearly REAL Run that I REALly like, ha ha pun intended ... Held at the same place at Changi, this year they scraped the 15K category and added in the 21K category which suited me just fine as I really wanted to do a long run. As usual I bought the bus ticket which cost $3 for the bus ride to the start point. The bus pick up time was 4.45am, so I was up around 3.30am to get myself ready and took the walk to the pick up point which was about 10 minutes away from my place. Arrived at the Changi Exhibition Centre, dump my bag at the bag deposit which still cost $1 and this is the only bag deposit I hae ever used as it is in a building so away from the elements, did my warm ups and was already for the 6.30am start.

We were flagged off on time all 3000 of us, th 10K run had abotu 7000 participants, hit the trail, surprisingly I felt good. I was running slow as I wanted to maintain a nice comfrotable full marathon pace. Did the 10k in 1hr 15min which was cmfortable for me, the trick was to maintain that pace and I knew the ending the last 2 or 3 kilometers were killers as its on an open road with the sun beating down on you. But by the 14K I started to cramp a little and the beach was coming up so I ease up. Just as you entered the beach there was a medical tentage and I guess the medic's there had a lot of free time as they made 'ice-packs' from rubber gloves and handed them out. It was really refreshing as I ran along the beach maybe that help me to at least run 3/4 of the beach and walk the last bits. The beach run was longer this year and hot as hell. Out of the beach top up water and it was the final stretch towards the finishing line in the hot sun. Just as I started the long trek in, muscle cramp started, don't know why but again same spot as I got my cramps last year. It was the entrance area just along the up slope. Maybe that is why. Anyway jog/walk the rest of the way in, just managed to complete it in under 3hrs. The first thing about the race that struck me was for the 21K runners I think they are mostly people who run alot and have water point discipline as I call it. At the water points and mainly after the water points you don't see many paper cups thrown all over the place, they are all thrown at the side of the road so you don't have to run through mountains of used cups. However once the route merges with the 10K runners you see cups all over the route. The other thing was 3000 runners was a very comfortable number not a very crowded race until you meet up with the 10K runners that is.

Next run would be the Full Marathon as I have to skip the Newton 30K as it clashes with my holiday plans. On a side note don't ever go down to MacRitchie on a holiday as it's Jam Pack with people, the car park was full and there were 20 cars at least waiting to get in. I think it's due to the completio of the renovation works now the park has better amenities..