Ridzwan's Runs

Sundown Ultra Marathon 2009

2009-06-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

I took part in the 84km Ultra Marathon in Sundown 2009. It was held on the 30th May 2009 at Changi Point.

0km 30/05/2009 6:47 PM

Fai has decided to stay an overnight vigil by the event venue while I ran. She did tell me that she was extremely worried. I pitched her tent so that she can be accommodated comfortably with ample food, drinks and space to perform prayers. Once ready we went out to the various race venues for several photo opportunities.

My parents too decided to spring a surprise by turning up to see me off from the start line.

Apparently we were at the wrong start line meant for the 10km runners. A group of us scrambled to the real starting line minutes after the gun went off. Oh well, its going to be a long night. A few minutes late should not matter.

1km

Several Malay families who were lounging by the side of the beach decided to fill up cups with orange juice and extended them to the passing runners. The gesture was very sweet indeed but most of us declined as it was barely the start of the race and a sugar drink might upset scheduled toilet breaks.

The night was pleasant with plenty of wind. But the sky was beginning to show signs that it could harbour rain clouds. I was pretty sure that the whole group of runners were silently praying for it not to rain as we made our way out of Changi Park.

3km

We arrived at the stretch of road known as “the great demoraliser” amongst regular runners. This stretch of running track along Changi Coastal Road runs straight and flat for about 8km all the way to East Coast Park. This means that the view ahead of you does not change for about an hour. Psychologically, this is the toughest part of the terrain for plenty of runners.

21km

I have been doing great pace for about 2 hours. But suddenly my right knee was showing signs of acting up.

It finally did at the first pedestrian bridge leading into the Siglap Park Connector. I should have walked up the bridge instead of running. It was barely one quarter into the race and already I was facing a painful affliction. 20 km more to go before the first pit stop and I was limping badly. It was not turning out to be a good night at all.

25km

My knee condition was further aggravated by the running track at Bedok Town Parks and Bedok Reservoir. There were more pedestrian bridges to cross, hilly terrains and worst of all gravel at the reservoir that got into our socks. I was beginning to miss the flat and smooth surface of the Standard Chartered Marathon. The run felt more like a cross-country event. They gave out energy gels and I took a strawberry flavoured one. It tasted like medicine. I should have just stuck to chocolate.

42km 31/05/2009 1:01 AM

It was my first pit stop. I will have to make another loop. Fai kindly laid out all the stuff I needed for the second leg of the race. 2 chocolate bars, an energy bar and some isotonic drink. I didn’t tell her much about my injury as I didn’t want her to worry unnecessarily. She looked worried enough. I told her that I may be completing the race late and that she should pack up the tent at first light.

52km

I clearly remembered this particular water point because as our legs crossed the RFID mat, there was no beep. The volunteers looked like they could not care less. They were sprawled about, some of them sleeping on the ground. When asked if the timing on the mat would actually register, they just shrugged their shoulders. I anticipated that there will be some problems with a lot of runner’s timing later in the day.

60km

My slow running pace has effectively turned into a walk in the night. The pain was becoming unbearable. I did a quick calculation that if I were to continue running at that particular pace the entire night, I will miss the cut-off time of 15 hours. By then everyone that remained running will be “moped-up” by the organiser using the ambulances and other transportations.

That was when I heard a group of runners clapping and cheering behind me. There was a cheerful man leading the group and he gestured to me to join them. I could see that the group was not running well and that some had clear visible injuries. They were obviously banding together for motivation. I decided to jump in, ignore my injury and run with the crowd.

The leader of the pack went by the name of Mohan. With him was a young lady by the name of Debra who kept talking to me through out the race to ensure that I was spirited enough to complete it.

Mohan tried to cheer everyone up but taking lots of photos of us throughout the last kilometres together.

63km

Debra updated the group with some quick calculations. She estimated that we will be reaching the finish line at 14 hours if we continued with our current pace. My heart sank. I never expected my first ultra marathon to be a race against being disqualified. Nevertheless I kept up the pace and ignored all pain to keep in tandem with the speed of the group.

I ran slightly ahead to take a quick break into 7-11 where I stocked up on a Cadbury Boost Chocolate Bar and two Shark energy drinks. It tasted horrible. I never liked energy drinks but I could feel my blood sugar dipping slowly. Hence I pinched my nose and downed two cans.

73km

The night slowly turned into day. Sundown Marathon was fast becoming a Sunrise Marathon. But at least we were making good progress. By that time we reached Tampines Park Connector and some runners from the SGrunners group were giving out coffee to keep us awake. I politely declined as I was worried that coffee might upset my stomach.

Debra and Mohan were relentless in their words of encouragement even at this point. We have been on our feet for the last 12 hours and I needed very single bit of it. Both my feet were numb by then and I took this as a blessing. At least it helped to east the pain I was feeling.

83km

I told Debra to go ahead.

“Are you sure?” was her immediate reply, sounding a little concerned. I reassured her that I was ok and she should dash in to make a good photo finish. She wished me the best of luck and reminded me to meet up at the finishing line. I limped in at a steady pace, reserving the last bit of energy for that final turn.

84km

Right ahead of me was a 42km runner who was strolling in towards the finish line. The Australian announcer called out my name “Here comes Muhammad finishing his 84km Ultra Marathon. Man, you’re crazy!” The clock read 14 hours and 6 minutes. It was a bad time but I was just glad to be completing the race despite my injury.

Several volunteers were seen cheering me on, including Mohan who was ready behind the barricades with his camera. I will never forget the sight that greeted me as I made the final turn towards the finishing gantry. Christian was standing up and giving me the salute. Fai was jumping up and down almost in tears after snapping a picture of me running in. My aunt stood by with a very worried look, shaking her head faintly. She rushed over to give me a bottle of isotonic drink but I was simply out of breath to drink.

Then Debra ran up to me and to my surprise, gave me a big hug.

“You did it!”

We collected our finisher medals and finisher t-shirts together and exchanged numbers, promising to meet up with the rest of the gang one fine day. Fai was quick to run to me.

I learnt from Christian that Vincent crossed the line earlier but was taken out in a stretcher. The news was devastating. We were hoping to take a picture together. Nonetheless Michelle, Christian and I gathered whatever strength we had left and took one for the camera.

Singapore Marathon 2008 Official Results

2008-12-15T19:21:00.000-08:00

The official time and statistics of the Singapore Marathon are out and I have just received my results. Overall my position is just beyond the top 20% of runners who did the full marathon.

OK for a first timer but I will take this as a sign that I can do better. I will train to come in within 4:45 at the Singapore Marathon 2009. I guess the Sundown Marathon will be the perfect testing ground.

See you there.

Singapore Marathon Finisher T-Shirt Anyone?

2008-12-12T19:38:00.001-08:00

It seems that there has been a lot of unhappiness over the collection of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008 finisher t-shirt.

For the past few years, main sponsor Adidas has been giving out a memento in the form of a finisher’s t-shirt to those who complete the 42.195km Marathon.

Ever since I made the resolution to complete a marathon, I have always believed that crossing the finish line in good shape is the best reward by itself. But sure, a gift from the good sponsors in the form of something you could wear with pride will definitely be neat.

But over the years, this little gift has been deemed by some to be an entitlement. So much so that several runners, who arrived too slow at the finish line to secure their preferred sizes, have taken it upon the media to air their grievances. They have accused Adidas of being inefficient and hurled a bevy of verbal abuses at the volunteers handing out the t-shirts at the venue.

To those who have done this, a big shame on you. Is this how you accept a gift? The finisher’s t-shirt is not an entitlement and it never was. By all calculations, the registration fee would not have even covered the cost of logistics, medical attention and goodie bags that each participant received during the run.

I understand that marathon runners from several years back did not even have any form of memento to commemorate their toil over 42km. In fact, the Singapore Marathon is one of only a few races in the world that provides finisher t-shirts for its runners. Yet, in typical Singaporean fashion, we have people who go on and forward complaints to the media when the sponsors have been kind enough to provide them with one.

It seems that people are running for the wrong reasons these days. I wonder how many of the 11,000 runners that day ran a marathon just to put this measly t-shirt on.

To those who are still sore over the fact that you ran a marathon and can’t have the size you desired, well, you can have mine. My t-shirt is a size “M”. Just prove to me that you indeed did complete the marathon via the results online and I will gladly give mine to you. I’m just sad that there exists runners who do this just for this t-shirt.

(I have worn and washed it though and will most probably do so till someone asks for it. But don’t worry my house uses a very nice smelling Dynamo Advanced detergent. Removes Stains Protect Colours.)

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008

2008-12-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

The air surrounding Peninsula Plaza was unusually warm for 5 am. I was planning to apply a dash of heat rub along my back before the run but the lack of chill in the air rendered it unnecessary. All that was needed to complete my gearing up was the usual pinning of the number bib to my chest and a quick tuck-in of my running vest.

As my hands went across my back, I could still feel the blisters and abrasion marks that did not seem to heal from the long run about 2 weeks ago. Somehow they have seemed to remain and remind me of how much pain I have had to endure over the past 40 weeks for this day, my first full marathon. Feverish bouts and bleeding nipples were just part and parcel my typical running month. Friends don’t understand why I do this, and somehow, I don’t either. Maybe I will by the end of the day.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rviswana

Starting Line
The last time I was in a crowd this big was in Mecca. But unlike the pilgrimage, nobody was chanting anything this time and stoic faces were abound. Music was blaring really loud and volunteers were handing out balloons for runners to release just before the start of the race. Maybe the organisers thought that it would lighten up the mood. A little cheesy but it worked for me.

Apparently there was an Australian DJ musing on the PA system about how he once accidentally applied heat rub to his genitalia. I’m not sure if that was his way of adding on to the festive atmosphere but the thought of a burning sensation on your privates is not exactly what runners would look to for inspiration at this point of time. I wonder why he could not come up with a slightly more motivating story.

There were plenty of sign boards to usher us to our starting pens which have properly been segregated into the respective expected finishing times. Strangely, runners of all shapes and sizes rushed forward to the “under 4 hours” starting pen.

I huddled together with a mass of runners who have opted to start in the “more than 5 hours” pen. We were congregating behind a group of pacers known as Team Fat Birds, who had thoughtfully printed their expected finishing times on their running vests. I followed the 5:00 trio, together with about 3 dozen other runners.

Start
At about 5.30am, runners were flagged off by some VIP with an air-horn. The music was cued to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – exactly the same tune they played at the start of the Army Half Marathon 2008. Why the song persists to be the choice of flag-off tune still remains a mystery to me.

1km
It’s been less than 10 minutes into the run and already the bushes and shrubs surrounding Raffles Quay were littered with dozens of gentlemen (and some ladies) relieving themselves in the dark. I sure didn’t envy the poor cleaner who had to sweep the area later during the day. Some passers-by were so amused by the sight of peeing runners that they decided to whip out their camera phones and immortalise the moment. As inappropriate as that seemed, no one protested, including the “pee-ers” who continued to do the fountain pose as the spectators snapped away.

3km
The crowd was generally behaving well. The slower runners kept to the left while the occasional sprinter could be seen galloping away towards the right flanks. Race etiquette was much better compared to runs like the Nike Human Race.

Surprisingly, I was starting to sweat a lot despite the lack of sun. Good thing they had water stations early on. The group of runners following the 5:00 pacers swelled to about 50 people. It’s a good thing that they decided to tie balloons to their caps. It made them so much easier to spot amongst the crowd.

7km
The sun was beginning to come up and I could tell that it was going to be a fairly warm day. Runners started to pace out while some even stopped running altogether.

My pace was slowly getting steady but comfortable. For the first time during the run, I was starting to slowly enjoy the sights and sounds as I trotted down the Nicoll Highway in the fresh morning air. “So this is what it feels like to run a marathon”, I mused to myself.

12km
East Coast Park is my home ground. This is the stretch of asphalt that I have spent almost every weekend at for the past 40 weeks. I know the details of this leg very well – every elevation, nook and cranny of the course. Somehow this familiarity comforted me and I felt that I could go on forever. Plenty of runners following the 5:00 pacers have dropped out though. By then only about a dozen runners remained faithfully in our group.

Volunteers started to hand out heat rubs and bananas. I took one as I could “feel” my blood sugar level dipping. It’s the same sensation one gets at 4pm on a Ramadan afternoon. Those who have gone through fasting will surely know what I mean.

15km
I saw one of the 5:00 pacers reaching in for his energy gel and it reminded me that I was slowly getting very hungry. I could feel my energy stores depleting fast despite the banana that I had about 3 km earlier. There were 2 packs of energy gels in my back pocket but I figured out that I would consume the first one only when I really needed it. In the meantime, I would just soldier one using whatever remainder energy I have left from last night’s pasta binge.

16km
As we approached the lagoon, the sun was almost up in its full glory. It was getting really warm and my hopes for it to rain during the run have been all but dashed. Instead of the usual single cups that I have been grabbing from the water points, I began taking two as dehydration slowly crept in.

Runners could be seen slowly dropping out to the sides of the road, profusely applying heat rub onto their legs. Volunteers were kept busy squeezing tubes upon tubes of Mentholatum onto the palms of passing runners. I wasn’t sure if those worked but I figured out that I would try some further down during the run. Kudos to the volunteers for working so hard along the route with those tubes of heat rubs.

20km
About just before the full-marathon turning point, extreme hunger was getting on to me. I felt that the time was right to consume my first packet of energy gel as I really needed the calories to go on. But as I reached for my back pocket, the gels weren’t there. Somehow during the run, the gels must have slipped out. 2 packs of unused, precious energy gels were lying somewhere on the road of East Coast Park and I was getting desperately hungry.

All I could hope for right then was to make it in one piece to the checkpoint where sponsor GU was giving out free energy gels to runners.

23km
3 volunteers were handing out packets of energy gels by sponsor GU. Unfortunately each runner was only entitled to 2 packs. I tore-off one immediately upon receiving it and sucked its contents dry like a deranged vacuum cleaner. It was tough to maintain my pace while sucking on an aluminium packet. The gel was chocolate flavoured. Delicious but somehow still not enough to alleviate the hunger and cramps setting in. I should have packed more for myself.

25km
I downed the second packet of energy gel but the glycogen stores in my muscles were slowly depleting. Somehow my strides didn’t full enough as each step was bogged down by sheer fatigue. Keeping up with the 5:00 was beginning to feel like a constant struggle. I needed to eat badly.

At this point, the 5:00 trio became a duo. One of the pacers seemed to have dropped out of the group and was beginning to run a lot slower. I sprinted ahead of the pacers to a nearby washroom to relief myself. That way, it would be easier for me to catch up with them later on.

28km
At this point during the race, hunger got the better of me and the effect was slowly but clearly showing in my strides. My tummy was making sounds I have never heard before and my legs felt like they were pulling against a ton of bricks each. To top it all off, the sun was fully up and my eyes were constantly being stung by the persistent flow of salt from my eyebrows. I guess this is what they refer to as “hitting the wall”.

There was a cheerful marshal by the side of the route and I stopped a while to ask him on the location of the next banana station.

“Oh I’m sorry, it’s still far away sir. It’s somewhere around the stadium. But here’s a high-five for you!” and he raised his palm in consolation.

“Wow that helps”, I thought. But I reciprocated his gesture nonetheless. My eyes were starting to winch and I felt a slight sensation of fainting. That was the point that I really regretted stinging on the energy gels.

30km
The 5:00 pacers stopped by the SG Runners support table and I saw them handling some honey sticks. I could really use a honey stick or two at that moment. But I sprinted past as there was not a familiar face in sight. My muscles were cramping up badly and I would have given almost anything for some carbohydrates. I started to wonder if it was possible to throw a rock at one of the coconuts on the tress along the way and indulge on its juice for a while. That would be a hefty calorie recharge.

But all that was available at that point in time were weak isotonic drinks served along the way. Gulped down several cups as I ran by and somehow make it last till the next isotonic station. Somehow not all water points serve isotonic drinks. Most give out only water.

31km
Runners on the road were slowly spacing out. It seemed like a considerable number of runners have dropped out. The remaining ones were donning on sun gear and protecting themselves by all means from the intermittent sun.

We passed by several petrol stations. If I had cash on me, I would have stopped in for a bar of chocolate or anything with sugar. But alas, dropping my energy gels on the road was something I did not foresee. My first marathon is turning out to be a lesson in running logistics that I shall not forget. I used to think that fuel belts looked silly but only then I was wishing I had one.

Somewhere along here, the lady pacer in the 5:00 category turned to me and asked: “Are you ok?” She must have noticed me struggling or perhaps my stomach growling was just too loud to ignore.

“Yeah, I’m fine”, I replied in total denial of reality. My eyes were beginning to winch so badly that I was pretty sure I was going to collapse anytime soon. I pinched my abdomen and mentally told myself that there is still too much fat there. My body would somehow convert these into fuel. Somehow, that imagery worked. I didn’t collapse and my strides opened up. It was truly a moment of mind over body.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rviswana

32km
“Come on guys, 10km more to go”, the lady pacer screamed to everyone within an earshot as we approached the 32km marker. A line like that would seem very uplifting indeed. But it was not as motivating as the sight of bright, gleaming yellow bananas that I spotted from a good distance away.

The banana station came up just before the Stadium. I took two pieces and gobbled one up immediately. The other one I saved for just before the water point. It is hard eating while running and the water helped to wash it down.

34km
The bananas are finally starting to take effect. But the sun was beginning to get unbearable. The pacers started to don their sun gear and I thought the lady pacer had pretty cool shades on. I remembered a sentence I once wrote on the board during an English lesson some time back. It went something like “...as the sun beat down its rays mercilessly upon us...” That is one metaphor I could severely appreciate at that moment.

40km
Several dozen runners started out with the 5:00 group. Along the way some had progressed forward while a lot more dropped out of the pacing. As far as I can remember, I was the only runner who has been faithfully stalking them since the starting line. One of the pacers struck up a conversation with me when he realised that I was beginning to slow down as we arrived at the Singapore Flyer. The lady pacer then introduced herself as Broken Runner from the SG Runners website. Along her was husband, Vincent Wong.

Broken Runner told me that I was making good progress considering that it was my first marathon. She told me to just maintain the pace and that the last one kilometre was mine for the taking. “Just give it your all for the last kilo”, she remarked. We could already here the music coming from City Hall area.

41km
It was right outside the bus top of Esplanade when the 41km marker came into view. The sight was just indescribable.

“You’re looking good! Go for it”, Broken Runner exclaimed to me and encouraged me to spur on. I thanked the pacers for the wonderful tempo and flawless timing they have provided along the way and broke ahead of them. Only 1 kilometre stands in the way between me and what I have been dreaming about since February.

There was a little lady screaming by the side of the road as I made the turn into Fullerton Hotel, “Sub-5! Sub-5! You guys are sub-5 runners!” It was the sweetest sound I’ve heard all morning.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rviswana

The finishing placards came into view as I turned right into city hall. Crowds of people were lining the street, each looking out for their loved ones. But everyone was cheering everyone else in ecstatic screams of encouragement. Music from a drum troupe echoed against the Old Supreme Court Building while loud music played from the finishing line. The atmosphere was just electric.

“150 metres more to go” read a sign as I made the final few strides of my first marathon. This was where it struck me. In a few moments, I will be crossing the finish line. My step across that line represents more than just a completion of a marathon. It represents the dismantling of a lifetime of bad habits.

For just several years earlier, I was an obese, 120-kilogram man who had just received a warning from the doctor to not run or risk severe damage to my re-constructed right ankle. I took to swimming but it never seemed to shed the pounds permanently. Only when I started running about a year back did the weight slowly melt away.

That day, I ran the marathon weighing 80 kilograms and vowed to live my life from there onwards from one marathon to the next. Running has changed me forever and as long as God allows my body function like a runner, I will continue to run. That was the vow that I made as I crossed the finishing mat.

The finish line came into view and then slowly passed beneath my feet with an assuring beep from the chip sensor. The gun-time clock above read 4:57:49. Not bad at all, I thought. What I visualised at the start of the year finally came into reality. I completed 42.195km in less than 5 hours.

It was a happy moment. Fai was there to greet me with some chocolates at the finishing line. But before she could barely congratulate me and savour the moment, I whispered to her slowly amid panting breaths:

“I want to do 84km at Sundown”

Adidas Run Inspirator

2008-11-20T20:06:00.000-08:00

A representative from Adidas gave me a call and told me that my story has been selected for the Adidas Run Inspirator contest. For being selected, Adidas will be providing a head-to-toe sponsorship for my marathon run in the form of running apparels, including shoes.

It's the Adidas Adizero Adios. This are the shoes worn by Haile Gebrselassie when he broke the current world record for the full distance marathon of 42.195km. It is currently not on the market. Too bad they won't be breaking any records on my feet.

I have always jokingly told people that Adidas is an acronym for "All Day I Dream About Sex" and that it would be a suitable apparel brand for a lot of guys. So when I told my girlfriend that Adidas is sponsoring my apparels for the upcoming marathon, she thought I was just making another lame come on.

I also received running vest customised to show a caption that I have chosen for my first marathon. It reads "Pain is temporary. Glory is forever."

It's cheesy but I took that line from a class T-shirt that we had in Victoria School. That was way back then in Secondary 1. Not bad and feels very windy thanks to Adidas Clima365 technology. Would surely come in handy in the sun.

It's my first marathon and I'm getting free stuff for it. My run is beginning to turn out better than expected even before it begins.

Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2008

2008-11-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

It's our first vertical marathon and neither of us had any idea on what to expect for our respective finishing times. I was just taking this opportunity to view the city from 73 storeys up while doing some morning cardio workout.

Unfortunately Hafidz had problems somewhere along the 30th storey. Accompanied him for a while till he was breathing normally again. I had to leave him with a medical personnel and continued on as the stairwell was pretty narrow and we were blocking the other climbers.

He did complete it in the end though.

Official time clocked for myself : 15 minutes 44 seconds

Wind was too strong to smile!

View of Orchard Road from 73 storeys up.

Group photo with the cousins