Energiser Night Trail 2012

It have been really a while since I did a Trail Run. I remember I used to go to MR to join SGrunners, for their 5km, 10km and 15km runs. I even did some runs with my colleges and bro-in-law at MR ranging from 5km to 10km.

Running Trail is not as easy as it seem. Always felt that our normal running shoes feel very inadequate when it come to trail. The rocks and the terrain feel more painful as we pound the trail to the finishing line. 

This time, it is a night trail. Never did a night trail, before. We were each equipped with a Touch which we are to mount it on our head. 

Met up with LC, Lew, Teo and gang at Woodlands for Dinner @ Causeway point. Took the shuttle to the starting point @ Mandai.
 

It was still bright and sunny as we reach the place at around 6.30pm. Check in our "lugguages" and proceeded to look around and explore some of the booth setup there. Apparently, there are various categories of run that start since the early afternoon. There were quite a number of people and family around.

The Road lead to the starting point infront. Though there were not alot of night trail runners to be expected. this Stretch is more than able to accomodate the crowd.

Tons of toilet facilities in a "Jungle"

The Starting time is 7.30pm. All of us gathering at the starting line....It is going to be an exciting run definitely. We put on our touch on our heads....making sure it doesn't slip and keep in place.

U can see how dark it is in the jungle. It look very similar to the ones I use to frequent when I was in the Army. Turn out, the route that they use ...is usually closed to public and is a military training ground. No wonder I see quite a number of shelter that resemble a training ground.

@ the 4km Mark in Pitch Darkness.

As u can see...it is not like Standard Chartered run where u see alot of people running beside you so much so that it actually feel crowded

One of the toughest part of the race is the steep climb to a slope or what I say a hill, Dangerous as it is rather steep and they aren't much things to hold on to except ropes and tress and the volunteers at the side grabbing your hand for you to climb on top. But it was a fun experience, considered I took the 18km Route, I came back to this Slope twice.

On top of the Slope, is all Flat but we will come to a down hill where we will split between 6km, 12km and 18km

Time to split and make my 2nd loop of 9km to complete my 18km Trail Run.

I wasn't expecting a PB here... as I was too lazy to train myself on such a Terrain. Came in around 2hrs 18mins. Pretty expected. This timing was a 21km timing for me on a flat Road.

By the time we  finished, it was around almost 10pm. Took some photo of myself with the Light still on after shining for over 2hrs. Energiser Batteries really can last.

My new group of Running kaki. 

It was a really nice running experience and I think I would want to be back next year to better my timing again. 

Pre Labour Day @ Work

Every year during Labour Day, or What we call here in Singapore - May Day, 1st of May. Seagate usually reward us by sponsoring our lunch. Last Year, they treat us to a MacDonald Meals. This Year, we got Texas Chicken meal set, which include a Chicken Burger, some Nuggets, an apple (Not part of Texas Chicken of course) and a can of Coke.

Whipped Potatoes is included as part of the meal set as well.

There was quite a Q for the Collections of the set meal, as each of us were given a coupon to collect our share. These "Best Friends" were definitely one of those first in line. We Started Queing at around 1130am. This is the only time bosses won't complain....we sneak off for lunch Early

We retreated to our favorite corner - 6th Floor meeting room to enjoy our meals there + talking cock at each other...

The small boy must be damn Farmished!!

Old Uncle say...slowly eat

These 2 best friends keep looking at the phones

The Period from 12pm to 1pm is always a very relaxing time

Wonder how come "Art Student" so shy!!!

The next event coming up later in the afternoon is a Charity event to raise funds for the needy, mainly Children's home. Seagate setup a couple of Games stores for Employees to try their hands at the games and in the process, the proceeding goes to the homes.

 

This is the Store, Our dept guys are involved. 

 

The Prizes are tempting...lol...but the main objective is to donate and have fun. The only time the boss will come down to have fun as well.

2 of my colleges were involve in manning the Stores. This store have an easy concept of winning a price. But too bad didn't bring enough cash to donate. just Donated $4 only.

The Concept is easy, Get 5 ball onto the sticky tape and u win a price. $2 per game via Purchased Coupons.

We even help out at the store for some of us. I got back to work after having some fun

The other stores were also having the same concept, games store, but they are a little harder to win.....this one involves getting the tennis balls into the middle basket by tossing the ball into it. Must have good aiming power here.

Dear's Sister - Rina is manning this store which involved sliding stuff to the Furthest....not easy to win also...lol

The only prize we won from my colleagues stores....by getting enough ball on the sticky tape

What a Enjoyable Friday. With the Weekend here. It is really fun to be doing our bit for Charity and feel kinda well taken care of @ work ....well at least there is free Lunch. You don get this unless you are in Seagate...lol

My Living Life Devotion Experience - Exodus 13 - The Passover Festival

Was thinking of starting writing about what was spoken to me while spending time with God. I know this will sound Religious to non-believer, but Christianity is never a Religion to begin with actually, It is how the Society view it. Christianity is all about Faith.

Anyway, the idea was to give a positive outlook to whoever is reading this regardless of whether they believe in God or not. The concept is to be open to the idea. Who knows, u might find some of this familiar.

Exodus 13 - Talks about how the Festival of the Passover came about, it is a festival that is 7 days long celebrated around the March, April time. During this Period, God commanded the Israel to eat nothing with Yeast, aka - Unleavened Bread. At the end of the 7th day, they are to hold a feast for God.

This is done to commemorates The story of Exodus, How God Lead and Free the Israel from Slavery and bring them out of Egypt. It spoke of a lesson of not to take things for Granted. A "Trap" that we so often fell into because we become cold to the events and forgotten what have really happen.

I am sure guilty of this. When things like Jobs, Family are well taken care, we soon think these are the norm and it was not until when my mum fell sick last year with Cancer that I realise how important they are in my life. Even though, now that my mum have recovered, I still need to make a conscious effort to remind myself not to take things for granted.

Everyone in their walk with Christ have a Testimony to share and it is this Testimony that we should constantly remember such that we know how to be thankful and count our blessing that God have been with us all along in our lives and how he had make a difference. Sharing it with our friends not only strength their Faith but also it will tell how God works miraculous in our lives in mysterious ways. I sure want that to happen to me.

When we talk about Exodus, most of us will remember the 10 commandments, the movies popularize it so much that we sometime do think that the Old Testament is all about Rules and Regulations, while the New Testament that Jesus taught us point us to Love and Grace. Total Contrasting. Yet we all know that God didn't want us to follow the Commandments as though they are rules but to follow them because we love God and Respect him. These commandments are not there just for the sake of being there. They are there so that we can draw closer to God.

NTUC Run 350 2012

April is a month I have 3 Run events. The First being 2XU, 15km which I manage to achieve a personal Best of 1hr 35mins. I can't say the same for this Run though. Haven't been training consistently for the run and it is a longer distance, 21km, I will be super happy If I manage not to "deproved"

 

Got on a Cab Early and reach the area on time, 5.30am...I think I am over 30mins before the starting time. Went for my bag deposit Station to put my bags. Bag deposit was smooth and fast, actually not alot of people at the Queue.

Though it is always at your own risk to put bags @ the Bag Deposit Station. I didn't experience any mishap in my running career so far. Finger "X"

The Venue just opposite the MBS. The Floating Platform is the starting or Flag off area. It is pretty late timing to start off a 21km. 6am.

The starting line already filled with runners waiting to cross the starting line. Met up with LC and KS gang, all faster runners than me....so not expecting to wait for me though. But Heard they are meeting up with Jenny later in the morning.

They Flag off in stages and I am in the later stage as well as I am not expected to complete the run in Personal Best time...lol...Stand way to the back of the crowd...

Finishes the run, in 2hrs 30mins. Nothing to shout about performance, consider I only Train so much for this run. But super far from my PB of 2hr 14min.

The next 2hrs was spend waiting to collect our Bag. Something went wrong that the helper cannot located most of the runners' bags...I have to go to one side to urge the helper to hurry up. Super bad Bag management. I hope they will improve next year. They should learn from the Yellow Ribbon Run which have bags delivered on time no delays.

Alvin was suppose to run the 10km run and meet up with me for Breakfast, but in the end, he didn't turn up.....but at least he promise to treat drinks. It was already 11am by the time I was done with the baggage. A good old 2 hrs waits.

After having a drink with Alvin @ Marina Square, headed back to his place for my Favorite , Avocado Drink @ Alexandra Village.

Can't Believe I have 2 cups of this drink at one go!!! The Special thing about this Drink. It is Dark Green in color and have a very special taste (Sweet) to it. It is a very different taste from those sold in other places, even the Indonesian Restaurants

This year Run Edition Running Tee are sporsor by Newton. Finally they got a "Branded" company to made their running attire. Not to say it is the nicest of running tees...(Actually they don look good at all...lol)

But At least the medal still look decent!!!...my saving grace for running this event...Will I be back next year. As a side-note, I might seat this one out......lol. Time to build more toned body first...

Close-Down Sale - NUM

It is rather sad, that such a good Tee-Shirt Company - NUM (New Urbanmale) is actually closing down in Singapore for good. What really happen? I must say, this is one of my favourite Tee-Shirt Company, Their Tee are unique (Though some are rather Loud and point to "the other side"), They are very durable, colors remain even after several wash. I like their Fitting as well.

They used to have alot of branches, Orchard Cineleisure, The Cathay and Downtown East, but the branches have been getting lesser and lesser till now even the branch @ Orchard Cineleisure is closing down.

Was shopping with Dear @ Orchard Cineleisure, when we saw a sale going on @ NUM. Went in to take a look and realise that they are closing down in 2 week time. Wanted to get a Singlet which they are really famous for, but none of them look good on me....In the end, found a Tee which still look right and the ever popular, Slip-on Shoes from "Zap"

Was a little sad that I was unable to get any singlet, some of their singlet are really sporty....wanted to find a Singlet with the word "Running" printed, but can't find any...the other sports don have my size....

I have actually been quite a Fan of NUM though this brand have been associated with "them" but they really make very cool looking Tee. Wonder why they advert to such direction...lol. I especially  like the one in Red. Didn't thought I would look good in it. My Entire catch from NUM, Deter mainly by their high price. Each of these Tee can cost anything from $49 to $59

My Very First Product from NUM, The Brazilliano Praia. Though It is not really an original NUM product, it does look cool, but the color I got was too prone to being dirty. Should have got a Red Top instead.

It is time to look for other Alternative for Tee shirt that look unique. Time to explore those boutique shops @ Cineleisure. Cotton On for the Value for $$ options....Esprit is only Reserve for HK. 

My Running Shoes!!

As you all know, I am a Running Fanatic, If there is any thing I did to the extreme, It has to be running. Gym is probably the 2nd most probably culprit.

Took up running when I joined Seagate, Influence by a few of my collegues, who are also fanatics. In Fact, I was rather surprise by the amount of buddies I can find to do a run with me almost everyday of the week.

I started picking running when I joined Fitness First more than 5 years ago, back then, I usually do a daily 30min Treadmill run whenever I visit the gym. The results was amazing, I lost almost 5kg in 3month doing this.

When I was at Seagate, My colleagues got me hook on Road Running, It become such an exciting activities, when I started joining them in 10km, 21km and 42km run.

Ever since then, I have told myself, I will run till I can never run again....have joined over countless of 10km, 21km and 42km races, you name it, I did it before. Though the result was nothing to shout about. The Last I counted, 10km - 59mins, 21km - 2hr 14min, 42km - 5hr 34min.

Over the course of my running career, I have had countless number of shoes as well. The most loved have to be the ASIC Kayano 14. Accompany on my runs for over 4 years, in which I think I did two 42km in it, more then 10 - 10km runs in it, all my training runs.....This shoes is super worn out by then. It was also my most expensive shoe, cost me $200 back then, It was also the highest end - Stability shoe ASIC offered.

Ever since then, I have wore out a couple of shoes, Mainly from New Balance, I have NB1223, NB1225, infact I have 2 different colors of NB1225. Red and Green, all brought at just $90 during the yearly New Balance Sale. The Red one is Dying Soon and will probably end up throwing it away at next year Men's Health Urbanalthon 2013.

This was a Recently catch looking at how new this shoe is. Can't believe I actually brought the same model back,just a different color.

If u ask me if there is any difference between NB and ASIC shoes, it has got to be their weight and prices. NB shoes are cheaper (Even their high end models), they are always yearly sales, but theyare always heavier and "Harder". They have a thicker Sole. ASIC on the other hand is lighter and much more expensive but they are more comfortable to wear.

I brought this Shoe, ASIC Gel 3030 during my Company Sport Bazaar. Cost me only $120. Very good buy consider this shoe is almost $186 on the market.

I recently explore another type of running shoe, from Newton, famed for their Front Foot Running method. 

Their Shoes have this Stripes of thick Rubber soles that is suppose to aid or promote Front foot Running. I brought their Trail Shoe version fro $109. Not a Fantastic Colour I would like to have, was actually choose between this model and ISSAC Newton, but Choose this due to the Former don have my size.

I use my SAF Credits (Due to my Reservist) to get the SAF ASIC shoes. I must say this shoe though is not as good as the "open Market" ASIC Shoes on offer. But at only $45. It is Dirt Cheap and can be use as a everyday running shoes, plus it give really good cushioning, though it is prone to getting dirty as it get harder to stay "White" as u run more in it.

I Really love looking at running shoes now. The super bright colors are not what interest me, in fact I actually prefer shoes that are more contrasting than bright. I am also facinate by the technonlogy of each brands...like ASIC how Reliablie they are, NB are everywhere in most of the running events, how Newton spring out from all the older brother to be such a niche brand. Another Category - Minalist and Barefoot are something I have yet to try. ON shoes are also amazingly comfortable. 

Having mentioned so many brands, what deter me from investing - COST. Most of the shoes I wanted to try cost North of $200. Not a wise way to spend my tiny pay on these days...