Run, keep running

History
I grow up in rubber tree plantation. I think my first running experience got to be playing "Police and Thief" before I went to kinder garden, whereby me and my cousins ran around in the huge plantation, wielding a wooden pistol, trying to "shoot" each others. The wooden pistol was saw out from plank wood, shaped like a pistol. We will modify the pistol abit by looping a few strings of rubber bands around a wild flower seed and trigger point. When we release the "hinge", the seed will then be released to shoot another person.

I still can remember vividly that my first competitive "running" experience involved an egg. Yes, egg... but again it's a wooden. That took place during my early primary school time, maybe Primary 1 or 2. What we need to do in this race is to pick up the egg with a spoon from the floor, and run all the way to the end point. We must not drop the egg during the course of run, or else we have to go back to the start line and do it all over again. I didn't win anything, but I start to develope a liking for competive sports event.

Since then, I have participated in every school Sports Day, taking part mainly in Long Jump and sprint events. During Secondary 5, I reached my peak in term of performance, I participated in 5 events that year (which was the max allowable for a student): Tripple Jump, High Jump, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m. I won Silver in 400m, Bronze in Tripple Jump and a Silver in 4x400m. Until today, I still think I should have won the Gold in Tripple Jump. I trained hard for it as compared to 400m (I took this event, for fun..actually, didn't expect to win a Silver medal). I "overperformed" that day in tripple jump event, I leap into the sand on my third step, thus causing a weak third leap on soft sands.... Well, my request to move back the jumping board was not accepted, I was damn piss off!

I went on to Polytechnics in Singapore. I was in school team for Track and Field. Again I took part in Tripple Jump in Inter Varsity Game. Bad luck struck again this time, I sprained my right ankle 1 week before the competition, I only managed a 5th place in the final with a bad ankle to jump on first 2 leaps.

Running Craze
I didn't participate in athletic for a few years until I join my previous company. They have this weekly event called JAWS, which stand for Jog and Walk Session. That's when I start to do longer distance run, starting with a 2.4km run in Gombak stadium in 2002, moving to 10km in 2003, half marathon and eventually full marathon in 2004.

Why I like running...so MUCH??
1. I like the feeling of perspiration...I just like it.
2. I like to compete with my fellow runners...see who can run longer and faster!
3. I like to stay fit. I dun want to pant easily when I walk up the staircase.
4. I like the sense of accomplishment whenever I finished a long race, without stopping.
5. I think and plan during my long runs....I can reorganise my directions in life during the run.
6. It relieve stress.


My Running Gears
I have spent quite alot on running: running attires, running shoes, running gadgets, race entrance fee, nutrition...etc. Bu I think I spent the most on running shoes.

1.
Brand/Model/Year: Reebok/Premier Series, Road Lite/2003
Notable contribution: Completed my first ever 10km with it, Standard Chartered Marathon 2003, and then my first 21.1km in Army Half Marathon, 2004.
**I bought this shoe with discount voucher from Big Walk, 40% discount I think. I continued to buy a total of 4 Reebok shoes in the following years with those Big Walk vouchers.
**Retired after 4 years of service, the sole came off during a normal run on a wet trail.
**I love the shoes, light but good enough for longer runs.

2.
Brand/Model/Year: Reebok/Premier Series, Road Plus/2004
Notable contribution: Completed my first 42.195km full marathon with it, 2004. Climbed Mount Kinabalu, Sabah 2005. Also completed my second marathon with it, KL International Marathon 2005.
**Not my favourite shoes, but I bought this because I want better shock absorbtion for my legs, my running milage has increased substantially in 2004.
**Retired in 2007, sole torn off.
**I will say by far this pair is most durable. I never expect it to survive the tourtures Mount Kinabalu climb, completed numerous runs after that, including another 2 marathons!

3.
Brand/Model/Year: Reebok/Premier Series, Road Competition/2005
Notable contribution: Completed a few sprint events..100m and 400m.
** I didn't wear it often for long runs, it gives very little shock absorbtion.
** Not very comfortable, not wide enough for my feet, well, it was more suitable for track runnings, when you don't have a pair of spike shoe for sprinting events.
** It was the most beautiful sneakers I have so far. Dear like it too. Bright Yellow colours.
** I use to wear it quite often for leisure, more of a fashion item lah.
** Semi retired, sole almost come off, but still looks new, I intend to get it repaired.

4.
Brand/Model/Year: Asics/GT 2100/2006
Notable contribution: Completed my best Marathon with it, 2005
** Most comfortable shoes by far. Asics made good shoes to pamper your feet. I intend to get another different model, as leisure wear...so comfortable.
** I bought a size that might not be the best for my feet, first experience with brands other than Reebok. One of my toe nail came off after i finish my marathon.
** Still in service, I intend to wear it for my 5th marathon this December, and get rid of another toe nail.

5.
Brand/Model/Year: Saucony/Hurricane 7/2006
** This pair belongs to dear actaully. I won a pair of Saucony Shoes in a rope skipping competition few years back, from there I did a research and get to know Saucony is actually a very regconised running shoe brand in US and other Europe countries, but not very well known here in Singapore as compared to Nike/Reebok/Mizuno/Asics.
** Dear was not wearing a pair of shoes made for running....untill she met me..hehehe. She got a bad knee due to some old injuries. I shopped this shoe with her and got it from Queensway Shopping Centre. She pay for it...I was not allowed to pay for any of her shoes, because she believe the old sayings that once you bought a shoe for somebody, that guy will run away from you!

6.(Top Picture)
Brand/Model/Year: Reebok/Premier Series, Road Race/2007
Notable contribution: Not yet...might wear it for my next marathon...a choice between my Asics.

** My confident with Reebok brands dropped to rock bottom, when the whole damn sole came off after wearing it for less than 10 times...still brand new.
** I brought it back to Sitiawan, paid RM10 to get a shoe smith to stitched back the sole, now I think it can last as long as my previous Reebok shoes.


Besides these pictured running shoes, I also own a pair of New Balance. I bought it during the Real Run Road Show. But due to some stupid reasons ( I not stupid...it's the sales person and their special rules), I got a pair that is half size smaller than my usual wear. I gave it to my dad.


Other Essential Gears

1. A complete TIMEX BodyLink Ironman package.
** I bought it from online shopping website, it is at least 50% cheaper than those you can find in Singapore, same model.
**Consists of a 100-lap IronMan watch, a heart rate monitor and a cool GPS recorder.
**Can measure actual distance with the GPS recorder, wear it on your arm. Serve as a Odometer.
** The watch has exciting features...calculate your pace, heart rate alert, speed and heart rate limite alarm to name a few.

2. Fuel Belt - 6 bottle series.
** I was considering a Hydration pack(those backpack which carries water and you can sip it through a tube), but I get this eventually because I can store diluted Power Gel and water at the same time with this.
** Quite expensive if I remember correctly, I got from one of the sports shop in Orchard...
** Very comfortable, it was constructed to counter "bouncing" effect during the runs.
** I think I'm going to get a new one, or maybe I can sew it tight again lah...the material (or rather the internal rubber bands) degraded. I didn't take very good care of it, the sweat degraded the material I think.

JAWS
Jog and Walk Session, organised by my previous company. I still join the group for their run eventhough I have lef the company. It started as a leisure weekly running event, but develope to something that has help those who participated to achieve a running distance far enough to surprise themself. I was the Champion (Person In-charge) for one year, it was a outstanding events and it was highlighted with a Singapore Health GOLD award from Health Promotion Board. We hit the record number of participation in that year's Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and also took part in every major road running events.

As an effort to promote running, I have done up a few posters with Photoshop. I have selected 2 of my favourites to show here:

Yeah, Absolut JAWS! Alcohol contens: Sweat 10-21-42%. The number stands for 10km-21km-42km. Did it to encourage people to sign up for 2004 Singapore Marathon.

You will know where I got this from if you are a New Balance fans. Now, Yours Run like mine did?

I have so much fun doing long runs...I will continue to do so, until my leg refuse to do it.

Dear, I will run safely. I know you care, I know.

V