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9
NovNB Real Run 2009
what: 15km & 10km cross-terrain challenge
where: changi exhibition center on 8 Nov 2009
i did my first 15km cross terrain challenge. this is a 4km trail + 0.6km beach + 10.4km of taxiway/road challenge. the 15km wave started at 7.30 am. i was up at 5am, took the free shuttle bus from pasir ris interchange at 5.50am. it took about 15 mins to get to the changi exhibition centre, and i took my last chance catching a quick cat nap while riding in the bus.
the weather was good, but i was worried that it will be one dirty run due to the rain the night before. the 4km run was indeed muddy..but i managed to stick to solid ground. i say..my shoe did me good, the NB 869 stabilizer really hit the ground..firmly, and with all the much needed support. we hit the park connector soon after, and i could see on the opposite side of the route, the 10km runners are making they way back to the finishing line..geezzz!! i wonder what are they made off.. bionic ?!
the next 4km route was the park connector near changi coastal road, and we hit the beach soon after the 10 km marking. the killer bitch, that beach! 0.6km hardest run for many, by then it was already after 9 am..and the morning sun hit us hard on the face. i was practically walking instead of running here at the beach.we hit a u-turn back on the road at 12km marking, and pickup ‘some’ speed, well i thought i picked up some speed, lol..
i was surprised at myself, i thought i overtake few guys, some ah sohs, ah peks and a couple of ang mohs..heehee. well..actually i almost given up somewhere where the trail started, because most runners hit the trail really fast, by my standard, and i was left behind, i was maintainaing a speed of 8km/hr thru out the run * this is where i think i need to improve, i badly need to improve my speed if i want to cut my running time. well having said that, xtrail is not just about speed, it is how long you can endure the various running path, the ground, the mud and the hard pavement. i eventually overtake some of them when i hit the road, because most of them lost the speed after running longer than 10km. i am proud at myself, for kept running most of the time.
the last 2km of the 15km route was indeed the toughest. we were running against the sun, and the monotone endless 2km taxiway was a challenge by my standard. i was counting the lamp posts as i past one after another, and somewhere near 14km marking, the arrow pointing to a left turn and ‘finish’ line up ahead. the last 1km was endless..i kept looking ahead, but at each turn of the exhibition area carpark, the sign kept pointing ‘finish’ up ahead. sun burnt and blisters away..i finally hit the finishing line at 2 hr 12 mins, time checked 09.45am.
lol..dirty run indeed. and i will come back again next year. insaallah.
you can view my runkeeper activity here http://bit.ly/2bIAKT
