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Namib Race Blogs 2010
54
PostsNamib Race (2010) blog posts from Jane Peng
29 October 2010 03:23 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
To begin a journey into the Sahara, one could hardly go wrong with Cairo. A sprawling Islamic city of mosques and minarets, prayer calls to Allah co-exist with trinkets made in the image of polytheistic gods of ancient Egypt. The bazaars, or souks, live up to their name here, for anything from miniature pyramids to sheesha pipes to mint tea to kisses can be bought, sold, and traded by the dozen.
Out on the streets, the dizzying swarm of pedestrians, cars, cyclists, dogs and donkeys form a maze to rival Minotaur's. To cross a road, one would need the heart of Hercules and the feet of Hermes. From this land, great civilisations have risen and collapsed - chariots drawn and blood spilt in battles that go as far back as the pages of history will remember. It is the perfect setting to start your own quest across the mighty desert.
We arrived in Cairo in the early hours of the morning, although the sun did beat us to it and was already lighting up the city in all hues of the desert. Houses the colour of sand lined the highway into the city. On the horizon, a dusty band of dark yellow separated the city skyline from the blue of the sky - sand particles from the Sahara that crept into the city.
We, the motley tropical crew of Vannessa, Trish and I, set off for the Pyramids at once. The pyramids were not quite the way I remembered them from 5 years ago, but I suppose half a decade is a long enough time to change your perspective and for memories to derail from reality.
Being the goofballs that we are, we proceeded to pull some stunts for souvenir. Because, y'know, karate at the pyramids seemed like a good idea at the time.
Behold my mighty karate kick!
Vanessa, embracing her role as victim
Kicking ass
Trish executes a pretty convincing karate kick.
Alrighty, that's about it on this 4Deserts blog. Time to step off the soap box and let the folks for Antarctica and Atacama have their airtime. The rest of the Sahara Race will be blogged about in detail with photos and all that good stuff on my personal website: http://www.janepeng.com/the-blog.html
Drop by if you get the chance.
Hope to see you there!
Alrighty, that's about it on this 4Deserts blog. Time to step off the soap box and let the folks for Antarctica and Atacama have their airtime. The rest of the Sahara Race will be blogged about in detail with photos and all that good stuff on my personal website: http://www.janepeng.com/the-blog.html
Drop by if you get the chance.
Hope to see you there!
14 October 2010 01:28 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Greetings from Cairo! Have duly completed 250km of the desert and gosh, civilisation seems a bit of a strange concept now. I'm still somewhat in a catatonic state of shock, having witnessed some astounding human spirit and majestic natural beauty in the past one week. In comparison, the fact that I just did 250km on foot seems like nothing!
Imagine this will take a little while before all this sinks in. I'll go through the race in much more detail once I get back home in a few days. And I promise photos - and lots of amazing ones, if I may say so myself :p The desert was just too beautiful.
Quick thought - one unintended benefit of having lived like a caveman in the wild is that travel is made so much easier now. Need to take an overnight train to Aswan and can't shower for the night? No problem! Why, just last week I didn't bathe for 7 days and 7 nights and had flies flying all over me, feasting like I was a Thanskgiving turkey. (The last part was Day 5 layover day, lest anyone forgets...)
Really does put life in a whole new perspective, doesn't it? Not to say I will make a habit of this "let's see how long I can last without a shower!" gig.
Alrighty, must run (haha) for the sights of Cairo await. Ciao!
Imagine this will take a little while before all this sinks in. I'll go through the race in much more detail once I get back home in a few days. And I promise photos - and lots of amazing ones, if I may say so myself :p The desert was just too beautiful.
Quick thought - one unintended benefit of having lived like a caveman in the wild is that travel is made so much easier now. Need to take an overnight train to Aswan and can't shower for the night? No problem! Why, just last week I didn't bathe for 7 days and 7 nights and had flies flying all over me, feasting like I was a Thanskgiving turkey. (The last part was Day 5 layover day, lest anyone forgets...)
Really does put life in a whole new perspective, doesn't it? Not to say I will make a habit of this "let's see how long I can last without a shower!" gig.
Alrighty, must run (haha) for the sights of Cairo await. Ciao!
Comments: Total (0) comments
08 October 2010 07:26 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Hellooooo from the end of the 94km long stage!! Good grief. If all the other days seemed tough they were just child's play compared to this leg. It took every ounce of willpower to keep going. Though happily none of my worst fears were realised (spraining an ankle in the dark, taking sleeping pills as painkillers, tripping and falling flat on my face just as I get to camp, etc.).
Note to self: when they say the course is "stunning", it means "very tough". You don't get amazing scenery by crossing flat desert plains. To give it some perspective, the usual drop out rate for past year Sahara Races is in the 10-20% range; I think w'e achieved that by Day 3.
Impossible to fit everything that happened into a blog post hastily written from the cybertent but just know that every single last one of you were in my thoughts as I took on this monster stage.
There were sections on the course where the body simply wasn't sure if it could see this through, especially when night fell. Your depth perception fails (something about cones and rods) and suddenly the darkness seems to swallow the rest of the world and there is nothing but yourself running into an endless abyss.You don't know how far you are from the next checkpoint, the next sign of a human soul, or how much longer you have before you run out of water or your legs give way, or when delirium will set in as fatigue takes the body to its limits. You don't know anything much at all, except that you have to keep the faith and run, run, run.
That is when you all ran with me. I thought of you when the Milky Way stretched out in a brilliant band across the darkness overhead, when Go The Distance turned up on the iPod, when shooting stars fell from the sky, when I tore apart the packs of bak kwa, when I asked myself what I was racing for. I was living the dream annd you would have loved every bit of the journey - the grandeur, the silence, the pain, the comaraderie and all. So this leg was for you guys, because without your cheers and support the fatigue and pain would have been almost unbearable. Thank you for being there when I almost couldn't hold up.
And barring some stupid mistake during the 2km leg tomorrow, I will see you back home with a larger-than-life finisher medal, pictures and stories to last a lifetime. :D
Lastly, can I please get a round of applause for managing to get the most improbable blisters? I got a bloomin' one to the side of my knee -- it was abrasion from the threading of my compression tights. -Really- should have done a "sponsor a blister" program as part of World Vision fundraising.
Note to self: when they say the course is "stunning", it means "very tough". You don't get amazing scenery by crossing flat desert plains. To give it some perspective, the usual drop out rate for past year Sahara Races is in the 10-20% range; I think w'e achieved that by Day 3.
Impossible to fit everything that happened into a blog post hastily written from the cybertent but just know that every single last one of you were in my thoughts as I took on this monster stage.
There were sections on the course where the body simply wasn't sure if it could see this through, especially when night fell. Your depth perception fails (something about cones and rods) and suddenly the darkness seems to swallow the rest of the world and there is nothing but yourself running into an endless abyss.You don't know how far you are from the next checkpoint, the next sign of a human soul, or how much longer you have before you run out of water or your legs give way, or when delirium will set in as fatigue takes the body to its limits. You don't know anything much at all, except that you have to keep the faith and run, run, run.
That is when you all ran with me. I thought of you when the Milky Way stretched out in a brilliant band across the darkness overhead, when Go The Distance turned up on the iPod, when shooting stars fell from the sky, when I tore apart the packs of bak kwa, when I asked myself what I was racing for. I was living the dream annd you would have loved every bit of the journey - the grandeur, the silence, the pain, the comaraderie and all. So this leg was for you guys, because without your cheers and support the fatigue and pain would have been almost unbearable. Thank you for being there when I almost couldn't hold up.
And barring some stupid mistake during the 2km leg tomorrow, I will see you back home with a larger-than-life finisher medal, pictures and stories to last a lifetime. :D
Lastly, can I please get a round of applause for managing to get the most improbable blisters? I got a bloomin' one to the side of my knee -- it was abrasion from the threading of my compression tights. -Really- should have done a "sponsor a blister" program as part of World Vision fundraising.
Comments: Total (8) comments
Posted On: 11 Oct 2010 05:39 pm
I will sponser the plaster for the blister!
Babes be proud that u did it! U represent the majority back home who run the under 10k distance! I guess u need a weeks holiday in phi phi island! Catch up when yr back!
Posted On: 11 Oct 2010 04:55 am
Jane! It's been such a pleasure reading your blogs - from the first when you were starting to train to this last one. You've had an incredible attitude the whole way through it seems, and I'm really happy that you fared so well in the race. Crazy place to get a blister - I'll be emailing you more questions about that...Safe journey back to Singapore. Sam H - RacingThePlanet
Posted On: 11 Oct 2010 03:19 am
Steady pom pi pi. You are truly amazing and one heck of a plucky gal!
Posted On: 09 Oct 2010 04:45 am
You are truly an amazing individual and we continue to track your status daily. While we may be on the other side of the world, know that we are with you in spirit each and every leg of your race.
You are the true Heart, Soul and Spirit of what we strive to be every day.
Congratulations on completing the longest and hardest part of your race.
Posted On: 09 Oct 2010 01:57 am
What an inspiration! :) Congrats again on finishing the longest/ hardest leg of the race! One more day!
I'm super stoked for you !
Posted On: 09 Oct 2010 01:48 am
Jane....it wasn't 94, it was 96 or 97km...!! Fantastic job and really glad you had time to enjoy the stars and night sky - it is quite amazing in the desert - one of the best things about being on your own at night on the long stage - love it.
Congratulations and you deserve a whole pizza at the Pyramids this morning!
What's next?
R
Posted On: 09 Oct 2010 01:10 am
Jane: Well done with the longest and hardest run of the race. We are proud of you for what you did! As for the the \"sponsor a blister\" program, you just name it and we will be in it for you and for World Vision. You can transfer the blisters into dollars and add them to the donation amount we already committed to. Take care & see you soon (on Skype before you are in Beijing or we in Singapore)!
Posted On: 09 Oct 2010 01:10 am
Jane: Well done with the longest and hardest run of the race. We are proud of you for what you did! As for the the "sponsor a blister" program, you just name it and we will be in it for you and for World Vision. You can transfer the blisters into dollars and add them to the donation amount we already committed to. Take care & see you soon (on Skype before you are in Beijing or we in Singapore)!
06 October 2010 01:27 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Another fabulous 38km day done and dusted!! Today was mostly about conquering the pain and showing the dunes who was boss.
While sorting out blisters at checkpoints, I discovered a whole new range of pain-related noises I am capable of making. (I totally should've done a "$10 for every blister developed" option for fWorld Vision fund raising.)
But did you know? there's a strange sense of peace that settles in once you transcend the pian. Thank you EVERYONE for the beautiful emails - they make me laugh and cry and are generally just such a fantabulous booster. Whenever the pain gets a bit much, I visualise each of you standing at the finishing line for me. It's almost as if we're doing this race together.
Ok, I know this is short but tomorrow's looooong! 94km over-nighter and there are rumours they wanted to make it longer?! So more sleep equals a happy Jane. Toodles!
P.S. Just learned that first day was 48 degrees Celsius. Huh. No wonder it seemed a bit rough.
While sorting out blisters at checkpoints, I discovered a whole new range of pain-related noises I am capable of making. (I totally should've done a "$10 for every blister developed" option for fWorld Vision fund raising.)
But did you know? there's a strange sense of peace that settles in once you transcend the pian. Thank you EVERYONE for the beautiful emails - they make me laugh and cry and are generally just such a fantabulous booster. Whenever the pain gets a bit much, I visualise each of you standing at the finishing line for me. It's almost as if we're doing this race together.
Ok, I know this is short but tomorrow's looooong! 94km over-nighter and there are rumours they wanted to make it longer?! So more sleep equals a happy Jane. Toodles!
P.S. Just learned that first day was 48 degrees Celsius. Huh. No wonder it seemed a bit rough.
Comments: Total (10) comments
Posted On: 08 Oct 2010 01:10 pm
You're almost there Jane!!!!! Congratulations and safe journey home!!!! :)
Posted On: 08 Oct 2010 11:36 am
OMG, i can see that u either are heading for the 2011 Sahara or sign up for Gobi already. OMG OMG OMG
i really will do my 10K, total in one week is OK, right?
i'll waiting for u home. ning keep saying how come jane is so cool. i think u understand what he meant.
Posted On: 08 Oct 2010 10:21 am
Jane, well done! Brilliant stuff. I knew you'll make it - never a doubt. One more day and you can have the best shower in the world... and ice cold beer!! Have fun and safe journey home. xx
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 04:34 pm
another big day, blister aplenty to go along.. can only imagine the toughness and pain.. but keep going gal, for the vision and for urself, and for US folks rooting for ya.
Proud of u :)
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 12:28 pm
I enjoy reading your post. Very well written and sometimes pretty funny.
Good luck and all the best.
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 05:27 am
Hi Jane, we met while you were training along East Coast a month or so ago
By the time you get this the long day will be over and you\'ll be disappointed that the whole adventure is coming to an end. The 10k dash to the finish is hardly long enough to bother about getting out of bed for but you should cause the food/drink is soooooooooo good.
In a day or so the pain will disappear and your mind will turn to signing up for another race, because the amazing experience won\'t disappear.
Now you\'ll understand why when I see random people running along the sand at EC I go and talk to them.
Really well done. Kevin
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 05:27 am
Hi Jane, we met while you were training along East Coast a month or so ago
By the time you get this the long day will be over and you'll be disappointed that the whole adventure is coming to an end. The 10k dash to the finish is hardly long enough to bother about getting out of bed for but you should cause the food/drink is soooooooooo good.
In a day or so the pain will disappear and your mind will turn to signing up for another race, because the amazing experience won't disappear.
Now you'll understand why when I see random people running along the sand at EC I go and talk to them.
Really well done. Kevin
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 04:51 am
Congratulations on Day 5!!! I know by the time you read this comment, you would have completed the grueling 94km, and finished strong!!! ( hehe my prediction skills is so strong eh?)
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 02:15 am
Well done Jane!
Keep on 'truckin'!
Your goal is within reach!
Posted On: 07 Oct 2010 01:34 am
By the time you get this Jane, you would have finished Day 5 - so WELL DONE!! :D So very proud of you. I will be waiting for your blog entry - make sure it's a long one. xx
05 October 2010 11:46 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
I am talking about myself, not the course today, though it comes a close second. But hey hey we got about 42km done and dusted today!
Another stunning day - we ran though dunes and a fossil area (Denvy, you in particular would have loved to be here. Also, we get to see whale fossils in the long stage. Yes, I am rubbing it allll in!) The feet decided to throw a blister party today but I guess that is where the whole "Run With Your Head and Heart" part starts, eh?
The desert really teaches you how to give thanks for the small things, like a few seconds of shade from the sun or a little piece of mint candy. I have never been this happy to get mist on my face in my life.
As it was in Antarctica, despite the stunning landscape out here it's the people that really make the difference. Really have to commend all the medical staff, volunteers, and everyone in the organising team. It makes a MASSIVE difference when you get into a checkpoint and people call you out by name or a doctor comes over to give you a pat on the back. In a race with 150 competitors it can't be easy to learn everyone's names but everyone really makes the effort and goes the extra mile too. I can't tell you what an energy booster it is for all of us.
Ok keeping it short because there's more adventure to be had tomorrow so need to sleeeeep. Thank you also for all your lovely emails - they moved me to tears (not very becoming, tearing up while rock 'n roll is blasting in the cyber tent.)
You make every step of pain worthwhile.
Report back with more tomorrow!!
Another stunning day - we ran though dunes and a fossil area (Denvy, you in particular would have loved to be here. Also, we get to see whale fossils in the long stage. Yes, I am rubbing it allll in!) The feet decided to throw a blister party today but I guess that is where the whole "Run With Your Head and Heart" part starts, eh?
The desert really teaches you how to give thanks for the small things, like a few seconds of shade from the sun or a little piece of mint candy. I have never been this happy to get mist on my face in my life.
As it was in Antarctica, despite the stunning landscape out here it's the people that really make the difference. Really have to commend all the medical staff, volunteers, and everyone in the organising team. It makes a MASSIVE difference when you get into a checkpoint and people call you out by name or a doctor comes over to give you a pat on the back. In a race with 150 competitors it can't be easy to learn everyone's names but everyone really makes the effort and goes the extra mile too. I can't tell you what an energy booster it is for all of us.
Ok keeping it short because there's more adventure to be had tomorrow so need to sleeeeep. Thank you also for all your lovely emails - they moved me to tears (not very becoming, tearing up while rock 'n roll is blasting in the cyber tent.)
You make every step of pain worthwhile.
Report back with more tomorrow!!
Comments: Total (5) comments
Posted On: 06 Oct 2010 05:33 pm
well done, 42km !!!
salute u , still as smiley lolz.
yes, people factor in the vast desert, can only imagine the importance.
i believed it will be a tremendous exp for u :)
heck, reading ur blog is inspiring for me ~
cheers and eagerly await ur report again
Posted On: 06 Oct 2010 02:13 am
Ha! Rubbing it in again I see :) Hey, you are doing incredibly well, Jane. Massively proud of you, not just completing all the stages so far, but completing them with a smile on your face. That is remarkable. You'll probably get this after Day 4 so the long day is tomrorow! This is exciting. Stay strong, and keep those fluids and calories going. Someone once said: "Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better." - how true! So enjoy all that the Sahara has and tell me alllll about it ;)
Posted On: 06 Oct 2010 01:54 am
苦不苦，比比长征两万五；
累不累，想想红军老前辈！
Jane, keep up with the good walk! We know you can do it since you are better equiped and taken care of than those who were at the Long March.
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 10:46 pm
Jane!! Well done on three stages completed! I can picture you smiling all the way through every single stage, keep up that amazing spirit! You go, girl! Big cheers from Jeri x
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 06:59 pm
I do hope I sent my email to the right person this morning to you!
But anyway, yay to finishing another leg of the run! Keep going!! I'll be thinking of you while I do my 4.2K run tonight (haha compared to your 42K, I'll get there one day!). Add oil!
04 October 2010 12:39 pm (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
A big hello from a very scenic (and windy and sandy) camph This is going to be a short one because after getting into camp I spent all my time hanging out with others, which is how it should be... seeing I am on a desert vacation. :) And now it is 7.42pm and we have a 42km sand marathon ahead tomorrow so time to turn in soon.
Firstly, THANK YOU for all your emails and blog comments. To Mark, Andrew, Denvy, Yange, Sandy, Pearly, Thaddeus, JS William, Maggie, Sandy, Li Heng, Chao Choon and Lixin - thank you for your words. They are really proving to be some very amazing fuel out here in the desert.
Second thing of note: I popped the very first blister of my life today! (Actually a doc did it to show me how but I learned an important life skill then and any day you learn a life skill is a great day.)
Third: Wooooow. Yesterday;s terrain was not all that fascinating but today? Wordlessly beautiful. It;s even better than what they show you on the website. Took a buttload of pictures along the way, which should tempt at least a few others to do this crazy race :) I am only sorry pictures are the only things I can bring back but not the steep descend down incredible sand dunes or the quiet pockets of absolute solitude in this endless expanse of beauty that so few ever get the chance to witness. I almost wish it didn;t have to end (ha.ha.)
Fourthly: ravaneous appetite. Am gobbling up throw away food from friends and still sniffing out for the next bag of food.
Alright, lots more to blog about but a 42km awaits tomorrow and I have every intention of getting through that stage in good shape. Fingers crossed for a good day and courage to overcome the tough parts. Hope to catch up at campsite!
P.S. Sandy - Claypot rice with lap cheong and bak kwa after I get back sounds HEAVENLY. Deal is on!
Firstly, THANK YOU for all your emails and blog comments. To Mark, Andrew, Denvy, Yange, Sandy, Pearly, Thaddeus, JS William, Maggie, Sandy, Li Heng, Chao Choon and Lixin - thank you for your words. They are really proving to be some very amazing fuel out here in the desert.
Second thing of note: I popped the very first blister of my life today! (Actually a doc did it to show me how but I learned an important life skill then and any day you learn a life skill is a great day.)
Third: Wooooow. Yesterday;s terrain was not all that fascinating but today? Wordlessly beautiful. It;s even better than what they show you on the website. Took a buttload of pictures along the way, which should tempt at least a few others to do this crazy race :) I am only sorry pictures are the only things I can bring back but not the steep descend down incredible sand dunes or the quiet pockets of absolute solitude in this endless expanse of beauty that so few ever get the chance to witness. I almost wish it didn;t have to end (ha.ha.)
Fourthly: ravaneous appetite. Am gobbling up throw away food from friends and still sniffing out for the next bag of food.
Alright, lots more to blog about but a 42km awaits tomorrow and I have every intention of getting through that stage in good shape. Fingers crossed for a good day and courage to overcome the tough parts. Hope to catch up at campsite!
P.S. Sandy - Claypot rice with lap cheong and bak kwa after I get back sounds HEAVENLY. Deal is on!
Comments: Total (7) comments
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 03:45 pm
wow, i am visualising the beautiful desert while reading ur blog ~ can't wait to see ur photos lolz.
u speak of 42km like 4.2km...haha.
Go Go Go.!
Keep going, keep eating, but heck do keep hydrating as well yar.
Jia you !!
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 01:07 pm
Super, claypot rice on me on your return. Keep going!!
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 12:42 pm
Wow, great work!!! Good luck on the next leg of the race! Looking forward to the next post :)
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 03:44 am
Wonderwoman: After 2 days of sand, 'surf' and sweat, and still as chirpy as ever! Enjoy your run and keep the flag flying high for Hongkong, Singapore and Asia.
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 03:27 am
Way to go Jane!! We are following your results and blog in Seattle and you are a true inspiration to all of us.
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 03:09 am
reading yr blog is as excited as joining it. i feel like looking for a 10k run, say soon...
add oil, we are here for u.
Posted On: 05 Oct 2010 02:32 am
Some desert vacation eh! But hey, you are enjoying it, which is the most important thing right now. I'm glad you're having a blast. Keep up the great work and keep those blisters in check. You don't want a blister on a blister! I hope you have started changing out of your tights outside the toilets?! Make sure your hands stay clean before you eat - don't want 'em germs bugging you. Ha! Sending you positive thoughts all the way... xx
03 October 2010 12:23 pm (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Hola from the desert, folks! Some 150 desert runners were gathered at the hotel yesterday and sent out to the desert in the evening. And good golly, I have never seen so many fit people in one place in my life. There were people with poles for legs and others with Big Macs for calves. Such a fascinating study of the human body.
We camped by a lake and had a sparkling sky of stars for company. Simply beautiful.
Anyway, the first leg of the race is done - we did 38km today! We climbed sand dunes and contended with some fierce winds in the early morning. No really - it felt like walking against a Grade 1 typhoon with an 8kg child on your back. Not going to talking about the heat because it was one of those days when you don't even want to know what the thermometer is reading.
Anyway I'm pretty happy with taking it slow today, since tomorrow's the sand dune stage (rated "Difficult" as opposed to today's "Moderate"). Still "fresh as a daisy", as a tentmate called me. Pretty eager to go out tomorrow and take on some more distance.
Discovered several things so far, including:
1. (I'm actually quite embarrassed by this) My brain still retains Barney song lyrics - disturbingly well too. And desert races bring out the best Barney Singer in me. "I like my head, how about you, it let me knows I'm alive..." etc. But hey, anything upbeat to keep you going, y'know?
2. Singapore pride! Remember my Singapore-based Danish friend Anders, who came in 4th in this year's Gobi and signed up for this race just 3 weeks ago? He came in first today. Insanity.
3. Tent pride! Second fastest guy is one Ryan Bennett from our little huddle of young 'uns.2. I have an unnaturally high capacity for dirt and grime. Got some sand in hair?
4. No worries - I have some in my nostrils anyway.
5. Everyone tells you the race is going to be tough but no one tells you how bad the make-shift toilets stink. I was trying to change out of my uber-tight compression tights in there last night and almost fainted. I've always envisioned that I might have a rather unusual way to kick the bucket but "death by toilet stench" is no way to go.
Finally, a few shout outs to some desert runners:
Denvy - Thank you for the messages Also, I am SO glad I took your advice about the 20 alcohol swabs. Thank you thank you thank you.
Mr. Sunshine - The "keep smiling" formula works like a charm.
Ralph & Andre (and anyone else on this race, really) - I'm in Tent 14. Not sure where you are so come drop by to say hi if you get the chance :0)
Alrighty! I'm famished so am off to eat freeze dried delicacies. Catch you all tomorrow!
We camped by a lake and had a sparkling sky of stars for company. Simply beautiful.
Anyway, the first leg of the race is done - we did 38km today! We climbed sand dunes and contended with some fierce winds in the early morning. No really - it felt like walking against a Grade 1 typhoon with an 8kg child on your back. Not going to talking about the heat because it was one of those days when you don't even want to know what the thermometer is reading.
Anyway I'm pretty happy with taking it slow today, since tomorrow's the sand dune stage (rated "Difficult" as opposed to today's "Moderate"). Still "fresh as a daisy", as a tentmate called me. Pretty eager to go out tomorrow and take on some more distance.
Discovered several things so far, including:
1. (I'm actually quite embarrassed by this) My brain still retains Barney song lyrics - disturbingly well too. And desert races bring out the best Barney Singer in me. "I like my head, how about you, it let me knows I'm alive..." etc. But hey, anything upbeat to keep you going, y'know?
2. Singapore pride! Remember my Singapore-based Danish friend Anders, who came in 4th in this year's Gobi and signed up for this race just 3 weeks ago? He came in first today. Insanity.
3. Tent pride! Second fastest guy is one Ryan Bennett from our little huddle of young 'uns.2. I have an unnaturally high capacity for dirt and grime. Got some sand in hair?
4. No worries - I have some in my nostrils anyway.
5. Everyone tells you the race is going to be tough but no one tells you how bad the make-shift toilets stink. I was trying to change out of my uber-tight compression tights in there last night and almost fainted. I've always envisioned that I might have a rather unusual way to kick the bucket but "death by toilet stench" is no way to go.
Finally, a few shout outs to some desert runners:
Denvy - Thank you for the messages Also, I am SO glad I took your advice about the 20 alcohol swabs. Thank you thank you thank you.
Mr. Sunshine - The "keep smiling" formula works like a charm.
Ralph & Andre (and anyone else on this race, really) - I'm in Tent 14. Not sure where you are so come drop by to say hi if you get the chance :0)
Alrighty! I'm famished so am off to eat freeze dried delicacies. Catch you all tomorrow!
Comments: Total (5) comments
Posted On: 04 Oct 2010 05:05 pm
hey Jane,
harlow from Singapore here!!
Nice to "see" you are just starting to rock the desert =P
Keep urself safe and keep it upz~ I'm sure many of us are rooting for you, well..i am :)
and nono...pls, don't think abt such stuff as stinking to death in the toilet, and the Sahara desert at that haha.
Didn't know that Barney's songs are so motivating..well..whatever works I say
Good Luck!
Posted On: 04 Oct 2010 02:26 pm
great story watch out for Barneys side kicks there songs are grammy worthy, i am following my friend Ryan Bennett. Send him my regards i hope to read more about him and his tent of young guns. best of luck and much support
Posted On: 04 Oct 2010 11:52 am
Hey Jane, I had a good laugh about your toilet experience! You really should limit yourself to 2 breaths (1 if possible) whilst in the camp loo! Don't try that again!! But sounds like you had a great start to the race. Keep it up!!
Posted On: 04 Oct 2010 05:48 am
Hi Jane
glad you started, and are enjoying it. The toilet is part of the fun....my advice? use the open air ones..
Posted On: 04 Oct 2010 01:26 am
Jane, why would you want to change out of your tights in the toilets?!?!? Aiyah! You only go to the toilets to do what you have to do, and nothing more. Just change behind the tent or rock or sand dune. Or in the tent. No one cares!! You really don't want to accidentally step on a lump of *** in the toilet... but anyway enough of that, well done on stage 1! Remember to hydrate well and eat eat eat. x
25 September 2010 10:36 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
The tent list is out! And I can't quite believe it -- but the oldest person in our crowded tent of nine is... 31. In a race where the typical competitor is anywhere from the late 30s to the 50s... we're barely hitting the Big 3?!! And I'm not helping matters by being the youngest female competitor in this year's race (recently turned 25).
We have GOT to be the youngest tent this year... *does an uncertain happy/worried dance*
Am also quite amused that 16 Korean competitors managed to book out 2 tents for themselves entirely. I wonder if they'd share some kimchi if I asked nicely? (No joke; I saw photographic evidence of kimchi in past year's race)
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Posted On: 03 Oct 2010 10:04 am
Woohoooo! Day one done and dusted, you are halfway there! Well... at least 38km done ;) But hey, that is a big milestone. Think of it as one pink flag, one CP, one day at a time. Before you know it, you'll be back in Singapore in your air-conditioned office working crazy hours... and being in the desert is just way cooler :D Take good care of your body, treat it well and have loads of fun. Thinking of you x D
Posted On: 29 Sep 2010 07:58 am
Kimchi tastes really good after a long day - and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like spicy food! I hope you have enough tape to cover your back; you don't want a chafed back with 100km more to go....
Good luck and have fun! xx
Posted On: 25 Sep 2010 07:30 pm
I hear Kimchi and dust is an awesome combo!
I got Jack in my tent! I think we will only be serving beef jerky and sand kabobs in our hut called MENTHU.
24 September 2010 04:31 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
1. You get micro abrasion on your face because you've wiped the sweat off so many times with your wristband while training. Your face now hurts.
2. Your back looks like it's got mini-carpet burns because you ran a lot with a 7kg backpack jostling up and down your back.
3. Your whole body resembles a living billboard for Leukotape.
4. You constantly find yourself in the company of people who ask each other, "how many laps are you doing today?" because, you know, one or two laps around the reservoir can't seriously be enough.
5. Your calve muscles have grown to spinsterhood-causing proportions:
2. Your back looks like it's got mini-carpet burns because you ran a lot with a 7kg backpack jostling up and down your back.
3. Your whole body resembles a living billboard for Leukotape.
4. You constantly find yourself in the company of people who ask each other, "how many laps are you doing today?" because, you know, one or two laps around the reservoir can't seriously be enough.
5. Your calve muscles have grown to spinsterhood-causing proportions:
Someone please tell me how I'm going to tone down after this race
6. You finally realise where Alfred Hitchcock got his inspiration for that trademark shower scene in Psycho. Basically he went for a very long run one day, unknowingly got some abrasion marks, stepped into the shower, then had a great big scream when he turned on the water. Then he said to himself, "screaming in the shower can be epic. Let me make this into a movie."
7. You feel increasingly like a Pacman crunching up mileage, comme ça:
7. You feel increasingly like a Pacman crunching up mileage, comme ça:
This is either a mileage-crunching Pacman or a very bad case of food poisoning.
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22 September 2010 09:14 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
At last, some love for the Loof Party. You didn't think I was going to let such an event slip by without due reporting, did you? ;)
A huge hand to Loof and the Lo & Behold Group for seeing to that this event took off despite our very limited (read: nonexistent) budget. We had to spread the news through word of mouth, emails, and Facebook. But people still turned up, and boy did they ever :
A huge hand to Loof and the Lo & Behold Group for seeing to that this event took off despite our very limited (read: nonexistent) budget. We had to spread the news through word of mouth, emails, and Facebook. But people still turned up, and boy did they ever :
The very awesome Pearly and her kakis.
I see quite a few familiar faces in this one. Thank you for coming down to support!
PACKED! At one point I really did wonder if we were going to alter the structure of the building in some permanent way with our collective weight. By the way, if anyone has a photo of the early bird goodie bags please send me a shot. I think it'll be a long time before I see a goodie bag so epic in its proportions and weight. That thing must've weighed at least 2kg.
Loof's plan was to donate all raffle sales and 15% of sales before 11pm to VisionFund, but they very generously topped up the original amount to S$2,000. That and the pledges combined to make S$3,000.15 for the night -- on behalf of World Vision and VisionFund, thank you all!
Speaking of pledges, to the kind gentleman who made the special pledge of "$1 for every kilometre completed in the race" -- thank you. Also, sir, I will make you pay $250.
Thank you everyone for showering lots of love that night and making me feel even more motivated to do well in the race (as if I weren't already pumped to the max). A special shout out to Linda, who so kindly offered to sponsor my sponsor patches with her shop, Caps n Designs. Folks, this is pretty darn amazing stuff. I don't know what I was expecting, but none of the logo patches I've seen before ever looked this good.
Loof's plan was to donate all raffle sales and 15% of sales before 11pm to VisionFund, but they very generously topped up the original amount to S$2,000. That and the pledges combined to make S$3,000.15 for the night -- on behalf of World Vision and VisionFund, thank you all!
Speaking of pledges, to the kind gentleman who made the special pledge of "$1 for every kilometre completed in the race" -- thank you. Also, sir, I will make you pay $250.
Thank you everyone for showering lots of love that night and making me feel even more motivated to do well in the race (as if I weren't already pumped to the max). A special shout out to Linda, who so kindly offered to sponsor my sponsor patches with her shop, Caps n Designs. Folks, this is pretty darn amazing stuff. I don't know what I was expecting, but none of the logo patches I've seen before ever looked this good.
All in the family
If you need to make t-shirts, caps, patches, or something special for an event, I can personally vouch for the superb workmanship at Caps n Designs. I really have never gotten this excited over logo patches.
Quality stuff, yo.
To Tiffany, who so thoughtfully brought some Godiva truffles to the party -- my whole house has gained weight as a result of this. Collectively we say, "well worth it! Thank you!"
The first box of Godiva chocolates is always precious :)
Last but certainly not least, take a look at the surprise Adam OneArmRunner had in store for me at the party. Being the whiz that he is at graphic design, he had already lent us his talent and helped design the party poster. Then, because I guess he was on a roll and still had plenty left in the tank, he went on and made a shirt for my race too! I never thought I'd live to see the day in which I have my own face plastered on a shirt. But never say never (case in point: photo on the right).
Above right: starring the "I run to fight against world poverty" shirt and what apparently constitutes a modelling pose in the Jane Universe
And there's a mousepad and coaster to boot:
And there's a mousepad and coaster to boot:
Thank you for going the extra mile, Adam.
Can't say thank you enough to all the people who took time out to attend the fund raiser -- your presence really made a difference that night. I only wish the night went on longer so I could catch up with everyone at length.
I do have another fund raiser idea that should be quite fun in a very different way, though that will have to wait till after the race since I leave for Egypt in a week. 28th October can't come soon enough. For now, enjoy the night's festivities with these two slideshows here and here.A huge thank you to Weng Seng for helping to capture every moment!
I do have another fund raiser idea that should be quite fun in a very different way, though that will have to wait till after the race since I leave for Egypt in a week. 28th October can't come soon enough. For now, enjoy the night's festivities with these two slideshows here and here.A huge thank you to Weng Seng for helping to capture every moment!
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Posted On: 23 Sep 2010 03:17 pm
Oye Jane!
First of all, are we the only people that use the internet?!! hahahaha oh and secondly, are we competing for the Mr./Ms. Congeniality award!! AAAAAA hahahaha (you're in the "virtal" lead!!! Blog Guru!!
21 September 2010 09:27 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Friday was a public holiday because our Muslim friends were celebrating the end of Ramadan and the whole of Singapore got time off thanks to this. And day off = extra training for all the jittery bugs who have a date with the desert in less than 3 weeks!
Total tally over 4 days: 101km with a 7kg backpack. I hit the trail, pounded on concrete, and shuffled on sand. And I've got to say - I am quite proud. This is a far cry from the girl who back in December last year couldn't comfortably run 5km.
The downside is that I am turning into a zebra:
Total tally over 4 days: 101km with a 7kg backpack. I hit the trail, pounded on concrete, and shuffled on sand. And I've got to say - I am quite proud. This is a far cry from the girl who back in December last year couldn't comfortably run 5km.
The downside is that I am turning into a zebra:
Zebra tan, or 'how my knees got run over by a truck'
Kids, learn from this: sunblock is your friend.
Nothing is uncooler than having a watch tanline so clear you can just scribble 1 to 12 onto your wrist to create the illusion of wearing a watch.
Also realised a long-time dream of going back to my alma mater for the Mid Autumn Festival bash as an alum. It's a marquee event for the school and truly one of the best ways to experience the "Hwa Chong fah-mily". You see alumni who graduated 18 years ago coming back with kids in tow to catch the light up ceremony. Mass dance also a spectacle - made all the funnier because we no longer have to subject ourselves to such hoolabaloo and simply have to grab friends, grab a good spot, look, point, and laugh.
A huge thank you to the councillors for the TREMENDOUS job. You lot always make MAF so special.
Nothing is uncooler than having a watch tanline so clear you can just scribble 1 to 12 onto your wrist to create the illusion of wearing a watch.
Also realised a long-time dream of going back to my alma mater for the Mid Autumn Festival bash as an alum. It's a marquee event for the school and truly one of the best ways to experience the "Hwa Chong fah-mily". You see alumni who graduated 18 years ago coming back with kids in tow to catch the light up ceremony. Mass dance also a spectacle - made all the funnier because we no longer have to subject ourselves to such hoolabaloo and simply have to grab friends, grab a good spot, look, point, and laugh.
A huge thank you to the councillors for the TREMENDOUS job. You lot always make MAF so special.
To think that all the lanterns here were made by students O_o
Other fantastic happenings over the weekend included:
1. Meet up with Trish and Vanessa
A small part of the Singapore contingent says hi to the rest of Sahara Race 2010! Also ran into Cole and Anders and have been in touch with Ross. Funny how none of the people mentioned here are actually from the same country. This tiny island country sure packs an international punch.
1. Meet up with Trish and Vanessa
A small part of the Singapore contingent says hi to the rest of Sahara Race 2010! Also ran into Cole and Anders and have been in touch with Ross. Funny how none of the people mentioned here are actually from the same country. This tiny island country sure packs an international punch.
See y'all soon
2. Anders!
Because a friend who's crazy enough to sign up for Sahara Race 2010 with less than 3 weeks to go deserves a shout out all on his own. Don't worry, folks. He's crazy but not suicidal. Anders came in 4th place at the 250km Gobi March in June and is one of those rare souls who can just about roll out of bed and do a 250km desert race, all the while breaking every rule in the "how to survive a desert race" manual. This guy's a machine. In the event of Apocalypse, he will outlive the cockroaches.
3. Fooood
Clocking mileage is important but food will still be king. Even better if food involves the Nautilus Project. They somehow create this mirage that you've stepped onto a cruise ship bound for the Mediterranean and the customer service is so consistently fabulous. If only every restaurant in town had a team like that.
Because a friend who's crazy enough to sign up for Sahara Race 2010 with less than 3 weeks to go deserves a shout out all on his own. Don't worry, folks. He's crazy but not suicidal. Anders came in 4th place at the 250km Gobi March in June and is one of those rare souls who can just about roll out of bed and do a 250km desert race, all the while breaking every rule in the "how to survive a desert race" manual. This guy's a machine. In the event of Apocalypse, he will outlive the cockroaches.
3. Fooood
Clocking mileage is important but food will still be king. Even better if food involves the Nautilus Project. They somehow create this mirage that you've stepped onto a cruise ship bound for the Mediterranean and the customer service is so consistently fabulous. If only every restaurant in town had a team like that.
The messier the food, the better the taste...?
And then on the opposite end of the world, there was this guy:
This weekend was so much fun. Why does Monday always have to come around to be the party pooper?
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Posted On: 21 Sep 2010 08:44 pm
OMG you are the blog GURU!!! HAHAHA you 're legs are zebras, good thing its an African animal!! And we only have a little time left so please no more pushing yourself! Just stretch!!! Right?!!!
Cheers!!!
20 September 2010 05:03 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
It had not been the most brilliant start to the day. First the internet threw a tantrum and I couldn't livestream a much-anticipated tennis match between Nadal and Verdasco. By the time I got a fast enough connection speed, the two were already deep into the last set and Nando had faded away, giving Rafa an easy victory.
After brunch the rain started, ruining the original plan to run 35 km around the reservoir. The rest of the day plodded by slowly but then it occurred to me, just because it started slow doesn't mean it can't end strong...
So at 8pm I grabbed the 7kg backpack and headed out for a training session. I ended up clocking 34 km, running virtually the entire distance. This is somewhat of a record, as the last time I clocked 33km with a 9.5kg backpack, I wasn't able to run it all.
Which just goes to show that when it's a particularly uncooperative day, you simply have to push harder to clinch that milestone.
Next up on the menu - running on sand and hill training tomorrow with fellow Sahara Race runners. Bring on the fun!
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Posted On: 21 Sep 2010 10:52 am
Damm, I thought my effort last weekend was long. Boon Lay to Macs via Bt Timah Hill with only a 2kg load.
18 September 2010 05:35 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Today, the race organisers popped a little gift into our inboxes: the Race Course and Climate Update!
Basically, it details the sort of conditions we can expect on course for this year's
race. I poured over every line like a child over a much-awaited Christmas present.
Initially, I had no problems with the figures provided. In fact, I was quite relieved. Sure, this year's course is likely to have lot more soft sand than previous years due to the unique setting this time round. But the longest stage on any given day (barring the infamous long stage) is 41.4km. First thought: yay! That means we don't even have to do a marathon a day! Hurrah!!
Second thought: wait a minute... did I just think what I think I thought?!!
I must be going insane.
But said Christmas present from race organisers also posed a few problems. For starters, temperatures could potentially hit 50 degrees. I have no concept of what that even feels like. But hey, if I had wanted to go on vacation, I would've gone to the Maldives.
Then there're the elevation figures: "the altitude on the course is negligible. You will go as low as -31 metres and ...... are not planned to go above 250 metres." I didn't think too much of the highest elevation noted... until I googled this: 250 Metres Building to be Tallest in India and this:
Ah.
To put it into even better perspective for the friends in Singapore, Capital Tower down by Raffles Place is 254 metres. Now picture it as sand all the way to the top.
I'm suddenly very taken by the notion of a scientifically improbable hurricane to come and blow over the race course just beforehand to help flatten all the dunes.
Dear race organisers, please tell me we're going to hit 250 metres on a gradual incline over a few days. Because if we're instead going up the mother of all sand dunes, we shall soon discover our collective ability to curse like a sailor.
And it will not be pretty.
Basically, it details the sort of conditions we can expect on course for this year's
race. I poured over every line like a child over a much-awaited Christmas present.
Initially, I had no problems with the figures provided. In fact, I was quite relieved. Sure, this year's course is likely to have lot more soft sand than previous years due to the unique setting this time round. But the longest stage on any given day (barring the infamous long stage) is 41.4km. First thought: yay! That means we don't even have to do a marathon a day! Hurrah!!
Second thought: wait a minute... did I just think what I think I thought?!!
I must be going insane.
But said Christmas present from race organisers also posed a few problems. For starters, temperatures could potentially hit 50 degrees. I have no concept of what that even feels like. But hey, if I had wanted to go on vacation, I would've gone to the Maldives.
Then there're the elevation figures: "the altitude on the course is negligible. You will go as low as -31 metres and ...... are not planned to go above 250 metres." I didn't think too much of the highest elevation noted... until I googled this: 250 Metres Building to be Tallest in India and this:
One Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York: 248 metres
To put it into even better perspective for the friends in Singapore, Capital Tower down by Raffles Place is 254 metres. Now picture it as sand all the way to the top.
I'm suddenly very taken by the notion of a scientifically improbable hurricane to come and blow over the race course just beforehand to help flatten all the dunes.
Dear race organisers, please tell me we're going to hit 250 metres on a gradual incline over a few days. Because if we're instead going up the mother of all sand dunes, we shall soon discover our collective ability to curse like a sailor.
And it will not be pretty.
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13 September 2010 08:39 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Click to read interview
To clarify on the interview, I want to be a top 10 female finisher.
In other news, my little Sahara Race website has exceeded 4,000 pageviews a month. Wow. Really? You people are awesome. Thank you for the care and support.
And in the latest round of More Information Than You Care To Know, one of the toe nails I had epically lost after the 84km race is back! Well, 80% back...
Anyway. Um.
...The end!
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Posted On: 13 Sep 2010 11:24 pm
Sharing the front page with Bono thats impressive! He's not running too is he?
13 September 2010 08:37 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Yes, JR. That's your Christmas reindeer rubber ducky in the background.
This one goes out to those of you who've always had trouble keeping your sunglasses on your nose too.
All the sunglasses I've had have a tendency to slide off my nose bridge, which kind of ruins the "I'm wearing shades and therefore cool" look.
And that's why finding the perfect pair that stays on and is rugged enough for the Sahara on the eve of the race is very good news. On Trish's recommendation, I checked out a pair of Rudy Project shades (the RYDON model) at Queensway. And now I can't run without them anymore. (Because I am vain; I don't want to get sun damage and ensuing wrinkles just because I decided to shuffle across a desert.) So yes, these shades are pretty amazing -- they just refuse to slide off my face -- and I've tested them on sprints and as well as 5-hour long runs.
The good folks at Rudy Project have also wisely made their shades customisable and bendy, so you can change lenses or adjust the the ear and noes grips to actually fit your face. I think the magic's in the way they've designed the nose grip, which actually lives up to its name.
So long story short, I am one happy trooper ready to go off to the desert with all my important gear in place. If you're wondering where I got the Rudy Project, it's at one of the shops on the ground floor of Queensway Shopping Centre called Tomorrow's Optics. Randomly, I also found these great tasting dry miso soup packets at NTUC. These will surely be a staple for the race (salt cravings will allegedly drive many a desert runner mad).
We're making progress everyday!! :)
All the sunglasses I've had have a tendency to slide off my nose bridge, which kind of ruins the "I'm wearing shades and therefore cool" look.
And that's why finding the perfect pair that stays on and is rugged enough for the Sahara on the eve of the race is very good news. On Trish's recommendation, I checked out a pair of Rudy Project shades (the RYDON model) at Queensway. And now I can't run without them anymore. (Because I am vain; I don't want to get sun damage and ensuing wrinkles just because I decided to shuffle across a desert.) So yes, these shades are pretty amazing -- they just refuse to slide off my face -- and I've tested them on sprints and as well as 5-hour long runs.
The good folks at Rudy Project have also wisely made their shades customisable and bendy, so you can change lenses or adjust the the ear and noes grips to actually fit your face. I think the magic's in the way they've designed the nose grip, which actually lives up to its name.
So long story short, I am one happy trooper ready to go off to the desert with all my important gear in place. If you're wondering where I got the Rudy Project, it's at one of the shops on the ground floor of Queensway Shopping Centre called Tomorrow's Optics. Randomly, I also found these great tasting dry miso soup packets at NTUC. These will surely be a staple for the race (salt cravings will allegedly drive many a desert runner mad).
We're making progress everyday!! :)
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13 September 2010 08:37 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Just when you think life can't get any more hectic, it (of course) laughs in your face and throws you an even crazier schedule and sees how you juggle it. But just for the record, I'm alive! But barely. Just excited and tired all at once about all that has happened, all that is happening, and all that is about to happen.
The Desert Party@Loof on Saturday was superb. So many amazing people turned up and so much happened during the night that it warrants a much lengthier post. The Loof folks are still tallying the final amount on the bar sales so hoping to get confirmation on total raised that night soon.
All that matters for now is that the party was fantastic. No one fell off the rooftop bar in a moment of mad drunkenness, no one got smashed over the head with an empty bottle, no one tripped or fainted or cried a river and we all lived to see another day (or bar).
So thank you every last one of you for making it down for our fund raiser party. Pictures and stories to come.
P.S. Lest you think I'm slacking on the training front, I clocked 22km on sand on Sunday with a 5kg backpack, running most of it. Plus 18km on Friday so 40km in 3 days. Not enough on any given weekend but fund raising and hitting the target comes first now! Let's make this happen!!
In the meantime, click here to enjoy the slides we painstakingly put together. This is just a selection of why the whole world runs.
The Desert Party@Loof on Saturday was superb. So many amazing people turned up and so much happened during the night that it warrants a much lengthier post. The Loof folks are still tallying the final amount on the bar sales so hoping to get confirmation on total raised that night soon.
All that matters for now is that the party was fantastic. No one fell off the rooftop bar in a moment of mad drunkenness, no one got smashed over the head with an empty bottle, no one tripped or fainted or cried a river and we all lived to see another day (or bar).
So thank you every last one of you for making it down for our fund raiser party. Pictures and stories to come.
P.S. Lest you think I'm slacking on the training front, I clocked 22km on sand on Sunday with a 5kg backpack, running most of it. Plus 18km on Friday so 40km in 3 days. Not enough on any given weekend but fund raising and hitting the target comes first now! Let's make this happen!!
In the meantime, click here to enjoy the slides we painstakingly put together. This is just a selection of why the whole world runs.
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13 September 2010 08:35 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
A blizzard of things has blown by in the last 48 hours, including a milestone run, a surprise shout out, priceless talent, heartwarming generosity, and jaw-dropping a capella. So basically life is going at a thousand miles a minute, which is how I like it. Let's see if we can sum this up succinctly:
15km on sand done and dusted
Milestone run
Latest milestone in the recent rounds of training was clocking 15km on sand with a 7.5 kg backpack. The conditions were perfect. That is to say, it was mid afternoon, the sun was at its blazing best, and the sand was dry and soft and very easy to sink into. Hurrah for desert-like conditions! The only thing to watch out for was the cute sandcastles.
Surprise shout out
Men's Health, a prominent magazine for men here, picked up on all the noise we've been making about the Loof fund raiser, the lucky draw, and very helpfully linked to this site. Woot! Thanks, you guys! Also a special thank you to Chan HS, my colleague who's been working behind the screens getting the word out to all her lobang in the media.
Priceless talent
If you're looking at the Desert Party@Loof poster and wondering who on earth somehow managed to turn my race into a movie poster lookalike, you need to meet Adam "One Arm Runner". Adam is pretty well known in the running circles here but he's also a talented freelance graphic designer who has an inspiring story worth hearing about. Thank you for the awesome poster even though you already had the Danish Open Track and Field Championships on your plate.
Latest milestone in the recent rounds of training was clocking 15km on sand with a 7.5 kg backpack. The conditions were perfect. That is to say, it was mid afternoon, the sun was at its blazing best, and the sand was dry and soft and very easy to sink into. Hurrah for desert-like conditions! The only thing to watch out for was the cute sandcastles.
Surprise shout out
Men's Health, a prominent magazine for men here, picked up on all the noise we've been making about the Loof fund raiser, the lucky draw, and very helpfully linked to this site. Woot! Thanks, you guys! Also a special thank you to Chan HS, my colleague who's been working behind the screens getting the word out to all her lobang in the media.
Priceless talent
If you're looking at the Desert Party@Loof poster and wondering who on earth somehow managed to turn my race into a movie poster lookalike, you need to meet Adam "One Arm Runner". Adam is pretty well known in the running circles here but he's also a talented freelance graphic designer who has an inspiring story worth hearing about. Thank you for the awesome poster even though you already had the Danish Open Track and Field Championships on your plate.
Special thanks to Adam for this beautiful poster
Heartwarming generosity
With one month left to the race, we're still quite far off from our fund raising target of S$60,000. I still believe it can be done, but will just have to work harder at it. A huge, huge thank you to everyone who has donated within (and some, beyond) their means for my cause so far. Thank you also to every last one of you who has taken the time to leave messages on the the Sahara Facebook page. Every note is precious and very likely going to become sanity fuel during the race.
Also received a very touching letter today from my alma mater, Raffles Girls' School, who has announced a donation of S$1,000 to VisionFund. So much of who I am today -- the good and the incorrigibly bad -- can be traced back to my education at RGS. So getting their support on this adventure meant a lot. From the bottom of my heart: thank you.
Jaw-dropping a capella
This has nothing to do with running but because amazing discoveries are best when shared, you should take a look at this gem if you haven't yet. It's already gone viral and if all goes well, it will be old news pretty soon. Absolutely unbelievable; it's so good it doesn't even sound like a capella anymore. Only gripe: why's the song so short, Mike?!
With one month left to the race, we're still quite far off from our fund raising target of S$60,000. I still believe it can be done, but will just have to work harder at it. A huge, huge thank you to everyone who has donated within (and some, beyond) their means for my cause so far. Thank you also to every last one of you who has taken the time to leave messages on the the Sahara Facebook page. Every note is precious and very likely going to become sanity fuel during the race.
Also received a very touching letter today from my alma mater, Raffles Girls' School, who has announced a donation of S$1,000 to VisionFund. So much of who I am today -- the good and the incorrigibly bad -- can be traced back to my education at RGS. So getting their support on this adventure meant a lot. From the bottom of my heart: thank you.
Jaw-dropping a capella
This has nothing to do with running but because amazing discoveries are best when shared, you should take a look at this gem if you haven't yet. It's already gone viral and if all goes well, it will be old news pretty soon. Absolutely unbelievable; it's so good it doesn't even sound like a capella anymore. Only gripe: why's the song so short, Mike?!
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10 September 2010 01:22 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
It's less than one month from my little excursion to Cairo! Looking up hostels to stay in, seeing familiar street names and just the general thought of being in that city gives me the tickles.
It still hasn't sunk in yet -- that I'll be walking down Talaat Harb again, bargaining deep in the maze of Khan al-Khalili (because like all Hong Kongers I hate being ripped off and love a good deal even more), spending 5 minutes just trying to cross a major road, relearning my Arabic numbers (because it's all very counter-intuitive if you've spent most of your life in a Westernised world):
It still hasn't sunk in yet -- that I'll be walking down Talaat Harb again, bargaining deep in the maze of Khan al-Khalili (because like all Hong Kongers I hate being ripped off and love a good deal even more), spending 5 minutes just trying to cross a major road, relearning my Arabic numbers (because it's all very counter-intuitive if you've spent most of your life in a Westernised world):
Tell me looking at this doesn't feel trippy. Now imagine reading this on a lunch menu with 20 times more numbers next to dish names you can't read and you try picking out the cheapest item on the menu so you can stick to your budget. This should be fun.
Note to self: a reverse 3 is 4; kosong is five and 9 is what it is.
Note to self: a reverse 3 is 4; kosong is five and 9 is what it is.
I also can't wait to see the Citadel and some old sites again. Because Islamic architecture is JUST. STUNNING. This shot was from the 2006 cycling trip. If you walk to the very centre of the musalla and look up, it's as if streaks of golden rain are showering down on you.
And in another part of Cairo is the City of the Dead, a sprawling district of cemeteries populated by the disenfranchised. Conditions are less than ideal here but Cairo has a shortage of housing, so the poor make a living by becoming caretakers of the tombs for the rich. This, too, has since become their home.
And in another part of Cairo is the City of the Dead, a sprawling district of cemeteries populated by the disenfranchised. Conditions are less than ideal here but Cairo has a shortage of housing, so the poor make a living by becoming caretakers of the tombs for the rich. This, too, has since become their home.
Caught these kids playing around when I was last there. From the joy on their faces, you can hardly tell the hand they've been dealt, can you?
Life finds a way even amongst the dead.
Life finds a way even amongst the dead.
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09 September 2010 10:50 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
- Getting a call from a friend who had once sworn off running saying, "I decided to start running. Can you come help me pick out a pair of shoes?"
- Getting a text from said friend a few days later: "Ah, the pleasant ache of well-exercised muscles."
- On asking friend how he found the Asics we picked out: "Felt like I was running on clouds."
- Hearing from a Pan Pacific colleague, a mother of two: "after I had children I could only run a total sum of 6 minutes; I drove myself to reach 3km, then 4km and recently 5km. I still do it with a whole lot of torture, anger, and difficulty." But she still pushes on through gritted teeth, and therein lies all the difference.
- Hearing the sage words of my ... "solidly built"... college professor who's also into distance running,"You look at those Kenyans -- they're built like gazelles! Of course they can run a marathon! You want to see a real wonder? Me running the marathon."
- Getting a text from said friend a few days later: "Ah, the pleasant ache of well-exercised muscles."
- On asking friend how he found the Asics we picked out: "Felt like I was running on clouds."
- Hearing from a Pan Pacific colleague, a mother of two: "after I had children I could only run a total sum of 6 minutes; I drove myself to reach 3km, then 4km and recently 5km. I still do it with a whole lot of torture, anger, and difficulty." But she still pushes on through gritted teeth, and therein lies all the difference.
- Hearing the sage words of my ... "solidly built"... college professor who's also into distance running,"You look at those Kenyans -- they're built like gazelles! Of course they can run a marathon! You want to see a real wonder? Me running the marathon."
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Posted On: 10 Sep 2010 12:29 am
Hi Jane,
It's funny, we are giving advice now and we haven't taken a step! Only the ticket in hand! Well, training is a huge accomplishment so you can give yourself a pre-pat on the back!
Cheers,
Dre
05 September 2010 10:52 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Back in the heyday when runway models still had some degree of relevance, a certain supermodel (Linda Evangelista) had declared, "I don't get out of bed for less than $10K a day."
You know what? I can say the same these days too!
"I don't get out for anything less than 10K."
Except I mean 10km... :p
It's just crazy how the distances shrink by the day, to the point where anything less than 10k seems like a short sprint and practically fruitless to attempt.
If I don my running shoes, it's because I intend to burn at least 10k in them (or climb up 300 flights of stairs in a day -- which was just attempted and duly completed yesterday but it was done in two separate sessions).
In case anyone's wondering, I still have a normal life. Case in point: last Saturday involved a hearty run at the reservoir, brunch with friend followed by a full body massage and gorging on sinful food at Orchard, and catching up with another dear friend who just got back from the States.
Life is goooood.
You know what? I can say the same these days too!
"I don't get out for anything less than 10K."
Except I mean 10km... :p
It's just crazy how the distances shrink by the day, to the point where anything less than 10k seems like a short sprint and practically fruitless to attempt.
If I don my running shoes, it's because I intend to burn at least 10k in them (or climb up 300 flights of stairs in a day -- which was just attempted and duly completed yesterday but it was done in two separate sessions).
In case anyone's wondering, I still have a normal life. Case in point: last Saturday involved a hearty run at the reservoir, brunch with friend followed by a full body massage and gorging on sinful food at Orchard, and catching up with another dear friend who just got back from the States.
Life is goooood.
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Posted On: 08 Sep 2010 04:52 am
Well done Jane, sounds like you are managing a great balance and not getting too serious about the training - best way! Good luck with the race - it's a beautiful desert...
Rob
Posted On: 06 Sep 2010 12:40 pm
Hey Jane,
I'm living in singapore and doing the sahara too :) just came back from the States and want to try run with my new pack....
i'm trying to gather the singapore runners too.... i saw u emailed Ian about that too....
can u email me at my gmail so it's easier to correspond?
my hp is 91195950
and sean ho is my classmate :)
05 September 2010 08:12 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
I'm just a little backpack, innocent as a bee
But 4 hours later, I finally swooped back home ("swoop" being a generous word because I was about as graceful as a dancing elephant by then). Just for fun, I weighed the backpack and it read...
...9.5kg.
WHAAAAAAAAAT?!!
Now that I've cleared the contents of the bag, it does seem reasonable. It's just... SERIOUSLY? It was not my plan to run with that much at all.
But hey, if I fell 2km short of my target of 35km today because of an extra 2.5kg on my back, I'll take reality over the original plan.
Moral of the story? Um... don't weigh your backpack until you get home. It may come as a happy surprise and it will be like Christmas all over again.
Right.
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28 August 2010 07:02 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Nothing removes guilt from a food shopping spree better than the excuse: "but, this chocolate bar is going to keep my energy up AND potentially save my life in the desert!!" NOM NOM NOM.
In other news, am trying to read a book about the Sahara before the trip so I can truly appreciate the legends and fables of that land.
That's right. On top of normal work and training, fund raising for World Vision, organising the Loof rooftop bar party, interviews and the other race preparation, I now want to read a book. My schedule is about to blow out the window and burst into flames.
Speaking of flames, there's an exciting contest to be launched soon. Thanks to some amazing sponsors, we're giving away a few prizes. And I'm not talking about papyrus bookmark prizes (those you get when you make a donation to World Vision on this site, under Support Me) but prizes valued over a few hundred dollars each. If I weren't organising this, I'd have loved to win them for myself. Anyway, you heard it here first.
Details will be out on my Sahara Facebook page.
In other news, am trying to read a book about the Sahara before the trip so I can truly appreciate the legends and fables of that land.
That's right. On top of normal work and training, fund raising for World Vision, organising the Loof rooftop bar party, interviews and the other race preparation, I now want to read a book. My schedule is about to blow out the window and burst into flames.
Speaking of flames, there's an exciting contest to be launched soon. Thanks to some amazing sponsors, we're giving away a few prizes. And I'm not talking about papyrus bookmark prizes (those you get when you make a donation to World Vision on this site, under Support Me) but prizes valued over a few hundred dollars each. If I weren't organising this, I'd have loved to win them for myself. Anyway, you heard it here first.
Details will be out on my Sahara Facebook page.
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Posted On: 04 Sep 2010 06:07 pm
How did you even find the time to read the book?!...
Posted On: 28 Aug 2010 03:15 pm
I like this: "but, this chocolate bar is going to keep my energy up.."
21 August 2010 07:16 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Like when the deadlines hit and you end up pulling a 70-hour work week with hardly enough time to sleep or train, or when a bout of bad flu decides to pay a visit and training becomes out of the question, or when the weather decides to play tricks and pours torrential rain on a precious weekend morning. In between all this, the trail you had wanted to run could become slippery and dangerous, your training schedule could be shot and your energy depleted even before you begin.
But that's life. It comes with every ounce of struggle and tribulation that it was meant to offer, and our weathering it all makes the triumph at the end that much sweeter.
(I mean if life was meant to be a cakewalk, there should be a lot more treadmills and whole lot less trails and hills, right? :P )
My point is, there is never a "perfect time" to do anything. Life, from the very beginning, has been a carnival of temptations and priorities fighting for our attention. On top of that, it will be relentlessly throwing obstacles in our way to sidetrack us. In fact, it has a feast of distractions lined up -- work schedule, flu bugs, and bad weather are just the appetizers.
And if we keep waiting for our schedule to clear up for us to do what we've always been meaning to do, it will never happen.
The only perfect time is that moment you act on an idea, the very moment you refuse to let ambitions languish as unrealised dreams.
So make today count.
Embrace this marathon some call Life and try not to turn into Didi or Gogo while you're at it. Embrace the fact that there will be many things along the way that will tempt us to stop, to give up before we reach our goals. Take it for granted that at many points throughout the race it's going to get so tough you virtually can't see a way out, and all signs seem to point to "quit".
But also remember it's precisely when the going gets tough that you must give more than you had ever given before.
There is no such thing as "the perfect time".
Instead, make today count.
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12 August 2010 08:56 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
I remember a time when running 5km was a drag, a slow motion of heavy legs complaining of fatigue even before the halfway mark.
I remember a time when completing 11km was considered a milestone. I remember that just attempting to achieve that distance meant getting an extra good rest the night before and rising early on a weekend morning just so I can huff and puff my way up the hills and clock that distance, never mind the time it takes to finish.
I remember all that from about 6 months ago. But it all seems like a dream and half a lifetime ago now.
Today, I ran 28km. Difference being, it's not a weekend but a Thursday. I had gotten off work, taken a 5kg backpack, and ran the merry distance with nothing much to complain about afterwards except some tiny blisters.
This, for now, is a milestone. But apparently milestones, like rules, are made to be broken.
I suppose one day, this, too, will turn from a milestone to a mere memory.
And it will be beautiful :)
I remember a time when completing 11km was considered a milestone. I remember that just attempting to achieve that distance meant getting an extra good rest the night before and rising early on a weekend morning just so I can huff and puff my way up the hills and clock that distance, never mind the time it takes to finish.
I remember all that from about 6 months ago. But it all seems like a dream and half a lifetime ago now.
Today, I ran 28km. Difference being, it's not a weekend but a Thursday. I had gotten off work, taken a 5kg backpack, and ran the merry distance with nothing much to complain about afterwards except some tiny blisters.
This, for now, is a milestone. But apparently milestones, like rules, are made to be broken.
I suppose one day, this, too, will turn from a milestone to a mere memory.
And it will be beautiful :)
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Posted On: 15 Aug 2010 04:32 pm
Jane, there's no doubt about how you can't complete the race with training like this! Good job and keep it up. These blogs will only turn into good memories to relish on later :)
09 August 2010 08:56 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Happy birthday, Singapore! Here's to a year of great runs ahead!
In an ideal world, each day would start with a 10k run with a bunch of awesome people colour coordinated in red and white, which would then be followed up with a fantabulous brunch at P.S. Cafe complete with shoestring fries, then finished with a reunion with a childhood friend who's in town all the way from Korea.
But since we do not live an ideal world, I'd be happy to take one day in the year... even if it comes off the tails of a lousy/restless night the day before, missing the alarm and waking at 7.18am when we're supposed to meet for the run at 7am.
All was made well again after I took a cab to the meeting point (taking a cab to go for a run. So ironic.) and just managed to catch the last group leaving the stadium.
Thank you everyone for a beautiful day!! Was amazing to finally see some very inspiring figures in the flesh. This truly was a perfect day.
Results from Utopian-world-come-true:
But since we do not live an ideal world, I'd be happy to take one day in the year... even if it comes off the tails of a lousy/restless night the day before, missing the alarm and waking at 7.18am when we're supposed to meet for the run at 7am.
All was made well again after I took a cab to the meeting point (taking a cab to go for a run. So ironic.) and just managed to catch the last group leaving the stadium.
Thank you everyone for a beautiful day!! Was amazing to finally see some very inspiring figures in the flesh. This truly was a perfect day.
Results from Utopian-world-come-true:
With Adam / 1 Arm Runner
With Shariff / Singapore Blade Runner
Sharing the Sahara plan with fellow runners
Chili crab. Mmmm...
Pretty mussels for lunch at the Nautilus Project @ ION
ION's trippy architecture
Chai tow kway at that delicious hokkien mee place @ Toa Payoh
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07 August 2010 10:46 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
About 6 months ago, I didn't even have a pair of proper running shoes. Now, I have the Asics Kayano 16 in every colour edition that's ever been produced. How did we get to this?!!
It's like a shop or something
Oh I remember. I first went out to buy a pair, wore it down during the 84km ultra marathon, bought two new pairs (one for training, another larger one for the actual race), then got sponsored a pair by Asics. Ah, life.
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04 August 2010 10:46 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
You know, when I first decided I was going to commit myself to this race, I knew some sacrifices were in the cards. The weekend sleep-ins are gone for sure; I discovered that I am no longer biologically capable of sleeping a minute past 7am on Saturdays. The body just wakes up expecting a good long run. Sad, I know.
And I can't really remember the last time I didn't have pain in at least one part of my body. If it's not the legs from the running, it's the abs from the core training or the arms from the weights. And then there's the random stuff that Sensei has us do at karate. Don't get me wrong -- I'm loving every minute of it. Because the pain tells you you're alive and well, that you're putting in effort and stretching your limits.
But in the list of so-called sacrifices, I would've never thought "fashion" would be one of them. Just the other day, I went on a run decked in a white top and white shoes. With the black shorts, black knee guards and black compression tights, it occurred to me that I looked like an inside-out Oreo!!
So if you saw a big fashion faux pas running around this week, I'm so sorry. :(
And I can't really remember the last time I didn't have pain in at least one part of my body. If it's not the legs from the running, it's the abs from the core training or the arms from the weights. And then there's the random stuff that Sensei has us do at karate. Don't get me wrong -- I'm loving every minute of it. Because the pain tells you you're alive and well, that you're putting in effort and stretching your limits.
But in the list of so-called sacrifices, I would've never thought "fashion" would be one of them. Just the other day, I went on a run decked in a white top and white shoes. With the black shorts, black knee guards and black compression tights, it occurred to me that I looked like an inside-out Oreo!!
So if you saw a big fashion faux pas running around this week, I'm so sorry. :(
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02 August 2010 10:44 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Didn't exactly clock 42km but after catching a bad bout of cold/flu and not being able to exercise for the past week, I was finally able to put in some serious work over the weekend. It's VERY painful to be sitting out on training, might I add. Probably easier to just go out and whack 10, 15km instead of following some self-imposed exile from exercise because the body needs to recover first; you can almost feel your muscles wasting away all this while.
Saturday was the appetizer - took a record 9kg backpack and ran the usual loop in an hour plus, which was the same amount of time I needed to finish the loop without any weights not so long ago. If you let it, the body can really surprise you sometimes.
Then things got real on Sunday: hid from the rain and hit the gym for a 2-hour run with a 6kg backpack (garnering a few strange looks for the shuffling sound of rice I was making), went for karate and then (yes) went to catch a late night showing of Inception. Walked out of cinema happy, only to realise later that I'd only figured out the ostentatious levels of the movie (i.e. the mainstream options of what happens) and that Chris Nolan had basically performed inception on the whole audience. ARGH.
In short, both body and mind got some healthy exercise these two days. Back on track for proper training this week!
Saturday was the appetizer - took a record 9kg backpack and ran the usual loop in an hour plus, which was the same amount of time I needed to finish the loop without any weights not so long ago. If you let it, the body can really surprise you sometimes.
Then things got real on Sunday: hid from the rain and hit the gym for a 2-hour run with a 6kg backpack (garnering a few strange looks for the shuffling sound of rice I was making), went for karate and then (yes) went to catch a late night showing of Inception. Walked out of cinema happy, only to realise later that I'd only figured out the ostentatious levels of the movie (i.e. the mainstream options of what happens) and that Chris Nolan had basically performed inception on the whole audience. ARGH.
In short, both body and mind got some healthy exercise these two days. Back on track for proper training this week!
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30 July 2010 10:45 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Alriiiight! Here's some exciting news that deserves a good shout out: Loof (that awesome rooftop bar just across from Raffles Hotel), World Vision and I are teaming up to bring you a night of merry drinking all in the name of a great cause.
In line with my mission to raise S$60,000 (US$40,000) for VisionFund, World Vision's microfinance subsidiary that provides micro loans and education to help needy families escape the poverty cycle, we're hosting a fund raising night at Loof and everyone's invited!
Loof will be donating 15% of all bar sales that night directly to the VisionFund so the more we drink, the better :)
Details
Date: 4th September 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 6.30pm - 10pm
Location: Loof
Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop (above Supperclub)
331 North Bridge Road
There're still some verrry exciting news about this event waiting to be finalised but I can't spoil it for you just yet. All I can say is, you're probably going to like it quite a bit so watch this space!
Book this date, spread the news! Tell your friends, tell your uncle, tell your cousin twice-removed and tell the dog to tell the cat. Everyone please bring your most alcoholic friends down that night and we'll have a great time! See you there :0) 
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27 July 2010 08:57 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Got a little feature in Business Times today: see last paragraph and photo. For the record, they got some facts wrong. It's a 7-day race, not 10 days :) Also, the sponsored amount from Pan Pacific Hotel Groups is different from reported. Pan Pacific is the title sponsor and they're doing a tremendous job, but there're other sponsors making this possible too! Canon, Singapura Finance, GNC, Outdoor Life and Asics -- thank you :)
For full view and text, click on image below and then click on the new image again.
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27 July 2010 08:57 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
It's amazing how quickly the body adapts. Less than 6 months ago, I couldn't even imagine running the 11km loop around the reservoir; the 4-5 km weekend runs were already a bit of a stretch even though the only thing I was holding was a mini water bottle.
Yesterday was half slushy/ half raining. One foot got completely dunked into a deep pool of muddy water early in the run (don't ask). A few months ago, that would've been enough reason to turn back and call it a day. I can't run with a soggy sock and shoe! But yesterday, I ended up clocking 24km with a 5kg backpack with enough gas in the tank for more.
The body learns fast.
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 28 Jul 2010 03:11 am
Great progress, Jane! Keep on going!
Inspired!
Posted On: 27 Jul 2010 04:33 pm
Look who's the disciplined one with some very serious training! ^_^ Keep the adrenaline pumping!
25 July 2010 10:45 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Just 9 weeks until the race! It's all getting very real. Gear is rapidly coming together with the help of some hard core time management and amazing sponsors. The biggest challenge is weight efficiency, as most backpacks for the race will come up to 9 or 10 kg. Add on the water they give you and you're pushing 12kg on sand dunes.
All that is to say, I've become unhealthily obsessed with how much everything weighs and the latest installment of the Sahara Race Preparation might as well be called "My Life in Grams" (which just makes me sound like some drug addict but oh well). Seriously though, the last few weeks have seen me ask some questions I never thought I would ever have to ask in life. Among the strangest questions:
1. Are the GLAD ziplock bags really lighter than the No Frills ones? (And am I really wasting minutes of my life standing in the supermarket trying to figure this out? Screw this I'm going to ask the cashier to weigh them on the fruit scale!)
2. How much does this compass weigh?
3. What is "lean muscle cannibalisation"? (Proceeds to Googling for answer. By the by, let me just say that Google is the answer to life, the universe, and everything. In other words, Google is 42.)
4. Which one has more calorie density, bak kwa or beef jerky?
5. How much does this boring Swiss knife weigh compared to this snazzy looking one? (Will I even care about the snazziness of a Swiss knife after 190km into the race?)
And now, check out some weight-efficient essentials and be wowed by innovation!
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11 July 2010 07:44 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Good golly. Been browsing through the list of Sahara 2010 competitors and ... is the list of competitors always this illustrious and crazy, or is it just me who's lost all bearing on what constitutes reality?!!
Amongst them: a 75 year-old who has run the 3-day, 217 km (135 miles) aptly named Death Valley Badwater Ultra Marathon 12 times, the founder and CEO of RacingThePlanet Mary Gadam (Queen Mary in my book), a Japanese couple running this as their honeymoon (folks, if you survive this one together, your marriage will probably survive just about anything), a theoretical physicist Ph. D candidate who's studying under Stephen Hawkins, a 25 year-old lady who's aiming to finish all four of the 250km foot races (Sahara, Gobi, Atacama, Antarctica) in one calendar year, a Czech who's travelled to Everest base camp by bike, a Brit who's walked the entire 1,930 km (1,200 mile) length of Britain, an Ozzie who's completed over 100 marathons, a Japanese who'd raced 3,129 km across his country in a span of 59 days (so basically doing more than one marathon a day for 2 months consecutively. Alrighty, then. No big deal there), a Korean pastor, a 58 year-old who has run the Sahara 10 times, and a model.
It's almost good enough to make a reality TV show.
I cannot wait to meet all of you guys. Sahara 2010 is going to be one wild ride :)
Amongst them: a 75 year-old who has run the 3-day, 217 km (135 miles) aptly named Death Valley Badwater Ultra Marathon 12 times, the founder and CEO of RacingThePlanet Mary Gadam (Queen Mary in my book), a Japanese couple running this as their honeymoon (folks, if you survive this one together, your marriage will probably survive just about anything), a theoretical physicist Ph. D candidate who's studying under Stephen Hawkins, a 25 year-old lady who's aiming to finish all four of the 250km foot races (Sahara, Gobi, Atacama, Antarctica) in one calendar year, a Czech who's travelled to Everest base camp by bike, a Brit who's walked the entire 1,930 km (1,200 mile) length of Britain, an Ozzie who's completed over 100 marathons, a Japanese who'd raced 3,129 km across his country in a span of 59 days (so basically doing more than one marathon a day for 2 months consecutively. Alrighty, then. No big deal there), a Korean pastor, a 58 year-old who has run the Sahara 10 times, and a model.
It's almost good enough to make a reality TV show.
I cannot wait to meet all of you guys. Sahara 2010 is going to be one wild ride :)
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04 July 2010 06:36 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
So furry.
Today marked my first run with a loaded backpack to test the conditions for the actual race, where we'll be carrying around 10kg on our backs.
I packed a 5kg bag of rice into the Raidlight backpack and started off to MacRitchie Reservoir. It really is a jungle walk out there! On the bright side, if I get stranded there for any reason I've got enough rice to feed a family of 20.
Anyway 12km and 20,000 steps later, I've cleared the first trial run / walk! Wasn't half as bad as I expected. The key is to keep a good posture so your back and neck doesn't take too much stress. The iPod kept me happily chugging along while nature continued to fascinate at every turn. See below :)
This was also the first chance I had to take my new Canon G11 out for an adventure. Wowww. Am just bowled over by this. It's been a while since I tried a point-and-shoot camera since moving onto the DSLR range. But... do they all pack such a punch these days?
I packed a 5kg bag of rice into the Raidlight backpack and started off to MacRitchie Reservoir. It really is a jungle walk out there! On the bright side, if I get stranded there for any reason I've got enough rice to feed a family of 20.
Anyway 12km and 20,000 steps later, I've cleared the first trial run / walk! Wasn't half as bad as I expected. The key is to keep a good posture so your back and neck doesn't take too much stress. The iPod kept me happily chugging along while nature continued to fascinate at every turn. See below :)
This was also the first chance I had to take my new Canon G11 out for an adventure. Wowww. Am just bowled over by this. It's been a while since I tried a point-and-shoot camera since moving onto the DSLR range. But... do they all pack such a punch these days?
Hello, sexy.
Warning: Jane the photo geek ahead.
/begin rave
A 360 degrees swivel screen that I've missed sorely on all my Canon models since owning the PowerShot A95, a wide angle mode, Image Stabilization to kill camera shake and to take photos in darker conditions (not that this would be an issue in the Sahara I imagine!), ISO of up to 12,800 in low light mode, video recording for up to 1 hour per clip (preposterous! I remember the days when I could only do 3 minutes max on my Canon PowerShot A95!), and more scene shooting modes than you can shake a stick at (not that I really care for this because I never use this function).
The cherry on the cake? A built-in Neutral Density filter capability to improve shooting in ultra bright conditions (Sahara, I hear your name).
But the niftiest feature of the lot HAS GOT TO BE the new face recognition feature for group shots. The G11 will only take a photo when it detects an additional face joining in the group. I guess they just wiped out the era of awkward 10 second dashes trying to get your own face into a photo.
This is just full of win. I wonder what else it does? Totally provides a whole new excuse to take it for another 12km trail session soon.
For now, just enjoy the wonders of MacRitchie.
/begin rave
A 360 degrees swivel screen that I've missed sorely on all my Canon models since owning the PowerShot A95, a wide angle mode, Image Stabilization to kill camera shake and to take photos in darker conditions (not that this would be an issue in the Sahara I imagine!), ISO of up to 12,800 in low light mode, video recording for up to 1 hour per clip (preposterous! I remember the days when I could only do 3 minutes max on my Canon PowerShot A95!), and more scene shooting modes than you can shake a stick at (not that I really care for this because I never use this function).
The cherry on the cake? A built-in Neutral Density filter capability to improve shooting in ultra bright conditions (Sahara, I hear your name).
But the niftiest feature of the lot HAS GOT TO BE the new face recognition feature for group shots. The G11 will only take a photo when it detects an additional face joining in the group. I guess they just wiped out the era of awkward 10 second dashes trying to get your own face into a photo.
This is just full of win. I wonder what else it does? Totally provides a whole new excuse to take it for another 12km trail session soon.
For now, just enjoy the wonders of MacRitchie.
Snapshots of MacRitchie
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03 July 2010 06:34 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
"Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear."
Ladies and gentlemen, a huge round of applause for Singapore's very own Blade Runner (Shariff) please!! He just completed the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur marathon despite having the odds stacked against him!
This was no easy race for Shariff, who has clocked 4 and a half hours in a marathon before. This time around he suffered an injury in his good leg at the 18km mark and with cold muscle cramps setting in, he was forced to mix his runs with walking. With more than half the race left to run, a weaker soul might be tempted to quit at this point. But Shariff saw it through with grit and belief.
There was terrible cramping, a fall, and pain-induced tears.
But HE SAW IT THROUGH. Is there even a word that can fully capture how amazing a feat that is? To stare at pain and near-impossibility in the face and say, "I will conquer this"... that is sheer inspiration.
Congrats on the race, SBR. You are an awesome person to behold.
Ladies and gentlemen, a huge round of applause for Singapore's very own Blade Runner (Shariff) please!! He just completed the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur marathon despite having the odds stacked against him!
This was no easy race for Shariff, who has clocked 4 and a half hours in a marathon before. This time around he suffered an injury in his good leg at the 18km mark and with cold muscle cramps setting in, he was forced to mix his runs with walking. With more than half the race left to run, a weaker soul might be tempted to quit at this point. But Shariff saw it through with grit and belief.
There was terrible cramping, a fall, and pain-induced tears.
But HE SAW IT THROUGH. Is there even a word that can fully capture how amazing a feat that is? To stare at pain and near-impossibility in the face and say, "I will conquer this"... that is sheer inspiration.
Congrats on the race, SBR. You are an awesome person to behold.
SBR with 100m to the finishing line at the Standard Chartered KL marathon
So long as we're on the subject of awesomeness, how's this guy for some Grade A Awesomeness too? Adam was in a traffic accident in 2003, which cost him his right arm and left his left arm paralysed. But you know what they say: you can't keep a good man down. Adam responded to that life changing day with a brand of courage and tenacity that most of us can only marvel at.
At the 5th Asean Para Games last year, he broke meet record for the 800m race and completed the Sundown 84km ultramarathon this year with a time that would put most people to shame: 12 hours 41 minutes 40 seconds. (Dude! How did I not see you during the whole race? Our times were so close! I blame it on the darkness and the fact that I was about to faint.)
Anyway I just wanted to spread the word about these amazing guys who, with courage and semangat （Malay for fortitude), continue to weave miracle stories right here in sunny Singapore. It seems like heroes really are not born but built through a lifetime. Thank you for the inspiration. You are the reason I run.
Keep it up, Shariff and Adam. And to quote Adam himself: two toes up ;)
(Clicking on their photos here will take you to their websites)
At the 5th Asean Para Games last year, he broke meet record for the 800m race and completed the Sundown 84km ultramarathon this year with a time that would put most people to shame: 12 hours 41 minutes 40 seconds. (Dude! How did I not see you during the whole race? Our times were so close! I blame it on the darkness and the fact that I was about to faint.)
Anyway I just wanted to spread the word about these amazing guys who, with courage and semangat （Malay for fortitude), continue to weave miracle stories right here in sunny Singapore. It seems like heroes really are not born but built through a lifetime. Thank you for the inspiration. You are the reason I run.
Keep it up, Shariff and Adam. And to quote Adam himself: two toes up ;)
(Clicking on their photos here will take you to their websites)
Adam! - Photo courtesy of SameerPictures.com
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28 June 2010 06:42 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Sweet victory, bitter aftermath.
1. Ice bath
Mind-numbingly painful but dunking your legs into a bucket of ice submerged in water does wonders. Hey, if Andy Murray can take a full body ice bath, I can deal with one on the legs. If you can't find a bucket or a pail, an IKEA plastic dustbin works just as well :p
2. Salt bath
Don't know where I heard this one but it didn't seem to do me any harm: heave large spoonfuls of salt in warm water, mix, and submerge your legs into the solution.
3. Full body massage
Do this as soon as possible. Your muscles will scream but your body will thank you for it later. And don't be a hero and try to go for a Thai; the Swedish was bad enough.
4. Pain patches
The hot/cool combo kind works particularly well for me. Like the massage, there's a trade off. This time, it's between stinking like a medicine cabinet for a few days and feeling like bed of roses afterwards.
THE END!
P.S. Love love love how the shot of the medal above turned out. All hail the Canon 50D and the 24-105 f/4 L lens for making things look better than reality! Woot.
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26 June 2010 08:59 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
When I first looked up how to prepare for an ultramarathon I was horrified at the amount of info and the scientific mumble-jumble I was expected to absorb. "I just want to run with my two legs! How did it get so complicated??!"
But now that it's all done, it's great to hear that finishing the race has been an inspiration to some. For anyone who's looking to conquer an ultramarathon here's at least one proven way to do it. Note: I am still very much a running novice who didn't know my Vo2Max from my glucosamine until recently. So please take the following with a pinch of salt (pun unintended).
Pre-Race
1. Honey and salt mix
Mix honey and salt in a cup of warm water to drink the day before the race. The concoction should help prevent cramps during the race. Courtesy of my dear friend Trish (and fellow Sahara Race 2010 runner from Singapore!) who really is your garden variety of people that does triathlons for fun and eats steel for breakfast.
2. Carbo-loading
It's tradition that one loads up on carbohydrate-rich food (pasta, rice, etc.) the day before the race. Although the effectiveness of this practice has been questioned of late, I still wolfed down a whole can of potato chips per Trish's recommendation. No better excuse to eat salt-laden junk food! So go ahead, pick the flavour with the highest sodium content.
3. Get enough sleep
For an overnight run where you're expected to race right through the twilight hours, getting enough rest the day before is critical. Although another friend, Thaddeus, also managed to finish the ultramarathon by sleeping at 5am the day of the race. Go figure.
4. Glucosamine tablets
Take these like your running depends on it -- because it does. In fact, take regularly to keep joints healthy.
5. Clip your toe nails
Unless you're the sort that likes seeing black toe nails detach from flesh.
Race Day Must-Haves!
1. Fräulein Maria
No, don't bring the Singing Nun of the Sound of Music but keep an upbeat disposition throughout the race. There will be tough stretches and I did see people breakdown and cry on this race. These are the times when staying cheerful and positive will be the hardest but most important thing you can do for yourself. If you must run naked, at least come singing "Doe, a deer".
Oh, yes, a dose of determination also helps.
2. Vaseline
Onto the wonderful world where gear can be store-bought, Vaseline is a life-saver. The chafing on your arms, inner thighs, waist can be quite severe if you're eating up 84km in one go. Slather on Vaseline to avoid uncalled for pain.
But now that it's all done, it's great to hear that finishing the race has been an inspiration to some. For anyone who's looking to conquer an ultramarathon here's at least one proven way to do it. Note: I am still very much a running novice who didn't know my Vo2Max from my glucosamine until recently. So please take the following with a pinch of salt (pun unintended).
Pre-Race
1. Honey and salt mix
Mix honey and salt in a cup of warm water to drink the day before the race. The concoction should help prevent cramps during the race. Courtesy of my dear friend Trish (and fellow Sahara Race 2010 runner from Singapore!) who really is your garden variety of people that does triathlons for fun and eats steel for breakfast.
2. Carbo-loading
It's tradition that one loads up on carbohydrate-rich food (pasta, rice, etc.) the day before the race. Although the effectiveness of this practice has been questioned of late, I still wolfed down a whole can of potato chips per Trish's recommendation. No better excuse to eat salt-laden junk food! So go ahead, pick the flavour with the highest sodium content.
3. Get enough sleep
For an overnight run where you're expected to race right through the twilight hours, getting enough rest the day before is critical. Although another friend, Thaddeus, also managed to finish the ultramarathon by sleeping at 5am the day of the race. Go figure.
4. Glucosamine tablets
Take these like your running depends on it -- because it does. In fact, take regularly to keep joints healthy.
5. Clip your toe nails
Unless you're the sort that likes seeing black toe nails detach from flesh.
Race Day Must-Haves!
1. Fräulein Maria
No, don't bring the Singing Nun of the Sound of Music but keep an upbeat disposition throughout the race. There will be tough stretches and I did see people breakdown and cry on this race. These are the times when staying cheerful and positive will be the hardest but most important thing you can do for yourself. If you must run naked, at least come singing "Doe, a deer".
Oh, yes, a dose of determination also helps.
2. Vaseline
Onto the wonderful world where gear can be store-bought, Vaseline is a life-saver. The chafing on your arms, inner thighs, waist can be quite severe if you're eating up 84km in one go. Slather on Vaseline to avoid uncalled for pain.
3. Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap
New rule: no long runs allowed from now on unless chaperoned by the very awesome Cho-Pat knee straps. Seriously.
I bought one for the weaker right knee and it did wonders in the race. They're different from the typical single-strap knee bands in that, with a strap above and below, the Cho-Pat straps hold the knee cap in place much better. The real test? Now that I'm into the recovery period, the right knee is healing much faster than the left. I need to go get myself another one.
They're also made with patented technology, however much that piece of news is worth to you. They're sold at Outdoor Life at Novena Square. Definitely packing a pair for the Sahara.
New rule: no long runs allowed from now on unless chaperoned by the very awesome Cho-Pat knee straps. Seriously.
I bought one for the weaker right knee and it did wonders in the race. They're different from the typical single-strap knee bands in that, with a strap above and below, the Cho-Pat straps hold the knee cap in place much better. The real test? Now that I'm into the recovery period, the right knee is healing much faster than the left. I need to go get myself another one.
They're also made with patented technology, however much that piece of news is worth to you. They're sold at Outdoor Life at Novena Square. Definitely packing a pair for the Sahara.
4. Electrolytes
Replenish the sodium and potassium you lose during exercise. These are a must for endurance races. I love the Nathan Catalyst sort, which works like coffee, only healthier. It's also sugar free and calorie free. I swear, these give you an amazing turbo boost. If I could, I'd lug a whole crate of 'em to the Sahara.
Replenish the sodium and potassium you lose during exercise. These are a must for endurance races. I love the Nathan Catalyst sort, which works like coffee, only healthier. It's also sugar free and calorie free. I swear, these give you an amazing turbo boost. If I could, I'd lug a whole crate of 'em to the Sahara.
4. Energy gels
Lots of brands out there. Some just go down better than others but it's a personal thing. Always test them before the race. Conventional wisdom says that you should not use a new brand of gels during the run itself; your system may not take it well. For the ultra, I used those by PowerGels, GU, SIS, and Carb-BOOM! Reviews to come soon.
Lots of brands out there. Some just go down better than others but it's a personal thing. Always test them before the race. Conventional wisdom says that you should not use a new brand of gels during the run itself; your system may not take it well. For the ultra, I used those by PowerGels, GU, SIS, and Carb-BOOM! Reviews to come soon.
5. Race belt
To help carry the artillery of energy gels. Also came in VERY handy to hold my knee strap when I initially opted to run without it.
6. Injinji toe socks
Anti-blister socks designed by gods and slipped through to our mortal world with the help of a modern day Prometheus. I find the socks' fabric a bit thin but I'll pack a few for the Sahara too. Works even better when you dump some of that anti-blister powder into the socks before the race. Other thing of note: it's a struggle to put on; like trying to put on 10 socks all at once.
To help carry the artillery of energy gels. Also came in VERY handy to hold my knee strap when I initially opted to run without it.
6. Injinji toe socks
Anti-blister socks designed by gods and slipped through to our mortal world with the help of a modern day Prometheus. I find the socks' fabric a bit thin but I'll pack a few for the Sahara too. Works even better when you dump some of that anti-blister powder into the socks before the race. Other thing of note: it's a struggle to put on; like trying to put on 10 socks all at once.
7. Asics Kayano 16
Ladies and gents, may I present to you the shoe that made all that running in the last 6 months possible: my beloved Asics Kayano 16. I used to get severe knee pain after just 4km or so using a pair of nondescript trainers. But since switching to this pair, which provides support for over-pronation / flat footedness and other flaws, well... apparently I can run through the night. Using custom insoles also help.
The sad news? I ran this pair down during the ultra. Not only are the tracks on the purple rubber gone, the purple rubber is goLook at the different layers of rubber poking through the soles! Time for a new pair.
8. Wrist bands
When you're running in 30 degrees heat and 90% humidity, wrist bands help A LOT. Am surprised how few people used this?!
Ladies and gents, may I present to you the shoe that made all that running in the last 6 months possible: my beloved Asics Kayano 16. I used to get severe knee pain after just 4km or so using a pair of nondescript trainers. But since switching to this pair, which provides support for over-pronation / flat footedness and other flaws, well... apparently I can run through the night. Using custom insoles also help.
The sad news? I ran this pair down during the ultra. Not only are the tracks on the purple rubber gone, the purple rubber is goLook at the different layers of rubber poking through the soles! Time for a new pair.
8. Wrist bands
When you're running in 30 degrees heat and 90% humidity, wrist bands help A LOT. Am surprised how few people used this?!
9. Sportline pedometer/watch
Went to Outdoor Life to grab a timepiece for the run at the last minute (pun unintended) and WHAT A GREAT CALL that was. This is the little gadget that kept my sanity and pace throughout the night, especially during the tougher stretches when it was all too easy to just stop and walk. As soon as the speedometer read "4km/hour" I sped up again. My new favourite toy :0)
10. iPod and good music
I'm not the sort that runs with music but for a race where one will be running for more than 12 hours on end, some music might be needed as a sanity check. Really glad I brought the iPod nano. Having sound in my head was instrumental to staying upright when I could've dropped down dead to sleep. The ABBA and w-inds. playlists alone lasted me for the whole of the second 42km lap.
Besides, I got to take a video of myself crossing the finishing line with the nano :) Don't you just love 'em Apple products?
What I didn't bring
1. Counterpain
Didn't want the bulk and didn't want to just numb the pain away.
2. Cash
A lot of people who'd run last year's Sundown ultra prefer to bring a bit of money on the run this time round. Cravings do occur (Thaddeus: I'm looking at you) so you'd be glad to have a bit of change when your stomach demands a cup of Milo. I didn't bring any money but with no cravings along the way, it worked out fine this time.
If you must bring cash, go for notes. Ran into a guy who was apparently carrying coins. He jingled like he just ate Santa's reindeers.
Went to Outdoor Life to grab a timepiece for the run at the last minute (pun unintended) and WHAT A GREAT CALL that was. This is the little gadget that kept my sanity and pace throughout the night, especially during the tougher stretches when it was all too easy to just stop and walk. As soon as the speedometer read "4km/hour" I sped up again. My new favourite toy :0)
10. iPod and good music
I'm not the sort that runs with music but for a race where one will be running for more than 12 hours on end, some music might be needed as a sanity check. Really glad I brought the iPod nano. Having sound in my head was instrumental to staying upright when I could've dropped down dead to sleep. The ABBA and w-inds. playlists alone lasted me for the whole of the second 42km lap.
Besides, I got to take a video of myself crossing the finishing line with the nano :) Don't you just love 'em Apple products?
What I didn't bring
1. Counterpain
Didn't want the bulk and didn't want to just numb the pain away.
2. Cash
A lot of people who'd run last year's Sundown ultra prefer to bring a bit of money on the run this time round. Cravings do occur (Thaddeus: I'm looking at you) so you'd be glad to have a bit of change when your stomach demands a cup of Milo. I didn't bring any money but with no cravings along the way, it worked out fine this time.
If you must bring cash, go for notes. Ran into a guy who was apparently carrying coins. He jingled like he just ate Santa's reindeers.
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Posted On: 02 Jul 2010 06:19 pm
Thanks for all the valuable info! I have my first 50mile race in 2 weeks time, so it was great to read all about yours. Great job! See you at the Sahara Race :)
26 June 2010 08:52 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
I did it!!!
Flag off at 6pm -- here we go!
Despite repeated warnings from training websites and seasoned runners that one should not attempt an ultramarathon without at least getting comfortable with the 42 km marathon, I completed the adidas Sundown ultramarathon (84km or 52 miles) in 12 hours and 26 minutes.
Not too shoddy, considering the furthest I'd ever run prior to this was the 25km Passion Run last weekend and I didn't know I was going to run in the 84km ultra until 2 weeks before the race? I can tell you, though, starting a run at 6pm and racing through the night until 6 in the morning is quite the experience.
More details, photos, videos, and ponderings to come!
For now, I sleep. Then I need to go get leg transplants.
Proudly donning the finisher's t-shirt and medal
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Posted On: 08 Jun 2010 12:18 am
Hey Jane fantastic effort see you in Sahara. Sandy
24 June 2010 09:14 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
... I... don't even know what to say:
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23 June 2010 06:37 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Here's a HUGE SHOUTOUT to the ever-wonderful Mr. Thaddeus Lawrence to wish him good luck for his 7-day, 250km march across the Gobi Desert in China, which starts THIS SUNDAY! You can follow the Gobi race here: Gobi March 2010. Photos and videos will be posted daily at the end of each leg of the race. Apparently temperatures are pushing 50 degrees Celsius now. *faints*
But back to Thaddeus -- ladies and gents, this is the man who put me in all this Sahara trouble in the first place. If I hadn't read about his Sahara Race last year in the newspapers, I would not have signed up for this so it's all thanks ("thanks" being a euphemism here) to his trip photos and impressive presentation skills. You can find out more about Thaddeus and his work as a speaker and life coach at his website.
Good luck, Thaddeus! You are one amazing man! Please race safe and make it back in good shape so we can get the party going. We do not promise confetti or vuvuzelas but a good time will be had by all. :0)
Also, a huuuge thank you to my favourite camera maker, Canon, for the support. It is no understatement when I say that these guys have captured some of the most beautiful moments of my life in the last 5 years. Thank you for making stunning cameras and lenses, for continuously outdoing yourself and beating my high expectations with every shot, and for transforming the fleeting moments into a beautiful eternity.
Let the good times roll!
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19 June 2010 08:50 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Stage 7
A fellow runner likes the little running system I've devised for Alan (impromptu pacing buddy) and myself. He invites us to join him at his support station a few hundred metres ahead. And really, that's what the race is all about.
Even though the journey is, at large stretches, a solitary one it's the stories that you encounter and create that make all the difference.
Earlier on a marathoner ran up to me and, having forgotten to take his energy gels on this race, asked if I could spare him one. At that point I felt like an outright candy store since I had about 4 different brands of gel on me so he could literally take his pick. "Thanks," he runs off, "What's your bib number? I'll remember you."
I doubt that he does; but it doesn't really matter. The point is that it felt good to help someone else go the distance. There's an unspoken rapport between runners, and an even stranger brand of magic between distance runners that only transpires by moonlight.
What a wild ride.
Even though the body is tired, I catch myself smiling at several points throughout the race because this is just so much fun.
You just have to be there to believe it.
Stage 8
A slice of watermelon, a cup of honey brew, half a mouthful of coke, and endless cups of water and isotonic drinks later, I'm finally in the home stretch. By now, it's an uphill battle just to keep up with the self-mandated 6km/hour pace but the slightest crack of blue in the night sky heralds a daybreak I do not want to see until I cross the finish line.
I step on the gas pedal one more time and, to the tune of Jonsi's "Go Do" (hands down the best marathon-finishing song -- thank you Andrew!), sprint down the last hundred metres just as colour creeps into the sky.
Race the night, beat the sunrise.
I never did expect this but here you go, one foot in front of the other and suddenly, I'm there in 12 minutes 28 minutes 5 seconds.
(W)oooooooooow.
"Tired" does not even begin to describe this moment. But then, neither does "elated".
The day we finished the Sundown ultra marathon, the sunrise was perfect.
A fellow runner likes the little running system I've devised for Alan (impromptu pacing buddy) and myself. He invites us to join him at his support station a few hundred metres ahead. And really, that's what the race is all about.
Even though the journey is, at large stretches, a solitary one it's the stories that you encounter and create that make all the difference.
Earlier on a marathoner ran up to me and, having forgotten to take his energy gels on this race, asked if I could spare him one. At that point I felt like an outright candy store since I had about 4 different brands of gel on me so he could literally take his pick. "Thanks," he runs off, "What's your bib number? I'll remember you."
I doubt that he does; but it doesn't really matter. The point is that it felt good to help someone else go the distance. There's an unspoken rapport between runners, and an even stranger brand of magic between distance runners that only transpires by moonlight.
What a wild ride.
Even though the body is tired, I catch myself smiling at several points throughout the race because this is just so much fun.
You just have to be there to believe it.
Stage 8
A slice of watermelon, a cup of honey brew, half a mouthful of coke, and endless cups of water and isotonic drinks later, I'm finally in the home stretch. By now, it's an uphill battle just to keep up with the self-mandated 6km/hour pace but the slightest crack of blue in the night sky heralds a daybreak I do not want to see until I cross the finish line.
I step on the gas pedal one more time and, to the tune of Jonsi's "Go Do" (hands down the best marathon-finishing song -- thank you Andrew!), sprint down the last hundred metres just as colour creeps into the sky.
Race the night, beat the sunrise.
I never did expect this but here you go, one foot in front of the other and suddenly, I'm there in 12 minutes 28 minutes 5 seconds.
(W)oooooooooow.
"Tired" does not even begin to describe this moment. But then, neither does "elated".
The day we finished the Sundown ultra marathon, the sunrise was perfect.
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17 June 2010 08:48 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Stage 5
Time out of blocks for second lap of 42km: 11.47pm. The iPod dishes out the ABBA playlist (?!!) and it lasts me for a surprisingly long stretch of Round 2, including that mind-numbingly dull 8km stretch along the Changi runway. Something about chirpy '70s Swedish pop that mixes well with the night.
I'm tempted to walk the rest of it, but a) my walking speed turns out to be a very slow 4.3km/hr and b) mentally it's just too painful to make the race last that long. Better be over and done with asap.
Note to self: the run/walk system works.
I accidentally discover a neat little mental trick (involving quite a bit of Cantonese) that helps you run a lot faster and the average running speed is easily hitting 13km/hr now, even if it means I could only do it in short spurts.
Lesson three: when in doubt, do some maths.
Mental acuity is honed by constant arithmetic re-calculations of speed and estimated time of arrival, which shrinks from original goal of 13 hrs 30 mins to 12 hrs 30 mins. A small but audacious thought takes hold in my head: could I literally beat the sunrise?
By now the marathoners have caught up and it's a gaggle of arms, legs, elbows everywhere. Sleep has also caught up with me and the spells of swooning come much too often for comfort. I'm scared I'll hit the ground any moment and just shutt down for the rest of the night.
The only option, as it turns out, is to fight fire with fire.
Lesson four: Whenever you're feeling insatiably sleepy, RUN. Walking only tempts the sleep demons.
Lesson five: that "slapping yourself in the face to wake up" trick from TV shows ? It works. Has the unfortunate consequence of alarming those around you, however.
Stage 6
It's been 9 hours since we started running and the system is seriously asking for some shut eye. Just as well. I scan the distance for race marshals and a good patch of grass.
At around the 60km mark, I spot them.
"Hi! I' m going to take a power nap here. Can you help wake me up in 2-3 minutes?"
With that, I plonk down onto the patch of grass and (try to) sleep. It's a most surreal sensation, to be sleep deprived and trying to snatch a nap beneath the street lamp on a narrow patch of grass wedged between two lanes, all the while runners are shuffling on in opposite directions. It must've made for a strange sight but it gets to the point where nothing matters but doing anything that will take you across that finish line.
Time out of blocks for second lap of 42km: 11.47pm. The iPod dishes out the ABBA playlist (?!!) and it lasts me for a surprisingly long stretch of Round 2, including that mind-numbingly dull 8km stretch along the Changi runway. Something about chirpy '70s Swedish pop that mixes well with the night.
I'm tempted to walk the rest of it, but a) my walking speed turns out to be a very slow 4.3km/hr and b) mentally it's just too painful to make the race last that long. Better be over and done with asap.
Note to self: the run/walk system works.
I accidentally discover a neat little mental trick (involving quite a bit of Cantonese) that helps you run a lot faster and the average running speed is easily hitting 13km/hr now, even if it means I could only do it in short spurts.
Lesson three: when in doubt, do some maths.
Mental acuity is honed by constant arithmetic re-calculations of speed and estimated time of arrival, which shrinks from original goal of 13 hrs 30 mins to 12 hrs 30 mins. A small but audacious thought takes hold in my head: could I literally beat the sunrise?
By now the marathoners have caught up and it's a gaggle of arms, legs, elbows everywhere. Sleep has also caught up with me and the spells of swooning come much too often for comfort. I'm scared I'll hit the ground any moment and just shutt down for the rest of the night.
The only option, as it turns out, is to fight fire with fire.
Lesson four: Whenever you're feeling insatiably sleepy, RUN. Walking only tempts the sleep demons.
Lesson five: that "slapping yourself in the face to wake up" trick from TV shows ? It works. Has the unfortunate consequence of alarming those around you, however.
Stage 6
It's been 9 hours since we started running and the system is seriously asking for some shut eye. Just as well. I scan the distance for race marshals and a good patch of grass.
At around the 60km mark, I spot them.
"Hi! I' m going to take a power nap here. Can you help wake me up in 2-3 minutes?"
With that, I plonk down onto the patch of grass and (try to) sleep. It's a most surreal sensation, to be sleep deprived and trying to snatch a nap beneath the street lamp on a narrow patch of grass wedged between two lanes, all the while runners are shuffling on in opposite directions. It must've made for a strange sight but it gets to the point where nothing matters but doing anything that will take you across that finish line.
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11 June 2010 08:51 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Stage 3
There's a full moon tonight. A perfect column of golden moonbeam strikes into the black of the sea and the magic of night running slowly reveals itself.
Happy campers and families staying over at the beach chalets are out shouting words of encouragement at us. They may be just passers-by but there's something special in the air when you've got cheerleaders on the way who appreciate what you're trying to accomplish.
That fuel lasts for another good 10km.
But the next stretch of the race is getting a little tricky as the crowd of runners thin out, accentuating the dark and lonely journey through the night. The drink stands seem to be growing further and further apart even though I know there's one every 2km.
What annoys (and amuses) me is that foolish banner they have at the National Sailing Centre that we pass. They've got a sign that screams, "You think this is hard? Try sailing." Yeah? Well I don't see you lot getting the boats out for an all-nighter at sea. Thoughtless and utterly tasteless message. Clearly made without much thought to context. But even without there being an ultramarathon event, what good does such a holier-than-thou tone do anyway? Was is actually designed to... *gasp* persuade people to join the club?
Anyway, I am less than impressed. It bugged me during the 25km race last week and bugs me still. End of rant.
Stage 4
I am almost there, but I am not. The 30-42km leg of the race stretches out like an endless road to hell. It's the hardest but most important leg I will have to run all night and I know this. If I can reach the 42km checkpoint before 11:30pm, I can pretty much jog / walk the remaining 42km and still finish before the 15 hour cut off.
In my head, I rehearse the procedure I have to go through at check point for the 11th time or so, if only to keep myself sane. Re-line Vaseline, grab iPod, reload race belt, slap on pain patches, change wrist band, restock electrolytes, eat bananas. Not in that order.
If all goes well, I should be out of the blocks again within 30 minutes, just enough to narrowly avoid the crush of marathoners whose flag off is at 12 midnight, the Cinderellas that they are.
But running against time is no fun at all. The 42km mark is mind numbingly far away right now. All that's left is to do is grit your teeth and grind it out.
There's a full moon tonight. A perfect column of golden moonbeam strikes into the black of the sea and the magic of night running slowly reveals itself.
Happy campers and families staying over at the beach chalets are out shouting words of encouragement at us. They may be just passers-by but there's something special in the air when you've got cheerleaders on the way who appreciate what you're trying to accomplish.
That fuel lasts for another good 10km.
But the next stretch of the race is getting a little tricky as the crowd of runners thin out, accentuating the dark and lonely journey through the night. The drink stands seem to be growing further and further apart even though I know there's one every 2km.
What annoys (and amuses) me is that foolish banner they have at the National Sailing Centre that we pass. They've got a sign that screams, "You think this is hard? Try sailing." Yeah? Well I don't see you lot getting the boats out for an all-nighter at sea. Thoughtless and utterly tasteless message. Clearly made without much thought to context. But even without there being an ultramarathon event, what good does such a holier-than-thou tone do anyway? Was is actually designed to... *gasp* persuade people to join the club?
Anyway, I am less than impressed. It bugged me during the 25km race last week and bugs me still. End of rant.
Stage 4
I am almost there, but I am not. The 30-42km leg of the race stretches out like an endless road to hell. It's the hardest but most important leg I will have to run all night and I know this. If I can reach the 42km checkpoint before 11:30pm, I can pretty much jog / walk the remaining 42km and still finish before the 15 hour cut off.
In my head, I rehearse the procedure I have to go through at check point for the 11th time or so, if only to keep myself sane. Re-line Vaseline, grab iPod, reload race belt, slap on pain patches, change wrist band, restock electrolytes, eat bananas. Not in that order.
If all goes well, I should be out of the blocks again within 30 minutes, just enough to narrowly avoid the crush of marathoners whose flag off is at 12 midnight, the Cinderellas that they are.
But running against time is no fun at all. The 42km mark is mind numbingly far away right now. All that's left is to do is grit your teeth and grind it out.
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11 June 2010 08:48 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
"Stages" noted below all mental and personal only
Stage 1
It's 5:58pm, just shy of our 6pm flag off, and all 625 ultramarathoners (I know, right? Who would've thought we could gather this many crazies in good ol' Singapore?) are heading out to the sound of drums. Before the first kilometre mark, I sense a bothering strain in my right calf. Thinking it's the knee strap that I have still yet to break into, I rip off the strap and stuff it into the race belt. But the strain subsists and I know it's a matter of time before it turns into a full fledged cramp.
Not good when there's still 83km to go.
Thank goodness I find the root of the problem!
Lesson one: Do not tie shoe laces too tightly.
Spot Trish ahead and end up running with her for a bit. The sun is just sinking onto a pillion of clouds. Suddenly, we spot the Spindle Galaxy.
No, really.
I did expect to see many great things throughout the night race but to suddenly find myself looking into what can only be a close-up of the Spindle Galaxy was unbelievable. You see, the clouds had gathered in such a way that they look to be the disc of said lenticular galaxy and the sun is hiding behind the curling strips of white, glowing like a disc. There's no other way to describe it; this is the closest shot I can find to the sunset we witnessed and yes, that's the real Spindle Galaxy. (All those astronomy classes in college apparently did not go to waste).
The Real Spindle Galaxy A.K.A. The Sunset at Sundown 2010
Stage 2
We're getting into serious business now. The runners are thinning out and the light of day has been stolen by Bangladesh and the like.
I'm just hoping I don't trip over some rock or roll my ankle over a pothole or do something phantasmically idiotic. That would be a very lame way of pulling out of the race.
Lesson two: You can't run well on a full bladder so pace your toilet breaks. The porta potties do not come as often as you wish. And since the all-powerful Murphy decrees that the next porta potty will have 8 runners waiting in line just when you really need to go, it's best to use one when you see one.
At around the 13km mark, I' m slowing down and contemplating my first walk break. Completely justified, except some random runner I happen to be passing chooses to utter at that precise moment the gritty words, "C'mon. Don't stop. C'mon!"
Which, of course, lights a fire beneath my arse and I'm off at a healthy trot for another 5km. Amazing, how unexpected words of encouragement from a stranger can fuel you for so long. So it's a random showering of encouragements at others and some way or another I'm at the 21km mark, a little worse for wear. On go the knee straps again.
On a side note, I recall seeing the front runner of the race passing the 27km mark just as I was reaching the 15km. Obscene, just obscene. But I guess that explains his 6 hours 18 minutes finishing time.
All together now: "OBSCEEEENE!"
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07 June 2010 08:50 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
...everyone's favourite tennis matador reclaims the French Open title in a pretty darn good match against Robin Soderling.
Nadal is just pure Tenacity and Heart. This guy really makes the impossible a reality. To watch him play is to take a lesson in fortitude and willpower.
And here's Exhibit A of said talent from the match against Kolya at Monte Carlo 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/v/36SSdFPPp9w&
Nadal is just pure Tenacity and Heart. This guy really makes the impossible a reality. To watch him play is to take a lesson in fortitude and willpower.
And here's Exhibit A of said talent from the match against Kolya at Monte Carlo 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/v/36SSdFPPp9w&
¿Cómo se dice "refuse to lose"?
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01 June 2010 09:44 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
This 1992 Olympics moment gets to me every time: http://www.youtube.com/v/7L0AwASILbo
Derek Redmond was favoured to win the 400m when, at the 150m mark, he pulled a hamstring and collapsed in a heap of pain.
The dream and years of hard work denied in a split second, he looked for a moment as if he had given up. But when the medics rushed onto the track, the man amazingly pulled himself up and hobbled to the finishing line, supported by his father.
This is a true Olympic moment, a glimpse of the human spirit, of what we're capable of even when the odds are stacked against us.
This Saturday, I will run the 84km ultramarathon with every ounce of strength and courage Derek Redmond had; repeat to self: "I will conquer the 84km."
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23 May 2010 09:40 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
25km done; 84km more to go. Vamos!!
Finisher's t-shirt for the 25km race
Finisher's t-shirt for the 25km race
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18 May 2010 09:37 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
If you don't hear from me for the next 2 weeks, it can only be a good thing -- it means I'm dedicating myself to training for the half marathon taking place this weekend and the 84km ultramarathon the following weekend.
Have dropped by my favourite running store to stock up on a few essentials, including Nathan electrolytes, Clif Bars, GU gels, shotz gels, and PowerBar gels. Hope to post some reviews soon.
Until then, dear Internet.
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14 May 2010 06:29 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
There are times when you start a day with high expectations and end up disappointed with how the day actually turned out. Then, there are days like this one which start out miserably but then flourish with each passing hour until you look back at day's end and can't quite believe the dream of a day you just had.
Here's how the story goes. I woke up with a rather unpleasant case of food poisoning (not that there is any "pleasant" kind of food poisoning to be had). I'll spare us all of the details because I'm sure we know what it's like. Let's just say, I turned up at the office not quite at the top of my game.
Expecting to just grind the day out with random trips to the bathroom, my dear General Manager at Pan Pacific Singapore, Mr. Ivan Lee, pulled the first surprise of the day.
So it all started two weeks ago when Ivan told me he was transiting in Hong Kong's airport on the way to Osaka. Knowing that I'm from Hong Kong, he asked if I would like anything from home. Half-jokingly, I said I'd love some lo poh beng (also known as "wife cakes"). They're a famous Hong Kong tea time snack and I've made a habit of requesting for them every time someone stops by Hong Kong. But honestly I didn't put much thought to it because I figured Ivan had a lot more to do on his whirlwind Japan trip than to lug back some heavy wife cakes.
Turns out that on his return trip, the flight from Osaka to Hong Kong was delayed so he almost had no time to catch his connecting flight back to Singapore.
When he got back he Skyped me to explain the situation and apologised for not having time to get the wife cakes. I was just surprised that he remembered because I almost forgot about it myself. I laughed it off and told him not to worry about it.
Fast forward to my Day of Food Poisoning and 'lo and behold, Ivan presents me with a box of wife biscuits. I was dumbfounded.
"How did you get...?!!"
Box of surprise!
Turns out that Ivan, wanting to make up for not delivering on his promise to get wife biscuits in Hong Kong, actually had Pan Pacific Singapore's own pastry chef make a batch of her signature wife cakes for me, nicely packaged in a golden box! My gosh!!! I was so touched I almost cried.
In the hotel industry, we like to tout service as a strength, as a source of pride. But in today's increasingly business-oriented world where everything follows standard protocol and procedure, it's all too easy to lose that personal touch of service that truly makes our industry special. It's moments like this that I'm fully reminded why I work in the hotel industry, why some of the crazy days are all worthwhile -- because the people are amazing, the sort that are in this line of work because they, innately, are just caring people that find joy in making someone's day.
So Ivan and Chef Winnie, THANK YOU. Thank you for going the extra mile, for spending as much attention on a colleague as you would on a guest. You really, REALLY made my day when that day should have turned out badly.
And can I just say I am so proud of our team at Pan Pacific Singapore?!! We're Singapore's #1 hotel on Trip Advisor and I just experienced why!
Then, as if that wasn't enough, our CEO Mr. Patrick Imbardelli confirmed that the company was going to support my 250km Sahara Race. I know the idea of wanting to do such a race sounds a bit "out there" and could lead to questions about your sanity, but to have your company turn around and say, "That's great. Go do it. We're behind you 100%"... that's just incredible.
You people are awesome. This otherwise lousy day just turned into a dream because of you. Thank you thank you thank you.
Just goes to prove that those days that start out badly could well turn out to be one of the best days of your life. You just need to stick around a little to find out. :)
Here's how the story goes. I woke up with a rather unpleasant case of food poisoning (not that there is any "pleasant" kind of food poisoning to be had). I'll spare us all of the details because I'm sure we know what it's like. Let's just say, I turned up at the office not quite at the top of my game.
Expecting to just grind the day out with random trips to the bathroom, my dear General Manager at Pan Pacific Singapore, Mr. Ivan Lee, pulled the first surprise of the day.
So it all started two weeks ago when Ivan told me he was transiting in Hong Kong's airport on the way to Osaka. Knowing that I'm from Hong Kong, he asked if I would like anything from home. Half-jokingly, I said I'd love some lo poh beng (also known as "wife cakes"). They're a famous Hong Kong tea time snack and I've made a habit of requesting for them every time someone stops by Hong Kong. But honestly I didn't put much thought to it because I figured Ivan had a lot more to do on his whirlwind Japan trip than to lug back some heavy wife cakes.
Turns out that on his return trip, the flight from Osaka to Hong Kong was delayed so he almost had no time to catch his connecting flight back to Singapore.
When he got back he Skyped me to explain the situation and apologised for not having time to get the wife cakes. I was just surprised that he remembered because I almost forgot about it myself. I laughed it off and told him not to worry about it.
Fast forward to my Day of Food Poisoning and 'lo and behold, Ivan presents me with a box of wife biscuits. I was dumbfounded.
"How did you get...?!!"
Box of surprise!
Turns out that Ivan, wanting to make up for not delivering on his promise to get wife biscuits in Hong Kong, actually had Pan Pacific Singapore's own pastry chef make a batch of her signature wife cakes for me, nicely packaged in a golden box! My gosh!!! I was so touched I almost cried.
In the hotel industry, we like to tout service as a strength, as a source of pride. But in today's increasingly business-oriented world where everything follows standard protocol and procedure, it's all too easy to lose that personal touch of service that truly makes our industry special. It's moments like this that I'm fully reminded why I work in the hotel industry, why some of the crazy days are all worthwhile -- because the people are amazing, the sort that are in this line of work because they, innately, are just caring people that find joy in making someone's day.
So Ivan and Chef Winnie, THANK YOU. Thank you for going the extra mile, for spending as much attention on a colleague as you would on a guest. You really, REALLY made my day when that day should have turned out badly.
And can I just say I am so proud of our team at Pan Pacific Singapore?!! We're Singapore's #1 hotel on Trip Advisor and I just experienced why!
Then, as if that wasn't enough, our CEO Mr. Patrick Imbardelli confirmed that the company was going to support my 250km Sahara Race. I know the idea of wanting to do such a race sounds a bit "out there" and could lead to questions about your sanity, but to have your company turn around and say, "That's great. Go do it. We're behind you 100%"... that's just incredible.
You people are awesome. This otherwise lousy day just turned into a dream because of you. Thank you thank you thank you.
Just goes to prove that those days that start out badly could well turn out to be one of the best days of your life. You just need to stick around a little to find out. :)
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09 May 2010 10:02 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
"Do not go gentle into that good night..."
-Dylan Thomas
Met up with Thaddeus for dinner last night. Thaddeus, FYI, is Singapore's own superman who had completed the 250 km Sahara Race last year (and has clearly lived to tell the tale!)
A fascinating story transpired from the dinner conversation: Baoren Gong is a swimmer from China who had competed in the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. The one thing that distinguished him from the other competitors was that he had no arms. How one can stay afloat without two limbs, never mind swim competitively, is beyond me. But here's the fascinating fact: in the 100 metre breaststroke event, Mr. Gong missed the gold medal by a hair's width, coming in just 0.03 seconds later than... er, a competitor whom the internet has collectively failed to remember 10 years on. (If anyone knows his name, do please let me know.)
Not to take away from the gold medalist's victory, but there is something to be said for a man whom, without arms and thus had to headbutt the wall to finish the race, came so close to total victory and had dared us all to believe that the unimaginable is in fact achievable.
To me, the world is filled with legends like this one -- of people who may not be your archetypal superhero, with logs for biceps, granite butt and a cape to boot. These are the stories of the real superheroes, people who might be missing a limb or have simply seen greater misfortune in their lifetime than most can bear to imagine -- this is the story of how they refuse to use their misfortune as an excuse to slip away. It is a testament of otherwise ordinary people whom, in the face of hardship, have instead found unquantified reserves of strength to transcend that which has been put before them.
These are the real superheroes, for heroes do not come into being by accident or by Providence; they are shaped through a series of decisions made in a course of a lifetime.
And if those with a physical disability can go so far and achieve so much, what are the rest of us doing? What excuse do we have to achieve anything less than our best?
I think a tidbit from college sums it up best. The year I entered Cornell, I received a piece of advice at the Orientation Ceremony that I will take with me to the grave:
"To do anything less than your best is to sacrifice a gift."
-Dylan Thomas
Met up with Thaddeus for dinner last night. Thaddeus, FYI, is Singapore's own superman who had completed the 250 km Sahara Race last year (and has clearly lived to tell the tale!)
A fascinating story transpired from the dinner conversation: Baoren Gong is a swimmer from China who had competed in the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. The one thing that distinguished him from the other competitors was that he had no arms. How one can stay afloat without two limbs, never mind swim competitively, is beyond me. But here's the fascinating fact: in the 100 metre breaststroke event, Mr. Gong missed the gold medal by a hair's width, coming in just 0.03 seconds later than... er, a competitor whom the internet has collectively failed to remember 10 years on. (If anyone knows his name, do please let me know.)
Not to take away from the gold medalist's victory, but there is something to be said for a man whom, without arms and thus had to headbutt the wall to finish the race, came so close to total victory and had dared us all to believe that the unimaginable is in fact achievable.
To me, the world is filled with legends like this one -- of people who may not be your archetypal superhero, with logs for biceps, granite butt and a cape to boot. These are the stories of the real superheroes, people who might be missing a limb or have simply seen greater misfortune in their lifetime than most can bear to imagine -- this is the story of how they refuse to use their misfortune as an excuse to slip away. It is a testament of otherwise ordinary people whom, in the face of hardship, have instead found unquantified reserves of strength to transcend that which has been put before them.
These are the real superheroes, for heroes do not come into being by accident or by Providence; they are shaped through a series of decisions made in a course of a lifetime.
And if those with a physical disability can go so far and achieve so much, what are the rest of us doing? What excuse do we have to achieve anything less than our best?
I think a tidbit from college sums it up best. The year I entered Cornell, I received a piece of advice at the Orientation Ceremony that I will take with me to the grave:
"To do anything less than your best is to sacrifice a gift."
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24 April 2010 09:59 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Today, ladies and gentlemen, is a record-breaking day! Yours truly just ran the furthest she has ever run (in one go) in her entire life: 20km. That's a milestone not only because I did it without any real break from start to finish but because I was struggling so much in the beginning I had contemplated pulling out of the training.
A week earlier, I caught the flu and was hacking/coughing/sneezing my way through the week. But training would have to go on as usual this weekend simply because skipping it would mean needing even more time to get back to full capacity later on.
The thing I've learned through the years of karate, running, etc. is that as far as building strength and stamina are concerned, consistency is key and procrastination is just a high interest mortgage you inevitably have to pay in full. Time is always on loan to us; if you were able to steal away some training time today, you can expect to spend more time tomorrow to get the same result.
Enough analogies and metaphors. The bottom line is that I went ahead with the training.
But the short spells of dizziness settled in early as I set off at East Coast Park with my running buddy, Mark. This is not an unfamiliar sensation to anyone trying to do strenuous exercise just after recovering from sickness, surely. But it got so bad during the first few kilometres that I had seriously considered putting a halt to the day's training. To paraphrase Andre Agassi, I didn't want to write checks that my body couldn't cash. If I weren't at 100% yet, why risk it and try for 20 km at this juncture?
But here's another thing I've learned: things are seldom as hard as they may first appear. While the going could be rough at the start, and sometimes rough enough to to tempt you into calling it quits, if you persevere through that rough patch you will often be surprised at how much easier it gets thereafter -- and how quickly.
At around the 7km mark, I started to hit a steady pace and the legs finally did what they were supposed to do (read: born to run!). In a few fleeting moments, my mentality had changed from "should I tell Mark I can't go on anymore?" to one that was solely focused on finishing the 20 km we had set out to run.
It seemed unthinkable that just a few moments ago I had even contemplated stopping. Funny how, once you just persevere long enough, the rest of the path opens up for you.
To be fair, it wasn't all roses and lilies for the rest of the run. I'll admit that in the last 1 kilometre I was reduced to singing "5 little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off and bumped his head, etc".
Anything to tide you till the finish line, you know?
So, lesson du jour is: things are seldom as difficult as they seem. Ergo, have the patience and determination to persevere and you will be surprised at how the rest of the task simply falls in place.
A week earlier, I caught the flu and was hacking/coughing/sneezing my way through the week. But training would have to go on as usual this weekend simply because skipping it would mean needing even more time to get back to full capacity later on.
The thing I've learned through the years of karate, running, etc. is that as far as building strength and stamina are concerned, consistency is key and procrastination is just a high interest mortgage you inevitably have to pay in full. Time is always on loan to us; if you were able to steal away some training time today, you can expect to spend more time tomorrow to get the same result.
Enough analogies and metaphors. The bottom line is that I went ahead with the training.
But the short spells of dizziness settled in early as I set off at East Coast Park with my running buddy, Mark. This is not an unfamiliar sensation to anyone trying to do strenuous exercise just after recovering from sickness, surely. But it got so bad during the first few kilometres that I had seriously considered putting a halt to the day's training. To paraphrase Andre Agassi, I didn't want to write checks that my body couldn't cash. If I weren't at 100% yet, why risk it and try for 20 km at this juncture?
But here's another thing I've learned: things are seldom as hard as they may first appear. While the going could be rough at the start, and sometimes rough enough to to tempt you into calling it quits, if you persevere through that rough patch you will often be surprised at how much easier it gets thereafter -- and how quickly.
At around the 7km mark, I started to hit a steady pace and the legs finally did what they were supposed to do (read: born to run!). In a few fleeting moments, my mentality had changed from "should I tell Mark I can't go on anymore?" to one that was solely focused on finishing the 20 km we had set out to run.
It seemed unthinkable that just a few moments ago I had even contemplated stopping. Funny how, once you just persevere long enough, the rest of the path opens up for you.
To be fair, it wasn't all roses and lilies for the rest of the run. I'll admit that in the last 1 kilometre I was reduced to singing "5 little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off and bumped his head, etc".
Anything to tide you till the finish line, you know?
So, lesson du jour is: things are seldom as difficult as they seem. Ergo, have the patience and determination to persevere and you will be surprised at how the rest of the task simply falls in place.
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11 April 2010 09:58 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
As I ramp up the weekly mileage during training over the last few weeks, blisters have fast become a nagging issue. I’m thinking, “if this is what I get for a few hours’ training a week, what shape would I be in during the actual race, where I’ll be running a few hours a DAY for 7 days straight?
Injinji socks to the rescue! Have heard about these toe socks for a while but never considered them seriously. Well, I can say having tried them for a few long runs that I am a converted fan. Aside from the fact that they make my feet look a bit like Mickey Mouse / Michael Jackson gloves, these socks really are a wonder. They feel almost like a second skin. I can really focus on my running now instead of worrying about uncalled for pain.
Frankyl, I'm not even sure how I'd managed without them beforehand. Bye bye blisters!
In shortm this is definitely a recommended product for those who want to get rid of blisters between the toes once and for all. More info on their official website here:
http://www.injinji.com/
Injinji socks to the rescue! Have heard about these toe socks for a while but never considered them seriously. Well, I can say having tried them for a few long runs that I am a converted fan. Aside from the fact that they make my feet look a bit like Mickey Mouse / Michael Jackson gloves, these socks really are a wonder. They feel almost like a second skin. I can really focus on my running now instead of worrying about uncalled for pain.
Frankyl, I'm not even sure how I'd managed without them beforehand. Bye bye blisters!
In shortm this is definitely a recommended product for those who want to get rid of blisters between the toes once and for all. More info on their official website here:
http://www.injinji.com/
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05 March 2010 09:57 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
One of the things that has always daunted me about the race was my being flat footed: will my knees be able 7 days of intensive runs up sand dunes and across squishy soft sand? The mind is strong but will the body be willing? So I finally paid a visit to a podiatrist, the sublime Mr. Leong, and got a pair of insoles for flat footed ducks like myself :)
The doctor did warn me that if there was strenuous activity before I'd fully adapted to those insoles I could develop blisters. Well, what can I say? I've developed the mother of all blisters this past weekend but at least the 12 km run is done! Hoping to take this up to 16 km the coming weekend.
The doctor did warn me that if there was strenuous activity before I'd fully adapted to those insoles I could develop blisters. Well, what can I say? I've developed the mother of all blisters this past weekend but at least the 12 km run is done! Hoping to take this up to 16 km the coming weekend.
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01 March 2010 09:56 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Alright, kids, here's the plan: long training sessions on weekends for endurance and karate for power; shorter runs (about 8 km per session) and cross training on weekdays.
Long weekend sessions will mostly involve running up and down the trails (and the hills! Oh, the hills!!) of MacRitchie. I started with a running buddy and fellow karate-ka, Mark, about 2 months ago and we've made some great progress since. The goal is to hit 40 km per session in the run up to the race in October because that's roughly the distance I'll have to cover per day on the race WITH 10 kg of stuff on my back.
(If you haven't stopped reading or come to the conclusion by now that there is some masochistic side to this girl, congratulations: you've got a bit of insanity in you too.)
Long weekend sessions will mostly involve running up and down the trails (and the hills! Oh, the hills!!) of MacRitchie. I started with a running buddy and fellow karate-ka, Mark, about 2 months ago and we've made some great progress since. The goal is to hit 40 km per session in the run up to the race in October because that's roughly the distance I'll have to cover per day on the race WITH 10 kg of stuff on my back.
(If you haven't stopped reading or come to the conclusion by now that there is some masochistic side to this girl, congratulations: you've got a bit of insanity in you too.)
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