24th May 2009 Sunday. My Family Passion Run and "A Minute" Satisfaction

I have signed up 15km for myself and Nathaniel, 10km for Lucille and Thaddeus for today Passion Run. The 2 boys in particular do not quite like running; well youngster being youngster sitting in front at a PC or watching movie enticed them better, but somehow they knew it was family time to do thing together and to cultivate a healthy lifestyle together. This was something we have been doing for the last few years.

We started heading to ECP 6am and due to congestion at Coastal road and spent time looking for parking, I managed to get to the start point just on time for my wave which was also delayed 5 to 10 min. Nathaniel who was supposed to be in the same wave with me was held up in the loo, so he joined Thaddeus and mum in the 10km race, doing his 15km.

What was my deal today? The deal was to run anything below my last year timing 1hr 28min. But up in my head egoistically I was targeting below 1hr 25min. When the race started; as usual it was crowded and I had to squeeze and manoeuvre around with the human traffic to look for more space ahead so that I would not be running slower than 6 min/km. That was not too difficult. My plan was to keep at slightly below 6min pace for the first 10km with HR between 152 to 158bpm and finally speed up at the last 5 km. But some how my HR showed 162bpm after approx 4km. My split time for the first 10km was; at 5 km - approx 28min, at 10km - 58min, well! quite on schedule I thought.

At the last 5 km I increased my pace and the HR raised from 162 to 168bpm. I was quite sure I would do better than my egoistic target, less than 1hr 25min. But at the last km my calf cramp, I slowed down and I lost some minutes. Finally I crossed the finishing at 1hr 27min; only "A minute" better than my last year timing. "A minute" sense of achievement and yes "A minute" sense of satisfaction, though it was not a lustre performance.

For my 3 non seasoned without much training runners I think they did well. Gauging from their starting time and finished time, Lucille did 1 hr 20min - not bad for someone who was not a seasoned runner and had only been running on the thread mill (max 7 km) in a very comfortable environment with air conditioning, she indeed did well. Thaddeus did 1hr 05min and Niel approx last than 2hr. As for the race, indeed it was a very well organised race.

After the race I brought them to their favourite Ng Ah Soon Bah Kut Teh in Owen Road for breakfast. We then went to book a 5.30pm Angel & Demon show at North point. It was a day we would like to have it everyday or at least every week ends but it was not possible as we do have our own activities everyday and weekend. Therefore effort put in for this kind of outing is worth it.

'

Our next outing will be on 16th Aug whereby all the 3 will be "tortured" happily by the Army Half Marathon. Lucille promised herself to get out of her comfortable training environment and to run with me on the road, max 15km 2 week before the race.

.