Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012

As usual, i took the Friday’s midnight bus to SG and this time my travelling partner was Cikgu Syed. He’s running his 11th FM this year at SCMS, but the best part it’s his birthday Marathon.

Happy birthday Cikgu !

On Saturday morning, we went to to collect the race pack at Singapore Expo Convention Center. The Marathon Expo was as huge as last year, most of the items was a bit expensive compare to same items here. But you have a huge selections on shoes, gels, bottles etc. thankfully i didn’t bring my credit card to the Expo :)

The rack pack collection was smooth – took us 5 minutes.

We met a lot of runners friends at the Expo, Mohan, Asree, Alex Au Yong etc.

 

Race day
We woke up early on Sunday and arrived at start line at 4:00 am, an hour before the start.

It was my 3rd straight SCMS since 2010, plus it was my anniversary marathon and my 20th overall.

As we arrived early, we made bee line towards to the front of the start line. Finally i had the chance to start at from the front pack, few rows from the elites and pacer. I’m happy to met many runners friends Shariff the Blade Runner, Adam 1 Arm Runner, Sallehan the 3:30 Marathoner and other elite Singaporean runners. I felt like i belong there, up in front..just a bit slower than the rest of them.

Blade Runner cracked me up that early in the morning with a joke. “Bro you macam pelakon Malaysia, rancangan wakenabeb, cuma you lagi kurus”…hehe

Training up to the SCMS was a disaster, i only managed to do short speed run (10km) a few times before running SCMS. My longest LSD was the PNM 42km, a month ago. It’s another uphill task to get that sub-4 finishing, but if you don’t try you never know.

At last, the air horn blew signalling the start of the Marathon at 5:00 am. My strategy with Cikgu was to start the Marathon pacing with the 3:45 balloons. After half way, we might fall back to 4:00 pacers. This early blistering pace was to put few minutes into the “time bank”, which we will used up at later stage of the race.

For the first time since running Singapore Marathon (2010), this edition is the best. After 2 km, the front pack was spread out and the road was enough for me to run my happy pace.

Overtook Sam E. few hundred meters after the start, tapped him at the back for good luck. He was one of the 4:00 hours pacer. He urged me and Cikgu to chase the 3:45 pacers. Thanks Sam!

I started fast and then stabilised after 5km, during that time i overtook the 3:45 pacer’s balloons. Better to put more into “time bank” i said at the time. As this was my 3rd SCMS, the route was very familiar like the back of hands. It’s a mental forte for me to have, i knew exactly the route will takes me.

Took the first Power Gel after 10km on the Nicoll Highway at the WS.

It’s dark when i entered the ECP (12km), still feels comfortably good and easy. To run a good Marathon, the first half should feel easy.

I pace this one guy – an older Caucasian runner. He looked strong and was running a good pace, around 5:20. So i followed him throughout the ECP route.

I completed the HM distance in 1:53 . Took another Powergel here.

When i made the u-turn after 21km on the other side road (ECP), i could see Sallehan on the other side – running strong. We acknowledge each other. I was surprised coz i was chasing him up in front but in fact he was chasing me..hehe

Then i saw the 4:00 pacers, but no Sam? Few steps behind was Cikgu, struggling to keep up with his pace. His facial expression reveals all ones need to know.

I was feeling good, just had my Powergel and still running comfortable 5:20 pace. Still leading the 3:45 balloons.

I was running on ecstasy, high on endorphins. I clearly remembered, my very 1st Marathon here, i was on the other side the road – running with full pack of runners and looked at the other side the road (the fast runners) with amazement. Now the role is reverse, i’m on the best side of the road with the front packs of runners. That’s how much i have improves these past 2 years.

After 26km my race went out of the window.

I bonked!

For the first time in my Marathon career – my energy was depleted. After that the 3:45 ballons just flew passed me by – then the motivation was gone. I was in trouble, i tried to dig deeper – but there’s nothing there!

Full Marathon route

I gave all i got to maintained that pace until 33km, where i walked!! dang!

27km (5:43)
28km (5:40)
29km (6:35)
30km (5:47)
31km (5:55)
32km (5:48)
33km (8:13)

I was pretty glad to come out of the ECP route, now entering the Marina Golf course, it’s was bright and the sun has came out, but it’s still not microwave hot. My plan was to get out of the Golf course before it’s gets to hot and sapped all my leftover energy!

At 38km, i knew sub-4 finishing was beyond me. It’s when the 4:00 pacers overtook me just before the bridge! But Sam was missing, maybe he cramped earlier on.

This was definitely a torture to finish, i rather take on 100km any days than chasing Marathon timing – it took so much out of you, especially when you don’t accumulated enough training mileage.

Met Jeff Ooi at 39km, he was cramping pretty bad. Said hi and asked him to pace me for the final few kilometres. He declined and pointed to me his cramped legs, few minutes later he passed me slowly without any problem..huh another drama towards the finish line ..hehe

From 38km to 42km, my pace was steady…steady declining, from 7:00 to 8:46 in final kilometres. Yes i walked more than i ran, just too tired. After Jeff, Sallehan soon caught up with me and overtook this old uncle without any problem. He said later that suffered cramps during the race.

Lesson learned:

1. Two packets of Gels is not enough to sustain fast pace Marathon – next time it’s 5 packets (minimum).

2. Not enough mileage plus zero LSD contributes to bonk Marathon *sigh*

I finished my 20th Marathon and also my anniversary marathon in 4:11:50

Position number 531 out of 17,500 Full Marathoners.

See you next year SCMS, i got unfinished business to settle.

2010 – 5:20:58
2011 – 4:39:00
2012 – 4:11:50

My splits:
5km > 25:16 10km > 53:32 15km > 1:18:52 20km > 1:45:54 25km > 2:13:34 30km > 2:42:59 35km > 3:15:24 40km > 3:53:46 42.2km > 4:11:50

Celebration lunch with Freedom Freaks