The eventful month of May.

This was the month I finally got to take a well-deserved break from my usual two-job routine.
This was the month I conquered my maiden long-distance night run.
Without doubt, May has to be one of the best months in 2016 thus far.

To tell the truth, during the first half of May, my mind was already on holiday mode. Eventually the moment came, and it was time to set foot on unfamiliar territory. Alone.

*Malaysia backpacker trip - 18 May to 24 May 2016*

As I boarded the Tigerair flight bound for Penang International Airport, my emotions were a mixture of anticipation, excitement and anxiety. What if the plane encountered technical problems en-route? What if I got robbed while away from home? There were simply too many of what-ifs on my mind, and after some time I told myself - Just go out there, enjoy the trip and make new friends along the way.

One week on, my objective was achieved.

- Covered four states of Malaysia: Penang (Georgetown), Malacca, Negeri Sembilan (Kuala Pilah) and Pahang (Cameron Highlands)
- Encounters with people from different nationalities and backgrounds: Malaysian, French, Thai & German

During the few days on the road, I came to realise how laid-back the Malaysian way of life could get, outside of Kuala Lumpur, Johor or Singapore. For instance, motorists were far more patient and willing to slow down when pedestrians were crossing the road. In contrary, our SG counterparts tend to be more in a hurry and would start to blast their car horns when something/someone is in their way. Probably could attribute this trend to the pace of life here. It's nothing short of hectic. People rush to work, rush during lunch hour, rush to get home, and the cycle repeats itself day after day after day. I guess sometimes, we should take a step back and take stock of what's happening around us. Spend more time with your loved ones, be it in a park or at home, because you can never predict what's gonna happen tomorrow.

Just a handful of photos showing my trip's major destinations. More pics can be found in my Facebook album. =)

 

 

 *OSIM Sundown Marathon - 28-29 May 2016*

Barely a week after the Malaysia road trip, came my fourth running event of the year.

Registration was done during the Stanchart Marathon race expo, way back in December 2015. The fees for half-marathon category were only S$50 then, a relatively decent rate given the price inflation in recent races. Signed up without much hesitation.

Due to my Malaysian trip, I wasn't able to collect the race entry pack over the 20-22 May weekend. Many thanks to my beloved Mum for travelling down all the way to Suntec to get it on my behalf! <3

And before I knew it, it's race day (night to be precise).

Started in the 2nd wave at about 11.55pm. As I had not trained sufficiently prior to race day, I decided to go slow for the entire journey and brisk walk if necessary.

There were 2 major upslopes. One was within the first kilometre (towards Benjamin Sheares bridge & ECP) and the other between the 18-19km mark (Marina Barrage).

Cleared the ECP sector without much issue and maintaining a 7:00/km pace. The real torture began soon after I reached the Gardens By The Bay (Bay East) sector. About 7 kilometres left at that point in time, but I could feel both calves cramping up and the sleep monster setting in. Even the energy gel and banana at the subsequent hydration stations could not help much to stave off the fatigue within.

Giving up was never an option at this juncture. When you see your fellow comrades trying their best to overcome the sleep monster, you knew you had to give your all.

After a slow walk up and down Marina Barrage, I knew it was less than 3km to the finish. Picked up the pace and at last, the battle was won.

 
Will be taking a break for the month of June. From July onwards, it's time to get busy again.

- 23 July: Pocari Sweat Run (10km)
- 28 August: SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon (HM)
- 04 September: Yellow Ribbon Prison Run (10km)

Goodnight readers & have a great week ahead!

Yours sincerely,
Chris