I have been very reluctant to write this one, because it was very painful experience. Another reason was that this year, I did it with a person whom I really respect and I felt I had dragged him down the wrong way in this one. After last year’s attempt, I have been thinking seriously, do I really want to do it or let it go? In the end, seems like I just cannot let it go and signed up again.
To speak the truth I am thinking maybe 160 km is the limit for me. Its torturous to do it, but it is doable. 200km seemed like neverending. This time round, I found a power house named Sam Wissam. He is the ultra maniac in Ben Swee’s series, and he is really strong runner. Having helping to pace a bit with him at his 100Miles last year, I was already in awe. Even at 50 plus km, the man is still going at 6 min plus pace per km. He never seemed tired, and even if he does, he definitely do show it!
After contemplating a while, I pluck up the courage to ask him whether he will be keen to join me in the 200km. I felt running with him at least there is a chance of completion as he has a strong finish for the 160 km.
The Planning
Intricate planning
Sam is a doctor by profession, so he is very merticulous and does not leave it to fate. Though I like to go with the mood and stuff. He does not leave it to chance. We did a full recce of the 200km by bike riding for 4 sessions before the selected date. He is a fast rider and always wait for me while we recce. While I was riding. I sometimes wonder how am I going to finish the 200km. Cos it is really quite long.
Meal before the race
Beside the recce, he was the one who did up the time table and fixed all the checkpoints and volunteers. This I am really grateful as I do not have many friends to do this and also I felt that the mode was to keep going and going.
Race Day
Sam and me not really into pictures, quick one before the roads
We started early at Macritchie on the race day. 21 Jan 2022 , it was an early Saturday morning, I took leave for it. Leaving MR at 4 am and going towards the East . We went up towards Punggol. Taking the route has a lot of Deja Vu, afterall we almost finished it the year before leaving only 28KM, so near yet so far. I still remember the previous year, the most torturous portion was after the second night where we had to move on to NTU, and slept at Bukit Batok with my emergency blanket. That was 2021.
Along the Way
The beginning crew
The beginning , we were all very enthusiastic, this time round the first half to about 56 km, we had Rand and a few pacers( Sam’s friend Mary Lou and a few others) to run with us. Our first long stop was at Bedok Reservoir. Sam’s friend was there waiting for us and he made a special power porridge for us. Jac had already joined me from Punggol then, she took her foldie along. We took some quick pictures and moved off. Rand parted with us there. This second half was still okay, but the weather was getting really hot. We pushed on and met up with Katherine and her husband, they paced us a while. Katherine continued with us all the way to the 100 K point at Jurong East. The new Chinese Garden park was where we have a proper sleep and wash up. Then I was already feeling quite swollen for the feet and seriously quite tired. Sam had another friend to set up the check point there. It was good there because we could wash up and have proper rest.
At Bedok Reservoir
More Supporters
We left there about 09:30pm, the roads were getting quiet at this time. Night is always my weakness, I need to sleep, that is also the reason why I did not like Sundown Marathon, which went through the night. Slowly, the legs got heavy and I was getting slower and slower. By the time we reach NTU, I was really way behind Sam. We had a lot more pit stops, mostly because I was falling asleep and speed was slow. I felt as long as I keep moving it will be okay, but for Sam, he felt that if the timing is too slow, we are just on the route to DNF.
Chinese Garden Rest Point
Towards the Daybreak
I give up
We rested many times but the longest one was at the Courts outside Bukit Batok. I told sam that I really needed a sleep, he allowed and we found a spot just to lie down. I think both of us were really tired, but in terms of strength, I felt that he was okay and could still go fast. Many times I told him to go ahead without me and I will slowly tread through the route myself, but he was really nice and insisted we do it together. I felt like I dragged him into this.
Power porridge from Sam Kitchen!
The second day morning, we were at Petir road, this was were I felt my leg was really painful, both feet had this really hard skin at the ball of the feet. Sam felt some pain in his ankle, but I felt he didnt want to seem like he is stronger than me so he said so.
We were at a bus stop. The distance was 140KM it was lower that the last year, I was thinking just pull it thought by walking. But he said that it shouldnt be this way, either we stop now, to prevent more suffering.
We decided to stop our watch there. Sam’s friend, Yuni, came to pick us up. She sounded disappointed but felt we did the right thing. I was back at Macritchie, with a heavy heart, I took my bag out of the locker. This was supposed to be at tonight where I open the locker but it came earlier.
Aftermath
Big Blister on my feet
The final route map
Although I was disappointed, but I felt it was the right thing to do. Maybe, I was just not made for it. Well guess it will be another year, got to let this feeling go. The good thing is, I am really familiar with the route until I could memorise it. The other sad thing is about Sam, maybe if I had not invited him to run together, he might have finished it . Well, I guess I just have to let go and not keep thinking about it.