the long run

the 42.195km began with mark and yongkang a few steps in front of me at all times. and i kept pace for as much as 11km, until i suddenly lost them at a water point. i thought they must have gone ahead, so i went on and pushed all the way to 21km. it was 2.5 hours, and i felt quite happy with that timing.

then at 21km my leg started cramping up, and eventually it took me two hours and 9km just to get out of east coast park. i stretched thoroughly, trying to get rid of the cramps, and managed to jog for 2km more, before discovering that i was indeed very dehydrated.

and in an act of self-preservation, i stopped and walked. and walked. and walked. water point to water point, just drinking water. at the F1 gallery (near 39km) was where i reached this very inspiring auntie who was jogging on and on even though everyone was walking. and in some way, she pushed me to walk even faster, and eventually break into a jog, and then a run to the end point.

of course, at the final run-in, my leg cramped again. and i immediately went to get hydrated.

~

running at the no-sun hours through the city was like doing AHM all over again. somewhere along the way i bumped into weeleong and alan, and timon. and also along the way i was reading all the encouraging notes pinned up on the backs of other runners. i think what felt amazing was that everyone was in it together, trying to get to the end point, no matter what.

but i don't want to do it again.