It felt really great as i stood before the giant signboard which was to mark the start of the 21km run. Being pumped up definitely wasn't what i was expecting to feel after last year's 12km horrendevous with lulu. But yes, i saw this big 21 as a way to gauge how far i've come since i entered the army.

Determined to start things off with a bang, we zipped past throngs of other enthusiasts as we sped through the tarmac roads. For the first time, i think the sheer number of people running made me feel comfortable running. Not under the spotlight, not so open to fire. Good things never last. Running partner youngkid then decided to be funky and test out all the water stations. Well, i must make it clear first that this youngkid, albeit young and brash, is the person who pushed me through the 12s and 16km runs in the first place so i was expecting him to pace me throughout this monster of a race. He was sporting obscenely short shorts by the way which would have caused even a housefly (who's supposed to have damm good eyesight) to go blind. But that's besides the point. What happened was, he lost me and i lost him during one of those water point breaks and suddenly, i was all alone in the sea of people looking to engulf the entire city centre.

Once again, adrenaline kicked in and i pressed on, hoping to at least meet youngkiddy again. Running without a partner is painful to say the least. I never saw him. Winding across the huge bridge and then into ECP, i kept my attention fixed to the people in front. At that time, what i recalled was me in VJ then, having a hell of a time trying to run 2.4km. The me then was truly quite horrendous. Haha i had trouble completing 2.4km! Definitely feeling alot better as i saw the 10km mark looming in the distance, i soldiered on manfully. Then at the corner of my eye, i caught a glimpse of the seriously sexposed youngkiddy bulldozing his way past some midgets and i knew then that i would have to outspeed, outrace and outlast him in order to prevent me from going blind. Alas, the stupid damm metres were passing too damm slowly and lethargy started to set in. At the 14km mark, i was dying for a drink but i was afraid of getting a stitch.

Then we entered into something resembling what i would expect of a battlefield. Except... there was a golf course beside it. The sand, the sparse yet lush vegetation, the mud, the flying pellets of mud slingshots. As i entered slow motion mode a.k.a the matrix, i stared ahead but all that caught my eye were the millions of shoelaces jumping up and down like waves and waves of sine graphs, each time hurling yet another 10cm3 of brown dirt into me. As much as i would have liked to avoid all of these particles, my own volume wouldn't allow it. Soon i was enlightened. In order to avoid being the hunted, be the hunter. If i couldn't survive being behind, i would have to get in front someway, somehow. Survival instincts filled my mind as I stomped my way through the express lane (mainly because those were the worst tracks with the biggest potholes that even a Snorlax would have had no problems trying to fit in). Catapulting patches of brown goo wildly back to the evil shoelaces all around me, i smirked but the next thing i knew. A man resembling a balding Rhydon or rather Rhydon with a little bit of half (think bookworm gang, samseng) emerged as a serious competitor. Matching me stride for stomp, he parted the mud permanently. The brown sea. I tried hard to fight back but my Blastoise frame was no match for the intimidating figure that he was.

Thankfully though, we emerged from the battlefield soon after and glancing back at the angry shoelaces fast approaching. I decided to accelerate once more. This time, we entered the Marina Barrage. That was a really awesome alternative view of Singapore city line and the stretch of road quickly ended as I neared the finish line. So near, yet so far. 17km. The subsequent 4km proved to be the most excruciating, torturous part of the rest. Along the way, much fitter and slimmer men were stopping to stretch their calfs and thighs as the problem of cramps took a front seat. As i weaved past them with the grace of Dumbo, the graceful elephanterella, i was secretly happy that my leg wasn't giving me problems yet. But yes, Kaaaaarrrrrmaaaaa. I got the cramps too and subsequently trudged on despondently. Would i still be able to hit my target and get my medal? Mixing a 10m walk with a 5m sprint, i managed to juggle my way to the 19km mark. Argh.. 2kM! I was back in the city though, and that only meant the finishing line was close. Pushing myself to my limit, i inched my way through until i saw a sign that read 1.5km left. OMG! As i turned that exact same corner, about 5m away another sign read '1km to go!' I was totally inspired. I then raced my way to the finish line. This time though, i seriously cramped up and as other runners started to pass me, i was left struggling like a freaking Magikarp. Splash Splash Splash. Eventually i crossed the finish line on 1 leg. I was overwhelmed to say the least. Congratulating myself on finding a new strong me, i held my head high and pumped my fists in the air... before cramps halted my well-deserved celebrations. Darn cramps! Back to the finish though, i was truly elated and while making my way back to the bus-stop to gather, i smiled to myself. I got my medal but more importantly, i conquered yet another milestone in my life.

And so concludes my precious memories of 21km. This also marks the end of my budding running career... NOT! =)

5:58 am;

________________________________

Ladies



Gentleman



Credits

Blogger Blogskins PhotoBucket