Woke up at 5.15am, felt lousy, not enough sleep last night; went to see Chinese musical at NLB. Took bread with peanut butter n Milo. Load stuff and reached race site at 6.30am. Wow, so pack already! Set up at transition area and did some warm up. Looking at the cloudless sky, thinking "surely today would be hell!"
Race kicked off at 7.30am sharp. Target to do a 1st 10k run at 60mins. By the time I went into my 2nd loop of 5k around the Changi Aerospace Centre, our dear sun was smiling brightly! Did 58mins, ok within target; not much problem faced. HR at around 90%
Was glad to get the 1st 10k run over and move on to the bike because there are lots of shade along Changi Coastal Rd. Beginning of the cycling session was heavenly; cooling head winds and plenty of cover. Then something that I never experienced occurs at the 7k mark; right calf began to cramp! Shxx! Still got 33k to go and cramps now?! Had to improvise a way to get around it. Dropped the gears and started paddling with left leg and right leg going thru motion. 500m later, it works! Happily, I up the gears after another 1k as right leg seems to be fine. At 12k, now my left calf started to cramp! Wa lao! They taking turns to strike! #@&*! Tried same technic but pain got worst and had to stop. Took opportunity to fix my number tag that came off and take some energy drinks. Did some stretches and go again. By this time the MBs were passing me by :(
Kept at low gear ratio and reduced speed, don't want any more protest from my legs. Is it due to restricted blood flow to legs? Wrong posture? Need to find out more later. Tried to pick up speed at 25k & again at 30k but felt the muscle pull in calfs. So back-off and tried to maintained at about 25km/hr throughout the rest of the distance at about 80%HR. Praying that legs would hold till the finish line. Tried to hold the lower handles and I think it helps to relief the strain on the calfs. Back aches; lower back muscles need strenghtening. By the time I went into my final 10k loop, most of the stylo-milo bikes were gone; they were already running the next 10K! Was a relief to complete my bike leg in 1:42 and prayed hard that legs would not cramp in final running leg.
The next 10k run was one of the hardest that I have ever done! At 35 Degrees heat, our Raw Duathlon became "Cooked" Dauthlon! Told myself to practise positive self-talk, so I told myself that I thrive in heat (after all the LSD with PCRC) and remind myself that Desaru would be worst. It helps when so many participants began to walk in the sweltering heat, so I can pick them off one by one, and it boost my self-belief. Told myself that whoever adapt to the situation will have better chances of success, so continue to press on. In the 1st 5k loop, we graciouly pour ice water on our body and heads with cups.....in the next 5k loop, we lost all manners and pour by the jugs! The ice water did wonders to lower my HR from 90% to 86%. The cooler we are, the more efficient we can run. Ambulances zipped thru a few times, heat stoke cannot play play.
Staring at the burning and blurring tarmac reminded me of my army days whereby we were 'terkan' by the saddistic sgt; making us do push ups and sit-ups on the parade square at 12noon!%$#&! Thoughts like these make me laugh and it helps to elevate the pain. At least for a while. Tried also to encourage some of my fellow suffering souls. The heat got so bad that my only focus was to get from one water point to the other and dream of jug of ice water!
Almost wanted to tear off all my cloths at 7k! God! you can put me anywhere but not in the desert!!! Funny thing was I began to salute those hardy creatures that thrive in the desert! Think I am going crazy!
The sight of the Finishing Point saved me from insanity! Quickly zipped up my cycle shirt, align the number tag (so that photograper can capture mah!)... and adjusted my running posture....die die must appear nice in pics :) . Call it vain,, call it whatever....we deserve it!
Last 10k run was 1hr 4mins.
Total Time: 3hrs 48mins
As I was enjoying my drinks and banana in the shade......in came Jimmy! Well done bro! Can see that he was totally "cooked" too! :) We were like beef steaks....the "WELL DONE" ones! :)
So, next year going again? During the run, "No!", now "Yes!"...the eternal irony of ALL endurance athletes! ;)
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