Tuesday Night Run

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

4.88km

39m 11s

08:00 min/km

7.56 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/singapore/-singapore/872235299493

Notes:

Feels so good running when the weather is as cool as the cucumber in my fridge. It threatened to pour in the afternoon but luckily it held up.

Alhamdulillah.

Anyway, I stuck to a slow pace just now so as not to summon the cramps. It went very well initially but the run up along the overhead bridge induced that minute feeling of the lower left leg muscles tightening. Luckily (the 2nd for the night), it never blew up into a major cramp. A quick stretch while waiting at the traffic crossing helped a lot. And another quick shake near the end prevented the yucky feeling whenever the dreaded cramp attacked.

Alhamdulillah.

Solving The Enigma

Alright!

In case of being called a NATO for my apparent lack of concrete action in solving my perpetual cramps in my lower legs, I’ve finally bothered to consult with Mr Google and the famous online encyclopedia widely-used by undergraduates for their reference work but shouldn’t be included during citation in their bibliographies, Wikipedia. That’s quite a line.

I’ve successfully identified the muscles that contribute much to my discomfort while upping my pace doing my regular runs. The three culprits, with accompanying mug-shots, arranged in alphabetical order are:

1. Culprit I

The Gastrocnemius Muscle

2. Culprit II

The Soleus Muscle

3. Culprit III

The Tibialis Anterior Muscle

Since the culprits have finally been apprehended, now it’s high time to do some investigative digging to figure out why these trio will always cramp up. Then, can I take the necessary actions to solve or even better prevent the cramps from recurring again. Hopefully.

Till next time.

Sunday Morning Run

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

2.20km

18m 01s

08:10 min/km

7.33 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/tampines/526125763795298947

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/86613

Notes:

I just wouldn’t learn, would I?

Since I’ve missed two runs due to entertaining some guests from the land of the Big Ben and Barclays Premier League Football (Man Utd rocks!), I thought I will do a quick and fast run just now. But the thing iss, my muscles are always slow to warm up and it will always be a bad idea to start fast.

Oh well, I repeated the same mistake again and like the pistons of the engines jamming up because of inadequate lubrication, my lower leg muscles (don’t have any clue what they are called) cramped up badly near the 1km mark.

So that meant my return leg (is there any pun here?) would be a slow and painful one. Adoi!

Tuesday Afternoon Run

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

4.88km

39m 28s

08:04 min/km

7.4 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/singapore/-singapore/872235299493

Notes:

Weather was superb just now. With the overcast sky forming a shield from the piercing Sun and the wind a constant companion, there was nary any excuse to postpone the run though I was pulling an all-nighter the previous night finishing up the newest book by the pop author, Dan Brown of The Da Vinci Code fame; The Lost Symbol.

The start of the run was smooth and the pace was constant. But a few minutes stop, waiting for the traffic light man to change to green meant I had to quicken my pace. This in turn brought about my nemesis, The Cramp, near the end of the run. But all in all, I had great time.

Now time for a quick massage.

Any volunteers?

Sunday Morning Run

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

2.18km

17m 03s

07:49 min/km

7.67 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/tampines/614125703635036731

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/82834

Notes:

Feeling good!

Saturday Morning Run: Fat Pakcik 1 – 0 Lazy Bug

Tampines – Pasir Ris MRT Track – Downtown East – Park Connector

6.15km

50m 19s

08:11 min/km

7.33 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/tampines/173125695444851421

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/82287

Notes:

It started to pour since yesterday night and the cool temperature this morning seemed bent on preventing me from having my morning run. Although my running arsenal if you may want to call it, such as my arm-band for my handphone, ID wristband, watch, water-bottle and my running singlet had been laid nicely, I still took like 2 hours before conjuring up the willpower to leave the house and start the run. Luckily the lady lazy bug was defeated or I am sure I will be dozing off until now.

Yahoo!

For today’s run, I went on a longer distance as per scheduled. Remembering about the cramps I’ve been experiencing, my pace today was purposely slow. Until I’ve increased my running base would then I will gradually increase my pace a little bit at a time.

Other than the usual loneliness that followed me, today’s run to Pasir Ris Park allowed me to spot a small dragon in this urban jungle I call home. I’m not really sure if it’s the komodo dragon, but it certainly look like one albeit a little bit smaller. Maybe it’s the mini version. I don’t know. But it’s appearance is certainly a delight.

Other than that, no cramps today.

Woohoo!

Thursday Night Run: Deja Vu

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

3.32km

24m 26s

07:21 min/km

8.16 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/tampines/623125681811929198

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/81373

Notes:

My lower left leg cramped up again. I have been complaining about this here, time and time again, that I begin to sound just like my mum when she’s nagging me to clean up my sty of a room.

As usual the main culprit is due to my quicker pace at the start of the run. In return, my lower left leg will slowly tighten before cramping up on the way back.

Therefore, from now on, I will make it a point to start slow and hopefully can step on the gas a little bit on the return leg (pun unintended). I also need to be conscientious in massaging my legs to untie all the slipknots in both my legs.

Lastly anybody knows how to stretch the lower front left leg, the shin part to be specific?

Thanks!

I can do this!

Hooya!

Tuesday Night Run

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

3.64km

27m 57s

07:40 min/km

7.82 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/tampines/901125664797094893

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/80076

Notes:

Still can’t maintain a 7 min/km pace.

Cramp in the lower left leg.

Boo!

Monday Night EZ Run

Tampines – Pasir Ris Park Connector

3.87km

31m 53s

08:14 min/km

7.29 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/tampines/434125656267677417

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/79414

Notes:

Had an EZ run.

Everything feels good.

No cramp.

What more can I ask for.

Nike+ Human Race 2009

Nike+ Human Race 2009

09.85km (Official: 10km)

1hr 15m 08s (1hr 15m 52s: new PB)

07:37 min/km

7.87 km/hr

Mapmyrun: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/sg/singapore/745125635433243718

SportyPal: http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/77801

Notes:

I think I just equaled my personal best timing although this was supposed to be an EZ run.

I saw the famous Running Mom from the neighbouring country up north!

More updates coming soon.

My goal for this run is to treat it as an EZ run.

Take it slow, enjoy the views on display and soak in the atmosphere.

And not forgetting to keep a look-out for Running Mom and ask for her autograph.

Although I’ve planned to come early and do sufficient warm-up, it didn’t materialise.

I arrived at the F1 Pit Building at 7.00am while the Start Time was 7.10am for the first wave.

Quickly went to deposit my bag and glad to report that it was fast and efficient.

By the time I walked towards the main F1 track, the first half of the track was already full.

I inched my way forward until I nearly reached the main stage.

The countdown was officiated by the indie band from Malaysia, Estranged and thus my run had officially begun.

The initial first kilometre pace was under 7min and it was too fast for me and I did not want to suffer later on in the run.

As I plodded along the winding road, I noticed a lady with a black headdress which looked suspiciously familiar.

Lo and behold, it was the Running Mom in action.

She was running at quite a fast pace, so all I could do was just to follow her from behind.

Suddenly the Running Mom halted and later I realised she was snapping away the actions on her camera.

So I passed her but a few minutes later, she overtook me.

I wanted to say hi but she was having her earphones on and she looked real focused.

So I chickened out and continued on my run.

The rest of my run was uneventful and tried to keep my pace steady and under 8min/km.

At the finishing line, I was surprised to find a variety of freebies on offer.

Yogurt, ice-cream, Starbucks coffee and a myriad of fruits to be give away.

Due to the tiredness, I only took a banana and was lazy to queue for the rest.

It was really a great and fun experience and to beat my personal best was a bonus given that I was really aiming for it.

Woohoo!

Pictures:

The Finisher Bracelet. I think it looks kind of cool. Different from the normal finisher medal.

The backside view.