Eyeball The Wall 15k -

Uniquely YYC

Race #3 in April, this time back in Calgary. Rather than the exotic locales and formats of the other 2 (reports coming soon), Eyeball The Wall was either a 15k or a 30k around the Glenmore reservoir. 

The 30k got started first, half an hour before the 15k. A clockwise loop of the reservoir, with the longer distance turning around to do the second lap anti-clockwise. Everyone would get to see everyone somehow, a well worked angle for a race many were using to prepare for the Calgary Marathon or half.

Just the one, dear

Once the 2-lappers were off, time to stretch and limber up on this fairly cold, but good race conditions morning. 

I had predicted a time of 1:07. Building back the mileage amid my ongoing recovery and gait work, I felt that perhaps on the first 2 flat sections (before the 5k point) I might manage 4:15 per km - 90 minute half marathon pace. 

Otherwise, the sections of serious gradient would leave me unable to regain that pace later on. 

Not the best self-seeding from some, who found themselves quickly swallowed up at the start. 

I had a new strap for my camera which was poorly adjusted, so no video. 

"Not doing 2 laps" pose. 

I felt sluggish to begin with, but it passed as I settled into a higher pace, and concentrating on my technique, overtook a few. 

Runaway Train 

About 2.5 k in, the extremely steep downhill to the valley floor. 

The 30k runners would have to come up it shortly before finishing, quite a task. 

I registered 4:00 for the next 2k before going back uphill. That was good for a 5k, but too quick for this race. 

I Will Follow 

The next guy I caught (hereinafter known as "cap man") seemed a good pacemaker, or at least I could restrain myself by not overtaking him. 

I took the hill back out of the valley slowly, and he pulled away, but I was back with him again within about half a k. Strange, as I'd assumed I'd be wrecked by this time. 

Signalling when overtaking, cap man knew I was there. He slowed a few times, possibly trying to encourage me to pass. "Slower, good idea," I thought, so I stayed behind. I honestly didn't think I could manage to run any quicker anyway. 

Cap man pulled over to grab a drink just before the 10k point, finally finding a way to have me overtake. 

Millennium Falcon 

I flew down the 1,000 metre stretch of Glenmore Trail, catching up the next guy. I took the following hill and undulations gently, or so I thought. 

At the top of one crest was one guy doing his tai chi/ a tribute to Ministry Of Silly Walks. 

Leaders Of The Pack

Already passing a few 30k runners still on their first lap, on my approach to Heritage Park, Simon came steaming uphill in the lead. 

About a minute later came a relaxed looking Scott.

Then Brent.

& Rich in 5th. I know all the leaders?

After that excitement, I took the chance to look behind me at a virtual hairpin bend just after Heritage Park. Cap man was nowhere to be seen. 

Arrival Procedure 

There were still plenty of ups and downs, which I was taking on in relaxed fashion. I looked to be easily ahead of my target time. 

Crystal came dancing past on her way to finishing the second loop. I think I didn't react straight away, hence the two-handed wave. 

I began as I'd started, with v-sign and grin. 

I finished in 1:04:47, a major surprise. I'm hoping to do 4:15 pace for the Calgary Half Marathon, and I did this seriously hilly 15k course at 4:17. 

My medal hit my teeth as it was hung around my neck, slightly unexpected. 

Cap man came in, he seemed slightly annoyed about my drafting. Perhaps I had been pushing him along rather than being pulled. 

This guy didn't collapse as it looks like here. He collected his medal, looked to check he wouldn't get in anyone's way, and slowly laid down. 

I iced a mildly swollen achilles afterward. On reflection, I'm in far better shape than I had imagined. It's probably due to improved running economy and longer term base of fitness going back several years. Can I add to my sub-90 half marathon collection at the end of the month? 

2xu Compression Run Singapore 10k: steamed runners

Location, location

There are destination races, or if going on a normal holiday, races at your destination. This was certainly the latter, the South Asian climate not great for poor hot weather runners like me. 

Plane fun

With the private jet being serviced, we had to fly economy, changing planes twice. We had just enough time to pick up some wasabi biscuits on the way through Tokyo. 

Steamy running 

Hot and hotter are the two temperatures. Running anywhere near your quickest is impossible even in the middle of the night. 

The race didn't actually start at 3, that's just Singaporean thoroughness. The half marathon did start at 5am though, a full 2 hours before sunrise and the 10k start. There was a 5k too, and I was tempted to do this due to the heat but thought the 10 would look better on camera. 

Even so, the malfunctioning sauna that is the Singapore weather would make dehydration the limiting factor in a 10k. I knew it was going to have me sweating from places I usually don't...

...although I was hoping the consequences wouldn't be too bad. 

Start your engines 

Singapore hosts an F1 race every September, held at night. This race started from the F1 grid. 

The race was fuelled by a happy soy protein bar. Overall, it would be a question of running the fastest possible constant pace without dehydration forcing me to slow late on.  

30 degrees at the start line. A feeling of freedom in a way - no pressure to get a quick time. Just don't drop any litter - the MC said plain clothes officers would be on course handing out $300 spot fines for those that did. 

Big brother announcement duly out of the way, a karaoke-aerobics warm up ensued. 

I was slightly baffled by that, but it kept the startline in a light mood. 

I started a little far back in hindsight, although at the time I felt no need to barge my way to the front. 

It was the shuffliest start I've ever had to a race. 

The Dukes of Humid

It was the start of a morning's weaving. The track was nice and wide for the start before joining the public road, so plenty of passing space. I wasn't exactly flying past everyone, though I think that many were probably starting too quickly. 

The first drink station was just 1.5k into the race. Knowing the benefit it would have, I poured water on my head. I made sure not to miss the bin, or else it would become a very expensive shower. 

Around the national stadium and cross a footbridge to the other side of the bay, then the halfway point and aid station with bananas. If I'd been doing the half, it would've definitely been worth stopping. I had started passing a few walking halfers at that point. 

The sun was now well and truly up, adding its rays to the already fearsome heat. Pace was a good even 4:40/ km. I had sped up a couple of times, but at just 10 seconds per k faster all it took was about a minute to feel myself dehydrating much quicker.  

Half time

Just before the barrage which crossed back over the bay (above), the half and 10k courses joined up. It was the 16k mark for them, and there were a great many who had taken 2 and a half hours to get there. 

It was almost like being at the start again, except I was by now (7k) drenched many times over. 

Sweaty kick

The last k was over the marina once more, without halfers, joining them again after crossing the bridge. 

The finish was finally close enough not to worry about dehydration and go for the line. I managed to overtake a couple more 10kers on the way. 

It was a crowded finish, with a lot of very worn-out halfers. Even if you're local, the weather is very runner-hostile. 

There wasn't time or space to celebrate my finish of 46:00. That's the slowest 10k race I've ever run. In 30-35 degree heat however, I had executed the perfect race. I had been aware of that since about one third distance. 

After the finish, runners were handed "pokari sweat", bananas and head cloths kept in icy water. Altogether a great recovery package. 

All I did was overtake people while I ran every single kilometre between 4:38 and 4:42 except the last 2. I must've started 200 places back, and was a bit surprised to learn that I had got up to 24th place out of 2,148 by the end. 

Singapore is far too hot for distance training, but is a picturesque setting for a race. 

The climate goes a long way to explaining the mass of 3 hour half marathoners I overtook. It's impossible to effectively develop speed or endurance with such constant heat. 

Once you're done though, there's no shortage of  options to cool down. Recovery is important...