The Twin Races: Brooks Marina Run / Marina Party Dash Run 2015

Being a loaded racing weekend for me, I was grateful both events were in the afternoon. The Marina Run was my first 10km for the year and third since I started running mid-2014. The Party Dash was a 5km fun run and I had hoped for a very easy one since my 6 years old daughter was racing with us.

Here’s a glimpse into the races.

Brooks Marina Run – Valentine’s Day Event
“Roses are red, Violets are blue, I know it’s Valentine’s Day….” and that’s about as far as it goes because sweating it in a 10km run with my buddy Michelle ain’t romantic at all but that’s exactly what we did, along with the other 6000 competitors who joined the race.

My running Valentine buddy

Sluggish, lazy, sore quads from previous training sessions, certainly not in the mood, neither of us knew how this run was going to unfold. All I thought of was that I will run, walk or crawl to clock up 10km and complete the race.

Flagging off from Gardens by the Bay East beneath the south side of the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, we headed for the Marina Barrage Bridge. Within 30 seconds of crossing the Start line, I lost Michelle in the crowds. See you at the end buddy.

10km Route

Always time for a selfie with my supporter.

As I crossed the bridge, I caught a glimpse of my support team, waving and photographing from level 2 of the Barrage’s Pump House. I will see you guys at the end too.

  

The rest of the race was a slow and steady pace along the shoreline of the Marina Bay and Kallang Basin. With my Suunto watch directing my pace, my aim was to complete the race by running (or more like jogging) the entire route. Keeping my cardiovascular exertion in check by slowing down, my focus was mainly on my legs and the usual fatigue and discomfort I feel after several kilometers of running. I was satisfied when I reached the 5km mark, still feeling in pretty good shape. By the 6th km, my knees and quads were subtly niggling and it was time to talk to my head and pump up the music. Swaying between “just one more km to where is the next km marking to don’t stop to carry on” type of conversation, I was relieved to see the 9km marking. As I rounded the Costa Rhu condos and saw the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, I kept wondering why I couldn’t see the Finish line until I realised that the last kilometre was an extra 500m longer. The run in the end was 10.5km and boy that last 500m was definitely not welcomed.

  

However, I was satisfied with the overall effort. Slightly better than my Great Eastern Women’s run in November 2014, I ranked 346 of 1945. Michelle on the other hand did exceptionally well by ranking 68 of 1945, making it to the top 3% of racers.

Hold me up Remek.

Hold me up floor, I’m stuffed.

We may have been sluggish but
we had a sense of humour.

 

Marina Party Dash
Whilst the Marina Run left me fatigued, I was ever so thankful that this race was untimed and organised purely in the name of fun. Being in the same location as the Marina Run the 5km was a 2 x 2.5km loop in front of the Marina Bay Golf Course.

Since it was untimed most of the participants only completed one loop which was more than enough to maintain the fun factor and motivation for my child. We were joined by our friend and his family.

The highlight of this race was the water pistol each participant received in their race pack instead of a tee. Loaded with water and ready to rumble, Wonder Girl (aka Trinity) had her eyes set on her target, Deathdeala (aka Daddy) and her friend, Michelle. Along the way Wonder Girl realised that Triple SSS (aka Mum) may have looked harmless as she was photographing but was quite efficient shooting with her left hand.

 

 

Deathdeala was in full swing, guns blazing, mowing down anyone in the way with water. Somehow I think he lost himself in one of his Call of Duty games. Taking ‘incognito’ positions behind trees that were thinner than him, Deathdeala was hoping to spring upon the unsuspecting oncoming gunslingers. If only he wasn’t so invisibly visible.

 

What he didn’t expect is Triple SSS sneaking up on him and dousing him in water. Down for the count, Triple SSS then descends upon Wonder Girl smothers her with mummy kisses and proceeds to blast her with water. Mission accomplished and I was out of there.

 

Never one to accept defeat, Deathdeala rose from the ashes and duplicated himself with Deathdeala II. The war was raging all the way to the finish line where they took their final victims down who were attempting to cross the line.

  

Somewhere along the way we did do some running but not much. We clocked up 2.8km in about 25min but didn’t care much for that as we headed for the carnival festivities.

Being a very small event, perhaps 300-500 participants, it eliminated the usual post race mayhem at the finisher tent where we collected fresh sandwiches, fruits and sports drinks. The kids entered the highly entertaining Musical Statues game on stage. Comical game hosts kept us in stitches for the next half hour. Michelle earned the nickname Madame Tussaud for her perfectly frozen stance, and Trinity was nicknamed after Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ song. The kids were so good at the game the rules had to change with a final dance off. Trini completely let loose and came out one of two winners.

 

Besides this game, the carnival consisted of Family Olympic Challenge, more stage games, activities at the booths and music performances from local bands. Another family orientated event just like the Safari Zoo Family Run that comes highly recommended. We certainly had tonnes of fun being water gunslingers with our swanky bib code-names.

 

Our codenames

The Triple Races: Terry Fox Run / Aquathlon / Safari Zoo Run 2015

It was a weekend laden with racing activities. Eight Team Costa members and two Little Leaguers* participated in three separate racing events on Sunday, 8 February.

Here’s a snapshot of each event:

Terry Fox Run  [5km]

Organised by the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS) in memory of Terry Fox, who was an athlete, humanitarian and above all a cancer research activist. Terry died of cancer at 22 years of age in 1981. However, prior to his death, Terry embarked on an ambitious “cross Canada run, to raise funds and awareness for cancer research”. He completed 5,373km out of 8,000km in 143 days before succumbing to ill health that forced his withdrawal. During that campaign, Terry successfully raised $23,000,000.

Inspired by Terry’s drive and determination, Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotels and a father who lost his son to cancer, proposed an annual fundraiser in Terry’s name. A non-competitive fun run, where each participant could run, walk or ride was born in September 1981. Now in its 34th year, the Terry Fox run is an international event reaching every single continent, except for Antarctica of course.

Which brings us to Sunday and Singapore’s Terry Fox fun run. A non-competitive race, free-of-charge was held on East Coast Park. Registration was purchasing a t-shirt or donation to the cause. Flag-off was at Big Splash with 10km route heading to Bedok Jetty return and the 5km route heading to Fort Rd return. This would have minimised congestion given the narrow paths in the Park.

Paul and Caitriona, husband and wife team, tackled the 10km category at paces of 5:05 and 5:57 respectively. When asked why they chose this run, Caitriona says: “…because it’s close to home, first race of the year, a good cause and we get an idea of time before the Green Corridor race”. The run ticked lots of boxes for the couple, especially with East Coast Park as their backyard and familiar running territory. It also made it easier to have their support team in attendance; their gorgeous girls. Whilst the last kilometre became challenging for Caitriona, mostly heat related, she still accomplished her sub-60 min target and shaved six minutes off her last 10km race.

Paul & Caitriona with their support team.

Aquathlon 

First one off the ranks for this year’s series of multi-sport races, the Aquathlon took place on Palawan Beach, Sentosa. A combination of swimming and running, it affords athletes the opportunity to spread their wings and bring diversity into their regular training.

Four of our members participated, with Stan and Marcus completing the Sprint category (750m swim / 5km run), and Michelle and Lisa the Discovery category (250m swim / 2.5km run). This time a year ago most of them were committed runners and participating solely in running races. During one of those “Friday night by the pool” moments and perhaps too much liquor the brilliant idea of participating in a triathlon was born.

Stan completed his first sprint triathlon in April 2014, which was quite a fete given that swimming was a different endeavour for him. A natural runner and cyclist, swimming presented Stan with new challenges and a new sport to develop. Will, determination and a healthy dose of curiousity of what he can accomplish, saw him complete another Triathlon in August 2014 and shaving 12 minutes off his finish time.

After several years of running races and repeat routes, Michelle, another committed runner, was seeking new athletic horizons. Ten months ago she took her first swimming drills session with our swim coach, Desmond Ho, and has progressed from barely completing a 50m lap to taking 4th place in overall women’s position in her first mini-triathlon just four months later. She has since competed in another Triathlon and last week’s Aquathlon coming in 10th out of 86 all women’s category. Let’s just say that Michelle has never looked back and is enjoying the diversity in her athletic pursuits.

Marcus and Lisa, are another husband and wife team, who compete when time affords it. Whilst Marcus is no stranger to multi-sport races, for Lisa it’s all very new. Having only just begun running four months ago and not usually a swimmer, the Aquathlon certainly stretched her current athletic skills. Yet, Lisa crossed the finish line in 14th position out of 86 female competitors. I’d say that is a fantastic effort for her first multi-sport race.

As multi-sport races gain traction in 2015, so will Team Costa’s participation. As the MetaSport’s ‘Metasprint Series’ culminates in a triathlon in April, the Tri-Factor Series commences with the swim followed by cycling, running and finishing with the Tri-Factor Triathlon in August. Team Costa will certainly be busy both racing and training for the these series along with other races in between.

 

   

Safari Zoo Family Race [6km]

Now this was one big fun day for us. Given the racing mania going on in our family and being huge fans of both the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, it was a no brainer for us when it came to registering. We hijacked Michelle’s older son, whilst she was racing her Aquathlon, and together with our daughter we bought the 2 adults/2 children early bird family package for $152. Joined by good friends it increased the fun value to both adults and kids.

We tackled the 6km route beginning with the Night Safari. The highlight was seeing animals that you wouldn’t normally see during the day, such as the Malayan tiger, near-white Asiatic lions and Indian rhinos that look like they’re wearing metal armour. Half way through the race we crossed into the Singapore Zoo to finish off the rest of the race.

Whilst we took off together, it wasn’t long before Justin’s legs needed more speed and John had no choice but to follow suit. Trini and I were left in the dust. Not that it mattered. We enjoyed every single animal pitstop which was enough of a rest before continuing on. By 3km Trini was struggling but her unfailing spirit kept her going with plenty of walking in between. It took John and Justin just over an hour to complete and Trini and I an extra 10min. To us adults their effort was unbelievable. We were concerned that the length of the race would be too long but we were happily proven wrong.

Once the race was complete, medals collected and lunch devoured it was time to hit the wet play area for a couple of hours. With their unwavering energy, we ran some more, splashed a tonne and lay beneath the jumbo water bucket that rained a tropical downpour.

As a family who likes to extract every ounce out of an event, we took the opportunity to visit the River Safari with our complimentary tickets from the race. Needless to say by the time we all arrived back home some 10 hours later, we were all well and truly wrecked.

This particular race is a wonderful and well organised event for families with children. Three zoos in one day, wet play area, race tee, medal, zoo towel and carnival for $38 each (early bird); that’s what I call value for money.

 

  

  

And the jumbo bucket came pouring down…

* Little League is a parents organised sports games held in our condo. Team Costa is training its next generation of athletes of which two of its members, Trinity and Justin, feature in this blog.