Top 10 Running Series #9 - Sentosa Island

By far the largest Team Costa contingency, we had 13 running participants, 2 newbies, 8 support and numerous children far too busy playing on the beach to care what the parents are getting up to with their running shoes strapped on.

We met at the swanky Tanjong Beach Club on the far east side of the island.  After the requisite group shot (and just noticed we have one MIA) we took off at an easy pace in order to try and stick together as much as possible given the various running skills in this group.

With a westward approach along Tanjong and Palawan Beach Walks within 1.5km we hit the public holiday crowds.  Celebrating Chinese New Year provided all the foreign workers with a day off and an opportunity to descend upon Sentosa Island for a day trip.  For us runners it turned into a human obstacle course that we weaved our way through.

Regrouping amongst the crowds.

The masses of groups milling about created a challenge all the way down Siloso Beach Walk but we were a bunch with a very a happy disposition and eventually left the crowds behind.

Siloso Beach

We regrouped again at the western most point of Sentosa which was halfway through the run.  Here, two members returned and the rest of us pushed onto the Imbiah Trail track for a little extra adventure.  Once we reached the top we took another short break, checked the trail map and began our descent via Merlion Plaza where the 37m concrete half lion-half fish statue, known as the Merlion proudly stands.

 

The 37m Merlion statue

Making our way through the mosaic garden and down the zig-zag footpath we eventually merged back on the Palawan Beach Walk on our final stretch back to the start.  With one kilometre to go, Chris provides some extra incentive to pick up the pace and the first one back will be rewarded with a Long Island Ice Tea.  Suddenly Veronika's legs just picked up speed and overtook Michelle (rightly so given that Michelle did a 110km bike ride 10 hours earlier) but Veronika had a serious contender in Cindy who came out of nowhere but unfortunately burnt out in the end. Veronika just really wanted the run to be over and that drink in hand and this babe was outta here.

With the 6km fitness session over, it was time for an after-run beach party. It took us nine Team Costa runs to finally have the largest showing and it was a brilliant afternoon with great friends and neighbours.

Route map.

Top 10 Running Series #8 – Green Corridor

I may sound like an eager-beaver or seem like a kid in a candy store but I’ve waited eight months to do even a small portion of the Green Corridor.

Initially registered for the 2015 Green Corridor race, it took place a week after my nasty ankle injury during the Urbanathlon and with that I figured I have to wait another 12 months till the next Green Corridor official race.

Thankfully for one reason or another Team Costa Green Corridor run kept being rescheduled and just as well given how keen I’ve been to run this area but unable to for months due to my ankle rehabilitation.

Keen and willing I joined the usual suspects, Chris, David, John and Michelle along with newbies Angela, Cindy and Sven.

It was tough matching this kind of enthusiasm.

Starting off at the Silat Walk entrance the group quickly broke off into groups with relative running skills. Group 1 consisted of Chris, David, Michelle and Sven. As 5/km pacers they took off and left the rest of us in the dust. Angela and Cindy were Group 2, who maintained a casual and easy pace, whilst John and I walked a couple of kilometers till he found an exit and left to meet us at the end.

Left on my own with a camera is never a good thing. Just like Fort Canning, I was easily distracted by my surroundings and instead of focusing on running it was always “just one more pic”.

The Green Corridor was my first trail run and I found myself in two minds. One that it was fun, interesting, challenging and on the other, tough on the legs, not sure I like it, why did I think this was fun? The challenge was more because I had to watch my ankle that is about 80% repaired or maybe it was those really thin trails gouged into the earth by bicycles. Either way, I remained on the fence on whether I liked running trail or not.

I did however sign up my family for the 5km Compressport Rail Corridor race and it’s a great way to get my 7 years old kid to experience the corridor whilst getting a shiny medal at the end. John and I are also committed to the 10.5km Green Corridor. How could we not; it’s the Grand Finale and the face of the Green Corridor will be forever altered once the Murnane pipeline has been constructed.

What I enjoyed the most during this run was my green surroundings. Best described as “a mix of secondary forest, grasslands and small scale farms, interspersed with railway bridges, preserved railway stations, canals, streams and marshland”, this thin rugged piece of land runs North to South right through the heart of Singapore for a total of 24km.

It’s quiet, it’s green, it’s lonely whilst all along I am running alongside a major road on one side and HDB flats on the other. Yet you think you are in the wilderness. A very green one.

I was utterly surprised when I came across the first lot of graffiti in Singapore. Then Angela informed me that there are designated and approved areas for graffiti. Well that explains a lot.

I also recall walking beneath a low slung overhead road-bridge. It was so dark, I thought “no way would I trek through here on my own if I were anywhere else in the world”. That says a lot about the safety of this country and why I love raising my girl here.

The route that led us to breakfast was 6km long, of which I ran 4km on my own. Angela and Cindy waited for me at the end and together we found our way to Baker & Cook near Holland Village for a feast. The rest of the gang was so fast, they added another 4km to their route and still managed to get to breakfast before us.

This run was like a taster and I envision one day in the not too distant future trekking the full length of the Corridor with my brother. He needs to make a quick trip just for this, well before mid-next year anyway.

Cheers.

Top 10 Running Series #7 - Fort Canning

Haze, haze and more haze. That was September and most of October. Our September scheduled Team Costa run was cancelled. The air pollution index was so high that we all just rolled over and went back to sleep.

As the haze eased up we snapped up the opportunity to tackle our 7th run in the series with an easy or what was meant to be an easy, meaning short, run around Fort Canning.

Sometimes lipstick is necessary.

But why on earth I thought it would be easy beats me. I should remember last year’s SMU Mile race at Fort Canning. The 4.8km was pure torture (and only my second running race ever). Hills, stairs, hills, stairs, more hills and more stairs. Well it was tough for me but I wouldn’t say the same for Michelle. Whilst I was hyperventilating from exertion, she was chatting on the phone as if she was taking a stroll. I did still manage to put on a fabulous smile for the photographer.

SMU Mile Race, Sept 2014.

Anyway, after a brief from Chris regarding the route, meet-up, options, Vika, Michelle and I took off up the endless tiers of stairs just to reach Raffles Terrace and double over to catch my breath. What a way to start.

Stairs to Raffles Terrace.

No matter how hilly, how many stairs or how tough it is for me to run this terrain, Fort Canning is a special place. Historically, besides Sir Raffles building being his first residence and the first botanical garden on the hill, Fort Canning is largely remembered for its military role complete with barracks, hospital, fort and arms store. It held this role for a century having passed hands from the British to the Malay to the Japanese (not a good time), back to the British and finally where it belongs in the hands of its people, the Singaporeans.

Now a park in the downtown city area, Fort Canning is a “unique blend of historical relics, lush greenery and expansive lawns”.  Gothic gates, art installations, 9-pound cannons, archaeological excavation site are just some of the attractions that reside amongst the sky-high tree and shaded paths.

Shortly into the run, John and I split from Chris, Michelle, Vika and David. Perennially the slowest in our group, I opted for a shorter route but my appreciation of the park and all its interests has caused far too much distraction and ultimately we just walked, photographed and enjoyed the glorious morning.

The others on the other hand figured the park hills not enough of a challenge and on Chris’ brilliant suggestion agreed to run up the stairs, then up a hill, then down the hill and around again. If that wasn’t enough a few lunges, step-ups and sprints were tossed into the mix.

Not surprising by the time John and I caught up with them, they looked as if they ran a marathon even though it was only 7km. Then again it’s 3km longer than what John and I completed. Ah, if I wasn’t so easily distracted by the scenery around me.

When stairs and paved hills are no longer enough.

We finished off with a short jaunt to Boomarang Restaurant at Robertson Quay to inhale a hearty breakfast and down a pint of fresh orange juice and some beer of course.

Till the next time.  Cheers.