27 Oct...UPR

4 runners..including myself were present..we had Reghie from Bluetooth Automotive team joining us as well...

Run on 6 Oct

this update has been sooooo backdated...apologies...
well..here's the story...
6 of us, Reis, HT, HC, Tay, Joseph & myself turned up for the run..


good to see HC coming back...
as usual, Reis was the only lady but we did not make her felt out of place...
a navy friend, Andrew, also joined us...

we ran off without the usual photo taking as the sky was getting gloomy..
catching up on the week's events over a cup of iced cold H20 always set away the fatigue..
here's the shots we got...sky was getting really dark early that day...

Reaching the limit in Beijing

October 19, 2009

Reaching the limit in Beijing

Posted: 921 GMT

BEIJING, China - I hauled myself out of bed at 6 a.m. Sunday to set out for something I'd never done before–run a race in the Beijing marathon.

Jaime FlorCruz, far right, joins Zhang Lianqi, center, and another runner at the finish line.

I've been prepping for this day, on and off, for three months since I signed up to run 9.6K as part of the 2009 Beijing International Marathon, the full length of which is a little more than 42 kilometers.

My 58-year-old body seemed fit enough to run the distance, but I woke up with pinching pain on my left knee. For one brief moment, I thought that was a good reason to back out.

I decided to go and run. I had my muesli and banana, took a painkiller and proceeded to Tiananmen Square. Nearly 30,000 people, professionals and amateurs, had gathered there for the 29-year-old annual event. Foreigners paid $100 to register; Chinese paid 150 yuan ($22). Everyone gets a packet, including a runner's bag and bib, an official T-shirt and a certificate of participation.

At the starting line, some came in groups — high school and college students, factory workers, corporate employees, and members of runners' club from various parts of China. Others came alone or with running buddies. Many joined to challenge themselves. Others, like the nine Chinese nuns from Henan province, run to support charity. Several runners wore distinctive T-shirts emblazoned with company logos ("Bimbo" Bread stands out) and uplifting message (the Obama slogan "Yes We Can" was eye-catching, if a bit tired).

I can too, I thought, as I jogged past Chairman Mao's portrait soon after the start. Forty minutes and four kilometers later, however, my energy and enthusiasm started to flag. I puffed and winced, as I watched rabbit-like runners overtake me and deflated stragglers fall off behind me. Can I go on for five more Ks?

Just as I was losing confidence, I noticed an elderly man in red shirt, red shorts and blue sneakers, running just ahead of me. I sidled up and politely asked his age. "I'm 76," he says, smiling.

Zhang Lianqi, it turns out, is a running aficionado. "I've been joining long-distance runs in Beijing since 1956," he recalls, keeping a slow but steady pace. "Once, I finished 37th." He retired from his transistor-factory job 16 years ago but still jogs two to three kilometers three times a week.

That explains Zhang's good form. "I've gained a bit of weight but I can still run," he quips. Along the way, he served as my mentor and inspiration. "Let's not run in the middle of the street," he suggests, so we avoid runners who are too fast or too slow. He took out two squares of chocolate from a yellow plastic bag and handed me one. "Don't swallow, just let it melt in your mouth." Soon, we passed 6K!

Impetuously, I picked up speed, inspired by periodic cheers ("Persistence means victory!") from onlookers and volunteers who'd lined the streets. "Pace yourself," Zhang warned me. "Don't run too fast." Badly dehydrated, I fetched a bottle of water from a volunteer. "Don't drink too much," he says. "Just sip." His most telling unsolicited advice involved attire. "Next time wear running shorts," he admonished me. "Sweatpants drag you down." Like a tour guide, he narrated a bit of history of Diaoyutai, as we ran past China's state guest house. He probably just wished to distract me. By the time he finished his spiel, we were only 600 meters away from our goal.

Literally shoulder to shoulder, we crossed the 9.6K finish line. As we posed for souvenir pictures and exchanged phone numbers, I felt especially exhilarated to have found in Mr. Zhang a running companion, a mentor and another Beijing friend. I am glad he pushed me to the finish line.

Posted by: CNN Beijing Bureau Chief, Jaime FlorCruz
Filed under: China • General • Sports

http://inthefield.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/19/reaching-the-limit-in-beijing/

4km or 10km "Run For Hope" charity run for Cancer Patients

Tim Teo recommending fellow hot-runners
to join the charity run for Cancer patients on 22-Nov
in East Coast Park.
A 4km or 10km "Run For Hope" 7am event.

Thanks Tim for sharing.

http://www.runforhopesingapore.org/index.php

6 hot-runners at UPR today

6 of us turned up today and 4 are in our popular lime yellow t-shift.

HT was sharing his experience of taking iron tablet as he suspects
maybe he needs it for his red blood cells. According to him it seems
to helps! He definite ran much faster today.

Another runner said recently he sort of knocked off (aka fainted)
after doing some "cangkur" (spade?) work in the farm. We think regular
running can helps him.

KengHwa wanted to improve his 21km timing for this coming Dec run. I
am sure he can. His timing in Aug was not satisfactory to him due to
injury.

HC was glad to be with the team today. He did a 21km training run last
Sunday on his own in 2:09 hours. An improvement over his Aug race event.

Edmund is still going strong. Was glad to see PH Tan too after a
break. Thanks to Jospeh for sponsoring the drinks today.

Our Triathlon Ironman HT (Looks like he just got out from the reservoir after swimming?).

Mobile blog through HC's iPhone.

Oct 8 running on all fours

Oct 8, wow, what a day. Runners were hitting the road by the time I came down at 5:35pm. Bok Hui's drink container of H2O was sitting in its place... a sure sign that the runners are gone.

An evening with Edwin

Thursdays are Edwin running days. He has been diligent to stick with this session. As anticipated, he was raring to go when we met at 5:35pm, Oct 2nd. With his Garmin watch batteries replaced, he started off the run in earnest trying a new technique. I was tired and was prepared to do the 3km of the circuit but changed my mind with Edwin's encouragement. I took off running at 11km/hr tracking Edwin who was ahead of me. Lost sight of Edwin after 2km. He was again ...blazing the route. Completed my 5km averaging 10km/hr. Was happy with my run timing. Both of us wound down with Edwin's sponsored H20. Edwin was hoping to have company for a 10km run. I will need a few more weeks before I I am ready to enjoy 10km. Any takers?...