(Picture: At Kluang Railway Station waiting for the delayed scheduled train)
The GE 10k Run
Took place on 21st Oct, Sunday
My race actually started from the car park next to the old ACM. After securing a lot, I dashed my way towards the Padang. I was relieved to see many ladies still strolling into Padang and was thinking “wow, these ladies are late too?” Then I got to realise, they were in for the 5km run to be flag-off at 8.30am :p
At the start line, the time clock was already reading 3:23 … I was late for the 7.30am flag-off. Hurriedly, I ran passed the start line, pinned up my number tag, took big strike hoping to catch up with the main pack of the runners. That morning had been raining, the rain stop in time for us, hence the weather was quite cooling.
Along the way, I met Nisah and Julie (both are avid adventure racers). The duo were enjoying their run when I greeted them. Amazing ladies they are, they could sing and run at the same time, which they would normally do so too at adventure races. I wondered what the other runners were thinking while they were grasping for air to keep in pace, the two big lungs ladies were singing in tune with a steady strike *grin* 🙂
My watch read 18mins ++ when I witnessed the two leading runners zoom passed me after they U-turned at the junction of Mountbatten Road. When the Kenyan lady finished at 33:44, I was probably still struggling at the 5th km! LOL
My run time: Gun time: 1:06: 24hr / Chip time: 1:02:47hr … there’s room for improvement
The people I met at the end point … Loyce (with OBS) who gave me water to drink at the finishing :); Jasmine, the petit & pretty adventure racer; Ros, a teacher also an adventure racer; Mike who busied ushering runners to return the Champion chips; Mrs Leong (my ex-boss’ wife) & friend; Raymond the runner/tri-athlete, he introduced me to his wife – Joanna; Nisah & Julie, the funning duo were queuing at the Osim booth; Jinella Chua (mother of one!) who left OBS for a teaching career; Wilfred of NYP (also formerly from OBS), the friendly students from ARC (Ngee Ann Poly) volunteering their time as officials even after organising an adventure race the day before …
Belumut Trek
Went to Belumut (1010m a.s.l.) today. I really miss the tropical jungle treks in Malaysia. I bet the leeches miss me too. I got two leeches leech-ed to my legs, one on my left ankle, another on my right knee (they can crawl that high even with me wearing trek pants!)
That blood sucker leech!
The bloody stain!
Look forward to my next tropical trek, hopefully soon! Anyone keen?
Honored as one of the Great Women of Our Time by Women’s Weekly, Joanne Soo is the owner of Ace Adventure, a company that conceptualises and organisesadventure sports events. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and a Trainer with Republic Polytechnic.