Currently Playing: It's A New Day - Will.i.am
Gotta admit that this year's Sundown Marathon is the toughest race I've ran so far from serious lack of training due to the hectic final semester in college. Thankfully, the grades made up for the lackluster performance of the run. =)
Unable to find the running tempo back after a month's break from training, I suffered from a strained right knee late into the race, which resulted in a several-kilometre walk back to the finish line. =( True, I eventually managed to better the last year's timing, but it sure felt tougher both mentally and physically.
The walk along Changi Coast Road back to completing the 42 KM battle after busting my knee made me think. A lot.
A couple of jet liners landed during that time, and at some point, I wondered what people a hundred years ago would think of this huge, loud, metallic bird that could swallow a couple of hundred of humans at a go and cruise at several thousand feet in the air - What would the Wright Brothers feel to see their dreams of air travel becoming reality, that their invention made a difference?
The almost periodic sounds of waves crashing onto the beach made me recall a documentary about vast expanse of non-biodegradable plastics and other trash collecting within the North Pacific Gyre as well as the recent oil spills both locally and at the Gulf of Mexico. Would our children get to enjoy the sights and sounds of clean, blue oceans and the diverse marine life they offer at the rate we are violating the Earth?
The long walk also allowed me to experience the plights of children in poorer parts of the world who have to walk several kilometres to and from school daily - I now cringe whenever one complains about the 10-minute walk to the nearest MRT station.
Oh well. Enough of the rant and let's move to the loot finishers of the race get:
The front of the finisher's tee bears the same simple design as the official running jersey
The rear features a race tag design with the race category and this year's slogan - Beat the Sunrise. Lovely. =)
This year's medal design is pretty unique:
The swirling arms extending along the bottom of the medal makes it pretty stylish. =)
Once again, a big thank-you to everyone who made the race happen, and three cheers to all finishers! See you guys next year at the Adidas Sundown Marathon 2011! 'Cause you know, the discount for returning runners is simply too good to be missed! =P
Oh, argh, by the way, the pink coloured SiS energy gel which happens to contain the most caffeine (And thus the most mental boost) tasted like the pinkish syrup-based medicine we had to curb fever when we were younger. x_x So the pink ones are for people with acquired tastes. =P
The Pink Medicine. Urgh. Image Credits: MedlinePlus
The grape flavoured one was fantastic though. Refreshing. The larger quantity of goo in the SiS gels proved to be more filling and provided a greater energy boost than the PowerBar gels.
