Slow & Steady Wins the Race :-)

Did the Jurong Lake 5K today in Singapore with 4 new EAPSI friends who I forced to become runners - this was all of theirs first race ever and they all say they will do another one, so its a SUCCESS!  My plan to make running take over the world continues.

After getting home fairly late last night from a trip to Melaka, Malaysia, a terrible calf cramp in the middle of the night (WHY?) that left it still so tight in the morning, and no breakfast available, I was feeling less than stellar this morning.  But Gitt and I headed out, met Melissa, Ola, and Patrick, I did a 1.1 mile warm-up, and we lined up.  I wasn't sure where to line-up since this was a "fun run" but I did so in my normal spot - about a 1/3 of the way back - bad decision.  Apparently I needed to toe the line!  I swear I practically won the fun run, I was passing people the whole entire time, and most of the people in front of me were WALKING!  It was so hard to weave around them all and I wasted so much energy doing that, plus after a mile or so we started passing 10k walkers (who started an hour before us - this was where it was timed and the serious runners likely were, but the registration closed very early), so so much weaving.  

On to the race itself.  Oof.  It was hard.  Although this was 2 minutes off my 5k PR I feel like it was a PR effort.  I wish I hadn't forgotten my heart rate monitor because I'm sure my heart rate was near max most of the time.  The 3rd mile was so hard and I thought I might die.  Very pretty scenery around Jurong Lake, which boasts lovely Chinese gardens with little temples, cute bridges, a lake (obviously), etc.  This was the inaugural run for this race, and it was pretty well done, except there were no snacks afterwards!  Just bottled water and 100Plus (but only 1 per person!) and NO snacks!  When does that ever happen?  

Patrick and Ola started at the line, so it took almost a mile to come upon Ola, and then probably 2 miles to come upon Patrick, but I finally passed them both.  Felt like I was going to die in the 3rd mile, and it was difficult to keep pushing, but I forced myself to kick when I could finally see the finish line even though I thought I might throw up.  At 8:30am it already felt like it was sweltering - the sun was beating down and I felt like my face was on fire.  Those 7's in my times are much much more than I hoped for, so I'm very pleased with this effort in the heat / humidity.  Looks like during the race it was about 84 degrees, 89% humidity, so heat index temperature of 93.

Afterwards we went to a (semi) delicious breakfast at Swensen's to celebrate our dominance.  PS - I might die during the half-marathon.  That might have been a mistake!   

TT: 25:28   AP: 7:52 (based on 3.24 not 3.11)

Splits -  8:03 (so much weaving!), 7:49, 7:52, 7:18

Wow, I can't believe I did this.  After my 6am meeting, a full day, sleeping badly because of a horrible storm last night that somehow flooded my room, etc. was just not feeling it.  I actually tried to go running in the morning and even got outside but it was still raining and there wasn't enough time to do as much as I wanted to and excuses, excuses.  But I DID go around 6:30pm, good temperatures, although even though the temps are much better the darkness plus night traffic isn't my favorite combination.

Drank too much water / 100 Plus during (was so thirsty and drank 3 bottles during the run) then ate my waffles with peanut butter with watermelon dinner (totally delicious, not really nutritious but it sounded way better than rice!) and was way too full afterwards.  

I felt like I was running faster than this, oh well.  At least I got that one 9 mile by one measley second!  Definitely gearing up for a personal worst next weekend!

TD: 12.25 miles   TT: 2:07:41   AP: 10:25     Elevation Gain: 797 feet

Splits: 11:15, 10:52, 10:03, 10:10, 10:39, 10:04, 10:14, 10:51, 10:03, 9:59, 10:36, 10:08

Went for a quick jog while my laundry was being done but it sucked and I only did a mile and walked the rest.

Between an early morning at the schools and Harry Potter tonight (yes!), that left running at 3pm, UGHHHHH hot.  A little over 3 horrid miles.

TT: 31:56   AP: 9:47 

Since yesterday's run was so horrid I decided I could run this morning and just combine the two to act as one longer run.  So got up early (rough!), 6am or so, before our flight to THAILAND.  

Running in THAILAND!!!  All down the main road, on the beach, saw a mosque, then it rained, excuse me then it POURED.  Then it stopped and so I kept running and then it POURED again, literally as hard as you could ever see it rain.  I took shelter under an awning for 10 minutes or so until I thought I could brave it the rest of the way.  I must have looked quite the sight, my pocket was bulging with shells, I was holding my two most precious shells so they would get broken, plus a water bottle, and I stuffed my camera in my shirt so it hopefully wouldn't drown.  And I was running in a torrential downpour.