Standard Chartered Singapore: Heaven Before Hell

I still didn't learned the lesson of torturing myself last a couple of months back in the BSN Night Run Half Marathon because this month I have gotten myself into the Standard Chartered Singapore for the Half Marathon.

Joining this half marathon is also came out from the blue. Initially reserving the December for JB10K Run, I started doubting myself whether it'll really coming back this year (it did! I'll be running for it one week after this SCSM).

On one hand I will have to spend a lot of RM for this run just because of the exchange rate. I can't even have the luxury of a musafir since I'm lived just across the border. On the other hand, with Iqbal and his friends running in the event - I finally have someone that will join a run in Singapore. It's either I'm taking the chance or not.

Took the chance it is!

When we walked down from our backpackers hostel at 5.30am, we met with the full marathon runners that already started their run at 5.00am. Imagine running so early in the morning and continue running for 8 hours.

Full marathon runners on the run

The half marathon will start at the archway of the Sentosa Island and ends at the City Hall. This is the first time for that the starting and finishing point will be at two different places with such distance. After taking the MRT, we walked to the beginning of the starting point.

Stretching....

There were 12,600 runners for the half marathon. The organizer planned carefully for the run not to be so packed and crowded on the road, hence the three phase of release. We're at the second release of runners at 6.45am. It is a nice effort, but I think if they made the starting time earlier it'll be better. The sun already showing it's face by the time we started.

At the Sentosa Archway

The half marathon does have some marketing ploy in hand. The route took us around the attraction in the island. The Palawan Beach, the indoor skydiving and also the luge were some of the new things that I learned are there in the island and not only the Universal Studio Singapore.

Palawan Beach

Pit stop at the beach

Indoor Sky Diving

Luge

Drink stop H1

Talking about USS, according to the map we should entering it someway soon. I doubted it at first, but when we reached the doorway of the WaterWorld, it's confirmed. We entering the USS!

Entering USS

This looks familiar

This is a marketing job done right. Runners had a chance to take their photos with the characters throughout the sections of the USS. Iqbal and myself didn't miss the opportunity ourselves with the perk. Not to mention we did took a longer detour in the USS.

Poyo level 9999

By the time we're put from the USS, it was already 9km into the run. Uh oh, suddenly a realization came to me. If the early section comprises the roads in the Sentosa Island, the second section will comprise a longer section of some highway.

Drink stop H2

Drink stop H3 - before the hellish road

May the real challenge of the half marathon only started?

It came with the full judgement of the excruciating heat of the sun. The road in said are from the Alexandra Road to the West Coast Highway finishing at the Ayer Rajah Expressway. These are 8km in total and in nowhere throughout the road, we found a shade that we could take a breather.

Look how long my shadow were....

Nowhere to rest....

I still have this sunburn stripe on my body after one week running from the half marathon.

Casualties were high at this section of the run. At 15km when I lifted off my sweat towel that I have covered my head, suddenly Iqbal appeared in front of me out of nowhere. We parted ways since exiting the USS. Along the way I thought he was way in front of me but the truth was he was just catching up to me.

Putting on my scarf on my head....

.....when Iqbal suddenly popped up.

Ah the pressure.....

Soon after that we decided it was time to start some small jog again after walking for a while. This was when disaster struck at me. Not long after we started jogging again at 15.5km, suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my right calf.

Snap! Twitch! Ouch!

Muka penyesalan.....

I had a cramp. I already felt a pull in both my legs at 11km but it was still manageable. This time it was sudden and painful.

As I'm clutching the side of the road rail, one of the volunteers approached me and asking whether I'm OK.

Bloody hell I'm OK. He lowered me and after that helped me to release the muscle cramp.

Ahhhh, that feels so much better.......

Drink stop H4 - we're so late in the run that the drinks already depleted.

A rare occurrence - a shade!

As the run is concerned, it is already over for me. With the cramp, I don't want to risk it anymore. In fact there were runners that can't even get to the finish line and had to be carried out with the ambulance.

Major casualties - had to be removed with the ambulance.

The last drink stop - H5

My thought on the run is clear. It was really a punishing route on the highway, Even after two weeks, my sunburn still visible. This run really taught me just follow what my body is telling me. And that is: Never run half marathon ever again, you will never fully prepare for it.

Entering the city.

Almost there....

Almost there.....

A pose for the finishing line....

But you know that you'll hear me running another half marathon next year.....

A great reflection....

RUN RATINGS - STANDARD CHARTERED SINGAPORE (HALF MARATHON) 2014
Organizer - 4/5
The route inside the Sentosa Island was very well thought by the organizer and deserved an applaud. The professionalism of the volunteers is second to none. I experienced it directly when I had the cramp.
Kit & Goodies - 3/5
The Standard Chartered running circuit is in several countries which I'm very interested to complete them all. I just wish that the half marathon event have the finishing tee. But alas, it is just a wish and I can only be satisfied with the finishing medal.
Route - 2/5
Why does the 2/3 of the route was so crappy? They could do better than this, I believe.

Overall Experience - 3/5
The main reason that I joined this run was because Iqbal was joining it in the first place. And it was a great decision too because it seems this will be their first and last run at the Standard Chartered Singapore - mostly due to the route. For me, this half marathon proves that I don't have to join a lot of half marathon per year. One will be enough for me in 2015.