The  Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) will be happening tomorrow starting at the Esplanade Bridge. This year is my 2nd year to join the run. Last year I joined the 10K run finishing in 1:20:19 hrs(net time). This year I decided to push myself a bit further and signed up for the half-marathon (21.1km). This is going to be the longest that I’m going to run (excluding the Adventure Races that I’ve joined in the past). About a month ago I ran for 15 Km for the New Balance Real Run and I think I did just okay. Nothing impressive but I managed to finish the run despite doing a lot of catch up after being late for the run.

My preparation for this half-marathon has not really been very consistent but I think it’s better than last year. I didn’t  really prepare much last year. This year I was really trying to run more and at a longer distance. It would have been much better if I was really running twice or thrice in a week. There are always distractions in between and sometimes I’m just too tired to run coming from work.

All I hope is I can finish tomorrow’s run at a decent time.

I got to join my first run here in Singapore last August 24.  I would not have found about it if not for my fellow USC-Mountaineer, Kentoy, telling me about the run.  I wanted to join the Nike+Human Race 10K but as early as July the registration was already closed. It seems that a lot of people  of people here in Singapore like to join marathons and races.

I had no idea how my first run in Singapore would turn out as I don’t run regularly. I was a bit worried that I would be left behind so I decided to just register for the 10K non-competitive run which was also much cheaper.

The run started at the Esplanade bridge just right in front of the Merlion Park at 7:30am heading to Collyer Quay, Marina Boulevard, ECP, Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Rochor Exit, Fountain of Wealth, Temasek Avenue, Republic Boulevard, Raffles Avenue, Connaught Drive, St Andrews Road and ending at the Padang.

I had never seen so many runners in my entire life. I read somewhere that there was a total of 70,00 runners who joined the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run. During the entire run I had to look out for other runners as I had to run side-by-side with other runners and there were runners that just popped out of nowhere.

The exciting part of the run was running across Benjamin Sheares Bridge and passing by the Singapore Flyer. I was able to run straight for 7Km but exhaustion got the better of me when I got half-way in Republic Avenue.  A blister on my right foot didn’t also help my situation. From that point I alternated walking and running until I arrived in Esplanade where I started to run all the way to the finish line.

I kinda regret I didn’t sign up for the competitive 10K run as I would have gotten a finisher’s medal  and  a personalized finisher’s certificate instead of just getting a non-personalized finisher’s certificate and it’s the same distance that I had run. Anyway, important thing is that I did enjoy the run and I am looking forward for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon this coming December.