I completed my fourth Sundown Marathon last Saturday.

• My overall time for the 10km: 1:07:25 (Personal Best – 10km Competitive)
  • Sundown 10km in 2013: 01:30:10
  • Sundown 10km in 2014: 01:21:54
  • Sundown 21.1km in 2015: 02:52:40
• Finished 918th out of 5,150 in my category (Net Time).
• Finished 693rd out of 2,581 other men in my category.

The race was on 28 May 2016, the same day as the DBS Marina Regatta. I had competed in the 22-crew Premiere Open Category earlier in the day. You can say that I was somewhat drained. But I was determined to hit my personal best in the 10km category.

And VOILA. I actually did!

 

Completing the 10km in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 25 seconds. I was going for 10km closer to 1 hour or less… BUT GO FIGURE. LOL. I checked my time every few minutes past the 6km mark. Trying to compute my pace and if I would reach the finish line. I was around the 7km mark when I realised I wouldn’t be finishing in one hour.

Highlights. This was the first 10km competitive race where I did not stop “to walk” unless it was to grab a cup of 100plus or mineral water at the hydration stations. Which, by the way, was quite brief. I would grab a cup from the last table, gulp it down, and then start running again.

KASI GUSTO KO MAKUHA ANG 10KM IN ONE HOUR OR LESS. 😛

Race route. The route was very scenic. Starting at the F1 Pit, leading towards Nicoll Highway before turning back alongside Kallang Riverside Park. Towards Sheares Bridge and around the sides of the F1 Pit again. Next to the Singapore Flyer, then it climbs up onto the Helix Bridge and down the steps along The Shoppes @ Marina Bay. The route goes through the waterfront side of The Shoppes, U-turns back which enables you to run between the illuminated palm trees… then towards Gardens by the Bay in the back (under the skeletal magnificence of the conservatories). U-turn again at the end back towards the Gardens, turns and goes down Gardens by the Bay with the Marina Bay Sands towering over you… U-turn for the finishing kilometers by taking you back onto the bridge back to the F1 Pit. Finish Line. Beautiful, beautiful at night. Some areas were narrow, but the route was worth it.

I told myself this would be one of my last competitive runs since I’d like to focus on weightlifting and dragon boating. But who knows, perhaps I’ll come back for a fifth stab at it in 2017. 🙂