a crazy race. madness terrain, killer slopes and downward stairs.
what conquered it all, the best company one could find in running.
waking up at 5am was really tough, especially with so little sleep the night before. honestly was feeling very lethargic. rushed to pack my stuff before heading out. first thing, water bag was kinda leaking! freaked me out but rushed over to MR anyway cos i knew Lucas was waiting for me already.
met up at MR toilet with Lucas, packed up our stuff, fixed our bags and we were ready to go! before we could get to the starting point, they checkd for our handphones and maps, weighed our water bags! i really thought it was rather troublesome cos i had to unpack everything i stuffed inside already.
headed in towards Alan’s booming voice, emcee for the day. tough long long day ahead! left our stuff at the tentage (perks of knowing ppl there) went to warm-up! did lots of stretching, learnt my lesson from Bataan, if i dint stretch it’s simply over. chatting & talking to familiar faces, Lai Chee, Patrick, Eileen, Wee, Sampson, Pang Hin, Darren, Andy, Ronald & his friends from Philippines, the list goes on. really nice to be amongst friends when racing, feels great, you somehow know they’ll support you & smile to you along the way.
BOOM! HERE WE GO!
with the loud bang, off we went. some people raced off, luckily Lucas & I were at the head of the pack, we just kept our easy pace and jogged off. its a 50km race, there’s definitely no need to waste even that single bout of energy to start zooming off.
0~7km:
Macritchie (Northern Route) —> Rifle Range
the race started from the zig-zag bridge, out left towards the entrance and into Northern Route. as we ran past the canoeing area, i could hear some of them asking : “what race is this? how come everyone carrying a water bag!” i could tell there was a tone of disbelief and insanity there, yeah its pretty insane to race TNF, but thats whats Life is about, going beyond what you think is possible.
running up, taking walks on steep slopes. yes we did it even at the start, part of our strategy to conserve energy i remember Wee running along with us, keeping a decent 5:30~6 min pace. we formed the tail of the lead pack, as we headed along the trails of MR, the race feeling sank in, i was starting to sweat. yeah, my body is awake
hitting out to Rifle Range, taking a route i have NEVER taken in my life. Lucas & I were clearly enjoying ourselves, jogging easily, not caring about people overtaking or around us. running up & down many slopes, varying terrains all along the way. we met up with Patrick along the way (he ran off pretty fast at the start), invited him to come along with us. as we approached Rifle Range, we met Mark & Alan. was awesome to see them, high 5-ing them.
7~11km
Rifle Range—>ZhengHua Park/ Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
soon we hit out to Rifle Range, climbing over some barricade before entering an entire long row of yellow barricades. running those barricades was tough, not only was the gap too narrow but also the gradient made it tough. monkeys hanging onto them dint help much too! on the way up, we saw the speeding leader of the 100km Solo, seriously, this man defines FAST. running back, after about 42km still with a smile.
running upwards, we had to run along a high fence. honestly i felt it was really unsafe, if someone really did trip, it would be pretty serious. one significant thing happened here. there was a pair of runners tagging along Lucas & I, one chinese & indian dude. the chinese dude would be running huffing & puffing heavily, his strides were kind of exaggerated but i wont comment more. i would normally be very ok with people running along me although the constant overtaking, laying back was rather disruptive. what sparked me off was what the indian dude said “hey! dont speed so fast, relax. our race hasnt started yet. we can hold back” yes i know these words seem harmless, but i honestly felt he said it with so much arrogance that it seemed directed to Lucas & I. i really could not take it. why must someone brag in front of other runners, come on! with that anger, i sped up with Lucas following. that was the last we ever saw of them. one thing i knew for sure, elite or not, i HAD to beat that arrogant dude. im sorry if you are the person i mentioned, but i really took offense
back to the race proper! heading into new terrains, with branches, slopes aplenty, steps popping out along the way. with a huge group of tourists who seemed more amused by us running rather than trying to give way to us. soon we hit the first water point! honestly i forgot how it was inside those trails, but to what i recall now, they were not that tough & pretty awesome to run in.
11km~35km:
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve—>Mandai Road
the LONGEST & TOUGHEST stretch of the race. first thing after running into Bukit TImah Nature Reserve. it was really the STEEPEST & LONGEST slope ive done in Singapore. honestly i was dying, my calves were killing me. of course we walked, some advice here is that, even if you’d run up you’d be faster, but how much faster. is it worth the extra energy used up?” we caught sight of Lai Chee in front, racing upwards, she is indeed a Superwoman! when it finally ended, i wanted to cry out. seriously i thought i was about to cramp up if it went on anymore. i remember telling Lucas, “it just takes another of these hills and my race is over”
what comes up must go down how true this logic is. but what “down” meant was steps! huge huge steeps that i cant truly describe until you personally experience it. i honestly admire & salute those who were walking UP when i was seriously having the toughest of times going down, Lucas sped off like it was in his blood to be hopping down steps. i seriously thought i was inside some Mario game, just that its impossible to get the “star” then i could just fly down the steps. the downwards journey was not only winding but really draining.
when it eventually ended we wound up in some park of sorts. forgot the name, but led us into a gravel paved area where lots of cyclists where. TNF seriously showed me parts of Singapore i would never have known otherwise. hitting into jungle tracks & whatever nots, Lucas & I were going strong. not worrying much about the pace (which kind of made our Polar & Garmin pretty useless other than as a watch), we ran with our FEELING something TRF would really appreciate thanks to Sham. slowly but steadily, we caught up with people, although one by one, we knew this would be to our advantage, but definitely it wasnt time to celebrate yet. there was a long way ahead.
popping out from the trails, we ended up along the road. i saw the familiar Zoo Entrance sign, i was pretty stunned. wow i ran all that way to be back near home once more! little did i expect the next shock, we had to cross the road (wow, so now our timings are decided by luck too?) Lucas & I dint care much, we simply “jay-run-ed” (my newfound term, we dint walk so cant be jaywalk!) across the roads.
skipping the water point gels (something i kinda regretted), we ran into Mandai training ground. both Lucas & I were stunned, wow. this was where we were proning, holding our rifles marching, taking our trainees here, setting up tents, formations and all. deja vu in a wrong way! running through the gravel really hurt my legs badly, somehow i landed too hard, my right big toe hurt. about halfway mark, while walking up a slope, Lucas helped me take out my iPod (one of the BEST decisions in this race), reading through text messages (YES i was trying to call Alex too, thanks guys for the messages, you know who you are. reading your messages in the middle of the race really helped ALOT (: )
soon we caught sight of Uncle Choon, very very fast runner, seriously respect him. he almost got lost, luckily we were there hahas. running strong, we hit another huge shocker. i thought we were lost for awhile. but when i looked around, guess where i found the direction marker! UP i was stunned, we had to climb this LONG RED MUDDY HILL. (later i heard its the 265 Hill) wow i was seriously surprised, i was smiling and laughing at myself while climbing the hill. once at the top, it felt like a scene in “Band of Brothers”, or some war movie where soldiers climb onto the top of a hill & plant their flags there proudly. what made Lucas & I happy there was the “25KM” sign. yeah, we’re halfway there!
running out of water, it was hard for me, the sun was already scorching down. it was about 2:45min into the race, so the sun was fully up. i was really fortunate for the music, it really took my mind off the fatigue & thirst. racing back to the entrance, we saw a huge stream of people coming in. that really motivated me. (Lucas knows by now, that when there are crowds, i speed up quite a bit) meeting Sampson once more, Ronald & Brynner too. running to the water point, the helpful crew helped me refill my hydration bag with 100plus. thanks so much!
running back to trails once more, we picked up the pace slightly. i was really praying & kept telling myself we were NOT going to touch those dreaded steps of Bukit Timah Hill. climbing upwards would really be the death of me. so with that in mind, i sped up, wanting to make up for the time needed to climb those steps & hills if needed. winding along the route, we met many runners along the way. also we met this really nice Caucasian cyclist, chatted with him for awhile, really refreshing during the race.
heading back, the route was different. i was OVERJOYED those hills would really killed me. Lucas & I were joined by this Caucasian runner, he was really strong, we stuck together for quite a while. here, another thing happened that i believed was a pushing force for me. i overheard him talking to Lucas, “i think there’s about 5 guys ahead of us” just one line. does it mean a lot? YES. every runner would agree. Top 10 finish within grasp, GO FOR IT! but in my mind, i was thinking further, i knew Lucas was too. “if there were 5 runners ahead, considering if 1 & 2 were a team, 3 & 4 too. den if we came in 6 & 7, wouldnt we have a chance of finishing 3rd Team?” this affected me, clearly Lucas knew, telling me to ignore the positioning and run our own race, stay strong as we have been.
35~50km
Zheng Hua—>Rifle Range —> MR
the last final stretch, i rmb seeing the 35KM mark. i knew it was time to up the pace. hitting back to the water point at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, filling my hydration bag one last time. it was the home stretch. 11km running back we bumped into many runners, those from the 50km Duo. seeing some familiar faces along the way, it was more motivation to run. squeezing 2 runners on small trails was really tough but i dint care much about safety then, running back we bumped into Sham, Eddie, Thomas, Yen Ling, Jess! TRF GO GO GO(:
really delighted to see them, from within came a surge of energy. then i knew it was time. TIME TO RACE picking up the pace, Lucas & I pulled ahead. but being too engrossed, i tripped and fell quite badly, luckily for the full CWX tights which protected my left leg else i’d be pretty badly scarred.
passing each oncoming runner with a huge & clap of encouragement, it was like a mirror, i would be receiving the same encouragement back. running back along the fence, it was Rifle Range. i knew, it was slightly more than 7km back. it is now or never, if i dont keep up this pace, i wouldnt secure this placing. Lucas was close too. we got a shot, come on! running back along the slopes of RR, i dint stop to walk, the adrenaline & encouragement from the oncoming runners helped me, seeing my ex-trainees running also gave me a satisfaction somehow.
heading back into MR, i wanted to drink from my bag, but realised it was stuck! no im not going to let this hold me back. making a quick decision, i decided to stop on the next slope, drink up directly from the opening of the hydration bag and pour out the rest cos i dint want to be carrying deadweight along for the final push. along the upslope, i met this bunch of army dudes marching thru. i thought to myself, “i’d still much rather be running another 50km rather than be in army ever again!”
with that, i headed on. being alone & taking a new route inside MR, i was afraid of getting lost. but i had to take my chances, i dint want to slow down to wait. running on, i met 2 strangers along the way, so i asked them if they’d seen any runners along this same route. the reply “Yes, 3 of them, they are not far.” wow, 3 of them? means now im probably in the Top 5? not far away? means i might just even catch up!”
those words gave me another boost. running slightly further, i saw the familiar Jelutong Tower, from then i figured how the route would be. hitting the platform boards, i caught sight of another runner ahead who was walking, he turned a couple of times to check before deciding to run. running out from the platform boards, heading along the narrow trail paths, he did his best to keep his lead, while i was just behind him. in my mind, i was deciding between speeding up to overtake or risk trying to push during the last burst. i chose the former, picking up my stride, i overtook him (turns out later to be an AWESOME choice). running out onto the golf course, there was zero shade, without anymore water supply i dint want to stay under the sun for long, thus i picked up even more. trying to pull away from him too in case he had a strong finishing leg.
heading back into the trails of MR, climbing up the branches & obstacles, i was careful of them as usual but this time i did not hesitate about pounding hard & running down faster, this was the final 3km, no more thinking, just do it. hitting the fitness corner, i just ran on faster, picking up the pace on flats & even more on downslopes. if i rmb clearly i just walked one more upslope, checking behind to ensure that no one was in sight.
the last 1.8km
in my head, were thoughts of how proud i am now, how happy. the elation & delight. come on TRF, training has paid off. i’ll finally run a great ultra race, im going to attain a milesone in running, endless motivations & reasons. friends, family, bragging rights, the GLORY of it all. i dint care at all, i just sprinted off. it seemed like the past 48km never happened, i sprinted off, i could feel the wind, but this wind was different. it seemed so much faster, it wouldnt cut against my face as i run, but it soothed me & pushed me on. the runner’s wind
heading out from the trails, barely 100m back. taking the bend, i could see the ending point, over the mic i could hear Alan’s voice “Here comes Baldwin! Our 3rd Finisher, of the 100km Duo Race! Cheer Him on!”
Running across The North Face finishing tape, not everyone could have the chance to do so. only the TOP 3 have this privellage. i know its madness, it feels like a dream, i still dont really believe it now. HELL YEAH I’M 3RD POSITION IN 100KM DUO! seeing Brian at the finishing line, i dint care, i was so elated. hugged him really tight. the joy, the elation, its just infectious! i never felt so high before.
cooling down & drinking up, Lucas came in! 5th, look at the talent there. without training for almost 2months. still 5th. how much faster could he have gone! we were both so happy when he came in, celebratory hug. YES! WE HAVE DONE IT. ANOTHER RACE TOGETHER! THIS TIME, ITS JUST AWESOME
coming with a hope to finish the race well & strong, little did we expect this
TEAM RUNFANATICS
2ND PLACED IN 100KM DUO OPEN CATEGORY
TRF, Sham this one is for ALL OF YOU GUYS.
We have made it.
i am fucking proud of US. because without you guys, without you Lucas, there would be no Baldwin Choy on that 3rd place, no 2nd place Team Finish.
to Dad, Kar Wee, Chee How, Jo
you guys made my day really. coming down at such short notice, sacrificing your project to come see me. this is the proudest moment in my 21 years so far. thanks a million for being part of it.
to all who wished me good luck,
i really appreciate everything you’ve said(: every word meant a lot. i kept each message, read them over. seriously THANK YOU(:
to you,
i really did imagine you at the finishing line. waiting for me.
