End of Exams and Stanchart

Updates for the last few exams...

Maths 3 was harder than I thought it would be. Gosh... I think sometimes I really underestimate how hard papers can be. Not placing my hopes too high for this one. Might get a B+ or so.

I had Biz Finance on the same day. Was kinda worried as I didn't really study it for most of the semester. That was also the reason I S/U-ed it (which means I only get 'S'-satisfactory or 'U'-unsatisfactory grades, but I clear my AUs.). I got my hands on some 'tips' from a friend who regularly attends Bobby's classes (that's the name of my tutor). It's not considered cheating coz Bobby actually tells us during seminar classes and lectures what he will ask in the exams. So anyway, the exam was way easier than I expected, and if I didn't S/U I bet I could get a B+ and above. Haha... but we never know, so I don't regret S/U-ing it.

Last paper was Aerospace Dynamics (it is not aerodymanics however, i'll be taking that next semester). I found it quite OK, the only question I didn't really complete was worth 7 marks. So hopefully I'll get my 'A'.

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Woke up early on Sunday (6 am) and took a cab to City Hall for my 10km run. The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon ("stanchart") is an annual running event. The main categories are a full marathon (42.195km), half marathon (21km) and 10km. Knowing that I won't be training much I chose to run the 10km when I registered.

When I reached the starting point it was almost time to start. Didn't get to stretch much before starting. One thing I'm glad of is that there weren't as many runners as the Sheares Bridge Run, so bottleneck situations didn't really occur (though I had to squeeze my way through sometimes). Each participant's timing was recorded by this chip that we tie onto our shoelaces. Didn't wear this year's official t-shirt (by adidas), because it was too wide at the sides. Guess they thought all runners have wide chests and "wings" (latissimus dorsi muscles, or "lats"). Bah. Need to train up and bulk up before I can wear it.

The run started off the usual way, from the esplanade running towards the sheares bridge/marina bay area. But instead of the usual route where we go up sheares bridge, this time we run towards the marina bay area where people usually go for a barbeque and/or steamboat meal. The first distance indicator was at the 2km point, and I was already quite tired. I guess I really need more training, coz by the time I reached only 4km I was thinking of stopping already. But I didn't stop lah... haha. Because I persuaded myself to at least reach the U-turn area or 5km.

Anyway I reached the U-turn/5km point but I still ran for another 1/2 km. Then I did it. I stopped running : ( and walked. Went passed a drink station and was still walking (somewhere in between the 5km and 6km points). I just couldn't bring myself to start running again; that is, until I saw...

... a photographer. Lol. What if he takes a photo of me walking in a 10km run! So embarassing! So paiseh! So there and then I started running again. Surprisingly I got into "the phase". "The phase" refers to the phase where people get into the proper running tempo and don't feel lethargic. This held me on from 6km all the way til 9 1/2 km, where I experienced stitches. I walked a bit loh... but then started running again soon. Saw the last bend at the Padang and started running faster. I clocked about 1 hour 6 minutes. I won't know the exact time (based on the chip) until they post it on the website. Not a very good timing, but I've improved. Certainly can run less than 1 hour next time. But then again I'm probably going to run the 1/2 marathon next year, so we'll see how things goes. ; )

All of my other friends ran the marathon (!). Yar, I got a bunch of crazy fit friends... haha. Anyway all of them experienced cramps along the way, which is definitely worse than stitches. Most marathoners were limping after the run and stairs were painful to ascend of descend. They clocked between 4 hours 20 minutes (Jonathan) and 5 hours + (including Sihan, a female coursemate of mine). KV collapsed in the end supposedly, and was brought to the first aiders tent. He said he had cramps only towards the last few 100 metres.

For pictures, route map, best timings etc., visit Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006.