Run Free!

 6 May 2026

I thought I was inspired to clock another 15-16KM after having done that for the last long run.

Alas, my physical self was still, recovering ... I didn't know from what ... but I was lethargic, both in body, and mind.

The lateness of my starting time didn't help at all.

I knew I had to just run, no matter the pace; no matter the distance.

So I gave up any goal for that day and ran however I could, and it turned out to be a blessing and a very pleasurable experience. I was once again well-connected to nature surrounding me in the park.

My focus was on the natural inhabitants of the park. No longer on the pace I was clocking, nor how far I had accumulated in the rounds.

And so I was blessed to have chanced upon all these little critties:

Oriental Magpie Robin

Red-Eared Slider --- not sure was formerly a pet released recently or already a thriving individual here.

This Monkey Grasshopper was chomping down on a leaf!
 It was my 1st time witnessing a grasshopper eating leaves.

Also stopped mid run to admire shrooms on the forest floor.

Golden Trumpets

Experiencing a Moment of Autumn Vibes

Another good run day, not cos of the run itself, but the spirit doing so! 🙏 

Great Eastern Women's Half Marathon Run 2025

I have never been so punctual for this run before.😜

The time was about 5am, and already I was in the 1st wave of runners, behind the 21.2km Elites.

I walked to the back of the group as I prefer a more solo, and quieter run at my own pace.

It was a humid morning, though I wouldn't describe as hot. Already, we gals were perspiring while waiting for the horn to sound.

Finally at about 5.20am, we started our run. I took it very slowly - my 1st time carrying my phone, and towel (with some fuel) in a newly-bought pair of sports shorts with a banded waist pocket behind.

Anticipating the Flag Off.

I meant to take it easy today, after the previous week of unexpected family events that saw me travelling out of town unplanned, and hence missing 2 workouts the weekend before, and forcing my last warm-up run just 2 days before race day. The day before I was out and about in the sun walking the entire day with errands.  I barely had enough sleep for the entire last week. And this very morning on race day, I had woken before 3am to do a mini meditation, eat breakfast and got into the pre-booked Grab Car to take me here.

No Sunrise - Only caught the moon as I reached the Stadium at around 4.30am.

My plan was to just enjoy the route and experience, soak in the scenery and views, and very much looking forward to the sunrise - which was spectacular the year before and I regretfully did not capture I on my phone as I never used to carry cellphone with me on races.

Me  - The last behind the wave of runners.

3km into the run, I was feeling good. The pace was easy and nice. I decided to pick up the pace a bit. However, to my dismay, the side of my big toe started to hurt - the abrasion that I always felt in this newer pair of shoes that I had worn several times beforehand at around 9-10 km mark on training runs. Today, the pain started early. The seam of my socks rubbing against shoe and toe? Anyway, I was feeling uncomfortable already when I started running.

Amongst the back runners in the pack after Flag Off

By 6-7km, it was obvious I was gonna run with sore feet 😖

I didn't have time nor energy to check the race route beforehand. It was a different route from the previous year. I also didn't check out the hydration points. When I was in good form and picked up pace, it had to be slowed down to get a drink, as I didn't know when the next available one would be. I decided to prioritize health over results.

I finally reached my 10K mark - I glanced at my watch - it was over an hour. I decided to slow down to my recovery jog before picking up later. I had already eaten my walnut dates earlier. By now, my shorts were dripping with perspiration - something I had never experienced before.

We passed the Gardens by the Bay Kingfisher Pod. I was still in recovery pace...

It took be a while before I picked up the pace again. By now the feet, especially the right foot was sore with I believed blisters and more bruised toe (and nail). A looming uphill awaited..... I sprinted lightly up the inclined highway and let loose with quick leg turnover on the way down. Felt peckish again and reached for another walnut-dates pack while slowing down...

Good to see the hydration point just after I finished my dates.

After this point, all the categories of 21.1, 10 and 5 kilometres joined the route to finish. I had about 3-4 km left. After some normal section, another inclination loomed ahead. Haha! Wow... Such sections to finish!

I kept eyeing certain landmarks on these inclinations as targets to pick up my pace, at the same time bearing the painful brushes my toes and feet got to endure... Last 3 km or so... the route now was narrow and crammed with all runners from all categories. Some sped through little openings in between slower runners who were tired from the distance; some shouldered on in their tired forms, and some gleefully paused at certain spots to take photos and selfies. I tried to maintain the slightly-faster- than-easy pace, though not my usual tempo speed. I too, tried to weave through the cracks between the tight network of runners. 

Last Kilometre... 

Was I certain?

Experience has taught me that the last kilometre wasn't what it seemed.

I had run with all my might after seeing this distance marker, only to lose steam some more than 500 metres away from the finish line. I decided not to be fooled again, and picked up pace just a little slightly than before. 

When I knew the finishing line was about 200 metres away, that's when I started to sprint. I saw the 2:45 pacers with the pink balloons ahead of me.

Finally entered the stadium and sprinted all I could with the energy left to cross the finishing line.

I looked at my watch -- 2:43hrs. I knew I did not well. A drop in speed compared to last year's timing.

I tried my best and was completely dripping non-stop with perspiration.

Contacted Ping and she was already ready to queue at the photo booth! 😅

Told her I needed some time to cool down.

When I was ready, I joined her and queued for our celebratory photos.

No other queuing for freebies today as the snakey lines of jubilant runners were really too long.

After some delay in collecting my bag and some stretching, we went for a hearty lunch with full chit-chatty catch-up!

Our Shared Post Run Fuel!

I am truly grateful for the day, despite a less than desired timing :)

Whatever that was and is, 

~~~ Flow ~~~

Letting Go(al)...

Last week I had another "Bad Run".

I had just recovered from cold and starting the 1st long run after that.

My last long run was 20km. And my target next was to reach 25km.

But I knew I couldn't possibly achieve this goal in that current body condition. More so, after having missed one long run the week before due to being sick.

So I humbly projected at least 15km but really hoping to reach 18km.

Against my favour, it was a very scorchingly hot day with the sun rays beating down relentlessly on the runner, running in the open.

I decided to run a somewhat familiar route with some twists, and plotting an exploratory spot on this route.

Met a solo otter, and a large heron with monitor lizards for company. Next I ran along the train tracks to finally reach the spot of discovery - Yishun Neighbourhood Park - on the top of a hill. I'd probably went up the slope more than a decade back but I didn't explore its top then. I had merely went up the steps and down the other side, as back then I'd run in the evenings and I was afraid of too much darkness on the run back.

Otter swimming solo

Supposedly Grey Heron, with Monitor Lizard swimming by.

So on that day, I was determined to explore more despite the harsh weather.

As I ran up the hill I was pleasantly surprised by an old school pavillion surrounded by two round tables with chinese chessboard templates on them. A nice little garden was found midway.  A few park-goers were there to Tai Chi and do some stretching exercises.

The Pavillion

A winding road led up to the little "peak" with a toilet and water cooler, and a community garden further up.  Glancing down, one could see the surrounding neighbourhood. Though it wasn't that high and the view that fantastic, it was still a nice respite from the brick and mortar below.

I was grateful for the water cooler that I much needed to drink from. I jogged round the top before slowly going down. Took some photos before eventually heading down the steps back again to pound the pavement along the road.

I reckoned it was too late to run to my targeted destination - Lower Seletar Reservoir - neither did I think I have enough power to do so... 😛

I decided to run to wherever I could for a better place to cool down and rest before having lunch.

Construction obstructed a lot of pathways and made me change directions. I turned to where I would not usually run to - an old bus interchange near the malls. As much as possible, I tried to dodge the glaring sun to get into shade wherever and whenever I could. I finally realised I was heading towards an entrance of a park --- The Yishun Pond!

Yishun Pond

I was glad. Though I ever came here once, I did not fully explore it. I ran about 2 more rounds totalling about 15km on my watch tracker, and 14km on the GPS on Runkeeper.

Cooled down and headed to the adjacent hospital's foodcourt for an earlier lunch to refuel. I needed to get back home to teach an online class that day.

Though the original target of 18km wass missed, I was happy I found another target --- another spot I that could run to and explore more in-depth, amongst the other check-in points on my next running journey.