So Pro Meh?

alright, finally i could n`t out hold my peace anymore :P keke..

very recently, in one of a sgunners thread, on the Army Half Marathon, there was a sudden "unhappiness" of runners blocking the fast "elites" way in a race, be it an etiquette issue or a just a plain forgotten courteous. I say, go .... a spider.

AHM had being with us for many years. i remembered when i was a young army boy, We were being forced to take part in this running event. being a Kiasu formation, my OC given us a 2 days off if you could do a below 1hr 30mins and 1 day off for a 1hr 45mins. we chionged like it was the end of the world per say. Most could not make it to the 2 days off, only a handful. while the other just take their time. well since i could not make it, I just take it easy. Given back then, I thought the only "weirdo" that runs more than 2,4km are the army personnel. where were the local elites?? if there were some, they were the more talented and kind! i shall elaborate later.

I had being running this AHM till now, since God know when... 8 years? 10 years? since 1997. running this event had already becomes a yearly event. not to be miss. very recently, the running culture in Singapore had somehow bloomed till a stage that it was not only merely running a distance, but the organisation must also be close prefect. We complaint when there wasn`t enough water, not enough isotonic water, isotonic mix with too much water, no gels (btw, gels!! i remember, is only for our hair, 5 year ago.) no banana, worst till, no kopi-o?

some said, if you pay so much, you only get so much. you pay peanut, you get monkey.. got the picture? AHM was not a expensive race, in my opinion. it is really economical, that why they could organise it every year. imagine, for a mere $20 buck, you got a collectable t shirt, a drink, some voucher, discounts etc. a whole lots of people (Army personnel) staying up a night before the event, building up the route, stuff like that. so do you think it is still expensive? how much it would be, if Aviva would do something like this?

back to the running etiquette, if you had being running the AHM series for many years. you would have already know that it is like that lor! it is like the market (wet kind) the aunties and uncles is still rude, there vegetables is not the best, but they are cheap! like AHM, we run it, because it given us an appropriate half marathon distances with enough water point and medic supports and give us a accurate timing. that it! dun ask for more if the cow can only give you milk and steak, it could not fly! whereas, you only feed it with grass. you dun see much a Olympic champion run in this race, do you?

as for why our local elites ( ppl run not more than 70mins are elites, before you think you are one. please check) are both talented and kind. many like us, knew that AHM is only an stepping stone or some said building up for SCM or other over seas race. If you are running a 1hour 45mins half marathon and think that there are people purposely blocking you, what about those elites that you are blocking? they dun mind! because they knew they would over take you by just running by the side. which many thought they would be DQ when they did that! LOL... say excuse me when it is really a bad blocked. i am sure the "Blocker" would let you pass them. so difficult? so frustrated?

well.. AHM is and always will not be a world class events. It would properly only serves as a build up for local runners for any coming marathon. thats all. so relax.. and enjoy local run. treat it like a good LSD, that you pay, to have logistic supports and a T shirt in the end of the day.

I love my blog :P