Sunday, February 21, 2010

COME...Run Round Singapore

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Calling Team FatBird Runners & i-Runners,

Run Round Singapore – Going The Distance

You are invited to run along with other running enthusiasts in NTU's 55th Anniversary mega relay run involving 68 stations averaging 3km each. The 218km relay run aims to be completed under 36 hours to set a new Singapore Book of Records.

Date:

27 - 28 March 2010


Event Name:

Run Round Singapore

Organised by:

NTU

First Station
Flag-Off:

27 March 2010 (Saturday) 8.30am
Chinese Heritage Centre, NTU Yunnan Garden Campus [map]

End Point
Carnival Finale:

28 March 2010 (Sunday) 6pm - 9pm
NTU Sports & Recreational Centre [map]



Category B: The Relay Run

The 218km route will be divided into total 68 stations island-wide. This arrangement is to cater to participants who want to run only shorter distance averaging 3km for each station, in the form of relay. The symbolic baton will be passed on from the first station through to the last station.

To view all the 68 stations and running route,
click here.


Team FatBird’s Participation

We will be running as a group from Saturday, 27 March, 7.40pm:

Station 26 (Yishun Ave 2/Stadium) ETD 27Mar/7.40pm thru

Station 31 (Kovan MRT) ETA 27 Mar/9.50pm - 14.1km thru

Station 35 (Ponggol MRT) ETA 27 Mar/11.20pm - 25km thru

Station 39 (Bedok Sports Park) ETA 28 Mar/2:00am - 41.7km

Feel free to join Team FatBird Runners from any of the stations from 26 through to 39.


Registration

T-Shirt Collection

  • All registered run participants are requested to collect the Run Round Singapore T-shirts from 17 to 23 March 2010 between 8.30am to 5.30pm at the designated address below:

    Alumni Affairs Office
    Nanyang Technological University
    Nanyang Executive Centre
    60 Nanyang View, #02-08
    Singapore 639373
    Hotline: 6790 4327 / 6790 4434
    [
    Click here for location map ]

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EastSide FaCai CNY Run

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FatBird Weekender 2010 #04

Organizer: EastSide Runners & Team FatBird
Photography by AC Leong, Hazel/Mohan, Tekko

EastSide FaCai Chinese New Year Run

The second Team FatBird Location Weekender Run coincided with the Lunar New Year Period, and planning got underway early in January by the EastSide Runners to bring us a distinctive flavour of the East. AC Leong, Tekko aka Chris, Nicholas, Min, Merci and the regular SgRunners EastSide runners put in many sessions of discussions, route recce and scenic spot identification to bring us what was a most memorable Sunday New Year morning.

About 70 runners gathered by 7.15am at the Sun Plaza Park, many of whom were newbies to the rustic place, so close to the hustle and bustle of Tampines Central. When I first arrived to the spot, I recalled having ran past it during some of the past Sundown Marathon recce we did in 2008 and 2009. It was great to see many of the FatBird Runners, SgRunners as well and new runners joining in after a long festive break, all eager to burn off the festive goodies in an easy, fat-trimming pace along the scenic routes.

After a nice route brief by tekko, followed by the customary group photo, we all started off towards the Tampines and Paisr Ris PCN. I remembered those nights when we ran through the ‘bouncing’ bridge and along the canal during the Sundown Marathon training sessions. As we ran, we discussed about what we went through during previous Sundown(s), and how this year’s route might not be the same anymore. As we reached the turn towards Down Town East/Loyang PCN, we went straight ahead into ‘No Man’s Land’. We always wondered if that stretch was passable, and this morning we got to experience one of the interesting finds of the day.

Bu Bu Gao Shen

We were led onto a rustic pathway, and soon we came to the first Lucky Stop – The Observation Tower. All the runners took the flight of 3 stairs to the top in a lucky gesture to ‘Bu Bu Gao Shen’, which means to progress towards the top in terms of career and personal development. Some of the ladies who were reluctant to ‘climb’ eventually rushed up, upon hearing that they might have some good progress in finding the right hunks too…hehe.

FatBirds @ Bird Sanctuary

From there we headed off to the nearby bird sanctuary….as the Fat Birds descended onto the wooden bridge, I think many of the ‘live’ birds kept silent and hid in the bushes and trees. The patient photographer was not too bemused after having waited for hours on end for the birds to rear...sorry about that, but we were quite a large group in high spirits this morning :)

More photos and chit-chats later, we moved on to the animal farm where the beautiful white horse was to be found. There we all were glad to ‘Ma Dao Gong Chen’ or ‘Horse Reach Work Success’ and Ma Da Ge (Brother Horse) was led out to welcome us. The group of red were all smiles when they saw the small ponies coming too….it must have been some time since such a large group of people gathered around the area. This time we behaved and kept the noise levels down, although it was difficult to contain the excitement and the urge to shout ‘HUAT AH’.

Nian Nian You Yu

Then we all revved up for the longest part of the journey to the highlight spot of the day, the Pasir Ris Farmway area where all the fish, dog and animal farms were located. We were taken through a most interesting run through soft, covered trails, with rustling leaves and soft mounds. It was nowhere near Winter Sonata country, but was definitely quite a romantic and scenic stretch…haha. We were lucky to emerge onto protected area, and had the good fortune to pass through with the gates open. We were later told that was rare, as there were some obstacles to overcome in normal days….that lucky Observation Tower, and Brother Horse must have helped lah. We finally reached the farmway stretch of roads, a little like the Lim Chu Kang area, but the metallic roads are a lot more developed. I was told by acleong that there are always guard dogs keeping watch in the area after dusk, and it might not be a good idea to do a night run there (which I was thinking).

When the runners heard that we were going to get some fish spa therapy, they quickened their paces, hoping to be first in line to get their feet nibbled off the dead skin and get a nice massage of their sore soles. The fish farm was set in clean, sprawling grounds, and house to the largest freshwater fish in the region. The large fish that we saw was bigger that quite a number of the female runners in our group *eyes almost bulging*. It was really a FatBird’s eye opener for all, as the crowd gathered to admire the sheer size of the fishes. And that fish spa, it was there, just that the runners were a tad lazy to take off their shoes for the massage, and were also concerned that they might kill the fishes with their stinkies…haha. After a round of refreshing isotonic drinks from the shop, and a series of interesting group photos, we set off for the final 3km back to the start point. This final stretch was a slight challenge to many of the runners as the sun was already up and smiling down on us. The scant cover on the roads made us more determined to run a little faster to get into those small pockets of shades along the way. The final RV point along Sungei Api Api was a welcomed relief for all, and we immediately felt a lot cooler just by watching the river flow.

GongXi FaCai...Hu Nian Xing Da Yun

We reached Sun Plaza Park again at exactly 10am…talk about spot-on! Everyone had that satisfied look on their faces, and were especially happy with the new places visited. We gave a good round of applause to the organizing team and running guides who made such an interesting route possible. As a runner who have been to quite a number of running routes in Singapore, the route was about 70% new to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey. With the ante up, we hope to have a WestSide run for the next Location Weekender. Some of the west side recce team volunteers may get together to bring us a flavour of the West? We would like to take this opportunity to wish all runners who joined us for this morning’s Weekender, FatBird Runners and the running community to more good heath and great wealth in this Tiger Year 2010….HUAT AH!
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Friday, February 19, 2010

Gong Xi i-Run 2010

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Gong Xi i-Run with God Of Fortune....HUAT AH!

Almost 200 runners turned up at the River Promenade (below UOB Plaza) to celebrate the Tiger New Year in the Gong Xi i-Run. The Team FatBird volunteer crew was already by the FatBird statue at 6pm to receive the 100-plus drinks, mandarin oranges, tee-shirts and wrist-bands to be given out to the runners for good luck in the New Year....thanks to the support from Health Promotion Board, organizers of the i-Run Series in Singapore.

There was a sea of red as runners gathered to catch up after the long Lunar New Year holidays. The God Of Fortune and the Deity Of Charity were on site to receive the runners as well as handing out lucky gold nuggets and allowing all to 'rub-off' some good luck from the two special guests. The crowd, making up of 80% new runners who have never experienced a themed i-Run as yet, were getting excited with receiving mandarin oranges and lucky 'Red Packets', while more were arriving and getting changed to their red outfits.

To kickoff the proceedings, we had group photos taken at the entrance of UOB Plaza 1, just below the well-wishing couplets hanging from the top. It was relatively well-organized this time, what with the many opportunities for photo-taking during FatBird runs :) Next group photo was just below the FatBird (Botero) statue....very symbolic as that was the birth place of Team FatBird 1.5 years ago.

@ FatBird Statue, birthplace of Team FatBird

The Deputy God Of Fortune signaled the arrival of the auspicious hour, and away the Gong Xi i-Run group went, towards the River Promenade. We cheered, sang, and shouted out well wishes to all the people who were curiously watching our large group running by. The God Of Fortune was most popular with the kids and tourists who always welcomed his gold nuggets and giving him a good rub, while taking some nice pics for the family album. The i-Runners was all chatting merrily, with some singing verses of New Year songs, whilst others were wishing the public Happy New Year with their mandarin oranges, symbolising 'Gold' or wealth and prosperity (yes, they carried the oranges with them on the run).

It was a unique gathering of runners, with many races and nationalities, and we even had foreign talent in our Gods & Deities to help bring on world peace and good health. The second stop was just outside the Promenade Plaza, where we gathered for a photo stop with the Valentine Celebrations....Gong Xi Valentine too. Many of the singles stayed close to the God Of Fortune, who professed to bring them good luck this Tiger year in meeting the right hunk or babe...hehe. Curious onlookers and tourists was pleasantly bemused by all the din and shouts of 'Huat Ah....Huat Ah', and after some quick explanations by the i-Runners, they realized some of the meanings of the words as well as the oranges, red packets, red gear as well as singing...surely a good way to promote a little of the Chinese Customs and Singapore Culture....haha.

Giant Wind-Mill, Singapore Flyer in the background

We headed off towards the Esplanade U-Turn (for most of the i-Run 5km, 7km, 10km) routes, near to the Singapore Flyer. There we had the backdrop of the largest 'Wind Mill' who will help us 'Zhuan Yun' and to bring on good luck. With the arrival of the God Of Fortune, who was intercepted at many points along the way for photo shots with happy tourists and the public, we again took some great group photos with three shouts of 'Huat Ah'.

Gong Xi Valentine @ Promenade Plaza

The girls from China Shipping (who returned to i-Run after a long absence) mentioned that they had run pretty long, and was just happy to know we were only 800m from the final stop, the Merlion, spouting Water Of Wealth. All were excited as we ran up the bridge, past the Fullerton Hotel, shouting 'Cai Shen Dao'....'God Of Fortune Is Coming'. The happy faces could be seen, along with waves of the mandarin oranges, as we approached the Merlion.

Receiving the Water Of Wealth & Health

Many tourists were attracted to the sea of red that descended upon the platform, and cameras went snapping all around. Lots of 'Xi Nian Kuai Le' and 'Happy New Year' ensued. While the customary group photo was taken with the symbol of the 'Water Of Wealth' as the backdrop, all i-Runners took the opportunity to wish all around a Happy and Prosperous Tiger New Year. Individal runners also offered their best wishes for the i-Runners as well as gave continued support to the i-Run.

The wonderful river sights and lights

After soaking in the beautiful night with colourful lights across the river, Team FatBird along with the i-runners completed the final lap back to the Fat Bird point. By then, various lines have formed to collect their 100-plus as well as tee-shirts, courtesy of the Health promotion Board. There were also those lucky ones who had a lucky symbol in their 'Red Packets' for a special i-Run gift.

From the happy faces and the runners still staying on to take pictures as well as wishing everyone, it was evident that all have enjoyed this easy, fun and meaningful run to usher in the Lunar New Year. The God Of Fortune and his entourage were kept busy till the very end, and many special thanks to the Gong-Xi i-Run crew who helped to make many of the props and arrangements, that made this celebratory run so smooth and entertaining. Here's Team FatBird and i-Run wishing all a Happy New Year 2010 - HUAT AH!


MORE...
FatBird Photos from FatBirds DO, Jancy
Facebook Photos from i-Runners
BT, Cindy
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Official Training Partner for Operation NightHawk 2010

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Team FatBird is pleased to announce Mileage – The Long Run Solution as the Official Training Partner of Operation NightHawk 2010.

Lim Kien Mau of Mileage will be the coach cum advisor to the trainees for the 12-week night marathon training program. With Kien Mau’s involvement in competitive long distance running and coaching for the past 12 years, we are honoured to have this elite marathon runner to provide training tips and advice to all NightHawk trainees.


Coach Kien Mau’s Profile:
Kien Mau graduated from NTU with Honours in Mechanical and Production Engineering, specializing in Mechatronics. He is also a registered coach with the Singapore Sports Council as the National Registry of Coaches (NCAP & IAAF) and attained the Singapore Red Cross Standard First Aid certification.

Marathon Personal Bests
Gold Coast Airport Marathon 2009 - 42.195km / 2hr37m
Angkor Wat International Half Marathon 2009 / 1h13m

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Tiger Year 2010

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Team FatBird wishes all TFB Runners, Partners, Friends and Supporters a happening & fruitful Tiger Year.

Have a great running and healthy year ahead :)

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

GongXi FaCai Runs

GongXi and FaCai is celebrating Lunar New Year 2010 with Team FatBird. Join us to usher in the Tiger year, receive blessings and well-wishes, and work off all the New Year delicacies and goodies. Click on the posters to facebook-RSVP your attendance.

Feb 18 GongXi i-Run


Feb 21 FaCai Run

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Operation NightHawk: Pre-Ops Recce Mission 2


Field Recce Report by FatBird Anthony

It was a pre-dawn recce for one of the key night missions of Operation NightHawk 2010 - The Coastal Melody Run. 30min before first light, Team FatBird assembled 3 long-range recce elements at The Nest. A quick mission briefing later, the 3 recce teams proceeded along the Eastern Corridor at a steady pace. The Sundown Marathon will be running through this area of operations where we were supposed to recce.

As it was supposed to be a small mission, the signature of the elements were deliberately kept low, as the movement on foot were done with relative silence and in individual units. I broke away after 2km to move deeper into the objective. After 10km of 5:25min/km pace, I went onto SEAHORSE axis (Coastal Road), a 8km minor road running parallel to the major Coastal Road (a 4-lane, dual carriageway metal road with fast-moving mobile columns on both sides). The sun was already beating down on us, but with a cool breeze blowing in our direction, it made for a more comfortable advance along the 'mentally-draining' axis.

It was interesting passing a metal bridge, solid enough for the passing of iron ponies, but not large enough for vehicles. The weather was getting hot, and the mobile hydration I was carrying was depleting fast....I had to reach CP UNICORN 1 before hydration runs out. The front elements were maintaining the 5:25min/km pace, but were conservative with the adavance. 1km to the CP were Traffic Police blocks and security defences for the air rehearsals taking place in the nearby air base. After fording the passage of line, we finally reached UNICORN 1, 17km from start point. I took 1 sachet of Power Rations, topped up with H2O, and proceeded back.

SEAHORSE axis was a good metal road which provided nice shade from the harsh elements. The civilian runway on the right was a hive of activity with forces and logistics being brought in for operations support. I met the YELLOW recce team at CP 16km. They signalled for a passage through, and we gave the thumbs up and ack. YELLOW stayed behind to act as escorts for returning recce elements. It was another 7km back along SEAHORSE, before I had a signal from friendly forces to proceed. 3 iron ponies with escorts gave the clear signal....after a quick round of authentication, I proceeded on to return back to base.

The weather was a killer this morning. I had to make a number of top-up stops for refuel. The tank was running low as I proceeded to maintain the 5:25min/km pace in order to complete the 34km mission within regulation. Along the way, I reflected upon SEAHORSE axis, and how it would be like to travel along in the night. It was not long before I hit the Eastern Corridor, and 9km remained. With the low fuel tank, I tried to conserve by slowing down the pace. I decided then that we would not recce for FORD axis, as that would mean stretching the resources. With my slower pace, some of the training elements moved ahead, although with an ack before they sped up.

I focused on sustaining the pace, and with 500m to go, I could see the Training Commander welcoming us back. I was so happy to return to base (The Nest) in one piece, and with the route of the Coastal Melody Run more or less secured. Soon, the other recce teams arrived as well, all with their respective missions accomplished. After a quick de-brief and re-hydration, the final recce element BRAVO returned with a smile. BRAVO had too much fuel topped up at one of the civilian bases, and was carrying a heavy load on the run. Nonetheless, she was glad to hear that we will not be proceeding to do FORD.

As my team had a sub-task to do by noon, we bade farewell to the rest of the recce teams and headed to our team base, most satisfied with having accomplished the recce mission. Coastal Melody will be challenging with the rather long and flat axes we would have to travel along, as well as the lack of support points along the way. It would be important for all participants of Operation NightHawk to be prepared with sufficient rations and hydration for that mission.
When Dusk Cometh, The NightHawks Emerge!

Recce Element ALPHA
Distance: 34km__Time: 3hr2min__Pace: 5:23min/km
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Thursday, February 4, 2010

When Dusk Cometh, The NighHawks Emerge...

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OPERATION NIGHTHAWK 2010
The FlightZONESTM Marathon Training Program
* A 12-week program comprising of two weekday workouts and one weekend long run weekly. There will be a total of 7 weekend runs in the DAY and 5 weekend runs in the NIGHT. Workout sessions include base-building, strength and endurance.

* Experienced Runners and Pacers leading and guiding the runs

* Running Guides and Marshals showing the routes

* The FlightZONESTM Training System, incorporating heart-rate measurements and progressive paced running

* Two levels of training - beginners and experienced runners

* 3 Race Distances: Half-Marathon, Full Marathon, Ultra Marathon

* Regular emails and online postings of the weekly training plan and tips on running techniques, form and essentials

* Advisory panel of coaches and sports specialists to answer questions on running techniques, injury prevention, recovery, nutrition etc.


The Training Contributions go towards:

* Isotonic Drinks/refreshments after run

* A "OPERATION NIGHT HAWK FINISHER" training top will be made available after 6 sessions of weekend runs completed. Those who have had their training contributions waived or discounted can still purchase the good-value tee at an attractive price.

* Shoe, HR Monitor, Running Equipment trials depending on schedules

* Information and tips on Managing & Preventing Running Injuries, Running Performance, Sports Nutrition

* Special discounts on partner products like compression wear, shoes, hydration systems

* Certificates/Awards of completion

* Specially designed training bibs & Pace Bands

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