The New Balance Real Run (NBRR), 10km and 21km distances of a mixure of sandy trails, road and beach - has been a feature of the Sunbird Program where we take this as a time trial of sorts to gauge the Sunbirds' basebuild training for the first 6 weeks. The timings will also give a good indication of what the Sunbirds are capable of achieving, so that they can set a more realistic time-goal and pace for the year-end SCMS.
As such, the NBRR was a key race for the Sunbirds, and all were gathered at the Changi Exhibition Centre as early as 5am. Decked in Team FatBird Running vests, the Sunbirds were all excited and ready to experience the x-terrain challenge that we have heard so much about. Of course, it would not be like a Team FatBird gathering without that pre-race group photo to set the adrenalin pumping and getting all ready to race.
FatBird Runners hitting the sandy trail - St. Times Sports, Oct 17
The 21km runners were promptly flagged off at 6:30am, and were immediately greeted with 2km+ of soft sandy trails. Without a firm surface to give us the 'energy return', it made us work that much harder manouvering that expanse of sandy wasteland. Good thing the terrain gave way to something better on the tarmac and onto the Changi Coastal Road park connector. There were ample hydration points with visible distance markers plonked all the way. The respective groups of Sunbirds held their paces well, and were conscious of not rushing out too fast for the first half of the race. A number of them were eventually rewarded with negative splits and Personal Bests (PBs).
We held the paces quite well, and it was not until the 15km mark where we had to contend with the merged 10km human wall. That sapped up loads of energy as we tried to weave amongst the runners and walkers. A few leading Sunbirds who were holding good paces, were rather distracted and eventually drained by the manouvres around the human wall. The 1.2km stretch of Beach route provided some respite from the crowd as most were walking away from the shoreline to avoid the mini waves.
We managed to find some space to squeeze along the firmer sandy shoreline to eventually emerge from the beach. With 2.5km of road under the hot sun (with nary a bush for shelter), it was the final reckoning to separate those that had good training from those who were not that well prepared for the rigours. The Sunbirds used this stretch to gain on some time and many finished their 21km with newly-minted PBs to their names. The 10km Sunbirds did well too, with a number of PBs and fast timings. A few of us who did the NorthFace 100 just yesterday took this race as a recovery and pacing run with the Sunbirds.
It was air-conditioned relief and congratulations all round as we gathered to exchange experiences about the race, with many Sunbirds reporting very good performances, and acknowledgement that their few weeks of Sunbird training at the hills and trails have paid dividends. Many photos and exchanges later, we all bid farewell as the traffic were opened at 9:30am. The satisfied bunch of FatBirds could be seen streaming out of the Hall, proudly donning their NBRR 2011 finisher tees, and clutching the well-deserved finisher medal in their hands and on their necks.
This has gone down as a pleasant experience for the Sunbirds and FatBirds, and all thanks to the organizers for the great job and their attention to details. The Sunbirds Had A Good Time Trial. Now for some good rest and active recovery, before we embark onto the second half of the program, beginning with Pace Training in week #7...
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