Ops Sunbird Week #5: Hill Slopes & Trail Challenge

Photo Slideshow @ AC Leong

As if knowing our toughest challenge in the Sunbird Program to date, the rains came and gave the trails a good washover and provided what was one of the coolest morning starts we have had.  With the Nike and CSC Reservoir races plus a couple of folks feeling under the weather, we had a smaller group of 100 odd Sunbirds, many of whom have come back for more of the trail challenges they have heard.

The Sunbirds came better prepared this time, with hydration belts and packs, x-terrain shoes, and a good breakfast to ensure they can last the whole distance.  After the team and group briefings, we got off to a nice start towards the Northern Trails.  The air was fresh and crisp as we ran along the trails, chit-chatting and enjoying ourselves.  It is always a pleasure to catch up with friends and fellow trainees on their recent exploits as well as preparations for upcoming races and events.

Group 1 was into the zone after 3km, with Group 2 coming from behind as a closely-geled unit running at a steady training-prescribed pace.  Groups 3 and 4 (Happy Group) were able to keep in step in spite of the varied range of capabilities within the group.  The Run Leaders and Guides were kept busy with the winding routes of twists and turns, pointing out the many turning points to the Sunbird trainees, and were energetic enough to motivate and cheer on the runners at the same time...thanks for the solid run-leading and pacing, team :)

After Group 1 have left me in the dust, I stayed near the most challenging part of the route (along SICC) to welcome the rest of the groups running up that stretch of rolling slopes.  That is the stretch that almost always drain off any remaining reserves (if they still had reserves at that point) from the runners, and what I saw was pleasantly surprising - the Sunbirds chugging along the up-slopes steadily, and they were not even panting (hmm, maybe they were holding on to their breath) as they passed me.  After the groups went back into the Northern Trails, I continued on to follow from behind, and all of them were still running along steadily in that final stretch.

 We are constantly impressed with the tenacity and strength of these Sunbirds, who have already had 5 weeks of training under their wings :)  Their mental resilience more than compensated for their lack of experience, and most were able to fulfill the training distances and objectives within regulation time.  At the rate they are going, the Sunbirds will be going into Pace Training phase in week #7 with a strong enough base to sustain their targeted race pace, for a good timing at the SCMS '11.

The coming week will be more rest and recovery as we prepare for the first prelim trial of the Sunbird
Program - next Sunday's New Balance Real Run.  With their trail and hills preparation, NBRR will be a good test of their readiness in terms of physical and cardio strength, and serve as a gauge for the second half of the training program.  We wish all Sunbirds a good run at NBRR, and look forward to start Pace Training with them in a fortnight.

Operation Sunbird 2011 - Follow Our Pace, Win Your Race!