Circle Line Weekender #3: Telok Blangah Station

 

Facbook Photos from Jerry Seah, Susie Lim, CK Chin, Mike Kang, Ngatimin 

After starting out from Labrador Park station for the first 2 sessions, the 3rd session of the SMRT-FatBird Circle Line Weekender Run started at the Telok Blangah Station.  70+ Runners turned up on a cloudy and windy morning, many who were joining in the run for the first time.  As the SCMS had just ended, some of the runners who had earlier registered were still recovering and thus had to give this weekender a miss.

A number of the runners took the Circle Line MRT to arrive at the start point, with many of them having come to Telok Blangah station for the very first time.  We were able to start the run by 7:40am after a quick briefing and group photo.  As with many western weekenders, hills were the order of the day as we first started towards Mt. Faber Hills via Morse Road.  The breath-taking sights were absorbed by the runners as they chugged steadily up the rather hilly terrain.  All welcomed an intermediate photo stop mid-way through the climb, before conquering the second half after the rest.

Many nice group photos were taken at the top by our official photographers Chin and Jerry.  We took the steep Kampong Bahru slopes down, before maiking our way through undulating Telok Blangah Way for a 5km stop at SAFRA Mt. Faber Clubhouse for a water/toilet stop.  There were lots of chatting and getting to know one another while waiting for the rest, with the weather still remaining so cool many of us wished it was the same during SCMS. 

After the break, about 20 went back via Henderson Road, while the rest of us proceeded along Depot Rd towards Horticulture Park, and then taking mini-lombard walk to the top of Kent Ridge Park.  We finally made our entrance into Kent Ridge Park after two previous aborted attempts due to fatigue, this time experiencing the 1km slope circuit that the place is known for.  The serene surroundings made for a good place for quiet hill intervals training, and some of the runners planned to be back on their own for some 'ninja' training in the not too distant future.

Another group of 15 went back on their own via Science Park, while the rest of us went back up to Kent Ridge Park to pay a short visit to Bukit Chandu Reflections - a war memorial of sorts with nice sculptures of soldiers and cannons amidst the hilltop enclave.   Those who were visiting for the first time were enjoying their photo-taking as well as learning about some of the history behind the place.  As time was getting short, we had to make a hasty descent down Pepys Road onto Pasir Panjang Road.  From there, it was 1.5km back to Telok Blangah station for our well-deserved goodie bags - the fan to cool ourselves with, the sweets to replenish our depleted glycogen and a few crayons and pen to write our trip report with :)

A nice pose with SMRT staff later, we proceeded to reward our growling tummies at a nearby Prata Stall just below the foothills.  A slight drizzle allowed us to stay on longer to enjoy our teh tarik interspersed with lots of discussions of the recent race adventures of SCMS and even Racing The Planet series.  A fun-filled morning, a fruitful 8-15km run through quiet scenic terrain, followed by runner-bonding made for a satisfying Sunday Weekender. 

We look forward to the 4th and final session of this Circle Line series next Saturday, where we will explore the 99-winding road, Science Park and Kent Ridge Park...post-race food was suggested to be at the famous duck rice stall along the winding stretch.  We hope more will join in the final run to end 2011 with a big bang.  Register and RSVP your attendance HERE for this free run, and get yourself one of the interesting Circle Line goodie bags.