Gold Coast Airport Marathon 2012 - Here We Come

Thanks for the enjoyable Ops Kookaburra training journey with plentiful nice memories of running under the starlight and basking in the tropical sunlight. The time has come for you to take the stage @ Gold Coast Airport Marathon. Do your best and enjoy every moment of your race, and share with us the fond and beautiful memories of the people, run, fun and sun of the Run Gold Coast.

BREAKING NEWS! Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Jann Stuckey, has announced the total number of runners will go close to 28,000! Full Article HERE! - Team Singapore too registered record attendance at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon this time with 308 participants, more than 40% increase from 2011. Go Rock The Gold Coast, Team!

Operation Kookaburra 2012: A Fitting Finale

The final long run session was blessed with good weather, yet providing the challenge of the heat to test the Kookaburras going for optimal race paces. Decked in their 'finisher' tops signifying their successful completion of the training program, the Kookaburras gathered for group photos with the waves and coconut trees providing a nice backdrop. All looked fresh from the past 2 weeks of tapering, and this morning, were asked to go for slightly more aggressive 'sustainable' paces to push the envelope for good timings at Gold Coast Airport Marathon GCAM next weekend.

Other than a nearby run event at The Playground, the ECP was clear as we headed towards NSRCC in our respective groups of 2:00h, 2:30h, 3:45h, 4:00h, 4:15h, 4:30h, 5:00h, 5:30h in optimal race paces.  Along the way, body-sensing of the overall physical and mental condition took centre stage.  Minor tweaks and adjustments were made with the trainers and pacers to better the form and condition for race day.

The second half of the run tested the Kookaburra's mental strength in the heat, something which they might encounter after 25km in GCAM, albeit in cooler climate and more windy conditions.  At the end of 14km (HM) and 18km (FM), the Kookaburras looked strong and able to sustain the aggressive targets set this morning, and they looked good to GO FOR GOLD.

We will like to congratulate all Kookaburra participants for going through the 12-week journey with Team FatBird in training for GCAM, and wishes them best success and an enjoyable time down under together with the record group of Team Singapore participants.


Run Kookaburra, Run Kookaburra, Gold Your Race Will Be!


Picasa Photo Slideshow A
Picasa Photo Slideshow B  

FatBirds @ 前线追踪FRONTLINE

The TV segment of Team FatBird 's feature in FRONTLINE, a mandarin current affairs program by Mediacorp Channel 8, arrived in the mail.  This clearer version also has the other segments covering the increased popularity of running as a healthy lifestyle in Singapore.  Thanks to the producer for sending us a copy to share with all Team FatBird Runners and the running community.

前线追踪FRONTLINE MediaCorp Channel 8

Check out the earlier story when it first aired in February 2012.

Trail Weekender @ MacRitchie

It had been a while since we found time for a FatBird Weekender, and which better day than to do it on a relaxing Sunday morning outside of the training season.  Although this was the first post Sundown get-together run we had, the group was rather small as many FatBirds were involved in other races and events in another typical busy running weekend in Singapore.

Photo Slideshow, credit FatBird AC Leong

With a comfortably-sized group of 40+, we were able to catch up and bond along the forested trails of MacRitchie Reservoir, the quiet stretches of Rifle Range Link, as well as the rocky Sime Trail and softer Lornie Trail.  The runners, coming in with fresh legs, were seen having that renewed spring and vigour in them as they manouvred the tricky stretches and the undulating sandy slopes of the forest trails.

There were a couple of new runners who have joined us for the first time, and they along with the experienced runners enjoyed the scenic run in cool weather, working at their own paces.  The highlight of the morning had to be the well-deserved 'sinful-looking' brunch of laksa, mee-siam, nasi lemak and local food delights which many were looking forward to, after that challenging workout caused many a 'growling' tummy.

And as we chat and laugh over the post-brunch coffee and hot drinks, we wore a satisfied look in our faces, already thinking of when and what we will do in the next FatBird Weekender...

We love to go a-running
Along the forest trails
And as we run
We love to share
Our happiness of running...

Operation Kingfisher 2012: REGISTRATION OPENS!

Registration Opens!
CLICK TO REGISTER NOW!

CLICK FOR PROGRAM PACKAGE & SCHEDULES

The Wait Is Over!  Registration for Operation Kingfisher 2012 , 6-week PowerFLIGHT^TM Half-Marathon training program to prepare runners for The Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2012 OPENS!

This 6-Week structured training (12 group training sessions) Program brings all together - an integration of the best for 10km and 21km training of  speed, track, hills, trails.

Running The Bay? Let FatBirds Show You The Way!

REGISTER FOR TRAINING HERE!

Ops Kookaburra #9: The Rain God's Blessings

The Kookaburras were all psyched up and prepared for the longest run @ marathon pace of the 12-week training program.  In what was typically one of the hottest months in Singapore, and that being played out in the few days before the run, the rains came early Saturday morning and lasted till the time we kicked off our long 30-35km LSD.  

The cool air and cloudy skies set the stage for us to attempt more aggressive pace stances and we used that to our advantage as a means to estimate how well we can manage in the cooler, albeit drier conditions of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon (GCAM).  The entire ECP and Changi Coastal stretch was scant of human traffic, leaving us with all the space and access to go for target marathon pace.

The handful of Kookaburras who showed up ran strong throughout, with nary a walk-break, and executing their race and fuel plans to a tee.  When the individuals reached their thresholds, they were able to ease off a little to get that second wind for the romp home.  Although the legs were getting tired after 25km, the cardio and energy reserves were still holding out well for that sustainable pace to 31km (for a final Gatorade/banana top-up) before extending to 35km.

In the midst of all the zoned-in runners having a great time, we had a dog out on his morning exercise, that decided to follow our sub-4hr Kookaburras.  We initially thought that he would be off after 1-2km, but no, he paced the group very steadily, pausing and waiting at water breaks, always staying about a meter behind the last pacer in the group - eventually, he went all of 20km with the group before settling back to where he originally joined us...somewhere near the PA campsite.

All the groups of 4:00h, 4:30h, 5:00h and 5:30h timings came back with smiles over their sustainable marathon pace or better, giving them a solid boost in confidence for a good race in 3 weeks.  Because of the great weather, we were still feeling rather fresh after 30km of hard running, with a few of us feeling like we could go for more.  However, we correctly stuck with the training advice to stay within the prescribed mileage and intensity, and trust our more established foundation to bring us through to 42km on July 1.

With the longest LSD completed, the Kookaburras will be starting their tapering from next week (Week #10), with the focus on reducing mileage but maintaining the intensity and marathon target pace.  That will help to avoid any incidents of overtraining and subjecting the runners to possibilities of injury or catching some virus in the air due to reduced immunity.  The Kookaburras look set for a good showing at Gold Coast - Go, Kookaburras, Go!

Team FatBird @ RUN Singapore

Team FatBird is honoured to be featured in what is only the second issue of RUN Singapore - our very own local, specialized, glossy print magazine for the RUNning community.

This very reasonably-priced magazine for runners has lots of great running content...looking not just at runners' gear and apparel, but also zoning in on good running tips, programs and plans from an expert panel of running stalwarts and practitioners, knowledgeable scientists and researchers.

There are lots of good articles on where to run both locally and internationally, covering many major running cities and scenic locations in  Australia, Japan, USA, Europe, Asia, and more.  And to top it all, you can come upclose and personal with Singapore Running Legends and fellow runners in our midst.  It certainly has its own special style as a magazine by runners, with runners, for runners.

Get your copies of the RUN Singapore magazine at major book stores (Kinokuniya, Popular...) and various running outlets (New Balance, Runners' Gait, Athlete's Circle...).  You may also contact RUN Singapore for very attractive subscription rates.

Let the RUN Singapore magazine be Your Complete Runner's Guide!

Running The Bay? Let FatBirds Show You The Way!

Registration Opens June 13

CLICK FOR PROGRAM PACKAGE & SCHEDULES

Team FatBird is pleased to bring back this popular and interesting training program of speed, track, hills, trails -  Operation Kingfisher 2012 , 6-week PowerFLIGHT^TM Half-Marathon training program to prepare runners for The Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2012.

Please email to training@teamfatbird.com with 
Subject: OKF2012
Name:
Contact No:
to reserve your Training Slot!

Running The Bay? Let FatBirds Show You The Way!

Ops Kookaburra Week #8: Kookaburras On Pace For Race

Photos Credit: Alan Tan

The Kookaburras entered into Week #8 of training with the second longest paced run (18kmHM, 33kmFM), this time in the morning for that little bit of heat conditioning.  A smaller number turned up as many were still resting from their recent Sundown Marathon a week ago, but still, a highly-charged group was at ECP bright and early to set the tone for the morning's training.

We welcomed a few new trainees followed by a quick briefing of the requirements and route.  Optimal Pace Bands were handed out to help guide the pace for the trainees' eventual target GCAM finishing times.  With Pace Runners assigned to the respective groupings, we headed out towards NSRCC/Changi Coastal in what can be termed one of the cooler temperatures in local weather.

It was a good session of catching up of the past few week's of training and racing, as well as getting to know the 'new birds' who were rather enthusiastic about pace training and extending themselves to see where they are up to in terms of endurance.  By the 9km mark at NSRCC, the groupings were looking strong and still close-knit.

After the water-fountain pause, the smallish HM group turned back while the FMers ventured onto the long Changi Coastal stretch of shelter-counting and mind-draining experience.  It is usually at this stretch that the challenge of the training sessions come in to dislodge the runners' resolve...we did well to keep busy chatting and enjoying the scenery around to reach the U-turn and subsequently returned strongly back to ECP.

The cooling weather gave way to the heat from the rising sun after 1.5 hours of running.  We were feeling the effects with rising heart-rates and slowing foot-strikes.  Calls from the Pace Runners to make 'water-dousing' stops at alternate ECP toilets helped much to keep the runners cool, although a a few did eventually have to take walk breaks to stave off minor over-heating symptoms.

Although there will be a rising sun at GCAM, esp. after 25km, it will not be the same sort of heat coming from a tropical and humid climate like Singapore.  The Kookaburras were happy to treat this as conditioning and toughening up for 1 July - some exclaimed at the end of the run that Gatorade mix never tasted that good :).  The bananas provided a form of quick replenishment for that hard workout, where most of the Kookaburras covered 18km and 28-32km.

Many of the runners completed what would be their longest run in recent training, and were happy to know that they were in pretty good shape after this morning's training/trial run.  They were advised to rest and let adaptive recovery take charge for the week, with light recovery and steady tempo runs mid week, before attempting the longest run in the training program of 21kmHM and 35kmFM next weekend.  The whole session was completed well before High Noon, and as the Kookaburras were making their way back home, they were thinking of how they would be looking in their new bright-red Kookaburra finisher tops at the GCAM.

Run Kookaburra, Run Kookaburra, Gold Our Race Will Be!