Mizuno Ekiden Singapore 2016 - Great Goodies, Hot Run, Festive Village, Beer Galore!

SG Unfit Runner Team!

By Lazy Girl
 

Finally, I did it! Completing a half marathon (21.1km) run… but with the help of three friends. Yes, as you’ve most likely guessed it, it’s a relay race organized by Mizuno where each of us covers a distance of about 5+km. But no matter, it is still a half marathon (even if it’s only in name) and I’m very happy to have done with my friends.

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How Pokemon Go will be the Game that Revolutionizes Outdoor Running

These days, the unfit runners are not feeling very adventurous to try out new running routes and we have been sticking to our usual running routine around Marina Bay and Harbourfront area. Other than the usual excuses of too far, too ulu (remote) and "No good breakfast", our westerners are affected by the SMRT announcement of delaying the start time for trains on Sundays to 7am. Our runs start at 7am...

Needless to say, there has been howls of protest whenever we suggest any where further from the central area as an additional 30mins of preparation time (less sleep...) is needed for the westerners.

Perhaps the new Pokemon Go game will break this stasis....

For those who are unfamiliar with the new Pokemon Go game, it is a free to play mobile game which uses augmented reality for players to capture monsters which you can use to fight fellow players. The virtual pokemons are littered all around various public areas of a country and players need to use their phones to scan the surroundings to locate a possible pokemon and capture it. There has been many stories of people wandering out of the way to hunt for new pokemons, including venturing into the wilderness, strip bars and hospitals...

Some of the more bizarre stories including players finding a corpse  or causing an accident. 

Although Pokemon Go has not been released in Singapore yet, I can see how this game will bring the SG Unfit Runners into exploring some new routes. We can even have a competition to see who can capture the most number of Pokemons during our weekly runs to encourage the unfit runners to run further into unknown realms and places.

I am totally excited by how Pokemon Go will revolutionize my running habit and routes and will probably blog about some of the pokemons I capture along the way.

If I can take pictures while doing some serious running, catching a few pokemon along the way should not be too difficult for me.

I just need to look out for that lamp post or car while multitasking and running..

 

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How to use Beer to Motivate Unfit Runners to Train

After our Unfit Runners run at City Hall area and chilling out YaKun feasting on halfboiled eggs and kaya toasts.

PES E,"Lazy girl is unable to come for run again! She says she too stressed from OT at work! We have to relook at our Mizuno Ekiden Running arrangement again!"

Mizuno Ekiden Run is a relay run for 4 people taking turns to run 5km each. The order of the run is: Big Boned Guy, Fang Tai, Lazy Girl, PES E

Big Boned Guy, "Well, nobody complained about the running arrangement during the time I registered, so it shall stay!"

PES E," But at the rate that Lazy Girl is slacking! She will take an hour or so to finish the 5km run! I have to wait for a long time before my turn to run! How did you come up with the running order in the first place?"

Fang Tai, "I heard it has something to do with the availability of beer at the waiting area."

PES E, "Wait! WHAT? You guys joined the Mizuno Ekiden Run because there is beer available!!??"
 
Big Boned Guy, "OF COURSE! There is no greater motivation than drinking ice cold beer after a run! And I read somewhere that drinking beer after a run is beneficial!"

PES E: <FACE PALMED>

Big Boned Guy, "So, I arrange the running format based on how much beer each person can drink. And since you (PES E) are allergic to beer, you are the last to run since you can't enjoy the beer anyway!"

PES E, "Well, we can reverse the order of things and you can drink your beer before your run!"

Big Boned Guy, "Do you want me to puke beer as I run! Besides, beer saps stamina and is best taken after the run!"

PES E wails, "So you guys going to sip beer and chill while I have to wait for Lazy Girl to stroll back!?"

Big Boned Guy, "Well, you can encourage Lazy Girl to turn up for our weekend runs more often..."

Fang Tai, "You can't outvote us on the running arrangement anyway since I am with BBG on this!"

PES E, "Okie, time to tell Lazy Girl that she is getting fat from missing out on all the weekend runs! That should get her motivated!"

That is how beer manages to motivate a couple of Unfit Runners to workout and at the same time, motivate them to get other slackers to train.

Running organizers can maybe consider getting more beer sponsors in.... 

To find out more about the characters in SG Unfit Runners, visit this link

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3 Great Ideas to Better Utilize you Free Running Bags from Runs

Too many free... shoebags....

Three years into our Unfit running hobby and participating in quite a number of organized runs, we realize that we have been accumulating quite a lot of running tees, medals and shoe bags. Our running singlets have come to replace our national service attires as we finish our reservist cycle for casual wear at home and meanwhile for the medals.... I am still thinking of a way to dispose them other than dumping them in my vanity case.

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Rejoice! Fans of Descendant of the Sun for the Army Half Marathon is Here!

It was the year 2002.

I was in my second year of my 2.5 years of military national service, we were offered an irresistible deal at that point of time. Volunteer as the company representative for the army half marathon and you will get off days for training and recovery. Being stuck on the remote island of Pulau Tekong was not that pleasant at that point of time as the nearest shopping mall is an 1hr ride by boat and bus and getting home was usually an epic journey worthy of Frodo's adventure in "Lord of the Rings". Imagine taking day offs on Fridays where you can spend a solid 3 days at home without wasting too much traveling time each week.

Unfortunately, I managed to clinch the representative spot for Army Half Marathon. As an ex school representative gymnast, I was pretty fit on all fronts except for running and stamina sport. My IPPT results were usually straight "A" with exception of 2.4km run. That was my Achilles heel and I saw the half marathon as a chance to buff up on my running ability as well as to earn some Off days.

I started to train and all was well until I hit the 10km mark and my ankle started to hurt. As a result of reading too much Slam Dunk and Dragon Ball manga whereby willpower is the path to success, I pushed on, only for the pain to multiply exponentially for every 100meters I run. I gave up at 12km and spent the next 2 week hobbling around in camp.

After recovery, I started running again and this time, on top of ankle pain, my knees started hurting and I just could not over-come the 10km mark. With little hope of completing the actual half marathon, and potentially embarrassing myself and my unit in front of the entire Singapore Armed Forces, I dropped out of the race and I convinced myself that I was not destined to run... ever.

At that point of time, there was no professional trainers who were there to advise on proper running techniques, shoes or what so ever. I was also born a natural super flat foot using a heel strike running technique, which put a lot of stress on my knees and ankles.

I did not know about this until I started Unfit Runners 12 years later, which ignited my passion for running.

In 2013, I managed to take my revenge on the Army Half Marathon by completing the 10 km run

For some reason, I did not blog about the whole experience but other than the usual walking and shuffling at the starting point and certain choke points at Helix Bridge which is usual for any large scale running event, the event was well organized with lots of fun and interactive activities and freebies at the end of the race.

So if you do not mind the crowds of a large scale running event, the Safra run and the Army Half Marathon is one of the most value for money organized run in Singapore with special discounts for NSmen (which is like the entire male Singapore residents), SAFRA members and their family members.

$13 for 21km run and $9 for the 10km run along with all the usual entitlements of running singlets and medals.

For the ladies who recently finished watching Korean hit drama Descendant of the Sun and is looking for their special one in the military, this is probably one of the best chance to see our Army boys in action!

 
Details of Army Half Marathon
Date: 28th August 2016
Routes Available: 5km, 10km, 21km
Registration closing date: 21st July 2016

Details and Registration can be found here

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National Step Challenge Points Bonus Day

After my despicable post on how to cheat on the National Step Challenge, there are readers who asked us for more information. Good news! Health Promotion Board is launching a bonus point day whereby you can earn 2X the points on 8th May. The season 1 will end on 30th of June and there must have been many Unfit Singaporeans who has been giving feedback that they are unable to clock 10,000 steps every day and they need some point boost along the way. Our kind governmental agency who has been giving out vouchers to get lazy ass Singaporeans off their seat has complied.

Details can be found here

 

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5 Despicable Ways to Earn Vouchers via HPB's National Steps Challenge

On 30th of January, we waited in line to collect our free pacer in order to participate in the National Steps Challenge. How the challenge works is pretty simple, download the Healthy 365 App, link it to your free pace tracker, strap on the pace tracker to some part of your body and go about your daily lives. The trick is that you will need to walk at least 5000 steps to a maximum 10,000 steps per day in order to earn up to 60 points a day and the points can be used to exchange for vouchers.

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GuangZhou - China: Challenging and Thrilling Run of Yue Xiu Park (越秀公园）

The last time I visited GuangZhou was during 2013 and I took a 10 km run from the wholesale market district of Hai Zhu to the glimming modern Canton Tower. It is still one of the best foreign country run in my personal opinion and this time around, I am determined to try out a new running spot in Guangzhou... despite warnings of a haze alert (pollution) at a yellow (bad) level. Making the trip again with Bad Bear again, we came to check out the famous wholesale markets of GuangZhou and we were so tired everyday due to endless amount of walking touring the countless huge malls all around GZ. Base on my IPhone health app, we walked at least 10km each day and it takes special determination (especially for the lazy Bear) to drag our ass out for a run. I gave Bear Bear the choice of location to run since he gamely took up my challenge of running in this polluted city. He picked the biggest and most badass park in GZ.

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Mizuno Ekiden Singapore Run - 16th July 2016

SG Unfit Runners are contemplating taking on a 21km run, after conquering the 10km barrier a couple of years ago.

No, we are not going to cripple ourselves by running 21km individually, but we are contemplating to run 21km in aggregation using the Ekiden method.

Before you go, "What is Ekiden?" which is my first reaction when I read about it, here is a brief explanation of the origins of the word.

The first ekiden race was held in 1917, in conjunction with celebrating the anniversary of the moving of the capital to Tokyo. The ekiden race was held over three days between the old Japanese capital of Kyoto and the modern capital of Tokyo with the total distance amounting to 508 km.

The original concept of the race stems from Japan’s communication and transportation system during the olden days, in which stations were posted at intervals along the road. The word Eki. “駅” means station and den “伝” represents transmit. 

So it practically works like a baton passing run, just that it is spread over 21km and 42km. However, one of the short-coming of an Ekiden is that the last runner will have to spend some time fiddling on their phone while waiting for their running partners to complete their respectively leg of the race.

On top of that, the race starts at 4pm and there is little doubt that some of the SG Unfit Runners will complain about the heat.

Let's hope they have tons of isotonic drinks and water along the way!

Fees are $45 for the 21km run per pax and $50 for the 42km run per pax.

For more information about Mizuno Ekiden Singapore Run, click here

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Pocari Sweat Run - 23rd July 2016

One of the key running event that shaped the experience of their running experience is the Pocari Sweat run. If the readers have noticed, we have participated almost on an annual basis since the launch of Pocari Sweat run and it all started as using the run as a mile stone goal to train up for 5km during the starting phrase of our group. Another reason for picking the Pocari Sweat run is due to Alcoholic and Big Boned Guy's obsession of the free flow of Pocari Sweat after the run. Usually, Alcoholic does not join us for runs but he makes exceptions for his love of Pocari Sweat...

This year, Pocari Sweat Run decided to change their format from the typically unearthly early morning run to a night run and they decided to theme it "Let's Run to the Moon".

Here's their official press release:

The POCARI SWEAT Run returns for the fifth consecutive year; this time with a special mission to complete. On 23 July 2016 at 5pm, runners will combine their efforts to complete the final leg of POCARI SWEAT’s journey to the Moon at The Float @ Marina Bay.

Similar to the concept of ascending to the Moon, POCARI SWEAT is calling out to runners to join the brand in completing the journey and running together in this year’s edition of the Run. In the four years that the POCARI SWEAT Run has been held in Singapore, runners have covered a total of 300,000 KM, which is more than 75% of the distance between the Earth and the Moon. In 2016, with a remaining distance of 80,000 KM, participants can make history by taking part in either the 5KM or 10KM category, with each step contributing to the journey to the Moon.

The marketing effort is a marked departure from their usual "Hey, come run and drink Pocari Sweat for a reasonable running fee!" and some efforts have been put in putting together a theme and backstory to the run. Well, it's not fantastic, but than again, you can't compete with other runs with already a strong back story like One Piece Run or Hello Kitty Run. Sign-up fee is $50 and $60 for the 5km and 10km run which is a $2 increase from last year's fee.

Interested runners who have somewhat a similar unholy love for Pocari Sweat drinks, you can sign up for the run here. 

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