wang writes

Yup, that’s me. A disappointment. If I didn’t screw up, the team of Lai Chee and I would’ve been a good bet for a prize at the North Face 100 this morning. But I messed up big time, DNF-ing about halfway through the 50km trail race.

I just felt weak all over. My heartrate wouldn’t go down even as I slowed to a walk. I felt like throwing up and there was some kinda sick feeling in my tummy. I can’t remember the last time I felt so bad before. I’m pretty sure I didn’t feel anything like this during the 84km ultramarathon. I’m not quite sure what went wrong.

The weeks of training leading up to the race had been very good, each week I felt myself getting fitter. Monday I ran the Old Holland Loop, in my best ever time despite going easy and feeling fresh at the finish. But I shouldn’t have ignored the signs since Tuesday, when I could barely focus at work, had a nagging headache and wished I could stay in bed all day. This week, save for Monday, was definitely out-of-the-blue bad compared to all previous weeks. I told Damo on Thursday that I could feel a fever coming on. When Lai Chee met me to pass me the number tag yesterday, I felt sluggish even going down to the lift lobby. I was looking forward to a good performance at the race, judging from how my training had gone it most definitely should’ve been a great race. I guess it was not to be.

The question is, why?

Did I start too fast? I didn’t think so. Lai Chee sped off ahead and I kept to a conservative pace. I felt light and nimble, at least for the first hour of the race. But suddenly a stomach ache came on, I got that sickening pukey feeling and started feeling weak all over. I slowed my pace, but it didn’t help. Neither did salt, isotonic drink or gel. The frustrating thing is not knowing what exactly went wrong and being helpless at trying to pull myself out of the situation.

But I believe you learn from every race, from every experience. This disappointment has showed me that people in the running fraternity care. When I was struggling, many runners I didn’t know stopped to ask if I was okay, offered me drinks, salt, gels, anything. Col. Lam walked with me and called the race medics, then Walter walked with me for about 30 minutes while waiting for the medics to arrive. I mean, it’s not like this race is a stroll. There are time cut-offs to meet, yet these people gave up their time for me. Nick offered me words of encouragement, Mr Leong quadruple-checked to see if I was okay. A few others whose names I unfortunately do not know walked a few steps with me and made sure I was fine.

While the race may be lost — for me, and unfortunately too Lai Chee (I’M SORRY!) — I’ve gained an eye-opening first-hand experience of the kindness of the running community here. I’m truly, truly touched.

And all’s not lost. The fire just burns stronger now to do better at the Ironman 70.3 World Champs and the Singapore Marathon.

I just wish I could make it up to Lai Chee in some way.