Running through March

I look back at my first running-related blog post this year (about running goals) and think how much has changed since that post. In fact, the first quarter of 2016 has been an personal process of rediscovery into my decade-long hobby.

Back in 2015, runs for me were quite utilitarian. Sure, I enjoyed most runs, but if almost every run was a tempo workout, burnout can occur – and quite quickly. I guess overdoing tempo workouts have improved my pace, but also potentially led to my injury (the inflamed tendon of 2015) and a slight burnout from running.

It was only after a lacklustre January that I realised that I was seeking something more – and that went beyond perfect vision during my runs thanks to Lasik. After the high of getting a 10km PB on a free SCMS 10k run, it was no wonder why I wondered what I wanted from running in 2016. A new year, a new beginning, right?

On hindsight, I’m so glad I found the pacer selection website for the NTUC Income Run 350 half marathon. It gave me a reason to run that goes beyond the 6.2km route and just improving those numbers. In fact, the pacer selection run itself – 18km on a 5:41/km pace –  was such a welcome change from my usual short tempo runs. I enjoyed the entire run and was even happier that I was selected.

Getting selected also meant that I started to join Running Department for their runs, starting off from runs around Hillview to the weekly Wednesday runs. It helped tremendously that my bro, sisters and Danny joined in those RD runs too. Meeting other runners such as my fellow pacers helped in boosting my desire for running, because as much as I enjoy solo runs, I quite like running with friends too (Like how I ran with friends back in Tembusu College).

Through them I have slowed down and enjoyed the run. Sure, there are times I wish I can go faster, and there are also times I fear my normal pace would dissipate after many slower (though longer) runs. Turns out quite the opposite has happened… I’m doing runs at MacRitchie, being able to cover 15km at 4:30/km comfortably (outside MacRitchie of course) and in fact just this morning I hit a new (unofficial) PB for my 10km at 42 minutes 3 seconds, almost a full minute off my previous PB (and I did a RD run yesterday evening too).

And I have found new plans for the year. Signed up for a few races this year, including Sundown half marathon (ripe for a new PB) and the Straits Times 18.45km run, and intending to join the Mizuno Ekiden, RunNUS and the full marathon at the SCMS this year.

So it has been a fruitful first quarter of the year for my favourite hobby. I’m running more than I did on a weekly and monthly basis (hitting 200km this month for the first time ever) and more importantly, enjoying the runs too.

The next three months should be fun. Pacing Run 350, and doing two races in May before internship starts (and I’ll have to find time for the runs).

May my legs stay strong and the haze stay away!

 

 

 

Year 4 Perspective on NUS Open Day

What a busy period it has been! The last two weeks or so have been incredibly busy, filled with overlapping deadlines and projects, and trying to juggle all those with midterms and “late-term” exams (thank you very much ACC3615). In the midst of it all, I almost forget I’m a year 4 student, who is supposed to be laid back and relaxed and let the juniors take over (I can say that because most of my classmates/project mates are 3rd year students)

Until Open Day arrived, which was on 12 March (two weeks ago – this post is really outdated as of now!). It’s my fourth year taking part in NUS Open Day, and my second year helping the Office of Corporate Relations (my first two years were spent promoting Tembusu College). With that I have completed my involvement in Open Days – four years in a row, which is quite impressive considering I never really went for NUS Open Day when I was a prospective student (think I spent 30 minutes in the NUS SRC back in 2010 before heading to the law campus to see see look look).

This year I was a tour guide again, which was really awesome because I enjoy doing things like this. My tour partner was Isabel, which was a pleasant surprise because it’s the first time since we’ve known each other back in Tembusu that we are doing something together.

NUS Open Day, if you’re somehow not aware, is a hive of activity. Many, many people descend onto University Town, where existing students rub shoulders with prospective students and their parents. Notwithstanding the parents, I felt really old. I mean, these prospective students are as young as 19 – born in 1997! That’s six years younger than me. Where did all the time fly to?! (And it got worse – I chatted with some students who were still in their first year of junior college)

Knowing that it is my last Open Day, it kinda felt a little different this time. My first two years were really exciting – especially my first year when I was intimately involved in the planning for Tembusu’s first open day ever. I felt like a student showing a junior (who’s probably like one or two years younger) around his/her future school – and the excitement was palpable. This time round? Going around campus just reminded me of how much time I’ve spent here… the many times taking the D1 shuttle service, the many times going past Business School, and the number of sectional classes I’ve sat through. Yet, for most of the tour participants, it was their first time seeing NUS up close. Even UTown – the newest extension to the campus – felt dated to me because I’ve been there for a good period of time!

It was still a nice experience as I think the campus is quite nicely built. It’s just that the spark dissipated. Maybe the campus didn’t seem so intriguing to me. Maybe I didn’t feel the desire to show off the campus so much. Or maybe year 4s tire quicker than others (Isabel and I were quite tired by mid-day and we concluded it is due to our relative age).

As I enter week 11 of this semester, I’m mindful that another semester is ending. Most of my friends would be going through their last month as an undergraduate at this point. For me, I have one more sem. Despite things in NUS being a lot less novel than they were in 2012, I have a feeling that when August rolls by, I’ll still treasure every minute as a student!