Singapore marathon
Hot and exotic
(4.12.2005)

Setting new goals

Since my first marathon, I had now several new challenges. The most interesting one was to compete in all the five big marathons: London, Berlin, New York, Chicago and Boston. That sounded a good goal, and I realized that sooner or later I could manage the rest except Boston. New York and London were very popular and buying the tour package seems to be really expensive. But anyway, I could do it if I just wanted, it was merely a matter of choice.

Boston marathon, on the other hand, requires that one first runs another marathon within a certain time limit. The exact qualification time depends on age and gender. In my case, it was as tough as 3:15 - at least considering my current condition. My first marathon (and best so far) was 3:53 in St.Petersburg, and I believed that I maybe could had run 3:30 with a proper race strategy.

So I started a new project with the following goals:

Registering to Singapore Marathon

To run Singapore marathon was an easy choice because I had been invited to visit Institute for Infocomm research in Singapore at the time of my convenience. Once I learnt about the marathon, the dates in early December became the most convenient for the visit. :) Only question was then whether I could just arrange this time free from my other duties at work.

I made my preliminary plans already in August even before the Jungfrau marathon, but I could not finalize any arrangements before I was absolutely sure I could make the visit. I marked the date 14.11. in my calendar, which was the official deadline for the registration.

In late October I had my schedule finally organized so that I was ready to register. But guess what! To my suprise, the registration had been closed 3 weeks before the deadline because of overwhelming interest. If I had regularly read the web page I might have noticed the Press release about this, but I wasn't. So once again I was too late to register to the marathon.

But I did not give up. I sent the orgnizers an email to explain the situation and asking if they could make an exception. After two emails explaining my situation about following the informed deadline and how difficult it was to make the traveling arrangements, they softened and made an exception. I received the race number 243.

Adjusting to the atmosphere

The week before my trip was extremly busy: I tried to complete all unfinished business at work and prepare everything before the trip. I was going to be away for about two weeks so this was a typical before-the-trip hussle. We also had an important project meeting and a seminar in Tampere, and I therefore went to Singapore directly from there. Efficient scheduling perhaps but rather stressful on the other hand to organize.

Spending some days in Singapore before the race served also the purpose of adjusting myself to the tropical weather. Good plan in theory, but in practice I spent most of my time inside well air-conditioned and cool office building. In Finland, I am used to go inside when needed to warm-up but in Singapore it was just the opposite - one needs to go outside to warm-up.

Since this was my first visit to the place, I met many new people, gave a seminar presentation, and were invited to several business lunches and dinners with exotic and spicy sea food. Since the hosts were very hospitable, it would have been unpolite to refuse the special sea food they offerer to a guest, asking to go to pizzeria instead for carbo loading was not an option. I anyway prefer spicy food such as kebab over pizza. But finally the stress, traveling, Asian cousine, and maybe the excitement about the marathon got me and I had some kind stomach sickness just the day before the race. It went away but clearly not a good sign.

Besides these small troubles, it was otherwise relaxed time and especially visit to Sentosa island was memorable. The expo in the convention center was also interesting. Besides picking up the race package, there were lectures about succesful races including tips how prepare for hot weather race. Something like eating plenty of soya sauce in the previous evening so that it would create a grease layer on your skin next day when starting to sweat, and to reduce dehydration. I did not try this trick though.

The race

The race was scheduled to start 6:00 to avoid running in the daytime heat, and probably also to avoid problems with traffic. The race route was completely closed from cars even though taking place in the center. I ordered breakfast from hotel room service at 4:00, which also served for a wake-up call as well. The hotel was two metro stations away from the marathon venue, but I took a taxi to be sure to get there in time. I arrived 5:40 - perfect timing for avoiding excessive waiting, but early enoughto squeeze in the starting box closer to the front. In my pocket, I took three things: cash, metro card, and toilet paper. The cash I never needed.

Before the start, I tried to detect somebody running about the same pace, and thus, set a pace for me as well. I detected a tall German guy (my assumption based on look and accent) and asked his target time, because I thought I could detect him easily in the crowd. It was good feeling to warm-up with the "Final countdown" as the background music and the inspiration giving by the MC.

Early stage went very well. Somewhere around 3-4 km I passed an official Pace Maker, who told me his goal time was 3:34. Everything seemed to be fine. However, somewhere around 6-8 km my stomach started to protest badly, and few kilometers later just near the Theater Bay (10 km) I had to make an emergency visit to the nearest toilet as soon as I saw a row of port-a-johns. The stomach upset yesterday had it price. It took only couple of minutes and I was able to continue. However, it destroyed my good running pace and I was now very concerned whether my stomach would allow me to continue at all.

I tried to drink enough water and sports drink but reasonably. My legs started to feel heavy and the running was no longer easy as in the beginning. I started to feel lack of energy. The rest of the race was then just "getting to the finish line" without any time target or anything.


Somewhere around 22 km I catched the German guy again and tried to cheer him up since he looked even more exhausted that me. Meanwhile, sun had arosen and were shining pleasantly (and warmly). I knew the second half would be even more difficult. The good news was that most of the time the route was covered by palm trees preventing direct sun shine.

Last 15 km (27-42 km) were difficult and I followed the kilometer marks way too often. After 37 km I started to become more optimistic and then increased my speed when realizing that 'only 5 km remaining', and my stomach had stabilized to a stable "cement status" - it did not take anything but did not give anything out either. I anyway managed to pass several runners until 39 km, when I catched another runner whose progress was apparently steady with amazingly low and economic foot steps. He seemed to know how to keep the same pace and was running about the pace I felt was appropriate for me as well, so I decided to follow him.

In the final straight, I got a large Finnish flag from my supporter Tomi (who cursed me being 20 minute late!) and I took a good 300 m sprint. The commentator was well up to the task noticing my name and nationality, and even asked big applauses from the audience! Tarja Halonen should give me a medal of honour for this heroic deed for promoting Finland's reputation. :)



It was heck of a trip. But completed. I felt really whacked, and it surely was the most demanding marathon from the first three. But I improved my personal best by three minutes - from 3:53 to 3:50. So at least some positive news. I had a feeling maybe I should just run for the fun instead of reaching any target times. It might be much more pleasant in this way. ;)

For the rest of the day, I just layed at the hotel pool, which was located somewhere at 5th floor just above busy Orchard street. Occationally I either dipped into the pool, or looked down to the street for the traffic hassle. There were lots of Christmas decorations everywhere, lots of shopping malls, one had over 30 m high Christmas tree INSIDE the lobby.

I guess the best part of the marathon is when it is over. :)


Another story from the same race (Juha Hellsten)