A Marathon and A Proposal

We've known each other for almost seven years now, but started dating only three years ago. We were introduced by a mutual friend, with whom I was working on a website project at that time, and we needed somebody who could assist with copywriting. I'm a web programmer, so producing content is not my cup of tea. She's a good story teller, and had been blogging for a while at that point. She agreed to help us, and that gave us a reason to be in touch on continual basis. We shared personal stories over time, and became closer over the years.
When we were introduced to each other, she said she was working on a gene-related thesis. Interestingly enough, I too was working on a DNA-sequencing programming stuff at that time, so to break the ice I randomly asked "name the four bases for DNA". She, of course, remembers them by heart. So that's how it goes, life begins with DNA, and so did our relationship.

A long distance relationship it turned out, because she is living in Jakarta and I am in Singapore.

And it was a long distance relationship for another reason. I have deep passion in running, having run a couple of marathon and ultra marathons. We have always talked about the possibility of running long distance together, she was an active runner during her secondary school years. She's struggling with chronic injury due to some accident a few years back, so she couldn't run with me just yet. But she's very supportive. And it helps that she likes photography, so whenever she could she would accompany me to running events and snap pictures. That put ideas in my head, it would be a nice surprise if she catches me on her camera carrying a proposal banner!

I have been planning on proposing to her since end of last year, but couldn't find a good moment to do it. That's when the Bali Marathon organizer made the announcement that they will have the event on April 22. It seemed to be the perfect event and place. Bali in my home town, a popular tourist destination associated with exotic places and rich cultures. And it will be the first international-scale marathon event in Indonesia in ages!

I mentioned my intention to the co-race director, and she was really enthusiastic about it. We concocted the plan to have the banner kept at the last water station, and I would pick it up there and then.

I was really nervous about this plan. Well, proposing to your girlfriend in front of big public would not be easy, I guess. Not helping my cause was that I picked up knee injury in the aftermath of Vibram Hongkong 100 Ultramarathon, and was barely able to train in the nine weeks leading to the Bali Marathon. In fact, I managed only four runs, the last one being 6 weeks before the big day. I wasn't sure if I would make it to the finish line in Bali, and at one point wasn't even sure if I would toe the starting line. But the proposal plan took the better of me, and I told myself to start and finish it no matter how slow or how difficult it would be. During the event itself, with every passing km, I imagined myself approaching the finish line with the banner, kneeling down and asking her to marry me. So that thought kept me going. And I had my good friend who stayed put running with me for the entire marathon journey despite of the slow pace.


The last kilometer in a marathon is always the longest and happiest one, and more particularly so in Bali Marathon. I'm glad I finished it, and despite being amongst the last to finish, I got the biggest prize!

Photo Credits:
- Aniza Osman
- Jane Djuarahadi
- Chong Hiu-Yeung

DNF at Sundown Ultramarathon 2011

Something more painful than physical running pain is DNF.

Problem with my stomach as early as 7km and lasted throughout the rest of the run. It wasn't stitches at the beginning, but turned out it was. But even stitches would go away after 10 or 15 minutes. but this one, I don't know. Maybe acidic gastric or something.My stomach must've really worked it hard that evening, because when I woke up the worse DOMS happens at the stomach area. My legs are fresher than after doing a 21k, so to speak.

What makes me so sad is that I was never able to run as I would've liked to, even a jog made my stomach so uncomfortable. And what's worse is that, I can't take in fuel. At km40 I decided to swallow whatever energy source, and rested for almost an hour to let it settle in the stomach. It worked quite alright, as after that I was able to somewhat sparingly run to km50. I repeated the trick at km50, and able to continue to km60. But time was running out, I can't do the same at km60. After that, my energy was really depleted.

Of the 66km that I did, I think I walked for more than 30km, including many long stops.

anyway. life goes on, painful though. Not sure how long this thing will last.

Congratulations to everybody who inspiringly reached the finish line! And thank you to all our friends who supported us.

First Barefoot Run

I decided to buy new shoes today. The good news is that, it cost me very minimum, i.e, zilcht! nil!, it's the BS101 (birthday shoes). While it's not the most enjoyable, it felt generally good!

First 2km was awkward, more like hot feet trying to tiptoe the hot path. Still figuring out how to land and which part of the pavement is the most bearable to land on. KM3 and 4 was good. Last 2km felt really great, clocking 5:16 and 5:27! woot! But towards the end my soles felt like burned, can feel a thick layer of blister hotspots (thank God it was just my imagination!), so decided to stop right there.
overall it's a great experience. legs felt absolutely fine; for now, at least. One tiny blister formed on the sole near the pinky toe. Should have run at the stadium track.

MT101 Sole Worn Out

MT101 sole after 540km+ (plus regularly worn to work).
This morning I took a look at my MT101 soles. Seems that I'm still very much heel-striker. Also, the sole is worn out more on the side, do I have problem with pronation?

lorong asrama

Can't argue that Lorong Asrama is tough, I've now got ITBS to prove it. Do hills induce ITBS? I was supposed to still recover from last weekend run, so no surprise if I get some kind of injury. Before the run I was more worried about my sole as I was having a slight plantar fasciitis this week. But ITB decided that it's its turn to annoy me.

Anyway, this is hardly a trail run. More like some tarmac, rugged tarmac, and stony path with lots of sharp gravel. Except for the 2 minutes of 'unrunnable slope', no other part of the route resembles 'trail'. Which makes it a wrong decision to wear Minimus Trail.
Most of the 'road' is wide enough for maybe five tanks to move in a single row haha. Not a trail at all.

Lot of slopes, though, but all still relatively runnable (I'm not saying it's easy). But I couldn't recognize the one big hill climb so infamously photographed during TNF100. Maybe today's run left out some of the toughest parts of the TNF100.
What makes this route is so dreaded, is probably more because it's part of the TNF100, and runners have to tackle it in the middle of a hot day, open under the sun without much cover, and have to do it after some 20km of difficulty of MacRitchie and Bukit Timah combined. I can see myself struggling and crawling in this area come October.