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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Total Immersion Introductory Training Session

Hearing good very comments by Eric Chua abt Total Immersion (TI), I decided to sign up the 1hr introductory training session during SCMS 2011 Race Pack Collection... p/s - and i signed up the level 1 swimming package a week later during the TI seminar.

On 18 Dec morning, I went for the introductory training session. In my opinion, this is supposed to be a cheap and quick introduction to TI swimming but the session turns out to be otherwise. Let me list a few of the good things abt the introductory training session,

1.   Sufficient Training Aids - the video links were sent to students a week ago so that the students can understand the TI way of swimming before the workshop. Also, there was a free 2hr swim seminar conducted that gave me a even better clarity on TI swimming.

2.   Instructor to Student Ratios was Excellent - Fish Tang was the Chief Coach with 3 other coaches assisting him to teach 3 different groups of students (around 4 per group and based on swimming abbility).

3.   Skill-focus (and not time focus) - This was supposed to be an hour session but the practical session lasted abt 1.5hrs - only after all the drills were taught and practiced by the students.

Anyway, i am not here to promote the school but just wanted to log down my relearning journey. Here are some drills that was taught during the session.

Mushroom float - aim to learn how to relax the body to achieve 'natural' boyancy

Skate and Glide - aim to learn the most efficient way of glide in to water effortlessly

Switching - aim to learn how to switch to the other skating position using gravity and core muscle

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Marina Bay Area Run on 10 Dec 11

Lucas, Ian, Vincent and I went for a leisure run around marina bay area this morning. Originally, this was supposed to be a fun run around the Marina Bay Reservoir (3.2km) but we ended up running to the Fort Canning Service Reservoir instead (~7km). Thought the entire run, we visited several places that we have never 'run' to before (i.e. Marina Bay Sands, Helix Bridge, Marina Float, Esplanade, Merlion, Parliament House, Registry of Marriage, Fort Canning & Clark Quay). It was indeed a scenic and enjoyable run. :)

Marina Bay Running Route (7km)

Marina Bay Reservoir (Before Dawn)

Running through Helix Bridge


Background (Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands)

Running at Marina Float

Our Shadows while running through Marina Float


Running to the Merlion

Group Photo with Swisotel and Esplanade

Running to the Parliament House

Running to the Registry of Marriage

Running thru Fort Canning Park

Running to UOB Building

Running to Clark Quay

At the End Point - Setting Up Water Points

4 Happy Runners after a 7km run :)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Analyzing SCMS 11 results

Follow Up from my analysis for SCMS 2010, this is my analysis of the statistics of the Singapore running community. The data are extracted from the official SCMS website.

15,343 people took part in the event, and within a total of 10,964 Singaporean completed the marathon. Of which 9,438 (86%) of the runners were male while 1,526 (14%) were female.

Unfortunately, 507 runners did not finish the race or were disqualified but it was inconclusive whether these numbers belongs to local runners or a combination of local + overseas runners.

The average timing for both males and female to complete the marathon remains unchanged.
For Male - in the range of 6:00 to 6:30hr.
For Female - in the range of 6:30 to 7:00hr.

This can also be translated to the followings
less than 1,527 (14%) Singaporean would be able to complete the run below 5 hr
less than 4,504 (41%) Singaporean could complete the run below 6 hr
if SCMS would to implement a time cutoff for the race (ie to say 6hr), they will lose a hefty amount of revenue (i.e. 50%).

Sunday, December 4, 2011

SCMS 2011 Results

Well, the results for SCMS 2011 are out.

pls use the links provided to check your results
Unofficial Link- http://track.rtrt.me/singapore#b=na&v=ptrack
Official Link 1- http://www.runpix.name/wrace3/00/sin11/ge.php?ln=
Official Link 2 - http://results.nz.eventdirector.net/4971

Photos Link - http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event.py?event=Sports/2011/Singapore%20Marathon

As for my results, I consider it as good as I have insufficient training in 2011. I will try harder next year :)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The night before SCMS 2011

With less than 9hours before the run, have you done your water parade and equipment check?
Well, I have done mine and can't wait for the race to start tomorrow.

May we cross our path tomorrow:D

Regards
Snail Runner

Equipment List
1. Adidas Singlet (SCMS 2008)
2. SKIN Compression Pants (Long)
3. Vibram Five Fingers (Sprint)

4. Spibelt (With Number Tag)
5. Polar RS100 Watch (2002)
6. Hammer Energy Gel (Tropical) x 4
7. Pace Wristband (with targeting timings for 6hr completion)

8. Nike Visor (Not in the Photo)

Additional Points to Note for SCMS 2011 Full Marathon

Besides those points that the organisers have provided in their website, you might want to consider the following.

1. For the GPS Watch users, you might lose your signal when entering the Fort Canning Tunnel is an underground tunnel.

2. Marina Coastal Expressway is where you will hit the WALL and there is no shelter for the entire stretch of approximately 4km... that means that you will be 'sun-tanning' for the entire stretch, do be mentally prepared.

3. Almost to the end of the race, there is a 1km upslope (after the Marina Bay Sands), do be mentally prepared.

Race Pack Collection for Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) 2011

Unlike previous years of race pack collection 1 week before the event at Singapore Expo, the race pack collection was scheduled on the same week of the race day at Singapore Expo.

I went to collect my race pack on 2 Dec (Fri) 7-9pm. Collection Booths were well organised and I managed to get my race pack seamlessly.

Well, some photos I took during the race pack collections last night :)